Lessons Learned From Running 13.1 Part II

I am picking up where I left off in part I sharing lessons I learned while participating in my first half marathon. You can read my first six lessons here. So let's carry on...

LESSON 7: Choose a race that has an unbelievably fun theme!

When I first read about the Diva Half Marathon and 5K, I thought it sounded like it would be fun. Tutus, tiaras, boas, and hunks... oh my! I must admit I do embrace more of my tomboy tendencies then I do the "girlie" side, but this race did sound like fun! I had already planned to travel to North Myrtle Beach with my mom, aunt, sister, and neice, it would definitely be a girls' weekend. I was the only one who would be participating in the race.

The atmosphere race morning was full of energy, very cheerful, and very PINK. Various running groups were meeting up together to take pictures and other runners were posing for solo pictures. You had men, women, and kids adorned in pink and in tutus as they made their way to their pacing areas. One man in a tutu announced that he was supporting his wife in the run as he made his way closer to the front. I was a loner, so I stood alone and just took in the surroundings until a runner approached me asking about my shirt and the breakdown of my miles. After that point I was in and out of conversations with varrious other runners in passing. I even happily took pictures for runners who did not have someone else to capture their starting moment. The music was bumping as runners conversed and returning divas greeted one another happily. Even though I knew absolutely no one else out there, I did not feel alone. The atmosphere was very friendly and welcoming.

The breakdown of my miles dedication for the 13.1 miles for my #miles4change fundraiser

After the playing of the national anthem, one runner came to me and said she was almost in tears after reading the miles dedications on the back of my race shirt. Throughout the run I received encouragement from runners regarding my motivation for running along with my dedication miles through passing conversations or a quick thumbs up. Again, the atmosphere was very fun and upbeat before, during, and after the run. Definitely do not be afraid to register as a solo runner in this event. You will not feel alone!

13.1 Here I Come!

As I prepare to take part in my first half-marathon, I have decided to dedicate my miles to help motivate me to finish as strong as possible. In 2013 it was an idea, in 2014 it was a goal, in 2015 it's about to be reality!

Here are my 13.1 Miles Dedication as I prepare to go #miles4change.

Get Over It!

This year marked year six of participating in the annual Cooper River Bridge Run. The run carries you from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina over the beautiful Cooper River Bridge into downtown Charleston, South Carolina. I remember hearing about this run for years as I was growing up in Charleston and watching portions of it on television. It always looked exciting! Of course back then it went over the "newer" of the two older Cooper River Bridges. Nevertheless I thought it would be fun to participate, but the size of the crowd was very intimidating especially when they revealed how many finished, and after awhile it became a faded interest. That is until 2010, when my sister and her team at work signed up to participate and she invited me to take part with them. It was just like I thought it would be, absolutely invigorating and a whole lot of fun! Of course this invitation would open up the possibilities of running that has shifted me into the season I am in now! Amazing the difference one invitation in the right season can make!

A picture taken the Saturday before the run as I "practiced" with my family

 

First 5K Went A-Okay

This morning I kicked off my personal racing season for my fundraiser #miles4change at a local race in Goose Creek, South Carolina. It was the Crowfield Plantation 5K Run\Walk. This race was a trail run and marked my first time participating in a trail run. One of my coworkers told me about it last year, but that's when I was in excuse mode, not run mode. This year I jumped on the opportunity to participate in it and I'm glad I did.

My kick off tshirt for #miles4change

Sporty Releases

We are swiftly approaching week 5 and I have yet to be able to focus in on any NFL games! Sad, but very true. This school year has been unbelievable hectic! Much more than years before, which is the reason why football is so much more important. That's my official outlet for the frustrations and challenges I encounter from day to day. Which would explain why my partly sunny cloudy disposition is a whole lot cloudier than normal.

This week changes it all! There are papers to grade, lessons to plan, family members to see, and miles to run before I'm able to sit back and enjoy the ongoing action of the NFL season. On that note I have exactly "I refuse to count how many hours" to position myself to make it happpen. Tick-tock...

This is the week I will watch and not doze in front of the games, and I'm kickingn off Sporty's NFL Picks of the week! Drum roll please...

Sporty Releases

We are swiftly approaching week 5 and I have yet to be able to focus in on any NFL games! Sad, but very true. This school year has been unbelievable hectic! Much more than years before, which is the reason why football is so much more important. That's my official outlet for the frustrations and challenges I encounter from day to day. Which would explain why my partly sunny cloudy disposition is a whole lot cloudier than normal.

This week changes it all! There are papers to grade, lessons to plan, family members to see, and miles to run before I'm able to sit back and enjoy the ongoing action of the NFL season. On that note I have exactly "I refuse to count how many hours" to position myself to make it happpen. Tick-tock...

This is the week I will watch and not doze in front of the games, and I'm kickingn off Sporty's NFL Picks of the week! Drum roll please...

So I completely missed Thursday Night Football due to a little somethiing called , "I needed to get some sleep to get ready for Friday morning", but I would have gone with the Vikings against the Packers, simply because I detest the Packers. Which means I'm starting at -1.

Panthers over the Bears

Texans over the Cowboys

Lions over the Bills

Colts over the Ravens

Steelers over the Jags

Saints over the Bucs

Rams over the Eagles

Titans over the Browns

Chargers over the Jets

Niners over the Chiefs

Bengals over the Patriots

Seahawks over the Redskins

Broncos over the Cardinals

The coup de grace, my New York Football Giants over the Atlanta Falcons!

I would jump in my time travelling delorean back to 3 weeks ago and comment on the panic attack gripping Giants nation after the first two weeks of play, but it's not worth it. Yes, my world was rocked too, but it was week 2 and we all know that the Giants battle the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde football syndrome! May week 4's Giants show up tomorrow! One thing that social media has taught me, is to deal with any kind of drama and sports panic attacks the same way I deal with a random kid's temper tantrum in my zone. Ignore it and keep it moving!

Week 5 is in the wings and I am looking forward to enjoying some really good NFL action; after I squeeze in a 3 mile run to prepare me for my race next week as I train to bring awareness to the fight against human trafficking through my fundraiser #Miles4Change. Without further ado I bid you a Happy Week 5 and Go Big Blue!!!'

 

Posted with Blogsy

Is 1 Truly 2 Many ?

Training camp is on and popping for my New York Football Giants which means NFL kick off is a heartbeat away! I've been jealous of living vicariously through my New York brethren on Facebook who have been attending training camp and posting lots of great pictures. I must admit being able to pull up Giants.com to see videos, photos, and hear commentary of what's happening during training camp still amazes me! It's like I'm right there, but I'm really not, yet I feel so connected. Please remember I'm a 28 year displaced fan, so the leaps in bounds in technology is a beautiful thing!

So I'm feeling all these warm fuzzies because my Gmen are officially balling as they prepare for the "Drive for 5". Then I pull up my twitter page to update information on my fundraiser, #miles4change, and see a link that leads me to an article on the Ray Rice two game suspension. Needless to say my training camp high was completely squashed by a flood of emotions topped off with "are you serious" and "what in the world".

1 is 2 Many: PSA

Maybe I'm the only one who remembers the "1 is 2 Many" White House PSA launched by President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden with the help of some of the greatest professional athletes on the planet in 2012. Of course I would remember because my quarterback, Eli Manning, represented the NFL. I'm going to break this PSA down, then explain why I was deeply bothered by the suspension decision handed down to Ray Rice.