10k Race Results!

The results are in! For the first time I ran the ENTIRE 10k race and finished with a time of 1:09:18! I am so thrilled because I was hoping to finish under 70 minutes, and I just made it!
Here is where you can see all of the results from the race, I was bib # 8139.

The race was perfect, it was chilly, sunny, and gorgeous in Cincinnati. The course was the same as usual, so it was comfortable. There are 4 hills on the course, and I even jogged up all of them! I was so worried because my longest run before this was 4.6 miles, but I didn't feel like I was really struggling to keep going until the last half mile. However, at mile 6 I saw that I was 3 minutes away from a total time of 70 minutes, so I had to pick it up and make it in time!

I got new running shoes the day before (to be posted at a later time) and the owner told me I should be ok to wear them, and I was! They were so comfortable and they really did feel great the entire race.

Next year, I'm hoping to complete the 10k in 65 minutes, but I'm doing my next 10k in April, so if I can cut a few minutes off for that one, I might even get down to 60 (It's the 100th running of the 10k, so I'd love for my time to be 1:00!)

We didn't get any pictures at the race, just in the car before. As you can see, my sister and husband were not thrilled about photos...but when the professional ones are posted, I'll see if I can get some of them on here.

Awful Run!

So I was all set to do my 5.5 mile run on Saturday morning. I slept in until 8:30, got dressed and left the house. I ran down to the trail to add the extra .9 miles rather than drive down and start at the trailhead. I was wearing my usual outfit, capri yoga pants and a long sleeve t-shirt. What I didn't realize when I left the house, was it was 17 degrees out. I knew it was colder than normal, but didn't think it was THAT cold. The cold really didn't hit me until I was 1.75 miles in. My bare calves started to burn and feel like knives were stabbing them. I was also sweating a bit on my neck, and my sweat was freezing on my neck! So I decided to turn around and go home. I walked for ten seconds, then decided no, I need to do this! So I turned back around and jogged for another minute until I HAD to turn around.


So I jogged back home and when I got in, I felt like I was dying. My legs were bright red and my face was on fire, but freezing. JJ immediately turned on the weather channel and was like Ash, I can't believe you went running when it's 19 degrees now!
So yeah, I don't think I'll ever run again in 17-19 degree weather... or at least I'll bundle up more! So now I'm even more nervous about the 10k on Thursday because my longest run is still 4.6! We'll see how it goes...

Save a Life!

Giving blood has been somewhat of a struggle for me my whole life. I'm not good with needles and seeing blood. I had a very traumatic experience my first time giving blood because I HAD to do it. I was having reconstructive jaw surgery, and they needed to have some of my blood on hand in case a transfusion was necessary during surgery. I think because I went in with the mindset that I had to do it, I freaked out a bit.
My dad is an avid donator, and went with me. He tried to offer support, and in true competitive fashion, race to get the blood out, but it didn't help.

A year later, I was in high school and we were having a blood drive. Because it was during class, I decided to give it a try. Who doesn't want to miss class, right? So I had breakfast that morning at 6:30am, and went to give blood during lunch and 6th period. I told them I had eaten lunch, but that was a lie, I just wanted to donate and get out of class. Well, having not eaten for 6 hours and then donating blood made me so sick. I almost fainted, I got the chills, I was sweating and turned pale white when I finished.

Since I'm type O blood, the center was always calling the house to see if I wanted to schedule a donation... one day I finally gave in. I had to do it on a Saturday and the only center that was open on a Saturday was on the north side of Cincinnati, about 45 minutes from my house. It was the day before my birthday, a Saturday in May - you know, the beginning of tornado season...
So of course, the weather was iffy as I drove to tri-county, but by the time I was in the chair donating, the storms were heavy and the tornado sirens started going off!!! So I finished giving, and I actually felt OK this time, but I had to wait at the center for 2 hours until the storms passed and the sirens stopped going off.

That was the last time I donated, 4 years ago!

Now that I work at the YMCA, and the Red Cross comes here about once a month for Blood Drives, I always feel guilty for not going. So yesterday I saw them coming and decided to bite the bullet and just do it. Well it went flawlessly! My tech was awesome, I barely felt the needle, and I was able to stay calm and squeeze without feeling like the needle was going to pop out! I made sure I ate a banana at 8:30 (I was set to donate at 9) and I had eaten oatmeal for breakfast at 7, so I knew I wouldn't get sick.
I told the tech how brave I was being (lol) and she even gave me a pin (but she said I have to donate again when I'm able to, I think 56 days?)

So why is this in my fit blog? Well, I'm all about being healthy as a whole. It's not just diet and exercise, it's about mental health and spiritual. I am so glad that I was able to donate and hopefully help save a life! I also did a little research and found out that some researchers believe it's good for the body to donate blood and be forced to produce more!

Here's an excerpt from an article on cnn.com
"Each time you give blood, you remove some of the iron it contains. High blood iron levels, Sullivan believes, can increase the risk of heart disease. Iron has been shown to speed the oxidation of cholesterol, a process thought to increase the damage to arteries that ultimately leads to cardiovascular disease."

So if I can do it after 3 AWFUL experiences, YOU CAN TOO! Here is a link to a website where you can search for blood drives in your area. I've also seen some that raffle off gift cards and prizes when supply is really low (I'll have to look for one of those next time!)

T-minus 1 week & 2 lbs.

Well one week from tomorrow is my 10k! I'm getting a little nervous. I was doing really well with my distance building, but for the past 3 weeks I've not attempted more than 4.6 miles! I have been doing lots of hill training, but not distance...

Why? Well my trail is only 4.6 miles, I've been out of town and had to run on my parents trail (which is 3.5 + once around the block = 4.2) and it's FREAKIN FREEZING!!!

So as of now, my longest is 4.6, and I have to run 6.2 in 8 days... I'm a little worried! I'm hoping to do 5.5 this weekend (run from my house to my trail, then run the trail and back to my house) but I think that's the farthest I'll go...eek!

And a little weight update: I'm 2 lbs. away from -80, so I'm hoping when I weight myself friday morning I'll be down 2 (or at least 1) because I'd like to hit my -80 by Thanksgiving!

It's ALL mental!

For the past month, I've been training pretty hardcore (for my standards) for my 5k yesterday and my upcoming Thanksgiving Day 10k. I usually run 3-4 miles on Sat. and Sun. mornings, and Wed. afternoon, then run 1.5 miles around the block with Pumpkin and shred during the week.


So yesterday was my 5k race, it went really well, did a bit below what I wanted on the time (the last .1 mi. was uphill and I was also cramping, but running 3 miles on Saturday morning is standard. Because I was in race mentality though, at the end I was so exhausted from running this long race... and I needed water and food and Starbucks... which I never NEED when I run at home on the weekends...
Then this morning, JJ wanted to go for a run b/c he needs to train for the T-day race, so I begrudgingly went and told him I was going to do 4 miles, even though I ran the 5k yesterday (like it was such a feat!)...
Then it hit me! This is what I do every weekend... just because I was in race doesn't mean I ran any futher or harder or longer yesterday, and doesn't give me a free pass for today, because if it was any other weekend, I probably would have done 4 yesterday and 5 today!


It's times like this when it really hits me - IT'S ALL MENTAL!!!


Ok, I'm done. I just need to remember that when I get to mile 5 on November 27 and want to cry/quit :)

5K Results!

I had such a great race today! It was really cold, but by the end of the race I was warmed up! The weather was overcast and 45 degrees, and the course was pretty hilly. I was the 42nd woman to finish, and my time was 32:42... pretty good! I was hoping finish around 31:00, but considering I was not feeling so good today, I'm happy!
I think there were around 1,000 people there, but I'll get the numbers at work on Monday!

Here's an action shot JJ took right before I finished

Here I am at the start line waiting for the official go


And freezing my butt of before the race!

5k tomorrow!

My first race of the season is finally here! After being rained out in June, and out of town during the Race for the Cure, I finally have a 5k to run!

Unfortunately the forecast is 40 and drizzly, so I'm not looking forward to it much. I also drove the course and it's pretty hilly, so I'm glad I've been working on the hills in my neighborhood!

I'm thinking I'll finish around 33:00 as the hills and weather will slow me down from my original goal of 30:00.

To everyone else racing tomorrow, good luck and have fun :)