Changes Are Coming

Some major changes are coming to CajunMile.

First, we are both going to make a commitment to post more often.  We will be posting about training for our races as well as other fitness training.  We intend to write about what we are doing to keep in shape between races and what our training entails.  We plan to talk about recipes that we find and interesting things that keep us energized for our runs.

Second, we will be posting recaps of all of our races.  In the past, Emily has posted some recaps and others remained unmentioned.  Going forward each race will have a breakdown from our perspective as we both have different feelings on races.  

Third, we plan on doing some fitness product reviews.  Shoes, watches, fitness tracker, and many other things will be included in this.  

Finally, the site will be moving.  Shortly we will be located at CajunMile.com

We know a lot of other websites are doing this, but we are hoping that bringing the perspective of a married couple who started this in their thirties will bring something different to the conversation.  

Please make sure to update links and rss feeds to the new site.

Thanks

Nick and Emily

Alamo 13.1 Race Results

Nick and I ran our first half marathon, the Alamo 13.1, on Sunday, March 23, 2014.  The weather threatened all week to rain on our race day parade.  So we woke up early, and headed to the start line, prepared to weather the storm.  Amazingly, the rain held off.  The weather was a cool 59 degrees, perfect weather for a 13.1 mile run.

The course was San Antonio classified as flat, but there were several ups and downs.  Running in Houston, there are no hills, so this was a little challenging for me. 

The race started with the blast of a cannon....And we were off!  

We ran the first 6 miles, which included a large incline.  We took a few breaks after that, getting more into our 9 minutes running and 1 minute walking routine.  Nick and I ran together the entire race, crossing the finish line one second apart, right in front of The Alamo.  

This race was well organized.  Afterwards, we enjoyed the complimentary beer.  They had several food offerings as well as a drawing for one lucky person to win $1,301.  I have to say, one of my favorite perks, is that the race pictures are free - Yes, free!! - and we had several to choose from, which makes for the perfect souvenir to such an incredible experience.  

As soon as we returned home, my vehicle was adorned with a 13.1 sticker!

Official results for Alamo 13.1 held on Sunday, March 23, 2014: 


Emily's Official Time:  2:37:08
- 1135 of 1558 finishers
- 597 of 917 all females
- 102 of 151 females aged 30-34

Nick's Official Time:  2:37:07
- 1133 of 1558 finishers
- 518 of 614 all males
- 83 of 94 males aged 30-34

Alamo 13.1 Race Re-Cap from Nick

Friday

We loaded up in the car with the dogs and drove to San Antonio.  We spent the evening drinking beer and eating pizza while catching up with my family.

Saturday

Spent the morning hanging out and had lunch at my brother's house, then headed for downtown San Antonio for packet pickup.  

Parking being completely insane, Em and I jumped out of the truck and wandered over to the hotel where we were able to pretty quickly find 3 of our names and bib numbers for pickup, but couldn't find my brother's.  So I got in line and picked up the three packets we could while Em called to find out what might have gone wrong.

After a bit of research we found that my brother's last name was not spelled correctly.  The race organizers were very kind and got this corrected for us.

At the end of the day, all packets were picked up and we headed for the house to eat dinner.

Sunday
Woke up very early and left the house, hoping to get a good parking spot by arriving prior to other people.  On route to the race we stopped at Starbucks, but only to use clean restrooms.

Upon arrival at the Alamo, I dropped off my bag and we walked around a bit for quick pre-race bathroom breaks.  The start cannon went off 7.45, I was disappointed that we were not able to see it from the lineup, but all the same it was pretty cool to have a start cannon.

The beginning of the race wound through downtown a little and then we were off to local neighborhoods where we encountered our first hill.  Training in Houston, we aren't used to too many hills.  Honestly, it wasn't' too bad, it was an easy incline to deal with and had a good downhill just afterward.  Then there was some winding around newer apartment complexes and a golf course.

At the end of the golf course there was a major hill, 200 vertical feet and it was banked.  At the top of the hill was an aid station which brought us to mile 6, where the four of us took our first walking break.  Looking back on it, we made a bad decision since it was on a downhill that we took the break, we would have been better suited to get to the bottom, finish the 10K and break from there.  Either way, this is when we got on the Trinity University campus.

I really enjoyed this part of the race because we wound around quite a bit and basically took a running tour of the campus.  There were lots of ups and downs, but we did get to take a lap on the track which was significantly nicer on my joints than the road.  At the end of the campus tour we basically got to run straight back to the Alamo.

Somewhere near mile 11 we took another break.  This is where my legs decided that they were going to be a bit fatigued, so the walk was a little longer than expected, but did give me a great chance to hit a restroom which I had needed since the beginning of the race.

Another break at mile 12 was taken as we were now on the Riverwalk, this is the one where my legs decided that walking made them hurt.  This mile may have been my favorite.  We finished up our part on the Riverwalk and rejoined the road above and cruised through downtown again on our way to the Alamo.  As we turned the final corner, we both turned on the gas and finished within a second of each other.

The finish was right in front of the Alamo and was an amazing receiving line of thousands of people waiting for race finishers, thought they were all very quiet and obviously looking for people that they knew.  Em and I decided that we would stand at the finish and cheer for everyone as they crossed and this helped to get people excited for finishers, including my brother who was smiling pretty big when he crossed and my sister in law who came across excited as well.

We finished up the morning with a few beers before heading back to the car.

Overall, this race was a ton of fun.  It was nice to run with family and it was a great course.  I think we are all planning on running it again next year.

10 for Texas Race (Oct 2013)

10 for Texas was a great event, despite the fact that we ran in 100% humidity.   This was our longest run and a very well organized race.  Nick and I ran together for this one, evident by our time.  We weren't running for speed; we were running to finish the race. 

Official results for 10 for Texas held on Saturday, October 12, 2013: 
Emily's Official Time:  2:04:24
- 1741 of 2170 finishers
- 977 of 1286 all females
- 152 of 196 females aged 30-34

Nick's Official Time:  2:04:23
- 1740 of 2170 finishers
- 764 of 884 all males
- 76 of 88 males aged 30-34

Lake Houston 10K

Nick and I ran our second 10K on August 24th, the Lake Houston 10K in Kingwood, TX.  The weather was a tolerable 81 degrees with approximately 84% humidity, and the scenery was beautiful.  We ran over Lake Houston, an amazing site at sunrise.  

Nick and I ran together for the majority of the race.  This was good for me, bad for him - I beat my previous 10K time, whereas his time increased.  But, I have to say, it was really nice to be able to run next to him, especially when I was getting tired.  

Official results for Lake Houston 10K held on Saturday, August 24, 2013: 
Emily's Official Time:  1:16:29.4
- 344 of 397 finishers
- 162 of 206 all females
- 69 of 89 females aged 30-39

Nick's Official Time:  1:16:31.6
- 345 of 397 finishers
- 183 of 191 all males
- 70 of 75 males aged 30-39

The Hangover Run Virtual 5K

Just finished my first virtual run.  In an effort to complete 13 races this year and because the weather is so awfully hot outside, I decided to sign up for The Hangover Run.  I ran this race on the treadmill at my convenience.  It was actually quite nice.  

Emily's Race Time:  36:52

The race is based on the honor system.  You sign up, complete the race on designated dates, submit your race time and photo (optional), and after the race closes your medal is sent to you in the mail.  Proceeds go to support a charity.  Simple enough!  I may do more of these races in the future.  

Bottle a Feeling

How do you bottle up a feeling so you can remember exactly how you felt at a certain moment in time?  

When you are sad and want to be happy, the days you are lonely and wanted to be comforted, or maybe you are just feeling lazy and need to be motivated.  When I'm motivated and have energy to spare, why can't I save it to be used at a later date?  

There are so many things to say and do. Some days I don't have a minute to spare, yet others it feels like I am stuck in time - the clock has stopped and minutes feel like hours. 

Today is just one of those days. I wish I could go back in time and remember how I exactly how I felt at a certain moment in time. 

Rhythm & Blues 5K

On February 10th, Nick, Kellie and I ran the Rhythm & Blues 5K.  There were several bands scheduled to play along the course, but the weather threatened, so many of the bands canceled.  The course had several inclines, so music along the route was a great way to keep me motivated.  

After our race, there was a half marathon.  While snacking on post-race goodies, we became spectators of the half marathon.  It was fun and entertaining.  The course made three laps, so we were able to watch the front runner and cheer for him.  


Official results for Rhythm & Blues 5K held on Sunday, February 10, 2013: 
Emily's Official Time:  34:06
- 525 of 1174 finishers
- 67 of 159 females aged 30-34

Nick's Official Time:  30:20
- 296 of 1174 finishers
- 36 of 62 males aged 30-34

Galloway 10K Training Week 6

This week was run out of order, but all workouts were covered.  

Week 6, Workout 1
30-35 minute run
Nick is out of town this week.  When I got home, I took the dogs on our usual 2-mile walk.  Then I put on my running shoes and hit the road.  I had to take a few walking breaks, but that didn't stop me.  My plan was to only run the minimum time.  When the clock hit 30 minutes, I felt like I could run more so I did.  Total time was 32 minutes, 2.5 miles. 


Week 6, Workout 3
5 mile run
Kellie met us for this run.  Total time for me was 1 hour 22 minutes, total distance was 6.1 miles, I ran 4.24 of those miles.  The weather was humid and cool.  It was nice to get home at 11am and already have over 18,000 steps for the day.  


Week 6, Workout 2
30-35 minute run
I ran the Rythm and Blues 5k.  Rain threatened the entire race, but all was good.  The course had several inclines, which usually discourages me.  I had a great run, considering I ran 5 miles the day before.  

Color in Motion 5K

Color in Motion 5K was my first "color" run.  I have to say I was a little disappointed that it is advertised as a 5K, according to my Nike watch the course was a little over 3 miles.  That aside, it was a pretty fun run.

The race started at 9am.  We got there early so we had time to walk around.  They had heats every 5 minutes, we chose to run in the second heat. At the starting line, there was a dj playing music and tossing promotional items into the crowd.  There were a few overzealous runners, who used their color packets prior to the race.  We were able to remain clean until right before the race began.  

There were 4 color stations along the route:  red, purple, red green.  There were a few uphill spots along the route, which made me glad we've been running on a pedestrian bridge during our workouts.  I saw several people with strollers, pushing little ones.  I was surprised how many people were running with kids.  

At the end of the race, the route narrows to about two people wide.  There were plenty of people cheering at the end.  Kellie and I finished the race together, she caught me on an uphill.  By the end of the race, we were pretty "colored".

We ran with a few friends, and met up with one another at the post-race party.  

The post-race party included the dj playing music and sponsors handing out more goodies.  If you didn't have enough color from the race, the dj encouraged the finishers periodically to throw their color which created huge clouds of color!  And if that wasn't enough color for the color enthusiasts, there were buckets of color scattered throughout the dance floor.  

Once you had all of the color you could handle, there were two "blow stations"- two guys with leaf blowers that will blow the color right off of you!  

Galloway 10k Training Week 5

Week 5, Workout 1
30-35 minute run
The weather was cool out and breezy.  Nick and I ran 30 minutes, 2.64 miles.  This is 1/10th of a mile farther than my best run which was in Week 3, Workout 2 where I felt Unstoppable!!!  Pretty excited that I  am getting a little faster.  

Week 5, Workout 2
30-35 minute run
This was the Color in Motion race.  It is advertised as a 5K, but Kellie and I both clocked it with our Nike watches, and came up with approximately a three-mile route.  I ran 3.02 miles in 35:15.  I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a full 5K, but really enjoyed the race.  More about this run in the Color in Motion post.  I will say, this is the first time I ran the entire 3 miles, so I was pretty darn excited about that!

Week 5, Workout 3
4 mile run (Actual:  3.6 miles)
Apparently, I was so excited about my run yesterday that I forgot to charge my watch.  Therefore, 2.6 miles into my run, my watch battery died.  I estimated the rest of the route, not knowing how long or far I was running.  I knew I'd be short of the 4 miles, but I gave it a good effort.  When I got home, I used Google Maps to figure out the distance of the remainder of my run, which was an additional mile.  Therefore, my total run was 3.6 miles.  I did take a few walk breaks; I was expecting this because I ran the Color in Motion yesterday and my body isn't used to running two days in a row.  Overall, I'm satisfied with this run.  

Galloway 10k Training Week 4

Week 4, Workout 1
25-30 minute run (Actual 1 mile)
Went for a run today.  I was in a time crunch.  I got off of work, took the dogs for a walk, had to run, get washed up and dressed for dinner with coworkers.  Therefore, my run was a short one.  It was cool outside, so my breathing was a little erratic. I was glad that my run was only 1 mile, time 11:08.  

Week 4, Workout 2
25-30 minute run
The weather was nice today, temperature 70 degrees with humidity.  We ran outside today.  I'm a little disappointed because my GPS on my Nike watch never picked up, so I only have the foot pod data.  In the first 10 minutes, I always want to stop running and start walking.  I realized if I can make it past the 12 minute mark, I usually can continue the run without any problems.  I ran 2.1 miles in 25 minutes.  Overall, it was a good run.

Week 4, Workout 3
4 mile run
Well, it's been a week since my shoes have hit the road.  I was determined to run today.  Nick and I walked the dogs, and it started raining at the end of the walk.  The rain subsided and we decided to take our chances, there was no way I was going to run 4 miles on the treadmill.  I ran the first mile, then I did run/walk intervals for the remaining 3 miles.  The weather was very humid, making breathing a little difficult.  

This was my longest run ever.  After my first mile, I thought there was no way I would be able to finish the rest.  Nick ran at my pace and walked when I needed to walk.  This was helpful, and probably why I didn't give up.  It took 50:03 to complete the 4 miles, making my average pace 12'29"/mile.  

ABB 5K

The ABB 5K was an incredible experience; it is held in conjunction with the Houston Chevron Marathon.  This was my second 5K and I was hoping for a little better results, but the fact of the matter is I completed a 5K and I am proud of that.  There were 3183 runners, so the streets always seemed a bit crowded.  I felt like I couldn't keep a steady pace because I was slowing down due to the person in front of me or I was having to speed up to pass people.  The weather was approximately 70 degrees and humid, very humid.  The roads were wet, which means some spots were pretty slick.  Although rain threatened the race, it held off, and I was very grateful for that.   

The picture below is me and Kellie after the race, showing off our finisher's medals.  

Official results for ABB 5K held on Saturday, January 12, 2013. 
- Official Time:  36:07
- 1812 of 3183 finishers
- 133 of 262 females aged 30-34
- 856 of 1826 all females

Galloway 10k Training Week 3

Week 3, Workout 1

25-30 min run
Well the weather has been pretty awful lately.  It's been cold and raining the last couple of weeks.  Today was no different.  I decided to run on the treadmill this afternoon.  I ran for a total of 25 minutes, covering 2.2 miles.  At about 12:30, I walked for about a minute and a half, then I ran the rest of the way.  I couldn't get my Nike watch to create a lap, so times are estimated.  The run was decent, would have been better if I would have ran outside.  Oh well, maybe next time.  

Week 3, Workout 2
25-30 min run
It finally stopped raining today.  The weather has been so miserable, that I'd almost given up on running.  When I got home from work, I took the two dogs for a walk.  They did not do well.  They've been cooped up inside for the last two days due to the weather, and today was like they had never been on a walk before.  They had to stop and sniff everything.  Crossing other people on the path was a pain; they barked and jumped and just overall misbehaved.  By the time I finished the two mile walk, I was ready to give them up for adoption.  I had convinced myself I would just run tomorrow.  

Then I got home, and put on my running shoes.  I needed to go for a run.  I needed to burn off some of this frustration.  So I ran.  It was ah-mazing!!!!  The weather felt great, refreshing.  I ran 30 minutes, 2.54 miles.  I could have just kept running.  The weather calls for rain the next few days, but at least I had a good run today.   

Week 3, Workout 3
3 mile run
Make that a 3.1 mile run!!!  Kellie and I ran the ABB 5K this morning.  The weather was cloudy, temperature about 70 degrees with 90% humidity.  My goal was to run the entire way, but I ended up walking approximately 3 minutes.  Regardless, I finished!  

Emily's 2013 Goals

On January 1st, I made a list of goals for 2013.  I am only going to have 5 official goals, so I can focus my efforts on them.  My only other "goal" for the year is to go on vacation.  I want to get away for a few days, not worry about work or anything else.  I just want to be able to relax for a little while.  

Emily's 2013 Goals

1. Weigh 130 by June 2013, and maintain through December 31, 2013
2. Complete 13 races in 2013
3. Drink 64 ounces of water each day
4. Read 12 books
5. Post on blog at least once a week

2012 in Review

I've noticed there are vastly different opinions about the year 2012.  Some people say it was a really good year, while others say it was a really bad year.  I agree with the latter.  My opinion has nothing to do with politics or finances or anything like that; 2012 was just not a good year for us.  I am not going into detail about the year, I'm just glad that it's over.  

On November 1st, I decided to write down some goals for the end of the year.  Something to work towards.  I read that not only should you set goals, but they should be written down and end dates set for each goal.  It was also suggested that your goals should be visible, don't hide them in a desk drawer to be forgotten.  So I printed out my goals and put them on the refrigerator.  Below is a review of my 2012 goals.  

Emily's 2012 Goals

1. Run 3 times per week 
• Completed
2. Complete the Couch to 5K Program
• Finished C25K program
3. Complete a 5K in December
• Rudolph Run 5K
4. Weigh 140 lbs. by end of year
• No weight loss
5. Drink 64 ounces of water each day
• I did not always achieve 64 ounces, but have become more aware of my water consumption.  

Overall, I am satisfied.  I am proud to say I completed a 5K, something I never thought I would be able to do.  Now it's time to focus on 2013!

Galloway 10k Training Week 2

Week 2, Workout 1
20-25 min run
My first attempt was a failure.  I got on the treadmill and only lasted 7:48.  I was overheated and couldn't run any further.  

Take 2.  We were visiting my parents, and ran down their road.  My little nephew stayed in the driveway and cheered us on as we passed him.  The road is right at 1 mile, so we passed him twice.  Let me tell you, it's pretty encouraging when you have a cheering section.  The weather was nice and it felt great to run outside.  I ran 23 minutes, completing 2 miles.  

Week 2, Workout 2
20-25 min run
I ran on the treadmill again.  This time I ran 21 minutes, for a distance of 1.8 miles.

Week 2, Workout 3
2 mile run
The week has been hectic with the holidays, and it's taken me almost two weeks to complete week 2.  I promise I will stick to the program in the New Year.

This evening we walked the dogs, and I was freezing the entire time.  The temperature was in the mid-40s.  We are running a 5K next weekend, and I know if I don't run this week I'll have a hard time finishing the race.  Today Kellie pointed out that I used to only run on the treadmill and refused to run outside.  My, how times have changed. 

I really didn't want to run, but I finally convinced myself to get on the treadmill.  The run was okay.  My breathing was decent, and my legs didn't hurt, I just really don't like running on the treadmill.  I ran the entire 2 miles in 21:45.  

Galloway 10K Training Week 1

After a fantastic 5K, I was completely motivated to take on the world of running.  My mind was consumed with thoughts of 5Ks, 10Ks, and even 1/2 marathons.  I was ready to take my running to the next level. 

But where do I start?  When I began training for my 5K, the choice was easy- Couch to 5K is a well-known, and highly recommended program.  How do I train for longer distances? I've already picked a 10K race in April, I just have to be able to run it.  So, turning to my good friend Google, I begin my quest to find the right training program for me. 

After researching the programs, I decided on Jeff Galloway's 10K Training.  It starts with my level of capability, the times aren't drastically increased week to week, and the running commitment is only 3 times per week.  This will get me to a 10K long before April, which means I have room for a few setbacks.  I am not counting on any, but we all know it's inevitable. 

Once again, I will give you a weekly breakdown of my runs.  We have been slow getting started, and I'm sure the upcoming holidays will create a few obstacles.  Nevertheless, I started this program before Christmas because I didn't want to be lazy the entire month of December.  Let the training begin!!!

Week 1, Workout 1
20-25 min run
I was able to run 21 minutes, covering 1.75 miles.  The weather was cool and I feel like I've recovered from my cold/cough. 

Week 1, Workout 2
20-25 min run
I ran 22 minutes, 1.8 miles.  This was a morning run, but the weather was extremely humid.  Breathing proved to be a little difficult in the thick air.


Week 1, Workout 3
2 miles
I completed the 2 miles in 23:30.  I am beginning to enjoy running again.  Although, I was very glad to complete this run. 

Rudolph Run 5k

Well, Nick and I completed our first 5K!!!  It was incredible!  The weather was cooperative and the festivities were fantastic.  The race left me feeling like I could do anything in the world.  Of course, I have plenty of pictures to share.  

The Rudolph Run 5K website encouraged us to dress in costumes.  And you know there was no way we were passing up this opportunity.  Kellie and I dressed as snowmen.  

I even convinced Nick get into the Christmas spirit.  

Originally, Nick and I were going to run our first race together.  But once the race started, I told Nick to go ahead and run at his own pace.  He finished a few minutes before me and had enough time to get the camera and snap a few photos as I finished the race.  

We waited for Kellie to finish her first 10k.  Here she is approaching the finish line.  

Afterwards we walked around,  and got a few pictures with Santa.  

Unbeknown to us, Kellie and I were entered into the costume contest.  (Because we had awesome Snowmen costumes, of course!!)  We had no intention of entering the contest, the race coordinator chose the contestants as we neared the finish line.  The little girl in the photo won the contest.  Congrats to her (even though she didn't seem very thrilled about it)!

And here we are showing off our finisher's medals.  

November Numbers for Nick

I chalked up 408,665 steps in November, accumulating 177 miles.

As for running - I logged 20 miles, though there are at least 3 runs not included in that number.

First race is this weekend, hopefully all will go well.