Renegade Runner

My first trip to the gym in... two? Nope. Three months... Finally. And I lied, I actually went to the gym once in those 3 months, but I ended up just sitting in the cafe and eating. Like a hungry lifting fool who just maxed out in a hard core lifting session, and yet I had just walked in and sat down. Whew. Handing the front desk worker my card to swipe really wiped me out! Totally deserves a smoothie, sandwich, and a cookie!

I have been in denial of my pathetic-ness for about the same amount of months. There was something about my attitude that kept me in a state of flat out stupidity and I just refused to believe I had gone that far from what I wanted to be. Then, like so many times, Derick brought me back. This is why he amazes me-

Early Morning Conversation:
Derick- "Let's make a goal chart for the next 5 days and see if you can do it."
Lauren- "Why? I get out the door and run... most of the time."
D- "Well, you could be doing a little more."
L- "WHAT? For real? My hamstring just won't get any better, it is hard to run and all that stuff when your hamstring hurts that much, jeez."
D- "You could be doing some things to help your injury..."
L- "Like what? Foam roll, totally do that...ah sometimes. And I know I need to do more core, I just don't like that stuff. Its... hard."
D- "It will help you run better."
L- "Gah, well I don't have time. I have to cook, work, clean, and do all this stuff! When am I supposed to do this?"
D- "I will help. I'll cook on the nights you get home late so you don't have to worry. I just want you to be able to look back in a few years and know that you gave everything you could to be the best runner you could. I'm not trying to make you do anything you don't want to, and if you are happy where you are at right now, then we are right where we should be. But if you want more, work for it."

Who in the heck says that? Right, my incredible bearded wonder. See how carefully he leads me to my major realization? He lets me complain, lets me get all the crap out, and then, BOOM, wakes me up!

I became quite the whiner some where in the last year and Derick has slowly tried to help me steer back in the right direction. I sat there, curled up on the floor after a 4 mile run, and realized that I could not look back on what I was doing so far and be satisfied with it. I couldn't even be proud of my last 365 days. Perspective usually comes with time, and my timing could be viewed as both late and early. It has taken me a year of doing the same lazy routine to realize that it is not helping and I can't get faster with it. Wimping out for a whole year is pretty bad. On the other hand, I didn't need a lifetime to realize that I have more to give, more to run, and more to discover. Thank goodness Derick has his mature moments side. :)

Totally my choice. I can look back and have to be happy with where I am, or not be satisfied and I can create a stronger me. That is the theme for this season- take everything that I think is too hard and do it. A month ago, everything I tried to do made me more tired. This week, I did my Running Fit class with Run On! and I went to the gym. I had forgotten how great a lifting session could feel. Something has definitely changed. Earlier in the year I wanted to go out and do some of the strengthening work outs, but I was exhausted. Now, something is finally clicking and it feels good to make my arms sore. I have missed that feeling so much. I know I finally made the choice to make a solid effort, but it feels different this time. Sore and tired is so different from wiped out and exhausted.

Could it possibly mean I am finally adapting to life after college? I have heard it can take up to two years from other runners who have gone through it before. Sounds about right. I just can't believe the difference that I felt. The past year I was sleeping awfully, eating terribly, and not doing the extremely important "little things". Am I sleeping better? Nope. Eating better? Possibly, but not consistently yet. Doing the non-running workouts? Starting the routine. The future may not look better yet, but today sure looks a hell of a lot better.

This isn't an I'm-ready-for-the-Olympic-trials realization, but it is definitely a ready-to-be-the-best-runner-I-can-be sort of deal. And I am going to need some majorly awesome music blasting through my headphones in order to make this happen. Also, I took it as a sign at the gym when Forrest Gump was playing on the televisions they had up. Let's see what can happen when I finally have some steam behind my miles...

Some of the most truthful advice I have gotten in the past year:
"Real elite athletes don't have real jobs Lauren. All they do is run, train, and have more talent than you. So, you can't really work a real job and think you can compete with them."
---Luckily, I love a challenge, and that sure sounds like a great one. Plus, I'm not trying to compete with them (yet). I just need my two feet to take me as fast as they can. My real job will just have to pay the bills until my feet can.

On my way to becoming, in all ways, a Renegade Runner...
Bring the miles
Bring the challenges
Bring the reasons
Bring the hurt
And I'll bring the Renegade
(with smiles)

And the Turkey Trotted, Thought, and Thanked

Today is the day of feathers. By that, I mean today is Thanksgiving and no matter what kind of feathered wings you have, the best way to make room for all the wonderful food, family, and fun you will have on this day is to get outside and enjoy a RUN! Thanksgiving does not care if your feathers are worn out. Nor does this holiday mind if your feathers are a bit out of shape. Those wings of yours can be new, flashy, dusty, sharpened, tired, dirty, and/or downright developed but this holiday will take you. If you show the holiday some love with a little jog, it will love you right back. It will love you with creamy potatoes, sweeter than candy corn, mouthwatering turkey, unstoppable stuffing, and a whole buffet of desserts. So. Much. Love.

So today Derick, Sherlock, and I all went to the San Antonio Road Runner's Turkey Trot in Mcallister Park to stretch out our little feathers. I was first there to hand out some race fliers, but at the last second I couldn't resist the chance to keep the traditional turkey trot running streak alive. Luckily, even on race day at 8:33 am (the actual 4 mile race starts at 9 am) the race only costs 10 dollars to register! Great deal there! We parked at Blossom Athletic Complex and decided to run over to the park and use it as a warm up. The total mileage from our car to the actual starting line was almost perfectly 2 miles! Warm up- check! A little birdie had told us that the park was going to be shut down to all cars anyways so that the shuttle buses and necessary vehicles could have easy access to the roads and get all the racers to the starting line on time. It only took a few feet into the park to realize this had not been enforced. People were streaming in to the park in all sorts of ways- on foot, bike, and vehicle. The crowding had begun and was complicated by the people who decided to leave their cars inside the actual park. This makes it almost impossible for the shuttle buses to get through the park and drop off the racers fast enough! But besides the hassle of getting to and from the race, we had a great time!

The SARR Turkey Trot features a 4 mile course (3.87 mile by my garmin this morning!) that takes you through a fun portion of the paved trails in Mcallister park. There are some narrow spots and a few sharp turns, but the course is actually fairly nice. The park is a sort of twisted pretty. After doing the course for the second year, I am able to say it is well marked and the directors always have a blast starting the race. This year though, I almost missed a turn right before the three mile marker, but it was my own mistake and not for lack of flour markings. :) The mile markers were a bit off, but how many races like this do you think have actual accurate markers? Hell, how many races like this have markers? They start the race in waves, because of how tight the starting line is and the number of participants in the race. While our little race does not get the numbers like Houston and Dallas, the number jumped up to 3000+ runners and walkers this year! Big jump from last year, as the same number of total participants from last year had pre-registered this year! As the number of participants goes up, it may get harder to enjoy. The paths are probably wide enough to squeeze 4 runners across, but strangers racing together always mean a few less can fit because of boundary issues and courtesy. I already had to weave quite a bit through most of the race, and I started in the first wave (my fault for not getting out quick enough!)

Even if the number of participants keep rising for this race (like I think they will), the run over-all is worth, for traditions sake, the strategic planning and parking hassle required. The group that puts the race together puts in a lot of hard work and tries very hard to make sure people are having fun! The door prize turkeys are a great little extra flair as well. I also can't wait for the photos from the race! I noticed a girl running with an awesome turkey headband on the top of her head and would love to see it again!

I ended up finishing with a 24:39 for the 4-ish :) mile run. Not a terrible day for me. But by no means was it a rock-solid performance. I realized how much work I have to do over the next couple months! That is more helpful, to me, than running a super fast time! While I was just a hair faster than last year (still, 24 minutes is plenty of time to think), I am on much more shaky ground. A few work outs have been completed, but I can't seem to shake a nagging hamstring injury that keeps resurfacing from a race last March. I also struggled through my summer runs and the cross country season. I competed in one road 10k and in an alumni cross country race over that season and ended up with the same result- a stressed out hamstring and a questioning glance towards my future. I know I was more fit at this time last year, so it is time to put my nose to the grindstone and see what kind of a track season I can actually have!

DPU XC ALUMNI RACE 2011-
GIBSON FAMILY XC COURSE,
TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA

What ever the type of season I make for myself this year, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to keep running. While it doesn't always feel like the competitive and glamorous life I was picturing after graduating, I still am going to races and getting that same nerve rush before lacing up my shoes and putting on my uniform! I still have a goal to improve and to always do my best. My lack of blog updates has shown how much I have been taking for granted. That passion that I counted on through college and the time that I had  to dedicate are all things I struggle with now. But just when I don't think I have any reason to run, something always shows me that I am not done yet. What ever I can do this season I am dedicating to my sister, Deanna. She is an incredible basketball player at Adams State College. In her years as a Grizzly I have seen De become a force as a leader, player, and student-athlete. She has so much more ahead of her and I can't thank her enough for always continuing to inspire me and push me to be that athlete and person that she is. While she doesn't deserve the challenges placed in front of her this year, she is the only person I know who can handle, rise above, and use them to make her stronger. So that is what my goal is, to take my challenges, problems, and set backs and do what my sister does- come back even stronger from them! (De you truly are an incredible person and I am so thankful to have you as my sister!)

I am slowly finding the running community I was hoping to be a part of and I am so thankful for the groups out of Run On!, Trinity University, and my friends and family spread all across the world for helping me build up to becoming a better runner. Thank you for giving me a job, the support, and a hope for the future.

Derick, you always need to be thanked. I think I do a pretty good job of it, but I know  your ego won't mind a little more! Thank you for wanting what I can't sometimes and for staying tough with me!

Thank you legs for giving me the miles I want, the heart I need, and the dedication I crave. (Eventually...)

Giving thanks with smiles
And surviving the miles
Trot on, feathered friends...