Where does the time go?

WOW! It has been almost a year since I have posted. Where does the time go?
In the past year I have been busy! Here's the low down...

I started out the 2012 New Year by participating in the Polar Bear Plunge with my mom. This was a race that we decided would be challenging for us and something different than our usual 5k, 10k, or half marathon. The Polar Bear Plunge is a race where you run a total of 2 miles and at the end, you jump into 3 pools of freezing cold weather and have to swim across- all while it's below freezing outside! WE DID IT and had SO much fun while doing it! Such an amazing experience and such an awesome medal!

In April I ran 2 half marathons: The Aquarium Run and The Strides of March. I improved my time and felt like I accomplished a lot by doing 2 halves in less than a month.

In May I graduated from St. Gregory's University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication..FINALLY! After 4 long years of all-nighters, cramming for tests, and writing 20+ page papers, I finally walked across the stage with my cap and gown to receive my diploma. What's next for me is still not clear...
May was also the month that I started finding some interest in expanding my horizons beyond running and I started lifting weights here and there and really looking into different proteins, periodization, etc.

In July, I got to experience running in the windy city. We traveled to Chicago to run the Rock-N-Roll half marathon. IT WAS A HOT ONE! The temperatures were pretty nice until the week we got there.. It seemed like it was scorching hot. The race was a bit of a struggle but we finished. :)

In September, I completed my personal training course with my mom! We both worked extremely hard and studied like crazy and we did it :)

In October, I flew to San Francisco with my mom and her friend Kim to run the Nike Women's Marathon. It turned out to be the most AMAZING thing I have ever experienced. At first, we were terrified of the hills but once race day got here, we rocked it! The course was beautiful and along the bay.. And of course, I am in love with my Tiffany and Co finisher's necklace. :) It's definitely something that I want to do yearly so hopefully our team will get chosen every year.

This month I have started my clean eating along with doing more weights at the gym. Staying on track is difficult at times but I just keep telling myself it will all be worth it in the end. This is my 2nd week of clean eating and I feel wonderful! Yes, my food is basically the same thing every day (Chicken breast, salad, sweet potato, rice cakes, oatmeal) but at the end of the day, it is all just food that gives your body energy and the ability to do day to day things. My goal is to get toned, be healthy, and feel great!!!

I want to learn a lot through blogging and maybe teach people a thing or 2 as well. My goal is to update my blog a lot more often. 

That's all I have for today... Happy Wednesday! :)

Polar Bear Plunge

On Sunday, New Year's Day 2012, I will be "taking the plunge". No, I'm not getting married.. I'm doing the Tulsa, OK Polar Bear Plunge! After a lot of back and forth about whether or not I should do it, I finally signed up today. It is only a 2 mile run. No big deal, right? A 2 mile run is the warm up to my weekly runs which consist of anywhere from 5-7 miles, as I am in my 3rd week of marathon training. I think I could run 2 miles in my sleep at this point. So what's the big deal about this Polar Plunge? Well, let me just tell you...
January is a cold time of year in Oklahoma, where temperatures are sometimes below freezing and there is normally ice, snow, or both on the ground around this time. The Polar Bear Plunge is a 2 mile course with 3 pools. You take a Rumple Minze shot, jump in a pool, get out, run 1 mile, jump into another pool, run another mile, and then jump into a pool and dive to the bottom to get your 4.5" medal. Yes, in the dead middle of winter this does sound pretty crazy!! The only reason I decided that it would be a good idea is for the medal that I HAVE to have and the fact that it is actually supposed to be 50 degrees on Sunday during the race. I've done 5k's, 10k's, Quarter marathons, and a half marathon... But never have I done anything this out there. I think it's quite a start to a new year as long as I don't end up with hypothermia or pneumonia. Keep your eyes out for an update and some pictures :)

Run for Diabetes 5K in Norman

A few weekends ago my mom and I ran in the run for diabetes in Norman, Oklahoma. This particular run was very close to our hearts because my grandfather has diabetes. This was one of the funnest runs I have ever participated in. The run actually ended on the Owen football field with the Sooner mascot cheering us on as we came through the finish line. It was a great experience and one of my best 5K times. When signing up for the race, there was a groupon you could buy to register for $12, instead of $25. I was impressed with this and thought it was a really cool thing for the directors of the run to do, because races can get pretty expensive, especially if you try to do one every weekend each month. Also, I'm on the hunt for some good running headbands that don't slip out of your hair.

What do you mean "blogging"?

Nearly 2 years ago my mom and I started running together. I was a Sophomore in college and running was becoming popular in the small town that I live in, so we decided to give it a try. I have never been the "sporty" kind of girl who liked to sweat. I have always been the "girly" dancer/cheerleader girl who, as my childhood dance teacher would say, was "afraid to break a sweat". Running was definitely something I never saw myself doing. After about a month of running, I fell in love with it. I fell in love with the athletic clothes, the running shoes, the running watch, and the way it made me feel. Running gives me a sense of clarity and is my form of therapy. After building a base run, I decided to run in a race for Child Abuse. This was my first official 5K race. The morning of, I got that nervous feeling in my stomach. I had never experienced an actual race before and I had no idea what to really expect. At the start line with the hundreds of people, I did feel a little intimidated. There were people there who were extremely fit and in shape. They all had these serious and determined looks on their faces. In the back of my mind, I was planning on finishing last. I turned my i-Pod on and began my first 5K journey. To my surprise, I didn't come in last (WHEW!). After the race, I was standing around, talking to some friends when I hear my name called for winning 2nd place in my age group. WOW! WHAT A SURPRISE! Here I am, the girl who was ecstatic that she didn't finish last, when all along I had actually finished 2nd out of over 30 people in my age group. From then on, I wanted to enter every race close to my hometown. That little piece of winning (and the medal that I got to show off, of course) gave me determination to begin my running journey. From there on, I raced in several 5K's and 10K's. In November of 2010 my mom and I decided to sign up for the Williams Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, OK. 13.1 miles sounded like a very long way. We ran, finished, got our medals, and felt a sense of accomplishment. Not only does it feel good to run long distances and be able to say "Oh, I ran 7 miles this morning", but it also feels good to know that by running races, you are helping out various causes and the money you are paying to run is going to something good and worthwhile. As a senior in college, my life is always busy and sometimes I don't know whether I'm coming or going. A lot of the information and advice I get about running, I get from my mom who reads and knows a lot. A few weeks ago my mom sent me a few links to some running blogs that she found online. She has blogged for a few years now to promote her home decor store. She had mentioned me starting a running blog. I had been on her blog but never really understood the "blogging world". I am new to all of this blogging stuff but I do feel like it will help me with my running and hopefully by reading my blog, I can in turn help people with their running. Hopefully this blog is a success =)