Category: oops!

Short is better than none right?

So, not feeling well on Tuesday led into a second rest day on Wednesday. Plus between work and school and then back to work, I felt all over the place and so, so tired. Thursday was a normal day of work followed by school later in the evening. If I was a smart person, I would have run 4 miles in the time between. I had my clothes and shoes in my car. I, however, was not smart and chose to meet the tennis team for dinner at Chipotle. Oops. Didn’t get out of school until 10 or even home until well after. Running at 5 AM this morning on 4 hours of sleep? Yeah not so much. The bed was so warm and comfy 🙂

So, that brings me to 3 days off with no running. You would think that 3 days rest would make me feel invigorated and ready to go, right? Ummm, no. I am still so tired. What gives? I have a race in less than 48 hours and I need to get a run in before then. I generally don’t like going for a run the day before a race (tomorrow), plus that would then be 4 days off. Yuck. It’s not like I’m sick, I just feel super tired and worn out. Not a good combination to start the weekend. 😦

I hate running on Fridays because it usually feels like a longer day and work is generally busier. My last long run was on a Friday but was only because I was on vacation. However, I had my running clothes with me and was going to try and make myself go the gym after work. Yeah, putting on running capris after 3 days of Slacker-dom? Oh what fresh hell is that?!

I didn’t make it to the gym but I did make it to the lake. I was fighting a setting sun as well as Friday fatigue. But anything is better than nothing right? I set out to do 2 laps. That would be around 2.35 miles. Since it was short, I decided to push a little harder. I started out feeling really sluggish but halfway through my legs actually felt pretty good. I wanted more sun. Plus I got to test out my new capris, so far so good, but it was only 2 miles. The weather for this Sunday’s race may be a little warmer that I would like. I can’t decide if I want to wear capris or shorts. Decisions, Decisions.

I am hoping that working the registration/ packet pick up table tomorrow will help get me in gear. I really like watching everything be set up. Plus, it is fun handing out the packets and watching people pick up their bib numbers and chips. The shirts can turn into a bit of hassle with people wanting to changes sizes but it’s still fun.

I love this race; I really do, but it also adds stress. The course is flat and fast and if there was a time to aim for a PR, this would be it. In fact many people try. The course has not changed over the years and it is the only race I have ever run that offers money for the top 3 placers in the 10K and top male/ female in the 5K. Plus 100% of the race entry fees go to charity and you get to choose which charity your entry fee benefits. There are usually 3 charities to choose between.

This is also the only race I have ever run that actually closes the roads. Ever run a half-marathon with a semi coming up behind you? Yeah, it’s a little nerve wracking. The 5K is one loop through downtown and the 10K is two loops. I am nervous about running through the starting/ finish line after the first loop. I know that my Nike app tells me the pace at every mile, but it’s different than seeing the numbers on that big red clock. Hopefully running passed the crowd will be enough of a distraction. Either that or work as a motivation boost!

Anyone have any big plans for the weekend?

Any races or long runs?

Running Uncomfortable

Monday morning rolled around, and I greeted the day with a sore throat. Umm no, I do not have time for that. I have a race in 5 days!

By mid-afternoon Monday, I was feeling better, having a case of the Mondays but better. Leaving work I headed to the lake to get in a few laps. I was aiming for 3.5 miles. I also had another odder goal in mind.

The lake path, dry now :( Where's the rain?! — The lake path, dry now 😦 Where’s the rain?!

I set out to run uncomfortable. Races rarely ever go exactly according to plan, so why not run with random issues on purpose? So I had packed my shortest shorts and a t-shirt to run in. Shorts that ride up drive me bonkers, I spend more time fixing them then running. I also dislike running in sleeves as they irritate my arms. Apparently I have sensitive arms because running used to make them bleed. So now I am very particular about the tank tops I wear. Plus after 13 miles, what started out comfortable can often turn ugly.

I have to admit that the t-shirt served a secondary purpose as well. I was already wearing tiny shorts, a looser shirt made me feel less exposed. Oh, the things we tell ourselves.

Anyways, I set out in uncomfortable clothes with no water for 3.5 miles. My goal was to maintain pace even while dealing with wardrobe mishaps and a warmer day than planned. Was it comfortable? No. There is a very valid reason I don’t run in those shorts. I felt the urge to yank them down every 3 feet. As an added distraction, it turned out that the material was a little slippery and my belt slid around more than usual. The t-shirt actually didn’t suck. All in all though, mission accomplished. Granted, the 10K on Sunday is 2x as long and a lot go wrong in 13 miles. But I feel slightly more prepared for it.

Tuesday was supposed to be the start of a new volleyball season. I packed my clothes the night before and dug out the Nerd socks. Woke up this morning with the same sore throat, WTF? The pain eased up and went away by midday. However, then my lunch decided not to like me. With a race in 5 days, I chose to bypass volleyball practice. 😦

Tomorrow brings work and work school and then back to work for the monthly meeting. The only miles I will be putting in will be driving. However, maybe that is a good thing with mysterious sore throat. So, as of now, I have not planned my next run. Again, 😦

Coming up, though, my favorite race!!!!! The HOB Fun Run. This will be the 7^th year that I have participated in this race in some form or another. The first 3 years I volunteered at a water table, wondering why anyone in their right mind would be running down the street on a cold Sunday morning. After 3 years watching, I ran it the 4^th year; it was my very first race. I was wearing the shoes my friend C had helped me get for my birthday that year. She was training for the Nike Women’s marathon that year, so she did not run it. I had other friends run it and they all finished ahead of me, but I finished! Last year during the 5K was the first time I broke 30 minutes. This will be my 4^th time running it and my first time running the 10K. I am so excited!!!!! This will also be my second year working the packet pick up the day before.

So rest is on the menu to prepare for an awesome weekend ahead! So I am typing this from my very comfy chair!!

Happy almost Wednesday!!!! Almost halfway to Friday 🙂 Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

The naked wrist

After a day relaxing on Sunday, I was ready to run on Monday. I had planned on meeting M at the lake for a few laps. I was looking forward to taking it a little easy; my stomach was still a little wobbly from Saturday.

She was running late so I ran a lap before she got there. She arrived, got Baby G situated in her stroller and we were off. Seriously that baby is adorable! We kept a decent pace around the lake, her mostly pushing the stroller, sometimes I did. I have to say, why don’t jogging strollers have handles like an elliptical? It would make things feel so much more natural.

And mile 3, carrying Baby G :) All in all 3.5 miles — And mile 3, carrying Baby G 🙂 All in all 3.5 miles

Next lap around, baby G was kind of fussy, so we slowed and M carried her while I pushed the empty stroller. After about half a mile, we traded off again, she took the stroller and I took G the rest of the way. That baby has the best hearing, she heard things coming about behind us before I did. Again, so cute! Does carrying a 17 lb. baby for a half mile count as strength training? I joked that she now weighs as much as my cat… yeah he’s a beast.

Heli ( the Beast) in front, Kimi in the back

So today I planned on a rest day or a bike day, it was still in flux this morning, I was very undecided. Driving south on the freeway, I realized I felt naked… I had forgotten my fuel band!!! I have worn it every day since Christmas, how the hell did I forget to put it on? I almost turned around but that would have made me late. Ugh!

Naked wrist vs normal wrist :) — Naked wrist vs normal wrist 🙂

So I finally get home after work and my fuel band says a sad little 0. If I rest I won’t meet my goal and if I ride the bike, I won’t meet my goal either. So nothing else to do, I changed real fast, threw on my shoes and was down the driveway for a run. I figured 2.5 miles would make me meet my goal for the day. It would be short and quick but still good. Turns out I don’t know where the halfway point is for 2.5 miles from my house, oops, so I hit 3 at the bottom of my driveway. Oh well, 3 is better anyways, right? On the walk up my freaky driveway hill, I checked my fuel band… I was still 900 under my goal. WTH?! So I guess I don’t sit on my but as much as I thought I did at work. I usually hit my goal around the time I get off work. So I did some fake jump roping to get more points. I am sure I looked ridiculous, but I made my goal. And on the upside, I had dang good pace for an unplanned run, yippiee!

Tomorrow I have work and the first day of work school. So my day will be split between 2 towns before returning back to my home town to get a run in. And then…Vacation!!!! Only 2 days but hey, that makes a 4 day weekend 🙂 Woo hoo!!

Anyone else ever forget something that made them feel naked?

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Ugh, just ugh…

So the planned easy 6 for Saturday turned into 4 miles of hell. I put it off until late Saturday afternoon and I really did not want to go. But there was this little voice in my head nagging me into going. So I put on my shoes and headed out the door.

Mile 1 was slow and cranky; mile 2 was a little better. By mile 3, I was in trouble. Ever have a moment when your stomach just completely wigs out on you? Yeah, that happened. The last ½ of mile 3 and all 4 turned in a walk. I really needed to run but that was so not gonna happen. Ugh.

Today, I was just over it and decided not to run at all. So I went shopping instead. A little retail therapy never hurt’s right? Other than maybe your pocketbook. 🙂

I would like a new running belt so I decided to check out the options. I hit Dick’s, Sports Authority and The Running Warehouse… no luck. I currently have a Fuel belt, but it drives me bonkers. It bounces up and down while I run, no matter what I do. I have tried to wear with the bottles on the front, or with the bottles on the back, usually I end up wearing it with them on my side. I swear if I had any sewing skills and it wouldn’t hinder my movement, I would sew a leg strap to it, Tomb Raider style.

I have run my last 2 long runs and just carried a water bottle. I am debating if I just want to do that for my half marathon, but not sure. I need to figure it out though, I have less than 5 weeks to go. Eek!!

On the upshot, I did pick up some Nuun to try and I replaced the headband I lost around mile 11 of last half marathon.

I also found the best part of the season already for sale-

Yum!! Sugar and Carbs :) — Yum!! Sugar and Carbs 🙂

Yeah for race fuel!!!!! And yes, I really use candy corn for my half marathons.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!!!!!

Any belt ideas? Let me know 🙂

Too much sun = Ouch

Apparently I can run 13 miles in the sun and be fine, but a few hours at the beach paddle boarding? That really kicked my ass. By Sunday night, I had a splitting headache, I even tried sleeping with an icepack. Woke up Monday still feeling crappy but dragged myself to work. I only made it half way through the day though. 😦 One crappy thing about a commute is that once you leave work sick, you still have to drive all the way home!

I did make it home, showered and crawled into bed with a blanket. You know it’s bad when you’re sleeping in the middle of the day with a blanket. Particularly when it’s almost 100 outside. So much for Monday’s planned run. I still felt poorly on Tuesday so I took another rest day. Slacker! On the upside, two days off gave the burned tops of my feet a little more time to heal. 🙂

I planned to do an easy 2.5 miles on Wednesday, just 2 laps around the park. However my friend was unable to make it. My mother had been texting me that she wanted to walk while I ran, so I said ok. Downside of not stopping halfway like planned? An extra 10 degrees. When I parked my car, the internal thermometer read a nice toasty 100. Oh boy! But I was gonna take it easy right? So I changed, grabbed water and was out the door.

Even the trees look hot :( — Even the trees look hot 😦

Had to fix a shoelace, so I bent over to tighten it. A little over half a mile later, I realized I was missing something. I had never picked my water bottle back up! Seriously where was my head? But I pushed on cursing the hills and missing the nice flat lake path. Finished 3.5 miles, some very slow miles. I am telling myself that any forward motion is a good thing, right?

Now I just have to work out when to get in a 6.5-7 mile long run before Sunday and I will be on track. Plus I have a 5k next week to look forward to!!

Anyone have any races to be excited about in the future?