Philly Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon here I come!!

I leave in the morning for Philly.  So excited my first 1/2 marathon!!!!  I hope it is a successful and fun day :)  That 13.1 sticker for my car will be mine come Sunday.  Recap when I get back on Monday or Tuesday.

9/11 5k run

Had a great 5k run...not my fastest but that is ok.  It was a great race though.  I went to the double tree to meet up with Zack, Becca and Zack's parents who were in for the 5k this weekend. 

Becky showed up later and was very excited for her first 5k.  I was very excited for her first 5k too.  If she has fun she may be another running buddy for Kristen and I.  We can always use another person at our 5k's :)

We left the room to head down to wait for the start of the race.  The music was pumping, people were everywhere. 

Contrary to Zack's face, he was very excited for the race.  Although he was whining about forgetting his garmin back in Atlanta...big cry baby! lol 

The race started and it was slow going.  People were everywhere.  There was really no lining up according to pace at all.  I almost was taken out by 4 different strollers throughout the race.  I ran most of the race...I walked a few seconds here and there around the pentagon parking lot..considering that I walked the entire parking lot the year before..not too shabby.

Crossed the mat at 34 mins...slow but steady right?  I am fine with that.  Maybe my next goal will be to finish with a faster pace but really I am always happy that I just finish. :) 

We ran into a friend from high school, Caren.  Funny how you run into people you know in a large crowd of people! lol  Good seeing Caren and she had a great run.  All was great!

Becky has decided she is going to run some more 5k's with us...Success!! :)

9/11 run

Tomorrow I will be running around  the Pentagon for the Arlington Police/Fire/Sheriff 9-11 Memorial 5K.  It is at 6pm.  Looks like the weather should be nice and mild this year too, so that is always a plus.  Last year the run around the parking lot of the Pentagon was just murder.  It was so hot from the sun baking the pavement all day long.  Just thinking about it and I want to cringe.  This year I beleive the highs are going to be in the 80's for the day.

9 miles - SUCCESS! finally!!!

Finally I finished that horrible 9 mile run that I have been trying to complete all weekend!  Went running with K and B this evening.  Perfect running weather.  We found a track near our house (I wish I would have found this track awhile ago).  The evening was cool..no sun beating down..it was if the running gods were wanting me to finish 9miles tonight :) 

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  What a way to start off the new year, with a 9 mile run finally completed!

9 mile run - FAIL!

I have no idea what has been happening with my running (or lack of running).  I have been so tired and my legs have felt like lead.  3 miles has been difficult for me lately, which is not good considering I am going to be running 13.1 in 2 weeks!  Yikes!  I ran with the running club last Tuesday.  I ended up walking the last bit b/c it was so hot out and I was feeling sick from the heat.  Wednesday and Thursday were a no run day. 

Friday I decided to get my 9 mile run out of the way.  Boy look how proactive I am being.  So yeah I ran 2 miles and stopped.  I was tired and just couldn't do it. 

No problem K and I were going to go to Occoquan regional park and run our 9 miles (or close to it)  yeah 2.5 miles and I gave up.  There are a lot of  hills in that freakin park!  We did end up walking some and the days total was 4.64 miles.  Boy I am just feeling horrible.  I know it is mostly mental (or at least it better be by this time!)  I am really having a hard time getting past the running block.  Not sure if it is because of going back to school or what.  I came home after our "run" and slept for 4 hours...and then I slept that night too.  CFS is that you??  (ok I haven't been tired for 6 months like the link states but still..)  That is a lot of sleeping! 

Sunday I got dressed and laced up the shoes and took off!  That's right today is the day for my 9 miler..I mean my 3 miler..failed again!  I was going to try again later in the day at the gym but K was having a cookout so I couldn't go late right??

We are going to attempt (I mean I am going to definitely) run tonight.  I am much better at running in the evening than in the morning.  We are going to run track.  I know boring!  But I figure it is flat (so no excuses about the hills) and there are 4 of us going so I don't have to try to keep up with anyone.  I can just go at my own slow pace.  Fingers crossed that this works.  I am also going to change up my playlist.  Maybe some knew tunes will keep my feet moving.  I did 7 last week so I should be able to do 9 this week...I just would rather lay on the couch.  I have not been in the swing of the whole workout out thing since starting back to work.  I feel like this has be worse this year than in previous years.  Although it could just feel that way b/c normally I do not have a training schedule to follow at the beginning of school...who knows.  I just wish I could feel all into my workouts and running soon...

8 mile run...not quite but close

Today I was supposed to run 8 miles.  It is a beautiful morning in Northern VA.  A perfect day for a 8 mile run.  Considering that I have been a bit lax on the long runs I really need to get a long run in before I simply give up on running altogether.  Another motivator was the fact that I have gained 5 pounds since starting back to work a week and a half ago.  Which is really bad b/c there has been few teachers in and the kids do not start back until after labor day.  At this rate I will be a whale by Christmas time for sure.  So this morning I lace up the shoes and headed out on my run.  I ran 4miles around the 'hood and then picked up Riley and ran/walked a few more miles..dropped him off after two miles and continued on for another mile. 

That's right if you are able to add a mathematician you  get 7 miles.  Not my goal of 8 but I can't help it I was getting bored with running in circles.  I should have got in the car and went to a running / bike trail along the road that I run sometimes but I just didn't want to drive.  So I decide yet again to pretend I was a gerbil and run in circles. 

3 more weeks until the Philly Half Marathon...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.....

I won!!

I am so excited!  I just won some cliff bars @ 2010 Journey in Running.  I never win anything!  In honor of winning I am going to go out and run 5 miles! :) 

This is how happy I felt..just like when the Steelers won a Superbowl. :)