These are my Magic Shoes!

I bought a new pair a running shoes to try to alternate two pairs (sometimes a third if I have a shorter run). I must say that my Adidas Supernova's (in which I have several pairs that I've purchased over the past few years) are super duper comfortable, and feel like BUTTA when I run in them but this new pair are, like Forrest's shoes, 'Magic Shoes'!

When I put these shoes on they are like the sweetest little plush clouds strapped to my feet. Funny thing is that I NEVER thought I could buy a pair of Nike's to run in. You see, I need running shoes with a lot of cushion/support and most Nike's are good for cross-training and other stuff but NOT Running...at least for me. I have a history with finding shoes that I REALLY like but are terrible for training in. In fact, I had such an obsession with buying shoes because they looked good versus buying them for their functionality and it came back and bit me in the Patoot. I wore some really CUTE pink and white Nike's to run a 10K with some friends while I was in Germany. I got about 2K in and was in extreme PAIN! I had to walk the rest of the way...and I think I was THE last person to cross the line...not the last of only my friends....but the LAST person of the WHOLE race! After that though...no more JUST cute...but FUNCTIONAL and cute (if I could find them). So needless to say, I was surprised when I found these super cute Nike's that feel amazing and are CUTE!

Thank you Nike for looking out for girl's like me...who want the right shoes, but also don't want to look like a goob when we cross the finish line. So again, they are my Magic Shoes!

I've received more donations! Thanks so much Mom and Pops for helping me reach my goal! Looking forward to seeing you guys in a couple weeks! Also a huge thanks to Kirsten Halsan who is totally hooking me up when I know things are tight right now you Intern-ing woman you! You are the best! I hope you are enjoying B-More!

Thanks to my generous family and friends, I am at 25% of my goal which means I have raised $250 towards my goal of $1000! If you can, please help me by helping the Fisher House by going here to make your quick, easy and secure online donation!

That's all I have to say about that....

Thanks for stopping by!

Keisha

"Mama...what's vacation mean?"....

...."It's when you go somewhere...and you never come back."

Though sometimes we wish this was true we all know that's not the case, but according to Forest's mama...that's how it is...!

In case you've been wondering why my lil blog hasn't been updated in a while, it's because I've been vacation-ING, as Forrest would say. It was awesome! You can go here to read about it soon.

If you are a vacationer like me, you probably (in addition to all of your fabulous vac-ay attire) pack workout clothes and running shoes with every intent on running/working out at least 40% (maybe more) of your trip right? For me, it usually sounds like this in my head as I'm packing the workout gear...

"Now alright Keisha. Last time you brought your workout clothes and didn't get as many workouts/runs in....okay you got ZERO workouts/runs in...so this time you have to do it! No excuses. If that means you have to get up a bit early so that you can enjoy your day and not have to worry about it at the end of the day, then that's what you need to do!"

That's what happened right before the trip. I packed my clothes and convinced myself that I was absolutely gonna run my required 4 training days and workout the other 4 days. Well we got on the ship, and things started out well. Jas and I immediately found the gym where I noticed that they had a decent amount of treadmills for me to choose from AND they had a running track on the top deck of the ship. PERFECT right?...WRONG! As I said, things started out well and I ran the first day onboard...and that.was.the.only.DAY! HA! Shame on me I know...but I had a great time NOT running. I did a lot of walking though, so that counts for something right?

So I've been back home for almost a week now and have gotten right back into the swing of things. I have only run two days this week BUT today's run was KILLER. And when I say KILLER, I mean both awesome...and tough. 14 smack-e-roos baby!

My left knee hurts though...but I've always had problems with my left IT band. I stretched it really well though, so I guess it could be worse.

I think I'm gonna head out of the house to avoid any body stiffness that could be lingering as a result of today's fantabulous (yes that's a word) run.

That's all I have to say about that...

So thanks for stopping by....

Keisha

p.s. A huge shout out to my BFF Becky for helping me out by making an online donation to the Fisher House! Also a big thanks to the hubby, Jason for making a donation as well! Thank you guys so much! You are really helping me reach my Fisher House donation goal.

EVERYONE! please help me reach my donation goal of $1000 for the Wright-Patterson Fisher House. You can to my page here to make your donation! Thanks a bunch and God Bless!

10 miles and my first donation!

So that ten mile run I needed to get in on Saturday was postponed to Sunday because I was too tired on Saturday....must be the late night on Friday I spent playing Guitar Hero! HA! So Sunday it was...Independence Day. I got up and had a waffle from the hotel breakfast. I love waffles and haven't had any on a long time....so it was pretty yummy. I put peanut butter and syrup on it (thanks Becky and Jesse!) and had some banana. A little carbs, a little fat and protein and the potassium my muscles needed to get through that run. I set out for my run at about 10:30 and stopped by Starbucks for a single shot of Espresso and a bottle of water. I love Espresso especially before a run. I plugged my headphones in, started playing Putamayo Johannesburg, which is all instrumental music....lots of driving beats with a LOT of acoustic guitar...perfect for running. The first part was easy because it was down a gradual hill which made me feel like I was running with the wind which was exactly what I needed on that muggy 4th of July morning. I was sch-wetty before I even got through the first mile. YIKES! It was a good run through Independence, MO. Some road running, some trail running...a lil bit of both. Let me tell you, after running on the road for mile after ground-pounding mile...a gravel/dirt trail is soo nice and such a good break for the body! Half way into my run, I took a lil re-fuel break. I'd brought along some electrolyte chews and a small Clif 'C' bar which I stowed in the zip-up pocket on the back of my running shorts...so needless to say, they were warm and a bit gooey...but it didn't matter cause my body thanked me for the much needed fuel. And the rest of my run felt great thanks to my snackage and water! If you are a runner/cyclist/whatever and need a lil something to refuel halfway through a workout, I highly recommend the Clif "C" bars, which is made of all natural fruits and nuts and a lil sea salt...that's it and the Clif "Shot Blocks"...some electrolytes and a lil caffeine for an extra boost. They were great!

The rest of my run was great but by the end I was so tired because there were so many hills. Like I said before, hills.Kill.ME! I felt amazing though once I finished! It took me just over two hours and that is with a little bit of walking....so not too bad. Not quite on track with where I want my race time to be, but the more I run, the faster I'll get. BRING IT!

I got my first Fisher House donation! Woo Hoo! A huge thanks to TINA McINTOSH! Thanks ship-mate for hooking me up! Well not really me, the Fisher House. I really appreciate it! I also saw your comment...you were the one to motivate me on the ship to run the ramps...so I'm glad that I am now motivating you. Wanna do the AF Marathon with me? They have the half-marathon and 10K as well...it would be awesome to see you!

I'm now 10% to my donation goal of $1000 for the Fisher House. Please help me reach my goal by going here. I really appreciate anything you all can help the Fisher House with! Thanks so much!!

Today, I am scheduled to run four miles and I will most certainly do that but not for a little while because right now...we are having carpet put into our almost finished basement! Woo Hoo! Look for pics of the transformation, beginning to end on my other blog in the coming weeks!

That's all I have to say about that...so...thanks for stopping by!!

Keisha

Glorious Run!

I had a fantastic 4 mile run today. I am in Independence, MO today and the weather is pretty darn perfect if I must say so myself! It is about 80 degress, there's a slight breeze, no humidity and there is not a cloud in the sky. Sweetness! Especially when you're running. I left our hotel with the intent of finding a local trail, and took a left instead a right (which would have led me toward the trail), and ended up on a paved sidewalk which wasn't all bad except...that hill I ran down on the way out came up again on my return trip. UGH! Hills are tough! Especially ones in Independence, MO! Sheesh! I struggled a bit and was panting by time I got to the top but that's ok...tough stuff makes me stronger! Grrrr...getcha some!

I have about 3 pairs of running shoes, two of which I have run very long races in before, the other pair is fairly new. For this trip, I brought the oldest of the three pair and running in them today was good. No shin pain or anything. I wonder if, since I haven't worn them in so long, the insoles have re-adjusted?...is that even possible? I dunno. I'll see how I feel on my long run this Saturday. 10 miles! ZOINKS! I remember when I was blogging for the first marathon I did thinking/writing WOW! I am running 8 miles or 10 or 12...or whatever! It was amazing to experience new heights of achievement. I am there again. Between the last marathon and now, the longest distance I think I've gone in one run is 6. So Here. We. Go. Hold on y'all! It's gonna be a long ride. I'm looking forward to it.

That's all I have to say about that....so....thanks for stopping by....

Keisha

Fisher House Foundation

I've been runnin-G!...

So obviously by the website and the title of my blog here, you recognize that I love Forrest Gump. Funny thing about that movie is I first saw it as a high school Junior in my History class taught by the lovely Ms. Brandt. All the boys LOVED her and many of the girls wanted to be LIKE her. She was young (I think she started teaching right out of Undergrad), she was sweet, and she was smart! I really liked her. I wonder what she's up to these days...Maybe I'll look her up...you never know who you will "run into" through the power of Fabcebook. So back to Forest Gump...when I first moved out of the dorms and got my first apartment, I hadn't quite set up my cable yet and the ONLY movie I had...was Forrest Gump! So needless to say...I know EVERY line....pretty much verbatim. Heck, I've even eaten at Bubba Gump's...once in Orlando and once in Chicago! If you like seafood, you'll LOVE Bubba Gump's.

As you all know, Forrest was a Running Fool....and over the next few months, I will be too! I am usually one to run, but you see folks, I have Marathon on the brain. On Sept 18th, I will be running my second marathon. and I have two goals.

#1 - to beat my previous time of 5:19 and #2 - raise at least $1000 through donations for the Fisher House.

Don't know what the Fisher House is? Check out the separate video blog I posted and/or go here.

I have been blessed to not have had to be a guest at any of the Fisher Houses across the world but while I was stationed in Germany, I volunteered at the one in Landstuhl. Though I was unable to do anything close to helping when the health of the guests loved ones were concerned, I was able to offer a smile and assistance in other areas...and at the end of the day, I felt I made an impact. Since there is not a Fisher House nearby that I can volunteer at on a regular basis, I am hoping to combine my goal of running with my goal of helping the Fisher House and the families who spend time there as their loved ones receive medical attention. I hope that you can help me reach one of my goals, and since you can't actually lace up my shoes and run for me....I am hoping that you can help me in making a monetary donation to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fisher House. Anything is appreciated! It's very easy to donate. Go here to check out my donation page!

I will update throughout my training to let you guys know how I'm doing both running and on the fundraiser. I'm sure I will have some funny things to share. Just for perspective sake...My training schedule is 16 weeks and I am in WOT (week of training) 5, and my longest run so far is 8. Eleven more (weeks) to go! Woo hoo!!

Thanks for stopping by....

Keisha