New Shoes are ALWAYS Motivating!

Time: 5:30 pm (10/22)

Trail: Blackhawk

Weather: windy, about 70*

Distance: 4 miles Week Total: 10 miles

Marathon Training Total: 29 miles

Yesterday my excuse to not run was going to be because of the wind. We went to a job fair yesterday and it's failure made me not want to be active. It was rather windier then usual so I was trying to use that as my excuse. After the fair and hanging out w/ my jobless homies, I went to pick up my running shoes that came in the other day. As soon as I tried them on at the store, my feet loved me again! I new right then I had to go running!!... and running I did! I ran 4 miles. Barbs was suppose to meet me out there w/ Bella. The last leg of my run... I saw them and Bella had a big smile on her face happy to see me! Such a good running day! =)

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!!!

Time: 5:30 pm

Trail: Neighborhood

Weather: cloudy skies, rainy, 80*

Distance: 4 miles Week Total: 7 miles

Marathon Training Total: 25 miles

I had to cut down my 5 mile run today to 4! Ughhh I seriously hate rain!! I waited all day for the rain to pass, but it never came so I decide around 5 ish to go out and run. I was about a mile away from my turning point and I start to feel light mists of rain. I knew that was my cue to just turn around from where I was at, so I did. I figured I could take the long way back home to make up for the lost coverage and if it got worse then I would just head home. The mists were just mists of water until I got to about a quarter of a mile before it starts to really sprinkle, so again, I decided to cut the run short and head home. By the time I was on the long stretch back to the neighborhood, that's when it started RAINING! The only thing I cared for was my iPod, so I tried to turn it and hid it between my arm and my body.

I really hate the rain. I guess I can just make up my mile tomorrow. Maybe I should bring an umbrella with me on days like this? The good news for today though is that I got a call that my shoes came in!! Time to go pick them up!! WoOoHoOo~!!!

Mind Over Matter... So I think about SURFING!

Time: 9:15 am

Trail: 3 mile neighborhood course

Weather: mild warmth, slight breeze, light humidity about 85*

Distance: 3 miles Week Total: 3 miles

Marathon Training Total: 21 miles

Today was definitely a Jack Johnson day. I pumped myself up for the eazzy breezzyy 3 miles to Step into a World (Rapture's Delight) by KRS-One only to psyching myself out! I don't know if it was because of the lack of sleep I got or because I ran earlier then usual, but these 3 miles today were not breezzyy at all!!! I did a 3 mile course around the neighborhood (tracked by www.mapmywalk.com) which didn't seem that long at all, but I had to ask God for endurance the entire way!! As I got closer to the house, I had to relax my mind because I was starting to get anxious about getting closer to home. When I get anxious, I seem to run faster and then I wear myself out even more and end up walking, and that was the last thing I wanted to do. So I started thinking about surfing. What's more relaxing then a good day at the beach surfing with a friend? =)

This particular surfing episode I had running through my mind was the day I took a friend surfing for the very first time. One of the best feelings in the world to me is teaching someone how to surf for their first time. I wanted to share surfing with this particular friend because he was going through a tough time in life at that moment. Robert August has for sure gotten me through periods in my life, so I wanted to share it with him. Like everyone I've taught, they're clumsy at first, but they eventually get the hang of it. At the end of any session, no matter how hard of a time you had, you go home smiling because that's just what surfing does to you.

This run was definitely humbling! After running 7 miles on Sunday without any problems and then having the hardest time today, I was reminded that running is nothing but a mental game. Once again I have to scream: I DID IT!! -- because this run was really challenging!!

I DID IT!!!!!

Time: 4:00 pm

Trail: Blackhawk

Distance: 7 miles Week Total: 18 miles

Marathon Training Total: 18 miles

Going into this run I was nervous. As soon as I stepped foot on the sidewalk that lead me to the trails, I prayed. I prayed hard that God would help me get through the run without any complications and without stopping. I was afraid I would fail this long run since it was my first long run. I didn't know how my body would react to it, but overall, it reacted rather nicely! I was proud of my work! It might not have been at a really fast speed, but it was a very comfortable pace. My right ankle is hurting a little bit when I walk on it. I hope it's just because I need new shoes. Hopefully I'll be able to get to the shoe shop tomorrow and get some new running shoes.

I made a new playlist of songs for this long run. I put so many songs on this list that I didn't get to listen to everything. I was afraid the songs would get me off pace, but I'm actually starting to run to my own pace rather then to listen to the song and let it pace me. This run was a really good run, I'm so proud of myself!!

Running as the Sun Goes Down

Time: 6:40 pm

Track: Blackhawk

Distance: 3 miles Week Total: 11 miles

Marathon Training Total: 11 miles

Mother Joy decided to come out with me today. I normally don't like her coming with me at this time because it gets dark early, and I hate knowing I left my mom out in the dark abyss by herself with no one to protect her but Caramel & Mini with their tongues hanging out.

Easy 3 miler today. I hate running when it gets dark. That's when the largest mosquitos like to come out and play. Of all the years that I've ran at that trail, this year is the first time they've ever had cops out there patrolling the path. A cop on a bike did a last tour of the trails to make sure everything was ok. It's nice to see that. I wonder if there's one out there in the mornings, I would really LOVE to get up early and run in the mornings again!

My Current Love Interest

This is the kind of rock star boyfriend I want.

John Mayer... I've fallen in love with you again!

WHAT?!! Week 3 Already!?!?!

Time: 6:30 pm

Track: Blackhawk

Distance: 4 miles Week Total: 8 miles

Marathon Training Total: 8 miles

I was soooo happy that I finally found my Marathon Book! This is what gets me through any running adventure I put myself through. There's a schedule in there that I like to follow and I needed it to help me train for the Houston Marathon. Anyway... when I went through it, I was saddened because I realized that I'm 2 weeks behind in my training!! Uuuugggghhhh!!! It's ok. I think I'll be able to survive 7 miles as my first long run.

I had my phone again on this run because a friend's car died and I had to make sure he could get a hold of me in case he needed to. I took a pic some kids that were ahead of me. I enjoy seeing people out there being outside. When they first had the track, it was usually only me and a few runners. Now you see all sorts of people out there... bikers, rollerbladers, walkers, and of course runners. They've even created a little path that winds through the woods.

Lately, when I've been running, it feels like I have a new set of lungs. I don't know why, but it's not hard for me to breathe. Maybe it's just from my years of running and I've created for myself some "running lungs" haha... I wish. Anyway, foreal, I never feel like I'm huffing and puffing anymore. Oh yeah... and my appetite is slowly coming back... geezusss!

Heavy Breathing

Time: 5:30 pm (Tuesday 10/13)

Track: Blackhawk

Distance: 4 miles Week Total: 4 miles

Weather: HUMID!!!! So humid, it felt like 99*

Tuesday was my first run this week due to our unpredictable weather. Barbs texted me today and asked me what I was doing. At that time I wasn't really doing anything, and I asked her if she wanted to go to the park and run. She said she had Bella, but she'll come out so they can play at the park. The two of them come over and we set up her new Barbie ATV. Man, she's such a divaaa and only 2 1/2 years old! haha..

Today's weather was sooo gross! It's what I like to call... mosquito weather!! The mosquits come out from their hiding and just love to eat away at your body. Texas mosquitos are no joke too, they're huge!!! Some of them get soooo big that their little bodies are red from blood. They don't really bother me when I'm running because I like to think I'm too fast for them to land on me, but I worry about them in this kind of weather because sometimes you get lucky and eat a bug or two. hahaha... so disgusting, it's happened to me a few times. I have to stop and cough. Foreal though, the humidity was thick!! I was having a hard time breathing having to take in more oxygen, therefore increasing the risk of inhaling a damn mosquito. Aye! Gotta love Houston weather!

Proof of My Run

Time: 10:00 am (Satruday 10/10)

Track: Blackhawk

Distance: 3 miles Week Total: 3

Weather: Overhead clouds, slightly humid 68*

I didn't have a chance to blog my run from Saturday, but this is my view at the end of my runs at Blackhawk. I normally don't bring my phone out there, so I thought I would make use of it and take a picture of what I see running. I had my phone out there because I downloaded a new app that tracks your steps and wanted to try it. It worked alright, but then it stops counting your steps when your phone goes into lock mode. Supposedly it tracked a little over 6,000 steps, but who knows. Honestly, I think I did more then that because that thing kept going into lock mode. It's really annoying to me to have something in my hand while running. The only thing I've ever been comfortable running with in my hand is a rosary, but I lost my mini rosary.

See... I told you I need new shoes. The first part of my run was actually achy! That's the first my knees actually felt old and my feet were just straight up hurting. There were many times that I just wanted to stop... but I made myself slow down my pace and keep running. It doesn't really matter how fast you're going, unless of course you're running to race, but I just didn't want to walk. Finishing takes a lot longer when you're walking, it's better to just decrease your pace and continue with a light jog. Overall it was good run.

I found this website called mapmywalk.com. OMG it's awesome!! That's the first running site I've found that let's you create running tracks for yourself. So now I have an idea of how many miles the runs I do around the neighborhood instead of estimating it by driving the path! =) It's pretty cool. It uses a satellite map and you can actually your house. In fact, it even has our old red truck on there! Runners, bikers, walkers, hikers, whatever you need tracked... go check it out!! =)

I'm a slow motion accident....

So how do I do normal?

A smile I fake the permanent way.

Cue cards and fix-it kits,

Can't you tell?

I'm not myself.

This insomnia is starting to become ridiculous!! Another restless night and the song I have on repeat is Hear Me Out by Frou Frou. As e-mo as this song is and despite the emotions it reminds me of, it's still freaking awesome! I love a good song that no matter the sad memories it brings back, you can still listen to it because the song itself over powers any feelings it brings about. Her voice is so soothing and the lyrics are so mesmerizing that it makes me think that I'm going through a break-up right now! haha...

Anyways.... even if this song is about breaking up and not being over someone, I can still empathize with the melancholic sounds and feel the pain in her voice.

Geezusss.... I shouldn't have watched Garden State, that's probably why I can't sleep!

Funky Cold Medina

Funk - dejected mood.

Deject - to depress the spirits of

The last time I was in a funk it was a 3-day marathon of The OC, this time it's Greek.

It's been a while since I've been back from the Big Apple and I can't seem to get Alicia Keys' voice out of my mind. The city was amazing! It was an unknown world to me that stimulated all 5 senses! Every corner there was something new to taste... down the street there was something to look at... 5 feet away was the sound of a honking horn... your body was warmed up underground waiting for the subway... and the smell of the city reminded you why trees are

important. At times the pain in my feet brought me back home, reminding me that walking as a form of transportation was a joke back in Texas. New York was a blast.

Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty state!

Going from the largest city back to the largest state in America, I can't help but to contemplate the differences. As big as our great state may be, it is far beyond the lifestyle in New York. Life seems to stand still here. You can't look out the window and expect to see people walking to work. Coming from a walking community to a city where a car is a necessity has brought me to this funk. I can't seem to get anywhere!

This funky feeling has gotten me to watching GREEK!!! For those of you who've yet to catch on to this series, it's about college life in a very true, yet corny way. The acting is horrible and towards the end of season 2 is when the drama gets exciting.

"So what have you been doing?" --- The question I HATE to answer with all my heart. What the heck do you think I have been doing??!! I'm literally stuck!! I feel like I jumped out of the boat knowingly that I can't swim, yet I try anyways. Then there I am and the panic starts to overcome me, yet no one wants to throw me a life saver. No one notices I'm struggling to stay afloat. My pride with holds my screams, yet the splashing I'm making doesn't seem to attract any attention at all. I'm almost to the point of drowning.

Someone please go fix the Lex!!! That's all I ask.