12 Days...

I LOVE this group, Straight No Chaser. They took a song that I loathed and turned it into a favorite around this time of year. This video is slightly different from the one I have on my iTunes, plus brotha-man cracks me up...even has some beatboxing...do you like it? Click here.

Race Report: Fleet Feet Women's Festival 5K/10K

Sunday July 19, 2009

So this is my third year in a row running this event, and I really like it. A bunch of cool running chics, the best race shirt every year, nice sponsors and the lakefront. What more can a girl ask for? Now last week, my faithful blog readers may recall that I planned on running the 5K. But since my 12 mile long run the day before turned into a 10 mile run, I had a light bulb moment and realized I could make up those 2 miles (and then some) by opting for the longer haul.

And though my mind protested as I walked over to the same-day registration table, I did it anyway.

So after the obligatory pep talk from the overly excited emcee who was probably an annoying cheerleader in high school...you know the one...so this jibber jabber went on for awhile. I moved away from this and visited some of the sponsor booths. Tried a watermelon falvored Luna Chew and it was go-o-o-o-od! (Ok, I admit...I took two more after the first one.) There was a short line for stretches for some sports training facility with a long name that isn't Athletico (my fave type of joint that has an easy name to remember.) So I had someone stretch out my legs and I felt better already.

Cue the star spangled banner that sounded like a version you might have heard when the last tv show ended for the night, way too majestic for the occasion. (Wow, remember when tv stations used to, like, "go off" at night? That sounds weird saying that, now.)

And we're off. My hubby's cousin was excitedly running her first race ever, and doing the 10K too. While we run in the mornings together, we don't actually run TOGETHER, and so we did the same this day...started off together and soon split up. Fine by me, b/c my ipod was probably going to be my only saving grace.

Mile 1
Legs: Are you crazy??? Didn't you just run 10 miles yesterday?
Mind: Shut up! Get with the program.
Legs: Oh I hate these pseudo hills (really just slight incline) in our otherwise flat city.
Mind: Oh I hate these pseudo hills (really just slight incline) in our otherwise flat city.

Mile 2
Mind: an aid station at 1.5 miles? Aww, that's cute.
Legs: (Keep running!)
Legs: There's the turn off point for the 10K up ahead. You could turn off with the 5K and end this misery now!
Mind: What would be more embarrasing than finishing with the 5K, but being registered now for the 10K, and for a quick moment, being mistaken as finishing in the top 10 or 20 runners for the 10K? Keep going, slacker!

Mile 3
Legs: Let's walk through all the other aid stations. Good strategy.
Mind: I concur. (and there were quite a few for just a 10K. Five, I think? Walked through all but that first one.)
Legs: I hate running. Don't you hate running? You suck! What are you doing out here?
Mind: You suck! Why do you do this to yourself?

Mile 4
Legs: Just going through the motions.
Mind: Can You Feel it...Can you feel it...can you feel it?! (Singing along-not out loud-to my ipod)
Mind: Hey legs, you've been quiet. Everything ok?
Legs: Chillin!

Mile 5
Legs: (on auto-pilot)
Mind: You suck! You hate this, why are you out here? At least I'm not the slowest...the biggest...the only one wearing running PANTS...

Mile 6
Legs: We're ok! We're doing it!
Mind: Hey, we're ok! We're doing it! And I don't feel like walking, I just feel like getting it done!
Mind: There's the finish line ahead! Wow! That was easy!

1:14:52, 12:03 pace which is not bad for having run 10 miles the day before. (I mean, for me at least.) But seriously? All this negative thinking is REALLY taxing. I don't know what to do about it. I mean, I think these things even while listening to music.

Any suggestions?

Run #85: 15 days and 885 cookies later

Date: September 29 at 5:40am
Place: treadmill
Mileage: 2 miles, plus 1/4 mile warmup and 1/4 mile cooldown
Time It Took: 23:49 for the run part; 4:18-warmup 4:06-cooldown (and yes, I'm counting the mileage towards my goal which I probably won't reach anyway.)
Pace: 11:54
Miles this week: 2/running and .5/walking
Miles this month: 24.1 + .5 = 24.6
2008 Goal: 488.97

Thoughts/Comments: Are you crazy? 2 weeks and no running? I mean, ok, I'm not running the marathon, but I AM supposed to be there to support Lou and will be running the last 8 or 10 miles with her...but I can't be all weak and unready while she needs me to be strong, right?

So the louder my legs protested and the louder my inner self ridiculed me, the louder I turned up my iPod. Didn't stop once. And just like that? Back on track. I felt pretty good.

As for the post title, yes, I had cookie orders totalling 885 cookies, which is why I've been ghost on this blog and not running at all. It has literally taken up all of my free time and included to all nighters IN A ROW to get them done. From the baking to decorating to labeling individual bags...I've seen enough cookies to last me a lifetime. Also, I've got my website up and running and almost ready to take orders ONLINE....so exciting. I will pass on the link very soon.

To those sweethearts who will still have me, and have commented on my blog with nothing in response, THANK YOU and I will be visiting your blogs TODAY.

Run #83 GASP, two midweek runs?

Date: September 11 at 5:30am
Place: home on the treadmill (why is that room so HUMID?! UGH!)
Mileage: 3
Time It Took: 35:38
Pace: 11:52....I'll take it
Mileage this week: 6
Miles this month: 9
2008 Goal: 473.27/1000

Thoughts/Comments: What's worse than running on a treadmill in a humid room at 5:30 in the morning? Running on a treadmill in a humid room at 5:30 in the morning WITH NO IPOD! (needed charging.) And what's worse than THAT???

(If you're easily grossed out, stop reading...)

Ok, so I set my clothes out the night before, where are those pants? Dangit. Dare I go back up the creeky stairs and more than likely wake up the world's lightest sleeper known as Zoe. Out of the corner of my eye I spied the laundry basket.,.with MONDAY'S running clothes in it. And in my mind it was my surest option of getting in that much needed run. So I put on my stinky running shorts. Still, some 3 days later, WET. Eeeeeeew, nasty. Disgusting. But Zoe didn't wake up and dangit, I met my goal of keeping my legs moving before my date with the unknown....the Chicago Half Marathon. It's not unknown in not ever having done the race--or the distance...it's an unknown with the extreme lack of training and poor preparation.

I've found in running you sometimes do crazy things that you wouldn't normally do...drink from a water fountain on the lakefront path b/c it's hot as hades, you're out of water and who cares if that dog just left from getting his water-lapping on (Yes, I've done this). Now I will add "wearing 3-day old nasty stinky running clothes" to the crazy things I wouldn't normally do. Please be assured that I would never, EVER do this while running outside or with people...offensive odors before you've broken a sweat, (clothes, morning breath, et al) are absolutely unnacceptable. I mean, runners, am I right or am I right? Help me out here!

Anyway, carry on friends! I've got a busy weekend and upcoming week. I'm baking/decorating 500 cookies (yes, you read that right) for an event next week. from now through the end of the month, I will have baked and decorated 870 cookies in cookie orders. YIKES x 3.

Run #6 Another great run

Date/Time: Jan 9 at 5:45 am
Place: Treadmill at home
Mileage: 4 miles
Time It Took: 44:17
Pace: 11:04
Miles this week: 8.71
Miles this month: 26.712008
Goal: 26.71/1000

Thoughts/Comments: Wow, it's nice having the treadmill set up at home b/c there are absolutely NO GOOD EXCUSES as to why I can't run. And at 5:30 in the morning, I'm a bit too groggy to even think about any (other than sleep, I suppose.) Anyhoo...it was a great run, thanks to the Florida State Marching Band's performance to other schools' fight songs, and a few new songs I downloaded (uploaded?) from wayyyy back in my day, back when I used to go roller skating. A little Joan Jett "I Love Rock-n-Roll" will make any girl feel like one bad a$$ chic! And then John Cougar's "Jack and Diane". And then a few new ones...good stuff. I ended the run, the last tenth of a mile with a 7mph sprint, ala Biggest Loser, although when they do it, I think they hit double digits. Me thinks not!

Anyhoo, the bigger lesson of the day is perseverance! LAST NIGHT, after weeks of nonsense, Zoe slept in her toddler bed the ENTIRE night. It was glorious! We celebrated with high fives, loud cheering and an extra sippy cup of chocolate milk! Woo hoo!!!!!

Run #3 What do you do when you really don't feel like running?

Date/Time: Jan 4 at 6:20am
Mileage: 3 miles
Time It Took: 34:33
Pace: 11:31
Miles this week: 10
Miles this month: 10
2008 Goal: 10/1000

Thoughts/Comments: I guess I really didn't feel like running this morning. My goal this week is to run 15-18 miles, and I was going to run T-W-T and then Saturday. Well yesterday my sore throat and tired legs convinced me to wait til today. Right before I actually woke up, I dreamt that I woke up, looked at the clock that read 8:24 and thought (in my dream), oh well, too late to run, guess I'll have to either run on Sunday or just run the low end of my goal mileage. But then I really woke up and it was 5:59am. At first I started to tell myself I must really not want to run, and I started to doze off, but then I said to myself, "GET YOUR BUTT UP!" SO I got up and ran.

I even had some new music to run to, and revealing it to you will reveal what a dork I am. I added some band music that included "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" (Bears Fight Song), the Notre Dame Fight Song and the LSU Fight Song. I love those band songs, and I have a knack for being able to pick out the trombone part at any time b/c both my older and younger brother played trombone and I was forced to attend many-a lame junior high and hgh school band concerts. Attending the dorkfest were only other bandmembers families, most certainly. Those bandmembers were/are a strange breed. When I was down at U of I (that's University of Illinois), I lived right across the street from where the marching band held midweek practice. I think there's a building there now or a parking lot, but it was right next the Huff Gym/Huff Hall, for those who want to reminisce. For a time I lived in Van Doren and also in the Triad. So I really started to dig that college band music. And now I've uploaded some onto my iPod. (Insert video here: Mike Myers-ala Saturday Night Live- coughing while masking the namecalling "dork! dork! dork!")

Ok enough spilling my guts. Gotsta go!