ATTENTION PEOPLE!!!
So, we all know the "big ole" plan is to run a half marathon for my 30th bday. Originally, we had planned to run the Huntsville Half the 2nd weekend of November. Well, hold.on.to.your.hats. I found a half marathon on my birthday in Birmingham. ON MY BIRTHDAY I TELL YA! How awesome is that!?! That will be the best present to myself ever! All I can say is...it is meant to happen.
Soon to be in the 13.1 club,
Jenn
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."-John Wooden
With that being said, I am headed to hit the dusty trail and run till I can't run anymore :)
Loves,
Jenn
This is what my week has been like...work, school, family time, struggling with school, running, work, school, teaching John his abc's(wow), tests at school, homework, making time for friends .....just a never ending cycle.
Don't misunderstand, I love my life. I just need another three of me! Some of you would love that!
TWO WEEKS till Mercedes race. Who is excited???? Me! I have been working extra hard to get better and stronger.
So, if I don't return calls or text much, you now know why!! Love y'all! Be looking for a big ole post this next week!
Loves,
Jenn
Look at this kid and his form ;) Make momma some money, John!!! Dr. Addison is betting he will be 6'4". I sure do hope so!!! (Maybe an awesome basketball player or pitcher)
Had another run day (with Heather,Preston and John). It felt like CRAP! We barely made it through the scheduled app stuff. Basically, I just wanted to finish.....alive. I do not want to feel this way on February 11th. 16 days till our next race. Alot of improvement to do, and I feel capable. Next week, we are gonna run it like its the real thing to see where we are....keeping reading my loyal friends. I LOVE YALL!
Loves,
Jenn
PS Heather and Lashay does not know we are doing two races in March and April...shhhhh don't tell them :)
So, usually I have to wait on Derek to get home before I to go run. I assumed John would slow me down. Boy, I was el wrongo!!! This kid is awesome! (He inherited those traits from his mom.)
John road his bike while Heather and I ran. He ended up doing at least a couple of miles on his bike and at least a mile and half run/ walking with us. This kid was amazing and only complained once when we were scouting a trail to run.When we got home he said, "who needs a wii momma, that was fun!"
This fits perkfectly into my goal for the year. Not only am I trying to get healthy for myself, but I have a desire for my family to be healthy. I want my husband and brother-in-law to stop the tobacco use. (Yep, I'm calling yall out on the internet) If y'all are not gonna exercise with your wives, you gotta do something for your health. I want all of us to be an example for John, Lauren, Ben and Ethan. Ok, I'm gonna get off of that soapbox!!! (For now)
Back to John, I may let him do a 1 mile fun run with us in a couple of months...if he wants to. I'm such a happy mommy :).
Some of you people need to sign up for a race, don't make me name names....No pressure :)
Loves,
Jenn
Ps. I would've have a picture of my little runner and Heather riding his bike....but my phone was going dead. :( NEXT TIME I will do better :)
It's hard when you work nights and the whole world functions in the day light.
Today, I slept one of my off days away trying to "catch up". As I laid on my couch I saw a coach from high school run past my house. What I beautiful day to run, I thought, as I never attempted to move. My sweet John stood at the window and said "momma, when you run that marython, I will wear war eagle stuffs". THANK YOU LORD,he has some sense again :). A certain group of men, who will remain nameless, turned my sweet baby into a trader. Derek, Dad, Terry and Keith....I win. :)
The moral to this story is, after the hype of a race day, you are basically left alone running and training in the cold. This opens up the opportunity for doubt and negative thoughts creep in your mind. I have days that I question if this goal is attainable, then I find inspiration to carry on. I look forward to my long run tomorrow and seeing my little John in orange and blue when I run my HALF "marython. :)
Loves,
Jenn
After finishing week 3 of the c25k program, I have gained a couple of things. First, improvement on endurance. I think where I know where I messed up on the first race. It started, and I ran until I exhausted myself. That caused me to not to run much of the end of the race. So, lesson learned. Secondly, incline strides. If you take baby strides on inclines it does not defeat you as bad. 'BIG OLE' steps up a hill =a lot of walking on the flat surfaces. Finally, Heather and I did a lot of giggling at the "experts" for running around before it started. I bet their hips didn't hurt like mine. This girl will start stretching a week before the Mercedes race ;).
Love,
An educated Jenn
Does my calculator match my shoes?? Well yes it sure does!!! I knew this one was the best when I laid eyes on it. Off to solve the equations to step up my running game :).
π,
Jenn
I have a few AWESOME bff's. You are all special to me in different ways ;). Today I had the opportunity to run with one of them...Heather!
Feather and I met at Fairview Park to do some running. We were both pretty sore....she is having the same hip pain. The wind was terrible, it seriously would take our breath away. We ended up doing 4.4 miles, mixing up running and walking. I am so thankful to have her in my life. She keeps my fireball attitude grounded and is truly a positive influence in my life! Did I mention she is a slave driver??? Just kidding...she does however, push me to do better than my best. Love u Feather! I snapped a pic of us running, for fear of being defriended, I choose not to post it.
Again, I love you all. I can't imagine my life without each of you! You are all the most supportive people a girl could have.
Loves,
Jenn
While heating and icing my hip joints this morning :), I was surfing the internet and I think I found a Gulf Shores 5k!!!! Lulu's Hot Trot for Arc on June 16th....maybe! I wanted to be running 10k by then, but I will take what I can. Get your bathing suits ready people, I should be a hotty by June ;)!!!! I am gonna call Lulu's and the sponser today, so I will get back with you asap! I've been holding off reservations as long as I could watching for a run but....BEACH CLUB HERE I COME!
Loves,
Jenn
Let's just say, the morning after pill should be invented for fat girls trying to learn to be a runner. Shakira, said it best with "Hips don't lie"(I need that song on my ipod). I am incredibly sore (mostly in my hips)...guess that means I need to train harder! I am trying to decide to rest today and start back tomorrow...idk. I need a coach ;)
So, you have seen that my next race is the Mercedes 5k. It is for a children charity of our choice! Get your debit cards ready, you may be asked to donate when we pick out our charity!
Next few races on the docket are...
Feb 11th- Merecedes 5k
March 3rd- Marshall Co. Hospice 5k
April- undecided
May- Holly Pond Bronco Stampede 5k
June- hopefully at the beach (fingers crossed)
Your inspired running friend,
Jenn :)
The next race we are participating in is for charity! We need some ideas on superhero shirts to wear!?! Come on guys help us out....
I can't wait til spring. As you can tell in the first pic...everything was frozen at my house.
The pool pics are best defined as retarded people who want pneumonia!
Next race better pictures are promised. :)
I sat straight up in bed panic-stricken at 0400. Remembering, I didn't charge my ipod and my cheapo walmart running pants were not dry. Whew, that would have been horrible...being wet and alone with my thoughts. Glad my internal alarm clock didn't fail me. So, I get the day started with some coffee and a filling breakfast, dry my pants and charge my ipod. Trying to decide which shoes I should wear was the biggest hurdle of the morning. I really wanted to wear the hot pinky ones, but the only time I had been able to wear them was around the house to break them in. In fear of massive blisters, I decided to go with what was already comfortable to me. (Yes Heather, it is all about the shoes) I called to wish luck to my sweet little niece who is in a full glitz pageant today (go la-la!!) and my sister-in-law informed me that "it is 23°outside". 23 °, I think I am going to freeze to death...we shall see.
My biggest fear is being last. I know that is an ego driven way to think, but I am really hoping MawMaw and PawPaw are participating in this event today.
We arrived at the aquatic center and it was packed!!! We got our numbers and in no time it was time to get started. I was pumped!!! It was cold but I kinda forgot about it. So the gun fired and we were off!!!! About 200 meters into it some chick fell....it was brutal! Val asked if we stopped to help her, my answer was Uh no the ambulance was around. I was huffing and puffing around .50 mile. Heather ran off and left us at .75 mile. When the girl told me it was just mile one...I wanted to punch her in the face. Just sayin. The inclines were KILLER before we got to mile 2. I asked Lashay if this was a good idea on the last hill and I got a "not right now jennifer". I heard some chick say 24 something and looked up and Lashay had left me. That red-headed hooker was ready to finish. I was all alone. Well...me Adelle and The Band Perry. I was so glad to see the parking lot and the finish line. I finished at 39 minutes. I was slow but I finished! It's a lot better than sitting on my couch watching General Hospital.Heather finished up at 33 and Lashay finished somewhere between the two of us (she didn't hear her time). Some guy ran it in 16.20. What was he smoking? I say he drove half of it.
I am proud of myself and super proud of Heather and LaShay. They did so good!! We didn't win a door prize and that was a bummer! I got a lot of text messages and fb messages full of support and encouraging words. It made my day!! I love my friends, y'all are awesome! Hearing how proud you were of me seriously made me so thankful of each of you.
I look forward to start the next week. ;) I have a lot of work ahead to shave some time off my run. Our next race is February 11 in b'ham.(more on this later) My goal for the next race is a heck of a lot better than this one!
I will post pics asap. We didn't take a lot...we will be better prepared next time.
Love you all!
Jenn
The day before the first race, I'm taking it easy. I went shopping and couldn't find any dri fit stuffs. I have decided I am going to freeze....but what can you do. Someone should open up an athletic store in Cullman. Just saying.
The plan tonight is, eat spaghetti for supper (bc that is what everybody is telling me), read some Odd Thomas and sleep!! I read that breakfast should be (non greasy)protein and carb packed.:):):) I get to eat. I have been restricted for several weeks and I hate it. I still haven't nailed down my race day outfit....but I have been told, it is not a fashion show. Uh HELLO! It could be.
Our race time is 9:00. I'm super pumped. I will post pics and details asap!!!! Thanks for the messages already. LOVE Y'ALL!
PS- all of you who have said your gonna run one with me....I have your name in my brain. Get on it. Only 11 more to go!
I have signed up for my first race. The money has been paid and the pain will soon follow. Did I mention it will be in the 20° range. OMG. I HOPE I CAN DO THIS.....Fyi...school has me stressed. So hopefully, this running gig will help with that too.
Stay tuned for the big race day deets!!!!
Stay warm my loves!
Jenn
Oh yeah baby!! Those brown legs belong to MEEEEE. My shoes came in and they are magneto :)
Jenny!
Is this dorky?? I need somewhere to keep my phone and keys....and well HELLO, it is my new shoe color. I don't wanna look like a nerd.
Nuff said. Geeze-a-lou, let's dry up Alabama!
Seriously, what gives with this rain. Yesterday, I ran in the rain. Today, I am not sure if I can brave the monsoon!
This gives me the opportunity to introduce some rain gear :).
1) Brooks water-resistant jacket. CUTENESS.
2) Ronhill switch running gloves -they have towelling fingers to wipe away perspiration. OMG. lol
3) Nike dri-fit lil pink socks.--wishing they came in hottness pink-- I.will.keep.looking.
4) Casio's Tough Solar (water-resistant) running watch. Notice a trend here? Pinky.
5) WOWZER!!! How did that get in here? Oh my goodness! Moving on...
6) Me- running at the Beach Club in June :).
Well, I guess I'm up at at em. If you need me today, I will be running during rain breaks, being I do not own any of this rain gear. ;);)
Loves,
Jenn
I have so much to do before our first race Saturday. School starts this week, it is going to create somewhat of a challenge for me. BLESS! Here is the to do list:
1) Build up some endurance....some is better than none. It is my first race, I'm not trying to win...I'm trying to finish :)
2) Get my ipod organized. Can't have slow, bad music...I'm sure it would stifle my feat.
3) Do a non-rain dance. There is a 50% chance of rain everyday next week. This is a problem. I need to run in the cool air, so I don't have severe lung pain on Saturday. You know it's all about me. I have put in my request via twitter to Jason Simpson. :) We shall see just what kind of connections he has.
4) Order some awesome running clothes. Preferably, the ones I posted. I know I can't run in those shoes Saturday, but I need them....they are so me. :)
5) Register for the race. Fortunately, this one is only $20.00. They get more expensive throughout the year.
6) Show up!
On another note... I ran at Heritage Park this morning. I ran a large part if it and walked some as well. My dad was with me...his 6'4" walking stride is equivalent to my 5'4" running stride. I could have inherited some of his height, but nooooo all that DNA was given to John Franklin. Nevertheless, you work with whatcha got! So back to the park run. The Marines were there. Well....sorta. New recruits and the recruiters. They were killing those kids, when they say run.....ya better run. Have these people ever heard of personal space? Anyways, I was in "Jennifer Land", 'moving like jagger', when I had to walk for a minute. I hear this muffled deep voice, vaguely through my ipod, yelling "dooonnn't you dare stop ruuuuunnnninnnng"!!!! So... I started back. A few seconds later, the head hunk ;) said "ma'am, I didn't mean you". I replied with "what would it cost me, to hire you Saturday?". Yep.....I freaked him out. He nervously laughed and ran on before I could explain.
Last, but not least by any measure, to my supporters. I am amazed that you all are being so supportive. Everyday I have messages on facebook, on this blog and text messages encouraging me and telling me how proud you are of me. It is so wonderful to have family and BFF's who love me so much. I can't possibly name you all, but you know who you are. You are a blessing to me and I am thankful for you in my life. Just this morning, when I was questioning my ability to do this, I was encouraged by reading this message..."Your only limitation is yourself". Again, thank you for being there. I love you all!
Jenn
With the shoes below, my underarmor ear thingys and some black running pants....who will be the cutest runner ever?? ...that's me.
This is the Saucony ProGrid Kinvara 2. This is so me, right?!?! I think I may order this....decision-making time :)
Age: the youngest
Alias: "Killer"
I have worked with Shay for about a year. She is one of the funniest, hardworking people that I know. She is married and spends most her time on the lake!!
She is in her last semester of nursing school and we can't wait to work with her as a RN!!!
The best way to describe LaShay personality is....she sweet as pie unless you cross her then she will cut you. My advice to anyone running in these races is you better not trip or cut in front of her :) She is the protector of the trio lol.
In all seriousness, I'm so glad LaShay decided to join is in this adventure! She is a determined little midget and her little pistol personality rounds the trio out well. They best info I can give you about her is there is still a chance.....she is not a bama fan.
Weagle weagle!
Jenn!
Age: younger than me
Alias : "Feather"
Heather is only one of my Bff's. We have worked together for a couple of years. We love working together, seems like we mesh well and bring out the best in each other. :) She is married to Ryne and they are the sweetest couple EVER. You can sometimes find them at my house playing cards and boxing with John.
She is in school working her way to be a CRNP as well.
The best way to describe her personality is to watch Gone With the Wind. She is the epitome of a southern belle. Her favorite thing to say is "well gooooodness"(in the most southern voice u can think of). This chick honestly laughs and smiles all the time.
I'm so glad Heather is on this journey with me. She is a very positive person and we all know I need a cheerleader :) The only negative flaw that I think you should know about her is....she is a BAMA fan. Sad but true. There is absolutely no chance in changing her, this is just one of those things in our friendship I am trying to work through.
:)
Jenn!
Today was the day, my real start day. I went to the gym, after my 12 hour shift, and braved the track with Cullman's most elite 80 year olds :)
Here is the breakdown. Mile 1-buddy I'm owning it. I am smiling, singing with Beyonce's 'Love on Top' and Gaga's 'Edge of Glory', passing and lapping the old folks like a kid chasing an icecream truck. Mile 1.25- The pain and hypoxia begins to kick in. It would have benefitted me to have a chest tube and bipap at this time. Mile 1.50- I'm slowing down tremendously. I'm not lapping MawMaw and PawPaw as much as I was when I was "owning it". They are not laughing out loud but I feel their inner chortle. I press onward to finish up with mile 2. I've never been so happy :) I stretched like I just finished the half marathon, because lets face it....momma is out of shape and does not deal with soreness well.
How did I get here? When I was a little girl, I could beat all of my male cousins in a foot race by a "big ole" country mile. Until today, the only time I ran regularly was when it was raining, cold or the pizza delivery man was at the door. Again, I refuse to be a statistic. Knowing that every day I will get stronger, I know tomorrow I will have a much better and longer run.
My first race is next Saturday. I'm getting nervous. Please pray that I develop some endurance. I don't want the people to be packed up and at home when I finish. I need to be able to keep up with Heather and LaShay.
Loves,
Jenn :)
P.S. Any advice you may have on running clothes for cold weather is welcomed. I'm gonna be looking this weekend and next week.
