I love my feet

There is a reason to love my feet. More than one I believe. In my opinion my feet are probably one of the most important body parts. Without my feet I could not do many daily activities. I couldn't just stand to brush my teeth with my fluorescent green tooth brush. Or walk across the room to use the restroom. I couldn't do calf raises to get those gorgeous hear shaped muscles women so desire; or is that just me?

So many things happen with your feet. You can use them to count above ten and do simple math. You can use them to draw in the sand and create art through foot prints. They are the perfect vehicle for adorable socks, monkey socks to be precise, the kind that freak out my boyfriend because they “stare” at him. With your feet you have toes, which can be adorned with numerous pieces of foot jewelry. Things I didn't know existed until I went to the beach to visit my aunt where I discovered a foot obsession. Though you have to admit, when everyone is wearing a pair of flip flops or running around barefoot you cannot help but look at other people’s feet.

This makes you ponder your own feet. I have said to myself, numerous times, that I need to take better care of them. Wear proper footwear and get them pampered on occasion. Scrub with a pumice stone to keep them pretty. Paint the nails any color of the rainbow I choose because everyone should know that pink, green, and orange nail polish are just kick ass.

I have come to love my feet. They have been with me for the entire 27 years I have graced this planet. They have helped me pick things up off the floor in a pinch or helped me fend off someone or something undesirable. They are weapons if used properly. However, I like to use mine for peaceful reasons.

My favorite activity to do with my feet is run. Running is a perfect sport to me. It’s calming to hear my footsteps as I record mile after mile. I get to buy my feet awesome shoes in every color and style. It’s an excuse to make my feet look cooler than my co-worker at lunch. “Hey, check out my neon green running shoes. They are far more comfortable than those pointy toe stilettos.” Yeah, I’m that girl.

My feet and I run at least five times a week and they have taken me to so many amazing and beautiful places. They take me out into the country as if they have a mind of their own. They want to show me the beauty of the world and specifically my neighborhood. They take me 6 miles out and show me a beautiful lake littered with geese and ducks. They show me an oasis in the middle of the city where the leaves are bright orange and the water trickles down with a sound that makes you want to walk down the creek banks barefoot to feel the squish of mud between your toes.

Yeah, my feet are pretty awesome. They have won me 1^st place in my age group in a 10k race. They have helped me conquer four 5k mud run obstacle races. They have also brought me closer to my mother through a Mother’s Day 5k. They helped me run for Boston in April and to continue to run for good causes like the veterans, autism, or anorexia. They keep me moving and motivated. Without my feet life would be a challenge and I am thankful that I have my feet, for many do not. Many do much greater things without feet than I, even with my feet.

So I take a moment today to look at my feet, smile with pleasure and think of the great things they can do. I also think about the upcoming run I have and how I will enjoy listening to my footsteps as I go off in an adventure to seek the beauty of the world. Who knows, my feet may even make me famous someday. Anything can happen.

Saturday Mornings are Made of This

So what do you do on your Saturday mornings? Sleep in? Get up and get projects/chores done before anyone else is up?

Me, I run. I sleep in an extra hour or so than my weekday schedule and get up and get out before traffic picks up and the world awakens and becomes a scary and dangerous place.

Friday evening, this will make the scary and dangerous place make sense now, I went for a run. I had gone to lunch with a friend so didn't get to go running at my lunch break like I have been. I only did 2 miles and was just about to the 1 mile mark, at about .75 miles when I was getting ready to cross an entrance to the nearby strip mall. It's dark out, about 7:30/8 pm. I am wearing night appropriate clothing and making sure to be careful due to the lack of natural lighting. I see a lady turning so I slowed my pace to let her get through and then saw a UHAUL mid size truck coming up to the stop sign. This is where I 1. made an assumption that he would stop at said stop sign and 2. that I was seen by the man driving. Well I get crossing and he keeps rolling. Of course at this point I'm yelling and waving my arms wildly as I skitter sideways and back so not to get rolled over.

I hear the man shout something at me, which my direct response is to scream "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!!!"

To be certain, you must never assume that a driver sees you or will stop. Another reason to love early morning runs. No one is awake yet ;)

So that was the adventure Friday. Also, on Friday - I am used to having small bugs (aka gnats, grasshoppers, crickets and spiderwebs) come in contact with me at some point on a run. HOWEVER, I am terrified of a lot of bugs. In general I hate bugs. Lady bugs, moths and butterflies I can handle but most are creepy crawly and I can't stand them. I've been known to skitter off in a frantic run (much like the below without the glee) due to a cicada or other large insect trying to invade my runners bubble.

Well this time I was not running, I was driving. Friday was gorgeous out. I had my hat on, I had my windows down, I was rocking to my country tunes and as I merged onto the highway BAM! I saw something out of the corner of my eye and felt something hit me that had come off the road. Well I glance down at my left shoulder and see this cicada just bug eyed looking at me. I freaked out. Completely and utterly freaked out.

A LOT like this, but sitting and in my car unable to get out due to traffic/rush hour and the fact that I was belted in. To say the least I am sure it was hilarious to see for anyone that happened to look over during the event. I flicked the ugly thing off me and proceeded to go into 12 year old girly melt down. I regained composure and kept driving and thankfully it didn't cause a wreck or me to veer off the road into the ditch but none the less. EWWWWWW!!!!!

So Saturdays, I get up and run. This is the day I can enjoy a long leisurely run. No time restrictions, no expectations. Mike is just getting home from work and will be asleep until 1pm at the earliest. This is my time, quiet time, me time.

On this particular morning, it was a bit chilly. 49 degrees to start (to me that is glorious running weather). So I put on a hoodie with my shorts and proceeded to hit the pavement. I have recently found a route that takes me around a small lake that is filled with wildlife and peacefulness at early hours.

 If you look closely there are some black specs by the double tree line. Those are mallards. This is a beautiful running route and just challenging enough.

Of course I turn the corner, expecting the big fluffy dog that usually greets me and I find this.

GEESE!!! Being that Mike is a hunter and I am slowly getting into hunting all I think is "TASTY!!!!" They are delicious birds. Glazed in chili sauce...yum!!! (anyone that wants the recipe can go here).

So I ended up pausing for a good 10 minutes or so just watching the geese. I enjoyed the down time to just enjoy nature. The blue sky and clouds and the fact that the geese hadn't flown off. I did come home and show Mike the amazing group of geese I had found, unfortunately it's in city limits so hunting is a big no no here.

After finishing my morning run I came home to have some breakfast and actually utilize the back deck for once.

It was a bit chilly to be sitting out after running and sweating but it was peaceful and I was having fun watching squirrels chase each other.

Today I found out my official time and my placement in the Run for Freedom 10k from 9/28/2013.

I placed first in my age group and 11th overall. I am beyond excited. I have contacted the race director to see if a prize was given out to those that placed in their age group. I have yet to hear back.

So there it is folks, the running update.

So what do you do with your Saturday mornings?

First 10k - Run for Freedom Warrensburg, MO

Run for Freedom 10k was this morning at 9 am.

This was my first 10k. I was excited and nervous. Anytime I do a specific race for the first time I'm always nervous.

Of course what made me a little extra nervous morning was the fact that I dreamt that I was late waking up and missed the race completely. (First time I have ever dreamt about race, does this make me more of a runner?)

So I usually make shirts for my races to reflect my personality or the race. This go around I made a race to reflect that the race was for the veterans and I have veterans in my family, quite a few.

So this race was dedicated to my family. Grandpa Rapp, Grandpa Walker, Uncle Mike, Uncle Don, Aunt Judy, cousin Carl, and of course my parents. This is for them and I am very thankful I have had them in my life.

So I got up this morning and ate breakfast, something different as I wanted something to give me more energy than the usual cereal, milk and banana I typically eat. So I fixed up some oatmeal, tossed in some protein powder and milk and called it breakfast. It was actually quite delicious and definitely held me over through the race. Which shocked me since I tend to be a ravenous eating machine.

So my wonderful boyfriend who works out there said he would just come after work (10 hour shift from 10 pm to 7 am) and see me off and watch me come in. He was also my camera man.

He likes to try to get candid photos of me which I always seem to catch and make an angry or stony face.

Like me putting my stuff away after grabbing my wallet. Silly man.

Since I knew it was raining I had said something about wearing a long sleeve during the race and Mike offered up his under armor all weather long sleeve which actually fit quite well.

It was nice and sunny when I arrived to pick up my packet but the clouds and rain had followed me and were looming in the distance as we waited for the race to start.

We waited around as some of the directors and local politicians made appearances and announcements. We then followed up with what I think was the SLOWEST rendition of the National Anthem before they announced the 10k runners to line up. It had been raining on and off at this point and I'm not sure if they were trying to stall or if they were just behind. Regardless, you could tell by the sky that we were going to be rained on, regardless.

So they finally blow the horn to go and we are off. About 30 runners for the 10k. Not too shabby and a nice small local race. I'm starting to dig these small town races. They are comfortable and not cramped when running down the road.

The course was relatively level minus the three hills that could have forced less experienced runners to walk. I just controlled my breathing and kept going. While out on the course I got compliments for my shirt from other runners. I also love the community of runners because they can be some of the most kind people you will ever meet. At one point  we had come up our last bad hill and caught up with the 5k people that were in the rear half of runners.

I saw this Army guy with his rucksack and ran up to get beside him. I stuck my hand out for a high five and told him he was doing awesome and that I appreciated his service. He said thanks and that we are all looking like Hollywood today. At that point the rain had calmed down. Around mile 3 the sky had just opened up.

Yes, we were running in this ^

Yes I loved it every minute. :)

The guy I had given a high five (bald) had a buddy he was doing this race with. Mike happened to take this picture of them. Most awesome picture of the day if I do say so myself. I would definitely say this is patriotic.

Mike then also got this picture of them after they had crossed. We salute you men and thank you for what you do for this country.

So I saw these men when I crossed the finish line, they were chatting with people from the Veterans home.

I had felt great during the whole race and had been pacing a gal for the entire race. Then I hit mile 5 and was starting to feel it. Was ready to be done. So I got around where I can see the Veterans home and I am thinking, awesome almost done. Well then I had to run down and around to the back side of the home and go up what is the LONGEST driveway EVER to reach the finish line.

I did reach the finish line and could see Mike standing front and center waiting for me. Then I hear a duck call which makes me smile and laugh as I power out the last 300 meters of the race.

You can't see it but I"m smiling in this picture because I heard Mike blowing on the duck call, which also makes everyone at the finish line laugh. I am also so very glad I wore under armor because a white tee and rain do not mix well. I felt like a drowned rat after the race but didn't feel soaked on my upper body. I will be buying many UA shirts in the future. I am convinced of how amazing it is.

My unofficial time is 51:30 and I am happy with that since I typically pace out at 9 min to 9:30 min miles for longer than 4 miles. I will definitely do this race again. It's a town that's got that Midwest charm and definitely a cause I can get behind. The volunteers are also amazing. They stood out in the rain with signs and encouraging words for the runners. To top it off it's great to see the veterans out and participating with nurses in the poker walk/run and enjoying a great atmosphere that is their home. They are well taken care of there at the MO Veterans Home. Kudos to those that work there and help these people daily.

Stay healthy and keep running.

Temperature and it's Power

As with the rest of society that doesn't necessarily run, there are people who like the hot summer days and those that do not.

I personally am not a hot summer day person. Precisely the reason I get up at 5:50 am or 6 am to go run. I refuse to run in anything above 85 degrees because it makes me sluggish and cranky. 

Cranky like when you're tired and hungry but too lazy to make food kind of cranky.

So this morning my run was glorious, absolutely amazing. 1. I could actually breathe the outside air without feeling suffocated. 2. It was 60 degrees and brisk. AHHHHHHHH!!! Prime running temps in my book.

Autumn, the time of the year runners like myself wait for so that we no longer have to endure 85% humidity at 73 degrees. 

Today I took an easy run as I had maxed myself out yesterday with 3 miles, lunch workout, followed by an intense body pump class after work. So I was quite exhausted by the time I got home after the gym.

So exhausted in fact that I could barely hold up my cellphone to text people back and respond. To the point I was laying on the couch as my boyfriend was leaving for work and he just looks at me and says "why don't you just go upstairs and go to bed?" It was 8:30 pm.......yeah...THAT tired.

Which I of course did go upstairs and lay in bed for about 30 minutes fighting sleep before I gave in and just crashed.

So this morning an easy run where I encountered "Badger" the excitable Rottweiler and his owners who were quite friendly.

Of course as I'm running along the sidewalk I had to duck under some lower hanging branches, because for whatever reason the city/apartment complex that has that property don't care about the look of the area or the insanity that is low hanging limbs in this neighborhood. It's beyond ridiculous at the overgrowth. So as I duck and say good morning to the owners and dog on the street I bump the top of my head on the branch and of course on the actual branch and not just the leaves. Ugh, keep running and pretend nothing happened right?

On my way back on my 1 mile loop I hear this coughing sound coming from the apartment complex that is near my house. They have these little patios that are surrounded by privacy fence. I hear the coughing which turns to hacking and then the sounds of puking. If that doesn't make you run faster I'm not sure what will...I just didn't want to stick around to find out more.

6.2 training miles tomorrow as I have a 10k on the 28th, my first ever. :) I'm excited and it's for the Missouri Veterans. So I am totally cool with where my money is going.

I can finally scratch that race itch as well, before my 5k mud run in October.

Sidelined but Back in the Saddle

When you're a runner anything that prevents you from running irritates you and can drive you to a madness that only runners can understand.

This happened to me this weekend. I woke up Saturday, full intentions to run 6 miles. I had noticed my throat started to hurt a bit on Friday night but figured I could sleep it off. Well Saturday morning Mike came home from work and looked at me (he had asked me to come out and help him unload the truck of palates to use for shelving) and asked if I was ok or just grumpy. I said that my throat hurt and that I had just woken up too. As we got along Mike told me I was to take a rest day and then later that day took my temperature because I seemed warm. Well when that thermometer dinged at me it showed 100.6...yeah, rest day, whether I like it or not.

So I told myself, ok this will take no more than today to break and shake if I rest and stay pretty inactive. I did, ate soft foods, took dayquil and drank lots of water.

By the end of the day my fever had gone down to 98.6 to 99.2. Ok, sleep it off and I can run tomorrow, Sunday's are good running days.

Well woke up and temp skyrocketed and I was told to stay in bed again. :( Now I'm grumpy...no run = grumpy lady.

So I took that on and said, fine, I'll just start back up on Monday, no biggie, one weekend off. Well up until that point other than a fever, headache, and sore throat (which turned up with swollen glands as well) I felt overall fine as far as not wanting to puke or have to stay in the bathroom all day.

Then 2pm hit on Sunday and it was all downhill from there. So yeah, I spent the next 7 hours feeling terrible and not wanting to do or eat anything even though my loving and adoring boyfriend made me eat at least a little applesauce.

After the grand finale of my illness before bed he set up glow sticks in the hall to the bathroom to make sure he knew if I were laying on the floor again should he get up in the middle of the night. I slept soundly through the rest of the night and woke up with glow bracelets on both arms.....yes we have a glow stick problem at our house.

So Monday I started to feel a lot better but began to get bored quick since I wasn't feeling sick and my temperature had gone down. I had wanted to run just 1 mile but wasn't allowed to exert myself beyond walking at the gym on an incline... *sigh*

But hey, walking is better than nothing. I got 1.57 miles in on that treadmill and enjoyed every minute of it despite my love/hate relationship with stationary cardio equipment.

So today was my first day back to normal where I was not limited in my running.

Yes I was this happy this morning, regardless of not being the slightest bit tired at bedtime, due to having a hunters education class last night until 10pm. So even after only about 4 hrs and 50 min of sleep I was stil ecstatic and eager to lace up and get out.

Stepped out and it was horribly muggy at an 80% humidity and only 70 degrees which definitely felt more like 80.

I did 3 miles, which in retrospect probably was too much as my pace was right along the 8:30 per mile. But in my eagerness and ecstasy of being able to get back to running I did it anyway. Realized at about 2.5 miles I should probably walk up the last hill to not kill myself. 

The final thing on my run was that as I was on my block and heading toward the house I heard a cicada that was laying in the road, it was dying and just fluttering and skittering around the road. Well it fluttered and skittered toward me and I completely spazzed out and jumped, ran, and shouted "Oh my God no!"

Me and bugs, yeah don't mix in general. However, cicadas and june bugs are at the top of my list. Along with rather large spiders. Though George, my friendly porch spider has since disappeared on me. Though I have found friends have taken over where he left off. Though they are going to have to learn the rules of not spinning webs across the walking areas. I reprimanded them last night saying that I would spray if they didn't stop it. Yes, I talk to the critters outside and I do literally run like captain jack there when a cicada comes near me.

So back in the running saddle after only 3 days off, at least it was no more than that. No running makes me grumpy and we shouldn't have that.

Plan this week is 3 today, 2 tomorrow, 3 Thursday, 2 Friday, and 6 Saturday with a rest day on Sunday. We will see what adventures come to me between now and the next post - I usually have a few.

Running Tired and Sore

This past week, well in reality, month has been rough as far as running goes. I've been what I feel to be sluggish, lethargic and just flat out uninterested some mornings. This all began end of July after I had packed, moved, and then flown out to New York (Syracuse) with my mother for a family reunion.

I also ran a local 5k in Rome NY (Honor America Days 5k Parade Run).

Came in 4th place in my age group, so close to a little homemade trophy, it's ok though. I didn't go for glory. Went for the experience and fun, which it most definitely was. We ran through downtown Rome, NY. Which is a quaint little town that reminded me of my hometown Leavenworth, KS. The route was also the parade route. The parade started at 10, which was about 30 min after the final runners came in from the race.

As you ran along the race course you had people sitting outside their houses in lawn chairs as well as on their patios and porches watching and cheering as racers, family members and friends ran by. It was awesome. Such a great community, none of whom I knew from Adam.

I enjoyed the easy and flat course and was quite surprised that my pace was really good for me, around 8 min per mile. That's a good race pace for me, steady but not sprinting.

We finally get through to the last stretch, of course you pick up your pace and basically sprint the last few hundred meters. Prior to the race I had been chatting with one of the ladies who helps put this race together. Of course I"m not from there and they don't recognize me or the name. I'm also wearing a KC Royals tank top to represent home. Eventually it gets to that subject and that I'm from Kansas. She looks at me shocked and says, you may just be our first Kansas runner and definitely have come the farthest.

So as I approach the finish line I hear that lady say to their announcer (who seems to know everybody that is crossing the finish line) "That's the girl from Kansas City!" So then I hear this older gentleman announce my presence to the crowd "And here comes the Kansas City Kid!" Made me smile and it was an honor to be announced like that. I should do more small town races. This race had about 250 people, the smallest race I have participated in to date. It was fun though and would definitely do it again should I be back up that way when it's being held.

So, since that time, around July 27 I have been a bit sluggish. The running in NY was fabulous because mornings were in the 60's. It was gorgeous!

I get back home and it's muggy and 90. So back to the early morning runs. But between traveling (Newark airport to NY and Chicago O'Hare back to KC) and moving prior I think my body has finally gotten to the point where it's just tired.

So this week particularly I have struggled to pace under 9 min a mile. Sometimes I will get closer to my desired 8:30 pace but not often. Even my 1 mile sprints have been lacking going from sub 7 to over 8:30.

So what to do? Well ease up, keep going, and not worry about it. Things tend to work themselves out quite well on their own. Don't rush it and when your body aches and screams be sure to be kind and let it relax a little as well as take a much needed rest. Also foam roll those achy legs. Especially when you have done a crazy leg day workout and are sore From Wednesday through the end of the week. (I just want to be able to sit without aching).

All in all, lesson is. We all have days, weeks, months, even sometimes a whole year where our running, workouts, or other activities just aren't quite where they could, should, want them to be. This happens, embrace what you have and keep moving. Just not as hard or as intense necessarily. You have to love your body too, and that sometimes means rest - unadulterated do nothing kind of rest. (Yes I hate those kinds of rest days too but they are necessary on occasion.)

So tomorrow I rest, not a complete lazy rest day but I will not be running and I will stay active through spending time with my favorite guy.

Challenges for Running

So recently, about the last few weeks, my left hip has started giving me grief. Mostly after runs that last longer than 2 miles. Those long 5-6 mile runs have really done a number to the point where I go to do some ab exercises where I need to lift my legs and it's painful.

I've been trying to keep it easy and now am planning to buy new tires for my bicycle trainer so I can do that for a week or so to let the tissues heal.

Then Mike said something to me last night, something I had not thought of.

I was griping about the possibility of not running for a few weeks or at least not long runs and he said, "Could it be your shoes? How old are your running shoes?"

I looked at him in awe, like, 'I just bought those not long ago.'

I thought about it and it was right before some of my April races due to needing new shoes after a mud run. I said, late April. He looked up how long running shoes lasted and gave a scientific answer as to how the cushion and padding in the shoe should bounce back etc. So I grabbed my shoes and checked the bottom. (They look pretty worn honestly)

Worn the nubs right out of the ball of the shoe

So I looked, poked and prodded my shoes and handed them to him to do the same. I remember something about shoes lasting about 300 miles. So 20 weeks x 15 miles a week (on average) = 300 miles. Yeah they are right up there and ready to be replaced. So now the hunt for new shoes begins. This should be interesting as I can't say I have a preference on brand let alone I'm a cheapskate when it comes to purchases. I will buy expensive name brand shoes if they are highly discounted. Much like I have my last two pairs (not having spent more than $40 in the last 10 pairs of shoes I have used to run in.)

So let the adventure and challenge of buying new running shoes begin.