Training Update

I'm in full force half marathon training for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon on April 19th in Louisville. 

 

This race was my first half marathon after having Chapman, so my goal last year was to finish with at least a 2:30:00 or less. I finished in 2:13:57. Needless to say, I was pretty pleased with that. It's not my best time, but not my worst either.

 

My next race was the Iron Horse Half in Midway in October. I made sure to take plenty of training time for this one so that I could hopefully finish better that I had the time I had run this race pre-pregnancy. When I ran it pre-pregnancy, I finished in 1:59:48. This is the only time I had ever finished in under 2 hours. So, training was rough because I wanted to beat my past time. I'm glad to say that I did beat it with a 1:59:36. Only by 12 seconds, but hey, it's 12 seconds and a PR!!!

 

Now...for this year's Derby.

 

First and foremost, this race is VERY flat. Now, don't get me wrong, I like a flat course, but I like some rolling hills too. I feel like too much flatness, and I'm constantly using the same muscles in the same ways and my legs get tired faster than if there are some hills to give my legs a break.

 

Goal: Being that this is a flat and pretty fast course, I am hopeful that I can get a half-marathon PR for this race. And if my training is an indicator, I feel like it's looking pretty good. My long run last weekend was an 8 miler and I averaged 8:55 per mile, and honestly felt like I could go for five more. My average pace for he month of February at this point is an 8:58 per mile. I need to run a 9:05 pace to beat my current PR. So, I'm hopeful, but I'm not expectant. I know that race day can bring lots of things that we aren't expecting. 

 

With that said, just run! Just run, enjoy my friends, and have a good time. Not to mention, this will be my stepfather's first mini, so GO STONEY!

 

My long time running buddy Bobbie got me a gift once that said, "Definition of a good run - sun in your face, wind at your back, friend by your side."

And the winners are...

Well, for my Safety Bug giveaway, I only had three entries - and needed three winners! I guess it will take some time to get back into the blogging world, but I'm very glad to announce the winners of my first giveaway back...

 

 

Sherry Peavler

 

 

Trish at Begin Again and Again and Again

 

and

 

 

Mama Ruby at I'm a Runner's Mom

 

 

 

Trish - send me your mailing address at sheri.satterly@Danville.kyschools.us.

 

Sherry and Ruby - I will give you yours in person!



Back at it with a Giveaway!

Hello fellow runners and bloggers! I know it's been awhile for me in the blogging world, but I'm vowing to make a turn around and get back at it. So, what better way to get back at it than with an update and a GIVEAWAY!

 

As far as an update from home goes...

 

Chapman is now 18 months old! He is the most amazing little guy in the world and he constantly keeps us on our toes. He loves to snuggle and loves to climb. He is no doubt, 110% boy! We grow to love him more and more each day.

 

As far as an update for running...

 

Since pregnancy, I've completed several 5K races (almost had a PR) and 2 half-marathons. I PR'd my half-marathon time by about ten seconds at the Iron Horse Half Marathon in Midway, KY. 1:59:36!!! Currently, I am training for the Derby Festival Half Marathon in Louisville, KY on April 19th. I've not quite decided what the goal is yet, but the goal is definitely to PR, just not sure by how much. We shall see. Training is going pretty good. I've been consistently running faster than race pace, so hopefully that's a good sign. Not to mention, this 13.1 is super flat!

 

Now for the giveaway...

 

I have something for you night runners out there!

 

I have three SafetyBug from Panther Vision - super bright strobe lights to give away to three lucky winners. The SafetyBug light has 5 ultra-bright flashing LED lights. It is the smallest and brightest safety light around and has multiple magnetic attachments. You can attach it by using the stick pin, the adhesive disk or the magnet attachment. Very versatile! It also has up to a 1/2 mile visibility!

 

 

How to enter (leave a comment on this post for each):

 

1. Be a follower of my blog and let me know.

 

2. Share this giveaway on Facebook.

 

3. Share this giveaway on Twitter.

 

4. Visit the Panther Vision website HERE and tell me what you just have to have!

 

5. Visit Panther Vision on Facebook HERE and like their page.

 

GOOD LUCK!

 

This giveaway will run until Sunday, February 23rd at 11:59 p.m.



Time to get back on the blogging wagon...

Well, when they said a baby changes your life, they were totally legit. My little man is seven months old now, and needless to say, several things have taken a backseat to being a mommy! :)

 

Here is one of my little man's six month pictures. We may be biased, but we feel like he's just a little bit adorable! He's teething like a champ, getting ready to crawl, and ACTIVE, ACTIVE, ACTIVE!

When he really does start moving, we are in big trouble!

 

Needless to say, being a mommy has changed my life tremendously, in wonderful ways. My husband and I spend a lot more time at home, and running has changed. I have to run when I can, which means 5:00 a.m. runs and long runs after school.

 

I am currently training for my first half-marathon since Chap was born, the Derby Festival Mini-Marathon in Louisville. I have a few weeks before the race and am up to nine miles, at a 9:40 pace. While I would LOVE to finish in under 2 hours, I know that's probably not a feasible goal. I have to remember that I just had a baby and that finishing this half marathon is an accomplishment in itself.

 

I also look at running in a completely different light now that I'm a mommy. I don't go out for dark runs by myself anymore, and I look at running as something that keeps me healthy so that I can be there for my husband and for Chap.

 

Anyhow, just wanted to post an update to get started back in the blogging world. I'm looking forward to getting back on the blogging wagon. I have several updates for you all and several GIVEAWAYS! Stay tuned!



Up and Running!

Well, it's September 20th, and baby Chapman is already one month old! Time has flown already, I dread how fast it will go from this point. I am thoroughly enjoying my time with him. It's hard to believe that I only have three more weeks to spend with him, but I'm trying not to think about what it will be like to go back to work.

 

As far as running, the doctor cleared me last Friday to get out and run. So, what did I do on Saturday? I RAN! My friend Sarah and I took off for a three miler on Saturday morning. She hadn't run in a few weeks, so we were both kind of starting from scratch. We ran three miles and did minimal walking. We made it a mile and a half without walking at all, which I feel is good, considering I haven't run in nine weeks. I've been walking since I stopped running, but it just isn't the same. So, to be able to do three miles the first time out felt pretty good.

 

On Sunday, Chapman and I participated in the Constitution 5K as our first race. I ran the race and my parents walked and pushed Chapman in the stroller. I finished in 34:49 (by my watch) and was able to be there to cross the finish line with my little man! While it's definitely my slowest 5K in years, it just felt good to be out there participating. Here is a picture of Chapman and I after the race. They even gave him his own bib that we hung from the stroller.

 

 

We had a lot of fun and I hope that running is something that Chapman and I can share together for the rest of our lives. As far as MY running, it's feeling okay at this point. I'm a little tender in certain areas, but other than that, I feel great! I went out for a run last night and was able to average about a 10:10 mile, which is pretty good for not running for nine weeks. Hopefully I'll be back to those faster miles soon and adding some mileage!

 

 



Baby Chapman has arrived!!!

Well, I know I've been slacking on blogging, but we've been finishing up with getting ready for Baby Chapman's arrival. And...it's a good thing we did! Baby Chapman decided to make his appearance a week early, so we were very glad to be as prepared as we were! :)

 

Chapman was due on August 28th, but decided to make his grand entrance on August 20th at 11:53 p.m. He weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long, and to us, he's perfect in every way. We look at him and wonder how it's possible to love something as much as we love him.

 

Here are a couple of pictures to show you just how cute he is!

 

 

This was right after he had been cleaned up and Daddy was getting ready to hold him.

 

 

He's a week old in this one. I love those lips!

 

New baby aside, I absolutely cannot wait to start running again! We are going to start some walking this week and will go from there.

 

Also, look for some awesome reviews and giveaways to come once I start running again. I have tons of goodies just waiting to be used and given away!

 



Usually the optimist, today the pessimist (not really)

I'm usually the one who always sees the "silver lining" as my husband says. And I am still seeing the silver lining in everything right now, I mean, I'm getting ready to welcome my first child into the world. How could I not see the silver lining? But, that doesn't mean that there aren't things in life that are frustrating. Things frustrate me just as much as anyone else, I just normally tend to see the brighter side because it's a waste of time and energy to let things get you down. Things could be so much worse, and that's what I tell myself when I start to feel sorry for myself.

Here's my frustration today, and then I'm done with it.

I stopped running at about 34 1/2 weeks because it was unbearably hot and I was running so slow that I may as well have been walking anyway. Obviously, I've gained weight through this pregnancy, along with slowing down. My frustration is that everyone around me is still running and can still run. I miss running. I miss being able to go out on a Saturday morning and have a long run with my running friends. It's like I've fallen off the radar and I can't get it back for at least another month or so.

I don't want to have to start from scratch. I don't want to never gain my speed back. I want to be able to run another half marathon and have it be a PR. I'm scared to death that I'll never have that back. People keep telling me that it will be fine, that I will be able to come back even stronger. I try to tell myself that everyday when I can't run, while everyone around me can.

So, that's my soapbox for the year. I know that no one likes to read things like this, but I had to get it off my chest, and I feel better.

A question...

Have you ever had to take a long break from running, not by choice? If so, how did you make it back to where you were before?