Running Gods Smiled

This morning the running gods smiled on me.  Best run I have had in over 2 weeks.

No one said it would be easy but it can be rewarding if you can get past the fumbles. This past week i have felt defeated by the prospect of running a half in October, "What did I get myself into?" Now I am a bit behind in my training program according to Hal Higdon, but not so much that I will let it get me down.

I am very excited about the 10K this Sunday, it is practically in my back yard. Going over the bridge and back might not be great, but it has to be better than the Gansett Run.

This morning I was watching the Today Show and Gone Baby Gone, to say I was a bit over stimulated is an understatement. As a girl with ADD that is the best way to keep me going. I have already admitted to be a total crybaby (Here is a question, does cardio enhance emotions?)  There was a story entitled Dream Wedding, which perked my interest as Gavin and I are planning on tying the knot some time in the near-ish future. I should have known that this story was going to be a tear jerker. A San Francisco couple was getting married before the bride died of terminal cancer. The strength of both bride and groom is astounding and if it doesn't make you tear up, take your breath away and not take advantage of the life you have all at once, I don't know what will. Heart breaking and inspiring all at the same time. The whole thing really made me pick up my pace, I should just consider having The Notebook on repeat when I start on my long runs.

My attempt at taking a picture of a double rainbow... not sure you really get the effect.

Workout: TM 3.15 miles / 34 minutes

Gansett Running Festival... I would do it again, with company

So my ill prepared 10k went better than expected. (Mind over matter)

We crossed the start line at 9:35 am so I am using my time minus 5 minutes.  That gives me a finish time of of 1:10:31.

A whahoo is in orderd... Whahoo! I wasn't concentrating on the time the entire run.  There was a bit of a last minute change with the event officials and they changed where the start line was so I am not sure exactly how accurate the markers for the 10K was, but my focus most of the time was getting to the second lap, the finish line and most importantly staying hydrated.  I have said before I don't like to stop at the water stations, but when it is 80 plus degrees I made it a priority and I sipped that water even if it meant walking a bit (not going to lie, it was a welcomed break.) Plus I hate causing myself to choke, and it is inevitable.

I also didn't carry my phone for the first time in a while, I just knew that between the heat and the distance I would get fed up easily.  I think this is a sign that the GPS watch is necessary.

I started out strong, the course was a loop around the campus once for the 5Kers and twice for the 10Kers I didn't think I would like it but once I (finally) made it to the second lap it was kind of nice knowing how much more there would be. They had us run past up the most annoying hill 3 times, I visited Stonehill back in  early 20s when I knew people going to school there and I didn't remember steep hills, but I am here to tell you one exists.

What goes up must come down, so when I was coming down the hill to start my second lap I was able to pass this couple that had managed to run the entire thing up to that point.  I spent most of the race up to the half way point behind them marveling at their ability to just keep going. Since I had already fallen short of "running" the whole thing I was truly impressed and a bit disappointed with myself. I couldn't help but comment on how great I thought they were.  Although, then my social anxiety kicked in and I realized now that I made that comment I could potentially keep their pace for the rest of the race and did they really want me running with them?  Would we become besties and find lots of things to talk about while we all commiserate over the heat? No, instead I made it more or less awkward and sped past them.  I had a second wind knowing that there were less than 3 miles to go.  That last lap felt pretty good!

I made that last/third effort to make it up the hill and and rounded the corner to the finish line where some very unflattering pictures were taken of me. I like to envision myself like this:

When in reality, I looked like this... 

The best thing about crossing the finish line other than being done, was Yasso, the frozen yogurt bar people had a truck with FREE Samples.  I love free things! I honed in on the coconut flavor and hobbled ran away. I was alone, Gavin had better things to do that day, like sleep, and didn't make the ride 45 minutes south to watch me jaunt past him 3 times in the course of an hour and not be able to have even one beer.  They only had beer for runners, because giving beer to the most dehydrated group makes the most sense. I snagged a water bottle and all the snacks and juice I could carry and wondered back to my car. Second favorite freebie, Kind (maker of organic nutrition bars) makes the most amazing coconut almond bar! (I think you can tell I like coconut by now)

So with the goal to be more like the couple I saw I quickly signed up for 10K number 2.  Here I come Bridge and Back 10K in my neighboring town of Salem, MA! This time even if Gavin doesn't want to get up for the 8am start time he can meet me at 9:30 for some breakfast.  

It has become an Obsession

I have signed up for my first half, which inspired me to start this blog as the few of you reading my know.
Saturday I booked the flight to San Jose, where the Rock’n’Roll  (aka my very first) Half Marathon will take place.  This is getting real!

Workout: 3.42 miles / 37 minutes

Although I haven’t hit any significant distances why am I obsessed with  running more of them, I am so close to signing up for a second that I am starting to worry about my sanity.

Today is National Running Day, I actually planned so that running was in my schedule for today. Also, to celebrate the big day, the good people over at RnR have decided to give out $20 off your next race if you sign up today. I am on the verge.  I have been eyeing the Savannah one for weeks (Love that city), but it is pretty much a month after my first and I feel like that just might be too soon. Not to mention the logistics of getting down there and staying over. (The official Kibosh!)

That leaves St Pete, FL (2/9/2014) which would be a great winter get away or Washington, DC (3/15/2014) I am leaning towards DC. I can drive there, I have family a few hours away, and when I did my internship in DC I would run along the Potomac and LOVED every minute of it, even taking my lazy butt back home on the Metro. Lastly, Gavin might actually be able to take time off to go down with me.

Me being as touristy as possible! (I think I nailed the look)

Places I would love to run by… and I used to run by.

OK, so the MLK Jr Memorial didn’t exist in the days I interned there, but you can see TJ in the distance.

Do you think it is too soon to commit to something that far in advance?  Plus, what if I hate the whole half experience?

Even if the first one sucks they can only get better, right?

In other news I signed up for my first 10K the other day, part of the Narragansett Running Festival. Now if you are thinking the town in Rhode Island or the arch nemesis of my high school in field hockey team you would be mistaken. It is the beer company and I did it more for the after party than the actual run… although if I had known it was 2 loops around the Stonehill College campus.I might not have signed up. I get bored easily so looking at the same thing twice might not be as much fun as I thought.

Last obsession is the Ragnar Relay on the Cape.  I volunteered at it this past year where I managed to get a black eye.  (stunning self photography)


As much as I promise people not to share my black eye misfortune I can’t seem to get 11 other people as excited as I am to run 3 separate legs of 5-7 miles overnight through the mean streets of Cape Cod. Go Figure! (And when I say mean streets of the Cape, I am referring to the wild turkeys, I  hear they can really eff you up!) 12 people, 2 vans, 2 days and 1 night of running, what else could you ask for?  Oh and from what I saw, a whole bunch of crazy.

Look at the swag! (They double as bottle openers)

{Ragnar Cape Cod's Facebook page}

Who is with me? It is the first weekend in May 2014 SOOO much time to train.