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!

The scale vs. me

Hello Scale –

Will we be friends after the holidays?  Hmmm…Let’s see I’ve haven’t been running, walking or even wearing my pedometer.  I’ve been eating whatever I want ~ whenever I want including cookies and coffee for breakfast.   I’ve been drinking many delicious things including my new favorite Angry Orchard Hard Cider – Crisp Apple.  I did make some lovely homemade Chicken noodle soup and veggie quesadillas yesterday but somehow I don’t think that will counteract all the goodies I have enjoyed over the last couple of weeks.  So scale – you and I will meet on the January 2^nd.  Be ready!

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

One of the reasons I run.  This is an ridiculously easy and a delicious winter treat that my husband and I love.

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 cups vanilla ice cream

rum

water

nutmeg

1. Combine sugar, brown sugar and butter in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted (6-8 min).

2. Combine cooked mixture with ice cream in a large mixing bowl, and beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until smooth (1-2 min).  (I just add the ice cream to the warm mixture and stir.)  Store refrigerated up to 2 weeks or frozen up to one month.

3. For each serving, fill one-quarter of a mug with mixture, add one-ounce rum and three-quarters of a cup of boiling water. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Read more: Old Fashioned Hot Buttered Rum recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink5667.html#ixzz2EhZXQc3K