Hazel Dell Half Marathon 2014

The Hazel Dell Half on Sunday, February 23rd was the first event of 2014 for me. I was not prepared – I’m out of shape, didn’t train for it, don’t eat correctly, and I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep lately. I put the event out of my mind until Saturday, the day before, when I had to go pick up my race packet and actually face the fact that the event was the following morning.

Nanette (aka Bullseye) and I met to get our packets and then went out to lunch. She didn’t train much for it either (certainly more than I did though) but she has started going back to the gym so she was a tad bit more prepared than I was. We ate our carbs and talked about the race. We both said the time didn’t matter but to finish was our only goal.

Sunday morning I woke up really excited and ready to do the half! It felt so good to be excited about something… anything… because my life hasn’t exactly been full of joy and laughter lately. I knew I could do it (with or without training) and was excited to get back out there on the pavement and find the peace of mind I always find while walking/running.

The race started around 8:30 and it was sunny and 36 degrees out – perfect weather! The first part of the race was mostly downhill so Bullseye and I took advantage of gravity and ran our way down (Now, hold on, neither of us are fast runners so don’t visualize us in a wild blurrrrr here.). We then ran parts of the flat areas too, off and on. It was an out and back route and the turnaround was at the west end of the Salmon Creek Park path. We were making excellent time, banking up some extra time to climb those blasted hills on the way back. Around Mile 9, Bullseye continued to run and Buzz (aka Me – yours truly) could no longer do it. I simply ran out of steam which did not surprise me at all. What surprised me was that I had made it that far before burning out. I told Bullseye to go on ahead and chase after her previous record. I just didn’t have it in me to push any harder. I was tired! She went on ahead and I watched her go until I lost sight of her. Run like the wind, Bullseye!

The hills back up were everything they were not on the way down… HARD, PAINFUL and SLOW. As tired as I was, I kept telling myself to keep going – keep putting one foot in front of the other - it was as simple as that. A couple of times I had to tell myself to dig a little deeper because I was really slowing down. Even though my time did not really matter to me I certainly did not want to record my slowest personal time ever. I am not that out of shape! I kept going.

I came into the home stretch and waived to Bullseye and her family there waiting for me. I mustered up a little jog and made it through the finish line without tripping over my tired feet. I finished in 3:09:44, averaging 14:29 minute miles. Not bad at all for no training and being 40 pounds heavier! I was very pleased with my time, for pushing through the pain and for making it through that finish line without the aid of a paramedic. heh heh

After a nice lunch together and laughing at and vetoing the postings of ANY of MY pictures (I looked STUFFED into my shirt! Oh that’s right… I WAS!), I went home and showered and then headed out the door to take care of some errands. No need to plop on the couch and rest… not me!

Today my thighs are screaming loudly every time I stand up and start moving but other than that, I feel great! No blisters, no knee pain, no shin pain… just aching, screaming thighs. I’ll take it. I earned it!

I really do miss my walking/running adventures and I’m ready to sign up and get back out there!

Buzz might just be reemerging. Now only if the thinner Buzz would show up for the party!

Training

I'm about to start training again right after the New Year.  Last year was plagued with injuries, lack of training, and more injuries.  After hurting myself in June at the Vancouver Marathon, I basically QUIT.  I walked a couple short events and then the 3-Day, 60 miles event in September.  I also did two half marathons in October ... all without training.  I was definitely slow and sluggish but enjoyed them.  Although I do remember complaining a bit (okay... quite a bit!!) that I was out of shape!

Without training, a lot of my bad habits returned, I rarely went to the gym and I haven't lost any weight.  In fact, I gained. Naturally.  Hopefully by refocusing and getting back out there on the pavement, I will start watching my diet (good performance requires good nutrition!) and shed the extra pounds.

I'm not real pleased with myself. I completely lost control. I have to find it... AGAIN - the story of my life.

I don't know what my race schedule will be but I'm not doing any of them without the proper training.  I'm tired of being on the injured list.

My first event of 2014 will be the Hazel Dell Half at the end of February, which I'm really looking forward to! Training starts January 5th. Are you ready, Bullseye?!

It's time to put the injuries and lack of control - in so many areas of my life - of 2013 behind me (and I don't mean on my butt!) and get moving!

I'm not finished with my marathon days... not yet. I'm not finished with my weight loss goals... not by a long shot.

Here's to a happy, healthy and productive 2014!

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"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving!" Albert Einstein

November Thankfulness

We tend to use the month of November to tell people what we are thankful for. Why we don’t discuss these things year around is beyond me. There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. Right?! Maybe we should start sharing our thankfulness once a month instead of just the 30 days of November. Obviously we should share our thankfulness EVERY DAY but if we did that, people would stop paying attention to us. Let's pick something to be thankful for each month and let it be known. Blog about it. Share it on Facebook or Twitter.  Shout it out to the world! There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!  Who’s with me on this?

Besides the obvious - thankful for family, friends, food, a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in every night, money for necessities (and then some), etc., etc., etc…. I want to focus on one thing this month – MY JOB.

I am very thankful for my job! I was hired in August and I absolutely love it! I can’t say enough wonderful things about the company, my co-workers, my bosses, and everyone else that works there! I honestly cannot find one single negative thing to say! There are no tempers flaring... no slammed doors... no petty gossip... no backstabbing! There is a ton of appreciation, no limit to teamwork, and plenty of smiles! This isn’t your typical law firm - at least not like the ones I've known in the past. This place is at the top of the list! I’m not sure how one company can hire so many wonderful people and not have a single bad egg but the fact that the Operations Manager (HR) has been there for 32 years probably says is all – she knows how to pick them! Many employees have been there for many years with no plans of leaving. Why would they?! The company treats its employees with respect and appreciation. (After all, the wheels wouldn’t turn without the hard work of the staff, correct?) I’m amazed and I feel truly blessed to have found this opportunity. I never wanted to return to a law firm after being laid off in 2010 (it left a bad taste in my mouth) but after spending a year in the financial business (I was in a very small office but it too was full of wonderful and giving people!), I decided to go back to where I was the most comfortable and knowledgeable about my job - the law firm.  And I’m so happy I did!

Being out of the business for three years, I was in the dark about how some of the courts now handle things and of course all firms do things differently, as well as individual attorneys, so I’ve had to learn A LOT - and I’m still learning every day - but I’ve had no end of help from everyone around me from accounting, to paralegals, secretaries, assistants, and the lawyers themselves! They are all happy to help me learn their way of doing things and all of the procedures. What a great place to be employed!

After two years of not working, I walked into the financial business a very beat down individual with absolutely zero self-confidence. I felt “stupid” and “worthless.” Being laid off was so traumatic for me and sent me into a very dark world of depression, one I wasn’t sure I would ever find my way out of. But finally being given the opportunity to work in a part-time job (at least that's how it started) gave me the ability to get my feet wet in the working world again and the opportunity to learn something new – proving to myself that I actually COULD learn. I really appreciated having the job and made some real friends there, who I miss now but know they are happy for me. It was a great job and it was exactly what I needed to get myself working again and to rebuild my confidence. I was sad to leave the people I worked with - I miss them all - but I knew I was making the best decision for me in the long run. They understood that too and I left knowing I could always return. (That's such a wonderful feeling...)

I'm very happy in my new environment and I feel very fortunate. 

I'm very, very thankful for my job.