Nothin' in particular.

When it comes to racing, I'm extremely superstitious. I've never actually asked any of my friends if they were also. I mean, I realize it probably is a little normal to some extent, it gets you pumped up, but I think I have a slight ocd overload when it comes to the stupid stuff I do before a race. The day before I always run 2miles. I take a shower before bed and then paint my finger & toe nails. Race day, I always wear my leopard print socks, and the same sports bra, which I refuse to wear either of those when I'm not racing. I usually wear my Elite Feet uniform, but it varies on the race. On the way to the race, I always listen to the same song. It doesn't matter what songs I listen to after that song, it just has to be the first one. Then at the race, I have to warm up for exactly one mile alone. Nothing more, nothing less. And alone. There was one time I didn't paint my nails before a race because I didn't have any nail polish remover. And guess what, I broke my foot! So I shall stick to my routines. ha.


Thanksgiving was awesome. I'm not even how slow we ran it, but I'm pretty sure it was close to my half marathon time, but it was only a 10k. It was the first time I dressed up in costume for a race. We all pushed Isabel each for a mile, then she got to do the last mile! She's the coolest 5 year old I've ever seen, and not because she's mine. She just is. How many 5 year olds love running?

I ran on my own today for the first time in a while. Felt nice to unwind my thoughts, I needed it after a long month of work. My legs are a little achy, I probably ran too fast. I think I'm gonna race on Saturday. And by race, I mean run slow haha.

happy happy joy joy

Let's face it, I have not been running like I need or want to since August's injury. I went for 2 whole weeks without even running a mile, and for no good reason! I'm gonna cut myself some slack though & say "everyone needs a break sometimes." But break over!

I was scheduled to run the Denver Half and the Grand Rapids  full in early October. I've only dropped mid race ONE time and that was when I broke my foot last year. I got to mile 7 at Denver and just decided I wasn't going to run anymore and walked off the course. Crazy, right?! Ok, it doesn't help I had a hangover (or was possibly still drunk) from the night before. (Let me just add, that was only the 3rd time I had ever drank in my ENTIRE life. So it's not like I'm a raging alcoholic giving up on my running hopes & dreams). And I knew weeks in advance I was not readily prepared to run Grand Rapids so I went to work that day.

After those 2 weeks I recently took off, I went to running club and somehow my legs carried me 7 point something miles. I was so achy the next day but I pulled out a mile or 2, then that week ran the Cardboard Classic 8k with  the rest of the group. At a pretty swift pace might I add.


But let me say this: after these last few months I've really came to the conclusion that yes, I am pretty decent at running and it's fun to win and do well, but there's more to it than that. Some of my very favorite people I have met from running and I honestly don't know how I'd make it without them some days. I haven't worn my watch while running since the Crim & I intend to keep it that way for a little longer. It's nice to not feel pressured and just to be running because I want to. And because I want to be around people I love while I'm running. Don't get me wrong, I have time goals set for later dates, but right now, it's just running to be happy. And I can honestly say this is the happiest I've been in months, probably a good solid year. :)

runrunrunrun.

It's funny to me that when I get depressed or go through a rough patch in my life, I slack in my training. Why though?! Running is what brings me instant joy! I always feel sooo much better after a run. No matter how hard the run is, or how short or long it was. Next time I get in a slump, someone remind me to go run! haha.

Saddest thing ever: I decided I am not running the Grand Rapids Marathon this fall. I already registered, and when I drive to Muskegon, I hear a million advertisements for it and it makes me so sad! But I haven't been training, and you just can't fake a marathon. I am doing the Denver R&R half next weekend though! AND shocker.. I'm not wearing my watch when I do it! I've never done that before! Ran for fun! I mean, just fun. No times involved.

I do plan on doing another marathon within the next year. And it'd be awesome to actually go to Boston. I qualified last year, but I just don't have time for training. Or the funds really.  I missed registration for 2012, so 2013 maybe? That is, if the world doesn't end in 2012! (joking of course!)

I miss running with Marley! Running with her is our gossip time, and one of the best stress relievers ever! I took Isabel to the track the other day, and it was so wonderful. I think we both needed that.

I also miss running club! Scott & Brad were kind enough to designate last Wednesday just for me since I haven't been able to go. That was the most I've ran, laughed & ate in soo long. I needed that.  Speaking of running club, congrats to all the awesome ultrarunners who just ran the 50miler last weekend. What an accomplishment!

And I miss running with my dog! She needs that too. I swear I'm gonna get my act together soon & run like I used to. Last year, I was in the middle of my infamous streak. I ran 226 days consecutively before I broke my foot. I made SURE I ran. It wasn't about will I, it was WHEN will I. If I didn't have a sitter, and it was late at night, I'd put Isabel in her stroller & I'd push her up & down my road (which is only .1mi) and get my mileage in, in the dark. I even have a treadmill now, I didn't before, and I STILL am just not feeling it. I wish I did.  Running brings so much happiness into my life.

I need to figure out how to be a single mom & a marathoner. Both are difficult, but I need to do both. I really NEED to. Only a runner would understand that.

crim 2011

Yesterday was the Crim. My favorite race of the year. Last year, I ran the race in just over 68 minutes and was on the right track of running a 65 this year. The last couple of weeks, I had a few setbacks to say the least, so the new goal was just to finish without walking.

My dad came into town from Colorado just to run the race! Afterward, we had a "Hamel Crim After Party" to celebrate all the Hamels who ran or walked. We had 17 participants just from our family! How cool is that?!

I started the race off with Camden. We stayed together til about the Bradley Hills. We had a few "too fast" miles & we talked just a little too much haha. I heard someone shouting for him @ the hills & realized it was Scott, who by the way is doing amazing this year! I ran with him for the hill part and then told him to take off. (he broke the 70 minute barrier this year for the first time!)

After the hill, I was alone for the rest of the race. I got to about mile 7 and almost started crying. Not because I wasn't performing like I wanted, but because I was completing it and not letting anything (or anyone, ahem) get in the way of that. I have never felt that way during a race, I'm not even a crier. Ever. I finished the race in 71 flat. Not my best time, but not too shabby, considering. Lots of my friends & family ran their first Crim (or race ever!) Lots of my friends pr'd. My dad ran his first 10mile in under a 10 minute pace. My sister ran her first 10miles ever & didn't think she was gonna make it the day before! My mom & cousin ran the 5k! (yes, my mom ran!) Marley ran the 10mile, then jumped into the 5k "just because". And lots of other family and friends completed events too. It made me so proud that everyone was there, doing something healthy for themselves and having fun.

THEN the mile! I ran with Isabel for her race (duh, I wasn't gonna leave my 5 year old alone in down town Flint!) She did SO awesome during the race. We stopped twice for water, and we passed lots of people! Even adults! Her final time? 9:45!!!! The fastest mile she ever ran before was 10:50. I cried when I looked at my watch. I was so proud of her little legs & her big willpower! I NEVER cry, I'm almost embarrassed to even admit it haha. But yesterday was just so... good. 

Next year's goal is of course, 65 minutes. I'm determined to be back there again. But for now, I have a marathon in a few short weeks that needs to be focused on.

I love running.

Your cheek bone's connected to your running bone.. :(

Ever try to run with a broken cheek bone? Yea, it's the most painful thing ever. I'm freaking out, the crim's next week. I can't even eat solid food because I can't chew. I'm a very angry person right now, I miiiiight need a straight jacket before this is over. Short post, yea, but I might just start swearing & that's just not very lady like.

Gettin Scared

The last few weeks have probably been the worst in my entire life. I'm really confused with myself why I didn't choose to run to help me feel better. I made sure I ate just in case I was ready to run. But my body hurt so bad from so much stress. I ran a little, but nothing important. That scares me. I have a lot of big things coming up. I don't want to let myself down. I don't do well with goals not met. I could readjust my goals, but I don't do well with that either ha.

On another note, I ran a half marathon TRAIL race without falling to my death! Or falling at all! I ran it really slow, but it's ok, it was way too fun.

This isn't really about running per se, but more about running club.. I'm very thankful for that small group of people. They were there for me without any hesitation last week, when I needed them most. People I would have never met if it wasn't for running! :)

Why do I run?

I remember when I was a little girl, probably in 1st grade, my dad ran a road race & I went to watch it with my Mammy. I don't know the distance, and for some reason I want to say it was in Davison? Either way, I thought it was the coolest damn thing that he got a banana for running. (this was of course, when I was 7, before my curse of being allergic to bananas). I also remember all throughout elementary, every Crim, waking up before the sun & being a water volunteer at Aid Station 9. I LOVED it. I loved how all the runners & walkers were so happy even though they had just traveled 9 miles by foot and still weren't done. And I loved how the streams of people just never ended. And I loved handing them water in those green gatorade cups.

I remember in 8th grade gym class we had to do a timed mile and Mr Hunjo told me I was quite the runner and should consider joining the middle school cross country team. I was so excited that someone thought I was good at some sort of sport because I never had any coordination or depth perception, and to actually be good at something meant the world to me! Sooo then it began.

Since that day in gym class, my life has changed permanently. Running has brought me to many new adventures and places.. going to places I never would have thought existed, let alone thought I'd travel across by just putting one foot in front of the other. I hated the majority of high school, but come cross country camp, cross country season, and track season, I was a happy camper. All of my friendships had evolved from running one way or another it seemed.

After having Isabel, I started running again mostly to lose weight. I never thought I'd be decent again, and I just ran to get in some exercise. 3 years ago, I ran the Crim and not one, but TWO walkers beat me! I didn't care though, I LOVED that day. It was my first Crim as a participant. My mom was so worried I wouldn't make the full ten miles. Now she doesn't even think twice about 26.2miles.

Running has released stress from work & school & relationship troubles. Nothing makes me feel as good as running as fast as I can until I want to puke just to get everything off of my mind. It's funny what negativity you forget when you're out on a run.

Running has gotten me through 2 different bouts of depression. I don't really feel comfortable dishing on this one, but lets just say, I don't know if I'd be here as happy and content with life, without running. I used to think "anti anxiety meds" were the answer. I am "drug" free now, and happier and more focused on life in my entire life. And all I do is pound the pavement.

Running has helped me grieve. I never had to face the loss of a loved one until a few years ago. It was very hard for me to grasp. And even though it was the middle of winter, I'd strap on my five fingers, let my toes freeze, and run miles and miles, just sorting out everything. Trying to find out answers on life & death.

Running has helped me come up with my best ideas! It's amazing what you think of after about 8 miles. Seriously, I get my best ideas at about mile 10. I'm a genius when I'm running. I swear I need to bring a tape recorder so I can recap my ideas haha.

Running has brought SO many friendships that I know will be lifelong. I have met some AMAZING people.. mostly in the last few years. All because we have that one thing in common.

Running makes me feel like I can accomplish a whole lot of things. I mean, just to comprehend that you can so far in X amount of time, is awesome.

But probably the best thing? Seeing Isabel love running as much as me! She's only 5 and it's brought so much joy to her little life that I just melt with excitement.

So I guess next time someone asks why I love running, I'll give them this blog page ;)

On a serious note..

Most of my entries are just the goings ons of my training, but this is something more serious I feel like tackling. I don't have a lot of viewers anyway, so it's not like I'm really exploiting myself. I've ran since middle school, and up until I was pregnant in senior year (I know, terrible haha), I was under a hundred pounds. I was a bony little lady but I still would look in the mirror before my shower & make sure my stomach wasn't bulging (I know, I know). It didn't get too out of control & I never watched what I ate, really. Then I had Isabel.. I gained 80lbs and was quite larger than I needed to be for quite some time, even after giving birth. In the last 2 years I got real thin again, and half the time a size one is saggy in the waist. However, my weight will fluctuate abouut 6lbs here & there (6lbs is a lot for a small sized person!). Sometimes I'll stand in the mirror in my underwear for a good half hour and just stare at myself freaking out. I'll turn to the side, turn different lights on, suck in random things, blah blah. I KNOW I'm not big. But I can't help but do this regularly. I constantly am feeling to make sure my collar bone and spine aren't hidden behind layers of mush (crazy, I know) and if I'm even having the slightest big of a "fat day", I'll refuse to wear anything tight. I'll go weeks without eating anything "bad" and make sure to run and run and run. I don't feel like I starve myself, and I don't over-run. Ok, I did run 226 consecutive days before I broke my foot but that had nothing to do with me being thin. I also don't just worry about being thin. I want to make sure my legs are completely toned. I constantly make sure the muscles are prominent. I worry this will go on for the remainder of my life.

I have talked to people about it here & there, but it's not that big of an issue, so it never is really addressed. I do make sure not to weigh myself because if I see a number that I don't like, I'll get into a sad little funk. I also stopped taking any sort of medication because I worry I'll gain weight from it.I realize this is all unhealthy & mostly in my head, but some days I just can't convince myself I'm not in the correct shape.

If it makes any of this better, I make sure not to say anything regarding weight in front of Isabel. I don't want her to grow up with image issues, so I make sure to keep my fears away from her ears.

My next post won't be so lame. :)

Of course I'd forget after 4 posts!

haha I already have neglected this! I guess maybe that means I'm too busy running? ;)

First of all I have to say: I RAN AN 18:56 5K!!!! Totally geeked about that! Now I can concentrate on the bigger, more important races I have coming up this fall/end of summer.p

I ran on Team Sasquatch last weekend at the Great Lakes Relay! One of the most challenging running events I have ever taken part of and most likely the most fun! So many trails, so many awesome people. I was really scared that I'd have a Hogsback repeat, but I just had some minor scrapes. I'm going to run the Legend 1/2 marathon on the 6th, which is trail. But it's definitely minor trails compared to GLR. Then the Crim, Denver 1/2, then Grand Rapids 26.2! I'm gonna go broke haha. So worth it though.

Germans can't measure apparently.

Yesterday was Volkslaufe. Let me start off saying that my awesome big 5 year old (!!!) ran the 2k without stopping & was just over 11minutes! She got a ribbon and a giant t shirt but her favorite thing was the popsicle at the end of course :) I ran it with her, and she is such a badass little kid.

Ok, the 5k. A 5k is 3.1 miles. BUT in Frankenmuth it's 3.2! I KNOW my Garmin is accurate. And I hugged the corner of the course, and wasn't all over the place or anything out of the ordinary. My time was 20:29, but my Garmin clocked me at 19:40 when I crossed the real 5k mark. Also, the 2k was short. That wasn't as big of a deal, since it was a kid's race, but c'mon people! errrrghh I am still very frustrated. Last year, I wondered why my Frankenmuth time was like a minute slower than any other race I ran. That might be why. I'm done with that race. It's not worth the $51 I spent for the both of us. Laaaaaaaaaame.

Sunday I'm doing my first back to back race! a 5k first, then a 10k an hour later. It's gonna hurt, but I'm anxious. I'm gonna "race" the 5k, and see how I feel for the 10.

My little sister is gonna run for the Mott XC team this fall and that makes me such a happy lady! Tomorrow's her first practice, I'm gonna run with them.  After that, I'm cutting the cord and she's on her own ;) She's doing really well though. She's training for the Warrior Dash & the Crim (which my daddio is coming into town for!!)

Speaking of the Warrior Dash, since when did everyone and their brother become interested in adventure type obstacle races? Totally not my thing, but I'm excited to watch her & my cousin (& everyone & their brother) rock it out.

Beecher Creatures.

While running, I thought fireworks were gunshots & the whole journey smelled of pot & garbage. That's what ya get when you live a few short miles from Beecher! There's this guy that I see when I'm running sometimes, and he's walking. But he only has one leg & uses crutches. He's gotta be 10x more tired than I am.

6 months after I got it, I finally uploaded my garmin to my computer. I felt like such a nerd! But it was freakin' cool. I'll still continue to handwrite everything old school style, but it was neat none the less.

Short blog for a short run. Wam bam thankyou ma'am.

Heat rash, runner's cough & blisters.

Today was supposed to be just a leisurely 12miles with Brett.. but that turned into a 12.4mile in 85 degrees with random large sized hills. I will admit, the hills felt good & will help in the long run.(lol pun!) When we were done, my legs got a sweet  heat rash on them, and then a little while later my face did too. And I coughed for like 2 hours! This is the 2nd time getting heat rash ever, and they both were within the same few weeks. Hope this isn't a regular occurrence! I used to get runner's cough when I was in middle school, but it's been forever, so I hope that's not a regular occurrence either! I also noticed a huge blister on my foot afterward, and that's only my second blister this year too. haha, just not my day to run I guess.

On a positive note, the New Balance rep was at the track yesterday & I tried on a pair of racing flats. Oddly enough, I've never even tried a pair on. But I instantly fell in love. I don't know if it was the color or feel or maybe a little of both, but I got so geeked. They're not out yet, so I asked today when they're coming in and was informed that the NBx team already ordered me a pair! (free, too...which is the best part because I wasn't really ready to commit to ANOTHER $100 pair of shoes haha) They better make me run like a 16 minute 5k. ;)

Easy mileage for the next 2 days then volkslaufe on monday woooo.

First one for the mileage log..

Alright, so I decided to make a running blog so I can type out my running ramblings. That way I feel like I'm telling someone about it, but if they don't really care, they don't have to pretend to care & they don't even need to read it haha.

Right now my main focus is Grand Rapids Marathon in October. My goal is to be between 3:10 & 3:15.. I ran the first 20miles of Detroit, last year at a 3:10 pace and died. The pace isn't what got to me, it was fueling issues. I'm currently tweaking different things to see what works best for me. So far, I've concluded that I like Cliff Blocks but they're almost too big.. And I like the flavoring of GU chomps better, but I almost felt like I was more "energized" from the blocks.. We shall see, only time will tell.

I kind of want to dabble into yoga, but I'm not really sure where to begin? I'm always really stiff & I think maybe that'll help.

During yesterday's run, I noticed that I do awesome at negative splits.. but only on training runs. I do it almost every time, but races are another story. I always start off too fast in 5ks and gas out. I'm planning on trying something different at Monday's Volkslauffe so hopefully I'll break 19:30.

On another note, Isabel will be running the 2k at the Volkslauffe! Her longest race ever & it's also her 5th birthday!  She gets to wear her new Elite Feet shirt & leopard running shorts! She's a champ :)