Operation: Runner Butt

[note: 11/20/13 I just saw this in drafts. I never published this, and it kinda just ends.. that's ok, I'm publishing it now.]
Today I remembered how much I missed running on a dirt road. I missed the way it felt for the gravel to grind under my shoes. And the sound it made. Especially when it's super hot & the dirt & grime sticks to my sweaty legs. Super weird, I know. But to me, that's pure happiness. This last year, I have been up & down with running, most things were uncontrollable. I believe that's all out of the way, and yesterday was day one of Operation: Runner butt. I miss my runner butt! I just have a normal girl butt now. Haha. I'm slow & out of shape, but I can't even tell you how great it is to just go for a run! So many other things are still a mess in my life, but logging some miles on foot really helps calm me down. I'm a totally different, crazy person when I'm not running. I don't like non-runner Erin one bit. I haven't raced since December and I don't really plan on doing a bunch because it's gonna take some time to be where I want. But I'm ok with that. I just like that "me time". It's weird.. It didn't even feel like I haven't been running. My legs were tired but they didn't hurt. And my lungs didn't feel bad. And I felt like I could've kept going and going. Feels good to be home.

The Clio race was last week & I couldn't run, but my daughter was super excited to run the kids' race. She's a beast. A bunch of kids started before they said "go" and she was behind and then sprinted past all of them. I got her, her very own pair of NB Minimus Kids running shoes. Same as mom and she's geeked. She wants to do the 5k in the Crim this year, and I have no doubt in her capabilities. She has ran 2.5miles a few times and she does just fine. I always make sure we carry water and we can stop on her command. Plus, I'll of course be running with her in the race.. I mean, what sane person would have their 6 year old running through downtown Flint by themselves?! Either way, my child is a beast. And the thing that's the coolest... she LOVES it. Last night, she literally just sprinted in circles through the yard.. for no reason, other than her love for running... for the longest time.

Since I've been laid off for a while, I volunteered at a few things and of course tried to keep in contact with my running pals.

Been a while.

I haven't updated this in forever, because I haven't really been running. That makes me really sad to say. I'm having a really hard time with it. I got out of race shape, and I gained some weight. And before anyone states how small I am, I don't care. This isn't how I should look, I'm not happy with it.

One of the main reasons I haven't been running like I'd like to, is the whole child care thing. This is the first year I've completely been a single parent with no help and it's extremely hard for me to go out and run 20 miles when I know I could be with my daughter. The other reason is I've been feeling like crap. I tried running yesterday & I passed out! I did that one other time, last summer. At least this time, I was on the treadmill, not outside like last time. And, I knew it was coming, so I turned the treadmill off first. haha. That could've been really bad. I've just been feeling really blah. Shaky and dizzy, not like myself. I'm trying to figure it out before I get all hardcore about training..I'd like to figure it out soon though because without running, I'm super uptight & anxious. It's bothering me. I wanna be mellow.


One of the best things running's brought me is my friends. On my birthday, my running club friends made me brownies and sang happy birthday and made the day super special :) Thanks you guys.

I've mentioned before that the Great Lakes Relay was one of my favorite events I've ever done. I think we have a team almost made, but we're misisng a few legs. If anyone's interested in it let me know!