So, it's been a while since my last blog. To tell the truth, it's been a while since my last run! That's not something that I'm proud of...I ran last Monday, then Tuesday eve into Wednesday morning it snowed like crazy. Wednesday evening was a client event for work, I got home around 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday I felt like I was fighting off a cold. Saturday I got up early and went to the track only to find it COMPLETELY snow covered. Our street is narrow due to the fact that most of us only have on street parking. A day time run, after a snow is just not ideal.
That brings us to Sunday - who's going to run on Sunday?! Well...I know a few people, but that's not at the top of my list of things to do on a Sunday. We instead planned a day of bumming around MD followed by a romantic dinner at the Melting Pot as I will soon be a single woman until after tax day. Fate, however, had other plans. We were involved in a "minor" traffic accident if you believe some, but if you believe my Dr., the nearly $5,000 repair estimate, and our bodies you might think otherwise. Monday was spent relaxing and numbing our soreness with Tylenol for me, Motrin for Shawn. Tuesday we were again pummeled with freezing rain and all around dreadful wintry conditions.
And last night I found myself on a scavenger hunt to replace my Leo's very favorite ball which had seen its last game of fetch. I almost peed my pants when I found the lookalike ball that could not be found anywhere online or in the Walmart by work. To understand how much I love this dog, one would need to understand just how much I hate Walmart...anyway, it was the BigK that remains virtually untouched and unshopped at (is that a word? no it isn't...but I'm leaving it) on the Fruitville Pike in which I proved victorious. I bought TWO of the balls priced at $2.29 ea. Only to get home and find that not only does the dog want nothing to do with the impostor balls, but that I still had to make dinner...UGH.
Sooo that brings us to tonight, and enough of the excuses already! Husband is settling back into a grad school/FT job/PT job during tax season only (thank God) routine. It was just me, Old Farm, and a few snow flakes. That's right - tomorrow we are getting more of the, uh, wonderful white stuff...
Endomondo or whatever the hell it was called has been deleted and RunKeeper has made a delightful addition to my workout. That's right, this FREE app tracks my course by GPS, records my distance, time, calories burned and automatically updates them on their website so I can track my progress - BOOYAH! It didn't freeze up, time out, or crap out. I need to download music to my phone yet, but I'm thinking I'm on my way to a three feature on one electronic success story.
I ran a 13:07 mile tonight on Old Farm. Do you know what else ran for 13:07? My eyes, my nose...my mind! It was good to be back though, and with what I think is a personal solo best! I start of strong, always, and begin to think "this is easy"...HA! Then I hit the half way mark and I feel it really start to hit me. My calves tighten, what I have been informed is my IT band (?) begins to ache, and my breaths get even heavier. Then, something happens. It's like I go on auto pilot. I mean, it's not like it becomes easier or anything. But it's literally like someone or something else is controlling my body...and I push even harder. Mind over matter I guess.
My sister has informed me that I need to get to a 10 minute mile before I move to two miles consecutively. She seems to think that if I buckled down I can get there in a month. Guess we'll see :).
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Ok, Ok!
So today two different people asked me why I haven't blogged lately. It's been not quite a week since my last entry, but apparently, my blog is missed :). I am not giving up on my training - not at all. I'm just tired! First and foremost, we did not run on New Year's Day. No, we weren't hungover, but instead took the day to run errands, enjoy a nice, long, three hour nap...and some sushi!
Yesterday was Tuesday and I was back on track. I again ran by myself as Shawn worked late.
I figured out how to stop my phone from timing out, which got me a super accurate time reading. I again doubled up the phone with the ipod. I'm guessing, an iphone would be ideal - but the Droids were inexpensive and I'm convinced I can figure this three functions simultaneously thing out at some point.
The ipod blared and, well, that is a tremendous help. I know that some people choose to run without music, listen to themselves breathe, etc. Not me! The tunes drown out my gasps and huffs and are a nice distraction as I run. It was cold, around 38 degrees, which still feels warm compared to the windy and 20ish degree temps that plagued us earlier this month.
Before last night I had never ran an entire mile on Old Farm Ln. It was too dark to get the squishy track, especially since I was flying solo. I knew that I could theoretically run the whole thing, I mean, less than a week prior I had accomplished my first full fledged individual mile. Old Farm does include inclines, however, and that hard, unforgiving asphalt.
I forgot to mention that in addition to the stopwatch/phone, and the deafening ipod, I also had something new to add to my bag of tricks all in an effort to make this journey a little less painful...new shoes!
That's right - my Santa Coach sent me a brand spanking new pair of Brooks running shoes. They came straight to my door courtesy of Zappos.com. They are super cute, and I LOVE them.
I'm still waiting on my gear shopping spree but I'm so thankful for this gift. It was the nicest gesture - plus, she realizes that shoes, well gifts in general are great motivators for this girl.
I ran the first half mile and where I typically slow to a walk, I kept going. There were a few times I had to get to the side of the road to let cars pass, but I kept jogging in place. Yes, even as that crazy guy from three doors down creeped down the street at what could be no less than 5 mph with his dome light on (I made a mental note to bring the pepper spray key chain next time), I kept going. Even as I again passed my nice, warm, cozy house. I kept going.
I would like to thank Beyonce and her single ladies for getting me through that last half mile, brutal!
I finished the mile, and walked the next 1/2 mile or so back home and again stretched.
My officially official time = 13:32.8. Slowing down for creepers in Camry's, hills, ills & all.
I get kind of emotional when I think about my progress, but I am constantly reminded of how far I've got to go...
I had my review this week at work. I work for a guy who is big on goals and is a fantastic mentor. As we discussed our successes in 2010 and goals for 2011 over sushi, I felt even more optimistic of possible accomplishments given my training to date. I feel like I can do anything I can set my mind to, and I can.
As he paid the bill and we unwrapped our fortune cookies I was a little dumbfounded. Not that fortune cookies are the know all and be all of the confection world, but mine read:
"Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take small steps".
So fitting. Personal goals. Professional goals. BAM!
It now resides in my wallet, and that's where it will stay, as a constant reminder that yes, I can do whatever I set my hard head to :). Baby steps, baby.
Below are the new shoes - thanks Santa Coach! Love you xx
Yesterday was Tuesday and I was back on track. I again ran by myself as Shawn worked late.
I figured out how to stop my phone from timing out, which got me a super accurate time reading. I again doubled up the phone with the ipod. I'm guessing, an iphone would be ideal - but the Droids were inexpensive and I'm convinced I can figure this three functions simultaneously thing out at some point.
The ipod blared and, well, that is a tremendous help. I know that some people choose to run without music, listen to themselves breathe, etc. Not me! The tunes drown out my gasps and huffs and are a nice distraction as I run. It was cold, around 38 degrees, which still feels warm compared to the windy and 20ish degree temps that plagued us earlier this month.
Before last night I had never ran an entire mile on Old Farm Ln. It was too dark to get the squishy track, especially since I was flying solo. I knew that I could theoretically run the whole thing, I mean, less than a week prior I had accomplished my first full fledged individual mile. Old Farm does include inclines, however, and that hard, unforgiving asphalt.
I forgot to mention that in addition to the stopwatch/phone, and the deafening ipod, I also had something new to add to my bag of tricks all in an effort to make this journey a little less painful...new shoes!
That's right - my Santa Coach sent me a brand spanking new pair of Brooks running shoes. They came straight to my door courtesy of Zappos.com. They are super cute, and I LOVE them.
I'm still waiting on my gear shopping spree but I'm so thankful for this gift. It was the nicest gesture - plus, she realizes that shoes, well gifts in general are great motivators for this girl.
I ran the first half mile and where I typically slow to a walk, I kept going. There were a few times I had to get to the side of the road to let cars pass, but I kept jogging in place. Yes, even as that crazy guy from three doors down creeped down the street at what could be no less than 5 mph with his dome light on (I made a mental note to bring the pepper spray key chain next time), I kept going. Even as I again passed my nice, warm, cozy house. I kept going.
I would like to thank Beyonce and her single ladies for getting me through that last half mile, brutal!
I finished the mile, and walked the next 1/2 mile or so back home and again stretched.
My officially official time = 13:32.8. Slowing down for creepers in Camry's, hills, ills & all.
I get kind of emotional when I think about my progress, but I am constantly reminded of how far I've got to go...
I had my review this week at work. I work for a guy who is big on goals and is a fantastic mentor. As we discussed our successes in 2010 and goals for 2011 over sushi, I felt even more optimistic of possible accomplishments given my training to date. I feel like I can do anything I can set my mind to, and I can.
As he paid the bill and we unwrapped our fortune cookies I was a little dumbfounded. Not that fortune cookies are the know all and be all of the confection world, but mine read:
"Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take small steps".
So fitting. Personal goals. Professional goals. BAM!
It now resides in my wallet, and that's where it will stay, as a constant reminder that yes, I can do whatever I set my hard head to :). Baby steps, baby.
Below are the new shoes - thanks Santa Coach! Love you xx
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