The Anti-Running Runner

At 6:30 AM on Jan 19th, hubby dropped Alyssa and I off at Coachman Park. A ride to and from any race is such a blessing. Alyssa and I have decided it's essential for a marathon. We don't recommend driving yourself if you don't have to. A side trip about my pre-race eating habits: I have finally learned what works best for me and my uber-tender running stomach. It tells me loud and clear what it does and doesn't like. The problem? During long runs when I haven't eaten the way my body wants me to, what I have often felt is motion sickness. At least, that's the closest thing I can compare it to. Once in the fall during a late evening run with Hea (18 miles), it felt like that creature from Alien was about to burst through my diaphragm. Mainly because I ate a sea salted almond around mile eight. Body rejected. It should've been an unsalted almond, but now I can't eat any type of almonds before or during a run. The other thing I've learned is tha...

This is one of those races I'll remember forever. And this is why... My cousin, Alyssa, and I ran in costume FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! If you can't tell....she is Tinkerbell and I am Ariel. Well, we are their running versions. We talked about doing a Disney race dressed up, but we gave up and finally decided this Halloween race would be the perfect opportunity for way less $$. She brought her two friends, Alicia and Katherine, who were so sweet and fun.   Katherine is a fairy friend of Tinkerbell's and Alicia is Cruella De Ville. I was so shocked that Alyssa and I finished in 2:21 because I thought the wig at least would slow me way down. Turns out the outfit was one of the best I've ever run in. I got the shirt because it was purple and looked mermaidish. I just can't run in a sports bra, and I know that probably would have made it more obvious that I was Ariel, but oh well. It was such a comfy top. The running skirt had spa...

I got a new running skirt for $10 at the Gasparilla Expo. I love getting running stuff at expos because they usually mark down their products. Sometimes way down. Lance and I ran today and I wore the skirt for the first time. I really like it. I can't even say why, except that it was fun to feel feminine while running. I love that picture of the beautiful and sleek runner with a great stride that says: "This is how I feel when I run." Then at the bottom there is a little girl veering rather than running and her face is skewed: "This is how I actually look." I know that is so true because out of hundreds of photos from the photographers who come to races, I think I've only looked good in about two of them. I guess it doesn't hurt to try to boost the feeling when there's nothing I can do about how I actually look while running. It even has a key pocket! I have good intentions for my running, but I don't always follow through. I want to mak...