Gate River Run

Growing up in Jacksonville, the Gate River Run has always been a prominent tradition in our community. It's one of the most significant weekends of the year in our fair city, for both runners and non-runners. If you've never thought of running as a spectator sport, then you've never been to the Gate. A large portion of the race is throughout neighborhoods and people go all out, throwing huge parties in their yards. The entire 9.3 mile race route is basically lined with spectators. Some just cheering you on with signs and music, others handing out water and snacks, some even bold enough to offer you beer or mimosas, and food straight off the grill. I have no idea who could possibly manage to drink a beer and eat a bratwurst while in the midst of running 9 miles (definitely not me), but the option is there if you want it. Whether you're running the race or just partaking in the festivities, this is definitely a big day for all Jacksonville residents.

I've never been a runner. In fact, up until about two years ago the farthest I could ever manage to run was about half a mile. After that, I felt like I was going to die. In the summer of 2013, I decided that I wanted to try and run a 5k. I trained for about a month and accomplished my goal of running an entire 5k race without stopping or walking. I thought that was the end of my running career. I always dreamed of possibly running the Gate once day, but I never thought it would be possible. I struggled enough with running a 5k start to finish, so having to run three times that far seemed completely out of the realm of possibility. Then last year Jared ran the Gate while I was pregnant and I was super jealous. Seeing him accomplish what I had always dreamed of doing made me think that maybe I could actually be crazy enough to try it for myself.

After Peyton was born last summer, I had a new sense of self-confidence. Delivering a 10 pound baby with no drugs makes you feel like a superwoman. I was convinced that my body could do absolutely anything. I decided that if I could power through natural childbirth like a champ, then surely I could run 9.3 miles. So I signed up for the Gate in October. I hoped that signing up 5 months in advance would give me plenty of time and motivation to train for the race. I was wrong. Apparently, I'm still a procrastinator at heart...you'd think I would have grown out of that after college. Not the case. The new year rolled around and I still had yet to begin my training. Finally in late January, I began a very inconsistent running routine. I managed to run a 10k (6.2 miles) the Sunday before the Gate and up to that point, that was the farthest I had ever run in my entire life.

Going into race day, I knew that there was no way I would be able to run the entire race. I decided that my goal would be 7 miles (a personal record for myself) and then if I had to walk the last 2 miles so what. The 8th mile (out of 9.3) of the race is up and over the Hart Bridge (nicknamed "The Green Monster") and I knew that I wouldn't dare to try and run that mile of the race because I've heard the horror stories the thought of having to run up a bridge after already running for 7 miles terrified me. I was perfectly content with the idea of having a nice walk up the bridge enjoying the beautiful view.

Race day finally arrived and I was pretty nervous. I do not run with other people. It is not a social activity for me. In fact, I don't want anyone I know running anywhere near me. I hate feeling pressured and watched by other people when I am trying to run. I'm not a competitive person at all so I do not derive motivation from other people, I just get angry and uncomfortable and self-conscious. Therefore, Jared was instructed to part ways with me at the starting line. Plus, I knew he wanted to run at a faster pace than me so I didn't want to hold him back.

Getting ready to line up at the starting line...here goes nothing!

I was pretty proud of myself for keeping the same pace for the entire race. I knew it would be hard to maintain my pace at the beginning of the race because I would be all amped up for the race and everyone else would be taking off fast right off the starting line. I quickly realized that majority of the runners in my wave (12-13 minute mile pace) only run across the starting line for the picture and then about 100 yards out, they all just stop running and start walking. Slackers. This totally threw me off because I was just running along nice and slow and everyone was blowing past me and then all of a sudden I hit this wall of people who just came to a halt out of nowhere. I literally almost ran into a bunch of people. It was so frustrating. I basically spent the rest of the race weaving in and out people who would just randomly stop in the middle of the road. I'm pretty sure that I actually ran an extra half mile or so simply from crossing back and forth across the road constantly.

The first 5k of the race was super easy even with having to go over the Main Street Bridge during mile two. By the time I hit the 10k mark, I was pleasantly surprised by how awesome and energetic I still felt (thanks to my GU Chomps). I also felt a little extra kick of adrenaline because I was determined to make it to my 7 mile goal since I was so close at that point. Once I hit 7 miles, I just had to see how far I could really push myself.

Once I hit the Hart Bridge (aka: The Green Monster), I couldn't possibly quit now. I had made it so far and there were less than two miles left, that I just had to try and finish out running. As I headed up the bridge, I felt like I was going in slow motion and that even though I was running, I felt like I wasn't moving forward. However, the fact that everyone else around me was giving up and walking, kept me running. As I made it to the top of the bridge, I could see the finish line and knew that the final mile was downhill. The exhaustion and muscle pain in my legs was lifted away and I was ready to conquer that last mile. There was no way I was going to give up now, after running over 8 miles, I just had to finish.

Running that final mile was such a surreal experience. I was shocked and amazed. I could not believe what I had just accomplished and it was an amazing moment for me. For a minute, I seriously thought that I was going to cry out of sheer joy as I crossed the finished line, but I was just so excited that I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. 

I finally earned my first piece of race bling and it truly felt well deserved. I still can't believe that I actually ran 9.3 miles start to finish, without stopping or walking. Going from being a total non-runner to a Gate River Run finisher is huge accomplishment for me and I will cherish this proud moment forever. I am so happy that I finally challenged myself to take on this goal that I've always dreamed about and successfully check it off of my bucket list!

Jared beat me (but only by 10 minutes!) and successfully completed his 2nd Gate River Run. 

I'm so glad that Jared and I were able to share in this awesome experience together and I'm thrilled that he was there to support me in my special moment! Congratulations to all of the runners!

Gate River Run

Growing up in Jacksonville, the Gate River Run has always been on my bucket list. Of course, never having been a runner I saw this goal as somewhat unattainable. Last summer, I finally achieved my goal of fully running my first 5k race. Ever since then, I've had my eye on a new prize, the Gate River Run. Immediately after running my first 5k, we starting doing fertility treatments again and then got pregnant so I have had to put my running on the back burner for a while. However, I have a new plan for reaching my goal now. Since Peyton will be born at the beginning of June, I'm planning on obviously just resting for the first 6-8 weeks after her birth and then starting my exercise regimen, first with just walking and then gradually building back into running. My goal is two-fold, to lose my baby weight and train for the Gate River Run which will be in mid-March.

Jared has been talking about running the Gate River Run for years now, but never managed to commit to actually doing so. This year, he decided that he was really going to follow through and finally do it, so I signed up to do the corresponding 5k race knowing that if I was committed as well then he wouldn't be tempted to back out last minute if he felt unprepared.

The Gate River Run is a 15k (that's 9.3 miles) race through downtown Jacksonville. Approximately 25,000 people, from all over the US and Canada, run in this race every year. This is a huge event here in Jacksonville and quite an important 37 year tradition for the city.

On race day, Jared and I parted ways at the starting line for the 15k where he would begin his race. The rest of our group, my mom and her friend, Jared's mom and me, then made our way over to the starting line for the Florida Times Union 5k for Charity.

Our 5k race started at the same time as Jared's 15k, and followed a different route through downtown Jacksonville. We walked the entire 5k, seeing as how none of us are currently capable of running 3.1 miles for various reasons. We did have a good solid power-walk going though and finished the race in 53 minutes. Not too shabby for being 7 months pregnant.

Once we finished our race, we had time to kill before we knew Jared would be crossing the finish line of the 15k, so we visited the post-race celebration and runner's expo to get some snacks and freebies. Every race participant even gets two free beers when you complete your race! Nothing like a delicious beer to quench your thirst at 9:45 in the morning, huh? I was a little sad that I didn't get to partake in my post-race beers, but I had Gina enjoy one for me :) Don't worry, next year after I finish the 15k I will definitely be rewarding myself with those 2 free beers.

Peyton has become quite the 5k enthusiast while in utero. This was her fourth 5k race and I can't wait until we can do our first race together with the BOB stroller.  

We made our way over to the Jaguars' stadium to get a spot near the finish line so that we could cheer Jared on as he finished the race. We downloaded this cool app called RaceJoy so that I could follow him as he ran the race. It sent me updates on his progress, and I could watch him on GPS to see where he was on the course at all times. This made it so much easier to know when he was approaching the finish line and to find him after the race in the enormous crowds.

I was filled with great pride (as well as some emotional pregnancy hormones) as I watched my sweet hubby cross the finish line. This was the farthest he had ever run before and he finished the race in 1 hour and 53 minutes. Pretty good, considering he didn't get to do much training due to getting really sick for a few weeks at the end of January and cutting his forehead open at the end of February. I mostly wanted him to just finish the race without overdoing it and getting injured. He far exceeded my expectations and I am so proud of him.

 Next year, we will be running the race together and I can't wait until March 2015 when I will get my own Gate River Run finisher medal :) 

My First 5k

It's no secret that I am not a runner. My running abilities, which are actually inabilities, have been discussed numerous times on this blog before. I have always wanted to be a runner. However, any time I have ever tried to teach myself how to run, I have always failed miserably. Not to mention that I have never successfully set a workout goal for myself and actually followed through with it. I am so envious of people who enjoy being healthy and working out. I hate it. So naturally, I decided to include running a 5k on my Bucket List. I have walked a number of 5k races for charity, but I have never even attempted to run one.

This elusive goal has been sitting on my Bucket List for a few years now and every time I have attempted to start "training" I usually quit after a week. Now, that I am starting to get to the age where I feel like I'm going to be entering my child-bearing years here soon, I figured I better get this out of the way. I know that if I don't have the time or energy to run now, then once I have kids this is never going to happen. Alas, I made running a 5k one of my New Year's Resolutions for this year. We all know how good I am with keeping those...no hope.

As the early months of 2013 rolled by, running was just not in the cards. Those of you who know me in real life, know that this past year has been very rough for me for a number of personal reasons which I feel like somewhat contributed to my lack of motivation. In addition to my personal struggles, running just did not conveniently fit into my life. Option 1: Run before work. Which would mean that I would have to wake up every morning at like 4am. Hell no. Option 2: Run right after work. Here in Florida, it is still about 90 degrees until the sun goes down. I would die. Option 3: Run at night before bed. By that point in the evening, I'm probably one glass of wine deep, grading papers, writing lesson plans and thoroughly exhausted. Aka: so not in the mood to go for a run. Therefore, the entire spring passed me by without any running.

All of a sudden the month of July opened up as the perfect opportunity for me to accomplish this goal. I wasn't working so I could run any time I wanted and I actually had the time and energy to dedicate to running. I made a decision at the end of June that I was actually going to do this. I signed up for a July 27th race so that I would have exactly one month to train. I was determined not to give up on this. I knew that once school started back in August, I would get bogged down with work and running would once again take its place on the back burner.

For a solid month, I ran five days a week. I did interval training, so during each workout I would go the full 3.1 miles and I would alternate running and walking throughout. Obviously at first, I would walk the majority of the time and run only for very short increments. Every few days, I would increase the percentage of running that I did during the workout. In the final days leading up to my run, I was able to run the entire 3.1 miles except for a 1-2 minute walking break that I would take either 1 or 2 times in the middle of the workout. I never actually ran the full 3.1 miles without stopping before the race, but I was hoping that during the actual race my adrenaline would get me there.

My main goal was to run the entire race. I didn't care how fast I did it, I just wanted to run from start to finish without stopping to walk. The day of the race finally arrived and I was super nervous. Even though the race started at 7:30am, it was already hot and really humid before we even got to the starting line.

We ran the Bridge of Lions 5k in St. Augustine. The race starts at the Castillo de San Marcos in downtown St. Augustine, goes over the Bridge of Lions and onto Anastasia Island where it ends in Oglethorpe Park.

Before the race began, we walked over the bridge and along the water to get from the car to the starting line. I was happy to have this beautiful sunrise for a little inspiration.

Jared and I made our way to the starting line and then parted ways. I did not want him anywhere near me while I was running. I cannot run with other people. I don't want anyone I know anywhere near me. I lose focus. I concentrate more on that other person than on myself and it messes me up. So I said goodbye to Jared and knew that I would see him again at the finish line. Jared actually knows how to run so I knew that he was finish the race before I did. However, he did only finish 3 minutes ahead of me. Go me :)

I drink a lot of liquids so I always have to go to the bathroom. In fact, this was my biggest fear for running this race. I was terrified that I was going to have to pee in the middle of the race. Luckily, that did not happen. Although I did have a mild panic attack before the race started because I did really need to go to the bathroom before the race, but of course the port-a-potty line was a mile long. However, I knew there was no way I would survive the entire race if I didn't go before I started running. I actually started the race 2 minutes late because I was in the bathroom. It wasn't a big deal though because I was being timed on my own personal chip so it still tracked me from the moment I crossed the start and finish lines.

I had to spend the first mile of the race passing all the slow people. By the time I actually crossed the starting line, pretty much everyone was gone, even the police escort. So I had to run past the police cars bringing up the rear, weave in and around all the strollers and children and old people, past all the walkers to get myself to a nice open area where I could focus on actually pacing myself.

Thankfully, the bridge portion of the race was in the first half mile so I was still perky and energetic while running over the bridge. My mom was waiting at the bottom of the bridge, so I was waving at her.

I was surprised by how much easier running this race was than I thought it was going to be. Thank you adrenaline. My legs never started hurting, I never got cramps, I felt pretty good the whole time. After the first 2.5 miles, I wanted to walk so bad. I was huffing and puffing, getting really tired and just wanted to walk. But I didn't. I was so close to the end at that point and I was determined to run, even if it was a slow run, every step to that finish line. Finally the end was in sight. When I turned the corner at the 3 mile mark and saw that finish line, I almost started crying. Not because I was in pain, but because I was in awe of myself. I could not believe what I was about to accomplish.

And then about 50 yards from the finish line, this chick in front of me decides to stop and take a picture with her phone. I literally almost plowed into the back of her...and I kind of wish I would have. Who suddenly stops in the middle of a race course where people are running? Idiot.

I was sprinting/skipping across the finish line in excitement. I did it. I ran an entire 5k and I did it in 36 minutes. While that probably doesn't seem like a big deal to most people, it is for me. A month ago, I couldn't run continuously for more than 2 minutes. I couldn't even run half a mile. So running 3.1 miles continuously without walking or stopping for 36 minutes is a huge accomplishment for me.

Together again at the finish line. Jared was standing with our moms about 30 yards before the finish line as I came running by. When I saw him I just started yelling at him, "I did it, I ran the whole time!" as I ran towards the finish line. Finishing that race was a great moment that I will never forget. 

Thanks so much to my mom and Jared's mom for coming to watch us run and talking all these pictures. Thanks to my church small group for praying for me during my run. Thanks to my other friends and family for sending words of encouragement on the day of the race. Thanks to my fellow blogger Christin for giving me some good running tips and race day advice. Thanks to my husband, Jared, for running this race with me. I could not have done this without y'all! 

North Carolina {Day 2}

Our journey in North Carolina continues on Day 2 with some exploring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee Indian Reservation and me getting to check an item off of my bucket list! Read about the first day of our trip here - North Carolina {Day 1}.

On to Day 2...warning: this blog post is going to be quite lengthy and photo heavy. On the bright side, it does contain the only photos (two of them to be exact) that Jared and I managed to take together on the entire trip.

Friday, July 5

Friday morning we headed into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for some hiking and exploring. Jared made fun of me for wanting to pose with the National Park sign. I feel like he should have expected nothing less.

 And here is the first of 2 pictures of us together on this trip. 

I'm in two states at once, wooo! Getting ready to check the item off my bucket list! 

One thing that has always been on my lifelong bucket list is to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Let's be honest, there is no way that I'm going to hike all the way from Georgia to Maine, so a small portion of it will have to do.

Here we go! This portion of the Appalachian Trail through the Smoky Mountains is the most challenging section of the entire 2,200 mile trail.

I really enjoyed hiking this trail and getting to check it off my bucket list! 

 Hiking the portion of the Appalachian Trail up to Clingman's Dome

Standing in the observation tower at Clingman's Dome. This is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail at an elevation of 6,643 feet!

Here is photo 2 of 2 of us together. And such a lovely photo of us indeed. Raining, 55 degrees and zero visibility at 6,643 feet. This was definitely not an ideal day for hiking, but we drove all this way up the mountain to get to the trail and there was no way that I was going to back out on completing my bucket list item now. 

 We did it! Maybe next time I'll hike the 1,972 miles to Maine? Yeah, not likely. 

Next item on the agenda, hiking up to Mingo Falls in Cherokee. I love watching the other tourists who come to see these sites. We had to hike up a muddy trail in the rain on the side of a mountain and the family in front of us has their small children in shorts and flip flops, freezing and sliding in the mud almost off the side of the mountain. Seriously? If you are going on vacation in the mountains, invest in boots. 

Mingo Falls, Cherokee, NC

The town of Cherokee is located right down the highway from the cabin, so we passed through there a few times on our trip. One thing I really wanted to do on this vacation was visit the Cherokee Indian Reservation. I know, educational activities on vacation? I'm such a nerd. The real reason I wanted to visit the reservation is because it is part of my heritage. My ancestors on my dad's side of the family were Cherokee Indian.

All throughout the reservation, there are these black bear statues painted with symbols that represent the Cherokee culture.

Look! Jared let me take a picture of him. Bwahaha

We visited the Indian Village where we got to see how the Cherokee people lived long ago and how they preserve their culture in today's modern society. I absolutely loved learning about my heritage.

We had some time before our plans for the evening, so we decided to check out some of the local craft beers. Western North Carolina has quite a few craft breweries, majority of them being in Asheville (we will have to check those out on our next trip), but some of them are in the towns around the cabin. We found a great one in Bryson City, Nantahala Brewing Company. This one may have jumped to the very top of my brewery list as a favorite.

That night, we went to a performance of "Unto These Hills". This drama is performed in an outdoor theater and it tells the story of the Cherokee people. It has been performed in the Smokies every summer for over 60 years and it is a must see if you ever visit this area of North Carolina. The show is very entertaining and heart-wrenching at the same time. I really enjoyed it, especially because I got to learn so much about the Cherokee culture. Overall, it was an amazing day of vacation.  

Reading Goal

Do you know what the #1 best selling book is every single year? The Bible. Have you ever read the Bible? Like the entire Bible? I am a huge reader. I read dozens of books every year. I am a Christian. I go to church, take my Bible with me and follow along during the sermons, but I've never actually read the thing in it's entirety. Well here goes nothing...

The #1 item on my Bucket List has always been to read the Bible cover to cover. Why you ask? Because in some ways I feel like I am supposed to. How can you correctly practice something without reading the manual? I feel like all Christians should read the Bible...all of it, not just the good parts. I also want to read it because I feel like it will be interesting and I'll learn something (or a lot of things) from it.

The Bible I currently own is 1773 pages long and I plan on reading every single page. I know that seems like a lot, and it is. However, I read War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in one semester of college which is over 1400 pages and horribly boring, so I feel like there isn't anything I can't read.

My goal is to read the entire Bible by the end of 2013. I am hoping to actually finish it way before that, but I want to give myself a reasonable goal so I won't become overwhelmed and give up.

Today is Day 1. Here is page 1 of 1773 - Genesis 1:1 all ready to go!

I am also going to be using this handy dandy ap on my iPhone called YouVersion. It's a Bible ap that has a bunch of nifty features. You can use it to track your progress (which is what I am using it for), it will read aloud to you, give you daily Bible verses and lots of other cool things. I thought about reading the Bible in chronological order (the order in which the events happened historically by time), but then I decided that I wanted to read it canonically (the order in which it was written) instead. So instead of jumping around throughout the text, I will be reading from page 1 to page 1773 straight through. 

Don't worry, I'm sure there will be many updates along the way. Wish me luck!