My old running partner, Kat, is finally going to run a marathon! She was supposed to run a full at the Country Music Marathon in April, but circumstances prevented her participation altogether. So, in a couple of weeks, she's running the White Rock Marathon in Dallas. I'm so proud of her for finally getting it done. Mostly, I'm in awe of her because she gave up fried food until she ran a marathon--it's been over a year! I would have had to decline fried Turkey at Thanksgiving. Noooooo!
I'm also a little jealous, because my body is craving to run again, but I'm so tired and out of shape (and pregnant). A friend is giving us her jogging stroller so after this baby is born, I hope to get back in the groove.
Congrats Kat! I'll catch up with you after your race!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Run, Fatboy, Run!
Okay, I admit it. I haven't run. I have walked in spurts, but I haven't run. We moved in August, so I don't know anybody here, and I don't have a running buddy to keep me accountable. Eli won't run with me because he hates running just to run. Oh, well. I will run again, I just don't know when.
On a related note, Eli and I watched Run, Fatboy, Run on Friday night. This was a good movie. A man leaves his pregnant bride at the altar and five years later, as she's getting into a relationship with someone else, realizes that she is the one--but is it too late? He decides to enter and run a marathon (Nike River Run in London) to prove to her that he can follow through with something for a change. The only trouble is, the marathon is 3 weeks away.
**SPOILER** Do not read below this line if you do not want to know what happens!
I cringed as I watched the training segments, and I kept saying aloud, he's not going to make it in 3 weeks. You don't build up enough stamina in 3 weeks. And in one scene he gets raging drunk two days before the marathon, and I said there's no way he's going to fully recover in time!
So of course, every runner's nightmare comes true. He sleeps through the nonexistent alarm and finds that he has only one hour until race time, but he's all the way across town from the start line, and the traffic is horrendous, being rerouted by the marathon coordinators. He finally gets there, after a tremendous amount of running before the start of the race, and starts the race frazzled and exhausted. He then runs into the new boyfriend (fiance) and they start racing each other, in the first mile. They take a spill and one of them goes to the hospital.
Anyway, as I'm watching this, I'm in pain. But I know that I've already done better than this and it makes me feel better. In the end, the Fatboy runs this marathon in 12 hours and 50-something minutes. I told Eli, I ran my first marathon in half that!
So, after we have this baby (oh, yeah, we're having a baby), I would like to run another marathon. Maybe the Marine Corps marathon? Or the Disney marathon? I was reading my last issue of Runner's World (I'm letting my subscription run out) and I've decided that I want to try to run a 5-hour marathon, continuing my tradition of shaving 45 minutes off my time. I need to get back in the groove. I remember how strong and feminine I felt when I was running. Now I just feel fat, lazy, and unmotivated (though some of that may be supplied by pregnancy hormones).
On a related note, Eli and I watched Run, Fatboy, Run on Friday night. This was a good movie. A man leaves his pregnant bride at the altar and five years later, as she's getting into a relationship with someone else, realizes that she is the one--but is it too late? He decides to enter and run a marathon (Nike River Run in London) to prove to her that he can follow through with something for a change. The only trouble is, the marathon is 3 weeks away.
**SPOILER** Do not read below this line if you do not want to know what happens!
I cringed as I watched the training segments, and I kept saying aloud, he's not going to make it in 3 weeks. You don't build up enough stamina in 3 weeks. And in one scene he gets raging drunk two days before the marathon, and I said there's no way he's going to fully recover in time!
So of course, every runner's nightmare comes true. He sleeps through the nonexistent alarm and finds that he has only one hour until race time, but he's all the way across town from the start line, and the traffic is horrendous, being rerouted by the marathon coordinators. He finally gets there, after a tremendous amount of running before the start of the race, and starts the race frazzled and exhausted. He then runs into the new boyfriend (fiance) and they start racing each other, in the first mile. They take a spill and one of them goes to the hospital.
Anyway, as I'm watching this, I'm in pain. But I know that I've already done better than this and it makes me feel better. In the end, the Fatboy runs this marathon in 12 hours and 50-something minutes. I told Eli, I ran my first marathon in half that!
So, after we have this baby (oh, yeah, we're having a baby), I would like to run another marathon. Maybe the Marine Corps marathon? Or the Disney marathon? I was reading my last issue of Runner's World (I'm letting my subscription run out) and I've decided that I want to try to run a 5-hour marathon, continuing my tradition of shaving 45 minutes off my time. I need to get back in the groove. I remember how strong and feminine I felt when I was running. Now I just feel fat, lazy, and unmotivated (though some of that may be supplied by pregnancy hormones).
Monday, May 19, 2008
Happy Anniversary!
Today marks one year from the day I (well, WE) started running.
This past year has flown by. In that time, I have run 2 marathons, 2 half marathons, a 10k, and a 5k, not to mention the hundreds of other miles I ran just to run them.
Happy day to Eli & me! Today is also our 5-year wedding anniversary.
This past year has flown by. In that time, I have run 2 marathons, 2 half marathons, a 10k, and a 5k, not to mention the hundreds of other miles I ran just to run them.
Happy day to Eli & me! Today is also our 5-year wedding anniversary.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Injured!
I have, so far in my life, been very blessed to remain relatively injury free. This is an especial blessing because I'm left-handed, and left-handers are notoriously clumsy (this world just isn't built for us).
First, let me say that I haven't really run a stitch since I ran the CMM 2.5 weeks ago. Second, let me say that my running buds are gone -- one graduated, and one transferred. I am alone. And I probably won't run again until I can find someone to run with. I have two co-worker friends who run about my speed, Jonathan and Jason. But I don't know if I want to have a boy for a running buddy. They sweat and they're gross. And the truth is that I would rather have my husband, if he liked to run. Alas. Woe is me.
So, I'm playing on this co-ed softball team for The Capstone Church. I really enjoy playing softball, and I can't believe it has been so long since I've played competetively. I made my debut on Tuesday last, and was a success. This past Tuesday, I pulled my quad muscles running from home plate to first. I was running, and then I was hopping on one leg. And then I was out, limping back to the dugout, about to cry, about to pass out, about to throw up. I wasn't sure which would happen first. Anyway, I put on a brave face and I finished the game. We barely won.
The real truth is that I slightly injurned myself during strike on Sunday night as we were tearing down the set for Moonlight & Magnolias. I, for some reason, thought that it was a hamstring injury, but I knew I had pulled something in my right leg. And then I decided to play softball anyway. It was all over the first time I ran from right field to cover a throw to first base. I just didn't tell anyone until I was up to bat, and I exacerbated the injury. In fact, because I was trying to continue playing, while favoring my right leg, I pulled the quad in my other leg.
The moral of this story is that I may not be able to run for a while.
All I really want to do is play softball.
First, let me say that I haven't really run a stitch since I ran the CMM 2.5 weeks ago. Second, let me say that my running buds are gone -- one graduated, and one transferred. I am alone. And I probably won't run again until I can find someone to run with. I have two co-worker friends who run about my speed, Jonathan and Jason. But I don't know if I want to have a boy for a running buddy. They sweat and they're gross. And the truth is that I would rather have my husband, if he liked to run. Alas. Woe is me.
So, I'm playing on this co-ed softball team for The Capstone Church. I really enjoy playing softball, and I can't believe it has been so long since I've played competetively. I made my debut on Tuesday last, and was a success. This past Tuesday, I pulled my quad muscles running from home plate to first. I was running, and then I was hopping on one leg. And then I was out, limping back to the dugout, about to cry, about to pass out, about to throw up. I wasn't sure which would happen first. Anyway, I put on a brave face and I finished the game. We barely won.
The real truth is that I slightly injurned myself during strike on Sunday night as we were tearing down the set for Moonlight & Magnolias. I, for some reason, thought that it was a hamstring injury, but I knew I had pulled something in my right leg. And then I decided to play softball anyway. It was all over the first time I ran from right field to cover a throw to first base. I just didn't tell anyone until I was up to bat, and I exacerbated the injury. In fact, because I was trying to continue playing, while favoring my right leg, I pulled the quad in my other leg.
The moral of this story is that I may not be able to run for a while.
All I really want to do is play softball.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
70% and improving
It took only 72 hours, but I'm back to 70% and I no longer have to negotiate the stairs with care. In fact, I'm back to bounding up the stairs two at a time. I'm pretty impressed with my body's ability to recover from such a beating. The biggest success, though, is that I can go down stairs and ramps at a relatively normal pace without wincing, and without people looking at me like I'm an idiot.
Now, I'm just hoping my knee feels better before auditions on Monday, which include DANCING!
Now, I'm just hoping my knee feels better before auditions on Monday, which include DANCING!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Country Music Marathon 2008
I did it. I completed the Country Music Marathon.
I didn't really train for it. I mean, I ran a couple of half marathons, but I didn't do any particularly long runs. At about mile 16, I started asking my self WHY I was doing this. It didn't make sense. I still haven't answered that. And while yesterday I thought, I never EVER want to run another marathon, today I'm thinking about which ones I should start planning for. I really am crazy.
Official finish time: 5:50:06
That's 45 minutes faster than Nike. I am improving! My half marathon was 2 hours and 35 minutes, which is faster (by a smidge) than I've ever run it. I don't know that I will ever run this particular marathon again. There was nothing wrong with it; I just want to see other places.
On a bright note, there were 330 people (out of 4373) who finished after I did. (Small victories...)
I didn't really train for it. I mean, I ran a couple of half marathons, but I didn't do any particularly long runs. At about mile 16, I started asking my self WHY I was doing this. It didn't make sense. I still haven't answered that. And while yesterday I thought, I never EVER want to run another marathon, today I'm thinking about which ones I should start planning for. I really am crazy.
Official finish time: 5:50:06
That's 45 minutes faster than Nike. I am improving! My half marathon was 2 hours and 35 minutes, which is faster (by a smidge) than I've ever run it. I don't know that I will ever run this particular marathon again. There was nothing wrong with it; I just want to see other places.
On a bright note, there were 330 people (out of 4373) who finished after I did. (Small victories...)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
What's Up Chuck?
I don’t remember the last time I vomited. I’ve been married for 5 years, and I haven’t thrown up in that time, so it must have been at some time before that. It’s been soooo long. Until today.
Today I ran the 31st Annual Azalea Train Run (10k) in Mobile, Alabama. The volunteers were serving water on the course, and every time I came across a water stop, I drank a few sips, poured the rest out, and ran on. And yes, I said ran. I ran the whole dang thing! It’s been since that day in November when I ran 7 miles straight that I have run this much at one time.
When the finish line was in sight, I pushed it into high gear and sailed past the finish line, and abruptly stopped and walked. And then I tasted the watery bile. And then the water came up. And then I felt better. I felt sorry for the spectators who were watching, but it was very few.
So, now I have to start all over again counting the days since I last threw up. But does it really count if it was just water?
On another note, I wore my Saucony shoes to run the 10k. I've been wearing them to school for a little while to break them in. Good news: No blood. No blisters.
And, something else: When I ran straight through the 10k, I finished in about the same amount of time as I did when I took walk breaks in the Mercedes Half (my Mercedes pace was 3 seconds slower). So, survey says that I will be taking walk breaks for the Country Music Marathon in five weeks.
Today I ran the 31st Annual Azalea Train Run (10k) in Mobile, Alabama. The volunteers were serving water on the course, and every time I came across a water stop, I drank a few sips, poured the rest out, and ran on. And yes, I said ran. I ran the whole dang thing! It’s been since that day in November when I ran 7 miles straight that I have run this much at one time.
When the finish line was in sight, I pushed it into high gear and sailed past the finish line, and abruptly stopped and walked. And then I tasted the watery bile. And then the water came up. And then I felt better. I felt sorry for the spectators who were watching, but it was very few.
So, now I have to start all over again counting the days since I last threw up. But does it really count if it was just water?
On another note, I wore my Saucony shoes to run the 10k. I've been wearing them to school for a little while to break them in. Good news: No blood. No blisters.
And, something else: When I ran straight through the 10k, I finished in about the same amount of time as I did when I took walk breaks in the Mercedes Half (my Mercedes pace was 3 seconds slower). So, survey says that I will be taking walk breaks for the Country Music Marathon in five weeks.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Texas Two-Step
We're in Texas for Spring Break. It turns out that Kat, our running buddy, is also in Texas, and in a crazy "it's a small world" way is only minutes from us. Her parents live down the road from my parents!
This weekend in our training for the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, we were supposed to do 18 miles, but, and this shouldn't have been a surprise since I was here in July and found the exact same thing, we're on the other side of the time zone and it's dark at 6 a.m. here. On top of that, I haven't done any real running lately, and I certainly haven't been out for a Saturday morning run in a while. So, we got started at 7:30 this morning and decided to only do 12 miles.
Well, the wind is sweeping down the plains today, but I really am enjoying the nice weather. We seriously didn't finish until 11. Yes, that's right. 12 miles. 3.5 hours. That would be a freaking long marathon.
Later this week we head to Nashville for Olympic qualifying soccer, and I told Eli that we need to find some parks where we can go walking/running. Unfortunately, the weather there is not supposed to be as nice as the weather here. We'll see.
This weekend in our training for the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, we were supposed to do 18 miles, but, and this shouldn't have been a surprise since I was here in July and found the exact same thing, we're on the other side of the time zone and it's dark at 6 a.m. here. On top of that, I haven't done any real running lately, and I certainly haven't been out for a Saturday morning run in a while. So, we got started at 7:30 this morning and decided to only do 12 miles.
Well, the wind is sweeping down the plains today, but I really am enjoying the nice weather. We seriously didn't finish until 11. Yes, that's right. 12 miles. 3.5 hours. That would be a freaking long marathon.
Later this week we head to Nashville for Olympic qualifying soccer, and I told Eli that we need to find some parks where we can go walking/running. Unfortunately, the weather there is not supposed to be as nice as the weather here. We'll see.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New Shoes
I went to Southern Sole this weekend and finally bought a new pair of shoes. It was a pair of Saucony shoes that I had tried in October and I really liked, but I decided to stay with my Mizunos since the Nike Marathon was a couple of weeks away and I wanted to stay with what I knew.
I decided to break my Saucony Trigon Guide 5s in on Tuesday morning during our regular 2-3 mile run.
Now I feel stupid. The shoes tore up my achilles heel and tore open blisters. I knew at one point what was happening and decided that I should just keep running, because that was the only way back to my car. I didn't look until I got home and I wasn't surprised.
The heels of my shoes were covered in blood, as were my short socks. I tried to rinse my shoes out in cold water (because that's how I've read that blood is best removed) and the water ran pink. I let them drip out and then let them dry. When I came home from work, the little bit of water that was left in them ran down the sides and now the entire outside heels of my shoes are pinkish/brown. It's disgusting. So, instead of breaking my shoes in, they broke me in. I can't run until those blisters heal.
I decided to break my Saucony Trigon Guide 5s in on Tuesday morning during our regular 2-3 mile run.
Now I feel stupid. The shoes tore up my achilles heel and tore open blisters. I knew at one point what was happening and decided that I should just keep running, because that was the only way back to my car. I didn't look until I got home and I wasn't surprised.
The heels of my shoes were covered in blood, as were my short socks. I tried to rinse my shoes out in cold water (because that's how I've read that blood is best removed) and the water ran pink. I let them drip out and then let them dry. When I came home from work, the little bit of water that was left in them ran down the sides and now the entire outside heels of my shoes are pinkish/brown. It's disgusting. So, instead of breaking my shoes in, they broke me in. I can't run until those blisters heal.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Women In Motion
We went running on Saturday morning and completed almost 7 miles on a 2/2 interval. Laura's really working up to more running. And Gloria ran with us for the first time. Bobby was there, too. I felt really good after that run.
Southern Sole, on the Strip in Tuscaloosa, is sponsoring a Women's Running/Walking Club called Women in Motion. Starting March 3, they will leave on Monday nights at 5:30 and Thursday mornings from Southern Sole. Plenty of water available. This is a great opportunity for women of all fitness levels! I think I will try to make it to the Monday night group.
Southern Sole, on the Strip in Tuscaloosa, is sponsoring a Women's Running/Walking Club called Women in Motion. Starting March 3, they will leave on Monday nights at 5:30 and Thursday mornings from Southern Sole. Plenty of water available. This is a great opportunity for women of all fitness levels! I think I will try to make it to the Monday night group.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Now THAT'S a hood ornament.
Eli and I ran the Mercedes Half Marathon today. And, in the end, we ran the whole thing together in somewhere around 2'38". I love that guy. Hahah.
We finished approximately 5 minutes faster than we did in Mobile, which was a little disappointing for me. I wanted to be much faster, but that's okay. The B'ham course was VERY hilly. It felt like there was never going to be a downhill. And who's sick joke was it to put a small rise at the end of the course? Yikes. So, the fact that we finished faster on a harder course means that we were running better today. We started with a 3/2 interval, but the walking was too much, so we switched to a 3/1, and it worked very well.
And Kat finished in 3:07! You go girl!
We got a cool hood ornament medallion and a red finisher shirt. I liked this race, but I will never do it again. Running in the city is dismal.
We finished approximately 5 minutes faster than we did in Mobile, which was a little disappointing for me. I wanted to be much faster, but that's okay. The B'ham course was VERY hilly. It felt like there was never going to be a downhill. And who's sick joke was it to put a small rise at the end of the course? Yikes. So, the fact that we finished faster on a harder course means that we were running better today. We started with a 3/2 interval, but the walking was too much, so we switched to a 3/1, and it worked very well.
And Kat finished in 3:07! You go girl!
We got a cool hood ornament medallion and a red finisher shirt. I liked this race, but I will never do it again. Running in the city is dismal.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Two Halves Make a Whole?
Tomorrow I run the Mercedes Half Marathon, my second half marathon in the last month. I'm excited. I got the confirmation e-mail and my bib number is 1234. No kidding. For those people who know me, you know that this really made my day, and continues to do so.
I think that I'm going to run on a 3/2 interval. 5/1 was long, last time. And Birmingham has hills, so I want to change it up a bit. Eli already told me that he plans on running it alone, which is bittersweet for me because I like running with him, but at the same time, I feel the pressure since he's faster than me and makes me feel slow.
After this marathon, it's time to get a new pair of shoes! Yay! That will be in time for the Country Music Marathon in Nashville in April. I signed up for the full at the Mercedes Expo. Eli will be studying for finals, so I think we're going to make a girls' weekend out of this.
I think that I'm going to run on a 3/2 interval. 5/1 was long, last time. And Birmingham has hills, so I want to change it up a bit. Eli already told me that he plans on running it alone, which is bittersweet for me because I like running with him, but at the same time, I feel the pressure since he's faster than me and makes me feel slow.
After this marathon, it's time to get a new pair of shoes! Yay! That will be in time for the Country Music Marathon in Nashville in April. I signed up for the full at the Mercedes Expo. Eli will be studying for finals, so I think we're going to make a girls' weekend out of this.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Success!
Today I ran my first half marathon (First Light, Mobile, AL). I guess the Nike full technically counted as 2 half marathons, but I'm going to disregard this.
Eli was supposed to run the full, and I was running the half, but at about mile 3, Eli decided that he was going to run the half, too. It was nice to have him running next to me. We used my nifty interval timer on my watch (Christmas present from Eli) in a run/walk 5/1 interval. It worked very nicely for about 11 miles. Coming into mile 12, Eli stepped down wrong and re-hurt his knee (the one he has been having problems with since San Francisco) and mine started hurting, so we mostly disregarded the timer for the last two miles.
We sprinted the last .2 miles, and my knee didn't hurt at all. Then I stopped running and it hurt again. In the chute, I had a burst of emotion, but I kept myself from crying. I don't know where that emotion came from. And we finished in about 2:42, which is in the 12-minute mile family. That's awesome!
I feel really good about what we did, especially since yesterday we went running with Kat and completed five miles. It may take me a couple of days to get my legs back to normal. :)
Eli was supposed to run the full, and I was running the half, but at about mile 3, Eli decided that he was going to run the half, too. It was nice to have him running next to me. We used my nifty interval timer on my watch (Christmas present from Eli) in a run/walk 5/1 interval. It worked very nicely for about 11 miles. Coming into mile 12, Eli stepped down wrong and re-hurt his knee (the one he has been having problems with since San Francisco) and mine started hurting, so we mostly disregarded the timer for the last two miles.
We sprinted the last .2 miles, and my knee didn't hurt at all. Then I stopped running and it hurt again. In the chute, I had a burst of emotion, but I kept myself from crying. I don't know where that emotion came from. And we finished in about 2:42, which is in the 12-minute mile family. That's awesome!
I feel really good about what we did, especially since yesterday we went running with Kat and completed five miles. It may take me a couple of days to get my legs back to normal. :)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Resolutions
I decided that I would start running with the new year.
This week, we finally got back to it. Tueasday morning, we went on our "run" and I walked with Laura. I think we went about 3.1 miles.
Then on Thursday, we decided we would run a little more, so we walked and ran in intervals (though, not using my interval timer on my Timex Ironman Triathlon watch in periwinkle). What I realized is that I set the pace. When I walked, everyone else walked. When I started to run, everyone would run. (Everyone being Laura, Kat, & Eli.)
This weekend I'm going to run the FirstLight half marathon in Mobile. We'll see how that goes.
This week, we finally got back to it. Tueasday morning, we went on our "run" and I walked with Laura. I think we went about 3.1 miles.
Then on Thursday, we decided we would run a little more, so we walked and ran in intervals (though, not using my interval timer on my Timex Ironman Triathlon watch in periwinkle). What I realized is that I set the pace. When I walked, everyone else walked. When I started to run, everyone would run. (Everyone being Laura, Kat, & Eli.)
This weekend I'm going to run the FirstLight half marathon in Mobile. We'll see how that goes.
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