Racing and a Maze

This past weekend had me at another race, but this time around I tried a trail run. Having never done one before (not even to train) I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I ended up running the 5K in 29:23, which would have really bummed me out in a road race actually pleased me this time around. It was hard jumping over and around branches on a small path where there wasn't much room to pass! I also should have listened to Pamela and downloaded another running app because mine didn't work again! I am done with MapMyRun!

After the race we decided to redeem a LivingSocial for a "local" corn maze. FORTY FIVE MINUTES LATER we arrived at Muddy Boots Farm excited for the challenge. Unfortunately it wasn't much of a challenge. Though it had an acre more than the last corn maze we did, it didn't seem like much of a challenge. Instead of a map with pieces to fill in there were random questions throughout that guided you left or right. Even if you didn't know the answer to the question you knew exactly where to go because of the ground. There was nicely growing grass in the dead ends and dirt where we should walk. It was a great place to bring kids, but for two competitive adults it wasn't much.They did have a neat baseball thing that David enjoyed doing afterwards.

 

The race had been to benefit dog rescue/adoption organizations and one of the sponsors was a local dog bar. We headed there that afternoon to see what it was about. Daisy has become a HUGE wuss since being attacked by the fluffy terrorist from next door, so I was little nervous how she would do around a bunch of dogs. It went surprisingly well! She was a bit of a loner and spent more time visiting the humans than dogs, but she didn't cower in a corner the whole time! I think we're going to try and take her again soon.

Friday's Letters [10.11]

Happy Friday, folks!

Dear Lord, Thank you for grace and new mercies each day.

Dear tastebuds, I see a new trend and I like it.

Dear Trail Run, You scare me. I've never run on a trail so why I signed up to so an entire 5K race is beyond me. Please be gentle. My foot and knee are reminding me this week how I'm not getting any younger. . .

Dear new running shoes, You cost a pretty penny, but you sure are pretty.

Dear David, I just love you to pieces and can't wait for all our adventures in the coming weeks!

Quick Winston Weekend

This past weekend I popped on over to Winston Salem for a quick trip. Mama asked me to run a 5K with her on Saturday morning so I headed up there on Friday afternoon after school let out. I was excited about the race, but even more excited to meet this little princess:

Meet Shanti, my parent's new pup. Mom rescued her from the Wautaga Animal Shelter last weekend when she was up visiting Mandy and Abby. Apparently she'd had her eye on Shanti for a while and when they went to the shelter they determined it was meant to be! Daddy named her Shanti, which means "peace" in Sanskit. I want everyone to take a quick moment to appreciate the irony of this name because our family, and this newest addition, are anything but peaceful!! 

She may have an abundance of energy but she is one of the sweetest little loves I have every met. She may jump right on top of you, but it's not because she's trying to attack, or even play, she just wants your love and attention. Take a look at the following pictures for evidence:

She starts sitting upright, kinda leaning against ya

Then she puts her entire weight onto you

And she ends up on the floor/in your lap

Enough about Shanti.  Onto the race! The next morning we woke up bright and early for the Athena Warrior Race benefitting Gyn Cancers. Mama did it last year and knew she wanted to do it again. Despite waking up extra early and the race being less than 5 minutes from Mama and Daddy's house, we still got there just before the race. 

Hellooooo and good morning

Mama had mentioned the night before that the "MapMyRun" App wasn't working properly with ios7. I didn't know anything about that because most of my runs are on the treadmill. I brushed it off and figured it would be fine. Not so much. According to my app I ran half a mile and it took me almost 24 minutes to do it in. Hmmm. I sure hope they figure that out soon! The race results said I finished in 23:47 and paced a 7:43 mile. Certainly not my best, but I did finish 3rd in my age group!

Getting my medal

Mama did well, but didn't PR either. No biggie, we all have those races. After the race they had a decent sized health and wellness expo with lots of freebies and information. Mama and I each got a a 5 minute massage along with a "teal-tini" (blue Gatorade in a plastic martini glass) and a slice of cake. No wonder Mama wanted to do this race again this year! My next race is the Trails for Trails 5k trail run. Hopefully it will be better than this one!

Friday's Letters [10.04]

Happy Friday, folks!

Dear students, Though we may have our moments I have to say how thankful I am for y'all. Your warm hearts, hysterical senses of humor, and genuinely positive disposition is such a great way to go through each day. Thank you.

Dear David, I apologize for being so cranky. My b. It's been a long week with lots of extra stuff. I have high hopes for next week!

Dear foot, What's up with this dreadful pain whenever I walk or put pressure on you? Ain't nobody got time for that. I've got a 5k tomorrow morning that I'd really like to finish!

Dear readers,  #teacherproblems

You're Gonna Hear Me ROAR

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me ROAR
Louder, louder than a lion
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me ROAR
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar

-Katy Perry

These were the words that kicked off my very first 8K race and boy, did they get me pumped up!

About a year and a half ago I ran my first 5K and as is the tradition there were a few booths with information. One of the booths was advertising for a 5K/8K race and a Duathlon. I didn't think much of it and put their little brochure into my goody bag. Well, the brochure must have fallen out because a couple months ago I found it under the passenger seat of David's car. It sparked my interest and I headed to the website. Turns out an 8K is a little under 5 miles. I thought to myself, "I might just be able to do that" and quickly signed up for the Nutrithon 8K!

I wasn't quite sure how I would do because this summer has been rough on me running-wise. I haven't been able to run more than two miles without stopping for water. After a quick break I can get going again only to have to stop in another mile or so. It ends up taking me quite a while to log any miles. I decided not to dwell on it and set a goal to run the entire thing. 

I arrived a few minutes early for the 7:45am race (oof) and got ready to go with the other 8K runners. There weren't very many of us, but it was still fun for me to see who I would try and pace with. I usually pick someone out who is a smidge faster than me and spend the entire race trying to catch them. Sometimes it works out well for me, other times I completely miss and end up just trying to push myself.

Once we were off I quickly figured out who I would follow and kept my eyes on his red shirt the whole time. I kept with my goal of running the entire time and finished sixth overall, third among the women, and first in my age group! My time was 37:44 and my mile pace was 7:52.

The race bug has bitten again and before the end of the day I had already signed up for another race. This time it's a 5K Trail Run called Trails for Tails raising money for abused dogs. Sounds like a good cause and a fun new challenge to me!

Color My Run

This past weekend David and I completed the Charlotte Color My Run 5K! No, this wasn't the same as the big Color Run, but it was still fun. David first heard about it on Groupon and being the runner I am, sent it onto me. I somehow convinced him it would be fun to do together. Te he he. I don't think he'll ever fall in that trap again! As much as David loves being active, he does not love running. But since he loves me he signed up to do it with me :) 

A few pictures from our day. . . 

Yay for running at 8am!

David was clearly excited to be there.

All the people!

 And we're off. . .

 The end result. Please take note of the lovely sweat ring and sports bra stain.

Friday's Letters [05.31]

Happy Friday, folks!!

Dear testing, See ya, wouldn't want to be ya!

Dear students, Only FIVE more wake ups until your freedom. How about calming down a smidge and being nice to your teachers? Much appreciated.

Dear Davido, Thank you for being so gosh darn superb.

Dear Color Run, I am SO excited for you tomorrow! My only request? Keep the color puffs out of my mouth. Bleck.

Dear crazy neighbors, June is upon us, which means the return of your fluffy terrorist. I see the beginnings of a fence. Any chance you're going to finish it any time soon?

My First 10K

One of my favorite ways to stay in shape is running. This has not always been the case, though. In my youth I would have rather poked myself in the eye with a million red hot needles than run down the street. Today? I completed my first 10K! Hey, whiny little Lauren, you did it!

I'm pretty darn excited about it too considering what a rough week it was for my body. Last Saturday I woke up excited to get one last "long" run in before the race. The moment I stepped out of bed I realized that wasn't likely to happen. Thank you, tight hammies! Not exactly sure where they came from, but they came with vengeance. I stretched as much as I could and hoped for a better run the next day. The universe had other plans. Thank you, nausea and congestion! Hello yucky bug that sidelined me from running for a few days. Fast forward to Tuesday when I woke up with ridiculous cramps and a very unwelcome monthly visitor. At this point I was convinced the universe was conspiring to kill me. I completed a few shorter runs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and hoped for the best for the race.

I woke up this morning nervous as all get out! I ate a snack, drank some water, and made the last minute decision to add a few songs to my running playlist. Bad idea. Very bad idea. Thank you iTunes/iPhone for forcing me to reset to factory settings at 7:40 this morning! I about had a conniption fit. I paced around the house while it did its thing and I was FINALLY able to add a few songs.

I arrived early and waited nervously for the buzzer. The cool thing? It was in our neighborhood! A few shots David took while I ran by:

Daisy patiently waiting for me.

Doing well around Mile 2.

 Ready to cry at Mile 5. Please note the lack of smiles and thumbs up this time around.

According to timer as I ran by I finished in 49:53 with an 8:02 pace. Could I done better? Maybe. But considering I was congested and crampy, I'll take it!

 

Friday's Letters [04.26]

Happy Friday, folks!!

Dear 10K, Welp, it's official, we will be meeting in a few short weeks. Please be kind to my still in training body.

Dear Keurig, Thank you for the extreme joy you bring very tired teachers! We are all so excited by your arrival and can't wait to see you take us through the rest of year with lots of energy. HOORAY!

Dear computer, What gives? You've been running super slow recently and have taken to crapping out randomly. Please keep chugging along, little buddy.

Dear projects, Please be kind. I know there are roughly 6.45 bajillion of you, but I would really appreciate it if you didn't take up my entire weekend. Mmmkay?

Dear students, We are almost there! Six more weeks until we reach FREEDOM!

A Saturday in Spring

This past Saturday was pretty spectacular. It started off with a very nervous Lauren as we headed to a 5K. I signed up to run the same race I ran last year. This race is special to me because the funds raised go to scholarships for local high school students in honor of teens who have died prematurely. I received one of these scholarships when I was in high school. 

Last year my goal was to run the entire thing without stopping. My goal was the same for this year. A lot has happened since that last race, but running hasn't been a top priority for me. Between the pulled hamstring, foot surgery, and pregnancy, running has taken a backseat for me. I only started getting back into it about two months ago. 

Here I am getting ready to go, and trying not to freeze from the wind!

David decided to run with me at the last minute. We decided not to pace together since we'd never run together before and weren't sure where the other would be. I ended up running the race in 24:36 with a 7:55 mile pace! That's about 40 seconds faster than last year with a quarter of the training! I ended up getting first in my age division, eighth of all the women, and twenty-sixth overall. David attributes it to the CrossFit workouts I've been alternating with my running. Whatever the reason I was very pleased with the result. David ran it in 27:29, which is pretty good for someone who doesn't regularly run and hadn't planned on doing it!

David racing past me.

I decided I deserved a "prize" after that run. I told myself as I was running that if I did well, then I could go get some nice running shoes. In all honesty I was thinking about doing it anyway, but the mind trick was what I needed to get me going. So, we headed up the way to the local Fleet Feet store for me to be fitted! The saleslady was stinkin' awesome at her job and I ended up getting sucked into not only a fancy pair of shoes, but ridiculously overpriced socks and inserts too.

Being sucked into the cult of official running gear.

We ended the day celebrating a good friend of ours 30th birthday. It was so nice to hang out and visit with great friends on the beautiful Spring evening. 

Some of the fellas acting up.

Lovely ladies!

Other than the fact that NC State lost, it was a perfect day! Ready for many more of these:-)

Friday's Letters [03.15]

Happy Friday, folks!!

Dear 5K, You scare me. You are the first race I have participated in since last year. My goal last year was to run the entire thing, and my goal this year is much the same. So much has happened since that last race. I will be pleased if I can run you without stopping.


Dear Spring, Keep that beautiful weather coming! The fact that I was out in shorts and a T-shirt on Tuesday warms my heart.


 Dear readers, Thank you for your continued support with everything going on in our lives. We really appreciate the prayers for us and for my sweet sister, Mandy. We truly believe in the power of prayer and know that God's hand is in all of it.

Dear community group, Thank you for creating a safe place to share. Your support and love continue to overwhelm me (in a good way). Thank you.

Dear Starbucks man, Thank you for the free drink. I'm sorry the coupon code did not work (who knew Harris Teeter Starbucks stores had different registers?!), but I really appreciate your generosity. I hope your day gets better!

Friday's Letters [06.01]

Hello fab readers! It's another fantastical Friday with Adventures of Newlyweds!

Dear June 8, What is taking you so long???

Dear new treadmill, I am stoked about your addition to the workout fam. I am hoping you will be kinder to my feet and ankles than your predecessor. Your awesome auxiliary input will make watching Mad Man that much more awesome. Now if only I could get back in shape as easily as your manual promises. . .

Dear Harris Teeter, As I was wandering the aisles the other day I stumbled upon an interesting frozen treat-"Sweet Tea Ice Cream". I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I'm intrigued, yet not intrigued enough to buy it. Perhaps if you put it on sale I may be a bit more ambitious. . .*hint*hint*

Dear students, I really enjoyed reading your "letters to future selves". It was neat to see what some of you wanted to remind yourself about this year. I hope all your dreams for life come true!

Dear 50 Shades of Grey, Why do you have to be only three books long?? I wanted so badly not to enjoy your crazy but I just couldn't help it. The ever-changing moods of Mr. Grey coupled with Ana's stubborn attitude made for a good read. How about you continue the story with a fourth book? I'm pretty sure there would be a gazillion dollar profit from it, and who doesn't love that?

Dear Suzy Subaru, My how awkward your one cup holder is. About the only thing that fits in there is a grande-sized drink from Crackbucks. How convenient. Who knew cup holders would be such an important asset in life? I resolve to make sure my next car has more cup holders than you.

Please excuse my disgustingly dirty car. She needs a visit to the spa.

The Saga Continues

If you remember my lawn mowing saga from the other day, you probably remember how proud I was of myself. I was over the moon to add "mowed the lawn" to my wifely resume. I should have known better than to speak so soon. Since nothing in my life is ever simple, I don't know why I thought this would be. Let me back up. . .

I failed to mention the attributes of our yard. It's fairly small (thanks DR Horton!) and mostly flat (thanks former farm land!), but does have a bit of a dip where it meets the farm. Nothing too significant, but it definitely added another dimension, and more work, to my lawn mowing experience. I started by pushing the mower down the hill, then pulling it back up. Well, about the fourth or fifth time I did this, I slipped and the lawn mower went straight into the fence. No need to worry, I still have all my fingers and toes, but it was a bit annoying. I got the mower and continued with my work.

Fast forward to Saturday morning when I was on the treadmill. I had just gotten into a groove with my run while Don Draper (LOVE me some Mad Men!) was off wrecking more havoc on his marriage, when I felt a sudden twinge in the top of my leg. Actually, twinge would be an inappropriate word. More like, as excruciating as the needle from my kidney biopsy pain in the top of my leg. I hop off the treadmill pretty quickly and attempt to shake it out. When that doesn't do anything, I started stretching. Alas, nothing was working and I tossed in the towel on my workout.

I hobbled back into the house and called The Momma (have I mentioned how terribly convenient it is to have a nurse for a momma?!) who told me to lay low. Bah humbug, I had plans! Anywho, I laid low the rest of the day in hopes that it would go away. By that afternoon the pain had gotten so bad I was dragging my leg behind me. Called The Momma again and she diagnosed it as a pulled muscle. A what?!? A pulled muscle, most likely from mowing the lawn, that was aggravated by my running.

I was not too pleased to hear this answer, especially after I did some research (thank you, WebMD) and learned this would put me on the sidelines of running for a few weeks. Momma said it's likely that not only is the prednisone for my kidneys thinning my bones, but it's probably doing something to my muscles too. Awesome. The fun never ends!

Needless to say, I'm a little bummed. I was planning on starting to train for a 10K in the next few weeks and completed another 5K at the end of the month. As much as I don't want to believe it, it's probably better to be safe than sorry and to take it easy the next few weeks. I found some stretches to do to strengthen the area, but until then I'm out of commission. All the more reason to never mow the lawn again;-)

Any one else ever had something like this? I'd love to hear suggestions on exercises to work around this!

Kickin' Some 5K Booty!

Well, folks, I did it. I ran my first ever 5K! Let me just take a quick minute to celebrate- wahoooooooooooooooo! About a year ago I got into running. I started on a treadmill at our apartment complex's gym. When we moved to the house and I didn't have the treadmill anymore it dawned on me how much I enjoyed, and now missed, running. My sweet husband recognized this and used his Craigslist sleuthing skills to find me a used treadmill. With the kidney revolt it was put on hiatus for a while. When I finally got the go ahead from my doc I laced up my shoes and hit the treadmill again!

With the new year I made a set of goals for myself to accomplish before I turned 30. One of them was to run an entire 5K. Now, I've walked quite a few in my day, but never run one. I starting my own version of training and began scouring the internet for a local race I wanted to support. Many 5K's are run in support/honor of a cause or a person, so I wanted to my first full one to be a cause I was interested in.

About a month ago someone I went to high school with posted about a 5K taking place in my hometown (about 10 minutes down the road from where I live now). This was the Angels of '97 5K. This is an organization very near and dear to my heart. It was started to honor five students from a local high school who all passed away before their graduation in 1997. The organization now honors other local teens who passed away before their time. The 5K, along with a silent auction and all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner, race money to fund scholarships for teens at the local high schools. In fact I earned one when I graduated in 2006! I couldn't imagine a more perfect race to be my first:-)

I woke up early Saturday morning a ball full of nerves. I'm still not exactly sure why I was freaking out so much. It's not like this was my first time ever running. Regardless, I grabbed something to eat and was out the door. I was about ten minutes down the road when I realized I forgot my headphones. Mother of pearl. There was no way this thing was happening without some musical motivation, so I turned the car around.

This set me back in time, which I had so carefully plotted out. I had it in my mind that I would get there with 30 minutes to spare to pick up my race day packet, stretch, and get in the zone (hey, I've warned y'all from the beginning I'm too Type-A for my own good). Fat chance that was going to happen now.

Anywho, I arrived with just enough time to grab my packet and head up to the starting line. I turned on my running playlist and got ready for the start. A few minutes later we were off! It was a great run and aside from the hill in the first mile I felt awesome! It didn't hurt that I had this cute kid as my leader:

About halfway through I realized that I was definitely going to be able to run the whole thing. That momentum was enough to help me pick up the pace until the end. My final mile pace was 8:10 and my final time was 25:23. WAHOOOOOOOOO! I finished first in my age group and 32nd overall. I still cannot believe it. God truly pushed me to keep going and it showed in the end.

Will I be doing this again? Heck yes. I'm already on the hunt for another! If you know of a good one in the Charlotte area, let me know!