Happy Birthday to Me!!

It’s my birthday! It's my birthday!

I had a great day!  My husband got me the Nike+ Running Watch.

So happy!  I can’t wait to run and try it out!  It’s snowing tonight so it might have to wait until Friday when it’s going to be 50 degrees – Heat Wave.  I got gift cards to Athleta and Dick’s Sporting Goods.  Wahoo!  Our family went out for dinner and ice cream and are now watching our Ravens on Monday Night Football.  Can it get better?  YES!  This morning we got confirmation that we got into the Cherry Blossom 10 miler.  I was thinking maybe we wouldn’t get it.  That would give us more time to get ready for our ½ marathon in October but we did get in so now it is on!!  I printed out Hal Higdon’s 15k training program today.   Here we go!!

Pick A Title

Four Races in Thirty Days, Running in the Cold, The Longest I’ve Ever Run, The Post that Never Ends! or Birthday Girl!

Over the 30 days, I’ve run 4 races.  With the cold and the dark it’s been hard to get training or practice runs in.  My husband and I are running together.  This makes me so happy.  He’s been such a great sport.  I keep saying, do you want to sign up for this or that race, and he says sure!  Having a running partner is really helping both of us. 

In November, we decided to do a spur of the moment race.  It was to benefit our son’s high school.  It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This was their version of a Turkey Trot.  It was close and inexpensive.  We thought it would be a good practice run for our Turkey Trot at YMCA on Thanksgiving.  It was very unofficial.  No chips.  There were probably only about 200 runners.  It was a hilly little course and cold.  Notice a reoccurring theme – Cold, cold and more cold.

My husband and I ran most of it together. I’d get a little ahead then he’d catch up and vice versa.  At the end we were heading towards the finish line and we started to get faster then he smoked me.  Boom.  He was gone.  I was like what happened? He said there was a guy in front of him and he wanted to beat him.  Yeah, he’s got the running bug!  I drove my husband home and decided to go back for the awards and door prizes.  We only live a mile away.  My husband won a door prize, $25 to Charm City Run.  Score! They let me take it home for him!  Then he gave it to me. 

The next race was the Turkey Trot for the Y.  It was bitter cold on Thanksgiving morn.  My husband and I got up and got to it!  There were running chips and lots of people.  There was ice on the road so we had to be careful.  Also, lots of hills.  You don’t realize how many hills there are where you live until you start running them.  This course has seemed to outgrown itself.  There were too many people for the space allowed.  I was way ahead of my husband.  It was hard to run together.  It was so narrow.  I’m not sure when I lost him.  Then towards the end he was right there beside me.  We finished together.  It was so cold that we headed right for the car.  Then enjoyed a delicious meal made by my mother-in-law. 

Girls on the Run was my next adventure.  This was with my daughter.  Girls on the Run is a fabulous program for girls between 3^rd and 8^th grade.  It promotes healthy living and building self-esteem.  The cumulating activity is to do a 5k.  It’s a ½ of year journey.  My daughter had struggled a bit with the running.  I was so proud of her the day of 5k because she almost ran the whole 5k.  She was such a trooper.  And guess what?  It was so cold!  It was an honor to be my girl’s running buddy!

The last race for 2013 was today.  It was the Celtic Solstice 5 miler.  Until today, I’d only run 5 miles three other times, once in July, the day before I sprained my ankle and twice recently.  I was talked into this because of the shirts.  Everyone loves it because of the shirts.  And I thought this would be our next challenge.  It was touch and go whether we would be able to go.  They were calling for bad weather and snow and mixed precipitation.  In Maryland, you never know what you will get.  I’m happy to say we didn’t get anything in the morning.  We went to the race and only saw a few snowflakes.  And yes, it was cold! Just saying…it seemed like a really long 5 miles.  The course was tight in the beginning.  I was tripped or pushed or something and fell like .25 into it.  The guy said sorry and some lady helped me up and I keep going.  I feel like I won just for that!  My husband hadn’t run 5 miles so he was pretty sure he’d need to walk some of it.  I saw the one-mile marker.  Yea!  Keep going.  There was a turn around with water.  I assumed that was ½ but not sure.  We headed to the lake.  It just seemed so big.  I was running beside a woman for a couple yards or so.  We hit the 4-mile marker together.  We high fived!  I can do one more mile!  As I rounded the lake and started down the hill, I could see the finish time to go!  Another lady was beside me and said Let’s go and we ran together hard to the finish.  My Map My Run said I actually ran 5.20 miles.  I told my husband later for an individual sport, running certainly has a lot of camaraderie.  My husband finished about 5 minutes after me.  I was so proud of him for trying this.  He, of course, said he can’t wait to do it again next year. 

Monday is my birthday.  How I have changed in the last year in running.  Never did I think I’d pay money to run 5 miles or 3 miles in the cold and look forward to it.  Nor did I think Dick’s Sporting Good would be become on of my favorite stores.  I’m looking forward to my next year and running more races with my husband.  And yes, I am hoping for some running gear for my birthday!!

My husband just looked over at me and said I’m totally in for the ½ marathon thing!

Baltimore Running Festival

The Baltimore Running Festival was a great experience.  We chose to spend the night in Baltimore the night before. And what a good idea it was!

The hotel was great.  They had gift bags for the runners with water, fruit and energy bars.  It was a nice treat.  They also offered a pasta bar dinner at the restaurant.  We had to opt out because we were running (ha, running) a little behind.  I’m not really sure if you need to carb load for a 5k away. We headed over to the expo to pick up our packets.  It was well organized.  I could of spent much longer shopping in the expo.  It had everything that I had seen on-line when looking for running gear.  It was like a runner dream.  I got myself some headband wraps so the sweat doesn’t seep into my eyes when I run and a FlipBelt.  This is the best invention ever.  I have had a running belt for years. The one I had much resembled a fanny pack but it was in the running section!  The FlipBelt is so awesome, much more comfortable.  This is going to be great for traveling, too.  I highly recommend it.  I showed my husband.  He wanted one.  I order two more on-line.   I’m going to allow more time next year for shopping. But we had to go because we had tickets see Animal Crackers at Centerstage.  Our buddy, the fabulous Bruce Nelson was playing Groucho.  The show was hilarious.  We got to see friends there that we haven’t seen in years. 

We headed back for the hotel a good night rest.  I was really excited but I did sleep well. 

We got up and got dressed and headed over.  It was seriously like a 3 block walk.  That was amazing as well.  No stress of driving down or parking and the added bonus of getting to sleep a little longer.  Right away we ran into parents from the school where I teach.  Then we headed over to the start.  We didn’t realize at first that the Marathon was starting before us.  The Marathon was at 8:00 and the 5k was at 8:15.  I’m glad we ran into another friend who gave us the 411.  So for about 5 minutes we were standing among the marathoners. It was really amazing to look out at all of them.  They were average people, all shapes, sizes and colors.  I guess I expected to see really in shape, lean men and women. There were lots of those people, too.  It was amazing to see them start and to think about their journey of 26.2 miles.  That can be like 5+ hours of running. Unless you are from Kenya then it's like 2 hours. 

My husband was running with me.  This was his first 5k and although we signed up months before he really only started running like 2 weeks prior.  Our race started.  The first mile was uphill. Great!  I always use Map My Run.  The first mile seemed so long that I thought they weren’t going to put up mile markers.  I pulled out my phone to check and I was almost a mile one.  And low and behold in front of me was mile marker 1.  My husband had not run a whole 2 miles in a row so we had decided that we would meet at the finish line.  Plus, I really don’t like to run with people.  It freaks me out.  I’m afraid that I’m going to hold them up or by some miracle they might hold me up.  Every time I looked over my hubby was close by.  I even saw him walking a some points and still he was close.  Hmmm…

I finished the race in 33.26.  I was a bit disappointed because I finished the Color Run in 31.04.  That was, of course, before a sprained ankle and that was with Map My Run.  When I finished and checked Map My Run it said I had run 3.25 in 33.38.  But it’s all good.  My husband came across the finish line a minute and a half behind me.  It was pretty amazing.  I was really proud of him.  There was a little part of me saying, really?? But mostly I am so happy that we are running races together!  

We rounded into the after party – I’m sure it has a different name and were given our medals.  Very cool.  Got our pictures taken and headed for the beer.  We skipped the food although it looked like they had plenty.  The next area had shopping, beer and music.  I heard someone calling my name and it was my girlfriends from work. We ran the Color Run together. 

We all hung out for a while.  It was really a lot of fun.  I forget to tell about the weather.  It was overcast all day with a sprinkle here or there but it had rained for 3 days prior and we didn’t know what we were going to get.   We were pleased that it was just overcast.  We said good-bye to our friends and headed back to the hotel to pack up.  Which was also great.  We were able to take quick shower and head to lunch.  We had a grand idea that we head over to one of our favorite restaurants, Little Havana’s until we realized that was smack in the middle of the marathon route.  We headed over to another part of time, had lunch and headed home.  It was great.  My husband loved it, too!  We can’t wait until next year!  Thanks Baltimore Running Festival!!!

And p.s. ~ we just signed up for the Half Marathon!  What???

Laterblog - you know like a latergram

This was actually was before October 12th because we did the Baltimore Running Festival 5k that day. More to come on that race plus 2 more up coming 5k's (Turkey Trot and Girls on the Run), a 5 miler in December and signing up for our first half marathon.  Wheee!!

The Good and Bad of my run today

Bad

·      Hot as all get out

·      Hills 7 to be exact

·      Bugs in my mouth

·      Wanted to stop WHOLE time

·      Terrible time per mile – Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow

·      Had to pee the whole time

·      Had to use a porta pot after run- see above

Good

v Teeny tiny bits of shade

v I ran up every hill

v I ran the WHOLE thing 3.1 miles

v Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas

v Crunchy leaves under my feet

v The trees starting to change colors

v My ankle didn’t hurt

The return to the run

Today was the NFL run series for our Baltimore Ravens.  I was supposed to run it.  My ankle did not cooperate.  I’ve been in physical therapy for about 4 weeks.  It’s getting better.  Soooo slowly.  Last week, I went to the trail at my son’s skate park.  My PT said I could walk and then run for a minute and repeat.  I ran a little and felt great.  Just to be outside again, running just a little bit made me so happy that I could have cried.  I didn’t over do it and just enjoyed the moment.  

Yesterday, at physical therapy, I ran on the treadmill for 6 minutes.  I felt like a rock star and was happy that I did not have to stop – not because of the ankle, but because I was worried that I would have to stop after not running for so long. I was able to go the whole time…sign of relief.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself in from of all the PT people. 

I was told that I could run tonight.  I was looking forward to it all day.  As the day wore on and I was getting tired, and I thought that maybe I’d wait.  My ankle was a bit tender.  Funny how much you want to do something and at the same time how much you don’t.  I got on my running clothes (half the battle with me for any run), got out my much-missed running belt and iPod.  I asked my daughter if she wanted to go.  We just signed her up for the Girls on the Run.  This is a program for girls from the 3^rd to 8^th grade. They learn how to run a 5k.  At the end of the program all the girls participate in a 5K.  I get to be my daughter’s running buddy.  The 5k is in December.  I hoping I’m ship shape by then. 

But back the run, my daughter and I drove to track.  The PT suggested not running more than 10 minutes for the first go.  We walked to the first lap.  Then I ran the other 3 laps.  The ankle was a little tender but afterwards felt fine.  I’m icing it right now!!  I didn’t get to run with friends tonight and end in Raven’s stadium but I was pretty happy with my achievements.   I was hoping to be signing up for a 10K by now.  Injury and perception can change things quickly. 

My next 5K, The Baltimore Running Festival, is scheduled for October.  I hoping I’ll be able to run the whole thing.  As badly as I want to get back to it, I have also promised myself not to push it.  Unless it Salt and Pepa…then it’s a dance/running party!

76 and holding

Injury Derails 100 mile challenge

Last Monday actually, it’s been a month now, I went out to start my 76-mile. The day after I had run 5 miles for the first time.  I was just going to run a "quick" miles.   I got .40 of a mile, fell and sprained my ankle.  We went to the ER.  They prescribed R.I.C.E., Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.  They gave me crutches to use for the first 3 days.  I did.  I even used the special Wal-Mart scooter.   The first two days all I could think about was when am I going to be able to run again?  Then I realized the immediate problem that was in front of me was that we leaving for Prague exactly a week from the time I fell.  I went from when would I run - till I hope I can make it through Prague.  I hope my ankle doesn’t re-swell on the plane.  I hope, I hope, I hope. 

Made it through Prague with the ankle holding on.   It was absolutely beautiful.  Amazing!  I could write many a blog post on beautiful Prague.

The day we got home I called the Orthopedist.  My ankle was still slightly swollen and sore. I got an appointment (a week later).  He gave me a better brace and sent me to Physical Therapy.  I have Googled everything about sprained ankles.  How long does it take to heal?  Running after a sprained ankle.  Recovery of a sprained ankle.   Treatment.  I really got no great answers.  Honestly, the ER lead me to believe I would be good to go in about 2 weeks or maybe that’s is what I wanted to hear.  Now they are saying 4-6 weeks.  I’m doing my exercises; icing it, take my ibuprofen and going to therapy.

I took me a while to get the words down for this.  I sound dispassionate writing this but I was so devastated.  Running is a release for me as I am sure it is for many.   It helps keep me grounded as well as my weight in check.  I was running and getting better each day with longer runs - then BOOM!  

I’m starting back to school tomorrow.  Summer vacation is over!  I am going to do everything I can to get this ankle better.  I know there are thousand of worse things than my little sprained ankle.  I’m just trying to positive.  

5 Miles

My first time running 5 miles

It wasn’t pretty.  I stopped a couple times and took a water breaks with my new water belt.  That took a little getting used to.  The first ¼ mile water keep splashing on me because I didn’t know the top could close more.  It's nice, right?

BUT I RAN 5 MILES!!!!!  It must be something about putting your goals in writing.  Last night, I actually had trouble sleeping because I was thinking and mapping my route to get to 5.  I fell a ½ mile short when I got to my house so I stopped and ran another ½.  I’m now at 75 miles.  I’m ¾ of the way through my goal.  There are lots of fractions going on here.  Wouldn’t be awesome if I could finish my 100^th mile in Prague?  Another secret goal.  

70 miles, losing weight and a kale smoothie

I’ve run 70 miles as of today.  Today was two outside and one on the treadmill.  We are having a major heat wave.  It was so hot and humid and I ran before 7 a.m. Yesterday, I accomplished a lot.  I ran 4.25 miles.  My longest to date.  I ran from my house to the high school (at 6:30 a.m.), ran around the track for a mile than ran home.  I am usually not a road runner (scary).  

I have lots of mini goals.  I also have secret goals.  Shhh!  My one secret goal is to run 5 miles.  My secret secret goal is to run 6 miles!  I’m proud of myself my getting myself up in the morning and running.  It’s summer, I’m a teacher and it’s super hot - it would be pretty easy to sleep in and take it easy. 

Next subject, weight gain.  Last summer I was thinner, skinner and my clothes were fitting better.  I have been running like crazy for the last couple of months. I have not been losing anything and actually gaining. What the heck?  People say oh, maybe it is  because muscle weighs more than fat.  Not in the booty!  So…back to Weight Watchers Online. Darn.  Funny, when you start writing down everything down, it does make a different.  I’ve lost 3.5 pounds in two weeks.  GO DEB!  We’re leaving next week for Prague.  Can I run in Prague??  So excited for a wonderful trip with my husband.  Going to try to stay reasonable with food.  Maybe, but how often will I be in Prague?  I’m going to eat whatever I want!   But while I’m still here…

This morning I made a kale, peach, blueberry, and banana Greek yogurt smoothie.  I’ve been thinking about a kale smoothie for a while.  I know weird, right?  I stopped at a local produce stand yesterday and they had a huge bag of kale of for $1.50.  I took it as a sign.  I may have used 3 leaves.  There might be lots of stuff with kale this week.  Pasta with kale, kale chips… who knows?  Pinterest may be involved.  The results of the smoothie:  Tasty!  I might try a little more kale next time but I was a little scared. 

Here’s what I did:

I used my magic bullet and put in

5 ice cubes or so

¾ cup Greek yogurt

a handful of blueberries

one banana

one peach (could have been a bit ripper)

3 kale leaves

Mix, mix, mix.  Pretty good.  

As I continue my challenge, I can see 100 miles and probably more.  It has been one of the best things I done for myself to keep my motivated.  

1/2 Way There! 50 of 100 miles

I got to 50 miles tonight!  Wahoo! Yippee! And Hallelujah!  I had a little difficulty around mile 33.  I hurt my back vacuuming.  Vacuuming, I say.  I could have been playing some Candy Crush, reading a book or really anything but I was vacuuming.  I was out for a couple days then onward!  I got to mile 33 right before vacation.  I was 1/3 of the way done.  My goal was starting to seem kind of attainable.   I have all kinds of mini goals.  My next was to run 10 miles while on vacation.  We went to South Carolina:  flat land and beautiful.  I rose early each day and even set my alarm.  I had to get out early before it got too hot.  First day: 3 miles. Second day: 3 miles. Fourth day: 4 miles!!  Four miles in a row without stopping. (The flat part really helped.)  So, I thought I was cool, super cool.  We got home and I had 43 miles under my belt: my running belt. Ha!  Only 7 more to go.  I got up early on Sunday and went to my to one of my favorite trails.  It’s 2 miles around.  Yep, I did it twice.  4 more miles.  It took me awhile and it was hard ‘cause there are lots of hills.  Now for the last 3 miles of the 50.  I went to my to another place I love but the hills, oh the hills.  I was slow but as my dad would say, I got’er done.  So here I am, with 50 more to go!  Bring it!

My 100 miles of summer

Summer Running Challenge

I wanted to keep myself motivated this summer.  I’ve seen some challenges lately.  30 days of squats.  Push up/ sit up challenge.  I thought I’d make up one of my own, just for me.  However, I did Google to see if other people had done this.  The first thing that popped up was “run 100 miles in a day”.  WHAT?  Seriously?  I thought I was doing something here, way to burst my bubble, Google.  Ok, whatever, this is for me!  So, I got myself going.  I printed off a hundreds chart and got my box of crayons. Ready. One day, when I got back from my run, my daughter asked if I’d like her to color in my chart.  No, thank you, honey, I’m going to color ever space!  I’ve done 20 miles with 80 more to go.  As I ran tonight, I wasn’t thinking mile one, mile two, I was thinking mile 18, mile 18.25, mile 19. I’ve run early, I’ve run late, I’ve run on vacation.  It’s keeping me going.  One mile at a time.    

On a side note, it’s funny how bad I may want a cookie, beer, s’more, ice cream before a run and how I want nothing to do with it after.  

It's National Running Day

Some reasons I might be a runner

I know it's National Running Day – June 5^th

I have clothes for running- shirts, shorts, pants, shoes, and socks.  I especially like the running socks.

I may have swallowed a bug or two when running – maybe even tonight.  Spit, ick, swallow

I have a running app or 3 on my phone.

I schedule my day around when I can run

I have a running belt – enough said!

I follow running sites on twitter and facebook.  My new favorite FB site is WRC  - Women’s Running Community

I have a blog basically about running.  I never thought I’d have a blog and if I did it would have nothing to do with exercise or running.

I run through pain (now) - stitch in my side, knot in my calf, throbbing bunion.  It kinda goes away as you run.

My norm is 3 miles.

I have running preferences.  I hate the treadmill, will do the track, and love paved trails and sidewalks.  Scared of the road.

I think about running races.  

Am I a "real" runner?

I was talking to a “real” runner at my daughter’s softball game.  You know, she runs 4 ½ miles a day.  She runs ½ marathons.  She does hikes with her family.  A real runner.  I made some comment about not being a real runner…yet.  She said flatly – Have you bought running shoes to run in?  Yes, I answer.  Well then, you’re a real runner.  

Building Stamina

When 3 miles becomes the standard instead of the goal

Stamina has been in my vocabulary a lot this year.  I started doing a new program at school called the Daily 5.  Implementing the program has helped to teach my students to build stamina by practicing reading and writing.  It has lots of other great stuff and it has been wonderful for my class this year.  Never did I think my first graders could read for 20 minutes in a row without stopping – real reading.  It was the same with writing.  And that brings to my own stamina – I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to run a 5K again.  I just couldn’t run 3 miles in a row.  I always did three miles but there was always a lot of walking.  I would run but when I’d get to those hills, I’d walk.  With the Color Run looming upon me I had to push through.  So one day I ran up those hills.  I pushed myself from 2 miles to 3 miles. The first time I ran three mile in a row without stopping I wanted to tell everyone and this was very important. 

3 miles.   In a row.    Without stopping.            Real Running

Running is hard for me.  Today, I ran 4 miles.  Then we went to pick up our son from the skateboard park and I did another 1.5 miles.  Perhaps, I overdid it.  More than perhaps since I can hardly move now. 

The Color Run was so much fun.  I did it with some buds from work.  I ran it 31.03 which I was thrilled.  I would of loved to do it 30.59 but that’s okay.  It was actually untimed.  I used My Map My Walk App.  My husband has agreed to run the 5K with the Baltimore Running Festival in October.  Our cute Under Armor training shirts came today.  People have said oh, you’re going to get so into this…you’ll want to do a Half Marathon or Marathon.  NEVER and NO WAY.   But maybe a 10K…

Out of Hibernation

He's still hibernating.  I am not.

Long winter.  I have not been running.  I saw this Color Run 5K and thought, oh my, that would be fun.  I told the runners about it at school.  Oh yes, sounds great – let’s do it!  Then I forgot about it.  Darn, if I didn’t get a FB message from one of them – we signed up.  Sign up.  Signed up quickly, which was a good thing, because the 1^st race closed before the first day’s registration was over.  So cool I’m signed up – but wait that means I’m signed up!  I have to starting running and get in shape to do this thing.  I am not one of these girls that can just pick up and run 3 miles after not running for a while.  I can’t even run 1 mile after a long hiatus.  So even though my friend, Mr. Groundhog is still warm in his burrow, I got myself to the park and got through 2 miles with a lot of walking mixed in.  It was super cold.  The sun was out but the wind was whipping.  It was brisk to say the least.  Then tonight I jumped on the treadmill.  (I HATE THE TREADMILL).  I got through 3 miles.  The last mile I did one of the programmable things where it sets your pace.  I had never done it before – kind of slow but okay.  I have about two months until the Color Run.  On MY mark, get ready, GO!