I need some run-ivation!!

It happens to me every time.  I run a long race and then afterwards it is so tough to get back to running.  I just don't feel like running or visiting the gym, even though I know I have to.  I am tired of buying bigger clothes!  I told myself I can have one week off after the half..yeah that was 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I did run this week at run club, but I need to run more than once a week.  And it gets dark earlier..and it is cold..do you need more excuses?  Hopefully I will take my lazy self to the gym tonight.  I need some run-ivation!  (I'm sure that run-ovation is stronger than motivation) 

The great thing about having a race on the calendar is that it forces you to get out there and run.  I currently only have a 5k Turkey Trot on the calendar next weekend then a 5K Hot Chocolate race in December.  I am doing Amanda's HBBC.  I hope that is the incentive I need to keep on running right now. 

Flat Whiticar

Last night I went to run club.  Great night as always.  It was the winter route so it was a tad bit longer 3.7 miles.  It was a bit cold at the beginning, but once I started running I warmed up quickly.  This really was one of the first colder runs.  I hate the first couple of colder type runs, I never know what to wear.  I started out with a hoodie, but ended up sweating, so tied it around the waist and ran in the short sleeved shirt. 

While at run club we found out our friend Whiticar's last run club will be next week. :(  We will miss Whiticar.  If it wasn't for volunteering at an endurance race, we wouldn't have met Whiticar and we wouldn't have made him come to run club.  The teachers (Becky, Megan and myself) have decided that we are going to make a flat Whiticar and write to Whiticar while he is in Iraq about Flat Whiticar's adventures.  We will take him on our runs and races.  During run club we can take him out and prop him up next to a beer and send Whiticar a picture of Flat Whiticar.  I think it could be very entertaining.  I mean really, what else is Whiticar going to have to entertain him in Iraq? 

Cheering on the runners at the Marine Corps Marathon!!

What a great day to cheer the runners who were running the Marine Corps Marathon.  Our friend Whiticar was also one of the runners.  We set ourselves up at mile 22/23.  Looked like we got there just before our friend was hitting mile 22.  Perfect timing.  We came prepared with signs and candy.  I didn't realize how excited people would be to get some candy.  We ended up running out rather quickly so Megan high tailed it to a Rite Aid for some back up supplies.  I believe we went through 10 to 11 bags of candy.  Crazy.  It was a great day to cheer on everyone!  We started cheering at 11 and stayed  until after 2 to cheer on the last few runners.  I always hated when I was towards the back, people were leaving and nobody was really cheering, well not this time.  We made sure to cheer extra loud for those back of the packers!!  Way to go.  I now leave you with pictures of our day.

Handing out candy made runners smile :)

We found Whiticar!  Great job!

He was super excited to see us and his sign too :)

free high fives

Santa was gettin' his run on!

We owned Mile 22 cheer section!

Marine Corps Marathon Cheering Section!

Wishing everyone who is running the Marine Corps Marathon good luck!  I will be there with some friends to cheer people on. :)  This is my first time cheering at MCM..I am super excited.  We are also going to buy some goodies to hand out too :)

I am hoping to get a spot somewhere around mile 22..but we will see how many people have decided to do the same too :)

Our running club friend, Whiticar is running MCM!  Go Whiticar!!

Good luck to everyone running a race today :)  And all of you MCM'ers..keep on running towards the beer :)

Great quote from Kelly - Loving the Run

I just read this on Kelly's blog Loving the Run and thought I would share

Remember –
You are not a runner because of the race you ran, whether it be good or bad.
You are a runner…
…because you run.
Nothing more. Nothing less.

I couldn't have said it any better :)

Brewfest and running some

Well I have not really been doing much running this week.  I figure I just ran a half so I can take a brief break.  I ran on Tuesday at running club (slow but it was a run) and that was about it for the week.  This coming week I will be back to running and visiting the gym.

Instead of running I went to Brewfest on Saturday.  Running or beer..hmm  I choose beer.

I ran into Sheen while we were enjoying some brew.  Nice to hang out with her outside of school.  It was my first time going to brewfest.  It was a pretty nice event.  Not a bunch of small breweries but just enough.  I enjoyed some pumpkin ales and a very yummy blueberry ale.  It was a perfect day to be outside enjoying some great fall weather.  Who wants to run when there is brew to be had!

I did finally head back to the gym this afternoon.  It wasn't the best day at the gym.  I didn't stay that long, but I guess I can say "at least I went."  I did a few miles on the treadmill and then headed over to the bike.  I only did about 15 minutes on the bike.  I didn't want to aggravate the plantar fasciitis and it was bothering me earlier today so I didn't want to take any chances.  I stretched out the foot before getting off the bike so at least I didn't look like an 80 year old walking away from the bike.  Tomorrow I will try and make it back to the gym or run around the hood.  We will see.  Mondays are usually super tiring. 

Run!

If you haven't read the book Run!  26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss.  By Dean Karnazes.  I read it this summer and loved the book!  I love that fact that each "chapter" is really short stories of Karnaze's running life.  It is amazing the miles he puts on his running shoes.  I will not be running any ultra's anytime soon, but it is always interesting reading about people who do. 

Here is the blurb about the book that I found online:

In his follow-up to the best-selling "Ultramarathon Man"--which "Sports Illustrated" called "fascinating" and the "New York Times" said was "full of euphoric highs"--world-renowned ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes chronicles his unbelievable exploits and explorations in gripping detail. Karnazes runs for days on end without rest, across some of the most exotic and inhospitable places on earth, including the Australian outback, Antarctica, and the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.From the downright hilarious to the truly profound, the linked stories in Run create an unforgettable tableau, providing readers with the ultimate escape and offering a rare glimpse into the mind-set and motivation of an extreme athlete. Karnazes addresses the pain and perseverance and also charts his emotional state as he pushes the edges of human achievement. The tales of the friendships he's cultivated on his many adventures around the world warm the heart and are sure to captivate and inspire readers whether they run great distances, modest distances, or not at all.

So if you enjoy reading running books and you have read this one yet, you have to run out and pick it up.