Last run of 2013

It's rather sad to think that today was my last run of 2013.  On a treadmill.  When outside it was about -12 F.

Things I am grateful for this year, running-wise:

• Not getting injured.  Huzzah!
• Winning my first race - my first ever 10k.  I absolutely loved running a 10k, and winning it was just so sweet.  Definitely top 5 highest moment in my life.
• PR my half marathon by over 12 minutes.  Even though mentally I gave up and physically did not give it my all.
• Meeting some great people with the Duluth Running Company marathon/half marathon training group.  Jazz hands!
• Finally biting the bullet and deciding to run my first full marathon in 2014.

Here's hoping 2014 will be even better, both in my running and everything else.

Today's Run

Today I ran 2.94 miles in 25:00 on the treadmill at the Y, for an average pace of 8:30.  In 2013 I ran 112 times, including 5 races, for a total of 552 miles.  I ran, time-wise, a total of over 81 hours and 14 minutes, over 3 DAYS on my feet.  Those numbers just boggle my mind.  And I am so proud of myself.

Meeting the family

One of the big things I have done during my running mini-sabatical was to go down to the Cities and meet the rest of the BF's family, including his parents that flew in from far, far away.

For most people, this wouldn't be a big deal.  But for me, the most assuredly introverted and extremely shy one, this was pretty much about as nerve-racking as just about anything.  I was afraid I'd say the wrong thing.  I was afraid I'd say too much (I'm a nervous babbler, which makes for very interesting job interviews).  I was afraid I wouldn't say enough.  I was afraid I'd come off as not genuine.  I was afraid I'd have something stuck in my teeth.

But in the end everything turned out just fine.  Having someone that loves and cares and supports you by your side makes all the difference in the world when having to Do Something as personal as meeting their family for the first time.  Sure, I was still a bit nervous, but it wasn't overwhelming and I'm pretty sure I made a good first impression.  With all his family, even his parents.

It probably helped that I gave them a cookie package.

Sure, this wasn't as adventurous as going trail running or trying out a new class at the Y, but it was something that pushed me out of my normal comfort zone and I feel I have conquered it.  Until I have to meet the rest of his large, extended family, of course.

Today's Run

It was finally warm enough out that I didn't have to dreadmill it, that I could finally go for a run outside.  I was cautiously optimistic that the city would have plowed the Lakewalk enough that the run would be pleasant.  Yeah, I was dreadfully wrong.  There was a good 1-2 inches of slush pretty much along the whole length that I ran.  No ice really, which was nice.  But running in slushy snow is supposedly like running on sand, except a) slipperier (which is a word, dammit!); b) wetter; and c) much, much colder.  Needless to say I took it pretty slowly as to not risk injury.  Also, it didn't help that I forgot to bring a sports bra with, which made for a very uncomfortable run support-wise.  Oh, and I got to finally use my Garmin for the first time since December 2!  Today I ran 5.92 miles in 59:52, for an average pace of 10:07.  SUPER slow, but it was just nice to be able to get outside.  And since the highest high for the next week is projected to be 12 F, with most of the week in below 0 F range, it looks like it will be a while before I'll be running outside again. :-(

AND it's over

What was only planned to be a week hiatus has turned into a week and a half-ish.  Time flies when you're super busy traveling, and meeting people, and working, and celebrating Christmas multiple times...

But Christmas is over.  The tree got taken down tonight, along with the rest of the decorations. The presents are put away, or mostly put away.  Now it's time to get ready for The Boy's birthday.  Ugh.

So many things happened since my last blog post, but I'll just give a report of my Top 3 Christmas Presents.  The rest can be reported later, when I am able to give the topics my full attention.

In reverse order, the top presents this Christmas are:
3. A new running tech shirt.  It is super nice, with the thumb holes and everything.  I'm excited for it to be warm enough that I can run outside and wear it.  Maybe Saturday...
2. A homemade plaque thing that my friend Pequena made to show off all my race bibs.  It's pretty nice, and thoughtful, and I've even hung it up (which for people that know me is a pretty big deal):

"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts." -Steve Prefontaine

1. A Roku streaming video gadget thingie, from the BF Barbado.  I am looking to cut the cable cord, and this will allow me to do so.  I was even able to watch an original Transformers cartoon with The Boy tonight before bedtime, which is awesome.  This thing will get tons of use, and was an extremely thoughtful present.

Overall, this was a great Christmas.  Probably the best one ever for me, for reasons to be discussed at a future date.  Oh, and Christmas Day Chinese dinner was awesome too.

Today's Run

Finally got a run in today, at the Y on a dreadmill because it was too cold and slushy outside.  I ran 2.9 miles in 25:00, for an average pace of 8:37.  The weather says it's supposed to be almost balmy out on Saturday, with a high temperature of 25 F, so I'm hoping to be able to get in a longish run outside in the morning.  Fingers crossed! 

Quickie

I realize Christmas is next week, but THIS week is my crazy busy week, and so I have decided to take this week off from running, and most likely from going to the gym as well.  Although I may try to go tomorrow to the gym.  I don't know.

Anyway, I don't know if I will be posting anything else this week (see above: busy); hopefully it will be back to "normal" next week in time for Christmas!

Apathy

I often wonder if other people wake up in the morning and think "Why bother?"  Because that happens to me every once in a while, and today was one of those days.  A day where I feel like I'm just going through the motions of what needs to be done.  Sure, there were some really enjoyable moments today, and some scary moments (curse you infernal snow!), but overall I was just off.

I just hope I wake up on the right side of the bed tomorrow and this malaise passes.

Today's Run

Today I ran on the dreadmill at the Y.  Again.  Today was cold AND snowing.  I ran 6.27 miles in 55:00, for an average pace of 8:46. 540 miles this year....

T-minus one week....

I am in full cookie baking mode right now - I procrastinated getting started with my Christmas Cookie Baking Extravaganza, and am suffering for it now.  I need to get most of the cookies done by next week Wednesday, so that the decorating of the sugar, Ninjabread, and dinosaur cookies can be completed.

I do this every year it seems.  I need to realize that if I don't get them all done it's not the end of the world.

Today's Run

Another freezing cold day outside (didn't break 0 F today), and so I hit up the dreadmill once again.  I've decided to make it a challenge - to see if I can get in 3 miles in the 25 minutes I have to run during my lunch.  Today I ran 2.95 miles in 25 minutes, for an average pace of 8:28.  0.1 miles more than on Monday.  I'm hoping it will be warmer on Saturday.  I miss running outside.

I am a meat popsicle

Another freezing cold day - didn't get above 0 F again, and it's not supposed to warm up at all until the end of the week, if then.  One of the first things a person learns when moving to the Great White North is to not trust the weather forecast, even for that day...

I spent most of Sunday afternoon trying to buy a snowblower, for my back and sanity's sake, but not surprisingly the stock in the local stores was pretty depleted.  I have decided which make and model I want to get; now I just have to harass the wonderful workers at the local Home Depot until they get one in stock.

All was not lost, however - while shopping at the mall I discovered that a Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream store opened in the food court!  There are times when I miss Madison a lot, and one of those times is when I want some really good food.  Chocolate Shoppe is based in Madison, and the ice cream is SO GOOD.  It appears I'll be going to the mall more often now.

Today's Run

Today I went to the Y on my lunch to hit up the dreadmill, since I wasn't in the mood to freeze more than I already had this morning.  To my delight I made it to the Y, got in a 25 minute run, and got back to work in about an hour.  Once the interstate is open again I may even be able to get in 30 minutes!  Today I ran 2.85 miles in 25:00, for an average pace of 8:46.  I am feeling more confident with running on a treadmill, but I'm still not ready to really push myself quite yet.

There's a reason I like running outside

The snow finally stopped, and I have pretty much dug (or been dug - the kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me) out.  Grand total of about 2 feet over 3 days.  And now it's predicted to snow tomorrow... I guess my shopping trip for a snow blower tomorrow can be considered good or ill timing.

But after the snow came the cold.  Today the temperature did not get above 0 F, and the wind chill was pretty horrendous.  It is my personal policy to not run outside when the air temperature is below 0 F, mainly for my safety and also for my own comfort.  But I really, really REALLY hate running on treadmills.  I like to call them dreadmills - I actively dread using one.  Which probably doesn't help matters at all, but I digress.

You see, I like to wander about when I'm running - I don't go in a straight line, I meander side to side as the mood strikes me.  I speed up and slow down a lot, sometimes just because, sometimes I see something that interests me, whatever the reason.  This type of running is not conducive at all to running on a treadmill.  Add to that the shear boredom of staring at the same place for 30 minutes, an hour, what-have-you...  I have to mentally force myself to keep going; typical thoughts are "Just get through this song, and you'll be 3 minutes closer to being done."  I guess that's another thing about the dreadmill that I don't like - I can't let my mind just wander to whatever strikes my fancy.  I need to focus on not meandering side to side, or speeding up or slowing down, or having to wipe the copious amounts of sweat from my face and neck.

But I need to run.  I need to move.  And if Mother Nature isn't cooperating, the dreadmill it is.  The only thing worse would be running the indoor track at the Y - I'd only have to play NASCAR over fifty billion loops to get a mile in *shudder*

Today's Run

Today I ran on the treadmill at the Y for 6.33 miles in 57:00 minutes (my body gave out after moving for 60 minutes - 3 minutes of warm-up, and 57 minutes of running) for an average pace of 9:00.  I have to be careful to not go too fast on a dreadmill, as I have tripped over my own feet before while dreadmilling, and falling off one of those things is not fun at all, especially when the back is about 2 feet from a wall with a big window.  If I'm going to have to do this a lot this winter, my pace is going to go down A LOT, which isn't the end of the world but disappointing considering the amount of progress I had made...

Ugh

I would normally be posting about something that has happened or that I've done in the last couple of days, and then about my weekday run.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, and today was Day 3 of The Storm That Will Never End.  There's been probably close to 2 feet of snow so far, and hopefully it will be done now.  I ended up leaving work early because I was concerned I wouldn't be able to make it home, and I'm glad I did because the roads got worse and worse as the day progressed.

Over the past three days, I'm pretty sure I shoveled for about 5 hours (two hours yesterday and three hours today); that even includes a neighbor guy coming and helping me clear my driveway with his four-wheeler TWICE.  I basically gave up on getting everything cleared tonight as the snow was still falling and drifting right at the end of my driveway.  Which isn't the end of the world as I had to park my car on the street and it's buried there from the plows and graders going by.

In the end, it's not the end of the world that I didn't get in my normal run today; The Boy and I are safe at home.  But it has made me a bit grumpy.

AND it's winter.

Today started the first big snowfall, one that is supposed to last three days.  Followed by bitter cold (highs below zero - yikes!).  I spent a lot of time running through snow last winter/earlier this year, so running in the snow doesn't bother me too much.  It's like running in sand - except cold and wet.  I have a feeling my calves will be sore tomorrow though.

In a rare twist, I was the recipient of some neighborly kindness tonight.  I went out after dinner to begin the epic process of shoveling my driveway and sidewalk, when a man pulled up on a four wheeler with a blade attached and asked if he could plow out my driveway for me.  Of course I said yes!  I didn't get his name or where he lived though, so hopefully I'll see him again so I can thank him with cookies or something.  But this is the bigger question - where was he last winter?!?!

And on the countdown front, it's 200 days until Grandma's.  I think I will be ready.

Today's Run

Today I ran in my neighborhood, starting at Barbado's house, for 3.35 miles in 30:01, for an average pace of 8:58.  I still went up the Big Hill, which was especially treacherous since it wasn't plowed yet, and my pace showed it - I was down to over 14:00 min/miles at one point.  And I only twisted my ankle once, tripping over a catch basin casting that was really sunk down.  I just hope I'll be able to go out for a run on Wednesday...

Full of awesome

My fun-filled birthday weekend in the Cities is over, and it went by way too quickly, as these things so often do.  There was good food, good conversation, a museum... and meeting the BF Barbado's youngest sister and her boyfriend, who are pretty darn cool too.

I also used my new Shiny for the first time on Saturday.  Normally I will map out my run in advance, so I have an idea of where I'm going, what turns to make, how long I'll be out, etc.  This weekend I decided to step out of my comfort zone and just get out and run.  The whole Minneapolis metro area has an amazing trail system, and Barbado's sister lives near some at Lake Calhoun, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to just run and not think about my path.  And it was just a great run - even though I got very little sleep the run was easy and I felt so good when I was done.  There were so many people out running, even on a Saturday morning at the end of November pretty early in the morning (I headed out at about 7:30 AM).  It was just one great thing during an absolutely amazing weekend.

Now to the important part - my thoughts on the Shiny.  So here's my lists:

Pros:

• Easy to use - one button to get it out of power save mode, one button to start, one button to stop.  Can't ask for anything more.
• Quick connection to satellites - took way less than a minute for it to connect
• Easy to read - I had no problems reading the display while I was moving.  The numbers were clear and large enough to make out
• Easy to upload the data - more on this part later 

Cons:

• Lap noise too quiet - I missed it notifying me of hitting a mile mark a couple of times because the beeping noise was a little quiet
• A little bulky - it is almost a little too big for my wrist to be worn as a casual watch, which I decided to do so I wouldn't lose it in my luggage

The Cons definitely don't outweigh the Pros for this watch.  And the absolute best part is all the data you get to see when you upload your run to the Garmin Connect website.  Not only is there a map of where you ran, but there is the pace information, elevation information, lap information, and even weather information.  And there's graphs!

Graphs!  Numbers are awesome!

I will even have the ability to compare runs, save routes as courses, and probably many other things that I haven't figured out yet.  This is definitely what I was looking for when I was researching buying this watch, and I am afraid I may spend many hours obsessing with all the data provided.

Yesterday's Run

Yesterday I ran 6.65 miles around Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles in 57:59, for an average pace of 8:43.  My slowest average miles were Mile 5 (surprising), followed by Mile 2 (expected - I always feel like I crap on the second mile of any run).  I can't wait to compare this run to my next "long" run; I have a feeling there will be a lot of differences as this route was very flat and Duluth is not.

Also, for the year, I have run a total of 518 miles, just about half a mile short of my total for 2012.  Which means that pretty much all the miles I put on in the month of December will be above and beyond what I did last year.  Yay me!

Happy birthday me!

37 years ago today, the world was graced with my presence, and I'm still going strong.

Here's hoping the next year is full of wonder and amazing experiences and, of course, amazing mistakes.

Oh, and I will be using my shiny for the first time tomorrow. As I am in the Cities I may not be posting about my thoughts right away, but I have high hopes!

Happy Turkey Day!

It's the official American holiday of overindulgence, so of course that means I ran a race this morning. This is the second time I've run the Gobble Gallop 5k here in Duluth, and I must say the first time was a better experience than this time.  Some thoughts on this race:

• There were a LOT of people out for this race, over 2000.  Which wouldn't necessarily be a problem, but the walkers and runners were in one big group, so I spent a good portion of my time bobbing and weaving around the walkers.  Which is no good when in the back of your mind you want to PR...
• The swag was pretty nice.  Runners got a really nice long sleeve tech shirt, which is good for winter running, and some coupons to local stores.  I especially appreciate the $20 off a new pair of running shoes.
• The route was flat and fast, as it was down and back on Superior Street.  Which would have been good for a PR, but see bullet #1
• I didn't partake in any of the post-race food and beverages, as I was a meat popsicle and just wanted to get inside. But from what I understand it was fruit, bagels, water and coffee.  Pretty standard fare.
• One huge bonus is the race offered free child care during the race on a first-come-first-served basis.  I have never seen another race offer this, and I was grateful for this as I did not have anyone to watch The Boy.  He said he had a good time as well.
• The price was a bit high for a 5k, at $30 for the registration with the tech shirt.  Part of the proceeds go to the Second Harvest Food Bank, which kinda makes it worth it.

I'm not sure if I'll do this one in the future, as the whole walkers not lining up at the rear thing kinda pissed me off.  Plus the price is at the top end of what I want to spend for a 5k.  Besides that it was put together well and is a race Duluthians need to try at least once.

As for this holiday, I am thankful for so many things in my life.  I great job that allows me to work a normal schedule and still provide for my family.  A roof over my head, and food in my belly.  Friends and family that care for me, and that I care for in return.  And this year, I am most thankful that I met a special someone, someone that is truly amazing and that I am so extremely happy to have in my life.

Today's Run

Today I ran a 5k (approximately 3.1 miles) in XX:XX 24:11, for an average pace of X:XX 7:47.  I started a bit back in the pack, and did not see the clock as I was passing the finish line, so I have to wait for the official results to know how I did.  Which feels weird and is liberating at the same time.  It was extremely cold out this morning, and the wind was brutal.  And I saw a lot of people from last spring's running group at the race, and it was nice to catch up with all of them.

*Update 11/28/2013: Just got an email with the official results.  Definitely not a PR, but way better than I thought I had done.

I am unlimited.

SHINY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had some bad stuff happen last night (not super bad, just emotional bad) and so I couldn't be bothered with writing this post last night.  But now it's early, and it's a new day, so I will push all the negative away.

Before all the crap, this came via my friends in the brown truck:

Shiny! Shiny! Shiny!

The setup was super duper easy.  And even though it's a bit bigger, it is actually smaller than I thought it would be (my wrists are on the smaller size).  Before I use it I want to figure out the whole Garmin website upload thingie, which is hopefully super easy as well.  I did read something in the rather sparse manual that has me a bit concerned - you're not supposed to use it when it's below -4 F.  Is that air temperature or wind chill?  Because I do go out when it's below zero wind chill...

Yesterday's Run

Yesterday was a bit of angry running, around the neighborhood and down the Big Hill.  Normally my angry running has me going a lot faster, but as it was getting dark out (I also had someone in a car yell at me for not wearing enough reflective clothing - super awesome) since I got started a lot later than I had wanted to I kept it a bit of an average pace.  Yesterday I ran approximately 3.6 miles in 30:20, for an average pace of 8:24.  As I am running a race on Thursday, my first opportunity to use the Shiny will be on Saturday, and I am really looking forward to it! 

Bits and pieces

Today feels like a list kind of day...

1. Went to the Y with Roja on Thursday to do the Core Challenge class.  But the teacher was a no call/no show so that didn't happen.  I feel slightly ripped off, but as it is a free class I guess I can't complain too much.  Basically just a waste of time and gas.  I was kinda looking forward to getting my butt kicked a little bit though...
2. The Cookies and Cream Mini Cupcakes were a hit.  Score another one for me.  I'm thinking those will be a good choice for The Boy's first violin recital in a couple of weeks...
3. I ordered my Shiny (aka the Garmin Forerunner mentioned in a previous blog post) on Friday, and I got confirmation that it is guaranteed to arrive on Monday!  Thank you Amazon Prime for your speedy delivery services...
4. I made a Pear Upside Down cake today, just because.  And, man, was it good.

 So much better than the pineapple variety

  

5. I also bought most of the stuff I need for this year's Christmas Cookie Baking Extravaganza. So far the total is around $60, and I haven't gotten any butter yet :-/

 

Today's Run

Holy cold run Batman!  Per the internets, it was about 10 F, with a windchill of -5 F, when I went on my run this morning, but it felt a LOT colder.  My muscles just would not warm up, and I probably could have used a third layer as my skin was bright red from my ribcage to the middle of my thighs when I got back to the Y.  I did find my face mask, which helped a bit with the frozen cheeks, but I still was fighting fogged up glasses.  I don't know if I'm quite ready for the below zero running on a regular basis quite yet...

Today I ran on the Lakewalk from the Y, approximately 6.1 miles in 54:00 for an average pace of 8:47.  Hopefully by this time next week I'll have figured out the shiny and I can be a bit more accurate!  Yay! 

Happy Birthday, Pequena!

Another of my friends, Pequena, is having a birthday tomorrow.  Don't ask me how old she is going to be, because I honestly can't remember.  Age is just a number anyway, right?

So for her birthday, I'm trying out another mini cupcake recipe: Cookies N Cream.  They look like this:

Not the prettiest, but they look damn tasty!

I only hope they: 1) Taste good; 2) Are still good when she comes over on Friday; and 3) There are still some left because I love me some cookies and cream.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure she doesn't read this blog, so the secret is safe.  Even if she doesn't like them, she will be gracious enough to appreciate the effort.

Today's Run

Today was an odd weather day, in that it was well above 40 F when I went for my run before dinner.  Needless to say, I overdressed and was extremely overheated when I was done.  I guess that is better than what it will be like on Saturday, where the high is only supposed to be 15 F.  Today I ran the neighborhood route, down the Big Hill, for about 3.6 miles in 30:30, for an average pace of 8:26.  It did get really dark at the end of my run, so it may be time that I find out if I can take long lunches a couple of days a week so I can run in daylight.

Sleepy

It was a really great weekend for the most part, and so today I'm recovering.  So let's just get down to business...

Today's Run

It took all my willpower to go out for a run tonight; I was tired, it was cold and I was feeling slightly unmotivated.  But I got out there and ran the neighborhood route, up the Big Hill, which sincerely kicked my butt.  I ran approximately 3.5 miles in 31:00, for an average pace of 8:41.  Not too shabby, all things considered.

And now I'm off to bed.

I have the best friends

Last night was my friend Roja and my monthly get-together, AKA Nacho Night.  Roja makes the rice and queso, I usually bring witty conversation or some type of dessert.  Since today is Roja's birthday, I made her a birthday cake for Nacho Night, strawberry with whipped cream frosting.  It was delicious.

I love cake. Not too pretty, but SO GOOD.

Since my birthday is at the end of the month, Roja decided to surprise me with a present last night, since there's a good chance we won't be getting together before then.  And does this girl know me - she got me a digital kitchen scale.  I have seriously wanted one forever - there are so many recipes that call for a certain ingredient by weight, and I just had to wing it with mixed results.  I am so lucky to have her in my life.  For more reasons than she is an awesome gift giver.

Today's Run

I try not to run two days in a row, to give my body a rest, but I didn't really have a choice due to the craziness that was this week.  And it was surprisingly a good run.  My calves are sore right now, but it's not that bad.  Today I ran from the Y down the Lakewalk approximately 6.1 miles in 53:15, for an average pace of 8:40.  Overall I have improved my average pace from 8:46 last week to 8:38 this week.  Not too shabby. And only 28 more miles and I will have run more miles this year than last.  Pretty awesome. 

I hate it when things don't go my way

I have a pretty busy life, and so when I started this journey I decided I would do my runs this winter on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, barring any unforeseen circumstances.  So I've gone running in the cold, and the rain, and the wind, because if I commit to doing something on a certain day then I will do it no matter what.

This week put a crimp in my style, in that I was stuck working until after 5 PM on Wednesday this week.  I was outside working from 8 AM until almost 4:45 PM on a cold, late autumn day (at least it wasn't like the day before, when the wind chills were still in the single digits).  It gets pretty dark pretty early around these parts and the drivers around here suck big time and I feel very uncomfortable running after dark on the roads.  I guess I could have gone to the Y and run on the dreadmill, but I like to do that as only a VERY last resort.

So, I didn't run Wednesday, and I felt slightly guilty.  I didn't run Thursday, as the BF Barbado and I went to the Cities for a concert (which was totally awesome and SO MUCH FUN), and I felt really guilty and a little bit sick about it.  So today, on a day off from work because of the awesome fun-time concert, I went for a run.  And it was way harder than it should have been.  But now I fell much better.

Now I just hope I can get my run in tomorrow.

Today's Run

Today I ran the neighborhood route, down the Big Hill, for a distance of approximately 3.6 miles in 31:10, for an average pace of 8:38.  I hope I get this money that I have coming from a previous job so I can buy my shiny Garmin and get some more accurate numbers...

I have a serious case of beard envy

Today was Veteran's Day, a holiday in which we celebrate the sacrifices of the men and women of the armed services by taking a day off from work.  And it was glorious, in that I actually was able to sleep in for once.  I essentially got paid to sleep.

It was also the coldest day in a very long time, with wind chills in the single digits.  I love running in the winter, but my face does not.  I can keep my body comfortable while on a run pretty easily, but I usually end up with a partially frozen face.  I've tried face masks, but since I wear glasses I end up not being able to see from the steam from my breath.  And I refuse to stick my finger in my eyes to wear contacts.  All this could be solved if I could just grow a beard.  I see these men (BF Barbado included) with all this warm and cozy hair on their faces and I get jealous of their genetics.  Some day I hope to find something to keep my cheeks and nose warm on the coldest days, but until then I will turn super rosy and curse not being hairy.

Today's Run

Today I ran the neighborhood route, up the Big Hill, during what would be my normal working hours so I also got paid to run.  But it was COLD, 23 F with a windchill of 9 F, so it wasn't very pleasant.  I ran approximately 3.5 miles in 30:45, for an average pace of 8:36.  I just hope it will be a bit warmer on Wednesday...

Challenge conquered

On Thursday night my friend Roja and I tried the Core Challenge class again at the Y.  Because we're crazy.  And I think we both wanted to see how much we've improved in the last 2 weeks (I've been lifting weights and she's been doing pilates).  The class was still pretty hard - there were times when I just had to stop doing a certain exercise because I just physically couldn't do it - but we both finished without feeling like we were going to die and, at least for me, I could move normally the next day.  I really like the class.  Unfortunately I won't be able to go this next week (going down to the Cities with BF Barbado), so maybe this will just be an every other week thing for now.  I'm pretty sure if I went every week that in no time I'd be super buff, or at least really strong through my core.

Today's Run

Today I ran the Lakewalk from at the Y again.  This time of year is so hard in that it is really easy to overdress.  Before I left I checked the weather and it was 34 F with a windchill of 25 F, so I decided to wear my lined running pants.  Big mistake.  Thank goodness for moisture-wicking clothes because if I didn't wear them I would have been completely drenched in sweat.  But today's run was awesome - I ran about 6.1 miles in 54:10 for an average pace of 8:49.  That was a whole 2 MINUTES faster than last week.  And this past week I averaged a 8:46 pace, compared to 9:01 for the previous week.  I must be doing something right.  I'm not where I need to be, but at least I can definitely see some improvement. 

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

One of the things that I've been procrastinating on lately is making my list of christmas cookies that I'm going to make and share with my friends and family.  This is a pretty big deal.  I will be spending a lot of time and effort on these packages, and I have heard only compliments on my baked goodies.  So, this year I will be making the following:

• White sugar cutout cookies (decorated by The Boy)
• Ninja-bread cookies (chocolate gingerbread in the shape of ninjas)
• Cranberry oatmeal cookies
• Shortbread cookies
• Brown sugar cherry white chocolate cookies
• Peanut butter kiss cookies
• Holiday ginger cookies
• Spritz cookies
• Jello cookies
• Cream cheese cutout cookies (in the shape of dinosaurs - I need to come up with a good pun yet) - new for this year
• Fudge

As an idea of what I will need to get to make all these, I will need 14 sticks of butter, 5 pounds of sugar, 8 pounds of flour... the list goes on.

But I do it because I love baking.  And I love to see the looks on people's faces when they are enjoying the yummy treats I give them.  And then I also get my baking fix out of the way.... until 2 weeks after christmas when I have to make The Boy's birthday cake.

Today's Run

Today I ran the normal neighborhood route, down the Big Hill.  I've been trying to speed up my turnover, making my running more efficient and faster.  I don't know if it's truly working, but today I ran approximately 3.6 miles in 31:15, for an average pace of 8:39.  I corrected my stride to be more of a mid-foot strike rather than a heal strike; I'm pretty sure I can improve my turnover....

Where did the year go?

It is hard to believe it's already four days into November, even though I keep a pretty thorough calendar that I look at every day.  There is just way too much to do before the end of the year and Christmas celebrations, and shortly after The Boy's birthday.  I'm normally not a procrastinator, but the sheer quantity of things left to do has left me paralyzed.

In other news, I spent a goodly amount of time in my attic over the weekend adding insulation, in the hopes of possibly lowering my heating bill this winter.  Crawl space attics are DEFINITELY not for people over 3 feet tall.

Today's Run

I was originally going to try a new route for today's run, but as I was leaving work I realized two things: 1) trying a new route in the rain could be a bad idea, and 2) now that it's no longer Daylight Savings Time it gets dark EARLY.  So I ran the normal neighborhood route, up the Big Hill.  Today I ran approximately 3.5 miles in 31:30, for an average pace of 8:49.  Not too shabby.

The Internets ARE good for something...

One of the things I have been trying to work on for a long time is to get out there and meet people; specifically to meet and date people.  This is especially hard when working full time and being a mom full time, and living in a place that is a bit limited in social opportunities.

My good friend Roja has, pretty much since I met her, tried to convince me to try online dating.  She has gone on some nice dates, and some not-so-nice ones, and was even dating someone exclusively for quite a few months.  After our last Nacho Night, she basically peer pressured me into creating a profile on one of the online dating sites.  And as Mr. Gaiman says, I need to be willing to make mistakes in all aspects of my life, including love, which for me has been the hardest area in my life to be willing to put myself out there and be ok with making a mistake.

When I tried to sign up for an account it turned out that I had apparently created one quite a few years ago B.C. (Before Child).  And I don't remember doing it.  Luckily I didn't really do anything with the account, so there weren't any horrible photos or profile statements to get rid of.  One thing that amazed me was the sheer quantity of apparently single men in this town.  And the creepy things they feel they can send to a girl in a message.  But it wasn't all bad...

I redid my profile on a Sunday.  I got a really nice message from a guy, let's call him Barbado, on the next day, Monday.  On Friday of that week we had our first date.

And I have disabled my online dating profile.  Barbado is pretty amazing.  We have a lot in common, and we have a lot of fun together.

Now, if I can only guilt trip him into running with me... :-)

Today's Run

Today I dropped The Boy off for his Gym & Swim class, and I went for a run on the Lakewalk.  It was an OK run, but I think my body is adjusting to adding more workouts to my week and so my pace isn't where I'd like it to be.  Today I ran about 6.1 miles in 56:10, for an average pace of 9:08.

For the month of October I ran a total of about 54.5 miles, spending over 8 hours running.  Not too shabby.  For the year, after today's run, I have a total of about 465 miles in, and will need 54 more miles to surpass last year's total!

Ooh! Shiny!

After hours and hours of research, I have decided on the GPS running watch that I wish to purchase.

I went into this whole thing with an open mind, without a prejudice for brand or model.  The more I read, and the more I talked to people, the consensus was that Garmin makes the best GPS running watches out there.  They are more likely to connect and hold onto satellites, and provides the kind of data I'm looking for.

As for the specific model of Garmin I have decided to purchase, I wanted something that wasn't too basic, but that didn't have so many bells and whistles that it would piss me off and I'd stop using it.  And so, I would like to present my new shiny toy that I hope to get before the end of November:

Shiny!

This is the Garmin Forerunner 110.  It will show your distance, time, average pace for the last mile, average pace overall, and heartrate if you wear the heartrate monitor (which I probably won't).  I like that it doesn't appear to be so huge that it will be like wearing a 5 pound weight on my wrist, and that it is controlled by easily pressed buttons, which will be useful when wearing gloves in the winter.  I haven't been able to find any information on how it will hold up in the cold, but I'm hoping that it will since I will be out when it's up to -10F windchill (or even colder depending on other factors).

Today's Run

Today was rainy and drizzly, and I ran the same route as Monday as I couldn't be bothered to do anything else.  I'm still chilled, and it's been hours and it really wasn't that cold.  Today I ran up the Big Hill, approximately 3.5 miles, in 31:45, for an average pace of 8:52.  Better than Monday, but I know I can move it much faster up that stupid Big Hill...

*Insert witty title here*

The past few days have been a blur of activity, and my brain isn't up to the challenge of being witty.  I went to the Y on Sunday and did my first ActiveTrax workout; I'm normally a take-charge kind of person, but being told exactly what exercises to do and how much was kinda nice.  I'm going to do the second workout tomorrow. I'm hoping to see some strength improvement in a couple of weeks.

And since I haven't posted a picture recently, I hope you enjoy this little thing I found on the Internets:

Hahahahahahaha!  Oh wait, after next summer I'll be one of those people...

Next post I'll write about the GPS running watch that I've decided to buy.  Yay!

Today's Run

Today I ran the neighborhood run, up the Big Hill.  And, like last time, I ran the 3.5 miles in 31:55, for an average pace of 8:56.  I think for my next run I'm going to change things up a bit, try a different route outside my neighborhood.  I'm not disappointed, I just think I need change in my shorter runs.

It wouldn't be called a "challenge" if it weren't difficult

On Thursday, my friend Roja and I decided to try out this group exercise class at the Y called "Core Challenge." I'm usually not a big group exercise kind of person, at least not historically, but this one sounded interesting.  And since I am trying to Do Something, going outside of my comfort zone and attending this class sounded like a good opportunity.  It didn't hurt that I had a partner in crime...

Holy cow, for a class that is listed as for Everyone/Advanced it was HARD!  I did not think I was that out of shape but there were times that I thought my muscles would give out and I'd collapse on the mat, looking like a fool and whimpering in pain.  But I made it through, and am only suffering a little bit today... I think before I try the class again I'm going to have to hit the weight machines in the wellness center a few times.  But when I wasn't dying from exertion it was pretty fun and, yes, challenging.

Today's Run

I decided to go for a run today, take it pretty easy, just to get my muscles moving and not so stiff.  For the most part it worked, except my right hamstring would not loosen up, which caused my right quad to start yelling at me.  By the end I was OK, so I'm just going to have to take it easy this afternoon.  Today I ran about 6.1 miles on the Lakewalk from the Y in about 56:45, for an average pace of 9:14.

I'b fibe, thanks for asking

After over a month of keeping the plague at bay, I got sick with a nasty head cold this week, courtesy of The Boy.  If they weren't so damn cute...

Anyway, even though I've spent the last 36 hours or so blowing my nose pretty much constantly I've managed to still do the things I wanted to this week.  I finished up my orientation thingie at the Y on Tuesday night, and I'm pretty excited about their computerized make-a-workout program.  You click a few buttons, and a computer tells you what strengthening exercises you should do.  I've decided to start out with an endurance program, alternating the focus between the upper and lower body.  And I got my run in this afternoon before dinner, which was all I had planned for today.  Thank goodness for Cold-Eeze, vitamin C, and tons of water for being able to kick this thing in the butt.  So far at least...

Today's Run

Today I did the neighborhood run, down the Big Hill, in what I felt was a pretty easy pace, considering I'm possibly dying.  I ran about 3.6 miles in 32:10, or an average pace of 8:54.  Which is a faster average pace than Monday, but on Monday I ran UP the Big Hill, so that does make a difference.  And there is nothing worse than breathing in cold air through a nose that has been rubbed raw by constant kleenex use.  Or nothing worse right now.

I'm not ready yet.

Busy weekend again, but with less driving.  The Boo at the Zoo was a success, with The Boy coming away with a good haul.  And the costume was a hit too.  So win-win all around.

Yesterday I went to the Y to do my initial orientation with the Wellness Center.  It was pretty awesome.  I remembered a lot of how to do the individual strength exercises, and the person helping me is also a runner, so she gave me some good pointers on which areas to focus on, etc.  My going to the gym and Doing Something in regards to getting some strength back, and hopefully getting to be a better runner, is looking pretty good right now.

Also this weekend we carved the second, and final, jack o lantern.  It is a spooky spider.  I think it is pretty awesome.

I think he's ready to be smooshed

So I feel I'm 2 for 2 with awesome jack o lanterns.  They are both hanging out on my front porch right now.  Here's hoping some neighborhood brat doesn't come along and smash them...

Today's Run

There is one word to describe today's run: COLD.  With a temperature of 34F, and a windchill of 23, it was definitely the coldest run in quite a while. Since (pause while I check my log....) the beginning of May, I believe.  I haven't been as fastidious this year with tracking the temperatures as in previous years.  Today I ran the neighborhood route, up the Big Hill, for approximately 3.5 miles in 31:55, for an average pace of 8:56.  I'm not ready for winter yet. 

Way past my bedtime

Just a quick post today.... went and hung out with my very good friend Roja tonight, and so I had a really good time and am going to bed later than my normal 9 PM pass out time :-)

Today's Run

Between The Boy's violin lesson and going over to see Roja I did a quick run through the neighborhood, down the Big Hill.  I ran about 3.6 miles in 31:15, for an average pace of 8:39.  Funny thing: I ran the exact same mileage last week, and it took my a whole minute less this week compared to last.  Pretty stinking cool, I think.

Introducing Fatty Batty

I stopped really enjoying Halloween after graduating from college.  I remember having tons of fun dressing up in costumes and getting candy as a little kid - my favorite costume that I remember was being a Care Bear, the one with the rainbow on his belly.  And then in college, at the amazing University of Wisconsin - Madison, Halloween was a big ol' party, back before you had to pay to go down State Street and they had bands play in Library Mall for free and out-of-towners didn't ruin the drunken frivolity.  After that, there was many years of apathy and keeping the lights off so the little brats wouldn't come begging for free stuff....

Now, I am finding joy again in all things Halloween through The Boy.  This is the first year he's been really excited about dressing up, and checking out all the spooky things like witches and bats and zombies.  We got two pumpkins to carve into jack-o-lanterns, and we did the first one last night.  Ok, you got me - I did most of the work because he's too young to use one of those carving tools.  But he picked out the pattern for this first pumpkin.  The pattern is called Fatty Batty, and it wasn't too hard to do.

I'm a spooky bat - BOO!

I really hate to admit it, but I had a lot of fun scooping out the guts and carving out the shapes.  I even didn't mind smelling like pumpkin the rest of the night, because The Boy was so happy with the results.

One more pumpkin left to carve.  The Boy wants that one to be a Creeper, to match his Halloween costume.  I think I might try to convince him that we should do a cat.  :-)

Today's Run

I went back out to the Munger Trail to do a long run, since my weekend is going to be filled with all things Halloween and I won't have time to get a long run in then.  Same route, slightly better time.  Today I ran about 6.3 miles in 55:45, for an average pace of 8:50.  And I am very happy to say that I cut out the 10 seconds from last time on the way out - and up the hill.  Yay me! 

It's fun to stay there, you know

Super long weekend, with over 8 hours driving and way too much family time.  Well, not too much I guess, but after a while I just wanted to get home.

When I signed up to do the full marathon, I realized that I would need to do more than just put in miles if I wanted it to be a successful race, one that I would look back upon with no regrets.  I fully realize that I rely way too much on my legs to propel me through my runs, and that I need to do some major work strengthening my core in order to take my running to the next level.  So today I went down to my local YMCA and got a family membership for me and The Boy.  There are a couple of classes I'm thinking of taking, and maybe just go and pump some iron on occasion.  But it feels good to be Doing Something and maybe I will find my running getting easier with the added strength.

Today's Run

After the weekend of eating way too much, and way too much bad stuff (over-processed restaurant food), I needed to get in a run today.  It was drizzly and cold, but I got in my neighborhood run going up the Big Hill.  Said Big Hill really kicked my ass today, though.  Today I ran about 3.5 miles in 32:00, for an average pace of 8:57.  But in the end it felt really good to get out there and pound the pavement.

On the road again

Going out of town with The Boy this weekend, not returning until later in the day on Monday.  We will be going to see family, so it should be good and bad at the same time.  Hopefully mostly good.  It will be nice to get away for a while, as long as The Boy doesn't decide to have mega-attitude.

So, no running this weekend, and no blog posts.  I'm hoping I get back Monday, and hopefully the weather and other circumstances allow me to at least get a run through the neighborhood in....

And no research yet on a potential GPS watch.  Yesterday was the monthly investment club meeting, and tonight I just can't be bothered.  Maybe soon.

Today's Run

Today I did the neighborhood run, up the Big Hill.  The wind was a constant, but not ridiculous strong like last week.  I ran about 3.5 miles in 31:30, for an average pace of 8:49.  I felt like I was going really slowly, but overall the pace was pretty good, and I was not dead at the top of the Big Hill, which is nice too.  The stats so far are:
This week: 13.5 miles
This month: 20.5 miles
This year: 425 miles

There's a support group for pretty much everything, right?

Hi.  My name is Erin, and I'm obsessed with numbers.

(This is where you say "Hi, Erin!")

I can't tell you when this obsession with numbers started, but it's been around as long as I can remember.  When I was really little, I remember carefully laying out and counting everything, from toys to bugs to you-name-it.  I was the first person in my combined second-third grade class (I was in second grade) to memorize the whole multiplication table.  I was the first to tackle fractions.  I remember being bored at work in high school and converting the prices of the Levi's I was supposed to be selling from decimal to binary to hexadecimal and back to decimal.  I finished two semesters of calculus at a university while I was still in high school (not that stupid AP test crap they now pass off as college credits - I actually had to physically go to the university and take the classes with the other college students), and would have done more but the school district wouldn't let me.

My obsession with numbers has morphed into trying to track any and all statistics about my life as accurately as possible.  My monthly budget is calculated to the penny.  I keep track of all calories I take in and burn off.  I track my running mileage and paces to the best of my ability.

The last item is the one that causes me the biggest problem.  As mentioned before, I keep track of my running routes on the WalkJogRun website, and have a cheapy knock-off Timex watch to keep track of my time.  The problem I have been running into lately (pun definitely not intended) is things like going on the trail runs on Wednesday nights, where the route isn't easily mapped out online, or wanting to know how my pace drops off when I run up the Big Hill in my neighborhood, or even the idea that a running friend said that for a full marathon I really should pace myself so I don't go all bunny rabbit and start out too fast and not be able to finish the race.

And as such I have decided to Do Something and I am going to buy myself a GPS watch for a birthday/xmas present to myself.  I haven't gotten one so far because of the following reasons/excuses: I don't want to have it become a crutch and I can't just run without one; they are way too expensive given what they are; and they are not accurate enough to appease my obsession.  I have over a month and a half to do my research and pick a GPS watch that will satisfy all my needs, and hopefully not cost too much.  And one thing I like almost as much as numbers is doing research on stuff.  So win/win!

Today's Run

Today was the last weekday trail run; however, I realized with my busy week today would be the only day I could get in a long run, and so I decided against the trail run.  Instead I went out to my old stomping grounds and did an out-and-back on the Munger Trail.  The trail is mostly fixed, and so it was a nice, paved run for the most part.  Today I ran about 6.3 miles in 55:55, for an average pace of 8:52.  I ran the out part in 29:30, or 9:22 pace; I ran the back part in 26:25, or 8:23 pace.  I forgot how onerous the gradual uphill out part of the run was, but overall it was good to get those miles in.  Even if I missed the last weekday trail run.  But there's always next spring...

The leaves they are a-changin'

I have a hard time deciding which season I like better - autumn or spring.  For the most part I like autumn better because it is the end of the sticky heat of the summer.  The spring is nice, too, because of everything starting to turn green from mucky browns and grays.  Either way, I am really happy to live somewhere that still has four distinct seasons, even if sometimes some of them are way too short.

I am also happy that I have a job that lets me get oot and aboot pretty often.  Here are some photos of where I ended up today:

 I like how the one really orangey-red tree is peaking out from behind the others

The St. Louis River - and some of the trees changing colors in the background

I hope the leaves aren't completely gone by the time The Boy and I can get out and explore, probably in a couple of weeks.  I'm amazed all the leaves aren't gone from the winds this past weekend...

Today's Run

Today I ran the neighborhood loop in reverse, going down the Big Hill to change things up a bit.  I was feeling pretty icky, so I kept the pace pretty easy.  Today I ran about 3.6 miles in about 32:35, for an average pace of 9:01.  Nothing else really to say. 

Everything is better when it's mini-sized

I have been obsessed with the idea of making mini cupcakes for a while now, ever since I found an article in some magazine about taking a vanilla or chocolate base batter and making a variety of mini cupcakes out of them.  Last weekend I finally caved in and bought a mini muffin tin, and today I made my first batch of mini cupcakes:

We're tiny and we look delicious!

These are peanut butter cup mini cupcakes.  They are a vanilla batter with chopped up peanuts and mini chocolate chips folded into the batter, topped with a peanut butter buttercream frosting and pieces of mini Reese's peanut butter cups.  I have not tried any of the finished product, as I despise peanut butter and chocolate together (separate they are delicious, but together it makes me want to gag - yes, I am that weird).  The Boy, however, will most likely love these as A) he LOVES mini cupcakes, and will eat them in one bite; and B) he LOVES peanut butter and chocolate together.  I said he could try one (or probably more since I spoil him so) after dinner.  Or maybe for a snack this afternoon if he takes a good long nap.

Anywho, there's nothing better than baking on a cold, miserable day.  And it is cold and miserable out - the wind is still so strong that it's making my house rattle, and it is raining on and off to add the the yuckiness.  So glad I decided to go for a run yesterday!

Tomorrow, forecasted to be another cold and miserable day, will be Sunday Muffins and crock pot chili - yum!

The lesser of two evils

I realize this phrase is usually the realm of politics, and this would be a good time to talk about this country's stupid politicians, but I'm too tired to be bothered.  I made the choice of not doing my normal longer run on Saturday and instead do a neighborhood run today.  The choice was between torrential rain and cold and wind (tomorrow) or cold and super windy (today), and I chose what is the lesser of two evils to my weary body and mind, and chose to run today.

Maybe someday I'll delve into politics.  But not today.

Today's Run

I ran the 3.5 mile, up the Big Hill route in my neighborhood today.  I tried to use my cheapy watch to figure out my pace going up the Big Hill, but the value I got seemed way off, so I'm not going to trust it and will try to get it the next time I go on this route.  The sustained winds during my run was about 25 mph, with gusts upwards of 40 mph.  Needless to say there were times when it felt like I was standing still.  But if the forecast holds out and it is raining tomorrow along with the wind and cold, I feel like I made the right choice.  Today I ran about 3.5 miles in approximately 32:00, for an average pace of 8:57.

If it doesn't rain tomorrow I will be pissed.

Singing in the rain

I wasn't going to post anything except for info on my run today, because I've had a pretty bad couple of days at work.  Today I had decided early on that I was going to go to the Wednesday night trail run, especially considering the rain was supposed to hold off and there was a slight chance this almost-friend was going to show up.  The almost-friend didn't show up and the rain started on the drive over.... but you know what?  I had a lot of fun.  I am not fast at all on the trails, but it doesn't matter because running with a group through the woods refreshes me.  At one point I couldn't see because my glasses were all fogged up and I missed the turn I was supposed to make, but I didn't freak out because running with a group through the woods revitalizes my soul.  I was completely soaked from head to foot when I was done, but it didn't matter because running through the woods with a group makes all the bad shit go away.

And I feel pretty hard core for getting out there and actually doing the run, in the down-pouring rain, and NOT falling.  Trail running has definitely helped me become lighter on my feet when running, which is pretty awesome.

And I am ready to go to work tomorrow, and have it be a good day.

Today's Run

Today I ran 6k on trails in the pouring rain (and had fun doing it) in 34:10, for an average pace of 9:29.  I am OK with not being that fast on trails because that means I'm not falling and hurting myself.  Unfortunately, the last weekday run is next week, and I feel I will miss them a little bit.  But there's always next spring.

I hate it when my Tea Bag is right.

This morning, after I found the official race times from Saturday's race online, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  For some reason, averaging an 8:00 mile compared to a 7:58 mile made me feel like crap.  I needed to get some more caffeine before the morning's meetings, when my tea decided it needed to tell me something:

"Share your strengths, not your weaknesses"

Damn you, Tea Bag!  Of course, you're right, I need to focus on my accomplishments, not my perceived weaknesses.  It was just 4 seconds difference, and it didn't affect my overall finished placement.

So, yay me!  I got another medal, and it is awesome.    And no one can take that away from me.

Today's Run

Today we all headed down to Canal Park because The Boy wanted to throw rocks in the Big Lake.  Which was nice, because I got to switch it up and do my run on the Lakewalk.  Today I ran about 4 miles in 34:50, for an average pace of 8:38.  I have a feeling it's all downhill temperature-wise, as it was almost too warm for a nice run by the lake.  And I'm probably the only person around here that will say that, but I really do hate sweating.

Why is this place so damn hilly?

Today I ran my first race since the half at Grandma's in June.  I did do a fun run in August - and it was fun - but I wasn't try to place or PR or anything like that.  So how did I do?

Silver is my favorite metal - besides platinum, of course

Yes, I got second place in my division.  Pretty darn respectable I think, especially since I have never been very good at 5k's.   My observations for this race (I'm a sucker for a list):

• The website stated all registrants would get a long-sleeved tech shirt.  What they provided was long-sleeved, but it was definitely not a tech shirt.  It was a pretty cheap, thin cotton shirt.  AND they ran out of women's shirts.  AND they were safety yellow (yuck). So I just got a shirt for The Boy and called it good.  At least they were good about letting me get a size that I didn't register for.
• The route was nice in that it went for a good part by the St. Louis River (hence River Run).  But there were a lot of loops and, man, was it hilly.  The hills there's nothing you can do about.  I would think they would try to make a course that didn't go in circles quite so much.
• The post-race food was damn nice - water, gatorade, fruit, yogurt, bagels, granola bars, and I don't know what else.  Way more than you'd expect for a local 5k.
• The price was extremely reasonable - $20 if you pre-registered.  Not too shabby.

Overall, it was worth it to try it out.  And the proceeds went to a good cause - the tech and wellness fund for the local elementary school.  Would I do it again?  Maybe, but there are a lot of good runs in September up here that I'd like to try before I'd do this one again.

Today's Run

Today I ran 5k (or approximately 3.1 miles) in an official time of 24:47 24:51, for an average pace of 7:58 8:00.  Going out was pretty much downhill, so I did the first mile in 7:15.  Coming back, well, I pretty much died on the uphill so that brought my average pace WAY down.  But it was good enough for 2nd in my division so I got another medal.  Yay!  Not a PR though; my best 5k time was 23:52.  Boo. :-(

And with today's run I have officially hit 400 miles run this year.  And I have over 3 months to add on another 119 and beat last year's total mileage.  I think I can do it...

Update (9/30/2013): The official results were posted online and were slightly different than the results posted post-race; unfortunately the final result was a few seconds slower.  Didn't change the placing, so I guess I can't be too disappointed. 

Over the River and Through the Woods, Take Dos

As you can guess by the title, tonight I tried trail running again.  Granted, I'm not 100% healed from the tumble I took last time I went, but I wanted to see if maybe I could do this thing and enjoy it without getting hurt.  I was having fun before the tree attacked me, so why not?  The weather was pretty gross again (53F with a relative humidity of 99%), but it had been dry the last couple of days so I couldn't use super muddy trails as an excuse.  So I went.  And it was fun.  And I didn't fall.  The run was in the Superior Municipal Forest on some cross country ski trails. Just a few observations:

1. The drive there blew.  The road into the forest is gravel, and it was so washboarded that I couldn't drive faster than 10 mph without my car feeling and sounding like it was going to fall apart.
2. Those that know Superior,WI know that it's pretty much flat as a pancake.  So I wasn't expecting the Hills From Hell on this trail run.  Those damn cross country skiers really like their steep uphills and downhills, don't they?
3. The two times I've done these trail runs I look for this guy I used to work with before the race begins and never see him.  And then, when I'm on the last stretch of the run I pass him while he's going back out again.  I think he's doing this just to mess with my head.

It wasn't my fastest run by far, but I am pretty proud of myself.  I was too scared to run down the hills, so I did this hopping walk on the way down, and every time a couple of people would pass me.  But on the uphill I would kick it into gear and pass them all on the way to the top.  Toward the end there were a bunch of people walking up the hills, and I was still chugging away.  I guess running the Big Hill in my neighborhood is really working out. :-)

Today's Run

The trail run today was listed as 5 miles, but I swear it had to be more.  I have no way to know for sure because a) I don't have a GPS watch and b) I'm not 100% sure exactly where I ran to map it out on WalkJogRun.  So I have to go with the "official" distance of 5 miles, and I finished in 46:30, for an average pace of 9:18, which I think is pretty damn good considering I walked down all the hills and finished really strong.  My quads are going to be killing me tomorrow from putting on the brakes so much, but I didn't fall so I consider it a wash.

Overall, I think I kinda like trail running, especially on courses that are less technical like the one that was run tonight.  It also helps that I knew if I fell it wouldn't hurt as much as it was almost all grass.  I think I may just try another, for shits and giggles, as they say.

Maybe Buzz Buzzard got him

Out on the jobsite today, I found this:

Definitely won't be laughing anymore

Yes, that is a dead woodpecker on a pipe.  That pretty much sums up my day in a nutshell.  The thoughts that went through mind when I saw poor Woody:

• Wow, how long has he been dead?
• Who in the world would pick that up and put it on this pipe?
• I have to get a picture of this to send to friend Profesora.

So I took the picture, and went on my merry way.  And promptly forgot about the picture until the afternoon when he came up on my work phone like the scary, half-decomposed thing that he is.

Today's Run

Around the neighborhood and up the Big Hill, but added a couple of blocks to get a little more distance.  I just have a cheapy knock-off Timex with a stop watch function, so I can only get total time and I can do "laps" (which I sometimes do if I go out and back to see if I negative split the halves), so when I saw my total time I was disappointed.  However, when I put my time of 31:40 (I always round to the nearest 5 seconds on my non-race runs) into my WalkJogRun route for today's run of approximately 3.5 miles, I got an average pace of 8:52, which was better than the last time I ran around the neighborhood for a shorter distance but still up the Big Hill.  I have to wonder how much slogging up the Big Hill slows down my average pace... I think I'd have to do some shenanigans to get the watch to help me figure that one out though.  Might be worth it though...

Happy Autumnal Equinox! (A Day Early)

Tomorrow is officially the first day of Autumn, after which the days get shorter and the nights get longer.  It seems as I get older that the days and weeks and months get shorter and shorter; it feels like the snow finally all melted yesterday.  Granted, there was snow a lot later than "normal" this year, but still...  There is way too much to do before winter and the dreaded s-word arrives.  I just hope I can get it all in.

This week as far as Doing Something is concerned was a total bust.  I can't expect to go out there and do and try new things every week, but this week was especially bad.  Between the crummy weather and a multitude of crummy things happening to and around me this week, I should be happy that I didn't just say screw it and go hide in a hole somewhere until things got better.  But I know in my head the only way things will get better is if I go out and try to make them better, so no hiding for me.  It is tempting to go hide though.

I enjoy cooking and baking a lot, and like trying new recipes, and I am half-tempted to do a post for when I try something new and it turns out really tasty.  Like this next week, I am going to make a lamb curry for dinner on Friday (violin lessons = crock pot meals on Fridays due to no time to cook by the time we get home) and I wonder if it would be worthwhile to post about the results if said results are good.  Something to think about.... 

Today's Run

It was pretty chilly when I went for my run this morning.  So much so that I wore a long-sleeved shirt for the first time since probably May.  But at the end of my run, the sun came out and I got all sweaty, which made it all better.  I went back down to the Brighton Beach end of the Lakewalk, and did the 5 mile out and back again.  I ran 5 miles in 43:35, for an average pace of 8:39.  Today's run helped shake out some of the demons and was very much needed.

Dreary days.

Today was just a cold, foggy, dreary sort of day.  The kind you'd expect in a place like Seattle.  Where a mist just hangs in the air and makes everything... moist.  And then there were the mosquitoes...

I was thinking about trying another of the Wednesday night trail runs, but with my shoulder not 100% yet and the dampness of the day (which in my mind equals mud, which equals treacherous footing) I decided against it.  I know I'm trying to get over my fears, to Do Something and live more, but I also have to be realistic.  I probably did some major damage the last time I fell, as evidenced by not being wholly healed yet, and I don't think my body could handle another injury like that.  There's always next week.

In other news, I discovered the other day that one of the windows to my basement has been leaking, which has caused some water to pool on one side.  Luckily, none of The Boy's toys were damaged, and all I need to do is caulk around the window and replace some of those rubber floor tiles.  Still sucks, but it could have been a LOT worse.

Have I mentioned that owning a home is so much fun?

Today's Run

Today I just did the neighborhood circuit, again, up the Big Hill because I wasn't in the mood to slide down the Big Hill.  Last year, I would not have gone out at all if there was any sort of rain.  Now, I know I have to get at least 3 runs in a week right now to get my speed and strength back.  Nothing big, just consistent.  Today I ran 3.2 miles in 28:50, for an average pace of 8:57.  And it was good.

Check This Out!

Not much happened today.  Just your typical boring Monday.  Except when I got home, I was greeted by these in the mail:

Check out those sexy socks!

 

Yes, I bought myself a new pair of compression socks, that are striped yellow, red and blue on the top.  Pretty sweet, if I do say so myself.  I'm a big fan of compression wear, and I just couldn't pass these up.  They make me happy. :-)

Today's Run

Today was a run around the neighborhood, the 3.2 mile circuit.  I finished this in 29:15, for an average pace of 9:05.  This was officially the fastest I've ever run this route.  Yay me!  Still need to get my average pace down a LOT more, but I like seeing improvement.

It's Nice To Get Affirmations In Unlikely Places

 

It says "Whatever you are doing is the most beautiful thing"

Thanks, tea bag.  I'd like to think my quest of Doing Something will end up beautiful.

Inspiration comes from the most unusual places. :-) 

If a First Anniversary is Paper, Then...

It was one year ago today that I closed on my very first house.  And then realized that the people I bought said house from were total pigs and spent the next two weeks cleaning and fixing it up enough so that The Boy and I could move in.  I think I vacuumed the living room twice that day before I even let him come in, and then had it shampooed before we moved our stuff it.  I just tore out the carpet that was in the dining room - so nasty.  It's amazing how a bunch of crap can make you not see how filthy a house truly is when you're just walking through it.  Anyway, there has been a LOT of paint; a new dishwasher; a sewer backup and all the time, money and work that went into fixing that; a furnace that got an energy efficient fan motor and brought up to code/manufacturer's recommended installation; a deck that got some desperately needed TLC in the form on sanding and staining; and there's still so much more that I couldn't afford to get done yet.  But this place feels like home, and The Boy loves it, so I guess we'll be staying a while.  Hopefully there won't be any surprises like last year, and all I'll have left on my to-do list for this year will be staining the front porch decking and getting a new outside light at the back of the house (motion sensor so it doesn't have to be on all the time), maybe sealing and adding insulation to the attic space if I'm feeling motivated.  But what to get the house for the paper anniversary?  I guess if I buy the light with cash that will count...  There's no way I'm putting up any wallpaper *shudder*


How's my shoulder doing?   Thanks for asking!  Well, it was doing just fine, but then I went and mowed the lawn last night (REALLY long grass, push mower, damp ground, hill-on-a-hill yard) and I'm a bit more tender today.  Not as bad as a week ago, and it's definitely getting better, but I doubt I will be laying on that side to sleep anytime soon.  Hopefully now that it's getting cooler out the grass will slow down its infernal growing and I'll be able to heal up properly before I mow again.  Alas, the joys of home-ownership.

Today's Run

I finally got to the new section of the Lakewalk, starting at Brighton Beach.  It is pretty awesome.  A person could technically go from Canal Park to Two Harbors on either a paved path or a road with SUPER wide shoulders.  Pretty awesome.  Now they just need to extend the Lakewalk to the Munger Trail and I will be in paved-path heaven!  Anyway, I ran 5 miles almost on the nose in 46:45, for an average pace of 9:17.   It was nice to not have to deal with a Big Hill, but the wind off the lake was STRONG today.  And I realized today that if I keep up what I'm doing, with no huge breaks, that I'll be able to beat last years total mileage of 517 miles easily, even with missing July and August (and some of January too).  Yay me!

*Update (9/15/2013): Apparently The House thought the first anniversary was pooper, not paper, and invited a mouse to come join the party.  I was having none of that.  However, the little fucker was too fast and got its rear end stuck in the trap instead of having its head smacked like a good little mousie; I awoke this morning with a live mouse stuck in a trap in my sink after having left way too much mouse shit and piss on my counter.  Needless to say, the disgusting rodent saw the sharp end of a shovel once the sun was out this morning.  I'm going to have to have a talk with The House about this.  If you can't tell, I HATE rodents.  I think I'm going to go dry heave a little more now.

Anniversaries, Money, and the Big Hill in Reverse

Today is the one month anniversary for me and my new job.  We are definitely still in the honeymoon phase, as all is still good with our relationship.  There have been a few hiccups, but when I "get some" (i.e. get paid) and am home more than in my previous work relationship, I know I made the right decision.  Here's to one month, and many more!

One of my friends, let's just call her Mamasita, has been trying to convince me to join this investment club pretty much since I met her.  It's this group of women that get together once a month, put in some money and make decisions on how to invest the money.  The idea was intriguing, as I know nothing about investing, but I kept on telling her no because I was too scared that by giving $20 every month to something that is not tangible, like food or shelter, that I was being irresponsible.  So this month I decided I was going to Do Something and join this group of women and learn about investing in the stock market, and maybe have some fun.  Investing $20 a month is not being irresponsible - I am learning about being more financially responsible and I can pass this knowledge on to The Boy.  Plus with my new work relationship, I have more flexibility with my budget.  Who knows what will happen, but this group of women are smart and strong, and it's not a bad thing to surround myself with those kinds of people.

Today's Run

Today I decided to do the Big Hill in reverse, meaning I started out with a small uphill, the Big Hill going down, some more gradual downhill and uphill, and then a medium-sized hill to end my run.  The route is basically the same, but is a little bit shorter because of the pre-run warm-up route.  Today I ran 3.1 miles in 28:45, for an average pace of 9:23.  I think my run was the only time when my nose wasn't stuffed up or running like a faucet.  Starting to get the consistency in, that's for sure.  And the shoulder is getting better, so YAY!