I survived my first 1/2 Marathon

Helllllo~ I am back and ready to blog about a few exciting things that have happened.    

 In December I was talked into running my first half marathon (Galveston Diva Run).

A few of the ladies I work with kept telling me how much fun they were and at the Diva run when you cross the finish line you get a tiara, champagne and greeted by sexy fireman with their shirts off..

So this was the motivator for me to sign-up! Who doesn't like to parade around in a tiara while drinking champagne and get to take pictures with half naked fireman! The only thing I had to worry about was finishing in the allotted 3 hours and 30 minutes and of yea, not dying in the process! Our training didn't really start until mid January. I figured since I have done the MS150 and Sprint Triathlons that this should be easy peasy... Ummm that was a big fat NEGATIVE Ghost Writer! This is the hardest thing I have ever trained for. I ended up getting shin splits. So I bought the compression wraps and KT Tape to help with the pain. I also bought new shoes from Luke's Locker. The one thing that is no joke when running long distances is the CHAFING, Oh my LAWD! That hurts and for days... Why did no one warn me? learned very quickly after what I considered my first long run (8 miles) to lube yourself right on up! Ain't no shame in it... I never want to feel that kind of pain again.

Well I am here to warn anyone that is thinking about running long distances and just starting out... LUBE YOUR SELF RIGHT ON UP! There is no such thing as too much... You will thank me later.

I bought mine from Amazon my go to store because sometimes you are just to lazy to venture outside of your jammies!  Anti-Chafe Glide

The week before the marathon we pushed it to 12 miles even though the training sheet we were following only showed we had to run 11. I needed to see if I could make it 12 since the longest run we had done was 9 miles. With traveling, work, school, husband surgery and the weather. We just didn't have time to train as much together and therefore my accountability went along with it. She was my motivation to get my long runs done on the weekend. I do not like to run by myself outside.

We decided it would be a great idea not to stay in Galveston but drive the 1.2 hours the morning off.. Which meant I had to be up by 3:45 to get out there, Man that was rough. The first wave left around 6:30AM. I put in my tunes and the first few miles were a breeze I was high off the crowds cheering us on. We went through the "loop" mile 7-9 and that was my purgatory. I just hit a wall and thought I was just going to die... There were no spectators or and it was a construction site for 2 miles. I popped my blockers and just grunted through it. I am not a quitter and was not going to let this defeat me. That is when my time slowed down I did a lot of walking and complaining in my head.. It was a battle within. I could see the 10 mile marker in sight and my husband who was at home recouping from back surgery... Text me and told me he loved me and I got this.. It was just the motivation I needed.. I decided to stop and take a picture by the marker and send it to him. The last few miles I would get motivating texts from him. I crossed the finish-line and received a boa, tiara, and a glass of champagne. I finished in 3:15 and could not be more pleased with my time. My goal was to not die check and finish in the 3 hours and 30 minutes double check!

After finishing the run, to my surprise.. I was already talking about running another race! That is right I have the feva! I am registered to run the Rock-N-Roll in Vegas. My training/friend ran it last year and said it was the best experience and so much fun. So my goal is to finish under 3 hours. So let the training continue.

Is it off season yet? Just kidding… No but really…

Is it off season yet? Just kidding… No but really…

Sooo I have been kinda M.I.A. For a while.. trying to decide what to write.. what not to write.. is it appropriate or not.. What do I  want to share with my blog followers (as if I have any) but let's just say I do.. what would they want to read.. I have decided my blog is going to be me.. No filter and very random, most likely.. with a lot of punctuation

So my son has decided to play tackle football this year… who knew that Pee-Wee football would end up being my entire life for 12 weeks.. It’s not like we are going pro anytime soon…  or are we! I have decided that Katy breeds them young and there is only pain in football.. One of the coaches told us as Christian was putting on his helmet for like the first time…. EVER… and complaining about how much it hurt.. He said “boy… Football is Pain… so you better get used to it” … Who in their right mine ever gets use to  pain.. isn’t that why it’s called pain.. because it hurts like the dickens?

Any who… we are on the field practicing Tues, Thurs, & Fri (with games on Sat.) so we are devoting like 10 hours plus a week to this sport not including the time that the  husband spends with him on Mon & Weds in the backyard practicing ( I think it makes him feel like he is back in college ).. This is just nuts and I like it.. Is that strange? I love how he gets fired up about tackling (even though he says he gets a sack when he hits the QB and he didn’t have the ball…but if he did.. I would have had a sack, so I am saying I had a sack.. Not sure that is how it goes, but ok!) I love that he has finally found a sport he enjoys and even though it makes me nervous for him to be out there.. I am super proud of him and all his hard work he has put into it over the past few weeks.. 

Again.. Is it off season, yet? Oh wait.. I have no off season… I know why people compete in fitness competitions, because it gives them an end goal for all this madness.. I joined the Bombshells almost 3 months ago and it has been the best/worst thing I have ever done! Best thing because the results are phenomenal and the worst thing is oh my morning cardio at 4 am…My neck.. my back.. (you know you are singing along with me)  For me I am on this fitness journey to look good, who are we kidding.. I need trophy wife status.. and STAT! I can say one thing I really enjoy having a different meal/workout plan every month, but this month.. I loathe every minute of every workout.. (My coach has gone insane in the membrane.. thinking I can do all that she says I can) it and hate every meal.. I mean who wants to eat dried tuna, asparagus, brussel sprouts, and one half of a whole wheat bagel with no JAM everyday for four weeks? Lord knows I don’t and I let my coach know every week I send my updated pictures and status of how I am doing… With that being said..

 last month I lost a total of 8.25 inches and I am almost down 15 pounds in 10 weeks and there is no sign it is coming back!(insert happy dance with a  What’d up  & air high-five) 

I have been in a major funk over the past week trying to figure out the “reasoning” and the “why” I am torturing myself the way that I do.. I mean I am getting less than 5 hours a sleep Sun – Thur so I can make time for the gym (1 -1.5 hours). I have come up with the top 5 reasons I am currently doing what I am doing:

1.       To lead by example.. I want to show my son how to live a healthier lifestyle and make better choices. ( I thin it is working..he gets very proud of himself when he comes home and tells me the healthier options he went with at lunch)

2.       I want to prove to myself I can do this.. I have been having a lot of self doubt lately (sigh)

3.       It is my stressreliver.. Life gets so busy and the first thing to go is “me” time. As a women.. we always put others before ourself.. So this is my escape from it all.. For an hour.. hour and half I get to focus on just me.. Yes, I know it might sound selfish.. but you need time for yourself and I am not taking away time from my boys.. remember.. I am waking up at 3.(yawn) they are still tucked in their beds and sleeping like every sane other sane person..

4.       To look good and to set an example for others.. I know there are a lot of woman out there who just need that extra push or motivation to get the ball rolling.. I want to be able to provide that for them.. I want to show them.. YES YOU CAN!! So take control and seize today.. Even if it is a 10 minute walk around the block.. You are that much closer to your goal..

5.       This journey is ultimately for my mind, soul, and body.. If I am happy it makes life that much easier.. 

Life…

So I am not sure why I do the things I do.. oh wait.. YES I DO!! I am CRAZY and love being so stressed and not knowing which way is up. This semester I thought.. ehh why not go back to school.. Not only am I going to school.. I am going to a Big school.. I decided to go back and get my bachelors degree. I applied and was accepted to West Texas A&M a sister school of Texas A&M.. I think it has to do with proving that I am good enough and getting that damn approval stamp… I know! I think I have deep routed Daddy issues.. (kinda) So with no daddy in the picture.. I will have to get the approval stamp from the hubby.. Now if I could only tell him without telling him I need this in my life.. That is the hard part..

Randomness from the Peanut Gallary…

So we are sitting around with a bunch of said friends.. and a few things come up in random conversations.. you know how they do.. and well one was I would never date a girl who was not educated.. Umm hello (waiving hand) that is kinda me.. ((THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I AM GOING BACK TO SCHOOL… TOOO PROVE TO YOU I AM NOT A FOOOOOL)) Yes, I have an Associate of Applied Science (Nursing) but I do not have a degree from said university… Does this really make a difference? Apparently it does..

Second thing to come up in random conversation.. I would never date a girl with a kid.. too much baggage.. Ummm again hello (waiving hand) that is again kinda me…

Do men really think before they speak? I am beginning to think that they do not.. Talk about hurt feelings and crushed dreams… (NO this was not my husband who said these things) He would be in the dog house for years….

“linking up with Crystal Michelle + Amy”  

Doing my It's Friday Dance!! I made it through yet another work week!

So I following some pretty inspiring people and you should totally blog stalk them as well.. Crystal  & Amy As you can see from the picture above.. they are pretty hot lil mommas! Anyways, I like to call them my friends and they started a "link up" and I wanna play! So this is my first attempt at this and I hope it works. I am still getting use to all this blogging and the rules and what not. God forbid I end up with people mad at me because well.. I just couldn't cut it.

 

5 Facts about me: 

I am a Mom to an amazing almost 10 year old boy, a wife to an amazing Aggie who has been there for me over the past 8 years and I call him my best friend, I am a full-time student at University of West Texas A&M as well as a full-time employee.. Fun Stuff.... I KNOW! I currently live in Houston (thanks to the husband moving us down a few years back) and trust me when I say this.. I WOULD NEVER EVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE MOVE BACK TO THE DREADED FORT WORTH... I loathe that place...

and I always seem to want to order margaritas when I go out for Mexican food or out with the girls.. (umm I hate margaritas and always regret the decision once it gets to the table) WHEN will I learn... (probably never) Stupid I know.. but it seems like the thing to order when eating Mexican food or out with the chicas!

5 fitness facts: 

1. I feel like a beast when I can workout for over an hour 

2. I have found my new addiction and it's called the Pole.. Talk about SEXY FITNESS! I need a pole in my life at my house, STAT!

3. I love me some Crossfit I just wasn't getting the results I wanted, don't get me wrong I was getting results just not the ones that I had envisioned.

4. I am officially an Bombshell Under-construction and this makes me smile! I have been taking weekly progress pictures and I will have my sexy legs by the time I am 32. (Next June)

5. I am addicted to the gym and the gym is addicted to me.. 

Bonus* The worst is when you are trying to super-set and someone is lounging on the equipment you need or bumps you off your equipment and tells you.. "Oh I think are already done with this... Umm no sir.. I am most certainly not.. But since you have bigger muscles and seem to be much more of a douche bag then me... Go ahead and kick this white girl off of the smith machine... ASSHOLE! <--------- True story.. Happened to me on Tuesday.

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Feeling like a cool kid..

It's Friday! (Doing my weekend dance...movin it and shake in it)

A little about why I decided to name my blog sarah-vs-sara.. When I was younger to make Mom mad.. I would spell my name with an "h" at the end. She would get so mad at me, I would just giggle, because I got exactly what I wanted. Why, you ask? Cause in my teens I was a BRAT and I kinda still am in my own way. I did it to just get a rise out of her. We laugh about it now, but she would always tell me she should've named me.. (wait for it)  BONNIE like she was going to do until she saw my face.. (giggling inside) I couldn't imagine being called Bonnie, I am totally a Bratty Sara.


I totally feel like a cool kid with a blog. I was bragging to the Mister Sir aka The Husband yesterday. He thinks I am NUTS! I told him hopefully I can use this as my outlet so we don't have to stay up and have late night girl talk (we all know that he is going to be sad when that day comes). I love to blog stalk and read fitness articles.. Today I was reading a Crossfit article about Re-defining beauty and of course it got me thinking.. What does it mean and who determines what beauty really is? I believe there is a quote or saying that says something along the lines "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" (I think.. maybe..) Beauty for women is a daily struggle. How we define beauty is what we see in magazines and on television. In all honesty is that really what beauty is? Our looks and outward appearance have no bearing on who we are as a person. Our looks have no bearing on defining our own beauty. We need to stop trying to change our physical appearance to fill some sort of happiness within ourselves. I know that I struggle with this on a daily basis and I am always looking for affirmation that I am beautiful and good enough, this has been a life long struggle of mine.. Some may say others have damaged my self image or that I might even be damaged goods at times.. Cause lord knows I love to have me some pitty parties! I get over it usually within 24 hours. How did I get on this rant? Back to the article at hand.. I would like to try and Re-define beauty, I think if we all take imitative in trying to change how we see beauty we can make a change. I don't believe this change will happen over night, but it will happen over time. We need to set examples for the next generation. One of the first steps is to be honest... That's right Ladies! Honesty is the best policy. I have been 23 for 5 years and 27 for a few years.. I know.. I am really 31 and I am going to own it and be proud of being 31,because I look good for being 31! We need to not lie about our weight either. (This is another one of my struggles to be discussed in a later blog) The number on the scale does not define you or if you are healthy, unhealthy, fat, skinny. There are so many contributing factors to the number on the scale. Own the number on the scale and don't let it define you as a person or make or break your day. Another thing we should stop doing is comparing ourselves to others.. (Guilt as charged!) I am always comparing myself to others.. Especially at the gym. I am on a machine and a girl walks by.. I think to myself ("OMG! That is what my body looks like, and I hate it.. or Damn! I Jenna GOTS it going on! I wanna be just like her") I have learned over the past year that we are all unique in our own ways and we have quirks, things we hate about ourselves, things we love about ourselves, and God made us different for a reason. The next thing would we need to get rid of negative energy/talk in our life. Life is to short to have anything negative including people that taint your views or make you feel like you want to jump off the next cliff.. Cause you have been drawn into their negative.. Debbie downer mood. The last thing to Re-Define BEAUTY... Is to change your perspective. I know easier said then done.. I am still working on this one everyday. Instead of looking in the mirror and ridiculing everything you hate about your body.. Be proud of what you have and the fact that you are active/alive and healthy.

Side Note- Headed to see family this weekend and can't wait to go fishing with my boys and see Despicable Me 2!

Hope everyone has an amazing weekend.

Howdy! My name is Sara, like the Ben Folds song Sara without an "H". I was born and raised in Texas and would never think of leaving. I am married to the most amazing man in the world and we have a son who is a mini version of me (scary I know!). Now, that I have that out of the way... I have thought about blogging for a while now, and I always think.. who or why would anyone want to read what I have to say. So I am blogging for me and this is my outlet and if you happen to stumble upon my blog and like it feel free to stay around and say "hi". The reason I started this blog on today is because I was inspired by two amazing ladies and their recent blogs +Crystal Michelle ,you can follow her on  http://www.crystalmichellesmess.com and +Amy Bryant , who you can follow at http://www.withloveamymarie.blogspot.com/ (God I hope that is the right Amy Bryant). I kinda stock them and they like it. So today is hopefully the first day of mini that I can sit back with a cup of water (because I am on a health kick) and type out anything and everything that is on my mind. Just know that I am a flavor of the month kinda girl (per the husband) and I am all over the place when it comes to my thoughts.

I have a small addiction at the moment and that would be the gym. Yes, the gym is my addiction and I am admitting it to the world. If you have a problem with it.. Ehhh I don't really care. With that being said I was hanging out on Pinterest and stumbled upon this and it describe why I workout. On my facebook I am always checking in at they gym sometimes once or twice a day. I have had a few people comment and say why you always have to be checking in at the gym... I do it because.. Well I can and it helps me stay accountable to myself. I love looking back on my timeline and seeing how many times I went to the gym (yep I think I am a badass at times)