Niki's Neverending Adventure

First off, I want ya’ll to go check out the awesome giveaway the Chic Runner is having! All you runners will love it!

I decided it would be fun to share my running story, how I got into it, etc. So here it goes! Sorry, it’s kinda long!

I was always very athletic growing up. I played soccer and softball since I was 4 years old until I started college. But, I didn’t like to run at all! I never saw that as a very fun sport. It just seemed so boring. After I started college and wasn’t playing any sports, I could tell I was getting a little bored. I am super competitive and need that in my life! One summer, 2005 I believe it was, I was at the lake with my cousin who is 3 years younger than me. She has always been into cross country and track so we decided one day to run those marvelous hills the lake has to offer! Well of course she did awesome but it was super hard for me! Probably didn’t even make it a mile or so! So being the competitive person I am, I decided this is something I want to be good at! So from there I started running 5-6 days a week trying to improve my mileage. Now it probably wasn’t the best time to start since it was in the middle of the summer but I was bound and determined!! I found a women’s only 5k in September that I decided to train for.

Once I did my first 5k, I was addicted. I did multiple 5ks and a 10k that fall and then decided that I wanted to do a local spring half marathon. So I started training. I was just amazed at how far I could run! It’s such an achievement when you hit those certain mileage milestones! So I trained really hard, ran about 6 days a week for months getting ready for this race. I was so determined to do well! So I ran the race, it was awesome and tough at the same time but I loved it. I don’t remember my exact time but it was 2:09:XX and I was proud of myself for going under 2:10!!

After this, I guess I was just burnt out. I took too much time off after the half and once I started to run again it was hard. And that was very discouraging. So over the next 3 years (Wow! I can’t believe it’s been that long!) I just ran on and off never really running more than 6 milers. I did a handful of 5ks but ended up being disappointed even more because my times weren’t what they were when I was really training hard.

This brings me to this past fall, 2008. I started really getting back into my running groove. I was running 3-4 times a week. I had a running partner who was super fast so she really pushed me. I think I was up to about a 7 or 8 mile run and was considering running the St. Jude half in December. I started playing soccer also in the fall, which I think was really a motivator for me to keep up on my running! Unfortunately, at the beginning of December, I rolled my ankle playing my first indoor game of the season and tore a bunch of ligaments in my left ankle. I was lucky I didn’t have to have surgery, only a cast and the boot. But it did put me out of commission for soccer and running. It was so frustrating because I was doing so well with my mileage and was back into my running groove and then all of a sudden this stupid injury sidelines me and I had to start over from scratch!

Well I was off for about 3 months with my injury so starting in March, I decided to run again. It was hard to start from nothing. I could barely run 2 miles! There is nothing worse than knowing how far you used to run and not being able to run half that. So it’s been a slow process building my mileage back up but I am so proud of myself that I running 6 milers now! My ankle still bothers me from time to time but luckily I’ve been able to increase my mileage without too much trouble. Unfortunately though, I am much slower than I used to be. This is the hard part. One part of me wants to start entering 5ks and 10ks because it’s fun and that’s the part of running I enjoy. But the other part of me doesn’t because I know my times are so slow and I will just be disappointed. It’s a tough battle! I am just hoping with more training and speed work, I can get back to the pace I was running 3 years ago.

I know that I am now into running for the long term. I feel so much better when I’m running and it’s something I really love. I am planning a few half's and possibly a full marathon in the upcoming year and I am very excited about that! Thanks for reading this very long post and thanks for all ya’lls comments and support! The blog world is a great outlet and an awesome way to hold myself accountable! You bloggies are awesome!!

Please feel free to share your running stories also! I love hearing how ya’ll got into the sport!

Posted in: on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at at 6:01 PM 3 comments    

Happy Tuesday everyone! How is everyone’s morning going so far? Mine is GREAT!!

I woke up at 5:30am and headed out to my parents house to do my long run. I just love the trails out there, it’s worth waking up a little early and driving there. Anyway, I ran 6 miles this morning like I had planned. I stuck to my usual hilly route and it was tough. I stopped at the water fountain at 4.4 miles just for the magic 3 sips of water and was back off again. I get so thirsty towards the last half of my run which is a new thing for me. However, I have never really trained during the summer so maybe this could be why I’m so freaking thirsty on my runs! Thank goodness for the water fountains! The last mile was tough but I just kept pushing and was so glad I did! I made sure to start off slower than I did last week so I could make the whole 6 miles and it worked! My legs are super sore now, they were sore when I started too, not really sure from what! Anyway, I am proud that I just keep pushing myself along with these longer runs! Now I just need to get a little faster! Hopefully in time:)

I am about to take Sadie for a nice relaxing walk and then head out shopping! Got to buy a laptop case and new school clothes! And yes, I really do need school clothes because we have to dress up everyday for class, like no jeans! So new clothes are in order! Hope everyone has a fabulous rest of the day!

Posted in: on at at 9:18 AM 7 comments    

Our soccer game yesterday was fun! We won 3-2, I think it was. Of course it was hot but since it’s Summer Soccer, we play 7 vs. 7 and it’s only half of the field size. But, that doesn’t mean your still not running alot! Luckily we had a lot of girl subs, 8! So I was able to chat alot with my team mates when I wasn’t playing! Our team has 1 co-ed and 2 men’s teams so I stayed for the first men’s game to root my guys on! They did great! It brings back memories of being at the soccer field all weekend for soccer tournaments when I was younger! I love it!

So today I am trying to be productive. I let myself sleep in until about 7:45 then headed out for a 3 miler. It was HOT! Check out how sweaty I look!

It always feels so great when you come back all hot and sweaty! What an awesome workout! Tomorrow is my scheduled long run, 6 miles. I am working on a pre-training plan to get me ready to start my half marathon training in about 5 weeks. So I will post that soon when I get it finished. After my run I took Sadie for about a mile walk and she was pooped when we got back! I also did an ab workout.

The rest of the day includes going to the grocery store, cleaning my house, killing some weeds in my flower beds, organizing my desk, and going to eat dinner at Bonefish with a friend! Hope everyone is having a fabulous day!

For those of you who have run half marathon’s before, what are your favorite training plans? I’m still trying to find one that I like best!

Posted in: on Monday, June 29, 2009 at at 11:32 AM 9 comments    

Today was my last day of work in the PICU before I start school. I will NOT be working at all when school starts in a few weeks. It’s that intense! My last day went well, although I am going to miss everyone! They surprised me and brought food and an ice cream cake!! Of course I forgot my camera so no pics:( I also got to go home early because a bunch of pts got transferred to the floor! Wohoo! Great way to end your last shift!!

No running today, it is a scheduled off day. Tomorrow starts summer soccer. Yes, it will be in the heat. But will be so worth it! Tomorrow our game is at 5pm. It’s gonna be a scorcher but I am so looking forward to it! Hopefully I will get to work on making myself a training plan sometime soon! I need organization!

Al and I went to see Transformers 2 yesterday and it was awesome! I totally recommend it! It was so real I actually felt like I was there in the movie! And who can pass up Shia LeBeouf and Josh Duhamel??

Hope everyone is having a GREAT weekend!

Posted in: on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at at 5:31 PM 8 comments    

I had every intention of getting up around 6am this morning and doing my speed workout either outside or on the treadmill. Well that being said, I had a little too much fun with the girls last night and consumed one too many glasses of wine! Ha! So I ended up sleeping in until 8:30 and still kinda have a headache:( Oh well, it was a lot of fun last night! So needless to say, it’s too HOT outside now to do it and I am really not feeling the treadmill. I even jumped on it and ran for like 3 minutes before I decided I was OVER it. So now I feel like a slacker. I have been doing so well waking up at the crack of dawn everyday to run and now today I’m disappointed in myself:( Do ya’ll ever feel this way when missing a workout?

I do have a little back up plan though. After I mow my yard I plan to go to my parents house to layout by the pool. So there I can swim some laps and then add in a strength routine/abs. I think this plan sounds good.

I have layed out at the lake or by the pool everyday for one week straight! Ha! I never do that! I am a very fair skinned person and probably have not been this tan ever! LOL. The only reason I am able to lay out everyday is that I have been off work for 12 days because I am trying to use up my vacation time before I quit for school! And tomorrow would be my last day of work! I am secretly hoping I am cancelled! It will be a bittersweet day though, I love all my co workers. Luckily we all see each other outside of work so it’s not like I will not see them at all!!

What’s everyone’s plans for the weekend?? Off to mow the yard!

Posted in: on Friday, June 26, 2009 at at 9:13 AM 6 comments    

So I know I said I was going on a run this morning, but last night I decided to cross train today and run tomorrow so my legs could have a day off from running. So this morning I got up at 6:30 and headed out for a bike ride. And wouldn’t you know, it actually felt slightly cooler this morning! Go figure, I am up and hour later and not running so of course it’s gonna feel cooler! Anyway, I normally ride my mountain bike, which I’ve had since like 5th grade. But this morning I decided to take out my dad’s road bike! Now, this bike is old, like older than me but it still works great! Didn’t get too much use over the years I guess! It’s on the small side so it seemed to fit me well. I LOVED riding this bike! Road bikes give a much better ride and I went so much faster! At one point, I got a bee in my shorts!! Yikes! Bet that was a funny sight to see! I was jumping around trying to get the bee out probably flashing my butt to the world! Ha! Speaking of butts, mine is so sore! Definitely need to invest in some padded shorts! I will definitely be doing more riding!! So here’s my stats from my ride:

Time:51:02

Distance:10.26miles

Max Speed: 18mph!!

Calories Burned: 394

Thought I did pretty well!! Ok, so I have some running and cycling questions for ya’ll.

1. Do ya’ll ride on the streets? I rode on some trails today but at some points there was a choice between a side walk and street. I chose the side walk because I’m still nervous to be on the road but I didn’t know what the right thing would be.

2. Speed work question: I don’t have access to a track so do ya’ll think it would be better to do my speed work outside on some flat ground or on the treadmill? I know either would work but what do ya’ll do/ prefer??

Ok off to wait on the plumber than back to lay out in the afternoon! Hope ya’ll have a wonderful day!!

Posted in: on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at at 8:12 AM 4 comments    

Ok I think I finally got my Twitter account working!! I was having issues following ya’ll and vice versa! So if you tired to follow me earlier on in the day make sure it worked!! It’s kinda addicting! Ha! Check out my cute little Twitter Button on my sidebar. Just click there to follow!!

So the plumbers couldn’t come today because they are all booked so my time frame tomorrow is from 9-12. Not too bad, just ready for my toilets to be fixed so I can stay at my house! So the workout plan for tomorrow is another run, hopefully 4 miles if my legs are up for it. I’m a little wary because of how tired they were this morning but we shall see!

I got a bunch of pics from my mom’s camera from this winter so I leave you with a very cute pic of Sadie in the snow!

Posted in: on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at at 8:11 PM 4 comments    

Ok I did it! Finally joined Twitter. For my username I decided on NikiRuns. Simple but perfect!! So come follow me! I still really don't know what I'm doing and when I try to follow some of ya'll it won't show up under my "follow" thing on my page so I'm not sure what's up. I will work on it though!!

Posted in: on at at 12:17 PM 7 comments    

Good Morning friends!! How is everyone's morning going? Mine is good so far! I was super tired when my alarm went off at 5:30 but I made myself get up to run. I was out the door around 5:45. I hadn't really planned out a specific number of miles, was just gonna see how I felt and decide from there. The verdict? Legs felt VERY sore and tired so I just busted out a slow 3 mile recovery run. It was nice and flat but definitely slow and steady! I really need to set myself up a training schedule so I have a more laid out pan of my workouts! Maybe I will work on that today!!

After my run, I took Sadie for a 1 mile walk and she was nearly attacked by a huge, mean dog! Not sure what kind of dog it was or where it came from but it ran up to us and was snarling and biting at her. Poor Sadie. No wonder she is such a scardy cat! Finally after I kept telling the do "NO" and to "Go Away", it did. Crisis averted!

I am currently still at my parents house waiting for the plumbers to call me and set up a time to come fix my toilets! I am not going to my house until I know they are coming because I know I will more than likely have to pee when I get there! Ha!!

Not sure if I will get to lay out today:( Depends on the plumbers. Also, who knew you where supposed to change the air filters in your Ac every couple months?? Not me! How was I supposed to know! I mentioned to my dad yesterday that my AC was having a hard time cooling my house down only during the day and he asked me when the last time I changed my AC filter. And my reply was "Never". Ha! So he is hopefully gonna come over after he gets back in town to check this situation out! Hopefully that easy fix will make my AC work at bit better!

I am hopefully gonna set up my Twitter account today so be looking for me! I will let ya'll know what I decide on for my username! Any more suggestions on this would be great too! Hope everyone has a GREAT Wednesday!

Posted in: on at at 8:20 AM 7 comments    

So I've decided to finally join Twitter and see what all the fuss is about!! But I need a username and I want something fun. I do want it to atleast have my first name in it but other than that have no idea! I will throw a couple out there that I've come up with but not sure if they are dorky or not:)
1. NikiDRunner
2. RunnerNiki

That's all I've come up with! haha Any idea would be greatly appreciated!!

Posted in: on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at at 8:07 PM 4 comments