5:08:17

Not my best time, but the @SRMarathon was awesome! Ran with my friend, Angel during the first half. She told me to go & caught up to me during the last 5k. It was a serious struggle that last 10k. I need to work up my conditioning, learning lessons for 2015. 

I may not have PR'd but I beat my last 4 marathons. At one point I focused on a Sub 5, but when I knew that wasn't gonna happen I just kept moving forward. My 20th Marathon was pretty awesome & I'm happy w/ my time & will keep on training hard!

                                               

                                               

                                                      

                                               

                                     

2nd Chances

I got the email I was waiting for today, I am in the Nike Women's Half Marathon!

                               

When I didn't get in initially, I wasn't heart broken. But then I received the 2nd chances email & I broke my training to get this done. If I was gonna work that hard, I hoped to get in...and I did. 

My 8th Nike Women's Race, this will be my 5th Half as I ran 4 halves & 3 full marathons. I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty excited. I'm more happy about being able to be reunited with all my friends I've made through this event & over the past 7 years. 

Here's to annual races & running traditions!

Hope you're all well! 

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge & testing out the Bio Skin Calf Skins

So I was recently challenged for the #ALSIceBucketChallenge by my former Coach, so this morning I went out and got some ice to do this.  Thought I had to wait for boyfriend to get home, but I found his tripod and it held my phone nicely.  Oh that was cold & I probably could have used the ice for my ankles, but this was an amazing cause!  I nominated everyone on FB/Instagram and Twitter.  Get to it people!!

Then yesterday, I tried out my BioSkin Calf Skins, and they are awesome.  I thought it was a bit tight at first, but then as I kept running it just felt better and better.  I think my calves really like the tighter feel when I'm recovering.  So awesome and glad I said yes to be an Ambassador!!  I'll give you guys updates the more I use them!

T

That's it for now, hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Lovies

Big White Rocks

So yesterday during my 15 miler, I slipped on these giant white rocks. Not one one ankle, but both. However, only one really bothered me. Limped a little when it happened & I was super careful all the way until the end of the run...

Then, when I got home I iced. It didn't feel super bad, but at my friends house (way later in the evening) it started bothering me, so I iced again. Got home, slept, then heated when I woke up. It felt good. So I talked to my friend, took a couple of Alleve's & just finished icing. She recommended icing before bed. 

I'm just super paranoid because I have The Towns Half on Saturday, then Santa Rosa Marathon the following weekend. It feels okay, & it's not inflamed like a sprain usually looks like...so I think I'll be okay. 

I just really hate those big white rocks!!! Need to watch my footing at that trail, at least, now, I know. 

Hope you all are well!!

Lovies,

E =)

It's been a while...

So here's a little update!  I didn't pass the first LCSW Exam like I wanted, I was 3 questions away (I was upset, and actually cried, but it's okay).  But it has been 6 months and guess what?  I'm eligible to take it again!  I'm gonna sign up soon as I just got my notification that I could sign up.  I feel more prepared, and I'm studying as much as I can before I take it again.

Running have been feeling way awesome again, and I have my speed back.  I HAVE MY SPEED BACK!  However, the Nike Women's Half Marathon 2nd Chance Entry is messing up w/ my recovery, but after this week I can go back to my 3 day a week training for my marathon.  I'm training for the Santa Rosa Marathon, which is in 2 weeks.  Also, next Saturday I'm running The Town's Half Marathon.  I didn't plan it that way, it just so happened that when NWM decided to take out the Marathon (still seriously pissed about that), I signed up for The Town's Half as a training run, now it's a race before my Marathon.  It'll be fine, I've PR'd before w/ double weekend races.  I have faith in my training that I can rock both races.

Also, in other news, I am now an Ambassador for BioSkin!  I checked out their site after they contacted me and I think it'll be a good fit.  Their products look solid and I'll be testing out some calf skins soon.  You should check them out too!  You can click on the link on the left, above my twitter feed.  =)

Boyfriend and I have been going on strong for the past 2.5 years (can you believe it?).  I have become a hard core Giants Fan because of him!  Love him to pieces.

I think that's it.  I'm going to really try and update this as much as I can.  I get really busy with studying, running, taking care of the poochies...I will do my best.

Hope you all are doing well!!!

Get out of your head.

This week I'm on a Study Break. Yes, my exam is on Saturday. I said it. I've been so afraid to put it out there, but I'm taking it. As I was taking mini tests on my Grossman app, I had to stop and tell myself...STOP GETTING INTO YOUR HEAD! Took a deep breath and was able to focus again.

My favorite Clinical Sup told me, you know how to do a MSE & Bio Psycho Social. You have the tools. You need to figure out what they're asking you. He also said to stop second guessing myself, go with my first answer.  One of my dear friends also told me to, "knock that shit off!"  So that's what I have to do.

That was the best advice, besides getting AATBS material. After I stopped second guessing myself, I eventually got a 92% on the 4th try on my Grossman app. It was 60%, 68%, 68%, & 92%. I bought the package so it shifts the questions around in a set of 25. So really, I've done 100 questions today. I should be prepped for when I take my AATBS practice exam. 

Yes I'm anxious, but I know I have good Clinical Judgement. I already do the job. I just need to pass 2 tests to get my License. I can do this. 

The mind is a fascinating thing huh. Powerful. I just need to focus. 

Hope you all are well!

Lovies!

-E

Hot Chocolate 15k

I spent a lot of the morning hanging out & waiting for things to start. So when it actually started, it was cold & I wasn't sure how it was going to be.  We were also there way too early, and I'm wondering why they had the 5k start an hour before the 15k'ers.  Also, I struggled with the parking and the shuttles, but they were run really well.

The first mile was so congested & I actually got hit by some guy who ended up grabbing me & asking if I was alright. Yeah, an apology would have sufficed & seeing how congested it was you didn't have to be such an ass after. 

I was basically sneaking through people & trying to get through. It calmed down prior to the 2nd mile. 

First 5k was really good, except when I had a coughing fit after the water stop. The water was too cold, I felt better after burping it out. Let's just say, all water stops were like that. 

Once I reached the Great Highway I was feeling pretty good. Made that lady my BEYATCH! After the 10k I struggled up all the long slow inclines. I overheard someone say that once you reached the bridge (close to the 9 mile mark) it's all downhill from there. It was, you can tell by my finishing pace for the last .30/.42. 

I felt pretty bad ass, wanted to race it out. I know I really need to add hill training into my training again. It's hard in my area, but hill repeats at the trail will need to happen.

So it was a good first 15k (Garmin Stats), first race of the year & birthday race. I am a happy girl!

Hope you all are well!

Lovies!

First official race of the year!

On Sunday is the Hot Chocolate 15k! I won my entry from @CarleeMcDot, so thank you again!! My very first 15k ever & my official Birthday Race! I never win those contests, so I'm really happy. I didn't even mind paying for the parking pass & shuttle.

My cold, I believe has left me. I'm running at my half marathon pace, more consistently. I even pulled a negative split & held it strong the entire time the last time I ran. 

Now I rest & recover because Sunday, it's on! Golden Gate Park, I will make you my bitch! So Saturday, crashing hella early. That's what I dislike most about Sunday races in SF that I don't stay overnight for...but I am pretty excited. 

Sportsbasement was having a sale too, 20% off of everything. So I upgraded my hydration pack to a Salomon. My Camelbak is ready to rest & only be used for hiking. Besides, she's just chafing me now. So here's hoping this will be better.

Other than that, still studying for my exam. Got a study/vacation week approved for at the end of the month. Pretty exciting. Oh & I cut my hair again & I got my first mammogram. Yeah, age milestones are fun. 

New year, new hair, birthday race. Good times. 

Hope you all are well!

Lovies!

It's my Birthday!

Now I'm 40. I'm in a new Age Group for races & my time bumps down slightly for Boston. Masters Level, what's up!!

Today was awesome. Even though I haven't done double digit distance in over a month, I did today! Pretty good w/ no distance training. Legs are having a hard time recovering, but I'll get it back. Hell, I have the Hot Chocolate 15k next weekend, so I gotta snap out of this sickness & a quick recovery. 

Then my family surprised me & all of them were there for my late lunch/dinner. It was so much fun seeing everyone. It's been a while since we all got together. It's hard growing up, right? We all have separate lives, but we're still family...so we gotta work hard to make time for each other. 

Now I'm home, doing laundry & watching the Big Bang Theory w/ my Man. Well, drinking wine, & him, his beer. A simple night. I don't need much to be happy. <3

What I really need is to get rid of this cold. That's what I want, now someone, make it happen. 

Anyway, I'm 40. I'm in a new Age Group. 40 & fabulous!!  Life begins now right?

Hope you all are well!

Lovies,

E.

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Anyone in my area??

One thing that I used to love after Club Run SF, was when we put together our own weekly runs.  I used to send out emails every week, we all decided which routes, what distance.  It made me feel a part of something and re-connected to the running community.  The only thing was I used to drive 2 hours out or so to get to everyone since I live/lived so far.    

I'm looking for more runners in the Monterey/Marina/Salinas area.  Anyone out there?  I need more running friends who want to do weekly runs.  Anyone, out there?  Let me know!

I see you all out there, let's connect.  Well, I hope you see this, I don't know else where to find you all.

Hope all is well!

Lovies,

E