I know it has been awhile since I have last blogged. That is because I have been so busy running...or at least thinking about running. I think I have hit a running funk. I blame the winter. Taking the winter off of running makes it harder to start back up. I had this great plan for running. I ran Rock n Roll USA half on St. Paddy's weekend and then two months later I would run Pittsburgh Half. I would use Rock n Roll to get back to running. Well turns out my training was not the best, but I will get to that later. There really is a theme to my blog...called lack of following a training plan. Well this time I really did not follow a training plan. But again I am jumping ahead.
End of March brought rain and more snow. Yes I said snow at the end of March in DC! Ugh...I was starting to think that we would never see the end of the white stuff! Then pretty quickly spring break happened. I knew I wasn't going to run a bunch over spring break since I was heading to South America! Becky moved to Colombia to teach last summer. So I couldn't pass up the possibility of free room, see South America and see Becky! Colombia was great! I had such a fun time. I did take my running stuff and shoes, but we never ended up with time to run. If it wasn't hot as hell, we were walking up mountains. And really nobody wants to run up mountains! We did do a lot of walking. That is sort of like running right?
First night in Colombia!
We found a brewery to visit!
I got back home on April 19th. I had one week of training left and then the next week was the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. You can cram in weeks worth of running into one week right? Yeah wrong. I did some more running, but nothing like I should be running the week before a half. My longest run before Pittsburgh was a little over 4 miles. Yeah I was going in with hopes of a PR for Pittsburgh! lol Why do I do this to myself??
Stay tuned to find out how I did at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon!
I finally wrote my half marathon training schedule down on the calendar..it looks like I am behind by a few weeks...guess I should have wrote it down sooner. This week my long run should be 7 miles. Sure..no problem! I had issues with three miles yesterday. So 7 miles should be super easy! lol
I have not really ran regularly since Marine Corps Full. Note to self: it is not smart to take so much time off from running. I am hoping that my muscles and lungs remember what it is like to run again. I ran for the last three days. Sunday I took my running shoes outside. It was a beautiful day for running in the hood. I was able to run in capris and a short sleeved shirt. Considering last week I was shivering under a blanket with below 0 temps. Today it was in the 50's. How could I not run in the 50's in January?? I was running and breathing heavy. Yeah definitely have to work on my lungs. Hopefully when I get home it will not yet be dark and I can run a few laps around the block. I love that we are gaining daylight everyday. I do not do well with the early darkness.
So I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth. I've been around but obviously not blogging much. December has been horrible for running. I ran 11 miles this month (I know you all are jealous!) I did get to the gym a few times so I am happy. With all of the happenings of December I'm ok with the very low mileage.
Here are some pictures of what I have been up to in December. Enjoy!
Botanic Gardens
Zoolights at the National Zoo!
Laying wreathes at Arlington National Cemetery
Laying Wreathes at Arlington National Cemetery
Christmas at Run Club
Steelers vs Chargers..we loss :(
National Christmas Tree Lighting
President Obama playing up to the crowd.
So I was a bit busy during December. I always love December and experiencing all of the Christmas festivities around Northern VA and DC. I also headed home to PA and got to hang out with some friends from High school that I haven't seen in twenty years (I also hung out with some friends that I get to see every year too)
Monday I start back to running. Training for Rock n Roll USA begins on Monday.
So today I ran the Leesburg 20K with my running sister Megan.(I know shocker!) I will give you more info later this week. :)
I wanted to check in since I feel like it has been forever since I have posted anything on my blog. I'm blaming that on work and not a lot of running last week. I was thinking this morning before my 20K race about why I didn't really put in the miles last week and instantly I remember that I am once again a working girl...summer why did you have to leave me?? I guess we all have to go back sometime..I know I shouldn't complain not many professions give you 8 weeks off in the summer. It still doesn't mean that I want my summer to end :(
It looks like two more weeks until RnR Va Beach. I have heard nothing but good things about this race so I am really excited! I'm glad I did the 12.5 miles today because as you know I rarely end up saying that I was really happy with my training headed into a half marathon race. :) So I'm really happy that I have 12.5 miles in before race day.
My goal is to run some short runs this week and hit a ten miler this weekend. Other than that I must get ready for some Steeler football!
Headed out for a 4 mile run in the heat and humidity. I did wait until 7:30 thinking it would cool down some, but really it was still hot. The only thing that changed was that the sun wasn't on top of me so I did have the shade of the buildings to run in. I figured today was going to be "cooler" than tomorrow so I might as well run today. Although tomorrow is Tuesday so I will still end up running in the heat at run club.
While I was running I notice an odd issue. My feet were starting to burn. And of course for most of my run all I could think of is how hot my feet were. Then all I could think about is that those poor runners at Badwater were running in much hotter feeling feet than my feet. I guess I need to try some thinner socks. Hopefully that will help. I do love my cushiony balega socks.
So I guess I need to go back to my feeture elite socks. How do those Badwater runners do it? A few miles and I was ready to try barefoot running. Then I thought about the rocks on the road and quickly changed my mind. My feet do not like it rough.
While I was running I saw one of my neighbors running up the huge hill that I was running down. I have seen him run before (or I may have seen him in his yard..not sure.) Anyway, I was heading down the hill, hating my feet and he was running up the hill. As he was pushing on up the hill he turns and says "good job!" Little did he know he just made my run! Its funny how some of the simplest things that people say really has an impact. It just put a little skip in my step. Most times I find that runners will either
A. ignore me
B. give me the little head nod
C. the smile and keep running.
I don't ever normally get "good job" while I'm running. Not sure if it was the look on my face. I tend to look like I hate life during my runs. Sometimes I actually hate life, other times I don't realize that I look like I hate life. Or if he is always so nice to other runners. Whatever the case, thanks for making my run! I think I am going to start to tell other runners "Good Job!"
So to all of you runners, Good job! Keep on running!
I decided that even though it was humid, it wasn't nearly as bad as last weeks temps so I went and put the old running clothes on. Twice this week I didn't really want to run and I made myself lace up the running shoes. Twice this week I have been so glad that I ran. It was a great night for a run. It was just me running around the neighborhood. No music, no kids out. Just me and my feet pounding the pavement. I felt really good running. I might be gaining some of my running that I lost by not really doing much of anything in June. Why do we go on strike from running when it feels so hard to get back to where you were?
I wanted to run a few more miles, but a storm was brewing and I didn't want to get caught in it. So I called it quits after three miles. I figure three miles are better than nothing. That and I figured I might have ran off a few bites of some yummy strawberry pie that I made earlier.
Ahh remember when it was chilly outside and we had to wear lots of clothes..yeah I don't remember that either...
Looks like tomorrow I will be running my long run. I wanted to knock it out today, but the weather had other ideas. That's ok..I will just enjoy some reading and TV watching instead.
On Sunday Becky and I took off to Maryland for the Naked Foot 5K. It was a celebration of the barefoot running movement. Becky and I both decided to keep our shoes on for this race, but it was great seeing all of the barefoot runners. You have to have some tough feet to run naked.
As you may recall..I could not remember if I registered for the run or not. Turns out I was right..I did not register. I believe I did buy the shwaggle for $17 but I didn't do the next step which was to register for the race and use the shwaggle coupon. But no problem I ran with Megan's bib since she wasn't able to. And really it would have been no problem registering the day of the event either.
The Naked Foot was a very family fun race. There was no timing the run. It was just enjoy yourself and run. I loved seeing all of the kids running (many running sans shoes).
Becky loves her shirt!
Can't wait to wear this shirt to run club on Tuesday.
The course was well marked and we got to run through grass, pavement, gravel and some wooded paths around Rock Creek Park. I don't know if I would have liked running on the gravel and through the woods barefooted, but some didn't seem to mind. Some runners also got piggy back rides over the gravel parts from their shoe'd friends.
It was a great run and lucky for Becky she was the winner of one of the door prizes (you know how I love a good door prize drawing)! She won a Road ID bracelet. Way to go Becky!
It was a hot day, but a great run!
Today Becky and I met up at Burke Lake to run the 4.5 mile loop around the lake. It was perfect weather..some rain was moving in, so it was a bit cloudy. When it rained a bit we were protected from the rain by all of the trees. It is always a fun time running with friends.
Two days of running in a row..guess that means I have some half marathon training to do this summer! :)
Next week I am supposed to start training for the Rock n Roll DC Half Marathon..followed by lots of other Half Marathons. So next week I am starting my training for all of the half marathons in the Year of the Half Marathon! I hope I am ready for all of the running that is ahead in the year 2012!
Its a busy time of year so if I don't get to update this blog I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!
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.
So this is the first week of training for the Hershey half. I will do better this time around than last time. I will not take a DNF! I will try to follow the plan and not skip the long run :) I am hoping the run will be the perfect run, at the perfect time of year in PA and flat. I would like to run it under my 3 hour time that I have ran my previous Halves. I have to get through some horrible summer running, but I did it last year and survived so I am sure I can do it again. October 16th will be here before I know it.
Well week one is starting off great. I am just getting over a head cold and today is the first day I can actually breathe. So running tonight should be great. Well at least I plan on running, and it is not as humid as it has been. Tonight we are planning on closing down the bar at run club since all the teachers are officially on summer vacation (which means summer school is over). We will see if that happens. We may end up wanting to go home early, who knows, but we can if we wanted to close it down and that is the main point lol.
On the Bra note, still no bra in sight. Title Nine told me to wait til Friday to see if it has come. They also recognized that it has take a bit longer than usual. Really? You think so? They mailed it on the 8th and according to the tracking number it has been sitting in Columbia Maryland since the 14th. I could drive there and get the bra before this. So I guess I will wait til Friday and then if it doesn't come I will give them a call. Ugh...I just wanted a pretty pink new sports bra, is that too much to ask??
Well I survived the end of the world, but now I have to worry about the half coming up next week. I have ran one mile longer than I did for my previous half, so I guess that is a positive. I just have not felt like running. I really haven't felt like doing much of anything. I really wanted to just stay in the house and be a hermit. Now that I think of it, it has been very rainy this spring so maybe that had something to do with my desire to be a hermit. I never do well in the winter when the sun doesn't come out much, so I am guessing that the rain and lack of sun might have contributed to my lack of motivation.
Well today I am going to attempt to run 10 miles before the half next week. It should be fun! Well as fun as 10 miles can get. Unfortunately I normally have a bagel pre-run, and I am out so I made some oatmeal. I hope that works out ok for me...yikes. I think I will just keep telling myself that if I finish I will get some soft serve ice cream afterwards :) Although who am I kidding, I going for ice cream either way lol. I have to do something to try and stay cool on a warm day :)
Well I am going to lace up the shoes and off I go!
So my friend Megan has talked me into another half marathon. It is local and over Memorial Day Weekend. Megan wanted to try a half before her birthday and I thought why not. So Alexandria Half Marathon here we come! That will give me a few weeks to actually train. Which is more than I did for this last half. And it sounds like it is not that big of a half marathon (which I love) and it is flat. Good bye killer hill! So last year around this time I had never ran a half marathon in my life. I would never have thought I could run a half either. Soon I will have my third half marathon under my belt this year! Wow! Who would have thunk it.
So I ran a Valentine's race with Megan this morning. It was supposed to get up to 50 today but with no sun and the wind...it felt cold this morning. Once I got running and sweating it was fine though. Right at the beginning was a huge hill which was no fun at all. So I walked up most of it b/c the people around me were all walking and there was no going around them...and really who am I kidding...I HATE hills! Got to see some of the Shirlington Running club handing out water at the half way point, so that was nice :) Always fun when someone shouts out your name and says Go Pam Go! I did realize that I need to step up my half marathon training. I have been way too lax. So I am going to attack the running. I want a good 10 mile run time for Cherry Blossom and I want a good 1/2 marathon time the after Cherry Blossom. So this is it. :)
