10k Follow-Up!

I can't believe it's taken me nearly a month to post about my very first 10k! I've been so darned busy lately. It's time for a "life clean." I need to get my shiz together :)

Leading up to the event, I had been working out but not so much running. Still looked forward to running the race and having a good time with my friends.

{early morning--race started at 7am. view across the river on the way to the start}

{finish line photo with my friend, Jen, photo from Running Connection}

{post race with my friend, Michelle, adorned in race medals}

{announcement of race winners}

{back home after the race}

{flex! lol}

{shadow kissing...i'm calling it a new trend}

The race was a blast! It started early enough so it wasn't too hot by the time we crossed the finish. We got to a point a little under a mile left in the race when some dude was talking to Jen and I, and I finally said, "Jen, let's bust it out!" In the last stretch to the finish line, Jen said, "I'll race you to the finish!" So we did, and I can't believe I still had a burst of energy left in me. It was the most fun I've had crossing the finish line ever. People cheered us on! And since they messed up my bib time tracking, I'm counting Jen's time as mine, too, since we both crossed together (1:23:21). She has a blog--check it out!!

Not sure what's next on the running front. I've always wanted to run a half marathon; it's just if I have the want and desire to train!


Jes

10k Night Before *biting my fingernails*

Tomorrow I'm running my first 10k River Run, woo! This has been a dream of mine since 2010. I feel excited and scared all at the same time (anxiety?). Hopefully I can get to sleep early tonight because I have to be up at the crack of dawn (well, actually before...). I went out with my friend, Michelle, and walked/ran the course, and it goes up into some areas where I usually like to run. It took us exactly 2 hours to mostly walk the course, with us stopping a time or two for photos of stuff and for all the stoplights we had to pass. I'm hoping to beat a 1:30:00 time, so we'll see!

Anyway, here are some other recent happenings:

{my team at the Gnarly Neon 5k in April}

{at the starting line of the inaugural Prairie Fire Spring 5k several weeks ago} 

{coming into the finish of the Prairie Fire Spring 5k}

{family! Philip's grandpa Gilmer's 90th birthday}

Happy weekend, everyone!

What's Up, World?

Hello out there! I'm alive :D

I figured I'd enjoy my summer, and now that it's "back to business," I've decided to get back to blogging. I flirted with the idea of starting a second blog this summer (cartoons of my yoga conversations with Allen Ginsberg), and still might, but this one's my baby and needs some TLC.

So, did you enjoy your summer? Guess what I started doing!

I'VE BEEN RUNNING! Check out some photos from races I participated in over the summer:

{at home after the Ballet 5k in June}

{my very first race ever! River Run 2-mile}

{getting ready to cross the finish line--yay tomato face!}

{Run for the Red 5k--106 degrees and running into the sun.

this is before I lost all will to live, haha!}

{cheesin' it for the camera before the Run for the Red 5k started}

{yay Glow Run 5k! most fun race ever. this is my team. 

the hubs made that face all night photo-bombing.}

Coming up in October is my very first half marathon (yipes!!!!!). I was going to run the Prairie Fire 5k but splurged on the Half Marathon (you know, if there are going to be people walking that distance, I can try running it!). 

Here are some things I've learned since I started running regularly this past March:

-Blisters come back with a vengeance. I ended up getting fitted for shoes after the Ballet 5k race. Right after the race, I couldn't walk without grimacing due to a blister on my right foot. LOVE my Brooks Ghost 5's.

-No matter what I do to prepare to run in the morning before work, I absolutely CANNOT wake up to go running. It's not just mental; sometimes I go to bed early enough but am still SOOOO tired when it's time to wake up. Blarg.

-I really need a Garmin or some other GPS run tracker. Having to Google Map runs beforehand really takes the fun and spontaneity out of it.

-Running books and magazines are totes addictive. And websites! Plus, I just "discovered" running blogs (*insert angelic singing*). 

-A good sports bra is as difficult to come by as water in the desert. For reals. 

-My 5-year old mp3 player likes to overheat during hot runs, and it takes a little while to come back to life. Might be time to upgrade soon.

-I still don't understand some running lingo--fartleks, tempo runs, running at your 5k pace, etc. But I'm certainly looking into understanding them! Sometimes you just want to go running, though.

-I really, REALLY like running and totally get why runners love it so much.

Jes

Owwies.

I'm still running/fast-walking! It was quite chilly this morning with the moisture and low-30s, but I stuck it out for another morning. Hopefully my legs and (lack of) abs rebound better tomorrow morning. Definitely stiff today, owwies.

Here's the end result of the Seitan's Pot Roast from Peasant Supper Sunday:

{topped with a tangy Arby's-like sauce the hubs made for it}

It was OK. If I make it again, I will probably tweak the flavors more--maybe add some lemon juice, more soy sauce/ketchup, more spices. The veggies tasted pretty good. I ended up freezing two servings for later.

Check out my latest score! Tasty vegan lip glosses from this awesome etsy seller! These get two thumbs up for tastiness, moisture AND humor :) You have to check out the "Bunny Farts" flavor.

{yummy vegan lip glosses}

{chocolate and peanut butter}

Don't forget that Martha Stewart's vegan-themed episode airs tomorrow!! 9am/10am est.

Jes

I am not a runner.

So I started running this morning before work. I am not (nor have I ever really been) a runner. Besides the huffing, puffing and coughing I did when back in the house, which made me sound like a smoker, I actually found it quite invigorating and enjoyable.

And I really liked being out before everyone else. I didn't encounter any moving cars and only saw one other person outside--another runner. Getting to see the streets around our house before daylight touches them, listening to my mp3 player, breathing so loudly that I am sure sleeping people inside the houses can hear me--all of this was splendid.

It took a while after the brief jog to feel good (though I didn't feel bad). After I got ready for work, I felt really invigorated and alive. I only went around the block twice, running half and fast-walking the other half of each lap (you die-hard runners are probably laughing right now!). But it was nice, and I hope to continue.

Maybe I will run three sides of the block each time around tomorrow morning.

Maybe by the end of the week I will get up to three laps or four.

And if I get up to run early on Saturday morning...that means I will be awake to hit the westside Wichita Farmer's Market. Yay for the FM being back! Bonus!

Jes