Where's the Beach?

As I mentioned, I may have taken a break from blogging , but I jumped right back into running and racing. Downtown Dash After the Little Rock Half Marathon, I was signed up for the Downtown Dash 10K to support the Junior League. I had done this race last year, and thought it'd be a good race to try to help me continue to regain my endurance, and confidence truth be told. Though, I knew that the course was kind of tricky. It's a double loop and there are some challenging long, gradual inclines. It may not be a straight up big hill, the those gradual inclines really sneak up on you. The race started just over a mile from my house, so I did a slow, easy warmup run down to the start. Only it was warm and humid. I knew right away it was not going to be a good running day. Not only was my cardio still down, but the humidity is never good for my asthma. I lined up near the front. Unfortunately, several kids and slower runners did as well. It's a small race so maybe it...

Did you race this weekend? It seemed like there were tons of St. Patrick's Day races going on. I had signed up for a new 10K - the Downtown Dash - put on by the Junior League. They had a 5K and 10K. Because it was an inaugural race, it was fairly small. I believe I heard that they had 500 people sign up overall for both race events. Of course, I think that's pretty good for a 1st time race. The race was downtown, my running grounds. I knew the route really well with the exception of one small stretch. I knew where the gradual inclines were as well as the downhills. So I felt really prepared for this race, with the exception of typical race-day nerves. Initially I had pulled out a tank top and shorts for the race, but then it ended up just a bit cooler than I had expected - around 48 degrees and damp. I made a quick top change then headed out to do an easy run down to the start of the race - 1.2 miles to be exact. It was a great  way to warm up before the race and t...

Saturday morning I ran my first 10K. I've done my share of 5K races, which I can't stand. Then I moved right into half marathons because I fell for the longer distances. Around here, we don't have many half marathons or 10K races actually. Oh and I really don't like racing, so I've never had the urge to sign up for a 10K. But this year, well, it was different. I've never done one, my pace has gotten better, and I felt the need to prove something. Finding out that I had a blood clot in December has definitely changed my perspective on so many things. First off, I wasn't sure I'd run again. Not just the coming back from being idle, but the blood clot ordeal itself, my overall health. It was hard. Beyond hard. Not only physically, but mentally. I question every single twinge, possible pain, even shortness of breath. I worry that I have clots forming constantly - like they are invading my body. So to have already run a half marathon means so much more than...