2010 Race Review

I've decided to follow in the footsteps of my friends and fellow bloggers, Lauren and That Pink Girl and take a look at my year in races.

2010 marked my adventures in running.  Adventures...they were.  I ran four 5Ks, one 10K, and two half marathons.  I suffered through two injuries in the process - hip tendonitis for 4 months and then most recently my pelvic stress fracture.  I also started the tradition of blogging about my finishing song with each and every race!

Let's take a look, shall we?

On January 31st, I ran my very first 5K, The Rocket's Run (cuz Meliska made encouraged me).  This was an amazing experience!  I remember starting off the race (in the ridiculous cold, by the way) wondering what I had gotten myself into.  How was I going to run 3.1 miles???  I never saw the 2nd mile marker, so I was sure I was off track and I wanted to stop and cry a few times, but I didn't.  I kept on trucking a long.  As I entered into the Toyota Center for the last tenth of a mile, the cheer teams were lined up and I got all teary eyed with my accomplishment.  I knew then that I had come a long way.  I knew then that I was truly on the right path.  My heart was filled with such pride.  I ran across the Rocket's court - past the finish line and looked up into the stands for my friends, Meliska and Lauren.  I love this picture because I look dead.  ha!  I had a goal of 48 minutes (cuz I'm a special kind of turtle) and surprised myself by finishing in 44:15.  I then understood the term "runner's high".  Consequently, I think the hip tendonitis started with this race as a result of not knowing to alternate sides of the street to even out the wear and tear of the unevenness of the pavement on my body.  Ahhh...the things you learn AFTER you need the information!  Finishing Song:  Single Ladies (Beyonce)

On February 27th, I ran my 2nd 5K, The Rodeo Run.  This was NOT my favorite run.  I learned some important lessons with this race, however.  I learned it is best to not overdress for a race (I overheated).  I learned I need my music to run (left mine at home).  I learned not to start off too fast (ran my first mile in 12 minutes and I'm so not a 12 minute mile girl).  This race was not time chipped for the 5Kers - which, by the way, is lame, so I don't have an official time.  I do know that it was definitely higher than my Rocket's Run time.  I did enjoy racing with my friends Meliska (turned out to be her last race because she was preggers with Liam), Greggy-D, Lauren, Rodney, and Meliska's parents!  Finishing Song:  none  =(

On March 13th, I ran my first 10K, Bayou City Classic.  I loved this race.  I did this one with my younger sister, Linda, and our friend Melissa (not the preggers one).  Lauren and her sister also ran it, but I never did see them.  =(  It was very nicely organized race and perfect running weather.  I remained strong and steady during this race despite the tendonitis giving me a lot of trouble on the second leg of this race - I was proud of my 1:26:38 finish.  Here's a picture of Linda and I sporting our t-shirts later that day.  Finishing Song:  Pocketful of Sunshine (Natasha Bedingfield)

On April 10th, I ran the Tomball Bunny Run with Lauren and Rodney.  They had run this race the year before and loved it.  I have to admit it was so nice to participate in a local race for a change!  This was not time chipped, BUT I had received my Garmin for my birthday, so this was the first race I was able to run wearing it.  I also successfully incorporated 4/1s to my race (versus the 3/1s I had done previously) which lead me to a PR of 39:40.  What made this especially exciting was that I had set a goal to beat 40 minutes and I accomplished that goal with sheer determination and hard work!  I like my look in this picture - it's totally all retro 70s with my sweatband and 'fro!  Finishing Song:  I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

I then took a race hiatus for a few months while I trained for my first half marathon - the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half which was on August 1st.  My friend Bobbi Jo came to Chicago and ran this race with me.  We stayed downtown with my grandmother the night before the race.  My two double cousins, Danielle and Nicole joined us, as did cousin Courtney from New Albany, Ohio.  My aunt, Danielle, Nicole, and Courtney were an awesome support crew chasing us around the race with drinks!  I did pretty well the first half of the race with my 4/1s, but then the charlie horses attacked me and I speed walked the second half of the race.  I ended up being a bit disappointed with my 3:24:39 finish since I knew I was capable of better.  My body and pride were sore, but I picked up the pieces and returned to Houston to begin marathon training with my running group.  Finishing Song:  Low (Flo Rida)

On September 11th, I ran the Bearkat Bash.  This was a great race of irony for me as I hated running the mile in high school - it was a source of embarrassment, frustration, and stress for me so many years ago and here I was willing to pay money to run 3 times that ON PURPOSE.  My how times had changed!  The thing was that my running group was scheduled to run 7 miles that day, so my coach had wanted us to run before the race, so I ran 3 miles - some at the park and then I ran to the race with just enough time to rush to the bathroom and then start the race.  I must have been slightly dehydrated because after the second mile, I had some issues with charlie horses AGAIN and this caused me to have to walk most of the 3rd mile.  This sucked because I had run the first 5 miles of my day.  My time was terrible at 47:40.  I felt horrible.  I would have rather run this 5K and then run another 3 or 4 miles afterwards to save face on my time than have performed how I did.  On the positive side, though, Lauren and her sister, Sarah, participated in this race, as well, so it was nice to familiar friendly faces when I was feeling LOW.  Finishing Song:  Mr. A-Z (Jason Mraz)

On October 24th, I ran the Houston Half with my friend Melissa (it was her first half marathon)  This race was a bit daunting for me as it had a 3 hour time limit and I knew I would be pushing it.  My goal was to run the entire distance outright (as I had long ago dropped my run/walk method) and just walk through the water stations and/or when my siblings passed me off G2.  Around mile 3, I started hurting.  I thought it was my hamstring.  Somewhere between mile 3 and mile 4, I saw my siblings and their spouses - they were awesome, by the way - and they passed me off a drink and I told them the "hills" (meaning entrance ramps) were killing me.  I proceeded to run the race, but something was wrong.  There was one turn-around in the race, but before I could get there, the police forced a whole bunch of us to turn early.  I was EXTREMELY UPSET.  At that point, I was 3 minutes behind where I needed to be to finish in the 3 hour time limit.  I felt they had taken my half marathon from me.  I almost gave up.  I almost quit the race.  It took everything in me to continue - and I do mean everything because I was tired and I was hurt and I was defeated, BUT I kept on.  My finish time doesn't really matter here because it's not legitimate.  I didn't actually complete this half marathon if we are being technical.  Finishing Song:  Low (Flo Rida).  Does anyone else think it's weird that both of my half marathons had the same finishing song?  I just now realized this!!!

I was supposed to do the RunGirl 13.1 on December 12th.  Remember how I previously discussed being hurt?  Turns out I somehow got a stress fracture in my pelvis during that half marathon.  I had to drop out of the RunGirl (BUT I really look forward to doing this race next year with my Meliska as it is an all girl half marathon).  I also had to defer my Houston Marathon 2011 registration to the Houston Marathon 2012.

It is very difficult not to feel like a failure looking back at the last few months of my running.  I know that isn't fair.  In some ways, writing this post made me kind of relive it all.  In other ways, it makes me want to come back with a vengeance!  2011 is going to be my year!  I'm going to run smarter and stronger!  I am already registered for 2 races with another 3 planned.  I honestly think cross-training is going to be the key to keeping me injury free.  I think proper hydration is going to keep those charlie horses at bay.  I think that for a first year runner with no previous running experience at all - well...I guess I didn't do half bad.

Cheers to 2011!

Christmas 2010

We were slightly delayed leaving Houston on Thursday to go to Chicago.  Continental played the role of little tricksters, though, letting us believe we were leaving on time and then having us sit on the plane for nearly an hour before taking off.  =/  We still managed to land on-time since they like to build in that cushion into the schedule.  I had lied to my cousin earlier and said not to worry about us being hungry.  I was glad to see my aunt didn't listen to this nonsense as she had a tray of sandwiches and some soup for us (and perhaps some Christmas cookies).

Friday, Christmas Eve, before we left to hang out with some cousins, we decided to give each our parents a little gift.  Keep in mind that they are both obsessed with Oliver, their English Bulldog.  They love him more than they love us kids.  For my mother, we had a long sleeved tshirt made up that had a picture of Oliver made up to look like an ornament and it said "Deck the Halls with Balls of Ollie".  She loved it!  For our father, we had a tie made up that had little pictures of Oliver wearing a Santa hat all over it.  My dad wore it with  pride that evening - it was so cute!  

Normally we have a big bowling game filled with trash talking, food, and laughs, but Christmas falling on the weekend made for a short trip this year (and next year, too, for that matter).  Instead, we drove out about an hour away to their house for brunch.  We stayed out there for a few hours or so and then headed back to my aunt and uncle's house to help do a bit of chopping, slicing, and dicing in preparation for the Christmas feast the next day.  We also finished wrapping presents for that evening and then got ready to go to my other aunt's house.

Christmas was a little extra special this year because my aunt, uncle, two cousins, and one cousin-in-law from Arizona came out to celebrate with us.  It has been many a year since they have joined us.

We all gathered at my aunt's house.  Food was eaten, champagne was sipped, presents were opened.  Then we went back to our house.  My mother unveiled the "surprise".  She decided to resume last year's pajama party by now making it a tradition for all the ladies to wear matching pajamas, so my mom, two sisters, aunt, two double cousins, and I all wore matching pajamas.  After we all changed into them, we gathered in the family room with a nice warm fire and began exchanging all our gifts.  The Secret Santa this year wasn't so secret.  Next year we will need to have a refresher of the rules apparently!  Brother-in-law Craig picked me and he bought me Season 3 of the HBO Series Big Love, Season 4 of the Showtime Series Dexter, a 15-lb Kettlebell, and a Kettlebell DVD.  From the parentals, I got a new area rug for my family room, a matching entranceway rug, a Texas A&M garden gnome (I named him Augustus), some bathroom accessories I picked out to redecorate my master bathroom, and then the piece de resistance....my mother knew that I wrote in my These are a Few of my Favorite Christmas Things blog about my stocking and how much I miss it being filled, so she broke into my house (with her key) while I was at work on Thursday, stole my stocking, smuggled it in her suitcase, and filled it with these goodies above!  Honestly, this is one of my favorite gifts of all time!  Oh...we also had one more gag gift for our father.  Cathy and Jay came up with the idea of using the picture of him in the golf themed Mickey Mouse ears from our Disney trip and having it made into a t-shirt.  Then, because he kept mispronouncing Komodo (of Komodo dragons fame) and it became such a joke on our trip, they spelled it out phonetically as my dad pronounces it below.  Here is a picture of him holding his gift.

After all presents were opened, we went to bed.  It had been a long day.

Christmas morning, I woke up to the wonderful smells of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, etc....being baked above (I sleep in the basement).  I showered, dressed, and then went upstairs for some breakfast.  Everyone started arriving around 12 noon and it was a day full of food, fun, and family.  We even fit in some game time with Scrabble, Boggle, and a mega Snow Ball Fight (which I did not participate in for lack of proper gear and a stress fractured pelvis)!  After another long day, bed was quite welcomed.

Sunday, I awoke to work issues - two of my dudes backing out of their trips and the need to find replacements.  =/  We all got ready to go to Walker Bros. Pancake House for breakfast.  This is a staple for us every time we go to Chicago.  I had the apple pancake - pure gluttony on my behalf.  I wasn't able to finish it, at least!  =D  We went back to the house for a bit more of the Boggle, and then headed to the airport.  We were slightly delayed, but made up the time in the air.

And voila - another Christmas in the books - a fabulous time with family!

The Plan Part 1: Health & Fitness

A new year for most means resolutions.  Let's face it...many resolutions will be made, but not so many will see their way through the year.  It's sorta human nature.  Why?  We get bored...  We get tired...  We get lazy...  It's too hard...  We don't want it bad enough...  Take your pick.  All of the above, perhaps?

2009 started off as a year full of intentions and fizzled out turbo fast.  I somehow picked it back up in July and started on my weight loss journey losing 65 lbs by Christmas.  I also incorporated regular exercise into my life at that time, as well.  For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was on the right path.

2010 started off as a year full of continuing what I had begun in July, but with a new twist...a new challenge...RUNNING!  I managed to lose another 40 lbs, I ran my first 5K, my first 10K, my first half marathon, and many other races.  I dealt with my first two injuries, as well - first hip tendonitis for 4 months in my right hip, and then an anterior superior iliac spine avulsion (pelvic stress fracture).  I weigh less than I have since I entered into high school and with the exception of my little pelvis issue, I feel great.  I didn't maintain my weight loss goals, however.  You see, for 10 months I practiced abstinence from the foods I was not allowed to eat.  Once I started allowing the occasional treat, it was like opening the flood gates and it became harder for me to manage the diet portion of my weight loss, so I became stagnant in that arena.

2011 is the year of finishing what I started.  I will reach my weight loss goals.  I will reach my fitness goals.  They go hand-in-hand, I realize.  By weighing less, I will be a better, stronger runner.  I will once again train for a marathon (Houston Chevron 2012) and hopefully, this time, injury will not prevent me from seeing it through.  I am working on a plan.  It is not practical to go the abstinence route, but on the same token, I need to practice a little better discretion on what I choose to splurge on.

Goals =

50 to 70 lb continued weight loss (the window exists because I've never known a normal weight as an adult (well since I was 8 years old, for that matter), so I have no idea what will look good / feel good on my frame) following the South Beach Diet

minimum of 50 miles per month = 600 miles for the year (368.6 miles in 2010)

complete 4 half marathons (already picked them out cuz that's how I roll)

compete in a minimum of one race a month (yes, even in the horrid wretched summer heat)

compete in my first mini triathlon (and if I like it, do a second one)

cross train with a concentration on arms at least 2x per week

cross train with one 24 hour fitness class per week

train for 1 marathon

work towards a 36 minute 5K (previous 5K PR is 39:40)

bring my lunch to work every day (unless I have a scheduled lunch date with a friend)

There are my goals!  What are yours?

By the way...My Christmas post is totally coming...I just haven't uploaded my pics yet cuz work has been a bit nutty!

cHeAtEr ChEaTeR

Shhhh....don't tell.  I'm such a cheater!  I had good intentions, I really did.  On Monday, I went to the grocery store to purchase 3 dozen eggs, mayo, mustard, and dill relish all to prepare deviled eggs for my work Christmas party which is Thursday.  The plan was to come home from work tonight and to get to boiling, peeling, slicing, de-yolking, making my mixture, and then packaging it all up for construction tomorrow.  BUT then...Linda happened.  You know...the younger sister who calls me pretty much every day on her way home from work.  She made mention that she was talking to my mom (who is also making 2 or 3 dozen deviled eggs for my work Christmas party) and that she thinks we are both nuts and that we should just go buy those Eggland's Best pre-boiled and peeled from Kroger or H.E.B.  I laughed her off...I mean...that's a cRaZy idea....I already bought the 3 dozen eggs sitting in my fridge.  That's soooo lazy.  Everyone makes fun of me when I buy THOSE eggs for my own personal consumption.  Whatever would people think of me if they know my laziness knows no bounds?!

I caved.

On my way home from work, I accidentally pulled into the Kroger parking lot and somehow ended up inside the store staring at the egg case.  I decided it was soooo worth $14.34 of my own money to not have to deal with the labor intensive work (not to mention the frustration) of peeling 36 eggs.

So, my mom, dad, brother-in-law, sister, a few former employees, and 50 of my dudes will all be lunch munching on deviled eggs, Pappa's BBQ catering, frito pie (with my mom's homemade chili), cupcakes, pecan pie, coconut cream pie, cherry pie, and my mom's pumpkin pie, apple pie, lemon meringue pie, and some cookies.

Quite the spread, huh?!

So tomorrow is gonna be a bit nuts.  I have to go into work with my bags packed for our flight.  I will work quite diligently for a couple of hours, leave work to come home and gather my doggies to take to the "doggie hotel".  After I drop them off (a heart-wrenching experience), I will return to work to help with final party preparations.  We will then eat our meal, laugh, and have a great time.  I will then have to get back to that diligent working thing (boo) before we leave for the airport.  It's a bit crazy leaving our upper 70s/low 80s and arriving in the low 20s.  I'm gonna be freezing!

weekend recap

I was relatively lazy this weekend and I loved it.  I started off my Saturday with family lunch at BJs.  Upon conclusion of my meal, I went shopping!

We all know Christmas is a time for giving.  We all know the saying "it's better to give than to receive."  We all know...well maybe you don't know...that I have A.D.D. when it comes to my Christmas shopping which leads me to yesterday.

Let me start off with the disclaimer that I do love to give.  I really am not a selfish girl.  I'm just going to come across that way as it seems I get some of my best shopping done this time of year.  I mean the stores send you all kinds of coupons and are running all kinds of sales.  I really don't have too many winter clothes.  I am smaller than I was last winter (yay), so I was going to need to buy new stuff anyway.  I also do like to have a new outfit or two to wear while in Chicago for Christmas.  Yes...I am going to Chicago AGAIN - this will be my 4th trip back there this year.

Okay, so I had a vision of buying a sweater dress when I woke up yesterday morning.  I didn't necessarily care what color, though I kind of had gray or mulberry in mind for some reason.  I had a very nice coupon for JC Penny, so I thought I would try going there first.  They had quite the selection of sweater dresses, let me tell you. The problem with me right now is that I am sort of in between the plus sizes and the regular sizes.  This means I can sometimes pull of an XL depending on the dress/shirt (not bottoms...definitely need plus size for bottoms still), but more often than not I need the 1XL.  I just can't stand looking frumpy.  I have curves and as long as they are displayed nicely, I want them to be seen.  So, I pulled 10 dresses with me into the fitting room.  9 of the 10 made me look like stuffed sausage - not a pretty picture.  The 10th dress, however...well that was another story.  I liked it and it was on sale.  I thought a cute purse would go great with it and maybe a new pair of earrings.  I was able to buy all 3 with the use of my coupon for $67 including tax.  I heart JC Penny!

Then I went to Lane Bryant to get a few pairs of tights, but while I was there, I noticed some sparkly things.  Oh how I love me the sparkly things.  I bought a gray sequins tank and matching 3 quarter length sweater which will go great with my black slacks.  I also found a couple of very flattering long sleeved shirts and another pair of earrings.  I had a nice coupon and when applied and including tax, I got all that for $153.

Finally, I got my mop top cropped.  I had been looking like quite the ragamuffin lately.  It was time!  I showed my long time hair stylist Leena a picture of how I wanted my hair to look when it is straightened and she cut it to look just like that and then she straightened it for me.  I will never get it to look like that again, but it was nice to know that for one night, my hair looked great.

Later that evening, I went with my friend, LaShaune, to a party.  It was pretty adventurous of me to go to a party knowing only two people.  There was a plethora of fashion FAILS going on which made for an even more amusing time.  I know, I know....I'm so snarky.  'Tis not the season for such business...

On Sunday, I had a massage scheduled with Sarah.  I wasn't nearly the knotted-up mess I usually am since I haven't been running.  When I was done, I headed over to my parent's house as we were all invited over there for a food tasting (long story).  I was filled to the brim with all things yummy!  A wee bit later, my mom and I headed out to see Fighter starring Marky Mark and then we went for dinner at Carrabbas.

What a nice, relaxing weekend!  It's great to start off a week knowing there are only 4 weekdays!  It's even better knowing that Christmas is right around the corner!  I heart Christmas!  =)

mmm....carrot ginger soup!

I had a fantastic Sunday!  My friend LaShaune came over around noonish and we went to Peli-Peli for some South African cuisine.  We both opted to start with the carrot ginger soup.  We thought it divine!  After dining on our respective sandwiches, mango coleslaw, and sweet potato fries, we headed out to the Texas Repertory Theatre to see Forever Plaid's spin-off production called Plaid Tidings.  I was super excited to see this musical for a few different reasons.  First of all, I love me the musicals.  Secondly, I adore Christmas music - yay!  Last, but not least, a high school friend of mine is one of the stars of the play and I had not seen him since high school! After the show, LaShaune suggested cupcakes and coffee.  I told her I thought there was a newish cupcake place near my house, so we went hunting for it and found Treat.  We picked out some cupcakes and headed to Starbucks for Eggnog Lattes to go.  We brought back our treats to my house.

LaShaune and I both discussed how much we loved the carrot ginger soup.  I decided to make my own version.  I did not look up any recipes...I just kind of winged it.  Here's what I did.

I sauteed 1 small white onion and some minced garlic in 1 TBSP of olive oil in a large pot on the stove top.  I zested two oranges, and then juiced them.  It made for about 1/3 cup of orange juice.  I then grated a large chunk of ginger into the juice.  By this time, my onion and garlic was ready, so I added the orange zest, juice, and ginger to the pot.  I then added in 2 lbs of baby carrots and 4 cups (32 oz) of chicken broth.  I seasoned up the pot with some salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg, as well.  Once the carrots came to a boil, I let them continue to cook until they were soft.  I then turned the stove off and put the contents of the pot in the blender in batches, blending until smooth with the contents of an 8-oz tub of reduced fat whipped cream cheese.  As I completed each batch, I added it back to the pot.  Once everything was blended, I scooped some into a bowl and garnished it with parsley.  Delish!

I think next time I would like more of an orange and ginger flavor and would add another orange and more ginger to the mix.

Carrots aren't on South Beach, FYI.  I haven't exactly been the best dieter (in case you couldn't tell by the cupcakes).  I figured, however, in the scheme of things, carrots aren't THAT bad and I really wanted to try this soup.  I think I can apply the same concept to butternut squash or maybe even sweet potatoes for a variation of this soup when I get completely back on the wagon.

grow up!

I'm trying to understand guys, I really am.  Try as I might...I just don't get them.

I have head shots on eHarmony, but to be fair to the dudes who are granted the pleasure of receiving me as a match, I have a couple of body shots on there, as well.  I'm not the svelte vixen I'd like to be, but I'm no longer the chunkiest monkey on the block, either.

I figure if a guy initiates contact with me, he must like what he sees.

At least 50% of the guys who have initiated contact with me shock me when they send me their Must Haves / Can't Stands list.  You see, one of their Can't Stands is labeled as "Excessive Overweight" with the description being "I can't stand someone who is overweight."  WHAT?!

I find that statement to be offensive ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS.  First of all, you don't have to be attracted to an overweight person, but to go so far as to say you "can't stand" them is prejudicial.  It would go without saying that if you were not attracted to an overweight person, then you would not choose them, so why do you feel it necessary to then carry it to the extreme to say you "can't stand" an entire group of people?  Secondly, it would make me wonder what would happen if I were to gain a few pounds throughout the course of our courtship.  Would you abandon ship?  What if it took a bit longer than anticipated to lose baby weight after giving birth?  I mean seriously...it would be enough to make a person paranoid!  Third of all, would you gawk in disgust at relatives or friends of mine that may be considered overweight?  I mean where do you draw the line?  I just feel that at some point a person should be mature and respectful...and at the very least think before they speak, type, write, etc...

You don't like what I'm offering, then don't choose me.  If you do choose me, appreciate me for who I am across the board.  Bottom line - it's time to grow up!

Oh and yeah...he got deleted as did all the dudes before him who chose that as one of their "can't stands".  I don't need to deal with that kind of crap.