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