I CAN do it!

With my fundraising goal met and my injuries from the Fiddler's 5k healed (mostly) it was time to focus on my training.

 

I took a week off from training to get my shin splints and kneed healed and rested. But that 1/2 marathon will be here before I know it. No more excuses.

 

This past week was really busy with work and I found I could only get out and train once and it was a very wimpy 2.5 miles. I wasn't feeling the motivation and barely even ran. The most I got out of that run was the fact that a seagull pooped on my leg while I was running #floridaproblems

 

I registered for a 10k earlier last week, the Winter Park Road Race, after two of my DC teammates encouraged that to be our Saturday training. Even though I had already completed 6.5 and 7.4 miles in past trainings, I felt no where near where I should be and felt nervous about completing it.

 

My two teammates have been doing interval trainings (walk 1:30, run 1:30) and I had decided I would do that with them. One even asked the morning of and I said "oh ya, I can't run this."

 

It was a pretty crowded race and I was started a little towards the back, which is where I was comfortable with. Starting the Fidd's 5k at the front was awful, I started way faster than I had planned and it killed me around mile 2.

 

I started jogging very, very slowly. I was caught in the crowd and I tried to stay with my friends, but I just couldn't go any slower, I felt like I was jogging in place. My first mile was over 12 minutes, and after I hit the first mile the slower racers started tapering off, the faster ones were long gone, and I was surrounded by runners who were at my pace.

 

I was feeling really good at this point, wasn't to tired, nothing hurt, and feeling a lot of energy. I made it to the 2 miles at an 11:30 pace and I was still feeling great. I wanted to make it to the 5k since I had never run a full 5k before.

 

I made it to the 5k and was still feeling good, so I changed my goal to make it 4 miles.

 

Once I made it passed 4 miles I was starting to feel tired and was thinking about stopping and walking for a little bit...but then I heard "you only have 2 miles to go, you are over halfway done, just keep going." And I didn't stop.

 

There was a water stop at 4.5 that I grabbed as I ran through, but kept going.

 

When I hit 5 miles I was really struggling. I wanted to stop so bad, but at this point I had ONE mile to go! I could do it!

 

I kept thinking if I could make it through this last mile I could officially say I ran the WHOLE thing!

 

On previous posts and status's I make sure I say I COMPLETED x miles, I don't want people thinking I'm actually running this stuff. I'm no super women, I am really starting at 0.

 

If you've seen this vine, you'd know what I'm talking about. You must clap while you say it.

"Do it for the vine, do it for the vine, do it for the vine."

 

I wasn't vining, but I did want to make a status, so this went through my head:

"do it for the status, do it for the status, do it for the status"

 

That last mile was seriously so tough, I couldn't go any faster even if I wanted too. I could see Park Ave right around the corner and I could see the finish line in the distance. I kept panting "omg, I'm almost there, I'm almost there," which may have caused the wicked side pain I got the last .2 miles.

I usually finish my races pretty strong, but there was nothing left, I just wanted to finish.

 

As I was getting close, I heard my name called out and I saw my dad! He was in Florida for business but didn't think he would be in WP in time, it was so great to see him so close to the end of my race.

I finished the race in 1:11 minutes and average 11:33 mile. Not to shabby I think.

 

With a little bit of celebrating afterwards, I was feeling pretty great about myself. It was an awesome feeling to push myself and to prove to myself that I really CAN run!

Now, I have no excuses when I train.

Right after I finished

And I got my beer!

Fundraising & Running Update

Miles: 7.4

Money Raised: $3,670.36

Percentage to Complete: 115%

Amount to raise to ROCKSTAR STATUS: $529.64

Days till Race: 42 

 

 

FUN-raising

Last week felt like Christmas.

Maybe even a little better.

I have been struggling with my fundraising and wasn't seeing as quick results as I had hoped. I hoped my friends would see my fb requests and read my blog and just donate, but it wasn't happening and I was feeling discouraged and I felt stuck. I began to worry if I would even make close to the amount I was required.

My TNT mentor, Danielle, sent us an email with a challenge.

I figured, what can it hurt? Dream big and I might get a decent amount, dream bigger and I could get $1,000, dream the biggest and I may even make my goal.

I posted the challenge Monday afternoon and immediately I saw results.

The donation emails started coming in like hot cakes!

I was getting donations from people from high school, college, sorority sisters, family, acquaintances, and even strangers.

I was definitely feeling the love and the support. 

It was almost overwhelming.

I wanted to show immediate thanks to my donaters and keep the buzz in people's ear about my challenge, so every time I got a donation I gave that individual their very own facebook shout out. 

It's just two days I raised $400, in three days it was over $500, in four days, it was over $800, and the last day I reached over $1,000. It was AMAZING!

What took me to the top was my aunt, who graciously donated the $600 to get me to my goal! I was speechless, I literally thought I was going to start crying when I saw the email from TNT telling me I made my goal.

But it wasn't over with yet! Donations still came in! My friends continue to donate and I ended up raising $3,670! That's $470 OVER my initial goal and commitment.

Now I have made a new goal. To raise $1,000 over my commitment of $3,200. If I am able to do this, I earn ROCKSTAR Status. My singlet will have rockstar on the back and i'll earn a pin and certificate. 

But more than, it shows that I have an awesome support system, because I definitely would not have anything if it wasn't for all of my amazing family and friends!

Now I just have to run a half marathon...

TNT Update 3.2

Two months to go to my half marathon and the training is getting tougher and the runs have to start getting longer.

I took a "break" this week. For no particular reason besides a combination of being lazy and busy.

I only get two afternoons off a week and work at the Y at 5 on Mondays/Wednesday/Fridays. Monday  and Wednesday, I had to run errands after work before the Y work and Tuesday I had to get projects done, and Thursday I had to stay late for a work event.

So, I took the week off and I paid for it at my race on Saturday.

My friend Meg and I signed up for the local Irish 5K, Fiddler's Green 5K and it was bright and early Saturday morning.

The race was fun with lots of runners dressed up St. Pat's themed, but the course was a little challenging. It went through neighborhoods, uneven ground at times, and a few hills. We were lucky to get to the very front of the group, but when the whistle blew to start running I was QUICKLY passed by all the experienced runners and I started the my race a little faster than I would have prefered as I was going with the crowd.

I ran my first mile at a 10:08 pace, which is almost a minute faster than my previous records. It was about there that I quit and started my staggered training, which I have decided is the best way for me to complete the half marathon. From there I was able to keep a pace of an 11:30 mile and finished the 5k under 34 minutes, which was another PR for me.

I knew I could do better, but mentally I could not get myself to keep pushing. That is my biggest block; thinking too much.

It was like the angel and devil on my shoulders as I ran. The angel side was trying to give my body the mental pushes to keep going "don't let that kid pass you, get to the stop sign, that old lady is going faster, you did 7 miles last week, that man is running and pushing a stroller...."

The devil side said screw you, I don't care

And most of the time, the devil side won. I know I could have PR'd a lot better than I did, but mentally I didn't want to.

I didn't get the rush of adrenaline until I could see the finish line and saw the timer at 33 minutes. I knew I had to be under 34 so I started to sprint and finished strong.

Of course, it being an Irish race, we were rewarded after with a large beer and a shot of Whiskey.

Honestly, every race should end with a beer at 9am.

I didn't take too much time to rest and met my friends at 10 to go to an amusement park all day. The weather was beautiful and it was a great day. But my choice of flip flops after a race was not smart.
I strained the tendon below my right knee and my shin splints started to come in full force! I iced my knee Saturday night and Sunday while I was at work and it feels much better. But those pesky shin splints have made their presence known.

I kept saying, it's not a matter of if I get shin splints, but when.
I got them every year during track in high school. It's due to my flat feet. I have professionally made inserts in my shoes, but they still hurt. It's a sharp, full leg pain, and it's a pain in my ass. 

I'm trying out KT tape to see what all the fuss is about. It's supposed to give support and injury prevention. I've been wearing them all day yesterday and today and it doesn't feel much different.
I think I'll try to re-tape them tonight.

I'm only 40 days away from my final funds for my race and I've got 42% to go. Be prepared friends for me to go fundraising crazy!

Kate's Fundraising Page

 Fundraising & Running Update

Miles: 7.4

Money Raised: $1,865.36

Percentage to Complete: 58%

Amount left to go:  $1,334.64

Days till Race: 55