Randomness

I have a bunch of randomness to piece together today:

1. Last night, I had the Best. Steak. Ever. If you have a P.F. Chang's near you, RUN, don't walk, there and get this steak. It's not on the regular menu, but it's been on the "seasonal" menu since September at least. (Quite a few seasons) It was a New York Strip, medium rare, with a teriyaki sauce and spices crusted on the outside. Medium rare? Not my usual way to eat steak (medium), but that's the ONLY way they'll prepare this one. There is no asking how you'd like your steak. It only comes medium rare. And it is a beautiful thing. The brown rice, lettuce wraps, and spring rolls were yummy, too. Probably a 1500 calorie meal and worth every bite.

2. I met a fellow new runner today. She is 59-years-old. She took up running when she was 58, exactly one year ago this month. She was signing up for the 5K I'm helping plan. She's running 10-minute miles like me, and she always wins her age group. Her grandkids think she's cool. What an inspiration! (And I thought I started running kind of late.)

3. I ran 75 miles this month. It was my longest mileage, up 5 miles over January's total of 70. No wonder my knees hurt.

4. Last night, we drove the first 10 miles of the half-marathon course (then ran out of time due to play tickets). It was good to see what to expect, but also brought out the response, "Seriously??"

Why I Run

Sometimes it makes me feel like this: (and that's enough)




Thanks to Katie at Sister Skinny for posting this on her blog.



Doesn't watching that make you want to go run a mile or two?

New Pictures

The March blizzard (by Tennessee standards):

Silly (but adorable) hairstyles....

The whole family on the day of Nathaniel's baptism:

"A new creation."

Picture My Run

Here are some pictures from the trail about 20 minutes from my house. It's a very scenic place to run. (It's also where I lost my child for 20 minutes. See the March entry "Running While Panicking." Scary!) These are old railroad beds that were replaced with paved and wooden trails.

I've been to the trail a couple of times this month. The only problem with running here in the summer, I'm told, is the SNAKES. They meander across the path, probably hang from the trees, and swim in the water. What does a runner do when she encounters a snake on a bridge? Jump over it and keep running? (perhaps a little faster?)

My knees are still feeling the 12 miles three days later! I had a short recovery run this morning to try to relieve some of the stiffness and soreness. Luckily this is a drop down week.

Still Standing.... After 12 Miles!!

I ran my 12-miler and I feel fantastic! Ok, well, not fantastic-fantastic, more "pretty darn good for someone who ran 12 miles"- fantastic.

For the first time, I have no post-run tummy issues or chills. I don't know which part is the magic formula, but here's what I did:

7:00 a.m. breakfast bowl of Special K and cup of coffee
8:00 a.m. had 1/2 plain bagel
9:00 a.m. had 1/2 banana
9:15-9:30 6 or 7 oz. of Accelerade
9:30 a.m. begin running
Lots of water during the run---20 ounces by mile 8, plus 10 more. Also, 3 Cliff Shot Bloks and 1 Tropical flavored Hammer Gel.
5 oz. Accelerade after run and more water

We ran at an average 10:35 -10:45 pace each mile except for when we didn't (two port-o-potty breaks, two walking "fuel" breaks for water and gel/bloks, stopping at mile 8 to stretch). That brought down the average to 11:05 overall and a total of 2 hours, 14 minutes. If I can run that last 1.1 miles in under 16 minutes, I can squeak in at my under 2:30 goal. Of course, the start is going to be staggered for the 22,000 runners, and I'm sure I'm in one of the rear chutes, so that may get my time a little off. But, my Garmin will tell my true time. (After saying that, I'll probably forget it that morning!)

Three things that really helped:
1. I got my MP-3 from the car at 8 miles and listening to my songs really picked me up when I was struggling. I like "depriving" myself of the music until I really need it. Plan to use that strategy on race day.
2. Doublemint Gum. Having that (also at mile 8) energized me and made my mouth feel fresh.
3. Breaking up the mileage into small segments. We ran a 4-mile paved trail out and back. But mentally, it seemed like 4 miles, then 4 miles instead of 8. Then, after stretching, we ran out two miles and back two. Not adding up how many I'd gone or how many I had to go before finishing helped immensely. My mind concentrated on running 4 miles or 2 miles at a time, not even thinking about 12.

Common Ground

Last night I took an important step in my running life---- I joined the local running club.

I attended their meeting last month to check it out, but only a handful of people showed up and I didn't meet very many people. And honestly, I wasn't sure I really fit in. They were nice, but I felt somewhat out of place. I'm so glad I gave it a second chance. Last night, it was packed with runners of all shapes/sizes and ability/experience levels. I saw a few familiar faces from last time and met a couple of new folks. I found common ground with a mom of four who has been running about the same amount of time as me and who is about my pace. She's also training for the same half-marathon as me. Actually, pretty much everyone in that room is training for that same race.

It is going to be so neat to be a part of this community of runners and athletes. (Several are involved in duathlons and tri's, too.) The common theme is that everyone is crazy for running. Everyone is interested in being healthy and strong. There were people in their twenties up to people probably in their sixties! (Actually the youngest member was 7---- her parents are really involved.)

They run together once a week and one really experienced member is planning to do free speed training for the members on Saturday mornings to help us improve our 10K time (focus race in June), and then he's going to train us for the next half-marathon in October. In order to stay motivated in the upcoming hot, ridiculously humid Tennessee summer (so I'll be ready for the October race), it will be helpful to once again have a coach and a training group. That made all the difference in January when it was soooo cold. Plus, we are getting matching shirts, so at races people will know we are together! I am ALL ABOUT matching shirts. I think that was the biggest reason I joined my sorority in college---Alpha Delta Pi--- the cool matching shirts!

Yes, I'm a joiner. I'm not built to go through this life alone. I like to share my experiences with other people. As my pastor would say, I'm "relational." Not that I don't enjoy the rare instances of time alone, I just think joys in life are sweeter when shared.

10 Miles Ain't So Bad (Or Is It?)

It IS kinda bad, actually. I just completed my first ten-miler. I ran 9.2 about 3 weeks ago, but this is my first time in double digits. It makes the half marathon seem more doable. Though if someone told me I had to run 3.1 MORE miles at the end of that 10 today, I'd have probably sprayed them in the eye with my runner's mace. Or smacked them in the head with my Nathan Speedbelt 2 hydration system.

K. and I met bright and early for a morning run today. We were basically over dressed and under hydrated---- at the end of the run it was a pretty warm 65 degrees. I knew it was supposed to be warm, but I'm so used to long sleeves and long pants that I put them on out of habit. I completed 10 miles in 1:52:04. Overall pace was 11:12. (dang walk breaks!)

Speaking of walk breaks, we took a hydration/gel break at 3.1 miles for about 90 seconds, hit a port-a-potty at a construction site at mile 5 (it HAD to be done), and walked a minute or so around six-and-a half. Our last water stop was at 7.5, but we kept moving (walking) through it---though we did pause to stretch a bit. The last three miles were tough. But we made it!

As I type, I'm sitting on the bed with frozen bags of golden niblets on both ankles and knees drinking a glass of Accelerade Advanced Sports Drink which claims to "speed muscle recovery, reduce muscle damage, and enhance rehydration." Great, my muscle recovery needs to speed up, my muscle damage needs to be reduced, and my rehydration needs to be enhanced. Win-Win-Win! Oh, I forgot to mention the taste..... Nah, it's not too bad if you drink it really, really cold.

Am I a runner yet??? Because of the walk breaks, many would say I am not. Galloway's article below still pegs me as jogger. But I think 10 miles should count for something!