Mom is Gonna Run is now…

…Run Happee!!

Just needed a change! And I definitely feel this name a lot more than Mom is Gonna Run. :)

So, lots of things are happening. It’s almost Shamrock weekend again! The Shamrock Half Marathon is 4 days away! This will be my 2nd half marathon and 6th race, overall. I’m excited. I am a little nervous about the possibility of getting injured again, but I saw my foot doctor last week and he assured me that my feet are looking good and we went over injury prevention methods, so hopefully it won’t be an issue this time around. I’ll be very careful not to push myself, and if I start to feel any pain, definitely don’t go any further. As much as I want to finish and cross that finish line and get that medal, being out of commission for a few months is not the price I want to pay for it. Not again.

This weekend, the 17th, the very day I’m racing actually, will mark the 1 year anniversary of the day I first completed my first race and began this whole journey. So, this is definitely a special day for me and I’m really looking forward to it and hoping it goes well. I can’t say I don’t have a goal time. I finished the Rock N Roll Half Marathon in 3 hrs and 34 min (16:22 average pace). So, beating that, of course, is my goal. But if I can finish under 3 hrs 15 min, that would be great. But we’ll see what happens.

Also in exciting news this weekend, for the very first time, and also doing it Shamrock style, my 9 yr old daughter Lola will be completing her first race! She’ll be doing the Shamrock/Operation Smile Final Mile. It’s only a mile long race, but it’s pretty awesome her first race will also be a Shamrock race. She’s so excited! Her race is on Saturday, mine is on Sunday. I’m so proud of her.

She’s also signed up for her first 5k! A few friends and I are doing the Autism Awareness 5k as a team (we’re called Run Lola, Run in honor of Lola, who has Asperger’s) and Lola said she wanted to race with us. That’s March 30th. So, I’m going to work with her between now and then and make sure she’s more than ready to do 3.1 miles comfortably!

Come Saturday, all 3 of the Cotton girls will have medals! I’m definitely a proud momma!

VIFL Sweetheart 6k 2013!

What an awesome day!  Today was the Virginia Is For Lovers 14k and Sweetheart 6k in Virginia Beach.  My first race of the year, and more importantly, my first race back since my injury in the Rock n Roll Half Marathon 5 months ago.  I wasn’t expecting to do that great, since I haven’t been training very much.  I’ve been sick off and on quite a bit here lately and, honestly, I think in the back of my mind, I was a little afraid to get back out there.  Afraid to get injured again.  But I did end up getting back out there, training a little bit recently, but not doing much running.  So today, I expected to average about a 17 minute mile, if I was lucky.

Well, I ended up finishing at 54:44, with an average pace of 14:43 and I could not be happier.  This is coming off an injury and not doing very much training.  And I really didn’t push myself too hard because I didn’t want to injure myself again, especially with the Shamrock Half Marathon coming up next month.

And I can certainly say, getting back into a race, and just being around all the people and getting that feeling of accomplishment back that you get from crossing a finish line and completing a race…I have found my happy place again.  That fire is back.  Something inside me just went off today.  And it made me realize, this is where my passion is.

No, I’m certainly not in the best shape.  I have a long way to go.  Last year I was on the road to getting into shape, getting where I should be, and then my injury happened.  I need to fully dedicate myself to that again.  And more so than I did last year.  I need to work on injury prevention.  I need to REALLY work on nutrition, because that’s something that I have an issue with and that’s why the weight is not coming off like it should.  I don’t eat a ton of food, but I don’t eat proper meals.  I skip meals sometimes, and then sometimes I eat late at night.  I have taken up drinking Pepsi’s again and I need to cut it out.  They are so bad for you.

I talked to 2 friends today after the race today that are runners, and when I say runners, I mean, GREAT runners.  These guys know what they’re talking about.  Got some advice from them, and I’m really going to take it to heart.  I’m going to do some research, and really start planning out my meals and my workouts and just work hard to get the body I want to have and become a better runner.

I may never win a race, especially if Ryan is running it, too!  But who knows if I really work hard and get in good shape what I might be able to do.  My goal is to complete a marathon.  I may never qualify for the Boston Marathon, but I’d be thrilled if I did!  And yes, I would definitely go!  I don’t think I should sell myself short on anything.  I think at this point, anything is possible.  I never thought I could complete a half marathon and I did that.  So, we’ll see what happens.

I just know this is where my heart is.  But I need to make sure my body is prepared.  So, lots of changes are to be made for me.  Let’s just hope I can stick with them!

Little project for the year…

I saw this and it sounds like a really good idea. Now I know we’re now 27 days into the year, but I’ve had a bit of a difficult time so far this year…Yes, already!! So, getting a late start but starting today, Sunday, January 27th, I will get a small pretty box or jar and write down each time something good happens. And honestly, it doesn’t matter how small or insignificant it is. A small victory is still a victory, a tiny moment of happiness still a moment of happiness. They all add up. It’s something to work for. I need positive things in my life. I need these good moments that put a smile on my face. It’s important. Everyone does. I urge all of you to participate in this project. Bring some joy into your life. Celebrate each good thing that happens to you, no matter how big or small. And you can choose to share this with everyone, a select few, or just keep it special for yourself. Just don’t let those who are negative tell you it’s a stupid idea or a waste of time. These are people who fail to find the small joys in life, and that’s a sad way to live. I look forward to the end of the year and reading the many happy events that are sure to occur in the months ahead!

Yes, I’m all over the place…

It’s been 4 months since I have posted here at Mom Is Gonna Run.  Last time I updated, I shared with you the details about my first half marathon and the unfortunate downfall that came with it…something apparently every runner deals with at some point: their first running injury.  Mine just so happened to have me off my feet, no weight baring exercising for a couple months, which put me in a bad place I’ve been struggling to get out of ever since.

Honestly, I’ve been okay to walk, jog, run, jump for awhile now.  But I just haven’t gotten back out there.  Maybe it’s the fear of getting hurt again.  Maybe I’ve lost the drive and momentum I had for all those months, starting this time last year.  Whatever it is, I’m having to give myself a swift kick in the bum.  Race time is coming up.

In an effort to get me going, about a month ago I signed myself up for the Virginia is for Lovers Sweetheart 6k on February 9th in Virginia Beach.  And here it is 24 days away and I’m definitely not ready for it.  Not to mention, I’m registered for the  Shamrock Half Marathon on March 17th, also in Virginia Beach, 60 days away, and I am not in half marathon shape.  And this will be my 2nd half marathon.  I should be more than on my way to being ready.

So what’s the problem?  What’s the hold up?  That’s something my body and my mind have been asking each other over and over again for weeks now.

I don’t know if this is part of the “quarter life crisis” situation from turning 30 in November.  Maybe somehow I’m still a little depressed or in a funk or whatever because of it.  I do have a lot going on.  I have a lot to work on.  A lot to work out in my life.  A lot to change.

I just started college again last Tuesday.  I haven’t been in school for quite a long while so this is a huge adjustment for me.  And I’m taking 4 out of 5 of my classes at the college, as opposed to taking them all online.  So, I am having to learn how to manage my time outside of a schedule, especially because these classes require so much studying and work outside the classroom during the rest of the week to be successful.  I am very overwhelmed.  In fact, I feel stupid.  I have gotten a little panicky.  There is so much I need to do, to organize, to take care of, and yet I have something that is now the biggest priority in my life, that I cannot fall back on, I cannot fail at.  I cannot screw this up.  This is my about my future, my daughters’ future.  And I can no longer put that on the backburner and procrastinate and NOT take charge of it.  I have to do my schoolwork and I have to do it well.

But I feel like there is so much chaos going on.  So much disorganization, so much clutter.  And though it’s only the 2nd week of the semester, I’m already behind.  And that has my anxiety acting up at times, I can’t sleep a wink.  Like right now.  It’s 1 o clock in the morning and I will likely be awake all night.

I wish I could take care of everything at once.  I know that’s impossible, but it still would be nice.  If I could just not only catch up but get myself ahead, and get organized, I may be able to calm down.  And maybe I would have enough determination and sense from then on not to drop the ball again.  To always stay on top of things, no matter what.

Even the smallest things, such as my email, makes me anxious, chaotic feeling.  I know it’s there.  I know it’s cluttered and needs to be gone through and checked and read and responded to.  I know certain lists need to be unsubscribed from.  If getting my email sorted out can bring me a small amount of piece to get through other things and tackle them, that’s the first thing I will start with.

Yes, it’s definitely going to be a long, late, productive (no matter how insignificant it seems) night.

And how did I get from running to this?  The joys of ADHD.  Maybe I’ll get my mind organized soon, too.  Bear with me!

Setback

So, I accomplished a goal. I completed my first half marathon. And I did great. And I’ve been doing great lately. But sometimes things don’t always stay on the upside…

After the Rock n Roll Half Marathon, my feet were bothering me a bit. Especially my left foot. Of course, I just ran/walked 13.1 miles. They were bound to be a bit uncomfortable.

Now fast forward to Thursday, when I was contemplating going to the emergency room because my left foot hurt so bad when I walked. Called my podiatrist, they got me in first thing Friday morning.

Turns out I have a stress fracture in 2 places on my left foot. I’m in a walking boot for at least 3 weeks, possibly longer. I have to stay off my feet, sleep with my foot elevated, and who knows when I’ll be able to return back to running. I left the office in tears.

Needless to say, I did not run the Bay Days 8k on Sunday. And I won’t be running the Komen Race for the Cure next month.

I’m supposed to be training for my half marathon that’s in March. Luckily, I will have enough time to heal. But what to do until then? How to keep the weight off? In fact, how to lose the weight? I’ve already gained 2 lbs from last week’s inactivity and not being careful enough about what I was eating.

Everyone tells me to be patient. In fact, I’ve been told “welcome to the sport of patience”. Well, that’s fine. I can learn to be patient.

I can also be quite determined. I’m not a quitter. I’m not ready to sit back for 3 weeks or longer and do nothing. Let my training plan fall away. Gain back the weight that I’ve lost. Go back to square one. I’ve allowed myself to be upset for a few days. Fine. I’ve done my 3 days of depression. Now it’s time to get active, take charge of this issue, and find alternatives to running and walking for my training plan.

At the moment, I have no access to a pool. So swimming is out. I can’t afford to reinstate my gym membership. If I could, that would have been the first thing I would have done. I would have access to a pool and a stationary bike. But the funds aren’t there. And no, I cannot ask family members for help. So, I have to find another way.

I have posted on Facebook, reaching out to friends and family asking everyone if they have a bike I can borrow for the next few weeks. So far, no one does. I have posted on Freecycle looking for a bike. So far, nothing. I’ve posted on different communities asking if anyone knows of different workouts I could do. So far, just people who sympathize with me, wish me luck and a speedy recovery. But I’m determined.

I will not sit around doing nothing. I will figure out a way to keep working out, keep training and keep losing the weight. I won’t stop reading up on running just because it’s not something I’m doing anymore. I won’t let it get me down and depress me. I’ll use this time to do research. I’ll start focusing more on nutrition and what I put into my body.

But I definitely need support from my friends and family. Please, if anyone can think of anything to help, let me know.

 

I finished!

I’m a few days late but yes, I finished the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach on Sunday!! My first half marathon! I still can’t believe it! I actually finished a half marathon. 13.1 miles! Amazing!

My finishing time was 3:34:26, with an average pace of 16:22. And that was WITH the long bathroom break (there was a super long line). I had expected to finish closer to 4 hours so I’m really happy with that time. Especially for it being my first half marathon. The first mile was about a 14 min mile. So without that bathroom break, I could have finished sooner!

The race started off great because I got to see my daughter Alana and her teammate with Team Hoyt, Ryan take off. That just made my day! Then during the race, I received a notification on my phone from Facebook from my friend Wendy who had posted on my page “you’re amazing in every way possible and don’t ever forget that. Love you!” and that just brought tears to my eyes and made me even more motivated to continue on. I swear, the amount of love and support I have gotten from people on Facebook and Livejournal and on my blog is wonderful.

I’m just so happy and so proud of myself. This was a huge goal and I accomplished it. And before I turned 30! I just feel amazing! Crossing that finish line was an incredible feeling I will never forget. I almost feel like I can do anything. It has made me feel so much better about myself. I am feeling positive and ready to take on the world!

I’ve gone from my first race to a half marathon in 9 months. And I started out at 220 lbs. I’m now 178. I still have a long way to go with my weight AND my running and life in general, but for a person who started the year out at getting sore just walking a mile to walking and running a half marathon and losing weight, that’s pretty awesome. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished.

To anyone who reads this and is surrounded by people who are negative and tell you you can’t do something, don’t listen to them. And don’t ever tell yourself that you can’t. You can change your life, you can make a goal and accomplish it. Whether it’s a small goal or a big goal, you can do whatever you set your mind to do. If the people around you are negative, surround yourself with different people. Or be your own support system.

I have an 8k this weekend in Downtown Hampton. My feet are still pretty sore, so we’ll see how I do with that. And after the 8k, it’s back to kicking butt on the Shamrock training!

Tomorrow is the big day!!

So, tomorrow is the big day! Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach! My first half marathon. I went to the expo yesterday and upgraded and got all my stuff so no turning back now! It’s gonna happen!

I still can’t believe I’m going this. It’s so crazy! But also amazing. In less than a year, I’ve gone from my first race to a half marathon. Just thinking about it blows my mind.

I have to give a big thanks to my best friend Shane. She started the adventure with me. She’s been by my side the whole time. She was in the first race with me, the Shamrock 8k. She came to my 2nd race to support me. She was with me in my 3rd race. And now we are also doing this 4th race together. And our 5th race, next weekend we’ll be doing together, too.

I have changed a lot this year. I’ve come a long way. And while I still have a long way to go with running, weight loss, and life, I’m very proud of myself for what I’ve done so far. I’m grateful for the impact running has had on my life.

Tomorrow my daughter Alana will also participate in the half marathon. She’ll be riding along in a wheelchair, being pushed by her Team Hoyt teammate Ryan Carroll. He was her teammate last year, too, and I cannot thank him enough for giving my little girl the opportunity to participate in this event.

My only goal is to finish, but I really hope tomorrow goes well. This is a huge challenge for me. I can’t wait to cross that finish line! Good luck to all participants!