Excuses, Excuses

I know everyone can think of excuses of reasons not to do things.  Excuses for not doing schoolwork, working on reports, practicing an instrument, not cleaning (really I don’t need an excuse for that) or any undesired activities.

My excuses have been stacking up for my lack of desire to run.  Lately, it has been because of my new responsibilities at work.  Here are some excuses that I’ve used in the past and will probably use again.

1.   It’s too cold
2.   It’s too hot
3.   It’s raining
4.   It’s snowing
5.   It’s a bit windy
6.   It’s too early
7.   It’s too late
8.   It’s getting dark
9.   I need to clean (today, I vacuumed while procrastinating)
10.   I ate too much
11.   I haven’t eaten enough
12.   I’m getting my …
13.   My iPod, watch is out of juice
14.  I’ll have more time tomorrow
15.  I have too many meetings
16.  I need to make dinner for the family
17.  My kids need a ride
18.  I need to go to the grocery store
19.  My body hurts (pick a part  - knee, hip, bunion)
20.  I think I’m getting a cold
21.  I am having some allergy thing -  Ah choo!
22.  Ohh, this movie is really good.
23.   FACEBOOK
24.  I’m tired
25.  I just don’t want to!



So after, I got through excuses #3, #9, #21 and #22, #22 was a problem because Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and J Lo was a quite enchanting and I want to believe motivating.  I ran 5 miles in the rain.  Looking back, not changing into my contacts was a mistake.  I needed windshield wipers for my glasses.  As, I started running, Bruce Springsteen’s Viva Las Vegas came on. Good sign.  And as I trudged through the last mile, a song that my son introduced me to came on, I’m Ready by ARJ.  I knew I had it!  I would really prefer to not be ½ marathon training but I am.  It’s less than a month away.  It might not be pretty but it’s going to happen.

Listening to your body and new shoes

It’s back to school.  And that has put a slow down to my run time.  I have new responsibilities at work and it has consumed me for the last few weeks.  All the while the thought of my upcoming ½ marathon is looming.  I ran my 12-mile race (which I will repeat is almost a ½ marathon!!) and it went well.  But…I got to get back out there with some long runs.

So, Sunday, I got 6 miles in.  The first 3 were pretty good.  Then my body started talking to me.  My right hip start to ping.  It has been bothering me on and off for the last month.  Then my left knee start to tingle.  I usually wear a knee brace/wrap when I run longer runs.  Oh wait, now my arch of my right foot is starting to hurt.  Maybe I just need to stretch out.  Breathing is still good but that appears to be the only thing that might be because I’m going so slowly.  Here’s where I know that I have grown as a runner.  I stopped and walked.  It wasn’t for long but I knew I could do serious damage and not be able to run for a couple days or weeks if I didn’t put the brakes on. I got through the 6 miles. 

My husband is just back to running after a stress fracture.  He really needed to get properly fitted for shoes and my shoes were showing wear even though I got them at the end of February.  I checked the store I usually go to and they closed at 4.  I googled the next nearby store and discover Road Runners.  I had been there once or twice.  Well, holla!  They were serious business, very professional and excited that we were getting shoes.  I also got re-fitted and was pleased that I was in the proper shoe.  I wound up getting the same shoes I have.  I was happy!  I got in a short two miles on Wednesday and tried my new shoes on Thursday for 4 miles.  I’m hoping they will break in quickly or they are going back.  Even though they are the same shoe they were bothering my bunion.  This will not due!

Tomorrow is a 5k race, a special one – it benefits, Zaching for Cancer. 

What a difference a year makes.  Last year, at this time, if I was preparing for a 5k in the morning I would be nervous and slightly panicking.  Tonight, I’m wondering what time I have to get up.  I’ll save my nerves for the morning. 

Charles Street 12 - A Recap

My husband and I began running together last September.  We were getting more excited about running together and signing up for more and more races.  We had completed the Shamrock 5K and the Sole of the City 10k, and we were training for the Charles Street 12 miler as the third leg to the B3 race series (cool backpack and extra medal).  Then in late June my husband suffered a stress fracture near his ankle on his right leg.  He was okay but it of course was going to take time to heal and get back to running.  Should I continue to train?  Should I wait for him?  We decided I should continue.  So for the rest of the summer I did a 3-mile run, a 5-mile run and a long run on the weekend.  The long runs were not pretty. I built up 8, 9, 10, and finally 11 miles with lots of stopping in between.  Towards the end of my training I was my own worst enemy.  I sometimes couldn’t run more then 2 miles without stopping.  I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.  I decided to incorporate some on the Run/Walk method.  The last few runs I ran 3 minutes and walked 1 minute.  This was supposed to be a 10-minute mile.  Ha!   I thought this would be the only way I could get through the 12 miles.

The weeks prior to the race I was a mess.  I was a bag of nerves and all I could think about was getting through this and would I get through this.

Race Day

My husband, graciously, drove me to the start.  I felt terrible for him because I knew how much he would love this race and terrible for me because I was petrified.  The weather could not have been any more perfect.  It was cool, but not sunny.  It was certainly not like August in Baltimore.  Good omen – and the night before the Orioles had won 12 to 2.  Twelve: I thought that was a good sign, too. 

I almost started to cry as we started – I just keep thinking – I’ll just go slow, if I have to walk, I have to walk, just keep moving forward. 

Running toward Towson University - my alma mater

My plan was to run the first 3-6 miles before having to use my walk run method. 

I was expecting the hills because I had read everything there was to read about last year's race and talked to several people.  

 I ran the first 6 miles without walking.  What??  I did have little water breaks – they had lots of stops- the first one was around 1.5 miles and the second was about 2.5 miles, and then it seemed like a long time till the next one. 

1/2 way done!  

I couldn’t believe I had gotten to mile 6 without stopping, and then I got to mile 7.  I think one of things that really helped me was seeing all the people walking.  People were walking by the first ½ mile.  I wasn't competing with these people, but I knew when I did have to walk there would be others walking.  My pace was about 11:20 for the first 7 miles.  I was happy as a clam. 

Mile 8 to 9 was hard.  I walked a minute during that mile.

Getting close to Hopkins

33rd Street

Runner who (you can't tell) but was juggling the whole time!

Encouraging Smiley Face building

Man/Woman Statue - Follow it on twitter @manwomanstatue

The Belvedere - getting closer

I'm thinking - okay only a 5k left!

The back of the leg behind my knee was starting to hurt.  I was in the city now.  I was beginning to walk up hills and slow down, but I knew I would finish.  My slowest mile was 12:26.  For me, this is good! 

I keep thinking I have to be close to the Monument.  Where's the Monument?  Aww. Man.  It's all jacked up!!!

Peabody

Coming toward the finish 

Running around Cross Street Market and Fed Hill was a bit of a blur. I was tired.  I saw the 11-mile marker .  Almost there: still really tired.

As we turned the corner to the Aquarium we only had about .60 mile to go - A little slice a heaven – one last water station!  All the water stations and there were plenty had sport drinks, too!  Very helpful.   This one last water station gave me a minute to regroup and finish strong.  On to the Inner Harbor.  This was great and strange because as the runners were thinning out it was hard to tell where to go – tourists were walking around.  Then I saw some of the photographers!  Big Smile!   Rounded the World Trade Center Building and I spotted my husband cheering me on – almost cried again and wanted to stop there!   I rounded the last corner with the hubby running with me a bit and crossed the finish line!!  2.21 minutes with a pace of 11:47.  My secret hope was to finish under 2:30.  My hope was under 2:45.  I was very pleased. 

On the way down to the race, I said to my husband – I’m not doing this anymore.  After the race – I couldn’t wait for our ½ marathon in October. 

It was a really great race.  Lots to look at and very organized.  Lots of hills but I was ready for them.  Thanks Charm City Run!  

5k on National Running Day!

Often people reflect on why they run on National Running Day.  I know why I started running.  I was turning 40, I wanted to loss some weight and check a 5k off my bucket list.  Why I still run is a bit of mystery.

I would really like to be one of those people that loves the whole experience but really running is hard for me.  I feel like I struggle in some way each and every time.  It is the one thing that has truly challenged me and yet I keep doing it.  Hmmm.  I am often frustrated with myself yet my numbers show that I am improving.  It just seems like it should be getting easier.  The improvements are so tiny they are hard to see but I know they are there.  Why do I run?  I think I run for how I feel afterwards, no matter how bad the run, I always feel better when I’m done!

I planned on running a short 2 miles today then I thought I just go for the 5k.  I had some motivation tonight.  I decide to treat myself to some post run crabs.  My whole family does not care for this Maryland delicacy but I LOVE them and they were delicious!

I get ½ dozen big guys.  I set up a little table in our garage and enjoy them all by myself!  And as an added bonus, I saw the first lighting bug of the season.   Good Day!  Happy Running Everyone!

Great Weekend!

PR's and a long run

We had our daughter’s softball game Friday night under the lights.  Very cool and they won.

I needed a race for May so in a spur of the moment decision we signed up for a 5k – The Twilight 5k as part of the Frederick Running Festival.  I’m trying to run a race each month with a totally of 14 for the year (I did two in April).   As we began the race it started to drizzle and became very windy but then it stopped quickly and then the weather was great.  It was a hard race for me, I’m not sure why.  There were a few hard hills.  I DID officially PR.  But my husband, he PR’d by like 3 minutes.  It was amazing.  He was off.  This is one of the first times he has crossed the finish line before me.  I think it’s going to happen a lot more often. We bumped into a former student/parent, my cousins and a family from softball.   And seriously, they had the best beer I've ever seen at a race.  The whole race was very well organized and that always a plus.  I'd love to do the 1/2 there next year.  We also found a great new restaurant, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewpub.  All very spontaneous!

And today, we did our long run.  Seven miles for the first time! It was a beautiful day for run.  We broke it up 2 miles around the trail, then 3 miles on the road, then back around the trail for the last 2.  This was my view when I got done.  I might have rested for a minute afterwards.

After dinner, my husband said, this was really a great weekend.  It really was!  I’m ready for the week if I can walk tomorrow and it’s Cinco de Mayo.  ¡Olé!

The highs and lows of April

When our kids were younger we would do our highs and lows of the day at dinner.  Now that they are teenagers it would be like pulling teeth but it was nice while it lasted.  

So here are my high and lows for April:  

Highs:

Ran my first official 10k

Ran 50 miles this month

My pace is beginning to improve

It has finally stopped snowing

Lows:

Had to drop out of the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and switch to the 5k

Weight Watcher and I have begun to see each other again which meant Starbucks and I had to break up

Can't wait for May!

Cherry Blossom 10 miler minus 6.9 miles

We signed up for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler.  So excited  - we made it into the lottery, we had 4 months to train and booked a hotel room.  Then winter hit.  And it never stopped.  There was snow on March 30th.

Really - March 30th

 I had to come to the realization that we’d have to switch to the 5k.  I was really disappointed.  A month before the race I actually thought that maybe I could get there.  I had run my first 10k (unofficial).  The next week I attempted 7 miles.  My knee really started to hurt.  Sharp pains.  I walked the last 1.5 miles.  I knew then if I tried for the 10 miles I would risk injuring myself.  No race is worth hurting yourself over.  My husband wasn’t ready either.  We switched to the 5k and decided we would enjoy our weekend in DC.   

When switching to the 5k, we still were going to have the 10-mile bibs, the instructions were, just to line up at the 5k start.   One of thing that the website said was that the amenities were the same for the 5k and the 10 mile.  We picked up our race packet and shirt.  Feeling a bit silly since the shirt says Cherry Blossom 10 miler but oh well.  Afterwards we had a nice dinner at Osteria Morini by the Navy Yard.

Our view from dinner

We had a quiet night and the next morning we walked over to the Washington Monument for the start.

The 10-miler had started an hour before and as we neared the race area we got to see some of the Elite runners come in.  Very cool! Unfortunately, we had to cross the race area to get the 5k start area.  Not great planning.  It was a lovely run.  The cherry blossoms weren’t quite ready yet (just like us ☺).   I had ordered medals for us because we were running 10 miles!!  We went to get the 5k medals and were told that we ordered the 10-mile medal so we had to go over to the 10-mile area and get the 10 mile medal.  We trudge over there.  As we did, many 10 milers were crossing the finish line.  As they did the announcer was calling them by name.  Wow!  We entered 10-mile town.  We had to laugh.  Same amenities my foot.  Okay, so these people did just run 10 miles, we were given Gatorade cups filled with water from jugs when we finished the 5k.  This is what they had.

We went to get the medal.  It was of course more of a joke then anything at this point.  At the 5k, there was a lady handing the people the medal.   At 10-mile town they put the medal over your neck and congratulated you.

I’m the first to realize what a big deal 10 miles is.  I also know as all runners should that 3 miles can be a big deal for some of us and was for most of us at one time.  In the beginning…
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is about running 10 miles.  They are kind to give the 5k option especially for the people that just aren’t ready.  We had did have a great time and hope one day to actually do the ten-miler at some point. **On the back on the medal, I'm writing 10 - 6.9 :)