Let's see, where was I.

Oh yes running.

I ran for the first real time since the bridge run this week.  Though my workout has been put on hold due to this terrible cold that has taken over my body.  On Mondays and Wednesdays, I get out of class at or around 6:00pm.  Since daylight savings time I am able to run in the evenings again, without it being dark. This makes me a very happy person.

Not me, this is Happy Frog Man

I didn't do my usual distance, but I felt like I could.  I may start working out other areas in the gym and running to supplement that.  My cardio could use some improvements, however my legs/shins have never felt better.  I don't feel all that tired when I run, but I do feel out of breath.  This is what's holding me back.

None-the-less, thanks for reading. Keep coming back for more!

10 Tips for the Bridge Run

I am by far an expert, but here's some advice for all those who care. 

If you're interested in the Cooper River Bridge Run, here are my 10 tips to help you along the way. 

1. Yes, there are a lot of people.  In 2012, the cap for the race was 43,000.  That's a LOT of people.  Don't be intimidated.  It is amazing to be a part of something so large.
   
2. Don't take it too seriously unless you're an elite runner (why would an elite runner be reading this though?).  I tried hard, but I also enjoyed myself.  There are costumes, crazy people, funny people, and generally awesome people.  Try to relax and enjoy your time.
   
3. If you want to eat at one of the more popular restaurants downtown after the race, make reservations early.  You can always cancel.
   
4. The bridge closes at 7am the day of the race.  If you parked in Mt. Pleasant, there are shuttle buses that will bus you back across the bridge after the race or you can just run/walk back across.  If you're staying in downtown, there are early morning shuttle buses that take you to the start.  Get there early.
   
5. I stayed in Mt. Pleasant (Patriot's Point).  There are many great hotels in the area and some of the ones on this side of the bridge are cheaper than the downtown ones.  Also, traffic sucks.  Just get used to it and be careful and courteous.
   
6. Bring a bottle of water with you.  Yes, there is water on the course, but you will want something while you wait.
   
7. Get to your corral early.  Once in line, be friendly to the people around you.
   
8. Smile a lot when you pass photographers or the scaffolding at the start and end of the bridge.  Makes for a better picture later. (Oh, and wear a unique shirt color if you're not in a costume.  Makes looking for your photos on the web easier).
   
9. Headphones.  I needed them to focus, but keep the volume low because people are all around you and may want to pass or have an emergency.  I have bluetooth running headphones, so I would just pause them in intense areas.
   
10. It's about 2 miles to the bridge.  One mile up the bridge (The uphill part is way more intense than you realize, especially if you've never walked/ran over it.  I walked this entire part, but ran some once I got to the top.) One mile down the bridge. And, a little over 2 miles to the end.  I recommend saving your energy once you're around 5K if you're a newbie runner like me.  It's easier to run once you clear the bridge as the smaller exit areas tend to bottleneck and slow down from time to time.
    

Ridiculously Photogenic Guy

Maybe you have heard of him?  I ran the same race as him.  It's like I personally know an internet celebrity.  Which isn't saying much.  And I don't really "know" Zeddi Little.

(But I would like to, although I read that he is taken. ) 

That's just not fair.  No one should look that ridiculously good looking during a 10K. 

I did not look that good looking, far from it.  

Not even that good looking BEFORE the race. 

Uphill (6% slope).  Definitely not a candidate for ridiculously photogenic gal. 

My day went a little something like this (TL; DR version*):

Up at 4 am.
Next to corral K at 6:15am.
Lined up at 6:45am.
Waited for an eternity.
Started race at almost 10am. (no, I'm not kidding).
Finished in 1.39 (Which is not bad for a newbie like me).
Total miles: 7.41 (I was a mile from the start).
Went back to the hotel and crashed, mostly from being awake since 4am.  

A more detailed account of my race experience is coming, but figured a short version would be nice. 

*In case you're unfamiliar, TL;DR = Too Long; Didn't read and is used to mean you don't need to read the whole thing, here's the basic story.

Spring and Charleston

Yes, I'm still alive.

I just haven't posted.  I have been busy lately, and had to give something up in order to accomplish the "must dos" of my weekly calendar.

I have been running and I am way excited to share with you what I did.

I ran a 10K.  Ok, well, I ran and walked a 10K.  Not just any ol' 10K.  The Cooper River Bridge Run.

So, me and around 43,999 other people lined up so early I questioned my sanity.  I will write a detailed post later, but for now I'll share a few photos.  First, let me explain what this is all about.  This run, affectionately called "the Bridge Run",  was started 35 years ago in attempts to increase awareness of physical exercise and raise money for education (ha, I think?).  I signed up as motivation to stick to running.  

It starts on a Saturday, and begins at 8.  This year, however, there was a very horrible delay.  Lots of people have posted information sharing their thoughts (positive and negative) and the board of the Bridge Run has issued several apologies.  

I hated the wait, but my thoughts on the matter are, I was there and had a great time.  Who cares?  

There is also a part of the race that includes costumes (costume contest at the end with a first prize of $1000).  So, lots of interesting sites were witnessed.  

Oh, I took this picture.  I also never want to see that again.

Who likes the Hangover? 

Pacman!

The Hangover guy taken at another angle. 

His real name was John.

I will post more stories and some tips if you're interested later! I hope to be back!! 

Odd Habits

I'm not superstitious, nor favor any rituals when it comes to running. I primarly set out on a run with my iPhone, Nike+ app (to track distance), the C25K app if I feel I need structure, and my running outfit.

I just have to have my iPhone with me and I love my new bluetooth wireless headset.  The latter, mainly because I don't trip over or do embarrassing things when the ear bud cord gets all wobbly and in my way.

<Insert picture or video of someone tripping all over themselves because of a headphone cord.jpg>

I couldn't find one, which makes me feel way more self conscious. 

Here is an unrelated video that's funny, however. 

I do, however, have a running shirt that makes me feel like a super person.  It's a tad geeky, but I think every time I've ran with it I've outdone a previous time or distance record.  It is also the first shirt I put on when I began this trek many months ago.  I don't think I'll ever be able to get rid of it because of this.

The shirt:

The online version
You can purchase one like this at my favorite geek store:  Think Geek

I picked it up at the blue on a vacation last summer because it was the last day and I hadn't bought myself anything other than dinner and a drink. I think the key to it is that it's comfy and hides anything that jiggles unwantingly.  Those confused by this post should refer to this post right over here.

Legen....

Do you have someone that runs with you?  Or that person who's always cheering you on?

This is pure awesomeness.

I don't.  And I'm not posting this to elicit sympathy.  I'm posting this for others like me.  I post every post for other people who may be going through the same thing I am.  For people who are trying to get fit for THEM.  For you.  Not to please a significant other or make your momma proud, but to get fit because it means a better you.  *cue uplifting music* 

Seriously, what drives you to keep running?  Because work out buddies are great and sorta keep you on the path to do better, but what force do you have that is a little reminder to keep it up? 

This is mine. 

You can find out more info here and here.

It's a 10K.  A freakin' 10K.  

At first, I thought, "There is no way I can enter that yet. I am so not ready."  

But then I read some more and found a category that is Walk/Walk Run.  Well hell, that's what I do anyway.  That's what the C25K is. Walk...then run...then walk... and so on until you're running.  But, a 10K is not the same as a 5K, duh.  

I'm still doing it.  I registered yesterday as a matter of fact.  By myself.  I do have a friend going down with me that is going to cheer me on, but that's it.  I am a little scared and overwhelmed, but I'm gonna do it. 

I Couldn't Believe it!

Being a waitress has given me a lot of things in life.  Mostly a disdain for the general public.  However, as I was getting a pedicure one day, the technician (What else do you call someone who does pedicures?) mentioned that I must be on my feet a lot because my calf muscles are very developed.  This was before I started running, and I realized that it could only be attributed to work.

Let me explain.  I don't take breaks*.  On most Fridays and Saturdays (and various other days when I'm covering someone else's shift), I work 9 plus hours without sitting down.  That's 540 minutes at the very least without sitting down.  Go ahead, try it.  I'll wait.  Make sure you have some damn comfy shoes on, cause even with the best shoes, my feet still hurt at the end of the day.  I realized, on a very populated and busy day, that I could totally do a marathon, if I could get the rest of my body in the same condition as my legs. 

That's actually me....on the news waitressing.  

Not long after, I started running.  The C25K program has really given me the encouragement to run, as well as forums and other blogs that have given me the advice and tips I needed to learn to run properly.  I still need to work on my stamina and improve my cardio, but my legs.  My legs never get tired.  Not like other people's, who's comments are their legs hurt or they felt like lead.  I just usually run out of breath or get a side stitch that feels like a little demon has suddenly tried to escape from my rib cage. 

What's the point in all this blabbering?  When I do something on the bike machine, I feel like I've cheated.  2 miles in 9 minutes?  I wasn't really even all that sweaty when I finished. My legs are strong, but I still feel like it's a good way to warm up muscles in a gym.  

Proof of my 2 miles in 9 minutes
* If you look at the status chart (the green dots) , I went up and down in resistance* 

So, I started off the other night on the bike machine to loosen up.  Then moved on to treadmill, elliptical, and finished with the track.  I was wary to walk (or power walk) on the track, because I knew I'd mix up how far I'd gone.  So, I tried my Nike+ app and it worked.  

This is what I did TOTAL: 

That's 6.5 miles in 1 hour and 12 minutes.  

That's more than a 10K!  and in a little over an hour. 

I was so proud of myself.  

Moral of the story?  Push yourself to do a little bit more each time you workout.  Keep it realistic and be proud of what you're doing.  

And remember that it doesn't matter how fast you're going, you're still lapping the people on the couch. 

*Disclaimer, I legally am allowed to take breaks, and I realize that, but I don't want to give up tables or leave my tables in the lurch.  I'm what they call a "good" waitress. 

Updates

Let me start by saying that I realize I haven't posted in quite some time. Rest assured, however, that the cold weather and prolonged absence doesn't mean that I quit running. I did cut back on it, especially around the holidays. I have to rant here that shorter days during winter suck when you prefer running outside. With family obligations, two jobs, and school I couldn't find time to run outside. So, I've started running and working out at the gym.

This was the first real day of working out at the gym. 

I start at the bike machines, and go until I do about 2 miles.  If you look above, I did 2 miles in 9 and a half minutes.  Not to bad for a chubby white girl.

My breakdown of my first gym workout includes:

• A couple of miles to warm up on the bikes. 
• Next, I move on to the treadmills (which I hate) and do about a mile. 
• Finally, I graduate onto the ellipticals.  Which I love because it feels like running without stress on your joints.  

The first day, I did this: 

The top number is the treadmill (1.06 miles in 17.40 minutes), followed by the elliptical (1.5 miles in 19.05 minutes), and finally, the bikes that I started on (2 miles in 9.33).  

I have more posts coming, but I just wanted you to know that I'm back, and have been running.  I also have some news to share!   Stay tuned.