I decided not to run a marathon in April. In fact I took a long break from running. I would still run but it would be a mile or two. My body definitely needed the break. I gained almost 20lbs from last year and have been able to get 13 of those pounds off, since the 1st of the year.
I started a 100 day challenge and today marks days 74 of working out every day. Some days are hard workouts, other days are lighter workouts but at least 30 minutes of raising my heart rate. It has been a fun challenge and now it is more of a lifestyle to workout daily.
Another challenge Brandon and I started was a clean eating challenge. We eat very little processed food and it is amazing the changes your body makes and how fast your body changes. I have cheat days but for the majority of the time we eat very clean.
Now onto my 1st race of the year! Last year by this time I had 3 races done for the year. This is the longest I have gone without racing since I started running. I have been running, running shorter distances, doing lots of intervals to increase my speed, in fact the first time I ran 6.2 this year was on Monday March 11th. I ran that 6.2 in 10 seconds slower then my PR last year. So my only goal for this year was to break my time of 54:38 from last year.
I registered me, Brandon and my boss Tom. Tom said that he would help me PR. I told him that my average pace to PR needed to be 8:30. Tom and I carpooled over and since Brandon was working he met us there. I met up with my friend Bryan (the one I ran the full with) I said "I'm just gonna hang with Bryan." I think it came out wrong, because what I meant was if I run with Bryan I will for sure PR because he has been working on speed and he had a goal of PR'ing!
The race started and I felt great. I told Tom that I wasn't going to look at my watch so I would have no clue where we were pace wise. It was cold, much colder then last year. Last year I wore shorts and a tank, this year was leggings, a t-shirt, and a jacket. We got to mile one and were at 8:22. Right on track to PR. It was windy and Tom got in front of me telling me to stay on his heels and he will block the wind. We hit mile 2 on Denison. The lady yelled out 16:20, still on track to PR. We get to the turn around and finally have the tail wind! I am feeling drained. We hit 3 miles at 24:22. At this point I can no longer do math because I swear I have lost time and am no longer going to PR. Tom tells me I have to pick up the pace if I want to PR. At mile 4 he tells me that I have lost 7 seconds and I need to make it up if I want to PR. I beast up the hill going through campus knowing that I have time to make up. Mile 5 Tom tells me that at the pace I am going I will break 50 minutes. I had no clue that we were running that fast. Mile 5 to 6, I slow down. I had nothing left I was spent!! We run around the park and Tom kept pushing me. I see the finish line an I try to kick it in but I honestly had nothing left. I crossed the line in 50:36. An average mile of 8:09. 4 minutes 2 seconds faster then my PR last year. I wanted to cry, throw up, pass out. I gave Tom the biggest hug and thanked him numerous times. He said I didn't do anything just pushed me to my potential.
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| Tom: My own personal pacer. Helping me crush my goal! |
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| Bryan who Pr'd in both the 2 mile run and the 10k! He is such a great motivator and friend! |
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| My wonderful handsome hubby who pushes me! I love him! |
Yesterday was exactly what I needed. I am a wee bit sore today, but it is an amazing feeling. I now know that I can push myself to uncomfortable paces and that my body can handle it! Look out Freedom Run 10k I am going to break 50!!
