May 30th, 2013 – 3.04 Mile Run

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

This was a short and easy maintenance run. I hadn’t run since Sunday. I was recovering from some lower back issues when I ran on Sunday and made the situation just a little bit worse. On the Sunday run, probably because I was compensating for the lower back issues, I developed some AT and knee problems.

So I needed a just a little bit of rest, so I took it.

This was my regular run on my regular route and I got it in after work. I didn’t push too hard, so it felt really good. I just wanted to take the time and distance to do a full body check.

Last November, I bought a pair of Under Armor running shoes. They sat in my closet for months before I wore them.



I really like these shoes, but the toes box is just too tight. I went back, almost 6 months later and asked for a refund or an exchange. Not only did they let me return them, they are $20 cheaper now than they were in November, so they credited me back the difference! So I traded the shoes I bought for the next size up and even bought another pair. So I walked out of there with 2 new pairs of shoes for $20 out of pocket. Score!!!

Even though I got the bigger shoes, I am still having trouble with them. The toe box is still quite snug. After I removed the polish off my toes, I realized I’ll probably be losing the nail on my right big toe. Blast! That is NOT hot!!! And right in the middle of sandal season! I will just pray that it is just severely bruised and will hang in there. We’ll see.

May 26th, 2013 – 7.06 Mile Run

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

This was an awesome run. It was the first time in MONTHS that I had met Race Pace out in Moorpark.

Now, I *love* running by myself. Just getting out there… Just me and Michael Jackson, pounding on some pavement. Not a care in the world (except the occasional dog or sidewalk crack).*sigh* There’s nothing better. But there is no doubt that running with Race Pace makes me a better runner.

Not WILL make me a better runner (although, it undoubtedly would), but DOES make me a better runner. Immediately. Every single time I go out with them. I am better. Much better than I am on my own. Remarkably better.

I tore though the first 3 miles at a 10.?? min/mile pace and didn’t slow down until I hit the trail along the creek and I was completely slain by the hills on miles 5 through 6. But none of that matters, because I stayed with it. And the reason I stayed with it was (well, because I was still x miles away from my car and I had to get back there, but really, I stayed with it….) because I was with my Group.

Running with my Group makes me better! I can’t say enough about it. I love Race Pace!!!!

Everyone on the team is way better than me. No doubt. Hands down. But that’s OK too. They all push each other. This time, I brought my friend Lelani. I met her and her family last football season when our sons played on the same flag football team. GO CHARGERS!!!

She is super cool. She is an all-around athlete and she is much faster than me. It was great to have her there for the team run. Hope we can do it again soon. Look how cute she is! This is us at the Memorial Day BBQ at the Elk’s Lodge.




Anyway, we were up early on Sunday morning to meet Race Pace at the park. It was a beautiful morning. Typical of SoCal in May (really any time of year. The weather is just awesome here). We made some quick introductions and she took off with the elite runners. I didn’t see her again until the end of the session. Lisa and Robb slowed their roll to hang back with me. They always do, so we came in at about the same time.

At about mile 3, my knee started sending me messages. I was listening but I thought that if I ran through it, it would subside. It did. By the time I got to the creek and was running on loose terrain, my calves were crying a little, but this was to be expected.

At about the 4.5 mile mark, we start this brutal, relentless climb. It’s not the first time I’ve done this climb and every time I start it, I think I can take it. I am always wrong. It was insane. Even walking it had me winded! And I was distracted by the nagging pain in my AT.

Was it tendon injury or the start of a blister? After I got to the top of the hill, I was convinced that it was the start of a blister, which sucks for sure, but is a far less serious thing. So I did what any runner would do: Figured there was nothing I could do about it at the time, shut my mind off to it and started tearing down that hill as fast I could.

It felt GREAT!!!! And I was able to finish strong.

Sure, I would pay for it later. I had already been nursing a lower back injury. I wasn’t completely recovered but it wasn’t bothering me at the time. That would surely come back to bite me in the arse, but for now, things were great! I was feeling good and if you had asked me who I was at the time, I would have said I was Super Woman!

It was a great weekend. Friday was a work day but Chris and I went to Thousand Oaks for lunch with a couple of his friends. On the way back, we stopped by Total Wine & More and I got to stock up on wine. I *love* wine!! This is Chris and me having lunch before we dropped a buncha cash on wine. He's cute.



On Saturday, I got to see Oak Park High School’s production of “Rumors” by Neil Simon. It was hilarious and very well done. I got to go with my good friend Paul, whom I adore. He adores me too. Look how cute he is!



On Sunday, after the run and church, we went to the Cantero’s house for a Memorial Day BBQ! It was great fun! The Cantero’s are always fun. This is a pic of all the Girls. I don’t know why the men didn’t sit for a pic but with such pretty ladies, no one seemed to mind or even notice.



On Memorial Day Monday, I’d made a very conscious effort to not make any plans. I wanted to be home for the day, get the laundry and chores done and just try to relax. So naturally, we were busy, non-stop, the entire day. We got invited to the BBQ at the Elk’s Lodge. Here is a pic of all the lovely ladies again. Smooches!!!



And I just had to get a pic of this humongous dog!! A Mastiff. He was at the BBQ. He was the sweetest thing. I was so glad too because Jayda just loves dogs and got right in his rather massive face. This picture doesn’t do him justice. He was enormous!!!! And slobbery!



If I was on a run and saw this guy running in my direction, I would definitely cross the street!