Busy Babes 10K

My 13th race of the year, my fourth race of the month, and needless to say, I wasn't very excited about lining up to race.  To be honest, I've done pretty much nothing since last Saturday's marathon.  I did two 2 mile walks and a 2-1/2 mile run.  That's it.  And that's all I wanted to do.  That's what my body told me to do.  But my coach and I have been working on my 10K speed for a while now and I needed to do this race.  There aren't many 10Ks around and this one was cheap.

My mom, Anderson, Dave and I got to the race site early.  Too early.  I guess there was confusion about what time the race actually started as one email said 8:00 and another said 8:30, so the race was delayed until 8:30.  I was at the race site at 7:05.  I got in a good warm up.  My mom and the husband took lots of pictures.  It was my niece's first 5K.  The Richardson girls were representing.

 Could we look more alike?

Finally we got to the start line and no one, and I mean NO ONE, lined up in front except me.  This was going to be a lonely race.  From the start I went fast, and I was alone.  I hit the first mile in 7:38.  I have a hard time slowing down after I get started at a certain pace, so I just went with it.  Luckily, I was able to hold on and even pick it up a little.

 Leading right from the line.

Mile 2 - 7:32
Mile 3 - 7:24
Mile 4 - 7:39 (which included the turnaround and a water stop)

At the turnaround I was able to see what was going on behind me.  I was ahead by maybe a quarter mile.  I really wanted to slow down.  I REALLY WANTED TO SLOW DOWN!!!  But I also really wanted to be done.

Mile 5 - 7:31


This course is entirely on a former railroad track that is now a recreational trail.  It is flat and straight as an arrow.  I could see the finish arch for what seemed like forever.

You can see how straight and flat (and beautiful) it is here.  My youngest niece, two nephews, and my son doing their own race.

When do you start picking it up for the final sprint?  How far exactly is the finish?  (Yes I was wearing a GPS.  No I don't trust it.)  I ran hard to the finish and ran my fastest mile of the day.


Mile 6 - 7:16
Last 0.2 - 7:09 pace

 

All by myself!!!!

I won the race in a time of 46:10 (7:27 pace).  It's not a PR, but is only 30 seconds off it.  Not bad considering I had no one to chase and never felt like I was being chased either.  The second place woman was 4-1/2 minutes behind me. 

I did this race last year as a half marathon and this year as a 10K.  This was the fifth anniversary of the race and I'm not sure the race is going to make it.  There were only 22 women in the 10K and 30-something women in the 5K.  It's a great race, though, with a nice, flat, shaded course and a great price.  I'll continue to put this race on my calendar if it continues.

A few more things....

My niece finished fourth overall and first in her age group in the 5K.

She better watch out or she's gonna wind up on the track and cross country teams.  She is a 7th grader.

Amy, my sister, finished sixth overall and first in her age group in the 5K.

 

More a picture of my son, but Amy's in the background with her oldest son.

And, finally, my son is super cute.

Foto Friday

Have I posted this one yet?  This is from our trip to Montana about a month ago.  I know I said I would post pictures and I haven't.  Fail.  Anyway, this is one from our last day of the trip when Dave, Anderson, and I went kayaking on the lake behind our house.  It was a little scary to stick the little one in the kayak but he did fine.

Thursday Thoughts

T....choo choo!!!

(This is my son's language for TRAIN!!!)

My son is obsessed with trains!  When he woke up yesterday he spent the first 45 minutes saying "choo choo!"  I couldn't even get him to a take a nap today because I got him a new train and all he wanted to do was play.  It's cute.  It's annoying.  I love him. 

This got me thinking....

What was your favorite toy as a kid that you couldn't live without?  Do you still have that toy?  What are your kids favorite toys?

September Stitch Fix

My September Stitch Fix, which I think was my 4th fix, was awesome!  I kept almost all of it.  Here we go!

Yes, my sneakers are going to be in a lot of these pictures.

First up, a red sleeveless blouse.  Super cute!  And very similar to a previous shirt they had sent me.  I loved the fit, however, the bottom seam rolled weirdly and I didn't like that.  I'm spending good money on these; I want them to be perfect.

This is a black blouse with a see-through detail at the top.  It is so cute!  I wore it immediately!

Black and white pencil skirt.  Again, super cute!  And fits amazingly.  I haven't worn it yet and not sure that it will get a whole lot of wear in my wardrobe, but I'm thinking of wearing it this weekend to my husband's high school reunion.

Grey and black infinity scarf.  I love it!  I can't wait for fall weather (seriously, it's still 80 degrees!) to wear this.

Black three-quarter length blazer.  I loved this and it was beautiful, but I already have a black blazer so I sent it back.

If you're interested in Stitch Fix, check out this link.

Official Pictures from the Marathon

I saw a lot of photographers out on the marathon course yet somehow I only got pictures from mile 9 and the finish line.  Maybe it was because we all looked like zombies later in the race? 

 

This is mile 9ish.  I'm looking great here.  I'm feeling great here.  I look like I could run forever.  And look at me kicking the boys' buns!!!

I thought I was going to be so cool at the finish.  I took off my iPod, I took off my sunglasses, and then I *tried* to throw up my hands at the finish line.  Instead all of my finish line pictures look like I'm dancing.  I'm so cool.

What's your most awesome (most awesomely bad) race photo?

Air Force Marathon 2014

Um, so, yeah...I ran a marathon this past weekend.  And I broke a lot of rules to do so.  I had a 20 mile run on the schedule so I thought why not do a supported run and just tack on another few miles.  The problem was, though, that Air Force was the only "local" marathon that weekend and it was sold out.  So I posted on Facebook if anyone knew how I might be able to get a bib for the race.  Lo and behold a friend's husband was signed up and not doing it, so I bought it from him.  And, I, um, didn't tell coach about any of this.  (I knew she wouldn't approve and well, she didn't.)

We barely got out to Dayton in time to pick up my packet and what a cluster.  The pick up is at the Nutter Center - Wright State's basketball arena.  They make you walk around the entire concourse to check out the gear (which was being torn down by the time we got there).  Then they make you walk down a billion steps to the basketball court to pick up your stuff, then back up the stairs, only to discover you were right next to the door you walked in.  Not like I'm running a marathon or anything tomorrow!!!  We didn't get to our hotel until nearly 9:00, none of us had eaten, and it was already past the baby's bedtime.  We ordered pizza and ate it in the room.  Not ideal, but this was just a training run right?

I struggled to sleep that night.  I was nervous.  Why?  I don't know.  The weather wasn't looking great.  I wasn't really trained for this.  I haven't run a road marathon in five years.  I felt like the expectations were high.  Whatever.  I slept fitfully and slept through the first five minutes of my alarm but felt at least somewhat rested and ready to go.  Because I was nervous I had a hard time eating anything before the race.  I ate a Larabar.  Not ideal and certainly not enough calories but it was something.

The logistics for this race kind of suck.  They suggest you get to the race site and hour and a half before your race.  Holy cow!  That's a long time and it's not like it's huge like New York or Chicago.  Now I know why.  There are only two exits to get on the air force base and they are on separate highways.  Then they snake you around and around in the dark, on a runway to a designated parking spot.  Finally you have to walk probably about a mile just to get to the start line.  NOT LIKE I'M RUNNING A MARATHON OR ANYTHING???!!!!  We left the hotel room at 5:30am and I finally got to my coral right around 7:00.  Our hotel was only 20 minutes away.  Understand?

It was chilly race morning but humid, sunny, and windy - the perfect storm of non-perfect race conditions.  I had no idea what to expect but told Dave I would probably be somewhere between 3-1/2 and 4 hours.  I started off conservatively, comfortable, if not a little fast.  The first couple miles were hilly and then super flat.  The majority of the race was on the air force base with absolutely NO spectators and no protection from the sun and wind.  For a while I was cruising...

Mile 1 - 8:52
Mile 2 - 8:58
Mile 3 - 8:11 (downhill)
Mile 4 - 8:29
Mile 5 - 8:23
Mile 6 - 8:21
Mile 7 - 8:15
Mile 8 - 8:19
Mile 9 - 8:21
Mile 10 - 8:18
Mile 11 - 8:18
Mile 12 - 8:21
Mile 13 - 8:27
Mile 14 - 8:23
Mile 15 - 8:23

For a while I thought maybe I was going to run a Boston qualifying time.  Cool, but I was running with someone else's bib and it wouldn't have even counted.  Seriously, I would have been mad if I had qualified and not even been able to use the qualification.  But then the wheels started to fall off.  My stomach started to bother me and I thought I was going to toss my cookies.  The wind and heat were starting to bother me too.  Everyone was suffering.  I saw people starting to walk being at the half way point.

Mile 16 - 8:41
Mile 17 - 8:45
Mile 18 - 8:54
Mile 19 - 9:16
Mile 20 - 9:13

Because this was supposed to be a 20 mile training run I made sure to run as close to 20 miles as possible before I started doing any walking.  I made it to 19 miles before I needed a little break.  Then I walked the water stops all the way to the end and threw in a few more short (10 seconds or less) walking breaks too.  I was definitely not having fun anymore.

Mile 21 - 9:48
Mile 22 - 10:23
Mile 23 - 10:40
Mile 24 - 10:38

Somewhere in the late miles the half marathon joins back up with the marathon.  The half starts an hour after the marathon so those who were still on the course were basically just walkers.  And they were all over the road.  I did a lot of weaving during this time.  That's too much energy to spend that late in a race.  Get out of my freakin' way!!!

Around mile 24 I seemed to have an upswing of energy.  At mile 25 the 3:55 pace group passed me and I was a little pissed about it.  I hung on with them and picked up my pace all the way to the finish line.

Mile 25 - 10:07
Mile 26 - 9:34

Overall time - 3:54:38

  

Here's a funny story about the race.  Yes, I wore an iPod and thank goodness I did as this was an extremely lonely and boring race.  But, I am also very good at slopping water all over myself when I drink it.  And because it was hot I was pouring water on myself too.  Around mile 16 my iPod started freaking out.  It kept saying, "Playlist 1, Playlist 2, Playlist 3, all songs..."  And it would keep flipping through songs.  I didn't even know I had playlists!  At some point it must have dried out and settled on what it calls Playlist 4, which happened to be 5 songs I just downloaded this week.  For 10 miles I heard the same 5 songs over and over and over again.  Before the marathon I really liked Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off".  Now I never want to hear it again!  

I was training for this marathon before I got pregnant.  It can be a PR course if you are okay with the desolate and pushing yourself.  But it is extremely boring with nothing to look at.  There are no spectators except for miles 10 and 11 which go through Fairborn (my favorite miles on the course).  There is no protection from the elements - no trees, no buildings and not enough participants to block any of the wind either.  But, the course was well staffed, well marked, right on target with my GPS (my watch read 26.26 miles at the finish), and the water stops were spaced well and had good supplies.  Will I run it again?  No.  But I'm glad I did it, even if only as a training run.  I've gotten the nerves out and I know where I am with my training for the goal marathon in a few weeks.

Happy Anniversary

Happy anniversary to my partner-in-crime for the last 12 years.  Time has flown by!  I'm so lucky to have him in my life.  He's a great friend, husband, and dad.  I lucked out when he picked me.

And congratulations to our son who was finally baptized today.  Since we waited until he was nearly 18 months old to get him baptized, he no longer fit into his baptismal gown my grandmother made.  But it didn't really matter because no one took a picture.  Anyway....#parentsoftheyear.

Week in Review

I had a GREAT week of running last week!!!!

Monday
Planned: 45 minutes of spinning or swimming
Actual: Bike, trainer, basement, podcast. 8.39 miles

Tuesday
Planned: 55 minute negative split run, 30 minutes of strength training
Actual: Treadmill. 27-1/2 minutes building pace. 22-1/2 minutes holding pace between an 8:00 and 8:30 pace. 5 minute cool down. 6.25 miles.

Wednesday
Planned: Easy 20 minute run.
Actual: Feeling great so went for over 30 minutes on the treadmill. 3.25 miles.

Thursday
Planned: Track workout with sprint ladder starting at 400, up to 1600, back down to 400.  20 minute jog late in the day.
Actual: Did these workouts in reverse.  Two miles on the treadmill in the morning and a VERY long workout on the track late in the day.  Finished after the sun went down.  Sprints went well.  8.75 miles. 10.75 miles for the day.

Friday
Planned: Rest Day
Actual: A&F Challenge 5K

Saturday
Planned: 40 minute run with some 10K effort. 15 minute core workout.
Actual: Rest Day.  See Friday's actual workout.  :)

Sunday
Planned: 18 mile run with last 6 miles at marathon pace effort.
Actual: Rocked this run!  The overall average was exactly what I need for a Boston qualifying marathon and those 6 miles I did at an 8:04 average.  Boom!

Totals
Bike - 8.39 miles
Run - 41.35 miles

A&F Challenge 5K 2014

All the neighborhood kids including Anderson pre-race.

This year's A&F Challenge was a bit of a cluster for Dave and I.  We signed us and my sister up by the deadline for employees.  That same day, after we signed up, we received an invitation in the mail for free entries since our neighborhood is so close that they don't want to inconvenience us.  So we asked some friends if they wanted to run and use our free entries.  Sounds great so far, right?

The day of the race, Friday evening, everyone was supposed to congregate at our house at 4:45.  My sister showed up around 5:00 and we waited and waited for our other friends to show up.  Our neighbors were taking Anderson and it became time to get over there or we were going to miss the race at 5:45.  We took our friends' numbers and entry wristbands and I texted them furiously.  Finally, we lined up at the start line with probably about 3 minutes to go.

Thanks Amy for airbrushing me and making me look so young.

Just as we were about to start I received a text back from our friends.  They had to work late and would not make the race.  I let them know the party continued after the race and to come on out.  Unfortunately, they never made it.

I was lined up way at the back of the pack as that's the closest I could get since we got there so late.  Amy told me to go ahead so I did.  I had had a pretty big week of running thusfar and didn't think it would be prudent to "race".  So, I kinda made this a tempo run.  Mile 1 involved a lot of bobbing and weaving to get through the pack - 7:33.  Then I was able to get moving and continuing picking up the pace.  

Mile 2 - 7:24

Mile 3 - 7:13

Usually I dread the 5K but with all the training I've been doing this race seemed really short and I was happy with my effort even if I didn't "race" it.  

Time - 22:36

Dave ran about a minute faster and Amy came in just over 30 minutes.  We then met back up with our neighbors, let Anderson play in the bouncy house, and ate and drank lots of good food.  

Next year we'll wait for our free entries.  :)

New Albany Walking Classic 10K 2014

Walking?  Well, walking is weird.  It's slow.  And once you're done walking you have to keep walking.  I thought I was done with walking as a form of exercise after I was done with pregnancy, but my mom and my sister asked me to do the New Albany Walking Classic with them this year and I agreed.  I didn't train a single step, but I figure if you're running 30+ miles a week, that's good enough.

 My mom, sister, and I pre-race.  We look like a freakin' Easter egg in those colors.

I didn't start my GPS so I have no idea how fast or how slow we were walking.  We just followed the masses.  My sister knew pretty much everyone along the course so she would stop and hug and say hello and we would fall further and further behind.  Soon I could see we were close to the end and I pushed to get us going a little faster.  I was NOT finishing last.

My dad, Dave, and Anderson followed along us on the course.  My dad was on his bike and Dave had the jogging stroller.  Anderson was the hit among the walkers as he cheered for all of them.

Anderson even joined me for a bit.

I found the walk enjoyable.  Amy and I talked throughout most of it.  My mom struggled a bit as the distance was far and pretty much stopped talking to us around mile 4.

Finally we reached the end - 2 hours and 10 minutes later.  Holy moly!

I think I'll stick with running.  :)

Week in Review

Ugh!  I just didn't have the week I was hoping for.  The weather was terribly hot and my motivation was in the toilet.  We'll just call it a recovery week and move on to next week.

Monday
Planned: 2300 swim with lots of butterfly.
Actual: I'll excuse coach because she obviously had pregnancy brain when she wrote this workout.  I can't do butterfly and I certainly can't do a lot of it.  So, I hopped in the outside pool for the last time for the summer and did 2300 yards straight.

Tuesday
Planned: 40 minute run
Actual: It was crazy hot so I did this on the treadmill. 4.19 miles

Wednesday
Planned: 55 minute run with 10K pace intervals; 30 minute strength routine
Actual: Ran at the local hilly metropark and was hoping to do a longer run.  Only make it one loop and felt terrible.  5.6 miles, 51:26.

Thursday
Rest Day

Friday
Planned: 1 hour speed workout; back strength training
Actual: Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  I suck.

Saturday
Planned: 45 minute easy run
Actual: So damn hot outside!!!  5.15 miles

Sunday
Planned: 10K walking "race"
Actual: New Albany 10K Walking Classic.  Race report coming tomorrow.

Totals:
Swimming - 2300 yards
Running (walking) - 21.14 miles

Foto Friday

This was my favorite picture I took while on vacation...

Touch a Truck #2

Our flight for Montana left late in the day which gave us the opportunity to attend yet another Touch-a-Truck event.  This time Dave got to come with us.  We got there late and had to leave within an hour to eat lunch, finish packing, and head to the airport, but we got to see some awesome trucks. 

 

August Totals

I basically took two weeks off from training in August (life happens) and still managed to get over 100 miles running.  There's this nagging feeling inside me that I'm not doing enough running, but I also know it's coach's plan.  It's worked before and it will work again.  Trust it!  September and October will be big months.  Buckle up!

No swimming or biking in August.  Not that it wasn't assigned.  I just never got to it.

Running - 104.51 miles
Strength - 0.5 hours
YMCA visits - 12
Cost per visit - $7.11

Week in Review

Monday 8/25 
Planned: 2300 yard swim with lots of easy stuff

Actual: Um, the indoor pool is closed for end of year repairs.  Sure, that's my excuse for not doing this workout.

Tuesday 8/26
Planned: Easy 50 minute run with some peppier stuff in the middle. Then 15 minutes of back strength training.

Actual: Did this run on the treadmill.  Easy warmup then did the middle in 5 minute segments of 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 6.6, 6.3, and then an easy cool down.  Keeping it nice and slow!  5.24 miles  Did not get to the back workout, but I did do 3 X 7 squats at 45 pounds.

Wednesday 8/27
Planned: 30 minute run with short strides at 5K pace.

Actual: Despite it being so hot you could melt crayons outside (so dramatic!), I had a great run.  Sprints were between 6:34 pace and 6:48 pace.  3.56 miles

Thursday 8/28
Planned: 1 hour hill run, 30 minutes strength

Actual: Did this run on the treadmill and it was great.  Intervals were set at a 5% incline and were done between an 8:00 and 8:30 pace depending on what was assigned.  6.58 miles.

Friday 8/29
Planned: 30 minute easy run; 30 minute spin

Actual: Easy treadmill run. 3.06 miles

Saturday 8/30
Planned: Rest Day

Actual: Moved the rest day to tomorrow and did tomorrow's long run today.

Sunday 8/31
Planned: 16 miles with 6 miles at goal pace

Actual: Well, this run didn't go exactly as planned, but hey, I got through it and 16 miles are under my belt.  You can read about the run here. 

Weekly Total Miles - 34.44

Slogging Through the Miles

This morning's long run was just a slog fest.  I woke up early and got to the park to put in 7 miles before the group run.  The news said it was a billion percent humidity (seriously, that's what they said) and it was already near 80 degrees.  Immediately, the miles felt a little difficult.  I didn't have any pop in my step, breathing felt labored, and the pace wasn't as quick as what I anticipated.  However, I was still putting in the miles and that was important.  At 8:00 I met the rest of the group at the dock.  I was surprised not to see Dave and the baby as he said he would be there.  My dad was there, though, as was the girls I usually run with.  As we started the next part of the run, I got dropped like a bad habit by my regulars and I was all alone.  Oh how I wished Dave was there!  I was about 10+ miles into the run when I saw my dad and he said Dave had showed up.  That's when I ran my fastest mile to find him (8:12).  Just over 11 miles I found him and we ran together back to the start.  It was so nice to have someone with whom to commiserate.  I was miserable and this run was sucking.  But, again, I was doing the miles and really, for the conditions, I wasn't doing that bad.  Back to the starting point and I had two miles left to run.  I just did those on the dirt trail around the lake, by myself again.  Thank goodness I had brought my iPod or else this could have been the longest run of my life! 

Overall: 16 miles, 2:18:39, 8:40 pace. 

Now here's your public service announcement of the day. 

As I did some walking after my run, I saw a man face down on the side of the trail.  A woman had just approached him.  I saw her bend over him and then promptly pull out her phone.  Another woman then approached.  Finally, I was the third person there.  By then he was sitting on the ground.  According to the first woman, she had approached him and he did not respond.  She was calling 911 when he finally came to.  She did not complete the call.  He said he had gotten dizzy and nothing like this had ever happened.  I filled my water bottles and gave them to him.  He was sweating and had rosy skin so I wasn't too worried.  He got up, got some more to drink, and continued on his way.  People, be careful out there.  Around here it's still very much summer - hot, humid, and just no fun.  Be hydrated, have emergency contact information, slow down, walk if needed, cut the workout short or don't do it at all.  One run is not worth risking your life.  Be safe!

Foto Friday

Anderson and I are soaking up and enjoying every last second of summer.

I'm Back!!!

I was doing so well.  I had blogged, like, 20 days in a row or something close to that and then BAM!  I went on vacation, didn't take my computer, and dropped of the face of the earth.  Obviously.  We went to Kalispell, Montana and did lots of exciting adventures in Glacier National Park.  I have great stories to tell and pictures to show, but I need to get many of the pictures from the other family members who were on the trip with us.  So, you'll just have to wait a bit longer.

In the mean time, I leave you with this.  I cut all my hair off this week...

Foto Friday

Thursday Thoughts

In a few days we leave for vacation.  We are headed with the whole family to Montana to do our thing near Glacier National Park.  Now, I'm no nature lover, but I think there's going to be a whole lot of hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and basically everything outdoors.  I am going to need a vacation from my vacation!

I have taken some good vacations in my lifetime, but two really stick out.  One was our impromptu trip to Key West.  We decided on a Thursday, bought tickets on a Friday, and left on a Saturday (or something like that).  It wasn't the usually Key West vacation of drinking and debauchery, but instead was relaxing and perfect.

Another favorite trip of ours was to Italy and Switzerland (There are lots of blog entries for this trip.  Click on June and July 2007 for more.) for our fifth anniversary.  This trip was epic!  We visited Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice, and Zermatt, Switzerland.  I loved Italy and cannot wait to go back.

And for every great trip, there's always a bad.  Although London was an amazing trip and seeing the Olympics may be a highlight of my life, taking this trip while 5 and 6 weeks pregnant was rough.  I was sick, I was tired, and I didn't want to do anything.  I couldn't experience the food or beverages.  Someday I'd like to do London again and would love, love, love to see another Olympics.

So, what is your favorite and least favorite vacations you have been on and why?

Stitch Fix #3

I forgot to post about my second stitch fix.  I picked the items out and sent the others back so quickly I forgot to take pictures.  I kept a cute blouse and a beautiful dress from my second stitch fix.

My third stitch fix arrived this week.  I opened it and immediately liked everything inside.  Crap!  I've done a lot of shopping this month and seriously couldn't (shouldn't) afford to keep everything.  Here's what I got and what I kept or am not keeping:

 

Green skinny jeans - I freakin' loved these pants!  They fit like a glove.  They're not too short, not too long.  They're not short waisted and cover everything perfect.  Oh yeah, I'm keeping these.

 My toe's in the photo!

Three quarter length, printed sweatshirt: I have no idea what to do with a three quarter length sweatshirt.  In Ohio you get about three days a year to wear three quarter length anything.  Then it's either too cold or too hot.  But, I loved this sweatshirt.  It's feminine and has a great shape to it.  I'm going to keep it and will try to wear it as often as the weather will allow.  Or I'll figure out how to wear a button down under it and make it a bit warmer.

Printed short sleeved blouse: In a picture this is so cute, but on it's a little bit.  There's no shape to it at all and sorta swims on me.  I will not be keeping it.

Sleeveless printed blouse: This is the only one that didn't excite me when I pulled it out of the box.  It's a little too bohemian for me.  Surprisingly, though, it fit wonderfully.  However, it's a little low cut in the boobage area (yes that's a word), and the sides have a really high cut that exposes the muffin top.  I'll be sending this back.

Striped/color blocked blouse: I love this shirt.  It's a little long; it's a little shapeless but still so cute.  I'm keeping this one and already wore it today.

I've been debating if I should keep up with the Stitch Fix thing.  It's expensive and really I could probably do just as well for cheaper at the local mall.  But the convenience factor and having someone else pick out my clothes makes it a great option.  I've got a one year old and a work-a-holic husband.  Going to the mall is quite difficult.  We'll see...

Challenge New Albany Award

Look what finally came in the mail!!!

I finally got my award for finishing 2nd at the Challenge New Albany women's sprint tri.  It's a big belt buckle!!!  I always thought I would have to run a 100 miler to get a belt buckle (and the thought certainly has crossed my mind).  Now I just have to get a belt to wear it with.

Have you or would you ever wear a belt buckle you won from a race?  Are there any items from a race you wear consistently? (I wear my necklace from Nike Women's Marathon quite often.)

Motivation Restored

Last week's training was just abysmal.  Between watching my niece and nephew two days, going to the fair, and leaving for Milwaukee on Thursday there wasn't a whole lot of time for training.  I packed clothes to run on the treadmill in Milwaukee, but travel and spectating are hard work and I didn't get anything done.  So, I ran a measly 6 miles last week.

After seeing the hard bodies and awesome performances at the USAT nationals, I decided to get my buns back in gear today.  The plan was to get in my 2 hour long run that I had missed yesterday.  The weather was not so great, though, and I figured I was going to have to do the whole thing on the treadmill.  Just 15 minutes into the treadmill, I decided that running two hours on a treadmill is a stupid idea and headed outside.  Because the weather was looking iffy, I was going to try to run loops close to home.  I changed my mind a mile and a half into the run as the skies were getting really dark, it was starting to drizzle, and I thought my closest option would be running to the school.

I made it beyond the school to the library and needed a bathroom and water break.  I thought about hanging out at the library to wait out the impending rain but it still hadn't really started raining yet, so I decided to trek on.  I made it just one block before the skies opened up and it was pouring and I was getting soaked.  I sprinted up the hill to the pizza place and hung out there for a few minutes until the rain passed.  Then I kept running.

I made it almost home and wanted to run more before the skies got dark again and this time there was thunder.  I was just inside the comfort of home when the storm began.  I didn't get in my full two hours of running but I did do an hour and 17 minutes, 8.82 miles.  Hey, it's something and more than I did last week.

USAT Age Group National Championships

Dave participated in the USAT Olympic age group national championships today.  What an amazing event!  The competition and talent level was unreal.  The finishing times were crazy fast for what I have seen/heard at local races.  Dave's race is his story to tell, but I was the one snapping pictures, so that's how I'll tell the story.

 

Dave was in the very first wave, which was great because he was done early and made it pretty easy for spectating.

I missed all of Dave's bike as I was looking for Amanda and because this was going on:

 

I did catch Dave at the start and the finish of the run, however.  He looked great and he was running strong.

 

Congratulations Dave!

 

This event was super cool and kinda makes me want to try to qualify...

Foto Friday

Think we've been doing some remodeling at our house?  The other day I looked around the corner and saw Anderson "painting" the wall.

Thursday Thoughts

Now that I'm a full time stay at home mom, a lot of the household chores fall to me.  Ugh.  I had a pretty strict upbringing regarding chores and as I've gotten older I have disliked them more and more.  And now I just excuse it as, "well, if I'm not getting help, I'm not doing it" or "the house is under a constant state of construction, why try to clean it."  This of course, is the absolute wrong approach.  I love a clean house, I just hate doing it.

My favorite chore is doing laundry.  It's such a type-A, engineering-type activity.  I love sorting by color or by type; I love folding clothes and the geometric shapes it becomes; and I love putting clothes on the drying rack, to see how many I can fit and how I can place them so it is not touching and still gets dry.  Laundry is soooo me!

Pretty much everything else is my least favorite chore.  :)  But if I have to narrow it down, I hate doing dishes.  They're so gross.  I don't like loading or unloading the dishwasher.  I hate having my hands in dirty water.  And I don't like drying them and putting them away.  I wish there was a magic dishwasher fairy who would come in after each meal and clean up. 

Another chore I really dislike is grocery and everything that goes with it - meal planning, making a list, clipping coupons, going to the grocery, etc.  What should happen every week usually becomes a four week task before I ever actually get to the store.  And now that I have to take a baby with me each time, it is even worse.

So, what are the chores you love and hate?  What incentives or motivation do you give yourself to get through those tasks you despise? 

Training Log

Do you keep a training log? 

Even though my coach gives me my workouts via Training Peaks, I prefer to write down all of my workouts in a notebook and then write the results as I do the workouts.  This way I always have a record of where I've been, how far I've come, and where I'm headed.  I have kept a training log/journal since I started running way back in 2001.  It's fun to go back and read the entries and reminisce about how difficult a 5 mile run was at 10:00 pace.  We've come a long way since then.