Sturdy Girl!

As a chapter leader for North Houston MRTT, I get a chance to meet a lot of really amazing people in the athletic community. From Race Event Directors to Company CEO's and many others in between.
I recently was on Facebook and happened to stumble upon Sturdy Girl Sports, a line of Tech Tops and Sports Bras. The first thing that drew me in was the colors!! I'm all about fun colors and prints and Sturdy Girl has got 'em.
I immediately got in touch with Hilary, Sturdy Girl Founder, and told her about how I would love to partner with her for MRTT and to see if she had any info I could give the ladies about the products.
Not only did I get a quick response but Hilary did one better...she offered coupons AND product! In 3 different sizes!! How awesome is that?! I was beyond excited and appreciative. I cannot wait to share everything with MRTT and show off all the Sturdy Girl swag at our next event.
Stay tuned for a detailed product review!!

On the mend

So it's been a week since my epic fall and my ankle is still bruised and slightly swollen. I went to the doctor last week and thankfully she didn't tell me that I couldn't run my half marathon! I think if she would have said otherwise I might have had a nervous breakdown. Instead I was instructed to REST an take some steroids to aid in the healing. I gotta say, I think they've really helped! I'm still not 100% better but I'm getting there!
I opted to skip my 7 mile training run with my group yesterday. After hearing from everyone that it wasn't a good idea it finally clicked that they were right. Why risk hurting my ankle more?! So instead I just did 2.25 miles. At a SLOW and EASY pace :) I think it was just right though because my ankle wasn't too painful afterwards today.

Today was also the first day of my Total Sugar Rehaul!! I've been prepping for it for a while, cutting out more and more foods with added sugar but today was the start of no more sugar. Why, you ask?? Well I'll tell you! I've been having issues with lightheadedness...yes it's a word now...and my doctor said to try cutting out sugar. Not ALL sugars, just foods and drinks with added sugars. So my fruits are still A-OKAY!
But foods with added real and artificial sweetners are out. I'm praying this helps. We'll see! Fingers crossed ;)

Being a Productive Bump on a Log

Have a mentioned yet that I HATE sitting around and doing nothing?! I hate it with a passion! But after my wonderful fall yesterday that's what I've been doing. Sitting and resting with my ankle propped up, wrapped up and icing it.
Every time I get antsy and try to get up to do something my wonderful husband yells and reminds me that I only have 3 weeks until The Woodlands Half Marathon! And he's right, I know he is. I would hate it if after all my training and anticipating for this race to not be able to run it!

The good thing about being stuck on the couch is that it gives me plenty of time to do things I've been putting off. Like getting caught up on all my emails. And doing some party planning. And looking up parks to go running in. And finding a few virtual runs.
I've been meaning to look into more virtual runs because between marathon training, MS150 training, planning the boy's birthdays and everything else I have on my plate, it seems like I just don't have enough time to do it all!! And with virtuals, if I'm running the distance already during the week on my training runs then why not make them count for something!
So today I signed up for my first Virtual Half Marathon of the season...The Fit, Fab and Lean in 2013!
http://fitfabandleanin2013.weebly.com/
And it benefits the "Relay for life" for the American Cancer Society. Such a great cause!

I'm narrowing down my list of other virtual half marathons too. So far between now and June I'm on track to run 5 half marathons, 2 5K's and a 10K! Whew ;)

A little bitter

Okay, it's been about 5 hours since my ankle rolling episode and I'm starting to think I probably hurt it worse than I originally thought. Which makes me very grumpy when I think that I might not be able to run this coming week. I.AM.NOT.HAPPY!!
So everyone beware!

Injured Runner’s Creed

1. I will not punch, hit, slap, or otherwise injure people I see running because I am jealous of them.

2. I will sit with my ice pack and actually rest.

3. I will not substitute whole grains, veggies and healthy proteins with Cheetos and Margaritas just because I cannot run right now.

4. I will find something – anything- that I can do that makes me feel athletic (swimming, water running, walking/hobbling, lifting weights), so that I will not turn into a complete bitch.

5. I will not become so consumed by the fact that I cannot run that I lose all perspective. I will remember the things that are going right in my life, like that my heart is beating and my husband cleaned up the dog’s poop and my kids are not screaming for five minutes, and I will focus on those things.

6. I will not hole up in my house (with Cheetos and Margarita) and isolate myself. I will reach out to people who care about me and let them support me. I will try not to be a snotty a-hole.

7. I will try as hard as I can to laugh at myself and to keep my sense of humor. Maybe I will watch some Real Housewives, put someone’s hand in warm water while they are sleeping, or read this story. Whatever it takes.

8. I will remain optimistic because I know that this condition is temporary and I will run again.

9. I will stop reading blogs where all of the healthy, invincible 18 year olds are running 10 marathons a month and complaining only about a single blister on their pinkie toe. It’s not that I don’t admire them or think they’re amazing, it’s just that right now they make me feel like crap.

10. I will do one thing every day that I love to do. This will show me that I love things other than running.

Running Rule #12: Avoid Pine Needles & Leaves!

As a runner there are certain rules you must obey in order to not get yourself killed. For example, Do Not Run In Busy Traffic or Do Not Run In Lightning & Thunder.
Today I disobeyed a very important but often forgotten rule, Avoid Pine Needles & Leaves! Why, you ask? Well they are often times wet or slippery and can hide rocks and other dangers. And I know this. I really do. But today I did it anyway. Although, it was not entirely my fault.
There I was, minding my own business when a car came up in front of me. Now me, being a good little runner and following the rules (up until this point) was on the wrong side of the road like I should be. This car decides to not move to go around me, forcing me to get even closer to the curb and run in the pine needles lining the side of the road. That's when it happened...I rolled my ankle on the wet needles and went down. Hard.
For about 2 seconds after I got back up I really was thinking about just brushing the dirt off my hands and knees and continuing on. Until I looked down and saw blood peeking through my running capris and took a step on my left ankle and almost went down again because it was hurting.
I managed to hobble home. (thankfully I only got about half a mile in before this happened)
Now I'm pissed and in pain and my ankle is swollen to about 4 times its normal size!! I really was looking forward to my run today :( But I'm going to follow another very important running rule which is to Rest Your Injury!

Iron Warrior Dash

Last year I had my little heart set on doing the Warrior Dash, a 5K Obstable Fun Run. However I was very pregnant and I knew that my doing it would be severely frowned upon...and probably not very safe. So I told myself that no matter what I would do it in 2013. From what I had heard from everyone that did it, it was a blast!
Well, it's coming back next month and I registered. But not for the Warrior Dash...no, no...me and my crazy bestie decided we would do the 15.2 mile Iron Warrior Dash. The Warrior Dash on Crack!!
I've got to get my upper body strength going...I have a feeling I might just die otherwise!

Moms RUN This Town

I'm all about empowering women to get out there and get active, especially moms. I know first hand how hard it is to find time for yourself while taking care of a husband, the kids, the house and everything in between. I'm not going to lie, there are some days that I feel like just locking myself in my closet with a bottle of wine and throwing in the towel. But I can't. Because I'm a mom and that's not something that is allowed.
I've found that running and working out is absolutely my therapy. It's a chance for me to get out any aggression and have some peace and alone time. And I really like being able to encourage other moms to make time to do that for themselves too.
I recently stumbled upon a website, Moms RUN This Town. It's a nation-wide running club for moms...http://momsrunthistown.com/
With over 140 chapters across the US it brings moms together for a little running fellowship whether it be weekly runs or local races. I started looking at the chapters in Texas and saw something missing...nothing for the North Houston Area!
So that got me thinking. I'm a mom. I like to run. I like to run with other people. I like to organize events. Why don't I start a North Houston Chapter?!? So, I did!
I have already gotten to know a lot of really awesome Mother Runners in the area and we have our first  Meet and Greet Run next week!! I love it!

My first 13.1!!!

Holy Bananas...Today was the day. The BIG one. The day I ran my very first 13.1 miles!!!!!!!

Now this was not the ACTUAL Half Marathon that I have been training for but instead a training run. Yeah, go figure, a training run where we run the entire actual course. I made sure that all this week I ate right, drank plenty of water and rested my knee when possible so that I would be R-E-A-D-Y.
My favorite running buddy joined me once again for this run and I was so thankful. (Even if she is a run-crasher since she's not technically party of our run training program. But who cares, she's awesome and they can't exactly kick her off of the running path)
We headed out and everything was going great...until about mile 3 when 98% of the group decided that they needed a potty break. I mean really, we'd only been going for a little bit. So while the rest of the group relieved themselves in a local McDonald's, Tabitha and I waited outside for them for what seemed like 20 minutes!
After they came back out we were on our way again. I also realized not too long after that that it takes me about a full mile to choke down a Gu Gel. I am just not a fan of the consistency  The flavor is great, especially the Tri-Berry one I had today, but I'm just not too keen on the Gu-i-ness ;)

I was able to push though some minor knee/IT Band issues and finish out strong. Even if our crazy coaches didn't tell us that it was actually about 14 miles all said and done. They even had medals for us at the finish line! They are too good to us :) 

I've got to say, I am very proud of myself for how far I've come in the last 6 months since I started really running again. I can now say that I am totally ready to ROCK The Woodlands Half Marathon in just 4 short weeks!