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

Happy Day

                          A walk with my daughter is better than any run.

Daylight Savings Time aka I loathe the treadmill

The forty-minute mile – okay not really but it seems like it on the treadmill

Eating, not running, gained 3 pounds.  Darn!  Hit it.  Along with an abundance of children’s activities than came daylight saving time.  By the time I get home it’s almost dark.   I don’t run in the dark.  Scary.  So, I hit the treadmill.  I dislike the treadmill greatly.  Our treadmill is in the basement facing an old TV that doesn’t work.  There are old toys and what appears to be trash from my son skateboarding down there.  I listen to my iPod so that helps.  Favorite songs of the night – Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree and Leader of the Pack. (I know but it made me happy).  There is no breeze in the basement and no view except a stapled up sign to the drywall of  “It’s A Boy!” from when our son was born.  I have looked at the damn sailboat for many miles.   I totally don’t get it but I go slower on the treadmill even though it seems like a run faster and it takes a lot longer to get to three miles.  I mean I know it doesn’t but holy heck it sure seems like it.  This weekend – it’s going to be beautiful.  I can’t wait to get outside for a run or two and enjoy the weather.