July 24th, 2013 – 8.66 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 rough run. But we’ll get to that later.

It’s been quite a while since I last posted. So I gotta bring to you up on the summer I’ve been having. For the most part it has been GREAT!!!! I have had a great time with friends and family. Keeping extremely busy!!!

Last month I went on a cruise with my friend Sherri!

This was, of course, amazing fun. I’d never done a Girl Trip before. And I must say, I highly recommend them. Sherri & I have many things in common. However two of my favorite things are: Mad love for Michael Jackson and we both value health and fitness. We worked out every day that we were on the ship.

Some might say that would have ruined the trip for them. For us, that made it awesome!

Then of course, June 25th was Michael Jackson’s Death day, which I had to recognize. So I dressed up as MJ for the day. This is me at work. What?!

This month has been crazy busy too!
Chris and I went to the BET Experience Concert at The Staples Center. We got to see R. Kelly and New Edition. But the big draw for me was THE JACKSONS!!!!

That was fun. Hanging out with my best guy and seeing a great concert. You just can’t beat that!

Then we took the kids to Hurricane Harbor! Their cousin Logan was in town, so we got to take him too. That was a blast!

Yes! A busy busy Summer and I’ve been trying to get a run in anywhere I can. Jayda even ran with me once. She is my sweetie. I love her!!!

Now, about this run….

This one was a cleansing run. I was given some less than great news from my doctor. I had an abnormal mammogram. I was supposed to go into work afterward, but when we got back home, I just geared up and headed out the door. This run was less about time and distance and more about crying and praying.

The first half was pretty rough. I was just trying to run until I felt like myself again. At about mile 4, I was at the end of my fuel, which is typical for me. So I stopped at CVS and bought some GatorAid and a pack of nuts. I sat on some grass under a tree and wept.

Tears are not normally how I would express myself but I was out of resources by then. I was exhausted and in pain, both physically and emotionally. So I just let the tears come.

Up until this point, I was listening to my Speed Workout Playlist, which consists of Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Eminem and many others. But on the return trip, I had to call on Jesus. I put on my Gospel Jams Playlist and headed home.

It helped. It always does. I can’t say that it helped my run, but it helped my mind-frame. I discovered I was afraid, and ashamed of myself for being afraid. A child of the King should never be afraid. Then one of my favorite songs came across my playlist:

You don’t have to worry,
And don’t you be afraid.
Joy comes in the morning,
Troubles, they don’t last always.
For there’s a friend in Jesus,
Who will wipe your tears away.
And if your heart is broken,
Just lift your hands and said,
“Oh… I know that I can make it.
I know that I can stand.
No matter what may come my way,
My life is in Your hands.”

I wept more. But I felt grounded and grateful that God already knows how this is going to turn out. He knows what I can handle. He knows what my family can handle and He’ll be with us no matter what.

Later that day, my friend Paul showed up with enough ice cream to choke a horse. Gotta love Paul.

So what happens now?

I keep going.
I keep living.
I keep doing.
I keep loving.
I keep playing.
I keep laughing.
I keep smiling.
I keep praying.
And I keep running.

Biopsy is set for next week. I’ll letcha know how it goes.
Prayers appreciated.

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!

April 29th, 2013 – 4.00 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 good run. About an 11-min pace, which is good for me. I was happy with it. Chris dropped me off at the library and I ran home.

This is a route that is very familiar to me and I saw many people on the street, which is typical for SoCal in the spring. It's so nice to see people out and about when I am getting a few miles in…. As long as they pull to the left and keep their dogs in check while we’re passing each other.

I have been dealing with extreme guilt and regret over not meeting with my running team, Race Pace. Don’t get me wrong, I *love* Race Pace and they challenge me to be better than I am. But here’s the thing, they run at 7:30 on Sunday mornings!!

I know that most runners like to get it in before the cock crows. But I ain’t gonna lie, running crazy early in the morning is a drag for me. I really do hate it!!

But it is absolutely necessary in the summer. If you don’t get it in before 10am, you’re not going! It’s just too dang hot! But the WONDERFUL thing about this time of year – which is coming to a swift and drastic halt very very soon - is that you can run at any time of day and it’s just beautiful!!! Pleasant and sweet.

It is likely that very soon, my alarm clock will be set to MJ’s “Human Nature” and waking me up at the crack of dawn so I can tag along with Race Pace. But for now, I am just enjoying the fact that I don’t have a race on my calendar yet and I could run at high noon if I wanted to and still be quite comfortable.

These days are drawing to a swift and brutal close. We’ll be up in the high 90s by the weekend and if I don’t get a race scheduled soon, I’m likely to break out in hives or something! The lack of it is stressin’ me out!!!

April 22nd, 2013 - 3.13 Mile Sprint in NEW SHOES!!!

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 run was interesting. I had run the day before and I just wanted to get a quick 3-mile sprint in. I felt nice and strong and I maintained a 10-minute pace.

I felt good the entire time. I had taped my toes because I am breaking in a new pair of shoes and got blisters the first time I wore them.



I’ve never worn Under Armor running shoes before but I have always been impressed with their products. A good friend of mine is a really big fan of Under Armor. When she recommended them, I bought a pair….. Several months ago.
They had been sitting in my closet ever since.



New shoes are great. They make you realize that you’re not old per se, you just waited about a month too long to replace your shoes. Generally, I don’t have a problem because I prefer a minimalist approach when it comes to shoes and I tend to have better form the longer I have my shoes. Whenever I can, I’ll do a quick sprint in my 5-Fingers.



If you’ve never worn ‘em, you gotta try ‘em. I really like mine.

Anyway, new shoes, with all their rubbery goodness usually feel great at the time but I almost always end up with hip or knee issues because new shoes blunt that pain you are supposed to feel when you let your form slip.

This is what I was dealing with before this run. You don’t realize how much so-called “good” shoes really mess you up. And these shoes are great…. With a few exceptions, which I will share after a brief moment of praise.

First of all, these shoes are so pretty. You just can’t beat purple running shoes. Secondly, they are *so* light. I love my old Asics and I don’t have a single issue with hip, knee or blister issues when I wear my trusty old Asics, but they are heavier than these shoes.

HOWEVER, the toes box is too narrow. Thus, the super sexy toe-taping. I’ve run in these shoes twice so far and both times I’ve run without socks. I know, I know… Sounds terrible, but that’s where the Spirit led me so I just went with it. The only blister issues seemed to appear on the tips of my big toes.

Draining the blisters and taping the toes seemed to fix the problem and so far, I haven’t had any issues with sockless running. It actually felt really good. I’ll update you when I run more than 4 miles in them.

I am concerned that doing great distances in these shoes will result in loss of toenails, so I’ll start with a 6-mile run and see how it goes. If my toes are happy, I’ll push it to 10 miles. Then I’ll throw in some hills.

Now, regarding Boston: Obviously, my heart goes out to the people of Boston and the runners who participated that day. Being a person of faith, when I heard the news, I immediately sought refuge in prayer. I haven’t stopped running, of course, but I haven’t been able to write about it until now.

Every run that I’ve done since the tragedy has been an impromptu prayer meeting between me and The Lord. I haven’t listened to Michael Jackson at all since it happened…. And if you know me, you know that’s a pretty big deal.

For us fools who Believe, we know that we serve a good God and we know that He is in control. I have no idea why such things are allowed to happen. And while I profess my faith without shame, I don’t condemn or judge others. But I will say that the world needs Jesus right now and always and returning hate for hate is not His Way.

Pray for Boston, because there’s nothing else you can do. Pray for the victims because there is nothing more you can do. I know it’s difficult, but pray for the people behind this tragedy because they are desperately in need of a Savior. And keep running because God has not given us a spirit of fear.

I am so proud of the running community for their strength and tenacity. Throughout this entire ordeal, I have heard many stories of love and support among runners and others in the various communities. Not only that, I haven’t heard of a single instance where a runner has given it up for good or even a short time.

We run because we can. We run because it works. We run to purge our guilt and cast out our demons. We run to save others. And we run to save ourselves.

Remember Boston.



**This is me in my cool Boston Marathon 2013 shirt. My mother-in-law went to Boston earlier this month and brought back shirts for me and the kids. The kids’ shirts say “My mom is faster than your Dad – Boston Marathon 2013”. Mine says “I Don’t Chase Men…. I Pass Them – Boston Marathon 2013”. Very cool.**


On to the Run

April 1st – 3.70 Mile Run
April 6th – 3.76 Mile Run
April 9th – 3.20 Mile Run
April 12th – 3.25 Mile Run
April 18th – 4.35 Mile Run
April 21st – 4.04 Mile Run
April 22nd – 3.13 Mile Run



This is a pic of me and Jordan on the morning of April 16th, wearing racing shirts to work and school in support of runners as a community. I was proud of my boy!!!

March 26th, 2013 – A Day Off Run – 10.30 Miles

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 great run. I think 10 miles is an ideal distance. It’s quite a challenge for me. I really have to push myself just to get through it. But it’s not so great that it wipes me out for the rest of the day.

That is well, as it was quite a busy day!

I took the day off work. That is very unusual for me. If I or my kids aren’t sick, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be at the office.

Today, the kids had doctor’s appointments, so I took the whole day off! It was great. One of the many things I was determined to do was to get a good long run in.

After I got Chris and the kids out the door, I made myself a healthy breakfast, ate it out on the back patio and geared up! Oh, yeah! I’m ready to run!



As usual, the first mile was pretty rough. I found myself just trying to get into a good groove without starting out too fast because I knew I was running long. As long I’ve been running, this still takes me about a mile and a half.

At about mile 4, I was feeling really sluggish. I dropped into a CVS to get a Gatorade and had the packet of Gu that I’d packed. This was a good call. I felt 10 times better after that.

At about Mile 6, I turned into the BGC. They have a park right next door and a nice running trail. I knew that I was going to need to add about a mile to this route if I wanted to get in the full 10, so I ran the loop twice.

Of course, it’s Spring Break, so Jordan was at the BGC so I ducked in to get a quick pic with my boy. He was cool about it until I insisted on getting a kiss. Heaven forbid that he should admit that he likes his Mom. Jeez!



At about Mile 7, I could feel blisters forming. My socks were too thick. They would be OK for a 3 to 5 mile run, but 10 miles calls for endurance socks. I’ll remember that for next time.

At about the 8.5 Mile mark, I’m hitting the wall and the only thing driving me is the thought of being done. But you can’t just focus on being done, because you’re NOT done!!! So I switched my playlist. Not to Gospel, like I normally would, but to a Speed Work playlist that I’d just put together and had been dying to try. It helped but not like the Gospel does. I'll keep using it because I really like it, but after 8 miles, I may just need Jesus.

I finally made it back home and I was all smiles. It was a good run.




I had a few hours before I had to be anywhere so I took some time to stretch and recover. I had recently read the SUAR Blog and Beth swears by compression socks after a long workout. I bought myself a pair of compression socks long ago, but I never really felt much benefit to them. But I was wearing them during my runs. So I’ve had them for quite a while and always meant to try again but I just kinda let it slip my mind. Today, I pulled ‘em on after this run and they were GREAT!!! The relief was immediate and I only wore them for an hour or so. I will definitely work them into my recovery regimen going forward. Highly recommended.



Check this out!



It may not look as terrible in this shot, but my face and neck is completely encrusted with salt deposits!! I sweat and lose a LOT of sodium when I run long. It’s a little disgusting. But I’m calling it a win.

My day was far from finished. The kids needed to get to the dentist. Not a great day for the Hayes Kids!!! Jordan had 3 cavities and apparently, both Jayda and Jordan grind their teeth at night. Jayda seemed very distraught by the news.




And Oh, yes!!! Today is Jordan’s 10th Birthday!!!




I can’t believe my BIG Boy is 10 years old!!! We took him out to dinner with his grandparents. I love my handsome boy!!


I just really love this shot. HaHaHa! So cute.




One more thing! I heard from Coach Dion today. He said I need to get another race (or 2) on my calendar, so I'm considering a 10-miler in Santa Monica next month. I'll letch know how it goes.


See ya on the next run!!

February 22nd thru March 22nd - 38.66 Miles Total

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.”

It has been quite a while since I have posted. As usual, I have been running regularly but not as regularly as I’d like.

Many things have been going on in my little Queendom. I’ve had 2 rather unusual experiences:

1) A Frosty Morning in Southern California! I know the rest of the world laughs at us, but having to defrost your windshield in SoCal is a pretty BIG deal!! It is very rare indeed…
(Of course the weather has since warmed up beautifully. We don't pay this ridiculous cost of living to spend the year in long sleeves and close-toed shoes, after all).




2) Even rarer still is getting in a walk with Chris. It’s not that he *never* exercises but it’s pretty rare. It’s not as rare as a Unicorn or someone who dresses properly in Southern California, but far more rare than say, real boobs, gastric bypass or a man who cooks AND washes dishes.



Also, I had three brand new experiences!

1) I went to a Tattoo Parlor! I’d never been to one before! I went to support a friend. I can’t imagine what would have to go on in my life for me to get a tattoo. Maybe a really cool “13.1” tattoo or Michael Jackson en point. I’ve seen some really cool tattoos, but frankly I think dark skin is *so* beautiful. More ornamentation is just not necessary. The tattoo situation in the NBA is *completely* out of hand!



2) I completed my very first 10-Mile Race!!! I think the 10-miler is my new favorite. The 5k, is barely enough to get you warmed up. A 10k is a considerable distance but it’s still within the realm where speed is a serious consideration. The Half Marathon is enough to wipe you out. But the 10-miler, is right there in that sweet spot, where you still have to keep going well after you’ve hit the wall but it’s not so long that you start to feel defeated. I had a GREAT time with Lisa. It was a beautiful day, and we kicked it in! My goal was to finish in 2 hours and I got it in in 1:59.10, so I’m calling it a win!




3) AND….. I had a beer on St. Patrick’s Day!!!! In all my 40 years of living, I’d never had a beer on St. Patrick’s Day! I fixed that this year. Meh……



The beer was good though.

The life of this busy mom never stops . When I’m not working, I’m at home looking after the children and wondering why they have converted my room to a hospital for ailing stuffed animals.



Or I’m at one of Jordan’s football games. Now, I *love* little league football games and I love that my boy likes to play





Jayda could not be less interested, but she’s cute.



Or I’m doing taxi service, running my kids to one birthday party



Or another!



Or nursing my baby back to health after a bout of the flu. Poor Jayda!



But still, I keep running. I got this run in on the first Monday after Daylight Savings started! I was so excited to get a run in after work while the sun was still up. I love this time of year!!!



Still, most of my runs end after dark. That’s OK. I still love it.



So much has been going on in my world. I stay pretty busy with work and family. I do wish I had more time to run but for now I am enjoying being a busy wife and mom. I may not always get to do what I want, when I want, but being me has its compensations.

I got to add to my MJ Library. Chum On!



And, with that last 10-Mile race, I filled in the last charm on my charm bracelet. I decided to commemorate it with a heart-shaped blue stone surrounded by a floral design because it was a beautiful day and I loved the company.
I remember when this thing was empty. I’ll have to start a new one!




And Now, On To The Run

February 22nd – 1.65 Walk with Chris
February 23rd – 4.22 Mile Run
February 25th – 3.76 Mile Run
February 27th – 3.00 Mile Run
March 5th – 3.09 Mile Run
March 9th – 10.18 Mile Run – Beach Jam 10-Mile Race
March 11th – 3.22 Mile Run – Daylight Savings Run
March 18th – 3.07 Mile Run – Speed Drills
March 21st – 3.21 Mile Run – Speed Drills
March 22nd – 3.26 Mile Run – Hills, hills & More Hills