Chena River Run

I ran my 5K this morning and it was the most fun I've had on a run! That's because it's the first race I've done with friends. Since Saturday is usually my rest day, I figured I'd go slow. One of my friends wanted to do it too, but she didn't want to go alone and she didn't think she could run the whole thing. So I decided it would be more fun to stick with her than go faster and be alone. I told her I'd help her along and go "Jillian" on her if she wanted me to!

I am so proud of her and I had a great time being her pacer! She ran the whole time and didn't cuss me out at the end! She says she can't walk now, but between my pep talks and her stubbornness, she didn't quit. Nothing fast, finished in 35 minutes, but somehow I feel more gratified by this one than by my 30-minute one I did while pregnant.

The best part for me was that I was totally focused on her and our pace. I didn't think a bit about how I felt. We kicked it at the end and I felt like I could go another 3 miles. That is a big eye-opener for me. Now I know that everytime I want to quit on my training runs it's all mental and not physical.

I apparently didn't scare her off since she wants to come along with me on Monday on my 4.5-miler. I think I've also got two other ladies who will join me once school's out (our kindergarten schedules don't mesh). I've never been part of a running group. I'm so excited!

I watched Biggest Loser tonight and have what might be a dumb question. What are they always wearing on their upper arms? Not a pedometer or iPod. Or if it's an iPod, they wear it all day long with no earbuds. Heart rate monitor? Calorie counter?

I'm doing a 5K this weekend. Was kind of a last minute sign up. I haven't decided if I'll run hard or not. Saturday is supposed to be my rest day so I'm not following my plan very well. 4 of my friends are doing it, but they're either walking or run/walking it. I don't want to go that slow. It will be nice to run with a group, even if they're all strangers.

Quarter Marathon?

I went 6.5 miles. My longest ever. And it was OUTSIDE. I'm way proud, but bow down to E, V and others who do this all the time and have 1/2's and full's under their belts and on the horizon. The 2-mile course I used was along the river and is broken up into just the right chunks so that each piece is doable just one more time, and again and a third time, then another 1/2 mile for good measure. I went by myself w/music this time and really enjoyed the solitude. I ran to a looping album of Carrie Underwood, of all things! It was a beautiful evening. I may have enjoyed parts of the run. Weird! I find running outside physically harder, but so much less monotonous than the treadmill! The extra effort is worth not being bored to tears and watching the miles slooooooowly tick away.

Going shorter and faster tomorrow.

Ryan is doing his first full marathon at the Potomac River Run May 3rd. Kids and I will be there, but just cheerleading.

What have I done?!

I can't believe it, but I actually signed up for the Disney Half Marathon. It was 90% full so I jumped on it. Now I'm sitting here freaking out! My heart is racing (and not in a good way) and it's almost 9 months away. I'm sooo second-guessing myself now.

Can I do this alone? That's a long way to go all by myself. Especially for the first time. I have to get on the bus at 4 am! The race starts at 5:50! I have no idea how to navigate corrals, baggage check or even the water stations. I guessed that I could finish in 2 1/2 hrs, but now that I've said that, I have to provide proof. I can do 11+ minutes, can't I? I thought that was slow enough that I wouldn't be in the corral, but anything under 2:45 requires proof of finishing. So now I'm feeling pressure to perform well enough in the 10K to back up my claim.

What if I melt? Seriously, I'll be going from Alaska to Florida in the dead of winter. I'm sure to have heat stroke. My training leading up to it will all have been done on a treadmill. Can I really get a 12-mile run in on a treadmill? Central Florida isn't known for its hills, but there's bound to be a bridge somewhere. I'll be going from 20 % humidity to 80% humidity and an increase in temp of probably 100 degrees.

I didn't see anything in the instructions prohibiting an iPod, so that makes me feel better. Without my music, I'd be done. 2 1/2 hrs is way too much time with myself. I just keep thinking, "What have you gone and done you crazy fool?" What's the worst that can happen? I fall behind the 16-minute pace cutoff and have to be driven to the finish? Never mind. I'm not making myself feel any better.

My training program said to run 3 miles today. That didn't seem like enough, but Hal's the expert so I'll do what he says. Since adding mileage wasn't on the agenda, I decided to practice pacing. I found out that I suck at it. According to my Garmin, I run like a 16-year-old learning to drive a stick. Something to work on...

Here's something you may be interested in. My friend told me about www.motiontraxx.com. I haven't used it yet, but she swears by it. They have free podcasts of running music. The guy picks songs based on the beats/minute, and tells you how far you should have gone and at what pace if you run the whole podcast and stay with the beat. My friend likes it because she can use it to judge her distance/pace and still zone out. According to the site, the music is all dance music and a lot of the songs don't have words. I might not like that part.

Coming back.....for, like, the tenth time?

Yes, I fell off the wagon. Again. But I'm back on it! Again! I hadn't run in about 6 weeks. Just way too much going on with family visits, R&R, birthdays, holidays, etc. Yeah, I know, I could quote the line from "Platoon": Excuses are like a__holes, everybody's got one. So no excuses! I also have a huge motivator--the 3 extra pounds I saw on the scale this morning. How did that sneak up on me? Must have been all those meals out, birthday cake, Valentine and Easter candy, s'mores at our neighborhood party, etc. At least I showed restraint and skipped the ice cream.

I've run twice in the last few days. Soreness is gone and it feels incredible to be able to run outside without my ski mask. 28 degrees would normally be cold, but it felt like summer to me. No fogged glasses, no wet breath on my cheeks, and snot rockets instead of snotsicles! It was a slooooooow 3 miles each time, but that's OK. Again, just being outside felt great.

I'm considering joining Team In Training. I really need a training partner, but I'm a bit of a snob about who I'll accept, so that's why I'm thinking this would be a good group. I want someone at or beyond my ability. I know the organizers and they are fast. I don't need someone to motivate me to get out there. I can do that on my own. I need someone to push me outside of my comfort zone. I'd like a chatterbox who will keep me distracted and not expect too much conversation in return. I told my husband I wanted a trainer--someone to tell me what to do, and when and where to do it. With where my life is right now, I want to be someone's running puppy--just drag me around wherever they go!

The marathon here in September is supposed to be one of the hardest anywhere, so I definitely need someone to push me in the training. The only thing stopping me would be if the training runs are always in the evenings/Saturday mornings. I can make a few of these, but the cost/logistics of babysitters make it easier for me to do my runs during weekday mornings when they're in school/daycare.

I don't know that I'll do the marathon here, but I'd like to at least do the 3-person relay. I'm definitely doing the Midnight Sun Run, a 10K at the end of June that starts at 10 pm. And I'm about to sign up for the Disney Half-Marathon if it hasn't sold out already. Nothing motivates me like registering and having that non-refundable fee nagging at me. Being cheap has its advantages!

SOLD OUT?!

I just read that the Army Ten-Miler has already sold out. It only took six days! Geesh! I guess we need to confirm our plans well ahead of time the next time we decide to do this race.

Yay, Me! Part II

If I haven't made it known already, I hate running. But I've been doing it exclusively for my cardio sessions b/c it's so effective. And it's very easy to quantify your progress, unlike spinning or various types of aerobics. Well, I ran 4 miles today! That is the furthest I've ever gone without stopping. I realize that may be hilarious to some of you, but it's a milestone for me. My last distance run was 3 miles at a 12 minute pace (it's a jog, really - brisk walk for people with long legs). I made it to 4 miles at an 11.5 minute pace. For me, that is unbelievable progress! I really felt ok, too! I started my cool down mainly because I wasn't sure what to do with myself at that point. It's out of the realm of possibilities that I could go further than 4 miles!

The funny part is my iPod was dead. Torture to run without music, right?! My friend got on the treadmill next to me and we chatted the whole time. I wasn't dwelling on how much it sucks to be running and the four miles ticked off pretty quickly! May be on to something there.

There's a 10K @ USMA next month. Could I run 6 by then????????

Comebacks Needed

Maybe I should be flattered, but am not. It's that time of year again, when I get 'in shape' and then come all the stupid questions I get from random strangers at the gym. I have heard what I thought was everything, "What are you training for?" "What does your diet consist of?" "What motivates you?" "What are you doing?" "How do you do that?" ...Whatever...I hate them all unless I know you... then you can ask me anything.

Well, I thought I heard it all then I get asked this 3 times in the last 2 days, "How much do you weigh?" Seriously, when did THIS question become okay to ask, and from a stranger??? Just because I'm non-fat does not mean its okay to ask.

Then because I was in shock and had no smart ass response like I do the others, I told them. THEN, to really piss me off they act shocked and are in disbelief that I could weigh that much. So they obviously do not read Oxygen :) and have no idea what a fit 5'8" women should weigh. (I returned and asked what they thought I weighed and it was 110-115 from all three people...why have you wasted my time...idiots?!).

So... how would you answer this question? :)

p.s. I love cynicism and would prefer a comeback filled with it.

Yay, Me!

I ran today. A slow and tough 2.5+ miles. It's hard to imagine running 10, but I think we're doing the 10-miler this year. Are we all?