I Hated Running...Until I Tried It

I hated running.  Always did - Dreaded it in P.E. in school and as an adult, just jogging to the end of the driveway would wear me out.

 I always envied those "runners".  Such discipline, such endurance, such nice, skinny bodies....

 In January 2010, I was fed up with being out of shape and filled with "mommy-pudge".

 So I downloaded the Couch to 5K iPhone app and started running each morning with Bubba in the stroller.

 It sucked.  Big time.  Run for longer than 90 seconds straight? Are you kidding me?

 But the more I did it, the more it grew on me.  The more weight I lost and started to enjoy the results.

 My first "race" was in November 2010 - I did a half-marathon.  Forget a 5K - let's just shoot for the moon! It was exhilarating.

 Last weekend, I ran my second half-marathon and shaved 3 minutes off my previous run.  What made that a big deal?  This course was 10-times harder than the first race - hills, endless, grueling hills....

 We didn't have any hills around here to train on, so we knew it would be a tough course.  And the hills are at the beginning of the course, so they really took a lot out of you.  But I stuck with the 2:20 pace team and pushed myself hard.  And by mile 12, I was hurting like never before. Please Lord, give me the endurance to last this last mile......

The race was held out at the Lost Pines Resort, so we made a girls weekend out of it.  The race was over by 11, so we sat by the pool the rest of the day - heaven - and enjoyed wine, cheese, grapes, and other lovely snacks on our patio.   Great girl time. A perfect reward for a job well done.

 I can't say that I LOVE to run - especially while I am doing it.  I love the camaraderie of running with my friends. I love the calories I can burn.  And I love the powerful feeling it gives me. 

I get asked a lot what my "tips" are for running. Here are a few that have worked for me:

1. Start slow - like with the Couch to 5K app - and do it everyday.  NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU HATE IT - the more you do it, the easier it becomes - I promise.

2. Get a nice pair of shoes - your knees will thank you!  My hubby told me to go into the store, try on the nicest shoes until I found a pair that felt like I was walking on a cloud.  And then buy them without looking at the price tag - again, your knees will thank you.  If you want to, go to a special running shoes store and have them evaluate your stride and get you into the perfect shoe right for you.

3. Get a nice Heart Rate Monitor that will count calories - I use a Polar - there is nothing better than being able to see the hard work pay off in calorie burn.  Take it a step further and use an app (My Fitness Pal or Lose It are great) to track your calorie intake and burn - worked for me to lose 60 lbs!

4. Run with a friend - you will hold each other accountable to get out,  you will have great conversation (sometimes it is therapy for us), and you will make a dear friend in the process.

5. Set a goal - run a race (sign up for one!) - lose 10 pounds (start today) - or make it through the C25K app.  Whatever your goal may be, it will help you concentrate and get out there to see an end in site.

Are you a runner?  What tips have worked for you?

Will Run for.......

I love to run. There I said it.  Call me a freak - but ever since I started last Winter, and then ran a half-marathon in the fall, it has become my favorite way to burn the calories.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not out there with a big smile on my face, jogging on air to the 'Chariots of Fire' song.  In fact, I am a sweaty mess, huffing & puffing as I push my 25-lber in a jogging stroller - I don't have the best form and I grumble to myself as I go,  but I love the way it makes me feel.  And I love the way I can push myself - it allows me to be competitive with myself...

sounds crazy.

i know.

mra

Every year, the Austin American Statesman puts on the Capitol 10K and this year my girlfriend convinced me to run it with her.  But we thought it'd be even more fun to get as many friends as we could to run it with us (or walk- we didn't care).

Altogether, we were able to get 17 ladies from Round Rock out to run yesterday!  Hence the creation of the "Real Housewives of Round Rock!"

And what will we run for???

and what did I run for??? 

 we'll talk more about that after the 6.2 miles.....

 what's a little run between friends anyways?

 or how about a few of my 23,000 closest friends??

 the race started up Congress Ave toward the State Capitol.

there was something so very cool about running up Congress- I couldn't take enough pics.....and I had promised Mel I wouldn't take that many......

and we did it - 1:02 15sec - we were excited considering we hadn't really trained that hard for it.....I mean, we had Spring Break..... :)

 My sweet friend Dolly, who despises running, "ran" the race - and didn't sweat any of her makeup off - doesn't she look great fro just completing the run???  Not me - see all red-faced and sweaty - not a bit glamorous.....

 I was just thrilled she had run it - kept telling me for months that she was only doing it for the shirt.  Wanna guess what the back of her shirt said??

Will Run for the T-Shirt.

 It was a fun fun fun race - lots of hilarious costumes - like this one - mom close your eyes -

And it was really great to get a bunch of friends to accomplish something big like this together.  And we all celebrated afterwards....

 And this momma got her Texas Martini.

BTW, our awesome shirts came from MyRaceRagz.com.  Kevin helped us with them and he was incredibly helpful.  If ever you need racing shirts - please consider using them.  I can't say more great things about my experience. And we had more compliments on them.  Many folks wanting to know where i was headed after the race.

follow me to Chuy's.....