Fitness Friday-Viva La Color 5K

This year we are trying new things with my kids.  Previously my son and I participated in a color run with a big group of our friends.  We had not participated in another one since then.  My Lil Bit had yet to experience this fun and energetic run.  I feel that at five years old she could handle all the fun.

Did you know Viva means to live or to be alive?  This is how we should live life like we are alive.  This is what I am teaching my kids this year that life is meant to be lived. 

 The weather was being brutal this morning as it was in the low 60s and the wind was not dying down at all.  We were freezing.  Luckily my daughter's sweater was in our vehicle.  We had brought towels for after the race that we ended up wrapping her in.   She stayed warm before the race in her wagon.

 How did our race go?  Well a 5K is a little hard for little feet.  It is a long distance if they have never done this distance before.  A color run is a lot of fun but there are no water stations, no porta potties along the race route, and other than the few color stations; it is still a race. 

Right from the start my daughter wanted to go potty.  I think it was the cold weather because I got the urge as well.  I have to give it to Lil Bit, she hung in the entire time.  I ended up carrying her (all 36 lbs) on my shoulders and piggy back from color station to color station.  I asked her if she wanted to quick at one point where it looked like we could just cut through but she said no.  She loved getting the colors squirted at her.  I loved watching her go through the color stations.  I loved how so many people were so encouraging and were cheering me on as they past me up.  I heard things like:
"Way to go Mom", "You got this", "Yall almost done, keep it up", etc...

 At the end, I put her down and she bolted to the finish line.  She is really fast like her brother.  I can see some Cross Country or Track in her future.  Daddy caught the finish line picture.

 My son started and ended the race like a champ.  This was not a timed race but my husband said my son finished within the first 10 people.   

I pulled the rear like always.  Check out my tutu, yeah that's the wind still blowing like crazy.

Everyone who finished got a medal at the finish line.  We had a blast on the run.  The after party was a big dance, color party that my daughter did not want to leave.  Viva la Color!

Motivational Monday-Steps For Students 2017

January flew by me this year.  I seriously have not been able to get a grip on things.  Here we are in February, to our first race of the year for our family. 

Steps for Students is an annual race we have started to take a part in to support our friends who have children in the surrounding Catholic schools.  It is a family fun run that is always fun to participate in and of course, contribute to the cause.  This year, it happens to be the first race we do as a family.

My son just turned eighteen this month and will be graduating in May.  Education has always been important to me.  I am trying to make sure my kids understand how important education should be for them.  As he becomes a young adult, I hope moments like this will keep him grounded.  I always enjoy running side by side with him, even if he does beat me by a whole 10 minutes. 

-Teaching them to start and finish things in life.
-You may not be the winner every time but you can continue to improve.
-Community can be, do, and overcome anything.
-In life you have choices, to watch life (the race) from the sidelines or to be a part of something.

We laugh.  We compete against each other.  We motivate each other to do better.  We do it together.

After each race, I always reflect about the struggle.  Because let me tell you, the struggle was real.  I have not competed in a race in a very long time.  Like I said, life has had me busy.  I set goals and then life happens.  When I started the race, I started side by side with my son.  Daddy pushed the Princess on the stroller because her struggle was real too this day.  She decided she was not running.  She wanted to be a part of the race but not actually participate.  I feel her pain.  That morning I thought, why did I do this to us?  Anyways, I told my son good luck as he took off right after we crossed the start line.  I then focused on not stopping.  It was hard.  I knew the faster I went, the faster I would finish.  My body started to play tricks on me.  Soon enough the water station was in the distance and I took my jog to a walk.  Passing the last trash can, my body knew it was time to start jogging again.  This happened a second time at the second water station.  I saw little kids, older people, and even nuns pass me.  Yes, nuns.  When I came around the corner, I could see the finish line and I knew what I had to do.  Run, Forrest, Run.  And just like that, it was over.  I did it. 

The journey along the way will make you think twice about your final destination but you must never forget what your goal is.  Mine was to start and finish this 5K.

Now, to start recovering for the next one. 

Fitness Friday-2015 Aramco Houston Half Marathon

2015 has already started challenging me, like 2014 was not challenging enough.  Challenging yourself to complete a race motivates you to get closer to your fitness goals, at least it does for me. I love to run and it has become a big part of my year.  Unfortunately life does happen.  I was so happy when I decided to sign up for the 2015 Aramco Houston Half Marathon.  It was my opportunity to run it under my name.  But like I told you on my Motivational Monday-Never Quit on Yourself, I almost quit before I even got started.

So in order to complete the mileage I was going to run, you need training.  Last year, I did not train and I could have done serious damage to my knees.  This year I decided to train.  I did.  I started the year training with my husband.  Then I had bumps on the road, and stopped consistent training on a weekly basis.  I did something here or there.  I did not clean my eating either.  All the stress I have been under has me stress eating.  Not only that some medication I had started taking, made me gain weight as well.  But I blame it all on me and take full responsibility.  Ultimately we make our choices. 

So on January 1, 2015 with only 17 days before the race, I started training and eating healthier options than I had been.  I went to the gym and my goal-my goal was to keep my knees moving.  I remembered the doctor saying that in January 2014 I shocked my knees from doing nothing to running 13.1 miles.  I did not want to get injured.  All this weight on my poor knees was too much.  I would go to the gym and get on the treadmill for at least 1 hour.  I consistently added more miles.  When I did not do the treadmill, I did the bike.  On weekends, we walked the malls. 

On January 18, 2015, I actually showed up.  I got to the start line and I crossed it.  I had music playing in my ears, the crowds cheering away, and my legs just going at it.  I bought some goo to give me energy along the race, and had some at every 3 miles.  I got a banana from a person in the crowd at mile 9 and saved it for mile 12.  I stopped at every Gatorade and water station.  I walked it out in between, you do not want to slip and fall.  When I saw the finish line, I bolted with a burst of energy that came out of the sky.  I crossed that finish line and never felt better.  I can't believe I almost took this away from myself. 

This are pictures of me, thanks to the Marathon photographers all along the race.  I won't tell you that it was easy to finish.  I won't even tell you it was easy to start.  But I will tell you, that when I did IT FELT GREAT!  I may not look like a runner.  I may be overweight.  I may have asthma and breath hard every time.  I may look like I am walking when I think I am running.  But no one can take this away from me now. 

What are you talking yourself out of?  What have you wanted to try and are not giving yourself a chance to do?  It will not be easy.  It will be hard but that is why it is a challenge.  I am not only a finisher but I am a starter.  Finish that one thing you started. 

I did!  I love the slogan, 13.1, cause I'm only half crazy!  One day, I might go all the way crazy, and go for the 26.2 miles but for now I am enjoying this victory.  

Fitness Friday Challenge Yourself-Triathlon

***Disclosure-This is sponsored conversation brought to you by New Creative Media.  Any opinions stated are my own based on my own personal experience.

2014 is half way gone.  Yes, gone.  We are in the second half of July and July is almost done too.  Have you challenged yourself this year?  Are you those people that see something and say I wish I could do that?  Maybe next year, I will start tomorrow, I could never do that????  Well that use to be me.  When I saw an athlete, I did not see me.  Never did I think I could do or be athletic.  But never say never.  If you want to do something, challenge yourself and prove to yourself that you can.  The only person stopping you is YOU.

This year I completed my 4th Half Marathon-Aramco Houston never in a million years could I have said I would be a runner 10 years ago.  In order to participate in the Aramco Half or Chevron Marathon there is a lottery system you enter yourself into.  And lucky me has been picked for the 2015 Aramco Houston Half Marathon.  I am currently training for this run in January.  My training has been different this time around as I have started to ride my bike.  I had not been cycling as part of my previous training.  My husband mentioned to me the other day that all I needed to do now is started swimming and I could be a Triathlete.  I started laughing at what he said.  And then I stopped.  Why?  Was this so impossible to imagine?  

What is a Triathlon?

Swimming
Cycling
Running

Yes, all back to back.

This is now my new challenge to myself.  I challenge myself to do a Triathlon.  I want to prove to myself that I can do this.  I love the water.  I can swim.  I have been running.  I am currently taking cycling classes at the gym too.  I know this will be hard but I am willing to try.  One of my favorite shows to watch is Extreme Weight Loss.  A couple of weeks ago, one of the contestants changing their life completed a triathlon.  They were not first to finish and bearly made it to each check point but they completed it.  I want to be able to say that soon.

There is one coming soon near me, I did think there were any close to me.

7th Annual Clear Lake International Triathlon is happening on Saturday, August 23, 2014 in League City, Texas!!  

Swimming into Clear Lake, Bike a loop course, crossing the Kemah Bridge and going past NASA back into transition. Run partly shaded course overlooking Clear Lake and South Shore Marina.  Official website: Clear Lake International & Sprint Triathlon

This is actually one month away from now.  How exciting.  I have a couple of friends are currently training for Tri's already.  How crazy and challenging will this be?  Have you ever thought about challenging yourself to do a Tri?  I won't say it will be easy but training is the key to not hurting yourself.  My friends and I are crazy Mother Runners, maybe now we will be crazy Mother Triathletes???

Have you challenged yourself?  Start today?

Fitness Friday-Steps 4 Students 5K

I have a new found love for running and I know I sound redundant when I keep writing that but I do love to run.  But what I enjoy the most is that I get to do this with my family.  This hobby helps me keep up with my healthy lifestyle.  I try to find races that are available in my city that are cost effective so that we all can participate.  In February, we participated in the Steps for Students 5K for the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese.  My friend's children attend and so it is great that we can help them with this fundraiser.  

What is a 5K?  5K = 3 miles

You do not have to run.  Most of these are fun runs that include family walks.  Everyone can participate and you can even push strollers that is what is so fun about this.  You can go online and find tools to help you get to where you want to be.  I am not where I want to be but I try, try, and will keep trying.  

This is the route of the 5K we did.

 The day was not too hot or too cold for a run.  I like when the route is a straight shot and not a lot of curves.  This even when through some streets with a lot of shade so it was perfect.  So how did we do, you ask?

1st Place-MJ 27 minutes
2nd Place-Dad 28 minutes
3rd Place-Mami 35 minutes

We had fun and that is all that counts.  I will tell you that none of us wanted to wake up this morning.  We had a lot of things on our plate this day.  But we made no excuses and went out there.  A practically 30 minute run and we were done.  Look I burned 355 calories in that 5K run, we had family time, and we helped a great cause.

Finding a race in your area can be as easy as goggling- Run/Walk in _____ city  

I challenge you to do your first 5K by the end of this month.  Good luck! 

Giveaway-Flashback 5k/10k Fun Run and Fitness Expo

March has started and we are on month #3 of this year.  Did you set a goal for March?  I did!  I joined 2 challenges and both of them involve running.  This is my new found love.  In January, when I was at the half marathon start I noticed a group.  This group was an older group of men and women.  They were the 50 states marathoners.  Yes, they have ran a full marathon, 26.2 miles X 50 = 1 in every state of the U S of A.  Crazy huh?  To me, it is not.  It is a wonderful accomplishment, and one day I want to be able to do just that.  But for now, I will stick to half marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks locally of surrounding areas.  Remember I suggested for you to find fun things for you to participate in.  I found a fun run close to home as a suggestion to you, and what I like most is that there is also a fitness expo.

-Located in League City, TX -At the South Shore Harbour Resort

-For ticket information, go to http://katsanford.com/flashback-fitness-expo/

So who likes to dress up?  I do!  When I think of flashback I think of my 80's birthday.

I did 3 costume changes this day and this was my 2nd look.  I like flashing back at this picture of myself because it reminds me of how I felt about myself at that time and that I was at my goal weight.  I run for fun but I also run to stay fit, lifestyle change.  I hear a lot of people always saying back in the days when I was younger, but those good ole days are not gone.  This was my 29nd birthday and letting go of my 20's was hard for me.  I wanted to go back in time.  So why not go back?  Pull out your tube socks, psychedelic neons, tie dyes, or whatever you wear back in your day and join in the Flashback fun by signing up to do the 5K fun run or 10K.

Flashback Fun Run EVENT FEES: 

Early/Race Day-

Kids 1K                 $20.00 / $20.00
5K Walk/Run       $40.00 / $45.00
10K Run               $45.00 / $50.00

Want a discounted race entry or even a free entry? Enter now on all the Flashback fun online at the Flashback 5k/10K Facebook page were they have several giveaways or enter here for the below giveaway:

Grand Prize – 1 Winner

Astros 4 tickets value $65.00 per ticket Mariners game, Sunday, May 4th Value - $260.00

4 All day passes to the Downtown Aquarium (Value $67.00)

2 $10 Gift Cards to Landry's Restaurants (Value $20.00)

2 $15.00 Discounted entries to the 10K run (Value $30.00)

Total value Grand Prize Pack - $377.00

Second Place Prize Pack - 1 Winner

4 All Day Passes to the Downtown Aquarium (Value $67.00)

2 $10.00 GC to Landry’s Restaurants (Value $20.00)

$25.00 Gift Card to Toys R Us ($25.00)

2 $15.00 Discounted entries to the Flashback 5K run ($30.00)

 Total value Second Place Prize Pack - $142.00

Third Prize Pack- 1 winner

4 All Day Passes to the Downtown Aquarium (Value $67.00)

2 $10.00 GC to Landry’s Restaurants (Value $20.00)

2 $15.00 Discounted entries to the Flashback 5K run  (Value $30.00)

 Total Value Third Prize Pack $117.00

Fourth Prize Pack - 1 winner

2  VIP Tickets to the Flashback Fitness Expo (Value $50.00)

2 Passes to the Aquarium (Value $34.00)

1 $25.00 Gift Card to Toys R Us (Value $25.00)

1 $10 Gift Card to Mario’s

Total Value Fourth Prize Pack $119.00

Fifth Prize Pack - 1 Winner

2  VIP Tickets to the Flashback Fitness Expo (Value $50.00)

2 $10 Gift Cards to Landry's Restaurants (Value $20.00)

1 $25.00 Gift Card to Toys R Us (Value $25.00)

Total Value Fifth Prize Pack $95.00

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Disclosure:  This campaign is part of sponsored campaign with New Creative Media and sponsors of the Flashback events.  Any opinions stated are my own based on my own experience.

Fitness Friday-Aramco Houston Half Marathon 2014

It was a great idea at 11 p.m. at nite.....my decision to participate in this year's Aramco Houston Half Marathon.  13.1 miles on Houston streets.

13.1
Thirteen Point One Miles
69, 168 feet
23,056 yards
21.08 kilometers
Half Marathon

Like I told you Monday it has been a hectic end to 2013, and I was not planning on running the half.  I did not sign up with the rest of my friends.  I was going to be a spectator.  But the opportunity was there for me to be able to join my friends and well the running bug got me.

I have ran a half marathon before, remember my 1st was the Hippity Roc.  Last year I had to run the Aramco Houston Half Marathon 2013 for my husband since he hurt his leg.  This year I got the opportunity to run for a friend in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon 2014.  But I had not trained, ran or thought about anything other than cheering on the sidelines at this run.  But because of a personal situation/decision I decided to do it.  Supporting my friends is always top on my book.  And since I had completed 2 others, I figured it could be done.  I did not know what I was getting myself into.  We also had another friend who was doing the half for the first time.  The 3 of us decided to do the half together.  2 veterans and a newbie.  We helped each other all along the race.  We stopped at the gatorade and water stations.  We took breaks along the way.  We ran/jogged and walk in intervals.  In the end we gave it all we had, and we crossed the finish line.  I got blisters on mile 4.  My knees started killing me mile 8.  By mile 12-13, I wanted it to be over so I stayed steady at my pace telling the girls I was the pacer.  They passed me up, caught up, we kept moving forward.  Each of us battled our own bodies.  We did it!

Afterwards we stretched, regained our composure, and waited for our friend to cross the Marathon 26.2 Mile Finish Line.  Each one of those miles was worth being able to wait for my best friend at the finish line.  

She is a #girlonfire !!!  She finished the marathon in 4 hrs 28 mins.  How awesome!  We are so happy for her and her accomplishment.

And of course, my accomplishment!

After the race we all were pretty pooped.  I could bearly walk with all my blisters on both feet.  I soak and laid on the couch for the rest of the day.  But my husband and I started talking about the half marathon, we realized that I have never ran the Aramco half marathons for myself.  Both times I did them tagged in for someone else.  My husband's favorite line to me is always, "Imagine if you would have trained?"  And that line stuck out to both of us.  Imagine if I did.  I know I can cross the finish line because I have, 3 times.  But imagine if I actually trained for the next one, what would my time be?  My 1st half marathon I really didn't know what I was doing, did not really train for that long of distance, and I set a PR for myself to beat next time around.

I am not ready to conquer the full marathon, but I will be working on my Half Marathon!  Wish me luck!  How about you?  Have you challenged yourself?  Do not knock it until you have tried it...trust me, best feeling ever.  So what is stopping you?

Baby steps, start with a walk.  So what 5K walk/fun run is in your area?

***CLOSED***Giveaway-Zim's Max-Freeze

***Disclosure-Sample product was provided.  All opinions stated are based on my own personal experience.

If you saw my posts on FB yesterday, you saw correctly I did the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.  13.1 miles untrained.  And yes, afterwards I paid and am paying it for it now.  Around mile 4 I started feeling tightness in my left shoe and I even loosen it up.  But no use in denying I had blisters on my left foot already starting to bother me.  I kept going and ignoring the pain but around mile 9-10 my knees started hurting.  I kept a steady pace until the finish, knowing if I stopped my knees would buckle and give in.  Along the race course, I could have stopped at the medical tents but I felt I was ok enough to keep going.  One thing I knew was I wanted to get home and put some Max-Freeze on my feet.

  Zim’s Max-Freeze for Feet Continuous Spray:  provides temporary relief for minor aches and pain for muscles and joints associated with overworked feet, uncomfortable shoes, sore heels, ankle pain.

It is a cool, soothing spray.  After the half marathon I went home and soaked.  Then I got so Max-Freeze relief.  Did you know after races people dunk themselves in ice baths?  Yeah, crazy but it helps.  Max-Freeze is kinda like dunking your feet in ice water without all the suffering.

Today, I can walk again.  Slow and steady but I can walk.  I am not ready to run another race, not yet, but am taking good care of my poor feet.

Have you ever tried Max-Freeze?  Are you looking to start running, walking, adding mileage this year? 

Enter to win Zim's Max-Freeze.  One lucky ready will win  Zim’s Max-Freeze for Feet Continuous Spray.

Giveaway-Open to US only.  24 hours to claim their prize.  Good Luck.

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Motivational Monday-Challenge Yourself

This past weekend I had a blast.  A big group of my friends and I join made a team for the Run or Dye color run here in Houston.  We each signed up and passed the word along to others.  One thing led to another and we ended up with more than 20 in our team.  It was a family run, so most of us brought our kids along.

If you have ever wanted to run, a color run is so much fun.  I did one and now I am hooked.  I talked about it so much that I got my friends excited as well.  The best thing about this fun run was that this was some of friends' first ever race...  They never thought they could finish a race but they were wrong.

I love to run.  I never thought I was going to be able to do it.  But someone put me up to the challenge and we did it.  I have not stopped running since.  I love to encourage others to find something they think they cannot do and challenge themselves.  You never know unless you try.  I tell that to my son all the time.  I love that he is an avid runner and physical fitness is a part of his life already.  We have incorporated fitness into our family and our daily life.  This weekend we got to share it with our friends as well.  See you are not alone in this, grab a friend.  Help each other out.  Challenge one another or join challenges together.

Here are some of the pics from our fun run before we got hit with color:

 This is us having fun in the pit right before the race...getting pumped...

Here are the after pictures with all the color on us...

What are you waiting for?  The year is not over.  You have more than 3 months left before this year is over, don't wait for January 1st to make a New Years resolution.  Challenge yourself today.

Fitness Friday-100X100 Challenge

I joined another challenge in my journey to losing weight, getting healthy and of course having fun with it. 

The challenge is called #100X100CHALLENGE.  Which means 100 miles in 100 days.  Basically breaking it down to 1 mile a day for 100 days.  The challenge started May 1 and ends August 8.  This challenge is perfect because it will keep me busy during the summer, not that I am not busy enough.  If you wanna learn more about the challenge, head on over to Life on the Horizon.  What I like about joining this challenge is that I am not alone.  I am joined by this group and we all support each other. 

You know I fell in love with running, but I also love to walk.  This challenge isn't restricted to just running, get your miles any way possible.  The point is to get you moving!

So are you moving yet?

IIn the month of March, I ran over 80 miles.  In the month of April, I only ran a little over 13 miles.  My goal for the next month and for this challenge is to at least do 1 mile a day.  That's it. 

1 mile = 1600 meters = 4 laps around my mall = A HEALTHY ME!!!

Outdoors, indoors, in a gym, at a park, on the track, on the treadmill, wherever, just move!

This is a picture of me fist pumping as I cross the finish line at the Sprint for Spring 5K run this past weekend.  I ran pushing my 21 lb daughter in her stroller (diaper bag, waters, etc...)  It was hot.  I wanted to quit but I didn't stop.  We were the last people to cross the Start line because we arrived late but I def did not want to be the last ones to finish.  I wasn't trying to break records.  I was just trying to finish.  And that I did. 

Have you had a fist pump moment?

Fitness Friday-Color Run

Do you run?  Do you jog?  Heck you have 2 legs, use them!!! and have some fun!!!  I did the Houston Color Run with my bestfriend and her son (7yr old).  We had a blast.

 Something about a color run is that it makes you feel like a kid all over again.  You get wild and have fun.

 We even stopped to take pictures along the 5K route.  This is me on this long bridge, me and this bridge have a history, so I was jumping for joy on the turnaround.  See Houston in the background.

 This is just some of the chaos in a color run.  There are tutus, colors everywhere, and in the end a big party.

This is me in front of the stage ready to throw some color in the air!  Don't be afraid of some color and join in the fun.  I had never had so much fun.  I was trying to get like a rainbow.  I think I even swallowed some color.  This was my bestfriend's son's 1st 5K (3 whole miles).  Kids, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, anyone can do it.

Fitness Friday-Get Creative

Do you like to run?  Have you ever tried it?  Don't knock it, until you try it is my motto about that.

This past month I participated in the Color in Motion 5K run.  I had never done anything like it and was skeptical at first. 

What is a color run?  It is a race where people blast you with colors during and after the race.  Don't be scared it is not hurtful in any way.  It is a great party and the more color you get the more fun you are having.

When I showed up I saw people in funky colors ready to run and have some fun.  We had a lot of fun.  Pictures about are courtesy of my partner in crime for this race, April Ockerman from Insights by April.  She is a fellow blogger who is running through 2013, #13in2013.  I have become a fan of hers.  She is doing amazing and has improved her PR in just a couple of months.  She is definitely on her way to reaching her goal and having fun along the way.  She and I ran side by side but if you look at our finish line pictures you would think I had not ran and she was bombed.  Like I said, the more color -  the funner it is.  So I am trying this color thing again.

My girlfriends and I will be participating in The Color Run.  It is a 5K.  This time I want to get plastered with color and am not worried about my PR.  It is about having fun.  And I am doing it with my friends.  We formed a team, are making shirts, and are going to show up to have fun!

If you would like more information about this race or would like to join us below is the information:

You can also use code:  COLORPAMELA13

Remember-> -> -> ->

***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  I received a complimentary entry for the Color in Motion race.  The Color Run is a different race and I was not compensated or given a free entry.  I was not asked to write a post. 

Fitness Friday-Running Shoes

So before I became very involved with running, I always looked at running as an athlete sport only for those in shape.  i.e. not me!!  So when the thought of me running was brought up, I laughed.  Really hard.  But when I did it I felt great!  Accomplished.

Then I started to love it.  I ran as much as I could.  I started slow, small mileage, and many days of rest in between.  But soon I found out that running like any sport will need to be done with the proper shoes.  If you do not have the proper shoes you will not be ready.  I found out fast that I needed real running shoes in order to keep up with as much running as I was doing.  So what do to:

Every runner should go to a shoe store where they can be fitted for the correct running shoes for them.  Why?

Because if you are wearing the wrong shoes, you can-

-get black toe nails
-nails break and crack
-blisters all over feet
-numbness
-make you want to stop running from all of the above and you could hurt yourself...

I suffered from blistered right at the beginning.  I tried switching shoes.  My feet would get numb while running.  My toe nails would hurt alot.  I needed to get some kind of relief if I was going to continue...

I went to a store that actually has a treadmill with a camera attached to it.  You run with your current shoes and they watch you.  They showed me the video of my running.  I actually do not run correctly and need shoes that help correct that.  Also, I was running in the wrong size shoe.  I was normally a size 6.5 but when they measured my feet, they suggested a 7.5.  See when you run, especially long distances your feet swell.  They need room to expand.  Running shoes are not like everyday shoes but that is what I was treating them like.  They selected different shoes for me to try and I ran around the store and on the treadmill.  They showed me the difference and the video said it all.  I bought those shoes and I have no complaints now.  Other than, I wish I was faster...lol.  Also,

Shoes wear out, so replace your shoes often if you are consistently running in them.

Your feet are your tools for running.  The shoes are protection they need to work properly.  Your feet will thank you.  Take care of your feet, they are yours for life!

Fitness Friday-I started, I ran, I crossed

So last week we talked about challenging ourselves.  Did you find a challenge?

My next challenge was the Aramco Half Marathon here in Houston on Sunday, January 13.  13.1 miles of a whole lot of running.  It rained.  It was freezing cold.  The wind blew.  I had not been running since it had been raining here.  I felt so unprepared.  I wanted to quit right from the beginning.  When the race started and throughout the race, I saw some inspiring signs:

-This was a great idea a month ago (I thought-2 weeks ago it was a great idea)
-Who suckered you into doing this? (My husband-I blame my husband)

Let us go back.  My husband had been training all year long to run in the Chevron Houston Marathon a full 26.2 miles.  Then the unexpected happened.  He injured himself 2 weeks before the race.  The doctor told him, no running, no marathon, not happening.  Well guess what, we had already paid the $100+ entry fee for this race and I did not want to lose that money.  All my friends willing to run where already running, so I decided to step up to the plate and run the race for my husband.  Except I cannot run 26.2 miles especially not without any training.  I have ran a half marathon before, 3 years ago, so I thought I could at least try.  So we paid another $30 to switch his race from a marathon to a half marathon, and now it was do or die time.  I did not get nervous until we picked up my package the day before.  Was I really doing this?  I only trained for a 5 days and then nothing the next five before the race.

So the day of the race was here.  I was at the start line ready, well not really, but no going back now.  The course starts in Downtown Houston and for the next mile you are going on a bridge.  It was drizzling before the race, then it poured, and just kept raining.  I wanted to quit.  My mind kept telling me- QUIT already!!  But I didn't.  Right when I was almost done with mile 1, and looking for a reason to quit, on the down slope of the bridge passes a blind runner, yeah, blind runner.  I knew I could not stop now.  I kept my pace and kept running-mile 2, mile 3, mile 4, mile 5, mile 6-YES.  I finished a 5K, and now a 10K-then I see a sign:

-If you were running the Conoco Houston Rodeo 10K Run, you would be finished (I laughed!  and wished I was done)

But I knew I was half FINISHED!!  I kept going.  Right before mile 9 at mile 8 my body started cramping.  It wanted to shut down on me.  My left leg was giving me a hard time but I kept going.  Then at mile 10, my right back side started hurting.  It was our turn around point, but for the marathoners the signs said keep going.  I told myself I am near the finish, why stop now, the full marathon runners are still going.  I kept going.  I could see Downtown Houston in front of me.  My body was cramping and shutting down, every step I took, every step closer seemed like it was never going to end.  On the left side of us where the marathon runners running towards their finish line.  Just when I wanted to quit again, I thought- they have ran twice my distance and are still running-KEEP RUNNING and FINISH FOOL!!  As the last mile came, the Rocky song came on, and I gave it my all.  I ran across the finish line.

Previous Half 2010- vs- This Yr Half 2013

Hippity ROC Half     Time 2:57:53     Pace 13:35/M
Aramco Hou Half     Time 2:36:24     Pace  11:56/M

Though this was not on my list of things to do this year, I can now cross a Half Marathon off my list for 2013!

Never say never!!!  You can do anything you put your mind to!  So what is it going to be?  You don't have to do a half marathon, just put one foot in front of the other and take the first step to doing something.  What will your something be?  START-DO IT-FINISH...

Total miles for 2013 Goal-35.22