...to the HM, the end of spring semester and our Disneyland vacation!
Less than three days until the HM! I did a short run tonight, but don't think I'll be running again until the HM.
And less than two weeks from now, spring semester ends. YES! I have really enjoyed my anatomy class, but it's time to move on.
The weekend after finals week, Tim and I will be headed out on our vacation. I cannot wait! It has been 12 years since I've been to Disneyland and I know a lot has changed there. It will be so fun!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: three miles
Time: 33:46
Pace: 11:15 minute/mile
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
OMG, GREAT NEWS!
I got a response tonight from the race director herself. She said they decided after all to buy medals for the HM this year! But after this year, they'll only be doing medals for the marathon. I am OK with that!
Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got a response
It was nice of the SRRC President to get back to me so quickly on my email regarding Avenue of the Giants finisher medals. Come to find out, the 10K runners won't get one this year, either. Just the marathoners. Still sucks, especially since they've been giving out finisher medals for every distance for the last several years.
Oh well. Here is her response:
Dear Michelle,
I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed. Thank you for your input which may make a difference in the future. We who have been running for a long time sometimes forget how meaningful these souvineers are. It has always been standard operating procedure, nation-wide, to give medals to marathoners but not to anyone else. The Avenue of the Giants marathon, for the past few years, has been very generous with its give-aways, but has also lost a lot of money in spite of the relatively high entry fee.
I have not received my newsletter yet so don't know what you are referring to. The 10k runners will not be receiving finisher medals but only place awards.
I do promise you that I will bring your complaint up at the next board meeting and we will discuss whether to reinstate the medals. We had the discussion last month to eliminate them due to the cost but perhaps we made a mistake. I forwarded your e-mail to the race director and I will let you know her response.
Thanks again for your input,
Karen
Yes, she's the one who spelled "souvenirs" wrong.
Maybe this will make a difference for next year. Still doesn't make me feel better about this year, though. :-(
Oh well. Here is her response:
Dear Michelle,
I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed. Thank you for your input which may make a difference in the future. We who have been running for a long time sometimes forget how meaningful these souvineers are. It has always been standard operating procedure, nation-wide, to give medals to marathoners but not to anyone else. The Avenue of the Giants marathon, for the past few years, has been very generous with its give-aways, but has also lost a lot of money in spite of the relatively high entry fee.
I have not received my newsletter yet so don't know what you are referring to. The 10k runners will not be receiving finisher medals but only place awards.
I do promise you that I will bring your complaint up at the next board meeting and we will discuss whether to reinstate the medals. We had the discussion last month to eliminate them due to the cost but perhaps we made a mistake. I forwarded your e-mail to the race director and I will let you know her response.
Thanks again for your input,
Karen
Yes, she's the one who spelled "souvenirs" wrong.
Maybe this will make a difference for next year. Still doesn't make me feel better about this year, though. :-(
Well THIS sticks in my craw!
Oh, I am a little ticked off right now.
I just got my May edition of Six Rivers Running Club's newsletter (I am a club member), and saw this little tidbit regarding this year's Avenue of the Giants race:
"The Board voted to eliminate finisher medals for the half marathon."
WTF??!!!??
This REALLY pisses me off! So I get to run my first HM, yet I can't get a cheap-ass medal for it this year? Meanwhile, the 10K runners will still get theirs. How is this even fair? Might as well take a crap in my corn flakes while you're at it.
Talk about putting a damper on this event for me. I know racing isn't all about the awards, but I was really looking forward to having my picture taken afterward with that hardware.
*sulk*
**UPDATE**
I sent of an email to the club's president to let her know of my displeasure. Here is what I sent (I hope I get a response!):
Dear Karen,
I am a relatively new member of SRRC, having joined last August. I have completed several local races since January 2007, and am running my first Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon this year (I ran the 10K last year).
I just received my latest edition of the club's newsletter, and am greatly upset to read that finisher medals for Ave HM finishers have been eliminated. Is that for this year's race? If it is, SRRC has just broken my heart. This will be my first HM ever and I was greatly looking forward to having that medal as a reminder of my personal victory and all the training I have done to get to this point. I have my medal from last year displayed right here next to my computer. I am not fast enough to win in my age division in a HM, and that's not my main goal anyway. So the finisher medal is *my* prize. I would gladly give up the race T-shirt for a finisher medal.
I hope you understand that doing away with medals for the HM is very upsetting to runners like me, especially if those running the 10K will still be receiving a medal. I am sure a decision like this is budget-based, but if that is the case it would be better to do away with ALL finisher medals, not just those for the HM.
Thank you for your time,
Michelle
I just got my May edition of Six Rivers Running Club's newsletter (I am a club member), and saw this little tidbit regarding this year's Avenue of the Giants race:
"The Board voted to eliminate finisher medals for the half marathon."
WTF??!!!??
This REALLY pisses me off! So I get to run my first HM, yet I can't get a cheap-ass medal for it this year? Meanwhile, the 10K runners will still get theirs. How is this even fair? Might as well take a crap in my corn flakes while you're at it.
Talk about putting a damper on this event for me. I know racing isn't all about the awards, but I was really looking forward to having my picture taken afterward with that hardware.
*sulk*
**UPDATE**
I sent of an email to the club's president to let her know of my displeasure. Here is what I sent (I hope I get a response!):
Dear Karen,
I am a relatively new member of SRRC, having joined last August. I have completed several local races since January 2007, and am running my first Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon this year (I ran the 10K last year).
I just received my latest edition of the club's newsletter, and am greatly upset to read that finisher medals for Ave HM finishers have been eliminated. Is that for this year's race? If it is, SRRC has just broken my heart. This will be my first HM ever and I was greatly looking forward to having that medal as a reminder of my personal victory and all the training I have done to get to this point. I have my medal from last year displayed right here next to my computer. I am not fast enough to win in my age division in a HM, and that's not my main goal anyway. So the finisher medal is *my* prize. I would gladly give up the race T-shirt for a finisher medal.
I hope you understand that doing away with medals for the HM is very upsetting to runners like me, especially if those running the 10K will still be receiving a medal. I am sure a decision like this is budget-based, but if that is the case it would be better to do away with ALL finisher medals, not just those for the HM.
Thank you for your time,
Michelle
Monday, April 28, 2008
Less than six days and counting...
...until the HM!!!!!!!!!!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: seven miles
Time: 30 minutes
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: seven miles
Time: 30 minutes
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Avenue of the Giants HM, here I come!!!!
I had my last long run today before my HM next weekend. I am getting excited! I was thinking about it today as I headed out the door, and how by this time next weekend I will be done with it already. This HM has been a year in the making for me, since I ran the Ave's 10K last year. I can't believe it's almost time!
Today was an eight-miler. Man, it felt awesome! I didn't even drink all the water I had brought and didn't need any fuel (thanks to a bagel I ate earlier, I am sure). Either way, the run felt easier than normal and my spirits were high.
I bought a sun visor for $1 at Target yesterday and tried it out during my run. Now I REALLY look like a runner! LOL! I am planning to use it during the HM.
Me in my rockin' $1 visor:
The treadmill is headed to the dump as I type this. I am a teeny bit sad, but my new Pro-Form elliptical will be here on Tuesday. Woo hoo!! I can't wait to get it and start using it! Tim said he'd use it too, and I think that's great! It will definitely get a lot of use.
OK, the countdown is on to next Sunday! Yeah!!!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: eight miles
Time: 1:30:17
Pace: 11:17 minute/mile
Today was an eight-miler. Man, it felt awesome! I didn't even drink all the water I had brought and didn't need any fuel (thanks to a bagel I ate earlier, I am sure). Either way, the run felt easier than normal and my spirits were high.
I bought a sun visor for $1 at Target yesterday and tried it out during my run. Now I REALLY look like a runner! LOL! I am planning to use it during the HM.
Me in my rockin' $1 visor:
The treadmill is headed to the dump as I type this. I am a teeny bit sad, but my new Pro-Form elliptical will be here on Tuesday. Woo hoo!! I can't wait to get it and start using it! Tim said he'd use it too, and I think that's great! It will definitely get a lot of use.
OK, the countdown is on to next Sunday! Yeah!!!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: eight miles
Time: 1:30:17
Pace: 11:17 minute/mile
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Coming back to post this
Thanks already for the advice on ellipticals!
It's funny a couple of you have Pro-Form ones, since that is the one I am seriously considering! Here is a link. The price is good too, and the sale ends tomorrow. I need to make a trip by Sears to check it out tomorrow and then I will make a decision!
Check it out:
Pro-Form XP 520 Razor
It's funny a couple of you have Pro-Form ones, since that is the one I am seriously considering! Here is a link. The price is good too, and the sale ends tomorrow. I need to make a trip by Sears to check it out tomorrow and then I will make a decision!
Check it out:
Pro-Form XP 520 Razor
A decision has been made!
Thanks for all the input on my treadmill dilemma.
After some thought, I have decided to scrap the treadmill and get an elliptical. It's headed to the dump this weekend.
I have been searching for an affordable elliptical, and have come across a few that are interesting. For those of you who own one, what brand do you have and do you like it? It's always good to get others' opinions.
I have a run scheduled for this evening. It will be the first run in a week, and I am excited! Thankfully, the weather is nicer and I feel pretty good. I'm thinking it will be 3-4 miles, tops. I have my last long run before the HM on Saturday, but I think I'll limit it to eight miles.
Be back later to add stats!
**BACK TO ADD STATS**
Run:
Distance: four miles
Time: 43:33
Pace: 10:53 minute/mile
Rope jumping:
30 sec. of jumping, 30 sec. of rest, for a total of 5:30
After some thought, I have decided to scrap the treadmill and get an elliptical. It's headed to the dump this weekend.
I have been searching for an affordable elliptical, and have come across a few that are interesting. For those of you who own one, what brand do you have and do you like it? It's always good to get others' opinions.
I have a run scheduled for this evening. It will be the first run in a week, and I am excited! Thankfully, the weather is nicer and I feel pretty good. I'm thinking it will be 3-4 miles, tops. I have my last long run before the HM on Saturday, but I think I'll limit it to eight miles.
Be back later to add stats!
**BACK TO ADD STATS**
Run:
Distance: four miles
Time: 43:33
Pace: 10:53 minute/mile
Rope jumping:
30 sec. of jumping, 30 sec. of rest, for a total of 5:30
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Should it stay or should it go?
I am having a hard time deciding what to do with my treadmill.
I still can't run on it. If it goes above 4 MPH is freezes. I don't know how to fix it, and it's such an old treadmill that I'm afraid either a) it can't be fixed or b) the cost to fix it would be more than the silly thing is worth.
So it is sitting in our bedroom, with two big boxes of crap currently sitting on it. And a couple of blankets strewn over the console. Like a big, hulking, oversized coat rack.
I am seriously thinking of letting it go. I learned I can take it to our dump and trash it for free in the metal bin. I am leaning toward that option right now.
What would you do? The stinkin' thing takes up so much space in our room, and if I got rid of it I could (eventually) get a small elliptical machine to take its place. I'm thinking if I keep it, I will never get it fixed and it will just continue to collect dust. *sigh*
On a different note, the weather here SUCKS today. It has been storming all day and has been since last night. It appears a run is out of the question again today. I just refuse to run in that stuff now and risk getting sick again. So I guess I'll be stuck on the bike again tonight.
I'll come back later to add stats.
**BACK TO ADD STATS**
I did jumped rope for a little bit after my bike workout. I really liked it!! I think I'll add some jumping a couple days a week now. :-)
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.20 miles
Jump rope:
15 sec. of jumping, 30 sec. of rest, for a total of five minutes
I still can't run on it. If it goes above 4 MPH is freezes. I don't know how to fix it, and it's such an old treadmill that I'm afraid either a) it can't be fixed or b) the cost to fix it would be more than the silly thing is worth.
So it is sitting in our bedroom, with two big boxes of crap currently sitting on it. And a couple of blankets strewn over the console. Like a big, hulking, oversized coat rack.
I am seriously thinking of letting it go. I learned I can take it to our dump and trash it for free in the metal bin. I am leaning toward that option right now.
What would you do? The stinkin' thing takes up so much space in our room, and if I got rid of it I could (eventually) get a small elliptical machine to take its place. I'm thinking if I keep it, I will never get it fixed and it will just continue to collect dust. *sigh*
On a different note, the weather here SUCKS today. It has been storming all day and has been since last night. It appears a run is out of the question again today. I just refuse to run in that stuff now and risk getting sick again. So I guess I'll be stuck on the bike again tonight.
I'll come back later to add stats.
**BACK TO ADD STATS**
I did jumped rope for a little bit after my bike workout. I really liked it!! I think I'll add some jumping a couple days a week now. :-)
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.20 miles
Jump rope:
15 sec. of jumping, 30 sec. of rest, for a total of five minutes
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Weekend washout
So I didn't get my 11-miler in yesterday. It rained on and off, plus I had a birthday party to take Kara to. And when I woke up yesterday, I wasn't feeling the greatest. So I decided to wait for today and see what would happen.
Well, it is now a little after 11 a.m. on Sunday, and it's pouring outside. It's also really cold. So cold, in fact, that we actually started a fire in the wood stove to warm up! Since I am still feeling a little blah, I am just going to write off this weekend for running. I am OK with that, I guess. We might get rain for days, according to the National Weather Service. I hope that forecast doesn't totally pan out, as I want to run. But I will not do it in the rain, especially this close to the HM. Seems every time I run in the rain, I get sick.
I have a study date with Kristen today. Our next test is on Wednesday (I still have an A in the class, in case anyone is wondering). Only four more weeks and this semester will be over! Then Tim and I will be headed to Disneyland for a well-deserved vacation!!!!
I plan to ride the stationary bike later. I will post those stats after I am done.
*Back to add stats*
Bike:
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 36:31
Well, it is now a little after 11 a.m. on Sunday, and it's pouring outside. It's also really cold. So cold, in fact, that we actually started a fire in the wood stove to warm up! Since I am still feeling a little blah, I am just going to write off this weekend for running. I am OK with that, I guess. We might get rain for days, according to the National Weather Service. I hope that forecast doesn't totally pan out, as I want to run. But I will not do it in the rain, especially this close to the HM. Seems every time I run in the rain, I get sick.
I have a study date with Kristen today. Our next test is on Wednesday (I still have an A in the class, in case anyone is wondering). Only four more weeks and this semester will be over! Then Tim and I will be headed to Disneyland for a well-deserved vacation!!!!
I plan to ride the stationary bike later. I will post those stats after I am done.
*Back to add stats*
Bike:
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 36:31
Friday, April 18, 2008
The nurse is in
OK, so I'm not officially a nurse yet -- heck, I'm not even through my pre-nursing classes yet -- but I sure have been getting a lot of on-the-job training recently.
This morning was Matty's two-year checkup. I knew he wasn't feeling well, and I told the doctor this. Turns out Baby Boy (I don't care if he's two; he's still my baby) has bronchitis.
Kara had the same symptoms as Matty, so I made an appointment for her this afternoon. Guess what? She has bronchitis, too!! This would explain the nasty cough and icky mucous I keep wiping off her face. It also explains her crabby attitude. So now both kids are back on antibiotics and I am their primary nurse. Let's just hope Tim and I don't catch it, although the doctor said he wouldn't be surprised if we did get sick, too.
I only did a short bike workout tonight. I am going to try for an 11-miler tomorrow, as long as I don't feel sick. Cross your fingers!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 5 miles
Time: don't know
This morning was Matty's two-year checkup. I knew he wasn't feeling well, and I told the doctor this. Turns out Baby Boy (I don't care if he's two; he's still my baby) has bronchitis.
Kara had the same symptoms as Matty, so I made an appointment for her this afternoon. Guess what? She has bronchitis, too!! This would explain the nasty cough and icky mucous I keep wiping off her face. It also explains her crabby attitude. So now both kids are back on antibiotics and I am their primary nurse. Let's just hope Tim and I don't catch it, although the doctor said he wouldn't be surprised if we did get sick, too.
I only did a short bike workout tonight. I am going to try for an 11-miler tomorrow, as long as I don't feel sick. Cross your fingers!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 5 miles
Time: don't know
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Two-fer Thursday
I didn't work out yesterday. My legs didn't feel good, so I decided to rest them.
I'm glad I did. I rode the stationary bike this afternoon. Now I am planning to go on a run once Tim gets home. My hip feels a lot better today, and my legs feel rested.
About the HM: to date, almost 1,000 people have signed up for the Avenue of the Giants HM alone!! There is also a 10K (which I did last year) and a full marathon. There are 98 women in my age division so far, and I know a lot more people tend to sign up the day of the race. This will by far be the biggest race (participant-wise) that I have ever run in. Fun! And scary!! My friend Kristen will be doing the 10K this year, so that will be cool.
All right, enough for now. Be back later to post my running stats.
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 7.37 miles
Time: 30 minutes
*back to add these stats*
Run:
Distance: four miles
Time: 43:49
Pace: 10:59 minute/mile
I'm glad I did. I rode the stationary bike this afternoon. Now I am planning to go on a run once Tim gets home. My hip feels a lot better today, and my legs feel rested.
About the HM: to date, almost 1,000 people have signed up for the Avenue of the Giants HM alone!! There is also a 10K (which I did last year) and a full marathon. There are 98 women in my age division so far, and I know a lot more people tend to sign up the day of the race. This will by far be the biggest race (participant-wise) that I have ever run in. Fun! And scary!! My friend Kristen will be doing the 10K this year, so that will be cool.
All right, enough for now. Be back later to post my running stats.
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 7.37 miles
Time: 30 minutes
*back to add these stats*
Run:
Distance: four miles
Time: 43:49
Pace: 10:59 minute/mile
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Oh no! Not my last good nerve!
I swear, Kara was working my last good nerve today. (Sorry, I love that saying. Especially after learning about the nervous system in anatomy recently.) She was a whiny crab all morning, and no matter what I did she just kept it up. Thankfully, the little terror took a nap for once today, so I got a bit of a reprieve from the constant, torturous whining.
This evening was a hills workout. I like doing hills because it breaks up the monotony of shorter runs. Plus, I get to work my anaerobic fast-twitch muscle fibers, which I admit I don't use enough.
I ran the same hill as last week, but extended how far I ran up it this time. I did a total of one mile of hills. Felt pretty good, except I am having issues with my stupid lumbar spinal nerve that has given me problems in the past (it's L3 or L4, based on my new buddy Dermatome man. (I met him earlier this year in anatomy. GREAT guy!)
Anyway, now I am hurting a little in my hip again. I think another trip to the chiro might be in my future. I just went last Friday. :-(
Today's stats:
Run:
Warm-up: 1.12 miles: 12:25 (11:08 minute/mile pace)
Hills: one mile: 11:22
Cool-down: one mile: 11:16
Total: 3.12 miles of running (not including the mile of walking down hill that I covered)
This evening was a hills workout. I like doing hills because it breaks up the monotony of shorter runs. Plus, I get to work my anaerobic fast-twitch muscle fibers, which I admit I don't use enough.
I ran the same hill as last week, but extended how far I ran up it this time. I did a total of one mile of hills. Felt pretty good, except I am having issues with my stupid lumbar spinal nerve that has given me problems in the past (it's L3 or L4, based on my new buddy Dermatome man. (I met him earlier this year in anatomy. GREAT guy!)
Anyway, now I am hurting a little in my hip again. I think another trip to the chiro might be in my future. I just went last Friday. :-(
Today's stats:
Run:
Warm-up: 1.12 miles: 12:25 (11:08 minute/mile pace)
Hills: one mile: 11:22
Cool-down: one mile: 11:16
Total: 3.12 miles of running (not including the mile of walking down hill that I covered)
Monday, April 14, 2008
Am I gonna have to rename him?
We had Matty's birthday party yesterday. Eleven people showed up and it was a fun, casual party. That's code for me not being a natural hostess, therefore it was not terribly "organized." We ate pizza and cake, and the kids played on the new swing set.
Speaking of cake, I ordered Matty's cake at Safeway, where I got Kara's cake earlier this year. When the lady was taking my order (Cars theme -- too cute!) she asked me what I wanted written on the cake. I told her "Happy birthday Matty" and I spelled Matty three times because it seemed like she wasn't understanding me. You know that confused look people tend to give if they're not totally sure what someone just said. She finally "got it" and I didn't repeat for a fourth time.
Maybe I should have. Imagine my surprise when we opened the cake at home and noticed, in very small script, that the cake read "Happy birthday Marty!" Yes, Marty. We all laughed and wondered who the hell Marty was. Then we joked about it being an extra cake that the real Marty failed to pick up. Thank goodness the writing was miniscule, so one really had to look at it to see it was an "r" and not a "t". Oh well. The cake was DELICIOUS and Matty didn't care. Thank goodness he doesn't know how to spell his name yet.
I did a leisurely stationary bike ride this morning. I woke up with my hip hurting, so I didn't want to do anything too strenuous. I have to go to school soon. Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.15 miles
Speaking of cake, I ordered Matty's cake at Safeway, where I got Kara's cake earlier this year. When the lady was taking my order (Cars theme -- too cute!) she asked me what I wanted written on the cake. I told her "Happy birthday Matty" and I spelled Matty three times because it seemed like she wasn't understanding me. You know that confused look people tend to give if they're not totally sure what someone just said. She finally "got it" and I didn't repeat for a fourth time.
Maybe I should have. Imagine my surprise when we opened the cake at home and noticed, in very small script, that the cake read "Happy birthday Marty!" Yes, Marty. We all laughed and wondered who the hell Marty was. Then we joked about it being an extra cake that the real Marty failed to pick up. Thank goodness the writing was miniscule, so one really had to look at it to see it was an "r" and not a "t". Oh well. The cake was DELICIOUS and Matty didn't care. Thank goodness he doesn't know how to spell his name yet.
I did a leisurely stationary bike ride this morning. I woke up with my hip hurting, so I didn't want to do anything too strenuous. I have to go to school soon. Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.15 miles
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I'm tired and sunburned...
...but happy and satisfied. And did I mention tired? :-)
Today was a long run day. Of course, it happened to be the hottest day of the year here so far (80 degrees at one point), but I was thinking it would be *great* to run in the heat. So I set out around 10:45 a.m. not realizing just how warm it was already.
The first few miles were good, although the sun was beating down in my face already. Thank goodness I left my long-sleeved shirts at home! There was a good chunk of time when I was thinking that I am stupid and should just pack it in for the day. I was overheating and sweating all over the place. And there was *NO* shade! Anywhere! Guess I am just so used to running in cooler weather that anything over 60 degrees feels like an oven.
The last two miles -- of the 10 miles I ran today! -- were torture. I was so very thirsty and had to stop twice to fill up my water bottles. My legs were starting to feel like rubber. I just wanted to be done!! After nearly two hours of running, I had covered 10 miles and could stop. Whew!!! I don't think I'll be doing any more mid-day runs when it's really warm anytime soon.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent doing yard work. I spent forever pulling weeds in preparation for Matty's party here tomorrow. I feel thoroughly exhausted. Hope that means I'll sleep well tonight!
Oh, and yesterday we spent Matty's birthday at the beach and then dinner with grandma. It was Matty's first time there. Here a few pics from the outing:
Tim and the kids heading toward the ocean:
Digging in the sand:
Matty throwing sand (right before it blew in my eyes):
Kara burying her feet:
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 10 miles (!!!!!!)
Time: 1:57:40
Pace: 11:46 minute/mile
Today was a long run day. Of course, it happened to be the hottest day of the year here so far (80 degrees at one point), but I was thinking it would be *great* to run in the heat. So I set out around 10:45 a.m. not realizing just how warm it was already.
The first few miles were good, although the sun was beating down in my face already. Thank goodness I left my long-sleeved shirts at home! There was a good chunk of time when I was thinking that I am stupid and should just pack it in for the day. I was overheating and sweating all over the place. And there was *NO* shade! Anywhere! Guess I am just so used to running in cooler weather that anything over 60 degrees feels like an oven.
The last two miles -- of the 10 miles I ran today! -- were torture. I was so very thirsty and had to stop twice to fill up my water bottles. My legs were starting to feel like rubber. I just wanted to be done!! After nearly two hours of running, I had covered 10 miles and could stop. Whew!!! I don't think I'll be doing any more mid-day runs when it's really warm anytime soon.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent doing yard work. I spent forever pulling weeds in preparation for Matty's party here tomorrow. I feel thoroughly exhausted. Hope that means I'll sleep well tonight!
Oh, and yesterday we spent Matty's birthday at the beach and then dinner with grandma. It was Matty's first time there. Here a few pics from the outing:
Tim and the kids heading toward the ocean:
Digging in the sand:
Matty throwing sand (right before it blew in my eyes):
Kara burying her feet:
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 10 miles (!!!!!!)
Time: 1:57:40
Pace: 11:46 minute/mile
Thursday, April 10, 2008
I need more days like this
Not only did I have a good run this evening, but the kids and I had a fun day out.
We went to Eureka today. I had to go to Costco to pick up some stuff. Then the kids and I went to the mall to visit Tim, who was doing some stuff for this weekend's local Easter Seals telethon, and go to the bounce house place. Kara always has such a great time there. Matty likes it, but he has a hard time getting his footing on the slippery inflated surface. Today was the last day he can get in for free, as his second birthday is tomorrow.
So I saved my run for tonight. It was really, really good -- except for the fact Garmin died at around the end of mile 1. I had him plugged in, but I think one of the kids jiggled him off his base and he lost his charge. Grrrrr... So I had to use mapmyrun.com to figure out how far I had gone. But the weather could not have been nicer for a run, so I was thrilled.
Tim is taking tomorrow off for Matty's birthday, so we'll be spending some family time together. I still can't believe my baby is going to be two!
Oh, and the gem of the day, courtesy of Kara:
Kara: (yelling for me across the room after she had used her little potty) "Come, look at my poop!! It's HUGE!!!!!" (She was right...)
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.25 miles (according to mapmyrun.com)
Time: don't know, but it felt pretty fast
We went to Eureka today. I had to go to Costco to pick up some stuff. Then the kids and I went to the mall to visit Tim, who was doing some stuff for this weekend's local Easter Seals telethon, and go to the bounce house place. Kara always has such a great time there. Matty likes it, but he has a hard time getting his footing on the slippery inflated surface. Today was the last day he can get in for free, as his second birthday is tomorrow.
So I saved my run for tonight. It was really, really good -- except for the fact Garmin died at around the end of mile 1. I had him plugged in, but I think one of the kids jiggled him off his base and he lost his charge. Grrrrr... So I had to use mapmyrun.com to figure out how far I had gone. But the weather could not have been nicer for a run, so I was thrilled.
Tim is taking tomorrow off for Matty's birthday, so we'll be spending some family time together. I still can't believe my baby is going to be two!
Oh, and the gem of the day, courtesy of Kara:
Kara: (yelling for me across the room after she had used her little potty) "Come, look at my poop!! It's HUGE!!!!!" (She was right...)
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.25 miles (according to mapmyrun.com)
Time: don't know, but it felt pretty fast
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
My daughter, the diva
So Kara is one of the most girly-girl four-year-olds I have ever encountered.
Today she dressed herself -- in a frilly white shirt and layered white skirt. And her white "clock" shoes, which she named herself one day:
Kara: "Mom, where are my clock shoes?"
Me: "Clock shoes? What are clock shoes?"
Kara: "You know, the ones that go "clock, clock" on the floor."
Me: "Ooooohhhhhhh...." (Now I understand she wants the white dress shoes with the heels that make it clip-clop on the floor. So those are now the infamous clock shoes)
Anyway, she wore her girly outfit until it was time to play on the new swing set. Mean mommy made her change into pants.
Later on, the kids and I were in the van taking the recyclables to the dump. Kara pipes up to say she was making her eyes "pretty." Um, what? I snap my head around to see what she's doing. She says "See, Mom? I'm putting this pretty eye stuff on my eyes." She was smudging flavored lip gloss on her eyelids with her finger. *sigh* We started talking and she said she would like some eyeshadow. Mind you, I haven't worn any makeup on a regular basis since I stopped working full-time almost four years ago. I said OK and told I'd see what I could do.
Tonight, after my run and during a trip to the store, I made good on my promise. There was a sale on Wet and Wild makeup (coincidentally, the same brand I used to buy as a teen). I bought her two little rounds of eyeshadow: one pink, one blue. When I presented them to her, she was soooooooo excited! I opened one, and she dug in. Before long, she looked like this:
Then she wanted to experiment on me:
Aren't I beautiful:
Even Matty wasn't safe from Kara and her magic makeup fingers:
Ah, good times.
Oh, I did run tonight. I just couldn't get myself going early this morning, and then I had to babysit. So it goes. I ran to a nearby gated subdivision where there's a neat hill that's about 1/10th of a mile. So yes, I did hills today. You know, run up the hill, walk back down and start over. So I ran one mile to warm up, seven times up the hill (a little farther on the last go-around to make it 3/4 of a mile total of hills) and ran another 3/4 mile to cool-down. It was a good workout, but my legs were screaming at the end. Guess I need to do hills more often.
Today's stats:
Run:
warm-up mile: 10:43
.75 miles of hills: 8:09 (10:54 minute/mile pace)
cool-down 3/4 mile: 8:22 (11:11 minute/mile pace)
Today she dressed herself -- in a frilly white shirt and layered white skirt. And her white "clock" shoes, which she named herself one day:
Kara: "Mom, where are my clock shoes?"
Me: "Clock shoes? What are clock shoes?"
Kara: "You know, the ones that go "clock, clock" on the floor."
Me: "Ooooohhhhhhh...." (Now I understand she wants the white dress shoes with the heels that make it clip-clop on the floor. So those are now the infamous clock shoes)
Anyway, she wore her girly outfit until it was time to play on the new swing set. Mean mommy made her change into pants.
Later on, the kids and I were in the van taking the recyclables to the dump. Kara pipes up to say she was making her eyes "pretty." Um, what? I snap my head around to see what she's doing. She says "See, Mom? I'm putting this pretty eye stuff on my eyes." She was smudging flavored lip gloss on her eyelids with her finger. *sigh* We started talking and she said she would like some eyeshadow. Mind you, I haven't worn any makeup on a regular basis since I stopped working full-time almost four years ago. I said OK and told I'd see what I could do.
Tonight, after my run and during a trip to the store, I made good on my promise. There was a sale on Wet and Wild makeup (coincidentally, the same brand I used to buy as a teen). I bought her two little rounds of eyeshadow: one pink, one blue. When I presented them to her, she was soooooooo excited! I opened one, and she dug in. Before long, she looked like this:
Then she wanted to experiment on me:
Aren't I beautiful:
Even Matty wasn't safe from Kara and her magic makeup fingers:
Ah, good times.
Oh, I did run tonight. I just couldn't get myself going early this morning, and then I had to babysit. So it goes. I ran to a nearby gated subdivision where there's a neat hill that's about 1/10th of a mile. So yes, I did hills today. You know, run up the hill, walk back down and start over. So I ran one mile to warm up, seven times up the hill (a little farther on the last go-around to make it 3/4 of a mile total of hills) and ran another 3/4 mile to cool-down. It was a good workout, but my legs were screaming at the end. Guess I need to do hills more often.
Today's stats:
Run:
warm-up mile: 10:43
.75 miles of hills: 8:09 (10:54 minute/mile pace)
cool-down 3/4 mile: 8:22 (11:11 minute/mile pace)
Monday, April 7, 2008
Changing my mind ... again
So after much thought, I am moving my morning runs to Tuesday and Thursday and doing cross-training Monday and Wednesday. I plan to do my long runs on Saturday, and after this weekend I feel that running three days a week is good enough for now. My shins were aching a little this morning (and I was sore all over from putting the swing set together yesterday), and I don't want to injure myself by running more than my legs can handle.
So this morning was a bike ride. That's it. I do feel better about the HM. I know I can do it, but I keep getting stupid time goals stuck in my head. I mean, I would love to run it in 2:30 or less, but I have to be realistic. I don't know why I let myself get so caught up in that stuff!
OK, gotta shower for school. Have a great day, everyone!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.05 miles
So this morning was a bike ride. That's it. I do feel better about the HM. I know I can do it, but I keep getting stupid time goals stuck in my head. I mean, I would love to run it in 2:30 or less, but I have to be realistic. I don't know why I let myself get so caught up in that stuff!
OK, gotta shower for school. Have a great day, everyone!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.05 miles
Sunday, April 6, 2008
We spent five hours today...
...putting this together for the kidlets:
Pretty cool, huh?
Thanks to my parents and Matty's upcoming birthday, the kids have a new play structure for our yard. We've never had one before, and it's so nice! Tim and I spent about five hours putting it together today. Then the kids played on it until about 6 p.m. They LOVED it!
I am all worn out now, but I think I might attempt a short bike ride tonight after the kids are in bed. Just to get the soreness out of my legs from yesterday. I have a morning recovery run set for tomorrow morning, so we'll see.
I will leave you with the cutest picture of all time:
Back to add my stats. :-)
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 20:48
Pretty cool, huh?
Thanks to my parents and Matty's upcoming birthday, the kids have a new play structure for our yard. We've never had one before, and it's so nice! Tim and I spent about five hours putting it together today. Then the kids played on it until about 6 p.m. They LOVED it!
I am all worn out now, but I think I might attempt a short bike ride tonight after the kids are in bed. Just to get the soreness out of my legs from yesterday. I have a morning recovery run set for tomorrow morning, so we'll see.
I will leave you with the cutest picture of all time:
Back to add my stats. :-)
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 20:48
Saturday, April 5, 2008
My run didn't turn out like I thought it would
It actually turned out BETTER than I thought!
Today was supposed to be eight miles. The weather is OK (slightly overcast) and pretty warm for this area. I got up at 8:30 to get ready, since I knew I would need to eat before I left. There's no way I could tackle a long run without eating something!
So I had a bowl of raisin bran-type cereal and some water. Packed up my fuel belt. Surfed the Internet for a few minutes while I digested. Hit the bathroom and read the newspaper. Got dressed. Finally, at 10 a.m., I was ready to go. Yeah, I'm slow like that.
I am trying (*trying* being the key word) to run slower and pace myself so I can run the entire HM distance. If I have to walk at some point, so be it, but I would like to minimize my walking time, since I don't take walk breaks during my regular runs. It was a pretty good run, although I started bonking around 6.5 miles. I did take a GU at 5.5 miles, but I don't think I ate enough this morning and I started to feel it. But I pushed on through and around 7.5 miles I started getting my second wind.
By the time I hit eight miles, I realized I was still 1.5 miles from home. Why am I so bad at planning out my runs? Well, there's only one thing to do: keep running. So I ended up running 9.05 miles (walked the last .50 as my cool-down) and everything was kosher.
So yay for me!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 9.05 miles (farthest to date!)
Time: 1:42:06 (cool! A PR!! My old PR for 9 miles was 1:43 even back in February)
Pace: 11:17 minute/mile
Today was supposed to be eight miles. The weather is OK (slightly overcast) and pretty warm for this area. I got up at 8:30 to get ready, since I knew I would need to eat before I left. There's no way I could tackle a long run without eating something!
So I had a bowl of raisin bran-type cereal and some water. Packed up my fuel belt. Surfed the Internet for a few minutes while I digested. Hit the bathroom and read the newspaper. Got dressed. Finally, at 10 a.m., I was ready to go. Yeah, I'm slow like that.
I am trying (*trying* being the key word) to run slower and pace myself so I can run the entire HM distance. If I have to walk at some point, so be it, but I would like to minimize my walking time, since I don't take walk breaks during my regular runs. It was a pretty good run, although I started bonking around 6.5 miles. I did take a GU at 5.5 miles, but I don't think I ate enough this morning and I started to feel it. But I pushed on through and around 7.5 miles I started getting my second wind.
By the time I hit eight miles, I realized I was still 1.5 miles from home. Why am I so bad at planning out my runs? Well, there's only one thing to do: keep running. So I ended up running 9.05 miles (walked the last .50 as my cool-down) and everything was kosher.
So yay for me!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 9.05 miles (farthest to date!)
Time: 1:42:06 (cool! A PR!! My old PR for 9 miles was 1:43 even back in February)
Pace: 11:17 minute/mile
Friday, April 4, 2008
I have a new page element...
...at the bottom of my page.
Since I am finally feeling serious about this weight loss thing, I have put a ticker at the VERY bottom of the page to keep track of my progress. In the past week, I have lost three pounds! I know that is a lot for a week, but I think my body is so tired of keeping this extra weight on that the healthier eating, along with my workouts, are making my body wake up and shed the weight.
I must admit, the way I have eaten since Thanksgiving has not helped! I ate junk for months, and pretty much ate chocolate every day for the month leading up to Easter. Now I know that working out means nothing if you don't eat better. I mean I still worked out, yet I gained back about 20 of the 25 pounds I had lost. Yikes!!! Not good, and kinda embarrassing.
It just sucks because there was a time, when I was in my early 20s (years ago) that I could eat what I wanted, work out and not gain weight. Those days are LONG gone. Sad but true. Now with this new outlook on everything, I think I can keep myself from falling back into those bad habits. I know I will never get the weight off if I don't stay focused. Not saying that I won't allow myself a piece of chocolate once in a while, but not every night, and not a whole bag worth!!
No stats for today. It's a rest day. Tomorrow is when I am doing my long run (eight miles). Woo hoo!!!
Since I am finally feeling serious about this weight loss thing, I have put a ticker at the VERY bottom of the page to keep track of my progress. In the past week, I have lost three pounds! I know that is a lot for a week, but I think my body is so tired of keeping this extra weight on that the healthier eating, along with my workouts, are making my body wake up and shed the weight.
I must admit, the way I have eaten since Thanksgiving has not helped! I ate junk for months, and pretty much ate chocolate every day for the month leading up to Easter. Now I know that working out means nothing if you don't eat better. I mean I still worked out, yet I gained back about 20 of the 25 pounds I had lost. Yikes!!! Not good, and kinda embarrassing.
It just sucks because there was a time, when I was in my early 20s (years ago) that I could eat what I wanted, work out and not gain weight. Those days are LONG gone. Sad but true. Now with this new outlook on everything, I think I can keep myself from falling back into those bad habits. I know I will never get the weight off if I don't stay focused. Not saying that I won't allow myself a piece of chocolate once in a while, but not every night, and not a whole bag worth!!
No stats for today. It's a rest day. Tomorrow is when I am doing my long run (eight miles). Woo hoo!!!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Ow, my head
I woke up today with a raging headache. So I wasn't interested in springing out of bed early to work out. I had to get up several times last night to comfort crying children, so I was tired anyway. Therefore, I didn't work out until now, since Matty is taking his afternoon nap. Worked out well anyway and I still got done before dinnertime, so no harm done.
Kara helped me pass the time as I peddled on the stationary bike. She is a princess today (like almost every day), so she was showing off her princess charms by twirling in circles, Curtsying, stacking 20 headbands on her head at once (OK, it was only five, but still...) and referring to me as "Queen." I finally told her she could call me Mom again after she spent three minutes calling "Queen!" to me, only to have me ignore her because I didn't recognize my new moniker. She's still calling me Queen, though.
Every day that creeps by I get more and more scared about the half marathon. Of course, I am excited also. But I am scared that only doing one long run a week will hurt me. I am probably just being paranoid about it and everything will be fine. After all, it's not like I'm some world-class athlete who HAS to perform well and run fast. Thank goodness. My main goal is to finish, and if I have a strong finish time, then great!
I'm already seeing some results from my new routine of working out more and eating better. For one, I have more energy. And I have lost a pound since Sunday. I know, I should weigh myself once a week and probably not more often, but I just wanted to see if anything was happening, so I weighed myself last night. I'm hoping to shed eight pounds by my HM, so if I can lose two pounds a week I will be set. :-)
That's all for now. I have to shower and fold laundry (ugh, I wish I had a maid).
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 39:15
Kara helped me pass the time as I peddled on the stationary bike. She is a princess today (like almost every day), so she was showing off her princess charms by twirling in circles, Curtsying, stacking 20 headbands on her head at once (OK, it was only five, but still...) and referring to me as "Queen." I finally told her she could call me Mom again after she spent three minutes calling "Queen!" to me, only to have me ignore her because I didn't recognize my new moniker. She's still calling me Queen, though.
Every day that creeps by I get more and more scared about the half marathon. Of course, I am excited also. But I am scared that only doing one long run a week will hurt me. I am probably just being paranoid about it and everything will be fine. After all, it's not like I'm some world-class athlete who HAS to perform well and run fast. Thank goodness. My main goal is to finish, and if I have a strong finish time, then great!
I'm already seeing some results from my new routine of working out more and eating better. For one, I have more energy. And I have lost a pound since Sunday. I know, I should weigh myself once a week and probably not more often, but I just wanted to see if anything was happening, so I weighed myself last night. I'm hoping to shed eight pounds by my HM, so if I can lose two pounds a week I will be set. :-)
That's all for now. I have to shower and fold laundry (ugh, I wish I had a maid).
Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 39:15
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Getting used to this morning thing
I woke up at 6:20 this morning to tackle my third morning workout this week. I must admit it's nice to get up early and get it done. Tim and I went to bed really early last night (10:30, which is incredibly early for us night owls), but I'm glad I did because I actually felt awake when the alarm went off.
There was more frost this morning, but it didn't seem as cold as it was on Monday. I warmed up on the stationary bike before heading out, so I was able to start running as soon as I left my driveway. The cold air made me feel like I had been punched in the gut, but after about a quarter mile that sensation eased up.
I must say I have seen more people out running/walking/cycling early in the morning the past few days than I ever did when I was out at dinnertime. Guess they all have the right idea after all. Honestly, a week ago I would not have been sold on the morning workout idea. I have always thought the mornings were just not for me and that staying up super-late was what I was born to do. But right now I feel like maybe I was a bit misguided and that mornings can be good too, if you get enough sleep the night before. I don't know if this morning kick will last (I hope it will), but for now I am enjoying it.
I've decided to take only one day a week off for now, and that will be a weekend day. Of course, this doesn't include sick days, but I hope the worst of the sick season is behind us because I don't want to miss any more workout days. I am down to crunch time now for this HM and I need all the training I can get!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.3 miles
Time: 35:28
Pace: 10:44 minute/mile
There was more frost this morning, but it didn't seem as cold as it was on Monday. I warmed up on the stationary bike before heading out, so I was able to start running as soon as I left my driveway. The cold air made me feel like I had been punched in the gut, but after about a quarter mile that sensation eased up.
I must say I have seen more people out running/walking/cycling early in the morning the past few days than I ever did when I was out at dinnertime. Guess they all have the right idea after all. Honestly, a week ago I would not have been sold on the morning workout idea. I have always thought the mornings were just not for me and that staying up super-late was what I was born to do. But right now I feel like maybe I was a bit misguided and that mornings can be good too, if you get enough sleep the night before. I don't know if this morning kick will last (I hope it will), but for now I am enjoying it.
I've decided to take only one day a week off for now, and that will be a weekend day. Of course, this doesn't include sick days, but I hope the worst of the sick season is behind us because I don't want to miss any more workout days. I am down to crunch time now for this HM and I need all the training I can get!
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.3 miles
Time: 35:28
Pace: 10:44 minute/mile
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Another morning workout -- DONE!
I didn't wake up quite as early this morning as I wanted to, but I still got my workout done. Today was a stationary bike ride and resistance/strength training. For some reason, it was much harder to wake up early today. I'm hoping that after a week or so, it will be easier to get up. Now that I'm done, I feel totally awake! And that's a good thing, since I'm babysitting today and the little guy will be here in a few minutes.
I am also working on eating better again. I got seriously sidetracked by Christmas and Easter. I have this wicked sweet tooth that I need to curb, and all the candy and sweets available that time of year came back to bite me in the butt. But I am determined this time to get that under control! Yesterday was my first day of eating healthy and it felt really good!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.18 miles
Resistance training:
overhead pull, crunches, squats, biceps, triceps and seated row: 10 reps X 2 sets
I am also working on eating better again. I got seriously sidetracked by Christmas and Easter. I have this wicked sweet tooth that I need to curb, and all the candy and sweets available that time of year came back to bite me in the butt. But I am determined this time to get that under control! Yesterday was my first day of eating healthy and it felt really good!
Today's stats:
Bike:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 7.18 miles
Resistance training:
overhead pull, crunches, squats, biceps, triceps and seated row: 10 reps X 2 sets
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
