I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

I came home to start my run, and lo and behold (drum roll, please!)

 MY GARMIN ARRIVED!!

 So I tore it out of the package and it had some charge in it, so I took it out on its maiden voyage.

Avg:  8:43.  Splits:  8:55, 8:55, 8:51, 9:01 (I had to wait at a stoplight and didn't know if stopping it would get me all messed up), 8:35, 8:26, 8:33, 8:26, (and 8:16 pace for the .09).

Totally awesome.  Now I really have to figure out what it can do!

Just an easy run. 

Avg: 9:46 pace. 

I squeezed this run in after homework.  Nothing fancy.  Cold and dark.

I joined the Insane Runner Posse this morning.  Out the door at 4:42.  It took me a while to warm up, and by the time I was warm, my run was almost over. It was in the 20s with some wind (10 mph).

I probably had time for another mile, but I wasn't sure.  I walked in the door just as the alarm that I reset for hubby went off but I still was ready a little earlier than normal (it might be because I just threw my hair into a nice, wet ponytail).

Now I'm on the verge of a busy day:  work till 3 then a 2 hour break (probably errand running time) and class from 5-10.  Class tomorrow, too.  I may run before again, depending on what time I actually get to bed. 

avg: 9:24.  9:55, 9:45, 9:19, 9:03, 8:56.

Another early morning, but now that class is over and I'm back home, I'm really glad I ran early.  I was out the door by 5:16.  I was going to do an out and back, but then as I was running, I just decided that I could deviate from my normal route (since I would still know how far I was going--can you tell I'm still excited about the garmin?).

I felt quite warm after about the second mile and the rest of the run was comfortable, but uneventful.   I don't know how cold it was, but it felt about the same as yesterday.  I added a scarf and another layer on the bottom, but I was quite comfortable.  

Avg pace:  9:12.  Splits:  9:56, 9:36, 9:06, 9:09, 9:01, 9:00, 8:56, 8:44.

 I am running a race tomorrow afternoon.  I was thinking about playing with the heart rate monitor, but I think I'll probably wait until Tuesday. 

One of my classes is now over.  I still have to do 3 assignments for the other one.  Two are due tomorrow and I haven't started yet.  I'm not too worried.

I started with a 2.21 warm up.  I was running with a couple of kids, so we were running faster to start out with, but it wasn't a difficult pace--I could still carry on a conversation.  That makes me wonder if I should try to keep my easy pace closer to 9 min, but I think I should probably just go by feel.  Anyway, the kids didn't want to run as much as I did, so I left them after about 1.5, when they turned back to go towards the start.

I conned a kid into starting with me.  I wanted to have some incentive, you know, to save face if I felt like I was going to fall behind.  Actually, he ended up eating my dust after about 1.5 miles.  Apparently he's out of shape.

So I have bittersweet feelings about this race.  My time was 22:08, which is a PR.  But I had sorta hoped that I would break into the 21s, and I can pinpoint the exact 1/2 mile where I lost my mojo.

The start was 11 minutes late.  That was kinda annoying because I had pretty much lost my heat.  I took off my outer layer and left it in the car, and that would have been fine if I had started on time.

We started off fast, but it felt good.  The first mile was 6:49, which was probably too fast.  (But I struggle in small races where I don't have much time to warm up-- I just start fast because I don't really feel like I have time in a 5K to work into a progressively faster race.  I could be wrong, though.  Maybe I should try next time to start slower).  Second mile, where I ditched my racing partner, was 7:15.  I started to flag right before the end of this mile and then struggled into the third mile.  Third mile was 7:24.  Last .11 was 7:12.  I wish I could have gone faster on that last bit--maybe I could have dropped at least a few of the 8 seconds.

Then I did 2.13 to cool down, but I did the course backwards and stopped for about 30 seconds to chit chat with the water table people while I took the water that I shunned on the way over the first time.

I didn't stick around for results, but one of the kids brought my age division medal--2nd place.  I don't know my official time, but if it's any different I'll update my entry

I have been sneezing pretty much since then.  I think that the air is pretty dry--that's probably why. 

So, to sum up: I'm happy with my performance, but would have been ecstatic if I had just finished 9 seconds earlier. 

Update: 

My official time was listed at 22:07 and I was the 7th female out of a little over 100.

I ran some errands before I was planning on running and it didn't seem too bad out.  A light rain was falling and it was windy, but not ridiculous.  Then as I was leaving the store, the rain picked up, so I opted to run indoors on my gazelle.  Not really running, but I'm going to go ahead and count it anyway.  I worked out during the Illini game--they looked good out there!

I got a nice gift from my XC runners.  Part of it (just part, isn't that crazy?  there was a lot more) was a $100 gift card to my favorite shoe/running store.  So I went yesterday to get new shoes.  I also bought a pair of running tights, but this was a total impulse buy and I'm going to return them.  I'm a dork.

Anyway, as soon as I walked in, one of the salesmen that I always talk to when I go in (his name is Van, and it always takes me a minute to remember that.  I usually tell myself, "I know it's something unusual," and I rack my brain and can't come up with it.  And then I remember it when we are done talking) asked me, "Did you get your run in today?"  I laughed and told him that I was running inside when I got home, and he said that was everyone's response.  The wind was ridiculous.  Gusts up to 50 mph.  Driving on the interstate was touchy and slow.  

So when I got home I "ran" on my gazelle again.  I don't always feel like I get a good workout, but my heel has been bothering me anyway (probably because I needed new shoes), so I guess it has been good for the low impact.  I will not be running outside till Saturday, probably, but not because of the weather.  My husband has supervision stuff tonight and tomorrow.  So my mileage this week will be okay, but some of the miles will be not real running miles.  

And I have to admit that while I was running, I was flipping through the channels and I totally got sucked into--brace yourself--a Liza Minnelli performance.  Maybe it was her raspy voice.  Or her boyishly handsome tuxedoed backup dancers.  Or perhaps it was her red-sequined off-the-shoulder jumpsuit.  I don't know.  But I watched the last 20 minutes of the show and I could not change the channel for some reason.  And I was caught when my husband came upstairs.

After that was over I started watching NCIS (much more socially acceptable).

Then I needed to help with bath time, and I just ran out of motivation to get back to it after putting the kids to bed.

Another boring "run." 

Right after I started, Eli took his diaper off.  No big deal.  He's interested in the potty, but we have our countdown to no more diapers for next Saturday when break starts.  So when he said he wanted to go, I put him on the toilet and went back to working out.  He flushed.  He flushed again.  Then he comes out saying there was something wrong with the toilet.

When I went in there, he had tried to flush an entire roll of toilet paper. 

So I kinda lost track how long I was on.  I did some before the kids went to bed, but I was interrupted.  And then I did some after they went to bed.  Altogether it was at least 80 minutes, but I went a little longer to be sure.  I'm just counting it as 8 miles.  I have no idea.

Another day inside tomorrow, then it's outside again.

Tomorrow it's back outside.  

Had a decent run until the end.  Some cramping at around mile 5, and then it hit me pretty hard right around the start of mile 8.  Was running at 9min average and then the last mile or so was mostly a run, but I had to walk a couple times to ease the cramp.  Made it inside just in time.  Now life is good.  I did, though, forget to stop my watch at the end of my run, so while I know my last registered mile was 9:44 (combo run/walk), I don't know my overall avg.

8 inside.  I will be outside the rest of the week.  I'm glad.  Most of my miles will be normal miles this week.

8 exactly.  It was very, very cold starting out.  18 degrees, 6 with the 10 mph winds.  I was perfectly dressed--I moved my scarf to completely cover my face and that worked quite well until about 2 miles from the end when I started to sniffle more hardcore than before.  And every time I sniffled I suffocated on my scarf.  So I took it off and I was okay then for the end.

I'm pretty sure that I started running before the watch picked up a satellite, but I'm too lazy to figure out how to look at my map (I still haven't really had time to play with this watch yet).  But I find it hard to believe that my first mile was 10:02 and then the rest of my splits were 8:50 and under.  

Finals begin tomorrow.  I have been grading nonstop for the past two weeks, and I only have 3 days to grade feverishly before I get a little break...then I will be in heaven.  I teach rhetoric to high school seniors. All of my classes are turning in a writing portfolio and then my AP classes will be doing a timed essay.  I will be on schedule if I can grade 30 portfolios tomorrow.  Don't know if that's going to happen.

But the nice thing about finals week is that I have early dismissals for the rest of the week.  I'm going to run at around 2:15 the rest of the week, provided I get enough work done at school to leave as soon as the finals are over. 

Easy run in the cold.  Didn't look up the temp, but it was like yesterday, but less wind, I think.  I ran right before dinner and just stayed in the neighborhood and ran an out and back.  It was quiet and uneventful.

It was a balmy 40 degrees.  I was actually excited when I heard it was going to be 40.  But you know what?  40 is still pretty cold :)

A former student wanted to run with me.  I ran with her once before and was not exactly looking forward to it.  She's pretty slow.  But in the spirit of Christmas, I decided to run with her.

And it was really slow.  Painfully slow.  But once I just decided to go with it and not grouse about it in my mind, we had a pleasant conversation.  She had to stop to walk a couple times.  No big deal.

After about 6 miles I ran ahead a bit and told her I'd meet her at the parking lot.  I did another 2 on my own.  Those two were fine.

We ran at the trails in Mahomet.  It was pretty muddy.  It is mildly hilly there, so I got in some hills (don't be impressed.  For you guys out west, they were probably like speed bumps).

Approximately 6.  It was a day of grading, but I didn't need to worry about the kids, since my BIL and SIL took them to the movies.  So when I got home from school, I decided to just sit for a while.  Then I got up off my duff and ran.  Garmin was charging, so I just ran for time.  Cold and windy, but bearable.

I really thought this run was over 10 miles.  It kicked my butt.

Powdery snow on the ground.  Around 30 degrees, 21 degrees (with wind 12 mph).  There were gusts of 19 mph.  The seemed to only blow in my face, not at my back.

I did a 2 mile warm up, 8 intervals of 3 min fast/3 min slow, and then ran back home about 2.25 miles.  At the end I felt beat down and the wind was blasting in my face.  Avg. pace:  9:04.  (Faster portions:  8:05, 7:31, 7:15, 7:39, 7:59, 7:52, 7:46, 7:58--this last one I had to slow to wait for a light, but it probably didn't make that much difference).

Now it's off for a day of cleaning, grading, churching, and then a holiday party!

I was inside. It's a shame.  It was a gorgeous day outside, but I was doing Christmas stuff till late.  I bought my oldest some inline skates (very excited about that) but I accidently got him girl ones.  Now I have to drive 20 miles to exchange them.   GRRRRR.

36 degrees, 13 mph wind.  It was pretty nice--I took off my scarf and gloves.

An exact 10.  I had to add on a little just to get there.  I was running along the same route that I did last week for intervals, and then I decided that I didn't want to run the last 3 miles against the wind.  So I turned into my neighborhood, but it still was running into the wind for the most part.

Avg. pace:  8:44.  9:21, 8:53, 8:46, 8:44, 8:50, 8:29, 8:38, 8:43, 8:30, 8:26.  I felt pretty good.

Potty training is no fun.  We just put Eli in underwear and he has been peeing all over the place for the last 3 days.  He's made it to the toilet a few times.  But not enough to count

I was dizzy this morning.  Thought about not running, took a nap, and then decided to go out.  I didn't push (avg. 9:37), just ran.  It was not too cold, but wet and windy. 

I wore my old shoes and didn't realize it until I was 1/2 mile into the run. 

Now I'm back to dizzy again.

Tomorrow morning I gotta get out early otherwise I won't run...

Ahhh.  The right shoes today.

I woke up at a little after 4 (not on purpose) and listened to the rain, all the while dreading the sound of the alarm.  I might have slept a bit more, but I finally got out of bed at a little after 5 and dragged my feet till about 5:30 before finally heading out.

It was 37 degrees with 16 mph wind.  As I was running I saw crazy Que (a 60 year old woman who, until about 5 years ago, was always one of the top women in the area) running with a resistance chute on the track.  Did  I mention she's crazy?

I wasn't sure how long I wanted to run today.  Once I got out there I decided that 8 sounded better than the 6 I was originally planning. Avg. pace:  9:30. 

I'm off to breakfast with my husband's family and then it's off to Chicago for my family get-togethers.   We'll be there till the 29 or 30.  Here it's raining, there I think it's icing, so I hope it's all clear by Saturday.

Merry Christmas everyone!

This was actually one of the best runs I've had in a long time.  It was snowing, and according to the weather channel, 14 degrees with the 13 mph winds.  I actually felt quite toasty.  My socks (2 pair, outer ones smartwool) were soaked when I got back in, but I didn't feel it out running.  

This was around Riverside, over about 4 inches of snow-covered sidewalks.  Some of the sidewalks had been previously shoveled, some not.  I only slipped once.  I passed the sledders in Swan Pond twice.  If I had snow boots for the kids, I'd take them out.  Maybe tomorrow I'll run out and get some.

Throughout most of the run, a plane was circling Midway.  Poor people.  I can still hear a plane circling now.  I hope it isn't the same one, but it probably is.  Visibility is bad--it was flying quite low.

Anyway, my pace was pretty good for slogging through the snow.  Avg. 9:18--and it felt nice and easy.

It was an Underarmor Christmas, but I didn't wear any of it today.  I might have to return one shirt, but I think I'll get some more tights instead.

Not as easy as yesterday.  Snowy--none of the sidewalks were clear.  I'd say there were about 5 inches or so.  But it was still a good run.  

I had to steal April's data, since my watch took a while to connect with the satellite.  

It was fun to finally meet April!  And we went with her brother too.  It was a nice conversational run where we discovered a number of coincidences:  among them, April used to live a few blocks from my parents house and used to go to the Presbyterian church where I used to go to youth group and (I forgot about this one) where I went to preschool.  Small world. 

It was cold and windy, but still a nice run.

This was not a good run.  I ran 7.6 outside at an incredibly slow pace.  The sidewalks weren't clear, I was feeling sluggish, and the last 2.5 miles I had to go to the bathroom terribly.  Then when I got home (because my husband needed to leave) I ran on the gazelle to make it an even 10.

This was a great run to make up for yesterday.  I started off faster, feeling good and just kept it, even though I wasn't sure I could.  Some sidewalks were still not clear, so I pushed the pace when it was clear and tried to stay on my feet when it wasn't.  I did fall once, about 1/2 mile from home, but I was on the ground before I realized I had fallen, so I was more surprised than hurt.

Avg pace:  8:40.  Yesterday's average was something like 9:53.