All By Myself

This post is dedicated to two people:

The hubs and AN the RB.
Click here for a corny song, and it is meant in the corniest of ways. But it will set the mood for the first part of this post.

So the hubs is not returning today because of a typhoon and a missed connection. But not to worry, he should be home Wed night. That just gives me three more days to make it to my 30 mile challenge (always looking for the bright side).

Second, AN the RB lost her trusty cell phone! So that left me no choice but to do my 10 mile run ALL BY MYSELF this morning (honestly, how did we function before cell phones?). I don't think I have ever done this many miles on my own. It wasn't as bad as I had feared.

Starting out!

This morning’s run was pretty entertaining, to say the least. Here are some of the random things that went on:

-In my first mile I punted a dead bird, on accident.
-I revisited the scene of the face plant, yes there is quite a dip in the road and I can see how a normal functioning person would trip there.
-People were staring at me. I noticed looks of pity, wonder, amusement, confusion, jealousy, and one woman I swear was trying to shoot me with mind bullets.
-I nearly got run over by a 16 year old hauling A down a side street. Seriously, if only I knew your parents!
-I found myself in the ghetto for the last 1.25 miles and wished I had been in the ghetto on the FIRST 1.25 miles instead, when I had fresh legs to outrun bad guys.
-I ran up 36th street! Which is practically a mountain! Normally this kills the run and I walk home, but not today. Nope, today I continued to finish 5 more miles.
-While running 36th street Mountain I cursed myself for officially signing up for Seattle Half this morning.

And here is the four bags of ice I decided to use in my ice bath! It was so cold and felt to horribly good! I was feeling some strange aches and pains in my left leg and decided around mile 8 I would do an ice bath. That kept me going to the end...

Man, my toes were numb and my legs frozen but SO worth it!

So today I am thankful:
-that I hit up 10 miles and felt pretty good. I only walked to hydrate.
-I have an extra couple of days to clean my house and fold laundry.
-for all my new FOLLOWERS!!! Awesome! Thanks!!!!

Run Happy!

This weeks 30 mile challenge!

No, I am not going to run 30 miles...all at once. :)

I have decided to challenge myself in the upcoming week. My goal is 30 miles. I am not quite sure what happened to my mileage last week, maybe it was the face plant into the pavement almost 2 miles into my long run? Either way my mileage did a severe face plant too. So I am picking up the miles to ensure I have my base solid to begin my official half training on the 7th.

I should be able to do this without a problem. The only thing I can see interfering is...er...the hub? Yep, sometimes I just want to hang out instead of run. But what do you expect? Yipeeeee!!!

Today I am grateful:

-that my hub will hopefully be home tomorrow (yes, it is military so "hopefully" is inserted there...something about a typhoon?)

-that I had a good run on the dreadmill and could have gone longer but didn't. I saved myself for tomorrows long run (and yes, I am blogging at 12:15 AM so I guess it is this mornings long run).

-that I had a good evening with good friends who make it a tradition to spend my last night as a bachelorette together doing girly things.

COMMANDO: That’s How I Roll

Oh yes, this may come as a shocker to some but I do not wear underwear when I run, or work out for that matter…IF I am wearing the fabulous shorts with underwear built in. I have heard some clatter about this topic on some comments to Tall Mom on the Run and some questioning the reasoning over at Caution:Redhead Running and thought I would throw my $.2 in.

Here is the deal. Last year I was wearing my nice cotton underwear (what they say women should wear because of sweat and gross things that can happen if you chose to wear nice little satin panties or other fabric when you work out) with my Nike Dri-Fit running shorts (LOVE them!) They are my go-to running shorts. If I run in shorts they are the only style I wear. And they come in at least 50 different color combinations! It is pretty hard to chose which ones to buy, so I usually pick up 2 or three at a time. You can NEVER have too many (this is why I need a job!)!

Oh, anyway...I was wearing underwear with the fabulous shorts and I was going out of my mind because of the friction and honestly the dreaded shorts-up-the thigh-and-bunching-in-my-crotch issue (anyone else know what I am talking about?!). This would cause serious chaffing. Part of this I am convinced was due to my larger thighs that I am proud to say have slimmed up a bit since then. But the major factor was the the UNDERWEAR and built-in undies combo! The liner is polyester, which is good for allowing our special space to breath. There really is no reason to wear underwear, unless you are super opposed to going COMMANDO! I found that when I don't wear underwear with these shorts there is less friction and less shorts up the thighs. You should give it a try and let me know how it goes!!

Here are some pictures of the shorts that I wear and do not wear underwear with and check out the liner and awesome little pocket that fits a driver's licence, an iPod, and a car key or door beeper. :

The Addidas shorts (the pink ones) are my least favorite. They just are not flattering on me. They are a little longer and straight where the Nike Dri-Fit flair out a bit in all the right places and make your legs look a little skinnier. The Brooks are AWESOME spandex! And frankly there is no room for underwear when it comes to spandex. I never wear underwear with my spandex shorts or my tights. But be careful if you are stretching in the spandex with no undies! Sometimes the crotch has a bit of a meshy material for breathability (if you are confused as to WHY your crotch needs to breath just leave me a comment, I bet Amber can explain it to us! HA!). And check out the sweet little pocket on the Brooks shorts too! It has a zipper so you can be certain your key, money, ID, whatever wont fall out. It is also on the outside of the back of the shorts.

Well, yesterdays workout was a bear! Rarrrrrrr! I had an easy three miles on the dreadmill and then strength training. I love lifting weights! I destroyed my legs though with squats, dead lifts, and lunges. So today will be another light day, maybe three miles or maybe I will swim since I have my eye on the Kirkland Traithlon in September.

Today I am grateful:
-that the hub will be home in 2 nights!
-for a lazy Saturday!
-for some sweet things I "won" (i.e. got to buy) at my son's Montessori Silent Auction last night!
-that Oh-So-Sore feeling that means I have been workn' it!


Have a GREAT WEEKEND and Run Happy!

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I think therefore I am...

getting FASTER!

Man, it seems like track and speed work is all that I am doing these days. For starters when my little man is not in preschool it is just easier to go to the track or use the dreadmill at the YMCA. I have officially retired the jogging stroller. Ugh! That reminds me of the couple I saw when I was running my 10 miles of hills. This couple must have been smoking crack or something (which I absolutely DO NOT CONDONE even if it does enable one to do things this couple was doing). Each one was pushing a ridiculous running stroller with a half grown person in it! These kids were at least 6 and 8. WHAT? Are you kidding me? These kids could have been on bicycles riding beside their parents but no, this couple clearly wanted a challenge. And then, as we were driving away I saw them racing each other across a hilly grass patch…PUSHING their grade-schoolers in strollers. I will not be that parent. Ever.

Anywho…today I hit the track for my 400m sprints, six of them with a slow recovery jog between each. I was pretty happy with my times:

1. 1.31
2. 1.33
3. 1.39
4. 1.45
5. 1.44
6. 1.49

Total distance: 3.17 miles
Total Calories: 317 (that is bogus, I worked my a#$ off today for what? To burn half a cookie?!)
Max Heart rate: 184

Here is a question for you, my bloggie buddies, do any of you know anything about heart rate training? Or even a link to a blog about heart rate training would be awesome!

Here are a couple of pictures of my little running buddy helping me stretch today. Unfortunately I was not able to hit up yoga today. Something about having no skin on my palms does not make for a good yoga day
.

Today I am grateful for:

SUNSHINE!

4 Days until the hubs comes home!

An awesome day on the track with fast times!

My NEW vacuum cleaner!

An awesome giveaway over at Tall Mom on The Run! Head on over there, become a follower and leave a comment telling her that I sent you for your chance to win some sweet iZumi running shorts! And they are smokin'!

Run Happy!

Pavement Tastes Like Pavement

Today I Tasted the Pavement…

And it was everything I imagined it would be. I had no idea that so many thoughts could run across ones mind in such a short instant. Here are the things I thought about as I was falling for what felt like an eternity:

-Wow, I think I am going to eat the pavement.
-Yep. I am definitely falling.
-I literally just tripped over thin air. Is this what I get for my Ode to Feet?
-Ooo…AN the RB had a bad fall like this about 6 weeks ago, poor thing.
-I need to somehow turn my body, yeah, like this, so my face doesn’t end up looking like hamburger.
-What’s that? A car full of college kids back in town for the year? Great. Call me Grace.
-This is going to hurt.
-Yep, I am going to have to mention this to Caution: Redhead Running. I know she will appreciate this.
-Tuck and roll. That's right, I guess my miltary days of jumping out of dueces with an M4 will come in handy afterall...
-Yep, pavement is hard.
-I am not sliding, that is good.
-I guess I will just lay here and maybe nobody noticed.

Well, in true World Champion fashion I got up and ran another 1.5 miles. We didn’t finish our planned 5 miles but managed 3.5 instead. I am ok with that.

Today I am grateful:
-that I seem to be un-seriously-scathed. My fall could have been much worse!
-that I have 5 days home with my little buddy, i.e. daycare closed Thur and Fri, and I am keeping him home Monday for daddy's homecoming! My weekend begins now.
-for an AWESOME new haircut by Paige at Angelo Mendi. So if you are in the area and need a good cut, let her know Amanda sent you!


Here are a few pictures for your viewing enjoyment, thanks AN the RB for everything. Today I would have stayed on the pavement, waiting to be ran over if it weren't for you.

Ode to my Feet

Dear Feet,

I know you work so hard to keep me going every day. You run countless miles for me with rarely a complaint. You walk all over the world in a simple pair of black $2 Old Navy flip flops. You spread your toes wide to keep me on balance and most of all you allow me to be fit.

I try to pamper you...paint your nails a pretty blue with flowers:

I try to rub your high arches and relax your tense muscles. And I know that there are days when all you want to do is feel the warm sand underneath you:

Trust me when I say I would love that too. But for now we must keep running. I need you to be strong and pound the pavement along the familiar roads and trails. I need you to be quick and brisk. I need you to hold on and remain the foundation of me and my fitness. This is my ode to you, my feet. I know I don't say it enough but Thank You for being YOU.

Today I am grateful:
-that I am injury free and able to run.
-for all my new blog followers! 18 and counting!!!
-a possible job lead that I will be following up on tomorrow!
-that the hubs will be home in 6 days!

Run Happy!

Am I BRAVE Enough?

Seattle half is 14 weeks away. My training officially begins on September 7. I have been considering taking on the Advanced plan instead of the Intermediate plan. The main difference I can see in the Advanced plan is:

• added hill work
• longer tempo runs
• not only 400m sprints but 800m sprints
• and instead of a distance long run it is a long run for a set amount of time.
  

Wow. Now that I put that down it seems pretty ADVANCED. But I think I can do it. I am going to continue my Intermediate training for the next two weeks until the official training start date and then I will decide if I am brave enough to to follow the Advanced plan .

I have been practicing my tempo runs on the treadmill lately so that I can get a feel for them. Today I went an easy 3.5 miles. Mile one-9:14, mile 2- 8:36, mile 3-8:14, last half mile 9:45 pace. I would like to get the fastest time down to at least in the seven minute range.

Today I am grateful for:
-my friends who love my little buddy.
-a nice dinner with my friends.
-all the time I have available for training, even though I would really LOVE to find a job.
-a hair appointment to fix the AWFUL haircut I got last week.
-plans way in advanced to CA and OK over the holidays!

Run Happy Y'all!

I Get Knocked Down

Is anyone else watching the Track and Field World Championships? Talk about WoW! China won the women marathon in 2:25.15! That is only about 3 minutes(ish) slower than my worst HALF marathon!

And did you see the women’s 1500 m? The leader from Ethiopia got tripped up around 120 m from the finish! She bit it hard. It was so sad. Heartbreaking. She fell and was left behind BUT do you know what she did? She got up! She got up and ran to the finish. She did not win, she won’t be standing on the podium receiving her GOLD medal for being the World Champion in the 1500 m. All her hard work, blood, sweat, tears, soreness…was it for nothing? I think not. But how do you recover from that? I even teared up just watching her after she crossed the finish line. The woman from Spain, who ran a 4:03.36 1500m went to her, knelt down, grabbed the runners hand and kissed it. You could tell there was genuine empathy there. Aren’t runners amazing? Rodriguez from Spain would not have won if the leader had not fallen, a bitter sweet gold medal I reckon.

And then in the men’s 800 m three of them fell! And guess what! THEY GOT BACK UP! Since they got up and finished their teams contended the falls and two of them, the ones that were tripped by the one who fell first, were reinstated in the finals! So for the first time there were 10 men in the 800m finals.

So, the lesson that I have learned, or at least that was reaffirmed, today is that you have to pick yourself up and finish the race. No matter what, it doesn’t have to be an actual race, it could be in life in general. But we work too hard to quit, at least give it your all and make it to the finish line.

I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gonna to keep me down

Today I am grateful:
-that I have finally got some organizing done!
-I had a good rest day and now my legs are ready to run this week!
-that I got a lot of laundry not only done but folded and put away!
-for a good weekend and time spent with good friends.

Oh and those women in the 400m relay!? WHAT? Talk about fast! They make me want to run faster and do better!

Run Happy!