The Ladybug Run

I'm Hello again everyone! So I just recently finished my latest virtual run, the Ladybug Run for CDH awareness 10k. It's a race to benefit research of congenital diaphragmic hernia. I had not heard of the condition before this race, but after looking into it, it's a cause worth running for. You can check out more about CDH on their website http://www.ladybugcdhfoundation.com. I'll be honest in that the shirt and medal caught my eye, but after reading about the condition, I'm very happy I took part!!

This was the first virtual I did that was in conjunction with a live race. One awesome thing about this race is that it was completely sponsored, so all the money from entries could go to the cause. Pretty awesome!! The shirt, bib and medal are all great quality. And there were other little goodies included in the packet I was mailed. First rate job on the part of the race directors!

As for my race here in Ohio (the live race took ace in Oregon) well, it was so much better than I thought it was going to be. It's been very warm and humid here, and I woke up feeling not the best. But I had set my date and that was what I was sticking with. I started with a little foam rolling (they had talked about doing this as part of your warm-up on Anotherother Runner) and headed out the door, Nike+ ready, playlist chosen. I started off thinking "light, short, quick" over and over. I was hoping for a decent time, and was going to make the best of this race. I'm not quite sure what clicked on me, but as I was going along, I could picture myself in a race. Other runners jockeying for position, checking their watches, looking determined. I settled into a nice rhythm and the first few miles passed rather quickly. When I hit the halfway point, I realized I was within sub-1 hour range. You better believe I kicked it up a notch! Light, short, quick...light, short quick...I concentrated on my stride. Mile 4 down, mile 5, before I knew it I was stopping my timer with a finish time of 59:18! Not a PR, but darn close!!

As for my running since the race I've been taking it rather easy. I'm currently at day 247 of my runstreak and have a 5k in 2 weeks. It's another virtual held in conjunction with a live race, the Lantern run 5k. So excited!!

Weight loss has been weighing on me heavily lately. Ok, maybe not weight loss as much as far loss. It's amazing to me, that even after all I have been able to accomplish, for some reason there is still this nagging feeling I need to do more. Maybe that's a good thing. When you don't have that desire to want to better yourself, the push further, to test your limits, that is the point where complacency sets in. Where backsliding can creep in. It's a fine line between dedication and obsession. However I really think it's one you need to walk if you want to be your best. 

Another thing that's been weighing on me lately is actually setting a BIG race goal and following a program. When I got back into running and started streaking I very much had a "run for fun until your done" mentality. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that!!! However, lately I've been craving the structure of a training plan with a goal race in sight. Or honestly, maybe not even an actual race, maybe just the distance. I'm seriously considering starting a marathon training program just so I can see if I can still cover the distance. I haven't decided for sure, all I know is I'm totally ready for some structure in my training for a while.

Well, with that said, I think I'm going to go start reading the book on the Hanson Marathon training program someone lent me. Let's see what fun I can get into next!! Until next time run lots and live happy!!

No expectation running, podcasts, and racing schedules on runstreak day 240

Well, let me start by saying when I woke up this morning I barely felt like running even a mile. I just felt blah. Since I'm not a morning runner, though, I got myself ready for work, did the work thing, came home and again, contemplated my run. After some thought I finally decided heck, I'm just going to get out there. One foot in front of the other, no specific goals. A "no expectations" run. That way if I felt like yuck after a mile it was all good. If I ran 12 minute miles, it was all good. If it turned into a long run, it was all good. The getting out there and keeping my runstreak in tact was the only thing I was going to concern myself with. So podcast chosen I made my way out the door. 

     I started off super easy, listening to the week's recap the podcasters were giving. Listening to their race recaps and training schedules. Taking in the scenery and before I knew it 4.3 miles had flown by. Not the fastest, but you know what? Who cares! I wasn't out there for a specific distance or time, no set goal, just to enjoy the run, and that I did!

So in other things running related, I wanted to share my newest favorite thing. Podcasts! I'm still new to finding what's out there, but have found a few I really like. On the running side of things, I've really enjoyed listening to the Another Mother Runner, and Runner Girl podcasts and have subscribed to both. I love listening to race stories, training schedules, runner specific topics while out logging miles. On the spiritual side I thoroughly enjoy listening to Joel Osteen, Running to Win, and The Alternative. All great teaching and uplifting while on a shorter run. Finally in its own little category is The Break, a mix of fitness, science, pop culture, spirituality and randomness that I really like. If you like podcasts I encourage you to check these ones out. And likewise, if you have any favorites, please share them with me! I'm always looking for new fun podcasts to take with me on my runs!

     It's hard to believe that school is less than a month away for my kids. With that in mind I've pretty much finalized my race schedule for the rest of the year. (With one high schooler and one middle schooler, I know it's going to be busy!) So what's on the agenda? Well, let me do a month by month...

July

~The Ladybug Run for CDH virtual 10k

August-

~The Lantern Run virtual 5k

~The Pinky Run virtual 5k

~Run Like its Midnight virtual 5k (or 10k, I haven't decided)

~the Canton City Chatity Chase 5k live race

September 

~Beat the Blerch virtual half marathon

October

~the Great Pumpkin Run 5k live race

November 

~the Perry Rotary Turkey Trot 5k live race

December

~the Frosty Frolic 5k live race

I decided to slow it down a little after August because, well, there's more family obligations, and those come first. If I can squeeze more in, then cool! If not, I'm super happy with this year's race schedule :) Now I do know there's at least one more race I'll be signing up for, but technically it's next year. My hometown marathon's registration opens on September 1st and I am not going to miss it again!! I will be signing up for the half, and have already been making a list of races I had seen this year that I want to do next year. Oh, the life of a race addict! lol, at least I have a supportive family and for that I'm grateful.

Well, I'm off to finish up the last of my "to-dos" before calling it a night. Hope you all had a wonderful day and that tomorrow is even better!

JaDee

Changes and habits

It's hard to believe it's been so long since I've been on here! Ok, maybe not really. It's not that the ideas aren't there. I really have no good reason as to why I don't take the time to write them down. Maybe it's because there's not the same social interaction here as there is on, say, Instagram or Facebook or other social sites. But then again, in a way, this is MY little place to write down my thoughts, adventures, trials and such. I keep telling myself that, and that I need to just write things down. So here I am about to give it a try yet again. I just need to find a way to make blogging a habit.

So, on the topic of habits, my running has been going well. I am currently at day 237 of my runstreak with my big, number one goal right now to make it to 365. I have been doing plenty of races with my biggest month bring August. I have 4 races planned for the last month of summer. Since I last blogged I've done several races, both live and virtual, and it's been great fun. How about a picture recap....

So, 2 live races, 3 virtual, a new 5k PR, an age division win, and first time at the 8K distance. It's been a good summer!

Next on the topic of habits, I need to start strength training and doing yoga again. No, really, NEED! I can feel tightness due to imbalance and I'm starting to feel just soft and squishy. I know it's because I've neglected these 2 very important aspects to my fitness program. It's been so easy to lace up and get in some miles everyday. Partly because I love it, partly because it's just become part of my daily routine. My goal is to make strength training and yoga a regular part of my routine as well. My goal is to do 20-30 minutes a day of one or the other (or both of I have the time). I've put some thought into it and have decided I am going to try to do these before my daily runs. It seems like my mind is set to share my run via social media when I finish it. I've tried doing the weights/yoga thing after and I get distracted. So I'm going to try to do it before and see how that goes. Hopefully I'll have good results to share. 

In my daily family life I have a new focus as well. My fiancée and I are hoping to buy a house within the next couple years, so we are looking at ways to tighten the financial belt so we can save more. I've found our business biggest area of opportunity (outside of frivilous purchases and/or cutting back on hobby related expense) is our grocery shopping habits. We're both foodies at heart and tend to shop without a list. Our goal is to make a weekly menu guide so we can make a list and stick to it. I think this will help in also planning and making healthier food choices for the entire family, which I am very excited about. I know it won't be easy at first, but I think it will be well worth the effort! Im also looking forward to the opportunity to find and try new recipes.

I know we all have things in our lives we want to change. It's not easy. Especially in the beginning. But when you know those changes need to be made, and you go in with a game plan and determination it CAN be done! I hope I've inspired and encouraged some of you to maybe start forming those new habit you want to form. Let's do this together. Let's make things happen!!

Well, hopefully it won't be 2 months before my next blog post, lol. Honestly, though, like I mentioned before I'm adding regular blogging to the list of changes I want to make as well. So that said, I'll be seeing you all again soon! Live healthy, live happy my friends!!

JaDee