January in Review

Where did January go?!?!

See the picture below for my ninja look for my 12 mile run today
Temperature: 17* (feels like 2* according to weather.com)
Running Gear: Underarmour tank top, Underarmour long sleeve shirt, lined Ashland University Cross Country windbreaker, my "I feel like a ninja" mask, Underarmour gloves, Underarmour tights, Nike Dry Fit running pants, and of course socks, shoes, and my garmin
Course: 6 miles out and 6 miles back through 3 cities (Avon, Sheffield, and Elyria) with several small hills (nothing like the hills in PA though)
Finish time: 1:59.50 (just under a 10:00 minute mile--not as good as last week, but I will take it since it is COLD).

January statistics:
95.08-- running miles
28.8-- elliptical miles
123.88-- total miles
151.4-- weight as of January 31, 2010
3-- number of scheduled miles missed due to illness (horrible migraine)
47*-- warmest outdoor run
17*-- (feels like 2*) coldest outdoor run

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!

Splish Splash 11 mile Dash....

Yesterday it was 47 degrees here! I set out at 8:30 AM for my long run. Of course there was a threat of rain but I decided to go for it so I didn't have to put in 11 miles on the treadmill. Within the first three miles of the run it started pouring. At this point I could have headed back home and finished my run on the treadmill but I figured I was soaked already so why not just finish the run outside. By the time I hit mile nine I was running through the puddles on purpose, acting like a kid again! The funniest part of the run was the drivers attempting to splash me. Really people, there is literally water dripping off the visor part of my baseball cap how could you possibly think splashing me would bother me at all at this point. I just kept on running and laughing and acting like a kid. It was fun! I was completely shocked that I managed to run a 9:51 mile pace for the entire 11.08 miles especially because the wind was so fierce at times that it felt like I was standing still.

When I got home from the run I was literally drenched with water still dripping off the visor part of my baseball cap. My shoes were soaked and making that "sloshing" (is that a word) sound. I realized at this point that my workout clothes were really heavy so I actually decided to weigh them to see how much extra weight I was running with. Turns out my workout clothes weighed 5.2 lbs (not including my shoes). I was talking to a friend last night at her daughter's birthday party about how I technically ran with an extra 5.2 pounds on my body. She looked me in the eye and said do I have to remind you how much extra weight you were carrying this time last year? I immediately realized she was absolutely right. Last year I was carrying an extra 42 pounds on my body so in the grand scheme of things, 5.2 lbs is nothing!!

Today is a scheduled rest day. Good thing because my legs are sore!!

Keep running, you're simply the best, you inspire me!

Migraines, Movies, and Mileage

Migraines- I came home from work on Thursday with a pretty bad headache. It turned "migraine" like within twenty minutes of being home. I had a 3 mile run scheduled but the thought of running made my head hurt ten times worse. Four motrin, two tums, some Monavie Active and a completely darkened room didn't even help aleve the pain. I had to make the decision to take an unscheduled rest day. I figured my health was more important and May is still several months away. I don't think that one missed day will ruin all of my marathon training. What I do know is that I feel awful for people that are prone to migraines. I get them "maybe" once a year. I don't know how people get through that pain.

Movies- Last night Deb and I took our daughters to dinner and a movie. We saw "The Tooth Fairy". It was a cute movie with a few slow moving points, but cute nevertheless. After the movie we let the girls pick dinner. After about ten minutes they decided on Fujiyama (a hibachi grill). The food there is always fantastic and very filling. I had intended to run my five miles when we got home from the movies. Unfortunately for me, when we got back to Deb's house to pick up my Trailblazer it had a flat tire. Deb's husband was nice enough to put air in my tire so that Kaelynn and I could get home safely. By the time we got home it was after ten and I was exhausted. I decided it best to call it a night and plan to run my five miles this morning. So yet again I took another unscheduled rest day yesterday. I had a hard time getting motivated this morning to complete the five miles on my normally scheduled day off. I put my lack of motivation out there on my facebook status update in the hopes of finding the motivation to get it done. Thankfully I have great family and friends that immediately started telling me to get my rear in gear and get out there and run. I finished the five mile run this morning feeling proud, accomplished, and sweaty.

Mileage- My current running shoes are just about tapped out mileage wise. I have a new pair of shoes waiting for me in the closet. The dilemma I am having is when to switch to the new shoes. I don't necessarily want to break them in tomorrow on an 11 mile run but I do have to break them in soon. The last time I broke in new shoes, I wasn't training for a marathon and I still ended up with blisters the first few times out. Anyone have any suggestions on the shoe front?

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!

Hills, Snow, and Rain Oh My!!

The kids and I headed out to PA this weekend for grandma's 80th surprise birthday party. It was great to have the family all together! The party was great and we were able to get a lot of pictures with grandma and her many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren! I packed outside running clothes in the off chance that the weather would cooperate for today's long run. I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to nice weather (well if you would consider 37 degrees nice weather). I put on my Garmin and out the door I went. I was cold at first, but was comfortable within the first five minutes of the run. My plan was to run five miles out and five miles back to get in my ten miles. I maintained that plan until I hit hill number eight at mile four. I decided to turn onto another street which was going well until I encountered hill number nine at mile five and a gravel road with snow and ice all over it. Needless to say that section of the run was my slowest mile (10:54) because I had to run with great caution as to not slip on the snow and ice. Miles six through nine included three more hills. At mile nine the sky decided to rain on my parade and of course add another hill to my day! So it turns out I encountered thirteen hills during my ten mile run today.

Now a question for all of the marathon runners out there. How do you mentally prepare yourself for the other 16.2 miles? I was quite tired after my ten mile run today. The furthest I have ever run in the last year is 13.1 (Cleveland and Columbus Half Marathons). While training for the half marathon I would take water with me but nothing else. I only drank water during the half marathons as well. I chose to eat a piece of peanut butter toast before my run today and I think it helped fuel me. I have no idea what to do when running further distances. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. Do I do the gel packs? Do I drink something besides water such as a sports drink? Any other tips?

Keep running, you're simply the best, you inspire me!

152, 18-20, 5...what a difference a year makes part 2

I decided to go ahead and take those jean pictures. I couldn't find the Women's 18 in my closet. So I have done sizes 16, 14, 12, and 10.


Women's Size 16



Women's Size 14



Women's Size 12




Women's Size 10

I would like to add that I can actually put on and button and zip a size 8 but they are tight in the hips. What do you expect after having two children? However, I will take it! I think I look pretty darn good!!

152, 18-20, 5.....what a difference a year makes part 1

152
My weight as of January 9, 2010. Down 42 pounds since December 2009. What a difference a year makes!!

18-20
The size snow pants I tried on last night. They were YOUTH size 18-20 and they fit except they were a little too short for my 5'9" frame. To think I wore an 18 in women's this time last year (I think I still have those jeans in the closet. I should put them on and take a picture!) WOW--again what a difference a year makes!!

5
The number of miles I ran on the treadmill last night. I chose to run intervals to make the time go by faster. I ran 18 X 400 (9 of them at 5k pace) plus my warm up and cool down. This time last year I wasn't running a single step. So, I will say it again...what a difference a year makes!!

Keep running, you inspire me, you're simply the best!!

Week 1 of training is in full swing!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I officially started training for the Cleveland Marathon this past Sunday. Sunday I completed an 8 mile run on the treadmill. Monday was my first day back to work after being off for 2 weeks so I was glad it was a day off from training. Tuesday afternoon I did a steady 3 mile run on the treadmill. I had my monthly massage appointment last night as well. While on the subject, I have a love/hate relationship with my massage therapist. He gives a great sports massage but he always seems to find sore spots. It never fails. I went in last night complaining of mild left shoulder pain when running. He was able to release the "hang up" on the shoulder (as he refers to it). After that he actually found sore spots in my hand of all places. Can I tell you how painful hand massage can be when they find a "hang up"? OUCH!! This is where the hate part of the relationship comes into play!! However, the love relationship came this morning when I woke up pain free with no muscle tightness. Gotta love that. Tonight I opted to cross train on the elliptical. I did 6.8 miles in 90 minutes. Not too bad. My feet did get numb once or twice but I was able to overcome that. Just takes some getting used to. Tomorrow calls for a 3 mile run and Friday a 5 mile run. Saturday is a rest day and that will complete week 1 of my marathon training. Believe it or not, I am actually looking forward to this challenge! Now, if it would just get a little warmer (less icy) out, I could get in a nice run outside. I miss running outside during the dead of winter!
Thank you for checking in and remember "you're simply the best" and "you inspire me".