Why I Run

Tonight I felt good about my run for the first time in a few weeks.  It was a short one...a little over three miles...but it felt good.  My hip still hurts...icing it now...but tonight just felt good. 

Don't get me wrong, it was still tough.  I had to continue to remind myself why I run, which may have been what made it feel so good.  Over and over in my mind: "I run because I'm 33 and my dad started with heart trouble in his mid thirties (died at 38)." "I run because I'm blessed with the ability to do so and so many others aren't." "I run because I'm training to run a half marathon in support of sweet little beauties with cancer that don't have the same ability (by the way, have to throw in my fundraising pitch :)  You can click here to sponsor my half and donate to St. Jude)."  "I run because I love my body and I want to take care of it."  Over and over...this was what was running through my mind as I was running down the street.

I'm a little over two months away from the big race.  Hoping for another good run tomorrow and then upping to seven miles on Saturday.  Holy smokes!  SEVEN miles.  That's insane!



                                                                                      Jessica

Worst Runner Ever

Either running is the most frustrating sport there is, or I'm the worst runner ever.  Or maybe a little bit of both.

Let me start by saying I've had this hip pain (I'm an old lady) for about 2 weeks.  At first I was able to run through it and be ok, but this passed weekend I was supposed to up my run to 6 miles and made it about 2.5 before I had to stop.  The pain was excruciating and I just couldn't go any further. 

I spent Monday night with a runner friend and a few of her runner friends and got some good advice, was shown some hip strengthening exercises, took a couple of days off to recover, and thought tonight I'd be able to make it.  Now keep in mind, my long run is only 6 miles right now, so during the week I'm only supposed to run between 3 and 4 miles.  Tonight was just awful...hip was hurting, I had no drive, no stamina...I just didn't even want to be out there.  It was almost like I had never run before.  Ok, that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but not much.  I have two and a half months before I'm supposed to run 13.1 miles.  Can someone please remind me what made me think that would ever be possible??  I'm just so disappointed in myself.

I'm going to give it a go again tomorrow and I have another chance at the 6 miles this weekend.  Fingers crossed...



                                                                                        Jessica

First Race!

So.  Yesterday I ran my first race since I started training.  I ran the Chick Fil A 5k in downtown Memphis and I was awful!  Ha! It was a very last minute decision...literally decided Sunday night that I was going to run it on Monday morning.  So Monday morning I got up (late), threw my running clothes on and was out the door.  The whole way downtown I was trying to talk myself out of it.  I was tired, I was going alone, there were millions of reasons for me to turn around and go back home.  But I didn't. And I'm so glad!  What an experience!  It was exciting from the time I walked into Auto Zone Park to register.  There was a band playing, tons of runners, and we got a fun little goody bag. 

So I got registered and headed to the start line.  I read online the day before that if you expected to win anything to make sure you make your way to the front of the start line.  So I stayed at the back.  Literally the back...behind 2000+ people.  The start was a little tough.  It was hard trying to make my way through the walkers, finding a hole so I could get in my groove.  But I got there.  Finally got in my groove.  And then quickly fell out of it.  I didn't run the entire 3.2, which was frustrating, since I've run 3 miles straight lots of times.  It was HOT and I'm not used to running in the day time.  Since it's been so hot I've been running at 8p or later.  I also had to carry my goody bag with me the whole time.  Like I mentioned earlier, I was running late, so I didn't have time to make it back to my car before the race started.  Oh well.  Lesson learned.  Get there early or take a friend to hold your stuff!  I can still tell you the best part of the race and the worst for me.  Best was turning the corner onto Riverside Drive and feeling the incredible breeze come off the river.  Ahhh.  Worst would be turning the corner onto Beale and heading straight up hill.  Lord help.  At the end of the race we came into Auto Zone Park (Redbirds Stadium) and crossed the finish line right at third base.  That was pretty cool!  My time was ridiculously slow.  So slow that I'm not going to share.  :)  But I'm happy to at least have a time to beat at the next race. 

After the race Chick Fil A provided free chicken sandwiches (YUM!) and people just hung out in the stadium.  So fun!

I'm such a nerd, I know, but the most exciting part to me was getting my very first racing bib! 

Can't wait for the next race!




                                                                                             Jessica