Last Long Run of 2012

Week 10: Half Marathon Training

The fearless threesome at mile seven.

Goal Total Miles: 23 miles
Actual Total Miles: 24 miles

I'm slowly but surely making up those five miles I missed in Week 8. So far so good with my new Garmin 410. I had a little trouble getting it set up for my first run, but it was total user error and not a problem with the watch itself. While I have no idea what I'm supposed to be watching for when it comes to my heart rate, it is an interesting piece of data to have and a nice way to track how many of those Christmas calories I'm burning.

This week's long run was a threesome for the first seven miles. Faith, my 5k partner in crime, is training for the Princess Half and she is up to seven miles on her long run. It was awesome to have an extra on our route, despite the crazy cold wind that was blowing at 20 mph. Those last three miles with the wind in my face were not fun, but as Andrea often reminds me, "you can't control the weather on race day." Well, I've practiced in the wind now.

Running Knits

Today's Run: 
3.8 miles/ 36 min

Granny's Dishcloth Pattern

It is official, I run much slower while listening to a book. Or maybe it is a combo of listening to a book and the 1000 degree heat. I have grand plans of running a 10k on Labor Day, but I've delayed registering waiting to see how darn hot it might be at 8:30a. I really should stop putting it off and start getting outside more in the middle of the day to help acclimate myself to the weather.

When I started running in October, I absolutely didn't think I'd run outside during the summer. My body really doesn't tolerate heat very well. I have to admit that I think I'm getting used to it. I've started running around 7:30a lately which makes the end of my run much warmer than it would be if I had set out at 6:30a. Although it might be 70 degrees at sunrise, once the sun comes up it is a game changer (for me at least).

I mentioned that I was listening to a book about knitting and I picked up my needles again on Monday evening for a refresher before picking up an unfinished project. Muscle memory is an awesome thing and my hands seemed to go on auto-pilot. I whipped up this dishcloth in a couple of hours while watching the Red Sox game.

I love a cotton dishcloth for many practical reasons, but as a knitter - it is the ultimate in instant gratification. You can finish a usable project in a couple of hours, which is especially helpful when working on long and involved projects, where there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

It feels really good to pick up my knitting needles again and I think it really compliments my running in some ways. Feeling my hands create something is like feeling my legs carry me forward on my runs. Figuring out a difficult pattern is like pushing through that voice in my head that says - it's ok to stop, no one will see. Building up the endurance to finish 13.1 (without dying) is like maintaing the focus necessary to finish a lengthy sweater or blanket. I think I may build in some knitting time post-run, while I ice.

Vaca Running

Today's Run:
Jim Gibbon's Traffic Jam 5K
25:51 - 7th out of 73 in age group

Until six months ago, I would never have thought about how to get a workout in while on vacation. Vacation = Lazy. The last two trips we've been on, I've kept to my every other day running schedule. This one has been a bit more difficult, but I managed to find a race to do in Chicago the evening we arrived. I thought it was the perfect, "welcome to the city,"experience.

This was the 18th year for the Jim Gibbon's 5K and all race proceeds went to Leukemia research. I thought Jim was a local news man at the ABC affiliate in Chicago and KC and kept looking for and wondering why we couldn't find the reporter anywhere in the crowd.  Unfortunately, Jim fought a long, hard battle with Leukemia that ended in the mid-1990s. His son runs this event in his memory. I'm glad we didn't ask someone where Jim was.

I had an unexpected running partner for this race - KC. He runs on the treadmill regularly, but doesn't run outside or have any interest in running races. But, since we were on vacation, he decided to strap on a bib and enjoy a run along Lake Michigan.

It was 85 degrees at race time, but I'm not kidding when I say it felt cooler at race time in Chicago than it does when I get up to run at 6a in Georgia. The race kicked off on the local news and you can see me (in white hat and pink shirt) and KC run by around the 1:07 mark of the video.

He paced off of me the whole race and out-sprinted me at the end to post a 25:40. I was very pissed that he beat me proud of him.

I was proud of my time and I ran better than I have in my last two timed events. The girl who won my age group actually came in third overall female with a time of 19:02. Holy f-ing cow.

They had a few food trucks at the post-race festivities. My favorite - the Chubby Wiener.

After the race we decided to walk along side the lake through Lincoln Park and enjoy the fabulous weather. We ended up walking three of the six miles back to the hotel before it got too dark for us. Along the way we watched beach volleyball tournaments and a dodgeball game that was pretty intense.

After seeing what competitive dodgeball is about first-hand, there's no way I will ever willingly participate in a dodgeball game. Insert balls flying in my face joke here.

Between the mile and a half walk to the race (after getting off on the wrong L stop), running three miles for the race and walking another three home, our legs were a little on the sleepy side to say the least. Our big plans for taking in the comedy festival that is in town this week were quickly nixed. Old people need their rest.

Rain, Rain...

Today's Run:
4.77 miles at 9.01/mile

I have issues with severe weather. Maybe it is because my dad would put me and my sister in the bathtub with pillows anytime there was a severe thunderstorm. Growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, he and my mom didn't have tornadoes or vicious storms, but when they moved to Georgia, the storms would derail life in our household until my father felt it was okay to come out. When the storms blow in now I no longer hide in my bathtub - well, I can't because it is on the second floor and now I have a basement and it is much safer - but I do try to avoid all windows, electronics, and running water. I know in my heart that lightening can jump through the pipes in my house and get me in the shower.

My plans to long run yesterday morning with a few girls from the Where's The Finish running group were  canceled due to rain. I was pretty bummed since I was up early and all geeked up to go the distance. I'm not much of a rain runner. I mean if I wake up on race day and it is raining, it won't stop me from going, but on a normal running day, I'd rather stay inside and sleep run on the dreadmill. Even though I was all dressed up with no where to run, I came back home and put my pjs back on. Loser.

Today, I woke up to a thunderstorm. My local weatherman said everything would push through by 6:30a so I waited until 7a when it appeared clear enough outside. Besides all of the tree limbs littering the street, the run was uneventful, short, humid and slow. I ended up racing the rain home and I won. Nothing like a little speed work with Mother Nature.

The remainder of the day has been spent making lists. Lots of lists. Any time I go on a week's vacation I require super lists to get ready.

I've not checked one thing off of these lists, but everything is right there on my paper. I think a nap and some Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Shortcake Greek Yogurt may be in order before anything gets crossed off.