Every Girls Half Marathon

To "bed" at 10:00, actually "fall asleep" around 12:30, little person in my bed around 2:00, moving little wiggly person to her own bed around 3:00, "try" to go back to sleep until 4:00, until I give up and roll out of bed...  At least I have time to eat something and take a shower before I need to leave for the race at 5:15.  I get to run a half today... on MAYBE 2 hours sleep, yippee!

My Running Buddy, Alix comes to get me around 5:15, and we drive to the Sleep Country Ampitheatre in Ridgefield, Washington for my 3rd and her 1st Half-Marathon.  I am tired but EXCITED!!

We get there, like an hour early, they are still blowing up the start/finish line arch, setting up the booths and stuff so we hit the potties and try to get anything that needs to get out before the race out! ;) 



Finally some women start showing up and we talk to the race director a little bit and chat with a few volunteers and pose for some self-shot nerdy pictures of ourselves, hit the "real" potties 2 more times, check our bags and start to head to the start line.  We shoot some more nerdy pics, stretch a little and then we're off.

Mile 1: I had decided earlier this week that I was going to run this race with NO expectations and absolutley NO Garmin. At Lacamas, I obsessed on that stupid watch and got so mad at myself when my pace dropped below 10 minute miles, so I had to get that pressure and distraction off my wrist for this one. I would still use Log My Run for iPhone app, just so I knew my pace later, but I was gonna keep that bad boy shoved in my pack the whole time!  Alix and I and all the 5k'ers and Half-Marathoners are together until right after mile 1 and we split... I keep telling myself... go LEFT!  Starting out slow, easy pace... get the legs moving and not overdo my friend, who hasnt ran in over a month! HA!

Mile 2: We split at the 1 mile mark and there is not a whole lot of Half-marathoners left... couple hundred, maybe!  It was weird to me so see such a small race, but it was nice to see all women.  End of mile 2, Alix decides to walk and I plug in the pod and start off on my own.  Little rolling hills in the countryside are so nice to look at along with all the cows and horses.  It was beautiful and the weather is PERFECT! 

Miles 3-5: Pretty much the same, kept an easy pace, had some good Jesus time, little rolling hills made this run one of my favorites.  It was only a semi-closed course so we were pretty much single file on the side of the road for many of the miles but it was OK.

Miles 6 - 7: Up a pretty good hill, water stop and then down onto a tree lined paved trail with a lake.  This was my favortite part of the race, a nice easy flat trail, there were other people not in the race, walking or running by nodding hello. 

Text to Hub and Kids around mile 9ish.. LOVE YOU! 

Miles 7 - 9: This was an out and back-ish race so we turned around at mile 7 so I could see others behind us.  I took out my ear-buds and cheered on all the ladies coming the other way... "you're almost halfway", "Keep it up", "You look great" and many did the same back.  Women seem to do that for eachother, I think we kinda need a little encouragment and some random chick in the same boat as you telling you "Lookin' good" somehow helps!  Around my mile 9, I see Alix, she is running and she looks good!  I yell and high five her and tell her "see ya soon"

Miles 9 - 10: Up a pretty good hill then again back to the single file line on the roads, at this point me and another lady (I think her name was Angela) had been pretty much been back and forth keeping pace with eachother since about mile 9ish and we kinda chatted off and on.  Nothing special happened here... Just plugging away, feeling really good at this point in the race which I NEVER have felt this good at mile 10... So I decide to kick it up a little.

Mile 11: Up another decent hill and Angela and are are still pretty much together.  We pass a little girl who was maybe 8 years old running with her Mom.  So cute, I of course have to tell her she is...  i think that's pretty awesome and it also stung a little... an 8 year old has been Waay faster than me for almost 11 miles!

Mile 12: Turn the corner and UP the hill... This one is a good one... Gets the legs and chest burning.  Angela says to me "you are the BEST hill runner I have ever seen, if I could only keep up with you"  WOW, that's a shock, cuz I feel like my legs are not even moving, but they are and she quickly ends up behind me! I tell her "go girl, we're almost done! See you at the end" and I keep going.  My legs hurt, I can barely breathe but I am feeling good and still going.  1 more mile, so i'm gonna make it count.  Hit the top of the hill onto another trail and a cute teenager points to the right, to the trees... I am confused... The trail continues on going straight and she is pointing me into the trees?!  Ok!  I hit the little tiny trail, covered in pink tape to highlight the braches and roots sticking out.  Then all the sudden, its' over!

Mile 13: Come out of the woods and back on the road, volunteers are yelling and telling me "less than a mile"  WHOOOOOOP!  I kick it in gear...  weeeeee! Go through the frnt entrance to the ampitheatre and down to the start/finish line.  The whole way down, people are cheering, ringing cowbells and the announcer is yelling "here comes Erica Endicott, looking good with a big smile"  I finished at 2:08:42. 

I was hoping for a 2:05 and I know I could have pushed harder and maybe got there, but no regrets, I felt good the whole race, finished strong and had a blast!

So I knew I had some time to kill before Alix finished, so I hit up the best part of this race... ICE CREAM and Chocolate milk at the finish! AWESOME!

Next, I started shopping to kill the time...(I, er Hubby has decided that I will no longer be allowed to bring my Debit card to races) Sarah Bowen Shea from Another Mother Runner was there too, signing books and selling stuff, so I chatted with her for a few, bought both books and an "I Run Things" shirt.  Went to go pick up my bag from bag check and got stopped by the pretty awesome saleslady from Sweet Spot Skirts who wrapped a SUPER cute skirt (Diamond are a Girls Best Friend) around my waist and had me sold before I could ask the price (which I should have first, OUCH)

Got a text from Alix, she was on the trail... So she was at the home stretch so I head to the finish line to cheer her in.  A few minutes later, she turns the corner with the BIGGEST smile I have ever seen on her!  I start yelling "You're number 1" (She really was bib #1) and watched her cross the finish line and then, of couse, started bawling.   



She's comin round the bend, in the orange shorts... I made a movie after this pic instead!

 

This was one of my favorite races to date, (mainly because of the lack of hills ;), but it was a small race, and it being only women was super cool. I would totally do it again (even without a Groupon but of course with my Garmin, and NOT my credit card) 

Frugal Junkie

So I have recently discovered 2 things about myself...

1. I am a junkie when it comes to races and running...
2. I CANNOT pass up a dicount, groupon or a good deal when it comes to races...

UH-OH!

It started when there was a Zozi coupon for a color run for $22... It was only a 5k, but I really wanted to do a color run and I knew I could talk a few friends into doing it with me.  It was kinda lame, more of a hike, $10 to park and had to dodge horse poop occasionally on the trail, but overall it was really fun... mainly cuz I got to hang with 2 really good friends and get covered in colored corn starch. 

So Much Fun! CMY5K

I get daily emails from Sharing Spree, Living Social and I just cancelled Groupon emails (I dont believe in what they support) but randomly an email got through to me for Every Girls Half-Marathon for only $35.. OMG, WHAT?!  So I called my running (not so much anymore) buddy and told her I was "DYING" and "Hubby is gonna KILL ME" and she said "I'm TOTALLY gonna do it" OK...and that was it... done deal! I supported Groupon one last time and I will be running Half-Marathon #3 in 72 days on Sunday!

And with the 3 half-marathons in 72 days... I will be qualified at the Neptune level for the Half Fanatics...  A nerd club that supports being a half-marathon junkie! AWESOME!

"You're a Runner, right?"

I guess I must have made "real runner status" since it seems like everyone is coming out of the woodwork asking me for advice (HA), training info and of course... sharing some good races I need to do!

I have been going to LA Fitness almost every weekday for the last 8 months or more. One of the sitters in the kids club, Sandra, is the sweetest lady and has named herself "grandma" to the kids in the kids club.  Whenever I come in to drop-off or pick up, she is always reading a story with kids all over her lap or snuggling a fussy baby... she is just one of those ladies that the kids just love!  We have talked, but mostly about the kids, but she has randomly mentioned to me a few times "You have really muscular legs..." and I'm like "umm... Thanks... guess all that running is finally paying off"  Well just yesterday, she starts talking about the Race for the Cure and how she is thinking about doing it and if I am going to do it and I was caught off guard.  I was like "cool, you should... that's awesome" (thinking it was a walk thing).  She caught that I was puzzled and was like "you're a runner, and you do races, right?" "Oh YES, I do..." (DUH)!  We continued to talk about the race for the cure and she asked me about my running and I told her I am mostly just doing half-marathons and she told me about her races that she has done in the past. The next morning, she welcomes me by telling me she was thinking about me this morning on her run...  and then how she wants advice on how to train for a half.  AWESOME... and kinda crazy!

A friend/neighbor that I havent talked to much since they moved sent me a message on Facebook titled "You're a runner, right? Can you help me breathe and run at the same time and not die after 10 minutes cuz I really want to learn how to run distance." FUNNY!  So we are going to meet up next week and do some running together and then I will probably help her make a training schedule and all that...

Hopefully I have some good wisdom to share... even if most of it is from picking other "runners" brains and of course, learning from my mistakes.  It's fun to "be a runner" I always wanted to a runner and now I feel like I actually am one. 

I totally want this (even though I would never wear it!)

Lacamas Lake Half Marathon

I thought I was ready! But once I parked the car, peed and stepped on the field (with only 10 minuted to spare, eek) the nerves creeped in and I wanted to go home... I was tired, my legs were sore (stupid stairmaster) and I did NOT want to run 13.1 today.  Thanksfully, I didn't have time to let the nerves get the best of me... It was time to line up in the corrals.  I was so distracted, that I ended up in the 2:15 group... NO WAY! 

Ready to head to the start...

 See ya in a few hours!

Mile 1: Once I hit the 1 mile sign, I saw a potty... so I hit it to be proactive (since the line was like 13 miles long at the field)

Mile 2: This lake is PRETTY, so nice houses that I want to live in... wait... RUN! Water stop and Gel, what?! already?

Mile 3, I got this... I feel good, my legs are loose and God's with me... oh wait, heres a hill... But I got this, its not that bad...

Mile 4: Going downhill, feeling GREAT... Easy pace 9:15ish

Mile 5: Beautiful and totally flat... just us runners and the cows... MOOOO! .

Mile 6: I see the leader heading back and cheer the leaders on as I go.  6.25, another STOOPID hill and this one HURT, I broke down and walked (mainly cuz a truck was on the road and I didn't wanna get squished by passing him).  Took a Hammer Gel at the top turnaround and headed down the hill, aaah, that's NICE!  Cheering on the others going up the hill on the way down... cuz I know what they were feeling... BLAH!  I know Hubby and Evie are heading out for their 4-miler in a few so I text and wish them luck! (Wish I could have seen them start)

Ready to Roll! (Dang, she's cute!!!)

Mile 7: Down by the golf course, really pretty views of hills and trees, God's creation and said a prayer cuz my legs were starting to hurt a little. 

Mile 8: Water and Gel station before the TRAIL... 6 miles of trail, uneven gravel and mud... YUK, NOT a fan!  My legs are starting to hurt bad...  I should have slowed down at the beginning... I KNEW I was going too fast and I still have 5 to go! UGH!

Mile 9: Thank God the trails were pretty scenery, cuz I dont like running on gravel.  The group really opened up and I was running pretty much alone. 

Mile 10: Time to Hammer again, nursed this one for almost this whole mile until the water stop!  My legs are SHOT.  3 to go.

Mile 11: Hammer helped, felt OK kept my slow pace, 10:10ish. As long as I finish

Mile 12: I took a picture of the mile marker, cuz I was sooooooooooooo excited!  Little did I know, the last mile would be the worst! Turned the corner and saw it... the LEG KILLER HILL... I rolled my eyes and started walking, forget it... not EVEN gonna try...  horrible!

Mile 13: Finished the dang hill and saw the field again... what a lovely sight! got on the track and saw everyone, Isaac, Tyson, Nathan and Evelyn, My Mom and Dad and Grandma Katie.  They were ringing bells and yelling "GO MOMMY".  I started crying and couldnt WAIT to get around that turn to cross the finish line and hug my family.  AMAZING. 

Finished at 2:09:40 - NOT my goal at ALL, but I will take it!

So I chugged some Nuun, layed on the field for a few then we hung out, watched some more people finish, bounced in the bouncy house, spinny-win-win (spun the wheel for prizes) and waited for the kids race at 10:30.

The 1k kids race was sooooooo much fun! All the kids got medals at the end.  Totally worth the crappy hills to see the joy on my kids faces when they got medals put on their necks! PRICELESS!

Nater ran "too fast" and fell.. :(

So we all ran together... and held mr. uncoordinated's (Nater's) hands

Then TyTy zoomed past us...  I LOVE this pic!!! 

And they all got bling!

One of my FAVORITE family days ever...  would have been perfect without those hills... oh well!

We WILL be back next year!!! LOVED this race!



So INCREDIBLY thankful, joyful and happy that so many important people were there for support during the race.  We recruited Grandma Katie to watch the kiddos while Isaac and I ran, but the best thing was having my Mom and Dad there.  It felt so good to have a support crew and people I loved there to share this experience with.

Happy Mommy...

It cracks me up that almost a year ago, going to the gym or working out would piss me off and would be something I dreaded...

Summer is ROUGH for me with ALL 3 kids ALL the time... not to mention playdates, trips to the park and summer-y fun stuff to get in the way of "my schedule" and make it hard for me to get to the gym or to hit the pavement everyday.  But I learn more and more that by taking that time to myself to run or hit the gym is not just helping me keep most of the fat off (I eat like CRAP) it helps me stay happy and SANE and that ultimately leads me to be a better wife, mommy, child of God and person overall!

Keeping a happy, sane, less grumpy Mommy and Wifey is good for all!  "Hey babe... Mind if I go for a run now?" Hubby, "OF COURSE, take your time!"

Welcome to the team

Confession... I get kinda nerdy excited when I hear that someone has started running, has a plan to start running, or is just thinking about starting running... it get all excited for them and just start blabbing about how awesome it is, and how you will love it, and you will get addicted... I probably freak them out! ;)
Recently, my Sister sent me the sweetest text "Ok, you have motivated me... lets run something together in September" I motivated someone? OMG, WOW!  She was thinking 5k, but I talked her into a half-marathon (told her she can walk) So I got to take her to Fit Right and PRC to get some new running shoes and socks, create a training schedule for her and share all my "wisdom" that I have learned over the last year.  It was so fun and I cannot WAIT to run the Rogue Run with my Seester! :)

Super Stoked cuz my hubby has been a little envious of my medals hanging on my saide of the bed and none on his that he decided to run Lacamas Lake with me!  The WHOLE family is gonna run in this race...  Isaac and Evie are doing the 4 miler, I am doing the half and Tyson and Nathan are gonna do the 1k kids dash!  I am so excited that we are going to do this as a family and I can't wait for more races in the futire with my family and hopefully eventually seeing my kids running!
And then on Sunday, I was at a BBQ and was talking with a friend and she told me she started the couch to 5k a few weeks back and just recently signed up for a 5k race in September.  So excited for her!  I blabbed and blabbed and we decided next summer we're gonna do a race together... Wee-haw!
My hope and prayer for every person that I have inspired, someone else has inspired or who has made a decision on their own to start running that they feel like they are joining a team.  It's kinda funny how a common passion for running can bring people into your life that you may have never known otherwise and create an instant friendship.  :)

Its all meaningless...

The past few weeks my long runs kept getting crappier and harder and I havent had the passion and desire to run like... Last week, 13 miles on the schedule turned into 11.5, this week, 13 turned into 11 and the SLOWEST pace EVER for me!  I walked at least 2 of those miles (which I rarely do).  I remember praying, "God, please just get me home... running." Selfish, much?
 
I got home, chugged some Nuun, took a shower and layed down feeling defeated... God didn't help me, I had to walk and I asked him to get me home... Why doesn't he listen when I need him? Then came all the questions and self-doubt.  Why do I run anyway... I SUCK... I'm never gonna be any good at it... some people were just born to run and I am not one of them... yadda-yadda-yadda! I remember a sermon not too long ago that the devil comes in when you say I can't... takes that to the Father and says "SEE, she said she can't do it!" She doesn't have faith... Nothing hurts the Father more than saying "I can't"

I CAN...  Through Christ, who strengthens me.  He certianly got me home, maybe just not the way I wanted him to... but how HE wanted me to!  Humbling me...  Its OK to walk sometimes, it's OK if your not the best, it's OK if you do worse at your next race than you did the last, its OK!  He has me right where he wants me... and HE will be the one to take me where he wants me with my running.

Then it came to me, Its all meaningless... Medals, PR's, My desires... (I just finished reading Ecclesaites ;) if I am not doing it to glorify my God...  I had become so worried about shaving minutes off my time, logging more miles each week, and training for the next race that I have forgotten WHY I run, to pray, worship and seek Jesus!  DUH!  Thankful for the fresh revelation... can't wait to run on Monday, with a fresh perspective and renewed love for running!  God's Good!