Failure

I pretty much felt like a total failure earlier this week.

I made a little resolution that didn't last very long: to run at least one mile every day for a year.

I was inspired by Linds H.'s husband Nate who did this last year.  And there's a lady on twitter who I follow and vice versa who is doing the same thing.  Only she's at day 800 or 900-something and I made a little over day eight.

Since I've kind of fallen off the wagon with running consistently I thought this would be a great way to get me back on track.

But I didn't feel great on Monday and there my resolution went...down the tubes.  So, after beating myself up for not going and a pep talk from Todd I decided to turn that frown upside down and rework my plan.

Now the goal is to make at least 365 miles this year, which should be completely attainable.  Actually, I have a bigger goal than that, but I'm only choosing to publish the small one to avoid public humiliation if it doesn't pan out.

New mantra

I have fallen off the running wagon.

Big time.

I've been taking Rigby for walks, but this morning I was in the mood to run.

I suck.

I can only last about 15 minutes or so! Bummer when I used to run 6-7 miles regularly!

But, today was motivating. I'm determined to get back into shape. If anyone knows of any good winter races send them my way. It will give me a goal.

"Homer (Simpson) no more!" is my mantra!

Race for the Cure

My boyfriend and I, and several hundred others, participated this morning in the Wyoming Race for the Cure.

I love this race. I love everything it stands for. Runners can be very supportive people. They're competitive, of course, but at the finish line you'll usually see many cheering other racers on.

There's just something even more encouraging about Race for the Cure though. That person crossing the finish line may be running in honor of a lost loved one, or maybe they're a survivor showing the world and themselves that after beating cancer they can do anything.

I get kind of emotional just typing about it.

Since I really believe in this race, and I've lost several relatives not to breast cancer, but to cancer in general, I try very hard not to miss it. I ran the national race in D.C., each year I was there but one, and I missed Wyoming's race last year because, ironically, I was in D.C., for a wedding.

Not this year.

From one capitol to another...


Some dedicated runners...


Todd and I after finishing. He kicked butt! And I must say I'm rather proud of my time as well...


For Dad, Grandma, Dustin, Aunt JoAnn, Teresa and others...

Race day!

I ran my first race of the season this morning in Ft. Collins.

I was signed up to do the Colorado 1/2 marathon, but with bad weather and a thrown out back, my last few weeks of training time were kind of ruined. So, I downgraded to the 10K, which ended up being really good.

I ran my fastest time in probably a year: 01:00:29. I am pretty darn proud of that!

The route started and ended in Old Town, and wound its way through a really nice neighborhood with awesome homes, down a country road, then along a bike path that followed the river.

During a race I have little mind games I play with myself to keep me focused. For example, I secretly compete against someone to keep a good pace, which I don't really think is abnormal. At one point, another girl and I were stride for stride - for about three miles. We chatted a couple of times and I found out she also had been training for the 1/2, but got sick and had to go down to the 10K. We were keeping up a really good pace - for me anyway - which was great. Then a little ways from the finish she kicked it up and left.

I also had a couple of girls right behind me the entire race. I heard all about the boy one girl liked, their diets, exercise routines, thoughts on plastic bags at the grocery store...the game there was to not let them pass me. If I heard them pick up a little I would do the same. But about 1/2 mile out they kicked it up also and I was left to finish on my own.

I'm not good at "kicking it up." I find a happy little pace and hunker down with it.

But it was today's happy little pace that got me to the finish with what I think is a very respectable time.

After the race: I'd left my camera in the car, so when I asked a random woman to a picture of me the only backdrop was the Drunken Monkey. Somehow that's somewhat appropriate...