5 little confessions...

Hosted by Carrie - Aubrey - Jacq - Kimberley 

It's me again, twice in one day, I know I know!!! I met the lovely ladies listed above when I did the 30x30 outfit challenge in May of last year, and while I don't blog much at all, I do enjoy keeping up with their blogs. Anyway, they're starting this new link-up once every Wednesday so I thought I'd give it a go!

Although I'm not sure what I have to confess that I'm willing to admit to...

I thought for this week I'd got with a theme, and since I just blogged about my last race, I thought I'd do my top five running confessions!

I like running because I'm an egomaniac (har har, no really, I am.) and I'm super OCD. I love running because it's one of the few things I'm actually good at, though it's a pretty dumb thing to be good at. I got lucky right away winning my age groups in smaller races and after that I became pretty much insufferable about it. And I love the OCD-ness of PRs, splits and all that. (Yes I have an exel spread sheet of all my races.) (Yes I have a pace calculator app on my phone.)

Okay, this one is really embarrassing, but I smell super bad after a run. I've never been a sweaty girl, even after years of living in the super humid south. But running? Wow, running brings out the smelly in the best of us. Just last week I ran in about 60 degree weather and Matthew basically ran away from me when I got home!

I hate running skirts! I know a lot of runners love them and swear by them. But I feel like a total doofus in one. It's not that I don't like girly things, I love skirts and dress for church and going out, but not for running. Give me some running tights, capris or shorts any day, please! 

I wear makeup to races. This one stings too, because I always made fun of those runners, you know? It's not a beauty contest! Hello, this is the South. Everything is a beauty contest! And I don't mean a lot of makeup, just a little. Enough so that when I see my race photos I don't think "YIKES!" Because I mean, really, if I'm going to smell, I need to at least look a little bit pretty to compensate, no?

I am signing up for a half-marathon in October and I'm honestly terrified!!! Sometimes I wonder if there really are two different types of runners, the long-distance and the short-distance. Clearly I only have experience with short distances for now. All I know about myself right now is that I like to run fast. So I know half training will be so much of a challenge for me. The most I've ever run is seven miles, but all my seasonsed distance running friends have assured that I can build myself up to thirteen in no time. But I'm still scared! I've already picked my race too and if all goes according to plan, I'll be running the Blue Mountain Beach Half on Columbus Day weekend in Florida. 

More race recaps, a birthday, and a PR...

So, yes, another random post...

This past weekend my parents came up from Florida to celebrate my birthday. We had a great weekend full of shopping, eating, visiting and running (of course!).

On Friday my mom and I went shopping most of the day with Sophia in tow. She was a pretty good sport since she's not quite old enough to enjoy shopping the way we do. I scored some great stuff at Old Navy, including this dress that I'm completely in love with already! The website says "teal stripe" but it's green like my Converse green. As in, looks great with my (fake) red hair. Score! After dinner we had a little birthday party and some cake.

Since we always run a race when we're together, my dad and I got up early to run a 5K at a local elementary school. If you've been following my race recaps these past few months you'll know that I've been trying hard to PR ever since I ran a 25:57 back in early November. Since then I've missed it by about 40 seconds every race. This race on Saturday I knew was going to be flat as a pancake and straight as an arrow, so I had my hopes up quite a bit. It was also a pretty small race, under a 100 runners/walkers, so no crowding issues at the start. Normally I'm quite OCD about the way I run, but before the race I told my dad I was just going to forget over thinking everything and just run as fast as I could. Which is exactly what I did! I've always been too afraid to run a race full-out because I have a fear of running out of energy midway through and having to *gasp* walk!

So off we go, and I'm hauling booty, basically. My first mile is 7:54. Holy crap!!! Around one mile another woman came up alongside of me and started to pace with me. Now, normally this is not my thing. I'm way too competitive to run with someone else. But, she seemed to be wanting to pace off of me, not pass me, so I just stayed at my pace. After a minute or two, she started to make small talk with me. Again, I was like "what?!" because I always run with headphones and music cranked. Still, not wanting to be rude, I popped out one headphone and talked a little too. It was actually pretty fun to have a running buddy! We were both excited to be running as fast as we were, since she was a distance runner who was trying to up her speed. I told her I was the opposite,  a speed runner who's trying to graduate up to distance. My second mile was a 7:59 and I was still feeling pretty good.

Around the third mile I was beginning to wonder how long I could keep it up, but I knew the route pretty well and knew it was almost over, so I managed to carry on. My third mile was 8:03.

I crossed the finish line at 23:46, so basically I Hulk-smashed my PR! The course was short by about a tenth of mile, so adjusted time should be something like 24:30. Which still would have been a PR by a minute and a half!

Race stats:

Official time: 23:46 (average pace: 7:55)

Age group: 2nd out of ? (They did ten year age groups, so I was in the 20-29)

Overall: Not sure, but I know I was the 4th female finisher.

He beat me, of course.

So, that might be my last 5K for a while! I've signed up for a 10K in three weeks and I'm really excited! 

Cantrell Center 5K and stuff...

Well, it's that time again! Time for a lovely race update which will make you scratch your head and wonder, "And I care, why?" Whatever. I've always enjoyed writing stuff that no one cares to read! I think at some point I may have been an entertaining blogger, for about a week or so. But as I've stated numerous times, these days I pretty much only write about whatever is foremost in my mind: running and writing. Or running and not writing...errr... Believe me when I say it's all just a complicated coping mechanism to keep me from writing (and therefore fixating) on bigger problems, ie: house hunting.

So, onto my race recap!

This past Saturday was my seventh race! This particular race was the closest one to home that I've ever run, so Matthew and the kids decided to come with me. I went over Friday to pick up my race packet early so we wouldn't all have to leave at the crack of dawn on Saturday. Sophia came with me and we ooohed and ahhhed over my awesome race swag. (A koozie!) Just kidding. I never get good race swag. Anyway, early packet pick up is the way to go. Instead of leaving at some crazy early time we all rolled out of here just a few minutes before eight. This race was definitely the biggest I've run in so far, I think the final total was something like 850.

It was so nice to have Matthew and the kids there to hang out with me before the race started. I was pretty focused on hitting my PR, but having them there relaxed me a lot! (I take myself way to seriously, I'm aware!) Anyway, I made a pretty dumb mistake right off the bat when everyone was getting ready to start. I don't start out very fast so I don't like to be too close to the front, but not too far back, either. This time I ended up a little to far back for my pace. Because I'm so short, I couldn't even see where the official start was, there were so many people. I spent the first half mile jockeying for space and zigzagging around people. Oh well! After it opened up a bit I really started to enjoy the run a lot. The weather was a perfect sunny forty degrees and the course was through some nice neighborhoods.

Alas, the second half was a little less than pleasant. I had been warned by my sister-in-law who walked the course a few years back, that it was a hilly course. I regularly run hills in our neighborhood, but it's a whole other ballgame at race pace. (Hey, I rhymed.) Anywho, it flattened out before the last half mile or so and cranked up the pace. I passed a few more people and then headed around the corner to the final stretch where I started looking for my little family. I spotted them right away, gave a little wave and then cranked it up for the finish line. Final time: 26:33. I missed my PR again!!!

But....this time I wasn't too bothered. I had fun. I ran the best I could. I can't see how I could have gone any faster. We hung around for official results and age group placement stuff. I said I wanted to hit the top ten for my age group and I did!

My race buddies!

Race stats: (Because I'm OCD like that!)
Official time: 26:33 (avg. pace 8:32)
Age group: 7th out of 65
Overall: 134th out of 849

My next race is this Saturday! I've never run two races back to back so it should be interesting. It's another good chance for me to beat that bloody 25:57 PR since it's a super flat and straight course. And I'm running with my dad, which also makes me faster!

I had a bunch of other stuff to say about my retirement from 5Ks (for now), my upcoming birthday (29!!!), and other random stuff, but I'll save that for another day!

There is no try...

Do or do not!

Yeah, I just started my post with a Star Wars quote, a Yoda one at that. Look at me, my second blog post of the year! Anyway, I realized I never blogged about my last race so I thought I'd come over today and do a quick recap/whine.

This was almost three weeks ago now. So the Museum of Aviation Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K is one of the bigger races around here. I knew this when I signed up because I saw they had capped entries at 1,500 runners. There were several articles in the newspapers leading up to it as well, so it was pretty exciting and nerve wracking. This was my sixth race so far, and most of the the 5Ks I've run have had around 100 people or less running. I knew this one would be a lot more, and I also knew it was going to be COLD! Georgia was already having some sub-zero temps the week before so I know everyone was nervous about how cold it was going to be come race morning.

Saturday, January 18th, it was twenty out. TWENTY! In GEORGIA! Crazy. I got up, layered up as much as I dared because we all know we warm up a lot once we start running. I try to dress for about twenty degrees warmer than it is because I seem to warm up a lot once I'm running. I put on an extra fleece to wear until the race started. Grabbed my coffee and breakfast and headed out while it was still dark. When I got to the race location at the Museum of Aviation at the Air Force base here it was so crowed! I've never seen so many people at one race before! Again, exciting and nerve wracking. I milled around a bit, talked to some people (I'm new to racing so I don't know a lot of people at the races usually.) Talked to my coach on the phone a bit (my dad!).  I was a bad sport and did not go out to watch the marathon or the half start, because now it had warmed up to twenty-two! Ugh.

My goals for the race were, of course, to PR. I was already in the lucky position of having PRed at every race so far. My last PR for a 5K was 25:57, so I was really hoping to hit something around 25:30. And even though I knew it was a bit out of my reach, I really wanted to place high (top three) in my age group. Anyway, cue the start of the race and we're all off jostling and pushing each other (I hate that, because I'm small I always get pushed!) The three miles went by fairly quickly and I warmed up fast. I even got a little warmer that I would have liked about 3/4 of the way in. I knew I was having a good run, but not my best and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to push my pace any faster than it was.

Needless to say, this was one race I was glad when it was over! As soon as I crossed the finish line and stopped running I felt like I had a brain freeze from breathing in all the cold air. UGH!



Oh hi, that's me (taken by the newspaper photographer). I always forget to shut off my running app, so here I am at the finish line making sure it's off. As you can see from the time, I didn't PR.

I waited around for the official results and talked to Matthew on the phone a little. When they posted the leader board they posted 1-4 in every age group and that's when I saw I had come in fourth place. Talk about disappointed! Does it get any worse than FOURTH place? Mind you 1-3 all took home trophies for crying out loud.

Don't get me wrong, I knew this was coming. I'm fast, but I'm not that fast. Most of the races in which I've won my age group have been smaller races where there is only five or six girls in my age group. So I've gotten lucky. Not so much this time. I've been telling myself to be prepared for the day you don't do as well as you wanted to, but still I was a little annoyed with myself for not doing better.


So what now? We try again! My next race is February 22nd and it's a biggie too! About 1,000 people sign up for this particular 5K every year and this year should be no different. But what is different is my strategy. I hope to PR and that's it! Of course, I'll be lucky if I get top ten in my age group at this race, which is totally fine. Also, Matthew and the kids plan to come out to this one and it will be a great motivation knowing they are at the finish line!

Race stats:

Official time: 26:18 (avg pace 8:26)
Age group: 4th out of 20
Overall: 43rd out of 336

A bi-annual update...of sorts...

Well, hey there, look who's dusting of her keyboard at long last! I swear, every single time I think I'm going to let this blog go and never write on it again, it sucks me back in. There was a time, long ago, where I blogged almost everyday and it was such a huge outlet and sounding board for me I couldn't imagine a time without it. I'm not sure what has happened lately, maybe I've just finally become a private person who doesn't feel like sharing everything about my life on the internet. (Gasp, I know, but it might be true?) Either that or I just became a one-track blog. I've never been the type of blogger who has been good about posting about...you know...things. I just tend to ramble on...and on...and on... about the same things...

WRITING!

And now the new and improved Cacey....

RUNNING!

So now at least I have two whole things I'm going to post about. And I think I will keep posting, sporadically. I feel like twice a year is a good goal for now (har har.)

So let's start with the first update: writing. I'm usually not one for New Year's resolutions, but I do think it's always a good time to re-evaluate some things in life. My number one goal for this year is to finish my third book and self-publish once again. I suppose it's pretty hard to find motivation some days when you are a self-published author. There are no deadlines, no editors breathing down your necks, no over-eager fans impatiently waiting for you book's release. Okay, I have a few fans waiting for the release of my third book, sure. Anyway, I quickly decided that I needed to set aside some time every day to write and therefore speed the process along some. The kids' school takes up far more time than it used to, which I've always anticipated. My afternoons are usually spent doing chores, working out, showering and such. So that left me with evenings. From now on eight o' clock to nine o' clock is set aside for writing, editing or doing anything that has to do with my book. To make this work, I decided to make that hour also internet free. Unless I'm google-ing something for research for writing purposes, I don't use the internet. I actually found this so helpful, and so freeing that I decided to go completely unplugged from the internet every night starting at eight. It's not as hard as you would think. I put away the iPhone, shut of the wireless on my kindle and forget about it.

This past week I've written a couple thousand words, worked a little on editing and addions. I confess last night I mostly worked on my "soundtrack" but that's just something to keep me inspired. I'm about fifteen chapters in to Final Redemption, and sitting comfortably at 50K words. London Escape was 60K, Finding Sanctuary was 70K, so I'm shooting for somewhere between 70 and 80 this time. Since it's the last of the trilogy (I'm not going to say last of the series, because I'm just not ready to say goodbye yet!) I've got quite a few loose ends to tie up. It should be fun!

Pretty soon I will have to get in touch with the person who designed my cover, but I'm already thinking of a concept. Something  like this... (That is Hong Kong, in case you didn't know! That super tall building was the one used in The Dark Knight.)



And now on to our last subject...

I ran my fifth (I can't believe it's my fifth already!) race down in Florida the week after Christmas. All of my races so far have been 5Ks, but this one was a four-miler. My dad (who was running with me) kept checking the weather the days leading up to the race and it never looked good. We woke up Saturday morning to a pretty steady rain, not to mention it was windy and cold. (When you say cold in Florida, that means 50 y'all.) But we went anyway, because we're crazy like that! Fortunately for us, right before the race started, it cleared up enough so that we wouldn't be running in the rain. The first two miles out were downwind, but since it was an out-and-back, as soon as we turned to go back there was a pretty strong headwind. On top of that, in my last mile it started raining! Still, I managed to finish with a fantastic time of 32:47 (that's a 8:11 average yo!). As soon as the race was finished we quickly changed into some dry clothes and waited around for the race results. We were both pretty thrilled to see once the results were posted that we had both won our age groups! I finished 24th overall, and 6th overall female. Needless to say on the way home I was already plotting when I could race again!

Next up for me is the Museum of Avaiton 5K next Saturday. I'm super nervous about this one, because last year they had about 450 people running the 5K alone. Basically I will be lucky if I place in my age group, let alone win it like I have in my previous races. Trying to do some speedwork, so we'll see! Also, on the same day they will be having  a half-marathon and a marathon. I'd really like to run the half there next year so I'm excited to scope things out a bit. I really enjoy running in the cooler weather, so I think it's my best option. I also have plans to run the Cantrell Center 5K here in Warner Robins on Feb. 22nd and also might be signing up for my first 10K in March! I'm trying to do about one race a month, just because it's so much fun! I've also been doing  a 10K training program on my Nike app. I've run six miles before, so it would be my goal to run and PR, which right now would mean running it in under 57:24.

Me and my dad after the Flora-Bama. The coffee mugs were our prizes for winning. Personally I think medals are much cooler, but oh well! (Don't make fun of my pants, you know they are super cool!)


Until next time! Say...around July?

Five on Friday randomness...

How long has it been since I did a random post? Heck, how long has it been since I posted? I'm a terrible blogger these days, I'll admit. I feel especially bad about not keeping up with the family blog since that one's been going since 2006. However, I don't feel too bad since we get to see a lot of family these days so it's not as necessary to try and keep everyone in the loop. But I have sort of used it as a online baby book for the kids so I guess I need to go post some updates when I'm done here!

Anyway, Five on Friday, random stuff and go!

1.) Holy Christmas shopping Batman! Something about Black Friday always sends me into guilt mode that I haven't done any shopping for anyone! Not only to have I to shop for the kids still, it's Matthew's birthday on the tenth! Fortunately he's already told me what he wants, but I still need to get him something else to go along with it. I'm hoping to start my shopping for the kids this weekend/next week if I can. Though I have no idea what to buy for Elijah. Am I the only one who thinks seven year old boys are hard to buy for? Sophia is easy peasy. She loves everything!

2.) I'm a little bummed that I haven't seen Catching Fire yet. I know, I know, it just came out last night, but I'm already dying!!! I'm pretty sure I saw the Hunger Games on opening weekend and was appalled/annoyed at all the teenybopper fangirls gasping and making obnoxious noises behind me over the Katniss/Peeta bread kissing. And dude, that made me feel OLD. No likey. Anyway, Matthew has consented to take me so I don't have to go solo like last time, but not sure when we will get the chance.

3.) Which brings me to...a week off next week! Well, I don't have the whole week off from school. Some dummy (me) scheduled school already on Monday and Tuesday. Matthew has the whole week off next week, which only means one thing to me: Running outside whenever I want! Right now during the weekdays I'm stuck inside on the treadmill because of the kiddos, and it's better than nothing, but I'm really looking forward to hitting the pavement a bunch next week. The most miles I've ever run in a month is sixty this past September, I'm hoping to beat that this month and I'm already up to forty-three with eight days left in the month. So I should be able to beat it, but just barely.

4.) Also, back to Christmas. CHRISTMAS! I'm a little excited...we're spending it in Florida with my family, something we haven't done since 2007! (What?! I know!) And my dad and I running another race together called the "Make it to the line" Flora-Bama, which I think means we will run to the Florida/Alabama line. It's a four miler, my longest race, but really, not that much longer!

5.) Do we have to talk about it? The book? Okay I guess I will, since that's supposed to be the point of this blog. My budding failing writing career. Final Redemption is still in the works. I haven't given up. I haven't quite writing. It's just getting harder and harder to find time these days. Maybe if I could find a way to write and run it might work out. Every weekend I promise myself I'll sit and bang out a few chapters. Some weekends I do. Most weekends I don't. The good news is: it's all still there in my head. It's not going anywhere. I know how it ends. Well, sorta anyway. It looks like I might be on track for another Spring release. EEK! It's out there now, now I have to finish it  by then. Right?

Bloggy Sunshine Award

My friend Carrie, from Curly Crafty Mom, nominated me today for the Sunshine blogger award. Carrie and I have known each other for what seems like forever! Really just since around 2006 where we met on the May '06 BBC boards. I'm glad she nominated me, since I really needed a reason to post on this dusty old blog besides another race recap or a post about how my newest book isn't going anywhere. (Shhhhh) Anyway, so here are the questions she asked me and a few other bloggers. 

1. What is the #1 item on your Christmas list this year?

I really, really want a black moto jacket. Jackets are so much more practical here in Georgia, since you can pretty much get away with wearing them all winter. I spotted one at Kohl's the other day that I loved. (Not the exact pic, but close enough.) 

2. Favorite Fall nail polish color right now?

Wet 'n Wild Megalast in Disturbia. (Yes I loooove cheap nailpolish!)

3. What kind of car do you drive?

Ha! A 1998 Toyota Rav4 that I bought when I was nineteen. Little did I know I would still be driving it almost ten years later. It's a great car though.

4. Do you wash your jeans after you wear them once?

Noooo. Only because I love my skinnies and we all know how fun it is to put on freshly washed skinny jeans.

5. What jewelry are you wearing right now (or did you wear today)?

Right now, just my wedding rings and teeny diamond studs that I almost never take out. I haven't gotten dressed for the day yet! But tonight we're going to Atlanta for a concert in the Atlanta Symphony hall, so I'm sure I'll find an outfit to wear with this gorgeous honkin' ring my mom gave me!

6. What are you having for dinner tonight (or what did you have)?

Since we'll be on the road around dinnertime tonight, I'm going to guess some kind of fast food. Hopefully Chick Fil A!

7. How old were you when you got your ears pierced (if they are pierced)?

I was twelve when I got the first piercing (I was supposed to wait until thirteen, but they took a year off for good behavior) I got my second piercing when I turned eighteen. Such a rebel  I know!!! Ha ha.

8. What is your favorite meal for lunch when you bring it to work or make it yourself?

A loaded baked potato with butter, cheese and bacon. Great, now I'm drooling...

9. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

This past Saturday I was shopping for an outfit for the aforementioned concert, I didn't score anything in the wardrobe department, but did come home with a new purse! Modeled here by Fifi. Only three and she's already stealing stuff from mama's closet! Also, she hasn't gotten the memo that it's Fall yet, she's still stuck on her summer wardrobe.



10. What was the last thing you bought for someone else?

Hmmmm...Oh I bought Fifi a new tiara the other day. But this really reminds me I need to start Christmas shopping soon!


So, I'm all out of time and have to run and start school with my kids, but I will try to come back later and post some questions and my nominees...