Reminiscing on bad weather runs gone by.

THIS is why I like my blog. I knew I had a little collective post of weather runs somewhere. Here it is. Can't believe it was three years ago and I thought I'd maybe done it in the last year. But whatevs.

It's an Ozone Action Alert Day in Chicago

Day 2 of the first two of the summer...which means all you people with asthma, watch out. I don't have the girls tonight and I could sure benefit from the therapy of the lakefront, but I'd better hold off. I don't need anymore setbacks. This is the kind of thing that can send me into a bad way for a month. I haven't had a respiratory infection in a long time and don't want to get one. For some reason, environmental things really get to me. In the 1990's and 00's, I used to get bronchitis every year like CLOCKWORK.

What time is it?

In 2000 (yes, I realize this was a long time ago) I ran for a whole week in July hot weather in NYC along Riverside Drive, which is basically perched above the heavily traveled Westside Highway (which is very much like our beloved Lakeshore Drive.) I got back home and within a week I was wheezing. Within a month I was diagnosed with bronchitis yet again. Heat + Pollution = a huge no-no from the doctor. By month 2, the antibiotics stopped working. I couldn't talk on the phone, any laugh would send me into a coughing spell. And I would wake up gasping for air thinking "OMG this is it! I'm dying!" I finally went back to the doctor who put me on steroids! And finally after 10 days of that, I was cured. In OCTOBER. Yay, steroids! So anyway, I tend to take these things more seriously than I used to. I'm not trying to end up like the inimitable Sweet Brown:

p.s. I wasn't sure if it was dieing or dying. the urban dictionary broke it down for me in definition 1 quite plainly.

Obsess much?

Hourly weather forecast for downtown Chicago...race starts at 6:30, and with any luck I will cross the start line by 7. It could be MUCH worse...this isn't horrible.

Long Run stepback week meets progress

So this past weekend's long run was a stepback week, just 1 week before my first half marathon of the season. And yes, I'm a bit nervous, but I've put in the miles, so I should be fine. This damn HEAT... :( Anyhoooo...

So I was up for 7 miles on Sunday. Woke up a bit late, as you know I like to get an early 5am start, but ended up getting out there right at about 6am. I started off kinda fast and ya know what? It felt good, so i shrugged it off and figured it'd even out eventually.

Here's a breakdown of my run:

Mile 1--11:12.13

Mile 2--11:10.06

Mile 3--11:26.24

Mile 4--11:11.13

Mile 5--11:05.32

Mile 6--11:22.25

Mile 7--11:07.14

Total 1:18:37, pace 11:14. Too bad this wasn't a race, because that'd be a PR. So as of Monday, here's the extended forecast for this weekend's race. Damn you, Chicago! Granted, it won't be 93 degrees at the time we're running, but conditions certainly won't be good.

I've taken a turn for the....

...BETTER! Woo-hoo! A few weeks ago as marathon training was officially kicking off, I was seriously struggling. My first "long run" at 6 miles with my CARA training group was disastrous, and even with me opting for the 12:00 pace run/WALK group. For realz? UGH.

The following week I had a craptacular night run for the Glo Run 6K, not even 4 miles. To my defense it was humid as hell out, but still. 4 miles?!

And then I took an honest look at my diet. I've been on weight loss mode all year, dropping as much weight as possible for running season, and it's been successful. As I write this now, I've been waivering anywhere between 157.9 (uh, to be exact) to 163ish, depending on a load of factors I'll save for another post. I'm still tracking as if I'm aiming to lose. And yes, I'm eating the extra calories I earn from exercise for what seems like ONCE IN MY LIFE! But I digress....

I was barely eating enough carbs, or quite frankly, or enough calories in general to sustain running regularly. I thought about re-joining Weight Watchers solely for their awesome online tools. I've tested the LoseIt app (hate it), Livestrong both online and the app, and a few others, but none compared to the awesomeness of WW. I mentioned to my WWer-ing co-worked that I was thinking about doing just the online WW version and why, and she suggested I try MyFitnessPal app. (They're online too.) Three words: IT. IS. AWESOME. And I can really get a good feel for my nutritional intake/balance of calories from carbs, protein, fat, etc...

Since then (admittedly just two weeks), I've been eating much more appropriately for running. trying to get between 50-60% carbs, and then protein/fat. I noticed a difference immediately. Like IMMEDIATELY. No more need for run/walk. The week I missed a 7-mile run to run that race? Ran it last weekend. And at an 11:55 pace. I can't scoff at that, because while I've been a 12:00 pace for ages, this was a solid run, no b.s.ing around. My shorter runs have ranged from about 11:30ish to 11:45ish.

So I'm pretty happy with what started out awful, seeming to get back on track. I'm still on the fence about CARA...ya know, I really don't like running late (yes, 6am is late, especially when it's going to be hot out.) And ya know what? I'm not sure I like running in a group and feeling like I should be conversational. I mean...no group will ever compare to my first group. There just will be no Lou or Meg, or pace leader Celia. I don't know how to explain it. And I actually LIKE running by myself. So we'll see. I think this week CARA is doing 8 miles, then 10 next week, then a cutback before the RockNRoll Half, which was ill-placed on the calendar. WTF? July, when it's always been in August? Booo... Anyway, I'm aiming to do 9 on my own this week, then 11 next week.

It's hot like the dickens. Reached 100 today in the Chi. We'll see what happens for Saturday!!!

So that's what's new with me! I'll try to be a better blogger!! p.s. I didn't pay for CARA, so it's not like I'm wasting a ton of money. It was "free" with my charity group. Feeling charitable? Please visit my fundraising page and consider making a donation for an awesome group. Even $1 helps. Really! Donate it anonymously if you want! :)

Shamrock Shuffle 8k - A Race Report

Really? So I've been running in 30 and 40 degree weather when running outside...and for ONE day, it decides to get warm and HELLA humid out? This is SO like Chicago. I woke up Sunday morning, and for once, the weathermen/women were right. It was unseasonably warm and humid.

I wasn't worried, I guess I thought "It's just 5 miles, I'll be fine." But apparently even with a shorter run, my body will NOT readjust for humidity. I mean, I suppose if it weren't my first humid run of the season. I'm trying not to beat myself up about it...

1:04:51. I'm pretty sure that's my WORST Shamrock Shuffle to date. I could easily look down the list of past races over on the right side of my blog, but I just don't have the heart to--just yet.

Mile 1 "I'm running too fast, I'm running too fast I'm running too fast! I'm warm. Where or where are my running shorts." Mental note: find shorts TO. DAY. THIS. AFTERNOON. Mile 1 done at 10:25, according to my timer. Not good.

Mile 2 Somewhere between Mile 1 and Mile 2 I had my first walking break. This is when mentally it all went downhill. "I suck. I should just quit." Walked again at the aid station. Lame. But that Gatorade was tasty. Mile 2 done, somehow miraculously at 24:00. (Hindsight: must have been running too fast still, when I was actually running.)

Mile 3 &%*$!!! This friggin sun! "I won't walk again until the next aid station." Lie! Walked some more. Mile 3 done just under 38:00. Then the wheels fell off.

Mile 4 "I'll just run when I can." This is when I became ashamed of myself. And got a text from my friend who said she was done. Damn. Mile 4 done at around 51:00. Walked for a good long while after Mile 4, because "I WILL RUN UP THAT HILL ON ROOSEVELT IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO."

The last .97 miles of the 8K was more of the rest.

I'd hoped to have an awesome race report. I'd hoped to feel proud, excited and ready for the race season. But now I'm just feeling doubtful. Wondering if I'll ever get better. I"m sure this will pass. I'm aiming for a great long run later this week.

So....sorry to be a downer. Thanks for reading/listening.

So Annoyed

Can I complain for a moment? Thanks, I knew you wouldn't mind. I'm sick of the snow. I've not had a good workout since Tuesday. I realize it's only Friday. Wednesday I shoveled (ok, I guess that's a good workout.) Yesterday I ventured out while the rest of the family stayed home, I trudged 2 blocks through half-shoveled terrain at 2 degrees in the morning, took the bus and train to work, climbining multiple sets of stairs while catching two different trains, only to walk along more unshoveled paths to work. Then, I did the same in reverse on the way home. (ok, I guess that's technically a good workout, too.)

By the time I got to the treadmill last night to do my "long" run scheduled for 3 miles, I was beat and only did 1 mile. 1 stupid mile. I was exhausted.

And then today, because yet again I couldn't get the car out, I stayed home. Too cold, and too rough of a terrain to try and take the girls to school, which had finally opened back up.

So, I worked from home. For nearly 10 hours. DAMN! And now I know I should get on the treadmill for at least SOMETHING. A walk, even? So tired.

Sigh. Stay tuned. Maybe a walk will do me good. Tomorrow I'm going to try and get the car out and off the block, the street is looking like my beloved Honda Civic might actually make it to the main thoroughfare 2 blocks away. The girls have ballet, which buys me 45 precious minutes to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING if I want. (Hopefully there will be a place to park over there with all the extra snow.)

Anyhoo, thanks for listening to me bitch and moan.

p.s. On a good note, I've stayed within my points all week, despite the urge not to.

Back Down Memory Lane

As I ponder the training plan set forth before me, and sadly, as 2 miles of straight running seems like a lot right now, I know that this, too, shall pass. So I decided to reminisce on runs gone by. This episode, memorable weather runs:

1. Awful snow/sleet/6-inch ice puddles at the 2009 Shamrock Shuffle

2. The driving rain. One 16-mile training run, and this never-to-be forgotten race.

3. Frigid weather, a Chicago Endurance Sports Winter Warriors training run.

4. And of course the bane of my running existence. If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I've never quite let the 2007 Chicago Marathon debacle go...(Just realized this blog post doesn't give the weather stats, which are all in the posts leading up to and following my race report. The weather reached 88 degrees, but high, summer-like humidity from the wee hours of the morning made it feel crazy hot even at the beginning. That with lack of water was a recipe for disaster.)

I would if I could, but I can't so I won't

It's just December, but we've had more than our share of frigid temps. It's not even winter technically, give us a break. I swear if I could comfortably do this, I would:


My cat, channeling my inner lazy.




The jig is up.

Something's fishy

So, I'm starting to think that the race directors of the Chicago Marathon are working to change the date of the marathon. They've had this "the tentative date of the 2011 Marathon" thing up on their FB page and on the 2010 page. In all my years of paying attention to the marathon, which was well before I started running it, they never spoke in such uncertain terms. And since the 2007 debacle, it's been relatively hot at the marathons.

But I submit to you, it can be just as COLD in October as well. In fact, the 2006 marathon (October 22) had temps in the 30s and windy. Here are two takes on that one. Chicago weather is always weird. While we've hit a streak of hot ones, I think it would be a mistake to switch the date. Knowing CHicago, if they switch the date, it's going to be perfect weather on 10/9/11, the original date.

Guess we'll wait and see. But in my mind, the ONLY reason there's this wait is because it's a HUGE deal to shut down all those city streets ALL OVER my beloved city. Changing the date likely takes serious wheeling and dealing at the city.

That is all...

20 Miles....DONE.

So despite the simple fact that I haven't run a long run past 15 miles or so (my 16 ended at 15 miles...mile 18 miler also ended unceremoniously at 15), it was clear to me that I MUST get in that 20 miles. Right before that disastrous half marathon two weeks ago, I decided to sign up for CARA's Ready to Run 20-Miler supported training run, because I've run 20 miles by myself before, and I didn't want to do it again. I signed up 8 days before the run. 2 days later I thought to myself "what's that scratchiness in my throat?" and then I didn't run again for 10 days. Sigh. So while everyone else is reveling in their marathon taper, I still had work to do.

Scenario: Taking Friday off anyway, b/c the kindergartner has the day off from school. Leave extra early and start off in the dark, hubby will watch the cherub until I get back.

Truth: Middle of the night my 3 year old wakes me up and asks me if she can have some tacos. True story. She cries herself to sleep when I tell her not right now. After over an hour of pleading and crying and whining and trying to go back to sleep. (Her, not me...well, I did try to go back to sleep.)

My alarm goes off at 5am but I don't hear it. At 5:40 I wake up and try to reason with myself why I should just put off the run until Saturday...but no. The prep involved for a 20-mile run is stressful enough, so I just decided to get up. Alas, the prep work was not enough. WHERE ARE MY SOCKS???? Because I was pretty tired still, it took me nearly an hour to get out the door, including two tries at socks, because when I finally went up the creaky stairs (worried that it'd wake up the girls) I GRABBED MY HUSBAND'S ALL COTTON SOCKS ON ACCIDENT. WHY ARE HIS SOCKS MIXED UP WITH MINE?!?! Two trips up the creaky stairs!

So I get out to the lakefront, this time from 31st Street Beach, and the sun is already peaking over the horizon. :( I eventually start running, with my new iPod in tow. (Yes! I got a new iPod. My old shuffle died, I THINK that morning I ran in the pouring rain. I don't know why I didn't think about that more. I'll have to post about the whole iPod saga later...)

Miles 1 through 4.5
From the very start of my run, my nose instantly started running. My short sleeve shirt became a necessity. Throughout the ENTIRE run, I was blowing my nose into my sleeves. As I explained to my husband later, "I don't do snot rockets." Anyway, right around 2.5 miles, I started coughing like crazy!!! But I kept going. The coughing last intermittently for about 2 miles, but never enough to make me stop. It was just annoying. At one point I had to spit out some stuff, just in time for some guy to pass me by. I wonder what he was thinking, I'm sure the whole scene was disgusting.

Mile 4.5 through 10
Right at Mile 4.5, I was at Ohio Street Beach, where there is a drinking fountain. I decided to take a Gu here. As I enjoyed the scenery for a minute (beach, tall buildings, cars on Lake Shore Drive zooming by, I decided maybe I will take a few pictures during my run with my cell phone camera. Leaving the water fountain I got my first opportunity for a picture. (See pictures at the bottom of this post.)

Along these miles, I decided to take the eastern side of the path that stays right next to the lake, instead of the route I'm more familiar with, which crosses over the Drive at North Avenue, and winds through Lincoln Park. It was beautiful out, and I found myself looking down at my Garmin at the 10 Mile mark right near Wilson Avenue. That's 4800 North (and I started at 3100 South.) Whew. So I stopped at a park district bathroom, took a short break and there...and as far as public bathrooms, this one was pretty nice. I decided to take another Gu, and then also decided to "mix up" some more Gatorade. HUH, you ask? Yes, in the FIND OF THE CENTURY, I found some Gatorade Mix, NOT in the hideous lemon lime flavor, but in my favorite Riptide Rush flavor. So I mixed up three 8 ounce bottles. While it was cool to be able to do this, I will never do it in a race, and maybe never again in a training run. It took FOREVER b/c I was worried about spilling the granules, it took like 10 minutes for my whole break. Ridiculous! So finally, I was on my way back south. The first 10 miles were fairly, uh, "easy" (it's all relative). So what's 10 more? Let me say here that I was so glad to go out 10 miles, b/c it FORCED me to do 20 miles, one way or the other. I was worried that if I went less, and told myself that when I got back to my starting point, that I'd run the other way for the remainder of my miles, well, that my resolve would fade during the later miles. I know myself all too well. So an "out and back" run this would be.

Miles 10 thru 17
Terrible. I was beat. Famished. Miles 10 thru about 13.5, I walked once each mile, for about 2 minutes at a time. My goal was to just keep going...each step is a step closer to 20 miles. For the entire stretch along between Oak Street and Ohio Street Beaches, I WALKED..and up under the bridge, too. (That was about a mile and some change of straight walking. At 15 miles, my left hamstring and my right...I dunno, achilles, maybe? They started siezing up, like clenching fists. I've had this happen before, on a 20 mile run and an 18 mile run, but never this early in the run, usually towards the end. Ah...the lack of training, catching up with me. But I got myself together and run-walked, shuffling along, muscles siezing every few minutes or so.

Miles 17 thru 20
So I'm downtown again. Just 3 miles left. You can do this. (As I calculated in my head how long it would take "on-pace", for which I hadn't been on for quite some time now, and how long if I just walked it in.) I kept shuffling along, run some, walk a bit, run, shuffle, OUCH, run, shuffle, OUCH. Downtown and heading south there was some kind of benefit walk, I saw all these people in their cotton t-shirts, half of them complaining about how long the walk is. Hhmph. BTW, there were some interesting snippets of conversations I heard throughout my run, when I didn't have my iPod on:

"I wonder if Miles has a pre-nup." Two cyclists riding by.

"Margaret is the worst commander ever, she's incompetent." Two cops riding by on bikes.

"He's a filthy beast! I hate him." Two chicks walking by.

Anyway, during the last mile, I couldn't help but mentally calculate how long it would take me to complete an additional 6.2 miles on marathon day.

Overall, the run was not pretty, but I got it done. And while it would be easy to say "how on earth will I run another 6 miles on top of this," the point is that I will. When I ran that terrible half marathon the other day, I remember thinking "how on earth will I run another 7 miles on top of this for the 20-miler?"

The answer is: ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.

And now, bring on the taper and obsessive checking of the 15-day weather forecast on accuweather.com. Because really, can we really have THREE marathons in a row where October weather hits the upper 80's? I'm going to look fate dead in the eye and say "I THINK NOT!"


p.s. I had just ONE bad cramp later in the afternoon. Just one. So I guess I hydrated well and ate enough afterwards. This has been a problem in the past.

p.p.s. I didn't eat more than I usually would during the day. But dinner? Dinner on a 20-mile kind of day: 5 tacos that included a total of about 7 or 8 ounces of meat, probably an ounce of cheese per taco, fresh garden tomatoes, spinach (try it!), two whole avocados (I kid you not) mashed up into my own homeade guacamole and.....in an ode to my dad, HEINZ KETCHUP, not taco sauce. And a banana and two Suzy Q's for dessert. I know, that's probably not a good dessert. But, in a small victory, I did NOT get up and get a Suzy Q in the middle of the night, even though they kept calling my name from the pantry all night.

Chicago *#&$*%*&*(#$ Half Marathon Race Report

Subtitle: Well...at least it's not like last year and all that rain.

I suppose I should do a race report. But that would imply that I “raced.” I can hardly call what I did yesterday “racing,” other than my racing heartbeat when I broke into a full run on occasion. Here are the gory details:

Pre-race: I felt good, in a “I’m going to break out of my funky race season” kinda good. Yes! This would be it! I watched the weather and decided to go with my favorite running capris because it was to be a high of 72°, so I’m thinking if that’s the high, it’s bound to be nice for the entire race. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

Since the race was in my neighborhood (starting line less than a mile away!) Lou and Meg (and Lou’s new husband Joey-same name as my hubby, I might add) came to pick me up and we maneuvered around to find a good spot for the car. In case I haven’t mentioned it, Lou was running because she is wearing a BOOT.

Miles 1 through 4: And we’re off. Race starts, and some 15 minutes later or so, we’re on our way. I was glad that with a race this small (relatively speaking) they did not do that goofy corral start, complete with roping things off. That is super annoying and unnecessary, I think, for crowds under 30,000. But that’s just my opinion.

Running through some familiar streets, and I’m rather enjoying it. Trying to not start off too fast, trusting my Garmin and my lungs to tell me to slow down. All was well. But through the cover of the trees I noticed that it was a lot sunnier than what I’d expected. Crap. Meg and I were rolling along fine though. Despite the humidity, it was ok.

Shortly after Mile 2, I felt the pressure building. (Dangit, the careful balance of proper hydration had tipped in favor of the porto-potties!) This early on in the race, I knew a trip to the bathroom would be in order.  Nearing Mile 3, there were clouds overhead. Stay, stay! On 67th Street off to the right cheering us on was my friend Simeko. I waved and she waved and shouted! Kudos to her, for having completed a 21 miler the day before! You rock, Simeko!

Somewhere near 3.75 miles, there was another aid station (3rd one) accompanied by some porto-potties. We stopped. Isn’t Meg the greatest running partner? She stopped but didn’t even have to go, and I encouraged her to go on. (yet!) I could supply link and after link in my blog as to why she is a kick-@$$ running partner, I swear I could. So we stood in line. And stood. And waited. Finally I got my chance to view a fresh steaming pile-o-vile as I took care of business in a 90-degree box only slightly wider than myself. It was refreshing! And upon leaving I glanced at my watch. SIX MINUTES and some change. Nice.

Miles 4 through 9: So we start off again, and the sun is beating down on us. Shortly after we started up again, here came the first runners on the other side, running fast and maybe a ½ mile or mile from the finish. I will tell you this…usually this phenomenon is an exciting one to see, but I was thoroughly discouraged. We did cheer on the first place woman. We trudged on, and Meg started suggested that maybe she should have gone to the bathroom. So at some point (maybe around Mile 7?) we stopped again. But I was in SERIOUS need of a walking break. Everything hurt. Legs. Knees. Pride. So I suggested that since I needed this break, I would walk and she would sprint ahead to the bathrooms. If she was still in the bathroom, I would keep walking and wait for her before I started running. I didn’t look at my watch but kept on walking, like semi-speed walking. After awhile, I’m all like WTH? Where is Meg? I kept looking back and she just wasn’t there! I wondered if something happened. It seemed like forever. FINALLY off in the distance I saw her, she waved both arms at me. I shuffled into barely a run, knees groaning at what was probably a 14:00 pace until we were side-by-side, and off we went. (Apparently her line for the bathroom took even longer than mine!)

We admitted to each other that this was not our day for any PR. And that we both would likely require multiple walking breaks. We ran into a friend of mine from college…Rudy, who was riding a bike and escorting a wheelchair participant. We saw a man on the other side keel over into the median, looking pale and about to vomit, and people calling for water for him.

At the turnaround there was another aid station, and we walked through it, made the turn and headed back for what one spectator called “the home stretch.” I remember thinking that the home stretch is not 4+ miles out, IDIOT. (The difference between me, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams and Kanye West, however, is that I kept my big mouth shut and my grudges to myself.) Sorry, I was hot and tired and annoyed.

Miles 9 through 11: I was struggling to keep up. Worrying about the “sag wagon” coming to pick up a round of potential DNF’ers. (Did Not Finish.) Meg was getting ahead of me slightly. I told her to go on, I was going to walk for a few minutes. And she did. And I did. FOR A SOLID TWO MILES. Even walking was hurting, to be truthful. For those people who say “If I have to finish a race by walking it in,” dude, it TOTALLY SUCKED. I did chat up a nice woman by the name of Mary for those two miles. Mary is from Park Forest, seemed to be older (not sure how old), was run/walking her first half marathon…we chatted for awhile. Sirens were blaring, ambulances racing by headed both north and south quite a few times. I saw a girl’s knee blow out right in front of me. That concrete on the Drive is nothing nice on the knees, I tell ya.

Miles 11 through -----Finish: So I started running again, sick of being sick and tired of the race. Suddenly I saw a course official waving people off of the drive. “They’re opening up Lakeshore Drive, you have to get off!” Some runners ignored him and kept on going by. I went his way and found myself on a steep grassy embankment leading down to the lakefront path, underpass, and on the other side of the path to where I normally run on the weekdays. Maybe this was the encouragement I needed to finish! Familiarity! I ran some more, only to break into a walk again. Some girl up ahead was sobbing about how she was so disappointed in herself. I assumed it was her first race and tried to make her feel better. “This isn’t my first half marathon,” she loudly exclaimed. Whatever, chick! Whatever, be sad and cry, it won’t help you get to the finish line any quicker. Crybaby! (I said this to her in my head.)

I saw the Mile 12 marker over across the way on the other side of Lakeshore Drive, along with those renegade runners who refused to get off the street. The police were pointing at them to get over in the grass. And finally, the 63rd Street underpass to head back over to the course and finish line. I ran the entire way from there. It was the most ungratifying finish to a race ever. I almost didn’t even care if they’d packed up the medals and gone home, I just did not care. (I did take the medal though.)

Post-race report
Caught up with Meg and Lou. Lou saw two people pass out while nearing the finish line. She said Joey was like 10 minutes slower than his usual speedy self. Meg saw someone who was all bloodied on their head/face, possibly from falling. Sirens were still wailing all around. It was like a much scaled down version of the 2007 marathon.

And instead of a PR (personal record,) I managed to score a PW (personal worst.) i'm tired of all the excuses. There's really no excuse. I'm just not having a good year, not doing well, and it's my own fault. It's not negative self talk...it just IS what it IS.

Yep. And with that encouraging run, 20 miles is on tap for this coming Sunday.

p.s. and I swear to you it was way higher than 72 degrees out there.

Wow, what a weekend!

So Friday night I get home from work, and I just had this feeling. I had a feeling that I'd had a good run without DH (dear husband) having to be out early on a Saturday morning and thus allowing me to make my group runs with Chicago Endurance Sports. And I was right. So this week's 9-miler was going to be on my own. :(

The second "feeling" I had, was that with the predictions of horrible storms headed our way in the evening hours, I thought to myself "You'd better get these kids fed just in case the power goes out." And in just 15 minutes after we finished eating? The power went out. :(

I had a terrible night's sleep, waking up every 30 to 60 minutes, checking to see if the power had come back on. Finally, I noticed my clock blinking oo:30 in red, at about 4am (according to my cell), which meant the power came on around 3:30am. Getting up for an early run at 5am? NAH!

Besides, I rationalized, I could instead make up that 30 minute run, and then run my 9 miles on Sunday after a good night's sleep. So before running a few errands with the girls, I ran 30 minutes on the treadmill. Cool.

Fast forward to Saturday night. DH is going to see his brother in some show up on the north side, and I've convinced BF Annah that she should just stay overnight and run with me on the lakefront. And by with, I mean that we're both running on the lakefront at the same time. She's a 9:30 pace, or so.

Sometimes I'm anxious before a long run, especially when I'm going to be on my own, so it took a little while to doze of. I finally did though, and just got into that sleep where your body is all like "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Sweet, glorious sleep." When all of the sudden I hear cars screeching, car doors opening, "GET DOWN ON THE M.F. GROUND! GET DOWN!! GET DOWN!!!!! M.F. DIDN'T YOU SEE MY UNIFORM GET DOWN!!!!" To say this was a rude awakening is an understatement to the tenth degree. My mind and heart were racing. From my second floor window, I peek out to see both undercover cops and regular cop cars/SUVs slamming to a halt right at our corner, jumping out with guns drawn, and one woman (the one screaming all the obscenities) pointing a gun at a dude's head, who was laid out spread eagle ON MY FRONT LAWN! (HOLY $#!T!!!!!!!!!!!)

So I come downstairs because, for one, althought the doors were locked, they were open so that the ceiling fans could get some sort of cool air, since it's so frikkin humid out....so I thought maybe I should shut the doors? Also to try and figure out what to do, if anything. As I'm coming down the stairs, I see cops with guns drawn on BOTH sides of the house, going to the backyard! WHAT?!! So I get downstairs and Annah is looking all crazed and wild-eyed, too! More and more cops are pulling up and they are now combing all of the backyards along the alley that we all abut.

So I can hear them talking and they're looking for one other suspect, and wondering if he could have scaled the concrete wall and barb wire to get into the cemetery. As one of the cops gets closer to our back door, I told him that our door lock doesn't work, and to check inside the garage. So they did. I was just hoping and praying not to hear any gunshots or have a cop get shot on the block....but even while all this was going on, I guess I felt like, that for the present moment with all these cops, we're likely the safest block in the city. They were out there for over an hour, and they didn't find anyone, to my knowledge.

It took me FOREVER to fall back asleep, maybe like 1:30 or 2am. Managed to at least get up at about 5:15am, watch the weather reports suggest that it was 74 degrees and 97% humidity at the lakefront, get kamikazi'd by a wasp in the bathroom, and finally make it to the lakefront just before 6am.

So the run itself was uncomfortable, I was hot, tired and just plain spent. My left knee felt like it was swelling in tune with the humidity. I walked A LOT. Maybe even 2 miles worth. Crazy thing is, Annah ran/walked the whole thing with me. I felt kinda bad because I know she would normally go way faster than me. I kept telling her to go ahead, but she didn't. Truthfully, only 2 miles in, I wanted to call it quits...but I didn't. I don't know that I wouldn't have, had she not been there. Overall my pace was well over 13. If I hadn't had such a great 8-mile run last week, I'd wonder about my ability to run 9 miles, or even 10 miles next week. But the truth is, if I can run 8 miles, I can run 9 miles. I guess I'm ok with just getting the distance in, regardless of how bad of a "run" it was.

Hopefully the stars will align and I will get some decent sleep, and the humidity will ease up a bit.

The Powers that Be

Hmmm, ok, first things first. I was supposed to run an easy 30 minutes on Friday (morning, preferably.) This didn't happen, and my legs did not protest because I was pretty tired from my bike ride...but I still could have done it. Itwas storming something fierce and while rain is fine, lightning is not. I figured I'd just skip this short run, what's the harm?

Skip to Friday evening at home.

Turns out hubby has to leave the house by 8:30 for an appointment. Since I BARELY made it home by 8:30 after last week's group run, I realized that adding another mile would not put me in the door by then, so I'd be running on my own. COpmletely out of my control.

And then.....the power went out at about 7:15pm. Not just for a little bit, but over 8 hours. I kept waking up wondering if it was on, so I didn't sleep well. I canned my 9 miles all together, not sure of what the weather would bring.

So here's the deal:

-Did my 30 minute run after all, on the treadmill at home...90% humidity? No thanks
-Will do 9 miles tomorrow bright and early
-No harm done!

Bike to Work Week - Chicago Style

UPDATE: 5 things

1. Waited out the rain/lightning/thunder, started around 9am
2. 16.26 miles, house to lakefront to work (no bus.)
3. About 6.25 miles of that was city biking (stop, go, avoid being sideswiped)
4. 1:46:17, an average of 9.18 miles per hour (so says the Garmin)
5. I'm not cut out for biking AT ALL. I kept thinking about Lou's "ass pants" that she bought for her triathlon training and wished I had a pair on. Yikes! I'm taking the train and bus home!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Guess what pals? In Chicago, the City of Big Shoulders, the Second City, the City by the Lake (oh wait, I think that's Milwaukee), it's Bike to Work Week. Quick! Everybody! Grab a bike!

Here at my job, we participate in the Bike Commuter Challenge along with a load of other like-minded people who halfway care about the environment, and we are the reigning champs for FIVE YEARS IN A ROW in the "Business/NonProfit" Category, 25-99 Employees Division. In years past, the winning groups get 3 monstrous Eli Cheesecakes (a Chicago brand), and you get to go to their factory to pick them out and everything...kinda cool, um, except it's sooooo far out, completely un-bikeable (especially if you're carrying 3 big 20-serving size cheesecakes on the return trip), and nowhere near transit...but I digress.

Last year I think we had 96% participation, with me being one of two people who didn't at least bike once to work. But tomorrow (Thursday)...my bike ride to work will be my crosstraining as I travel from the South Side (69th/Woodlawn) to the fabulous Center for Neighborhood Technology near Damen and North Avenue. (Now this means nothing to some of you.) Trust me when I say it's no small feat. I will wear my Garmin, which actually has a cycling mode, and tell you exactly how far I travel, ok?

I plan to take as much of the lakefront path as I can, and then either hop on Armitage with a semi-friendly bike lane (versus North Avenue and no bike Lane), OR take the bus from the North Avenue and the Lake over to my job, since we have these handy-dandy bike racks on buses now...and since technically, I have to ride a portion of my commute, it doesn't have to be the whole commute.

Now if my bicycle trailer hadn't been stolen from our garage last year, I could even bike the girls over to their summer daycare program, but now everything is complicated.

I hope the weather holds out. Unless there's lightning, I will be out there.

Oh the irony...

So on a day when running a mere 3 miles on the treadmill had me stopping to stretch twice, question my ability to finish, argue with myself that 1) it would be ok to just do two miles, but 2) you are already here, just do the 3 miles, or 3) maybe you are going to make your calf worse by trying to run the stupid 3 miles, is that number really all that important?

well...

I went ahead and registered for the Chicago Endurance Sports marathon training program. The one I trained with in 2007. My girl Lou is actually gonna be a pace leader for 12:00'ers like ourselves. A friend from work is already registered to traing up to the halfway point, and she also plans to run a 12:00.

But yeah, i had "one of those runs" that just humbles you and reminds you that every run has the potential to be a challenge all by itself, in one way or another. And to think I have to run 11 miles on Saturday. Yikes.

p.s. By the way, the sun came out this afternoon. I came outside and was all like "Wait. Something's different. It's not dark and damp and dreary and misty and foggy and cold and non-springlike for a second." GASP. "It's the sun. The SUN!"

Exhausted!

It's been a tough week. I mapped out a plan to run 3 times midweek, run my long run of 9 miles on Saturday, all while hitting the weights again with two upper and two lower body workouts, and up my elliptical days from one to two. All this, and a HUGE project deadline at work on Wednesday. I knew Wednesday might get funny, so I gave myself permission to slack a bit on the elliptical stuff if necessary.

Well Tuesday night turned out to be an all-nighter for me. Ok, not technically since I did manage to grab a little bit of sleep from 5:30am to 6:50am. (You're thinking I should have gone to the gym then, aren't you? Kidding.) I have been tired ever since. I even downed a bottle of that 5-hour energy stuff they sell on the counters of 7-11's round' the world. I took it at 4pm, in fear of falling asleep while going to get the girls, or having a hellish evening of preparing dinner while my face was plastered to the couch. So that bottle of 5 hours netted me about 3.5, and I'm not complaining! I even played Sudoku in that time span, so consider that my rave review for the stuff--when absolutely necessary.

Anyhoo, then my mom called and asked if I was coming to their church's annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids (read: you bad parent, you, for not having planned any Easter festivities, purchased Easter dresses, committed to any egg-decorating EVER IN THEIR LIVES). In order to get there in time on Saturday morning, I would have to leave early enough that would prohibit my 9 mile run...unless I want to take the girls in their pajamas, and that's never a good look. Long story short, I ran it today.

So here's my rundown as to why I am so rundown:

Monday & Tuesday: 3 mile runs both days, felt great, swopping upper body and lower body workouts. On Tuesday's run, I did some ol Biggest Loser type stuff and really hit it hard in the last few minutes. Body check: what's that? Is that my right calf hurting a bit?

Wednesday: Nada (well, not working out, at least.) I was so busy at work all I had time for was a small bag of beef jerky (that I bought when I bought the 5-hour energy shot). It was tasty. Got home and ate my face off. Yelled at hubby when he told me to get off the couch and go to bed. Went to bed, but not before setting my phone alarm for 4:45. Make that 4:40, I might need an extra 5 minutes.

Thursday: After waking up at 5am, I still went to the gym. Thinking about maybe running Friday instead of Saturday, I did just 2 miles on the treadmill and FORCED MYSELF TO GO SLOW. I also did a workout of both upper and lower body in one day, which I absolutely hate doing...and not for any other reason other than I just don't like being around weights and beefcakes for too long. Body check: I think my calf hurts still. Hmm.

Friday: Let's do it! Take the morning off. Go run that 9 miles! I even got my sweet beloved Garmin working again. (AND FORGOT IT!) So I'm heading up Lakeshore Drive (honestly people, is it Lakeshore Drive, or Lake Shore Drive? I've seen it both ways.) And I notice the wind whipping up the waves something fierce and decide on a "NO" for the concrete monster, that's what I call the area near Oak Street Beach. It's a beast in the summer when the morning sun comes up over the horizon and slaps you on your face with no shade to be found. (There it is on the left, only this picture is obviously during warmer times. Those people off in the distance on the right? Well that was all water today.) While driving, I also pinpointed the area of the S-curve's latest victim that I read about yesterday. I wonder how many lightpoles along LSD have taken people out.

Anyhoo, so I park just north of the History Museum on Clark. At a meter. Gatorade? Check! Gu? Check! And I get out of the car and WHOOOOOOOSH! The wind hits me and I'm frozen immediately. As I walk over to the Ben Franklin statue in an effort to conjure up the good vibes of the 2007 training season with CES (and that's where we used to meet), I was coming up with all kinds of excuses...you don't even have your Garmin (b.s. there are half mile markers up and down the lakefront. In theory.)...you saw the forecast, it might be warmer on Sunday morning. (b.s. you're already HERE.)

So I just started running. Into the wind. And it sucked. I was so slow, although I don't exactly know how slow, because I looked at my cell phone at the beginning and at the end of my run to gauge some sort of time. I was cold, my hands were cold, my stomach...MY STOMACH was numb from the cold wind. I stopped to stretch like three times, my right calf telling me "You'll be sorry you did this!" But I made it to my turnaround point, took a Gu, and then everything became effortless. I don't know if it was due to less wind or the Gu, but I was in the zone. And then I finished. One hour and 54 minutes later. Crappy pace of 12:40, but now I only have one more long run before the Indy Mini Marathon.

I realize that my training for this race is less than ideal, but I'm glad that I've been able to make these "make or break" runs, regardless. It probably won't be fun, and I certainly have run other races more prepared, but at least I'm covering the distance, one way or another.

My calf has been hurting all day now, but sitting at my desk at work probably isn't much help, either. Extra stretching all weekend, and no working out AT ALL.

Week Totals:

Mileage: 17 miles, 4 runs

Strength: 2 upper, 2 lower

Elliptical (Cross training): 0

Shamrock Shuffle 2009 Race Report: Subtitled "Dude, you suck!"

Ok, i don't know what miracle I expected to happen when I hadn't run in over a week, hoping to rid myself of all phlegm before running again. Probably a bad idea, in hindsight. Then beginning Wednesday I kept hearing about snow and/or freezing rain headed our way for the weekend.

Cutting to the chase, it was a snowy, slushy mess. My feet were soaked even before arriving to the start line. I actually got to see the elite runners start because we were kinda late in getting there (due to craptacular driving conditions.) Less than 14,000 runners out of a registered 30,000 showed up to run. I never caught up with Lou b/c I barely made it to the second wave of runners (read: slower) start on time. Afterwards, all I wanted was warmth. No phone calls.

During the race, I felt like crap and walked a minute or two at each mile marker sign. I thought it was my worst 8K time ever...but not quite so, since I had one that was even 14 seconds slower in 2006. (I guess we can call that "the bright side.) And just think, last year's Shamrock Shuffle I completed it in my best time ever--faster by 9 minutes and 16 seconds! Sheesh!

Oh well. Nowhere to go but up. I shall live to run another day.

Thanks for listening to me complain.

p.s. yesterday evening, the sun came out as if to say "HA HA!"

Running Plans This Year (inspired by Lou posting hers)

her's? hers? not sure but whatev.

Shamrock Shuffle (my favorite race, course is all downtown and mirrors the Chicago Marathon start and finish...plus its 35,000 runners helps it feel all marathon-like, too)

Indy Mini (half marathon)

Rock-n-Roll Chicago (half marathon, formerly the Chicago Distance Classic, which was formerly my favorite race in Chicago until they changed the course last year. they still haven't posted the course, but i'm prepared to accept it if it remains WHACK...WOW, just looked at the site and the medal for this baby ROCKS.)

Chicago Half Marathon (much improved medal in 2008...the weather couldn't be any worse than last year, could it? Um...did I really just write that?! Probably the kiss of death. But anyway, this race has a special place in my heart b/c when I ran it in 2007, I actually managed to run it ON PACE for the race. It was awesome.)

CARA Ready to Run 20-Miler (well, it's not technically a race, but it's organized, there are aid stations, I have to pay for it, and hell, it's over 10 miles, so I'm counting it.)

Chicago Marathon (I don't think I need to add anything here, do I?)

Still up for grabs because I'm always a sucker for cute t-shirts or awesome schwag:
Fleet Feet Women's 5K/10K and the Bucktown 5K. Oh wow.

I decided to limit my runs because last year I ran a ton of races...not all of them are even listed in that column on the right, because a few didn't provide official chip times. And to think, there were a few races I didn't get to run from when I had my knee injury and therapy for 6 weeks. So I'm taking it easy this year and focusing on the big goal...running those last 3 miles up Michigan Avenue, turning onto Roosevelt and facing that "hill" with a smile, on my way to finally finishing the Chicago Marathon. HOORAY!

As for after the marathon? Well c'mon now, anything goes!

inauguration day musings

So at 4am, Zoe woke me up. We went downstairs, got some chocolate milk and camped out on the couch, since there just wasn't going to enough room for me, my hubby and Jada, who'd arrived bedside hours earlier.

As she slurped away, she said "Mommy, Mommy! We have to tell Miss Hedda (translation: Ms. Heather, her teacher) that we have to watch Barack Obama (pronounces o-BAMM-a) today! We have to tell her." awwwwww, she's so proud and doesn't even know why. And yes, the inauguration was in fact part of their agenda at school today.

After dropping Zoe off, Jada and I made our way up Lakeshore Drive for our daily 110-block trip (one way). We couldn't help but think how odd it was that we were, one, receiving some serious lake effect snow that we never saw in yesterday's forecast, but that the sky up ahead was blue. It could only mean one thing: Brighter days ahead!