Tag: run

The First Monday

The first Monday of 2014 is almost over 🙂 Which means that really this could have been a Monday of epic proportions… luckily it was just average. I hope everyone else had a good day. 🙂

I chose to take yesterday as a rest day like my plan called for. I actually felt pretty good after Saturday’s 8 miler. I was only slightly sore, but it was a good kind of sore, you know? So instead I turned my attention to the usual errands and laundry that needs to be done every week. I also cleaned in the inside of my car, good lord did it need it. Except that I cannot clean windows, seriously they almost look as bad as they were before I started. 😦 I finally put a new running sticker on my back window too, now I might actually be able to find it in a parking lot.

Today was a pretty good day at work. It only became really hectic towards the end. But all in all much calmer that I had expected from the first Monday. I wore a dress today that when I wore it a month ago was super comfy and very appropriate. Today however, it felt a little more scandalous. Stupid holiday indulging; too bad it all tasted so yummy 🙂 The dress has a modest V front and back and when I was walking away from my boss, she cracked up laughing. I spun around thinking there was toilet paper on my boot or something and she just smiled. Apparently my racerback tank tan lines are fairly obvious and the back of the dress showed a bit. Oops! Runner problems 🙂

Don't forget the tank top tan! — Don’t forget the tank top tan!

I was not looking forward to the gym tonight. I figured it being Monday and the new year, it would be crazy busy. Plus it was the first Monday of the month and my gym does pizza night. I have never understood the logic of that. So I had to walk past people scarfing down to get to a treadmill and ignore the smell while running. But other than that, it wasn’t busy, it was more of an average day. Woo hoo!

I was looking forward to trying out my new Garmin on the treadmill because it was supposed to work. When I ran on Saturday it had a little trouble finding a satellite, so my Nike + app had at a little faster and a little longer. Yes, I am still using both, which turned out to be a good thing tonight as the Garmin was not working. It kept vibrating that I had a pace of 00:00. I finally turned it off 10 minutes in. It said I had gone .10 of a mile, ha! Nike + tracked the run of 3.5 miles in 34:51.

Tonight felt hard. Maybe I was more tired than I thought, but my legs felt heavy and I was so stinkin’ hot. I seriously felt like I was dripping in sweat (over share!), ugh. My training plan called for 5 miles but I only did 3.5. Nike+ has a new coaching section, so I figured I would give it a shot. This is what this week looks like, um yeah, that’s a bit much for me, but I want to break 2:00 in my half, we’ll see how it goes! Otherwise back to 3x a week for the Slacker!

The Comfy chair has been getting a workout these past 2 days as well. My inner nerd girl has been celebrating the return of Downtown Abbey and Teen Wolf. Hmmm, those look odd next to each other 🙂 But both are so good! One made me misty eyed and the other made me jump multiple times.

So fingers crossed, I get some miles in tomorrow. And I think I finally figured the Garmin out, so I need to test it again 🙂

How did everyone’s Monday go?

What’s you TV guilty pleasure?

Good luck to everyone running Disney!!!

Accidental Tempo

First off, I want to say thank you to everyone for the thoughts left on my last post, they really helped 🙂

Today, I set no alarms. After the past couple of weird days I just wanted to get some sleep. I was hoping a good rest would help. It wasn’t the best but I felt a little more level this morning. Not to say that I didn’t have random moments throughout the day but I ignored them.

I met my mother for lunch where I did indulge a little, tri-tip sandwich and onion rings, yes please. Then we hit up a favorite antique store for a little browsing. I hadn’t realized I hadn’t been there since early November, so many things had changed. I went in with the intention of spending no money, I didn’t need anything and as always, Christmas was more than I planned for 😦 I held strong to this until one of the back stalls. I found this little beauty. Then I saw the price. 30 bucks??? It’s mine. Way too good of deal to pass up. Plus I will never turn down extra storage. Like I mentioned before, slight hoarding tendencies.

I was still kind of full from lunch but I knew I needed to get a run in. Not only did my training plan call for it, but I needed one. I was torn between doing the 8 that was on the schedule or backing it down to 6. I had been text messaging with a friend who commented that her legs weren’t ready to run in shorts. I agreed that mine were the same, hello Holiday 4 7. So what do I do? I decide to try out my new running skirt. So I changed and was out the door.

The plan was for this to be a slow and steady run between 6-8 miles. So when the first 3 came in under 30 minutes, hills and all, oops. My head knew what I needed to do but my feet were not listening at all. Luckily I ran into my mother out walking Zoey again, perfect reason for a walk break to slow down. Of course they were going up that damn hill from New Year’s again, but oh well. We walked for a bit then I ran on. Again my feet ruled my head and I went left up another hill, actually the same one I ~~ran~~ walked up 10 minutes previously.

I looped around and then ran up another hill. Stupid feet. Coming down, I hit 6 miles. I was tired and feeling the too fast pace and hills. I headed for home slowly, telling myself I was done when I hit my driveway no matter what the GPS said. I was tired, my legs were heavy, I had had a too big a lunch, and my upper thighs had been regretting the skirt since mile 5. Once again my feet ruled and when I ran passed my driveway, the Garmin said 7.57. So I ran another .25 mile out and then back. I stopped the Garmin as I began the crawl up my driveway. I was so done. But I felt good in a sore, tired kind of way.

Where's the escalator? — Where’s the escalator?

I started out way too fast and was crawling by the end but I finished it. My feet chose to not listen to my head and maybe I needed that. The true measure will be how sore I am tomorrow. It should be a rest day, but I may try to make up some miles, but they will be really slow ones, I promise. I rewarded myself with a nice hot shower (oh the sting!) and a yummy smoothie 🙂

While on my run, I passed an older lady out for a walk and she told me it was too hot for me to running. It is January 4th and I ran in a skirt and tank top, 72º. I can’t decide if her comment was funny or freakishly correct 🙂

Hope everyone had a good Saturday!!!

Anyone else like antique stores?

I’m not the only one who’ve had my feet overrule my head right?

Watery Eyes

Thursday was supposed to be a rest/ cross training day but since I knew the likelihood of me running today was pretty nil, I optimistically packed my running gear. It was a pretty good day at work. We were fully staffed, and even with the hectic-ness of month end, new month, year end and new year all at once, it was still good. I was looking forward to a good run after work. I wasn’t too eager to find out just how many people were working on their New Year’s resolutions but oh well. It wasn’t until 4:45 that things went screwy.

I lost my mojo (if I ever had any to begin with). I had absolutely no desire to go for a run or deal with the after work New Year crowd. Even my drive home sounded horrible. It wasn’t except for the random tears that started on the way. For no flippin’ reason!!!! Seriously nothing was wrong but I was crying.

Yup, that's about right — Yup, that’s about right

Today was my late day, so driving home last night in between sniffs, I thought about the logistics of a morning run. I even laid out clothes before sleeping last night. Then I went to sleep in the hopes that I would wake up in a better mood. When my alarm went off, I rolled over and pulled back the curtain, still dark. I hit snooze. Second alarm went off, more dark, another snooze. This continued for all 5 alarms. I then had to drag myself out of bed for work. The funk was still around.

I treated myself to a peppermint mocha along the commute hoping that it would help. Not so much, I almost cried twice at work before 11:00. What the hell. I really don’t understand it. By the time I got off work, all I wanted to do was eat a large pizza, but I didn’t. Mostly because I didn’t want to pay for it, so I can’t even call it a will power win.

Tomorrow's question — Tomorrow’s question

8 miles are on the calendar for tomorrow but I missed a 4 mile training run. So here’s to hoping for a good run of some sort tomorrow and a better mood. Or at least one that makes sense.

Anyone else ever randomly cry for no reason?

I see everyone is doing great with their goals so far!! Such a great thing to read!

Any races this weekend?

A New Year 10K

I love days off in the middle of week, even if they do confuse me a bit. This feels more like a Sunday than a Hump-day Wednesday. Which is not a horrible thing. It means I only have 2 days of work before the weekend, not 5, woo hoo! Can’t complain about that! And bonus, tomorrow there should be a crew of 5 at work, well hopefully. Fingers crossed!

Last night was an extremely chill New Years Eve. Like so chill that I forgot to watch the clock so the fireworks had to remind me of what time it was. After I jumped about a foot in the air, that is. Then it was off to bed for me. The plan was to sleep in but I woke up around 7:30 thinking I had a bladder infection (TMI?). Not pleasant. So I read some blogs while trying to doze of for the next 2 hours. Getting up I still felt a little touch and go but chose to ignore it. I headed out for lunch and some errands. I hit up Target to stare at some more food labels. It was funny how empty town was and it was after 12 by then. How late did some people sleep?

I was out the door by 2 for an easy run. I was aiming for around 5-6 miles. My first 3 miles were at a good pace even with my little walking warmup. A little past 2 miles I hit the top of incline and usually head back down a block over. This time I went right and continued up another little hill. As I rounded the downhill on the other side coming on 3 miles, I saw my mom and Zoey down the street. Or heard them, Zoey was not being a good walker today, haha. I met up with them at the bottom of another hill. They were headed up it, I really didn’t want another hill but I joined them. I won’t lie, I walked that hill and was huffing and puffing all the way up. This is one way Garmin is not great, I looked at my watch and saw that my pace was now 16+ minutes per mile, yikes!

Once at the top, I walked another .25 of a mile with them. I tried to jog with Zoey to the end of the block but it only lasted about 20 yards before she decided to pay tug of war with the leash. I think though that whenever she is finally trained she will be a fast running partner. She’s less than 4 months old and she treats 4-5 mile walks like it’s a run around the yard. I didn’t know an animal could have that much energy! Downside is she seems to think I am a giant chew toy. No matter what I say or do, she jumps all over me every time she sees me. I have puppy teeth marks up and down my arm and holes in some of my clothes. 😦 She’s lucky she’s cute.

Hill in the background, Zoey chewing her leash in front :) — Hill in the background, Zoey chewing her leash in front 🙂

I left them there and ran on. I added in one last uphill towards the end so I would hit 6 miles. I finished my run at 6.31 miles. Perhaps not as speedy as I would liked but pretty dang good for an easy run where I walked too. So first day of the year, and the first 6 miles towards my 750 goal done! Now if I can just keep it up. 🙂

I stretched out and then completed my first Nike Training workout. I always wanted to try this out but my previous iPhone didn’t have enough memory. When I upgraded to the 32gb in November I was finally able to download it. I tried my first one today and I was glad no one was around to see. I am seriously uncoordinated and just special when it comes to thing like that. Seriously, I forgot how to skip! Other than that, it felt like I did something and I liked that I could choose my own music.

I think my issue from this morning was a false alarm but I will keep an eye on it. It couldn’t be a hydration issue because I usually drink too much water on a daily basis. I though the doctor was crazy when he told me to drink less, but then another seconded that opinion. Well, damn. But I ok with nothing being wrong because I want to run this weekend!!!! Hmm, maybe tomorrow?

Hope everyone had an awesome New Years Day!

Foiled Again!!!~ Goals and NYE

Happy New Year’s Eve!!!! Or Happy New Years to those east of me!

This time it wasn’t my fault, promise. Work was pretty good today actually, My team of 3 held strong and help came in the early afternoon to cover lunches and what not. It could have been much busier, but most people seemed to think that we closed early. No such luck, we worked a full day. One of the parties I was debating about tonight was canceled, The hostess was down with strep, yikes! Feel better ME!!!! ( I swear that’s her name)

This to me seemed like a sign, I was going for a run after work. I wasn’t really feeling a party anyways 🙂 So after work, I changed and headed to the gym. Which was when this happened-

You know you live in a #smalltown when the gym closes at 5 on #newyearseve 7 hours before midnight!

— SlackerRunner (@SlackerRunner) January 1, 2014

Seriously?! Ok, maybe I should have called first. I did think about them closing early, but I figured the earliest a “24 hour gym” would close was 7 or 8. Not 5:00!! I was sad and sheepish. I was all runned up with nowhere to go 😦 I was still not feeling very sociable, so I went home and ate a small boring dinner. I then decided it was time to finish some 2014 plans while sitting in the Comfy Chair.

Well then, here goes-

14 in 2014– I briefly mentioned this in my first races of 2014 post. I decided to take the plunge. This will mean running 14 races in 2014. Less than most of the bloggers I follow (you rockstars!) but 2 more than I have previously completed in a year. Plus the increased race schedule should help keep my training mileage up. Which then leads to-

750 miles in 2014– Again way less than most but more than previous years. It averages out to a little over 62 miles a month. Which I currently hit on my good months. However months like December (34.5) are more common. I ended 2013 with 558 miles. I had thought it was going to be higher, oops. Hello Slacker.

So with those 2 goals in mind, I am ready to greet 2014. 2013 was a damn good year, both with running and work, I PR’ed all the various distances and earned 2 promotions, woo hoo! A 45 minute commute came along with that last bit, but I’ve adjusted 🙂 Thanks 2013 and all those who helped make it great, friends, family coworkers and the new community I have found with this blog.

Oh, and I also registered for my first race of 2014 tonight. Not the first one I am planning on running, but the first that I have paid for. Wine Country 13.1, here I come! Now I will continue to marathon The Arrow on Netflix and look forward to sleeping in tomorrow and getting in a good run. But not at my gym, because again, the 24 hour gym is only open from 7AM to 1PM. 😦

Slacker Runner