Walking a Race. . .Living a Dream!

Yesterday was a huge event for me. . .The Soldier Field 10 Miler.

Held around Memorial Day Weekend, it is usually more of a tribute for the fallen soldiers of the past. It has become more of a Chicago Bears thing too since Soldier Field is the home of the Chicago Bears. Being that I am so sentimental it was a big deal for me. (and I am a Bears Fan) I initially signed up for this race in December 2012 for a good price with the notion that I was going to train for it and it would be my last stitch effort to see if I had the stuff for the Chicago Women's Half Marathon a month later. I signed up for both in December and took a deep breath and pressed "send" twice while thinking in my mind how I was going to have to train for all this. Once February hit and we got the positive pregnancy tests all my training had flown out the window as the first three months was loaded in sleep. After visiting an expo before the Shamrock Shuffle I was told these few valuable words. . ."You can walk this race." And that was EXACTLY what I was going to try and do.

It was the first time ever that I had a bib with my name on it. I loved the shirt since it had Bears colors on it.

What I was not expecting was how hard it would be.

But I kept a smile on my face regardless

Walking was just as hard as the running I think. I walk way too slow and so I ran a little here and there. If I ran too much though I had to use the bathroom and it seemed like I was running to the port-o-potties more so than trying to finish. But, what I didn't expect when I ran through the North East entrance of the stadium was a big wow factor. There were people in the stands cheering and huge jumbo trons with YOU on them running into Soldier Field. . . the floor of Soldier Field as if you were a Chicago Bear. Of course, I ran in with such enthusiasm and took pictures of me with the bump.

The look of a happy 19 week pregnant lady

Who was right behind me but a happy 22 weeks pregnant mama! Us posing with our baby bumps.

After the glow of being in Soldier Field, I walked around to the more outer public area and there they were. . .

ACTUAL SOLDIERS!

In their hands were the medals. They put them on you and I wanted to cry so badly but I had to hold it in since I was supposed to be hard core with it. WOW! Was it amazing! Soldiers in Soldier Field presenting us with medals. Sometimes I wish it was the other way around but this is cool too. A photographer was there to take pictures of you with your medal near the soldier statues in the stadium and gift bags were given. I was so sore yesterday but it was totally worth it!

My medal is gorgeous! Does it look better than the other ones I have. I hate to say it but yes.

  Would I do this race again next year? I would if I could find a babysitter and I would love to have hubby do it with me. I think he would really like this race. It was well organized and thought out. The route was full of hills but every race has to have at least two hills right? It was beautiful scenery as you would see the factories and smokestacks in Indiana with great lake views within the first five miles and coming back you would see a great view of downtown. I also ran into old and new friends. Such a beautiful event and I hope to do it again. Next up and possibly last on the list is the Chicago Women's Half Marathon which I must get a good walking training routine going next week because I was so sore after the Soldier Field race!

just do it!

Pregnant and Running

I have yet to announce it on this blog but many others, facebook and pinterest- I am currently pregnant. I have signed up for races before finding out. See how this blog will be modified to fit the pregnant workout gal!

5 weeks pregnant and the day before I found out.

Side Workout

This weekend, I participated in the Chicago Cinco de Miler. Amazingly, when you finished you were awarded a medal. I got two- one for me and one for the little fetus. My next event is a 10 miler but I am actually going to walk this race as I am not in the capacity to train  for a 10 mile race being as I am currently in my second trimester. But, that does not mean that I do not try to work on speed walking.

This picture was taken when I was 12 weeks. I did not PR (as I do not plan on PR'ing at all this year.) but I did finish in an hour. This was an 8k. Pretty pleased with myself I thought I could keep going and training but my breath has been getting pretty short within each week.

This is where I have begun to train with more yoga and walking. I still try to run but my distances are much shorter and my pace is slower. I currently have two yoga DVD's which I have been trying them out and seeing about them. Here are my reviews if you are more of a novice athlete like myself.

Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea

This video is 70  minutes and is full of gentle stretches and practice yoga for preparation of delivery. I must be honest, I do not regularly go to the yoga studio to do yoga since I feel like a whale and there is a lot I can not do with the instructor's commands even though they tell me before I walk in, "No twists, inversions, or being on your stomach." And, I can't go to the extreme hot classes because why would I do that? Don't want to hurt the fetus. Pros of this video is that it is gentle and safe enough to do as a beginner. Cons of this video is that you need tons of props. You need a rug or a carpet or something like that, a block, a strap and a chair. I bought this video at a second hand video store for $1 but I had no idea I had to spend even more money for props. Well, in my case just the chair.

Pre-Natal Power Vinyasa Yoga with Meghan Coy (Core Power Yoga)

This video is currently 60 minutes and offers a different style of yoga than the prior video. While Shiva Rea focuses on Iyengar yoga which is more stretching and gentle, Meghan Coy is a Core Power Yoga gal who is more into what I am into pre-pregnancy; Vinyasa or "flow" yoga. Vinyasa is more intense than Iyengar but both flow with breath. This was faster and had no props. If you are a beginner, this video is not best to begin with as you are doing chaturunga (at your choice), sit ups (unless you are farther along like myself), and arm balances like crow pose. Pros of this video is no props unless you want them to enhance your practice. Cons is that it is not for someone who is just trying yoga for her first time. This video cost me about $12 and I see it every Saturday when I am working the front desk.

Enjoy the pregnancy and the modified working out! 

Prayers for Marathon Runners

This pic was posted on the BGR! Chicago facebook page.

This hits a sensitive spot. Tonight and tomorrow, go out there and run for all those who were stopped by the bombs in Boston. Say a prayer for all those injured.

Chi Town Big Game/Cupid Love Run

I registered for these events not thinking that they would be so close to each other.

Unfortunately, the Chi-Town Big Game is a race I did NOT run this year. At least my $35 went to a great cause which was providing homes for vets. My issue? Car troubles but having a great working car is now so much better since I ended up running the next race which was $40 and a 10k at that. My second one ever!
I must say it was my first time doing a race outside of downtown Chicago and my first time driving to the event. I had a great time and even grabbed a BGR! gal and told her "We are going to do this together!" because she was getting sick since it was raining but the view was gorgeous!

There were plenty of hills and trees and. . . quiet! The problem was that the roads were slick and this also helped to slow me down. Still it was nice to see the mansions and woodsy areas. When we got to the finish line, I wanted to make a great ending. She thought I meant speed into the finish line but this time, the pushing it out part of me was not there just because of the ice. So, something a little more triumphant. . . 

Courtesy of Carpe Diem Racing

There were not many people out anymore and my husband was there with a smile on his face. My medal is gorgeous and I was all in love and happy about the accomplishment even though I finished at 1:21:15 which is almost ten minutes more than what I ran in the Polar Dash just a month ago.

Pictures of post- and pre- race. The lovely lady in the middle was celebrating her 33rd birthday with this run. her husband and my husband stood under a tent with hot chocolate watching the runners.

I also had to give a winning pose and kiss to my dearest hubby. . .

He also got my shirt since they did not have my size. Either one size too small or two sizes too big.

February is definitely a month for love. . .of running and yoga! Find your passion this month!

Passion of the Pavement

Race Schedule (thus far) for 2013

My race schedule thus far:

January
New Years Rock and Run Virtual 5k- 48:03
Polar Dash 10k- 1:15:04

February
Chi-Town Big Game 5k
Northshore Love Run 10k
Love on the Run Virtual 5k

March
Run Rock Shamrock Virtual 5k
Get Lucky 7k

April
Shamrock Shuffle 8k

May
Soldier Field 10 Mile

June
Chicago Women's Half Marathon

July
Undie Dash 5k
Firefly 5k
Rock and Roll 5k

August
Terrapin 5k

September 
Bucktown 5k

October
Monster Dash Half Marathon
Zooma Women's Race Series- Great Lakes- 5k

November
Turkey Trot 10k

December
Santa Hustle 5k
2nd Annual BGR! Chicago New Years Eve run- 5k or 8k


The races in italics are the races not yet registered for and are a possibility. By the looks of things, I am pretty busy this year. Better get to training. The BGR race is free. Some relief. Also, there may be some races that will be omitted and added as the year goes on. This year, I am going to focus more on the training. My training must focus on endurance

*edit- races written in red were added after this post was originally made.*

2013 begins with a 10k

Time and time again I become hard headed and not train as sufficiently as I should. A little yoga here, some Pilates there and what do you have? You have me running and walking mixture and me telling myself that I hate running. Well, today marked the first time I ran a 10k and what I thought was slow times and slip-ups became a time of triumph and pride.

I must say that I did not do this race alone. I did it under the loving eye of a group I mention so many times in this blog. . . Black Girls Run ! Chicago or BGR for short.

Us pre-race

I began running with some of these ladies. The way the race was set up was there was an option for the 5k,10k or half marathon. Since I am still shaking in my boots for the half marathon in June I figured it would be a great time to begin running races that were not a 5k although I may still do a few here and there. While I wanted to give up because of lack of hydration stations and battling uphills which I so lack in my training I got complete strangers and I got the BGR girls to get me to continue to run and not just walk the entire thing. I was hoping to have a bad time but I came in at 1:15:04- not too bad for someone who really didn't train as much as she should have. Also, this year is all about the bling. . .

Me and my cutesy bling.

So, the highlights- I kept having to tie my shoe, I had the mind set that this was a 5k and wondered where the hydration station was after the first mile, I kept wondering where the mile markers were and my music went out on me so I ran in the music of the wind but luckily it was during the last mile. Once I got to a half a mile I walked and said, "just get it done" that, I did. . . 

I ran with all my might to the finish line where my bling and many happy BGR ladies were waiting for me.

The lady in the middle did a half marathon and also is responsible for me being in BGR! The other lady had an even more inspiring story of this race.

What lesson did I take home? TRAIN!!!! Train, train, train and once again. . .TRAIN!! It only gets more difficult from this point and the fact that I registered for ANOTHER half in October I think I need to get on track. This was just six miles. . . the half is not that easy of a feat so I better be ready for it. So, this is an eye opener- seriously.

Learn, persevere and RUN!

The Year of Bling- 2013

I have declared 2013 as the year of the Bling. I have already run ONE virtual race since this year has begun. . .

New Years 5k- I was pretty slow but my excuse is I was in a group run.

I have been a little more active in BGR from December to now as I am a group leader which means we plan group runs in our area and "leave no woman behind" which helps me because every time I try to run slow I hurt myself. It does help to slow down and encourage someone who is just starting out to push herself beyond her limits. I believe I am pushing myself beyond my limits since I am getting more keen on winter running and may be that is because there has not been much snow lately but I am planning on purchasing some gear for my shoes to prevent slippage.

This weekend is the famed Chicago Polar Dash. I signed up for the 10k which is the most I have done in a non-virtual race. (remember the Obama 11.6k- I think I did 8 miles and boy was I sore!)

Home exercises- I have been getting more into that and also still obtaining my hot yoga in which I have been improving as I am almost at the point of some head stands. Pilates was done for the first time in two years and I did some light sweating but I was keeping up shocking. Pilates is one of those things where I stop and then I have to get back in the flow of it so I think I am going to give yoga credit for this. I think at this point I may be ready to get back into yoga sculpt as some of my fave teachers and my training teachers are leaving for California. January and February will be all about sculpt. This week I have been challenging myself to eat a salad a day. Thus far, I noticed that my stomach has went down greatly and I have more energy in the day but it is hard to wake up in the morning.

2012-Bibs and medal

If 2012 was the year to see how many races I could do then 2013 will be the year of the bling. More distances, faster times, more medals- as I see thus far. I have to beat myself from last year which may be a bit difficult because I got pretty fast there. The Shamrock Shuffle is the first step- 1:14 in 2011 and 56 minutes in 2012. What is 2013 Shuffle going to be like? Not sure but if I feel good during and after Pilates and not running with the "turtles" in a group run I think it will be GREAT!

love the run in 2013

Winter Fear

This morning, I was determined to get up, throw on my clothes and run 3 + miles. I didn't. I avoided the group run last Saturday. I avoided the BGR NYE run that had 60+ women there. I have not ran since my birthday (December 22) which it was pretty cold but about 19 degrees. Why is this? I fear running in weather below 24 degrees.

As a runner, I must avoid running in cotton but I really want to run in cotton because it is comfortable and warming in my mind. I feel like the other clothes that my husband and I purchased around the holidays will not keep me warm. But that is not the point. The point to to get warm.

The last run I did, I kept complaining about how cold I was and how my hands hurt from the chill. It was 19 degrees so below my personal temperature. By the time I got to 1.5 miles I was no longer complaining about my hands being cold in my gloves. I wish this was the only complaint about winter running.

I am considering going to Fleet Feet and get my hands on some Yak Tracks because I am so fearful of slipping and falling on my bum.

Layers and layers added on to dressing, ice and cold keep me away but I did sign up for a 6 mile run on the 12th of this month. What is a gal to do? Stay tuned. . .