Your only competition should be YOU!

Disappointment...that was the unexpected feeling that I got when I found out the results of the Big 12, 12k that I ran last Saturday.

What? Seriously? Why was I disappointed? I made a goal for myself to run an 8  minute mile for the whole race...and I did it. I accomplished my goal...

In fact I managed an average pace of 7:44 for over 7 of he hilliest miles I have ever run! 

Possibly the worst part of it all was that I was in NO WAY disappointed as I crossed the finish line. I was ecstatic. Not that you can see my excitement from this terrible photo (are all finish line photos bad?)

I was absolutely thrilled with my time and pace. Especially since I was faster towards the end of the race (which is always a goal of mine)

In fact, I was using this race to see if I was really ready for Heartland 39.3

 You see...my goal for the 3 half-marathons is an 8 minute mile pace and I told myself that if I could manage 7+ miles at that pace (or quicker) then I would for sure be ready...especially with an additional 4 weeks of training to go! So...as I crossed that finish line I felt nothing but joy...

I ran a 7:44 mile pace for 7+ miles on an extra hilly course...I just KNEW I was ready for a much less hilly course at Rock the Parkway. I was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait to see the official results.

Unlike other races I have run before, they didn't have a booth where they printed out your official results...so that meant I would have to wait until the race was completely over and they were posted online...bummer!

After the race we hurried home, got cleaned up, and loaded the car for our trip to Chicago...then as we were pulling out onto the road I looked up my results...

 

 I was SO sure I was going to place in my age group....and I saw that I ended up 5th in my age group and I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach.

 I was so disappointed. How? Why? Not fair!!! I had wanted SO badly to place in my age group!! Why is this so important you ask? Well, I have placed in my age group twice and seriously it was the best feeling ever...and it always seems as if in ALL of my races I always manage to place 4th or 5th...I'm always so close to placing in the top 3 I can taste it...

As I sit here and type this I feel stupid...I have been debating all week whether or not to even share this moment of absolute ridiculousness. 

And in the end I decided I had to share it...because let's face it...we have all been there. Whether it be in running or life in general...I think we all get caught up in comparing ourselves to others instead of celebrating our personal victories. 

As embarrassing as it is to admit I think deep down I wanted to place in my age group so I could prove that I was better than the other 30-34 year old runners (who are fast as hell by the way) and I let the fact that I didn't beat those 4 other girls ruin that I killed it in that race. I beat my goal...I showed myself that I can in fact "ROCK" that parkway in just a few weeks. I proved that all my hard work and training over these last 10 weeks has paid off. 

And that my friends...is stupid. I quickly (well...by the next day) remembered that my focus should not be on how I did compared to others...but it should only be on me.

Can I promise that I won't let this happen again? That I won't ever compare myself to others and get down on myself again? Probably not...it's a constant mental struggle for me. I always want to be the best...at everything...but it's so important for me to remind myself that there will always be someone better than me...and that's okay because if I choose to focus on me then I won't ever lose :)

Spring Break...Chicago style

After a much too fast long weekend in Chicago visiting AJ's sister; we are now home and nursing a pretty rough vacation hangover...and maybe a little bit of a real hangover? 

I rarely drink; but St. Patrick's Day is the holiday of my people (my ginger people) so I had to make an exception ;) Yesterday and today, along with my 2nd day hangover, reminded me as to why I don't drink very often...my ability to recover as I have gotten older is non-existent!! But...we had a blast; so I suppose it was worth it :)

Because I was running the Big 12, 12k we didn't get into Chicago until about 11:00 Saturday night (race recap soon!)

We got up early Sunday morning, had breakfast, and then hopped on the train into the city! I have to say...I love Chicago's public transportation. Taking a train > driving

We were in awe as we walked around downtown. The buildings are huge and seem to go on forever. Chicago makes downtown KC look VERY small!

They dyed the river green on Saturday...and by the time we saw it on Sunday it really didn't seem all that green. Bummer!

For lunch we had the BEST pizza I have ever had. Lou Malnati's...OMG! 

After lunch we decided we wanted to go to the Willis' Tower (Sear's tower) This was definitely a bucket list item of mine.

The views were incredible!!

I can't believe how big this city is!! I'm already asking AJ when we can move ;)

Monday we went to a town nearby to explore. We found this adorable little street with these incredible houses. They were only about one room wide...but they were really deep! 

This street of houses definitely seemed out of place...I wanted to badly to go for a tour and see the insides!

Monday evening we went bowling...this sign in the arcade area made me giggle :)

I'm a terrible bowler...luckily we were the only people in the bowling alley :)

After bowling we went to dinner at "Firken" and it looked like SPD had thrown up in there!! Of course, I loved it!

Tuesday morning we were up bright and early to take the train into the city. With it being SPD, we thought it was only appropriate to have a beer on the train :)

We stopped in the little French Market under the train station and I found the souvenir I just had to have...

Then we went to Millennium Park to see the bean! 

When we were planning this trip I told AJ the only thing we HAD to do was go see the bean...mission accomplished! 

I'm so lucky I get to marry this cool guy ;)

Two peas in a pod I suppose :)

Group shot!

We took close to 4 million photos of the bean, in the bean, and of our reflections in the bean. :)

Love a good photo-op!

After the bean we hopped on The L and headed for Wrigleyville. We found these really cool houses right outside the stadium. They basically had Wrigley Field in their front yard. Talk about good seats for the game! 

 Then it was time for random pubs and green beer...

And that's when things got weird ;)

We had such a fun weekend thanks to this lady!!

Luckily, I am off the rest of this week because of Spring Break...so now we recover properly, by doing a whole lot of nothing!

Thursday's Things: Your daily dose of randomness

Guess what I did yesterday?

Yep...I put my name in the lottery for the Chicago Marathon. I told myself (while training for the KC Marathon this last fall) that it would be my one and only. I was sure I was a one and done marathoner...especially after the heat of summer/early fall training and the lack of sleep that came with starting back to school and running so many miles. 

Buuuuuuut....after crossing that finish line in October I knew I wanted that feeling again...I knew that I wanted another chance to meet my goal of a sub 4 marathon. 

Then...we got engaged and started planning our wedding for the end of July. I knew then that training for a marathon during the chaos that the month of July is bound to bring would be silly so I decided that I would wait until spring or maybe the next fall....

Then the lottery opened for the Chicago marathon and I blacked out and signed up ;)

Just kidding...but what I did decide was that if I happen to get chosen in the lottery, then it would be a sign. A sign that I could balance the wedding, honeymoon, back to school crazies, and training for a marathon ;) I did it last year and I survived...and this time I would be going into it knowing what to expect. 

So now...we wait..

Is it April 28th yet?? 

The good news is training for Heartland 39.3 has picked up and I have my 35 mile weeks to distract me ;) 

And even though I only have one rest day a week from now until the taper...I don't mind because spring has sprung and I am wearing shorts and tank tops and running OUTSIDE!! It's so weird to think that just 2 weeks ago I had resigned myself to a lifetime on the treadmill because I was sure it was NEVER going to warm-up and melt outside! 

 ...and now this!!! I couldn't be happier :) 

Yesterday I ran 7 glorious miles (sorry for the poor picture quality...it was so sunny outside!! Thank you DST!)

and then hit the gym for some strength training and to attempt one of those super cool planking pictures...as you can clearly see...I failed.


Since I am super awkward and can't figure out a way to wrap up this post I thought I would leave you with this...What better way to start your Thursday than a cute little picture of my 2 (going on 22 year old niece) I mean...if this doesn't make you smile, you should probably get back in bed and call it a day ;)

Have you ever run the Chicago marathon?

How does one take a successful planking picture? Send help! ;)