A few updates

So, since I have been gone for a little bit I thought I might do a little "vintage" post about some things that I have been doing this summer.

The boy and I went to Myrtle Beach on vacation for a week and it was wonderful. Nothing but the pool, the ocean, and my favorite person in the whole world! (cheesy enough for ya?) I even managed to get some pretty good running in on the boardwalk, which was awesome. Even though I got a few "are you crazy" looks from the half asleep boyfriend when I was lacing up my running shoes at 8 in the morning.

Heres a few pics from the trip, I of course took about 5000 pictures, but I'll spare you that and only throw in a few of the favs.

The boy and I by the pool

The hotel that we stayed in had a swim up pool bar...that we took full advantage of.

see?...

This was at dinner one night, isn't my date handsome?

Then we went for dessert.

Favorite picture...Im starting to feel the cheesy-ness of this post coming though, so I DO apologize :)

We of course had to go miniature golfing, here is me concentrating hard on my pro golf swing.

Bowling was also a must, what can I say? We are just an active couple! ;)

We also walked 3 miles in 100 degree weather for the hat that I am wearing in this picture...because it was PERFECT for sunbathing on the beach.

It was a great vacation and we had a lot of fun. I'm glad we got one last southern style beach trip in before we moved. Because, now that we are in Denver we are pretty far from any beaches!

RUNNING:

Marathon training is going really well! So far I have managed to stick with the training plan pretty well. The only thing I dread is the long run, which is usually done on Saturday or Sunday. This week is an 11-miler, so stay tuned to hear about that, I hope I can get it in!

Yesterday was a four mile run on the treadmill. It was a semi-speed work run. I say "semi" because I didn't really mean for it to be a speed work run. I have been noticing that I have trouble running negative splits in most of my races, and I REALLY struggle to finish strong, because I am SPENT by the end of the race. So, I have been trying to train myself to run harder at the end of races by running each mile a little faster than the last. So, when I am on the treadmill I will start out at about a 9 minute mile and then work my way up until I am running at race pace (around 7:45) for the last mile or so. The is just an experiment to see if it helps and I have no research to back this up...so we will see!

Does anyone have any other tips for working on running negative splits or finishing stronger in races?

Today is a rest day to gear up for the long run tomorrow, so I'm taking it easy! The boy and the roommate and some other friends are planning on going to a rockies games tonight...did I mention we live a block from Coors Field? Yeah, its pretty awesome.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! What does everyone else have planned for Friday night?

Not gonna stop me!

Yesterday I was scheduled for a 5 mile run. I had decided that since I worked at 8 until around 4 that I would just go for my run after work. I wanted to start my run by at least 5 so that I could be back in time to cook dinner for the boyfriend (yes, I like to play house wife). Well, obviously SOMEONE didn't want me to go for a run because one thing after the other popped up to try and stop me.

• FIRST: On my way home from work there was a MAJOR traffic jam...that I imagine looked something like this:

oh hello, downtown Denver at 5 oclock.

• Because of said traffic jam, I did not make it home until 515. Thats right people 45 minutes for a 15 minute drive. But thats OK, I wasn't gonna let a little 30 minute draw back stop me!
• SECOND: I quickly change into my running clothes, grab my keys, my ipod, and....wait....where are my headphones?! I searched and searched, but they were nowhere to be found. I decide, "hey, I can run without them, no. big. deal." and I'm out!
• THIRD: Half way to the gym I realize I had forgotten something very important....water. I turn around and go back.
• 2nd time going to the gym, half way there, I remember where my headphones are. I decide to just keep going and run without them. typical.
• FINALLY get to the gym! Pumped out a miserable 5 mile run on the treadmill with no music and two obnoxious breathers right beside me.
• Made it back to the apartment at 7:00, one hour later then I had planned.

Yes, today's run was a challenge. But thats OK. Sometimes things are going to pop up that present themselves as challenges and you just have to work through them. I could have let any number of those things stop me from my run and just put it off until tomorrow (believe me, I thought about it multiple times). But in the end, when I have finished that run even with all those things trying to stop me, it just feels that much better that I actually did it! So, in a way I think I like challenges, because it reminds me that I can do anything I set my mind to, know matter what comes up to try and stop me!
I hope you guys tackle some of your challenges today and let them make you stronger! Today I have a 3 mile run scheduled, shouldn't be too difficult...but ya never know ;)

A New Start

Wow guys, its been a bit, huh?! I'm sorry I havent been super great at updating for a while, but life has thrown some pretty big (and awesome) changes my way. If you have read my blog before you know that I am from Tennessee, it is where I was born and where I have grown up for 25 years.

Well, just about four weeks ago, I packed up everything that I could fit into two cars and moved to Denver, CO with the boyfriend and our little baby puppy Moe.

There is my little family all packed up and driving across the country!

Since then I have been trying to adjust to living in a new city, finding a new job, finishing up the last two classes I have to get my MASTERS, and trying to find my place in this new life.

I have to say that Colorado fits me! EVERYONE here is active and healthy...something that is totally new to me, since in Tennessee I was one of the only ones that I knew who actually worked out regularly and ate healthy. I always got so much crap from all my friends, but here it seems like the norm! And I LOVE it!

Because of this, my running has really taken off to new heights that I never thought I would be able to achieve. In the four weeks that I have been here, I have already ran two local races. One was the Bolder Boulder 10K which is the 2nd largest race in the US.

Even with the altitude, I still managed to get close to the same time as a previous 10K that I had ran in Tennessee, so I was pretty excited that my times arent that far off, even at 5,000 ft!

The second race that I did was Jodi's Race 5k, which I finished 3rd in my age group and 8th female overall with a time of 24:30.

I am also training to run the Denver Rock and Roll Marathon, which I am super excited about and will be documenting my training in this blog! The apartment that we moved into has a gym and a running club that meets every Thursday, so it makes it SUPER easy to get my runs in! Denver is like a runner's paradise! who knew?! haha.

I have always found that this blog is super great for support from my AWESOME readers and I hope that I haven't completely lost all of my readers, and hope that you guys will still follow along with me as I start this new chapter in my life. Keep reading to find out where this crazy life takes me next!

Love,

Ems

Happy New Years!

Happy New Years to everyone! I am so excited about this New Year, Im hoping that it bring along a lot of new and exciting changes for me, so we shall see!

As part of the new year, I have committed to training for a full marathon. I have ran two halfs and feel like it is time to step it up a bit! I have decided to run the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon because it is close to home, but still in a cool city that I have never seen.

I'm so excited! So today is Day #1 of training. I am hoping that I have time for everything...three jobs and full time grad school keeps me pretty busy! But we will see how it goes. I am going to try my HARDEST to keep all of you updated on the progress as I go along with my training.

I have decided to loosely follow the Hal Higdon's Marathon Training program. Has anyone ever followed this program? What did you think?

So today starts the training. I am headed to the gym for a cross training day. Any advice, tips, ANYTHING please fill me in :)

Love,

Em.

I did it!!!

So, yesterday morning I woke up bright and early for the Jonesborough Parks and Recreation 5K in Jonesborough, TN. This is a historic city town in TN, actually it is labeled the "oldest town in Tennessee". It is VERY old...and VERY cute :)

The race was through the historic downtown area, so I thought that it would be a fun race.

I usually don't set goals when I race small races, because I really do them more for fun and scenery, than anything else. However, I had been noticing a downward slip to my 5K times, and I was a little disappointed in myself. I knew that I could do better!

So, I set my goal for a sub 25 minute time. I knew that if this was going to be possible I would have to maintain a faster than 8 minute mile pace the whole time.

It was tough because the course was a little hilly. There were ALOT of uphills...but with every uphill, there seemed to be a pretty good downhill as well. So, that helped me keep up with my pace throughout the race.

Another thing about the race was that it cost $20, which I thought was a little steep for such a small casual race. It paid off in the end though ;)

Here were the final results:

Mile One: 8:14

Mile Two: 7:54

Mile Three: 8:07

FINAL TIME: 24:16

Thats right kiddos...I BEAT MY GOAL TIME!!!

And even better, I got first place in my age group! and won this....

 

oh yeah...and THIS

A MIO Motiva Petite Pink Heart Rate Watch. Pretty cool huh?! I guess I ended up getting my $20 worth!

I looked up some info on the watch for those of you who are interested. And I will be doing a review of this product, after I have used it a little bit.

The MIO Motiva Petite Pink features:

• On demand, ECG accurate heart rate, without a chest strap
• Patented calorie management system that allows users to track calorie intake throughout the day and calories burned during exercise, against a daily calorie target.
• Visual indicator of exertion level
• Percentage of maximum heart rate display
• Can be used with the MIO 3500 Calorie Club program.
• Heart rate recovery timer.
• Five (5) exercise timers: Count up, Count down, Count up with warm-up, Walk/Run, and Repeat.
• User accessible battery hatch.
• Interchangeable watch band with colors to fit your every mood (BONUS band included).
• BONUS: MioSense Guide to healthy living

Also the watch itself can display SO MUCH:

• Display time, date, weekday and your name or initials on the screen.
• You can set a daily alarm.
• You can enter your calorie intake and it will also display your net calorie intake.
• The watch also features an exercise timer for workouts and other activities, 5 timer modes including counting up from zero, counting down from zero, count down to zero and then count up, walk and run timer, and count down to zero then repeat.
• Measure your Heart Rate Recovery – a good indicator of fitness level.
• Measure and display your Resting Heart Rate.
• You can set your personal data and weight managment goals.

PLUS it came with this cute little bonus strap, that I just LOVE

I already own a Garmin, that I use ALL THE TIME when I run outside. But, I think that this watch will be better for the gym. Its smaller and works better for indoors workouts that aren't limited to just running. I'll be sure to let you guys know what I think about it!

So, overall I think it was a pretty successful race. Cute area and good scenery, I PRed, won a trophy, AND won a mio pink motiva petite.

RACE SUCCESS! :)

2nd Half Marathon!!

Hey everybody! So, its been awhile again. But, to be honest there has not been much to write about lately.

Since the last time I updated, I have just been training to run my second half marathon. Honestly, I was kind of dreading it. I hadn't really trained as hard as I did for the first marathon that I ran (6 months ago) because with grad school and two part time jobs, I didn't really have the time.

However, it was the very first half marathon that my home town had put on, so I felt like I had to represent!!

I woke up on the morning of the race and it was POURING the rain. I would have backed out if it hadn't of been for my AMAZING boyfriend. He got up at 6AM with me (even though he was just spectating and not running) and really motivated me to get up and go for it!

Once we got there it was still raining. And I'm not just talking a little rain. I'm talking DOWNPOUR! I was still dreading the race, because it was cold and wet, so Mike and I were standing under an awning by the start line while we waited, so I could stay dry for a little while. I was trying to stay dry for too long, thought, because as we were standing there just talking the gun went off!!!

That's right...I was the VERY last one to cross the start line, because I was putting it off for so long! haha.

I sprinted to get to the start...and the race began.

My little sports photographer got some pretty good pictures...

Here I am standing under the awning, trying to stay warm

Mike standing at the three mile mark...notice the rain!

He spotted me coming up on the three mile mark

He told me that he would be waiting at the three mile mark, so I could get rid of my hoodie if I wanted. YES I DID! It was about 10 pounds because it was soaked with water!

This is at about the 6 mile mark...almost half way done!!

This is after about 8 miles and still going good!!

Here I come about the cross the finish line!!!

FINISHED!!! 13.1 miles. I DID IT!!!!

He said "give me your race pose". haha.

I ended up doing a lot better than I thought! I ran the whole thing without having to stop and was hardly even tired when it was over! I never really hit a wall and the rain was FUN! Even thought I did not PR at this race, I was still soooo happy with how I did.

I ended up finishing in 2:03, which I was kind of disappointed with because I didn't break 2 hours. However, I did get a late start and I was worried about burning out, so I didn't really push myself too hard.

Here are the splits:

Mile One: 9:09

Mile Two: 9:29

Mile Three: 9:17

Mile Four: 9:35

Mile Five: 9:00

Mile Six: 9:09

Mile Seven: 9:01

Mile Eight: 9:15

Mile Nine: 9:37

Mile Ten: 9:31

Mile Eleven: 8:57

Mile Twelve: 9:15

Mile Thirteen: 8:50

A little slower than usual, but like I said I was still pretty happy with it considering that I hadn't really trained  that much for it. The course was really well laid out for the first year, and the rain just made it even more fun, splashing around in the puddles and mud.

Well, until next time...I hope everyone has a great week!

<3 Ems.

Back!

Hey hey girls and guys! Well, I am back...this time I PROMISE! I didn't have Internet for a while, which made it pretty difficult to post on a regular basis. But, now I'm all set up and ready to go!

What have I been up to? Running, running, training, grad school, work, work, running, school. Sound busy enough for you?! haha

I just started back to grad school, one semester down, three more to go. So far its going pretty good and its GREAT to have an awesome gym at my university to go to for free.

Im about 3 weeks away from my second half marathon! I don't feel 100% ready for it, but I really wanted to do it because it is the very first half marathon that is being hosted in my home town. Gotta represent!! As part of my training I have been running small races just about every weekend. This past weekend I ran a 5K called "Run for the Hill". It was hosted by my old highschool, so you KNOW I just had to do it.

The boy came for support and took some GREAT pictures!

Pretending to cross the finish line while we waited for the race to start.

At the starting line

Taking off at the start! Im the one in the gray top and the black shorts

The start of the race was an awesome down hill start, but that was a tease, the rest of the race was ALL UP HILL!!

action shot!

Starting up the hill

Racing for the finish!

Thumbs up after the race!

I ended up with a time of 26:02, which I was happy with. I was hoping for a sub 25 time, but with all those hills, I thought my time wasn't too far from my goal. Hey, there is always next time! I also got 2nd place in my age group, so that was even better! :)

This Saturday I have another race that is a 10K. I am trying to get more noticed in the running community and make more friends that are runners. Does anyone have any suggestions as far as getting sponsors, or running for certain charities? Please let me know if anyone has any experience with this!

Hope everyone is having a great day and I'm sooo happy to be back and start to catch up with everyone again!

Love, Em.