NOLA

This has nothing to do with running.

As you likely know, Hurricane Gustav is headed toward New Orleans. Three years ago, Dave spent 2 weeks in Slidell helping out the Slidell Fire Department after Hurricane Katrina. It was quite the experience. He already received a call from the Slidell Fire Chief requesting his presence, should they need it. A team as already been assembled & are awaiting the word. So far, Dave hasn't gotten the call...yet.

Let's just pray it turns out to be not as bad as they're saying & that those people in the New Orleans area are not devastated once again.

And, news media.....yes, I'm following the election, yes, I vote in every election. But, I don't care what the democrats or republicans have to say on the situation in Louisiana, OF COURSE they're going to say all their concern is on Louisiana. I don't care that the Republican Convention festivities have been cancelled for Monday, and are up in the air for Tuesday. I don't need to see McCain accept his nomination from the Gulf Coast area. It was the same party who screwed up 3 years ago. Shut up about the election, keep the politicians off the air for now.

Instead, tell us what's happening to an area of our country that has already been destroyed once, tell us that everyone is okay, tell us that our current administration can get it together THIS TIME, tell us anything about the well-being of our fellow Americans who are in need. Don't tell us about the election. It doesn't matter right now..... Keep the Gulf Coast in your prayers.

Hump Day

I have to thank the weather gods for giving us such a great summer. It hasn't been ridiculously hot, which has been great for running. Tonite, there was just a thin layer of clouds, but enough to block out the direct sun. Ahhhhh, so nice. So, 5 miles from home to football practice. Please, weather gods, keep it up. I have an 18 miler in a week and a half, and a 20 miler 2 weeks after that. Please, I promise not to complain about the cold next April..........

Also, a shout out to Juju. Yes, the Bodyglide on my left foot worked. No blister & it didn't even feel weird during the run. The right foot didn't fair so well, but that blister is way newer. The good news is that its moving right along, if you get my drift, and I'll be fine. Bodyglide is your friend.......

On a completely unrelated note, as I'm typing this, America's Got Talent is on. Come on, folks, does a 6 ft something guy hanging upside down in chains being beaten like a pinata (yes, I swear) really constitute talent?? I think not. It's so incredibly stupid. In case you're dying to know, he was voted off.

On another completely unrelated note, Harley Davidson is having their 105th celebration this week/weekend. We're going Saturday. And there are a jillion bikes on the road. Please, be careful out there.....

Running AND Football

16 miles today. I took a new approach. I ran 4 out & back in one direction, stopped at home to refill, then did 4 out and back in the other direction. I was worried I wouldn't have the willpower to go back out, but I did. I think it's better this way, because then I'm never that far from home. So, it was 16 miles in 3 hrs, 4 min; which according to the Garmin was an average 11:30 pace. That is right on with all my other long runs. And I walked for .25 mile around mile 13.25 and left the Garmin on.

I felt pretty good throughout, even toward the end. This is either progress, or the hydration belt was too tight and I was numb from the waist down. I'd prefer to go with the first, but hey, whatever it takes.

I got back, had to shower, but a bag of ice & head to football, so there wasn't much rest. My knees were sore, but I suppose they should be. Overall, a decent run.

On another note, my son had a pre-season game today. And the WON, 14-7. My boy is the QB, and scored the extra point for each TD. They don't kick in the extra point at this level, they have to run it in. And, boy, did he ever. I was so nervous. Last year, he was defense and just had to hit. This year, its a whole different game. You'll be happy to know he did awesome! Played QB the entire game, and even played safety a few times. Our entire team did amazing, so yahoo!! Next Sunday is our first regular season game..be sure to check back for updates!

Training

For the marathon, I am following Hal Higdon's novice plan. I'm not one of those people who can wing it for something like this, I definitely need a plan.

So, Higdon's training calls for 4 runs per week, typically Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and the long weekend run. Tuesdays & Thursdays are shorter runs, Wednesday is longer. I've yet to run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Heck, I think I've had ONE week where I actually completed 4 runs in 1 week. So, my training is turning into "training for a marathon on 3 runs per week."

However, I think it's going well. I did 7 miles outside Wednesday night and 3 miles on the treadmill today. I figure it's better not to push it and be able to complete the long weekend run with fairly little pain & suffering. So far, so good. Maybe I'm onto something.

Talk to me on October 13th, and we'll see..

On that note, here's a little something to keep in mind:
"If you haven't before, start having dreams. Have lots of them. Have great dreams, have small dreams." —James B. Stewart

Well, hello!

Yeah, I've been MIA for a bit. Mostly because the Olympics have kept me up till all hours of the night, combined with football practice, work, etc... But really, its the OLYMPICS. I cry every time Team USA gets up on the medal stand and every time they play the National Anthem.

I did manage to run too. Last Thursday was 5 miles, 2 on Friday, 15 on Sunday - which went fairly well, I was a little sore afterwards, but felt good a couple hours after the run. And then 7 tonite. Tonite was okay, my legs were heavy and I was tired. It wasn't 7 continuous miles - I stopped several times, but while the Garmin was clocking, I was running.

I'm going to do 4 tomorrow, then the long run this weekend is 16. That will be early Sunday morning.

In the meantime, you can find me in front of the tv at midnight... GO USA!

OLYMPICS!

Are you watching the Olympics? One might say I'm obsessed. I love the gymnastics, swimming, diving, running & beach volleyball. In my next life, I want to come back as an Olympic female beach volleyball player.

Anyway, the talent, physicality and endurance of these athletes just blows me away. Michael Phelps is something other than human; the men's gymnastics team on the single high bar was amazing, and the women on the uneven bars was unbelievable. Oh, to be be born with that kind of talent.

What the human body is capable of is so amazing to me. Not only to train it to run 26.2, or more, but to push it to the limits of Olympic athletes. Its just unbelievable..

GO USA!

For the Love of Running

The other day, someone asked me how I manage through the miles during the long runs, "what do you think about, isn't it boring?"

Well, the runs do have their moments of boredom, and sometimes it seems that I'm never going to finish. But for the most part, the time/miles really do fly by.

For a good portion of the long runs, I am concentrating on the road in front of me, making sure I don't step on some random rock or in some random hole and end my running career. I watch the cars coming toward me, hoping like hell they actually see me. I check out the scenery, noticing things I've never noticed even though I've driven down that road a zillion times. I notice all the stuff that ends up in the ditch that has been thrown out windows, either on purpose or accidently. I sing to whatever is playing on my Ipod.

I can think of nothing or everything, sometimes wondering how the heck I'll manage 26.2 and then remembering how far I've come.

Take this past Sunday for example. It was a cut-back week of only 10 miles. See, right there, ONLY ten miles. I wouldn't have said that 2 years ago. And it was a great 10 miles - the weather was perfect and I felt strong the entire time. I took a break at mile 6.18 at the gas station - bought some Gatorade and had a Gu. During the run, I stopped a few times, but again, turned off the Garmin when I did. Here's the "how far I've come part".....I ran the entire 10 miles, and it felt really, really good. 10 miles in 1 hr, 49 minutes (11 min per mile pace, also way better than last year). That, my friends, is 3 minutes better than my last 10 miler.

This coming weekend's long run is 15 miles. If I stay on my 11 min per mile long run pace, I should finish in 2 hrs, 45 min, which means I'll have alot of time to watch for rocks, holes and cars. And I'll have alot of time to think.

This brings me to a passage I stole from Kristina, off her blog, but it really does hit home:

It's from Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running:

Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going to while away the years, it's far better to live with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life--and for me, for writing as well.

Maybe not so much the writing part for me, although I do love blogging. Does running & exerting myself help me live with clear goals and be fully alive? I think it does. If nothing else, it gives me a period of time to either clear my head, sort it all out or completely forget about it. As much as I may sometimes complain about the long runs, I really like them. It's my time. I feel better & stronger afterwards and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Here's something to keep in mind...whatever you do to be fully alive, just remember to know what you want, who you are and never worry about what anyone else thinks.

Run on, friends....

Soooo..

5 miles yesterday afternoon. I still hate running when it's even remotely warm. I think I need one of those lights to wear on my head, like coal miners, so I can see the ground in front of me, and just run at night. That said, it was 5 miles at 10:16 pace. I did walk a few times, especially at the end, but turned off the Garmin each time. So, I really did RUN 5 miles.

At the beginning of the run, I was thinking "hmm, maybe this time off was good. I feel strong, nothing hurts. This should be good". By the end, I was cursing myself for not being consistent. I know, I had I started out slower, I wouldn't have had to stop so often at the end. Whatever....

Here's another thing.....a big shout out to the crazy lady in the huge SUV turning into the post office who CLEARLY saw me, but did not feel the need to stop or even slow down. I was running in the same direction she was driving (south). She was sitting in the turn lane, waiting for the north bound cars to pass. So, yeah, she saw me and apparently, didn't care. Or hates runners. Whatever the reason, I had to come to an abrupt stop to avoid getting tossed into the parking lot. And yes, she got an earful because her window was open as she passed....

On a similar note, the DJ's on 101.9 were talking about the lakefront path the other day. The lakefront path is really nice, but seems to be getting more & more crowded these days with walkers, runners, bikers, rollerbladers, etc. They were saying how runners were the nicest bunch, because the stay to the right, waive hello and all that. Walkers in large groups tended to take up the entire path, instead of keeping it 2 across and bikers were the worst because they tend to speed up and down the path, like its the freaking Tour de France.

I don't encounter alot people while running - maybe because I'm usually running down the side of some road where sane people do not go. I do pass groups of bikers quite often. Bikers crack me up because they're rarely friendly. The only time I've had any of them acknowledge my existence while running was a few weeks ago. Two women rode by, said hi and waived.

I always waive. We're all out there for some form of exercise, so just be nice. The male bikers tend to be serious as hell about their trek down O'Plaine Road, and I find it kind of funny. I'm not out there pretending to be Deena Kastor, don't pretend to be Lance Armstrong, dudes.

10 scheduled for tomorrow morning. Good luck to Jenn at the CDC Half Marathon!!

Okay, I know..

but I'm back. 3 miles on the treadmill today. It felt good. It should feel good, considering I hadn't run in a week.

The training schedule I'm following calls for 7 tomorrow, which I will be doing after work. The long run this weekend is 10, which should go well, considering the temps in store for the weekend.

So, game on. The marathon is 2 months, 6 days away. Where does the time go??

Just a Few Things....

1. My new favorite show is Shear Genius on Bravo - Nicole is my favorite, I LOVE her hair. It does get a little catty, like any reality show, but it's mostly about the hair. I should have been a hair stylist, but completely missed my calling. The good news is that I found a school I can go to part time. Yahoo! That's my goal after the marathon. It'll take about 2 years to finish, but finish I will. Wish me luck!

2. Really, WHEN WILL BRET FAVRE JUST GO AWAY? Yes, I get that he's a amazing quarterback and I respect that. But come on already, he's done the crying-at-the-end-of-the-season thing twice now, and officially retired earlier this year. Then the Packers offer him 20 million to stay gone. NOW I hear that he's been reinstated. It's turning into "the boy who cried wolf". Even the Packer fans have to be tired of this already (yes, this coming from a Bears fan who is fully aware of our very lack of a quarterback. It's not jealousy, I'm just tired of hearing about him).

3. B and I went to the beach today. I just want to point out that lifeguards are not babysitters. When you bring your 3 kids under age 5, make sure you have enough adults to WATCH THEM. If you do not, stay home. Do not let the 7 yr old cousin watch 2 of them while you tend to the baby. When said 7 yr old does not pay attention to YOUR children, it is not the lifeguards fault. Do not yell at them. (As a side note, both kids are fine, no one drowned, but neither should have been playing in the water UNATTENDED and the Mother had no right to yell at the lifeguard because her kid wandered off).

4. The Olympics. I love the Olympics, I can hardly wait until the 8th. I fear I will be up in the middle of the night cheering on the USA teams. I suppose the good news is that I can hit the treadmill at the same time, right? The other good news is seeing Olympic athletes is very motivating, which is something I REALLY need right about now.

5. I'm not sure why I'm so anti-running this week. Maybe I just need to quiet the running/marathon/training obsessive soundtrack going through my head over and over. Maybe it's because my lower back has been bothering me for a few days. Maybe it's the fabulous diet I've had. I don't really have one good reason. Regardless of the reason, I have to get my head back in the game. I did this once, I can do it again. The time between now and September 21st is the hardest. And really, it's only a month and a half....okay, taking a deep breath and moving on.....

Let's Call it a Rest Week

Why? Becaue I haven't done anything except the 3 miler on Tuesday. That, and because "rest week" sounds alot better than "I'm too lazy to make time for this running thing this week".

So, I'm putting it out there...there won't be a workout tonite, but there will be on Sunday, on the treadmill. It won't be 13 miles, more like 7. And, if I feel ambitious, there may even be a weight workout....

Enjoy the weekend!