I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Today was a special day and run for me! It was Becca's 'bachelorette' run :) She is getting married early this morning, so I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to get in one last good run. It was SO nice to be with her this morning. Chad even got to join us for a couple miles (his normal running time - we were on his trail after all!) which I'm sure he enjoyed the wedding talk :) Better than company of skunks though I'm assuming.

 Becca was really worried about running into a skunk (can you blame her? I mean can you imagine getting sprayed on your wedding day?!?), which has happened to us before (but not sprayed)- and we did see some creature with glowing eyes. I think it was a cat, but we never got close enough to really see! We did get to see a shooting star and run under bright moonlight and had some great conversation. I'm sure gonna miss that girl when she moves to Texas, but I know how happy she'll be in her 'happy ever after' with David!

 Only bad part is that girl was haulin'! My quads are a bit sore after Saturday and Becca was pushing me, but it's all right, because she was doing most of the talking anyway :) Thanks Becca for SO many miles together! I will really miss you, our long chats, you pulling me through it all, you always willing to drive out to my house so I can be lazy, and stretching on the cool kitchen floor :) It's always hard to see a good friend leave, I'm just glad she is coming back! Well, having family here I expect she'll be back...soon :) CONGRATS Becca and David!!

AP: 8:27 splits: 8:44, 8:28, 8:28, 8:21, 8:36, 8:23, 8:25, 8:30, 8:29, 8:10

This picture was at the end of our run - a couple of sweaty girls!! You can see how dark it was when we FINISHED! Almost got to see the beautiful sunrise :)After a good shower :) yeah, I know it's blurry, but it's as good as you get with my camera.

Does this surprise anyone? :)

The happy couple!!!

Gotta get a good dress shot! Isn't it beautiful?!? You should see her bouquet, it is vintage jewelry in fabric flowers - SO beautiful, classic and really an heirloom!

Ever have one of those mornings where you wake up and wonder if running really is the best thing for you? Or if going back to sleep for a few more hours would honestly be more beneficial? Yeah...that is how I felt this morning. If my SIL hadn't been coming to BBK's I might've just bagged it, but I got up and got myself moving. I don't know how you people wake up at the 4-hour every day to run!?!

Easy 3 mile warm-up, loosen things up a bit. I could tell I was still dragging and tired and I didn't want to put any added strain on some of my little aches and pains creeping in, so I just ran and didn't push the mile repeats.

Just mile repeats? Ummmm, NO! This is the BBK's after all. We were at Parkway Palisades - home of the hills from H#$$!! You have 2 big climbs in the half mile out and one down, then the reverse on the way back (2 downs 1 monster up). I kept the pace around a 9mm average the whole time and I just ran it. I am surprised the miles were that fast honestly. I didn't do their little recovery out and back at then end of each mile or I would've really been left in the dust! So, each repeat I got a little further ahead. It was nice to finish with the leaders on the last one :)

Did a couple cool down miles afterward, and it really surprises me that my WU and CD were really what drug my AP so slow today. I certainly thought it would've been the hills. I guess that is the silver lining today.

AP: 9:27 splits: 10:09,  9:19, 9:10, 9:00, 9:08, 9:17, 9:19, 9:33, 9:13, 9:47, 9:52, 9:59 (last .2)

Came home grabbed 20 min sleep and got kids to school and then went to the gym. Lift class was full, so I thought I'd tag along with Kelli and Wendy, but couldn't find them. So, I did my own arms, legs, core workout 4 sets of everything then pushups and stretching to finish it all off. Now if I can just make it to 1:30 I'll get my nap!! 1:30...1:30...1:30....

******

Got my nap and tonight the kids' school had a mile race at the HS track for a fund raiser. David (7) and Lauren (10) both finished top in their grade. David's was a bit contested, but the kid that said he finished first wasn't in front of us....so? The 'finishing' was VERY random and was just on anyone's word. Plus, the kids were supposed to count 4 laps. Not the most organized, but honestly, it doesn't matter. The kids had a GREAT time and I loved running with them. We were unprepared and were all in flip flops so the kids dropped theirs and I ran in my flat, squishy tevas. They did them separate so I got to run with both of them. David only stopped a couple times, but would SPRINT through the 100M where everyone was cheering, Lauren didn't stop and kept a nice pace the whole time with a strong finish. So proud of them! Oh, and I can't forget Nathan (4) he ran the mile with the younger grades all by himself (I was helping David) and he finished in front of a bunch of kids older than he is! I had to laugh though, because he is definitely my most competitive child in races "I kept trying to pass the red shirt kid, but he would get in front of me and wouldn't let me pass! I still beat lots of WAAAAY bigger kids though." Such a cute little guy! A great job and a nice way to add a couple miles to the pile this week, plus - barefoot! :)

x-training day. I loved sleeping in - simply blissful! 

Hubby had an appointment early this morning, so I wasn't able to get out before hand for miles, but since I'm in my downward taper for SGM, it doesn't bother me much. 

Spin class - good hard effort and a nice puddle under the bike to show for it :) I actually almost liked this teacher. There were only a few things that she did that bugged me, but for the most part I was able to follow her plan for the class rather than improvising.

Masters Swim Class - first time I've been to an organized swim class in over 20 years! The teacher put me in the 'fast' lane though. It was kind of nice to be in the top lane, but I'm just glad no one was there with me today. They certainly would've passed me! Did an actual workout and she taught me how to do flip turns!! I can almost do them well...almost. The last thing we did was a 200M swim, but under the lap lanes (up and down each lane - like a triathalon) for the last exercise. I was proud of myself that I was able to do flip turns on each turn, this is a whole new skill for me and it's getting easier!! My 100's I even got in just under 2 min when I was pushing. It usually takes me about 1:10 to finish a lap. It's always fun to learn something new and to try a new sport. And to get the pounding off my feet and legs for a little bit :)

blech, blech and more blech. I really need to figure out how to make my stomach happy sometime in the next 2 weeks!! Tired and nauseated.

3 mile warm-up with BBK's

8 mile 'tempo' run. Man was I dragging today. I just couldn't push myself and I felt so blechy on top of it all. I swear I was running the first 4 (all uphill!!!) at a 7:30 pace! Nope, not even close.I must say though, that having people run 15-20 feet in front of you the whole run is really disheartening! I just couldn't keep up at first and then when they were about 15 feet away I just lost it mentally. "I'm too slow, I can't run with them, just take your place at the back, like you deserve." Lets just say it wasn't a good mental day for me.

Stopped for a drink at the top, then turned and just tried to feel like I was giving a decent effort on the downhill. At least I could hit some pace miles on the way back. Scared Dean and Michelle when I passed them. They were taking it easy and just chatting though. They must've gotten lost on the new route or stopped for a pop break.

Did .8 on my own afterward to cool down. Man, was THAT slow! (yes, only .8 - had to round out my miles from Tuesday).

I don't know what the crap I did to my ankle. I didn't roll it or feel a strain or pull or anything, but the last couple miles of the tempo it started hurting something fierce. Like I'd rolled it and was trying to run on it, but unless I was in some time warp I didn't do anything to it!! I don't get it...I guess my body is just trying to tell me to take a break. No running tomorrow, most likely. Unless this ankle shapes up.

AP: 8:40 splits: 9:33, 9:00, 8:59, 8:43, 8:28, 8:53, 8:42, 8:02, 7:55, 7:55, 7:57, 10:14 (last .80)

I guess I just get the big cockroach award today:

Don't even get me started...

30 min (well, 25 really we started late) of spin class before my 1 yr old got kicked out of the nursery for a snotty nose. Which is probably most likely due to the fact he got it started crying as I left him. 

I came home and took out my frustration on the yard...3 hours of yard work.

Twelve fabulous, amazing and time-flying miles with Toby and Annette on the parkway this morning. Near perfect - just a little chilly. Fog on the river and steamin' hot runners bodies, ours of course were the hottest :)

8:59 AP splits:  9:33, 8:46, 8:50, 8:40, 8:49, 9:22, 9:06, 9:01, 9:03, 8;55, 8:44, 8:59.

Ankle held up fine...shin on the other hand, well, I'm not going to talk about it. I just want to get to SGM in one piece injury free. Is that really too much too ask?!?