Wounded Warrior Project 8k

Two of my favorite Songs to sing in my head when a run gets tough are; "even in my weakest days I get a little but stronger, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" Well, now I will also have a lasting image of a Wounded Warrior running on a Nike prosthetic leg through pretty treacherous terrain. I'm not even using the word treacherous in exaggeration one bit, my description of the course can not be justified by description, I really wish I could have videoed the whole course! Serious holes and rushing water, hills, uneven terrain, this was definitely more of an adventure race, not just a regular 8k! God was definitely present during this run, not one fall or injury, and I can not say enough how crazy this course was! For those of you that know me well, no how terrified I am of snakes, honestly I think that's what kept me moving so fast over the water that you could not see through! I was also trying to keep up with the lead pack so I didn't get lost because the course was not marked very well because it had been washed away by all the water. I stayed with jake for a while, but the course was so narrow and I was not aggressive enough to fight for my position:) jake finished about a mile ahead of me and came back a pushed me to run hard for my last mile. I love when CA pushes me, I also live that at the end he told me that was my best kick ever! He said I should be proud if the race I ran, and he knows I can do it even faster! LOVE HIM!!! I am definitely proud of my time of 40:38, I really wanted to break 40, but I know that with an even terrain I would have, so it makes me feel even more fierce! I truly am shocked I ran as well as I did considering we literally ran through water for 5 miles! I held back tears quite a few times as soldiers yelled oorahhhh, and told the wounded warriors thank you for your service! I lost it when jake went and shook a wounded warriors hand after he finished the race, he ran that race like he did not have a prosthetic leg, truly amazing strength!! I am so thankful to everyone who donated to team Witte! I think team Witte represented well in San Antonio today!!!

My little bug also raced today! This kid is gonna be a fierce competitor one day! It was pouring down rain and she couldn't wait to get out there and run! The look on her face when she crossed the finish line can only be described as priceless! She makes me one proud momma!!! I'm hoping she gets her daddy's running legs!

After we got back to the hotel and had lunch and got bug down for her nap, I headed out for another 6 miles. I had 11 on my schedule so I had to get it in. Well, I definitely got some hill training in today! I don't think I ran on flat terrain for longer than a quarter mile! It was still raining, but it actually felt really good! I saw deer along the route and the trees were so green and pretty, and I didn't run with music for both of my runs today! It was nice to listen to nature for a change!!

I am typing all this the day after and am pleasantly surprised that I am not more sore! I did make a point to stretch really well! I can not emphasize how important it is to stretch! My foot was kind of bugging me through some of the run mainly because of the wet shoes and my foot sliding all around but it surprisingly feels pretty good considering. Gonna do another 6 in a little while when CA gets back from his run. I'm hoping he found a better route, or I'll be running on the treadmill! The bug says today is her rest day! I love that she knows running lingo, makes my heart smile to know we are raising a happy little runner!!!!!

Happy running y'all!!!
Lacey:)

Half PR

I'm gaining on Lacey!! Hahahaha!  I'm not gonna catch her, but at least I came in under two hours 1:56:51 to be exact!  How fun.  Not gonna lie, I'm still relishing in it today, and may do so for a while!!!

I ran with a super runner mommy, who is one of my favorite people for a million reasons.  She's kinda my hero because she's older than me as runs like she's 20!  A few years ago, she was playing indoor soccer and broke the crap out of her leg, I mean it was serious!  Many people would've quit trying to run, would've thrown in the towel and been defeated, but many people wouldn't have been her!  She and her husband  (who is running 50 marathons in 50 states, because well, he's insane!) are in the process of adopting two children from Haiti, who are 8 & 10 and she runs I think to keep her sanity because she has three other children!  She fits most of her runs in on the treadmill, she says she prefers that, but let me just tell you what a machine she is...

She has run so many halves she can't remember the number
She has run like 7 fulls, including the Marine Corps, which is hard core!
She is a military wife, and lived through seminary with her husband (some people may not understand that significance, but it is a challenging thing!!)
She rarely uses any gels or anything, so imagine how fast she would be if she did!?!?
Without speed work and with a nagging ankle pain she ran that half with me like it was no body's business!


We've wanted to run together for a while, but I now know that until now I couldn't have kept up with her speediness!  Also, since she's a youth director she has a hard time making races that are on Sundays, so thank you Oklahoma City for my second memorable race especially for making it on a Saturday!!!

As for the race itself, the only complaint that I had for this one was that there was no sports drink on the course or afterwards.  That is hard when you are used to having sports drink.  Otherwise a fabulous race, nice flat course, beautiful run, and thankfully unlike the full, the weather was picture perfect as well!  OKC seems to be very runner friendly, so I highly recommend heading there for a race if you're looking!

Pumped about that finish--nice hair!

All done, need gatorade or something!

Love a good race and a neon shirt!

Ready to run!

Happy running y'all!!!