Race Week!

Race Week is here!

It's time to start the usual habits: checking the forecast a dozen times a day (will it rain or not????), trying to decide what to wear (so far, I only have my socks, shoes, hat and sports bra picked out), and making arrangements to meet friends after the race (by the fountain like last time!).

This past weekend, I also got an unexpected addition for Saturday's run - a new necklace with my running mantra:

I don't normally wear jewelry while running, unless you count Tjom, my Garmin, but I can't not wear a necklace that has the very words I tell myself when I'm struggling the most.

I'm excited about the newest addition to my running outfit, and hopefully I'll decide on some bottoms and a top soon (don't worry, I won't show up with out them).

ps - currently, 20% chance of rain on Saturday. 

A Rare Blog about an Actual Run

Ok, so that 4 mile run I was talking about was actually 3.75. A good friend of mine calls those a "bordreaux" 4 miles ... in other words, round up.

That run was the first time in a minute where I had felt like going out for a run. I didn't take my watch, I didn't take Tjom, I didn't really take anything.

(Ok, so not event taking my roadID wasn't very smart)

I just went out the door and started running. I walked when I felt a little winded, but other than that, I ran most of that distance, which hasn't happened in a long time. It makes me think I might be able to do better at HHR than I have previously anticipated.

The run itself wasn't anything exciting. It simply felt nice to be out there. I was wearing a new tank top that I thought might be a good choice for race day. I'm glad I decided to test it out because I was WRONG! That tank is great for yoga and lifting, but not for running.

Back to the run ... I don't know my splits, but I know I felt good on the rolling hills, my hip and butt weren't screaming in bloody agony at me, so what more can you ask for?

I tell you what you can ask for: about 5 more runs that feel just as good. Or better. I'll take runs that feel better than that one.

A Very Honest Check-In

Sorry for the awful resolution. Apparently, I really do need to update my iMovie software ...

Catching Up

You know you've been a bad blogger when you get a private Facebook message saying that you haven't posted in awhile.

Whoops.

This is what happens when one gets busy at work :).

So here's a quick scoop on what's been going on:

I think my scare about piriformis syndrome was just that: a scare. I'm a bit melodramatic and I definitely went a little overboard with my worrying. I simply had to make some modifications to my lifting routine and things have been pretty darn good since. Of course, all of my longer runs have been Jeff Galloway style, but hey, it keeps me on the road and that's all I really care about.

I ended up taking a good 8 days off from any workouts because of a few days with a bad migraine and then a long weekend trip to Portland, Oregon to catch up with a former roommate I haven't seen in 5 years. On the plus side, we did a lot of walking and hiking in Portland. On the minus, we also did a fair bit of drinking. Loved every minute of it, though!  Hopefully I'll have some amazing photos to share soon!

We are just over 3 weeks from Hospital Hill Run. Despite the knowledge that my sub-60 10k goal is completely out the window, I'm still incredibly excited for the race. Race day is always my favorite. There's such electricity in the air at the start and the feeling of crossing the finish line is still one of the best feelings I've ever experienced. I have a handful of friends who are also running, which always makes the day that much more fun.

While out on my last long run, I found myself thinking about the marathon. I had just put all of my training runs through October on a calendar to hang on the refrigerator before I went out for that run. I found myself getting excited for the entire process. I know about halfway through I'm going to wonder what the heck I got myself into, but I just keep thinking about that finish line. It's always the finish line that gets me through any doubts. My only sadness about my choice for my one and only marathon is that my dearest friends from the Loop won't be there. I know they will be with me in spirit though.

Next week I'm taking some new kicks (Mizuno WaveRider 15s) out for a test run. I've been waiting over a year for those puppies to go on clearance and sccoped them up from RunningWarehouse about a month ago. I figured it was time to start breaking them in so they will be good to go for marathon training. I usually don't track mileage on shoes but I think I might for these puppies.

And that's about all I know right now.

Dave, I hope that's good enough for you ;)