eileenjoy.com

I have a start date! I start a week after I run my 7th marathon!! Yipee!!

Now the hunt for a place for me and the pup begins!!

I have been unemployed for 8 months now, and I’ve been trying to get this one job for 6 months. Today, I got the call. They asked me if I wanted the job as a Clinical Social Worker. I said yes. HELL YES! Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity. I know it took 3 hiring interviews after I passed the test, but the 3rd time is the charm.

Thank you God. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now, if only the Lakers can win tonight, that would be even more awesome.

I will be a working lady again, soon!

Whooo hoo! 26:03! My fastest race EVER!!

Here’s my stats:

Overall: 289 out of 2420
Women: 66 out of 1362
F 35-39: 8 out of 151
Age/Grade: 57.68% Place: 202
Finish: 26:03 Pace: 8:23
Tag Time: 26:03
Gun Time: 28:21

I’m still in shock that I made it in the top 10 of my age group! It was amazing. The first mile I was rocking it, second mile I wanted to take it a little bit easier, then the third I picked it back up. Once I rounded the corner and turned into the Park my finishing kick automatically kicked in, and BAYMN done. Totally out of breath and felt out of it…but thankfully Janette pulled a 22:38 (PR for her btw) and First Aid gave her an inhaler. So once I could, I took in a few breaths of the inhaler, and I was good again. The only thing that bothered me after was my sweat and sunblock kept dripping into my left eye…my only relief came after I showered.

But yeah, so amazing, and so happy. Check out the pic’s on the right. (Plate to Plate 5k 2010 under Gallery).

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon. The closest I have been to a sub 2. We started fast, it was nice and cool. Through the middle, it got hot. Maintained a good pace. Towards the end, I tried not to think about it and focused on each mile and ran each as fast as I could.

9:13 ave’s. That was the fastest I’ve ran that distance before. I have a blood blister on the right big toe, and a regular blister on the left toe to prove it…that and my chip time. I even stopped for a second before I sprinted to the finish. Thank goodness for that runner near me that talked me into continuing running strong. Thank you runner, you got me through…and of course Janette who got me through the entire race-the barking is wonderful even at a faster pace.

2:00:50. So close! Now I need to cut off 4 minutes to take my PR back. Christian still has my PR time from the Nike that I couldn’t run. Who knows, maybe at Disney? Or if employed, Disney Wine & Dine.

Thank you See Jane Run. I wish it were cooler (like last year), but I still chopped off 14 minutes off my last PR. I <3 running!

2:00:50 is awesomeness.

Me, Janette and Suzanne at the start. =)

So I’ve learned a few things (actually more than a few) over this past month. The only person that can push you, is you. No matter what anyone else says, you’re the driving force of making you stronger and a better person. Also, no matter what anyone says (positive or negative) it basically doesn’t matter…it will only matter if you allow it to affect you.

We are the sum of our choices. Good or bad these choices have made us the person we are today. I’ve seen people regress, or move strongly ahead. Those that have regressed in front of my eyes, well, that has made me extraordinarily sad. Self-proclaimed winners have always been self-loathing idiots on the inside.

The sad thing is, is that people always believe they are right. Their opinion matters above anyone else, even if it’s just that…an opinion. They are too closed minded to see anything else, they pretty much can’t see past themselves…and that’s the saddest part of it all.

So what do you do when negativity rings in your ear? You ignore it…or do what I do, use it as fuel to go faster and be stronger. I always want to be better than I was yesterday or the day before. It’s not good to be stagnant for any period of time. Also, the old adage applies: why put off tomorrow, what you could do today? Know yourself, know your body, know your limits–then go beyond. As long as you know your capabilities, who the hell cares what anyone else thinks or says–it’s just their opinion after all…and sometimes, it doesn’t matter for much.

I FINALLY broke under 2:20!!! FINALLY!! Thank you US Half 2!!! Even with the wind, hills, rain and the Golden Gate Bridge, I still PR’d! I’m such a PR Whore!!!

LOVE IT!

Yes, I did it again. PR’s are awesome aren’t they? The Inaugural Oakland Running Festival was a small and fun race. The hills weren’t that bad, in fact, I charged up them as fast as my little legs could carry me. I think I was good until mile 16, by then we lost Alex (before mile 10), Francis was feeling strong so Janette stayed with me cause she could see that I was struggling. Actually, she said my eyes started glazing and she didn’t think it was a good thing.

We were on the flatter part of the course, and I was getting really bored and tired. Janette pretty much yelled at me and kept repeating my mantra, “go strong for 8 minutes,” so I did what I could. I was not allowed to walk, only when I was drinking Poweraid so I wouldn’t spill it all over my face.

Then there it was! Lake Merritt! The final 6. I actually knew where I was going, so I was excited. Legs felt like lead, so Janette took my camel pak and I was a bit free’er than usual. She was barking at me, counting out her time, telling me it’s in the bag…then she saw Francis–and I had some glimmer of hope. I yelled out, he walked! Then I saw Jenn (pacing for the 4:40 group), Janette said to keep up with her, again, I looked at my watch and said, “they’re fast!!” So I did my best to keep up with her group…

We were past mile 25 then I started seeing people I knew. I got so excited. I started waving, hi-5′d Maria and Shane as they were standing on the corner close to the mile 26 marker. It was so exciting to see the whole UK group cheer me on. Then Janette was yelling at them that I was gonna Double PR after back to back Marathons.

All I remember is Janette yelling at me, telling me to keep it up, and there it was mile 26 marker, on a friken hill…turn the corner for .2 and that finish was pushed way further than a .2…I tried to dig deep, but my legs were so shot from kickin ass the weekend before. I put one foot in front of the other, I wanted to finish as strong as I could…and I did.

I PR’d again, on back to back marathons. I am also Marathon Maniac #2376. Thank god for friends, especially ones who remind you of what you’re doing, and even though she’s one of the most awesom’est runner’s I know, she’s never done what I just finished doing. 4:40:35 so happy.

I have officially set a new PR after the LA Marathon, and not only that–I took off 40 minutes from my last PR!! I still can’t believe that I broke my old record, by that much.

It was an awesome course, I was pretty much setting new records from the start–even at 20 when my right quad started cramping up I worked it out! I’m so glad I had a bag of salt in my camel pak, but that old dude who just reached in for salt…so wasn’t necessary, but whatever (ya could have asked bro). So after downing the salt, and mind you–I ran out of liquids and lost my salt tabs at this point…the quad still hurt and it appeared the other one started throbbing as well (thoughts of the NYC Marathon started popping in my head, when I spasmed up and could not walk at all!!). Thankfully I reached mile 21 and drank water and poweraid, and somehow made it to mile 23…THEN there it was, SALON PAS PADS! Thank the lord! I grabbed one of those bad boys, slapped it on the side of my quad that was buggin, and I was back in business. I also started to eat everything in sight! Pretzels, bread with chocolate in the center, and that little juice bottle that tasted so good…after that I powered through! Then I got to 24, the entire time I was debating if I was gonna go hard, then my minute walk alarm came and I told myself it’s just a minute, WALK! After that I just kept going, I saw 25 just ahead and told myself it’s almost over. I spotted someone I could run with and I stuck with her, mile 26 came and I saw Ace run up to me and I saw my friends! Yay for my crew! After I passed them I saw the finish in sight, and I kicked it into high gear and sprinted to the finish. I told myself to suck it up and go, go, go, and I did. And THAT is how you cut 40 minutes off your previous PR.

I love you LA.