The Week After

Hello, friends!  Well, as I mentioned last time, I've decided to keep up the blog.  "Why?" you may ask.  It's simple.  Once you've started endurance sports, you're hooked.  My Team in Training friends and I were already talking about future events before finishing the Redman.  So what's next?

A full marathon? Oh, heck no!  But I am doing the half!  

Thanks to runHers!  Runhers is comping the entrance fee for Joleen, a KFOR relay team, and me.  RunHers is a women’s club dedicated to healthy lifestyle through running and walking in Oklahoma.  The club is about living a healthy lifestyle including running for fun, race training, seminars, and social gatherings.  For more information and lots of resources, check out their website by clicking here.  

Aftermath

Bad idea

What did I do the week after? Well, I ate a lot of bad foods, drank a bit too often, and worked out a few times.  In conclusion, I realized training makes me a better person.  I'm focused, driven, and a heck of lot healthier.  I am looking forward to training for the half marathon.  I hope to work with groups like RunHers and The LandRunners to figure out the best way to do that.

On the positive side, I did volunteer for a few events!  First "Puggerfest" last Saturday at Stars and Stripes Park at Lake Hefner and benefits the Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and Adoption of Oklahoma.  I judged the costume contest but there was also the longest tongue and curliest tail contests. Random and fun! The way I like it!  

This little guy won "Best Personality." He kept running up on stage!

This past Tuesday I had the honor of being the keynote speaker for the EPSCoR Women in Science Conference.  The presentation included a 5 minute video where I gave the 600 5th through 12th grade students a behind the scenes glimpse of the station and a clip of little Emily in 5th grade talking about weather.  My powerpoint presentation talked about my background, education, and career path.  I made sure to inspire the young ladies with quotes from Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyonce.  Beyonce went over well!  

Pint Run

So now that I am not training for a huge endurance event, I can have fun while working out!  Last Wednesday evening I went for a Pint Run through Red Coyote.  The premises is you run for 30 minutes, try on their new line of Brooks shoes, and in exchange get a free pint glass filled with free beer.  Now, maybe it's the inner college kid in me but I cannot pass up many free things!  It's a workout, free glass, and free beer...win win win!  And maybe and extra "win!" since I had a chance to try on a bunch of running shoes.  

I desperately need new running shoes.  In my previous entry I wrote how a locally famous doctor, "Dr. Tom," diagnosed me with flat feet and attributes my knee pain to that issue.  In conclusion, I need to get stability shoes.  Running shoe fitting is a whole 'nother word.  Who knew? I always bought my running shoes on sale at DSW.  I think I am going to get new shoes today.  I had to wait because Dr. Tom placed inserts below my big toe and after a short run, I developed a few nasty blisters.  Apparently there are 2 trains of thought on inserts.  One side thinks they are necessary to avoid pain while running, another side say it provides too much support and doesn't allow the foot to naturally strengthen its muscles.  All I know is the current insert gives me blisters, so I am likely in the second camp.  I will write about the shoe experience in the next entry.  Have a great weekend!

P.S.  Looks like my personal fundraising total is $3,745.48 

And the "Team Jo & Em" grand total is $6,436.45

Thanks to everyone who donated!  All the money goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!