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 |  If you don't have a dream, how are you going to make a dream come true? |
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2013 Goals
Write 52 Reviews / current = 27 Read 40 books / current = 9 Enter 12 Contests/Activities / current = 4 Host/Judge 2 Contest/Activity / current = 2 Other goals:  Be patient Let go of anger/negativity Monthly bloggingSome other places you can find me: http://www.twitter.com/spidergirl502 http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1792019-tonia http://365project.org/spidergirl/365
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| First off, I didn't sleep much the night before the race. With my first 5k, I had no trouble sleeping, but with this one, my 2nd, it was more difficult. There were just so many unknowns! I had never run the route before, and it was my first trail run! Regardless, I got up at 6am totally awake and excited. Traci, my sis, came over around 8am, and we were off to Tuscarora State Park (after a quick DD stop for my hubby). We parked & registered and then had a little over an hour to wait for the start. It went by fast because there were so many people there and things to see! The park is really beautiful! The weather was absolutely beautiful, and just in the 60s by start time! About 400 of us lined up for the 5k start (the 10k and fun walk started 10 minutes later). I'm always surprised at how fast everyone starts out running! Traci and I stayed at the back, still at a 10min/mile pace! We were passed by a little group of children who were adorable! Okay, so after getting out of the parking area, we hit the trail, and the hill. Oh. My. God. I thought I had done plenty of hill training, but this one was a really big hill! I ran half of it and had to stop and walk after just a half mile from the start line! I didn't see anyone else running up it, either! At the one mile mark, which was the top of the hill, there was a man with a timer who told me I was at about 12 minutes. Not where I wanted to be, but I was happy the hill was over with! He also said, "It's all downhill from here!" I was like, "Seriously?!" so I kicked it up a notch only to find another hill up ahead! It wasn't nearly as bad as the first, but I felt the guy shouldn't have said that to me... I'll have to be careful about what the volunteers say in future races. At one point during the 2nd mile, I was running at an 8min/mile pace. I love having the Garmin during races! I passed the 2nd mile marker at 21:25. Shortly afterward was a water stop, and I took a short walking break to take two sips of water. Again, the volunteers spoke encouragingly to the runners, saying, "Just up that hill and you're on the homestretch." Um, not really! It felt a lot longer than just up a short hill. There was another pretty steep hill back into the parking lot, and I took my 3rd walking break, but no more until the end. I pushed harder as we entered the parking area, because I knew I was almost done. I saw the chute, and I started sprinting! I couldn't wait to finish and get some water! As I crossed the finishing line, I heard the guy with the timer say, "32 minutes" and I was ecstatic because that was one full minute better than my first 5k and this course was definitely harder! Later, it turned out, I was 32:47, so I didn't do quite as well as I originally thought, but I'm still really happy with the time! (And it is 11 seconds better than my first 5k!) It also turned out, I finished 4th in my age group! Woo-hoo!! I also finished 292 overall out of 398 runners. They had tons of food for the runners afterward! On our way over to the food, an older man said he was trying to pass me the whole time during the race! He joked, "You're supposed to slow down toward the end!" LOL This was an awesome race! It was run really well, had over 400 participants, and was a blast to run in! I'll definitely be back next year! |
A long time between updates, once again!  So it's two days before my next race! I did experience some random sciatica pain two days ago, but overall, I think I'm ready for the race! I'm not at all familiar with the course, so it will be a lot different from my first race (where I practiced several times so I had a technique in place), plus it is multi-terrain! I've never run in the woods before, so that ought to be a challenge. I just hope I don't trip...  I've come a long way since April! I wanted to run when I was young. I remember a few times, just starting out jogging on roads near my house. I always gave up right away. In high school, they wanted us to run a mile under 10 minutes, but no one showed us how to do it! Now I can run it in about 9 minutes.  I wholeheartedly believe in the Couch-to-5k Program. I've linked it before, and here it is again: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml I'm proof that it works, and I known several others (of various ages, body types, weights, genders, etc.) who have gone from no running experience to those who can run a 5k! After I finished the C25k Program, I started training to get faster and stronger. I focused on the 5k distance because I was afraid to add distance too soon. I've been running hills a lot, which builds strength. I've also recently started doing speed training, which is difficult, but rewarding. I've learned to be able to run while breathing hard. As long as I'm not totally out of breath, I can keep going. It's amazing what your body can do if you train! My sister and I found a half-marathon really close to us. We're thinking about training for it for next Summer! It's 13.1 miles, and the cool thing is that everyone who finishes gets a medal! I want a medal! I joined a new Wellness program at work, and we're building a program to get our teammates to be healthy. It's really exciting for me! |
Wow, it's been a really long time!  Well, here I am, one day before my very first 5k race, and I'm suffering from shin splints.  I thought I did everything right. I followed the program and increased my times slowly. I didn't push myself too hard, and once I completed the 3.1 mile distance, I worked on that distance for a few weeks leading up to my very first race. The last time I ran was last Sunday. It didn't seem any different than any other time I ran that route. But as I finished, I noticed some real pain in my shins. I'd experienced tightness and soreness before, but this was different. It was actual pain. Then, starting Monday, I couldn't hop or jog without pain in my shins. Still not sure what I did to cause them, but it appears as if I have shin splints. I've worn the same sneakers for the past 3 months (not even 100 miles in them yet, so they can't be too worn); I drink tons of water everyday; I make sure to get enough calcium and potassium; I run on pavement, not concrete; and I'd been running the same route and about the same pace for two weeks or so. I've been icing my shins and taking ibuprofen. At this point, almost a week later, I can jog very lightly with only slight pain. I'm wondering if maybe my shins will loosen up a bit, and maybe I'll be able to run at least part of the race tomorrow. At first, I was extremely upset. I thought I did everything right, so why was I experiencing shin splints? I was angry and depressed that I'd trained for months only to miss my first race. But, I'm working hard on looking at the brighter side of things. I'm going to take part in the race no matter what. Walking doesn't cause me pain, so if I have to walk most of the race, that's fine with me. (The race is open to walkers as well as runners) It's benefiting the rec center of the town where I grew up, so I feel good about participating. Pre-registrants get free swag, so I'll still get the tshirt and stuff! There are more races this year, in the Fall, so I'll have time to prepare and heal up before they start. So I'm proud that I finished the Couch-to-5k program finally. I consider myself a runner (albeit a "beginner" or "amateur" one), and I can run 3 miles now! Yeah, I got shin splints, but I have a lot to be happy about, too! And overall, my experience with running has been amazing! I was one of those, "I could never run 3 miles!" types of people. Now when people say that to me, I reply, "I bet you can!" The C25k program taught me a lot about myself and made me a stronger, happier person.  |
| Created another Lol: http://cheezburger.com/View/3486600448 Saw it at a local Chinese restaurant and I found it pretty funny. Vote for me! |
| This is my third (or perhaps fourth) attempt at the Couch-to-5k program. *sigh* The important thing is that I keep trying, right? I mean, even though I stop and start, I'm still exercising. There are a few factors that make me think I'll finish the program this time: 1. I'm running outside now. Wow, what a difference! I honestly thought jogging in place would be the same thing as jogging outside or on a treadmill. I was so wrong! I ended up sort of hopping from one foot to the other, usually on my toes. I think it kept my calves tight the whole time, and I ended up very sore! My ankles, calves and shins were really hurting using that method. Now that I'm outside, I have a little soreness the day after a run, but by the next day, I'm ready to run again! 2. I'm running with my sister! Twice now, we've gone running together, and it's awesome to have a partner! We're trying to run together on weekends. We'll be running together during races, so it's good to get used to running with someone else.3. My first 5k race is coming up! June 26th is the race in the town near where I grew up. It's called, "The Loop," and features what they call, "mild hills." I know better than that. They're going to be tough. I can't wait! So yesterday, I finished Week 2 of the training. I wanted to share some things I learned and some things that help me get through each session: Gum is a great way to keep from getting thirsty. I can't carry a water bottle when I'm running, so this helps me a lot. Music is great, but finding a good tempo isn't easy. If the beat is too fast, I can't run to it without exhausting myself. So those dance remixes don't always work. Finding a good playlist takes time. Finding a place for your keys while you run can be tricky. I drive to my running locations, so I only need my car key with me. The key is on a keychain ring, and I attach that ring to a sturdy hairband which goes around my wrist. Other ideas: Tying it to a shoelace or putting it in mp3 player holder thingy if there's room. Some people can eat right before they run without a problem. I definitely can't. If I don't wait at least 2 hours after eating, I get horrible stomach cramps. I'm going to try experimenting with small snacks to see if I don't have to wait that long, though. It's difficult for me to go that long without eating anything. (By the time I'm finished my run, I'm starving and dizzy, usually.)When my sister started running last year around this time, I thought she was nuts! She kept talking about shin splints, charlie horses, and other pains. I kept thinking, "Why would you do it if it causes that much pain??" But now I totally understand. |
It took me about 3 months, but I finally finished reading House of Leaves. Have any of you read it?
I'm very curious about what others think about the book. I've never read anything like it before, and I quite enjoyed it. Sure, it dragged and it was confusing and disorienting, but I think it did what it set out to do. To me, it was a very successful novel. Then I read the reviews on Amazon. Apparently a lot of people hated it, thought it was pretentious, derivative, boring and a total failure. One person even wrote, "There's nothing wrong with this book that couldn't have been fixed by having Steven King rewrite it as a short story."  The thing is, it actually frightened me once or twice. I tend to read before I go to bed at night, and this novel would wake me up. I'm not saying it's the best thing ever written, and it's certainly not the easiest read... As someone who was semi-involved in the "academic" world (i.e., having a college education), I could certainly appreciate Danielewski's poking fun at the world of footnotes and references to scholarly works and classic literature. If you're looking for an engaging, fast-paced mainstream read, this is not it. And I think that's why it got such a negative reaction. People are so used to mainstream thrillers that don't require any real thought or participation on the part of the reader. This novel made me think, and I liked that. I like what this reviewer says: As long as you're prepared, though, I'd give this book a chance. Be forewarned: It's not just about a house. It's really a story about a young man reading the manuscript of an old man which is an academic criticism and investigation of a fictional documentary which another man made about his messed-up house. In previous years, I've tried to read as many novels as I could in one year, trying to best my previous year. 2010, however, will be one of quality over quantity, I think. I'm going to read outside my normal realm, including novels that are disorienting. Up next, Blindness by Jose Saramago. I've read the first two pages, and it's going to be difficult for me, with the comma splices and no quotation marks for dialogue. That much I know already. But in the end, I'll probably enjoy it. |
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| Remember how two months ago I said I was one of those "all or nothing" types? Well, I'm in the Nothing phase right now, big time. I got a bad sinus cold last week which moved into my chest and just won't go away. I haven't exercised in over a week, though my loss of appetite is causing me to lose a little weight regardless. I have to make myself eat every day, because I just don't feel like it. I'll get back on track eventually, I promise. ** So, in other news, it looks like I'll be installing a new hard drive on my in-laws' computer on Monday. (Honestly, how do they get into these messes? Is it just that they have a Dell? Or are they doing something really wrong? They've had problems with almost every aspect of this computer, from the eject button to the volume controls and now onto the hard drive itself!) Have any of you ever installed a hard drive before? Is it difficult? They're supposed to be getting help from tech support (the laptop is no longer under warranty, though), so I won't really be alone. They just have difficulty understanding anyone who doesn't have an American accent, so that's where I come in. I get to be the one on the phone... Wish me luck! |
| Was in a crummy mood this morning due to icy roads (meaning, no car. I'll have to walk to work later on the ice...), but then I did my running training, and I felt great afterwards! So I wrote this: "Why I Love Running" When I run, I feel invincible. I feel like I’m capable of anything and everything. I feel like nothing can touch me or ruin my day. I was never in very good shape growing up. I was thin, but had no real strength. We had this test in high school where you had to try to run a mile in under ten minutes. Forget it! I couldn’t jog for more than a minute or two at a time, let alone that distance in that time! Over the years, I just grew to believe that I couldn’t run, that it wasn’t in me. Then my sister started training for a 5k. I thought she was nuts, but I soon followed her progress with pride. I wondered if I could do the same thing, but I had a few false starts. I didn’t research properly and both times I started a training program, I suffered pain and slight injury. It turned me off to running even more. However, I thought I’d give it one more try. This time, I did my research first and talked to my sister (now pretty much an expert in running). Then I started the Couch to 5k program. I was amazed that it was both challenging and fun! It was difficult, but not to the point where I couldn’t do it. Jogging for 1-2 minutes at a time was something that was feasible for me, and continuing from there wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Today I finished my Week 4, Day 1 training. I jogged two intervals of 5 minutes at one time! I never thought I could do that! I’m proving to myself everyday that I’m capable of more than I ever thought I could do. There’s this rush when I’m running, this awesome feeling of, “I can do this! I can do anything!” Sure, it’s hard at times, and I can’t say I’m never sore from this training. It’s so worth it, though, for that exhilarating, invincible feeling and for knowing that at the age of 30, I’m probably in the best shape of my life! I’m almost halfway through this 5k training program, and I’m looking forward to each running day. By the end, I’ll be jogging for 25 minutes at a time! Right now, that seems a little scary to me, but so did 5 minutes, and I did that today! I know I can do it. I can’t wait for my first 5k race! And eventually I’m going to do that ten-minute mile! Couch to 5k Program - http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml |
| Haven't written in a while again... My latest obsession: Running! I'm on the third week of the Couch to 5k Program, and I'm loving it! Now, I'm trying to find good running shoes, something that's proving to be complicated... I've decided that I'm an overpronator (my foot rolls along the outside edge while I'm running) and that I have a medium arch. So I need cushioned, stability running shoes. I'm off to check local shops today. I've been going off my diet a little lately... I'm not worried about it. As long as I stay within 100-105, I'm happy. I'm also not exercising as much as I'd like... I need to average 42 minutes per day to reach my 1200 goal, but lately I've only been doing about 20 minutes per day. Oh well, I'm still exercising, right? It doesn't help that my resistance band started tearing, so I started using a new one (Gold's Gym Resistance Tube), and it feels like a lot more resistance than my old one. Shoulder presses hurt! So I've been more sore lately. Also had to get a high-impact sports bra for running because my chest muscles (pectorals, right?) were hurting after W3D1 run. Off to do some shopping! That's exercise! |
| Haven't written in a week! It's been a week of ups and downs. I gained 2lbs in one day (about which my Wii Fit lectured me...), but also lost some weight, too, so I think it evens out. I'm not very concerned about it.  I'm working on calming myself down at the moment. There's a blizzard coming, and I work at a grocery store. Hence, insanity! We've got a store full of anxious customers, and coworkers who are already planning on not coming in (as well as one who is out for medical reasons and so won't make it in the three days she was scheduled to work)Anyway, I think I'm getting used to resisting temptation when I'm stressed. Once a week, I go to work to write a newsletter. I go late morning, and by the time I'm done, I'm starving. It's so tempting to take some fried food off the hot bar or to grab a quick burger or something. But I make myself wait, and I go home to my healthier options. It doesn't always work, but I'm getting used to dealing with the temptation. Today's numbers & stats: Nutrition: Breakfast: Fiber One bran cereal, a banana, 1 cup soy milk, 8oz Trop50 orange juice Lunch: Big salad, .5 cup mini cheese ravioli with Smart Balance butter substitute, dirt pudding dessert Dinner: Roast beef on sandwich thin, 1 cup pineapple, 17 wheat thin fiber selects crackers, 2 - 1oz hot pepper cheese cubes Fitness: Strength Training: 10 minutes, 23 calories Aerobics: 20 minutes, 62 calories Yoga: 11 minutes, 21 calories Total: 44 minutes, 106 calories burned I'm doing well with my goal of 1200 cardio minutes for February. My current total is 488 minutes. I was planning on making tomorrow a fitness day, where I strive for at least 60 minutes. I may still do that, but although I wasn't scheduled to work tomorrow, I probably will. That's what I get for living in the same town where I work - it's always easy for me to get there, even in inclement weather. |
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