Motivation

I'm having a hard time finding motivation to run in bad weather...  Anything helps.

Getting Ready

First day running in 8 days.  I felt like a newbie at first.  I was stiff and felt like it'd been a lot longer of a break.  Why does being sick knock you back so hard?!  Next week I know I'm going to have a little bit of a delay again because medical issues, so this week I'm going to kick my own a$$ in the running arena.  Anyway, I made Matt run with me which helped me to push myself a little harder.  We made it just over 3 miles (with our Starbucks stop).  I love stopping into the coffee shop, it's like we have out own little cheering squad :D 


I also have a running partner for the You Go Girl half marathon!  My sister is going to run with me, which makes me super happy!  Now if I could just convince my little sister to join, this would be even more legendary.  Next week is also the  Jelly Bean virtual race which Matt and I will be participating in.  This will be a challenge because I've never done a race without all of the ropes and groups and what-not.  I'm pretty excited.  Hopefully I'm feeling up to it :0

So this last weekend I got to spend with some very important people in my life.  My dad made an Irish dinner for us so we met up at his house with one of my sisters, her husband, and my oh-so-adorable nephew.    Needless to say, he has his Aunt Di Di wrapped quite tight around all of his little fingers.  I had such a great time seeing my family.


Well, I'm going to sign off and get ready for work.  It feels good to be back.


D

Sickies

So the running is on a halt right now because I'm sick... and I'm super bummed because I was finally at that place where I wanted to be.  I'm itching to get back out there, and every day I feel like I'm losing muscle (I know I'm not, but still).


Stupid colds, and people who spread them. :(


D

I Think I Can

I had to work all day yesterday, so I wasn't able to join the world in running a Shamrock Run, and I didn't think I minded, especially after all of the stupid snow, until a runner came through for coffee after the race.  She was decked out and said that she wasn't feeling well this morning, but pushed anyway, and now she feels great!  I was genuinely happy for her!  Then it hit me how much I wish I'd been able to run.  Now, I've had my moments of getting choked up over half marathon stories, and wishing I could do another one, but hit was hard.  It's like I Finally have my "runner" back!  All I wanted to do was go home and do a long run.  Pound it out.  


Well, when I got home (STOKED to have my favorite dinner ever, Corned beef) I was truly disappointed to find out the meet never cooked because the crock-pot stopped working 1/2 way through.  Matt offered to go find take-out from an Irish Pub in Kent, or make me anything.  We ended up driving around until we decided to go to Red Robin (yumm) and do our own St Patty's Day dinner later.  I still didn't get my run in.


This morning I woke up and jumped to the window to check the weather.  Rain.  Oh well, for the first time I don't feel held back by the rain... again, my "runner" is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!


YEEHAAWWW!!!!  (I don't know, that seemed like the thing to say)

A pretty dose of Sunshine from Matt to make me feel better with all this crappy weather <3

Enjoy your day!


D


PS: I just got back from my run, and I ran THE Hill!  First time getting the whole hill running :)  AND I'm trying Nuun for the first time.  I was skeptical, but it's actually pretty good.  Thanks "other bloggers" for the suggestion.

Nothing Like A Quicky

I wasn't going to run today because I'm pretty sore from yesterday.  I got to work and T, another runner chick I work with, asked me to run with her tonight.  She said it would be a short run because she's trying to pick up her pace.  I figured it wouldn't hurt me to get out for a short, fast run. I feel GREAT!!!  According to her device (I've never run with a pacer), we started at a slow 10:13, but ended with an 8:39.  It FELT like we were doing the 8:39 the whole time, I'm going to blame the wind we were running into at the start of our run.  My competitive spirit came out strong tonight when I noticed that I wasn't breathing as hard, and I still felt like going, at the end of our run.  I was actually feeling pretty damn awesome.  This means I'm actually getting INTO SHAPE!!!!!!!!


What a wonderful way to end my day.


Tomorrow?  Maybe a nice, slow, long run with the fiance.  In the mean time, ice for my knees.

Oh yeah, Matt's posing ;)

D

My Hips Don't Lie

As I got up this morning I was extra determined to run today.  This week has been pretty pathetic on the distance side of things.  About the time I was going to get ready, I looked out side as it was starting to pour.  I don't mind running in rain, but showers are another thing, especially when the wind is blowing.  That's when I gave the weather the bird (yes, actually flipped the rain off).  I decided that today would be a good day to run some errands. This means I had to drive around to find the Target all on my own (scary!).  I managed ok, even found some back roads home, which I'm claiming was on purpose, and got home about... 3 hours before I expected to.  Shit.  I've been very tired of sitting at home on my days off.  That's the worst part of moving in my opinion.  You don't have friends yet that you can call/text up and say hey, lets hang.  I digress.  Anyway, I was about to give in to the day and put on some chick flicks (this has been my activity of choice since moving here) when I glanced out the window.  THE RAIN HAD STOPPED!!! I threw on my running stuff and hit the road.  I was determined to make it further than the 3 miles I've been stuck on.  During my run I saw pretty flowers, lots of birds, (sigh) and LOTS of RAIN!  Yeah, as soon as I got about 1 mile into the run, it started to rain, and the wind picked up again.  I pushed on (I'm so strong).  I ran until I was too tired to go further, and my stomach hurt (don't eat lunch then run, do it the other way around).  I gave up and went home.  


You'll never guess how far I ran...


5 MILES!!!!!!!!!!  This is the first time since my half marathon Jan '11 that I've run this distance.  I know it's not much, but I feel great knowing that once again, I'm on track!!!  This has definitely given me the momentum I've needed to keep pushing myself!


Best song of my run?  "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira
What's your favorite song to workout to?


:)


D

What I Learned This Morning

So I didn't run yesterday and I was all ready to run today, pumped up, long run... YAAAYYY!!!   Then I opened the window....


SNOW?!?!?!    


So on my "run" today I learned some things:


1. No matter how cool I think I may look running in the snow (oh yeah, I just know people are thinking "wow! such determination", not "what an idiot!") I'm terrified!  I'm pretty sure with every step that I'm going to fall on my ass and it will be in front of a group of high school boys, and the world will laugh.  


2. I don't like HS boys... They do stupid things like spin the tires as you run by and scare the living daylights outta me.  And they smell.


3. How much I hate snow.  I really, really, really do. I hate it.


4. No matter how much I hate snow... I still think it is beautiful.  Not where I live, in pictures and on mountains.

My Porch @ 8 am (after said run)

The Hood

So now that I'm done being a debby downer, my run wasn't long, and I did stop at my local Starbucks for my coffee (which always makes me happy), but I feel good for getting out.


I've also found a few girly half marathons this year that I am going to register for as soon as I convince my baby sister to do them with me.  I'm pretty stoked for that!  I even pulled out my old half technical shirt to wear running (I've kept it hidden out of shame from not keeping-up my runningness.  I didn't want it to judge me).


So that's all for today.  If anyone has any tips for running in the snow, or really any running tips at all, please share.  I'm always up for running ideas.


D

Don't Drink and Run

Oye.  Last night we went to an anniversary dinner for Matt's fraternity alum.  Needless to say there was beer, and wine... 

Mmmm. Beeer.

We were out "late" for us old folk and when I woke up this morning, knowing that I needed to get a run in, I wanted to cry.  I don't drink as well as I used to (read: as often, therefore I can't drink as much and be ok the next day).  My run this morning was only 2.5 miles. WOOO!   

I feel like crap.  I need bacon.

D

Running with Friends

So today was a great running day!  Matt and I ran together (always a treat) and ran almost the whole hill (599ft elevation)!!!  Before this, I'd only been able to run off-and-on about 1/3 of the hill.  I had to stop about 50ft from the top because I'm pretty sure my lungs were going to climb out of my chest.  To make up for the walking-of-the-hill that I did do, I made us run longer/further than we usually do :)  (I'm very proud of this because Matt, who can run farther and faster than me anytime, was lagging behind)!!!


This morning the sun was out, the sky was clear and there was no wind at all, AND it was the first time since moving here that I did NOT have to wear a jacket!  Super yay!!!


I'm feeling very pumped up about today and I just might commit to a half :)


Running just makes me feel so good!


D


PS:  I just mapped my run, because I don't use a Garmin or anything, and it was 4 miles!!!  EEEE!  I haven't done that is quite a while :)

Blurg

Blurg.  After two days off from running (yes, only two), I ran this morning.  It was clear and beautiful, but I couldn't warm up for some reason.  I was tight and felt like I was tripping the whole run...

At least I got out to do it.

I've decided that I'm going to start training again for a second half :)

Any pointers for getting past that feeling of running in wet pavement?

D

Is it weird that reading blogs about people running motivates me to get off my A$$ and run?  I think there is a little irony in that.  Anyway, I didn't run yesterday because Matt had this brilliant idea to go for a bike ride.  When I ride a bike, I like a nice, leisurely ride.  This is why I adore my cruiser bike.  I hate bike races and I'm terrified of going fast down a paved hill. I'll go somewhat fast down a dirt/grass trail, but if it's paved, I'd rather walk or run.  Anyway, so we go for this "fun" bike ride which involves a steep downhill on pavement.  I made it alive knowing that at the bottom would be that flat and safe trail to ride on.  One glitch... that trail didn't go very far.  We couldn't figure out where it started!  We've seen bits of this trail on different roads, and knew it had to be there somewhere, but we couldn't find it.  So back UP that hill. Stupid hill.  I made it about 100 ft, and had to walk.  


So yeah, I got my workout, kinda, but now the butt trauma that I'm experiencing is making me not want to run today, which I really, really, really need to do.  


Does anyone else have problems like this?  Am I alone in my feel of paved trails going downhill?  


Ok, getting up to go for my run... We'll see how long this one is.


D

"Long" run

So I went for a longer run today (3.16 miles)!  Ok, so I know it's not that long, but for me, that's huge right now.  At first, I knew I that I wasn't going to make it very far because I'm still feeling crappy from yesterday and I was just feeling really heavy.  The more I ran, the l more I started to stretch out, and the more I decided to make it "just to that next post".  I ran all but 1/4 mile (up a VERY steep hill, and I did intervals to keep me going).


Normally at the top of this hill (I call it the butt lifter), I usually stop for coffee at my local Starbucks, and then walk home.  I tell myself it's my cool down, but I think we all know I've just decided to be done, and my coffee if quite important to me.  Not today!  I ran right past my coffee, and kept on going.  By the time I hit the top of the hill, I hit that point where I felt like I could just keep running forever.  I haven't had that feeling in a Loooooong time.  Talk about motivation to keep going.  Unfortunately, about a block before I hit home, my bladder decided I would not do another lap :(  Oh well, better to not push too hard.


Well, not much else for today...  I did decide after reading a blog yesterday that I need to try compression socks.


That is all.


D