Hollilynn 10 miler and a bit of reflection

Gorgeous day. Started with my normal gloves, jacket, and hat. By the end I had the gloves stuffed down the front of my shorts, the hat tucked in my jacket, and wishing I didn't even have the jacket.

One of my friends Melissa came over to the house on Wednesday and interviewed Michelle and I about our weight loss and running transformation. It took me back to why I started all this in the first place and reminded me of what it felt like starting out as a runner.

Back in 2009 I decided to do a marathon plan and I couldn't seem to bring my brain to get over the 13 mile hump. This ten mile route was always the start of my longer runs back then. I think I gave up before hitting 13 miles two times before I finally brought myself to complete it because, "Why would anyone want to run that far? ON PURPOSE...crazy....!!"

Anyway, I had all this rolling around in my brain while I was out yesterday while at the same time trying to figure out a good way to cut it short and cave on my original 10 mile goal. I thought about just stopping at 9 and doing a cooldown or walkng mile 10. The more I tried to talk myself into it the more I realized it wouldn't happen. I have set lots of seemingly impossible goals for myself and achieved most of them. Giving up is not what got me there. By the time I made it to 8.5 miles I was determined to make the last mile the fastest one just to prove to myself that I can push when what I really want to do is quit and finish what I started. Mile 10 did turn out to be the fastest at 6:56.

The interview was for an internet radio program. Once it's up I'll post the link if anyone is interested in hearing me tell my story of Fat Boy to Fast Boy!

This is a great hilly route for marathon training.  I did have to stop in the first mile to adjust my bra strap which was unfortunate. Wearing a heart rate monitor can be a huge pain some days!

Source: http://bit.ly/1hbqrgg

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10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Working Out

by brynnharrington on November 19, 2013

Mid-way through a recent group exercise class, the teacher lost me.  She didn’t lose me because of some complicated step sequence or insanely long set of burpees; I mentally checked out because of a few words she kept saying over and over.  “Come on!  Get that body ready for your winter beach vacation!  Think about how you want to look at those holiday parties!  PICTURE HOW YOU’LL LOOK IN THAT DRESS!”

“THAT DRESS?”  My brain couldn’t focus on an image of some random dress hanging in my closet.  All I could think about was my three-year-old daughter hearing and trying to process those words.

My daughter’s little brain is making sense of the world every single second, taking in verbal and non-verbal cues about how things work and what things mean.  And when it comes to exercise, I want her to grow up seeing it as a joy, and not a utility…as a gift, and not a chore…as an opportunity, not an obligation.  I want her to do it for the love of it, not to fit into a dress.  I want her to grow up knowing that…

1. Strength equals self-sufficiency.  Being strong – particularly as a woman – is empowering.  It will feel good someday to be able to carry your own luggage down the stairs if the airport escalator is broken, and it will be important to have a solid shot at outrunning a stranger should you meet one a dark alley.
2. Fitness opens doors.  Being healthy and fit can help you see the world differently.  The planet looks different from a bike or a pair of skis than it does from a car or an airplane.  Out in the elements you have the time and space to notice details and meet people and remember smells and bugs and mud and rain and the feeling of warm sunshine on your face.  And those are the moments that make up your life.
3. The bike is the new golf course.  Being fit may help you get a seat at the table.  Networking is no longer restricted to the golf course, and the stronger you are – and the more people you can hang with on the road and trail – the more people you’ll meet.
4. Exercise is a lifestyle, not an event.  Being an active person isn’t about taking a class three times a week at the gym.  It’s about things like biking to the grocery store and parking your car in the back of the lot and walking instead of taking a cab and catching up with friends on a hiking trail instead of a bar stool.
5. Health begets health.  Healthy behavior inspires healthy behavior.  Exercise.  Healthy eating.  Solid sleep.  Positive relationships.  These things are all related.
6. Endorphins help you cope.  A good sweat session can clear the slate.  You will have days when nothing seems to go right…when you’re dizzy with frustration or crying in despair.  A workout can often turn things around.
7. Working out signals hard-working.  The discipline required to work out on a regular basis signals success.  Someone recently told me they are way more likely to hire marathon runners and mountain climbers because of the level of commitment that goes into those pursuits.
8. If you feel beautiful, you look beautiful.  Looking beautiful starts on the inside.  And being fit and strong feels beautiful.
9. Nature rules.  And if you’re able to hike/run/bike/swim/ski/snowshoe, you can see more of it.
10. Little eyes are always watching.  We learn from each other.  You may have a daughter—or a niece or a neighbor or a friend – one day.  And that little girl will be watching and listening to everything she you say and do.  What messages do you want her to hear?

I’ll never talk to my daughter about fitting into THAT DRESS.  But I will talk to her about what it sounds like to hear pine needles crunching under my feet and what it feels like to cross a finish line and how special it is to see the world on foot.  I will talk to her about hard work and self sufficiency.  I will teach her the joy of working out by showing her I love it.  And I’ll leave the rest up to her.

Daily Motivation - The Berry

TheBerry.com posts 25 motivational photos every day ---HERE--- Enjoy.

Half Marathon Week 11/4-11/10

Like any dumb idea this started with either Derek or I saying wouldn't it be fun to run a half marathon every day next week...and the other dumb one agreeing. When what you really want to do is back out but you don't want to look like the weak one...so you keep pretending it's a good idea! I think this code is in the: 

MAN MANUAL - A Handbook for Everlasting Stupidity in Chapter 3.....

ANYWAY, this conversation took place BEFORE running the real Zeitgeist race the previous Saturday at race pace!?  My goal for this insane challenge was to run a comfortable but challenging pace with enough left in the tank so I could come back the next day and do it all over again.  I felt like getting under 2 hours each time would be a respectable time.  After tossing around the idea of doing 13.1 each day I suggested we run actual race courses in the valley.  

We settled on Snocone Scamper, Zeitgeist (Part II), Fit for Life, City of Trees, and The Great Potato. The only one I was concerned with meeting the 2 hour goal was Zeitgeist since it has over 1100 feet of gain.  But by Thursday I was concerned every day!  I have run plenty of weeks with more mileage but not back to back runs near race pace. I haven't run this much pavement in forever too.  

Monday - Snocone Scamper (Me and Derek)

This honestly felt like the hardest one.  Two days after a 1:42 finish at Zeitgeist for real hurt.  The path from Glenwood to Merrill Park was covered in thick leaves too which obscured the roots and crinkled asphalt and was a general pain in the butt.

Tuesday - Zeitgeist Part II (Me, Derek, and David)

I was actually looking forward to running this in the dark and not at race pace!  We still made good time despite the 21 degree temps at the start and the darkness helps you focus on the next step...not the big hill coming up ahead. David told us he ran a treadmill half the night before during Monday Night Football so he was still in the challenge.  Derek kinked his calf in the final stretch and wasn't feeling too hot afterward which was a bummer.

Wednesday - Fit for Life (Me, Derek, David, Christie, and Heather)

Fun bigger group to help pass the miles. Derek decided after this one he better take some rest time and get back to 100%.  I was glad he made that decision but it also makes getting my butt out of bed the next day all that much harder.

Thursday - City of Trees (Me and David)

This honestly, was my most favorite course.  It has a little bit of everything.  Flat, uphills, downhills, greenbelt, and bench views.  The miles melted away as we chatted about whatever.

Friday - The Great Potato (Me, David, and Christie)

This one was a bit trickier since it was a point to point race.  We decided to meet at the finish and drive up to the start in my truck.  Later in the day Christie retrieved my truck with her husband and delivered it to work since I didn't have time to go get it when we were done.  Other than getting all 5 of them under 2 hours, my other goals were to make the last one the fastest one and if the stars aligned make the last mile the fastest mile of the 65 miles. This was the only one under 1:50 with a last mile of 7:32, which happened to be the best one.  It wasn't blazing fast. I see it as more of a tribute to being smart and not going so hard each day that I couldn't get it done the next.

Happy Trails

One more goal...not have to take the next week off because I trashed myself.  I reserved the trashing for the following Monday when I did Cervidae 2 times!

Western States 100 Lottery - Part III

With just over 7.3 million people putting their names in...my odds are horrible to say the least. Actually, I was applicant 2,593.  We are all hoping to get one of about 200+ spots in the lottery.  Lucky for me, I am a previous 2-time loser.  Meaning that I applied and was not selected in 2011 or 2012.  I will get my name in lottery twice for being a loser and once due to re-qualifying this year.  There are a number of 3-time losers as well.  All tallied I will bet there are 6,500 names in the hat this year.

I am not crossing my fingers but someone has to get in. Why not me?
Update

Why I Run - Courtney Parsons

When people ask me why I run, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenaline when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got.  


~Courtney Parsons 




This was the Runner's World quote of the day today and I couldn't have said it better myself.  When people ask me, I usually say just because I can.  That may sound silly but there was a point in my life when I couldn't.  Every day is a gift.

Courtney Parsons