No Music

After a crappy drive home and a less than stellar day I left for a quick run last night.

Got out the door, key safely tied on shoe, turn on ipod.......NOTHING. That sucker was DEAD. No juice left at all.

So I ran sans music - surprisingly I was ok - but I only did about 3.5 miles, there is no way I could do 10 on the trail with nothing, I think I would have to sing to myself, which could be interesting for everyone.

On the brightside I've found my Garmin is much more agreeable if I place it on the porch while I'm stretching. And now that I've said this it's going to curse me, we'll see how tonight goes.

Don't worry I charged that sucker up last night, I'll have plenty of music.

Called out........

So I've been called out by Paul my older brother for not blogging - and crap he's right......although to be fair several other people have called me out as well - props to Katie and Eric (not my older brother) In my defense if you check the date at least I didn't go a whole month!

I have been running here and there. Instead of boring you with the gory details which I can't even do because I don't have them we'll chat about the weird crap that's gone down lately like our new gym's lockers....

It was raining on Sat and I thought I'd get a start on the day so I hit the gym at like 9:30. Our new gym bought out old baby gym and it's all fancy shmancy. Like the lockers for example - you don't even need a LOCK. WHAT!? So I've only been there twice right, and there's an intricate card which explains you set your code with the arrows and midnight, close, move to nine o'clock and scramble your code. Well, being my second visit I figured I had it down pat right. YEAH not so much - def locked myself out....so I walked up to the front desk with my eyes to the floor and some perky chick screamed so everyone could hear "Locked out?" Yes, thank you, could we please tell everyone on the 4th floor as well!? So she proceeds to unlock my locker, which PS she did without asking for an id or even confirmation that it was actually my crap in there......then looks at me and step by step explains again how to lock it. Really!? You think I didn't learn my lesson? Blah so obnoxious. As a side note, after my run I did 50 crunches and 18 push ups - I was so sore on Sunday it hurt to laugh......note to self, your core blows!

And in other weird news. Last night I hit the trail up for a 5 miler-ish. Everything was fine, no biggie. But cops on the trail ANNOY me, I ran by a squad car - yes a car, on the trail - and what was the officer doing - smoking a STOGIE.......are you kidding me, you seriously couldn't wait to get off work to smoke that?! I'm sorry there is just something wrong with that picture. Also, not a fan of cops on horses. I COMPLETELY understand that the horse has to drink, but it creeps me out when he's drinking of the water fountain trough. It just does. And then they poo all over the trail - big horse poos - ew. And now because I've complained about this something terrible will happen on the trail and I'll be praying for a cop on horseback - CRAP!

My favorite race of the year is coming up!!!!! Get excited!!!! the Muddy Buddy is about a week and a half away!!!!!! Hands down favorite race - cannot wait! If you're lucky I'll have pictures to post......

Yowsers!!

Holy crap! I managed to miss a whole month of blogging! For shame!!!! Well let's see, what's my excuse......I've got a whole laundry list:

-Wedding planning
-Not running as much as I should
-Soul searching aka trying to decide what to do with my life
-Complaining about the hooligans upstairs
-Cursing the hooligans upstairs
-Getting freaked out when I thought a 3rd hooligan was moving in upstairs, thankfully this was not correct!

Alright - so they aren't great - but they are for the most part true. I did do a 6 miler this weekend just for kicks. I was fine, but I've been better.....and there were 10,000 runner groups out who I constantly had to pass so I could beat them to the water. And I decided I need new kicks, but new kicks are always expensive.....grrrrr.....I wish there was a "new kicks" fairy - there should be anyway.

Well it's technically already Wed - so at least we have that going for us. Perhaps this little cheesehead will get her act together and blog again before a month is up.

OH and sidenote, due to the aforementioned hooligan grill stealing escapade we were forced to use mini-beach-grill for delicious bbq on Sunday evening - the hooligans walked by while this was going on and didn't say a dang thing - damn you grill stealing hooligans!!!!!!!!

Get motivated!

So maybe saying I was back in the saddle was a little too serious. We jetted off to WI for the long weekend, and although I packed 3 days of running clothes, only one day got used....oops! Sunday, after feeling guilty about gorging on brats, cheese, beer and everything else that is the glorious state of WI I figured I should work a few of those calories off before the next big bbq (and believe you me, we had one!) I pretty much forced Dave to come along via guilt trip - he likes running, he just doesn't like running with me.....I will keep telling myself it's because I can beat him! We ran on the trail through Thrivent and saw about 80 billion (yup that's right) of what we believed to be Orioles mating......but upon explanation to my mom turns out they were likely Red Wing Blackbirds (we also confirmed this on google) but it was so cool, the males were all showing off, very funny. It was a great weekend, but I'm pretty sure I consumed the recommended one year adult consumption of brats...and the summer is just starting!!

Hold off - have to go watch the Cubbies attempt a come back in the 9th - we can hear the crowd chanting for Fukudome.....

Tonight I did not want to hit the road. The couch was so inviting, I was feeling lazy. But Dave was heading out for a bike ride/haircut so I felt the peer pressure. But I did the one thing that made all the difference - I recently got some new songs on itunes and I threw them on the pod before heading out. When "The Longest Road" by Morgan Page came on I had instant runners high, that kind where you are running, the right song comes on and you instantly feel lighter, I think I even smiled. So if you haven't heard this song, and you have to get the long one, you need to, it rocked my 4ish miles today, I even ran extra because of it :) And I almost forgot, I almost got hit by a cab rolling through a stop sign - but I caught him and yelled rather loudly "HEY", thankfully he stopped, about 5 people walking looked at me funny, but I like my legs where they are so whatever!

Also, as a side note, every time I head out my back door and see the porch above us with the grill that used to be OURS but the guys above us STOLE from our porch (and not in the funny friendly way), I want to throw rocks on their cars....I don't actually do it, but I think about it almost every time....

Running Grove you have to check out: The Longest Road (Deadmau5 Remix) - Morgan Page

Back in the Saddle

I've taken the whole recovery thing a little too seriously I think - I've only run twice since the race!! But I needed it and our new apt needed me. And now that our real computer is up and functioning I'm hoping to get some race pics up this week! We did find out after the race that not only did we run a marathon 2 weeks ago, we ran OVER a marathon! Technically we ran .2514 more than necessary and they have a calculator that adjusts your time, so if you want to get picky I was like 3:31 and some change but I'm just as happy with the recorded time - it gets me to Boston :) My family, friends, co-workers have been AMAZING! Everyone was so congratulatory and it appears half my family will be jetting off to see me in Boston. I think you always know you have the support of your loved ones but it was great that everyone was so proud of me!

The past week I think I may have eaten everything at Jewel. Ok...fine, perhaps it was only 80% of the store, but I've done an amazing job of stocking up on the things I stay away from during training....soda, mass amounts of beer, hot dogs, chips, you name it, I ate it.....and I enjoyed it :)

Saturday was gorgeous, I donned my running gear, dodged a few Cubs fans and headed to the trail. I even left my Garmin at home, I'm such a rebel! I did somewhere between 5-6 miles and I felt great. Can't wait for more beautiful days out on the trail!

Looking back....and forward

It's been a busy and stressful week. Work. Run. Pack. Repeat. Also sleep if there is time. Thankfully since it's taper my runs were only 4-5-4 this week. Tonight would have been my last run on the lake front path from my apt......but it was raining.....so I had to go to the gym. And I know I will still be running on the trail from our new place, it's just it won't be just across the street. And I won't know the exact spots my garmin claims the miles are at. I'm so excited to start the next chapter with Dave, but I'm also a little sad to leave my first apt in the city. So I'm feeling a little sentimental - although tomorrow morning at 5 when the alarm clock nazi is going off I will be reminded of why I'm so happy to leave! Change is good. Moving on to bigger and better things with Dave, even better! And we'll only be like a mile away so we can still hit up all the favorite spots.....and find some new ones!

Is that snow?

Halfway into my drive up to WI steady rain turned into....sludgy muck, then sleet, then I started to see cars with all out SNOW on them, like real snow on the top of the car. I almost turned my car around and said screw it.

I've actaully had a stellarly productive day, met a fantastic photographer, tried on dresses (so fun!), hit up the mall and found a new suit, who knew you could get so much done if you actually get up before 11 on Saturday!

I'm not looking forward to my 20 tomorrow, mainly because it will probably be raining. I swear, if it rains in Cincy for the marathon Mother Nature and I will never talk again...

Off to load up on water.....had a few too many margaritas...thanks mom and dad....

The season of shorts!

Spring has sprung!!! (And now because I've said that, it's likely we'll get 5 inches of snow this week)

The rest of my week included 2 5 milers on the treadmill and I added in some quarter mile hill intervals, nothing crazy, but enough to get me winded.

Saturday however was a dream...a gift...just what I needed to keep pushing forward! I had to get up at the break of dawn, 7am, to move my car - I CANNOT wait to live in a permit area! This did however provide a sneak peek at what the weather would be like for my run - b-e-a-utiful! So I knew I could wear shorts, I grappled with the t-shirt idea and opted for long sleeves that were easily pulls up. Within a mile I yanked those sleeves up, it was just gorgeous out. And it also appears Sat was the last run I'll be carrying my camelbak on, the bubblers are working again!!!!!! This was such great news, I practically turned around and dropped the camelbak at home...well not really but you get my drift.

Although the weather was stellar the run wasn't my best, I ran pretty much on pace for sub-4 but I just wasn't feeling great. Then when I was cruising around the Shedd a biker gave me a nasty comment and shook his head at me. I wanted to put a foot out on his wheel but instead I opted for just saying whatever. Hate to break it to ya, but this is a running/biking/walking/general whateverness trail and we all have to share. Even though it wasn't my best run the weather totally made up for it - running outside in gorgeous weather has officially begun!

This week is my final week of big miles, ending with a 20 on the weekend. And I'm going to WI for wedding stuff and apparently it might only be 35 in WI.....I might save the run for when I come back home.....I'm getting more and more excited for the race - 4 weeks to go!

Enjoy the weather everyone!

My excuse......I'm in mourning

Now that would be a fantastic excuse, I'm mourning the retirement of my all time favorite sports GOD Brett Favre, but unfortunately since this just happened yesterday that doesn't really explain all those other days I missed! opps!

So last week in a sick haze I dragged my butt to the gym for 2 week runs, it was a light week, since I missed Tuesday being sick, I did my 5 on Wed and another 4 on Thursday. Both nights I started on craptastic treadmills, on Thursday I literally switched machines 3 times. I started, and the stupid pace wouldn't keep up, that's BS, I pay good money to work out here (ok my boyfriend actually pays but that's a technicality) the machines should work. So then I moved to a second craptastic treadmill, this machines decrease speed button malfunctioned, sweet, just what I need, get going too fast and then I can't slow down, nice. Then a decent treadmill opened up and I hopped on it, the other treadmillers must have thought I was crazy, but I could care less, not my issue if you want to deal with running on rogue equipment, I don't!

This weekend was a lighter run, only 11 miles. Due to the apt search, Dave and I are moving in and seeking out an uber-cool 2 bedroom, I had zero time to get a run in outdoors on Sat and I CANNOT handle another ridiculously long treadmill run. So I waited until Sunday morning and I'm so glad I did, it was GORGEOUS out. But let's clarify shall we. By gorgeous I mean for March it was very nice and the sun was shining, I don't mean whip out your skanky running tank tops. Listen I'm all for showing off the great body you get running, but it was maybe, maybe 40, there's no reason to be showing skin, even in the Midwest where we are a little crazy. Anyhow it was very nice out, and tons of people on the trail, and it was Polar Plunge at North beach so I thought it was great that they got such a perfect day! There was a small ice age around the Oak Street curve but other than that pretty smooth sailing. I didn't have a gel, which was less than desirable, but I was ill-prepared. I made it though, although I don't think I want to do it again, it's nice to get that little boost to kick me home.

Mileage starts to ramp up again this week. I made it to the gym for cross training this Monday....sorta skipped that for like 3 weeks....I biked and pulled out some old weight exercises from physical therapy after my knee surgery. I totally felt the weights in my arms, I should do that stuff more really, also it would probably help my knee too.

I wanted nothing to do with my 4 miler on Tue, I was tired, there were no treadmills and when I was done the stupid decrease didn't work so I had to pull like the emergency stop, I'm sorry but I think that's a little dangerous. Where is daylight savings time when I need it! My midweek mileage has ramped up to 8, that's as high as I get during the week, but I have to plan to get that in, that's more than just a quick run. Thankfully the traffic gods watched over me tonight and I was on the treadmill by 6:30, I even snagged a good one this time! Roughly an hour 10 min for 8 miles, a little slower than I wanted but I've been insanely tired all week so I will take it. I'm skipping tomorrow nights run due to an apt showing, it's feast or famine so I'm making a sacrifice.

I have to do 17 this weekend YIKES!!! I'm really sure I will be fine, I just haven't had that kind of mileage in awhile and it sounds very daunting at the moment. We already have several apts to see Sat morning so it's looking like it will probably be Sunday by the time I fit it in. It's been the longest week EVER. I don't know what the deal is but every min at work literally feels like 2 min. not cool. Maybe that means the next 2 days will go in hyper-speed, here's the hoping!

Slacker to the MAX

So I'm pretty terrible, missed a whole week although there wasn't much to report, my week runs can be summed up like this:

4 miles - craptacular treadmill
7 miles - didn't know it was possible but the crappiest craptacular screwed a water bottle on the side treadmill
4 miles - craptacular treadmill

Man did I have some BAD luck last week in the treadmill dept, and what makes me so angry is those girls that are there and then leave after they have walked on the treadmill for 10 min. I have NOTHING against walking, nothing, walk all you want, but these were girls that were chatting and using quality treadmills that people who are actually there to USE the machines and then poof 10 min in gone. I could swap but that requires stopping mid-workout and I hate that.

Then with my Mom coming in for the weekend I was faced with a dilemma. 14 miles inside on a treadmill (are you serious?) or wake up at the butt crack of dawn on Sat, we are talking like 5.30 AM and brave the fridgid temps. Normally I have no problem getting up early on a Sat for a run, but in the summer its actually warm at that time, in the winter its gotta be at least like 9 for it to be bearable outside, at least in my humble opinion. So inside it was. Being that it was a Friday night I had my pick of the treadmills. I chose one in the back so I could at least glance at the show they had on the tvs mounted in the corners (yea yea I know I said I can run without watching tv, but 14 miles inside called for drastic action) The treadmill can't even go all the way to 14 miles, or rather it takes me too long to get there, so halfway thru, I stopped, took my gel and started again. Overall it was ok, the last 4 miles it was just like "all right already", I think I watched about 20 people come and go too, which makes you feel awesome and really nerdy all at the same time. I definitely did not have enough in me though for this run, I felt sick and weak after, luckily Dave was nice enough to make me some grub. I could have used a better pre-run snack or possibly a 2nd gel, I will have to re-evaluate before next weekend.

The sick part about all of this is I think there will be a repeat performance for 15 this Friday. We are heading to Madison early Sat morning to see some friends so I think the only option will be Friday night indoors. So I'm either really dedicated or crazy, you can decide.......

Last night was another 4 miles, once again craptacular treadmill, stupid new years resolutions! I felt good though and forced myself to run a tad faster than normal. I started out the same but kicked it up much early than I normally do. This leads me to wonder if I could actually be pushing myself further? Or perhaps it's just easier on a treadmill, who knows, I finished 4 miles in about 33:40 though, I was pretty pleased. It also didn't feel like much, I finished and thought, huh could have kept going I don't feel like I really worked out. It's been interesting training this close to a past marathon (Chicago) I have never "stayed" in shape, and I think this time it's pretty evident I have, haven't lost my stamina. Also on a yuck note, my toes are back to "runner" status, good thing it's winter and I can wear socks all the time!

The barker is back.....

What a week of training it was!! Monday had me skipping crosstraining to get all my runs in as I knew I would need a night off for an appt. I ran an easy 4 miles but found I was in extreme pain on Tuesday. My right arch has major issues, it was so painful it was even bothering me in ugly flat work shoes, who knew! I have never had problems with my arches and really this was only one as it just hurt on my right foot. Troublesome let me tell you.

Not wanting to skip my run Tuesday night I ventured to the orthotics aisle in Walgreens and purchased arch supports, which by the way are not cheap. I figured I should wear them in both as it might be weird if they were only in one shoe. They helped tremendously, leaps and bounds, it was still a little painful but I could tell they helped. This is an interesting dilemma to me though. In the past I have NEVER run this much on the treadmill, could that be the source of this? I've never had arch issues before?? Or is it really all downhill once you hit 25.....just kidding.

Thursday was a quick 3 miles so I could get home for lost, and low and behold the barker is back at the gym. This guy's grunts and noises could rival Sharapova, no lie. He lifts weights, and I haven't seen him at the gym in months but he made his reappearance on Thursday and boy did I hear about it heh heh. I suppose I understand that perhaps that makes him get the extra umph to get the weights up, but c'mon aren't you mildly embarassed that the whole gym is listening to your barking/grunting/you name it weird noises? And if I was your wife, I don't think I'd be caught dead at the gym with you making all those animalesque noises....

I only had 9 miles to do for the weekend and thankfully I did on Sat as it is arctic temps out today! I ran a little earlier and it felt like there were a million people on the trail, which was nice to see. I fought for the first 1.5 miles to get my Camelback to cooperate, it was extremely obnoxious stopping to adjust every like 3 min, but eventually I showed it who was boss! On my last half mile back I passed a guy who gave me the biggest goofiest grin ever. He must have known me, I however had no clue who he was, and if he didn't know me perhaps he was smiling at my ridiculous get-up. The weekend miles pretty much steadily increase from here on out, so there's not much to look forward to in that department - although maybe if I just grunted every half mile or so that would give me the motivation to go the extra mile.......

Sore, tired, you name it

It's been a draining weekend, in a good way I suppose. I really needed to get my 12 miles in, wanted to prove to myself that although I'm missing runs here and there I'm still going to be fine for this race.

Sat was actually a pretty nice day to run, all things considering. The trail was well....slushy, I very often watched my step and somehow miraculously managed to keep my feet dry! There was really only one crappy portion where I was running on slanted slush....thank god I didn't fall. Quite a few other runners on the lakefront and it was sort of calming to look out on the partially frozen lake. 12 miles took me just past the Shedd, which always seems so far from where I started. I ran about 8:45/mile, which I'm pretty happy with considering the conditions. It also cracks me up, so many people have black cold gear, I on the otherhand....I was in black tights, green shorts, teal thermal, white/orange t-shirt with a hot pink turtle. Seriously I'm like a color nightmare.

I don't think I hydrated enough though following the run, especially considering we went out to celebrate Eric's b-day last night. I'm tired and pretty sore, ahhhhh lactic acid, you are no friend of mine. I think mid-week mileage this week is only 5, that's something to look forward too!

Going the extra mile

It's a freakin' blizzard out, actually it's more like a blizzurcane, which would be ridiculous snow paired with crazy wind. Amen for the gym! Snagged myself a treadmill in front and got truckin. Only 3 miles today, but I felt so good I went to 4, there's a chance I might be a superstar this week. Mile 2 I upped, yea I know it's not a word, the incline for a mile, my "pretend" hill. All in all it was a great work out, and there was a guy handing out free Silk, that Soy milk, he looked like an uber creep, but it was free so I took one!

It should also be noted that a new gym has sprung up across the street from mine. The LVAC, poo on your acronym, you're so cool with your tvs attached to every workout machine. I take pleasure in the fact that I don't need a tv to keep me on a workout machine, I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice, but I feel like I could kick those tv-watching asses if I had the chance! Although I'm not going to lie, I think the gym is a little less crowded now that they are there and I love that I can always get a machine!

Re-runs of The Office and my couch are calling my name!

Bad Mood Bears

Oooooooooo I'm cranky, ugly ugly mood I'm in. I worked ridiculously all day, stayed late, took work home, am going in early, UGH! I got home so late there was no chance for a workout unless I wanted to skip dinner and get to bed at an insane hour considering I'm getting up so early. So that means I missed 6 miles, and I'm unhappy and bitter. And I'll miss my 3 miles tomorrow night due to broomball. Bah, it's bad mood bears all over the place. I'm just a big blah party right now, but it's ending as I'm heading to bed hoping this bad mood will dissolve into dreamland. Maybe if I dream about running 6 miles that will count??

Smile - We're both idiots

So after racing through the morning at work, I raced back to the city for a doctor appt in the afternoon. I originally wanted to run outside today, and I got home with just enough daylight left (sidenote: I hate running in the dark, and I don't think it's safe, I don't need Johnny Hiding in the Bush to grab me while I'm on a 5 miler and don't have the stamina to out run him) So when I got back I contemplated, oh it would be so nice to go to the heated gym for a quick 3 miles. BUT, I told myself I would run outside if I could......since I hate not doing what I say I will, even if it's only something I said in my head I opted for outside.

I have no clue how cold it was but it was FREEZING. Thankfully on my way out the door I thought to grab a scarf, this was a godsend! I was warm for the most part, although I could have used a few scarves wrapped around my legs. I've run outside in the cold, just not this cold, and snow, and BLACK ICE!?! Who knew right.....I guess it makes sense, I'm just happy I managed to stay on my feet! I will give you one thing though, I saw 10 people, only 10, but we all smiled and nodded at eachother. Gave the obligatory, huh, you're as stupid as me, run on my friend. This sustained me, you don't get that in the summer, there's just too many of us, knowing there were other crazies like me on the trail kept me going...........that is.........until my ipod died It's a good thing this happened when I was only a half mile from home and not close enough to the lake - I probably would have thrown it in, this thing keeps me going, unless it's a race day (I have a strong no music policy for races) I need music, if it hadn't been so cold I perhaps would have started singing to myself.

So in the end I made it, a little over 3 miles, outside though, so that counts for more - right?!

I should have worked for a bank...

Seriously, people who work for banks and schools around here, they get EVERY day off. Oh, it's the former president's wife's second cousins birthday, lets take the day off! I however do not get these little gems off, I sat in a cubicle all day cursing half the city. It took me 25 min to get home - and it was snowing - WHAT? At a minimum it is normally 40 min, but half the traffic was home enjoying MLK day - bogus I tell you!

However, since I got home so fast I had plenty of time for a crosstraining work out. I haven't had enough time to read lately so I grabbed the book and headed to the gym. I went sans music, which is weird for me but I wanted to concentrate on the book. I looked at the time like every 5 min, I wished I was running, alas 30 min on the bike, I suppose it was good for me. I also did some more weight work on my arms. This is such a joke, I mean I'm miserably weak, 10 lbs and I barely made it through 2 sets, apparently I need to keep this up! Also the girl on the mat next to me had on the shortest shorts imaginable, I mean running shorts are short, but she might as well have had on bikini bottoms, ew, put that away!

I do love protein

Sooooo I took Thursday and Friday off - technically I was only supposed to take Friday but I'm on an undefeated broomball team on Thursday nights and I'm the goalie who yells the whole time - they couldn't possibly survive without me. If you're curious we did win, one more game until we are the coveted season winners - BOO YA! Then of course in celebration we hit of Uberstein, always a good - er bad choice. Needless to say I was a tad tired on Friday......

Last night Dave took me to Brazzaz for my birthday (yea me)! It was very nice and I honestly think I may have eaten the eqivalent of a small horse. I'm not joking, the meat just kept coming, and it looked so good.....if you know me, you know the one thing I'm not, is shy about eating ridiculous amounts of food. But I may have taken the cake last night - I would be willing to bet it's the most I ever ate in one sitting, and I'm not sorry, infact, I think I'm awesome :)

Remember how I said maybe I would be as sweet as the Packers and run outside on Sat, hahahahaha what a jokester I am! It's not cold, it's effing cold, and since I value all 10 fingers and toes I wisely opted for the gym. I even made it there before lunch. I did my long run today instead of Sunday because let's face it, after tonights bar party celebrating my birthday, I just might not be able to run tomorrow. But lucky for me, this week went back down to only 6 miles. I felt ok for the treadmill, but I do wish it had been about 20 degrees warmer so I could have hit the pavement.

I hit up itunes this morning for some new running grooves and I'm disappointed, furiated infact, couldn't find "Murder on the Dancefloor" anywhere. This tune ROCKS, itunes is missing out, and I'm annoyed - boo on you itunes!

So tonight's my party, I wisely picked a bar right across the street from La Bamba, becuase let's face it, who doesn't want a birthday burrito.........told you I could eat!