So, while everyone in the blogging world talks about "Race Season" beginning, it is actually pretty much over here in the South. You just can't run more than a 5K in the summer temperatures we get here, not even at 7 a.m. So this is what I'm looking at for the rest of the spring/summer:
April 23: Crescent City Classic 10K in New Orleans
Not signed up officially yet, but the husband and I have talked about it and I think it's something I should participate in at least once, even if I'm dodging walkers and strollers the whole time (it's a big event that draws runners and non-runners alike).
July 9: Spillway Classic in Norco
A 3-mile trail run that's really more about the fun and camaraderie and tradition of the race than about the time it takes to finish. Another one of those "you have to do this at least once" races and since there's NOTHING in May or June that stands out to me, this would be nice to do just to get back that racing feeling.
October 9: Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Mandeville
This will be the first of three local half marathons I want to do in the fall.
October 29: Jazz Half Marathon in New Orleans
November 19: Goldenfliers 10-miler in Baton Rouge
Did the 5-miler in 2010. Very nice race, quality swag, small number of runners, pretty course... what's not to like?
November 24: Turkey Day 5-miler in New Orleans
Sounds like fun!
December ??: Ole Man River Half Marathon in New Orleans
Did the 5K in 2010. Was a good course, good post-race food and drinks, nice little medal.
2012
So all those half-marathons will lead up to what I think will become my first marathon on...
January 15: The Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge
and depending on how that goes??
February/March ??: Rock 'n Roll Mardi Gras Marathon
I know it is a bit ambitious to think I could do my first marathon and then turn around and do a second one-two months later. That's why I say ?? If it turns out to be too much, then I will likely just do the half-marathon for this event.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Rock 'n Roll Dallas 1/2 Marathon
Things I Liked:
Things I Didn't Like:
- This was my second RnR event, and both were very efficiently run and well-organized, from the expo to the finish line-herding (snacks, photos, get out of the way, etc).
- Was glad to see Sweaty Bands at the expo because I saw them at the Mardi Gras RnR expo but didn't take advantage of getting a headband without having to pay for shipping and handling. I took advantage this time and got a nice band that I wore for the race - worked perfectly!
- I was distressed when I first read that they recommended you drive to the finish line and park, then take shuttles to the start line, but this turned out to be very easy. We left our downtown hotel, followed the directions they gave on their web site, and we dealt with no traffic and had no problems finding Fair Park. We parked easily, and the shuttles (dozens and dozens of school buses) were very well organized and got us to the Start Line quickly.
- The race started on time and there was plenty of course support. The corrals were well organized.
- I've seen some people complain about the medal compared to last year's, but seeing pictures of last year's medal, I like this year's a lot better. I think last year's was kind of ugly! Just me? I also liked the T-shirt. White shirts are better for me in the summer - a dark color is too hot!
- The finish line was very close to Barbecs, an awesome diner in east Dallas where I got two pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage for $6! We met up with a college friend of mine who lives in Dallas for the meal after the race, and it was great!
- I love that the professional race pictures are ready the next day! Impressive considering the volume of pictures I'm sure they take and the number of runners they're dealing with.
Things I Didn't Like:
- The weather, though obviously this was not the race's fault! It was a very warm day on Saturday, the day before the race, but that night a cold front came in and it was extremely cold Sunday morning! I luckily had brought a pair of running tights and a throwaway long-sleeved shirt just in case. Still, we got to the start line an hour before the race and it was torturous sitting there in the wind for that long. Of course, once the race started and we began running, we warmed up quickly and sweated a lot, even though the sun never came out and it was overcast the entire time!
- I think that there were a decent amount of porta-potties, but this was my first time having to stop during a race to go to one, and on the first attempt, I was about fourth in line waiting outside 5 porta-potties and I finally gave up and started running again because it was taking so long! Might have just been bad luck - about 2 miles later, I spotted two porta-potties with no lines and was in and out of it in less than 1 minute. But those two miles waiting to see another porta-potty were the longest two miles ever!
- The course was nice, but much of it went through residential areas, including the rich Highland Park. That was fine, but apparently bands and course support tables weren't allowed to set up in the neighborhoods so the time spent running through them was rather boring. I am just not that interested in looking at houses. I specifically remember mile 5 and mile 10 feeling like they lasted forever because we were running through residential areas and it was just so boring!
- Bret Michaels is not really my cup of tea (though it's a better selection than the headliner for RnR Mardi Gras - Bowling for Soup). We did not stick around for the concert.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Vote!
Vote for Skinny Runner's brother in the Crate n Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest and you can enter her HUGE giveaway!!!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Everything is sore.
I woke up today quite sore from hot yoga yesterday, but I still trucked it to spinning class at the gym. I got the best night's sleep yet before a 5:45 a.m. class last night. Before the first two, I woke up several times, each time trying to figure out if I was actually going to get up and go or not. I think I slept better last night because I knew what to expect, for the first time.
Got there at 5:35 and an older lady informed me and another girl that the class didn't actually start until 6 (Even though the schedule says 5:45! Annoying.) So I went to the weights and did some triceps and glute/quad presses (Random, I know). Then went back into the spinning room and waited.
The instructor was different from Monday - an older guy, maybe late 40s or early 50s? Whereas on Monday it was a younger girl, probably late 20s/early 30s. He worked us HARD! There were 8 people to start and 4 quit before it was over. He had us riding standing up a LOT. I seem to recall Monday being much easier. I definitely sweated more today. It's good though, I bet I burned a lot more calories.
So I'm sore and walking gingerly - definitely need to take it easy until Sunday so I can rock the half-marathon. 2:10 is my first goal, 2:05 my secret dream, 2:00 or under if I have a transcendent experience and channel someone faster than me.
After two classes, I've determined I need one of these:
For real!
Got there at 5:35 and an older lady informed me and another girl that the class didn't actually start until 6 (Even though the schedule says 5:45! Annoying.) So I went to the weights and did some triceps and glute/quad presses (Random, I know). Then went back into the spinning room and waited.
The instructor was different from Monday - an older guy, maybe late 40s or early 50s? Whereas on Monday it was a younger girl, probably late 20s/early 30s. He worked us HARD! There were 8 people to start and 4 quit before it was over. He had us riding standing up a LOT. I seem to recall Monday being much easier. I definitely sweated more today. It's good though, I bet I burned a lot more calories.
So I'm sore and walking gingerly - definitely need to take it easy until Sunday so I can rock the half-marathon. 2:10 is my first goal, 2:05 my secret dream, 2:00 or under if I have a transcendent experience and channel someone faster than me.
After two classes, I've determined I need one of these:
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I won!
Yesterday I participated in what was billed as a 5K but what turned out to be a "4-mile challenge" at my husband's law school, and I was the first female finisher! Now, there were only about 50 people running and only about 7 of them were girls, so it's no big feat. But I won a $30 gift card to a local sporting goods store and since I've never won anything before (That I can recall), I'll take it! Heading into the fourth mile, I knew I was the first girl and looking behind me saw no one, so I slowed down quite a bit. My splits went something like this:
Mile 1 - 8:08
Mile 2 - 8:27
Mile 3: 8:39
Mile 4: 8:57
2.2 - 8:46
Average - 8:33
So my splits were hideous and I started way too fast, wearing myself out, but luckily it didn't matter. It was also an evening race after a day of work (for which I woke up extra early so that I could leave early to get ready for the race), so perhaps I would have had more energy if it had been in the morning.
This race was quite informal and disorganized - first the whole "oh wait, it's not really a 5K, it's 4 miles" thing, then we all just walked over to this intersection and someone yelled "Go!", then we had three motorcycle cops who were supposed to be blocking major intersections for us but they stayed with the frontrunners so us in the back didn't have their support, then there were allegedly going to be 2 water stations but there were actually zero, and there was no chip timing, just a guy with a stopwatch at the end telling you your time as you finished, and of course no mile markers. After the race, a girl came up to me and said, "Did you win for the girls?" and I said yes and she handed me the gift card. We did get nice technical t-shirts. So it was very casual, laid-back, and small. It worked out though.
This morning I once again had to fight the urge to stay in bed when my alarm clock went off at 5:10 a.m., but I got up and went to the gym to try out Hot Fusion Yoga. I thought this would be more like Bikram Yoga, but it wasn't really. It was tough!
We worked out the whole body, using a body bar and weights for upper body, did lots of lunges, squats, etc, and did ab work. I wore shorts because I thought with "hot yoga" they'd turn up the temperature and it'd get really sweaty, but they didn't and all the other girls were in yoga pants. So I felt self-conscious about that the whole time. There were two guys there, and all together there were about 10 of us.
It was a really good workout, and normally it's $5 each time but the instructor told us first-timers we could do this first time for free to see how we liked it. It was really hard and I prefer running, spinning, and doing weights on my own, but we'll see. I'm going to try out normal yoga next week and probably Pilates as well. I do want to do one of those regularly along with running, spinning, and weights.
Mile 1 - 8:08
Mile 2 - 8:27
Mile 3: 8:39
Mile 4: 8:57
2.2 - 8:46
Average - 8:33
So my splits were hideous and I started way too fast, wearing myself out, but luckily it didn't matter. It was also an evening race after a day of work (for which I woke up extra early so that I could leave early to get ready for the race), so perhaps I would have had more energy if it had been in the morning.
This race was quite informal and disorganized - first the whole "oh wait, it's not really a 5K, it's 4 miles" thing, then we all just walked over to this intersection and someone yelled "Go!", then we had three motorcycle cops who were supposed to be blocking major intersections for us but they stayed with the frontrunners so us in the back didn't have their support, then there were allegedly going to be 2 water stations but there were actually zero, and there was no chip timing, just a guy with a stopwatch at the end telling you your time as you finished, and of course no mile markers. After the race, a girl came up to me and said, "Did you win for the girls?" and I said yes and she handed me the gift card. We did get nice technical t-shirts. So it was very casual, laid-back, and small. It worked out though.
This morning I once again had to fight the urge to stay in bed when my alarm clock went off at 5:10 a.m., but I got up and went to the gym to try out Hot Fusion Yoga. I thought this would be more like Bikram Yoga, but it wasn't really. It was tough!
We worked out the whole body, using a body bar and weights for upper body, did lots of lunges, squats, etc, and did ab work. I wore shorts because I thought with "hot yoga" they'd turn up the temperature and it'd get really sweaty, but they didn't and all the other girls were in yoga pants. So I felt self-conscious about that the whole time. There were two guys there, and all together there were about 10 of us.
It was a really good workout, and normally it's $5 each time but the instructor told us first-timers we could do this first time for free to see how we liked it. It was really hard and I prefer running, spinning, and doing weights on my own, but we'll see. I'm going to try out normal yoga next week and probably Pilates as well. I do want to do one of those regularly along with running, spinning, and weights.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
I be up in the gym just workin on my fitness
Yes, that's a Fergie quote. I have now hit the gym three times since signing up a week ago, and it would be more if I didn't have to train for a half-marathon. And since my patience for the treadmill hovers around zero, that running must take place outside.
So this was my Thursday and weekend in a nutshell:
Thursday - hit the gym after work, doing 2 miles on the elliptical, 2 miles running on the treadmill, upper and lower body weights, and abs. Friday I took the day off from working out, Saturday I ran 3 miles at an 8:37 pace to help prepare for a 5K I'm doing tomorrow night, and then on Sunday, my husband and I set out for what was supposed to be a 14-mile training run for our half marathon.
My husband has always, always been the one to push me to go further or harder when out running, so it was disconcerting for me to see him struggling at the tail end of our run. At about 10 miles, he was just dripping sweat, he said his feet felt numb, and he was gassed. He hasn't really trained properly, running long distances of 8 and 10 miles once each before attempting the 14-miler. It was also really hot outside, which didn't help.
We ended up deciding to just do 13.1 miles so he could complete the half-marathon distance, and I was definitely feeling a lot better than him at the end. I could have kept going and completed the 14 miles, but we stick together. I know it was weird for him too. He thinks the numb feet thing might have something to do with the way he runs because he's flat-footed. If he wants to train again for a half or even full marathon in the future, he (and me too) will need to go get fitted and find shoes that will help him run more comfortably. Our plan for the race is for him to wear a hat if it's real sunny and hot (Though it shouldn't be as hot because our run was at 11 a.m. and the race will be at 8. Earlier = cooler). He will also stop to take stretch breaks if his feet start to feel that way again.
On Monday, I got up at 5:15 a.m. so I could make it to the gym for a 5:45 a.m. spin class! It was so hard to get up, but I had fun at the class, got in some upper body weights and a mile on the treadmill, and felt fabulous for the rest of the day. I loved going through the day knowing I'd already worked out and didn't have to do it after work, and I also loved the no traffic and plentiful parking at the gym early in the morning. I think I will incorporate early morning classes and gym visits into my week from now on.
Today I plan to rest, but if it feels nice this evening I might get my husband to go for a 2-3 mile run. Tomorrow night is the 5K. I am thinking of trying hot yoga Thursday morning and go to another spin class Friday morning. Friday afternoon we travel. Half-marathon is in Dallas on Sunday. Can't wait!
So this was my Thursday and weekend in a nutshell:
Thursday - hit the gym after work, doing 2 miles on the elliptical, 2 miles running on the treadmill, upper and lower body weights, and abs. Friday I took the day off from working out, Saturday I ran 3 miles at an 8:37 pace to help prepare for a 5K I'm doing tomorrow night, and then on Sunday, my husband and I set out for what was supposed to be a 14-mile training run for our half marathon.
My husband has always, always been the one to push me to go further or harder when out running, so it was disconcerting for me to see him struggling at the tail end of our run. At about 10 miles, he was just dripping sweat, he said his feet felt numb, and he was gassed. He hasn't really trained properly, running long distances of 8 and 10 miles once each before attempting the 14-miler. It was also really hot outside, which didn't help.
We ended up deciding to just do 13.1 miles so he could complete the half-marathon distance, and I was definitely feeling a lot better than him at the end. I could have kept going and completed the 14 miles, but we stick together. I know it was weird for him too. He thinks the numb feet thing might have something to do with the way he runs because he's flat-footed. If he wants to train again for a half or even full marathon in the future, he (and me too) will need to go get fitted and find shoes that will help him run more comfortably. Our plan for the race is for him to wear a hat if it's real sunny and hot (Though it shouldn't be as hot because our run was at 11 a.m. and the race will be at 8. Earlier = cooler). He will also stop to take stretch breaks if his feet start to feel that way again.
On Monday, I got up at 5:15 a.m. so I could make it to the gym for a 5:45 a.m. spin class! It was so hard to get up, but I had fun at the class, got in some upper body weights and a mile on the treadmill, and felt fabulous for the rest of the day. I loved going through the day knowing I'd already worked out and didn't have to do it after work, and I also loved the no traffic and plentiful parking at the gym early in the morning. I think I will incorporate early morning classes and gym visits into my week from now on.
Today I plan to rest, but if it feels nice this evening I might get my husband to go for a 2-3 mile run. Tomorrow night is the 5K. I am thinking of trying hot yoga Thursday morning and go to another spin class Friday morning. Friday afternoon we travel. Half-marathon is in Dallas on Sunday. Can't wait!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
So hungry!
I have been extra hungry lately. I ate lunch twice today. I don't know what the deal is! Besides PMS. Which I get to blame everything on every 4 weeks, so that's convenient.
Today's consumption:
Breakfast =
peanut butter and banana slices on 2 pieces of bread
Snack 1 =
Luna protein bar
Lunch 1 =
Lean Pocket
Apple
Banana
Lunch 2 =
Smart Ones mini pizzas
Snack 2 =
Athenos greek yogurt with strawberry topping
I hope I can get over this case of the munchies asap! I will just have to be more disciplined... and stop relying on Lean Pockets for lunch. They have almost 300 calories but keep me full for about 1 hour.
The gym was great yesterday. I approached the treadmill with trepidation, but I did 4 miles on it and liked it OK. I sweated A LOT. Like as much as I would have had I run outside. Was weird. I tried out the different machines for upper and lower body, and did ab work. Was there for about an hour and a half. Can't wait to try a class.
Today's consumption:
Breakfast =
peanut butter and banana slices on 2 pieces of bread
Snack 1 =
Luna protein bar
Lunch 1 =
Lean Pocket
Apple
Banana
Lunch 2 =
Smart Ones mini pizzas
Snack 2 =
Athenos greek yogurt with strawberry topping
I hope I can get over this case of the munchies asap! I will just have to be more disciplined... and stop relying on Lean Pockets for lunch. They have almost 300 calories but keep me full for about 1 hour.
The gym was great yesterday. I approached the treadmill with trepidation, but I did 4 miles on it and liked it OK. I sweated A LOT. Like as much as I would have had I run outside. Was weird. I tried out the different machines for upper and lower body, and did ab work. Was there for about an hour and a half. Can't wait to try a class.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Joined a gym.
I joined a gym yesterday. I hadn't felt much need for a gym in the past year, as I started running more, losing weight and feeling great. But I realize I've become what Runner's World calls a "marshmallow runner." I'm soft. No matter how much I run, my legs aren't as strong as I want them to be and my arms are still flabby and I'm just not solid. I need the benefits provided by cross-training so I can become a better runner. I want to have access to a treadmill on the days when it's storming outside and I can't go running, or this summer when it's 100 degrees outside and I feel like going running might give me heatstroke.
I want to take advantage of the classes they offer, including Hot Yoga, Spinning, Pilates, Zumba...
It is $50 a month which is a bit steep, but I can make it worth the money by going often, taking advantage of their services, and finding enjoyment and success with it.
I hope to see my running times and speed get better thanks to the cross and strength training I will receive at the gym.
Right now I think my plan is to go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week, and run outside three times a week. I'll run on the treadmill at the gym the rest of the time to get in my mileage goal. In a perfect world, my weeks will look something like this:
Monday:
Work
Run outside
Tuesday:
Work
Gym: treadmill 30 minutes, spinning class at 6, upper body workout
Wednesday:
Work
Gym: Pilates 5:30 p.m., lower body workout
Thursday:
Work
Run outside
Friday:
Work
Rest
Saturday:
Gym: Yoga, 11 a.m.
Upper body workout
Run outside
Sunday:
Gym: lower body workout
Running outside
In other news, this gym fee is going to cut seriously into my shopping budget. I'll have to save up for something I want instead of buying on a whim. This is a good thing.
I want to take advantage of the classes they offer, including Hot Yoga, Spinning, Pilates, Zumba...
It is $50 a month which is a bit steep, but I can make it worth the money by going often, taking advantage of their services, and finding enjoyment and success with it.
I hope to see my running times and speed get better thanks to the cross and strength training I will receive at the gym.
Right now I think my plan is to go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week, and run outside three times a week. I'll run on the treadmill at the gym the rest of the time to get in my mileage goal. In a perfect world, my weeks will look something like this:
Monday:
Work
Run outside
Tuesday:
Work
Gym: treadmill 30 minutes, spinning class at 6, upper body workout
Wednesday:
Work
Gym: Pilates 5:30 p.m., lower body workout
Thursday:
Work
Run outside
Friday:
Work
Rest
Saturday:
Gym: Yoga, 11 a.m.
Upper body workout
Run outside
Sunday:
Gym: lower body workout
Running outside
In other news, this gym fee is going to cut seriously into my shopping budget. I'll have to save up for something I want instead of buying on a whim. This is a good thing.
Monday, March 14, 2011
10K race recap and other stuff...
Ran in a 10k race this past Saturday, and it was great! I love races where I feel good, get a PR, have fun, enjoy the after party, and everything just goes right. We departed around 6:20 a.m. on Saturday because the race location was about an hour from our apartment and we had to pick up our packets beforehand. We got there in plenty of time and had no problems parking. This was a tiny race, with about 215 people, and it was the organization's first time putting the race on. They did a fantastic job.
We got our race numbers and T-shirts, then went back to the car to get everything ready (For me that means put on Garmin, iPod, spiBelt, take Gu, put on sunscreen, etc). We were parked very close to the start so we walked over to get ready for the race start about 10 minutes prior to 8 a.m. Someone sang the national anthem and they counted down to the start. I started off really fast, finishing my first mile in 8:18 -- really fast for me! I settled down and got into an 8:30/mile pace for the next couple of miles. There were water stops at miles 2 and 4. The 4th mile was my toughest, and I slowed down to 8:43 pace for that. There was a nice breeze but it was really warm outside.
The last mile included a 4-story parking garage that we had to climb up and then down! It was a beast! As soon as that was done, we ran into a football stadium, went one time around the track, and then finished on the 50-yard line. I got a PR by about 2 minutes. My previous 10K time was 57:33 if you went by the gun time and 55:50 if you went by the Garmin time, so with a 53:09 chip time, I PRed big time!
After the race, Garrett Hartley from the Saints came to the stadium to take photos with fans. The race being so small meant there wasn't much of a line at all, so my husband and I jumped in line and got to meet him. It was really neat!
The after-race party had good food like jamabalaya and pulled pork sandwiches, sweet tea and lemonade, Powerades, etc. It was just really well done!!
Now it's Monday and back to the grind. Our half-marathon in Dallas is two weeks away, and we're doing a 5K that my husband's law school is hosting next Wednesday. Speaking of law school, my husband interviewed on Friday for a summer clerkship, and he'll find out this week if he got it or not. I'm really praying he gets it! It's about 2 hours away so we'd be apart for 6 weeks, but we'd fit visits in and it would be over before I know it! He just really needs the experience and it would be so encouraging for him to get it!
Plan for the next two weeks:
1) Checking out a local fitness center today to see if I want to sign up - with the summer heat coming on I really want to have an indoors option to run on treadmills, and also to be able to use the other equipment and not be a "marshmallow runner"!
2) Running Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, with a long run on either Saturday or Sunday. My nieces' birthday party is Saturday so we might not fit the run in -- we're planning on 14 miles so that will probably take 2 hours and 15 minutes or so.
3) Next week -- running Monday, Tuesday, with a 5K on Wednesday night, traveling on Friday and Saturday (And arriving in Dallas Saturday afternoon. Need to go to the expo, check in to our hotel, and meet up with friends for dinner.) Half Marathon on Sunday! Traveling back home afterwards.
Once the half marathon is over, speed training for the Crescent City Classic commences. It is a 10K on April 23. I want to finish around 50 minutes. Can I take off 3 minutes in a month and a half? We'll see! Not having a 4-story parking garage in the course should help a little! :)
We got our race numbers and T-shirts, then went back to the car to get everything ready (For me that means put on Garmin, iPod, spiBelt, take Gu, put on sunscreen, etc). We were parked very close to the start so we walked over to get ready for the race start about 10 minutes prior to 8 a.m. Someone sang the national anthem and they counted down to the start. I started off really fast, finishing my first mile in 8:18 -- really fast for me! I settled down and got into an 8:30/mile pace for the next couple of miles. There were water stops at miles 2 and 4. The 4th mile was my toughest, and I slowed down to 8:43 pace for that. There was a nice breeze but it was really warm outside.
The last mile included a 4-story parking garage that we had to climb up and then down! It was a beast! As soon as that was done, we ran into a football stadium, went one time around the track, and then finished on the 50-yard line. I got a PR by about 2 minutes. My previous 10K time was 57:33 if you went by the gun time and 55:50 if you went by the Garmin time, so with a 53:09 chip time, I PRed big time!
After the race, Garrett Hartley from the Saints came to the stadium to take photos with fans. The race being so small meant there wasn't much of a line at all, so my husband and I jumped in line and got to meet him. It was really neat!
The after-race party had good food like jamabalaya and pulled pork sandwiches, sweet tea and lemonade, Powerades, etc. It was just really well done!!
Now it's Monday and back to the grind. Our half-marathon in Dallas is two weeks away, and we're doing a 5K that my husband's law school is hosting next Wednesday. Speaking of law school, my husband interviewed on Friday for a summer clerkship, and he'll find out this week if he got it or not. I'm really praying he gets it! It's about 2 hours away so we'd be apart for 6 weeks, but we'd fit visits in and it would be over before I know it! He just really needs the experience and it would be so encouraging for him to get it!
Plan for the next two weeks:
1) Checking out a local fitness center today to see if I want to sign up - with the summer heat coming on I really want to have an indoors option to run on treadmills, and also to be able to use the other equipment and not be a "marshmallow runner"!
2) Running Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, with a long run on either Saturday or Sunday. My nieces' birthday party is Saturday so we might not fit the run in -- we're planning on 14 miles so that will probably take 2 hours and 15 minutes or so.
3) Next week -- running Monday, Tuesday, with a 5K on Wednesday night, traveling on Friday and Saturday (And arriving in Dallas Saturday afternoon. Need to go to the expo, check in to our hotel, and meet up with friends for dinner.) Half Marathon on Sunday! Traveling back home afterwards.
Once the half marathon is over, speed training for the Crescent City Classic commences. It is a 10K on April 23. I want to finish around 50 minutes. Can I take off 3 minutes in a month and a half? We'll see! Not having a 4-story parking garage in the course should help a little! :)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Places I've Been
I've been longing to go overseas again lately. It won't happen for a long, long while, but one day, we'll be able to save toward another trip. Below are pictures of places I've been.
On another note, visit Eat.Watch.Run to enter her giveaway for a super cute running girl charm!! I so want it!
London, UK
Brussels, Belgium
Bruges, Belgium
Athens, Greece
Skopje, Macedonia
Rugova Mountains, Kosovo
Thessaloniki, Greece
Mavrovo, Macedonia
Matka Canyon, Macedonia
Negotino, Macedonia
Peja, Kosovo
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia
Halkidiki, Greece
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Flour beetle infestation - UGH!!
I was setting about making Caitlin B's baked pickles last night when I noticed a little black thing in my container of bread crumbs. I realized it was a little bug, and then I saw more! So gross! I immediately went into my pantry, taking out everything, and found the same little bugs in two bags of flour, cornstarch, my granola, cereal, UGH! My husband googled them and they are flour beetles. I'm not sure how it started, but we had to throw away everything that was opened. So disgusting. We then went to Wal Mart to re-stock, as well as get containers with tight lids to store all of the new stuff.
I have everything in the pantry that couldn't have been contaminated on the kitchen table, and tonight I'm going at the pantry with bleach water. So gross and annoying!
I have everything in the pantry that couldn't have been contaminated on the kitchen table, and tonight I'm going at the pantry with bleach water. So gross and annoying!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I fought my run and I won.
The plan was 6.2 miles, and the goal was to finish before it started storming. The weather forecast yesterday presented a window of two hours where it would not be raining - it was raining up until 8 a.m., and severe weather was supposed to be headed our way starting at 10 a.m., but from 8-10, there was only 10 percent chance of precipitation.
It was humid, overcast, muggy, gross. There were big puddles on my path that I had to jump over or sidestep. I felt like junk. Less than halfway in, I wanted to quit. The fact that no one else was at the park besides me bothered me (I run alongside streets so it wasn't a desolate area). Wondering if the forecast was wrong and I was going to get stuck in the rain distracted me. I didn't bring my iPod in case that happened, so all I had was the sound of my footsteps and my own thoughts to entertain me.
But somewhere during my "Wanting to Quit" mode, I thought, "This is a fight, and I'm going to win." I love Skinny Runner's shirt that says, "I Wanna Punch Running in the Face." A lot of the time, I love running, I want to give it a kiss. But sometimes, I do want to punch it in the face. And that's what I decided to do. I didn't quit. I kept chugging along. "Just keep running, just keep running" (ala Finding Nemo's "just keep swimming").
And I did it. At a 9:21 pace, sans negative split, but I didn't quit and I beat the rain. I punched running in the face and won our fight.
It was humid, overcast, muggy, gross. There were big puddles on my path that I had to jump over or sidestep. I felt like junk. Less than halfway in, I wanted to quit. The fact that no one else was at the park besides me bothered me (I run alongside streets so it wasn't a desolate area). Wondering if the forecast was wrong and I was going to get stuck in the rain distracted me. I didn't bring my iPod in case that happened, so all I had was the sound of my footsteps and my own thoughts to entertain me.
But somewhere during my "Wanting to Quit" mode, I thought, "This is a fight, and I'm going to win." I love Skinny Runner's shirt that says, "I Wanna Punch Running in the Face." A lot of the time, I love running, I want to give it a kiss. But sometimes, I do want to punch it in the face. And that's what I decided to do. I didn't quit. I kept chugging along. "Just keep running, just keep running" (ala Finding Nemo's "just keep swimming").
And I did it. At a 9:21 pace, sans negative split, but I didn't quit and I beat the rain. I punched running in the face and won our fight.
Monday, March 7, 2011
More shopping!
I am so bad when it comes to online shopping. It's so easy. It's so convenient. It's so addictive. It's a good thing I don't have a credit card. Latest purchases:
I've been wanting a cute running-related necklace. Can't beat $1.50 from Forever 21.
Forever 21 --- I really like the Love 21 brand of the store, because I really was getting too old for F21 until they came out with this. It's more mature (and the skirts are longer!). I love this paisley skirt and will be wearing it a ton this spring and summer.
I love Lauren Conrad and I impulse-bought this top from her line at Kohls. Another pretty item that will be perfect for the upcoming warm months.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Best long run, ever.
My long training runs (9+ miles) have ranged from a 10:45 pace to last week's 10:11 pace, which had been my best at the time. Today? 12.02 miles at a 9:30 pace. It was just one of those perfect days - cool, overcast, flat course, perfect for running and I felt wonderful. Wish they could all be like that!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Anthro pick-ups
($39 from Allied Medal)
I saw this price on Tuesday and wanted to get it after payday, but after the sale day on Wednesday, it was sold out in every size except XS. I saw that it popped back in Medium today, so I snagged it. I read in the reviews that it ran small, so Medium seemed perfect. There are some negative reviews about it, but I figure out that discounted price, if nothing else it could make a nice comfortable lay-around-the-house skirt or swimsuit cover.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thank God
My mom had a follow-up appointment today and they said that she caught the melanoma very early, and it is not invasive. They will take some extra tissue to be sure, but it looks like a very good prognosis. I am so relieved.
Running this week has been good... well, for the most part.
Tuesday = 5.4 miles in 53 minutes, for a 9:48 pace. I made the dire mistake of eating Mexican food for lunch, and I thought it would have settled four hours later when I went running, but it did not. I felt like throwing up the entire time. It was such a waste of a great day with nice temperatures, and my legs felt good too. Probably would have had a much better pace otherwise. The only reason I went as fast as I did was because my husband came too.
Wednesday = 3.05 in less than 27 minutes, for an 8:45 pace. I ran this by myself and decided to just run as fast as I could. I don't know if that's a great training strategy or what, but I did three miles: 1st in 9:04, 2nd in 8:35, and 3rd in 8:28.
Today my husband is running with me again, and then I'm taking a break tomorrow, will probably do some Pilates.
Pay Day is tomorrow and I am thinking seriously about getting this:
Runny Yoke Skirt - Anthropologie, $39.95 (sale)
Possibly.
Running this week has been good... well, for the most part.
Tuesday = 5.4 miles in 53 minutes, for a 9:48 pace. I made the dire mistake of eating Mexican food for lunch, and I thought it would have settled four hours later when I went running, but it did not. I felt like throwing up the entire time. It was such a waste of a great day with nice temperatures, and my legs felt good too. Probably would have had a much better pace otherwise. The only reason I went as fast as I did was because my husband came too.
Wednesday = 3.05 in less than 27 minutes, for an 8:45 pace. I ran this by myself and decided to just run as fast as I could. I don't know if that's a great training strategy or what, but I did three miles: 1st in 9:04, 2nd in 8:35, and 3rd in 8:28.
Today my husband is running with me again, and then I'm taking a break tomorrow, will probably do some Pilates.
Pay Day is tomorrow and I am thinking seriously about getting this:
Runny Yoke Skirt - Anthropologie, $39.95 (sale)
Possibly.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Running through the tears.
On Saturday, my mom told me that she had been diagnosed with melanoma. Skin cancer has always been a fear of mine, lingering beneath the surface, because I am a redhead with very fair skin and I just have always thought if I was going to get cancer, that would be the kind I would get. I've had two moles removed, both benign. But I never, ever imagined my mom getting skin cancer. I can't even recall her with a sunburn.
We have yet to find out its severity, although the doctor told her the mole was superficial and said not to worry. My mom is meeting with a surgeon on Thursday to plan a procedure to remove more tissue. All I can do is pray. I love my mom so much.
To say I am hurting would be an understatement. Since finding out on Saturday, I have cried every day, multiple times a day.
I have run twice since finding out, one 10-miler with my husband and one 5K by myself. Running and crying don't mix - you can't really breathe very well. So I have to make myself stop crying when I am running.
Running really is therapeutic - you can't control life and what happens, but you can control putting one foot in front of the other. Breathe in, breathe out.
I'm so grateful for my husband, who's been wonderful to me these past few days, holding me, trying to make me laugh, buying me ice cream.
I have three races scheduled for this month, and training for them, making goals for them, will help. The worst thing I could do would be to sit at home,depressed, night after night, and relinquish my goals. That is what I have felt like doing, in my fear and sadness. But I won't give in to it. Here's to me becoming stronger, and to my mom, who is my hero. Here's to her getting better, as soon as possible.
We have yet to find out its severity, although the doctor told her the mole was superficial and said not to worry. My mom is meeting with a surgeon on Thursday to plan a procedure to remove more tissue. All I can do is pray. I love my mom so much.
To say I am hurting would be an understatement. Since finding out on Saturday, I have cried every day, multiple times a day.
I have run twice since finding out, one 10-miler with my husband and one 5K by myself. Running and crying don't mix - you can't really breathe very well. So I have to make myself stop crying when I am running.
Running really is therapeutic - you can't control life and what happens, but you can control putting one foot in front of the other. Breathe in, breathe out.
I'm so grateful for my husband, who's been wonderful to me these past few days, holding me, trying to make me laugh, buying me ice cream.
I have three races scheduled for this month, and training for them, making goals for them, will help. The worst thing I could do would be to sit at home,depressed, night after night, and relinquish my goals. That is what I have felt like doing, in my fear and sadness. But I won't give in to it. Here's to me becoming stronger, and to my mom, who is my hero. Here's to her getting better, as soon as possible.
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