My First 1/2 marathon

This sunday I run my first 1/2 Marathon in amsterdam. I couldn't train as much as i would have wanted too because i had an ankle injury.
I set my Nike + to 90 min... My friends were a little gossiping that I wouldn't be able to run that fast. The race started and i picked a nice pace and stayed on that pace.The whole way was great beside that I felt a little pissed about the slow people running on the left so i had to run right and left. The last 2 kilometers i felt very energetic to run faster but i started having pain in my stomach...that feeling was terrible... i felt my belly was going to explode...the finish was on the Olympic stadium instead of running fast my pain was slowing me down...i was praying to finish without any accident (you know what i am talking about). that is the picture of the stadium.

My nike + was saying 1 min to go and here I saw the finish line.... So I was sooooooo Happy to stop the ipod before it says your reach your goal of 90 min.

This is my result

Startnummer	23661
Naam	N. L
Woonplaats	Utrecht
8,9 km	39:36
13,9 km	1:01:50 (22:14)
18,9 km	1:24:19 (22:29)
Netto tijd	1:34:43
Bruto tijd	1:39:14
Snelheid	13,365 km/uur
Afstand	Mizuno Halve marathon
Plaats	39 / Vrecr

I am so Happy to finish my first 1/2 marathon in 1 h 34 min.

My First half Marathon

I am 2 days away from my first half marathon. the last few weeks i had a terrible ankle pain.
This week I started running again... i still have pain but i will run this sunday.
I am so excited, i didn't really train for it seriously i just run 4 times a week long distances, I hope i will do well.

I always like to set a goal time and my goal is below 1h 40 min. I did the 10 mile in 1h 7 so i believe if i can keep my Pace the same i can do it in 1 h 40 or below.

I will Update everything about the race on Sunday!

Wish Me luck!!!

Achilles tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is also very common among high mileage runners. Since i wasn't a runner until recently, I didn't take the good precautions I need to prevent injuries.
One of my main goal was to run most km in 1 week. the fact i never stretched after running  lead to developing heel pain.

Now that it is a little too late i learned that stretching is one of the most important activities and should be done before and after exercising. Stretching improperly can often be the cause of serious pain in the heel. However, not stretching at all is sometimes the worst mistake that could be made before a long run. Without stretching, the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon become too tight, resulting in increased stress while running and leading to a greater risk of injury. Tears and even rupturing the ligament can become an issue when you don’t take the time to stretch.

Now it had been a full week i am not able to run. I tried to run an 8 km last night, with a lot of pain i made it back home.
I am not sure what to do i just hope the pain goes away.

10 Mile Race

September 19th i run a 10 mile race in Amsterdam called the Dam tot Damloop. It was an amazing race because it was at night. Running at night with a great music and a great atmosphere makes me want to run faster.

Before i start running i set a goal of 1h 10 min or Less... The course was amazing, Nike did a great job with all the set up. I felt very good, a steady Pace of 13.5 km/h. Usually at the last few km i can just move my pace to 14 but this time i was stuck at that pace. i did every 5 km in 22 min and i end up finishing with 1h 11.

I am a little disappointed, because i really wanted to go below 1h 10 and i know i can.  This was my first race since the spring so i shouldn't be too hard on myself. On october 18th i am running my first 1/2 marathon and i am super excited about it.

Usually I dont set time for a new Distance but i would love to do my first 1/2 marathon arounf the 1h 30.
23 days to go and i am getting super excited about it.

My love for running has increased big time. After work even when i am tired going out and running is the best feeling of the day. I am runner and i will keep running.

Carbohydrate Cravings

         I grew up in an athletic environment. My parents met each others when my mom fell while skiing and my dad came to help her. From that moment, they knew they were made for each other and never let go. Every weekend my parents took my sister and I skiing and in the summer time they signed us up to Tennis camps or sent us to ski im TIgnes on the  glacier.

I never had to worry about my weight or what I ate. I used to eat Pasta, bread, croissant all the time. It all changed when I moved to USA to go to the University. Diet commercials everywhere, all my friends at school were talking about loosing weight and not eating carbs etc…

I lived in the USA for 6 years and now I am back to Europe. As long as I remember since then every time I eat pasta or bread I have to work it off and feel GUILTY.  I haven’t being able to enjoy it. I feel it is like poison and bad for my health. I miss the old time when I was just a little girl  

As a runner, I need my carbs since I don’t eat it that often I crave it all the time!!! Sometimes I dream about food and eating in my dreams….

I really think I should start to include carbs in my life without being all paranoid. Carbs is the fuel of a runner. I Need it….Don’t I??? Bu why am I all worried when I think of Carbs I think of FAT

In this Blog I set a new goal:

--Introducing carbs slowly in my diet without feeling all the guilt ( I Hope)

Is running good when trying to get pregnant?

Here i am one week away from my next running event. I feel sore all over my body because this week i pushed myself. The feeling was great but i noticed more km I run more I feel some sort of pain somewhere.This week i will take it easy in order to be ready for my next race.

My husband and I decided it is about time to have a baby. It is very exciting but at the same time i am getting stressed. How my body is going to change? Will i be able to keep running? Somehow the fact i am running a lot and i have signed up to few running event in the next few months is making me worried. Will I ever be pregnant while running at high intensity? should I slow down?

I know i am not the first and only person who want to get pregnant without changing much in her lifestyle. I really hope i will get pregnant soon and I really hope i can keep running until the day i am due.

My Sunday Run

Well I have decided to do long runs on the weekend. Since i started running i thought i am a good runner. I thought by running a 10 km in 41 min and a 5 km in 19 min would make me a hero.

I WAS WRONG

I signed up for the 10 miles race which is in 2 weeks and 1/2 marathon race in October. I decided to increase my distances, usually i would run anywhere between a 5 km to 12 km MAX.

On Sunday i decided to go far, i woke up a little hangover from the previous night, *Bad News* but felt like running. Shoes on Ipod beating the best beats and off the road... after 15 km i felt the pain in my leg muscles, i didnt want to give up ... I kept running until i was mentally ready for cup of coffee and starting my sunday.

I felt so good running that far, great feeling but today i feel sore. Almost like a handicap person without any energy and who is starving all the timel.
I just had lunch and usually i just eat a tuna salad a cup of soup, i couldnt resist the cheese sandwiches...and Still hungryyyyyyyy.

I wonder if i should run tonight, i just feel the pain all over with a great feeling of satisfaction.

GOAL: Next weekend 21 km