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