I DID IT! :) One down ....plenty more to go:)

So I did it! I ran my first race:) RUN FOR THE REDFISH! THANKS FREEDOM SPORTS

I worked all night at work Friday...and I was so stinking tired the race started at 8:30 I got off at 7:30...so I drank a five hour energy, redline, and some NASTY NASTY power gel stuff....it was like those little strawberry candies you know the ones wrapped like a strawberry with..the nasty goo inside...it was like that...except in coupius amounts...I took that goo like a shot....driving down the road to the race trying to hold my eyes open. I got there and met up with my awesome running partner and we got ready to go:)
   It was kind of nerve racking sitting in line and waiting for them to tell us to start..finally the buzzer went off and it was time to go.. I started slow because  was not sure how fast I needed to go..about halfway through I kicked it up a notch and started passing people...it was a really cool feeling. I felt confident..
Everytime I would start to hurt I just looked at someone's back and made them a target and zoomed past them:) It became like a game...that was much better than my original idea..which was to bring my mace and just spray it in the air and than in the face of anyone who tried to pass me...but Becky thought that I might get arrested if I did that...so I gave the mace to a friends mom:)
  Anyway it was over before I knew it...as soon as I visualized the finish line I started Sprinting:) People where cheering us on as we crossed and it was such a cool feeling! I can't wait for my next one!
So now I am setting my sights on my half-marathon...and next week I am also starting to train for a triathalon! I want to do one before the end of 2011! I am excited! This is the first thing I have ever stuck with and I am so proud of me and my running partner:) anyway that is all for now:) Next week I will start blogging about swimming and biking (I have to wait to get my bike first:) its part of my christmas gift...those bikes are over $1500.00 SO I gotta save for that part:)
Till Next time
Peace out little Debbies:)

And than I will kick him....

I have had a few inquires into how I would protect myself if I were to be attacked while running. Well the chances of that happening in my head were slim to none. Than last week while I was running....it must have been during "creepy time" because there were tons of scary people around me. I think the last straw was Monday while running I was stopped at a stop light waiting to cross, Becky was not able to come this day and I was running a new route and this drunken, literally slobbering old man (don't let the old fool you..they are strong) came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and asked to use my phone..not so scary you say..well I jumped, yelled NO and crossed the street. That was all she wrote for me!

  

   I came home and started making a list of ways to ward off ememies...here is what I came up with:

1) I could use my Tae Bo skills sans Billy Banks that I kind of remember from high school..something like cross, cross, jab *and remember to tuck in my thumb*

2) I could use my jedi powers and throw him across the street into oncoming traffic..which really isn't that nice ..he  just asked for my phone

3)I could shower in vinegar before I run...maybe the smell alone would keep them off..

4) I could SCREAM bloody murder as soon as anyone got within a few feet of me..unfortunatly that would probably piss off the other runners beside me on the bridge who pass me:)

5) I could use my ear phones to jab them in the eyes....I use old school ones..they would hurt

6) I could use the S.I.N.G method from the movie Miss Congeniality (Solar Plexus, Instep, Noggin, Groin) but then what if I could not remember where the Solar Plexus was..I would be dead...so maybe not this last one...

Anyway none of these seemed like good ideas and since I realize that every path I run is not accompanied by unicorns, rainbows, and bunnies I figured I needed something real to protect myself with! SEE ABOVE PIC! I got that bad little baby at Bass Pro Shop. It is pink but don't let it fool you it packs a punch and should bring a grown man to his knees...better than any move I can do! I carry it on my pants when I run..hidden...waiting to come out and spray someone in the face! *insert inappropriate comment here*

I felt like a real Bad A ...listening to Danger Zone playing in my earphones..knowing I had this little weapon hanging from my side...I was a legend in my own mind as I ran down North Lagoon .. with this little pink can of Whoop A!

On a serious note though! All ladies should have one of these..or guys who are not very strong...you should have one too! They are not expensive. I picked mine up for 12.99 at Bass Pro(Mace) Shop-see link below. They are not just for when you run alone they can be used for when you walk out of a store at night by yourself...you just pull this little bad boy out..and people will take note! It is better to protect yourself before it is to late! *I did this last night at K-mart*

As far as running goes:) It goes good! First 5K is in a little over a week! I am super excited for it! I have been adding a little more distance to my run each day. I know there will be days when I can run forever and days when I wanna stop after a mile..just gotta push myself...This is the first thing I have ever really stuck with and I am not giving up now!

Thanks for the encouragement ALL!

Till next time

peace out little Debbies!



*This is the link to buy the pepper Spray! DO IT LADIES!



IT'S OFFICIAL!

Today was a great day...it was my official "I AM A RUNNER" day! I bought my first pair of overly priced running shoes, my first runners compression stockings, signed up for my first 5K and my first Half Marathon! IT IS ON!
  I went and visited Freedom Sports today on Panama City Beach. WWW.MYFREEDOMSPORTS.COM. They were awesome! They fitted me personally for my first pair of offical running shoes (I cancelled my other ones I ordered online) I did not realize that your running shoes should be a little bit bigger on your feet..gives your feet room to well swell up when you run. You should have at least a tip of a thumb between your big toe and the tip of shoe. I learned SOMETHING NEW today! Also I boughtsome really cool below the knee compression stockings for when I run. Keep those Varicose Veins away...ladies I recommend them..running is strenuous on those legs:) www.zensah.com is a great website for clothes...and oh btw running is a stinking expensive hobby!SOO I know your so excited to know about the races!!!!
   The first race I will be doing is a 5K on December 4th at Pier Park at 08:30. It is the second annual RUN FOR THE REDFISH at Pier Park http://www.runfortheredfish.com/. Proceeds go to bring about awareness about our coastal redfish..umm okay I just really wanna run:) I mean fish are not something near and dear to my heart...I like to eat fish...that I don't catch or clean so I guess I am good! I will also get my first "swag bag" I think I am most excited about it.
    The Half Marathon is Sunday March 06, 2010 on a Sunday in Seaside http://www.seasidehalfmarathon.com/ It is the Seaside School Half Marathon. Ladies..if you run and finish you get a VERA BRADLEY bag...'nough said...people in seaside don't mess around. All the money raised will help the Neighborhood school in Seaside...again not a charity near and dear to me...umm don't really seem to be hurting to bad you are giving away VERA BRADLEYS but I just wanna run:)
We are still doing the Disney Princess we just have not registered for it yet. Hopefully by the end of December we will be registered because that is the one I am most excited about. BUT I am officially signed up and paid for to do the other two...Never thought I would be paying someone to run:) But I am glad I am!
So you know what I think is so crazy about this marathons..every single one we have read about..offers FREE BEER at the end of the run. SO I wanna run 26 miles and than the first thing I am gonna want is a beer? and Pizza? reallly? I need some serious insight on this because I just don't see it happening...What I see myself needing is Oxygen...and lots of it..maybe a venti mask even! Lord knows not a beer. Oh and a personal massager waiting for me at the finish line...that might be on my mind...but not beer and pizza!
Well Sunday we are running North Lagoon in anyone wants to join! Just let me know and I will tell you what time we are meeting. Anyone can start at anytime! I will also be running the bridge everyday! So feel free to join!
Anyway I am really excited about this..have I said that yet! My running partner and I are kicking butt and taking names:)
Till next time PEACE OUT LITTLE DEBBIES!!

RAIN RAIN go away...

I am not saying I am sad the rain came ...we needed it here on wonderful PCB...I am sad that it rained ALL DAY! Yesterday I ran in the rain..but it only sprinkled..today I just looked out with saddness at the bridge..as rain poured down from the sky. It really bummed me out..and I can't run on a treadmill...it doesn't make sense..you are running no where..and I have an imagination but not that good of one. So I didn't run at all today..and it made me sad!
  So I am not the only one training for a marathon:) Jared from the Subway commercial just started training for the New York marathon! Its kind of cool. I guess marathon running is the new "thing" to do! Diddy did it also and I think J-Lo or somebody! Maybe if I run everday my butt will look like her's! Here's hoping!
  I have started to run a little farther everyday and it is really encouraging...I want to stop sometimes but I just start looking around and try to keep my mind busy! We are running for one more month before we book our room at Disney! I am super excited about this! I have also been taking the stairs at the condo..I live on the 10th floor so it kind of sucks but my cardio is improving! Its exciting! Saturday I am gonna try for 6 full miles...It is getting exciting:)

Time for a trade in...my shoes have too many miles on them

Did you know that your running shoes have a certain number of "miles" you can put on them before you need a new pair? I had no idea! They are like little cars for your feet if you think about it. So basically every 300-500 miles that you put on your running shoes you should change them. At approx 250 miles you will start to feel the wear and tear from your shoes in ways such as: back, knee, feet, or shin pain. You are supposed to keep a log of each of your runs and in this log you include the time it took to run, how long you ran, and how the run felt. This will help you know if your shoes need to be traded in. I just ordered my first pair of running shoes the other day and I can't wait to put my first miles on them!
    So today I had the worst nights sleep ever! Yes I did say TODAY and NIGHT in the same sentence:) I work nights so your today is my nighttime. Anyway I woke up at 3:00pm and decided that I was not going to run today. I had made up my mind...I had barely slept and I just didn't feel like getting up and running the bridge. Shortly after my running partner texted me and told me to get up and "Run Princess Run...I felt the instance sting of guilt..I was gonna try to sneak out my run and here was my running partner busting her butt while I was trying to be lazy! So...very unenthusiastically I put on my running shoes and hit the bridge!
    It actually was an amazing run! I ran the entire bridge without stopping which I have not done yet! I also ran a little more than the bridge cause I ran down the sidewalk on 98 too:) So that was exciting! I felt a great sense of accomplishment after..even though I could not breath..what does that matter I had done it! I am back to where I was before I stopped running! Now I feel a great sense of confidence that I needed.. I know that I can accomplish this goal..I think I found my motivation! :)

Until Saturday...(5 miles of running glory)
Peace out little Debbies...and Run like a Princess:)

What is motivation?

Wikipedia describes the word Motivation as: the activation of goal-oriented behavior. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation refers to motivation that is driven by an interest or enjoyment in the task itself, and exists within the individual rather than relying on any external pressure. Extrinsic motivation comes from outside of the individual. Common extrinsic motivations are rewards like money and grades, coercion and threat of punishment. Competition is in general extrinsic because it encourages the performer to win and beat others.
   Today I was telling someone about my goal to run a half marathon and my news was received with a soft chuckle followed by a rather hearty laugh. I was slightly taken aback...why was this person laughing at me? I don't think it's very funny. Once the laughter subsided the question was posed "Are you really going to stick with it this time?" I honestly didn't know how to answer that. I will be the first to admit I am famous for saying Monday I am going to start working out and eating healthy....umm pretty sure every monday I say this..it's kind of a habitual...almost like saying the word What? after someone tells me something. I was honestly embarrassed. This person had just called my bluff. I have rarely stuck with anything I have ever started..well besides Nursing and School. It made me start to think about my motivation to stick with running. What is it? Why am I doing it? What made this monday any different from any of the other ones? What is my MOTIVATION??
   I honestly don't know! I like to run..that is the intrinsic part of it...but I don't like to hurt after...it actually kind of sucks. Has my motivation become extrinsic because I now have a challenge? Am I now running for the wrong reasons or does it matter because it is for a good cause...my brain is a tangled mess! What if noone runs with me..will I still do it or will I just forget about it like all the other times? What is my motivation? I do want to get into shape and change my life but it seems I always find an excuse not to. I honestly hope this blog helps me with this ...I hope I have people who will hold me accountable...and become my motivation to continue with what I am doing. I need to stick with something....for real this time!
  I guess only time will really tell.....I need to find a little time to do some meditation and prayer and find out what my motivation is in life...maybe if I discover this ...I will finally be able to stick with something I say I am going to do.

Until later,
peace out little debbies!

I think I am gonna need a potty chair.....or maybe a hover round would be good

So today I ran again because there is only 124 days till the Half Marathon Disney Princess run. So I have to bust my butt. This morning I got up around 8:00am and took out my little fur babies, Harvey and Murphy, and I decided that I would go ahead and get my run in. SO I did the opposite of what I did yesterday. I ran the bridge first and than ran the neighborhood......its amazing...still not a good idea...I think it was good in theory but not good in reality. It was horrible. After running uphill I had no desire...okay mentally I had the desire but physically I had no desire to run around Woodlawn. Everything hurt and I do mean everything. I am thinking for my 30 minute runs twice a week I will run the bridge but for long distance I will cut it out and do the flat road because the bridge sucks if you run more than just it. I am sure it is because I am a new runner but still...WHOA!
     My ankle is hurting just a little bit from my dog poop-old lady occurence, but I ran anyway. I will just have Ryan fix it when he gets home:) I am not sure he knows he will be doing it yet! At least he won't be mad because I didn't hurt it walking in heels.

(This is the potty I need....it even has wheels..see why below:)

  Anyway...I felt great after my 4 miles..I figured I would hurt but didn't really understand until I went to go to the bathroom...just squating down to sit on the toilet was the worse thing ever! I wish I had one of those potty chair extensions that they give handicap people so they don't have to actually sit on the toilet! Than it was like I was so clumsy all day..I kept dropping everything and of course had to bend down...and it hurt. Tomorrow I am taking the day off and will run again on Wednesday afternoon before work!

Thanks for the support guys and until next time
Peace out little debbies!