Nike Fanatic

I have a Nike Obsession. I discovered they have a plus size clothing line and so I tried on a 2XL Dri-FIT shirt at Academy last week. Guess what, y'all?! It didn't fit. It was too big. "Bummer," she exclaimed sarcastically! The 1XL fit perfectly....I can't tell you the last time I was in a 1XL. I only bought one shirt, but there are 3 colors in total, so guess who now owns all 3 colors?! It's the most awesome shirt because it literally whisks aways the sweat from your body and keeps you feeling as cool and dry as possible despite the heat your body is producing while exercising.

I also found out they had running capris, but darn if the 2XL didn't fit me in those either so I bought the 1XL in those, as well. I now own 3 pairs of those, of course.

Now for the piece de resistance, my friends...the headband...er...sweatband. I don't care what you call it, but it is my saving grace for I am a sweaty girl while ellipticalling, running, or bike riding and I needed something to keep the sweat out of my eyes. This works like magic and I am, therefore, in love with it. Oh and...you guessed it...I own it in 3 lovely shades!

Yes, I realize that this picture is severely disproportionate to the other two...

So, I guess with all my Nike gear, I better get exercising! On tap for tomorrow - 6.35 miles otherwise translated as 5 laps around Meyer's Park's 1.27 mile course. This will be my longest run to date and it's all in preparation for next week's 10K. I feel much more confident in my ability to do something once I know it's already been done. Errr....that doesn't quite make sense. Let's try again...there is zero pressure during my Saturday morning runs and all the self-induced pressure of the world upon my shoulders during a race, so I want to conquer the distance part of the equation and then just focus on applying all the lessons I have learned and the skills I've developed into having a fun and successful race!

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want...

I want to continue my weight loss journey in the same spirit I began it - come rain or come shine (so to speak).

I want to further dedicate myself to increased physical activity - breaking out of my comfort zone and trying new things (yoga, for example).

I want to get my two spare bedrooms sorted out so the rooms can be functional regardless of whether or not they actually need to be (if that makes sense).

I want to donate all the clothes that no longer fit me.

I want to paint the entire inside of my house.

I want to walk my dogs every single day (unless it is raining).

I want to remember to document the exciting times of my life not only through words (blogging), but also through pictures.

I want to read at least one chapter a night out of any book before I go to bed.

I want to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night.

I want to drink at least 96 oz. of water each day.

I want to remember that it is okay to tell people no.

I want to be on the lookout for new experiences/adventures.

I want to make new friends.

I want to make all the above statements happen - some instantly and some by year's end. Think I can do it??? You betcha!!!

What do you want?

Anxiety

"Anxiety" by Jennifer McDuffie

Have you ever had anxiety? I'm not talking about the anxiety you may experience before taking a test or starting a new job or any natural emotional response like that. No...the kind of anxiety I'm referring to is more unsettling than that. Your heart races, maybe you find yourself tapping your foot, your finger or pacing. You can't shut off your brain. You are frazzled, on edge, uneasy, and just plain uncomfortable. If only it were just as simple as completing the test or finishing your first day to get the anxiety to diminish. It's never that easy.

It's a horrible feeling. I've been there. I've been there a lot, actually. I've worked really hard to conquer it, though sometimes it sneaks back up on me. I'm kinda there right now and it sucks.

I know what triggered it. I know I am strong and will work my way through it. Peace is the plan, after all.

Running Redemption

Since I didn't feel very successful post race yesterday, I committed to running 5 miles this morning. This served two purposes - one was to regroup mentally since I felt a bit beat down not having performed my best the day before - two was to prepare for my first 10K which is in 13 days.

Ironically, I forgot to bring my gum. My gum is one of my very few staples. I know chewing it helps to regulate my breathing, but I've also come to realize that it has led me to falsely believe I am hydrated when I am clearly not. I have actually been running my 5 mile Saturdays sans water until I have completed the run. Apparently this is bad. Today, I put a bottle of water on a park bench near the first mile marker and every time I passed it, I drank from it. It still was probably not quite the right amount of water necessary for the amount of water my body loses (I'm a sweater like no other), but it's progress.

I listened to my hip doctor and I ran two laps around the park in one direction, then switched directions for the last two to have a more even run on my body.

I reverted back to my 3 min run / 1 min walk method and put my body back in its comfort zone which is where I shall keep it for a while.

I was able to get into "the zone" courtesy of my iPod.

Now, thanks to a fantasmic deep tissue massage I got today via Sarah, an ice pack I have on my hip, and an epsom salt bath that will come later tonight, I will be ready for an awesome workout week which will all help lead me to Saturday's run. I'm hoping to add another 1.27 miles!!!

Cheers to a happy week, y'all!!! =)

Kim versus the 5K: Rodeo Run

I walk away slightly disappointed with my performance on this race. I did not beat my previous time, though it can be argued that I also gave up on even trying to do so. What happened? Hmmm...where to begin???

I looked up the weather the night before and all indications were that it was going to be 48ish during the race. This is pretty cold, though not the coldest I've run in, so I decided to modify my outfit slightly. Last race I wore a long sleeved running shirt, a sweatshirt hoodie, gloves, and my running pants. This time I decided to wear a short sleeved running shirt, a light weight running jacket, and my running pants. I pinned my bib on the outside of my jacket, so I was therefore committed to wearing it. Despite that, I found myself ridiculously overheated shortly after mile one and I had no choice but to take it off (or die) and tie it around my waist for the remainder of the race - which meant no bib showing. Lesson learned - it is better to be underdressed in running than overdressed.

I was running with my "fanny pack". I ran the last race with one as well, but it only had an extra stick of gum, my car key, chapstick, and of course a bottle of water. This time, I added a camera, some Kleenex, and my cell phone. This added significant weight. To make matters worse, I started off running with the bottle and pouch in the small of my back and the water bottle fell off near the beginning of the race, which sorta broke my concentration. I was able to get it back, thankfully. Lesson learned - less is best. Find a way to lighten the load. I may also need to find a better "fanny pack" - one that has a secured bottle.

I decided to skip the iPod this time. All races strongly discourage the runners from having their own tunes - they consider it to be a safety hazard. Whatever. Regardless, I always run with music...it helps me get into a zone. I decided to be experimental and to try to take in the sights and the sounds. Bad idea for the girl with A.D.D. I found myself easily distracted and I never quite got my momentum maintained. Lesson learned - go with what you know and don't experiment on the races.

Since my last race (February 27th's Rocket's Run), I had incorporated a methodology to my madness - my 3 min run / 1 min walk routine. I was able to do 5 miles. Last week, I upped the ante with doing 4 min running / 1 min walking. This was when I was only able to do 4 miles. I decided to do the 4/1 for today's race in lieu of doing what was my body's true comfort zone, the 3/1. I don't think that helped me any. Lesson learned - don't push your body to do what it is not ready to do and you won't be disappointed with the results.

I think that I would have performed better had my body been a bit more limber, as well. I did not exercise this week at all since I'm nursing tendonitis in my right hip (orthopaedic doctor diagnosed and being medically treated with Voltaren) and I was trying to give it as much of a rest as possible.

Okay, so I'm not a girl who believes in regrets because I feel strongly you should learn the lesson and move on. I've listed my lessons learned up above and I will be applying them to all future runs. I'm also a big believer in finding the positive somewhere, someway. There are a few from this race. I ran a 12 minute first mile!
This is a best for me!!! I was able to experience this race with some of my favorite people - Meliska & Greggy-D (who were awesome enough to keep me company to and from the race) and Rodney & Lauren Giles (who were awesome enough to keep me company after the race PLUS Lauren kept me company during the second half of the race).

I've got 2 weeks before the HEB Bayou City 10K and I just know it's gonna be a great experience!

Are you ready for something different?

I've been growing out my hair for 3 years. At first I was doing it for Cathy's (older sister) wedding - so that my hair could have hope of looking half way decent. Then...on the horizon...a year and a half later there was Eddie's (brother) wedding, so I decided to continue Operation: Grow d' locks. Then...11 months later there was Linda's (younger sister) wedding, so why mess with the plan?!

Sure, I remembered the days of going to my long term stylist, Leena, and telling her to do "whatever" as I used to back in the day. I loved giving her free reign to do whatever suited her fancy. I mean she has been cutting my hair for over 12 years, so I totally trust her. BUT alas...something happened in the past 3 years...I became attached to the idea of becoming a Rapunzel (in my own right) and almost fearful of cutting my hair other than the required trim for maintenance purposes. It was almost like I was letting the length of my hair define me.

Saturday was different. On the way to Leena's salon, I made the decision to hand over the chi of creative license, once again. As I sat in the chair and she asked me if I was ready for something different (as she always does), I found myself tearing up as I told her yes. I actually got emotional at the thought of cutting my hair, y'all. I am so NOT that girl, so what gives?!

Well...I've marinated on it and then disected it and I figured out that it wasn't really the actual IDEA of getting more than a trim, but rather more what it represented...yet another step in the transformation. At this point, I've dropped almost 80 lbs, I've pushed myself to physical limits I never thought myself capable of with the whole running thing, and I'm fitting into a clothing size I haven't fit into since I was 14 or 15. The idea of a flattering haircut that would properly frame a face which is finally showing signs of having a bone structure...well, I suppose it's acceptable to make a girl a little emotional.

I kinda still want to cry, but only because I know I will NEVER be able to replicate the style Leena did on Saturday. Sometimes I wish I could bring her home with me and make her do my hair every morning.

Here are some pics!

A couple of weeks before my haircut:

After the haircut:

Go, Kim. Go!

Since I'm quite the unconventional girl, I am not using any structured or guided training program for my running (oh and cuz I'm stubborn). This means I'm relatively clueless when it comes to the whole building distance vs. building endurance vs. building speed issues that I'm facing in my journey towards MY MARATHON TRAINING. Did you catch that last bit? I've changed it from half marathon training to full marathon training. I feel I have the drive, the strength, and the heart to do the full, so I'm going to go for it (in January 2011). In the meanwhile, I have the Rodeo Run 5K on tap for Feb. 27th, the Bayou City Classic 10K on tap for March 13th, and then supposedly Tomball is going to have a 5K/10K race on April 10th that I would like to do. After that, I'm probably going to be raceless until the Houston Half Marathon on Oct. 24th.

So, back to the building distance vs. endurance vs. speed issue I'm facing...I spoke to Meliska and Greggy-D about it the other night and they both agreed that since I'm already doing 5 miles and I have time on my side, it would be best to work on building endurance for the time being. This meant experimenting with changing my 3 minute run / 1 minute walk routine to a 4 minute run / 1 minute walk routine during my Saturday run. I did really well for the first 2 1/2 miles. The next 1 1/2 miles, I noticed a slow fade. By the time I finished the 4th mile, I was toast...worse than that, burnt toast. I really didn't feel like I had much left to give. I walked most of the remaining mile, leaving myself quite disappointed. I know I'm probably not being very fair to myself, it was my first time with that timing structure and I also did not properly hydrate myself, having not carried any water with me and not having stopped to get a drink either.

The good news is that I made it 4 miles and that Saturday's race is 3.1, so I can utilize this time structure for the race. I'm really excited about this because when I did the Rocket's Run on January 31st, my first 5K EVER, I didn't have any kind of structure to my run, so now that I have experience and structure, setting a PR should be a natural progression!