Best way to start a Fall Saturday? With a Dirty Girl Mud Run! This morning a few girl friends and I took on the challenge of a 5K obstacle course involving A LOT of mud! Needless to say, we had a blast! The lovely group of ladies that I was honored to run with today make up the core of what has turned into a bit of a running team.

When I started out on this half marathon journey, I was prepared to go at it alone. It was something I wanted to do to prove to myself that I could. Along the way, I have been blessed with some really wonderful people to share this adventure with. It started with Kristina. She began running with me thinking that I would motivate her, but as it turns out, she has managed to be a great inspiration to me. Kristina is optimistic and motivated, and on days I don't want to run, I think of her and how she turns to me for motivation. Not wanting to let her down, I lace up and hit the pavement. Our Sunday morning runs have become what I look most forwards to each week.

Then there is the lovely Ammie! On a fluke, Ammie asked me to join her in a 10K. I was terrified; I had never run that far. She reminded me that running was fun, and that I needed to keep that in mind. Here is a woman with a lingering back injury, that was told she should never run again. She has made herself strong and remains always optimistic. She is proof that you can overcome anything with the right motivation and attitude. Ammie is also the one who got me to my first mud run....SO MUCH FUN! With her, Ammie brought her two friends, Genesis and Cat, to the mud run today. These two lovelies have decided to join us in 7 weeks to take on 13.1 miles of running.

So here we are, a little bit of a team! I am so excited to have people share my enthusiasm and to make this endeavor not only easier, but more fun. Tomorrow these wonderful ladies will all meet for a Sunday morning run and together we will train, motivate and encourage each other. While running is usually a solo sport, I have found that sharing it with friends makes those tough days easier, and the good days great!

Our next goal will be a 15K at the end of September. This will put us one step closer to the half marathon, and give us a small attainable goal to keep us motivated and running. I'm so grateful for my new found running friends, and cant wait to see who else we meet along the way! Only 7 weeks left!


The Dirty Girl Mud Run 2013.....thanks ladies for an awesome day!

Eight weeks to go.....

So this week is my 5th week of training, and while my blog posts may have been lacking as of late, I assure you my training has not; for the most part. Last week was hot and ridiculously humid. Just stepping outside left you feeling uncomfortable and made it hard to breathe; like sucking air through a wet rag. While this is typical for Buffalo summer weather, it makes running very unappealing. Tuesday was particularly gross out, so I headed to the gym with hopes of air conditioned space for my run. I was unpleasantly disappointed when I arrived at the gym only to realize that the humidity had seeped its way into building. Regardless, I hopped on a treadmill and started my run. I was drenched by the first mile, and my legs were not responding well to the unnatural cadence of the belt beneath my feet. By the second mile, I couldn't stand it anymore, and called it quits. I hate being a quitter. Lucky for me, Trainer Jenny was waiting to give my legs the beating they deserved. Not only did we have strength training in store, Trainer Jenny was feeling feisty and ended our session with sprints. Outside. So while my treadmill time was cut short, I did not lack in training that day. But the humidity would be sure to linger for the week, and set me up for the worst week of training yet.

Last week the weather wasn't my only compounding factor. I started classes again with what looks like my most intense semester yet. Not to mention an internship that will be starting next week. So now my schedule is all sorts of out of whack, and when planning this semester, I apparently did not factor in any time for sleep. My overnight shifts run into my morning classes, which will soon run into my internship, which in turn, takes me right into an overnight shift. The thought alone put my stress levels into overdrive. Now, I have always had two ways to deal with stress; eat and sleep. This new schedule allows very little time for either, and while sleep is great, eating the wrong foods can be detrimental. So now I need to refocus and find a better way......RUNNING! I know, ya saw that one coming didn't you?! Yes, running would be the best way to handle my stress, but is that the route I took last week?! No, of course not. Crap. I tried to blame the weather, but that only goes so far. So last week set me up for this nice little funk I am in today.

Yesterday, being a holiday, provided me an opportunity to pick up overtime on the ambulance, and get holiday pay out of it. I went in as usual on Sunday night, and tormented myself with a 24 hour shift that kept me until 6pm last night. I didn't run all weekend. By last night I felt awful about that, among other things happening in my lift. My great friend Shelley came by ready for out Wine-y Monday ritual. I was too worn out to cook, so we got pizza; something I hate myself today for. While the food choice wasn't the best, I cherish this Monday ritual because we sit and bitch and chat and laugh, and it makes the burdens in life seem less. But even with the wine and the laughs, something was still eating at me. We called the night early due to my impending morning class.

I woke this morning with a lump in my throat, and an uneasy feeling I just couldn't shake. I have no idea from what, but there it was, weighing me down. By half way through my class, it turned to an anxious feeling that was gnawing at me relentlessly. I came home an paced for a bit. To my delight, the humidity had broken and the temperature had settled to a cool high 60s. I knew what I needed to rid myself of this awful feeling. I laced up my shoes and leashed up the dog.

Let me tell you, even a short 3 mile run managed to make a world of difference.

With the music in my head phones playing idly in the background of my thoughts, I let my legs and the pavement sort out the mess in my head. The cool air and comfortable cadence of my stride made sense out of chaos, and put all my stress and worry into perspective. By the time the run was finished, even I was amazed at how much better I felt. I had a plan of action for things like school and work. I feel better prepared to dive in head first, and conquer this semester. It also made me realize how important it is to make time for myself, specifically time for my runs. In those miles and minutes, its just me; no texts or phone calls, no homework or readings, no worry or fear. There is just breathing and letting go. Now, if you're not a runner, you may never understand this. In that first mile, your head is a mess; a jumbled ball of thoughts. By the end, there's just quiet; peace.

Today made me realize that this half marathon training isn't just about pushing my body to the limits, or successfully completing a challenge. It's about finding a way to balance myself, and calm my mind. This is not just about getting physically healthy, it's about setting aside time to improve my mental health. Who knew running could do so much.

So, if you're like me, and find yourself in a hundred directions with your mind going a mile a minute, slap on those running shoes, and make time for yourself. Find some balance and give yourself a well deserved endorphin high. Because life gets rough, and sometimes, ya just gotta run through it.

So I have been slacking on the blog posts, but fear not, I have not slacked with my running. This past week has been a bit of a mental challenge for me though, and I know what you're thinking, if my conviction is wavering now, how will I ever make it to 13.1 miles? I've asked myself that question a few times, but eventually found the drive to get through my doubts. Last week I just found myself tired, and unexplainably discouraged. My legs were sore and I didn't think I would ever get past the four mile mark. When running, I don't usually stop to walk or rest, I just muscle through it and get it done. I tell Kristina, don't stop unless you are going to throw up or pass out. Last week I had a run where I was about 5 strides from both, and it was only at the 2.5 mile mark. This was a mental kick in the face for me. I was flooded with self doubt. Why the hell am I doing this to myself, I'll never make it to 13. miles!

But I refused to throw in the towel just yet. My legs have been feeling tight and my mind has been rocking the defeatist thoughts, but my conviction and desire to finish this made me rethink giving up. My friend Ammie had asked me a couple of weeks ago to run a 10k with her at the end of August. It was this morning; it kinda snuck up on me. I agreed, but 6.2 miles was farther than I had ever run before, and I was nervous. Appropriate preparation for taking on this task would have been sufficient hydration leading up to the race, with good rest and nutrition to ensure optimal endurance and general good feelings. So what did I do?! I went out drinking ALL day yesterday. Literally all day. My friend Julia and I hit up several wineries and did wine tastings all day (not good for hydration). When we were finished with that, we went to the Irish Festival. I feel as though the name implies the libations of choice for such an occasion. I got home sometime around midnight ( I think), and then had a two hour phone conversation with a handsome fellow. So basically, I did the exact opposite of what would have been best for me. For those that know me, you are currently not surprised in the least, and may even be surprised at the fact that I slept at all. But alas, I did in fact sleep until 6:30am, and headed to the race to register myself, because, in true Tina form, I waited until the last minute to register. So with my happy lil' hangover (possibly still buzzed), I signed up for a 6.2 mile race. Yea, I must have still been drunk.

The race started at 9:30am. As the seconds ticked away waiting for the horn to sound to start the race, I was getting a bit nervous. What if I couldn't do it? What would that mean for the impending half marathon? Lucky for me I had my dear friend Ammie for some awesome moral support. She reminded me that it was more about finishing than charging through it. If I needed to walk, then walk, and then get moving again. It was all about getting done, and being proud that I finished my first 10k. She reminded me to pace myself, and just have fun. I had almost forgotten that this was supposed to be fun because I had gotten so wrapped up in all my self doubt. I enjoy running. It should be fun! So the buzzer sounded, and we were off.

The weather was AMAZING, cloudless sky and a gentle breeze. The course was relatively flat with paved roads beneath my feet. I was feeling good by mile marker one. I found a pace that I knew I could sustain, and put a smile on my face. This was fun! I was surrounded by runners and families and beautiful weather. Mile 2: done. Feeling great! The day-before drinking decision didn't seem to be effecting me! I AM AWESOME!! Mile 3: jiggly thighs are not happy, but the rest of me is. This is where I start to pay for my gallivanting; in all my reckless abandon, I forgot to do laundry. This means all of my compression shorts were dirty. This means my thighs rub like those of a cricket on clear night. Chaffing is evil. But No! I won't let this stop me, I feel great about everything else! I will keep running! I put a smile on my face, and keep my legs in motion. Thank god I wasn't in corduroy or I may have started a blaze. I finished the race in 1 hour 1 minute and 31 seconds. Not too shabby.  I didn't stop once to walk, and felt so proud of myself after that I found new resolve for this running thing.

For a bit of extra encouragement, I discovered that Ammie is also doing the half marathon, and we decided to train a bit together :-) She also invited me to do the Dirty Girl Mud Run in two weeks. Today initially seemed crazy and maybe impossible. It was daunting, but I am so glad I did it. It pushed me past my rut and gave me new found excitement for running. Ammie's encouragement and excitement for running  was just what I needed to rekindle the fire within.

Ammie and I after our 10k:

Ok, so I know I missed a day. I felt oddly guilty about it, as if anyone would notice. Yesterday was supposed to be a cross training day, and I had every intention of getting my butt moving. My butt, along with the rest of my body, on the other hand, had very different plans.

I got home from my Wednesday overnight shift on the ambulance at 6 am Thursday morning. I could barely keep my eyes open. I collapsed into bed, and slipped into a 2 hour coma. Before I knew it the alarm was screaming, and I was running late. I made myself presentable, and hurried off to the fairgrounds. I pulled through my little four hour shift, and headed right home. By the time I pulled into my driveway, my eyes were glazing over. My legs felt like they were made of lead and my feet were sore from standing. I managed to exert just enough energy to get myself changed and crawl under the covers. After that, I was spent. Out cold. I woke up with only 30 minutes to get ready for work. I barely made it there on time. Last night was my "short shift" clocking in at 10 hours. It kind of dragged, but was made better by my favorite dispatcher and a good partner to work with. Even still, when 3 am hit, I was ready for bed. Yesterday wasn't supposed to be a rest day, but sometimes, ya just gotta listen to your body, and mine was screaming at the top of its lungs.

So today, I was bound and determined not to slack, and get the ball rolling again. Two days without running made me fell lazy, and honestly, really cranky. By this afternoon, I was agitated and a little anxious. My legs are still sore from Trainer Jenny's latest workout, but I really needed to get moving. Lucky for me, I have a friend that wanted to move too.

Enter the lovely Kristina. Kristina has decided to take on this half marathon challenge with me (God bless her). I met Kristina at the University at Buffalo last year through my American Sign Language course and club. She and her husband rode in the Tour de Cure, and she did a Color Run with some of our other friends. Knowing that she dabbled in running, I asked if she wanted to join me. When she said yes, I was excited and surprised (why would anyone want to torture themselves with me?!). We decide to train together when we could, and motivate each other when we couldn't. Today was our first day running together. Kristina had been away camping and returned earlier this week. She had text me last night confirming our running rendezvous. I was suddenly even more pumped to have company on this journey. So many times people say they want to do something like this with you, and back out. She really was going to run with me (hearts and stars in my eyes)! But that wasn't the kicker; last night she had text me that she had run/walked three miles on Wednesday, and was feeling discouraged and began questioning her decision to do this. She then said that she read my blog and all its posts and felt inspired and realized that she could, in fact, do this, and she would be successful. I wish I could put into words how overwhelmed with happiness and joy I was at that moment. This blog may seem silly to most people, but if I managed to inspire one person even once, then all the running and typing is completely worth it. So thank you Kristina, for not only reading this, but for embarking on this awful/wonderful journey with me! We will be successful and we will be proud of ourselves!

Kristina and I met at Delaware Park this evening, and set out on our run. She was concerned because she said she had not made it very far without stopping and walking.  So we set goals: we would run for one mile, without stopping (this included a decent incline) and then take a short walk, and start again. The loop around the park is 1.7 miles. I told her that was our big goal, and one mile was our small goal. Not only did she rock the small goal, we also managed to make it a total of 3.75 miles (2 and a half laps), with very minimal walking periods! We smoked our goals and felt awesome! The smile on her face when we were finished was the best inspiration for me. I was so inspired, I came home and ran with Layla for another 3 miles! While I am now exhausted again, I feel great.

Running with Kristina today reminded how important it is not just to set goals, but to set attainable goals, and celebrate them when reached. Saying I am going to run 13.1 miles is great, but if I don't start small and work my way to that big goal, all while setting smaller goals along the way, and celebrating each victory, then I will never get to that finish line. I am happy every day that I run, and happier when push myself farther, or encourage someone else to push themselves.

Remember:
 

Today was a rest day, so naturally the weather was PERFECT for running. And that is no exaggeration. 63 degrees, blue skies, with occasional puffy white clouds passing by, and a gentle breeze. I wanted to run so bad today I could've run right outta my skin! But no, I must rest once in a while. I never thought I'd be faced with this overwhelming desire to run, that is unless something was chasing me. But low and behold, here I am jealous of those trotting by on the sidewalk past me. And to add insult to injury, of course I woke up at 7 am this morning; all on my own, all bright eyed and bushy tailed. And ready to run no less. SERIOUSLY?! That NEVER happens. Gah.

Like I said before, my rest days are active rests. I took Layla for a walk and to the dog park. We strolled leisurely along the bike path through the park and took in the nice weather. We ran into an old friend and his dogs in the dog park, and then on the way back to the car, we passed by and stopped and visited with a friend from high school. It was nice to just enjoy being outside and social.

While today was supposed to be a rest day, I had an appointment with Trainer Jenny. We were supposed to meet Monday, and needed to reschedule. So we planned for a half hour session today. No big, right? Thirty minutes of strength training. Easy. Or so I thought. (Remember, the last two day I have been running in new shoes and using new muscles) My legs felt great today. No soreness from the new shoes or the longer run. I dodged the "breaking in" phase of new shoes, I am awesome. Lies. All lies. I thought I was awesome, until we started our leg day workout. Squats went well. Even lunges weren't so bad. Then we started one of my (legit) favorite exercises; its a glut exercise. Using a squat machine, you kneel on all fours and lift one leg behind you, like this,
but pushing up a weight bar with the top foot. It AWESOME and (literally) kicks your ass. Half way through this super workout, my butt cramped. Yes, cramped. Nothing is more painful and weird than an ass cramp. I almost fell over from the above position, face first. I immediately rolled over and tried stretching it out. I made it through two sets of these, and had to call it. I never quit. I felt like a huge sissy. We finished our workout with mountain clumbers.
With this, you are switching legs as quickly as possible while avoiding falling on your face or throwing up. I did 79 of them, and then suffered ass cramps again. Awful. Just awful.

So I didn't avoid the strain of new shoes, and got too cocky too quick. I've been stretching since I left the gym, and my butt still hurts. Lesson learned today: when its supposed to be a rest day, take the rest day and be happy.

Tomorrow is a cross training day, and I am hoping for a nice bike ride. Lets hope the weather cooperates. Until then, enjoy the weather, get outside, and be happy :-)

Hi and welcome back! Today was a pretty exciting day for me! I am celebrating a few small, but exciting personal victories. If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that you must celebrate even the smallest of victories to make life truly exciting.

Today started out like the rest, and my alarm clock and I are no closer to becoming best friends. I had an 8:30 doctors appointment with my Orthopedist. Back in June, Layla and I were out for an early morning run (maybe this is why my body refuses to run early) when something spooked her, and she crossed my path unexpectedly. I couldn't compensate and went down on a bent knee mid stride. I tore up my knee and hand pretty good, but got back up and walked home. I continued to run and work out, but there was excruciating pain in the back of my knee. It felt like it was going to EXPLODE every time I bent my left knee. A month after the fall, I was having trouble kneeling, bearing weight, and even bending my knee to put on pants. I went to see an Ortho, and there was concern of a torn PCL. My stomach dropped when I heard that. That would have ended my running before I even really got started. I was sent for an MRI, and the week it took to get the results was like an eternity. To my delight, there was no tear, and the MRI was clean. YAY! A few weeks of physical therapy and I would be right as rain. Today was my follow up. I told my Ortho about my plans to run a half marathon, and he was not only super supportive, he gave me some great advice for strength training and prepping for the event.  Best doctors appointment EVER! And a great way to start the day. After that, I was off to the fair.

Gloomy weather kept fair-goers to a minimum, so the shift there went by slow like molasses in January. It was windy and chilly, and I wished I had pants on (fear not, I was in shorts, and not running around in my skivvies). After my fair shift, I had no agenda. That almost never happens in my life. I usually always have some commitment, or place to be. So with my free, unscheduled time, I decided to take a turn about the fair and see what it had in store for this year. My lunch had been generously paid for by another event staff member, so I opted for Chivetta's chicken. If you aren't from Buffalo, you may not be familiar with it. Chivetta's is a marinade, and it's, well, AMAZING. It makes chicken tender and perfect and fall off the bones. The smell is heavenly and makes your mouth water instantly. I've been breathing in sweet Chivetta's air since last week, and couldn't resist any longer. I sat happily at the table, quietly falling in love with every bite. Yea, it's that good.

When my lunch was finished, I strolled the fairgrounds for about an hour and a half, people watching, checking out vendors, and just enjoying the sun that decided to warm air around me. When I got home, I lazily crawled into bed for a brief evening nap, because, why not. After about an hour, I woke up and found the sun had gone again, but the wind and chill had lingered. I wanted to stay in bed. It was warm and that perfect kind of comfortable that makes it physically impossible to want to move. Lucky for me, I have my lovely Layla to insist on my getting out of bed. I won't lie to you, today I did not want to run. I knew it was going to be a longer than normal run, and staying snuggled up sounded way more appealing than pushing through the wind. But then I thought of you; any followers I have, even a single reader, and I thought, I can't let them down. I can't be lazy. So thank you, whoever you are, if you even exist, for being my motivation today.

So I hoped out of bed, donned my running gear and new shoes, and set out. The wind wasn't so bad, and the cooler air made the run refreshing. I set out to add one mile to my regular run. I didn't care about time, it was about getting it done. And get it done I did. I completed 4 miles in 38 minutes and 42 seconds. That really isn't terrible, and I was carefully pacing myself because I wanted to be sure to finish. And in all honesty, when I was done I felt GREAT! It was like a new running high for me. I set out to accomplish something, and I did. Nothing feels better than that :-)

My next accomplishment involved making all this effort and talk official. Yep, today I registered for the Niagara Falls International Marathon (the half marathon portion). The cost was a bit steep though. I'm a broke college kid who works as a paramedic by night. What that equates to is flat freaking broke. The registration fee was $95! I had no idea where or how I was going to come up with the extra money, especially because I had just bought my pretty new running shoes. Another stroke of luck in my life is that I have been blessed with the most amazing and supportive parents. They tolerate all my crazy endeavors and hair brained ideas with more enthusiasm than a bunch of high school cheerleaders. They are truly crazy, beautiful, wonderful people.  My parents offered to pay my registration fee. I was so excited, I could've cried. That's a lot of money to spend on something intangible, but they know what I means to me, offered their support. How lucky am I?

While today may not have been comical or filled with heart-racing excitement, it was still an amazing day. We so often dwell on the things we don't have, can't get, or have to deal with, we sometimes lose sight of what great things we have. Today was a perspective day for me. A clean bill of health, the ability to push myself farther, and the support of my amazing parents; those are all things that I think I take for granted everyday. So many people don't have any of these things.

So today I am happy, thankful, and filled with love for my quiet, simple and wonderful life.

Monday. The most notoriously unhappy day of each week for most people. My Monday, however, was pretty alright :-) I woke up too late to run (of course. I really should stop saying that and just have it be standing knowledge that morning runs are like flying cars; a great concept, but never going to happen in my life time). Anyway, I started the week with another day at the fair. The day started out beautiful, weather wise, and quickly turned overcast and somewhat muggy. Lucky for me the mugginess was minimal, and when I got home, I geared up for a run. To my delight, just as I headed toward the end of the driveway, the UPS guy approached.
Last week, when I went to Fleet Feet, I was sized for "good running shoes." What made them so good, you ask? Well, the particular shoe I liked was a support shoe that compensated for pronation and heel strike. If you're not a runner I imagine this face right now:
Don't worry, I'll elaborate. Pronation means I'm "pigeon toed" or that my toes point inward when I walk. This has always made me notably clumsy and I trip over air a lot. Embarrassing on its own, worse in stilettoes and hazardous and potentially painful when running. These shoes are supposed to help correct that, which also may mean I won't wear through the toes as quickly, which happens when your feet are always running into each other.
Heel strike is pretty self explanatory; I run like a herd of elephants. All by myself. My poor roommate lives in the basement, and gets to hear me hulk stomp through the kitchen every morning. He particularly hates high heels. He fears one day I may come through the floor.
So these nifty new shoes have rounded heels to keep me from hitting hard on the heel with each stride, which will in turn save my joints and back some massive shock injuries. Instead, these shoes promote hitting the stride mid-foot and pushing off more with the toe. This is a good thing.
Well I was sized for these fancy shoes, and then found out they were $120. This is about average for good shoes, but I'm a broke paramedic/college student. I was going to have to hold off. So that day I went home and wanted to research these shoes more online to make sure they were worth the price, and to see if I could find a better deal. As luck would have it, I did. I found them half off through Finish Line's website! A few clicks later, I was anticipating my new kicks, and today, the man in brown brought them to my door! And what better time than right as I am ready to run?!
So here are the newest addition to my footwear collection:

Aren't they bright and lovely!? So right there on the porch, with the dog all leashed up and ready to go, I plopped my butt down and changed my shoes. I was overwhelmed with excitement! My running was about to instantly improve!
(If you are a runner, and you have ever purchased new and different shoes, you are now laughing at me. I deserve it.)
BAM! Layla and I are off! These feel so different; its awesome! Then I hit the half mile mark. Ooo, my shins; they burn a bit. Haven't felt that in a while.
One mile. My calves; they might explode.
1.5 miles: Work those thighs.
2 miles: OH MY GOD! MY BUTT!
At this point every muscle from the waist down feels like it is on fire or going to tear away from the bone. I think I may have even discovered a few muscles I didn't know I had.
I push through to three miles, and waddle the last block home. By the time I hit my driveway, I am sore and am walking like I just got off a horse and had a pole shoved up my butt. (Visualize. Giggle.)
So, the fun part about shoes that change the way you run is that they change the way your run. Yes, that was redundant, but what I mean is that changing the mechanics changes the muscles you use. Therefore today was like running for the first time all over again. It was as awful as it sounds, and I'm the genius that pushed it for three miles.
In hindsight, I should've broken these bad boys out on a rest day, where a little jog would have been acceptable, and prevented my lower extremities from turning to Jell-O. Lesson learned.
But despite this silly first timers faux pas, I really do love my new shoes, and can't wait for them to be all broken in and for my body to get comfortable running in them. Until then, there will be lots of stretching and walking funny. I am not looking forward to how sore my legs will be tomorrow, but regardless, I shall run on. Tomorrow is my first "long run," which for now means adding a mile to my current distance. Hopefully, my legs wont fall off with my new shoes attached.