I didn't know I had it in me....

It was a crappy Monday.....it was a long day, traffic was a nightmare, I fed a parking meter that didn't need to be fed, I wanted to watch the game but I knew I had to get a run in. I was all around miserable to talk to - no really, just ask Dave. In an angry rage I threw on my running shoes and slipped out the door for my FIRST after-work OUTDOOR run this year.

Got the the trail and hit the ground running (haha so funny)

Glanced at my Garmin, 7:00/mile pace, yea right like I can keep that up......a mile in 7:30/mile......2 miles in 7:30/mile and I'm thinking, this has got to stop, I can't run this fast, it's not going to happen.

Low and behold I apparently have reserves I didn't even know about, I kept somewhere between a 7:30 and 7:40 min pace the whole 5 miles, it's been years since I've run 5 miles under 40 min. I felt like one hell of a BAMF

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!

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!

It's Official!

Yesterday, the last "cheap" day to do it, I registered for the Flying Pig! So now it's official and I have to do it! There's no turning back now! I also registered Dave for the half marathon. Poor guy gets roped into these races with me. I listed him as one of my emergency contacts as he will be there that day. He then pointed out that if I fall off a bridge during the race and he falls off the same bridge I'm going to be in trouble. So if everyone could please pray that I don't fall off the bridges in this race that would be great!

I ran my 6 on Wed, but it was pretty miserable. I got a crap dreadmill, one of the old ones, that I swear to you DO NOT function properly. But it was the only one availiable so I had to take it. My legs just felt heavy too, I know part of this was mental due to me being so angry about being on a dreadmill from 1985. But in the end I pounded it out, which is really all that matters.

Last night it took me over 2 hours to get home, a big thank you goes out to the LSD parking lot....NOT. However I probably wouldn't have run anyhow since my highly anticipated show is back on the air.....LOST!!!!!! I love it, I don't care if you think it's stupid and don't understand the plot, it is my all time favorite show. So I kicked back with a bottle of beer and enjoyed the premiere.

The weather is still crap outside, 12 this weekend might be a little snowy....we shall see, it's supposed to be 30 though which will be nice. Tonight Dave and I celebrate 4 years! CRAZY!!! I have yet to pick our dinner destination, but I'm sure it will be a great time, how lucky am I that he's stuck by me for all this time!!

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!

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!