Packed for Disney...

Well today is the day we leave for Disney!!

It's been raining cats and dogs here. In fact the wind was blowing so much last night that we lost power for about an hour...of course I was awake for that hour (4:30 am - 5:30 am) cause the fan turned off and I felt like there was a flashlight shining on my face (in fact just the iPod from the clock radio clicking on).

Scout has been taken to the kennel...he was so HAPPY to be there with his friend Ebony. Normally Kim comes and watches him, but since she is doing the race to we decided to board the boys together. They are going to have fun at camp.

I think I'm ready. Pretty sure I have everything I need....plus some. We'll see if I forgot anything when we get there.



Saturday is the race! It is supposed to start at 10pm. So I'm super excited about getting there and having this fun run, plus just a good time in Disney.

It's getting closer.....

I bailed on my run yesterday...the rain did not help. I actually don't mind running in the rain (as long as it's not to hard) but driving downtown to do the run with the group was not in the cards. That means I'll be making up that run tonight! *smiles* Although this morning would of been a perfect time to run. I took Scout out for his walk and it's beautiful out (clear and cool with a slight wind to ward off the humidity). Ohh but I work today to no run in the a.m.. This is my last work day until Disney. WOO HOO!! Hopefully it won't be to crazy!

I started getting some of my stuff together....working out what clothes I need to bring and what supplies I need to bring. I'm so ready to go do this!!

Need more bike rides....

So this week we did a night run on Friday.
It didn't go so well. Eating at 6-6:30 and running at 8 was a little hard on everyone's digestive system. I think though that if we ran at 10 pm it would be okay. I guess for Disney as long as we are done eating our last "meal" before 6:15 pm we will be fine. I also had a massage on Friday which I think messed up my run a little to. My massages aren't the relax and be pampered type....they are the painful and make my body work type. I've had a really stiff neck lately, I don't know if I'm just carrying stress or all the impaction on my spine is finally catching up after this summer of mega running. All my other weird muscle stuff is happening as well. My piriformis is still a mess, my post tib tendons (both ankles) are acting up a bit, you know it's the end of a long training summer. Good thing this week is fairly easy (2 x 3 mile runs).

Saturday I got on my bike again and did a ride with my friend Kim. Yes...run on Friday night (about 6 miles), ride on Saturday morning. Maybe not the best plan. Usually our shortest rides are 30 miles...because that is our base. However we (read I) decided to do a 20 mile ride. N. Raleigh is hilly and taking to much time off my bike makes it harder. YIKES. Okay so at least the average wasn't to bad....even though it didn't feel great while I was riding. 16.8 mph. Kim had a faster ride, but she's a better rider than I am. Also she was very gracious to let me end a little early, and just happy to have someone out there riding with her. Kim's Mom was in a pretty major bike accident (which I talked about earlier on here) and had to have an elbow replacement along with other things happen because of it. Needless to say, it gets scary to get on your bike after watching someone you love go through that.


(me at the spot we decided to turn around, notice the nice glisten on my shoulders!)



(Kim at the turn around spot)

Ahhh but now the rain is here. I'm not complaining, as we really need the rain. It might change up the chance of riding more for me, as I don't ride in the rain. I will however run in the rain....even though I don't like soggy feet.

Tonight I'm running at the nOg run club....rain or shine....not sure that my friends will join me in the rain but everyone has their own comfort level!!*smiles*

last 12 mile run before the Disney Wine and Dine half marathon.

(Chris and I at the beginning of the run...Jason never wants his picture taken)

Today was our last LONG long run before Disney. It's the end of week 15 of our 17 week training program. I'm so glad. Of course I'm signed up for another half marathon 2 weeks after Disney...but we won't talk about that yet. *smiles*

We started at the McDonalds' parking lot by Crabtree Mall. We did the 4 mile out and back down the greenway, then we went the other way to Shelley Lake and around and finished past the parking lot (back up to Creedmore...almost). Jason started ahead of us, because he was ready to go. Chris and I said that we would catch up. Chris had a head cold and wasn't feeling great at the beginning of the run, but ended up strong like he always does. I ran with Chris in the beginning and we kinda just shuffled a little bit to warm up a little. We caught up to Jason and a little past the 3 mile mark. He said he wasn't sure if was going to do the whole 12 miles as his knee wasn't doing great. I told him to listen to his body and do what he could but not to push it. We are so close I don't want there to be any injuries right before the race.

Chris and I ran on. Chris likes to ask me how I'm feeling as we are running along. I don't like to think about how I'm feeling while I'm running because most of the time it's not wonderful and I don't want to dwell on it. Chris is funny and he has lot's of interesting things to say along the way. We had a discussion about strollers on the greenway, part of which was prompted by two guys running and pushing strollers side by side down the greenway. One guy had a "regular" stroller and the other had a double wide stroller...you can imagine how much room they took over on the trail. Don't get me wrong I'm glad they are out with their kids getting exercise....but a little respect for those around you. I personally HATE double wide strollers. If you have more than one kid that needs to be in a stroller, then get the front back kid stroller....enough said. We talked about the peoples running shoes (Chris notices everyone shoes). We also talked about the cute boy who ran past and Chris said "well hello", and the boy turned around to check him out as well. I had the experience of going down the dam hill (if you've been to Shelley Lake you know what I'm talking about) into 3 women walking across the path, and not moving as we were coming down the hill. Arrrggghhhhh. I know your a toothpick, but you take up more room than you think you do. So I guess this rant is about trail etiquette. Remember you are not the only one out there. I always try to smile (noticed I said try...sometimes I'm just in a tough spot), and say hey to people as I'm running by, around or through them. Not everyone is like me. Imagine that. I like it when people say hey back to me though....it makes me happy.


Anyways...back on track here. Chris and I also talked about Disney...as we often do during our runs. We are excited about getting to have a vacation at the happiest place on earth....and for Chris and Jason to do their first half marathon. Less than 2 weeks away and we'll be in Florida.

Jason met us on the way back to the car he didn't run as far, he went back to the car and stretched for awhile, and then he started walking to find us. He thinks he did about 9-9 1/2 miles. Still pretty good if you ask me. The last little bit of the run I started to having some tightness in my lower left leg. I always have piriformis pain on my right side, but I work at moving through that. I had to stop and rub out my leg (left) and try and relax everything down so I could finish. I think I did pretty good, but I can still feel it a little now. Chris is a rock star and did 12.25 miles, I stopped a little short because of my leg pain...11.72 miles in 2 hours 5 minutes and 26 seconds. That ended up a 10:42 minute mile....pretty awesome time for me.


(Chris and I after the run...in front of the garage)

As you can see....we are tired and ready for our showers! I'm ready for a massage really.......

I'm back in the saddle again...

After taking a break this past weekend, and feeling better for it I got back into training mode.

Monday I did the nOg Run (Tir na nog -downtown has a fun run group every Monday night). It was Retro Night and I decided to have fun and dress up.



Tuesday I didn't do much besides work and I should of done some strength training, but I didn't. :(

Yesterday- Wednesday I was ready to go again. I had made a plan to meet a friend for the le tour de femme training ride and have dinner afterwards. I got up in the morning...did my 5 mile run (which is on the plan). It felt like a good run and I average 11:30 pace...which for me is pretty good. Then I went about my day and ended up meeting E for the ride and dinner.

Ridding with people you don't know can be challenging, especially when you don't know the route. I hated not knowing where I was going, and I wasn't supper fond of the different paces in the group. Not to say that everyone can't ride, but if you are going to volunteer to pull the group then try to keep the pace the same. It's hard to be at the front of the pace line, I know I took my turn there but try to keep it steady and even. Ahhh, but no one is perfect....including me. I apparently upset one lady while I was pulling she told me I was going to fast or something (I couldn't really hear her), but the rest of the group was staying right with me, and then the same lady got frustrated with me because I pulled out of line when I felt like I wasn't able to keep up. Ohh well. It take different strokes. At least now I know (sorta) where the ride goes....but I'm not sure I'll ride with those ladies again...we'll see. A mid-week ride is nice to have. Hmmmmm. Ohh the ride was just shy of 24 miles and we averaged 18.5. Not to shabby considering the first part was a lot of start and stop in Cary traffic, and the last little bit I sucked wind going up High House (8mph....arrrggghhhhh).

No time to be sick...

Yesterday and Today have been off days for me. I woke up on Friday and felt okay, but then after taking the puppy to the dogpark I came home and felt terrible. I had a horrible headache, my body was achey, and I had a general blah feeling. I did some stuff around the house (dishes, laundry, pick up) and then laid on the coach for most of the rest of the afternoon. I finally went upstairs and slept for a little bit. Around 6-ish, I woke up and took Scout out for his walk. Jason came home a little later. My head was a little warm, but it was a come and go thing. I went to bed early and told him (Jason) I would let him know in the morning whether I was going to make the 10 miler or not.

I woke up this morning feeling ick again. I took Scout out for his walk (because he won't go with anyone else in the morning if I'm there...he'll go hide under the bed until I take him out). It was a good test to see if I thought I should try and do the run. Since I was getting chills during the walk I decided that I would skip the run today. I gotta get feeling better before I put more stress on my body. I haven't done much today, but I've been up and alert. I'm hoping that it was just a 24 or so thing. So much for my weekend of training....I was also hoping to get a bike ride in tomorrow. Ohh well.

Here's to hoping the ick is gone completely in the morning and I can resume my training as scheduled....so much going on. Disney Wine and Dine half marathon October 2nd, the le Tour de Femme October 9th, Cannonball Run half marathon October 16th. NO TIME TO BE SICK!!

When did 7 miles become a short run??

Okay...so this happens every time I start training for something longer...but really?? Today my mid week run with a 7 mile run (1 mile easy, 2 miles mid-temp, 1 mile easy, 2 miles mid-temp, 1 mile easy). Hmmm averaged out to a 10:45 m/m pace. Crazy right? I guess all this training is starting to pay off.


(this is a pic of me after the 7 mile run...sitting in the car)

It's especially crazy since I was so unmotivated to do this run today. The humidity came back and I felt like I could just go back to bed and not worry about my run. I made myself go, and I went out of the neighborhood so I wouldn't stop until the workout was done. I choose Shelley Lake because I know it's a 2 mile loop, and though I love my runmeter, it isn't accurate all the time. The GPS just can't always see through the trees I'm running under...and I like to run under shady trees if I get the chance. Comfort over the runmeter. I felt like I was going slow, but I guess I wasn't. At least not slow for me. I tried to play by the rules (easy and mid temp) but I'm not sure I did. I would of loved it if my runmeter had worked so I could of seen the splits the way the really were. It's so funny. I did adjust the runmeter mileage at the end of the run, it was off by 3/4 of a mile (approximately). When I looked at the map it had me on it had me running in the middle of the lake at times. I mean what a cool trick...but I can't do that.

(my runmeter stop watch...after the adjustment)

The other thing I can't run without when doing longer runs (for me anything over 3 miles is a longer run) is my fuel belt. I love my fuel belt! My friend Ruth got me my fuel belt when I was training for the Nike Women's Marathon the summer of 2008. It took a little bit to get used to, but I love having water and "snacks" at my disposal. The little bottle are great too...I just freeze them and put them in the holders and off I go. I went through 3 of the 4 bottles that my fuel belt holds, (Last week I went through 9 bottles for my 15/16.5 mile run...I held one in my hand for the last bit) for this run today.

(my fuel belt after the run...it get's a little wet...just sayin'...ohh and the pockets hold my nutrition for the run)

After the run I did enjoy some chocolate milk and of course more water. Chocolate Milk is really important for me, since I have no desire to eat after I run. Wait a couple of hours and I can devour just about anything...but right after a run...eeehhhh. I think that has a lot to do with everything getting jostled around. I can drink some chocolate milk and work on my recovery as my stomach settles and lets me eat something a little later.


(yummy chocolate milk...I get it at Costco...either this or Chocolate Soy Milk "SILK")

Water of course...is essential. I'm not sure how much I sweat, but I can tell you it's a lot. North Carolina humidity makes me work a little harder. Good thing I grew up a swimmer, at least my lungs should be used to breathing water! HA!


(some water for afterwards in my TRYSPORTS bottle)

15 mile Run....

So today was the longest run of our training program for the half marathon (that is less than a month away). I decided to take the boys out to the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) for the long run because it has hard pack sand (easier on the body) and it's pretty much a straight shot so no one gets lost. It was a beautiful morning when we started @ 7:30 am, it was still cool out, and very low humidity. We started at mile marker 5.5 and ran to the beginning of the trail the 0 mile marker, and then out to the 7.5 mile marker. The run was pretty much divided into 2 runs an 11 mile run and a 4 mile run, with a break to replenish water bottles/ Gatorade bottles (for the boys). It worked out pretty well, except I get ditzy after 10 miles of running and I ended up not seeing the mile markers (which are placed every 1/2 mile) after mile marker 5.5. So I ended up doing a 16.5 mile run....except I figured it out and ran 15.11 miles and walked 1.55 miles. I was truly over the run and my hip was acting up again so the walk back was necessary. At least the weather was BEAUTIFUL! So happy for the great weather to be running in. I'm so proud of my running partners, my husband who saw the 7.5 mile marker, and my friend Chris who didn't see it but figured it out way before me. So my run distance and time was 15.11 miles in 2:57:19, which made in 11:44/mile, and my walk the rest of the way was 1.55 miles in 28:33, which made it 18:25 miles (can't tell I was over that run could you??).

One of the crazy things that happened on our run today started with the drive out to the ATT. Chris was sitting in the back seat and he had to adjust and put body glide on as well and get his stuff together (earphone repair). After he did all that he was missing a piece of his earphones (a wire that connects the ipod to the earphones). He searched all over the backseat and everywhere but still couldn't find it. After we got to the ATT he searched again and looked under the seats in the back everywhere and it was still missing. Ohh well, we figured it would turn up eventually. Bummer for him though because he didn't have his music to run with, but he was a trooper and we off on the run without. Chris and I were running along together and chatting a little (I tried to comfort him with singing some of the song on my iphone...that I carry with me...but he didn't seem to enjoy that). At about mile 7 Chris was a little bit in front of me and I noticed something dangling out the back of his shorts. I said to him "doesn't that feel weird hitting your leg?", he responded with a "what are you talking about" look...and I pull this thing out the back of his shorts...guess what it is?? Yep the wire he couldn't find in the car, how it caught up in the back of his shorts...we will never know. What I do know is that once Chris got his music in his ears he was a happy camper and off he went!!

The other wild thing that happened was with a group of cyclist. Now we all know I love my bike, but I am a stickler for bike etiquette. I was running along (in the 2nd part of my run) getting more and more tired as I went. These two ladies come by me on their mountain bikes and one of them comes over right in front of me even though there was no one else on the trail for a little bit in front of her. She almost hit me with the way she came over, and it was unnerving. I didn't say anything because I just figured they would be on their way and they were obviously new cyclist. Well a little farther up the trail the ladies "stopped" (one was pulled over on the side of the trail, and the other was riding her bike in circles around the trail) waiting for some people behind me. As I'm running up they start yelling we were worried about you we didn't know what happened to you (clearly not talking to me). The girl who was actually stopped gets on her bike and starts riding, the other girl goes behind me with the two guys behind me. The two guys ride on the left side of me (as they should) and the other girl rode up on the right side of me (startling me as she did). I couldn't help it I yelled out at her...pick a side and don't split with me in the middle. RUDE was all I could think. Again clearly not experienced cyclist, and I was clearly getting grumpy from running so long. Arrrggghhh. Thankfully I didn't see them again.

Ohh and I wanted to get pictures of us after the run, I even brought my camera...but I forgot (again long runs make me ditzy). We drank our chocolate milk and ate our protein bars (honey stinger bar for me, cliff bar for Jason, and a cliff bar for Chris), then drove to get a burrito (for Jason and I) and ice from the grocery store for my ice bath, then home.

ICE BATH-
I bought 2 bags of ice for the ice bath and I probably should of had 3 or 4 bags of ice for the ice bath.
Okay so if you don't know what an ice bath is...well it is exactly what it sounds like a bath with ice. There is a trick to being able to do an ice bath, if you put the ice in than try to get in you'll never make it. You should put cold water in the tub with you sitting in the tub and then put the ice in. I usually wear a sweatshirt on top and a hat to keep warm, and I sometimes have hot tea or hot chocolate, but not today.

The rest of night consists of eating, and drinking wine....maybe a dip in the hot tub.

Stress and Working Out

I know we all have stress in our lives, and lately I've had a wee bit more than my "normal" stress going on. I know it's all in how we react to the stress that makes things in our lives go smoothly or not. Stress just makes me want to curl up in a ball and do nothing. Even though I know getting a workout in will make me actually feel better. However my workout lately have been stressful as well. As I get into the longer long runs I'm putting more stress on my body. Yes I'm prepared for it, but WOW between the two stresses...I'm DRAINED.

Most of my stress lately is from family drama. I'm 36 years old, am married to a wonderful guy, have a 7 year old choc. lab as my child what kind of family stress can I have? Well....it's there I tell you!!*smiles* I have parents and family that live across the country from me (in Portland, Oregon), that alone can be a little stressful. Add in the fact that both my parents although young (59 and 60 years old) have major health problems. Ohh and that those health problems can lead to unstable personalities. Yep you got it.....family drama.

I sit here thinking about my week this week: my allergies have started to kick up, the pressure from the storms coming in (Earl) have played havoc with my head, and I have a 15 mile run to do tomorrow. I did some of my workouts in this week, but I haven't been very consistent. I'm working hard to get out of the workout blahs and be ready for my race (less than a month away). Here's hoping I can beat the stress (emotional) and the stress (physical) from my workouts doesn't break me down to much.

Today's plan: Get some stuff done around the house, get stuff ready for tomorrow (15 miles is a long way), and have a relaxing day.

Tomorrow's plan: Get up take care of the puppy child, take the boys out to the ATT and run like the wind. Come home eat like a champ, maybe an ice bath, and lot's of wine!!*smiles*