We Did It -- Crossed the Finish Line!!

A GREAT DAY!  Girls on the Run 5K is officially over -- and I reached my goal. I crossed the finish line and high-fived Homer. My friend Maureen O'Boyle cheered me on at the end...and snapped a shot before I slapped the finish line banner and got my medal from whom other than, Sue Gorman!!

Running with those girls lifted my spirits and showed me there is no challenge that can't be overcome.

Thanks to my running buddies -  The Watts Girls for gettin me thru!


Running Buddies w/ Molly --Susan Watts, Ryan Watts, Me, Molly Barker & Peyton Watts
 Molly asked, "What's next?"   ---Who knows? For today, it's a celebration at GIRLS ROCK!

KEEP RUNNING....

24 hours....Girls on the Run..

It all started Jan. 2, 2010. And this morning at 6am, I did my last run where I can say "I've never run a race before."  Tomorrow all that will be over.  It was a sloppy run this morning, listening to Aerosmith and the Stones, but I got it done.

Tonight I joined with fellow GOTR volunteers for an appreciation awards event. Jessica Otto was the MC and handed out some well-deserved awards for Coach of the Year to Cathy Dulin, plus a host of other awards to volunteers, school sites and the Adelaide Awards. Molly joined us and inspired us to believe in ourselves - over and over again. See the pics below.

I'm meeting my friend Susan at the parking lot at 8am. Then it's race time at 9am.

Funny thing is... as a race amateur, I forgot to get my packet today. Since I don't  think of myself as a runner, it never really occurred to me that I needed a number (Wow... my first number.... hope I get #1!) and a t-shirt and a packet... all those things. I just thought I'd show up and run.



See you on the race course. I'll be the one with the big smile.

PS - Can you run with coffee?

2 or 3 days... who's counting?

A hectic week. Very little running. Arrgggh! When it all comes down to it, I can't find even 30 minutes to run without cancelling on someone else. I've already been stood up, then missed another appointment, been late to a baseball game. Who am I kidding? I can't keep up.

So, I'm up at 5 am tomorrow and running.. in the dark... I gotta do something!

Have I got a long way to run? Have I got a long way to run?
                             ----Collective Soul, "Run"

4 Days and Counting...

These feet have carried me since January 2 2010 on this running adventure...

So far, my feet and I have run with a team, without a team, with a family, without a family, with Robert Ullrey and without. I've run in many places...

• Corsicana, Texas
• Orlando, Florida
• Seabrook Island, South Carolina
• Los Angeles, California

And also on the track, at the baseball field, in the gym, on a treadmill, around the neighborhood, in the snow (sorta) and in the rain.

I'm comfortable I'll make the Girls on the Run 5K without keeling over. I won't be the winner with the fastest time and I won't be the mom at the back of the line. I'll be right there in the middle -- where I belong -- with all the Girls on the Run!

Training:  Just run!

8 Days ... Running 'round the island

Took a run around Seabrook Island with my friend, Phyllis on a girls weekend. The faster runners took off for a sprint, but Phyllis and I just cruised around the island in the shade, under stately trees dripping with Spanish moss running, chatting and enjoying the pace. We broke a sweat but it was never a strain.

Glad I had Phyllis to run with....

Training: 30 minute run

21 Days to go.... I'm still running...

Yay! Today I ran 25 minutes, non-stop, no problems! Thanks to Jenny H for introducing me to the 3 mile Gov-FoxEast Loop (and Sally Mc who originated the path). Jenny took me through it a week or so ago, and this morning I breezed through at a clippy pace. The trick was ditching Robert Ullrey's techno-trance music (sorry Bob!) and kicking into the good ole' rock-n-roll on my iPod. Wow! I never thought I'd break through the wall. But Hello... I'm there!

Look out GOTR 5K-ers, I'm running up right behind ya!


Training: 3 min warm-up; 25 min run; 3 min cool down

Set list ran: "Miss You" by Stones; "One of these Days" by Hawaiian John Cruz; "American Girl" by Tom Petty; "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White Ts; "Right Hand Man" by Joan Osborne; to name a few....

24 Days and Running...

with a little over 3 weeks left to go, I'm fast-tracking my running program. I must say I'm seeing no progress and now that Robert Ullrey's podcast is all about 20-25 minute runs, I don't really need them anymore. Each day I listen to what he has to say about what my training will be, then quickly switch my iPod to the music that inspires me.  This has made running a little easier. Don't get me wrong. I like Bob and all that, I just am not a huge fan of his techno-trance music.

So today Bob wanted me to run 25 minutes and I successfully completed 19 - That was running from my house to the baseball field, with SurferKid in front and behind on his Fuzion scooter/skate thingy -- plus -- 2 times around the track. Then I was losing daylight and wanted to be a good Mommy!... I'd promised to throw some baseball, so I had to quit. (Thankfully!)

I'm sure I could've made it 25 minutes? Maybe? Oh... honestly I was grateful and relieved to stop at 19.

Running in LA - Countdown to May 8

I've now run across 3 states in my quest for the 5k finish line. While visiting friends and family in Los Angeles on Spring Break, we ran once. OK, definitely not a stellar showing. We had several opportunities to run that we quickly passed up for food and beverages. But we did at least get one good run in.

Training: Week ? We're so far off the Robert Ullrey plan now, we can't look back... but we will try to do the last 3 weeks before the final run.
Warm up 5 mins walk:  Run 8 mins | Walk 3 mins | Run 8 mins | Walk 3 mins | Run 5 minutes.... cool down 5

A little work in the field..

Baseball season is here, and that means more time on the field. We biked down to watch a little of the team practice then Chip and I took off on a podcast run. Week 5. Run 8 minutes/walk 3 (2x). Made it through huffing and puffing. Next week is Spring Break and I'm on to week 6 training routine. Hope Robert Ulrey doesn't run me into the ground.

Training: Warm up 5 minues | Run 8 | Walk 3 | Run 8 | Walk 3 | Cool down

3-mile Run

Sorry Robert Ullrey! I broke out of your podcast routine and ran with a friend. 
I successfully ran three miles with my neighbor on Thursday night. Jenny H is a marathon runner and a great person to pace with. She graciously offered to run with me and do a run 4 minutes / walk 1 minute routine. We talked about marathons, 10k's and 5k's. And with the help of her trusty interval alarm watch, we kept a steady 4/1 run. This was the first time I ran for the distance vs. the time. Luckily I was able to keep up. It seemed easy when I was running with her.


Training:  Warm up stretch | 3 miles Run 4 minutes / Walk 1 minute.

Crossing over...to running...78 days

I'm approx 78 days into running.  Saturday, while the little guy practiced baseball, I went to the track and ran. Track running is very interesting. It is a mind game, of sorts. It's easier because you have no hills to negotiate, no turns to make, no decisions about your course or path. No people to wave at, no cars to dodge, no dogs on leashes to jog around. But it's harder that way, too.

You circle that monontonous oval a mind-numbing 12+ times, trying desperately not to watch the clock.

My goal for this day - courtesy of Robert Ullrey - was to run 20 minutes straight. Well, I can tell you that did NOT happen. I made it to about 10 minutes. Stopped and walked for 3 minutes. Picked up the pace again and made it another 9 minutes before giving up out of shear mental exhaustion. I just don't have the stamina mentally and physically yet to make it through.  I keep trying and striving for the goal which lies ahead.... the finish line of the Girls on the Run Charlotte 5K.  See you at the finish line!

Training: 5 minutes warm-up | 20 minute run | 5 minute cool down. (Didn't exactly happen like that..)   Actual: 5 minutes warm-up | 10 minute run | 3 minute walk | 9 minute run | 5 minute cool down.

8 Minute Stretch...

Last night was my 2nd run in Week 5 of Robert Ullrey's podcast program. As you can see, my couch to 5K progress has been slow... From Jan 2 to March 22...I am just now on week 5.  And the race is only 6 weeks away.

In that time, I have had 2 snow days, 2 major cold/flu attacks and basically I lost all my running partners. My son dropped out a month ago assuring me he could run a 5k without training. Today I find out his baseball game coincides with the Girls on the Run 5K anyway, so he is out. Kaput. No kid in the race.

My husband is still running, but he will now have to be the parent at the game, and besides, our schedules have not synched for weeks. Team WhiteOak is separated by distance/schedule. The Oaks are running (I think) but we don't run together. I can't remember when I ran with anyone other than myself in the past 5-6 posts. In the end, I guess that is how it is - runners are loners.

So last night I ran my first 8-minute stretch, separated by a 5 minute break, and another 8-minute stretch. I ran in the dark, with a little rain. It wasn't so bad. Nothing but me and my thoughts...

Tomorrow... I run 20 minutes straight. Yeah, right. Like that's gonna happen without cardiac arrest!

Training:  Week 5 program: 
March 23 (Tue) ) 5 minute warm up walk | Run 5 mins/walk 3 mins | Run 5 mins/walk 3 mins| 5 min cool down.

March 25 (Thu) 5 minute warm up walk | Run 8 mins/walk 5 mins | Run 8-min. DONE! 5 min cool down.

A running dry spell...

The dreaded spring cold/bronchitis has settled upon me and I've been out since March 15. Last week ( Mar 9) I got in 2 runs before getting knocked down by this cold.

Now I'm on a Zpack of antibiotics and expect to fully recover in time to run during this beautiful weekend. Problem is, I keep losing ground and since I'm only at week 4 in the training sessions, I am so, so, so far behind.

I've got less than 7 weeks until the 5K. Not looking good...

I'll make it across the finish line, but in what shape? I picture myself sweaty and exhausted, staggering across like some Olympic marathoners of days past, instead of victoriously crossing with my hands held high in triumph. No faith? Most definitely...concerned.

School plays and running days

Two more runs in this week. Apparently, it is easier now to run than blog. This week I'm in full mommy mode with volunteering for a school play, shuttling to baseball practice and rehearsing with the school choir + I'm on deadline for a story about kids adn the arts which isn't even written yet. Oh yeah, deadline was yesterday!

So, therefore I gotta run! I will leave you with these words...

I'm gonna run to you,
I'm gonna run to you,
When the feeling's right, I'm gonna run all night
I'm gonna run to you.
             Bryan Adams

Training:  Week 4 program:  5 minute warm up walk | Run 3 mins/walk 90 secs | Run 5-min/walk 2.5 mins | Run 3 mins/walk 90 secs | Run 5-min: Cool Down while cooking dinner! (ha!)

Slackin' on the Bloggin'

I may be slackin' on bloggin' but I have been running. As I look out my office window, just minutes before midnight and watch as the snow blankets the ground, I am sooooo happy I ran yesterday!

It's not like I wanted to, or enjoyed it, or even had a good run -- in fact, it stunk! But at least I did it. As I jogged along, all iPod-wires flapping, hoodie strings slapping, huffing and puffing down the road in SouthPark, I dodged cars, navigated curbs and gutters, saw cigarette butts fly out windows, said Hello to a little old man walking a prissy dog, wondered about a burned-out house and envied another whose smoke was curling slowly out of the chimney.

Making my way through a 5-minute torture run --- (do you really think I'll be able to do a 5K in May?) -- I thought of all the things a runner must see. What's the most interesting or unusual thing you've seen while running?

Don't run yet? Why not join me? 

YOU could start today and be ready in time for May. Come on... if I can do it... you can.

Training:  Week 4 program:  5 minute warm up walk | Run 3 mins/walk 90 secs | Run 5-min/walk 2.5 mins | Run 3 mins/walk 90 secs | Run 5-min: DONE! almost  5 min cool down.

Running in Hotels, Between Theme Parks

A friend of mine said the following ... 

"Here is what they don't put in the brochure.....

You have to want it. This is your thing, embrace it. Own it.

Dinner's not ready, tough titty, I have to train.

You need a ride to the movies with your friends, tough titty, I have to train.

Fill in the blank here bullshit, tough titty, I have to train.

Pick a time and that's it. When it is sh*!#y out, go train.

When you are really suffering envision yourself during the last K of your 5K feeling strong."

 As you can see, Rob doesn't mince words. Now I think I know what he means  -- you can't let DisneyWorld, vacation, Florida, snow, or whatever the excuse is -- get in your way. You've gotta run!

So, in Florida, I ran on the treadmill in two different hotels on two different days... yeah.. it wasn't beach running or street running (didn't think they'd appreciate me running through Disney's Main Street shouting "just 90 more seconds of running then a brisk walk!") but it was running and I am on schedule. (kinda...soprta)

I'm back in the game baby!

Week 3: 2 90 sec segments alternating running/walking + 2 4 min segments alternating.

Running or Backsliding...

Running? Oh yeah... I remember that thing. Backsliding is more like it

With much insistence from my husband, and even more resistance from the little guy, we kicked into a pre-dinner run around 6:45pm. It is still cold out there, and dark at that time in the evening. These conditions reinforce my "I can't stand running" mentality.

The Oakley part of Team WhiteOak has continued running. We are sluggishly on WeekTwo still. (Embarassing, really.) I won't bother to put in our training routine. Just scroll back a few posts and you'll find it. Is anyone else out there running?

Lost Track of Days...

After days of snow, sleet, ice, rain and a sick kid, Team White finally got back out there minus a runner (Dad). Little guy and I cranked through a Week 2 session and it wasn't too difficult, though he kept lagging behind. Many days have lapsed in between runs. We missed our Monday run (and yoga) this week. And we didn't even think about running over the weekend. How quickly the time passes when you're avoiding running.

Gotta get back out there.

Tonight's run was good but the conversation was better. We talked about our days; he asked about my meetings; we even talked a little about "The Lightning Thief" - a book he is reading and loving. Mother-son moments that don't happen often -- happened tonight.

We're missing the Oak in our Team, but never fear- the LukeMan is here! He's out there running with Team Ok and we will soon be reunited to form Team WhiteOak again.  Now we're running 5 strong.

Training:  Honestly -- who can remember? And does anyone care?
Not much stretching to speak of... 5 minute warm up walk | 6 sessions 90 sec runs | 2 min brisk walk \ 5 min cool down. Done!

Day 27: Cutting Corners

We did a pitiful, cut short, we're so hungry, whiny run yesterday. It was funny how the spiral downward and lack of motivation sucked us both down until we agreed. OK - only 5 running segments instead of 6. (Not too bad of a compromise.) I'll give the little guy credit. He doesn't love it but he keeps running (are we really running or just sort of jogging) with me, and he is awesome company. We discuss our day, laugh and support each other.

Chip is on the beach in the Turks and Caicos with Wheel and running... or so he says. I think he may be "running" to the nearest ice cream stand. OH.... he'll pay when he returns! When we speed right past him.

Saturday a.m. is our next scheduled run. The forecast is for snow and sleet; I can tell you no running. I'll get back to it on Sunday afternoon when it warms up. Schedule so far  Mon | Wed | Sat  - seems to be working. But it's hard to believe in 27 days I've only run 10 times. Seems pretty wimpy to me.

New training schedule continued. Podcast week 2*
Workout 10:  warm up 5 mins | run 90 secs / rest 2 mins (6 5 pitiful segments, always asking "are we done yet?") | Cool down

Day 26: Runnin' Down a Dream

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down. I had my radio on. I was driving.
Trees flew by, me and Del were singing "Little Runaway", I was flyin'

Runnin' down a dream, that never would come to me.
Working on a mystery, going wherever it leads... 
                Runnin' down a dream.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1989