Motivation Reality Check!

Does anyone else find themselves training for something and part way through losing motivation or focus?  Or you start to wonder why you ever started?  No?  Just me?  Okay, well then I can admit that I have faced all of these issues/thoughts in the last couple of weeks.  Although I can't tell you why.  No pain, no gain, right?

I think part of my struggle started a couple of weeks ago when I switched up my training schedule to better align with my husband's schedule.  I should have left well enough alone, but in an effort for us to see each other more and to possibly train together a couple of days a week, I moved my long run to Saturday.  Sounds like a simple move, but that shifted several other days around too, and now I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends for a few days a week.  Talk about a motivation killer!

We've also been traveling and attending several social events the last couple of weeks, which has not only left me tired, but I've managed to get sick!  Who gets a cold in August?  In Arizona?? I do.  It's hard to focus on training, and wanting to train, when you're coughing and blowing your nose every 2 minutes!  Ugh!

But, I received an email from the TCS New York City Marathon that pointed out that the marathon is only 64 days away!!! Say what?!  Needless to say, that woke me right up and made me realize that I don't have time to lose focus and slack off!  Hello, reality check. 64 days is not that many, so I need to get my booty in gear!

Time to pound the pavement and push all doubts and negativity aside!  New York City, we're coming for you!

No more being sick and lacking motivation!

~ Courtney

Who Said They'd Never Run Another Marathon?

Oh yeah - me.  Six months ago.  Right after finishing my first full marathon, the Phoenix Marathon, I swore them off forever.  One and done.  Yet, here I am training for the TCS New York City Marathon.  Why?

Well, I suppose partly because much like childbirth, you forget how painful running a marathon truly is and think you can do it again.  Also, in my case, I was disappointed in my outcome.  I know I can do better (time wise, less or no walking, etc.), so I am going to try again. And I figure, go big or go home, so why not the NYC Marathon???

So, to keep me motivated, I not only hired a coach - I signed up to run for a charity.  Which means I have to get to raise money for an awesome cause at the same time as mentally and physically preparing myself for this challenge!  So, which awesome cause and charity did I choose and why?

Well, I am running for Think Pink Rocks - an organization that promotes raising awareness of early detection and genetic testing for breast cancer, and also providing funding for screening, treatment and research.  The why... my Aunt Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and underwent a round of chemo and radiation treatments after her lumpectomy.  And as luck would have it, her cancer returned as another mutation in the other breast this year.  So she's doing more treatment as I write.  So, in her honor I am running and raising funds to continue the war against breast cancer.  And I know that early detection is critical, as it has been in her case, so I love what this organization does!

I know this subject hits home for many out there.  It seems the more I talk about it, the more people I meet, or already know, who've been affected by this horrible disease.  And of course it's been made more "popular" by celebrities who make drastic decisions about treatments, but I'm glad it's not falling by the way side!

If you'd like to donate to my fundraising efforts (which I would greatly appreciate of course!), please check out my Crowdrise page here:

https://www.crowdrise.com/ThinkPinkRocksNYC2015/fundraiser/courtneybullock

And if you'd like to follow my running and training adventures more closely, follow me on Instagram @courtrunlikeagirl.  I post almost all of my runs there with pictures!

Here's one from this morning's early run:

~ Courtney

Is She Still Running?

You guys... I am SO embarrassed that I haven't posted an update since DECEMBER!!!  Why haven't I posted an update, you may be wondering?  Did I stop running?  Did I give up on my dreams and goals?  Did I get abducted by aliens?  No, no and no.  I got lazy about blogging.

So, to catch you up on the last seven months of my crazy running adventures, I'll give you the short and sweet version, and then promise to do better going forward!

In January I ran the PF Chang's Rock N Roll Half Marathon with my sister, Elyse - her FIRST half marathon, and it was a blast!  I am so glad that I got to share that experience with her! Now to get her to do another...

February included my Ragnar Del Sol Relay adventure and my first full marathon!  Let me tell you - running 200+ miles with 11 friends is a total blast!  I'd never done a relay event before, and I was nervous about how it would all work out, the lack of sleep, showers, proper fueling, etc.  But it was so much fun and I would definitely do it again if asked!  If you've never done Ragnar or a similar type event, give it a shot!

My first full marathon was the Phoenix Marathon, and I think it's best that I'm writing about it months later.  You may already notice that I'm referring to it as my first, which means there's a second... but more on that later.  The Phoenix Marathon touts itself as fast, downhill and perfect for a PR - well, of course it would be my PR, it's my first.  But I think I should have studied the elevation map a little closer - there's a nice "little" uphill section right around mile 4 that I wasn't mentally prepared for!  But all in all, it was a success.  I finished.  I swore I'd never do it again.  And then I signed up for another...

In March I took it pretty easy and only ran a couple of local 5Ks.  But when I also signed up for three back to back half marathons in April and the TCS New York City Marathon in November (see, I told you I was running another full), I decided to hire a running coach!  He might not have been very happy about my April schedule :)

So, in April I did Pat's Run (honoring Pat Tillman) and three half marathons three weekends in a row.  I know, it seems a little crazy.  But they were all runs that I hadn't done before, and doing all three meant I could "moon up" in the Half Fanatics group!  Win, win!  So, I did all three, and thanked God when they were over - holy smokes that's grueling!  I really hadn't prepared enough for that kind of mileage!

In May I took another break and only did one local 5K and backed down my mileage to start over and really build my base back up the right way.  My coach was sure glad to have that craziness behind us, and to be able to focus on the couple of half marathons I had coming up, and to start properly preparing for New York!

In June I travelled to England for vacation and was able to work in a trip to Liverpool to run the Rock N Roll Liverpool Half Marathon!  I was SO excited to get to run at an event overseas and for it to be a Rock N Roll event so I'd earn more bling - you know sometimes it is about the bling!  Running in London, Edinburgh and Liverpool was amazing, and the Rock N Roll event was awesome!  Liverpool is so beautiful and I am a big Beatles fan, so that made it even more fun!  Yes, we ran on Abbey Road!

That brings us to July, and this month I tried something new!  My hubby, Jon, and I did our very first trail race!  Make that our very first trail run that was also a race!!  It was really fun, and challenging and I can see that we'll be taking on that challenge more after we're done training for our upcoming full marathons!  I won first in my age group and Jon was third male finisher overall!  A great success!  We also ran a half marathon in Ventura, CA to kick off our vacation again this year.  It was beautiful, but warm!  I almost beat my PR from last December, but the heat beat me, and I missed it by just over a minute.

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the first half of this year and promise to catch you up on my upcoming adventures soon!

~ Courtney

Rock N Roll Liverpool 1/2

Phoenix Marathon

Scottsdale Challenge 1/2

Nick's Epic Battle Trail Run

Ice Cream Run 5K

What A Year!

Well, 2014 is about to come to an end.  And I just happened to look up at my magnet board at my Running Resolution schedule for the year.  Boy, was I busy running.  When I decided a year ago to commit to one event every month for one year, I really had no idea what to expect, or where it might take me.  It has been an amazing year!

I ran my first half marathon in January of 2014 - and as of December 2014, I have run six!  And lowered my PR by 18 minutes!  I managed to run at least one event in every month of the year - and in some months, I ran multiple events!  I qualified for Half Fanatics, traveled out of state for 3 half marathons, and decided to run a Ragnar Relay and a FULL marathon in 2015!  I also joined the I Run 4 family, and have a buddy, Hannah, that I get to dedicate all of my miles and races too - it's so inspiring and fulfilling in a way I didn't know was possible.

I can't wait to see what next year has in store for me - I am already so excited to run my sister's first half marathon with her in January at the PF Chang's Rock N Roll in Phoenix.  Then February looks to be a momentous month for me - my first Ragnar Relay and my first full marathon.  I never, ever thought I'd want to run a full marathon, so this seems crazy to even me.  I'm in week 12 of training for the full, so it's already no joke though!

In closing out the year, I have to share with you a photo from my last half marathon.  My husband, who is much faster than I am, ran the whole way with me.  He encouraged me, and pushed me, knowing that I wanted to beat my previous PR.  It was awesome having him with me, and getting the extra support I needed to kill my previous best time.  Thanks, babe!!!

~ Courtney

The Sweet Smell of Success!

Honestly, words cannot express how excited I was (and still am) after finishing my half marathon Saturday morning!  Since mid-July I have been training harder, cross-training, eating healthier and really focusing on a better me.  That effort paid off this weekend.

I have been seeing improvements in my body, health and running over the last few months since I made the decision to improve myself.  It's amazing how a couple of small changes like eating less junk and exercising more can make such big changes!  Not only have I lost weight and gained muscle, I've gained confidence in myself I've never had.

So, when my husband, Mom, Dad and I flew to San Francisco last week for vacation before my half marathon I felt good.  I had every intention of running a couple of times throughout the week leading up to the half, but alas, that didn't happen (what kind of hotel gym doesn't open until 7am??).  Still, I knew my training had been enough and I was ready.  Never before was I so calm before a run/race - not even shorter races!

I set out Saturday morning with two goals - First, to run the entire 13.1 miles with no walk breaks.  Second, to finish in 2 hours 15 minutes, which would blow my previous PR of 2 hours 27 minutes out of the water.  I accomplished both!!!  I finished in 2 hours 14 minutes and 35 seconds!  I'm not sure I stopped smiling the rest of the day!  And the thought of my accomplishment still brings a smile to my face now.

So, don't give up on yourself - ever.  It's taken me two years to get here.  Wednesday the 22nd is my two year Runniversary!  I ran my first "race" last November.  My first half marathon in January.  And this is the first time I've run the entire 13.1 miles - and it's my fourth half marathon.  Running isn't easy for everyone - for me it's hard work - but oh so worth it!  The sweet smell of success is worth the time and effort and pain.  Keep going.  You can do it!

~ Courtney

Mid-Point Check-In!!!

I know it's been a little while since my last post - let me just tell you, I've been SO busy!  As I mentioned, I decided to take on P90X3 along with my running/half marathon training (and eating healthier - which is probably the hardest part, lol)!  Well, here I am a little over half way through, and let me just say, it's well worth the hard work.

I get to take measurements again next week, but at my 30 day measure up, I'd lost 3 inches around my waist and an inch or so on each of my thighs and bust!  Holy cow!  I'm excited to see how much progress I've made now - not sure it'll be that dramatic, but I know for sure I'm getting there!  I am really enjoying the changes I'm seeing in my body, and how I feel.  Running is getting a little easier, and my times are improving - woo hoo!!!  All of that is helping me little by little silence the voice in my head telling me "can't", because I just know in my heart that I can.

I ran this morning, and I know I did well, and just happened to look at my split times a few minutes ago.  All negative splits - and my second mile was at a 9:19 pace and the next was at 9:09 (I did push hard at the end)!!!   Low 9's?  Are you kidding me??  I am so excited right now!!!

Getting up every single morning and doing P90X3 and running several days a week is really paying off!  Believe me - it's getting old in the sense that I would LOVE to sleep in one day.  One.  Day.  But I know myself well enough to know that if I don't get my run or workout in in the morning, it likely won't happen at all.  So rise and shine early it is!  I'm loving the faster paces I'm throwing down, and loving seeing the muscles in my legs, and how good I feel!!!  I can do this - I will do this.  I AM doing this!

So, here's to the next five weeks, and finishing strong!  Half Marathon, I'm going to own you!

~ Courtney

Room For Improvement

Can someone please tell me why I keep signing up for half marathons?  I find them so intimidating and miserable!  And every time I finish one, I am thanking God I made it through and it's over.  But then, I start thinking about the next one...  I am a glutton for punishment!

My Costume Party Half Marathon in San Diego was... was... eye opening.  I felt pretty darn good about it going in.  Told myself I wasn't going to run a pace I knew I couldn't keep up for 13 miles.  And I did great at that - and I ran for 10 straight miles!  I've never done that before!  Even in my training I had to take short walk breaks now and again!  I was feeling so good, and getting closer to the finish line.  And then it started getting warmer, and more humid and I let my mind tell my body I couldn't make it.  And I had to run/walk/run the last 3 miles.  It was still a good overall run for me, but it made me realize that I for sure haven't rid myself of those demons that tell me I'm no good.  I'm too weak.  It's time to work on me.

So, back now from vacation, let the work begin.  Cross-training is the new name of the game - actually that will be my main focus for the next 90 days as I embark on P90X3.  And healthier eating.  I have gained back the 10 lbs I initially lost running, and I have plenty more to lose.  And the mental part - I really need to work on that too.  Remind myself daily that I can do this, that I'm good enough, that I'm worth it.

I have a couple of easy 5Ks the next two months, and then another out of town half marathon in October.  We're going all the way to Folsom, CA for the Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon!  I can hardly wait (remember, I said glutton for punishment).  And I'm really hoping that the healthier eating, cross-training and continued running will make this my best half yet!

For now, I leave you with this little gem from the Costume run :)

~ Courtney (aka Wonder Woman)