Quakes, 'Caines and new Kicks

I'm back to work so I have been avoiding the blog b/c I have been: 
a. tired (all this waking up everyday and working..ugh)
b. trying to avoid running
c. both

Unfortunately I pick C.  I have been running some shorter distances but I need to get in some longer runs.  This will be the week  I am back on track.

Well I know I am behind on the earthquake post, but here goes.  I was at work when the quake happened.  I was in the office talking to the secretaries and suddenly I thought the roof was going to cave.  I felt the need to flee.  I ran to the door and then did this hopping back and forth not sure where to go as the secretary is yelling at me to get under the desk.  Finally it sunk in what she was saying so I crawled under the desk.  Stephanie was under there with me saying "I'm supposed to get married" over and over.  Very scary.  Unfortunately I left a fifth grader in the library and didn't go and save her.  Although my assistant was in there so technically I could pretend like I knew she would make sure she was safe.  Really I was just worried about myself.  Now they say you learn something about your self in a time of crisis.  Here is what I learned:
I should not be on the crisis team b/c I am not as good in a crisis as I thought I would be.  I care about nobody but myself...and I can not think straight when I think I am going to die.  (I don't think I was thinking I would die exactly...)

Irene - I love hurricanes!  I love them even more when I don't have to experience them.  I love the weather guys standing in the wind with the goggles on.  I by no means like the destruction, but I love the coverage.  So as Irene was getting closer a bit of hurricane craziness hit the DC/Northern Va region.  My friend Kristi called me on Thursday and said that if she can convince her husband they were going to evacuate VA beach and stay at my house, a.k.a. Pam's Emergency Red Cross Shelter.  Turns out Shawn was not leaving late at night but rather they would head up Friday morning.  Saturday Kristi and I got up on Saturday morning before Irene was set to hit and we hit the pavement.  Kristi is supposed to run her first 10k in October and she has ran zero miles.  So we were taking it as a run/walk.  We did a mile and Kristi wanted to call it quits as the rain started to fall gently on us.  I convinced her to keep going.  we ended up doing 3 miles.  I usually hate running in the rain, but the sprinkle combined with the lower temps was kind of nice. 

Irene hit and it wasn't nearly as bad as people had first thought since she  downgraded to a cat. 1.  I did end up losing my electricity from 7 to midnight.  Sunday we got up and Kristi wanted to run again.  She wanted to run 6 miles since she felt pretty good.  Now I know that was not going to happen.  So we decided to run 3 or 4 miles.  First mile she wanted to call it quits b/c it was a lot warmer than it was the day before.  No more rain and cooler temps, rather the sun was up and melting us slowly as we ran.  We ended up doing  3 miles again.  Not bad at all.

Tonight I got home and decided to lace up my brand new Brooks.  I got a pair of red adrenaline 11's.  I was going to try and run at least 5 or 6 miles tonight but my knee was bothering me, so I did a few miles and called it a night.  Tomorrow is run club (my favorite night of the week). 

Update on everything

So far I have actually been doing a decent job on my training plan.  Although I did miss a few days to visit my friend Kristi and the nieces in VA Beach.  I feel like it has been forever since I posted.  Here is what I have been up to since the last post. 

Went to Va Beach to visit and see Train/Maroon 5 concert.  I thought I would love train, but didn't.  He really does not have much stage presence and he doesn't sound like the Train I like on the radio.  Maroon 5 however, love, love, love!  Entertaining and great voice.  He sounds like Maroon 5 (go figure).  I ended up staying a few days to visit.  I was supposed to take the oldest of the nieces back with me for a few days but mom wasn't ready, so maybe next year :) 

Came home and went to a clothing swap followed by some dog sitting.  I got to my friend's house to watch her three dogs and found out the air conditioner was on the fritz.  Ugh..I was going to run around her neighborhood but figured since it was already hot inside I wouldn't get hotter running outside.  So no running on Monday.  Luckily she is friends with an air conditioner man so the next day the air was on.  That night was a long hot, not much sleep kinda night.  It didn't help that my dog had to get up frequently to check on the other dogs either. 

Tuesday I went to run club.  I won the Stick at a silent auction.  I hope my muscles thank me later.  So 27 dollars to Team in Training and I now am the proud owner of the Stick.  Which I have deemed the "magic stick". 

 Phil Jackson, Head Coach - LA Lakers  "I would recommend The Stick to all athletes." If Phil recommends it, I figure I can't go wrong with the magic stick, right?

Wednesday I put on the Garmin and went for a couple miles run.  It was a nice night.  I did the two miles a bit faster than last week with less walking up the hill that gets me most times.  So I think I am making progress! 

This morning I headed out to Burke Lake.  Complete my 4.7 mile loop and felt fine.  I did walk some.  The lake was very busy this morning.  It looked like some campers or daycare people were visiting and a bunch of walkers, runners and bikers as usual.  It was a beautiful day for a run.  Low humidity and 84 degrees I will take most days.  I think I am going to head back on Monday for another run.  I hope to beat my time from today.

Friday I am heading to the Steelers/Redskins preseason game!  So excited for football!  My friend scored us some sweet suites for nada so that makes the game even better!

My mom and I at her first game a few years ago.

  Saturday I have an OAR concert to head to, so hopefully I will get in some gym time before I head out. 

Am I crazy??

Not sure what some people look for when they are choosing a race to run.  I like races that are on the smaller side.  I love races that have door prizes (who doesn't like the chance to win something).  I like races that have some yummy food and a fun vibe.  I also have been looking at races that are in states that I have never ran in.  I know I am never going to be the girl that ran in each of the 50 states or even the just the lower 48 but I figure I can see what I can knock out while I am having fun running.   So when the Hershey Half marathon fell through I was obnoxiously obsessively looking for another race to take its place.  Well I didn't get to check off any new state, which is fine, because I wouldn't have checked off a new state with the Hershey race since I ran in Philly last year.  I just loved the idea of a chocolate aid station and enjoying the park the day before the race.  So now I am running the Heritage Half closer to home.  My next race that I was looking forward to was the Derby Marathon and Mini.  That one goes on sale on August 8th.  After the sell out for Hershey Megan and I were worried about not putting this one off too long or else we could have a repeat of Hershey.  Well after some digging around I have found out that it sold out in March last year.  So we will register for that one soon.  It doesn't seem like it is the hellfire rush that we were imagining.  Who wouldn't want to run the track at Church Hill Downs? I also get to check off Kentucky.  As a bonus I get to see Louisville. :)  Another thing that is on my big running checkoff sheet is to run an inaugural race.  Well folks it looks like I have found that one.  Even though it used to be the Suntrust National Marathon, I figure new name, new organizers, so it is an inaugural race!  The Rock N' Roll series is coming to DC!  Yep  I signed up today.  For the next two days it is only sixty dollars so Megan and I will be running the Suntrust Rock N' Roll National Half marathon! 

After paying for 2 halves in the past 48 hours I think that will be it for awhile on the half marathon front.  First off I think Megan is going to start to disown me as a friend if I nudge her toward any more running events.   We still have some 5K sprinkled in among the bigger races.  I am going to run the 9/11 run in DC since this is becoming an annual run for me.  Along with the Will Run for Chocolate run in Dec. (I get to finally check of Maryland) and the Love the Run your with in February.  I also need to squeeze in a 5k (maybe a turkey trot) for the Girls Run with Pride group at school.  I haven't even started to look at that projected schedule.  I feel like I have ran a lot more races this year or rather this upcoming year.  I might have to sit down and figure that one out.