The Trifecta of Pie

I love pumpkin pie. I've loved it for years and enjoyed eating many a pie. Sometimes I like it with whipped cream, but usually I prefer it without. I also prefer it room temperature.


A dear friend of mine was making pies for our annual Ladies' Ministry Pie Sale. She so thoughtfully made me three mini pies, so I could enjoy the fruits of her labor! You know someone loves you when they do that!


Here are the wonderful pies I was given (in a real Tupperware container). One was made with canned pumpkin, one with fresh pumpkin and one is a sweet potato pie:






We got home from church quite late last night, and I wanted to take the time to really enjoy each pie, so I didn't try them. They taunted me from the kitchen table, but I managed to wait until tonight to taste the goodness!


After dinner, I got a cup of milk and sat down to enjoy:

I started with the old favorite, the canned pumpkin pie:

It was delicious! Good consistency; firm, cinnamony, delicious! Loved it!!

Then I tried the fresh pumpkin pie:

I have never had a fresh pumpkin pie before! It had a more subtle color than the canned, and it was less firm. It was SO much more flavorful, and tasted much more REAL. It was very, very good.

Then there was the sweet potato pie:

The most colorful and the most pleasing to the eye, in my opinion. It was very sweet, and very good! I don't think I've ever had sweet potato pie before, but I did enjoy it. It was a different texture than the pumpkin for sure, but good just the same.



If I had to choose, I'd have to give the award to the fresh pumpkin pie. SO good! They were all delicious, and I did manage to save a bite or two for my husband. :)

I love Judie. ♥

Monday Run

I thought all day about whether or not to run tonight. I was feeling pretty good, but ended up staying at work two hours more than I thought, so that's a good excuse not to. ;)

I chose to try a 5k. I wanted to take it easy because of being sick. No need damaging myself!

As soon as I stepped outside, it started raining. Figures. Cold, Fall rain. I was looking forward to warming up so went for it. I ran the 5k, and felt great. My lungs hurt for the first 2k or so, but I kept taking deep breaths when I'd feel like that, and it helped. My legs felt great!

Here's hoping I can do a long run on Wednesday!

Distance: 3.17
Time: 35:27
Pace: 11:10

Get Down With the Sickness

I haven't run since the 18th. My legs are yelling at me, and my training schedule is demanding I run, but I can't. I am ill. I was supposed to do a 12 mile long run this week, but this flu/cold/nastiness has kept me off the roads.

I'm a little nervous about the half marathon now. I'm really hoping I can do it in less than 2:30. I'm also nervous about packet pick up the day before. My husband will not be home that day so I will have to go by myself to get it. I'm trying to look at this as an opportunity to enjoy the Expo without him saying he's bored and wants to go home. Maybe I can find a fun running shirt or something while I'm there.

I have decided what I'm going to wear, for the most part. A black shirt that my mom got me for Christmas last year. It has thumb holes and swirls on it. It's pretty much amazing. It also has a pocket in the back for my cell phone, which I'll want to carry with me. I'm not sure if I'll wear black shorts or capris. For some reason I think shorts with a long sleeved shirt look cute on runners. I'll try them both and see how I like them. I'm not sure if I'll wear sunglasses or go without. I can't find my visors, but I bought a new greyish white one that I could wear.

I'm also nervous about driving down there the day of the race. Who knows where to park? Not this girl. I think I figured out that I have to get up around 4-4:30 am on race day in order to get there in time. Yikes. The good news is that I don't usually sleep well the night before a race anyway, so...

I am very much looking forward to the race. It cross the border twice, so that will be exciting. I've done two races in Canada, but it will be fun to run in the Motherland again.

I'm hoping I'll feel well enough to do a long run on Wednesday. I guess, worst case scenario, I'll just be walking more than I wanted to during the half. I can live with that!

Perhaps Fall races aren't the best idea for me! Oh, I found a race in November I might do. A 10k near my house. Sounds cold. And fun.

Ten Miles

I debated running at the beach or the creek or the hood, and the hood won out! I called a friend on the phone before I was going to leave for the beach, and we ended up talking longer than we thought, which was awesome. I then decided not to bother wasting an hour of just driving time, so I just went out the front door. That's the good thing about running - you don't have to go to a trail, though sometimes it's easier, mentally.

I realized today that when I run in my subdivision, I tend to get bored. When I get bored, I walk. I don't push. Running in my neighborhood can be quite boring. I made myself look at it as a long run... a ten mile run. No excuses, finish the run.

I took a bunch of different loops this time, which helped it go by faster. There were a couple of loops I did three times. I think that's my limit for a loop! Any more would probably cause me to "accidentally" trip, fall into someone's yard, and nap.

I felt good tonight, though my shins were sore for the first couple of miles, and then my calves were screaming by about eight miles. At nine miles, I decided to stop... my legs started to slow, and I quickly chose to push through. I ran the whole ten miles. To quote Diego Sanchez, "YES!"

The second half of the run was much slower than the first. That's something I need to work on. I found a pace calculator online and determined that, if I run the entire half marathon with the pace I ran tonight, I will finish at about 2:27. That is exciting, considering last year's half marathon time was 2:41! I'm hoping I might be able to do it even a little faster, what with the energy of the day. I always run faster during races.

I have three more long runs until the half. I need to push through and keep running the entire distance. I want the last few miles to be strong and not significantly slower. I don't want to crawl over the finish line, I want to RUN over the finish line.

Distance: 10:01
Time: 1:52:20
Pace: 11:13

Happy birthday to my sister! Love you, Sissy! ♥

Skippy McSkipperton

I've been fighting off an illness for the past week or two, so I've taken it easy. It was a nice break, even though my legs started to scream at me about 5 days into it.

Rough run tonight. Rough rest of the week, but I'm hoping to get another couple of runs in. I'll rest in November?

Distance: 3.12
Time: 35:37
Pace: 11:24

Romeo Peach Festival 5k

What a day I had! I was bitten by a spider after getting out of the shower this morning. Then, at work, someone ran into the gas meter, and we had to evacuate the building. I almost got hit by a van on my way home from work. On my way to the race, I realized I'd forgotten my iPod, so I had to turn around to get it so I could track it on Nike+.

Then, when I get to Romeo, my Maps App gives me the wrong directions. I turn around twice, and try to find it, only for it to have me stop in the middle of a field. I stopped at a gas station and asked a man where the high school was. He sipped his coffee, and answered, "Honey, I don't even know where *I* am." Ok, then. He flagged down a police vehicle and they gave me directions.

I finally got there and picked up my race packet. This is the best race t-shirt I've ever gotten:


















Running a race by myself is never as much fun as running it with someone else. I kind of just stand around and watch people before the start, and then grab some water, a banana and leave afterwards. It was a quick run, and I'd probably do it again. The humidity was at about 500%, which made for a very sweaty, exhausting run. It was VERY hilly, which I did not know before hand. It's probably just as well.... I might not have wanted to do it if I'd known. A lot of it was on dirt roads, which was kind of nice. I really should have run on Monday or Tuesday to keep my legs loose - my calves and shins were screaming during the first mile or so.

I took two walk breaks on hills. One for 10 seconds and one for 25 seconds. I would like to know which genius decided the course though... the finish line was about a mile away from the start line, and nearly everyone parked at the start line. So, I had to walk about a mile after running 3.1 miles. Dumb. If that had been my first 5k race, that would have been really painful. I bet some people were pretty sore by the time they got to their cars!

I took this pic afterwards to show the Red Faced Awesomeness. I did not intentionally open my eyes wider than normal, but I do apologize if any of you are scared by it.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Time: 31:59
Pace: 10:18

I came in 351st out of 455.

Run The Crim

On Saturday I ran the Crim 10 mile. This is my second time running it. It's the same age as me, so at least I'll never forget my age!

I had to wake up pretty early to make the drive to Flint. My friend, Susan and I had a good trip up and got to catch up with each other. We found the perfect spot to park, and had plenty of time to get our t-shirts and race bibs, stop at the bathroom, head back to the car and have breakfast (oatmeal) and sit and relax for a few minutes. We went to the start line only to realize we were 30 minutes early, so we took that opportunity to use the facilities again. There's a university food court type building right next to the start line, so we went in there. For some ridiculous reason, they closed (and locked) the bathrooms upstairs, so we were only allowed to use the downstairs ones. I don't understand why. I'm sure the stores and restaurants that were open sold a lot of drinks and food and other items to the runners. At any rate, we made it out to the start line in the middle of the national anthem.

This years' Crim had a record breaking 10,000 runners. It took us about 5 minutes to get over the start line. Susan and I ran together for a while, and then we each went at our own pace. It was an incredible race. I was moved to tears multiple times. The people of Flint love the Crim. Thousands of people sit on their curbs and cheer on strangers. It's surreal. My first favorite person was the man who said he was selling maps of shortcuts for $5. He also said that shortcut would make you faster than the Kenyans!

The Salvation Army had a band playing at another spot. Beautiful music. The postal workers were outside the post office clapping and cheering us on. There was a man standing in his front lawn, with a microphone and a speaker singing Golden Oldies. He just happened to be singing "Dawn (Go Away)" by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons as I ran past him. That was one of my favorites. Then there was "St. Elmo's Fire" playing. There were a few churches represented there. Some were handing out water with "Jesus Cares" shirts (with big smilie faces on them), others were singing hymns, and others were playing hard Christian rock. From the hymns to the metal, they all were wonderful!

You see a lot of tattoos while running a race. There's the girl with the obligatory tribal sun on her ankle; you see the man with the crazy hair and the prison tat of a spiders' web on his elbow... then you see some unusual ones like the woman who had a butterfly tattooed on her ENTIRE back. It was actually quite beautiful. And then some everywhere and in between.

Then there's the water. I poured about 3 or 4 cups of water down my back and neck. It was great. Some people handed out ice cubes, which was fantastic! One group handed out water in plastic cups, and as you ran past, you heard the popping of the cups as people trampled over them. It was rhythmic. Other people were holding hoses and aiming them into the air, creating a sprinkler for those that ran under. I ran under nearly all of these.

This is the best race I've ever run. I'm still a newbie of a racer, I think, but this is such a great race. The people that cheer you on are wonderful... it's like seeing the best of mankind. The people of Flint are so nice, so friendly.

I beat my time last year by 2 minutes and 21 seconds. I did take 3 or 4 walk breaks. I ran until about mile 7, then took the walk breaks after that. While I'm happy with my time, I think I could have gone a little faster and pushed a little harder. There were so many time clocks in the second half of the race, and I would calculate how fast I'd have to run the rest of the race in order to beat last years' time. I would figure out that I had time for a walk break. Or four. Next year, I'm going to try not to pay attention to the time and just listen to my body. If I need a walk break, I'll take it, but I'm going to try to push harder and do even better!

I love this race, and I think anyone who runs, or is thinking of running, should go to Flint and run the Crim. This race does not disappoint!



Distance: 10:00
Time: 1:54:29
Pace: 11:27

Run Run

I went for a run after dinner tonight. I'd love to say it was really easy, but it wasn't. At this point, I should be running fartleks and tempo runs, but I'm still working on running the entire distance. I did it today, and it definitely wasn't an easy run. It had great moments, though, and it was nice to get out. I'm happy with my pace too!

As soon as I came home from work, I changed out of my work clothes and into my running clothes. I sat down on the couch and my husband asks me, "Didn't you just run the other day?" HA! That made me laugh. Funny guy.

I found a race to run next week, a September race, that starts at 7pm. That should be fun. I'd love to PR there, but it's not likely. I'm still going to hope for 32 minutes or under. I'm excited to have run a race every month from April through October. Maybe I can find a good one in November, too!

I found a couple of shirts at an outlet mall near here yesterday. I wore one tonight to test it out, and it fit well and was comfortable. My stomach's not nearly as flat as I'd like it to be, but that's ok, I guess! The only thing wrong with the shirt is that it shows the sweat a little. I had a darker circle on my stomach, and I'm sure that is super attractive. I might just wear the other shirt anyway (which I'm sure will have the same problem) and then dump water on me before pics so that you can't tell what is sweat and what is water. Mwahaha! Or, I might try to find some time on Friday night to go look at another store. Kinda irritating!

Distance: 5.6 miles
Time: 1:01:43
Pace: 11:01

Race Day Outfit

For some reason, I'm having a hard time finding a race outfit for this upcoming race! I think it's because I was so disappointed in the pictures from this race last year. Yes, it may sound vain, but I'd like to look as good as possible in my race photos.

I have one super cute pink shirt that I may wear... it looked better before I gained 5 lbs, and I'll bet it would look even cuter if I lost 10 lbs. So, it's not as cute as it could be. I might have to take a trip to the store this week to see if I can find something that fits me now, and looks cute now. Because, ultimately, that's why I run - to be cute. Ok, not really, but I like when that happens!

I ran a 5k tonight. I have not been sleeping well this week, so I slept in today instead of running before work. By "slept in" I mean, "got woken up an hour early by my husband saying, a little too loudly, 'I guess you're not running this morning!'" I responded with, "NO! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP IN! SHHH!!!!!!" I later sent a text message to him apologizing for my response. You'd think after 15 years of marriage he'd know not to bother me before 9:00 am. I digress.

I ran this evening instead of this morning, and I ran on empty. I was so tired, but I needed to run, so I went and did it. Not the best pace, and I took two walk breaks, but I did it, and I'm glad.

Distance: 3.11
Time: 35:21
Pace: 11:21

Wonderful

My run was wonderful today. After deciding to run the half marathon instead of the full, I felt a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I was dreading my long runs, and that's no good!

I wasn't sure how long I was going to run today. I have a 10 mile race on the 28th, and want to do better than I did last year. The longest I've run straight this summer (without walk breaks) has been just under 7 miles. I decided to set my iPod for 10 miles, and see if I could run for at least 8 of those before walking. I figured I could stop at 8 if I wanted to.

At about 5 miles, my knees and hips started to hurt, but I kept going. I managed to run the whole 10 miles. I haven't done that since March! Looking at my Nike+ it shows my pace slowing after 7 miles; about 25 seconds slower per mile. I can handle that! I'm a little sore now, but very happy that I was able to do it! I'm feeling good about the race now. I really hope I can beat my time.

Have I mentioned how I love the 10-mile distance?

Distance: 10:01
Time: 1:52:16
Pace: 11:12

Reevaluating

Horrible, no good run today. While there was an Air Quality Alert today (and now my mouth tastes like exhaust), that's not the real reason the run was bad. It was bad because my training is not going the way it's supposed to.

My buddy Bart Yasso says if you do 90% of your training runs, you should be good for your race. I think have skipped one run every week since marathon training began. When you are only running 3 times a week, that's a lot. So I've only been doing 66%, roughly? Eeps.

My run today was supposed to be 14 miles. Well, actually, I should have run that on Wednesday, and today was supposed to be 7 miles of speedwork. I chose not to run on Wednesday. Today I ran 4 miles. I started walking after 2.

I am really considering doing the half marathon in October, and then doing a full marathon in either April or May. There's the Martian Marathon in April, and the Flying Pig Marathon in May. Either would be good choices - I'll have to do some research on them.

Last year, when I ran the half marathon, I had such a hard time running in the summer, and therefore, my race time was slower than I'd hoped and I felt awful physically during the race. I remember skipping a lot of runs last summer because of the heat. Guess what? Training schedules have runs on them for a reason. They don't expect you to skip every other one and still accomplish your goal.

My nutrition hasn't been the best either. I keep reading over and over how important nutrition is for runners. If I go to the half, and then do the full in the Spring, I need to commit to eating the right foods, and really nourishing myself.

In a lot of ways, I'm really excited about the possibility of going down to the half. I'd love to take last year's time and blast it out of the water. I'd love to run the whole thing, and do well. I'd feel like I conquered the half marathon, and ran a good race. Last year was not a good race. If I do the full, the way I've been training, I think it would not be a good race either.

I came home from my run and cried to my husband about how horrible my training has been. At first he tried to encourage me to keep going and that I could run the marathon this October, but when you look at it all, it might not even be wise. Poor nutrition + poor training = poor racing.

If I do the half, my hubby is going to help me shed a few pounds this fall/winter and get stronger. He says this is at least 25% his fault, because there have been times where he's encouraged me to sleep in instead of run, or he's made me unhealthy food, or encouraged junk food eating. I don't think his percentage is accurate, but it is encouraging that he wants to help! If I do the full in the Spring instead, I'm glad we know what I need to change, and I'm glad he knows how he can help. That is encouraging.

I have until October 1 to change my race. I might go try and do the 14 miles tomorrow morning - we'll see. Depending on how I feel after that, I'll likely make my decision.

Distance: 4.0
Time: 47:23
Pace: 11:50

Maintenance Week Continued

Another 10k tonight. A little bit slower, but still above training schedule pace. It felt more comfortable tonight than two days ago, except for the stitch I got in my side about half way through. Slow, deep breaths helped. My thighs hurt during the first 10 minutes or so, so I had to go a little slower at the beginning to work them out.

You know what's scary? During the marathon, after I've run what I ran tonight, I will have to run 20 MORE miles! That is scary. The marathon is 4-10ks and another mile and a half. It seems more doable than one 10k, and two 10-milers. So, I'd just have to do what I did tonight THREE more times and add another 1.5 on the end. I'll work on it! :)

I had to concentrate tonight on this run, and not the next few weeks of runs. I had to remind myself mutliple times, since I was starting to worry. "How am I going to do a 7-mile tempo run on Monday morning? Should I do it Sunday night? Will I be able to do it without walking?" "What about the 14 mile run? Wednesday or Thursday? How hot is it going to be?" "How am I going to do that 18 mile run in 2 weeks when I'm scheduled to work every day, all day during the week, and I have a 10 mile race on Saturday? I can't skip my 18 mile run!! It's an important one! Will I have to get up at 2:30am to have enough time??"

I will figure that all out. For tonight, I ran 10k, and felt good.

Distance: 6.23
Time: 1:09:33
Pace: 11:09

Side note: They finally posted the race results from the 10k I ran last week. Last year, I was second last of my age group - 16th out of 17. I noticed when I was waiting for the race to start this year, that it seemed like there were about half the amount of people there this year. I wonder why. It is a hard race, but you'd think people would want a challenging course. Anyway, this year I came in last in my age group, even though I beat my time by two and a half minutes. There were only 7 women in my age group. I came in 4th last in the race, which seems weird. I am always in the slower end, but I still think my time wasn't bad. I realize this race is more for elite runners (and really felt that a lot last year, moreso than this year), but it is still a race, and should bring local runners of all skill levels. Kind of disappointing. I wonder if it's worth it to run next year if it's only for the elite?

Maintenance Week

No long run for me this week, just maintenance runs at an easy pace. That does mean I have to actually get out and run, though. Ahem.

I took four days off since the race. My run today was supposed to be at a 12:04 pace. I decided to go out and just run easy, and hopefully stay under that pace. Sometimes when I take a few days off, that next run is really hard mentally. I start running and question whether or not my body was meant to run. It doesn't feel natural - walking feels natural. I wanted to walk quite a few times, but I kept remembering what my husband tells me. I always complain to him when I have a rough run, or walk more than I wanted, and he always tells me the same thing. He says that I could push myself a lot harder than I do. I find it encouraging that he thinks I'm better than I really am. So, tonight I pushed myself. Not to run faster, but to just run. I ran the whole 10k. And it felt good. There were parts that were hard, but for the most part, it was just good.

Distance: 6.23
Time: 1:08:03
Pace: 10:55

Heart of the HIlls 10k

I had a good time at the race this morning. I got a personal record for the course. Not a personal record for a 10k, but they tell you on their website that you probably won't PR there. Confidence inspiring, I tell you!

I was remembering this race last year... and I couldn't remember it being super hilly. I remember there were a few hills, but nothing crazy. I remember I was pretty much a wuss for this race last year, and walked a lot more than I should, and could, have.

Let me tell myself something. Self, it IS hilly. VERY hilly. It is a really rough course. Last year's time was 1:10:57. I wanted to beat that time; anything shorter than that would be great.

I ran until about mile 2, and then took a couple of very short walk breaks. The funniest part was at mile 3. I was slowly running along, and heard very loud, hard footsteps behind me. Thinking it was probably a 30-40 year old, 6 foot tall or more man, I was ok with being passed. Instead, it was a 100 pound, 5'4", 70ish year old man. He did great, and he sure passed me! At about mile 4, I said something to another runner, and then he and I ran the rest of the race together. We talked about all the races we've done, and he told me how he'd run the Detroit marathon a few times. Running with him pushed me through the last of the race, and a couple of times, I started to walk on a couple of hills, and he said, "shorten your steps!" It really did help.

I beat last year's time by exactly two minutes and thirty seconds. I am very happy with that. I enjoyed the race (even though I'll probably be sore in the morning), and look forward to beating my time next year. Maybe next year I'll be able to do the whole thing without any walk breaks. We shall see.

Distance: 6.2

Time: 1:08:27

Pace: 11:01

I had a hard time getting pics. I wanted Frieda to pose with me, but she is not very good at sitting still:

Look What I Got!

I went to the beach today to do my long run. It was tough, but I did it! Failure was not an option. I ran straight until 6.9 miles, and then took a walk break about each mile afterwards. Getting better!



My calves and feet started to hurt after 10 miles. As soon as I finished and stopped my iPod, an older man on a bicycle zoomed past me and yelled, "Looking good! You can do it! Keep up the good work!" I thought that was nice. Older people tend to be nicer out on the path than younger people.



I used to allow myself to have a chocolate milk after a 5 mile or longer run. Because I'm trying to lose another 5-10 lbs, I'm changing that to 10 miles. I had one waiting for me in the car today, and boy, was it tasty!



About today's title: I received my training t-shirt for the Detroit Marathon today in the mail! I also ordered a sweater, which they did not have in stock. They called and asked if it was ok to substitute with another sweater, which I said was fine. They sent a Detroit Marathon magnet and a Camelbak water bottle for the "trouble." Score! :)



Here's the shirt. I think I'm going to wear it at the race this Saturday. I'm not sure how I feel about the race. I did not enjoy myself last year whatsoever. I wasn't going to do it again, but felt like I should try to do better. It is a very hilly race, and they say you probably won't PR here. I'd like to get a course PR, though! Last year's time was 1:10:57. I was the second slowest woman in my age group. I'd love to get 1:08!




P.S. - Is it just me, or is this shirt intimidating? I tired it on and showed my hubby, and he responded with, "Eep! 26.2 miles!" :)

Distance: 12.01

Time: 2:21:05

Pace: 11:45

Saturday Run

Yesterday, I attempted 5 miles on the treadmill. At 2 miles, I gave up. I didn't want to post a blog entry yesterday because I was hoping I could redeem myself this morning.

I had a good run this morning. Not the best, but still good. My pace is improving and I think I'm slowly getting back to where I was. I want to get back into the 10:15-10:59/mile range and I'm hoping that can still happen in this humidity.

I'm going to keep running as I have been, with walk breaks, and hope that I can take fewer breaks as time goes on. If I keep on with the mileage, even with walking, my hope is that, once the humidity goes away, in say, September, my pace will naturally quicken, since I'll be able to breathe easier. We'll see what happens.

Friday:
Distance: 2.02
Time: 23:22
Pace: 11:32

Saturday:
Distance: 5.01
Time: 56:26
Pace: 11:16

Walking

I did my 10 miles today. Finally a long run completed. I'm almost one month into marathon training. That is exciting, but I'd be happier if I'd done more runs on my training schedule. As of today, I'm feeling ok with the thought of completing the marathon in October.

When I went out this morning, I told myself that it didn't matter if I took walk breaks, I just needed to finish 10 miles. My schedule said to run it at a 12:14 pace. Because of that, I took walk breaks whenever I felt like it. It did slow me down, but my pace was a little bit better than required. I am going to allow myself to take walk breaks on long runs from now on (and attempt to not walk on other runs). Walk breaks don't have to be the enemy. While I'd love to be able to run 26.2 miles straight, it's not likely. I'm also throwing my goal of 5 hours out the window. I just want to complete the marathon. At this point, that will be really hard work. I'd love to be under 5 hours, and I'd be super happy with under 5:20, but really, as long as I complete it, and they still have medals left, I'll be happy. I'll have a personal record, no matter how long it takes me. :)

As a side note, sometimes it's good to look in the mirror both before and after a run. I had put my shorts on inside out. Pretty funny. I love these new shorts though - they are Under Armour. They feel like silk; they are tight like bicycle shorts, and have a 7" inseam - long enough to prevent chafing, short enough to still be shorts. I'm hoping they go on sale in the fall/winter and I can get another couple of pairs for next year. When I returned home, I looked in the mirror and noticed the pink shirt I was wearing had splotches of wet... one around the neck, my whole stomach, and my back - everywhere that my sports bra didn't cover. It is a moisture wicking top, but the fabric sure shows the sweat! Remind me not to wear this shirt at a race! Too bad, I love the length and the way it fits.

Distance: 10:01
Time: 1:59:05
Pace: 11:54

Treadmill

I considered running this morning before work, but with the whole "not sleeping" thing, I chose not to. Instead I ran on the treadmill tonight.

I wondered if maybe I should go by my training schedule. I consider myself to be a rule-follower for the most part, but apparently not when it comes to training for marathons. My schedule said to do 4 miles today, at approximately a 12:14 pace. So, on the treadmill I went, and didn't worry about my pace. I felt a little like throwing up, since I ate so much garbage today, so I decreased my speed some and just tried to make it through. I managed with a good pace. Hal Higdon says you shouldn't run all of your runs at the same pace. He says it's better if you vary your pace depending on your runs, so that your body is always working differently.

As I was uploading my run to the Nike+ site, I checked out Facebook and found this quote on the Crim's (My favorite race last year - a 10 miler!) page:

Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing.

Ouch. Did I need to hear that after doing so poorly the past couple weeks!

Distance: 4.06
Time: 46:24
Pace: 11:25

Disappointing

My run can be summed up in one word: disappointing. I could blame it on plenty of things, but the truth is that I haven't run all week. That's the reason why. Not that this week has been really busy for me; not that I have not been able to sleep well all week, so used that as justification for skipping runs. I just didn't do it. Excuses only get you so far, and it's true that they say you make your own priorities. It was my choice to not run, even though I appeared to have a good reason or two. If I really wanted to run, I would have made the time. I'm not sure I have the discipline required for marathon training, but I'll keep trying.

My 9-mile run turned into a 5 mile walk-and-run. The sun was too high, my pace was too slow, my legs were too tired. And I took four days off.

Distance: 5.01
Time: 58:52
Pace: 11:46

My Day in Pictures

I decided to wear a dress to church today:

Then, I went to Lowe's, where dreams come true:

I also went to Target, where I avoided this aisle: And this aisle (pop is evil, pop is evil, pop is evil!! I'm trying to convince myself):And this aisle (I don't buy bottled water. To quote some girl named Megan, "Gathering an essential resource from an impoverished nation in order to profit by selling it around the world is never commendable.") :I did enjoy this aisle, however: After I came home and emptied the Jeep, it started to pour. I looked out and realized I'd forgotten a can of paint in the driveway! So, I got soaked: Then I did a little of this:And ate a little of this:And then jumped on this, and ran 5k worth of hills:Which lead to this, red-faced awesomeness (Please note the beads of sweat):Now I will enjoy this: And this:

Awesome, difficult run. I ran 5 minutes at 2% incline, then 5 at 4%, 5 at 2%-0%, 5 at 6%, 5 at 2-0%, 5 at 4%, and then 0% for the remainder. My speed was 5.5 during the 0-2% inclines, and 4.8-5.3 for the other. PHEW!! I'm not sure I have ever sweat that much in my life.

Distance: 3.12 miles

Time: 34:51

Pace: 11:10

TUTP

Let me first say that I hope at some point I'll be able to consistently post about great runs. I'm hoping for that to be in a couple of weeks. We'll see.

Now, let's get to my title... TUTP... it's something every runner has to deal with at some point. We all hate it, but we have to face it. The Urge To Poop. That's right folks... TUTP is a fairly common and very serious ailment. It can ruin any run. It has ruined many a run for me. It is a good way to work out your glutes, however.

You have a couple of choices when TUTP affects you. You can cut your run short, and hurry home, defeated, or, in the words of Tom Arnold in Austin Powers, you can "show that turd who's boss!"

I chose the latter. Because of this, I was forced to take many a walk break, and spent most of the last mile walking. Ultimately, I had the victory.

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 58:11
Pace: 11:38

Summer is Evil

Have you noticed how the Bible calls Hell a lake of burning fire? That sounds hot, doesn't it? Therefore, hot is evil. Summer is evil. The Bible says so. You know, kinda.

I'm disappointed with myself. It is only week two of marathon training, and I've skipped a run last week, and bombed on my long run this week. I'm printing out a new schedule and I'm determined to run it. Even if that means getting up at 5am a few times a week. Zzzz...

Went for my long run of 9 miles today... managed a 5k. I didn't wake up early enough and it was too hot. Note to self: if The Weather Channel says there is a Heat Advisory, and tells you to stay out of the sun and refrain from outdoor activities, listen. Obey. They are professionals and know what they are talking about.

Tomorrow is another day!

Distance: 3.11
Time: 35:29
Pace: 11:23

Five Miler

My http://www.runnersworld.com/ training schedule said I should run 5 miles today. My middle 3 miles should be at a pace of 10:35.

I had a hard time falling asleep last night, and when my alarm went off at 6:00, I shut it off. As I laid there, I decided I'd run this afternoon, after work, because 6 am is just wrong on a Saturday. After about 20 minutes, I realized how irritated I'd be after work, knowing that I needed to do a 5 mile run in 82 degree weather, so I jumped up and frantically threw my clothes on. I drank a glass of water and took off out the door. I was nervous that I would be late for work, but I figured I should enjoy the run anyway.

Today was a glorious run. I love runs like this. I pushed hard, and when I did, my body responded. I floated through my neighborhood; no leg pain, no lung pain, just pleasure. I managed to do my middle three miles at close to a 10:00 pace, sometimes quicker. I was amazed when my iPod told me, but I just kept going at that comfortable pace!

I was able to get ready for work and leave a few minutes early even, so I stopped for a tea on the way.

Second marathon training run. Two great runs in a row.

Distance: 5.01
Time: 51:34
Pace: 10:17

Eight Miles

My first week of official marathon training hasn't gone exactly as planned, but I did manage my long run today. I ran the whole thing, bright and early this morning, no walk breaks. It felt good and I didn't push too hard. I tried not to stress over my pace, but was really hoping for under 11 minute miles. I just made it. My left knee seems to be bothering me this evening, but hopefully I'll just stretch it out and it'll feel better.

I'm looking forward to building the mileage. While the long runs seem to be the most fun for me, some easier runs sound good too, especially to help with pace.

I registered for another 10k at the end of July. I ran this race last year, and hated it. I decided I should give it another try. I'm hopeful for a better time, and a better experience. And of course, a better race photo.

Happy Canada Day!

Distance: 8.02 miles
Time: 1:27:04
Pace: 10:51

Finally!

I woke up this morning, and there was beautiful, glorious weather. The humidity was low, the breeze was cool. It was magnificent. I downed a glass of water, put on some shorts (that I hate, by the way. I think they are designed in such a way to make me look like an old woman. Must get better shorts.) and a tank top, and went out.

On Wednesday, after my horrible run, I began to rethink this October Marathon thing. I have such a hard time running in the heat. How am I supposed to run 16 and 20 milers in this horrible heat? I was thinking that perhaps the best thing would be to do a marathon in the spring, where I could do long runs in February and March instead of July and August. I could always fall back to the half marathon in October. No shame in that. Well, maybe a little. I decided to wait until August to make the decision.

Determined to do a 10k today, I told myself if I can do this, there's hope for marathon training. I would not allow myself to take a walk break until I had run 5k. Then, I could take a 2 minute break.

At about 1.2k, I got tired and thought it would be great to walk. Then I asked myself the question my friend shared with me last year: Do you NEED to walk, or do you WANT to walk? I merely wanted to walk. So I kept running. I got to run through a couple of sprinklers. That was refreshing! The 5k mark came and I kept running. I figured, I'll run until 7k if I can, and then take a walk break. That's when I got into my groove. Without the scorching heat to destroy me, I felt like myself again. The run was fantastic. I ran the whole way.

I did stop for about 3 seconds to wait for a sprinkler to point in my direction, but I'm not counting that.

Distance: 6.22 miles
Time: 1:06:31
Pace: 10:41

Boo Hoo

Rough run today. I chose not to get up early to run. Instead, I went out at 11am. Bad move! The weather looked ok, though. The sun was not out, and a storm was coming. I thought it might be ok. It wasn't. The humidity was horrible! I thought I was going to die a few times. Thankfully, I didn't. My feet, ankles and arms all swelled up and made things very uncomfortable. I took too many walk breaks. Then it started to rain and the wind was unbelievable. I figured I'd do 5k and that would be it. I really needed to do 6 miles this week, however, so I chose to come home and jump right on the treadmill to do the other 5k. I paused my iPod and set up the fan in the window next to the 'mill. I tried to do another 5k, but just didn't have it in me. I managed 5 miles. I can't take this heat!

I'm going to attempt 10k again on Friday morning. EARLY! I won't be able to do a marathon if I'm training like this, so I must suck it up and get up early!

Distance: 5.06 miles
Time: 57:28
Pace: 11:20

Too Late

Apparently 8:00 a.m. is too late to run in the cool weather. I'm going to have to start getting up at my crack in order to beat the heat!! While I'm not a morning person, at least I'll only have to do this three times a week. Or two, if I do a late-night run on the treadmill.

I had a good pace while I ran today... the problem was that I took three walk breaks. I might be confining myself to the treadmill for the week to see if that helps me skip them. I have a lot harder time pressing "4" on the 'mill than I do stopping to walk outside.

Distance: 4.01 miles
Time: 44:58
Pace: 11:13

Late Night Run

In the wonderful world of My Life, I often have schedule changes for work. It is angering, but my job requires that certain people are at work at certain times, and if someone calls in sick or has another pressing engagement (like an interview at another office), someone has to fill in for them. Enter, Yours Truly.

I was looking forward all week to my Friday morning run. I was supposed to come in late today, which meant I would have plenty of time to run before work, and save myself having to attempt another humid afternoon run. So much for that! I figured I'd give up my Friday run and either run on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, giving me just two runs for the week. Unfortunate. With official marathon training right around the corner, I'd like to get in a couple good weeks of running.

Who wants to run after a 10 hour work day? Not me! I had a lovely evening at home and then my husband jokingly suggested I run at 10pm, once it got cool. Ok, then!

On the treadmill I went, because you just don't run in the 'hood after dark. I'm sure it's law or something. Law of the street, anyway!

It was so disgustingly hot, even with the fan. I did not open the window, even though I should have. I was afraid my neighbors would see me. Yet another reason to ask some teens from church to move the treadmill into the basement. Cooler, and no one can watch.

I managed a 5k and ran the whole way. I had a real hard time at the 25 minute mark, but managed to push through. After I finished, I ripped my shoes and socks off as fast as humanly possible, and drank a large glass of water, followed by a large glass of milk. Then I literally dripped with sweat.

It was awesome.

Distance: 3.12 mile
Time: 34:09
Pace: 10:56

How to Have a Garbage Run

1. Take a week off from running, then run one slow 5k. Take two more days off.

2. Eat a bunch of cupcakes a couple of hours before your run.

3. Down two giant glasses of water just under an hour before you head out. This will ensure your need to urinate badly at mile 0.5.

4. Wait until 4pm on a hot and humid day. Make sure the sun is as bright as it possibly can be.

5. Choose a route that does not have any shade.

The result? Only going half as far as you wanted, and the half you do will be slower than any other run this year.

The good part? You went out and ran.

Distance: 3.11 miles
Time: 36:24
Pace: 11:41

Eighteen Weeks

Eighteen weeks until the marathon! I debated between two different training programs, and I like the one on Runner's World better, so I'm going to do that. The problem is, they only go as long as 16 weeks, so I have two more weeks until I start! I am itching to be officially training.

I took some time to rearrange my blog, and read a lot of my entries. It seems I am pretty inconsistent, doesn't it? That is not a good quality to have when training for something like a marathon. I'll have to work on that.

Speaking of being inconsistent, I haven't run since the 10k. Bad move! I ran tonight, and took three walk breaks. But I did it, even though I wanted to stay home and take another day off. So that's good, right?

Distance: 3.12 miles
Time: 33:47
Pace: 10:48

10k Race

Today was the 10k race! I did not get a personal record, but I did get a best for a 10k race, so it's almost the same. :) What a whirlwind day!



I was first woken up at 5am by my German Shepherd, who felt it would be a good idea to jump on my uterus. I gasped and snorted all in one shot, and sat straight up in bed. Good morning! She's so precious.



I felt weird this morning... I had a hard time getting started with my race morning routine, but managed to get out the door only a couple minutes late. I went to Susan's, and then we were on our way! Parking was different this year, and we had to park farther away, but luckily, we still had time for a Starbucks potty break. We couldn't find our other friends that were running with us, so we lined up for the start. About one minute before the clock started, we saw our friends. We ran over to them and helped them with their D-tag chip timers and race bibs. In the meantime, the clock started and the runners were off. We were all yelling to each other about making sure we started at the right spot to cross the chip mats, and off we went! Our two friends went on ahead, and Susan and I ran together for a while.



I never seemed to find my stride today. My shins were sore and never really loosened up, and the whole thing felt like a struggle. I kept thinking that the course seemed A LOT harder than last year, though it was exactly the same. I didn't allow myself the option of stopping, though I wanted to many times. At the 3 mile mark, I was at 32:30 (they yelled out the times as you ran past).



When I hit mile 5, I literally felt my strength leave. It doesn't make sense on a "shorter" run, but I think I hit the wall. I was so exhausted. I saw that "Mile 5" sign, and my heart sunk. There was someone with a hose, spraying the runners, and I took the opportunity to cool down and refresh. It worked, and I managed to run the rest of the way. I really wanted to push it when I could see the finish line, but just couldn't bring myself to run any faster.



I'm happy with my time. I would have loved to get a personal record, but I still had a great race. I enjoyed running the race with my friends, and am happy that they were excited to run it also! Everyone did great, and pushed hard. I'm thankful for friends!

Official Time: 1:05:03

Distance: 6.2 miles

Pace: 10:28

I'm Blue, Baby!!

Nike Plus has different colors based on how many miles of runs you've uploaded. I just turned blue! That means I've uploaded 1,000 kilometers, or 621 miles for my American friends. That is exciting! I'll be here until 2,500 km (1552 miles), so I'd better get used to the blue.

I was going to run this morning before work, since I had a successful time yesterday, but when my alarm went off, I said forget it. I should have just gotten up though... I couldn't fall back asleep. I also loved the feeling yesterday at work when I kept thinking about how I didn't have to go home and run, or I didn't have to forego my run because of poor planning. Today I thought about my run all day at work. Then when I got home, I contemplated for a couple hours about whether or not I really should run, or take the night off. I ended up going at about 7:30 pm, which seems like it should be too late. I know a lot of people run later, but I've read you should give yourself at least a few hours after a run before going to bed, because you may not be able to sleep.

Once again, I did not allow myself to check my pace on the iPod, but just ran comfortably and steadily. I had a better pace tonight than yesterday! I feel like I'm back! Maybe not at 100%, but definitely 85%. Maybe even 88% or 90%. Or 92%. Running is feeling more natural again.

Distance: 5.02 miles
Time: 53:03
Pace: 10:34

The Morning Run

I am not a morning person. If you know me, you know that. I can't tell you how many arguments I've had with my husband in the morning because I'm so cranky. I keep telling him that he knows how I am in the morning, so he should leave me alone, but he refuses to think that I shouldn't be responsible for my own actions. Pfft!

Summer is upon us in Detroit. I hate the summer. If you know me, you know that. I'm not a fan of the heat. It drains my energy and all I want to do is lay around. Kind of like how I feel in the winter, but I'm not as hot.

I took a week off from running for mental health reasons; I figure, once marathon training starts, it's hardcore all the time. Now was the time for a break if ever there was. My next break will start on October 18th. Anyway, when I came back from the break, I had a really hard time running without walk breaks. A couple of months ago, I could run 10 miles without stopping. After the break, I couldn't do 5k without stopping a couple of times. This happened conveniently when the heat wave started. I was thinking I lost my ability and really sabotaged myself by taking a week off.

I will not be able to make it through marathon training by only running in afternoon, or after 10am on my day off. If it was mid-December, that would be perfect. But not in the summer. So, I forced myself to get up early today and do a 10k. I needed to know that I can get up early, run and still get to work on time.

I did that this morning! When the run started, I told myself I would not get a walk break, and I could not stop the run early. I ran a little slower than I have been, but I did run the whole way! Success! I CAN do this! And, I was on time to work.

A few friends and I are running a 10k this Saturday. I'm pretty confident that I'll beat last year's time, but I'm not sure I'll get a personal record. I'd be very happy with under 1:05, and I think my PR is at 1:04 (once you figure in the 10 seconds/mile that the Nike Plus is off). It's ok if I don't PR, even though I was hoping for under 1:03. We'll see what happens.

At any rate, I'm excited for the race. If you know me, you know that!

Distance: 6.23 miles
Time: 1:07:23
Pace: 10:49

Run For Water

First of all, I will not mention how I haven't blogged in a month or more... let's just move on, shall we? :)



This past weekend, I went to visit my friend Thelma. After we'd decided on a weekend, Thelma found a 5k nearby. This would be her second 5k race. Super exciting! The race was to raise money for people in Africa; to provide clean running water for their villages.



We had a great race! Unfortunately, the temperature was something like 56 degrees Celcius. When we first arrived, it felt pretty nice, but after waiting for an hour for the race to start, it sure got sweaty.



The course was beautiful but extremely hilly. I saw some of my favorite wildflowers on the side of the road, so took the opportunity to pick one and share it with Thelma. We almost got hit by a truck right after that, but that flower sure smelled nice!



What a wonderful day. :)

Run Three Times In The Hood If You Love Me

Ahh... Tony Orlando and Dawn... Yes, people have asked me where Tony is before.

I ran three times since I last blogged. You see, my laptop doesn't like it when you pour water on it, apparently. I think that's kind of ridiculous, selfish and just wussy of it, but whatever.

Two runs (on Wednesday and Friday) were with Frieda. And she was Friedalicious! We did 5k. She stopped to poop after 1k both days. She looked at me, mortified as she did it, but she did it. Wednesday is garbage day in the hood, so I picked up the poo with a bag and put it in someone's garbage can. I don't know if that's bad Poop Etiquette, but that's what I did. Hopefully the owner of the garbage can was none the wiser.

The second time she did it, I was forced to run for 4k holding a Target bag of turds. That was fun. She did great both runs, though, and I think she's almost ready to go 4 miles. I wish I advanced in running skill as fast as her! On Friday, she required no encouragement to continue running... she just loped along the entire time.

Planning the long run can be tricky for me. Most people have Saturdays and Sundays free, so they have the freedom to run either of those days. I work almost every Saturday (unless I've requested it off for another activity), and a large portion of Sunday is spent at church. I don't mind that, it just makes things a little trickier. I prefer to run in the morning, before the sun is too high and it is too hot. In the winter, I prefer to run in the midday, when it's the warmest. Unfortunately, we're heading into summer. But hey, if doctors can find time to train for marathons, surely I can.

Speaking of doctors, I was talking to one the other day. Dr. H. has run Detroit many times, and ran Boston twice. This man knows running. I told him my plans to run my first marathon - I was looking forward to telling him, because runners are usually so supportive to each other. And he was. He asked me if I was going to do the Brooksie Way Half Marathon again (this was my first half marathon (and only) last year). I told him how horrible the race was, how hilly, how I missed a few long runs during training, and had gotten the flu a few weeks before... and I also told him how I had stomach issues during the race, all of which made for a not-so-amazing race. I love that I ran a half marathon, but I hope if I run another one, my experience is drastically different. He did not react. Surely he should have said something like, "Oh. Well, don't bother. That race is HORRIBLE! Enjoy your marathon!" But no, he encouraged me to run it again. He said it would be a good way to gauge where I'm at. I responded, "But it's only TWO WEEKS before Detroit!!" He responded, "I bet you have a 12 mile run on your schedule for that day anyway... you might as well run a race for it. Check your training schedule." I did. There's a 12 mile run that day. I think I just ran out of excuses.

A few things have to happen if I run the Brooksie Way again (although I should do these even if I'm not going to do a half):

1. Eat healthier, and as a result, lose weight. I think I have 10 pounds to lose. It's hard to say... I bet 15 would be even better, but I don't want to set myself up to fail. I run much better now than I did when I was 15 pounds heavier, and I'm sure I'll run even better when I lose 10 more. Laying off the sugar will surely help. You know how those super fit people eat? I'd like to be like that. I get comments at work as it is that I eat healthy and the look of shock on one coworker's face after telling her I went to Cold Stone Creamery the day before tells me I'm on my way.

2. RUN HILLS! The Brooksie Way is one ginormous hill after another at the 7 mile mark. Last year, I ran one hill on my treadmill in training. It didn't help. I ran during the half until the 7 mile mark. Then I walked and ran the rest of the way, disappointed, since I'd run 12 miles straight before. Though they were 12 flat miles. If I do the BW, I'm going to go to that stinkin' 7 mile hill and run it during training. Over and over again.

3. Cross train! Hey, there's an idea. I'd love to say I came up with it, but really, it's not my idea. I was reading in Hal Higdon's Marathon book that you should not begin cross training during marathon training. I start marathon training at the end of May, so I should begin strength training now, so that it's not new by then. Strengthening my core, and being stronger overall will help me be a better runner. And lose weight!

4. Morning runs before work. As much as I hate getting up any earlier than required to get to work, I'm just going to have to do it. I'll have to keep my long runs on days when I don't have something to do, but I'll have 3 other runs each week. I'll just have to go to bed earlier.

5. Become hardcore...er. 'Nuff said.

6. Change my last name. Perhaps to Prefontaine, Rogers, Benoit Samuelson, or Keflezighi (you could call me Kefi for short).

Today:
Distance: 8.07 miles
Time: 1:23:30
Pace: 10:21

Wednesday:
Distance: 3.11
Time: 33:04
Pace: 10:36

Friday:
Distance: 3.12
Time: 32:07
Pace: 10:16

I Ran Today

I'm having a hard time coming up with clever titles for blog entries. Can you tell?

Boy, I was sore today at work. I sat quite a bit, and when I would get up, from my hips down to my feet... I was sore. It was good to get out today and shake the soreness out. This is the least amount of time I've taken off after a race - one day.

I decided to do an easy 5k today... however, I set my iPod for 10k. I thought, I'll go easy, not worry about my pace, and run as far as I want. If it's 5k, then great. If it's 10k, good! I didn't want to push myself.

I ran the whole 10k and didn't check my pace once! That is a record for me! Too bad Tiger Woods didn't tell me so through my earphones. Harumph. I had a great run. Still some pain in the front of my legs (not shin splints) for a couple of miles, but it worked itself out. Things felt good, though, for the most part, and it was truly freeing not worrying about my pace. I had to tell myself a couple of times that it was ok if I had a slower pace than normal... it's two days after a race, I was bound to be slower.

After I finished my 10k, I listened to the recap on the iPod. I had a new record for the 10k!! How did that happen?! That doesn't even make sense!! I beat my last record by almost a full minute. Fifty-four seconds to be exact. That is exciting.

Distance: 6.23 miles
Time: 1:03:09
Pace: 10:08

Race Day!

Me and Susan after finishing an AWESOME 5k!

I had a great 5k race today! I was purposeful in drinking extra water yesterday, in hopes that my calves would not hurt. It worked! I did not sleep very well on Thursday or Friday night however, which may be why I'm so exhausted right now!

The temperature on Thursday was record breaking... I think it was in the 80's. I woke up today at 5 am and had to put another blanket on me. It was in the high 30's - low 40's. I would have bee ok with 50's or 60's! It was pretty chilly!

Two friends ran with me. We started out together and each ended up on our own pace. We all did great! I'm proud of all of us. :)

Personally, I enjoyed it! At about 2 miles, I felt like I could use a walk break, but refused to do it. I loved passing people- that made me feel fast! They changed the course a little this year, and I liked it better. I did ask myself at about that 2 mile marker, "Is this fun?" I didn't have a real answer at the time, but once I crossed the finish line, I had a resounding, "YES!" as a response!

The only thing I didn't like about the race was that they stopped you IMMEDIATELY after the finish line to remove your little tag for the prize drawing. I wanted/needed to cool down and walk around for a minute, but they stopped you about 10 feet after the finish line. That's my only complaint. Other than that, it was great! My friend, Susan, also did fantastic!! This is the first race we've both done where we haven't stopped at all. That is a great achievement!

I had a personal record today!! Though I would have loved to shave 12 more seconds off of that time, and get under 30 minutes, I beat last year's time by over 3 minutes, and over 1 minute off my previous personal record. So I am very happy with my time.

As is normal, we went to Panera afterwards. I had a delicious sandwich! I'm not a big egg fan. I'm not a big meat fan, especially bacon and ham. I'm not a big bagel fan. But for some reason, this looked like the perfect sandwich after such a great race, so I had it. It was SO good!!

My official results: 30:11 (Pace 9:44/mile). I must have entered my age incorrectlly - I'm only 33!

Now, onto the 10k for June 5th!

Long Run? Yeah, right.

I really wanted to get a long run in today. I chose not to get up early enough to do it before the sun got too high in the sky. When I went out, it was so bright I nearly died! Ok, well, maybe not, but it was bad.

My sunglasses broke a couple of weeks ago. I loved them... they were perfect for running, and would stay put, and they looked cute (which is very important). So sad. I do have a really nice pair of sunglasses for the car, but I can't wear those running, lest they fall off my face and break and I cry. I was at Wal*Mart the other day too... yet I didn't look for any new ones. Sigh.

I managed to do 5k today. I should have brought Frieda. I'll have to do that tomorrow.

THREE days until the 5k race! Woo hoo!

Distance: 3.11 miles
Time: 32:23
Pace: 10:23

The Ice Cream Truck

I went out for a 10k today, looking forward to running more than 3.1 miles like I've been doing this week.

The first mile and a half was brutal. It always seems to be. I ask myself if I'm really a runner; I have to convince myself to continue each step; I test my resolve to complete my run. After a mile and a half or so, I get loosened up and things start to feel more natural. Things felt so much better after that.

And then I saw it. The Ice Cream Truck. Actually, I heard the music first. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" blared through the subdivision, drowning out Coldplay on my iPod. I wondered what on earth was going on... I looked around and saw the truck. I grumbled to myself... figures! It literally followed me down three blocks, taunting me the entire way. "You know you want to stop and at least look!! Did you bring any cash? You could stop, have an ice cream and then keep on your run! Hey fatty - I'm talking to you!!"

I thought about how funny it must have looked to the neighbors... seeing a girl run down the street being chased by an ice cream truck. I ran faster and turned a corner. It didn't follow, but I saw it again a few miles later. I really think it was trying to sabotage me.

I didn't get any ice cream, but I did have a personal record, which totally cracks me up!

Distance: 6.21 miles
Time: 1:04:05
Pace: 10:19

Another 5k

I managed to do the 5k today! My calves were really sore nearly the whole run again. I need to take time to stretch them out before going. If I run more than 3 miles, it works itself out, but when 3 miles is the whole run, it sure makes for a painful one!

My first race of the season is in 9 days. I'm excited! I don't know how fast I'll run, or if I'll get a personal record, but I'm going to have a great race, regardless!

Distance: 3.12
Time: 33:03
Pace: 10:35

Rough Run

I hoped today to go to the beach and run 10 miles. Instead, the forecast was thunderstorms. I waited all day for the storm to come, and it didn't, though it was very wet the whole day. I finally managed to get on the treadmill, but I just wasn't feeling it! There are days when no amount of talking to yourself is going to get you motivated.

I tried to do 5k but just couldn't manage it. I tried to go faster than normal to make up for the fact that I was doing 5k instead of 10 miles. It didn't work, and I chose to stop. I should have just slowed down and finished what I started, but I didn't. I still consider it a successful run, though, because I actually got on the treadmill. I could have just skipped the day!

Distance: 2.62 miles
Time: 27:01
Pace: 10:18

New Runners!

I've been needing new sneakers for a while now. Maybe over a month or two. The experts say you should replace your running shoes every 300-500 miles. It was time.

I went to Nike's website and did a test that determines what shoe is right for your foot type. What Nike shoe, that is, of course. It asks what type of terrain you usually run on - trails, road, track. It asks what your arch is like - high, low, medium. And it asks if you overpronate, underpronate or are neutral. I have high arches and overpronate slightly. I also mostly run on the road (and apparently treadmills count as roads).

The people at Nike determined what three pairs of shoes would best suit me. I made a note on my phone and went to the store. I tried two of them, and didn't like them. They are newfangled and just don't "feel" like running shoes to me. That's not to say they aren't good - perhaps they are fantastic, but I wasn't adventurous enough to try.

My sister told me about her Nike Vomeros that she loves. Considering we are pretty much twins, I thought I'd check those out too. Turns out, they felt fantastic. The guy at the store said they were better shoes than the other pair I was debating also. Plus, they have PINK accents, instead of the blue or green I've had in the past. Normally, I'm not a big fan of super-girly colors like pink. I've recently discovered, however, that when it comes to running, pink is it! I love wearing feminine colors when I run. Maybe it's because I sweat and sometimes grunt and feel unattractive when I run, I think I might as well wear colors like a girl.

I purchased the Vomeros, and some BOGO socks and happily went home. Then I took four days off from running. Um, oops. I should have been excited to go try out the new sneaks! The mistake was putting them in the guest bedroom, in the bag. I didn't see them, and forgot about my new purchase!

My legs started yelling at me on Saturday, and I should have listened, and gone out for a 5k, but chose not to. I need to start listening more to my legs!

I went out tonight to do 5k. I always walk to the end of my block as a warm up before running. I didn't even make it to the next house without realizing the difference in the shoes. I felt like I was bouncing, there was so much cushion! My shoes felt like suction cups on the pavement, gripping then releasing, springing my foot toward the sky.

My calves, however, were not happy with me. Skipping two runs causes pain. The first mile and a half were rough. My feet felt great, but my calves felt so tight, and each step was painful. After the mile and a half, it seemed to work itself out. I stopped to do some stretching for a few seconds too.

I read an article in Runner's World a while back that said something to the effect of: When you buy a new pair of sneakers, before you take them out of the box, you should smell them. Stick your nose right in there and smell the possibilities, the excitement, the chemicals. Well, don't inhale too deeply. But smell!

Distance: 3.76 miles

Time: 38:54

Pace: 10:20/mile

5K with Frieda

I decided on an easy run today, since my last two were both difficult. While eating my breakfast, I looked down at Frieda, who was gazing lovingly at me. I thought, "HEY! I should bring Frieda on my run today!"

Now, Frieda is a 90+ pound German Shepherd, not yet two years old. The best way to describe her is a bull in a China shop. She is anything but gentle. Awesome, hilarious and loving, but not gentle. The same can be said of when she's on a leash. The good news is that she won't go potty on a leash (therefore, not requiring me to pick up turds on my neighbors' lawn), but she likes to chase cars, squirrels, birds, other dogs, and sometimes, people. We're working on it. Taking her for a run did put some fear into me - what if she lunges for a car while I'm in the zone and she trips me? What if she cuts in front of me to run towards a dog in its yard and I knee her in the head, fall over her, and break my head?

Well, she won't learn if I don't try, I thought. So, I laced up and walked to the back closet where her leash is. Being a German Shepherd, she figured out what was going on, and sat in front of the back door with great anticipation. I got her collar and leash and put it on... so calm, she was. Then we went out.

I walked for a couple of minutes as she pulled and pulled, gasping for air as I sternly said, "HEEL!" and pulled her back. She was doing pretty good! Then I decided we'd go for it... I hit the center button on my iPod and started to run. She did fantastic! I think part of the reason was that the neighborhood was quiet - not many dogs, not many people, not many cars. She was running a couple of feet ahead of me for the first 2km or so. Then she started to slow down, and her head was even with my leg... where it's supposed to be. Good girl. Nearing 4k, she started to fall behind. "Come on, Frieda!" She was tired, but she gave a little push when I called her to. Every now and then we'd see a dog, and she'd get a burst of energy and try to chase it. What a faker! Pretending she's tired when she still has so much left! I had to slow down a little at the 4k mark, but for the last 400 meters, I wanted to go faster. I pretended she was a friend running with me and encouraged her that way. "You can do it, Frieda! We're almost there! Two minutes! Come on, girl!" It worked! What a trooper! As soon as we hit the 5k, and I stopped my iPod, she threw her body into the grass of the neighbor's lawn - she was done. I let her lay there for a few seconds and then we walked home together. Happy as clams.

Turns out, we had a pretty good pace! I thought we slowed down quite a bit, but because we started super fast, it made up for the slower pace at the end. Let this be a lesson to you, Frieda, we want an even pace the whole time; don't start too quick or you'll be spent before the run is over. Let's work on that next time.

Who needs Mace when you have a German Shepherd attached to your wrist?

Distance: 3.12 miles
Time: 33:41
Pace: 10:47

Speed Work

The sun was gracious enough to come out in time for my 5 mile run today. Well, my schedule has today as a rest or cross train day, not a run day, but I don't want to run tomorrow, and I felt like my legs needed to be worked today, so here we are.

Speed work for this Friday says I should do a half mile at 9:24 pace, and then a half mile of cool down (I chose to do Friday's run on Monday. Don't ask me why). Repeat three times. I don't think I ever made it to the 9:24 pace, but I got pretty close! I also had the best average pace I've ever had. As time went on, it looked like I might be able to make 5 miles in under 50 minutes, but I missed it by 15 seconds! Oh well, there's always next week!

Distance: 5.01
Time: 50:15
Pace: 10:01

About That Training Schedule...

So much for it! I planned to run on Thursday night... my schedule said to run 2 miles. I got dressed and planned to do 3.1, but then changed my mind. I then decided to try getting up early on Friday and running on the treadmill before work. Friday morning came, and I got a call from my manager asking me to come in an hour and a half early. So much for the run!

I kept reminding my hubby on Friday that I had to run my scheduled 5 miles on Saturday after work, no matter what. He texted me at work and asked if I wanted to go to the beach and run there while he fished in his kayak. Sounds good to me - I love it there. Then I made another decision... to run 10 miles. I was at 8 miles for probably a month or more, and that 10 mile mark was an itch I really wanted to scratch. For some reason, it feels like the perfect distance. Ten miles and 10k. I really enjoy both of those.

I ate my oatmeal, laced up my shoes, and drove off to the beach. I dropped off the hubby at the water front, parked on the other side of the park and went off. I wore my Fuel Belt, and really hoped it would be too big for me, now that I've lost 10% of my body weight, but unfortunately, it still fit.

I felt great! It got hard at the 7 mile mark, but I pressed forward. It was quite chilly, so I kept running to get it over with. At the 10 mile mark, I happily stopped and walked to the car. I had a great run, and I'm SO glad I went for it!

Now, how to modify the training schedule...

Distance: 10.01 miles
Time: 1:48:04
Pace: 10:47

New Training Schedule

I decided on a training schedule. I'm going to use a 10k training schedule, which will end at the 10k I'll be running on June 5th (and hopefully give me a great time for the race!). Then, a couple weeks after that, I'll begin my marathon training schedule. The 10k schedule will have me max out at 20 miles a week, which will be perfect to start marathon training with.

Today was my long run, which was 6 miles. I set my iPod to 10k. It then tells me my pace in km, which I'm not as familiar with. I decided not to worry about it and just run at a comfortable speed; what felt natural for me. I had an awesome run! There were times I felt like I was nearly floating. I felt great the whole time, and sprinted for the last 400 meters. I ran past a door-to-door salesman a few times, and the last time, he yelled to me, "You've lapped me three times, Mama." I don't know about the "Mama" part, but the rest was nice to hear.

I had a personal record today for the 10k! I shaved about a minute off my best time. That's really good news! :)

Distance: 6.24 miles
Time: 1:05:32
Pace: 10:30

Five Hundred Miles

I use the Nike+ system with my iPod when I run. Today, after uploading my run, I realized I've run 500 miles since I got my Nike+ system last April! 501.2, to be exact, since April 11, 2009. I also ran 112 times. That is very exciting to me, especially since I made a goal to run 500 miles in 2010. Maybe I can make it 600!

I had a personal record on the treadmill today. I shaved 5 seconds off my 5k time. Not a huge change, but I'll take it!

Distance: 3.11
Time: 31:42
Pace: 10:10

Introducing: Skapris!

Nike is the only place I've seen these for sale... it's capris with a skirt over top. Nice and feminine! I like the idea of just the skort, but let's face it - my thighs would rub together, causing so much friction the fire marshall would need to be called. Capris are perfect for me. So, this was my splurge. After a full work day today, I wasn't really in the mood to run, but seeing these in the mail changed my mind!


My review? Super cute and comfy. It bunches up a little at the pocket in the back at the elastic line. I think they'll fit a little better when I lose 5 more pounds. I think I'll wear these for my first race!


5k today on the treadmill:


Distance: 3.11
Time: 32:41
Pace: 10:29

Short Run

I did a short run today, due to the fact that I ate a bunch of McDonald's french fries before heading out. Bad idea! My 5 mile run turned into a 2.82 mile run. Well, as my hubby says, at least I went out!

Distance: 2.82 miles
Time: 31:41
Pace: 11:13

My husband, the coach

Turns out my husband, who has never been a runner, and has absolutely no interest in ever running, knows how to train me.

We both got home at about the same time today, and I told him I wasn't sure if I should do a long run today and take tomorrow off, or run tomorrow and take today off. He told me to run both days. Well, silly man, that doesn't work with long runs. I like a day off before and after a long run. His response? Don't do a long run this week. Hmm... great idea! So, I'm attempting to run more than twice this week with no long run. He's so smart.

Five wonderful miles in the sun! I need to stop using the treadmill now and just run outside. The problem with that, however, is not having enough clothes to run in. See, on the treadmill, it doesn't matter what you wear, or if you wear anything at all. But outside, I think that's illegal. Thankfully the Nike website has clearance items! I chose to treat myself to a couple of new items. I can't wait to get my new gear!

Distance: 5.02
Time: 53:16
Pace: 10:36

Fartlek

I ran fartleks today. I have been trying to run on the treadmill at 5.5 mph. Last year I was at 5.0, so I consider that a great improvement! Today, I ran 5 minutes at 5.5, then 3-5 minutes at 6.0mph. I did that for just over 5k. I'll try to work my way up to 6.5mph. Great workout!

I only ran 5 times in February. I've already run 4 times in March, so things are looking up! I'm going to be working on consistency until the end of June and the real training begins. I think I'm going to go up to 10 miles by that point. We'll see what happens!

Five weeks until the 5k race!

Distance: 3.28miles
Time: 33:26
Pace: 10:11

Ten Percent and the Long Run

It's been a full month since I had a long run. With not doing the 25k in May, I contemplated doing only 5 miles. Or maybe I'd do a 10k... after all, that's more than I've run in weeks, and I don't really need to work on my mileage until June. I thought about this during the first 5 miles of my run, and then thought about the marathon in October. If I take the easy way out, and don't push myself, how can I hope to complete a marathon? Good question... so I ran 8 miles. With a few walk breaks in there.

Yesterday marked a new low for me. I have now lost 10% of my body weight! It took me since last October, but I'm there! I'm feeling more like myself these days. My goal is only 5 lbs away, but I might change it to 10. I'll wait until I get there to decide.

Distance: 8.01
Time: 1:28:33
Pace: 11:03
Weight: 144.8

It's Official!

I registered for the Detroit Free Press Marathon! I have seven months to train. I can do this!

I also bought the book Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon. It is highly recommeded, and since this is my first marathon, I thought it would be good to learn from an expert!

I am excited and nervous. Part of me wonders if I can really do something as big as a marathon. But then I see how, for the past couple of seasons, the finalists of the Biggest Loser run a marathon after only 3 months of training. Of course, I won't be working out 5-6 hours a day like them, but I have been running for two and a half years, so that has to count for something, right? The motto for the Detroit Marathon is: YOU CAN DO THIS! I'm going to keep telling myself that for the next seven months. :)

Good run today. Four miles on the treadmill:

Distance: 4.04 miles
Time: 43:28
Pace: 10:45

Good News and Bad News

The good news - I had a personal record today on my 5k run! Woo hoo! Thanks, Lance Armstrong, for telling me so! It's not often I hear someone talk to me after a run, but when I do, it's pretty cool!

The bad news - I can't get the day off to run the 25k in May. What a bummer! I'm glad to start a new job, but the bad news is I'm on the bottom rung, so if anyone else wants a day off, they get preference over me. It's a little frustrating since I've been training since January for this, and I'm a little unsure of where to go from here. Do I increase my mileage now, plateau this summer, and increase again in the fall? Or increase mileage slower than planned (like 1 mile per two or three weeks) and just go forward until the marathon in October? Fun things to think of no matter what.

Today I registered for three races - all races that I did last year. I'm hoping to get a better time on each race. My first race of the year is in six weeks. A 5k! I'd LOVE to get under 30 minutes, but I'll settle for better than 33:36 (last years' time). I'm not sure I have enough time to get under that 30, or at that 30 minute mark, but if I can shave a few seconds off my time today, I'll be happy.

Yesterday I weighed in at the lightest I've been for three years! During my run this morning, I was thinking about how much better I feel at this weight than my highest of 160lbs. I felt so much lighter, running felt so much easier. I'm looking forward to losing 5-10 more pounds.

Distance: 3.12miles
Time: 31:47
Pace: 10:10
Weight: 146

Four Miles

I tried to put off my run today when I got home from work and grocery shopping. It would have been more fun to (continue to) stuff my face with Girl Scout cookies, but knowing I have a long run planned for Wednesday, I felt like my legs needed another work out before then. I jumped on the treadmill and ran 4 miles. I had a great pace today! My hip started to hurt again after about a mile. I think I need to spend time stretching it out every day. I remember it being injured when my hubby and I took karate a few years ago. Oh well, these things happen. Hopefully it will calm down again once I have a regular running schedule!

I think that I'm going to have to start running before work, at least once or twice a week. I'm not sure how else I'll get 4 runs in a week. I'm not a morning person in any way, so this will be a huge deal. I'm the kind of girl that wakes up with exactly enough time to shower and get out the door without being late. I frequently eat breakfast in the car. So, to get up an hour earlier than required is going to take some willpower! We'll see how it goes!

Distance: 4.02 miles
Time: 42:54
Pace: 10:39

I Took Ten Days Off

I had a very busy week last week, and the beginning of this week. With starting a new job and events at church every day for a full week, running sat on the back burner. My legs started to ache after a few days. "Just run! Do a short one, but RUN!" Nope, sorry, I need to rest. Saturday afternoon came, with nothing left on the agenda, and instead of jumping on the treadmill and doing a 5k, I just sat on the couch. I'm not against resting; I think we all need it. I'm hardly a work-aholic or an over-achiever. I love sitting on the couch, watching a good movie, with a German Shepherd head in my lap. Doesn't get much better than that.

However, taking 10 days off from running is not a good idea for me. I wish I'd done at least 2 or 3 maintenance runs on the treadmill.

I resigned myself to run today. Since I missed a long run this week, I figured, I'll set my iPod for 8 miles. Maybe I'll do 10, after all, I haven't increased my distance for at least a few weeks. Today's the day to do it!!

Well, let me tell you, that after 10 days off, my cardio took a vacation. During the first mile, my calves screamed at me. It got warm, so I took off my outer layer and tied my jacket around my waist. That helped so much, but then my bottle of Gatorade and my cell phone in my pockets stabbed me in the thighs with every bounce.

I watched the Biggest Loser this morning on Hulu. They were running on treadmills and most of them were really gasping and panting. I thought how it had been a while since I've run that hard. Well, I did today. My lungs fought me with every step.

I managed to do 5k. Maybe in a few days I can do another long run, but not today. And not after 10 days off.

Distance: 3.12 miles
Time: 33:52
Pace: 10:51