Princess Victory!

First things first.... I FINISHED!!!!!!!!

My vision of the week leading up to the race didn't exactly go as planned. Unfortunately, school sometimes gets in the way and things just had to get done. It took all of my brain power and focus to finish my school work that blogging got put on the back burner...and unfortunately, running did too. But! I finished all my big projects and was able to fly off without having to lug around my computer or school work. That was the first victory. A weekend without school! Nice.

So this is how the weekend went. I left for FL at 10:45 pm after a full day of school. I flew across the country under the cover of night and arrived in Orlando at 7 am. It really was an insane time to be flying but I must say, seeing the sun rise from the air....absolutely freaking gorgeous. breathtaking. My mom came and picked me up from the airport, I was SO excited to see her!! As I walked out of the airport to get in the car, I was already shocked at how warm it was. The sun was out (THANK YOU JESUS) and it was already about 75 degrees. It felt delicious on my sun deprived skin, but I was a little worried about race day.

Mom and I drove home and I jumped in bed with the hopes of getting slightly caught up on sleep. When I woke up, my dad was home! Sweetness!

That afternoon my friend Liz and I headed to the "Fit to be a Princess Expo" to meet up with my precious running princess sisters and a few extras I wasn't expecting as well. We got our numbers!! our time chips!!! and an awesome T-shirt!! There were so many beautiful women there ready to show their strength. I keep using awesome, but it really was. Awesome and Sparkly!

Back at home, my mom was cooking up the most delicious pre-race allergy free dinner and my Gramma and Grampa were waiting. How cool is that? We ate, laughed, and I thoroughly enjoyed everyones company. It really was more than I could ask for...especially consider the amount of time I was home! Then, off to bed!

We attempted bed around 7...but between the time change and such excitement, there wasn't much sleep that happened before our 1:30 am wake-up call! EEEK. That is early. Princess Nicole and I got up and put on our running gear and our precious precious cheerleaders, Melissa and Julia got up in support. That is true friendship! A little breakfast and OFF TO THE RACE!

The whole thing, from walking down the red carpet to get to the first gathering area to running across the finish line, was filled to the brim with magic, glitter, and so much fun!

The start was exciting, each wave was sent off by Fairy Godmother and sweet fireworks. We were the 5th wave and couldn't wait for our turn. The fireworks went off and away we went.

The costumes were incredible. People really went all out and the tu-tus were just so precious. The princesses along the way were so much fun and the excitement of everyone running was electric, buzzing energy. The first half went by so fast. We were running along and then all of a sudden, I looked up. There was Cinderella's Castle. I mean, I have been to Disney before, but man o man was that a cool sight...and it was still off in the distance. We ran by our super cheerleaders! and down on into Main Street. Have you ever ran through Disney before the park opens? SO FLIPPIN COOL! Cinderella was calling my name. Around the park we went and then, goodness me, we made it. We ran through the castle and I immediately had goosebumps all over me. Best moment of the race, hands down. But that was only half way. After that it was truly a test of will power, determination and perseverance. It was hard. Really really hard. I was operating on next to no sleep and in heat that my body was not used to. I felt that I could drink at least 4 cups of water at each water station and I had totally forgotten what it was like to sweat. so. much. Mile 8. 9. 10. It hurt but I was determined. I worked my butt off for this, I'm making it. and I'm going to make it strong. Mile 10 there were shouts of excitement all around, WE ONLY HAVE A 5K LEFT!!! I honestly wanted to cry. I have run 5k's, bunches of them. I know what that means. It is not "nothing". My body hurt and 5k meant I had around 30 minutes left to run. Then I heard my necklace jingle a bit. "Attitude is everything". Oh yea! It was hard to take my mind off the pain, I had developed some pretty good blisters and my muscles were letting me know just how little sleep I had gotten in the last 2 nights, but I worked for this. My mind is strong. My body is strong. I was going to finish. One mile at a time. Mile 11. 12. and finally mile 13 and my family. My dad yelled my name and I knew, not only was I close to the finish line, but I was going to finish strong. I turned the corner and there it was. The finish line to my first half marathon! Jesus this was a big moment. This was the finish line for a year long goal. This was a years worth of work and sweat. This was a years worth of determination and conquering my attitude. This was a years worth of Victory. I crossed the finish line. I ran 13.1 MILES!!!!!!

I said in a post earlier this year that the finish line was not the Victory, the victory was every step in between. This is true. But crossing that finish line. That is something. That is something huge. It took a lot to get there. Wow was it cool! Crossing that finish line was most definitely a Victory as sweet as can be!

It took a bit for the sweetness of it all to sink in. My body hurt and I was tired. I had some adventures with my plane ticket and had to quickly figure out some alternative plans to get back to the west coast. I was tired and stressed. I got back to WA a day later than planned, got my key snuggled with my dog, got all my stuff and sat down. I sat down and it suddenly sunk it.

My life is changed. I've been racing all year and I crossed the finish line. I set a goal. I worked HARD to reach it. My attitude has changed. I am strong. I am a Princess. I ran 13.1 miles.

There is nothing "un" about this un-runner.

I am a runner.

This is not the end of my running, but this is the end of the year long blogging journey for the un-runner turned runner. It is a very special thing for me to look back and remember each step of the way. It is a very special thing for me to look back and know I was supported the whole way. Thanks for reading and loving and supporting.

Love,

The Very Real Runner!

Hard at work.

I'm dropping the ball on the bloggy front, but for good reason. I spent the entire day today diligently working on school work. I don't think I have been so focused for such a long period of time in, well, ever. I am plugging away get things done little by little so that I can put school thoughts aside next weekend. I cannot wait. I'm a little disappointed I didn't get a good run in today, but school unfortunately takes priority.

I got to talk to one of my sweet Princess running buddies about our plans for next weekend. We were both just in amazement of how fast this time has gone by. Goodness. It seriously flies!

Tomorrow is going to be an early morning for me, hopefully I can get in at least a little running. Clear my mind a little bit, keep my bones loose. 6 days friends!

One Week!

One week from this very day is the culmination of this years goal. One week from today, I will be flying to Florida. One week from this day I will be running through Walt Disney World with two precious friends.

I am so so excited and oh so nervous too. I intend to blog everyday from now until race day and then, my friends, this un-runner turned runner will be retiring, from blogging that is. I've become a runner for life. Running and blogging through this past year has been an amazing experience. It is special to me to be able to look back and see all the days in between the beginning and now. It is precious to remember the funny moments and the hard moments. It is awesome to be able to look back and read about all my little victories along the way.

I intended a whole lot more to go into this post, but honestly, I'm beat. I am diligently working through all of my school work that is due in the next two weeks so that I can spend my weekend flying to Florida, running, and flying back. A year's worth of running prep is looking like nothing compared to the two weeks of school work I'm trying to get ahead on. So I've been staring at a computer screen and writing all day. Therefore, more insightful bloggy happenings will have to come another day. I will dream about them tonight, or maybe as I run tomorrow? How's that?

Here's to getting ready!

Cinderella's Castle

Things are different friends. I was feeling nostalgic tonight, so I went back and read most of my old posts. I talk about remembering where I came from but I honestly did not remember exactly where I came from. I forgot about the day I couldn't run more than 10 steps. I forgot about the days that I was ABSOLUTELY convinced that my lungs were going to pound out of my chest at any second. I forgot that I was hesitant to call myself a runner. I forgot that getting past 3 miles was a BIG deal.

Yesterday, I ran 11 miles. I ran 11 miles in Washington. In the cold. Over hills. One of my friends, who is super sweet just for the simple fact that she graciously agreed to humor me and did not tell me I was crazy at any point, drove me out 11 miles away from my apartment. I asked her to of course, this wasn't some sort of "punk". I got out of the car, panicked a bit as I watched her drive off and then I started the way I always start. One foot in front of the other. Headed back home. The scenery was SPECTACULAR. One of these days I will go back there in my car and take pictures when I'm not focused on my run. I ran past two beautiful lakes. I got to see mountains (probably more like hills to those non-Floridians) in the distance. I ran while overlooking the bay and I saw the islands in the distance. I got to see huge trees and trees that made me think of Dr. Seuss. There were waterfalls and twists in the road. There were hills and there was sweat. I conquered every bit of it and I am proud. Reading back to those first posts, I don't know that I could have confidently said that this is where I would be in a year. I don't know that back then, that I really believed I could run a half marathon. I mean really, I didn't even know then that I was going to move my whole life across the country to Washington state.

So here's what I have to say. Bring it on Cinderella. I am ready to see your castle in a way I have never seen it before. I am ready to run and feel good about it. I am confident in myself and what I have done. Damn I have come a long way. I fully intended to keep track of the total number of miles I've run this year, but that didn't exactly happen. But lets just put it this way...its a lot. I cannot wait to put on my tiara and lace up my sneaks and run. I will run with my friends. I will run for my past and I will run for my future.

Cinderella, I can't wait to see you.

...just 3 weeks friends!

Awesome run.

Mud, rocks, stars, sweat and waterfalls = one awesome run and one happy girl!

Treadmills and Time

On Thursday, I got on a treadmill instead of doing my run outside. That was the first time I had been on a treadmill in almost exactly a year. Crazy. But here's the really crazy part...

The last time I was on a treadmill, pretty much a year ago, my goal was to run through a commercial break. You know how long that is? I think a long estimate would be 5 minutes. That's not even a half a mile, probably less because a year ago, my definition of slow was even slower than my slow now. On Thursday, when I got on the treadmill, my goal was 3 miles. That was a mid week short run. How's that for progress? I ran for a little over 30 minutes and that was a short run. a short run. Cool.

Progress is a cool thing to track.

Sports bra

The tag on my the new sports bra I just got is inspiring.

it says: a fit woman is a powerful woman.

Alright world, you better watch out. This woman is getting fitter with every run.

What a difference.

What a difference a few degrees of temperature and a few degrees of incline make. Whoa. Today I did my first FL run in close to 3 months and it felt like a breeze! Okay, maybe that was a little bit of an exaggeration but for real. I feel like given weather like tonight and a flat route. I'm set to go. Princesses BRING IT ON!

Back in B'ham those darn hills get the best of me and if that weren't enough, my lungs are learning a whole new lesson on breathing in cold air. Don't get me wrong, its awesome, but I'm not sure I realized how much progress I had actually made because those hills frustrate me SO much!

Since I will be running my race here in FL tonight was a real encouragement. All my time fighting those hills is paying off. I will continue to do it. The scenery here though, is lacking a bit of gusto compared to B'ham...trade off, I guess?

Sister and Snow

My sister is here in WA for a visit and it is so much fun! We went up Mt. Baker yesterday and today to stretch our snowboarding legs and play in the snow. Guess what? Snowboarding is a sport made for barefootish runners! Can you say killer calves? I don't think it gets my heart rate up quite as high as running, but I've decided that it is a MUCH better workout to be a mediocre snowboarder than it is to be a skilled snowboarder :) I'm in luck! Plus, you get to laugh harder at the ridiculous falls. Yesterday, I fell with my head facing down the mountain and slid for a good 45 seconds without being able to stop. Never had that happen to me while running.... (thank goodness)

Still. As excited as I am about my sister and the snow, I can't wait to get back to FL see the rest of my family and log some serious miles in some incredible weather! Sunshine, I'm coming for ya...you better be out when I get there!

P.S.

After a way too long process of back and forth in the mail...I finally got my new shoes! I'm in love. I mean, they are not hot pink and I will always have a special attachment to my first pair of well loved running shoes....but my new ones are awesome

In Working Order

Finals week is brutal. It has been quite some time since I've had to get through a finals week and I've forgotten what its all about. And on top of that, I don't think I've ever taken school so seriously, so I didn't care how finals went anyways. Needless to say, I got to the end of the week feeling broken. I felt so broken and out of sorts that I wasn't even relieved to be done...how crazy is that?

I got home today after my last final and took a nap because I haven't slept very much in the past few days and woke up still feeling rather crummy. My friend talked me into go out to the gym and I decided to run around the track for a bit. I was itching to let loose on the trails tonight, but its dark and I would be by myself, and that's just not safe. So anyways, out on the track. It was dark and cool and slightly misty and perfect. This un-runner, is for sure a running girl. I don't know why I always forget in those moments of broken down yucky-ness that I always find my brain and my heart and my soul outside pounding out step after step. I am back in working order. Running fixes me and I love it. It brings peace and clarity and joy.

Run on.

Wicked

So things around here have been difficult lately. In a heart wrenching why is this world so broken and how are people SO wicked sort of way. About a month ago, a freshman boy went missing for several days and was found dead in the water just not too far from campus. It was very disturbing. Campus has tightened up and people are looking out for each other and remaining close. It is quite beautiful actually. But, just this evening a girl was assaulted with a gun on the trail that I take to get to and from school daily. I found out that this happened a couple hours before I was to go home. That is scary. Two men with a gun attacked this girl and they were not caught. This is the BEAUTIFUL trail that I have told many of you about. I know that Jesus was there with that girl holding her hand and I pray that she felt it. He is holding her heart as she heals tonight, I know it. I truly believe that trail is His sanctuary. Nobody but Jesus creates beauty like that and nobody but Satan and his most wicked defile it they way it has been. It makes me angry and scared and sad. I am boiling inside and ready to fight. I LOVE to run that trail as do SO many people in this community. It is one of my most favorite parts about the people here, they are so friendly and outdoorsy and trusting and all about being green. So many people would rather bike or walk, on this trail, because it helps to preserve the incredible nature that we all enjoy. Wickedness is ruining it. Please pray for healing and redemption of this town and of this trail. Jesus has authority here. Jesus loves this place. He will win. He will conquer. He has authority here. He has authority here.

In the mean time, I will need to find a new running plan. Hello treadmill....I will learn to deal with you.

New shoe disappointment :(

I've been upset because my beloved hot pink nike's have pretty much run as many miles as they can. There is a gaping hole in the side of them now and these pesky little rocks keep getting inside. It's time for retirement. I think I'll have to hold on to them though...something of sentimentality, you know, my first pair of running shoes :)

That being said. I ordered some new sneaks, I couldn't find hot pink, but purple will have to do. They were supposed to arrive in the mail today, but no. What a tease! UPS requires a signature...hopefully tomorrow!!!!

Racing again!

So, I need a little intermediate motivation. 13 miles seems so daunting...so how about a 1ok at the end of October? I think it sounds perfect! Plus, It will be the perfect debut for my new shoes...hehe :)

Frustration.

Running out here in the PNW (Pacific Northwest, for those of you not in the know ;) ) has been incredible so far. On pretty much all of my runs, I've seen just as many deer as runners and for a Florida girl, that is no small number. Pretty awesome. In fact, seeing the deer is sometimes so breathe taking to me that it's hard to keep running. I want to just stop and watch them. And the view of the mountains. Whoa. That is a whole other story. Pretty much this whole week has been clear beautiful blue skies and so I could see Mt. Baker from all over town. It was so rejuvenating to make a turn and then Bam! off in the distance this ENORMOUS snow covered mountain. Thank you Jesus. I will keep running now. So anyways, all that has been great, but today...not so great.

I'm pretty sure this was the most frustrating run I've had since I went for that first miserable lap around the track. Why? Everything hurt. My knees hurt. my lungs hurt. even my stomach for some strange reason hurt. You know what was worse? I gave up. Usually if something is going on, I can be stubborn enough to push through it and get a decent run out anyways. My goal was somewhere between 3 and 4 miles. I didn't want to push it too hard...FIVE miles is on the schedule for tomorrow EEK. Here we go! But anyways. I think I ...maybe...made it 2 miles. I ran out and walked back. Bummer. and the thing is, I know why this happened and it was stupid. I know better. I haven't been eating well enough to run the way I've been running. My nutrition isn't terrible, I don't think, but its not as good as it was and it's not catering towards endurance training. PLUS. I hadn't had ANY water this morning. How dumb is that? How many times do I need to learn this lesson? I don't know, but here we go. I'm learning it again. Things are changing and I will run better tomorrow!

Running from the West Coast

Okay friends.

I have successfully (i hope) relocated to the Pacific Northwest!

and I am officially a converted trail runner. I took more days off from running than I would have liked...but running while on the road was just not practical. Plus, I picked up a nasty bug along the way that made it even more difficult.

So here I am in my new home and I've found the most terrific trail RIGHT BEHIND MY APARTMENT. I knew the trail was there before I moved in, but I didn't know just how awesome it was. The weather is great...though I know I'll have some new challenges as the winter approaches, I'll enjoy it while it's here. 60's-70's couldn't be better. I can build up a bit of a sweat..but I'm not DRIPPING. There are awesome ups and downs and curves on the trail that you just don't get on the road. And the TREES. Oh my goodness the trees. This place is the greenest place I have ever seen. The trees are huge. Some are starting to change colors (...so this is what that word "fall" means...hmm) but many of them are evergreens and just beautiful and shady. You pass parks and gardens and lots of other runners. I love it!

Trails of Washington. Here I come!!

On Leave.

I'm going to officially announce that I am "On Leave" from the bloggy world from now until most likely the end of September. This hiatus marks the beginnings of great changes. I will be leaving to drive cross country to the beautiful state of Washington on Sunday. In the meantime, I am packing up my entire life and doing my best to say all my goodbyes, while running as much as I can.

I've reached a dilemma. Running is a great stress relief. and packing up your whole life (minus all the delightful people I love the most) to move 3,000+ miles away comes with a fair amount of stress. I wish my time and my body would allow me to spend ALL of my time running right now. The dilemma comes to play because running is also wonderful, precious, and effective thinking time. Thinking right now seems to go in one direction...the sad one. Tears definitely hamper your vision and running while not being able to see clearly is scary (especially when barefoot). Tears also lead to snot. Snot= difficult to breathe while running and gross when wiped all over my t-shirt. See the trouble? ...run more? run less? don't run? deal with it?

I plan on running "through" it. I want to say "I ran all the way across the country"! HAHA. I think that would be so cool.

So all that being said. I'm busy and blogging is not at the top of the list. I should arrive in WA around September 11. If you spot a blog post before that, consider it a treat!

Talk to you next from the Pacific Northwest!!! eek!

Barefooted Bliss.

The only way to describe this is yummy.  The cool dewy grass in the early morning quiet with sweat pouring down my face, perfect start to the day!
I acted on a whim today and took off my shoes. I have been angry at my vibrams, but still really like the barefoot idea, so why not go all out? I got grass ALL over me, but it was wonderful.  It was even pretty cool, because the grass still had a significant amount of dew on it, when I turned around at my half way point, I could see my foot prints going the other direction.  I tried to take a picture but it wouldn't show up, so you get my dirty feet instead!

Sweat

I am baffled.

Where exactly does all of this sweat come from? I mean, I know that I spend all day trying to get down enough water so that post run, post sweat pour, I won't be too dehydrated. So that I can sweat more efficiently, but still. I feel like if our skin is porous enough to allow as much sweat as I do, how am I not leaking water ALL the time? Maybe this is silly. Maybe I shouldn't admit that this confuses me, but it does. I am continually amazed by just how much sweat I can produce on one single run. The sun wasn't even fully out...

Anyways. This is the start of week 2 of training and we're starting to increase mileage this week. Today was just a quarter mile increase, not too bad. but here's something I've learned. Running is hard. Every time. A mile, 2 miles, or 4, My head still has to be in the right place and ready to fight to the end. every time. I think the difference is not ease, but confidence. When I run 4 miles, I am confident that I can run 2. Not that it's easy, but I know I can do it. hmm. interesting.

WATER WATER WATER.

Today was day 5 of training....I got a little off earlier with my countdown, Monday was technically day 1, it was just a rest day so I forgot to count it. So Day 5, many to go.

Water is the key, I've decided. It's the make it or break it for me and today, it was almost the break it. I was soo tired on my run this afternoon. I get out of breath quicker and my muscles seem tired when they shouldn't be. Then I think back over my day and what do I discover? NO WATER. I drank diet soda all day because I stayed up too late last night finishing a silly project I was excited about and so needed the caffeine to stay awake. Usually I'm pretty good about still getting water in there too, but not today. Granted, the lack of sleep probably didn't help either...

but over all a good enough run. I just didn't feel as strong as usual. WATER WATER WATER makes all the difference, I'm telling you.