Marathon Training is Underway!

OK, so today marks the "official" start of my marathon training. I'm pretty psyched about it! But, technically I did not run today.

I had to come in to work early today for a project. I can't actually trust contractors to have things ready for start-up when they were working on this stuff over the weekend. I've been burned one too many times with that!
That leads me to the question that begs to be asked... If I TELL a project manager to let me know if there are any problems, give him my cell # repeatedly, and then they have problems on Saturday afternoon, why doesn't he CALL??! I hate being surprised at start-up! Grrr!

~Vent Over~

Back to the subject at hand...
I'm pumped about this marathon training. This time, I intend to DO the training, not half-ass my way through it and skip half the long-runs and 75% of the weekday runs. I'm going to RUN, dammit! I'm going to see what I'm capable of. And, if I can drop 30 lbs or so, I'm going to qualify for Boston.
I realize that is what it will take. I've never ran well when I've put on weight.

I've ordered a fresh pair of running shoes, filled my kitchen with healthy stuff, and I'm rarin' to go!

Sesser Homecoming 5K

I can tell that everyone is on the edge of their seat with my indecision from last week. Unfortunately, I was having internet issues at home and couldn't post :-(

Of course, I chose the 5K race. It was Angie's birthday, there was celebrating to be done!

My 5K time was not as bad as it has been, but I've got some improving to do! I finished in 28:08.

It was hot, but the course was very nice, country roads with some rolling hills. This was the first year for this race, so they did have some issues... No water on the course, the miles weren't marked, the age groups were not standard (how can 35-50 be an age split?). All in all, it was a good race, though. I truly enjoyed the run, but I have to admit that I was mostly looking forward to checking out the winery down the road afterward, since I had never been there before.

The winery was nestled in the woods, and was very peaceful and made for an enjoyable time. What better way to celebrate Ang's birthday!?

"OFFICIAL" marathon training begins on Monday, June 30. I will probably be running the marathon in Columbus. We are now trying to get Angie (who has never run more than 5 miles) to try and complete the half. The more peeps on the road trip, the merrier, right?

Decisions, Decisions

Hmmm... Do I run a 5K race tomorrow morning, just down the road from a winery that I've heard positive reviews about... OR, do I run on my own at home and get in a longer run?

I'm leaning toward the 5K. And not because I love running 5K's.
They. are. torture.
Give me a Half Marathon any day. I was built for distance, not speed.

I have Monday and Tuesday scheduled off from work, so I can get some extra miles on those days. I have no plans for them at this point. I am sooooo looking forward to resting and cleaning my bedroom.

Perfect Weather and a Horrible Picture

Ah, I'm so witty in naming my posts these days, aren't I?

So, the weather outside is per-fect for running. It's been around 60-65 degrees when I wake up in the mornings, and the sun is just starting to rise.

Have I been running every day?

Absolutely not!

Ugh!

I will admit that I've been inconsistent, but I'm still running. I'm taking a few days off work sprinkled through the next 3 weeks. My plan is to use these days to get rested, get in a few extra miles, and kick-start my marathon training.

That, and there is NO WAY I will be able to take any days off in July, since I'll be neck-deep in a ginormous project at work. Blech! Seriously, what is the use in getting the extra week of vacation (my first year with the extra week) when you can't even schedule the time off?

Eh, I'd rather be busy than bored at work, I suppose... I just don't love the off-shift work during start-ups for these projects.

Here is a picture from Saturday's race. Very, very unflattering to me. I need to find some friends my size to be photographed next to... I think I outweigh these girls by at least 50 lbs!

And, ya gotta love that Barbie also ran the 15K and had time to change her clothes, but I just finished running...

Crossroads Dash 15K

This weekend's race was good and bad. I can't help but compare all of my races with previous experience. Last year's Crossroads Dash was a different picture than this year's. This 15K course is very hilly, and it doesn't start until 8am, which makes for a very hot race. I remembered that from last year as well.

Last year, I was no more consistent in my training than I have been this year. The difference last year is that I weighed about 25 lbs less than I did on Saturday. My time was almost 10 minutes slower! Proof positive (for me) that this extra weight is slowing me down! Grrrr!

On to the race report and off of the subject of weight (which is my obsession these days).

I picked Angie up on the way and we met at Barbie's house. We went from there to the race. There was also a 5K, which is the race Angie ran. It was only her 2nd 5K, and she managed a 31:30, awesome! Barbie did great as well, I think she ran a 1:14 for the 15K and won the master's division.

Even though I ran slower than I normally would, I was very pleased with my performance. I have been running my long runs extremely slowly lately and letting the heat get the best of me. For this run, I made myself run and not stop and walk every little hill. And, don't underestimate those hills. The hills in this race SUCK! And, there are far far too many of them. I did stop and walk at the water stations- I have a hard time drinking on the run, and needed the water! My time wound up being 1:36 (10:19 pace). Good enough for 2nd in my age division (gotta love these small-town races). Oh, and YES there were more than 2 runners my age!

After the race, we hung around until the Mexican joint opened and had our normal post-race Mexican food. Then, back to Barbie's house for some post-race wine. Yup, the run was worth it!

How I Spent my Weekend...

Since I obviously don't have much running to talk about this week (my sleeping has been all out of whack, AGAIN!- silly me, trying to wean myself off the sleeping drugs)- here are a couple of oh-so-exciting pictures from the weekend.

Good friends, and a few bottles of wine, Saturday afternoon...

Dave Matthews Band, Concert at Busch Stadium- Saturday night...

And now, feast your eyes... my weight has been up and down about 5 lbs for the past several weeks as I try to get my eating back under control. I now weigh 30 lbs more than my "normal" weight, and about 40 lbs more than my personal goal. I have come to the conclusion that the break-up last year had more of an effect on me than I originally thought. As a friend at work pointed out to me last week, I started gaining the weight last fall, about the time the whole thing started falling apart for the last time. Who'da thunk it?

This weight gain has been on my mind constantly since I started gaining it. And, hopefully, I'm going to be losing it and getting back to normal this summer.

Here's me, on Saturday afternoon, enjoying myself and not caring about how fat I think I am, for once.

I Got Tagged!

Well, here I am... I was tagged by Alice over at the Heffer blog.
I've been out of town for a few days, so I'll blog about my weekend later.
For now, I must follow the rules.


So, here are the rules of tagging:
Tagging is easy. Just copy the following onto your post. The rules of the game are posted at the start of your blog post. In this case, I'm asking you 5 questions about running. Each player answers the 5 questions on their own blog. At the end of your post you tag 5 other people and post their names. Go to their blogs and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been tagged and to look at your blog for details. When they've answered the questions on their own blog, they come back to yours to tell you. Got that?

1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
Ten years ago... I was just beginning to get into fitness. I didn't start running until October of 99.

2. What is your best/worst running experience?
Best running experience: That's a tough question, I've had a lot of great ones- my first marathon in Chicago (Lakeshore Marathon, May 2003) was awesome- great friends, fantastic accomplishment; Tunnel Hill in 2002, I was running the best times ever, and I just felt great; the Flying Pig last month was also a fabulous time- great friends, great race, even though my time was horrific.

Worst running experience: Ahhh, it was a 10K in the summer of 2004. I remember that much. I had drank about a 12 pack the night before, and it was probably 90 degrees at the start of the race. Just. Miserable.

3. Why do you run?
I am one of those crazy runner people that just loves it. I'm the person who is driving through the country fantasizing about how much I want to come back and RUN on this road.

4. What is the best or worst piece of running advice that you've been given about running?
When I first started running, my boyfriend at the time owned a gym. He had me on the treadmill a couple of times a week, doing tempo and/or speed work. At the time, I had no idea why he had me changing my speed so many times throughout the run. The more I learned, the more I found out that he was absolutely right on my training plan back then.

5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
I am a complete geek. I was at the top of my class in high school and went off to college with a full academic scholarship. My worst class back then was PE- I hated it. I consistently got a "C".

Who I am tagging:
I am going to attempt to tag people who haven't been tagged yet. I may be unsuccessful. I apologize for any double tags!

1- Viv at Excuse #1- You're not Fit to Run.
2- DoriAnn at Not Running from Life
3- Elysia at Diario de Elysia
4- Teresa at Run from the Pain
5- Karen at Clear Your Head

*Correction* I just noticed that a couple of these peeps were already tagged.
Ah well, I ain't changing it!

Trinity Run - Update

The race director for the Trinity Run called me last night to let me know that she was cancelling the race, due to "insufficient interest". She said they would try again next year. They can try again next year without me.

I'll be going out for a 10 mile run tomorrow morning instead, which is what I really wanted to do anyhow.

I just have to pass along my little victory for the week. My daughter and I go to the gym on Wednesday, and there is a new lady working. She sees us sign in with the same last name and asked us if we were TWINS! Like, she knew we had to be close to the same age, so we must be twins...

Yep, I've still got it!

Trinity Run - LAME

Last year, I ran this 5K because it's local and it benefits a youth sports program.
The race route is very nice, but everything else about the race was lame, lame, lame... obviously put on by non-runners.

I went ahead and registered this year to give them one more chance (this would be the 3rd). Last night, I was talking to Barbie and she had talked to the race director of this weekend's race (which I pre-registered for). The race director said that she was going to be busy on Saturday and might not even go (meaning there would be no race and no explanation)!! She said that less than 10 people were pre-registered anyway. HELLO!!??

You MIGHT want to tell us unfortunate pre-registered souls that BEFORE race day, so we aren't standing around at 8am waiting for the race to start, only to find out that we wasted the coolest part of the day trying to support a local race! UGH!

Now, I'm torn between trying to go there and run the stupid thing, and staying home and getting a longer run in. I hate running 5K's on my long run day anyhow!

Time Marches On...

First off, I had an emotional week last week. My little girl graduated from the 8th grade! How and when did she get so grown up!?
Now, I have one in high school. Wow.

On to the running... It was H-O-T this weekend. I got up and out the door before 7am on Saturday morning for my 9 mile run, and still thought I would die before I finished. I am NOT acclimated to this kind of heat and humidity yet. It was already 73 degrees when I finished my run, and sunny and humid. But, I managed it, v-e-r-y slowly. I was talking to myself the entire time about how I just want to get the miles, and I don't care if I have to WALK them. I probably wound up walking almost one full mile with all the walk breaks by the time it was all said and done. But, I got the miles done! Eventually, I suppose I'll get acclimated to this heat- I just wish it was a more gradual change!

On Sunday, my old friend Angie and I went to see the Sex and the City movie. Angie and I remained friends and kept in touch, but circumstances in our lives have kept us from spending a lot of time together over the past few years. We do meet up for lunch from time to time, but we used to be inseparable. I didn't realize how much time had passed until she came over and my 'little boy' came out of his bedroom and was probably 6 inches taller than her! Wow! Where did the time go? Am I really this old?

We had a fantastic time hanging out and seeing the movie. It was just like old times, and the movie was fabulous. It wasn't exactly what we expected, but I loved it nonetheless.

I suppose the entire past week has been all about how quickly time passes, while you're not even paying attention.