I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

I ran some with the girls as they warmed up and then some on the course throughout both races.

I ran with Greg.  This was the first time he's run since the marathon.  I could have gone longer, but didn't want to go back out by myself.

I ran three fast miles and then two at about tempo pace.  I forgot my watch, so I don't know my exact pace, but I was challenged.

Okay, so I wanted to hurry because I went for a run in the dark, so I started off fast--almost incredibly so.

Once I realized that my first mile was under 8 minutes, I thought "I can go faster."  So I did.

I ended up running 3 miles in 22:45.  Then I cooled down 1.1 miles.  I should've warmed up, but oh well.

Needless to say, this was a good run for me.  I'm running a 5K on Saturday and I want to run at 7:30 pace or faster.  I think I can do that with a good warmup. 

The nice thing about the shorter runs that I am doing now is they seem like nothing, really.  The marathon has helped me to feel like I can run forever, so short runs seem like they're done in the blink of an eye.  I like that feeling and I hope I can hang on to it throughout the winter.

I blew off running yesterday because I didn't want to run in the dark AND in the rain.  Daylight savings makes things tough; my husband doesn't get home until it is dark outside.

This morning I thought I'd run in the morning, even though it was still dark when I went.  I set my alarm for 4:40 so I could meet my niece for a run, but I didn't actually turn it on, so I woke up at 5:20.  I went for a run, but I only had time for a little under 25 minutes.

I called my niece right before I left, and she mentioned her run was cold.  I didn't feel it because I was in a hurry to get my run over with.

I ran a 2 mile warmup with my niece and a runner from my team.  Then I ran the race.

My first mile was 7:10 and I thought I crossed the 2 mile at 13:54 (I swear that's what I heard the split reader say), but it had to have been 14:54 because I know my last 1.1 was not 10 minutes.  I don't race that much, so I made another rookie mistake:  instead of just focusing on my pace, I was focused on the girl in front of me.  I didn't end up beating her and I was sorta disappointed, but then I found out that she was in the under 19 division, and I didn't feel so bad.

My splits, then, were 7:10, 7:44, and roughly 8 for the last mile.  Since I ran 3 miles in 22:40something this week and it didn't feel hard, I was hoping to be a bit faster for this 5K. 

I can't complain:  I was the 3rd overall woman finisher, but this was a really small race (30-40 women altogether).

We did a mile cool down to get back in time for the results.

Ran 5 at an easy pace.  I was around 9:15 min pace. 

I need to make sure I carry my cell phone with me when I run now, since it'll always be dark or about dark when I'm running.  On this run, I saw some boys fighting over a bike, but it looked like they were just playing.  But when I ran closer to them, one of the boys shouted for help.  I wasn't about to wade in, so I went into a nearby gas station to report it.  I don't know what happened because I didn't want to go back and get involved.

Anyway, I don't worry about running in my neighborhood, really, but I do worry about some of the adjacent neighborhoods.  I wish 1) I had a treadmill or 2) I could talk myself into a gym membership for a few months.  The prob with a gym membership is that it just means more time away from the kids (which = more guilt for me!).

I went to visit my old college roomie and we went to her gym together.  Even though I hate treadmill running, this workout was a good one.

We did an interval workout where we switched from 10:00, 9:13, 8:00, and 7:03 pace at set times throughout the workout.  The whole workout was about 5.5 miles, but I did a mile cooldown while my roomie finished the workout, b/c she had to stop and go to the bathroom.  I could estimate how much of that was "fast" but I'm too lazy.

It was a lot more fun running with someone for a change.  And I was glad to be out of the cold, wet air.

I have a horrible sore throat (one of my sons was hospitalized got the rest of the family sick) so this week I am going to look into either a gym membership OR I will do cardio on my Gazelle (totally not like running, but at least I can stay inside).  The cold outside makes it hard to breathe.

If I'm working out at home, I won't count it in my mileage (and won't blog it probably). 

Ran two miles indoors.  Tried to squeeze it in before putting the kids to bed.

2 miles this morning, still indoors.

I've looked into the cost of a gym membership, and I am going to do it.  It isn't that pricey, but I'll have to workout in the evening since it doesn't open until 6 in the morning.

We had company this weekend.  Got in a run this morning, but I felt rushed.

"Ran" for a 1/2 hour on my home machine. It sucks.  It's not even really running...

I'm teaching a class now 3 nights a week.  That also sucks...The only good thing is that I should be able to get in a run right after school since my class doesn't start till 6.  I think I want to go over to Mahomet to run the trails there, but we'll see.  I might just run at Parkland since it's closer to school.

I'm guessing on the distance, but I know it's close.  I ran out behind my school.  It was probably unsafe, since the roads I ran on have not been opened yet and I forgot my own reminder to bring my cell phone.

I'm probably going to run there again tomorrow.  The one good thing about my class is that I have free time between 3:30 and 5:00, so I can run outside while the sun is still out. 

The weather was nippy, but sunny, probably in the high 40s.  Since I was adequately bundled up, it felt nice.

My pace was okay, but I did get bored 1/2 way through.  I need a running partner...

I finally joined the gym, so I'll be working out on a treadmill for the next 3 months.  Ugh.

I did 5 miles at varying inclines and varying speeds.  I used the interval function on the treadmill and then increased the pace when I was at 0 incline.  My uphills were always at 9:13 pace.  The 0-incline speeds varied.  The 5 miles took me roughly 45 minutes.

I did 2 warmup miles at 9:13 pace and then 2 miles at 8:30 pace (I think).  Then I cooled down at 9:13 pace.

My ipod ran out of charge so I was bored watching a t.v. with no sound.  No closed captioning either.  Blech.

The good thing about the gym I joined is that they offer free classes.  I'm looking forward to doing some core classes.  We'll see if I can work that in. 

Ran at the gym.  It would have been a nice day to run outside, but by the time I could've it was already after 4.  I didn't want to get caught in the dark.  I was glad I didn't run outside because when I left the gym, it had dropped more than 10 degrees. 

I hate cold.

I get so bored on the treadmill; it's hard to keep to one pace because I get obsessed with watching the clock.  I'll probably get used to it in a few weeks, but for now I've been playing with pace.

I did 5 minutes at 9:13 pace, 3 min at 8:00 pace, 2 min at 7:03, 2 min 9:13, 5 min 8:00, 3 min 7:03, 2 min 9:13, 7 min 8:00, 2 min 6:40, then cooled down a mile at 9:13 pace.

It was nice and I should have run outside, but I'm trying to embrace this treadmill thing and get my money's worth on the gym.

I ran for an hour after wasting part of my 1/2 day of work trying (unsuccessfully) to find an outfit for a Christening I have on Saturday.  I had wanted to lift too, but was running up on the time I told the babysitter I'd pick up the kids!

I ran an easy 3.5 miles, then lifted (legs and shoulders).  Now I'm putting off getting the house ready for Thanksgiving guests! 

I ran this morning at the gym, but split up my run.  I ran 2.2 miles, then lifted, then ran another 2.2.  I wish I would have run more--I ran less because we were going to drive to Chicago today, but I came home to a sick toddler.  We may still go tomorrow, but if we do, we'll leave early, so I probably won't get in a run.  We'll see.  I may squeeze in a quick one.

Ran Sunday afternoon while the whole family was sick.  Felt sick after running.