Just Running for Fun

Pulling Together a Race Schedule!!

2011-12-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

Once I set my mind on something, I usually go full force and all out. This can be both a good quality and bad! Since I decided to share my focus and start running again, I quickly decided I needed to make goals. Starting back, I had to assess how much I lost during my year of inconsistent and minimal running. To my surprise, while my speed I had become use to was no longer there, my endurance was actually ok.

I first made a goal to run a 10 mile trail run in January, which I thought was totally doable and wouldn't have trouble with. Next, I started running and was feeling ok, my times weren't as bad as I thought and both my body and mind were doing well too. I decided to join one of the running groups here in NC. I had been checking groups out since I started running, but never joined until now. I decided to join Carolina Godiva. They seemed liked a cool group and one key factor for me was that they have Saturday training runs at Umstead and since I wanted to get into trails this year, it seemed perfect.

I ran my first race with Carolina Godiva on December 11th, Couch Mountain 5 mile trail run, part of their winter running series. It went well and everyone was so nice. Morgan and my parents came too which was nice and it meant a lot to have some support with me. It was a fun race and I was happy with my time and how I felt.

The week before this race, I actually started to think that maybe some longer races would be in my cards. I started looking at the days I could run and came up with a plan......actually I had been thinking about this for awhile, just needed a few good running days to pump me up. The serge of confidence came when I headed out for a run and ran into one of my neighbors who I would sometimes run with when I was on a more consistent schedule. I had 6 miles planned while he is training for a 50 mile and 100 mile! That day I ended up running 10 miles and it felt good, nothing hurt, breathing was fine, legs ok.

It was time to put my training idea to the test, but it would have to wait since it was my weekend with Morgan. Oh, my plan is to run high mileage on all the days when Morgan is with her dad. Last week I tested it out. Ten miles, Thursday, Friday off, Saturday trail running with CG 2 hours 10 minutes ~12 miles, Sunday and Monday 10 miles. All days felt pretty good. I will build off of this with longer weekend runs.

Now, I am going to see what I am made of and can do and shoot for a 50k. There are two I have my eye on, the first is the Mountain-to-Sea 50k in April. It is a trail race close to home so I don't have to travel, will have family support and get to sleep in my bed the night before. Thanks Ash for an awesome comparison between Umstead and Falls Lake Trails. The other 50k I was thinking about is the OBX 50k in May. It is mostly run on the beach, has a 5am start time and is obvious a few hours away, but running on the beach sounds wonderful.

Right now, I am pretty excited about the Mountains-to-Sea, but I am going to hold off signing up until I can get a few more solids weeks of trail running and just running in to see if it is doable. I have my training plan all written up, it will just be sticking to it and seeing just how well I know my body and mind!

Accept Change

2011-12-12T17:32:00.000-08:00

While I have been keeping up with many bloggers, I wasn't sure if I was going to blog again. It has been over a year since my last post and much has changed.

I didn't run much between the last post and let's say October of this year. I stopped running when I was at my strongest and running my best. I had such confidence in my running and then bam, I stopped. It was my choice to stop running, things in my life, my personal life were differnt. I am not going to go into detail, but I stopped to focus my attention on Morgan and life as a single mom.

For the last year, I was getting use to a new schedule, a new routine, a new life, new stresses, new situations. There was so much going on that on the days when I could run, I just didn't feel like it, I was either just too tired or trying to get caught up on things that I had neglected during the week.

There were times when I wished I could go out for a run. Times when I saw people running and wished that I was out there pounding the pavement. I probably could have more often, but I didn't. I could have gotten a babysitter every now and then to go running, but I didn't feel right doing that. See Morgan is in school all day and I work all day and the few hours I get to spend with her, I want to, I just love that little girl! Over the last year I really think I grew as a mom and I think I am a much better one now.

It is hard as a runner to stop. You have fears of not being able to run as fast as you once did, run as far, that you will lose everything you worked so hard for. It's hard to not feel the satisfaction of a good run, the accomplishment of hitting a goal time, or the pride you feel when you mentally stayed in a run despite your body wanting to stop. But, sometimes, you have to let it go. Running will always be there, there will always be pavement and trails to run on and an abundance of shoes to strap on your feet. What won't always be there is time with your kids, watching them grow, teaching them how to ride a bike, the excitment in their eyes and face when they get it. There is not a feeling better than knowing that your child knows that they are number one in your life. It makes you stronger and makes them stronger.

It's been over a year now and we are in a good place, we have a routine and set schedule. I am in a better place too and now I am ready to run again. The time is right and I am ready, and excited. It started when Morgan and I ran the 1 mile Monster Dash, it was fun and being part of the running community again was nice.

So, I am back running!!! Granted my schedule is a bit different. I am only running on the days when Morgan is with her dad, every other Thurs and then I pick her up after school on Monday. I also work from home on Mondays so I am able to squeez in a run. My plan is to work my way up and do all high mileage days when I can run. I think it will work and have some goals in mind. I also joined a running group to help keep me motivated. They held a trail race on Sunday that was a blast. Morgan and my parents came! It was nice having their support for my first race back.

I accepted that my running times may not be as fast as where I left off, that it is going to hurt building up mileage again and that I am going to have to work hard. And, you know what? I am ok with that. Life is always changing and you have to do what is best for you and the people in it.

I accepted the change and believe I am much better for it. I am so happy to be running again, even if I am embarking on a return to running during the hardest months (dark and cold runs), but I accpet that too. Life is about accepting the situation you are in and the choices you make.

Lastly, it hasn't been an easy year but having a wonderful family and friends and a very special New Yorker in my life has been huge! Thanks and happy running!!!

Wow. Where Have You Been?

2010-08-10T12:23:00.001-07:00

Wow, it has been a long time since I last blogged. Not really sure why I stopped blogging, maybe there just isn't anything new to really blog about or maybe it is because there is too much to blog about. Have I lost ya?

Anyway, I have been biking lots and loving it! Sunday my neighbor and I rode for 90 miles and it was absolutely beautiful. Our goal is to ride down to the beach in a few weeks, which will be about 135 miles. I can't wait!! Once we get down there, we are going to meet the families for lunch and then hitch a ride back!!

Running has been happening too, but I have kinda eased up on the mileage and the same goes for swimming. Other than that, it is the same old same old. I probably won't be blogging much anymore unless I have some new material to work with:0) I have been keeping up with many of you both on blog and Facebook!

Lastly, while I know we are in full swing with summer don't forget to protect your skin. I was contacted by SCAPE a few weeks ago, well actually a couple of months ago to test out their products and let me tell you it is FABULOUS!! I have been using SCAPE on all my long rides and it has protected my skin wonderfully. Check them out if you haven't. And, to all the moms and dads out there, SCAPE makes a face stick that is not only awesome for protecting the little ones (age appropriate) but most importantly easy to put on and with little fuse! Love this stuff!

To everyone enjoy the summer. Make it a fabulous one!!!

It's Been A Long Time - The Run Down

2010-05-25T05:47:00.001-07:00

Wow, I haven't posted in a long time. I have been doing lots of fun things, but when I think about writing, I just go blank. So here is my attempt to get back in blogland. Bullet style.

- A few of weeks ago I needed to get my ankle drained. Fun times! Due to this, I had to take a week off. The cause of this, my own stupidity.

- I have been averaging 33-35 miles running a week. I have been keeping up with running long (10 miles twice during the week and one longer run on the weekend). I am enjoying the 10, we'll see how I feel about this once the real heat and humidity sets in.

- Loving riding!! A neighbor and I have started riding together for long rides on the weekends. It has been lots of fun exploring new routes and distances. Our goal is to build up mileage through September so we can meet our families at the beach for lunch on day. We figure it will be about a 120 mile ride. Very excited about this!!

- Swimming is going well. I have to switch to an outdoor pool, which should be interesting. One of my friends was a college swimmer and gave me some key points to work on. Hopefully, with some practice, I'll be moving a bit faster in the water.

- I'm headed up to RI for vacation soon. While I am sad I won't have my bike, I am very much looking forward to getting some nice long runs in around my hometown.

- I also signed up for the Beach 2 Battleship half iron triathlon. I am really excited about this. I can't wait to really get in to the training. I'll definitely have a solid base going in and the timing works out nicely with the goal of the beach ride marking the beginning of the "real" tri training:)

- As the summer arrives and the sun is in full force don't forget to wear your sunscreen/sunblock. I am looking forward to testing out SCAPE. I'll let you know what I think about it. Stay safe in the sun!

Because Running Should Always be This Fun

2010-03-31T05:05:00.000-07:00

Tobacco Road Marathon Race Report

2010-03-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, where to begin? Long, skip what you want.

A week before the race:

As mentioned before, a few weeks prior to yesterday’s marathon, I was in a running funk. I was sticking to my training, running the amount I wanted, and posting times on target, but I just wasn’t feeling running. Luckily, last week with the marathon drawing near I was able to snap myself out of the funk and actually get excited. I had convinced myself that this would probably be my last marathon for some time. My only goal, break 4 hours.

Race morning:

Since the marathon was only 35-40 minutes away, I was able to sleep in my own bed and sleep in a bit. I woke at 4:45am and prepared my usual oatmeal and a glass of water. Since I was eating at a time much earlier than I usual it was a bit hard to down the oatmeal. I ate as much as I could, but just couldn’t eat it all. I wasn’t worried since I knew I ate well the day before. While I was eating or trying to eat, Morgan came bouncing down the stairs ready to watch me run. She ended up eating the rest of my oatmeal with no problem!

I wasn’t feeling any nerves like in past races. I got all my race gear together, got dressed and made sure to body glide up. We were all ready to go and out the door at 5:30.

The race:

As I stood there in the sea of people, I gave myself a final prep talk. This was my conversation with myself:

“You got miles 1-10 easy. You have been doing 10 miles twice a week after work and nailing them. Getting to mile 13, no problem, just think of the loop you do all the time which has tons of hills, this course it flat. Make it to mile 18, no worries, you had three 18 milers in training, cake. Push it to mile 20, no worries. Miles 21-26,2, all heart, got it”

Mile 1 – Slowest mile out of the whole marathon. There were a lot of people and the road was a bit narrow. Had to keep trying to find space.

Miles 2-7 - these miles flew. I met a few people and had some nice conversations. It was very pleasant to have company! I made sure to take my first Hammer Gel at mile 6. I was finally going to nail my nutrition.

Mile 8 – I saw Matt and Morgan for the first time! I love hearing Morgan cheer for me. I was feeling great. I knew today was going to be the day I broke 4. I had no doubt.

Miles 9-13 – I was rolling right along. I was suppose to take in a gel at mile 11, but I had a side stitch. I decided to focus on trying to rid of the cramp and took in the gel at mile 12. I caught up with the two guys who I had been talking with around miles 3-5. We chatted a bit more.

Mile 14 – Got see Matt and Morgan again. I wanted to tell him that today was going to be my day. I was having so much fun out there and just feeling strong. Morgan was chanting “Go Mommy Go, Go Mommy Go!” It was so cute it had me smiling the whole mile.

Miles 15-18 – I was staying on target with taking in fluids and gels. I was still feeling strong. I met back up with the two guys and we chatted more. Mile 18 was the fasted mile (8:06). At this point I knew I had 4 hours in the bag. I was thinking I could maybe snag a 3:55 but you never know how those last miles are going to go.

Mile 19 – I saw Matt and Morgan once again. This time Morgan was shouting for a hug. She was clapping and cheering. I just love my little girl. She asked if she could run with me. One day, she will and will probably smoke me!

Miles 20-23 – I was still feeling strong. My heart rate was good, breathing not labored at all, legs good. Mentally, I was still 100% in the race and enjoying it. I took the last gel at mile 21. I met back up with one of the two guys I had been running with periodically during the race. We ran together for these miles. This is when I knew I could easy finish around 3:50. In my head I decided that 3:48 sounded like a good time to shoot for.

Miles 24-25 – I lost my friend and was on my own for the rest of the time. It was around mile 24 that my legs started to feel heavy. I kept looking at my watch to check my pace. I felt like I was going slow, but I was still keeping a pace of about 8:45. I knew if I could just keep my legs turning I could reach the end around 3:46.
Mile 26.2 – What can I say. I turned the corner, saw the finish line, heard Matt and Morgan cheering for me and I picked the pace up. I felt great. I passed a few people and crossed the finish line! 3:46. I was so happy. I got my finishers medal with all smiles and as always, I passed it on to Morgan.

Thoughts

It was a perfect race. To feel strong not just physically but mentally for me was huge. My first marathon, I was not physically prepared at all. The second and third marathons, I mentally couldn’t do it and race day nutrition was awful. This time, when I signed up for the race, I knew how I had to train, I knew/had an idea of the mileage and distances of the runs I needed to complete to get me ready. Most importantly, I really worked hard on nutrition since this has always been a huge downfall of mine.

As I write this, my legs are not sore at all! I look at my time and I am very proud, I knocked off 26 minutes from my last marathon! Yet, I can help but wonder if I had just pushed it a little more if I could have shaved off a couple more minutes, I think I could have.

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I was thinking Tobacco would be my last marathon for a while. Well, maybe not for a while. Not sure when I will do another one, but I have my eye on a few! I’m taking this week off, even though I felt like going for a run today. Now, back to some cross training and signing up for some triathlons.

Thank you all for your support. On Friday and Saturday I read through many of your race reports and they all got me psyched to run.

Dick's Winner and Results

2010-03-22T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!!! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. The marathon went really well and should have a race report up by tomorrow. I ended up with a time of 3:46:32and couldn't be happier.

Now the winner of the Dick's $50 gift certificate which was done through random.org was comment #7, Weight Loss Mama. Staci send me an email!!! Congratulations.

Have a great Monday.

Want $50 to Dick's and Marathon Week

2010-03-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it has been about a month since the last time I posted or really commented on blogs. Things have been crazy, sorry. I have been keeping up with you all just not commenting as much as usual.

Anyway, marathon week is finally here. Physically, I am pretty sure I am ready for the marathon. I have felt pretty decent on my runs and the leg issues I had back in Jan and the beginning of February seem to have worked themselves out. I did go to ART a few times, which definitely helped. Mentally, my mind just hasn't been all in running. Not really sure why. I look forward to my runs, but something just clicks on and off while I am running; pace fine, legs fine, breathing fine, mind off. All I know is that I better get it all figured out in the next few days. I am pretty sure the excitement for the race will kick my mind back in gear. I'll also be reading your posts about past races. Nothing like a little blogger motivation.

So to help get things going in the right direction I am going to have a giveaway! To enter to receive a $50 gift card to Dick's all you have to do is leave a comment. I'll post the name of the winner on Sunday night, March 21st along with my marathon results!

See Dick's Sporting Goods is looking to spread the word about their Starting Lineup contest.

What does it mean to be on the “Starting Lineup”?
• A chance to try out and preview new products
• A spot on an online panel of experts for one season (for approximately 3 months)
• Access to exclusive online surveys
• A chance to sound off on all things sports

How does someone try for a chance to be on the “Starting Lineup”?
• Follow http://twitter.com/dickssportcmo.
• Vote for yourself (or someone else) by telling @dickssportcmo who should be on the "Starting Lineup" and why. Sample Tweet: “@dickssportcmo my vote is for @TwitterID because...”

• Recruit others to do the same.
• You can only vote for the same person once per day, but you can vote for multiple people in the same day.

Enter on Twitter (http://twitter.com/dickssportcmo) for a chance to become a member of Dick’s Sporting Goods “Starting Lineup." The 10 nominees with the most votes by March 31, 2010 win.

*Make sure you're following @dickssportcmo or your vote won't count!

Keep On When Your Mind Says Quit

2010-02-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been talking about how great running has been for a few weeks now and guess it was bound to happen, crap runs. Not really so much runs that physically felt terrible, just runs where there was a lack of motivation and/or mental strength. Maybe it has been the weather or the running in the dark or too many cookies, or maybe just being in the middle of the training cycle where the excitement of the "new plan" has worn off, yet the end is still a bit away. Whatever it is, I need a new attitude getting out the door and when I am running.

I read that some athletes will repeat a phrase that helps motivates them, that keeps them moving forward. These words are repeated during times when the mind is winning and helps get one to their goal or finish. This week I tried this and it seemed to work. My phrase, "keep on when your mind says quit, dream on til you find your living it, I'll be right by your side, ya baby keep on, don't stop til you win your prize." These are lyrics from Eric Bibb -Shine On, good song. We'll see how far these words can carry me come marathon day.

Lastly, I really have been horrible at commenting. Everyone is really working it in blogland, keep it up. Hopefully, I'll get back to regular commenting.

Turf Shoes Not Just For The Soccer Field

2010-02-05T04:44:00.000-08:00

It has been a crazy week down here in North Carolina! Let me back track to where my last post left off last Thursday. It is amazing how crazy the weather down here can be. Thursday night, I went running in shorts and a t-shirt, it was about 60 during the day. It was beautiful. Friday, cooler temps set in and then holy moly we got snow and the triangle area came to a stop. Being from New England and then going to college in Buffalo, I find it comical how a few inches of snow can cause so much fear in people.

Saturday, it snowed we got about 2 inches. When it was done snowing we got some freezing rain. But, trying to stick to my schedule I bundled up and took off for a run. The roads were pretty solid and slippery (NC doesn't treat or plow any streets besides the main ones). I tested out running in my sneakers and I couldn't get any traction. Now, I could have pulled out an old pair running shoes and drilled in some screws, but I am not that handy. Instead, I went back in the house and dug out a pair of my old turf shoes, which I haven't worn probably since my last college game 10 years ago!!

To my surprise they felt great, not too tight or too crisp from sitting in a closet! I headed back outside and gave them a test and the traction was perfect. I got a good 10 miles in these puppies with no issues at all. I did cut the run a little shorter than what I should have done due to the weather, but sometimes you just have to roll with things. I have been working hard and nailing all my other runs so no big deal.

When I got home, I changed and got some play time in with Morgan. All she wanted to do was make snow angles. Unfortunately, the freezing rain had caused the snow to ice over, so she wasn't able to make the impression in the snow. She certainly tried, but no luck.

After a long day, we all dug in for some nice homemade chili and hot chocolates!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Things That Make Me Happy and Audiofuel

2010-01-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

OK, it Thursday, the weekend is insight and once again I have gotten way behind on blogging. Anyway, running is still going well and I am happy with how things are progressing and how I am feeling both physically and mentally.

Last week I was tagged by Aron to list 10 things that make me happy. Since family is a given I am not going to list them. Here goes:

1. Peanut butter. Love it. I can eat it in any form smooth, creamy, chunky, doesn't matter. It can be organic or generic!

2. The ocean.

3. Dance parties with Morgan!

4. Listening to Morgan belt out songs. And, let me just tell you she doesn't sing quietly, she is loud!

5. Hot chocolate on a cold day.

6. Planning trips home to visit friends and family.

7. Body Glide. Skip a spot and you will not be happy.

8. A good book.

9. Listening to music.

10. Reading blogs about running, biking, swimming and food!!

I was contacted by Audiofuel to pass on the following information. If you haven't heard of them, their concept is pretty cool. "Their music is custom composed for you to run to the beat. AudioFuel matches and drives your stride and pace when you run." I am not one to listen to music on runs, but every now and then you need a little extra motivation and music does the trick. For me, the tracks I listened to kinda reminded me of Prodigy's Firestarter. Very upbeat and kept things moving. I am not sure if I could listen to it for a long period of time, but their songs mixed in with others would work.

This year Audiofuel is working alongside this year’s Virgin London Marathon and running music producer AudioFuel. They are trying to encourage runners to vote for their favorite running tracks which will make up this year’s ‘soundtrack’ for the London Marathon, which will be later available on iTunes.
They are asking people to submit their favorite running tracks http://www.musicandmotivation.com/motivating_run/top/10.html. They think having a soundtrack chosen by athletes around the globe is exciting. And, to be honest it would be pretty cool to see what others like to listen too.

You can check their sites out at

Here are the websites for more information:
Audiofuel - http://www.audiofuel.co.uk/Virgin London Marathon - http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/
Music And Motivation - http://www.musicandmotivation.com/

Thankful I Have the Ability to Run

2010-01-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a crazy busy weekend. I took off Friday to head back home to Rhode Island. From the moment I got in to the moment I left this morning, my days were jammed packed and I loved it. I got my hair done, met up with family friends, hung out with a special friend, had a blast with my sister, went to my best friends baby shower and hung out with my parents and ate lots of good food RI has to offer! Oh, and I can’t leave out a nice 18 miler around my hometown of North Smithfield, RI. It was cold, a little icy in spots, hilly, it was awesome.

This weekend, I met up with a very special friend from High School who suffers from Friedreich’s Ataxia. It is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. I met my friend, when I was a junior in High School and he in the 8th grade. It was around this time that this once athletic boy, began to show noticeable signs of the disease. Most obvious was his limp when he walked. Now we all know how cruel some people can be and in his case there were a few kids who were pretty rotten. I have always been one who hated seeing people get picked on, especially for things one can’t control. I would stick up for my friend and became a “protector” in a sense or better yet like a big sister. There to offer support, encouragement, and a positive outlet.

Fast forward to current day and my friend and I still keep in touch. Although communication is limited due to the progression of the disease we do manage to stay up to date with what is going on in each others life. Due to FA, he can no longer walk and is confined to a wheel chair, he has limited mobility of his arms and it is hard for him to use his hands, he is able to speak, however that can be a challenge as well. On Saturday, I was able to meet with him and catch up. It was so great to see him. His spirit is like no other and he has not let his situation get the best of him. He is an amazing person and an amazing source of strength for me.

As I was leaving his house, I couldn’t help but reflect on life and how grateful I am to not only have my health, but have the ability to wake up every day and stand on my own. Every day, I have the ability to walk down the stairs, to make myself food, to run, to sprint, to move freely. I don’t have to imagine what it would be like to run or close my eyes and dream about it, because today I am able. I don’t have dig in my past to remember what it was like to move freely outside, to feel my body in motion, to feel the pavement pass under my feet, because today I am able. I am thankful and grateful because today I am able to run, but I am most grateful for all the people who have been placed in my life to show me just how wonderful and beautiful life is.

Back to a Real Running Post

2010-01-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have dedicated a full post to running and I think it is about time. So let’s see where things currently stand. I signed up for the Tobacco Road Marathon which will take place on March 21st. I am really excited about this. After taking a year off from participating in any sort of distance race, that means no half marathons or full marathons last year, I am itching and rejuvenated to get back at it.

I started building my mileage back up in December, not so much increasing the amount of days running, but increasing the distance. I mentioned in my last post that I increased my “usual” weekday run from 6 miles to 10 with a couple of 8 mile runs tossed in here and there. There a couple of reasons for this. First, I am going to test out running 4 days a week averaging about 43-55 miles, with one day for strength/core work and cycling. The second reason, is because I found that I fair better in marathons when I have longer runs under my belt rather than more days running averaging the same mileage. So when do I fit these middle distance runs in during the week? Well, I either get up early heading out by 4:30am to run or I hit the streets at night. Although waking up early isn’t always what I want to do, especially when it is cold outside, it allows me to get my runs in without sacrificing time with Morgan.

To be honest, I am really enjoying the longer runs. Not sure what is wrong with me, but the time goes by pretty fast. Speaking of time, I have also seen my times decrease. Last year I would head out for a 10 miler and average somewhere between 8:30-8:45, lately I have been hanging with an average of 8:00 and I still feel relaxed and I am able to enjoy the run. Hopefully, this speed will stick around.

Lastly, for all those who have been reading my blog for a while know one of my biggest problems with the marathon is nutrition and fuel during the race. I have experimented with a ton of stuff and I think I have finally found what really works for me: Hammer Gels and NUUN. I hope that incorporating better nutrition during will help produce better results. My recovery from long runs seems better than in the past because of this too.

Congrats to all those who ran Disney this weekend! You all did a fantastic job. Happy running.

Quick Update and The Champion Innovation Lab

2010-01-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

Ok. I once again have been slacking with the blog, but definitely not with running. I have been sticking to my schedule and really enjoying running again and training for something. This time around I am keeping higher mileage runs with weekdays runs hanging about 10 miles. I thought this was going to be rough, but it isn't so bad and I am actually enjoying the length. However, we'll see about this as the temps continue to go down! I have been doing really well with sticking to strength training once a week focusing mainly on core and hip area and I think it is really helping with my running stabilizing the mid region. I have lots more to talk about with training and some reviews I really need to post which will come shortly!

Good luck to all those running Disney this weekend!!! If you are running or in the area check out the Champion Innovation Lab. Their concept is pretty cool. Below is more information.

The Champion Innovation Lab underscores the brand’s heritage in competitive sports while bringing to life its "How You Play" mantra through the experiences of real, everyday athletes. This year, the 2010 Innovation Lab works with nearly half of the "Perfect 17," those who have participated in the Disney Marathon Weekend since its inception 17 years ago, as well as runners, race-walkers and wheelchair athletes from all skill levels, to test Champion Athleticwear.

“True to the Champion brand, we are able to develop great performance apparel by getting real feedback from everyday athletes who participate in our Innovation Lab,” said Claire Powell, Director Champion Brand Marketing. “We are excited to bring the program back to the Disney Marathon Weekend for a third year to see how the athletes have responded to our products.”

Participants are given a variety of Champion performance apparel and, starting in September 2009, asked to catalogue their experiences in a Training Log and share real-time insights with the Champion New York Design Team and Champion Athleticwear Consumer Research. The runners receive apparel from the brand’s popular Double Dry® line featuring wicking technology, compression tanks and briefs and athleticwear from the Seamless product line. Questions include pace, weather, route (e.g., trail, street, treadmill), comfort, fit and washing machine care. Runners will also be outfitted in Champion apparel for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events and will be announced as Champion Innovation Lab participants when crossing the finish line.

New Music and Some Running

2009-12-18T04:46:00.000-08:00

Today since it if Friday I am going to start off talking about something other than running. Music. If you run, somewhere along the lines music plays a part in your life. Maybe you listen while you run, listen to music before to get you psyched or ready or maybe you listen to calm things down. While I don't run with music, I love finding new bands that help get me ready to run or to listen to while working out or songs that I can sing to myself in my head to pass some time running. While surfing the net I came across The Candace Brooks Band and immediately got hooked on a few songs. I think they are perfect songs to bring your energy up while running and they are fun too. Definitely check them out, my top three are 1. Feel It 2. I'm Gonna Break Your Heart and 3. Buried Alive. Plus, they are from my home state of Rhode Island, so really how bad could they be, right?

Now running. Running has been going really well and I am really enjoying it. This past week I did morning runs. I haven't been sleeping well and since I was already up at 4am I figured I would just toss some clothes on and head out. There is something very peaceful and serene about running in the dark, in the morning and in the cold. The brisk air just makes you feel so alive and the stars bring a certain peace. You can hear your footsteps and breathing and nothing else. However, I will admit, I do question my sanity for the first mile until I get warmed up. But I am loving it!

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all have a great weekend and check out the band.

Back At It!

2009-12-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

For the last few months I really had no drive to train for anything. I would just set out and run when I wanted, swim when I could and bike when the weather permitted, oh and I have been keeping up with the strength training once a week. To be honest, it has been really nice to have a very chill schedule and just enjoy things. However, a couple of weeks ago I started to get the itch to train and train hard. Plus, with the winter months I need a little extra motivation to get me out the door in the cold.

Yesterday, I searched for races near and far and wouldn't you know, there is a marathon on March 21st, in NC and only 35min from my house. I can't tell you how happy and giddy I got when I saw this. I immediately started making a training schedule, what a nerd, I know! Although I haven't signed up yet, I am going to either today or tomorrow, I have 15 weeks starting today to get things in gear. I think I have a solid base to build off of. This past weekend I did 13 on Sat and another 13 on Sun. I am loving how good running feels right now. Let the fun begin.

I also have a few reviews I need to get posted as well including a Recovery Sock review and I wanted to share my thoughts on my Pearl Izumi sneakers too.

I hope to be much better at commenting! Have a fabulous day.

Dogs Love to Chase Me

2009-11-17T04:47:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. While I am still reading all your blogs and keeping up with all your greatness on facebook, I have certainly lacked with the comments. There have been so many great races, well done everyone!!

I have been keeping my word and working on some strength training. The first night I was up and squatting and lunging, I realized just how weak I was! Even with all the running and biking and swimming, I still have ways to go. I have been really focusing on isolating each leg and working them as well as mixing in some upper body exercises. It feels nice to toss something new in the mix.

Running has been going really well and I am really enjoying being outside moving. There is just something so peaceful and fulfilling about running. Anyway, I had a most beautiful ride on Sunday. The weather was perfect, the legs felt good, the mind was in it. I did get chased by a dog…...again. This seems to be a recurring theme. I am pretty use to it now and I can stay totally relaxed and calm and have no fear of swerving into a car when I hear the barking and dashing. I do get upset at the owners. Care for your animal and keep them safe. These dogs can get hit by a car or even worse cause a horrible accident. Be responsible people. OK rant over.

Switching gears here. As the cooler temps set in for the long haul many of us runners will be heading indoors to get in some, if not all runs. There is a nice website called Treadmill Reviews that has some great treadmill workouts and exercises as well as informative treadmill reviews. Check it out.

Hope everyone has a great week! Happy running.

Maintenance

2009-10-14T04:12:00.001-07:00

First, I want to say congratulations to all those who raced this weekend. You all did awesome!!!

This year I really didn't do much racing and while it was nice to not have a solid schedule to follow, I kinda missed it. I don't have any races to close out the year with, rather, I am going to work on building a nice solid base. My plans for the remainder of fall and winter is to continue to build confidence in the water and to really focus on technique. I also am going to work really hard on being stronger on the bike and getting as much time as I can in the saddle. On the running front, I am going to stick to a nice base build, running 6miles a few days a week and then a longer run on the weekend 10-15. Mixed in will be some leg work as well, squats, calf raises, lunges, etc.

I hope that this "maintenance/build" phase will help me to prepare for a fun spring and summer of racing. My focus will be on triathlons in 2010. I would like to do a half iron distance, more specifically Providence 70.3 in my hometown of RI! However, I will make that decision a little bit later on, depending on how I feel after a few sprints and olympic distance tris in the spring.

Good luck to all those who have racing this weekend.

Break

2009-09-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

Well last week I did nothing! I wasn't allowed to wear my contacts at all per doctor's orders. Last week it also rained a lot which made it easier to not exercise. Yesterday I volunteered at the Duke Liver Half Triathlon. It was fun to watch and support the athletes. There was such a wide array of levels, but everyone gave it their all.

Today, I am going to start getting in a routine with running. I won't be able to ride as much during the week outside which is a real bummer. I need all the work I can get on the bike, running and swimming will have to do.

I probably won't be blogging all that often anymore. I just need a break from it. I just haven't had much to say or anything all that new to say lately. Maybe once I sign up for some more races I'll start back up. However, I will still be commenting and I am excited for all the upcoming races and reports!!!

Happy training.

Hartford Foundation Women’s Tri Race Report

2009-09-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

**This may be a bit long, but I have pictures!!!

After arriving in Rhode Island at 2:30 am Thursday morning, I had a couple of days to get ready for my first triathlon. I was very excited and surprisingly pretty calm. Saturday morning, Matt, Morgan and I headed to my sister’s house in CT. The race was about half hour from her.

Race Morning: I got up and ready around 5:20. I have been eating graham crackers and peanut butter before long rides and runs. I have found this combination settles much better in my stomach than toast. Anyway, after I got ready it was time to get Morgan dressed and Matt moving. We arrived to the park with just over an hour till race time. I got marked, set up transition, and talked a little with some other athletes. My parents arrived as I was leaving the transition area. My whole family headed towards the water to check the course out. The swim looked so long, but I didn’t have any doubts about my ability to swim the whole thing. The water temp was 70 degrees. A bit colder than NC water temps, but not bad. After a quick race meeting it was time to head off.

We had to go down and around the boat all the way back there.

Swim (half mile): I was in the first wave 30-34 age group and 50+. I did have the option to switch to the last wave where first timers would be, but why wait so long. Lining up I was still very calm and I really didn’t feel nervous at all. Before I knew it I was running into the water. When I put my head down I felt a lot of resistance. My tri top which wasn’t as tight as it should have been (I knew this before but never swam in it) was causing a drag. Realizing this also triggered me in to a panic. I couldn’t catch my breath, definitely couldn’t put my head down in the water and I was swallowing water left and right, I felt like I couldn’t swim, I was just moving my arms. I thought my race was over, I couldn’t believe it, and I had such negative thoughts. However, I was able to replace the negativity, calm myself down, relax, get my breathing right and stop swallowing the water. It was at this point that I told myself to just put my head down and go, and I did. After that it was smooth sailing. Before I knew it I was at the turning point and headed back to the beach. I was feeling great and as I was exiting the water I thought I could have swam much further, my arms felt good and really wasn’t tired. To be honest once I got passed the panic attack, I really enjoyed the swim! The half mile swim went by fast.

T1: I did everything I need to and got the bike off the rack and was off.

Bike: The race course was very nice. For me it was a bit different to be riding along with so many others, well, worrying about so many others. I wasn’t sure what to expect on the bike and I used this ride to really get use to racing. I was getting passed by several women, while I wasn’t too thrilled about that I knew I just had to focus on my own race and doing things my way. I usually use my Garmin to gage how fast I am going, but my screen for some was off and I couldn’t rely on it. As I came back to the park where transition was, I heard Morgan shouting for me. She and my niece were cheering for all the participants. I also saw my sister, my mom and dad. It is always fun seeing them. The bike went ok, but I have a lot of room for improvement….lots.

T2: Matt was there cheering me on and taking pictures. I quickly got ready for the run and tossed back some hammer gel.

Run: This was the fun part. The run was a trail run. The trail was actually pretty wide so you didn’t have to worry about getting stuck behind a slower runner. However, because it had rained for three days prior to the race some parts were pretty slick, especially on the declines and inclines. Because of this, it was a little hard to get in a good rhythm. The ladies that passed me on the bike I easily passed on the run. I felt really good out there. All in all, I should/could have given the run a little bit more. If it was on the streets I would have since it is easier to spot people ahead of you. In the run I was 41/491.

Thoughts: I had a great time and really can’t wait to do another. It was so much fun and I love having three events to keep things interesting. 177/491 I am happy with. I could have easily placed higher (didn’t panic in the water, grinded it out more on the bike), but I really learned so much.

Lessons: I need a much tighter tri top! I can swim. I have to work on really grinding things out on the bike. I need to get a bike computer. I can still run fast. For only swimming and biking for 3 months I did pretty well and am proud of myself; also only biking and swimming for 3 months I have lots of room for improvement and lots to learn. I love triathlon and can’t wait to do more!!!

A big, big thank you to Matt, Morgan, my sister, niece, brother-in-law, and parents who all woke up early and cheered me on! I also have to thank Matt for listening to my talk about the triathlon for the ride back to RI and pretty much the rest of the day. I am really behind in blogging and probably won’t be able to get much computer time while I am in RI. I’ll catch up with you all next week! Thanks for all the support, I really appreciate it.

A Little Bit of Everything

2009-09-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

1. I have been such a slacker with the blogging, both reading and writing. I'm working on catching up.

2. I won a Pearl Izumi contest and got $250 worth of gear and they tossed in a free pair of sneakers too. I'll post all the goods soon with reviews. I love it all.

3. I had a sucky run this weekend. I also missed my long ride due to having a strange burning and watery left eye.

4. Because of the eye issue I had to wear my glasses and I hate wearing them.

5. All those who raced IMKY did a fabulous job. I can't wait to read the race reports. Great job Marni and Amanda.

6. The weather finally broke yesterday and I got in a speedy 6 miler. It is amazing what you can do when there is no humidity! It helped with my confidence.

7. Matt ran 6 miles yesterday. I am so proud of him. Now, I just have to convince him to race with me.

8. Can you believe it is September? I just love fall.

9. We head back to RI in a week. I'm excited to see the family and visit with friends. Oh, and hit up some restaurants back home.

10. I am most excited for the triathlon on the 13th. I can't wait to see how I do, especially in the swim. I have big tri plans for 2010, but more on that later.

11. Swimming is going well. I really need to join masters or take a class to really nail down proper form and technique.

12. Six work days left till vacation. I can't wait.

13. Hope you all have a great day.

Is It Just My Daughter

2009-08-21T04:29:00.001-07:00

As most of you know I have a daughter who is 3. Matt and I have a blast with her! Over that last few months she has really picked up on tons of things and can connect situations together. It is very cool. Anyway, these are some things I have found that Morgan knows that relate to Matt and me living an active life style.

1. Knows the difference between Body Glide and Deodorant
2. Naturally asks if I am, "going for 6 today?" before I head out for a run
3. She loves shoes and loves getting us our shoes out of the closet before we go out. When I ask her to get me a pair of sneakers she knows that the ones I wear to run are just for running until a nice new pair comes in
4. She can tell by the outfit I wear and how my hair is, if I am going for a ride or run
5. Knows a series of leg stretches and can execute them properly
6. Knows what a Garmin is
7. Asks to go for a run (can't wait till we can run together)
8. Knows that when I come home with 2 bags that means I went swimming in the morning
9. Enjoys a recovery shake with me after long workouts
10. Loves being outside

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

A Push

2009-08-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

Let's see. Not much happening outside of the usually stuff. Last week I was able to get in some nice solid rides, swims and runs which I was very happy about. This week is starting off well. I had a great swim yesterday morning and got to swim next to a swimming couple who were very fast. It wasn't just their speed that was impressive but how fluid and smooth their strokes were. I on the other hand, am not graceful in the water.

Last night, I was planning on going out for a nice 6 miler. I was just going to enjoy the run and keep a nice relaxed pace. The air was stale and it was hot hanging around 93 degrees. I take off and as usual I start a bit faster than I would have liked. As I finally settle in to a nice pace about a half mile in, I see one of the neighborhood guy runners. Now, there are three guys that I will link up with if we catch each other running. Guy #1 can cruise, but when we run together we keep things at a nice more upbeat pace. Guy #2 is one of my better running buddies. When we run together we keep a nice relaxed pace, nothing trying and have nice conversations about the families. Guy #3, well he is all about speed all the time. Guess which one I ran in to last night, yup guy #3!

He saw me asked how far I was running and said he would wait for me to catch up, he was in the opposite direction. I smiled and said “ok”, however I was really thinking “you got to be kidding me.” He doubled back and we were off. Now, I really wasn't in the mind set of going fast today, but there was no way I was going to crash on this run. As X-country squared says, I have a reputation in the neighborhood to protect. I kept my legs moving while engaging in conversation, If I am going faster I don't like to talk, but I didn't want to be rude. For a majority of the run we talked about speed and how fast he could run and times he wanted to post! He wasn't talking in a conceited or show off way, he is just excited about running.

I won't lie there were a few times when I had to concentrate on my breathing to keep it regulated (I wasn't about to huff and puff), but in the end I was happy to have been pushed on a day I wasn’t expecting to. Sometimes you really just need that push from someone else to keep your running honest, I have been lazy with it. However, I will welcome faster paces more when the temps drop and air is easier to breathe!

Extra Long Weekend

2009-08-11T04:40:00.000-07:00

I had Friday and yesterday off from work and let me tell you, it was a wonderful weekend. Friday, Matt, Morgan and I headed to the lake. I had originally wanted to head to the beach, but the lake offered me the opportunity to get in an OWS. Morgan had a blast as usually and she just loves the water. I did get in a short swim. All I have to say is swimming in murky lake water is weird. I also learned that I can't swim in a straight line and I am awful at sighting, besides that I felt good!

I was planning going for my long run on Saturday and long ride on Sunday, however I had so much fun hanging out with Matt and Morgan, just chilling out that I wanted to spend all my time with them. Plus, I wanted to give a Matt break. As you all know when you are training for a marathon, tri, whatever having support from the people you love is crucial. It makes a world of difference and just makes things better. Toss in a child or children, and the person you look to for support (husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc) you also rely on for so mcuh more. Matt is always there at the races, he never complains about getting up early, he has water waiting for me after every run and ride and he has to listen to all my nonsense. While I get up early to make sure I minimize the time I am away, Matt doesn’t get to sleep in either. Morgan is an early riser and once she is up she is ready to go and go and go and go. Every weekend he is right there ready to get her dressed and fed.

So while I wanted to go for a run and ride, I felt that Matt deserved a break. Saturday morning instead of rising by myself and eating breakfast while it was still dark out, I got to wake up and head to the kitchen with my favorite girl Morgan. We ate and hung out while Matt slept! Sunday, I was tempted to sneak in a short ride. I got myself out of bed before the alarm sounded, but when I got up I noticed that at some point during the night Morgan found her way in our room and had comfortably positioned herself on Jax's bed. She was curled up in her blanket and looked so peaceful. Jax was sprawled on the floor next to her also sleeping soundly. After seeing this I knew that when she woke up, I didn't want her to find a bed with her mom missing. About an hour later Morgan woke up and came straight over to me shouting "Mommy" with the biggest smile on her face. I was so glad I didn't ride. We spent the rest of the morning hanging out. We took a walk to see some cows, but they weren't out, we played outside all morning, read books and once again Matt was able to sleep as long as he wanted.

Yesterday, I did get up and head out for a run. I needed to beat the heat. After that we headed to the bike shop so I could get a few kinks worked out on my bike. I had a nice swim this morning and I am so ready to get back and hit the roads and water! I have tons of blogs to catch up on too.

Oh, I won some Elevate Me Bars from The Special K Treatment, I can't wait to try them.

All Alone

2009-08-04T04:34:00.000-07:00

Back at the beginning of July, the pool I swim at on campus closed for renovations. The campus recreation people were kind to provide alternative venues around the area. While there is another pool on campus that can be used, it is really for the NCAC and masters swimmers, but they were nice enough to give up 1 lane for outsiders use. Since sharing a lane with 5 people really isn’t my thing I choose to go to an alternative site.

The alternative site I go to is an older outdoor pool which isn’t that pretty but allows me to get what I need to done. Anyway, I am usually the only one at the pool, there is a girl who swims for about a half hour every so often, but most times it is just me and the college aged lifeguard. Each morning I show up, and say "hello, good morning" and I get a nod, I say "bye, thank you" and I get a nod or sometimes a wave. He looks like he hasn't gone to bed yet and stares off in to space. I feel bad for him, it must be so boring!

Today I said, "good morning" I got the nod and my day at the pool began. While I was feeling good in the water and my breathing was back on track I was a complete space shot. I mean I am an educated person, I can do math and I have been able to count to 100 for quite some time now, but couldn't keep my laps straight.

This is how things went down. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.. 8..9...is this eight or nine, I know I hit the wall and said seven, so this must be eight, right..maybe it is nine, seven seemed so long ago. Why can't I count, this isn't that hard...think 8 or 9...I really don’t know….. Screw it 8, rather do more than less.

Ok. back on track I space out completely and almost swim in to the wall! How can you almost swim in to the wall when there is a nice black line on the bottom of the pool to guide you and a huge black X on the wall. Luckily, I just jammed my finger. What a complete space shot, then to top it off I lost count again! Some days.

While my run tonight will be a hot, it suppose to be 95 degrees, at least I can totally zone out and not have to worry about counting or running in to anything.

Short and Sweet

2009-07-30T04:59:00.001-07:00

OK, this is going to be short and sweet.

- Tuesday, I was able to get a decent workout in the pool. For some reason my breathing just seemed off, which was annoying. I was also able to sneak in a nice run. It was hot and the humidity was awful. However, I ran with one of the guys in the neighborhood so we suffered together!

- The presentation went well yesterday. All the doctors seemed to find my results interesting. There were some questions but I was able to answer them and they seemed satisfied with what I had to say. For those wondering, I presented findings on support services and their effectiveness to reduce NICU parental stress, along with data on the utilization of services, reasons why or why not parents attend support services, additional stressors parents with infants in the NICU face, how they manage/cope with stress, and NICU personnel they look to as sources of support.

- Last night, I was able to get in an hour on the bike. While there were threats of rain, nothing fell. I can tell I am getting stronger on the bike.

- This morning I got in a nice swim. I really felt strong and my breathing was much better than Tuesday's. And, for the first time, I actually felt pretty fast in the water (well fast for me). Things are progressing.

- Tonight will be another run, probably 6 miles. I would like to tack on an extra mile or two, but I know by the time I get home, eat, hang with Morgan and Matt I'll probably want to stick with the six, but we'll see.

- The weekend is in sight!!!!

Figuring it all out

2009-07-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

I have always struggled with nutrition during workouts. I could never really figure things out and to be honest never tried all that hard to, despite knowing the importance of it. After the last marathon I ran back in December, I told myself that I was going to really work on how I fuel. It has taken some time and after several experiments with various products, I think I got it down. For me, Hammer gels, NUUN, and water seem to do the trick. Even in the gross heat and humidity in North Carolina I am feeling strong on my runs and long rides.

I was able to get in some solid workouts this week, even though on several occasions I woke up to Morgan staring and me and whispering my name at various early morning hours! Luckily, I think that issue has been solved. Two runs, one swim and one ride made up the week. As usually I went out for a 13 miler on Saturday, however I think it is time to start either increasing distance or start incorporating some tempo miles in there. I am kinda getting bored with it. Yesterday, I decided on a 30 mile ride and 3 mile run. The ride was fun and I felt really strong. I am definitely seeing and feeling progress on the bike. It was also the first time I really felt like I knew what I was doing and knew what I wanted to do when it came to shifting! When I finished with the bike I quickly changed shoes, threw down a hammer gel with some water and took off for the run. It took me about half a mile to really feel like I was in control of my legs. Mile two was a bit challenging, but I felt great for all of mile three and averaged 8:15 mm.

Today is a rest day! I need to use the extra free time to refine a presentation I am giving to all the NICU doctors on Wednesday.

Thoughts

2009-07-20T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I am tired of posting pretty much the same thing each week, so I decided it would be a nice change to list some reasons why I enjoy running, biking, swimming.

Running: It is easy and convenient. I just need sneakers. I can go fast or slow, a short distance or far. I can push myself or hold back, either way I still feel accomplished at the end. I can run pretty much anywhere and anytime, on vacation or visiting family, before work or after or even during lunch. I can run in the rain, when it is snowing out or when it is 95 and humid. It is a great way to meditate and reflect. There are a ton of races to feed a competitive side or to just participate and have fun.

Biking: A new found love. It is fun to go fast! I enjoy exploring new areas and roads. It is amazing how far you can go on a bike. The time on the bike seems to go fast. I love the challenge of climbing hills although I don't always appreciate them until they are behind me. There is something very freeing about riding and it makes me smile!

Swimming: A work in process. It is something new and I have to really work at it. There is something calming about doing laps...as long as you have a lane alone. It feels easy on the body.

Of course the main reason why I like all three is because they are fun and I enjoy that they bring different forms of happiness and challenges to my life. They all help me to feel good about myself and the give me confidence. I like that I am showing and teaching Morgan about dedication as well as how to lead a healthy lifestyle. I love that through races my family (from Matt to my parent to my sister are so very supportive) it gives us all an extra reason to spend time together and hang out. I love that I get so much more out of running, biking and swimming than just physical fitness.

Rest

2009-07-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Rest is something I definitely feel like I have been lacking lately. Between waking up anywhere from 4:15 am to 5:15 am daily, working, having a long commute, running, biking and swimming, being a wife and most importantly being a mom there is little time for rest. The past two weeks I have felt tired. While my workouts have gone well, actually this past week everything was right on target, both my body and mind have felt tired.

Saturday morning it was a struggle to get out of bed when the alarm went off at 5:15. It was one of those mornings when I just wanted to keep sleeping. But, if I did 1) I wouldn't beat the heat and 2) I would feel guilty taking more time away from Morgan (currently, if I can make it out the door by 6 I can be back home by 8, just as Morgan is eating breakfast). Anyway, I got up, got ready and hit the streets. It was a nice morning and the second half of the run felt much better, faster and stronger than the first. I was very pleased with how things went 13 down and good.

Sunday, my alarm was once again set in hopes of getting a nice ride in. However, when the alarm went off, I got up shut it off and went back to sleep. My body wasn't feeling like waking up and since Morgan was at my parents house it was a perfect opportunity to lay in bed as long as I wanted. When I finally got out of bed at 8:45, I did think about heading out for a short ride, but decided to just enjoy a full day of rest. I got in some stretching. My body could use one nice big stretch!

Last night, I had hoped for a great sleep to start the week off on a nice well rested note, but Morgan uncharacteristically got up, came in to our bedroom looking for me. Luckily, as soon as she got back to her bed she fell asleep, unlucky for me that I was up for the rest of the morning!

Long Weekend

2009-07-07T04:26:00.000-07:00

Well four days off from work and I could have used a few more! The weekend was very nice. I was able to get in some nice workouts as well as some down time. Friday, not much went on. I was planning on going for an short ride, but I had a flat so I just enjoyed a day off instead.

On Saturday mornings I usually try to incorporate a mid distance run of 13 miles. For the past two weeks my running has been off. I have felt sluggish and I felt like I was just going through the motions. Due to my little running slump, I was dreading Saturday's run. When the alarm went off, I really didn't want to get out of bed, but I forced myself out. I ate some breakfast, got ready and headed out. The first couple of miles felt slow and mentally I was ready to take myself out of the run. However, as I kept moving forward I pushed away the negative thoughts and zoned out. By the time I reached mile 5, I was back in the grove and feeling good. Before I knew it I was turning down my street and the run was ending, 13 miles 1:52/8:39 avg.

To celebrate the 4th we headed to my parents for a cookout and relaxed by the pool, well actually in it. Morgan loves the water and never want to get out! We had tons of fun and ate lots of good food.

Sunday morning I was able to get in a great bike ride (Thanks Matt for helping me fix the flat). I decided I would ride 31 miles to celebrate my 31st birthday. It was overcast in the morning and I got caught in some light rain. The streets were quiet and all the dogs I passed just wanted to chill in their yards. It felt great being out there and getting my body moving.

Sunday afternoon, my parents came over and we all hung out for a bit. I indulged myself in the cheesecake Matt made me. It is so good!! Then my parents took Morgan to their house to sleep over. I was able to relax and sit on the couch watching tv. It was wonderful. I even got to sleep in until about 7:30! I was hoping to sleep in all morning but, once I am up, I'm up.

Now, back to work:( Hope everyone had lots of fun this past weekend.

Rundown

2009-06-29T04:50:00.000-07:00

The past week went by wicked fast, not really sure where all the time went. Here is a rundown of what went down this past week.

- Monday got in a solid run, after a dance party with Morgan. Sometimes these dance parties help wake me up after a long day at work.

- Tuesday hit the pool before work.

- Wednesday a complete day off from both training and work. Matt went to visit his parents and catch a Red Sox game, so it was just me and Morgan. We played at the park, had a picnic and got some ice cream. Can't beat that.

- Thursday went for a run, mixed the usual six up with a tempo run. Felt pretty good. I need to start doing more of these.

- Friday another swim.

- Saturday had a complete sucky run, so we'll skip this.

- Sunday had an awesome 40 miler on the bike. The legs felt good, the hills were tough, the scenery beautiful, and the roads quiet. I did get a little lost, but found my way to where I needed to go. Then spent the day at the pool with my parents who are down for a few weeks, Matt and Morgan.

- This week, more running, swimming and biking. I also have a nice long weekend with Friday and Monday off. Oh, and I'll be turning 31 on Sunday!

- Hope everyone has a great week!!

Heat! and Father's Day

2009-06-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a week of becoming acclimated with temps in the high 80's and 90's and the wonderful humidity. I was able to get in 2 solid runs, 2 swims and a ride during the week. Tuesday's run was horrible. It was one of those runs that right from the start I wasn't feeling it. About 1/4 mile in I got bite by something (looked like a flying ant) right under my eye I debated whether I should turn around and go home. But, I went against my better judgment and kept running. After about a mile my eye was not longer stinging. I thought the run was going to turn around, however I was so wrong. My stomach began to cramp so I slowed down, then slowed a little more till I was finally walking. At this point I just wanted to be home and done with this run.

Thank goodness the rest of the weeks workouts went smoothly! Yesterday, I headed out of the house at 5:45 am and it was already hot and humid. The run was slow and sweaty. By the time I got home I was soaked. While the conditions were tough, I think I am finally figuring out the whole nutrition thing. Right now, hammer gel and NUUN seem to be doing the trick.

I headed out early again this morning for a 30 mile bike ride. Like yesterday, it was already hot when I left the house. I tried a new route today that was very hilly. The hills didn't stop, there were some rolling hills, some that went straight up and some that I thought were never going to end! But, it was fun and like last week I was sad that ride was over. I did a little exploring with Morgan and found some new longer routes to test out for next weekend.

While this is a running blog I have to give a big thanks and father's day wishes to both my dad and Matt. My father has always been a huge supporter of mine and still is. He and my mom have traveled all over New England and the US to watch me play sports. It has meant the world to me to have my dad (and mom) there. Happy Father's Day DAD!

Matt, has also been a great supporter and one who takes the brunt of my complaints and excitement about running, biking, swimming, training and competing. He has also never complained about picking up some extra slack while I head out for a runs or getting up extra early in the morning to take me to a race! Thank you Matt. Happy Father's Day.

Komen Race for the Cure

2009-06-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

It was an early morning wake up call on Saturday. I got up around 4:45 got myself dressed, got Morgan up and ready to go and then got Matt moving. Since there wouldn't be any race day parking at the site of the race, there were two options 1) park at the RBC Arena and take a bus in or 2) park near the NC Museum of Art and walk the trail over to the race site. We chose option two.

The trail way was really nice and there were tons of paths you could follow. After 5 years of living in the area, I didn't know it existed. Morgan enjoyed this little walking adventure. Whenever we saw people running on the path she would say, "look mommy, it’s your friend," she thinks since I run, I must know everyone else who does. The walk ended up being just over 2 miles. It served as a great warm-up to get the legs warm.

When we arrived at the race site there were tons to do. Komen always does a fantastic job with the setup and sponsors. After walking around a bit. it was time to start lining up, I quickly and easily found the neighborhood guys. We chatted about how we wanted to run the race, Jerry (who is the fastest and oldest) wanted to go around 7:00 mm, Don wanted to keep Jerry in site, and I wanted to keep Don in site. I also decided that I wanted to keep a nice and relaxed pace. This course had several hills and I wanted to be strong and keep the same pace throughout.

Since I hadn't run a 5k in 3 years, I forgot how quick they end! About 100 yards in to the race, I saw Matt and Morgan. Morgan shouted "mommy" and started to run towards me, but Matt was able to grab her. One day soon we'll be running a 5k together! The first mile was a breeze aside from the congestion. There were a few inclines, but nothing too challenging. Mile two a few hills made an appearance, but I kept to my plan and kept the same pace. I zoned out a little bit until I heard this guy breathing wicked heavily in a sort of song, "ha...hum...ha...hum." Then I realized I only had about 200 yards till the finish. I saw Matt and Morgan, we said "hi" and then I speed up to the finish.

I crossed the line 23:33, this was pretty much right on target. However, I knew I had way to much juice in the system and probably should have set my goal time lower and really pushed myself. But, on a positive side I was able to keep about a 7:35mm pace without feeling like I was going hard. My breathing was good and my heart wasn't beating out of my chest! As for the guys Jerry came in around 21 minutes like he wanted and Don finished about 25 seconds ahead of me. We all had a nice time! I always find it so moving seeing all the breast cancer surviors out at this event, they are strong women.

Yesterday, I woke up early to get a nice ride in. I had scoped out a new route to ride on Saturday afternoon, but I chickened out and turned down a road that leads to my usual route. I felt good, but need to really practice hills and get the gearing down on them. I really can't express how much I am enjoying riding. I didn't think I was going to have so much fun on the bike. I was actually kind of sad when my planned 30 miles came to an end.

And now, it is back to the daily grind. Hope you all had a nice weekend.

5K This Weekend

2009-06-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

The last 5k I ran in was 3 years ago. I can't believe it has been that long. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have signed up for this weekend’s race if it 1) wasn't for a great cause (breast cancer) and 2) One of the neighborhood guys that run didn't ask me to. I don't know why, but I haven't been feeling the 5k.

I know I have written about this before, but my neighborhood has a handful of consistent runners. If we see each other on the streets we'll chat about running, routes, races, etc. as we run. It's very nice and motivating. Plus, it is nice talking to someone who actually enjoys hearing about your running. This weekend there will be several of us running the Race for the Cure 5k. While it will be a fun time, I am not sure how I want to approach this race. Do I try and go all out and PR or since there will be tons of people just go out and enjoy the race, or try to hang with the guys (while of course trying not to show them I am sucking wind)? So many options!

I have also noticed over the last few weeks that it has been taking me a little bit to warm up. I know many people will do a warm up before they start their workout, but I have never been one to when it comes to running. I am thinking as I start aging (I'll be 31 in July) I may need to. How about you? Do you incorporate a warm-up before you run or bike or exercise? If so, what do you do and how long?

Hope everyone is having a great week. I have so many blogs to catch up on.

Increasing Mobility & Flexibilty

2009-06-03T04:25:00.001-07:00

It's Wednesday, after today the weekend will be in sight! I want to congratulate all those who raced this weekend. You all did awesome and I loved reading all the race reports.

I was able to get in some solid workouts this weekend as well. Saturday morning I went for a nice 13 miler. It took me some time to get warmed up and fall in to a pace, but once I found the groove it felt good. Sunday, I again woke early but this time for a 25 mile ride. I am definitely feeling more confident on the bike and was able to push things a little more. A nice swim was had yesterday too. I am really enjoying the variety training for a tri has given me. It is really fun!

This weekend, while surfing the net I came across the the SportSkool website. They have tons of great videos for multiple sports on various topics. They have a great series for running with the first of the series focusing on mobility and flexibilty. The exercises they go through I found to be really useful, some I was familiar with, however watching the video helped to reinforce the proper way to do them. With many of us thinking about fall marathons and races it is important that we all get to the starting line healthy. Here is the link to the video Running Training 1. The video is a bit lengthly lasting about 22 minutes, but is worth watching. Enjoy!

It's Friday!!

2009-05-29T05:01:00.001-07:00

The weekend is almost here!!I want to wish all those racing this weekend a big good luck. I can't wait to read all the race reports. All those in SD take lots of pictures.

As you all know I got bit by a dog running Saturday morning. Six days later, the area where I got bit is just one big purple mess. It looks much worse than it feels, actually it doesn't really hurt and hasn't prevented me from any workouts.

Sunday, I headed out for a 10 miler to help make up for some of the mileage I lost on Saturday. I didn't feel as good as I had felt the day before, but I made it. Morgan ran with me for the last half mile. I am not worried about getting bite again, however, I will say that a squirrel startled when I heard it wrestling in the woods. I laughed it off and continued on my way.

On Monday I went for a 25 mile ride. In order to get the mileage in I had to pass the house with the dogs. As I was turning on to their street, I was singing "please don't be outside, please don't be out," luckily there were no dogs in sight. I was so happy. The ride went well, however I need to move a little faster on it.

Tuesday got in a six miler followed by a nice swim and short bike ride on Wednesday. I am loving riding my bike, I can’t get enough! I also have the clipless pedals pretty much down, I love those too! Yesterday, I hit the streets for a nice and relaxed run. I really feel like all the cross training is making my running stronger. This morning I was able to get in 1500 yards before work. It takes me a little while to warm up and get in a rhythm in the pool, but I am enjoying the challenge.

This weekend I am looking forward to another long run and bike ride. Hopefully, the dogs won't be out. Well, I don't care if they are outside as long as they aren't chasing and biting me. Have a great weekend!!!

A Dog Bite

2009-05-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I woke up nice and early to get in a nice 13 miler before the heat set in. I ate a little breakfast, searched the net and headed out. It took me a about a mile to start loosening up and feeling good. I was nailing the hills and my pace was a little faster than usually, but it felt very comfortable. The run was just going really well.

About 8.75 miles in I pass the house were one of their dogs had come flying out at me before. Like in the past, this brown pit bull starting sprinting towards me. I am not sure what it was, but I knew today he was going to get me. As the brown pit bull is crossing the street to "hang" with me, his little white pit bull friend joins in on the fun. Great! I continue to run, but they are growling at my feet, I stop and say "hey, how you guys doing", but they keep jumping at me, I drop my Hammer Gel (what dog wouldn't want a swig of apple cinnamon gel, right?). They weren't falling for that trick and instead bit me in my ass. The bite isn't that bad, it could have been worse, but still. I couldn't believe it. Luckily a car passed that distracted the dogs and I able to move away while they crossed the street back to their house.

There was a nice man who saw what happened and asked if I was ok and if I needed anything. He also waited with me until Matt came. By this time, the dogs were inside their house (not sure how they ended up back there). Matt went to the front door to let the owners know that their dogs had just bitten me, but of course no one answered the door, yet there were 3 cars in the driveway.

We went to the doctor's so I could get my behind checked out. On the way to the doctor's we called animal control to let them know what had happened. In NC, all dog bites must be reported and investigated by animal control (the doctor's are also required to report). The animal control officer was able to speak with the owners and the dogs are up to date on all their shots. I had to get a tetanus shot and put on medication.

Today, my arm is sore from the shot and my butt hurts a little depending on how I am sitting or move. I was more upset that a great run got cut short and that the owners didn't have enough courtesy to come out or open the door to make sure all was ok. Plus, they gave a bogus reason to the officer about their dogs breaking their chain. Well maybe the chain had been broken, but then it has been broken for weeks! Who lets their pit bulls loose?

My neighbor who is a Sheriff and the doctor who I saw who cycles, both recommended running with pepper spray. They said if you see a dog running at you to spray a line and it should deter them. The doctor said that the sound of the spay sometimes halts the dogs. Anyway, today I will run a different route!

Learning Curve

2009-05-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I left work early so I could head to the bike shop to get my bike fitted. It is amazing how a few minor tweaks can make a difference. I also got clipless pedals, crazy. I was able to practice with them in the shop for a bit and then headed outside to give it a try. First try, I got my right foot in then the lady from the store was trying to help by giving me some instructions. Well, I was listening to her, trying to figure out what she was telling me, trying to figure out what I need to do and just got myself all messed up , the bike stopped rolling, I tipped and then hit the ground. No big deal. Matt had a nice laugh and so did I. But, inside I was thinking to myself, I am not going to fall again. Next few times all went well! They are going to take time to get use to.

Last night after dinner and after a dance party with Morgan, I headed out for a nice run. It was such a beautiful day with temps just hitting 70. When I got back I had to test out my clipping abilities on the bike. Matt and Morgan hung out with me outside. Luckily no falls, I am starting to get the hang of it. Of course I am slow moving and haven't tested them out on a "real" ride. Morgan had fun watching me and wanted to jump on her bike too. She also asked me if she can go running with me. I look forward to the day we head out for a run together!

Swimming this morning went well. I felt like I found a rhythm which is a really nice feeling when you are in the water. Since swimming I can tell my arms have started to tone up, perfect timing with summer approaching.

I might run a 5k in a couple of weeks. One of the runners in the neighborhood is trying to get those of us who run together. I haven't run a 5k in about 2 years. I think it would be fun, but I'll have to work on gaining some speed.

Wonderful Weekend and New Kicks

2009-05-12T03:59:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend! Saturday, was spent running around, taking the dog for a checkup, grocery shopping, and hitting the running store. I had a gift certificate that I had been hording since my birthday last July and felt it was time to spend it, plus I was due for a new pair of sneakers. While my numerous pairs Brooks have all treated me well, I felt I needed to branch out and at least try a different brand on. Asics and Mizuno were my top runners along with Brooks. The Asics and Mizuno pairs had so much more cushion while the Brooks were more solid and stable. I really liked how both the Asics and Mistunes felt and I think I could have been happy with either. When the lady at the store asked me which one I liked, I really couldn't decided but blurted out, "I'll go with Mizuno." Not really sure why, the Asics were prettier! So, now I am officially running in Mizuno Wave Inspire 5.

Of course, when we got home I had to go for a run, despite the fact that I wasn't mentally or physically wanting to go for a run. I forced myself out the door and went. Well, the run was awful! I felt like crap and actually walked a lot. The sneakers felt great, no problem there. This was not the first impression I wanted to make.

To redeem myself, I set the alarm for 5:30 am on Sunday. There would be no sleeping in on my Mother's Day or breakfast in bed. I was up before the alarm sounded and ready for the run. When I went downstairs to the kitchen my Mother's Day gifts were awaiting me on the table. I got several packs of Hammer Gel Apple Cinnamon, which I was out of and needed for this run (perfect timing) and there was also a registration confirmation. Odd, since I hadn't signed up for anything or even spoke about a specific race. Matt and Morgan signed me up for a triathlon! I felt a little sick when I saw it. I had been talking about participating in one for so long, but have been too chicken to sign up. The queasy feeling turned to excitement and I really can't wait. It is in September in CT. Since it is only 20 minutes from my sister's house and a short drive from my parents, they will all be there to support me (which is very cool). The race is a 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 run. The swim is open water too. Now, I am not a flower or jewlery type of girl, yes I do accept these gifts, but what I got was perfect for me! Thanks Matt and Morgan.

Needless to say my 13 mile run went by really fast. All I kept thinking about was the triathlon and how I can't wait. I am really looking forward to having a goal to work towards, instead of just going through the motions. It will also help me stay more focused and work harder in the pool, since swimming for sure is my weakest area. However, I have plenty of time to get things together. Anyway, back to the run. I have really begun to enjoy the new route and while it is very hilly I have been enjoying the hills and can tell I am handling them much better than at the beginning. Total time for the 13, 1:53 / 8:45 avg with the last two miles at 8:28 and 8:07. I think it is time to start pushing a little harder on the long runs. Oh ya, the Apple Cinnamon was great again.

Oikos and More Randomness

2009-05-07T03:58:00.000-07:00

First, time to review Oikos greek yogurt. A couple of weeks ago Stonyfield Farms asked me to test out and review Oikos. I am sure many of you may have tried it before, but for those of you who haven't here is a quick blurb on it.

"Called “yiaourti” in Greece, Greek yogurt is creamier than regular yogurt. Authentic Greek yogurt like ours owes its extra creaminess to a centuries-old straining process that removes the whey (liquid) from the yogurt. For hundreds of years, Greeks have prized strained yogurt for its richness and creaminess, and because it makes a wonderful cooking ingredient that’s less likely to curdle when heated. Before the time of mechanical refrigeration, Greeks also knew that yogurt stayed fresh longer with the liquid strained off. Today we know that straining makes Greek yogurt richer in protein than regular yogurt, and lower in lactose. Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt has 0% fat, just 90 calories per 5.3 oz.-serving*, twice the protein of regular yogurt, and fewer carbohydrates. Because it’s organic, our yogurt is also better for the earth. And we think it’s better for you, too."

Now on to the important part, how does it taste. Overall, I really enjoyed Oikos. The taste is different than regular yogurt, I want to say there is more of a tang, but not really sure that is the right word to use. Anyway, I felt the plain and vanilla flavors were best consumed mixed in with cereal, fruit, or granola. I didn't really enjoy eating these two alone. The blueberry was good. The blueberries were on the bottom and they certainly didn't skimp out, which was nice. I am surprised that my favorite of the flavors was actually the honey! For some reason I really enjoyed it. Neither the honey nor the yogurt were overpowering, they combined for a really nice, smooth, and little sweet taste.

What's on Diana's mind? More randomness.

- My contacts are already bugging me this morning and I didn't bring my glasses as a back up.

- I hate wearing my glasses!

- Had a nice run on Tuesday. Six miles all under 8 minutes.

- My facebooking and blogging have been sporadic.

- Matt picked me up some bodyglide! Why does it have sunblock? Does anyone use bodyglide where they would need spf or areas that are really that exposed to the sun?

- Speaking on sunblock, time to start lathering up. I already have a Garmin tan!

- Don't forget Mother's Day on Sunday!

Random

2009-05-04T04:13:00.000-07:00

This post will probably be all over the place. There is so much to say since I have only been posting once a week, so I am just going to bullet things.

* First Congratulations to all those who ran this weekend. You all did a fantastic job and I am loving reading your race reports. Be proud of yourselves.

* Runs this week went well. I am definitely in the groove again and really just enjoying running.

* I went for a 13 miler on Saturday and had almost the same exact time as last week (1:57:01 last week, 1:57:10 this week).

* I think I found a gel that I can tolerate!! Hammer Gel Apple-Cinnamon. I wasn't sure how this flavor would sit, but it worked out just fine and tasted pretty good too. I am going to pick up more and try it again. Hopefully, it will have the same result.

* I only got chased by 1 dog on Saturday, not bad considering last week 3 dogs came flying at me on the same route. I get more concerned about the dogs getting hit by a car, than biting me.

* Yesterday, I just felt like running so I hit the streets for a nice 8 miler. I actually would have enjoyed going a little further, but I am slowly increasing mileage and really do not want to injure myself. Plus, my legs (shin area) have been feeling really good and don't want the pain to come back.

* I need to find a race and decide on a fall marathon!

* Still enjoying the whole swimming thing and I actually look forward to hitting the pool.

* Since it is exams on campus the pool has been closed in the morning resulting in me having to swim during lunch. On Friday, the pool was packed and I had to share a lane. I normally like to share with the geriatric crowd or the casual swimmer. But, I was the first in and I was approached about sharing. As soon as I looked at the kid, I knew I was in for a treat. Channeling Michael Phelps. This kid could swim, the speed and force he produced was crazy! Good thing he spent more time talking with his girlfriend than plowing me over.

* I need to plan a vacation. I don't need to go anywhere, it would just be nice to take a solid week or two off from work.

* I need to pick up more bodyglide. It is finally time for more. This stuff last forever.

* Hope everyone has a great Monday.

Where Does The Time Go??

2009-04-27T04:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since I last posted. The days just seem to be flying, where is the time going? Or, maybe the question is, what am I doing with my time?

This past week, I ran four days and swam three. Things finally seem to be coming around on both. My runs have been going really well and I am hanging around the times I want to. I finally feel like I have broken through the winter slump/funk that I got sucked in for a little too long. Tuesdays seem to be my speedier days, not sure why, but I'll go with it! The runs this week looked like this; Tuesday - 5 miles/8:03 avg, Thursday 6 miles 48:57/8:09 avg, Saturday 13 miles 1:57:01/9:00 avg, Sunday 7 59:35/8:30avg. Saturday's 13 felt so good. It was the first time in many weeks that I felt comfortable and not tired or like death when running this distance. I am still testing out gels, and while the first taste makes me want to gag, I am sticking with them. I am learning what flavors make my stomach turn less.

Not much to say on the swimming front. I have been able to increase distance and I am starting to get the hang of the breathing. I no longer feel like a lost soul in the pool. Things are starting to flow and it makes me happy.

There is so much more to blog about and on all my runs I have think of things I wanted to write, but end up writing nothing. There just isn't enough time anymore and somedays I just don't feel like sitting at the computer. Maybe it is because of all the playoff sports on, basketball (go Celtics, Matt is a huge fan), or hockey (the Carolina Hurricanes forced a game 7 and I am enjoying the Rangers/Capitals series as well) or because baseball season is in full swing. Whatever it is, I am going to try and post a bit more and definitely keep better tabs on all you guys!

Hope you all have a great Monday.

So Much!

2009-04-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Another busy week. So much went on so I'll get right to it.

Boston: What a great race. Kara Goucher was amazing as was Bobbi, Maggs, Frayed Laces, Lam, N.D. You all rocked! I can't wait to read your race reports.

Workouts: I had great runs all week. Tuesday's seem to be good running days speed wise. For some reason I feel the need for speed on Tuesdays! Wednesday I pulled a double, swim in the morning run at night, both went well. I took Thursday off since my sister and her family arrived. Friday I was able to squeeze in a nice easy six between all the eating that took place. Sunday, I went for a 10 miler. I wasn't sure how I would feel after stuffing my face with cake, ice cream and dinner out the night before. But, to my surprise I felt really good. I ran negative splits and ended the 10 in 1:25/8:34 avg. This weekend I am bumping things up and going 13. I am still enjoying swimming and have actually been looking forward to it, despite the 4:20 am wake up call. Today I use the rings on the lane tracks to count laps, so much easier than trying to remember.

Birthday: Since all our family was down on the Friday, we decided to have Morgan's birthday celebration on her actual birthday. It was so nice having all our family together. I made lots of food and enjoyed eating it all! I ate way too much, but it was a special day. Morgan had so much fun and enjoyed her new bike and playing with her cousin Catriana. She was excited about her Yo Gabba Gabba cake, glad it didn't disappoint. Does anyone else's child like this show? The characters are weird and so is the show! Time is going by so fast. I swear every day I look at her, she looks older and growing into her own. It is such an amazing formation to watch. I just love this little girl.

Busy week down, One to go

2009-04-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

This week was busy all around and I have another busy week to look forward to which includes Morgan's 3rd birthday and nice visit with my sister and her family. My parents came down this weekend so it will be nice having us all together.

Running: Tuesday, Morgan got to bed a little late which caused me to start my run a little later than usual. In order to beat the darkness I cut the run a little short (4 miles) and ran negative splits. I felt really good and was happy with the splits; 8:16, 8:18, 7:51 and 7:29. Thursday I had planned to run, but I was so tired and couldn't even keep my eyes open. Since I had Friday off I switched. I am not sure if I was still tired or what, but my legs felt liked they weighed a ton, I just couldn't get them moving. The same feelings took place during Saturday's run. While the times are fine, I just felt off (Friday 5 miles/8:36 avg, Saturday 6 miles/8:39). Today, I wasn't sure if I would make it out or not between the Easter bunny leaving treats and heading to my parents for dinner, but I was able to get a nice 10 in. I wanted to keep the pace nice and relaxed and was praying the heaviness in the legs wouldn't strike again. Luckily, it was a pleasant run and a beautiful day, 10 down in 1:30:31 for a 9:03 avg, perfect!

Swimming: Still at it and feeling more comfortable in the pool. I had a nice swim on Monday and another on Wednesday. I am starting to set goals beyond not drowning! The other thing I need to work on is keeping track of the distance, I always forget how many laps I have completed. Tomorrow, I am planning on keeping better track.

Work: Has been really busy and annoying. It isn't annoying because it is busy, I just hate when people ask stupid questions they can easily find the answer to. Actually, they waste more time asking me than if they did it themselves. Oh'well, I am glad I have a job. I also got feedback from my teacher about my paper. Just a few minor revisions she recommended and then I can send it off to the second reader. I hope he doesn't have too many revisions.

This week: Preparation for Morgan's birthday. I have a short week of work and will be utilizing my time by hanging out with my family and making lots of good food and of course a special cake for Morgan.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. To all those running Boston, it is almost time!! Safe travels as you all make your trip to the Boston area.

Running Through Allergy Season

2009-04-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

Spring has arrived and everything down here in North Carolina is blooming, the grass is starting to turn green again and the warm air is settling in! While the warm air is welcome and it is nice to see color outside again, I am not happy that allergy season is here. There is so much pollen floating around, my car has officially switched from black to yellow. For me the itchy eyes, stuffy nose, sneezing and dry throat started last week. It really smacked me in the face when I went for my six miler on Saturday. The run itself wasn't bad, but my throat got so dry and my nose was all stuffed up, it wasn’t fun. Yesterday, while running 13 the same things started to happen. Luckily, had had water with me which really helped. But, for the rest of the day I was all stuffed and sounded a little horse.

To get through the next few weeks, for me the key is going to be making sure my nose is as clear as possible before I start running, I'll probably take a few tissues with me, snot rockets and I don't mix, and I am going to have to carry some water with me even on short runs. I am not one for allergy medicine, I have taken it in the past and just don't like how I feel on it, so I’ll suffer for a few weeks instead. With the warmer weather we had this week, I was also reminded that body glide is a must.

As allergy season starts up what are some of your remedies to make it through?

Congratulations to all those who raced this weekend! I can't wait to read all your reports.

Friday!!

2009-04-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and I am so glad. I have had a productive week and feeling good about things. After two terrible runs this weekend, I was able to redeem myself with two feel good runs, one on Tuesday and one yesterday. This week I also got in the pool for the first time in many years on Monday. I am happy to report that I once again got up at 4:30am to head to the pool, I was actually really looking forward to swimming. Things this morning went well. Besides better form I need to work on breathing and pacing (guess I need to work on everything). I start off nice and easy, but once I see the wall I just want to get there and I find myself going faster which causes me to screw up my breathing which makes my bad form worse, which makes me question if I can make it back to the other end. This cycles the whole time I am in the pool. I know as I continue to practice things will start to fall in place. I am going to look into taking a refresher to clean up some things. But, the main thing right now is that even though I am not very good, I am enjoying the challenge.

This week I was also able finish my research paper! I am hoping there won't be too many corrections that will need to be made.

To all those racing this weekend New Orleans this weekend have lots of fun. I can't wait to read all your race reports!

The Pool!!

2009-03-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

First swim complete! Last night I couldn't fall asleep, I just kept thinking about the pool and swimming and if I would need to be rescued from the waters! Matt usually just laughs at all my crazy thoughts, which I don't mind. I know I obsess over stupid things.

Anyway, I was up at 4:30am a few minutes before the alarm was to go off. I did my morning routine and headed out. When I arrived on campus I stood outside the building the pool is in for a few minutes just staring. I felt a little lost. After a few people entered, so did I. I found my way to the locker room and got all my things set and headed out.

Things were moving along, but of course there had to be a Diana moment! See, when you enter the pool area the lifeguards have to swipe your id card, no problem. I got my card back and was going to put it back in the locker room. So I proceeded to head back to what I thought was the women's locker room, I heard the lifeguard say something along the lines of "wait, wrong door." Ya, I went into the guys locker room. I could have sworn I went in the right door. Oh, well.

After that little episode I quickly went to a lane and started swimming. There were actually more people than I thought. The pool has two 50 meter lanes and 6 25 meters and 6 25 yards. I stayed in a 25 meter lane. I didn't swim as bad as I thought, however I have lots of room for improvement....lots. I think I drag my legs too much and I need to get the whole breathing thing down better. My triceps were burning too. I lost track of how many laps I did, I was too focused on making it from one end to the other. I stayed in the pool for 30 minutes and felt pretty good. Overall, I was happy I left my comfort zone and tried something new. Right now, I think I am going to continue to swim. I'll probably head back to the pool Friday morning.

Tri Talking

2009-03-27T04:10:00.000-07:00

OK, so my friend who convinced me that I could run a marathon has been prodding me since November to start training for triathlons. Being someone who loves a physical challenge, the thought of triathlons is exciting. It would be so nice mix things up and add variety to the schedule instead of just run after run after run.

They are something I have grown really interested in doing, even before she planted the "you can do it" it in my head. However, there is one small problem, I am not the greatest swimmer. I would really need to get in the pool, clean things up and really work on it. To be honest, I don't even remember the last time I swam laps or swam serious. But, I think I am going to take the plunge and test out swimming, hey why not, right? Luckily, working at UNC has some benefits, one of the biggest is having access to all facilities which includes all the gyms and pools. The tough part is the logistics of this all, especially since I live about an hour from work and I am in the office from 7-4. The pool have some crazy times, but it opens at 6am and if I leave my house by 5 or 5:15 am I should be ok. I am not sure when I'll venture over to the pool, it intimidates me and I need to work up some courage!(Writing it in the blog will also make me at least go once!) Plus, I hate sucking at things and swimming is something that falls in this category, yet I know if I don't work at it I can't get better.

If all goes well in the pool, I'll add biking and then test things out doing some sprint tris and see how things go. If the pool doesn't work out, I'll definitely bike and probably take part in some duathlons and rides.

Happy Friday!!!

Company

2009-03-24T03:59:00.000-07:00

Since my last post, I have been able to get in some nice runs. I am really starting to feel in the swing of things again, which is a great feeling. After a couple of months of being blah about running things are finally feeling back to normal and my motivation to hit the roads is coming back.

Helping to keep me honest about running is all the neighborhood guys who run. They all seem to be heading out, taking advantage of the nicer weather and the extra daylight. It is nice to see people moving again. And, when they see me they always ask about my running and if I have any races coming up. I can’t keep saying I haven’t been running much!

Thursday I was looking forward my scheduled run. After dinner, I got a little sidetracked and started the run a little later than I wanted. Since I was pretty sure I was going to get caught in the dark, I made the decision to cut the intended 6 miler down to 5. However, as I was headed for the homestretch one of my neighbors caught up to me and we started talking about his upcoming half marathon. By the time he was finished talking, six miles were in the bag and I had a nice negative split of 7:33 for the last mile.

Saturday, the weather was absolutely beautiful for a run and I was very excited about this, especially after all the rain we have been getting. I am slowly working my mileage back up and had 10 planned. About a mile in, I met up with another neighbor who runs and he asked if he could tag along. I of course said "sure". I must admit I do get nervous running with people for the first time, I never want to slow them down or not be able to hang with them! Anyway, we had nice conversations about running in general and his experiences running and qualifying for Boston. We also talked about my fueling issues during marathons. The run went by really fast and felt effortless. Ten miles 1:24/8:27 avg.

Sunday, was another great day for running. I really tried to take this run easy and was hoping to pace around 9 - 9:15 minute miles for all 6 miles. I got pretty close 8:52 avg (53:15 total), but I still need to work on taking some runs easy.

This week, I am going to start lifting again. There is just something I always enjoyed about weight training, however I wished I had a home gym! I am going to test going during my lunch, I may even start swimming. There is just so much I want to do and so much I need to do!

Hope you all have a great week!

Game On

2009-03-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

I reread some of recent posts, how disturbing, all I have been doing is complaining. Well no more people. Physically and mentally I am back and ready to rock. Rock what, not sure yet, but I am ready to get back in gear and run on a consistent basis.

Things finally started clicking again towards the end of last week. Sunday I was able to get an eight miler in despite the rain and cool temps. I had wanted to keep the pace nice and slow and steady, but after being stuck running a few miles in a down pour I wanted to get home and put on some dry, warm clothes, so I picked the pace up. I was actually surprised that I felt as good as I did. I know it was only eight miles, but after taking as much time off as I did I was pleased. Final stats 8 miles/1:07/8:26 avg.

Running in the rain really got me back in the game and got me wanting to be keep up with things. Running just makes me feel stronger, happier, more confident. Mentally I feel like I am back too. I am getting excited about going for a run, I am looking at my times, paying attention to form when I run (mine is awful), aware of my breathing and simply enjoying it all.

Last night I was excited to head out for a run. Can I just say how nice it is to not have to run in the dark anymore. I opted for my usual six mile route. Things again went well and I felt really good. Legs good, breathing good, mind good. Around mile 4.5 I ran into one of the neighborhood runners, he had just finished. We chatted for a bit, told me how he got bit by a dog, a dog I run by every time I am out! After a few minutes, I moved along only to see another guy who runs. I ran with him for the last mile and he made me push my pace a little bit. Six miles 49:33/8:14 avg.

I need to give a big thank you to all you bloggers for sticking by me and encouraging me. I really appreciate it!

Sometimes you just have to do it

2009-03-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

I've been slacking, and it isn't something new. While I have been getting in some running, I need to do more...I want to run more. Lately, there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. While my running has been slacking I have been working on some other things that need my attention. But, I need to lift myself from this running funk!

I was hoping the nice weather we had earlier in the week would jump start things but the warm temps disappeared as fast as they came. I was able to get in some nice runs over the weekend and a great run on Wednesday. The weather was perfect, and I got to run in shorts and a t-shirt. However for the last 2 days it has been cold and rainy. This combination usually results in no running for me.

But, today I knew I needed to run. I am sick of just thinking about running and thinking about how well and strong I felt back in December. I want that feeling back. I want to go out there and run and feel accomplished. I also know the only way to get that feeling back is to get out there and run, thinking about it isn't going to do anything.

This morning, raindrops were falling, but they weren't going to keep me from running, neither was the cool air. I forced myself out the door for a run. I felt the cold air and the raindrops, took a deep breath, started my garmin and started running. I ran for six miles and enjoyed each. I was just happy to be out running and so glad I didn't waste the opportunity to be outside. I am working my way back, I am starting to feel like I am mentally getting back in it. Tomorrow rain or shine I will be out running. I am thinking of bumping up the mileage to 8 tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Good luck to all those racing! I know you'll all do great.

Busy

2009-03-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

Time seems to be moving a lot faster than I would like. This past week seemed jammed pack with tons of things that needed to get done. While I was very productive with writing my paper, I can't same the same about running. Actually, I didn't get a run in until this past Saturday. Yes, this marked a two week hiatus, and just the week previous I thought I was back on track!

Anyway, the weather was absolutely beautiful this weekend in the high 70's. You could go outside with shorts and a t-shirt. It was crazy to think just a few days prior it was snowing! I did get out for a nice short run on Saturday. It wasn’t the run I had envisioned, actually it felt awful. Despite the sucky run, there was a positive. For the first time since before the Thunder Road marathon back in December, I had no pain at all in my shin/calf area. None people, nada, not even a twinge, it was wonderful! I guess the extra time off helped.

Sunday I headed out again this time for 5 miles. I felt much better, my body let me know I hadn't run in a couple of weeks and consumed a few too many cookies, but overall I felt pretty good. No leg issues on this run either. So my plan is to ease back into running and slowly work my mileage back up. I want to stay injury free and right now there really isn't any need to push things since I don't have any races planned.

Sorry I have slacked big time with commenting and keeping up with all your posts. I plan to devote more time to blogging this week!

Forgive Me Running

2009-02-27T04:14:00.000-08:00

It has 4 days since I have laced up my sneakers and pounded the pavement. I have been using the time we would normally spend together geeking it up running (figuring out)statistical analyses. See, I have finally collected all the data I need for my study and have to cruise through the analysis and write up in order to finish school this year. I am sorry to neglect you, however if it is any consolation, my throat has been sore the last two days and I feel a little achy. I plan on getting out there this weekend to get my running fix. Don't be mad and punish me with sucky runs!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I have lots of blogging to catch up on!

A Run With A Fellow Blogger

2009-02-23T04:02:00.000-08:00

First, I am happy to report that I did have a nice run on Thursday. I think I have broken down the walls of laziness and I am ready to move forward and become a runner again.

Yesterday, I met up with fellow blogger Sarah aka Ghost World for a 14 miler. It was the first time we met in person. Meeting bloggers is a little weird. You feel like you know them, well know lots of information about them, but you don't know them. I am sure you guys know what I mean.

Anyway, we had a nice run and I think we are similar runners. Our paces match up pretty well. However, I am a fast starter and slow finisher and she is the opposite. Once I get may act together her kick to the finish should help push me.

I thought the time went by pretty fast. For me, it was nice to explore a new route and change things up. Plus, having someone to converse with was fun too. I am pretty sure we'll be running again in the future.

Yesterday's run did make me realize I need to get my act together. I need to refocus on nutrition, both before runs and during. I definitely lost some steam at the end of yesterday's run, due to poor fueling. I also know that in order to have more effective long runs I need to get my midweek mileage back up. Maybe this will be the breakout week.

While I am not training for anything, I have grown to enjoy long runs and want to keep them in my schedule. I am not sure if it is the solitude and peace of the long run or just the sense of accomplishment at the end, but I like them. I never thought I would, but I do. I know that in order for me to enjoy them I have to maintain a certain level of fitness and nutrition. I have been lacking on both areas and need to get back on track.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I Will Because I Can

2009-02-19T09:37:00.001-08:00

I will run today no matter what. I will not find an excuse that will prevent me from lacing up my sneakers and heading out. If I have to run later than usual I will, if it is cold (it's not really today), if it is raining (it may), even if my mind isn't up to it, I will run today. I will run because my body enables me to.

Today, I am healthy and strong and capable. I will run because I have the choice. I will run because there are too many people who today would love to get out there and run, but cannot. I will run today for those who are battling something bigger than excuses. I will run today because I can.

It's Been a While

2009-02-16T03:57:00.000-08:00

But, I was finally able to string together a solid week of running. In the past, midweek runs usually were 6-10 miles, depending on if I was training for something or not. I figured in order to jump start me back in the cycle of running, I needed to realize that for now, I don't need to be hitting that type of mileage during the week. This made going out to run in the dark seem less daunting. With less miles on the mind, I headed out for a nice and easy 4 on Tuesday and 5 on Thursday.

Saturday, during nap time I was able to get in a 13 miler. I ran the new 13 mile loop, which I am really starting to enjoy and feel comfortable with. As usually I started out a little faster than I had wanted and the last couple of miles were slower than I had hoped. But, I averaged 9:01 mm, around where I want to be, so not too bad. There really wasn't much excitement on the run. However, I did get stared down by a couple of cows.

Yesterday, I had planned on going for a nice, relaxed recovery run, but when I got outside and started running I wanted to pick things up. I have been really trying to focus on maintaining a nice easy pace since I’m not training for anything and to be honest, I was a little sick of running this way. I wanted to push myself. I wanted to breath heavy, feel tired and I wanted to get the legs moving faster. Some days you just need to test yourself. The five miles went well. I was able to run negative splits and really push out the last two miles. The times weren't as fast as when I was running this past fall, but they were much faster than my runs this year. After the run I felt great and was happy with the results.

I am hoping that this past week was the kick start I needed to get me back on track with my running. The weather will be a bit of a challenge this week since they are calling for cooler temps and rain. Cooler temps + rain + darkness = no running. We'll see how everything goes.

A Beautiful Weekend

2009-02-09T04:05:00.000-08:00

This weekend was just beautiful. The weather was gorgeous. Saturday morning it was a bit chilly when I woke up. I made Morgan some breakfast and we colored and did some activities till lunch time. With each hour that passed the temps rose. Finally when it was nap time, I put on my running clothes and headed out. It was so nice, about 65, perfect.

I ran my new loop which is 13 miles. I knew it would be a bit of a struggle since I haven't been logging many miles. But, it was just one of those days when you just wanted to run and run far. I actually didn't feel that bad running. Can I just say it was great to be running in shorts and a t-shirt. Around mile 10 mile legs started to get tired, by mile 13 they were happy to finally stop.

This weekend reminded me why I run and why I enjoy running on most days. It also gave me a kick, to get back to running. Thirteen miles shouldn't make my legs feel as tired as they were. The rest of the week is suppose to be nice and I plan on taking advantage of it.

Yesterday, was another awesome day. Since we didn't have any plans we headed to the beach. Morgan love the beach and was so very excited. When I asked her if she wanted to go, she said "yes, I need my bathing suit." She was a little disappointed to hear that no swimming would take place, but she was still happy to be headed to the beach.

Hope you all have a great Monday. I have lots of blogs to catch up on.

Random Motivation

2009-02-02T04:10:00.000-08:00

My motivation to run this past month has been all over the place. Some days I just want to get out there and run and other days I don't even want to think about running. I haven't been pushing myself out the door either, when I don't want to run I don't. Bad I know, but I think a break is good for the body. Or, maybe this is just how I am justifying my laziness. Plus, I need to work on some things that I have neglected.

I headed out for a run on Thursday night. It wasn't too bad out, but it was dark. While I was running, I was feeling more motivated to start running on a more consistent basis again. I though about how I enjoy putting my body in motion, the solitude, and the peace I feel. When I finished, I thought I was going to be back on track. Ah, things are always so easy.

I took Friday off. I have been trying to not run more than 2 days in a row. My leg has been feeling good and I want to make sure that once the nicer weather is around I am 100%. Saturday, no run. I know bad. I am not sure where the day went. We did some family things in the morning. I planned on running during nap time, but I got on a roll with my thesis and didn't want to stop and didn't. Then I let the afternoon get away from me.

Sunday, I was determined to run. I didn't let anything get in my way. I tossed on my running gear and quickly left the house. I planned for 10 miles and I completed 10 miles (1:26). While I was running, I started to get excited about running. I was remembering all the 16+ milers I ran this past summer and fall, the self accomplishment I felt when I finished. I want those feelings again. I also want the weather to allow me to have those feelings!

I was thinking about races to run. I know I would like to do another marathon in the fall, but I am not so sure I want to run in a road race. I am thinking about a 26.2 trail race! I found one that I am pretty interested in, the Medoc Trail Race . Whether I choose to participate in this race or another, the bottom line is that I am starting to get excited about running again. And, at this point, that is all that matters.

I have been lacking on the blogging front and have lots to catch up on! I hope you all have a nice Monday.

I am really sick of

2009-01-27T03:57:00.000-08:00

Statistics!!! I spent most of the weekend on my computer running tests. It is not fun and I can't get what I want to run correctly...I am however finding out some great information and can't wait to write it all up.

Can I also say that I am sick of running at night in the dark. The appeal and thrill of it has worn off. It doesn't help in the motivation department either, which I am really lacking right now. I want daylight back and I want to get excited about running again!

Running this past week has been sporadic. I did get in a nice eight miler this weekend. I had wanted to go for 13, but with my leg and the lack of running during the week, I opted for a nice eight. I felt really good and the legs felt fine, this is a first in several weeks. I am going to slowly build back the mileage and take things slow. No need to risk any injury.

I am going to hopefully get out tonight for a run. Since I do some great thinking when I run, I am hoping I will be able to figure out some of the statistical analyses I need to run. Other than that not much going on.

Not Much

2009-01-22T04:18:00.001-08:00

Not much running took place since my last post, last week. I was in a bit of a funk and was stressing a little too much over school. This sucked much of my strength and desire to run right out of me. Added on top of this my leg bothered me on my last run, not sure what's up with that.

So, Thursday, Friday, Saturday there was no running. I planned on running Sunday, but it was cold and rainy. I don't mind running in the rain and don't mind running when it is cold, but put those two together and ya, not so much. Monday, I did get out for 6 and I felt good. The leg cooperated for the most part.

Tuesday we got snow. Yes people, we got about 2 inches of snow and everyone freaked. Schools were cancelled, work places didn't open, people didn't leave their houses. Being from New England, I had to laugh at all this. It was only 2 inches.

Yesterday, I wanted to go for a run, but NC doesn't really plow secondary and backroads. Despite the warmer temps and a majority of the snow melting, the roads weren't the best to run in during day light never mind in the dark. Another no go.

Today, temps are suppose to be in the 50's! By the time I get out of work all the snow should be melted and any ice on the street should be turned to water. I am pretty excited to get out there for a run tonight! Plus, I have destressed (I don't think that is a word, is it) about school and am feeling pretty good about things.

Tagging Thursday

2009-01-15T04:46:00.000-08:00

The weekend is almost here! It is a good thing I got tagged since I don't have much to write about. I did get in a nice six last night. The rest of the weeks runs are going to be cold ones. Looks like many of us are going to be experiencing much colder temps than normal. Stay warm!

Four Favorite Memories from 2008

1. Long Beach Marathon - having my mom, dad, sister and niece along with Matt and Morgan there is cheer me on
2. Morgan's 2nd birthday
3. Thanksgiving in RI and catching up with good friends
4. Christmas - it was fun watching Morgan start to get the whole Santa thing

Four Favorite Movies Watched - Since I didn't watch too many movies I am switching this to Four Favorite Books Read in 2008

1. The World According to Garp - John Irving
2. They Marched Into Sunlight: War & Peace Vietnam & America October 1967 - David Maraniss
3. Moloka'i - Alan Brennert
4. The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Disease in a World Out of Balance - Laurie Garrett

Four Favorite Foods in 2008

1. Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches with a banana
2. Matt's turtle cheesecake
3. Homemade pizza
4. Soup

Four Places I Loved in 2008

1. Aruba
2. Rhode Island
3. California
4. My parents house

Four Events I Loved in 2008

1. Long Beach Marathon
2. Thunder Road Marathon
3. Morgan's Birthday
4. Turning 30 and being ok with it

Four Things I Liked in 2008

1. Blogging
2. Spending time with my family
3. Trying out new marathons
4. Learning more about who I am

Things I am Looking Forward to in 2009

1. Morgan being potty trained
2. Finishing school
3. Buying a road bike
4. Having fun and being happy

If you haven't been tagged yet or need something to write about I am tagging you.

More Changes

2009-01-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

I have gotten bored with all the routes I run, especially those for mid to long runs. It is just the same streets over and over, the same scenery day in and day out, it makes me tired. There is no adventure to look forward to! To combat this “route boredom”, I left my comfort zone and ran on new roads and I really enjoyed it.

I am not sure why I never ventured down these street before. Actually, when I think about it I may have been intimidated by the unfamiliarity of them and the 2 huge hills I would encounter. The loop I ran totaled 13 miles and once I left the development I live in it made a perfect square, 4 left turns and that's it. What I liked about this route was that I got to run against traffic the whole time, there weren't any crossing of streets or lights and there was room to move. It is also a relatively pretty run lots to see.

There are some things that aren't so great about this route first the huge hill that goes up and up for just under half a mile. However, before you hit it there is a bit of a downhill and the hills will make my running stronger so I can’t complain too much. The other bad part is that once you hit these streets there is no shortcut back home. I'll either have to suck the run up or call Matt! I think I may take some pictures of this new route I have established once things get a little more green and a little less gray.

While, I am in a non-training phase I am going to work on pace and continue to build a nice solid base. The run this weekend kicked off developing a nice even comfortable pace. I actually kept everything right where I wanted. Stats for this run, 13 miles 1:57.

Hope everyone is having a nice Monday.

Do Not Complicate Life More Than You Have To

2009-01-08T04:24:00.000-08:00

As some may know, I have been working on my Master's in Public Health for a while now. For the last 6 months, I have been done with classes and have been working on my thesis project. For my study, I have been collecting data from a very select group of parents with a specific inclusion criteria(this is why it has been taking so long). Anyway, I am only 10 parents away from having my sample size. I am very excited about this.

While the end is in sight, I still have a ways to go. The steps left are data analysis, writing of my last chapter, and presentation. All of which need more concentration on my part and more time. I am really pushing to finish by June. I need to finish and need this to no longer be hanging over my head, plus I am tired of shelling out money.

If I didn't have a full time job that kept me away from home from 5:45am - 5:00pm or a family I could probably knock this sucker out in no time with little stress. But, that is not the case and I wouldn't trade either, well maybe the job, not my husband or daughter.

Since I am a big believer in not complicating life more than it has to and not adding more stress on one’s self than need be, I have recognized that something has to give. I can't stop working (that would be the obvious thing to stop) and I will not sacrifice family time, I already feel like I don't see Morgan enough (I don't mind an hour or two on the weekends, but no more). The only thing left is running...

Ah, don't worry I am not going to stop running, I am just not going to commit to running a Spring marathon. Now that I have run a few marathons, I know what I need to do to finish one and the amount of time that goes into training. There is no way I would be able to get in 40-50 miles a week and successfully write my thesis paper, not be stressed out all the time and take care of my family.

I will keep on running, but without the worry or stress of making sure I get that midweek long run of 10-14 miles in or making sure I have the right mileage for the week. I need to be flexible, running needs to be enjoyable, not a chore and not something that adds stress to my life. I plan on getting in a few runs during the week with a long run on the weekends. I am going to try and run 15 miles for all my long runs. During this time I plan on participating in a few shorter races 1/2 marathons and under to add some excitement.

While I am sad about stashing away my training plan and not running a Spring marathon, I know it is what I need to do.

Good luck to all those running this weekend. I can't wait to read all your race reports.

A Routine

2009-01-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

It's Monday and back to the daily grind with no holidays, breaks, or vacations in the near future. Although, I wasn't looking forward to this morning, I am glad to get back in a normal routine.

The two weeks off from running were refreshing. However, with one of the weeks being Christmas week I fell in to a lazy trap. Sleeping in, staying up late, not having to plan a day around running, just doing whatever.

When it was time to get back to running, I wanted to, but at the same time I didn't want to....does this make sense? Between all the eating, the excitement, family, friends I was torn. You can get use to not exercising just as you can get use to doing it. Plus, chasing around a child who is chasing the dog, reading books, dance parities, puzzles, cooking, cleaning, the 1,000 times saying “no”, “leave Jaxs alone”, “Morgan, get off of Jaxs” and the mental strain potty training takes, there were days when I felt like I need to sit down instead of running. Oh, and facebook how addicting is that! However, I forced myself out the door.

I started back slowly with five miles and then six. On Saturday, I jumped to 8 miles. I had wanted to do 10, but the eight seemed long enough. When I was running I just kept thinking how just three weeks earlier I ran 26.2 and now eight is a struggle. I was so happy to be done with this run.

Yesterday, I wanted to be lazy. It was my last day "off" from work. It was rainy, a little chilly and to be honest, I just didn't want to run. Instead we did our grocery shopping. When we got back the rain had stopped and it was warming up. I started to feel like I should go out for a run. During nap I changed in to my running clothes and headed out the door. I wasn't sure how far I would go, but I was aiming for 10. Some miles felt good, some were ok. I didn't feel like I was in the grove until mile 6, I felt like a runner again. Ten down 1:24 for an 8:28 average. It felt good.

I broke down the laziness and am ready to get back in a routine. The only thing left is to kick start eating a little cleaner. Thanks to my wonderful dog Jaxs who ate the whole pan of baby cakes my mom had made for ME. He saved me many calories. Don't worry he is ok. He wasn't feeling well the first day, but is back to himself.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T05:06:00.001-08:00

I wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year's eve. I think we are all headed for some great things in 2009. I can't wait to read about all the journeys and adventures as we work to accomplishing our goals.

Quick running update. My legs are remembering how to run. I ran 6 yesterday and felt really good. I was able to push the pace and maintain it. It feels so nice to be back.

Happy New Year.

Modified Week

2008-12-29T04:57:00.001-08:00

Well, it is Monday and I'm back at work. I think I am the only one in the office today! This leaves me some extra time catch up on blogging as well as some quiet time to get done all the reports I need to. I think the next 3 days of work will be like this. It actually will be a nice way to get back into things.

It’s been a week since I last blogged and not too much has gone on, especially since I didn’t’ run much. I must say Christmas was lots of fun because Morgan pretty much got the whole Christmas thing. She was shocked to see that Santa ate the cookies she left for him. She was also amazed that he left her presents, which she couldn’t wait to open. Her expressions were priceless. Needless to say we had a wonderful day.

On Saturday I went for my first run after 2 weeks of no running. I got up early, put on some of my new running gear (Thanks Matt) and headed out. It was nice being outside again and running. I made sure I took things nice and slow. I really wanted to ease back, plus my leg was still bothering me and I wanted see how it would hold up.

I am not going to lie, this run was tough. Two weeks of eating lots of sweets and big meals and not doing much cardio was felt. This 5 mile run felt more laborious than a 20 miler. I just kept telling myself that this run is just part of the "holiday detoxing." My leg held up, luckily. I could feel it while running, but caused no pain. It was more of an annoying feel.

Sunday, I once again headed out for a 5 mile run. This time I picked the pace up a little bit. I felt much better on the run and so did my leg. After the run I made sure I got a nice stretch in. I am going to take things nice and easy this week, slowly building up mileage. I am pretty sure with each run will feel better and stronger.

The challenge this week will be getting through the New Years smorgasbord of food. Hope you are all doing well.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

2008-12-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

This past week I have had time to reflect on my 2008 running year. I ran my first two half marathons in the spring, my first 5 miler and my second and third marathons. Besides running in more races than I ever have in my life, I learned a lot about running and training. I know I still have more to learn, try, and accomplish and I am ready for it all. Which leads me to 2009.

While I don't have things set in stone yet, I know the path I want to follow. I am planning on a spring marathon and half, a few fun shorter races during the summer and then a fall marathon and maybe a fall half as well. In March I'll be running the Raleigh Rocks half and hopefully improving on last years time of 1:53.

For the spring marathon I am giving myself two options, the Cox Providence marathon (5/3/09) in my hometown of Rhode Island or the United Healthcare marathon (5/2/09) in Greensboro, NC . I think either race will be a fun one. Since they are only a day apart from each other I can take my time deciding which to run.

It would be cool to go back home and run a marathon and of course to spend some time there visiting with family and friends and of course for Matt catching a Red Sox game. But we will have to see how the start of 2009 plays out and to see what our work schedules are like. If RI isn't in the cards than I'll head down the street to Greensboro. I ran the half last year and what a hilly course. If I run the full, I'll be prepared for what lies ahead.

I am still looking at fall marathons and probably won't decide which one I will do until the summer. North Carolina has some nice options, there is the City of Oaks marathon in Raleigh, about 20 minutes from my house, the OBX marathon down at the beach and Thunder Road in Charlotte, the one I just ran. If I don't travel for a spring one, I wouldn't mind trying one out of state. So many options!

As you can see I still have to firm up some details, however I know the direction I want to go in. I am also going to train harder and wiser in 2009. I am going to focus on nutrition both while running and not. I am not a bad eater, but I have room for improvement. Stretching as always will be on my list of things to work on as well.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. I can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for us all.

Keeping Busy

2008-12-18T04:11:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been filled with lots of cookie baking. I have been averaging about three types each night. I just have two more left to make tonight and then I am done. The best part about having all the cookies baked is that I can get them out of my house!

I have also been occupying my time with running thoughts, plans, goals, and schedules for 2009. Thinking of all this is exciting and fun as well as time consuming.

I have learned a lot about running throughout this year and about myself. Yet, there are still things I need to figure out. It is the want to be better and test myself that makes me want to get out there and run. I have a new training plan I want to put in action for marathon training. I felt more prepared and well trained for this past Saturdays race than my previous ones. I am pretty sure a big part of the was due to increasing the mileage I was running. This plan I am looking at does just that. I have also gotten a few fueling suggestions that I am really interested in trying out as well. This is one huge area I need to really nail down.

Looking ahead, I need to firm up my goals for 2009 before I can really start setting things. However, I would like to do a couple of half marathons, a spring and a fall marathon and some shorter races mixed in. Ok, that last sentence doesn't really help nail down anything! I may also toy with the idea of some tris, but we’ll see.

Tomorrow afternoon starts my vacation!! I won't be running at all. I am sticking with taking 2 weeks off for my body to rest up and heal. My leg is still sore and bothering me a bit. I want to make sure I am 100% before I start back running. I have big ideas for 2009 and don't want to be plagued with injury.

Thunder Road Race Report

2008-12-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

To start things off I didn't sub 4 and I am ok with that. I am actually really fine with it. For me, this race was a race between me and my mind. If there was ever a race that was going to challenge my mentally this was the race. Lets get started.

-As yo may know on Monday during my run I hurt my achilles tendon. I am not sure what I did, but something happened. Tuesday, it was uncomfortable to walk. As a result I ended up taking the whole week off from running to ensure that I would be ok to run on Saturday. Was this a factor for me, a little during the last few miles. Did I think about it during the race, tried not to unless it started to hurt. Did this contribute to me not sub 4ing. It probably only cost me a few minutes. So, not really.

-Pre-race. after the expo, which was nothing to talk about, we headed over to Uno's for dinner. Matt had pizza, I opted for pasta and chicken, Morgan had a little of both. I was feeling pretty good about the race and relaxed. After dinner we headed back to the hotel to chill out. We had just gotten settled when stomach issues hit us all. It started with Matt, than Morgan. I was trying to convince myself that I was fine, but soon found myself sprinting to the bathroom.

- Sleep-I didn't sleep well. After the whole stomach incident I got unnerved. I woke up every 2 hours. Once I woke up in a cold sweat and another time to hit the bathroom once again.

-Race morning. I wasn't feeling too hot. My stomach settled down, but I didn't feel like eating anything. But, I forced some breakfast down.

-The race began and I headed on my way. The first 5 miles felt good. I was running my own race and repeating confident words of encouragement to myself.

- Around Mlle 8 I started to not feel too hot, but I kept moving forward. I just kept thinking only 5 more miles until I see Matt and Morgan. Thoughts of them kept me going. However, I was having doubts and questioning why I didn't switch to running the half marathon and questioning if I would make it to the end.

- At mile 13, I was still running at a pace that would keep me on target for a sub 4, but I knew this wasn't going to be the day. I actually wish I did the half at this point. When I saw Matt, I just said, I'm not going to make it. He smiled and said, "come on Di," and took a picture. A few steps after I passed them, I said to myself, you may not sub 4, but you are not going to give up and start walking. This is when I decided to split the rest of the marathon up. I think Lam does this. I just told myself, get to mile 20 without walking. I set this goal at 20 for a few reasons, 1) I have never walked during my training runs, 2) It is around mile 15 that I normally talk myself into walking, and 3) I knew that the bigger hills were going to start back up around mile 16.

- This hills started to appear and I ran up them. At mile 18.5 the biggest hill yet came into sight. I thought about what Bobbi said about looking down and it worked. More hills would be seen right after this one all the way through mile 22. Each time I tackled that hill and didn't let it defeat me. I saw some people walking up the hills and thought, that is usually me, but not today, not any more.

- I made it to mile 20 where I felt myself really start to fade. I knew my pace was slowing and at some points I felt like I was doing the grandpa shuffle. It was also at this point that I knew I needed to get some calories inside me. However, I couldn't bare to chew anything (this is something I need to work on). At the next water stop I opted for the powerade that was pretty good. I didn't get much in my mouth and ended up more sticky than anything else. I decided that I would need to walk through the next stations to take in the fluids I needed. This was an allowable walk because to me it I needed to get as much fluids as I could, but just for the length of the stop and no more.

- Mile 23 brought on a new challenge my achilles started to really act up. I had ignored all the little feelings it gave me up to this point. My calf began to tighten up and lock (this is a weird feeling sort of charlie horsish). At some points it seemed as though I could feel various muscle fibers twitching and tightening. Since I had 3 more miles to go and wanted to make sure I crossed that finish line running, I did take a couple a walk breaks as soon as I felt the muscles tightening up usually lasting about 45-60 seconds. I tried to walk and stretch at the same time, I wasn't going to stop. I didn’t let myself get comfortable with walking. Again, the walk breaks were not due to me convincing myself that I was tired, that the hills were too big, or that I couldn't continue.

-Miles 24-26 a few last hills needed to be tackled and a few inclines. I ran them all, granted slow but I ran them. I offered a few words of encouragement to runners I saw walking up them. Breathing in all the cold air made my voice sound like a 65 year old women who smokes. They must have thought I was a freak.

- I saw Matt and Morgan about 200 yards from the finish line. Matt cheered me on and snapped another picture. Morgan was passed out! I tried to push it to the finish, but my calf locked up so I slowed things down.

- I crossed the finish 4:13, 2 minutes faster than Long Beach and mentally in a much better place.

Reflections- I am proud of myself for getting over the biggest challenge I have with running a marathon. I could have used many excuses to start walking early on or to walk for 5 minutes and run for 2 from mile 20 on, but I didn't. I didn't let a the leg issue, a complete cleaning of my stomach, a bad nights sleep, or continuos hills bring me down. Now that I have gotten over my mental breakdown issue, I feel that I can now focus on cutting time. In future marathons I will not have negative thoughts and doubts due to previous marathon breakdowns. My time may not have been what I was looking for, but I still did better on a more challenging course.

Speaking of the course. I really liked it. There were rolling hills throughout the whole course and some bigger hills later on in the marathon. They were challenging, but I felt like I was prepared. The course was pretty and went all around Charlotte. The crowd support was also not bad for a smaller marathon. Water stations were plenty and well equipped. All the hotels were in walking distance from both the start and finish so we got to sleep in.

I am going to take the next 2 weeks completely off from running. My legs don't feel too bad, but I need time to fully recover, relax and enjoy the holidays. I will also be thinking about what I will be doing running wise in 2009. Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend.

I also can’t end without thanking Matt and Morgan for all their support, it means the world to me. I also have to thank you all too for your continuous encouragement.

Tomorrow

2008-12-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

Well, the marathon is tomorrow. How am I feeling you ask? To be honest, I am not sure! I have taken a few days off from running because on Monday I tweaked my Achilles. I swear my body is falling apart. I haven't had so many aches and pains, is this what happens when you reach 30? We'll see if the extra rest will help or hurt.

Next, the internet can be a bad thing. I have been reading reviews from past TR races and everyone comments on the hills. This is making me a little nervous. Check out the elevation.

Now, I know after Long Beach I said some hills would be nice, but maybe not this many. I just hope my leg feels ok. We'll see.

Onto my goals. For this race it is about time and it isn't about time. When my neighbor stopped by he asked if I was going for a BQ. I said, “nope, not yet.” I can run great around the town, but come game time something happens and I can't get in my zone, I never feel settled. This race is to get me over the mental block/doubts that hit me. I need to fight back and prove to myself that I can run in a marathon and can run it as well as my training runs. I need to get over this, if I ever want to improve. I need to do this for my own sanity. So, a BQ is not yet on my plate. I want to drop my times and build my mental marathon strength.

However, I would really like to sub 4. It is an attainable goal that I should be able to hit as long as I can stay mentally in it. If I don't hit it because I walked due to mind issues I will be beyond upset with myself. If I don't hit it because of something else, we'll just have to wait on that.

Starting right now, I am not going to think about the hills, my leg, not sub 4ing. I am capable of doing this thing called a marathon. I am tired of lame excuses and doubts I feed myself. No more. Tomorrow, I am going to run and run and run. I am going to think of all the awesome posts from CIM and LV and will pull strength from all the bloggers who battled themselves to finish strong. I am ready.

Runners

2008-12-10T05:06:00.001-08:00

Growing up I was a team sport playing girl. I never participated in anything individual. I played soccer, basketball, softball, doubles tennis, I was always in a group. Then I graduated college and went out in the real world and stopped playing team sports and began running because I needed to stay active.

Running has been fun, well most of the time. For me, it is a sport in which I compete against myself. There really isn't anyone out there I am trying to beat, just myself. Only I know how much effort I really put in, the miles I run, the times, the crappy runs, the good ones. Nobody in all honesty probably really cares, their performance is not based off mine. It is me against myself.

There was a time when I really missed having teammates who would push me to be better, who lift my spirits, who motivate, who can make the hardest workout seem fun, teammates who made me a better player/athlete. People who feel the same disappointment with you when things don't go right and the people who celebrate when things do. Yes, running can be lonely.

However, the more I run the more I find a great community of supporters, encouragers and motivators. All these great people are runners, you. We may not share the same disappointments and accomplishments, but you truly understand them and understand this game of running. So, thanks you guys.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that there are several guys in my neighborhood who I see running. We pass and wave, say hello, chat when we are running in the same direction. We talk the same language.

Last night, our doorbell rang. Of course answering the door is a two person job in my house. One must secure Jaxs so he doesn't lick the visitor to death and the other must open the door. To my surprise it was one of the guys and his wife. They stopped by to drop off some cookies for the holidays. They were delivering them to all the runners in the neighborhood. How sweet, (they are very good too)! We talked for a little while about running. He talked about how running is such an individual sport, yet there is so much camaraderie. And, there really is. I guess this is one reason why this team sport going girl continues to run. While I may race for myself I never race alone.

Last Long Run

2008-12-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I headed out for my last long run before the marathon. My foot didn't give me any problems. I think all the icing has helped. I’ll keep icing it for the remainder of the week.

This run ended up being more mental than anything else. For some reason a lot of negative thoughts entered my mind, not just about running but other things as well. I felt my confidence drop for some unknown reason. After so many weeks of running well and being confident, this was not the time to let things waver.

When a negative thought entered my mind or when I was questioning some aspect of my life I tried to quickly counter them with positive thoughts and outlooks. I strongly believe that negative thoughts are a waste of time and make you miss what is truly important or side track you. They do appear every now and then, but I try to not let them hang around long.

I kept running and kept finding things to smile about. The people putting up their Christmas decorations, the sun shining, people all bundled up as if it was 10 degrees out and not 45, and the types of Christmas cookies I am going to make in a couple of weeks. I also thought about how I am going to tackle the marathon on Saturday and how I will not let myself question my abilities during the race (like I usually do).

By the end of my run I was feeling much better. Running is as much physical as it it therapeutic for me. I am back on track and the negative energy is no longer lingering around. My run ended up stronger than I thought, 11 miles, 1:30/8:15 AVG. I needed this run to release the negativeness that was harboring inside. I am back and feeling good. It is amazing what and hour and a half of reflection can do for the soul.

I can't wait to read all the race reports from this weekend. They are really going to get me extra exciting about next weekend as well as motivate me. Hope everyone has a great Sunday.

Resting

2008-12-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

I am still trying to catch up on sleep from Thanksgiving and the 26 hours total spent in the car traveling. I am ready for Christmas vacation. Anyway, Monday I took the day off from running to rest and catch up on some house things that had been neglected. Yesterday, I went out for an easy 5 miler. This run seemed like it took hours to make it from mile 2 to mile 3. Besides this run seeming like it took forever, I stepped wrong and got a pain in my foot that lasted for a few minutes and came back to haunt me every so often. The only postive thing on this run was all the christmas lights that are us around the neighborhood. It is crazy what some people do. I’ll have to try and get some pictures.

Today, I decided to rest instead of run. I need another day to rest and try to get to bed early, 5am comes way to fast these days. I also think my body is telling me to take things easy. Besides the twinge in my foot, my knee is bothering me a little bit. Not when I run or walk, but just going up and down the stairs. Why you ask? Simple answer. While I was home someone asked the famous question "don;t your knees hurt from all that running?" Since my knees never really bother me I said "no." Well, wouldn't you know the next day they started to ache. Thanks for the jinx. Maybe it is all in my head, who knows. So tonight while I am planted in front of the fireplace, I will be icing my knee and foot. I am really not concerned about either, but with the marathon only 10 days away I can't risk anything.

Tomorrow I will skip spin and get a nice run in. Hopefully all will feel good. Saturday will be my last long run. Mentally I am feeling really good about the marathon and I am getting excited. The bloggers running CIM and Vegas this weekend are keeping me motivated.
Since I am not sure when everyone is taking off for their big races I want to send all the runners well wishes. There are so many running this weekend. Good luck Frayed Laces, Laminator, Cewtwo, Scheri,Jen, Zach, Aron and Julianne (hope I didn’t miss anyone) I can’t wait to read all your race reports. I’ll be thinking of you all.

Rhode Island

2008-11-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

Our trip to RI started off a little bumpy with a long car ride up. But, we got here at 3am on Wednesday morning. Matt was a champ driving 13 hours straight. I will admit my head bobbed a few times! When we arrived at my parents house, Morgan was ready for the day to start. Luckily, we got her to sleep until 7.

That afternoon, I met up with one of my high school friends for a nice run. We had a great run and she kept my legs moving. We ran 12.5 at an average of 8:10. Did I mention she qualified for Boston? It was really nice to catch up and really nice to have someone to run with.

Thanksgiving day I woke up tired. Morgan didn't sleep that well so neither did I. I debated whether to run or not, but opted to. I knew I would be eating a lot. I set out for a nice 8 miler, 9:02 pace. When I got back I helped my mom prepare all the food. Everything was great and delicious. The best part of the day, I got to take a nice nap!

Today, Saturday I headed out for a nice long run, 16 miles. I had forgotten how hilly running around mu parents house is. The morning was cloudy and the air brisk. It felt nice to run around the town and brought back many memories from my childhood. Below are some pictures of my old town in North Smithfield, RI.

I passed Kendle Dean, this is where I attended K-3.

I had to run over this little bridge the town has been working on for years. If I fell I would have landed in this.

I ran by the Church Matt and I got married in.

Then along a boring industrial drive.

I passes the town Library and the Post Office (brick building).

And a run in RI would not be complete if you did pass a Dunkin Donuts.

Tomorrow we head back down to North Carolina. Our trip home was great and we got to see lots of family and friends. I am not looking forward to work on Monday.

4 Days Till Thanksgiving

2008-11-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Thanksgiving is almost here! I am looking forward to all the delicious food I will consume. We are also heading up to RI on Tuesday. We haven't been home in over a year, so we are exciting about seeing all our family and friends.

I have been trying to plan out when and where I am going to run. Having a plan is essential to getting anything done when we go home. Between visiting family and friends and stopping by places we miss time goes by fast. There is so much to fit in, plus I am getting my haircut!! Actually, I think I am going to chop it. I always let my hair grow long then cut it short, let it grow, cut it, etc. I am planning on meeting up with one of my friends for a long run. It will be a nice way to catch up and get my run in at the same time.

My runs this weekend went well. Saturday, I headed out for my last 20 miler. It was a chilly morning when I left at 7:00, about 26 degrees. I made sure I took it easy on the first few miles. I wanted to make sure I allowed myself time to ease in to the run and to warmup. I switched up my route a bit and ventured down a new road. The road took me into a neighborhood that was much bigger than I thought and added more mileage than I was expecting. Since I was running 20, it was nice to be in a new area and explore a little.

I really felt strong the whole time and all my splits came in under 9 minutes. It took me 2:53 for and 8:40 average. What was even better than feeling strong while running was how good I felt after, especially my legs. Usually after a 20 miler my legs feel tired and I feel like I need to stretch them the whole day. After this one, I was fine and feeling good. I think all the extra mileage during the week is paying off.

Today, I went for a run during nap time. I would have gone in the morning, but we were busy helping complete a Flat Stanley project for one of my friends kids. We took him around Raleigh, it was actually pretty fun. Morgan enjoyed taking pictures with him!

Back to the run. I took it nice and easy. I wasn't sure how long I would go. I told Matt that I would be back within an hour and a half. I took this run mile by mile. I had some things I needed to figure out and running allows me to think clearly. I ended up running 10 miles, 1:30/9:01 avg. When I finished I felt great and accomplished.

I want to congratulate all the bloggers who ran Philly this weekend. You all did an amazing job. I can't wait to read your race reports. I hope you all have a nice week and safe travels.

COLD

2008-11-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

It is getting cold and I think we are in for a bitter winter. I even think NC may see some accumulated snow this year. I don't mind snow having grown up in New England, but people in NC freak out when they see snow and the DOT also doesn't deal well with it. Makes for some pretty bad commutes.

Yesterday while running I was thinking about how I am going to stay motivated to run when it really starts to get cold. Actually, I don't need motivation to run, just motivation to make it out my front door! In the past, I have usually taken the winter off from running, between the cooler temps and the dark I can find many excuses not to run.

This year I am determined to continue with my 2 weekday runs, cross training and 2 weekend runs. For me, like I mentioned it getting outside. I need to get past the cold air tickling my nose and stinging my eyes. I need to learn how to move away from the warmth of my house. Did I ever mention I hate being cold!

Once I start running I am fine, granted chilly for a bit, but I am good. There is something about running in the cold that makes me feel alive and alert. It doesn't suck the life out of me like the heat, which is nice. The stillness of the fall and winter I also find calming and peaceful. I must remember this when I am standing at my front door debating whether I should open it or walk away.

So, my question to you is what is going to keep you motivated to take the steps out your front door as the temps drop?

Running news. I switched my days up a little running on Monday instead of taking it off. I ran a nice easy 8 (1:11, 8:55 avg). Yesterday, I stuck with 10 miles. For this run I did 2 easy miles, 2 hard throughout the run. The easy miles were between 8:45-9:00 the hard miles were around 7:30-7:45. It was fun switching things up. On the second set of the hard miles my legs felt disconnected from my body. I am not sure if my legs were feeling tired or the cold, but I felt like a cartoon character. Does this ever happen to anyone else?

Anyway, hope you all have a great day. Thanksgiving is a week away!!

Weekend

2008-11-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

No run happened on Saturday. I worked yesterday from about 8-1:30. I probably could have fit in a short run before I left, but it was crappy out rainy and windy so I decided not to. After I got home from conducting the assessments, I again could have gone for run. But, I was starving and opted to eat lunch instead. Then we went out to do some grocery shopping and had to check on things at my parents house. When we got back it was time for dinner.

Since it is cold and flu season and since I didn't sleep all that well this week, I thought it was more important to rest up. There is no point in wearing myself down, just to come down with a cold. At work, something funky is moving around and I don’t want to catch it. I usually feel guilty if I miss a run, however there was no feeling bad this time.

Today, I woke up early about 5:30 to get ready for my 16 miler. I ate breakfast and got all my running stuff together. Since it was still pretty dark out, I decided to use the time to make some chicken soup. Once I was finished chopping all the vegetables and cleaning the chicken the sun was starting to rise.

I headed out this morning in shorts, a short sleeve shirt with my nike running jacket over it. It was pretty chilly and I second guessed my choice of clothing, maybe I should have worn tights. After a couple of miles I started to warm up and was happy with what I was wearing.

The run was pretty uneventful. I switched up my route a little bit, ran some of the roads in reverse of what I normally do. Around mile 13, I started to get nervous about the soup and called Matt to check on it. He said all looked ok. I was able to complete the rest of the run with no worries of burning soup. Sixteen miles complete 2:19 - 8:43 avg.

After the run, I made some oatmeal for myself and Morgan and then we had a dance party and did a little book reading. For lunch was the soup, very tasty.

Sleep

2008-11-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

Sleep is definitely something I could use a few more hours of. I have actually been sleeping pretty good, I just need more of it! I wish nap time was implemented in the workplace. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up on a little bit of sleep this weekend.

My running has been going well and I am waiting for that dreaded sucky run to show face. Sunday, I got in 8 nice and relaxed miles. Along the way I met up with one of my neighbors. He was on his first run after the City of Oaks marathon the week before. He helped me keep my target pace for this run at about 9mm. It was nice to talk running with someone who gets it.

Tuesday, I headed out for another 8 miles. This time I mixed in 3 miles of accelerations at a target between 7:20-7:30. The first four miles I stayed around a 8:20 pace then picked it up for the next three. Miles 5,6 and 7 clocked in at 7:30, 7:22 and 7:24. Mile 8 was a cool down.

Wednesday, I went out for 10 miles. I am sticking with my plan to get a longer run in during the week. I really don't mind the running, but running at night and not ending until after eight throws my day off a bit. I am pretty sure this is contributing to me getting less sleep. I am staying up later to allow my body and mind time to calm down. Anyway, the run yesterday felt good. I wasn't paying too much attention to the Garmin, however there was a point when I thought I was on mile 8, but I was really only on 7. I remember saying to myself, “you got to be kidding me.” I know I was only off by 1 mile, but it made the last 3 miles seem like a drag. I got the run done 1:25 for an 8:32 avg.

Today is spin during lunch. Tonight, I am looking forward to vegging on the couch or maybe going to bed a little early. Saturday I have 16 miles on the schedule. Normally, I would get this run done in the morning, but I have to help out with some post assessments for a research project. I may need to switch the run to Sunday.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2008-11-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and was surprised to see it wasn't raining. The forecast had called for morning showers, but it didn’t look like rain to me. It actually looked like the sun might show face. Due to this finding, I got ready for my run and even grab my sunglasses out of my car.

I headed out determined to have a great 20 mile run. About 50 yards in, I was fixing my fuel belt (as always) and hit the lap button on my Garmin. Once I got the fuel belt situation worked out around mile 1, I noticed that my Garmin didn't beep thanks to the lap button getting hit. This was an easy fix, so I didn't let it bother me, it is still annoying though. Mile 2, the rain started!! No big deal, it was a nice soft rain so I kept running. Mile 4, the rain started to really come down. I wasn't going to let some rain stop me.

By mile 5 the rain had stopped and I kept moving forward. I was really focusing on keeping a steady pace around 9 mm. I was feeling good and then more rain, then it stopped. When I hit mile 15 it started to pour. I was too far from home and had no choice, but to keep running. Luckily it was a pretty warm morning. The rain doesn't really bother me, I think it is from all my years of playing soccer and having to practice or play in the rain.

Anyway, Matt also called to see if I was ok during the down pour, but I missed his call because I was hiding it so it wouldn’t get wet and short out. Is there a water proof phone out there? Mile 18 marked the end of the rain. I finished the 20 miles 3:00:52, 9:02 avg. I was happy to finish the 20 strong and was very happy to see Morgn bolt out the front door a scream "Mommy" at the end. That little girl just makes me smile. I have to give a big thanks to Matt too, as always. After Morgan came outside Matt came running over with a glass of water and towel. He also had nice comfy jogging pants, a sweatshirt and dry socks waiting for me inside. THANKS MATT, I really appreciate your sweetness.

My legs felt pretty good on the run, however once I stopped they felt like Jell-O. My total miles for the week 54! This is mainly because I ran 16 on Sunday instead of Saturday.

I’ve also been tagged so here are my 7 random facts.

1. My sister and I run The Christopher Joseph Concha Foundation which helps spread awareness about premature birth and supports parents with infants in the NICU.

2. I am pretty much the only person in my family that wasn’t born in New York, I am an outcast!

3. My dad is a Yankee fan and Matt is a Red Sox fan. I have no loyalties, I wish both team success!

4. I am working on my Master’s of Public Health and just have to finish collecting data and analyzing it so I can graduate.

5. I love reading books. Right now I am on a nonfiction kick.

6. I enjoy taking naps.

7. I love cooking.

Bumping Things Up

2008-11-06T04:46:00.000-08:00

In my last post I wrote about how I wanted to add some more mileage to my weekday runs. All summer when training for LB, I wanted to try and get some longer runs in, but I always had an excuse and just stuck to my usually 6 miles. This week, things changed. I stopped making excuses and ran.

On Tuesday I took the plunge. I had planned on running 8 miles instead of 6. Since we had early voting in NC, I wasn't hassled with standing in line for hours to vote. No excuse here not to run. It was rainy all day Tuesday, but warm. This could have messed my plans up however I didn’t let it. When I told Matt I was going to go for a run, he said, "Di, it is raining maybe you shouldn't go." I kindly said, "No, I am going to go." End of discussion. For all that know me, once I have something in my head, there usually isn't any changing of my mind. Tuesday, was just one of those days. I had it in my head all day that today would be the day I stop the excuses and add mileage.

For some reason, I am really enjoying the night runs. My neighborhood is well lighted, and with the headlamp I can see extremely well. I have been wearing the vest so people can see me. Since I can rack up mileage in my neighborhood (it is pretty big, 2 sections) I never have to leave it.

Anyway, the run was going really well. The rain didn't bother me much since it was a pretty warm out. I was approaching mile 7 when I started to think about adding another mile and running 9. But, then if I ran 9 it would bother me that I didn't just push out another and round things to 10 miles. After a short debate, I called Matt, and told him I was going for 10 and I would be home in a few more minutes. The rain stopped for the last 2 miles and I felt invigorated. Ten miles complete 1:22 for an 8:15 average. I finally got over the bump. I was happy. Matt also peeked his head out the window to let me know that he was able to spot me when I was down the street because of the head lamp. He also gave me an update on the election.

Yesterday, I was still riding the high from running 10 and decided to run 8 instead of the normal 6. I really focused on pacing myself and wanted to stay as close to 9 mm pace. Goal accomplished, 8 miles 1:11 for and 8:53 average, not bad. I’ll keep on working on my pacing.

Today, I am going to spin during lunch. Friday, my legs are going to enjoy a nice day off. Saturday, 20 miles. I am interested in seeing how my legs feel after Saturdays run.

The weekend is in sight!!!

Super Moms

2008-11-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

First, I want to take the time to single out Lana who finished Ironman Florida in under 12 hours and Robin who finished the Mount Masochist Trail Race 50 miler (edit 54 miles). Both of these ladies are not only awesome athletes, but they are also great moms. They worked all summer training and were dedicated to accomplishing their goals, however their duties as a mom always came first. Lana and Robin, congratulations on great races and inspiring us all. You guys are amazing. I am sure your boys are proud of their moms!

My runs this week have gone well. Thursday, I ran seven miles (59:19) and felt good. I am trying to add a mid distance run during the week. I think I need to add a little more mileage to help me hit my next target for the December marathon. Hopefully, I will be able to get a few 8’s and 10’s in the mix. It was also on Thursday that I decided I wasn't going to run the City of Oaks Half Marathon. I just didn't feel like racing. I know that my running has improved since my last half and that a PR was probably likely. However, with my sights on a December marathon, I felt that I really needed to start to build up my mileage again.

I was thinking of running 16 on Saturday, but opted to sleep in. Instead I ran a nice five in the afternoon. This morning, I got up early and prepared myself for the 16 mile run. I didn't feel like a PB sandwich and gatorade, instead I grabbed a protein bar and water. I had never had this combo before a run, so I was interested to see how I would feel and kept my fingers crossed that no stomach issues would arise. All was fine.

I headed out and was able to keep a nice 9 minute pace for 2 miles (I am going to really work on slowing down and pacing). My legs are starting to remember how to run more than 10 miles. My breathing was right there, I remembered my fuel belt and enjoyed having water when I needed, I ate 1 fun size Milk Way. Since I tend to crap out on the second half of marathons I feel that this is an area I need to focus on. I ran the thirteen as I would on any training run. After my Gamin beeped signifying the 13 miles, I stepped my game up and ran negative splits for the last 3 miles (8:19, 8:08, 8:03). I will not lie, I was huffing and puffing on the last one, especially because I have to run up a hill, but I needed to beat the 8:08. Overall, I was happy with this run. I am also happy with the decision not to run the half. Hopefully, I will see a payoff in December.

The rest of today will be spent being lazy, reading, hanging with the family, with some football and food tossed in. I can't wait to read all the race reports from the NYC Marathon and City of Oaks.

Dark Miles

2008-10-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

First, I am happy to report that I did get my 13 miler in on Sunday. I went out as planned during nap time. It felt weird to be running smack in the middle of the day. It was as though I didn't belong. Crazy how changing the time you run can make you feel out of place.

Anyway, the run went well. I had wanted to keep about a 9 minute pace, but as usual went faster ending with a total time of 1:53, 8:45 average. I felt pretty good on the run. My only problem was that I forgot my fuel belt. Between getting Morgan ready for nap and rushing to get myself dressed and out the door so I could be home before she woke up, I just forgot. I realized I didn't have my trusted friend strapped to my waist about 3/4 mile in. As soon as I said, "oh, I forgot my fuel belt," I needed something to drink. I was only at mile 1!! I thought to myself, well Diana, you go on runs all the time without a fuel belt, you'll be fine.

By mile 9 I was really craving water, but I was still a couple miles from my house. I saw an open house sign and thought maybe they’ll let me in and grab a drink. But, I kept running. Around mile 11, I am able to see my house and I just want to stop in and grab something to drink. However, stopping this late in the game probably would have caused my mind and body to not want to finish. Instead I pushed on. As I passed my house around mile 12 I looked to see if Matt had left me water on the porch (he does this for me 98% of the time), nothing. I kept running. Great, I thought, the day I really need it is the day it is not there. When I finally finished and walked to my front steps there was water waiting for me. I was never so happy to have a nice glass of water. Morgan and Matt popped out a few minutes later and I thanked them for saving my mouth from being pasted shut.

Yesterday, I headed out for a run. My plan was to run 1-easy, 3-7:30-7:40, 2-easy. I don't know what happened yesterday, but I felt great. I took mile 1 - 8:26, 2- 7:37, 3-7:32, 4- 7:22, all right on target if not a little better. I was feeling good and decided to push myself for another mile, mile 5- 7:26. I ended the six with 8:33 for an overall time of 46:56. I felt great and I accomplished my running goals for the day. I am not minding this running in the dark. I am actually getting use to these dark miles!

Just Lazy

2008-10-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

Some days you just need to be lazy. That was yesterday and maybe today. I had a 13 miler scheduled, but there was no way I was getting up early to run it. I just needed sleep. I slept in as long as I could then got up and got Morgan ready for the day. I did let Matt sleep as long as he wanted. I figured all summer he too was deprived of sleeping in since I was always running.

During breakfast, I was trying to figure out when I would run the 13. I absolutely hate taking time away from Morgan so I can run. Since I work full time, every minute I have to hang out with her is important. I sacrifice enough time away from her during the week. The next chance I would get to do a long run would be during nap time. Ok, that would be fine, but to be honest I really wasn’ feeling a long run today.

Once Matt decided to get up we headed to the Library, there were a few books we wanted to pick up. Then we had to pick up a few essentials at the grocery store. By the time we got back and I made lunch it was 12:30. Nap time is at 1:00. There wasn't enough time to digest all the food before the run. Instead, I opted to skip the run and start reading my book. I only made it 7 pages in before I put it down and closed my eyes. When I woke up it was an hour and a half later!

I decided to just get a 6 in and then the 13 Sunday. I did get the six in and it felt good to be out there. I have been surprised how many people have been continuing to walk at night in my neighborhood.

Today was suppose to be 13. Once again, this morning I didn't feel like getting up early and I didn't. I will get the 13 done during nap time. We don't have anything planned to do so I shouldn't have any lunch issues or excuses!

Oh, I ran 7 miles Thursday night with the headlamp adjusted downward. It was perfect! I know I look like a nerd running around with it, but what a difference it makes. I shouldn't turn any ankles now. I also washed the vest and had no problems.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend. Can't wait to read all the race reports from this weekend.

Product Review

2008-10-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I ordered the Valmont Vest by IllumiNITE (blue) and the Fuel LED Headlamp by Princeton Tec.

I was surprised to find a package waiting for me when I got home from work on Monday. Inside were both items! My first impression of the vest was wow, this is much nicer than I thought it was going to be. The inside is lined with nice soft fleece, weight wise it is light, the coloring (blue) was pleasant and the material on the outside felt nice too. It also fit nicely, no funky cuts. The headlamp, well, can't get too excited about a headlamp, right?

Monday for me was an off day, but I had to see how the items looked/performed at night. When the sunset and it was nice and dark, I made Matt go outside with me and test everything out.

As you can see the vest really lights up! I had Matt slide the vest over his arm and run around so I could see what it would look like from a drivers perspective. I was able to get a few pictures of him running around, but they were mysteriously deleted from the camera.

Last night, I put the Vest and the headlamp to the real test, a run. The vest was extremely comfortable to run in. It didn't make any swooshie noises that would drive me crazy and it kept my core nice and warm. The headlamp was nice and bright. I wore it on my visor. There is no way I would be able to run with that thing straight on my head. The only problem I had with it was that the light didn't hit the ground as much as I had hoped. The visor made it hit space too much. As I was running I tried to adjust the light and tried it all different ways (put it on my hand, around my waste). While trying all sorts of things I also blinded myself a few times. Those lights are really strong.

When I got home I complained to Matt how the light is good but I wish I bought one that was adjustable. While explaining "complaining" to Matt about this, I realized that it does move. The light can be directed more downward. I'll try the light again with it adjusted to see if it helps.

Overall, I am very pleased with both items. I think I will probably invest in more illumiNITE items since they have great winter stuff and it looks like regular clothing. The pricing also isn't bad, which is a plus.

Now What???

2008-10-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

After taking five days off from running, I laced up my trusty sneakers and headed out for a 6 mile run yesterday. It took me a couple of miles to get back in the grove, but I had a nice run.

Today, I slept in, if you call sleeping till 7 sleeping in. Now that fall has officially arrived I can hang in bed and run during Morgan's nap time. So, I spent my first morning of no early running with Morgan. We made some chicken soup! I love cooking with her.

Anyway, this afternoon I headed out for a 10 miler. I had really wanted to keep to a nice 9 minute pace. Unfortunately, I stink at pacing and ended up going a little faster. Oh well, I felt good so no harm done. The run went well, I felt nice and relaxed. The only problem was that I could feel my quads. They felt a little tight, a little heavy, a little off. I am going to continue to stretch and roll them out.

Well, the marathon has now come and gone. I have had time to evaluate how I feel and what I want to do. Now, it is time to figure out what is next on the schedule or if there will even be a schedule.

On the plane ride home from the marathon I started toying with the idea of running the City of Oaks Marathon on Nov. 2. See, while I was happy with hitting my plan C, I felt and still feel like I can do better. Actually, I know I can. The City of Oaks, is only 20 minutes from my house, how can I pass this opportunity up. All week I have been trying to figure out what to do. At some hours I was set on doing the full and some hours I was settling for the half.

Based on my runs this weekend and how my legs felt. I have decided to stick with my original plan and run the half. While I know I could finish another marathon, I am not sure if I would be able to run a quality race. I don't want to run another marathon just to do another one. I don't want to rush into another just so I can prove something to myself. But, most importantly I don't want to run another marathon if I am not mentally and physically 100%. The worst thing for me would be to run and get tired around mile 15 or so and start doubting myself for running. Running 26.2 miles on a good day is long, running 26.2 with any self doubt or negative thoughts could be a disaster.

But, don't worry another marathon is in sight. On December 13th there is a marathon in Charlotte that I think I will most likely sign up for. This would give me 7 weeks to train and prepare rather than 2. The extra weeks allow me to work on pacing, speed, and mentally prepare for another marathon. Plus, it will help me stay motivated to run as the temps continue to spiral down.

I am actually looking forward to getting some nice runs in, in the cooler temps. Mainly I am excited because I got some new night gear that should be arriving this week! Hopefully, I won't have any problems with the items. I got a headlamp (I know nerd..Matt will laugh and make fun of me, but I don't' care better safe) and an illumiNITE reflective vest. The nice thing about the vest is that it looks like normal apparel and not like something taken from a construction site.

Marathon Play by Play

2008-10-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Below is a summary of what took place at various stages during the Long Beach Marathon. There were some good times and ok times, but no bad times.

Early morning – We (Matt, Morgan, my parents, sister and niece) arrived at the marathon just after 6:00 am. The race had a start time of 7:30. Since I wasn’t familiar with the area I wanted to make sure we left early to avoid any stresses before the race. Plus I am a freak about being late to things. When we arrived I was happy to see an abundance of port a potties. No lines. While waiting I made 2 trips over to these lovely facilities and didn’t have to wait! They also had little stations where you could wash your hands (I wish more people used them!).

7:10ish. I gave everyone hugs and ventured off into the sea of people. I found a nice cozy spot. I was nice and content soaking everything up, until some tall guy decided to stand right in front of me, I am talking maybe an inch, really..there was plenty of room. The national anthem began and I started to think about my nephew and how I was running in this marathon because of him. I must admit, I got a bit choked up.

Miles 1-6 – I was feeling great, going faster than I had wanted, but hey they said the course was flat and I thought, I’ll be ok. I also felt like I had to pee. I tried not to think about it, but it was hard since I saw about 10 guys run off to the side of the road to relieve themselves.

Miles 7-8 – entered the bike path which runs along the beach. I had run this section on Thursday so I was comfortable on it. I was still going faster than I wanted. I tried to slow down, but I just couldn’t settle myself. On the bike path my mom, dad, sister and niece were cheering me on! I waved, smiled and kept running. You gotta love family support.

Miles 9-11 – Around mile 9 I started to feel a burning in my quads, I was still going faster than I wanted and made myself slow down! I did a little bit, but kept trucking along. I knew the course was going to break off around mile 10 with the ½ marathoners going one way and the marathoners going the other. I spaced out for a little bit and when I came back to the real world I only saw orange bibs around me. My bib was yellow. I panicked for a few seconds and wanted to cry…did I miss the split? I looked back and saw a man with a yellow bib. I felt better after I saw him, but I thought, “maybe he missed the split too.” I slowed down and as he started to pass I said, “we didn’t’ pass the split yet did we?” He said, “It’s right up here.” I followed that with, “Oh good, I thought I missed it.” He smiled and looked at me like I was an idiot. I didn’t mind the look, I was going the right way and that is all that mattered!

Miles 12-13 – I saw Matt and Morgan!! Morgan shouted, “Go Mommy” This was the first race she really spotted me. I was still going too fast and was feeling it, especially in my quads. This section was a loop so I got to pass Matt and Morgan again. I love seeing those two!

Mile 14-17- I slowed my pace down quite a bit. I knew I had to. It was around this time that I was starting to get really thirsty. I did run with my fuel belt, but only filled 2 of the 4 bottles. I figured I would be able to drink the water at the stations and supplement when needed with the fuel belt. Well, I am not coordinated enough to get the water from the cup into my mouth. Plus, they only fill those suckers up half way! I made the decision, to start walking the water stations to make sure I got enough fluid in my system. Walking for me brings danger…..walk once and I will walk more than I should.

Miles 18-24 – Still felt like I need to drink more. Anyone that offered a drink I took it. My quads were also screaming. It was around mile 20 that the 4:00 pace group passed me. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with them. I told myself keep moving forward. I did kick myself, I should have just stayed with them from the beginning. Oh well, I learned my lesson.

Miles 25-26.2 – Since plan A and B were down the drain, I needed/wanted to make plan C. I needed to keep moving forward. I was keeping a close eye on the time making sure I would let the time slip by. I knew it would be a tight squeeze to get in at 4:15. About 100 yards out, I knew I had to kick it in high gear and I took off. I heard my dad shout “go Diana” and ran harder. I barely made it, but I made it 4:15:37.

Lessons learned:
A flat course doesn’t always mean it is easier. For me, I actually think the variety hills bring is a good thing. It makes you work different muscles and takes some stress off others. Flat courses are all the same motion.

Pace yourself!! You can pick it up at the end!

Use all 4 bottles on the fuel belt or learn how to drink from the cups.

26.2 miles no matter how flat, is still a long way.

Question: Will I be running another marathon?

Yes! I am determined to hit 4:00 or sub 4!!

Quick Summary Long Beach

2008-10-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

Well, marathon #2 is in the books. I didn't run the race I had envisioned, but I am happy with the results. I started out too fast. There were lots of people running, the half and full started at the same time. It took me several miles to find my pace and it was too fast. Around the half way way mark I had to adjust my plan. My quads were feeling heavy and I was so thirsty. Thinking I needed to get more fluids in, I walked during the water stations. When I try to drink and run more gets on my face and body than in my mouth. Walking was something I didn't want to do, but felt it was necessary based on how I was feeling.

Before the race I had a plan A, B, and C in my head. These plans were based off my training runs and off my tendency to choke in running races. Plan A - sub 4 hours, Plan B - hit somewhere around 4:05, Plan C - if I'm not going to make plan A or B, run like hell to make it in 4:15. Plan A didn't happen nor did Plan B, but I ran like hell the last 100 yards to make it in 4:15. The offical clock read 4:16 when I crossed, but I knew I had a little give since it took me some time to cross the start line. Official time 4:15:37. While I hoped for a time a bit better, I am happy with my results. I cut significant time off my last marathon which I completed in 5:05.

I'll post more thoughts and a better race report when I get back to NC.

Tagged

2008-10-10T19:48:00.001-07:00

Ok, I've been tagged. Here are my 6 Random things.

1. Today at the Expo I bought The Stick.

2. My commute to work is too long. An hour drive to a park and ride and then a 15 minute bus commute. I hate dealing with the bus schedule.

3. My daughter was born in Kazakhstan.

4. I check my email continuously and am addicted to blogging.

5. I love taking naps. It was one of the best parts of college life!

6. I never thought I would enjoy running more than 5 miles never mind running marathons and half marathons.

I think everyone has been tagged, but if you haven't I tag you. Hope you all have a great weekend. Best wished to all those racing this weekend.

GOOD LUCK

2008-10-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hello from California! We arrived yesterday and have been scouting out the area. This morning I went out for a 4 mile run on a section of the marathon course. It was nice and flat! My legs felt good as well as my mind. Around the area preparation for Sunday has begun. The port a potties are in place, tents are going up and signs are being posted. It is exciting!

I wanted to wish everyone running this weekend the best of luck, especially Marcy, Cewtwo, athlEAT and M*J*C. I can't wait to read all the race reports. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

A Ten, A Three, And A Book

2008-10-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

Add some cooking to the title and that sums up my weekend. Saturday, I went out for my last "long run" before the marathon. I decided on running 10 miles. I felt good, all I could think about was marathon day! The excitement is building and nervousness too. When I finished the run as always Morgan and Matt were outside the house waiting for me. I think Morgan and I have the 'high five' down now. Once I finished I commented to Matt on how short this run felt, then I thought to myself only 16.2 more come next Sunday.

On a flier I received from the my work's library, there was a book called, 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' by Haruki Murakami. In this book author Haruki Murakami talks about his passion for running, some of his ups and downs, and about his experiences running marathons, an ultra and participating in a few tris. Mixed in is also some references to his writing and how running has helped in that area of his life. With the marathon so close and wanting to stay focused and motivated, I felt like I needed to read this book. The book of course was out at my works library, so after my run on Saturday Matt, Morgan and I headed to one of our county's.

The book was an extremely quick read. I started it during "nap time" and finished it Sunday morning. I enjoyed the book because there were many things I could relate to. It wasn't a book that everyone would enjoy, but it is a book that if you run you can appreciate. Below are a few excerpts that I related to.

"No matter how slow I might run, I wasn't about to walk. That was the rule. Break one of my rules once, and I'm bound to break many more." - For me this is so true, if I start to walk, my mind slows down too and mentally I get out of the run.

"A wave of relief washed over me-relief that I didn't have to run anymore. It always feels wonderful to finish a marathon, it's a beautiful achievement - but I wasn't satisfied with the time." - Yes, this pretty much sums up my first marathon last November.

"No matter how long you stand there examining yourself naked before a mirror, you'll never see reflected what's inside." - I like this one. For me it showed that no matter what we look like on the outside, we can never really see just how strong we are. Running has made me dig deep, push myself and examine who I am.

"Of course it was painful and there were times when, emotionally, I just wanted to chuck it all. But, pain seems to be a precondition for this kind of sport. If pain weren't involved, who in the world would ever go to the trouble of taking part in sports like the triathlon or the marathon, which demand such an investment of time and energy?" - Breaking through the pain is satisfaction to me.

Post #2

2008-10-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

I did a little internet searching and found some pretty cool sites that have some neat things for night/dark running. Here are some of the links I thought I would share with you all.

Night-Gear

Brooks has a whole Nightlife section.

IllumiNITE has a lot of good stuff that is also fashionable! They even show you what the items look like at night. They have stuff for the dogs too!

If you like disco then you will like the StrideLite Strobe-Lite safety gear. Their running belt doesn't look bad.

Vava also shared this link with me.

Thursday Musings

2008-10-02T04:11:00.000-07:00

Now that fall has arrived, each day that passes there is less light to run in. I don't mind running in the dark as long as I stay to my normal routes and run by houses. Since I know the streets where I run aren't chopped up, I am not afraid of twisting an ankle. I think I am an alert runner, the only distractions are my own thoughts. Of course I would rather run in daylight, but during the fall and winter daylight times don't really fit due to my work schedule and commute.

This morning when I was walking to my car, a runner ran by me. He was dressed in a navy blue sweatshirt and black shorts. I only noticed him due to the noise his feet made when they hit the pavement. Then, while I was driving a deer crossed the street in front of me. These two events got me thinking. While I feel that I am alert and aware of my surroundings when I run, what about the people in vehicles who drive by me. I know that when I see somebody running in the dark without anything to make them more visible, I think to myself, next time please have something to make you stand out, I don't want to hit you!

I wear light colored clothing and have my little armband flashy thing. I sometimes carry two small flashlights one facing forward and one facing back, but this is annoying. I hate carrying things when I run. Marcy, in her post mentioned the Firefly Supernovas and Gear's Guardian Lights that she purchased. My question to you all is do you use anything at night or in the mornings to be more visible?

Runs this week: Tues 5 miles hard - 38:21
Wednesday 5 miles easy - 41:15
Thursday - spin at lunch

The Last 4 Days

2008-09-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

I switched up my spin class this week, going on Thursday instead of Wednesday. The teacher who taught the Wednesday lunch class during the summer now has the Thursday lunch class. What a difference! Not only is the music 100 times better, the overall class is just more enjoyable. So glad I went. I will go again on Thursday this week.

My runs this weekend came and went. Saturday morning's 5 was sluggish. This feeling had nothing to due with anything other than eating crappy the days before. On Thursday we ate out for our anniversary and I ate way too much. Friday for lunch I had more grease than I would have liked. I worked out of the office and was provided lunch. I really don't enjoy eating out, I much rather cook at home. So even when I make ok choices on food options, just the eating out makes me feel soso.

I ate better yesterday, however we had a block party in our neighborhood and of course I made cookies. I also have very little will power when it comes to sweets, and ate I think 5 cookies plus some cookie dough. My run today felt pretty good. I decided to run 13 miles (1:50). It is funny how 13 miles can seem short now! I took along my Milky Ways to test them out another time. Like last week, I had no problems getting them down or any problems with after taste or troubles. They will be a go on the 12th.

Now, I really need to get my act in gear in the nutrition department. No more excuses. I don't want to have any issues during the marathon because of eating poorly. Eating will be the biggest obstacle since we will be in California several days before the marathon. I am going to have to make wise decisions on what and where to eat. I think I will be ok, since the pressure will be on!

A Special Day

2008-09-25T04:33:00.000-07:00

First, I went for a run yesterday and all felt well. I ran 6 miles (47:18), three in the light and three in the dark. I am continuing to feel strong. But, enough about running.

Today, is a special day. Four years ago today, Matt and I took the plunge and said we would stick together no matter what for the rest of our lives. It was a great day filled with lots of family and friends and of course lots of food, drinks, dancing, and laughs! So Matt, after four years I think I'll keep you around! Seriously, he has been a wonderful husband and one of my biggest supporters in every area of my life. Thanks Matt for being you.

And, for the other man in my life that always can make me smile, Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Playing it Safe

2008-09-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

I skipped my scheduled run today and instead iced my groin. Sunday I headed out for a nice recovery run. I was feeling good and working out the stiffness Saturday's run left behind. As I was approaching the 4 mile mark I started to feel a twinge in my groin. Nothing to be alarmed about, but a twinge. I kept running to see if it would go away and because I was almost home. It didn't go away so I stopped when I hit 5 miles. Once I stopped I was fine and I carried on with the rest of my day. Every so ofen I would "feel it."

Yesterday, I could still feel it here and there. It is more of a quick pain. It isn't tight and doesn't bother me when I walk. Since I had no running to do, I iced it. Today, like yesterday I could feel it, but no specific movement caused pain. With the marathon so close I know I have to play it smart. I wanted to run today, it was beautiful out, but I think an extra day of rest will do me good.

Tomorrow, I plan on doing 6. I'll see how I feel and if I have to cut it short I will. Thursday, I am going back to the spin class with the good music! Friday off and Saturday I am thinking 13.

Last Long Run Complete

2008-09-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today was my last "long run" before the marathon. As always preparation starts before the actual run. No worries, I did not have pizza the night before, however I did make a BBQ chicken bread. I went to bed early mainly because I was tired. I was falling asleep on the couch, but once I went to lay down in bed all I could think about was the marathon and how I wanted this last run to go well. It took me a while to settle down, I actually felt nervous! I finally went to dreamland only to wake up at 2:30 am. Of course my mind started racing and I was up for the next 1 1/2. When the alarm went off, I was in a nice sleep..figures.

So I got up and did my usual routine. It was a little weird starting the run in the dark, but it was very peaceful. As I passed all the houses with all the sleeping people in them, cozy in their beds, I wasn't jealous. I was happy to be out doing something that just isn't good for my overall health, but I was starting my day off doing something I enjoy.

I usually set goals for my runs and the only goal I had on this one was to go out and enjoy the run. I did want to stay between a pace of 8:45-9:15. This run was to continue to build my confidence and to mentally be prepared. I was also experimenting with some new fuel, my goal on this was to not have to sprint to a bathroom. I know it is a little late in the game to switch up the fueling process, but I read an article on Runner's World that got me thinking. In this article it mentions how there really isn't one type of fuel that works for everyone. The writer went on to mention how she eats Milky Ways on her runs. That is all I needed to hear. I can down chocolate with the best, plus the shot bloks are hard for me to get down, they do turn my stomach a bit, and (there is not a nice way to say this) they make me burp up the shot blok taste, gross. So it was either now or never.

Let me just tell you, I had no problems. There wasn't the shocking taste as soon as put it in my mouth, they went down easily, no stomach issues and no burping or after taste. Success. I am going to try this again next weekend and maybe on one of my shorter runs to confirm that I am ok with this. I also, found the right ratio of Gatorade to water.

All in all, I felt great on the run. I felt strong and confident. If the marathon took place today, I know I would have been fine. Final stats 21 miles 3:08, a little slower than my last 21.

When I finished my legs were a little tired, nothing major. My calfs did tighten up which is weird for me, but two hours later I feel fine. Now, it is taper time. Thanks everyone for your taper help, I really appreciate it.

Elvis

2008-09-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

Elvis was the theme of Wednesday's spin class. Yes people, all Elvis songs. While he did have some good songs, I prefer and need a variety when I work out. But, enough about that.

Tuesday I had a great run. The weather here in NC has been ideal for running. The humidity seems to have left and it is so much easier to breathe. The only thing that stinks is that the sun is going down much earlier. I would say it gets dark now at 7:30-7:40. Luckily, around this time I am close to home on my neighborhood streets, however I do have a reflective band that has red light flashers. It may not be one of the prettier running accessories, but I feel safer with it.

Back to the run. My goal was to run my 6 mile route faster than usual. Now, part of this goal was due to wanting to limit my time running in the dark, part to get the legs cranking, and part because I wanted to be home before House started. I finished in 47:07.

Yesterday, I was tired. It was a crazy day at work, lots of drama and to be honest after dinner I just felt like sitting on the couch and doing nothing, maybe even try and go to bed early. But, Morgan was full of energy which equals no relaxing, then with the marathon being so close I knew I couldn't let down now. I switched clothes and tried to get myself psyched up for the run.

I left the house and took off. I wanted this to be a nice paced run, nothing crazy and no expectations since I have my last 20-22 miler on Saturday. My legs felt so heavy, I really felt like I was running in sand. I felt like I had hit the wall 200 yards in to the run. At this point, I was thinking just try and push out 4. As I hit mile 3 my legs began to feel lighter and I trucked on for the rest of the run. Six miles 51:23.

Quick question. How far did you run or are you going to run (your long run) the weekend before your marathon? I am so torn by this for some reason.

To all those racing this weekend especially Laurel, Lil Runner and RunJoy you are going to do great!

It’s Almost Game Time

2008-09-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

I knew the marathon was approaching, but it is only 4 weeks away! Now, I am not sure why when I looked at the calendar today that it shocked me. I have been training for 14 weeks now. But, something just clicked.

I had a great run on Thursday. I felt like I was cruising and really just enjoyed the run. Six down 47:32. Saturday, a bit of a different story. I was looking forward to my run, not super excited, but glad to be going out. Unfortunately, as soon as I got outside and felt the hot, humid air my motivation got sucked right out of me. I ran strong for the first 12 miles, however I crapped out the last 4. I think the heat, humidity, and lack of proper nutrition the night before factored in. I finished the 16 miles in 2:23, the same exact time as my last 16.

While this run wasn’t my best, there is no room for excuses just accountability. Pizza and a little left over ice cream cake the night before a long run, my fault. Letting the morning temps and humidity bring me down, my fault. I have run in these warmer and humid conditions before, no excuses. With the marathon only 4 weeks away, it is time to buckle down and focus. I will push myself during the week day runs and not give in to the heat, rain, or tiredness. I will not let mental or physical fatigue wear me down on my long runs. And, I will not accept any lame excuses for eating junk.

Four weeks baby and I am ready to roll. Now, I just need to stay focused and motivated.

Soaked

2008-09-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow and make quick decisions about working out. Yesterday was one of those days. Wednesdays are usually my days for cross training and as you all know I go to spin class during my lunch. It was a crazy morning and I needed to swing by the NICU before heading to the gym.

I grabbed my gym bag, remembered to take an umbrella since it was pouring and headed out. On my way up to the NICU I realized that I didn't have the card I needed to get into the gym....great! I had timed everything perfect. This left me with only a few spare minutes to run back to the office and then down to the gym. As I was walking back to get my card in the rain I wasn't feeling like spinning. Hey listening to Boy George and an hour of Queen is cool, but…..

Anyway, I decided to go for a run in the rain. At the time it seemed like something different and fun. I changed my clothes and headed out. I had no direction or idea where I was running to or around, I just went. I explored new streets, if I saw a hill I went up it, if a street looked interesting I went down it, if there was a puddle I ran through it. I ran for 50 minutes, since I didn't have my Garmin I am not sure how far I ran, but I am guessing about 6 miles. When I finished, I was completely soaked, the rain didn't let up once while I was out. But, I felt refreshed, alive, and stress free.

When I got home we celebrated Matt's birthday. I made him an ice cream cake. The bottom layer was a brownie, then ice cream with fudge topping, then another layer of brownie and ice cream on top. It hit the spot and I enjoyed eating every bite! However, I am glad I didn't have to try and run after I ate it.

Hope everyone has a nice Thursday. As it is September 11th, Please remember all those who were involved and lost their lives on this day seven years ago.

Sleeping In

2008-09-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

Well, my plan to run on Friday after work didn't end up happening. I had all intentions to leave work, go home, make dinner, hang out, and run, but if you don't get home nothing can happen. On my way home from work my alternator went. Luckily, I was able to roll in to a garage where they were able to fix it. So, my Friday night was spend in a parking lot...good times.

Since rain and high winds were in the forecast for Saturday, I made the executive decision to take another day off from running. Can I just say, it was so nice to sleep in until 7:30am, I can't remember the last time I was able to do that. It felt great! We didn't get as much rain as they had anticipated and it stopped around 1:00. I was feeling a little guilty about not running and thought about going for a run a little later. However, after a brief trip the grocery store to pick up a few items needed for my weekend baking with Morgan, I decided to just enjoy the day. It was humid and hot, plus I had a long run planned for Sunday and wanted to make sure it went well.

Sunday, I got up early, but wanted to fall back asleep. All I could think of was how nice it was to sleep in. But, I carried on and got ready. When I started my run it was already in the 70's, I really can't wait for the temps to drop! Anyway, the run went well. I had wanted to take it at a controlled 9-9:15 pace, but that didn't really happen. The only mile I hit in the 9's was the first. I was little all over the place with times between 8:36 and 8:57. Total distance 14 miles, 2:03.

With only five more weeks until the marathon, I need to really start to focus on nutrition again. It is so easy for me to get derailed with sweets. It also isn't going to help that Matt's birthday is the week and it's also our anniversary at the end of the month. I need to be smart and control my sweet tooth.