So, I learned today that glass scales are made of tempered glass. They still shatter into hundreds of pieces when dropped on a tile floor; but there way fewer sharp edges. My big toe still found a sharp one. 😦
Today was fairly calm for a Friday- woo- hoo!
My coworkers bought me these beautiful flowers-As well as pizza for lunch, they know me so well.
Then there was this cake. Tomorrow’s race may just be fueled by cake. Cake’s a carb, right?I managed to sneak out for a break around 4 to pick up the race packet. That was also the first time I saw tomorrow’s new age in print, yikes! However, the swag was kind of awesome.Then it was back to work before heading home. This is when I had a wardrobe conundrum-Now, my gear is packed. A new playlist is ready (no Wrecking Ball), my Garmin is charged, and it’s off to bed for me. I have a 4:30 am wake up call. Ouch.
After Friday’s race I was pumped to keep running. In fact I had hoped to run another 7 miles that day, before dinner and fireworks, to round out to 10 total. I wanted this to be my last long run before my half in 3 days. An unplanned 2 hour nap changed that, I didn’t even make it to the fireworks. 😦 While waiting for the awards to start after the race, there was very little shade and I think it affected me more than usual. When Saturday rolled around; after getting in the shopping trip that was postponed last week, I just did not want to run. Same for Sunday. So, I didn’t. I chose to treat the weekend as some needed rest. I haven’t decided if that violates the whole #noexcuses thing or if a little rest is a good thing. Instead of running, I read 4 books. That counts for something right?
After that restful few days, I was ready to run on Monday. Work wasn’t too busy, so I was able to get out of there fairly quickly. I then headed back to home town to run the path I have been running lately. My mom decided to join me, so I met up with her at the trail head. I kind of like when she does that, it forces me to take the first mile a little slower, which is a good thing because I rarely ever warm up enough. Especially on race days- bad runner! Slower is also better when it’s 90+ outside. 🙂
When I broke away from her, I felt like I settled into a good pace. At least on the way up. Coming down, I was looking forward to thelittle bit of help that a downhill brings but then there was the wind. Every single time I run this newer path the wind is ridiculous coming back down. Last week it was so bad and so loud, I could barely hear the music coming from my headphones. It wasn’t as bad on Monday, but I felt like I was running through sludge. Once I made it off the hill and around the corner, it eased up a bit. And I was rushed by 2 dogs on the trail portion again. Seriously?! Why am I dog bait? Overall, though at the end, my pace was pretty good.
Hi moon!
The gym didn’t work out tonight so I hit the lake path to get in some miles. My left foot was a little sore the first lap around, so I wasn’t sure how many I was going to finish. I seem to have split personality feet. My right foot has a higher arch and loves heels but hates flats. My left foot has a lower arch, hates heels and loves flats. How does that work out? I haven’t found an insert that would help my left foot yet. Those things are pricey!
Luckily my foot loosened up around 2 miles in. I finished a few more laps to hit 5 miles before turning of my Garmin. I then alternated walking withbutt kicks and high knees for the mile back to my car. I felt a little silly. I was also staring at the serious lack of water in the lake. I’m kind of afraid to ask where the geese went.
Where did all the water go?
Tomorrow I want to get in a few quick miles before a rest day on Friday. Then Saturday is race day!! 13 miles on sand, I can do this right? There are 5 stretches of soft sand that have me concerned. One, it slows me down, two, it weighs me down. But I get to run it with NikeC, so I am sure that it will be a blast. Plus, I am kind of excited about running a race on my actual birthday.
How has your week gone so far? We’re more than halfway through!
Anyone use inserts? Either in running shoes or regular shoes?
Happy Friday!! Wow, this was a long week. But let’s catch up. I stepped out of my comfort zone in very little ways this week, but that still counts right?
First up, Wednesday, I hit the gym after work with NikeC with the intention of doing the circuit room. I have only done it one other time and that was about 2 years ago. Machines and I don’t get a long so well. I did a short 2.5 miles on the treadmill to warm up. I actually kind of liked the treadmill, either that or I was nervous about the circuit room. I had hydrated a little too well before hitting the gym that night so before moving to the circuit room I had to use the restroom. Why is this special? I had never used the restroom or been in the locker rooms before. I’ve belonged to the gym for 5 years. I did mention I was a germophobe right?
After surviving that, we moved onto the circuit room. Where some people were using it wrong. Ok, I admit I don’t use it but come on, I can count from 1 to 20. Once that was straightened out, we got to working out. #bloggerfail- I don’t remember the names of machines nor did I take pictures. She went first and demonstrated. Other than the first machine, I think I did ok. You sat in the first machine in kind of V shape and the pushed yourself back. (see- blogger fail) Also a fail because I couldn’t move it at all- I look over and NikeC had it at 90 lbs, yeah umm no. She’s a bad ass and I am not. Backed it down to 40 and I was good. I also felt really challenged on the stupid steps in between each machine. Who forgets how to jump?! I was born in the 80’s, when did I lose my Jazzercise skills! After the circuit we moved on to the leg room. Those hip abduction things could be a good thing for running but felt really awkward. I could do pretty much nothing in the ab room, apparently my butt’s too big for my back to lie flat. 🙂 So that will be a challenge for another night, haha. Overall, we were there an hour and a half. Now if I can just make it a weekly thing.
Since I work Saturday again this week, I had another short day on Thursday. It was opposite this time, so I worked in the morning and left early. Knowing this on Wednesday I decided to try to do my long run on Thursday. Only problem was I didn’t know where. I thought about running on the beach but was warned away by a text about a bunch of leash less crazy dogs. (It’s a leash free beach) I am crazy dog bait, so I passed on that. I headed to nearby park in work town that says it has 2.3 miles of paved trails. Yeah, I could only find about half a mile. Any other day I would have just run around and figured it out but I had 12 miles to hit so I wanted a general idea of where I was going. I headed to the lake to get in some laps, planning for 6 miles before heading back to home town to finish off the second 6.
End of the playground
It was warmer than work town but still mid 80’s so I felt good. I’ve decided to always walk the playground section of the path. It gives me a little breather and as an added bonus, I don’t run over any wandering children. 🙂 I have to admit I look forward to that little break, it’s about .10 of a mile, but feels great. After 3 miles I needed water but I had also over hydrated that day as well. Was I really going to have to use another restroom? This one in a public park? Yes…it was only slightly sketchy. No mirrors and lots of padlocks, classy.
After surviving that I pushed on. It was warm but I felt good, so continued on to 7 miles. Woo hoo! I stopped to stretch before heading back to my car. This is where I became an obnoxious runner. A woman and her daughter were driving by and they stopped near my car. She asked how far I had walked. I said “run” probably not in the best tone. I’m sorry!! Blame it on the heat or the tiredness or something. And since I do walk the playground now, she could have only seen me walking. There is nothing wrong with walking. In fact, I think I am more consistent with scheduled walking breaks. See example above. 🙂
After driving back home, drinking some Nuun and snacking on some Honey Stinger bites, I headed out to the newer path with my mom. Again she was going to walk and I was going to run. Since I had already done 7, all I needed was 5 so I planned on running the same route as Monday. Same as Monday, I walked most of the first mile with my mom, so I was perfectly fine seeing a 13 minute first mile. I figured I would pick up the pace, ha! Never happened. Maybe it was penance for my earlier snarkiness. I didn’t schedule any walk breaks but maybe I should have. Miles 2 and 3 clocked in at 11:00, hey at least I was consistent. Finally got back down to 10 flat for mile 4 but I also knew 5 wasn’t happening. I cut out the one cul de sac loop and just headed back to the car. 4.5 miles later and I was done. Yuck. I don’t know if it was because the temp had jumped again or if I was just tired. Either way I was still feeling pretty good for hitting 11.5 miles. Even if that last missed .5 bugs me a little. 🙂 Apparently my Diet Coke is still spiked. 🙂
Today I have yet to hit my measly 10 minutes of exercise but I still have a few hours. I really should because I ate way too much today. I was freakin’ starving! I was a little concerned I would be sore at work today but I was actually pretty good, tall boots and all. And bonus, I’m heading into the weekend having already completed my long run! Now I just have work to get through tomorrow and an anniversary party for a friend tomorrow night. And sleep, I need sleep. And to maybe read a book.
How was your week?
Anyone racing this weekend?
Am I the only one who has had an #obnoxiousrunner moment?
Wednesday as most know was National Running Day. My original plan was to hit the gym that night but I also forgot that Wednesday was going to be a later day at work due to a monthly meeting. Oops. So when my gym buddy bailed on me, I raced to the lake park after work to get in a few miles. I had to run on running day right?
I have never worked out after the meetings before, I would always use them as an excuse to not run that day. But in keeping with my theme, I couldn’t bail on the 4th day! I planned just a quick 2.5 miles. The first mile was just average but then I was feeling spunky so I threw some sprints into the second lap. I was pretty speedy on the sprinting but apparently slow on the recovery jogs so it was still a 9 minute mile. Ha! But it was a fun change. It was also still in the mid 80’s so I was dripping after 2.5 miles. Blech.
This makes me laugh for some reason
Come Thursday, after three days of running, I felt like my legs needed a rest. I had some things to do after work, and then had a completely unhealthy dinner. However I did not use either of those as an excuse, so it was yoga time at 9:00PM. I am feeling a little less awkward with it but then I am also doing this in the privacy of my own home. So when I fell on my face 4 times, no one was around to laugh at me. And I am not even doing real, proper yoga, it’s the Jillian Michaels version. However, I completed the 30 minute circuit and felt better for having done it.
Today I was supposed to have some blood work done but sleeping felt like a better choice. 🙂 Plus I am kind of afraid I will wind up with a huge bruise like last time. Work was pretty good today too. Friday’s always run a little longer so between that and the planned but canceled blood work, I had figured that today would be the 1 of 7 that I said I would do nothing. But as I type this, I feel really lazy so maybe I will do another dvd after posting this. Hmmm, too bad we can’t place bets on it. I do have to restart the ab challenge though. My little stomach flare lasted through Thursday and crunches and situps were not an option.
I hope to get in a 8-9 miler tomorrow but I have a busy day ahead. Not a lot of things to do but time-consuming things. I work in the morning and I am dragging my mother to the movies in the afternoon. I can’t convince anyone else to join me in the amazing sob fest that is The Fault in Our Stars, so I am making her go with me. 🙂 Bring on the tissues and the popcorn! My gym is only open during those same hours on the weekends, so going early or later is not an option. Hopefully my next post will say that I managed to get in my run anyways. 🙂
Will anyone else be crying with me at the movies this weekend?
I took a vacation day yesterday and it was nice. I slept in, met some friends for lunch and finally followed through on some errands. Who has time for the dry cleaners anyways? I spent most of yesterday pretty relaxed so I am not sure why I slept so crappy last night. 😦 Maybe the nerves were starting to kick in?
Lunch with the girls 🙂
Once I finally managed to make myself move this morning, I got ready and headed for SLO. My mother and I were planning on lunch before heading to the expo. It was super yummy.
Carb loading right? That is a burger at the bottom corner
Parking was fairly quick and painless. From there it was just a short walk to the expo. While it may have been small by some it was the largest that I have been too. It also had the most vendor’s. The vendor’s were local shops and bakeries or other races.
Packet pick up was fairly easy, and then it was off to pick up my shirt. This was the only awkward bit, the shirts were being distributed on the other side of the tent, through the crowds of people shopping. It wasn’t a huge thing at all, just seemed awkward. The shirts varied by race. Full marathon shirts were an orange color and long sleeves. The half shirt was blue and long sleeved and the 5K was pink and short sleeved. All were technical shirts.
Really wanted to buy it all… restrained myself to lower left cornerMom’s favorite color
From there it was shopping time. I came prepared with money and plastic but didn’t really have anything I needed to buy. Famous last words. The trouble spots were the booths for LeftLane Sports and Left Coast Shirts. Leftlanesports.com is an online sports stores that offers things at pretty awesome discounts. Plus when I have ordered from them, the shipping was awesome fast. If you haven’t checked them out you should. I left that booth with a new pair of compression socks and arm sleeves. Left Coast put a serious dent in my pocket. Everything was just so cute! I could have spent much more. I picked up a shirt and sweatshirt for me and an early Mother’s Day gift for my mother. I actually left without buying myself the sweatshirt but ended up going back for it after the meet and greet.
The finish line!!!
After that all the shopping, there was still time before the scheduled meet up. So we headed to the car to leave everything there and get out of the wind a bit. This area has been having some freaky strong winds lately. My work town got up to 54 mph gusts the other day. Luckily the weather reports says that wind should be calm for the race tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
The Ambassadors!!!!
The meet and greet was great. I had the chance to meet most of the other ambassadors. It is a great group of people. We hung out and talked and met some other people. The SLO Marathon has a challenged athletes team. We also met a person who traveled all the way from Australia for the race and a former local who will be completing his 100th marathon at the race tomorrow. 100!!!! I won’t lie the jacket was pretty awesome too 🙂 The only thing that threw me was the interview. I’m horrible on tv! My voice sounds so funny. Even my mother remarked that it sounded odd after she played back what she had recorded as well.
Today’s haul
We headed out after the meet and greet. We took some time to drive a portion of the course. Oh my, that’s a long slow climb right at the start. Mile 1-4 is all incline, maybe I should have just been surprised! It ends with a small downhill, so yay for that! I felt like we drove too far and looking at the map again tonight, we did. So woo hoo for that! Then it was time for a little carb loading before heading home.
For tomorrow
My gear is all laid out for tomorrow and by bag is ready to go. The plan is to be dropped off about 1/4 mile from the start line. I thought about changing the planned outfit to match my new socks but chose to stick with the original.
The thief strikes again
And now it’s off to bed for me and hopefully better sleep than last night!!
As well as pizza for lunch, they know me so well.
I managed to sneak out for a break around 4 to pick up the race packet. That was also the first time I saw tomorrow’s new age in print, yikes! However, the swag was kind of awesome.
Then it was back to work before heading home. This is when I had a wardrobe conundrum-
Now, my gear is packed. A new playlist is ready (no Wrecking Ball), my Garmin is charged, and it’s off to bed for me. I have a 4:30 am wake up call. Ouch.
Slacker Runner 