A Runner's Accessories!!!

Who doesn't love to accessorize, right??? And who would have thought there would be more to running than just shoes? Chris ALWAYS makes fun of all the "extras" that go into Fashionable Running.

You know what I'm talking about . . .

The Clothes! Shorts? Tights? Tank? Tee or Long Sleeve?
Arm Warmers? Gloves?
The Socks!
The Shoes!
The Sports Bra!
The Bodyglide!
The Fuel Belts
The Water Bottles, handheld, backpack, etc.
The Hats, Visors, Headbands!

I made a little mosaic with some ideas I have...trying to get a VISUAL!!!!

NEVER MIND THAT BUT NOW WHAT COLOR??!!!???!!!??!!!?!!?!?!?!?!?

And let's NOT FORGET the jewelry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are SO MANY cute things you can get!!! I love the simple necklace and want the charm bracelet too!!! I mean seriously, check out the charms!!! You KNOW I'll be adding on the Tri charms, and all the races I've done too! LOL

OH BOY....
DECISIONS,DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!!!

4 miles

Treadmill AGAIN....felt fine but was SUPER thirsty tonight, only brought 8 oz on the treadmill and didn't want to get off to fill it! LOL Nothing really to write about tonight, but did THINK ALOT about the marathon. NEED to get my music in order before this race!!!! That along with my outfit, plan Adrianna's birthday party, our trip to Dallas to get her American Girl doll, the Daddy Daughter Dance, oh yeah and Valentines Day/my Sis's bday!!! HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as I'm waiting for my Garmin to upload, I'M HACKING UP A LUNG!!!!!!!!!!!!Kimmers ALWAYS cracks me up with her comical little pictures so I found this and it's TOTALLY what I feel like right now!!! My ribs and back are KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Miles

This week and next will be tough since Chris is gone mid week, ugh! Will have to improvise, forget about the long mid week run and just still get my 3 days of running in, at least for 30 minutes each time and be satisfied with that.

I am concerned about this cough. It's a hoarse hacking cough and it sucks! It's at its worst when I come to a stop. I'm going to just consider it bronchitis recovery/cedar fever and continue to listen to my body. Had a good pace for the first 10 minutes and then did 2/1 sprints on the treadmill tonight and it felt good. Knees are a little sore, but nothing some ice packs and ibuprofen won't take care of!

Time for a quick bubble bath and bed!

16 Miles

Since I clicked "mode" before allowing it to locate the sattelites, my first .11 miles on there but we went by Heidi's garmin so I KNOW I didn't cheat myself at all.

Today was TOUGH! But I'll first start by the awesome stuff. This course was GORGEOUS!!! We ran through Sun City in Georgetown and I was in love. Hutto sucks as far as scenery and elevation goes for sure. We started off fine, my chest didn't seem to bother me much even though it was cold out. First 6 miles went by abnormally fast, guess it was all the talking and admiring the TREES all around us! We made a stop for the bathroom and water at a little mini mart and that is when the coughing fit happened! Coughed so much I had to use the inhaler but tried not to focus on it and just get back out there....it was WAYYYYYYYY to early to think ANYTHING negative!

Heidi then led me to a little trail somewhere right in the middle of the run and I've never seen anything so pretty! I LOVED being in the woods. (would NEVER do it alone though, FOR SURE!) All I could see in front of me and around me were beautiful fallen leaves, creeks and little bridges to run over and I just fell in love...definitely the best part of the run even though it did hurt the bottoms of my feet. (the rocks and the uneven ground) I'm also attributing some of my left knee pain to this!

I hung tough even after the next and last bathroom trip having another major coughing fit. This was at mile 13 and sort of did me in...last 3 miles were harder than last week's 18 miler. I told myself that it was probably because I'm still recovering and not to be hard on myself...I DID THE 16 and that's what mattered!

The course was a seemingly NONSTOP incline with hills and the trails. Definitely the toughest course I've done yet so I'm very surprised that my pace was almost the same as my 18 miler which had a good portion of it flat (down 79). I huffed and puffed like a baby wanting to walk the last .5mile but did it.

Heidi was encouraging, conversation was great, all in all AWESOME RUN!

As usual, my runner's "high" comes when I'm FINISHED running....LOL!!

2 Miles

Well, I went out there still a little stiff from Saturday and ran with Kim. Her hip hurt so we kept it slow and short! Later on that night I came down with a SEVERE virus! Couldn't get out of bed!!! Sweats, chills, bodyaches, difficulty breathing, etc. Went to the dr. on Thursday since I was STILL IN BED and she said it was a bad virus and bronchitis. Dr. ordered NO RUNNING until Monday the 24th.

I'm going to try to do 16 miles with Heidi in Georgetown...we'll see how it goes!

18 Miles

Well this was my LONGEST DISTANCE TO DATE!!!!!!!!!!! I felt GREAT!!! My training isn't going as well as I was hoping. My schedule just doesn't allow for intense training and I just have to be okay with that.

I've lowered my expectations of what I'm going to achieve with this marathon. It's my first and it's very doubtful I'll get close to a 4:30. I'm just hoping to finish it, that's all. I love the way I feel AFTER a run, and that keeps me going, well that and I paid $125 for Austin Marathon...I have to finish! LOL

Seriously though, I LOATHE the shorter distances. There is so much planning and thought that goes into the big miles that it just seems more "worth it"...not only that but I feel strangely GOOD when I'm on these long runs. Maybe it's having a group around me, maybe it's getting past the first hell 3 miles and moving up. I don't know. I just like it.

I was very doubtful about this run.

I woke up, it was COLD and RAINING but we did it and DID IT WELL!!! I was thrilled. I conquered those hills like nothing, one at a time. How did I do this? I am not even doing 100% of what I'm supposed to be doing???!!!! Sheer will. Determination. Heart.

I have no other explanation. But it did build up my confidence for the marathon for sure!!!

3 Miles