To accomplish great things, we must not only
act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe. 
~Anatole France
Running for Rhinos
  • Home
  • Rhinos?
  • About Me
    • Bio
    • Races >
      • Photos
    • US Map - 50 Races
  • Blogs
    • My Life
    • News
    • Running
  • Donate
  • Links

Busch Gardens Run for Wildlife 5K

11/21/2015

0 Comments

 
So, lo and behold, I had a race during my rejuvenated training regimen!

I ran three times last week - a mile (or slightly more) each time.  This week I had a longer workout on Sunday.  My boyfriend Alan and I took Honey (our dog) with us...we walked 1.5 miles, ran 1 mile and walked 1.5 miles.  And then the rest of the week was busy with work and us celebrating Alan's birthday, so I did not get my mid-week run in, despite bringing running gear on our little getaway to St. Pete.  Oh well.

This morning I got up at 6:30 am and since everything was ready and waiting for me, I was out the door and on the way to Busch Gardens rather quickly.  I gave myself more time than last year, so I was not rushing to a parking spot and despite some traffic, it only took me about 10 minutes of waiting to get one.  I had time to hit the porta-potty and ran into my keeper friends from Disney - Craig and Melaina - as well as co-workers Christy and Morgan dressed as wildebeest.  We all chatted a bit before the race started and I got some quick photos as the start gun was going off, and then we were running through the park.

It was great to see fellow zookeepers along the way - staff from Bird Gardens, Myombe, Edge of Africa and Jungala.  And it's always fun to run past the animals.  Although I didn't stop to take any pics along the route - Melaina is a fast one! - I did see the cheetahs, flamingos, tortoises, tigers, alligators, and we heard the lories.

Despite a ~2 minute walking break (that Craig and Melaina were kind enough to join me on), I still managed an 11:01 pace per mile for a total race time of 34:08.1.  So, it wasn't my best 5K time ever, but I'm pretty proud of myself for running almost the entire race with very little training.

I realize that even though I'm not seeing results NOW - other than being able to run more than a mile without completely dying - it will take time to see more results, i.e. weight loss.  That is my primary goal at this point - to get healthier and lose some weight.  I was pretty low during my marathon training.  I hit 199 at one point, but I have now returned to my prior-to-marathon-and-possibly-worse state and I do not find it acceptable.  I am trying to change my eating habits, but that is a lot harder for me than going for a 3 mile run.  They are habits after all, and I am the pickiest of eaters.  With time, and hopefully with resolve, I will be able to physically better myself.
0 Comments

So...Um...Yeah.

11/12/2015

0 Comments

 
I fully realize that I've devoted little time to this blog and that is mainly because I've also devoted little time to running.

I've let my body get to a point where I am unhappy with it, and certainly not anywhere close to "marathon-shape."  At the same time, I realize that training for a marathon was a part-time job and I am not in the same place, vis a vis my personal life, that I was at that time.  I am very happy with my boyfriend and to be completely honest, I enjoy spending a lazy morning with him more than I do sweating and tiring myself out for hours on end.

That being said, I've instituted a new running "program" in which I currently run three times a week - Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, and on the off-chance I break my promise to myself, then Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.  I visited my parents in chilly Massachusetts at the beginning of November and used the cooler weather as a launching pad for my new regime.  I ran twice when I was home (3 day visit to see my Mummu) and walked 2 miles with my Dad as well.  Those excursions basically told me what I already knew - that I was out of shape - and allowed me to be honest with myself - I need to get back in shape.

I have tried my boyfriend's gym, but seeing a bunch of muscled gym-boys peacock around each other does not encourage me to return --- until I can peacock as well, of course.  So, running it is.  I find it relaxing and meditative and it's about time I turn this flab into fab again.

So, hopefully, I will be writing on here a lot more.  My first week back, I ran a mile on each day - Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.  My boyfriend and our dog joined me on Tuesday's run (that's my "Saturday") and it felt good.  I was able to get up early enough - on my weekend! - that it was only sweltering instead of scorching.  I signed up for the Busch Gardens Run for Wildlife 5K so there's that to try to not embarrass myself at, but my time will be nothing like last year's and that's okay.  I hope to continue my quest for a half in every state this year, but as the Wildfire Half Marathon in Denton, Texas in July taught me...I will be training for them.  :)
0 Comments

    Archives

    December 2018
    June 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    2014 Gasparilla Half Marathon
    50 Halfs In 50 States
    5K
    Aazk
    Alligator
    Beach
    Bfr
    Biking
    Bowling For Rhinos
    Bull Mastiff
    Busch Gardens
    Busch Gardens Cares
    Cancer
    Copeland Park
    Cross Training
    Cross Training
    Cross-training
    Discovery Cove
    Disneyland
    Disney World
    Dogs
    Downton Abbey
    Elliptical
    Energy Gel
    Epcot
    Fireworks
    Flatwoods Park
    Forerunner 35
    Fundraiser
    Garmin Forerunner 110
    German Shepherd
    Gym
    Gym Circuit
    Half Marathon
    Hashing
    Home
    London
    Magic Kingdom
    Maine
    Marathon
    Marathoning For Mortals
    Massachusetts
    Oz
    Pokemon
    Pool
    Raccoon
    Race
    Rec Card
    Rhode Island
    Running
    Ryan Lochte
    Save The Rhino
    Scuba Diving
    Sea World
    Snow
    Speedo
    Summer Nights
    Surgery
    Swimming
    Swimsuit
    Tampa
    Tempo Run
    The Loop
    Theme Park
    There And Back
    The Voice
    Training
    Treadmill
    Upper Tampa Bay Trail
    Usf
    Waffles The Cat
    Weight Lifting
    Weight Lifting
    Wildlife
    World Trail
    Zoo

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.