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 =)