2 Years in Review

2.5 years ago I made a decision that changed my life forever. I had always had "Run a Half Marathon" on my bucket list. Well I was looking at turning 40 was weighing over 200 pounds (I actually stopped weighing myself at 206 lbs) and knew that if I was ever going to accomplish this goal I better start now.  A friend of mine introduced me to Couch to 5K and in November 2011, I started the program. The closer I got towards the end of the program the more nervous I got. But as most of you know once I make a goal, I will do what ever it takes to achieve that goal.

 

Valentine's Day 5k 2012

 So 2 years ago this past weekend I ran my first 5k, the Valentine's Day 5K   2102. Well let's correct that statement - I ran most of it, but I will admit I to walk part of my first 5K. My time 45:10. That first race was bitter cold and I had to go buy running pants just for the race. It was not how I dreamed my first race would go, but crossing that finish line is a memory I will never forget!!

I look forward to running this race every year to see how far I have come with my running. I know I have improved, I can feel it every time I hit the pavement. But to see the difference in the time and is truly just amazing. This past Sunday I ran the Valentine's Day 5k 2014 in 33:07. I was trying so hard to get under 33 minutes and I know I will get there just not this weekend. I have been fighting a cold and the weather was once again bitter cold at race time. During the race I tried to take a drink of water at the Mile 2 water station started a coughing fit and a nice patch of ice slowed me down right before the finish line. But I will conquer the 33:00 minute mark!!

So 2 years, 4 Half Marathons, Numerous 5ks, 2 Bolder Boulders, and 3 10 mile Races and a Virtual Triathlon Sprint, and climbing a Colorado 14er. I will admit that I am a runner. Do I love it - no, not all the time. I love the adrenaline I get on race day and I love the feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line. But there are a lot of times in training when I could just quit. But I have learned one thing - races are not completed on race day, they are made during the struggles and training prior to race day.

I can not imagine what my life would be like if I had not made the decision 2.5 years ago to start running. Along with that decision came the choice to live a healthier lifestyle. So I made changes to my diet, took up yoga, cross fit, biking. I have lost 65 pounds and have kept it off give or take 3 pounds.

So 95 days towards my first marathon. I am slowly moving in the right direction. Goal has been set, the challenge is on. I can do this!!
                                                                                                                      

Valentines Day 5k 2014

                                                          

  Turtle Hugs and Hearts Everyone!!

  Happy Valentine's Day - Love Shari

Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon

Having Fun and Running a Half Marathon

So I just completed my first race outside of Denver. I ran the New Orleans Rock N Roll Half Marathon. Racing while traveling is something new and I have discovered I loved it. It really was a fun experience. Everyone told me it would be so much easier running in New Orleans because of the lower altitude. What they forgot to mention was the humidity. At race time it was 65 degrees, only a little rain (maybe 5 minutes throughout the entire race), but the Humidity was 97%. Yikes!! Humidity is brutal.

Jackson Square on Sunday, Race Day

Beautiful Day in Jackson Square on Saturday

As you can see from these two pictures the weather in New Orleans can change quickly. 

 

But this Turtle is very happy with my time. I finished 13.1 miles in 2:39:43. 

My time improved by over 4 minutes from my first Half Marathon last May. 

But you know this race was so much more than just time. This race was a chance to meet FB running friends from all over the country. These friends have been there to encourage and support me without even knowing me in person. I have to say that I have become a better runner because of their encouragement! So Thank You to Carolyn, Kristen, Tamra, Carol-Lee, Marcus, Amanda, Rick, Kendall, and Bernard. You made this race so enjoyable!! Honestly, that is what running is all about - having fun. And you made this race fun!!

   

Unfortunately, I did get sick when I returned to Denver and the bitter cold weather we have had here in Denver is not helping me recover quickly, so until the next blog - Keep Calm and Run Like a Turtle.

Turtle Hugs everyone!

Back to Back Races

              Back to Back Races

Well this weekend I did something I have never done before. I ran back to back races.

My first race was on Saturday and was the Frosty Frozen a 5 mile run. The course starts in Hudson Gardens and then goes out on the bike trail and ends in Hudson Gardens. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to run in Colorado. I was beginning to feel that I am getting my endurance back. I fueled before the race,fueled during the race and I actually felt good on this race and ran with no issues until Mile 4. Mile 4 was tough mentally, but I pushed thru and was able to finish strong with a time of 56:00 minutes even.

Sunday, I ran the Polar Bear 5K. One of the things I am working on it starting out slower and finishing stronger or faster (in runner's lingo that is what they call negative splits). Well Sunday I let the excitement of this race and psyched myself out thinking it is a 5K and I rocked 5 miles yesterday so this should be a piece of cake - right?!?! Uh NO!!!! I started out way too fast and I knew I was in trouble at the start of mile 2 - had to walk a little. 

Thank goodness my Coach came to run with me. Stephon encouraged me throughout the race and inspired me to finish strong. I can not say in words how mentally tough this run was. Even my coach was saying that when it was done I would be celebrating about how strong and tough I was. My only comment back to him was "If I finish", because honestly at that moment I was struggling mentally with could I finish. But finish I did and guess what a new Personal Record. 33:28 with an average mile of 10:48. WOW!! Can you say surprise!! This Turtle was just SHOCKED!! I never in a million years thought my time would be that good after struggling through this race.

 Moral of this blog is the tough races are probably the Runs you will remember and appreciate the most. I will always remember the feeling of seeing my time as I crossed that finish line and realizing what I had just achieved. It will be one of those memories I will always remember, like my first 5k, my first half marathon - now I have my first PR after tough back to back races. I also know that I have a long way to go. Yes I am moving forward with my running and my training, moving at a Turtle Speed towards my first marathon. Once again thanks for joining me on my journey.

New Running Coach

I am one Happy Turtle!!

 So I have been thinking about finding a running coach to help me with the mental aspect of this sport. Yes running is more mental then physical. Most of you know that I belong to a local running club, The Irish Snug. Well a couple weeks ago I was talking with one of the runners, Stephon, and to my surprise he is a running coach for Teams in Training with the Rock & Roll Marathon series. much to my delight he has agreed to help train me for my first marathon.

So on January 11 I met with Stephon to do our first training run. After about a 45 minute discussion on shoes, breathing, my pace, and lots of other topics we started out. 10 miles later this Turtle was one happy runner. I PR my 5k, 10K, and 10 mile run. I finished 10 miles in 1:50:28. I honestly can not believe how far I have come in just 2 years.

2 years ago I started Couch to 5k and in February 2012, I ran my first 5k in 45 minutes with an average pace of 15 minutes. This weekends run was an average pace of 11 minutes.

I know, I know I probably should not be calling myself a turtle anymore, but I have to admit I love Turtles. I always have. Especially after watching Finding Nemo. I am fascinated by them. I probably fell even more in love with them when I was fortunate to swim with some turtles in Hawaii. 

This encounter was also around the same time I made the decision to start living a healthier lifestyle. So turtles really have brought me inspiration and I will probably always associate my new healthier lifestyle with turtles.

So new coach, new plans, new fuel - yup we are moving forward at a Turtle's pace towards my first marathon.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!  Shari

Starting my Journey 1-1-14

Greetings all - I have to admit I might just be as nervous about this blog as I am about running my first Marathon, but you know what you just need to put one foot in front of the other right?

So let me tell you a little bit about myself, I am 42 years old and began running 2 years ago. Running really has changed my life. I started running 2 years ago to cross "Running a Half Marathon" off my Bucket List. I can proudly say that I was able to accomplish that by running the Colfax Half Marathon on May 18, 2013 with a time of 2:43:48. Not too bad. In the past year I have completed  2 more half marathons. In the 2 years since I started this healthy lifestyle, I have lost 65 pounds. Not only do I run, but I do yoga, swimming, biking, and cross fit. I can not believe how far I have come. If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would have ran not 1 but 3 half marathons and a Triathlon Sprint, I would have laughed. Not only I have accomplished these goals, but I have improved my speed and my endurance. I am not the fastest runner, but I just keep plugging along.

Now I am starting the journey towards the hardest goal I ever set for myself. A full Marathon - yes 26.2 Miles. I like to think of it in these terms - Run 42 Kilometers while I am still 42. Is it going to be easy NO. Is it going to be worth it - YES.

So hopefully you will join me on this journey. I know I will need all of the encouragement I can get. This blog is going to help me verbalize all of my successes, fears, hurts, and hopefully no injuries.

Looking forward to 2014.

Shari