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The Summer Olympics begin today!!! I am SO excited. I have always loved watching the Olympics - both Summer and Winter Games - but even more so this year, because this is the first year - in my 42 years and 11 months of being alive - that I have ever considered myself an athlete. I certainly don't train as hard as the Olympians do, but I do have a better idea now of how much they have had to work.
Go Team USA!!!
Ah, the boss is back and has kept me pretty busy this week, which is why you haven’t heard from me.
I’m doing just great. On Sunday I ran 4 miles recovery. I was amazed that I wasn’t very sore at all from Saturday’s run. Yay conditioning!!
As for exercise, I took Monday off, saw Tara on Tuesday, ran 4 miles on the treadmill yesterday and got up early this morning and ran another 4 miles around the Common getting in some hill conditioning. I really think I need to work out in the morning because it makes me more energized to go into work, and I really just want to go home in the evenings. Of course, the alarm going off at 4:30 am is quite the shock.
On Saturday Julie & I are going to run the first 7 miles or so of our long run early starting a little before 6:00 am. Then we’ll run the second 7 with the rest of the group. We’re only running 12 miles on the 16th (but 15 on the 23rd).
Not much else going on. I'm on Team Yellow for Endurer's challenge - I hope I'll be able to drop a few lbs although it seems like I'm gaining more rather than losing.
Hope you're all doing well and I will try to visit your blogs soon!
Thanks everyone for your kind comments and support about last night's post. It was just SUCH a SHOCK when I found them, innocently living in an abandoned folder on our main desktop. The ironic part of seeing me in shorts from back then is I went to Marathon Sports yesterday to pick up some GU and sports beans to prepare for today's long run, and I thought while I was there I would try on some shorts. I tried on a pair of Nike Tempo shorts - they fit fine, but the cut was a little too high on the thigh for me and wasn't very flattering since I still have leg jiggle. But seriously - my legs look a hella lot better than they did 2 years ago!!
So, I woke up at 3:53 - had the alarm set for 4:00 - got up, made some coffee and had a couple of english muffins with PB. Jerel got up and drove me over to Cambridge where I was going to meet my run buddy at 6:00 (I have a run buddy - that's so cool!). We stretched a bit and then walked a bit to warm up. We did almost 6 miles by 7:20, then we went to meet the rest of the TNT group. Her other run buddy was there, so we stuck together for the second half of our run. By the way - they have both signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon with me- come on, it would be a great place to have an EP get together!!
It was a little difficult to take a 30 minute break - my legs had stiffened up a little and it took some doing to get back into the run zone. We were doing pretty well, but Kellie has been having some ITBS issues and Julie had given blood yesterday, so they decided to just do about 4 miles of the second loop. That worked okay for me, because I knew I could get in the rest of my miles by just heading home instead of having Jerel come to get me.
After a few minutes at the water stop I headed back down the Esplanade toward home. I looped around the Public Garden and then decided to get an iced nonfat latte at Starbucks. All in all I got in 12.7 miles - and burned 1499 calories! I was starving by the time I got home. I'm going to have to add in a little more protein for breakfast, because I was actually pretty hungry after our first loop.
I took an ice bath and am actually feeling pretty great , not too sore at all - in fact, I'm already looking forward to my recovery run tomorrow. I guess that means that I AM a runner!!
I was looking for some photos of a dinner we had in Africa in 2006 for one of my friends when I found these TERRIFYING before photos of myself. Holy. Shit.
Y'all know I'm crying, right?
That's how many miles I have run during the month of July. I'm gonna have to say that's pretty good and is probably a personal best, although I just started consistently tracking. I feel like I should go put another 3.1 miles in this afternoon to make it an even 50!
This morning I was up at 4:30 and out the door at 5:40 to meet Julie for our run. She was right on time and we ran for about an hour & 15 mins - we ran around the Common and the Public Garden a few times, making sure we went up Beacon Hill twice. I felt great and was moving pretty quickly (for me). I ended up running 5.5 miles by the time I got home. I even walked to work after I got ready, which is almost 2 miles.
On Saturday we are meeting at 6:00 am to do the first loop of our long run. Hopefully this will work out okay. We are scheduled to do 13 miles, which is almost the longest that I've ever run at one time - 13.5 being my highest total at the Boston Run to Remember.
Yesterday I turned in my Team in Training Recommittment paperwork and Nike Marathon application. I had been wavering about doing the full marathon vs. the half, but decided that I needed to stick to what I had said I was going to do, and that if I don't finish in the 6.5 hours allotted, and don't get the necklace and the finisher's t-shirt, well, it is what it is. I'm not doing it for the swag - I'm doing it to raise $$ for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and I'm doing it for my honored heroes. I'm doing it because I can. I may be damn slow, but as the sticker I received from Tatum's Mom states: Death Before DNF!!!
Thank you everyone for your kind words about our AC situation. It hasn't been too hot & humid here so living with the fans was okay. Our new AC unit is being installed this morning so the Princess will be cool once again, just in the nick of time since I've heard we're expecting a heat wave - the next few days the temps are going to be in the high 80's. As for the cost, let's just say I'm pretty happy that we don't have any big travel plans for another year!
Our weekend was pretty low key. On Saturday I had my long run with TNT - which was supposed to be 12 miles but I only ended up doing 7.5. I have decided I need to do part of the run before the group even starts. We meet at 7:30 but don't usually get started running until 8:00. By then the sun is already too hot for me (well, plus I think I'm too tired from seeing Jane on the Friday) and my energy is just zapped, which of course makes me slower than usual. I feel guilty because I don't want the people manning the water stations and the room where we keep our stuff to have to stay just to wait for me (the other few girls who are even slower than me are only doing half marathons, so they have less miles to run). Anyway, toward the end I was running with one of the coaches and a mentor and told them that I was going start earlier and the mentor said she would be happy to start earlier too. We're going to try it on Saturday and see how it goes. I personally would prefer to be finished with my long run by 8:00 am!
Not much else to report. TOM arrived Monday night and just about killed me yesterday. I saw Tara in the morning and got through my workout okay but when I was at the office I had the worst cramps I've had in months. I literally thought I was going to pass out from the pain. I'm much better today (so far).
Hope you're all doing well!!
Oh. My. God. Jerel just called with news about the air conditioning unit. It needs to be replaced. The whole thing. The part that lives in a closet in our apartment and the other part that lives on the roof. What. A. Nightmare.
Other than the cost - which I don't even want to think about - we may have to have a plumber come in to take out the hot water heater that lives next to the air conditioning unit in the aforementioned closet, while Dave from Superior installs the new unit. Let's just say the space is quite tight.
HUGE SIGH. Man, do I need a cocktail. I guess we should be happy - according to the date on the air conditioner unit it was installed in 1986.
Ah, frustration is at it's finest the last couple of days.
Yesterday I wanted to get to the gym to do my strength training. I left work early because Jerel was having some dental work - an implant and a bone graft for a future implant - and was going to work out while he was at the dentist. Well, a huge rainstorm hit while we were walking over to the dentist's office, so I was going to wait until the storm passed to head to the gym. By the time the storm was over it was around 1:30 and I was starving, so I popped out for a quick bite to eat. He was supposed to be finished around 2:00 so I went back to the office instead of the gym, but he didn't end up being done until around 2:45. We walked home and I went over to CVS to get his rxs - by the time I got home it was 4:00 and I was exhausted.
So, we're sitting at home watching tv and I feel the air temperature climbing even though the air conditioner was on. Unfortunately our central air conditioning has decided to no longer blow cold air. This sucks due to the fact that even though we're the proud owners of 3 windows, being at the back of the building there is no air flow whatsoever. Luckily Jerel is home today and was able to schedule someone to come in this afternoon to take a look at things. I pray this won't cost $$$$!
So, I didn't really sleep very well last night and woke up this morning with a sinus headache. I worked out with Jane and was a sopping wet mess by the time the hour was finished. Of course, the train car I got into had no air conditioning, so at the first stop I popped out and got into another car.
Then, when I got the office with my iced coffee and opened up what I thought was my spinach feta wrap from Sbux, I discovered they had given me some other sandwich. Bleurgh. I left the office, went back and got the correct sandwich. They did give me a coupon for a free beverage on them - I believe I will need to treat myself to an iced non-fat latte later today!
So, that's my whine for the day. I am SO glad it's Friday and really wish I could just sleep and sleep tomorrow, but I actually have a 12 mile long run, and then I'm getting my hair cut & colored. Sunday will be a day of rest!
A big shoutout to RBR - Happy Birthday girlfriend!!
I can't remember where I first learned about this race - maybe on Coolrunning.com - I think it was one of their featured races. Since I had never been to Vermont before I figured this was a great opportunity to run and visit at the same time.
Jerel and I left on Saturday afternoon to drive up to Stowe (about 3.5 hrs from Boston) around 11:30. We stopped for lunch in Lebanon, NH at Panera Bread (Emily, our fine Nuvi GPS told us where it was). Next door to the Panera was a Birkenstock store - so I had to go in. I bought a great pair of Birks with a unique pattern - I'll have to take a picture and post it since I can't find them online. Just a little of my Birkenstock history - I bought my first pair in Florida way-y-y back in 1992 in Clearwater, Florida. I only had enough $$ for a tattoo or a pair of Birks, so I went with the Birks (the tattoo came later). I still have them - last year the cork on the side of the straps started to crack so I need to get them repaired. Of course, as with most things in my life other than exercise, I just haven't sent them out to be fixed yet. Anyway, the new pair are awesome. My feet love them.
We continued on toward Stowe, and as we were driving we hit a huge rainstorm. I hadn't driven through anything like it probably since I lived in Ohio. It was massive. Luckily Jerel had just replaced the windshield wipers with some new fancy ones. It lasted about 10 minutes until we drove out of it.
Had no trouble getting to Stowe and finding the Town Event Field for race packet pickup. I picked up my tshirt, # and the world's biggest Champion Chip - or at least the biggest I've ever seen!
We then headed over to the Topnotch Resort, checked in, unpacked and took a little snooze. We had dinner and went to sleep around 10:00. We got up around 6:00 and got ready - since it takes me about 10 minutes to tape up my feet and toes, and had breakfast at 7:00. I usually like to finish eating 2 hours before a race but the restaurant didn't open until 7. Luckily they were able to serve me my usual pre-race english muffin and peanut butter.
It was looking pretty cloudy and dreary, so when we got to the event field and parked I decided not to bring my iPod. I haven't run a race with it before, but thought I would try it out this time. I made a good decision not to bring it!
The lines for the port-o-lets was quite long, so even though I didn't really need to go I figured by the time I got to one I would have to. I ended up chatting with a really nice lady and telling her all about the Nike marathon and Team in Training. She said she had a friend who was training for Nike with them too.
I had Jerel take a pre-race photo of me:
We gathered for the start of the race a little bit before 9 - I headed all the way to the back. They played the Star Spangled Banner and then let the wheelchair racer (I think there was just one) have a 2 minute head start. The announcer then yelled "GO" - I just thought it was funny, as did a couple of people in the back with me.
I started off slow and steady and actually passed a racewalker and her friend. I heard her say something about being happy with who she was - I think because she was the only one walking. It didn't matter because they ended up running at the end and passing right by me!
We passed by some cows right at the beginning and I snapped a quick photo:
That will be the end of the photos, because right after that it started raining. And raining. And raining. It rained the entire race. Not torrential, but fairly steady. It was actually pretty refreshing. I was glad I was wearing a hat because it kept the rain off of my face.
Even though it was raining this was still a great race and the scenery was lovely. It really reminded me of Norway - so lush and green. And of course, the fog hanging in the valleys!
I kept pretty good pace with a couple of people ahead of me. There was a woman I really wanted to catch and kept her in my sights pretty much the whole time until about the last 2 miles. There were some hills - I ran up most of them, but there was one that was on a curve up to the next street and it was steep, so I walked the second half of it. Of course, since there were hills up, there were some great downhill moments. I ran mile 3 in 12:24 because of the awesome downhill! I will have to post my splits - I don't have my Garmin on me right now. I was really happy because the mile markers up until the end were right with my Garmin.
I did end up passing an older gentleman who had started walking, and I passed an older couple were were walking - they weren't as friendly as most folks. I said hi as I was passing them and the woman looked like a drowned rat (it's all about the hat). Of course, they passed me during the last mile because they started running again.
A couple of miles were dirt road with stones embedded into the dirt (if that makes sense). Not loose gravel, but the stones were fairly good-sized. Since it was also muddy from the rain I had to slow down because I have a pretty big fear of falling. Now mind you, I haven't fallen for a couple of years, but I think the fear comes from being so heavy and unbalanced in the past. I have much better balance now especially with my core being so much stronger, but still. Anyway, the uneveness of the ground also caused my left ankle to tire out and I think the downhills were rough on my right knee, because it was seriously aching toward the end of the race. In fact, I remember passing Jerel as I ran toward the fnish line saying something about - "my knee, my knee, my knee is killing me".
So, as for my thoughts during the race - I really didn't feel like I was in the groove of things until 2.5 miles in. I guess I'm going to have to run a couple of miles before a race starts like everyone else I've seen and thought were crazy. Although, I'm sure for longer distances I won't need to be doing it!
I also don't think I'm very competitive toward the end of the race. By mile 7 I was plain tuckered out, and the first half of mile 7 was all uphill. Geesh! That's when the older couple who had been walking zipped right by me. Then as I was back to running toward the final turn to the finish line the race walker and her friend passed me. They ended up finishing about a minute ahead of me.
Luckily it was a nice downhill all the way to the finish line. I saw poor Jerel standing there in the rain snapping pictures.
As I was nearing the finish line I saw the clock click over to 1:49 and I was SO psyched that I was going to finish in less than 1:50. Really, I thought it was going to take me 2 hours. My chip time was 1:48:46 which is an average of a 13:36 mile. I know the last 2 miles took me over 14 minutes each. I am happy to say I wasn't last...I was second to last. The older man who I passed finished in 1:48:53. According to the race results he's 71, so really, I truly am a penguin. I take no pride in being faster than a 71 year old.
Anyway, after crossing the finish line I talked to the race walker and her friend a little and we congratulated each other on a great race. They said they had worked on catching me the entire race. I said I was glad I could help them out!
Since it was still pouring we didn't stay for the promised ice cream (I know Laura, that's just wrong) and we headed back to the hotel for a much needed shower. Then it was back to Boston.
I would definitely do this race again and hope for better weather. It was great to cross another state off of my list of states visited (I think I only have 9 left), and add another state that I've now run in.
Speaking of 9...this was my 9th race since my very first one in April!!
I really wish I was at home sleeping right now. Last night I did a 4 mile recovery run (on the treadmill at the gym), which really helped my legs unstiffen. It was an awesome run - I was able to do 10:1 for about an hour. I was running fairly slowly but really felt great. After a quick shower I went and had my massage, which was fabulous! I did however end up with a new blister on top of one of my toes. Geesh - I guess I'm going to have to get those toe (condom) protectors for all of my toes!
I woke up this morning a little after 4:00 and my sinuses were killing me. I will be glad when this humidity leaves! I had some tea and watched a little tv, then got ready and headed over to the gym to see Tara. I stretched for about 10 minutes which helped my legs, and then had a pretty tough workout with T. She has actually incorporated a lot of squats into this current routine so my legs and glutes were pretty much screaming by the end of the hour.
I didn't get a chance to do anything with my photos last night since I got home after 7:00 but I should have plenty of time tonight. I'll work on my race report today and hopefully post it later.
Speaking of races - you know you want to join me at this race!! It's expensive, but doesn't it look simply awesome? I only found out about it because RBR posted a link to Maryland Girl's blog, so thanks!
