Raindrops keep falling on my head

Karma kicked me in the butt today.

For the past few months I have been pretty jealous of the blogs I read about too much rain. While I was sorry that the rain interfered with training plans, I longed for rain of my own. Each morning and night, as I watered all my plants, I would pray that rain would enter my life. My poor plants long for real rain.

Today my Momma and I planned to go to an organized open water swim. I really wanted to go for a couple of reasons. First and foremost I wanted to support my Momma, who has supported me in every way. And I also was interested to see what swimming a mile would really be like for her!



Friday I planned on, and was excited about, calibrating my Nike + ipod technology today, but when the open water swimming came up I was even MORE excited about swimming with my Momma.



We got to the open water practice and I was SHOCKED how far swimming a mile would be (I quietly wondered to myself if I could do it!) , but I was ready to go - ready to see what we could do. Momma and I swam for about ten minutes when the thunder and lightning began. We all got out and decided that it was not going to pass, so we all left. I drove home in one of those crazy summer rains that includes rain the size of golf balls. As I got closer to my house the rain let up, but was obviously headed our way. When I got home I asked Scott to hurry up and feed Koz and get him out because the rain was coming! I jumped in the shower and washed the twenty minutes of lake off of me.

As if all of this was bad enough two additional things happened:

1. I allowed my self to have an orange cream frappachino for lunch b/c I thought that I was getting a good workout this afternoon...which did not happen...AND

2. It never freaking rained at my house.

So, now I am going out side to water the plants and then doing a bunch of sit ups, push ups and leg lifts to try and work off that orange cream frapp!

Take Care
Molly

Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I"m free
Nothings worrying me. (Burt Bacharach)

Running all the time, Running to the future, With you right by my side

Went to my psychiatrist Thursday and was SO nervous about telling him that I had quit the meds! Some of my nerves were calmed when his receptionist (who has seen my in the best of times and the worst of times in the past) told me I looked better than she has ever seen me! So, boosted a little bit, I blurted, quickly, to Dr Spaulding that I was off the meds...and he was happy for me...yea! He thought all my race day anxiety (as you all told me) was normal! I am going to see him in five months (or b/4 if I need him)!

Thursday night's Powerflex class was crazy. Our teacher was unhappy b/c no one would yell the reps with her and she kept throwing in extra sets of push ups...man my chest was crazy soar! Sucked it up and did 20 minutes on the elliptical after class. I got on a machine that faced the pool and seriously considered stripping to my sports bra and undies and jumping in...I would have been a lot more covered than some of the women out there! But, I decided to head home!

Friday I went to work for a little while and then went to get a new pair of running shoes. I went to a local store, that I usually go to, that put a coupon in the race packet for the 10K. After getting a good scolding for keeping my old shoes months too long (I had no idea Dr. John, I promise!) I tried on the newer version of the Asics I have and then I tried on a pair of Nike Air Structure Triax.

They have more "pitch" than my Asics and I seemed to like that pretty well! Being the cool store that this is I was able to run around a little before I bought them and he said I could take a run on them on the treadmill and bring them back if I was not happy.

As I have mentioned before my workout gear is pretty Nike heavy...my favorite shorts, shirt, hat and even socks are Nike. So now I can officially say...

Molly Running officially Endorses

So, the guys at the store were really great and really supportive. When I pulled my coupon out they knew it was from the Riverbend run and asked me which race I ran and how I did and so forth. They said that they thought that it was one of the hardest routes that Riverbend has done. They gave me tips on routes and hills in the area that would be good places for me to practice.

At this point I was totally comfortable with these guys and MY questions started pouring out. The biggest being that I have avoided running outdoors b/c I can not track my progress as well as I can on the treadmill. So I asked if there was any other option than the Garmin to track my running outdoors...and low and behold I have the shoe AND the right ipod (Nano) to use this cool new device from Nike.

So, the little doo dad on the left goes in my shoe and the part on the right goes into my ipod. I can download all sorts of cool stuff off of itunes and upload the information from the "chip" in my shoe to download and (GET THIS) have charts! AND this cool little thing costs...ONLY THIRTY BUCKS!!! AND I GOT 15% OFF EVERYTHING!!!

I'm so stoked (can you tell?), I can not wait to get it calibrated and download all the cool stuff! My itunes is on my work computer, so the ONLY disappointing part was that I could not do any of this fun stuff this weekend.

Friday afternoon I hit the treadmill to make sure the shoes were cool and they are...my right knee is still bothering me...but the pounding sensations I was getting with my other shoes were gone. I think I am going to have to sport the knee brace for a while.

Friday night Scott and I went to a LONG Lookouts game...we left in the 12th, the Looks won in the 14th.

This morning I went to yoga and it was A GREAT class. Afterward I was not tight for the first time since THE race. I went to the pool this afternoon and worked on my freckles and then went to dinner with Scott's family (he is at the Atlanta Braves game today). I am trying to figure out what to do for cardio tomorrow afternoon. I know that I will want to run (once I get my ipod situated) Monday...and I should not run three days in a row...maybe I'll do laps at the pool, in my swim suit!

Much love to Momo who is in an Ironman race tomorrow and congrats to ZBuck, Russ and Matt who competed in a Duathlon today and Iron Pol who competes in a half Ironman this weekend!

Take Care
Molly

Were running
Keep holding my hand
Its so we don't get separated (No Doubt)

Somebody's ringin' the bell, Do me a favor, Open the door and let 'em in

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH (again and again and again) for your awesome support!!!!

Well today I jump back on the horse. I have been pretty lazy since Saturday...I swam on Monday and did strength work (mostly ab work) at home Tuesday and last night. Tonight I am planning on going to my Powerflex class and doing 20 minutes on the elliptical afterward. Tomorrow, when I run, will be the first true test of what is going on with my knee...but it is time to get going...

We are officially signed up for another event, The Chattanooga Waterfront Tri on July 15th. I say we because my Momma, my friend Kim and I are doing it as a relay. Momma is doing the swim (1.5K), Kim the bike (40K) and I am doing the run (10K).


I would really like to do this 10K in under an hour. For now that is my goal.

I have been looking at the track club schedule to try and set up my plan for the rest of the year... I am thinking of doing two more 5K races and one 10K race this year and I am batting around the idea of signing up for next year's Country Music 1/2 marathon in April.


A funny thing happened in Barnes and Noble yesterday when I went to get a book I have heard a lot about called," Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert (If it is as good as everyone says I will make sure to do a post on it) and, as always, I found myself with the magazines. I have made it clear from the get go that I am a magazine junkie...give me a Glamor, Lucky, In Style, Allure and I am a happy girl!

Guess what I bought yesterday...

One other things that I have read about in the blog world in tempo runs and I never REALLY understood what that meant. It had a great article and explanation and I am definitely going to start doing a tempo run, at least, once a week! It also had a good article on runner's knee that I need to get further into!

Today I am going to see my psychiatrist. It is a scheduled visit that I have had for a while. I have decided I am going to lay it all out for him (including the fact that I took myself off the meds, which I know he will not be happy about) and go with (for the time being :) ) whatever advice he gives me...I guess he is the professional!

Take Care
Molly

Sister Suzi, brother John,
Martin Luther, Phil and Don,
Uncle Ernie,Auntie Gin
open the door, let em in (Paul McCartney)

The Rest of the Story

When I was in Middle School and the start of High School my Mom was part of a car pool. When it was her time to drive everyone would always tell me to try and get her to put it on one of the "cooler" (Top 40) radio stations. She liked to listen to a station that had a stronger than usual "talk" element and played mostly oldies and a few, very main stream, top 40 hits. I would play along with my friends and tell her I wanted the station changed...sometimes she did, sometimes she didn't.

Truth be told I liked the station that she listened to. One of the main reasons I liked the station was that Paul Harvey was featured daily. I loved his voice and the inside angle that he gave to events happening around the world. His segment was called, "The Rest of the Story." As I was thinking of this post I thought of Paul Harvey, because this post really is the rest of the story:

* I had a full blown panic attack in the first mile of my race on Saturday. My mind raced as the fear built. All I could think of was, what if I can not do this? My legs were heavy, my mouth was really dry and I could not seem to catch my breath. I had thoughts of stopping right then and saying that my knee hurt, that I did not feel good, straight out telling my family I was having a panic attack.

I was surrounded by people and felt totally closed in, like there was no where to go. I began singing to my ipod and trying to visualize that I was running on the treadmill at the gym. As one foot went in front of the other I calmed some and finally got into a rhythm. The last thought of bailing came when the 10K and the 5K split...I could just follow the 5K and say I got confused somehow.

When the split happened and I saw how few people headed up the hill on the 10K route I felt like I had to do this...I am one of few who have chosen this route and I have to do it. Shortly there after I saw Momma and Scott for the first time and that gave me a boost I needed badly.

*Right before the 4th mile marker we turned into a headwind, I had been trotting along nicely for a while at this point. When we hit the headwind I got really cold. Bone cold. I had decided to wear a sleeveless top because I thought I would be really hot, I never thought, for a second, that I would be so cold! It scared me and the OCD kicked in again. I looked down at my heart rate and it was at 99% (whatever that means). I was not tired but I walked because I was scared. I could not let go of the thought that something was seriously wrong with me.

I never warmed up the rest of the race and it was only after a warm bath that I felt my temp was normal back at home (we did eat at a cold restaurant after the race which probably did not help much). This is where the obsession kills me. The thought that something was wrong never passed through my head the rest of the race (I worried even after I got home) it played like a broken record in my head. Once again it was seeing my Mom and S and Alan and Kate on the bridge that boosted me to the finish.

* I have been off my meds for a while now. My psychiatrist lowered my dose but I continued the process and slowly stopped taking them all together. I can tell you, without a doubt that if I had been on meds neither of the two experiences I described above would have happened. The meds would have evened me out and I would not of had the panic sensations and I would not have obsessed over the cold feelings.

This leaves me in an interesting position. By God I made it through that race with panic, with obsessive thoughts and without meds; but, did I have to? Sometime in the near future I hope to be pregnant and at that time there will be no question, I will not be on meds (this is a decision I made myself after a lot of research).

But until then...who am I? Am I the girl that was Saturday who suffers through and is proud of herself not only for her physical accomplishment, but also for her mental accomplishment. Or am I the girl who does not worry who I am? The fact of the matter is that I am still not sure.

The girl who made it through the race on Saturday is not always a fun girl to be. She over thinks everything and stops herself, in her own tracks, at every turn. The girl who does not worry will always wonder if she is missing something by not worrying.

I am still thinking and praying about this one a lot. I am not sure what I will do...

Thanks again for all the support out there in the blog world. You all were definitely on my mind during the race. When it comes down to it, no matter who ever else I am, I am a lucky girl to be so supported!

Now you have the rest of the story,
Molly Cooper, Good Day

Got your popcorn ready?...this is a long one!

For one hour, nine minutes and fifty seven seconds yesterday I worked harder than I have in a really long time! I can honestly say that I was not truly prepared for this race. I think that there is no way that I could have known that before running it...so, I am not saying that in a self deprecating way - just to say that this 10K was a HUGE learning experience for me!

I got up at 5:45 and had my oatmeal and coffee and water and S and I headed out at 7:15. My sweet husband had taken spray chalk and written GO MOLLY on the driveway...he knew how nervous I was and it was really cool that he thought to do that for me!!!

I got there and got my chip (I picked up my race packed with my number in it on Friday) and met up with my Alan, Jen and Kate.

I was pretty nervous going in and so pics and hugs with Momma (I think this is one of my favorite pics of me and Momma ever) and Scott were necessary.

Before I knew it we were lining up. There were probably 4x more people there than were at the 5k and it was MUCH more organized. They told us that all miles would be marked and splits would be called. We lined up up according to pace...there were signs along the straight away that we started on. The 5K and 10K started together and the 5K split off about a mile into the race.

The first mile was REALLY tough. I was really questioning myself and my ability...my mouth was really dry and I felt really closed in...with good reason. I found out after the race that there was a record attendance at this race...nearly 1,100 people participated! I really had to talk myself through that first little bit!

Momma took the artsy picture of me at the start...I think it is really cool. I am the second blue body in this shot. Momma and S hustled to this spot to take this shot of me. It was SO great to see them there. I had just climbed the first of three hills in the first three miles. I managed to erase my split times from my watch...but in my nervousness and excitement I ran the first two miles in under nine minute...which I think killed me later. This was a nice straight away and down hill section. The third hill came soon after as did my first walk. Did not think that my legs could make it...and I thought that I could probably walk ( still in proper form Iron Pol) than I could run!

Soon we hit the Riverwalk, where I ran the 5K. Right before we hit the wooden part of the walk S had written in chalk paint, GO MOLLY GO and that gave me such a big boost. The Riverwalk part of the race was my best, most even and comfortable part of the run. At the end of the Riverwalk part I knew I was close to mile four. We then turned up to Riverfront Parkway that runs parallel to the Riverwalk...and we turned into the a headwind. I had a little bit of a freak out at this point b/c I was pretty tired and all of a sudden, with the head wind, I got really cold, I looked down and my HR was at 99%. I decided to walk for a while. Mile 4 to 5 was my slowest, I walked most of it...mostly b/c I was nervous about the cold feelings. That was the LAST thing that I expected to feel!

I could see mile marker 5 in the distance and sunshine on the street (we had been running in the shade) and I picked it back up. Then I saw my Momma, S, Alan and Kate on a bridge over the Parkway and once again I got an emotional lift. They all (including Kate in the cutest voice) GO MOLLY GO!

I ran a little longer and had to walk a little more again. The cold feeling was still with me and my knees started screaming at me! I decided to do a five minute run/two minute walk until I saw the six mile marker and I ran it in from there. When I saw the finish line I was SO happy and then I saw my Dad, who I did not expect to be there. All of a sudden he yelled, "HURRY YOU HAVE TO BEAT 1:10!" and I turned it up and pulled in at 1:09:57...THANKS DAD MAN! S was at the end of the finish straight away and I was so glad to see him and the sweet thing hugged me despite an hour of gunk!

I kept walking after the race and drank a lot of water. It was SO great to have all my family there and I have to say that, to a person, the people that ran this race were awesome! Every person that I saw from the folks at the water station, to the crossing guards, the people guiding us in the right direction were amazing and supportive and I really appreciate all of them!

I am SO proud of Jen, she made it too with

a lot less training than I did!. The pic on the right is with her group of friends from work who ran the race too!

Then we had to go to get my favorite pancakes at the Blue Plate.

I crashed pretty hard yesterday afternoon...but did not nap as much as I had anticipated ( I did not sleep much Friday night!). I was a little nervous b/c I did have a lot of trouble warming up...but after eating A LOT, taking a warm bath and stretching a little I was able to get in a little nap.

We went to visit with family and friends on my parents house boat last night. It was the last night of Riverbend and there was a great fireworks show. My Momma had a picture from the race posted in the window of the boat and S was up to his old tricks and put a big chalk "sign" on the concrete that had a congrats message and my time!

Starting last night and into today I am having a little trouble with my left knee, which to this point has been my "good" knee. I am hoping that my quads are just so tight that they are pulling a little funny on my knee. I am still stretching like a crazy person...without much results...just have to keep it up!

Major thanks to my family and friends that really got me through this! I am thinking a lot about the 10K in July and what I need to do between now and then to be better prepared for the next race!

Take Care

Molly

I FINISHED

1 hour
9 minutes
57 seconds

More later
Sleep now

Take Care
Molly

I just wanna fly

Well I am sufficiently nervous already.

Runner Susan's site provided an idea for a cool distraction:



Notice that I look like Ashley Simpson PRE nose job!

I tried to do Kozmo too...but his face did not match...I guess that is a good thing for the celebs!

I have my plan all worked out for tonight. S and I are going to leave two cars downtown so that I can head home early from the Riverbend Party. I have my food worked out too...pasta with grilled chicken and lots of water. I can pick up my race packet at the festival tonight, so I plan on being at the race site at 7:30 (3o minutes b/4 race time sound OK?).

I plan on getting up at 6:00 and having my oatmeal and coffee and sticking with the normal routine. Mom will be the photographer again and there will be lots of family there...my sister in law Jen (who got me into this to begin with) is running too.

I just finished my play list for the race:

Accidentally in Love Counting Crows
Irreplaceable Beyonce
What I Got Sublime
Tubthumping Chumbawamba
Numb Lincin Park
Thks Fr Th Mmrs Fall Out Boy
I'm a Believer Smashmouth
Umbrella Rihanna and Jay-Z
Run Around Blues Traveler
Fly Sugar Ray
Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson
Tell Me Diddy and Christina Aguilera
Semi-Charmed Life Third Eye Blind
The Remedy Jason Mraz
ShowMeWhatchaGot Jay-Z
Walkin' on the Sun Smashmouth
Move Along All American Rejects
Praise You Fatboy Slim
New Shoes Paolo Nutini
Interstate Love Song Stone Temple Pilots
Hey There Delilah Plain While T's
September Earth Wind and Fire

I hope that I do not nee that many songs...I figured I'd rather have too many than not enough.

I have to give a special shout out to Iron Pol for the advice he gave me on tackling the hills without killing myself. And as always thanks to all of you, especially Bill, Andra and Allez for your tips and support.

I was watching an interview on the Today show with the guy from Man vs. Wild that Russ mentioned and he was asked how he makes it through all the tough situations he is in. He said that he just focuses on the fact that the discomfort will not last forever yadda, yadda, yadda. I'm going to keep that in mind as well as momo's advice that it is OK if it hurts a little.

As always, I appreciate any advice that you can give me...anything you wish you knew before your first 10K...food, water and simply running advice is great too.

Take Care
Molly

dance a little stranger, show me where you've been
love can make you hostage wanna do it again
there's no time to think about the starting or the end
we'll find out I'm told, my mother she told me so (sugar ray)