I am so annoyed with myself. However, I think it is funny, so I will write about it. I decided on a whim to join a running group. A very wise decision on my part, as it turns out. See, I am actually kind of shy, though no one believes me when I tell them that. I have a hard time being alone in a crowd and meeting people. But I decided to join and looked at their web site for the first time on Saturday night, only to discover that they were having the first fun run of their winter series the very next day. The day AFTER I ran 10.2 miles, which was the day after running 6. I was so looking forward to a rest day, but decided I wanted to do the series nonetheless. So off I went.
Everyone was wonderful and it was such fun. However, the annoyance part... it was cold. So I put on my good Under Armour gloves and off I went. Hard. Off course, my hands got hot and sweaty after a while, so I took them off and put them into my jacket pocket. So, I am making good time and I reached down on a whim, only to realize that one of my gloves had fallen out of my pocket. So, I had to go back looking for it (I LOVE these gloves). I didn't have to go too far and I found it and went and finished... 10 seconds slower than my PR. That's right... if I hadn't had the glove catastrophe, I would have PR'd on a hilly, miserable course, so less. ARGH! The next one is February 22, the day AFTER the 10 miler I am planning on running in Blacksburg. Maybe that will be my day...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Just a P.S. ....
I ran 10.2 miles today. It feels great. I am fatigued, but in a good way. I am not an athlete, but I love to run!
The Magic of the Run
Recently it has occurred to me that I am, indeed, an addict. And I have begun to wonder how anyone in the world could turn to drugs, when there is such a healthy alternative available! I don't do winter well. The cold weather and gray days get me down terribly. I have to drag my dead butt out and make myself get going on a run. But the feeling at the end is so worth it, I would do it twice!
Last week we hit a deep freeze here. It was sub zero temperatures for several days. When the temps finally rose to 25, I went out for a run. But not just any run. I went out for a 7.5 mile partial trail run with one of my oldest and dearest friends in the world. Running with her made me get out and the conversation was so great I didn't even notice the cold after a while. Afterward, I felt so good that I have managed to run a little over 20 miles this week.
It has been a tough week at work, to say the very least. It was 56 degrees here yesterday and sunny, so at about 2:30, I looked at my secretary and said "I am going for a run. I'll be back." I ran 6 miles and had the best evening I have had all week. I think I need to do that more often.
So, here it is Saturday, my long run day. It's cold again. I don't think my friend can run with me today. I am on my own and not one single part of me wants to head outside. But I know in my heart how I'll feel when it's over versus how I will feel if I don't. So, I am going to go, eat a good breakfast, and head out for my daily dose.
Last week we hit a deep freeze here. It was sub zero temperatures for several days. When the temps finally rose to 25, I went out for a run. But not just any run. I went out for a 7.5 mile partial trail run with one of my oldest and dearest friends in the world. Running with her made me get out and the conversation was so great I didn't even notice the cold after a while. Afterward, I felt so good that I have managed to run a little over 20 miles this week.
It has been a tough week at work, to say the very least. It was 56 degrees here yesterday and sunny, so at about 2:30, I looked at my secretary and said "I am going for a run. I'll be back." I ran 6 miles and had the best evening I have had all week. I think I need to do that more often.
So, here it is Saturday, my long run day. It's cold again. I don't think my friend can run with me today. I am on my own and not one single part of me wants to head outside. But I know in my heart how I'll feel when it's over versus how I will feel if I don't. So, I am going to go, eat a good breakfast, and head out for my daily dose.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
It's All Gone to the Dogs
I ran 9 miles today!!!! I feel absolutely amazing. Well, except for my little *ahem*, problem, but I will get to that. First, in case I don't say enough what a lucky mom I am, let me say it again. I really am blessed with the most loving and supportive kids. I have a four year old who sweetly asks EVERY SINGLE TIME I come back from a run "Mommy, did you have a good run???". I am not sure my 11 year old notices my absence, but he helps occupy his brother while I'm gone, so he gets points for that. Kate, however, is in a league of amazing all her own. She gets her 17 year old butt out of bed and goes to cheer me on at races. She offers advice without nagging. And today she drove, one mile at a time, to make sure I was safe and to carry water and whatever else. Even though I am slow and it took an hour and a half out of her day, she volunteered to do it and encouraged me the whole way. She also helped with the dogs. I wish I were kidding.
The first encounter with dogs was wild to say the least. There were four of them. Little and yappy and skittish, they "attacked". It is only fair to point out here that I love dogs. I don't just like them, I adore them. All of them. So, consequently, I am not scared of them. Not even a little. Sometimes that is good, sometimes it is bad. today, I think it was good. These four little yappy dogs came at me, so I stopped. I reached down and spoke gently to them. They ran away. I tried to start running, here they came again. I finally got by them by walking VERY, VERY slowly past their yard. they finally retreated, only for their much larger next door neighbors to take over. It was a repeat of the whole scene. After about 5 minutes, I escaped unscathed. My daughter was up ahead, wondering what took so long, but on I pressed. This was between miles 2 and 3.
So, on I pressed. Now, miles 4 to 6 of this run are miserable. I am not exaggerating, either. MISERABLE. Straight uphill for the better part of two miles. Needless to say, when I hit mile 6, I was worn out. My legs felt like rubber, but on I pressed. Then I saw my daughter- signifying the end of mile 6- and her new friend. There was a dog. A BIG dog, and it was circling her car. Of course, on the best of days, I am a dog magnet. But during my run, additionally I was a moving target. So, the dog sees me, I see the dog and the dance begins. the dog barreled at me, with all it had. I had time to think that either it was very friendly or I was going to die. Well, fortunately it was friendly. Unfortunately, it was VERY friendly. And strong. I was weak. NOT a good combination. My daughter jumps out of the car and has no idea what to do. I am petting a jumping dog that rips my earbuds out of my ears, rips the ipod off of my jacket and throws it into the road. I try to ease away, and, no exaggeration, the nearly knocks me over the guard rail. Katie screams "Oh my God, are you okay?" and comes to "rescue" me. Kate holds the dog by the collar (as it barks its head off) while I escape down the hill. As soon as she lets go, then the dog comes running down the hill and catches up. After that, she became my running buddy and finished the last three miles with me.
So, I finished the run, covered in mud and pawprints, but I finished. Only to find that my sports bra had chafed away BOTH of my boobs and was full of blood. Needless to say, the shower was agony. But I did it, and it is another step closer to my ultimate goal. Yay me!
The first encounter with dogs was wild to say the least. There were four of them. Little and yappy and skittish, they "attacked". It is only fair to point out here that I love dogs. I don't just like them, I adore them. All of them. So, consequently, I am not scared of them. Not even a little. Sometimes that is good, sometimes it is bad. today, I think it was good. These four little yappy dogs came at me, so I stopped. I reached down and spoke gently to them. They ran away. I tried to start running, here they came again. I finally got by them by walking VERY, VERY slowly past their yard. they finally retreated, only for their much larger next door neighbors to take over. It was a repeat of the whole scene. After about 5 minutes, I escaped unscathed. My daughter was up ahead, wondering what took so long, but on I pressed. This was between miles 2 and 3.
So, on I pressed. Now, miles 4 to 6 of this run are miserable. I am not exaggerating, either. MISERABLE. Straight uphill for the better part of two miles. Needless to say, when I hit mile 6, I was worn out. My legs felt like rubber, but on I pressed. Then I saw my daughter- signifying the end of mile 6- and her new friend. There was a dog. A BIG dog, and it was circling her car. Of course, on the best of days, I am a dog magnet. But during my run, additionally I was a moving target. So, the dog sees me, I see the dog and the dance begins. the dog barreled at me, with all it had. I had time to think that either it was very friendly or I was going to die. Well, fortunately it was friendly. Unfortunately, it was VERY friendly. And strong. I was weak. NOT a good combination. My daughter jumps out of the car and has no idea what to do. I am petting a jumping dog that rips my earbuds out of my ears, rips the ipod off of my jacket and throws it into the road. I try to ease away, and, no exaggeration, the nearly knocks me over the guard rail. Katie screams "Oh my God, are you okay?" and comes to "rescue" me. Kate holds the dog by the collar (as it barks its head off) while I escape down the hill. As soon as she lets go, then the dog comes running down the hill and catches up. After that, she became my running buddy and finished the last three miles with me.
So, I finished the run, covered in mud and pawprints, but I finished. Only to find that my sports bra had chafed away BOTH of my boobs and was full of blood. Needless to say, the shower was agony. But I did it, and it is another step closer to my ultimate goal. Yay me!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Wow! I can't believe that I let the whole month of December get away without a single post. And I have thought about it so many times, too. Like the other night when I realized how great it is to be a runner. I was out, running through Christmas lights, the sky was completely clear and the stars were so, so bright. I could smell wood smoke from someone's fireplace and all I could think was "I am so glad to be here! What a wonderful place I live in!!!!". Fast forward to today, when a creepy ex-student of my husband's cut me off with his car and acted like a freako stalker (before he recognized me, but no better after!) and all I could think was "I am never going to be able to run at night again!". It really scared me, and I don't scare easily. I am a Public Defender...crazy people and mean people are my stock in trade. I am NOT easily spooked. However, I have spot on instincts and this guy is a real, true nut job. Fortunately, I have friends who will look out for me- but still, it taints the whole experience.
Otherwise, all is well. I finally got new shoes and I have run 19.5 miles so far this week. I am trying to gear up to run the Blacksburg Distance Classic 10 miler on February 21.
My New Years Resolution is going to be to blog more on my progress toward my first half Marathon, which looks like it will be April 18 in Charlotte, NC.
Otherwise, all is well. I finally got new shoes and I have run 19.5 miles so far this week. I am trying to gear up to run the Blacksburg Distance Classic 10 miler on February 21.
My New Years Resolution is going to be to blog more on my progress toward my first half Marathon, which looks like it will be April 18 in Charlotte, NC.
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