Diva Dash 5K Recap

I was sent the link to a 5K race - The Diva Dash - about a month ago.  It was an inaugural all women's 5K.  You got a women's technical tee and cupcakes at the finish line - what could be better than that?  I immediately sent the link to several friends - hey everyone doesn't this sound like fun - who's in.  Within a few minutes I got several responses back - it'll be too cold, we are out of town......etc, etc.  No immediate takers, but I decided to keep it on the radar.

Then I injured my back and decided I wouldn't do it.  Then my back was feeling better, and all week I was waffling about doing the race.  I was planning a 3 or 4 mile run for Saturday anyway, but the weather was supposed to be cold....what should I do - I sent out a few last ditch efforts to get someone to do it with me - but no takers.  I just decided, I'm going to do it.  So last night after work I headed to packet pickup to sign up for the race.  I knew I would be doing it solo, but that was ok, I'm a big girl!

Packet pickup was in an unfinished office in an office complex with NO LIGHTS.  The only lights were from the hallway - no temporary lighting - just the "nightlight" from the hall.  It was weird.  And packet pickup - well they handed you an envelope with your chip, bib, and some race flyers - that was it - no goodies - no bag - just an envelope.  And the t-shirt - well since I waited to the last minute they were out - but the good news is they were ordering more and I should have it in 7 to 10 days.  I was seriously thinking about backing out at that point - if I wasn't going to get the t-shirt what was the point :)  So I headed home and hoped the forecast for tomorrow would be wrong.

Nope!  I woke about 5am and turned on the weather channel.  It was a balmy 25 degrees with 23 mph winds.  Wow, this was going to be awesome.  I had to borrow some running tights from my husband Jim - they were too small for him....I'm thinking to myself please, please let them fit me.  I do not want to be embarrassed when they are too small for me.  They fit - yeah!  So I ate my breakfast, bundled up and headed to the race.  See that picture of me below I'm sooooo excited to go!  (Note to self::  Woman with back injury should NOT be jumping - even for a fun blog photo.  My back was feeling a little twingy when I got in the car - uh oh).



So Excited!



It was a very small event - about 600 women were registered.  It was freezing cold. The race start was at a local shopping center.  One of the restaurants - Ingredient - was open and nice enough to let runners hang out inside where it was warm until the race started.  This was great.  Of course there were a few ladies in costume - I do love the costumes. 

She looks cold

The race seemed hilly to me, but I think that's just because I have been running on a treadmill for like 4 months and I hadn't ran in like a month.  My time was slow.....even slow for me.  But that was ok, I wasn't really pushing it.  My final Garmin Mileage was 3.19 and time of 38:32 - a super speedy pace of 12:04 per mile - and my official time will probably even be a bit slower.  So, not a stellar race for me, but in light of the weather and my back - I'll take it!  At least I got out there and did it.  Oh, and I was also signed up to do Jeff's (at Detroit Runner) Virtual 5K this weekend.  So technically, I was running 2 races at once - now that's pretty amazing!  So if I look at my time and split it between 2 races well then I'm down to a 6:02 mile - wow I didn't realize how fast I was!!



Final Garmin Time

 Finish line food - ok....yogurt, bananas and - a few cupcakes.  They were just small mini cupcakes, which was fine, but I got one of the last ones.  They ran out!  How do you run out?  You know you have an all women's event with 600+ women - you know that is going to be everyone's favorite item - you should have extras - LAME!  They did have cute race medals for the age group winners and some pretty nice raffle giveaways at the end.  I was too cold to stay and see if I won any of the raffle items.


Race Medals

As for my back.  It did ok.  I didn't have much pain while running, but when I stopped it was pretty sore - more sore than I hoped it would be.  I did some good stretching and headed home.  At home I took a relaxing bath, stretched some more, iced it down and took an anti inflammatory.  It feels ok now and I have a massage in a few hours so hopefully that will work out any lasting kinks.

That's about it - overall the race was OK, but not too bad for an inaugural event I suppose.  I'm still glad I did it.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend running, swimming, biking or whatever it is you are doing!

Guess who's back....back again...

Shady's back?   No.....me silly! 

Wahoo - I went to cycle class last night and didn't come home with a broken back.  The class is normally 2 hours, but I made a promise to myself to ease back into my workouts - so my plan was to only stay an hour.  I did just that.  My pride made me want to stay through the whole class - it was a little embarrassing to get up in the middle of class and head out - like I just couldn't hack it...but I knew better.  I didn't want to push to hard to fast and end up back in bed for another 2 weeks.  I stretched, iced and relaxed when I got home.  But I felt really good, and truly think I am on the mend for real!  This morning I have some minor soreness but nothing significant.  I think I should be ok, fingers crossed that it doesn't cause a flare up.

The weather was great here in KC yesterday - upper 60s.  Of course, just in time for the weekend, the rain and cold are heading in - and maybe if we are super lucky some snow flurries.  Gee...I sure hope so.  I haven't had enough of that yet.  I was hoping to get a short 3 to 4 mile outdoor run in on Saturday, but looks like another treadmill run.  Although I'm still thinking about doing a 5K tomorrow.  I need to make up my mind.  But it won't be long before all my runs - as well as bikes can be outdoors again.  Please bring on the sunshine!

courtesy of funnychill.com

Three Things Thursday - well why not?

1.  I did get up and get 2 whole miles in this morning.  Wow, that half marathon is going to be a breeze.  Anyway, my back was still not cooperating so I actually only ran about 3/4 of a mile and walked the rest.  Not exactly how I hoped it would go.  But still better than nothing I guess.  I visited the chiropractor again this evening - ahhhh feeling better.  Massage on Saturday...just thinking about that is making me feel better.  The plan is to go to cycle class tonight.  I hope that goes well.

2.  If you are a triathlete, Jason at Cook Train Eat Race is giving away these really cool Tri Clips.  Check out his blog and his giveaway.  These things look totally cool and totally professional.  I'm pretty sure if I tried to use them I would fall off my bike down the side of a cliff...but maybe I would just look like a really cool professional triathlete - well a girl can dream.

3.  Does anyone else out there think Adam Levine is just smoking hot?  I was watching VH1 yesterday morning while running on the treadmill and his new video was on.  Man.....he's hot.  I think he just reminds me alot of Jim of course.  There is an uncanny resemblance.    Love you sweetie!!



Adam Levine


Here's the video - warning - it's at least PG13. 

Happy New Year!!

No, I'm not crazy.  I'm not looking at the wrong calendar.  I have just declared a "New Year" for myself.  It seems like since the actual New Year started I have been plagued with illness, injury, or both and I decided a needed a do-over.

This morning I woke up and my back feels better, the sun was shining, and it was March 1- which means Spring is officially just around the corner.  It felt like a good day - I felt happy - I felt like things were looking up.

I would like to say that all those happy thoughts magically put me back to 100%, but that's not the case.  However, I will attempt a 2 mile run in the morning - well a very, very light jog and see how I respond.  If that goes well hopefully I will ease back into my routine this week.  If it doesn't go well, I'm going to at least try to get back to the pool this week....I think I can handle that.  I will keep you posted.

When I got home from work it was still in the mid 50s.....ahhhhh mid 50s.  So I did get to enjoy a short walk with the Jack dog and the hubby.  We were all happy about that.

Keep those good thoughts coming my way - I think they are helping :)

Stylish Monday and Tuesday...

I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal (Ron Burgundy - Anchorman)

Wow, how exciting, I got tagged as a Stylish Blogger by Lisa at Eat. Pray. Run.  If you haven't checked out her blog, please do.  She loves to run and she loves food - what better combination could you ask for?

I think this award has been around the blogging world for awhile, so many of you may have seen these before; but it's my first go at this so here are the rules:

1. Make this a post and link back to the person who gave the award to you

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award 5 great bloggers

4. Contact the bloggers and tell them they've won

So here goes 7 things about me (man I wish I hadn't just done 3 Things on Thursday)

1.  I was originally a theatre minor in college.  My college path went

in another direction, but I still love theatre - especially musicals.  My ultimate dream in life would be to play Rizzo in Grease - only one small problem - I can't sing a note.

2.  I absolutely love Will Ferrell (hence the quote above).  I know alot of his movies are the same, but I think he is hilarious.  He could literally stand in a room and do nothing and I would laugh.  He's just a funny looking man in general.

3.  Last June I became a Grandmother at the ripe old age of 36.  Yep that's right, I'm a Grandma....well actually I go by Mica.

Me & Ryder Jackson

4.  One time I got really mad at my husband Jim 50 after 40, just after we got back from the grocery store.  I just happened to have a dozen eggs sitting on my lap.  I threw them at his back and then just like a scene from a movie I said "Hope you like 'em scrambled!!"  I said this very seriously, because I was really mad, but it didn't take long to realize how funny it was.   Needless to say, we both had a good laugh after that and didn't stay mad for long.....hmmmm.....well maybe I've shared too much.

5.  I am dog crazy.  I have only went for a few short periods of time in  my life without a dog.  My family pet growing up was a wonderful solid black pitbull named Trouble.  He was truly a great dog.  My sisters and I used to dress him up in pink nightgowns, t-shirts, etc - he was up for anything.  I also had a Great Dane named Harley - he passed a few years ago.  He was an AWESOME dog.  You know about my current dog - Jack - the world's best, but laziest chocolate lab.



Jack Swimming - see he's not always lazy



Harley

6.  I always get the question - how did I get my name.  I got my name from a random lady on a game show several years before I was born.  My mom saw a female named Michael and thought it was really cool, she already had my two sisters, but said that if she ever had another girl she was going to name her Michael.....then a few years later I came along and she stayed true to her word.

7.  Thanks to Facebook, I'm still in touch with my best friend from elementary and middle school even though I haven't seen her since I was 13.  One night we watched the movie Stand By Me 5 times in a row.  It's still one of my all time favorites.  "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve".



Now, drum roll please..............who gets awarded next?  Well since my husband has been blogging he has gotten this award twice, so I know it's made the rounds and you are all truly stylish bloggers.  So I will give this out to a few that have been encouraging to me since I started out just a few mere weeks ago.  If you have already been tagged before, or if you just don't want to participate.  No worries at all.  I just wanted to give you a shout out anyway so people will hopefully check out your blogs!

1.  Julie at Adventure is out There - Julie provides encouraging comments on my blog almost everyday.  And, her blog is very inspirational.  She's got great perspective.

2.  Julie at You Just Have to Tri - she's a triathlete like me - but she has signed up for a Half Ironman - way to go!

3.  Tahoe Girl at Got Miles? - she's pretty new to blogging like me and her blog is really funny.  She has a Tuesday joke of the week.

4.  LB at My Reason to Run - she is truly an amazing woman and has a true reason to run - please read her story.  She also has a very informative blog.

5.  LB at Muddy Runner - because I had to have at least one guy right?  Seriously his blog is great.  He dropped 120 pounds several years ago and now he runs all the time.

I will also give a shout out to Christi at Pedestrian Runner.  She's been at this blogging thing for awhile and is so encouraging every day.  I didn't tag her because I just read her Stylish Blogger a few weeks ago.  Of course I also have to give a shout out to my husband Jim, at 50 after 40 - he is running 50 marathons in 50 states after the age of 40. 

Shew........that was exhausting. 









Stir Crazy

Well, today marks one week since I injured re-injured my back.  I wish I could report that I am alot better, but unfortunately that's not the case.  It's been a solid week and I have pretty much spent most of that time in bed, at work, stretching or at the chiropractor with only minimal improvement.  Apparently this is not going to be a fast recovery.

I am starting to get extremely stir crazy!  I hate laying around and I miss my workouts. I feel like I am losing my fitness a little bit every day.  On Wednesday I was feeling a little bit better and tried to just get in a 2 mile walk.  Which I did, but then it has been much worse since then.  That was a bad idea.

My only bright spot is that I have one very lazy brown dog who is here for me every step of the way.  Jack is never embarrassed or ashamed to relax and take a nap.  He is great company.  He keeps my spirits up!


Jack - Lazy Lab


I am hopeful that if I just continue to rest this weekend I can slowly ease back into my routine on Monday.  Send good thoughts my way.  I need it!!  My next half marathon is just 9 weeks away and the most I have ran is 4 miles.........I need to run!

Michael's March Madness Vegetarian Challenge

If you read my blog post The Chicken is Out to Get Me then you know that I tried being vegetarian for 9 days and I was very surprised that I actually enjoyed it and had more energy than I thought I would.  So I have decided to take it a step further and try it for 30 days - that should give me a really good idea of how a vegetarian lifestyle will work for me.  Honestly, I know very little about being a vegetarian and I'm not typically one to try new things or eat alot of vegetables so this will really be a stretch for me especially since I generally eat meat at every meal.  But I'm so tired of my bad cycle of eating.  Eat healthy a week, then eat like crap for two.  I need to be better about fueling my body, and I think this will help me start making alot better decisions when it comes to food.

So here's my plan.  During the entire month of March (including Feb 28 and April 1):

1.  Eat vegetarian for entire time period (not vegan - I will still include dairy, cheese, and eggs).
2.  Try new things
3.  Cook more
4.  Prepare a weekly blog review about how I did, how I feel, and things I ate
5.  Realize I may not be able to go 100% meat free - at this point I'm not ready to inconvenience other people - so if I get invited to dinner or something I will not ask them to make something special just for me.  I will try to do my best with what is served.

My main resources for recipes and information - Cook Train Eat Race and No Meat Athlete.  I would love to hear from any of you who are vegetarians - any other great blogs, websites or books out there.  Any recipes, etc to share?

Anyone been thinking about making a switch and want to join me on my journey?  If so let me know and we can share information.