I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

an hour of yoga and 25 minutes on the elliptical.

roller skated for a couple hours.  

Ran for 1/2 mile on the treadmill and I could feel pain brewing in my foot, so I quit to the elliptical, which I didn't feel gave me a good workout.  But I did 2.5 miles on it.

I was paying attention to my foot position while running, and I can tell I do keep my foot flexed while on the treadmill.  My dad said that might be the contributing factor.

I may try to run outside this weekend when I can run in the light and see if normal running makes my tendon act up.  Until then I will try a bit on the treadmill before using the elliptical for the rest of my workout.

Also did arms this morning.

lifted in the AM

A 1/2 mile on the treadmill.  I had hoped for a mile, but my foot started to hurt a bit and I really want to be able to fully run starting next week.  (crossing my fingers)

 Then I did 3.1 miles on the elliptical.  It isn't the same.  I miss running...

I also did abs and lower back.

lifted in the AM.  Increased weight on bench press and shoulder rows.  

Thinking about running outside AM tomorrow to see if outside running pains my foot.  I should be able to squeeze in a bit before I have to go to class.

I feel so pitiful logging my mileage...I feel like stopping, but I know I will like to have this record later to compare data.

 So I did 1.1 miles on the treadmill.  I pushed my foot into discomfort, but not pain.  

 I also did 10 minutes on the elliptical before the gym guy started turning out the lights.  I'm silly--I went to the gym 25 minutes before it was closing.  I thought the hours on Saturday were longer.

Oh well.

Only did 1/2 mile today because the foot started to hurt.  Had a thought while I was running:  Maybe I should try getting new shoes and seeing if that makes a diff.  I've put 320 miles on them.  Usually I'm good for a bit more, but I've never run so many treadmill miles.

Anyway, it's worth a try, and while I'm at it, I'll ask the guru at Body 'n Sole for his thoughts.

Then I did 35 minutes on the elliptical.  The one I used yesterday made my calves sore for some reason, so I used a different brand of elliptical today.

 After I did abs, lower back, and lat pull downs. 

Planned on running only a mile today, but my foot felt decent.  I stopped to do a class--an ab core class.  It was pretty good.

Tomorrow I will get my new shoes, but I think I am only going to lift and do the elliptical.  I don't really have a plan in place yet for getting mileage back up because I'm going to see if new shoes help.

40 minutes at home.  Lifted arms.

Got my new shoes yesterday.  Tried them out today and I'm optimistic.  Hopefully this will take care of the problem.  I think I have another 4 weeks or something on my gym membership so I will start running outside late Feb.  I may just have to not run so many miles on the treadmill.

Today it was -9.  Tomorrow it's supposed to be more of the same.  We didn't have school today and none tomorrow either.  Snow days are one of the perks of being a teacher.

I wanted to do the ab core class today but it was cancelled.  If I had known that, I wouldn't have waited until the p.m. to go to the gym.

 Instead I lifted--legs, abs, and lower back.

So far, so good, but I think I'll keep in the 3 mile range for at least a week.  Did 1/2 hour on the treadmill.

50 minutes of yoga and then 2 miles.

Got back from Chicago late last night and gym was closed by the time I got there.  Oh well.

For some reason when I got to the gym, every single piece of cardio equipment was taken.  So I did my workout backwards--lifted legs, abs and lower back, then ran.  My legs felt dead, maybe because I lifted first, but maybe not.

Lifted AM.  Wanted to go to the gym, but my niece and nephew came over unexpectedly in the PM and I felt guilty about going.  They stayed for dinner.  Apparently my husband invited everyone over earlier in the day but forgot to tell me.

I wanted to run outside but it was dark before my hubby got home from work.

I hurried to get 3 miles in before the ab core class.  I did my 3 miles in 24 minutes, but all at different paces ranging from 8:34 to 7:03.  Then I didn't even have time to catch my breath before I went to the class.  It was good but exhausting.

 It was 40 and it's supposed to be 40 Friday.  I was all excited, thinking I'd run outside to the gym Saturday for yoga, then run home.  But the news informed me that the high is 11 Saturday.  I'll probably run on the treadmill again instead. I'm hoping in a few more weeks it'll be light enough to run outside when my husband gets home.  I don't want to go more than 4 miles at a time on the treadmill. 

Went to yoga and then did 3.3 miles on the treadmill in 1/2 hour.  It was an okay run, I varied my pace a bit, but the faster parts didn't last as long as I did on Thursday.

"ran" for 35 minutes at home while the kids were napping.  It probably translates to about 3 miles, but I have no way of really knowing, plus it's like the elliptical in that I don't feel it is really running.

Then I lifted arms.  I increased weights on everything but biceps and triceps.

I varied my pace.  I did 5 minutes at 9:13, 5 at 8:34, 5 at 8, then 2 min at 7:30 and 1 at 7.  The second time I did less at the fastest paces.

I was wiped after this run, but I still did my class.  I have felt so tired this last week.  I thought it was because of my period, but it's almost over and I still feel drained.  

The class was almost all abs today, but it felt good.  I was feeling really hot and light-headed after I was done, though.

lifted am

Just did my ab class.  We did a lot of squats and wall-sits before doing everything else.  It was a good one.  I don't feel sore, per se, but I feel like I got a good workout.  I was glad I didn't run before.

I brought the kids for the first time to the gym.  It went okay, but I'll probably never bring them again.  1) Caleb was pouting while I was gone and I felt guilty about taking more time than I already had 2) when I went to get the kids, they were in a racquetball court and the baby-sitter was standing in the doorway cussing up a storm while she was talking to a couple of people outside the court.  I mean, it was f-this and f-that while she had 4 kids with her!  I almost felt moved to call and complain, but I will just solve my own problem by never bringing them again.

Did the yoga class and then ran 2.2 miles, even though my legs didn't want me to.  

I always struggle on whether I should log something as fast or not.  I did 5 miles in 45 min.  

I felt great!

I ran outside--it is 40 today, sunny, and all the snow is melting.  It is the first time I've run outside in a long time. My foot felt awesome--I noticed that I use my feet differently when NOT on the treadmill.  I have been trying to push off more on the treadmill, but today I was pushing off because I was running normally.

I planned on doing 4 miles and then I felt good enough to do 5.  Thought about going 6 but 1) I didn't want to push it--these 5 miles are more than 1/2 of the average miles I've done the past 3-4 weeks.  and 2) my husband wanted to go out to get a good seat at the KC's for the Super Bowl.  so I decided 5 was enough.

This was a good motivation--now I need to carry it over during the week.

worked out at home for 40 minutes and then lifted.  Since I was unable to go to my class today I also wanted to do Tae-bo, but I couldn't find my DVD.

My husband is working late pretty much all this week (except Thursday) and I may have to take back my promise never to bring the kids to the gym again.  I can work out at home, but my workout is never as intense when I do.

I know that the reason I felt sluggish today is that I am losing my running fitness.  I am looking forward to 1) the weeks where my husband is home earlier than 6 most days 2) when the days are longer and it is at least a little light out later in the day.

The instructor for my ab core and yoga classes broke her hand and had to have surgery, so my class is canceled until further notice.  I'm bummed because my gym membership runs out soon and that was one of the reasons I wanted to extend my membership and I probably won't now.  I think I'm going to look into getting a yoga video or something like that.

I had class last night--it was supposed to go until 10, but I ended up getting home at 8:30.  I had planned on trying my new yoga video, but opted for watching the rest of Nemo with Caleb.  We both fell asleep waiting for my husband to get home.

I thought I'd do yoga before I had to go to class today, but I slept in instead.  Then as a treat, I got home WAY early from class (it was supposed to end at 4 and I got home at 1:30).  So I ran a nice, long, easy run.  

It was in the 50s today, briskly windy, but the wind wasn't overwhelming.  I wish it would stay this way!

Then I did 25 minutes of my new yoga video.  It gets progressively harder, so I will be working my way into the harder sections!

Just a slow run today.  I left my watch at home.

I'm crossing my fingers that the weather stays like this.  It wasn't warm, but it was in the high 30s.

I'm going to try to squeeze in some yoga today too, but we'll see.  I have some papers to grade too.

I ran outside again.  It was over 60 today!  Crazy.

It was pretty dark when I ran and that made me a little nervous.  I'm not logging this as fast because I didn't wear my watch, but it was faster than normal.

Did a new ab/core workout.  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.  It wasn't too hard and I think I was looking for more of a challenge, but it was based on pilates, so it was sorta soothing.

I don't know how running is going to go the rest of the week.  I'll do the Gazelle tonight at home while I watch the Illini game (and you know how I feel about that), but tomorrow I'm driving to Chicago, so we'll see.  If I get to my mom's early enough I might run before going to my sister-in-law's.

Did the Gazelle thing during the second 1/2 of the Illini game.  And I alternated lifting because I was getting discouraged with the game.

 They were down for the majority of the game and then they came back for a 1 pt win in the last 3 seconds!  What a great game.

 And Carolyn, I think all college basketball fans are nuts for "their" team--Illini fans are particularly crazy!

Did an hour of yoga.  I enjoy the video that I got, except I can't do all of the poses that well.  I couldn't do the back bend ones well at all.

I wish I had brought clothes to run outside.  While it was still pretty chilly, it was sunny here today.  Oh well.  I'll probably do yoga again tomorrow and then run on Monday.

yoga

Another treadmill day.  My gym membership expires on Sat.  I'm trying to decide whether or not I should extend it.

I have not been for a run since last week! 

I felt good on this run until I completed 3 miles and then I dragged myself through the last 1.3.  I think it was because I was increasing my speed every five minutes for the first 25 minutes and then the last 15 minutes was a cool down.

I know I have lost a lot of running fitness since New Year's, but at least I've still been working out!  I just need to get back on track--if I play my cards right, I'll get in another run today, but I HATE THE TREADMILL!

Oops.  This is really Wed.'s entry.  I'll put today's workout on Wed.

Another treadmill run.  The treadmill I was on was making me mad.  I've never used this particular one before.  I got frustrated because the buttons were hard to push and so I started with a 24 minute run and then when that ended, put in another 20 minutes.  But then for some reason it shut off on me after 2 minutes, so I had to go again.  And then I was watching a show (which I hardly ever do while running on the treadmill) and the volume kept increasing.  I'd turn it down and then it would go back up a minute later.  It would have been funny if it wasn't so annoying!

I think I'm going to extend my gym membership for another 3 months, just so I have the storm season covered too.  I'll be able to run outside much more often, but it does tend to get stormy in April and early May.   I'm just going to try to run outside on Sat and Sun.

I felt good about this run!  The wind was BRUTAL and now that I looked up how windy it was (the weather channel says gusting from 24 to 40 mph!!) I feel even better about the run.

Since the wind was coming from the W, the only time I wasn't dealing with it was when I was going due east.  After the first mile, I ran directly into the wind for almost 1.5 miles, and the only thing that kept me going on the rest of the run was knowing that when I turned around and did the same loop backwards, nearing mile 6, I would have the wind at my back.  It didn't seem that the wind helped me as much then as it hindered me early on in the run, but it was still better than running into it.  Then in the last mile it was hitting me from the side for most of it, but my last .3 miles was directly into the wind. 

I'm sure I looked funny.  Seriously, I felt like I was exerting enough effort to be running at between 6 and 7 minute pace, but I was only going about 10 min pace.  I just wanted to finish and was proud when I did!

According to the weather channel it is 23 degrees, but feels like 7.  I dressed perfectly, although I wish I had worn a scarf because I think I have windburn.

I chickened out about running outside.  It was colder than yesterday (but hugely less windy).  And since it was my last day for the gym, I went there to ask some questions.

The run was pretty good.  I warmed up for 10 min at 6.5 pace, then did a ladder workout.  2 min. hard, 2 min. easy.  I started at 7.0 for hard and went by .5 up to 8.5, then back down.  My easy pace was always 6.5.  I did this pretty much for the next 30 minutes, except at first I was going to do the last 4 minutes at 6.5 pace.  Instead I did 4 min at my last hard pace (7.0) and finished on an easy 2 minutes.

Warmed up .5 mile, then did a 5K at 8:00 pace.  After that I cooled down.

This was a treadmill workout--I renewed my gym membership.  I'm nervous about doing any fast running on the treadmill and was ultra conscious of the positioning of my feet.

It was pretty nice outside today, but I was too hungry right when my husband came home, so I ran at about 7, after I ate.

I worked out at home while I watched the second 1/2 of the Illini game (they won).  I would say it was about 4-4.5 miles (I went for 45 minutes).

Then I lifted.

I remember nothing about this run.  I think the distance was 4.6, but it might have been 4.7.

 I don't remember pace at all.  I think I ran it at 8:41 pace, but I'm not sure.  I think it was done in 40 minutes, so I'll stick with 8:41 pace, although I think I varied throughout.

I started with a 10 minute run at 9:13 pace.  Then I increased my pace.  I went up to 8:57 for 15 minutes, then 8:41 for approximately 20 minutes, and then I finished with my last 2 miles at 8:34 pace.  

I hate when pace is in between fast and slow, so I'm logging all of this as fast, although it was really moderate.

 Ran on the treadmill at 8:34 pace.  The last mile was 8:57.

Lately I've been worrying about my running (ie, not doing enough) and now I'm trying to change my attitude.

I ran more this winter than I have since before I was pregnant with my second son.  I have to be happy about that.  And I think it's been harder since I'm not really training for anything in particular.  I've got to get on the ball as far as setting up races for the near future.  That's my goal for now.

I've also given up snacking for lent.  It's only been 5 days so far, so we'll see how that goes.  In addition, I'm saying the rosary on the way to school every day.  I probably should expand that to just every day, but I forgot to say it yesterday--left my rosary in the car. 

Just guessing on how much of this was fast.  I varied my pace--2 minutes easy, 1 minute hard.  I had limited time tonight because during my "me" time I had to run to the store to get toilet paper, and as is I missed bedtime.

Easy 5 miles at 8:57 pace.

I tried Carolyn's hill sprints, although I only did 5 because I felt like a doofus.

They were hard to do on a treadmill, and here's why:  I had to accelerate into the sprints and I wasn't quite sure when I reached full speed, so I probably sprinted more than the 8-10 seconds I was supposed to.  And then I jumped off the treadmill so that the belt could wind down, and every time I did it I got weird looks.  Then I had to walk/lightly jog a cooldown and begin again.

I will try them again next easy run I do--in the meantime I'll try to think of an easier way to do them.

Unmotivated and in a hurry...just did 2.

Not exactly sure that this was exactly 6 miles, but I know that my pace was pretty steady at 9:15 pace for the first 4 miles and then the last 2 miles I actually had the wind at my back, so I was probably slightly faster.  I ran for 55:15 just to be pretty sure that I completed 6.

I had planned on 10 miles yesterday and ran out of time (family was in town and I had lots of schoolwork to do). 

So I settled for this run at a moderate pace.  I finished in 63:37.  I do want to check on the actual mileage on this because I mapped it using the computer--I might drive it tomorrow just to check.  The only thing I know for sure is that my first mile was 8:51 and my last mile was 8:05, so I suppose that it's possible that my average pace was 8:36.  Now that I've been running on the treadmill so much, I'm finding it hard to gauge my pace when running outside.

I will check and repost if necessary.

  I was tired on this run.  I went to the gym later than I usually do.  I wasn't into it.

I think the reasons for this were:

everyone in my house is sick

my 2 year old jumped out of his crib in the middle of the night (something he's never done--not the jumping out, but the waking in the middle of the night) and wandered into our room to "take a nap" as he said.  Then when I put him back in his crib, there he was, a few hours later, trying to crawl back into bed with us.  I gave up and had his feet in my back the rest of the night

the cardio room was exceedingly hot, like they still had the heat on or something

the weather is changing back to cold, yucky

Much better run than yesterday, but still treadmill.  It got cold again.

I'm going to have to drive this to see exactly how long it is.  MapMyRun doesn't have street names of one of Rantoul's neighborhoods correct and I don't think even their position is right.  Oh well.

I warmed up 1 mile, did roughly 1 mile fast, but a little too fast, it felt.  I cramped up a bit.  I ran another slow mile, then did another fast mile, but not as fast as the first.  I was still sorta crampy.  Then when I was nearing the time to do another fast mile, I just wasn't feeling it yet.  My stomach was still cramping.  So instead I did the last 2 miles fast.  I know that the last mile was faster than the one before it.  

I forgot to wear my watch, so the only split I have is for my last mile, where I used my ipod (how many songs went by) to time it.  My last mile was 7:47.  I kinda wish I had my watch so I knew even just my average pace. 

I noticed before my run that the right earphone on my headphones was not working.  Then the other side conked out with about 2.5 miles to go.  I left the headphones in because they were saving my inner ear from the wind, but it was annoying. 

On a slightly interesting note, our senior class has a Facebook stalker.  I know that it is one of the kids (and I have a pretty good idea who it is).  I showed the kids how to "defriend" someone and how to change their privacy settings the day one of the kids said this person was sending him weird messages, but I think I created a monster.  Before "she" was creeping out a handful of people (including me and the Spanish teacher).  Since I brought it up in class, she's trying to creep out everyon in the entire class.  And she just sent me a message that contained my address.  I'm impressed that "she" can use a phonebook.  Ah, the joys of teaching.

The first 1/2 of my run was at 9:12 pace.  The second was slightly slower, at 9:24 pace.  The hardest part of it was from mile 7 to mile 8.5.  

Other than that, the run was okay and uneventful.  

Since I didn't have my headphones to distract me, I thought about a lot of things on this run:

1)  I felt slow and unmotivated, and looking back at my own blogs, I sense the pattern that I always feel slow and unmotivated the week before my period.  That's one nice thing about this blog--I have a record of how my workouts went. I think that my pace here was probably slightly under 10 min pace, but only slightly.  I'm glad I didn't bring my watch because I didn't stress about how slow I was going.

2)  I need to do a better job of recording how I feel during a run.  Sometimes on the blog I just write down my distance and pace, and that's not enough for me to analyze a pattern

3)  I like this blog.  Even though my running over the winter was inconsistent because of my early January forced respite, I know I ran more this winter than I have in 3 years (or maybe ever, I'm not sure.  I know that year I was running more miles during January, but I think I lost a little fitness in Feb, then had to rebuild in March).  And I know that part of the fact that I stuck with it, even though I didn't always feel like it was because I knew that Carolyn was going to be commenting on my blog :)

4)  I think I am going to concentrate on keeping fit for 1/2 marathons for the time being.  I don't have the time to be serious about a marathon right now.  While I still feel uncompetetive (and I don't really care that much to BE competetive) I would like to someday actually be able to RACE a 1/2 marathon instead of just being able to run.  I know that this one in April will be one that I just run for the heck of it.

5)  I enjoy running not because I am fast or ever want to be fast, but I am always so thankful that I CAN run.

6)  I'd like to move somewhere it is 70 degrees all year round.  Yesterday was beautiful and sunny (except it was windier than I thought it was going to be).

Four easy miles.  No problems.

I started off slower today, which ended up being an okay thing.  My first 5 miles averaged 9:51 pace. I was feeling a little slow starting out and then I decided that I would keep myself in check for the first 5 and then try to push the pace for the second 5.

I pushed myself for the next 4 and then kinda lost the edge.  At the end of 4 I decided to cool down the last 2 miles instead of the last mile.  Those miles averaged 9 minutes per.  Then the last two averaged 9:30, as a cool down.

If things had gone as planned this week, I would have run 10 more miles during the week.  I took Monday off, as I usually do, forgetting that we had an appointment on Wednesday.  Then on Friday 2 weeks of sleeping with a pair of feet kicking me from 2-5:30 caught up with me.  I crashed on the couch after getting home from school and couldn't motivate myself to get up.  But it's probably just as well.  It would have increased my weekly mileage by a significant amount, which always makes me nervous.

This week, though, I hope to (and know I most likely will) run 6 days this week.  We're on spring break (yay!) so I have a lot more time to get those miles in.  I don't think that it's a good idea to increase my mileage by 25%, although I'd like to run 40 miles this week.  So I might do a couple of runs that are 3 miles instead of the 5 I'd normally do.

I'm guessing on the fast miles here.

This workout excited me for some reason.  I warmed up for 2 miles (about 9:15 pace) and then didn't want to start my workout on :34 secs, so I waited until I had warmed up 19 minutes before beginning.

Then I did a ladder:  1 min. fast, 1 min. rec, 2 min. fast, 2 min. rec, and so on until I went up to 5 minutes fast.  Then after 5 min. rec, I went back down.  I did stop after my 5 min. fast because it was too warm for what I was wearing.  I exchanged my jacket for a long sleeve t.

I was pretty excited because I the workout portion of my run was 6 miles and it took me 50 minutes (8:20 average).  Since I don't have a garmin (although I do want one, but can't bring myself to spend the $) I don't know what my pace on the fast portion was, so I'm just guessing on how many miles I did fast.  I'm guessing my recovery pace was around 9:30, so I know the fast portion was pretty fast, if I do say so myself.

Then I cooled down a mile at 9:30 pace.

I'm thinking that my goal for the 1/2 marathon is anything under 2 hours.  1:58 would be nice.  I'm sorta thinking that if I treated it like a workout and did surges, I'd probably do better than I would if I looked at it as a race.  I have a tendency to have mental difficulties and I always find that I do better on runs that are broken into portions.  Eh.  Whatever.  I don't understand how I can coach my kids when I can't really coach myself.  I am a mental midget.

Did a threshold run.  Finished my 4 miles in 31:30.  I started off with a 8:04 mile and I guess got progressively faster because my average pace was 7:53.  It didn't feel like it, but it might have been that I had the favor of the wind for pretty much the last 2 miles.

I felt good on this run.

I was off to a late start this morning, partly waiting on hubby to come home and partly dragging my feet.

I don't know why I opted to do this one on a treadmill, but I changed my mind on my way to the gym and then changed it back when I realized I didn't have my watch AND the high school kids might be out on the track so I'd have to weave around them.  I saw them on yesterday when I ran past and I'm sure they're out again today because it's nice today (low 50s, but no wind).

So another glorious treadmill day (getting my money's worth, I guess...I haven't been there in a few weeks).

I planned on doing 5 800s and 2 400s at interval pace with a jogging recovery in between.  Somehow I lost count and accidentally missed one of the 800s.  I blame it on the fact that the first treadmill I was on shut down on me.  Twice.  So I switched treadmills part way through.  Next time I do some speed work I will bring paper so I don't miscount again.

My interval pace was 7:30 (so 3:45 for 800 and 1:53 for 400).  The last 800 was hard (and it wasn't even supposed to be the last one!) but the 400s were easy.

I hate this fast/slow mile thing and I can't remember how to change the settings so I can get more options.  

 I ran on the treadmill at my sister's house while she did the elliptical (isn't she lucky?--she has a good home gym).  It was really nice to talk to someone while I ran.  We also watched some basketball!

 I ran at 8:34 pace.  It would have been more challenging if I hadn't been talking--I wasn't watching the clock like I normally do.

My hip has been bothering me a little bit.  It does this on and off and has pretty much for the past few years.  My sister thinks it may be bursitis or tendonitis, neither of which would surprise me.  She is going to show me some strengthening excersises for my hip.  I'm going to look up some information about both possibilities.

I intended to go for 4 miles, but I don't know any routes around my parents' house except for a 7 mile route and a 3 mile route.  I just guessed at what I thought might be around 4 and it turns out it was 4.5.

I didn't bring a watch, but I ran at a brisk pace.  Not easy, but moderate.

Going out for this run, I wasn't sure exactly what my goal was:  should I do two 6.5 loops for 13 miles?  1 6.5 and one 4.5 loop for 11 miles?  When I hit about 4 miles, I realized 2 things: if I did run 11 or 13 miles, that would mean that I ran 20% more miles this week than last week, which I didn't think was a great idea; and if I had to run past my parents' house, I probably wouldn't go out for more miles.  So I stopped to stretch and really think what I should do, and then decided to turn around and go back the way I came, even though I didn't have any water with me.  This way I'm only increasing by a little more than 15%, which is probably still too much.

I also don't know my pace since I didn't even bring my watch home with me.  I did do a little tempo running within this run, but not at any regular intervals.  I let my ipod dictate--whenever it played a song that got me pumped, I would increase the pace for the duration of that song.

A slow and easy 5 miles.  My hip is hurting when I'm walking, but not when I'm running.  I forgot to get the strengthening exercises from my sister, but I'm going to Chicago this weekend and I need to remember.

A treadmill run.  

This one was hard, mentally.  First off, it is sweltering in the cardio room.  It actually makes me a little sick.  Second, I'm having food issues--my lunch is too early and by the time I get home my blood sugar is so low that it makes me sick.  Any other idiot would just pack something extra for an afternoon snack, but I am not that smart.  It's just a timing thing.  When I would have time to eat a snack I'm not hungry, and then when I have time again, I'm almost ready to go home.

I did an easy mile (9:13 pace) and then  I did 1/4 mile at 8:00 pace/1/4 mile at easy pace.  Towards the end I snuck in a little rest before getting on the treadmill.

Running now makes me mourn the days when my husband and I got home at the same time.  It was so easy back then.  I'd run pretty much as soon as we got home (when I wasn't famished) and be done running before it was time to start dinner.  Now it's harder to get into a routine.

My husband got punched today by a student while he was trying to break up a fight.  She (yes, she) was then arrested.  He's okay.

I would say my run today was moderate, not easy but not tempo.  But then, I have no way of knowing because I couldn't find my watch before I left.

I started off with a little spring in my step and decided to just go with it.  I was going good and then I really found my rhythm at mile 3.  The last two miles I got progressively faster.  I sorta wish I had my watch, but I think it's probably better that I didn't.  I have a tendency to become obsessed with my pace and I think it is a limiting factor for me.  I was happy to go by feel.

I was fooled because on the way home from school it was sunny and 62, but when I actually went out for a run it was cloudy, dreary, and colder.  I almost went out in a t-shirt, but decided to put on a long sleeve t, and I was a little chilly.

I was limited on time today, so hopefully I will be able to get in a longer run tomorrow.

I started off a little fast because the weather was threatening, and sure enough, around mile 3, the wind got a lot stronger and it started to rain.  The rain itself wasn't bad, but the temp dropped and I wasn't dressed appropriately.  I finished another 3--I had a hard time deciding what distance I should do, so ran almost all of my normal 5 mile route and then decided that if I went close to home I would just stop, so I turned around and did a mile loop close to my house.

All in all it was a good run, but would you believe I left without my watch again?  This time it was unintentional.

I'm nervous about getting in a long run this Sat, since my sister decided last minute to have a birthday party at her house, so we're going to Chicago (again).  I will wake up a little early on Saturday, but we need to arrive at her house by noon, so that usually means we have to be ready to go at 9 since for some reason it always takes about an hour to get out the door.  I'll wake up early and do what I can.  I'm a little nervous about the 1/2 marathon I'm doing next week, but I'm viewing it as training, not as a race.  I'll be fine whether or not I get in the miles that I want to on Saturday.  I suppose I can try to do it on Sunday instead.

Wore my old shoes.  That was a mistake.  My left heel hurts.  I'll see how it feels when I run tomorrow morning.

I always find that the day after I take off, I'm always a little fast starting off.  Today I was a bit fast, but I decided to go with it and I had a great run.

Since we were supposed to have thunderstorms on and off today, I planned my run so that if it started to rain, after 3 miles I would be close to the gym.  If not, I could head back home and finish 2 6 mile loops.  When I hit about 3 miles, I was running roughly 8:30 pace.  It was starting to rain, so I decided to head to the gym and continue to run fast using the treadmill to push me.  I ran another .55 miles to the gym

I ran 3 miles at 8:34 pace on the treadmill and stopped for some hammer gel and water.  Then I ran 3 more.

I looked out the door and it was just lightly raining, so I decided to run back home.  I did a 1.55 miles slow (didn't look at pace and forgot to start my watch anyway) and then decided that I felt pretty good and wanted to go a little faster.  I picked up the pace a bit, but still forgot to start my watch.  At about 1.3 miles left I stopped for about a minute to stretch my left arm because my chest felt tight.  Then I ran back home.  My last mile was around 8:45.  I'm counting everything as fast except for the 1.55.

It would be great if I could duplicate this run on Saturday.

Ran a short recovery run on the treadmill.  I averaged 9:20 pace.  I have a blister on the inside of my big toe that hurts a little bit, but I haven't looked at it yet.  I know it's from yesterday because I didn't lube up well enough.

This week's plan isn't a good one.  Because I have an appointment on Wednesday, I decided to take that day off, which means that I had to do 2 days of active recovery after Sunday's hard run. I was a little bit sore/tired during and after this run, but now I get a day of rest.   This run was avg. 10 min pace.

On Thursday I'm going to try to head back outside and run 5 or 6 miles and then Friday run very lightly.  I'm afraid that if I take Friday off completely that I'll start out too fast on Saturday.

I have no idea what to expect on Saturday and I'm a little nervous, but in a good way.  I have a feeling that deciding to run with someone could either be good, or could severely get in the way of how I'd like to run.  I don't think I'll abandon my partner during the race, but I hope he's ready!  He told me that he wasn't sure if he could run as fast as I want to, but he also said that he will not fall behind.  We'll see!

I managed to squeeze in 3.7 before a track meet.  I volunteered to be the head timer for our first home track meet.  It was fun and good to be surrounded by running.  

Now for the complaints.  After standing for a few hours yesterday at the track meet, I'm kinda tired and my back hurts a bit.  I'm hoping to get some quality zzzzz's before tomorrow's race.

I went to pick up my race packet and the wind was BRUTAL!  It isn't supposed to be as windy tomorrow morning, but it is supposed to be quite a bit colder.  I'm trying now to finalize my attire!  I'm looking forward to it.

I am incredible.  I am awesome.  All those other runners in front of me?  They got nothin on me.

I am so incredibly happy after this 1/2 marathon.  I beat my supersecret goal by almost 2 minutes.  Everything was perfect today--my hydration, my fueling, the weather, my attire--all awesome!

So I really need a garmin.  I had a watch and 1) I missed some of the early mile markers 2) didn't start pushing the lap button until 6 miles into the race 3) accidentally erased all my data 10 minutes after I finished.

What are you gonna do?

So here's what I remember:  I met my running partner at an off the beaten path location, which was totally not my idea but totally smart.  His dad works at U of I, so we met at one of the buildings he maintains.  I was a little nervous about 45 minutes before the race where we met, but I ate well last night, had my standard morning cereal about 2 hours before the race, was drinking my gatorade, and popped a couple ibuprofen.  We jogged slowly toward the start line about 10 minutes before the race, which was the only mistake of the day.  The start line was so clogged that we couldn't get close to the pace team that we wanted to run with (we were stuck behind the 4:45 marathoners).  But we turned it into a positive because we had wanted to start off slowly anyway.

I missed the first mile marker completely.  We crossed the second mile at 17:18.  Then I don't remember until 6 miles (just after I saw my husband and kids--my husband trying valiently to get a picture of us running and then cutting across the field to take more because he didn't have the camera set correctly--I was yelling "Change the setting!" and the runners around me were laughing).  We hit that at 50:53, just under 8:30 pace.  I had a Gu at about mile 7, one of the race provided ones.  It was thicker than what I'm used to--I usually use hammer gels--and a disgusting chocolate flavor.  I choked it down and chased it with water.

The only other split I remember was mile 8 (I think) at a little over 1:15.  I'm terrible (about remembering, but still totally awesome at running).

I started flagging a little at about mile 11, but I kept up with my partner.  It was nice:  I led us in the first 7 miles (he told me afterwards that at certain times when I was weaving around slower runners that he was thinking "Are you kidding?  I don't think I can do this") but he really helped me a lot in the last 6 miles--I know I wouldn't have run as fast if I wasn't running with him because I didn't want to be shown up.

I got more energized a bit before mile 12 because our school cheerleaders were on the corner right where the marathoners and 1/2 marathoners split.  They saw us and let out a roar!  It was great!  And totally needed at that point.

The rest was hard.  I know with better fitness I will go faster next time.  With about .75 to go I gestured to my runner partner to go ahead, but I kept up with him when he picked up the pace (that was smart of me).  With .2 left he got a burst of energy and yelled at me to keep up as we ran into memorial stadium.  I tried valiantly, but he ended up beating me by 10-15 seconds.  Next time I'll get him--we already decided to run together next year.

I think my watch said 1:50.20 when I crossed the finish, but I'll correct as necessary when race results are posted.  I was just so excited to post this entry!

Hooray for me!

update:

How's this for a bunch of hooey?  I'm looking up race results for my official time, and I'm not listed.  Neither is the kid I ran with.  I emailed the keeper of the list to see if there is some explanation, but I'm disappointed.  Hopefully there's a good explanation and a good fix.  Oh, and it was mile 9 that we crossed at 1:15 or so.

 update to my first update:

 Okay, so I am finally listed!  They must have missed a bunch of people because according to the paper I was roughly 166 of all the women, and now I'm officially 174.  I'm just relieved that I officially ran.

So:  I was 726th overall (out of 3752 runners)

I was 34th in my age division (out of 308)

I was 174 out of 2097 women.

Not bad.  I'm still pretty excited.

After a day of non-stop eating yesterday, I'm surprised that this run was pretty good.  I just ran at an easy pace in the dreary wetness of today.  

I got a nap today while my youngest was sleeping and my oldest and my nephew played quietly in a bedroom.  They left me undisturbed for a good 2 hours.  This was a historic moment.

I did 3 miles at 9:05 pace and then 2 miles at 8:49 pace.  All on treadmill--it was cold, windy, and I didn't run until later than normal.

The run itself was fine, but I'm having stomach issues.  I don't know if anyone else is like this, but if I have a significant change in diet, even if it's just one meal (like on Easter I ate some richer foods that I don't normally eat) my stomach bothers me for days.  It's quite annoying.  So I really wanted to stop running from mile 1 on, just because I was uncomfortable, but it was only slightly so I finished my run.  I hope this subsides today before I go running, otherwise I'll just do another easy paced run.

Something in my chest has also been bothering me for the last 2 weeks or so, but I can't pinpoint the location.  Sometimes it feels like my chest but other times it feels like my back.  It's probably a ligament or something?  I've had this feeling before.  I should probably schedule a doctor's visit, but I probably will just wait it out.

I didn't feel too slow yesterday, but I did have to stop for about a minute after 4.5 miles while a stomach cramp subsided.  But I forced myself to continue, even though I wasn't feeling it so much.

I don't have a game plan for the short-term yet as far as running is concerned (besides a 5K next weekend and a 10K the weekend after that).  I'm thinking another 1/2 marathon this summer, but I don't know when.  My brother is doing a triathlon at the end of August--I'm thinking about that, but I don't know how that'll fit in with my fall schedule.  

Lots of life-changing choices need to be made in the next month.  One is deciding whether I can balance school, work and coaching all at once.  I hate making decisions.

Hubby was late, dinner was late, bath and bedtime were late, this workout was late.  Bah.

This was a tempo run.  I ran out to meet Chuck and the kids at the Knights' park (via Murray Road and the Cemetery Road).  It was nice to run on some hills for a change.  

Sorry to all the people out west who are getting snow, but it was 74 and sunny here.  This was our first real spring day, but it isn't supposed to last--next week it'll be in the 50s.

I did a warmup mile (8:30) and then did 3 min. fast, 3 min. slow.  I did this 8 times throughout the run, ending my last fast time about 1/2 mile from home, so I just did a 1/2 mile cooldown. 

My average pace for this run was 8:21.  I'm guessing my fast miles--it was probably some distance between 3.1 and 3.2, but I'll give myself credit for 7:30 fast pace.

Every time I do an actual workout instead of just running (which isn't nearly often enough, I don't think) I think that I should invest in a garmin.  Maybe when school ends (only 3 more weeks--how insanely awesome is that?).

I just did an easy run.  I took the day off work today because I am getting together with my old college roommates.  I'm very excited.  We haven't all gotten together other than for weddings pretty much since we all went our separate ways.

My game plan for today's run didn't happen the way I envisioned it.  I wanted to do a trial 5K.

But I was stressed at work, had a headache when I came home, husband got home late.  So I went to the gym because I had to run after dinner when it was getting dark.

I thought it would be maybe better on a treadmill, but it wasn't for some reason.  I warmed up, did one mile at 7:30 and then couldn't force myself to continue at that pace.  I slowed down some on the next mile (to 8:34 for a couple minutes and then sped up to 8).  I hung on to that pace for 2 miles and then cooled down. 

I think my goal of somewhere in the 22's for the 5K needs to be revised.  I will be happy if I am somewhere from 23-23:30.  Over the summer I'll shoot for the 22's.

I was actually able to run tonight without worrying about getting finished fast since my husband took the kids to clean his sister's yard and out to the farm.  He wanted me to pick them up when I was done running, but I need to get some stuff done without them (packing and bills and whatnot) plus I wanted to run a little bit longer than normal.  Hooray for little victories.

So here I am blogging instead of paying bills....

I started a normal 8 mile route and then changed my plan slightly because to get in 8 miles I get near my house at mile 7 and then run out again and I didn't want to take the chance that I'd get lazy.  So I ran out 4 miles and then ran back the same route so mile 4 was a nice steady uphill (with the wind) and mile 5 was back downhill (against the wind, which seemed stronger than the 14 mph than it was.  But man does it make a difference when the wind is accompanied by sunshine and 70 degrees). 

My pace was all over the map, but none of my miles was slower than 9 min or faster than 8:20 (and that was the uphill but with the wind mile).  I averaged 8:48.

I woke up at 5 to get in 3.2 before work.  I thought about doing 4 and it's a good thing I didn't.  I was already running late because I had to pack the car.

I started off too fast but soon settled into a nice and easy slow pace.  Didn't wear my watch.

I woke up this morning at 7 and panicked because my race was at 9 in the city.  While I was rushing around, throwing on clothes and popping a muffin in the toaster to take on the road, I discovered it was only 6 and I had plenty of time.

My friend organized the race for colon cancer research (she lost her fiancee to colon cancer 6 years ago.  He was only 24).  It was in beautiful Lincoln Park, right along the lake front.  My drive was nice, but parking was stressful.  I definitely don't miss city driving.

I ran from my car to the site--just a little over a mile. Then I waited for another friend I had recruited to run.  She ended up being late, so I warmed up another 1.5 miles by myself.   It started to pour about 15 minutes before the race.  My friend actually ended up running in the pouring rain from the el (they got off at the wrong stop) and made it just 3 minutes before the start.  The rain miraculously stopped right before the gun.  We were pretty far back when they started, but it was okay.

My first two miles I was on 7:25 pace.  I always struggle the last mile, but I just kept telling myself, "I have a cramp; I'm fighting through it" and "This wind really sucks, but I'm so close to the end."  I know I slowed down (my last 1.1 averaged 7:48 pace), but I'll work on it.

I did a lot of passing, and I was passed by only 1 woman and 1 man.  That ain't bad.

My friend and I cooled down back to the car.  Reeeeeeaaaally slooooooooow.  She is not fast.

My time was 23:26.  I'm happy.  There were 236 runners (although some of the times listed as runners had to have walked it).  And I was the 7th female!  That makes me feel good.

Then my son bruised my nose (accident) and my mom forced me to go on a zoo death march.  I'm exhausted.  And my nose hurts.

Apparently I have a mild concussion from my blow to the nose on Saturday.  I won't be running until I feel right again.  

Is it wrong that I'm amused?

I'm going to start running again tomorrow after a bit under a week of dizziness. I'm a little nervous because I signed up for a 10K--I am fully prepared to stop if my head isn't cooperating! I was amused on Monday; now I'm just anxious to be normal again!

So here's the full story:

I was trying to get my toddler to take an early nap, which was a mistake in itself.  Since I was tired, I thought I'd take a nap with him.  He stood up while I was laying down and when I asked him to lay down, he threw his whole body weight on me, right in my nose.  Saying it hurt is an understatement.

After icing my nose for an hour, I was forced to go to the zoo (which was the reason why I attempted an early nap in the first place).  I felt like poo, but I just attributed it to 1) the race I had run that morning and 2) the fact that my nose was killing me.

The next day I attempted to drive back home (120 or so miles, 95 of it along I-57, quite possibly the most boring stretch of highway ever).  It was raining in Chicago, but when it started to get sunny (with about 60 miles to go) I realized that my vision was strange.  It wasn't blurry, but something with the lines on the road was making it really hard to concentrate.  I pulled over because I knew I wasn't going to make it.  My brother in law drove my husband up to drive us home while the kids and I enjoyed yogurt at McDonalds.

I thought the vision thing was because my nose was swollen.  I took some periodic naps throughout the afternoon.

Then Monday I unwisely drove to school and was still feeling strange.  My condition deteriorated throughout the day and I was guilted into going to the doctor by another teacher.  One of the secretaries drove me to convenient care.  I was actually relieved to be diagnosed with a concussion because I don't even know what I was thinking was the problem.

And then everyone at school was like, "I thought it might be a concussion," and I wonder why it didn't occur to anyone to tell me that.

So the rest of this week has been pure suck.  The doctor actually told me that I would learn what it's like to have ADD, and that was 100% accurate.  I couldn't focus on anything and I had a whanging headache besides. 

I'm looking forward to running again, but didn't want to start until I felt better.  I'm still not 100%, but I'm about 85% and the worst thing about the week is that I haven't run at all.

I began with a bit more than a mile warmup to make sure that I was okay to run.  No major problems, but I felt better with my eyes focused downward.

I didn't have any expectations for this race because this is the first I've run in a week.  I did start off too fast--my first mile was 7:51 and I was shooting for 8:30.  I blame it on nerves.  My second mile was slightly under 8, but during the 3rd mile I slowed down to run with this kid (he looked about 10 or 11) who was having trouble.  He was doing the old sprint, sprint, sprint, walk walk, sprint routine.  I made him run with me for about 1/2 mile and just talked to him a little.  I couldn't tell if he was nervous that I was yelling at him to stay with me, but he did at any rate.  Then he split off because he was doing the 5K.  The third mile was about 8:30

I did another slower mile (8:30) and then at mile 4 I wanted to get ahead of a pack of runners that passed me while I was running with the kid.  I picked up the pace to catch up and passed about 5 people.

During the last 1.2 2 of those people passed me again, and I just didn't care enough to stay with them.  But when a short, squat man tried to pass me, suddenly I cared enough to pick up the pace and keep in front of him.  At the end I saw the little kid from before cheering for me and I just pushed to the end because I didn't want to get passed again.

The little kid took first in his age division! 

I took the first place trophy in my age division, but I don't really count it because the overall winner was my age, so I will give myself 2nd.

I don't know how many runners there were, but I will update when the results are online.  I know the number of 10K runners was small compared to the number of 5K runners.

I did a really slow cool down before the awards were announced.

I'm dizzy right now.  My eyes are just not focusing properly.  I will try to take a nap today and then assess how I feel tomorrow morning and run accordingly.

Just an easy 4 miles at an average of 9:14 pace.  The run was okay and the pace felt nice.  It is a nice day outside, but the sun was a little much for my eyes.  Tomorrow I will wear shades.

I started off with 2 miles slow (average 9:30) and then felt that if I didn't pick up the pace I wouldn't want to continue running.  So then my next two miles averaged 8:30 and my last mile was 8:50.

Then I took the kids to the park and Dairy Queen.  Yum!

I was thinking about a lot when I was on this run--lots of decisions to make soon and another one was added yesterday.  I had a looooong conversation with my mom before I ran, so I got off to a late start.  I'm not a fan of running after dinner, but oh well.

 Since I was thinking about other stuff, I wasn't thinking about running.  I ended up averaging 8:18 per mile on this run and it actually felt easy, probably because I wasn't thinking about it.  After I did 4 miles I thought I'd do an easy mile, and that one ended up at 8:18 pace too.  I guess that's good.

For some reason I have been getting a lot of charlie horses and muscle cramping (legs and feet!) this week.  I haven't had any diet change, so I'm wondering if it stems (at least partly) from my inactivity last week.  At any rate, I'm switching to bananas as my fruit of choice today.  Hopefully that will help.

My first 1/2 mile, I went with the kids to the park, one kid on a scooter, the other in the jogging stroller.  The second 1/2 mile, was home with one kid on a scooter, one kid running next to me, and the other in the jogging stroller.  I magically sprouted a kid on the way home (my nephew).  This was obviously slow.

Then later (MUCH later) I went for an easy 3 miles. 

I had another little hiccup in my running this week.  On Friday I went to pick up my kids at the baby-sitter and Caleb was puking all over the place, so I didn't run.  And then Saturday I spent much of the day in the emergency room with Eli, who scared us all by having a seizure.  Luckily these seizures are common and are caused by a rapid increase in temperature, but I didn't know that when I was riding in the front seat of the ambulance, listening to the siren going and watching the odometer climb AND watching my baby convulsing in the back.  It was scary, but I am so thankful that this was not as bad as I first feared.

So at any rate, I was emotionally drained this weekend and I finally got up some motivation to run in the early afternoon.  I started off fast and maintained that for 3 miles.  Then all of a sudden, right around mile 3, I just wanted to quit.  I was slightly under 8 min. pace and I just wanted to start walking.  So I stopped to stretch and give myself a mental pep talk.

Part of the reason why I just wanted to quit was a silly reason:  I was wearing a skort that I bought on mega-sale at Kohl's.  And it was a little too big, which I didn't realize when I first put it on, but definitely realized when I was hitching it up all throughout my run, and when I had the wind at my back, I felt like my butt was hanging out.  And I was wearing the wrong kind of underpants because I didn't have anything else clean.  I hate being an overly emotional woman, which I certainly am.

So at any rate, while I was stretching (and self-conscious about that, too) I just wondered why I felt like I had to run 5 miles at an 8 minute pace.  And then I just decided to run the last two miles slowly, but I talked myself into at least doing them.  So the last 2 miles were averaged about a 9:10 pace.  I'm not going to say the run was a good one, but it was tolerable.

I know that part of my problem is now I have nothing on the horizon as far as racing is concerned.  I am hesitant to sign up for any summer races, or even to plan summer training (which I was all gung-ho about a few weeks ago) so that I can reach my goal of a fast 5K. 

But on the happy side, I'm done teaching for the year and all I have to do is show up to work and clean out my classroom and do some end-of-the-year paper work, which I'm putting off right now as I half-heartedly supervise my study hall.

Just an easy 4 miles.  I am less crabby today.  The run was uneventful and a little under 9 minute pace (the first 2 miles were at 9:10 pace, so I must have unknowingly picked up the pace a bit during the last 2 miles).

I'm just guessing at the fast/slow here, probably a bit more fast, but not 1/2 fast, I don't think.

I planned on doing intervals and then as my garage door was closing, I realized I wasn't wearing my watch, so I improvised.  I warmed up for 2 songs and then did one song fast, 1 song slow.  I'm not gonna lie, my ipod picked out what felt like some reeeeeeeally long songs for the fast parts.  The first one was Against the Wind by Bob Seger, and I was, appropriately enough, runnin' against the wind.  It was strong, according to the weather channel, about 18 MPH.  It was gearing up for a storm.

But anyway, the songs probably weren't as long as they felt.  I finished my run in a little over 40 minutes, I think, but I'm not positive since I just had a vague idea of what time it was before I left.

When I was done I lifted, which I haven't done in quite some time.  I'll have to check my blog for the last time (I think I almost always wrote when I lifted) so that I can try to figure out exactly why I stopped.  I think it was probably because I was running more to get ready for the 1/2 and then I never picked it back up again.

And then I fell asleep.  I think I'm getting sick.  I don't know exactly which day I'm going to take off from running this week. 

I just had time for a quick 3.  Run was fine, but short.

Woke up at 4:45 to get in this run.  Yuck.  But I have class tonight from 5-10.  I'm hoping the prof lets us go home early.

I left when it was dark and ran 4 easy miles at avg. 9:20 pace.  It started to drizzle part way through the run, but it was pretty warm (maybe 55 or 60) so it didn't matter much.  After 4 miles I decided to push the pace to see how close I could get to a 9 min average over 5 miles.  I did my last mile in 7:34, so I came in a little under 9 min. pace.  It felt good.

I have class tomorrow too, and I don't think I'll be able to run before it (we'll see though). 

May I complain about a non-running topic?

My mom is so interfering; it drives me crazy.  My sister's son is being baptized this weekend, and when she first planned it, she called me and I told her that it was graduation day.  She told me to go to graduation (she's not churchy--in fact, she literally said, "It's only a baptism.  Big deal."  I hope that changes) and I compromised.  I'm going to graduation and then I'm going to drive to Chicago afterward for the party at her house (and then I'm taking Monday off).  I wasn't planning on bringing the kids since I'd have to drive out of the way to pick them up.

So anyway, my mom can't bear to miss an opportunity to see the kids (even though I am spending the whole Memorial Day weekend with her in Michigan) so she told me that she is going to come down on Saturday to pick up the kids.  She didn't ask, just told me.

I know it's not that big of a deal since she's the one driving 4 hours round trip to do it, but it's annoying. I was actually looking forward to Monday when I wouldn't have the kids with me.

At any rate, my only consolation (I'm so spiteful) is that Eli is horrible during mass and she will have to deal with him.  And he's really really bad.  I told her she wouldn't even enjoy the baptism, but she didn't care.  She makes no sense. 

Oh, and the reason why I started this rant (I almost forgot) is that she will probably guilt me into not running, since she's going to be at my house when I get home from class tomorrow.  Maybe I better plan to run in the morning.  We'll see what time I get home tonight.

A nice easy run before I had to go buy shoes for graduation because my feet are too disgusting for open toed shoes and I somehow didn't realize this before today.  Well, not really, I just didn't have time with class this weekend.  

I don't remember my pace or anything.  I feel like my average was somewhere around 9 min/mile.

My mom did guilt me into not running, but we did walk all over the place on Sat. to go to the park.  I was going to run and meet them there, but my mom is not too familiar with my neighborhood.  Only problem?  She walks really, really slow, so she pushed the stroller while I kept up with the kid on the bike.

I enjoyed this workout, even if it was on a treadmill.  I did an interval workout.

Warmed up for 7 min, then did 4/3/2/1/1/2/3/4 hard with equal time at easy pace, then after the last 4 min hard I cooled down for a little over 7 min (mostly because I wanted to end up with a normal number for mileage.

For the hard parts, I got progressively harder as I went from 4 to 1, starting at 8 min pace and then going 7:47, 7:35, 7:03 pace on the hard parts.  Then as I climbed back up, I started at 6:40 pace and went progressively easier, but the second hard parts were faster than the first (by 10-15 seconds per mile, so not much faster). 

The reason I did it this way is because I want to train my mind to realize that I can go a lot faster when I'm tired if I just push myself.  This is what I want to work on for the time being, even if it's only to get faster in a 5K.

Then I ruined my workout by eating lunch at McDonalds.  I took the day off today.  I hate McDonalds, but I was unfamiliar with the area I was in when I went to meet my sister and my kids were starving.

Whenever I eat fast food I go someplace like Subway or Jimmy John's.  I never know what to order at McDonalds because just about everything on their menu disgusts me.  I DO though, like those fruit and yogurt parfaits, but I didn't think that was substantial enough for lunch.  Oh, and I also like McFlurries :)  I settled for chicken selects, but forgot they came with fries and of course I didn't want to waste them once they were in my car.  Ha ha.

A nice easy run around town.  I picked up the kids at Julie's (SIL) after I was done so I needed a new route, since her house is along my usual route, but not far enough away.  So I ran to Veteran's Parkway and then up to 136 and along the edge of Indian Acres.  That way I got some uphill, which I don't normally get in my run.

It was beautiful today.  Almost 80 and sunny with a brisk breeze.  It was obviously warm in the sun and when I was running west, I was annoyed because I had the sun and the breeze in my face.  It wasn't too bad, though. 

I started to do an interval workout at 2:00 in 85 degrees.  I warmed up 5 minutes and then did 2 min fast/2 min recovery until I got to 3 miles (cumulative) and realized that I was feeling poopy.  I didn't drink much today and it was hot.  So I decided just to finish at a slower pace.  I averaged 8:45 pace for the whole thing, but my last 2 miles were 9:30 avg.

And then I felt like crap until dinner. 

Revising plans for the rest of the week.  No run tomorrow, since I'd have to run at the same time as today.  Run early Friday and then Sat. run when I get to Michigan (maybe evening, depending on the temp).  I haven't run 6 days a week in quite some time and I'd really like to this week.  Plus I'd like to get over 30 miles this week so I can do more building mileage.   

I doubt I'll do more than 5 miles in Mich, since my whole family will be there and will try, in their evil way, to get me to skip running.  Luckily my husband has become quite good at helping me create opportunities to run!

I also found a race for June that I forgot about.  It's a 7.1 mile trail run.  I was looking at the results from last year, and there aren't that many women that run it.  I'm going to sign up sometime tomorrow--who knows?  Maybe I could be one of the fastest women.

These were tempo miles, not fast miles.  I went for a run this beautiful morning.  Started at 5:05 and the sun was already coming up--it was perfectly light when I was done.  65 degrees with a light, but pleasant breeze.  Perfect for a run.

While I was running I was thinking of two things:

First, I had a conversation with my principal yesterday.  I'm working on my degree in admin, and I made a comment about how he should make me dean and let me teach one class--AP English.  About 1/2 hour later he looked mad and asked me, "Why would I let one of my best teachers be dean and only teach one class?  Right now I know you impact every one of the seniors who walk across our stage at graduation.  You wouldn't be able to have that kind of impact as dean."  And I argued that I would be able to impact all 400 students.  Then he told me that he wouldn't take a strong teacher and make her admin, but he would take a weaker teacher and do the same.  I can't remember his exact words, but that was the gist.

So that tells me two disturbing things.  One, I will never be an administrator at our school as long as he is there.  Two, our school rewards the weak and punishes the strong.  I was irritated, but I will wait him out--he won't last long.

I was also thinking about a conversation that I overheard when I was at my niece's informal graduation party.  She goes to the public high school in our town.  The kids were talking about a crabby teacher who just had a baby and then the conversation shifted to how many girls were pregnant in their graduating class.  The thing that bothered me about this conversation was not the fact that girls are pregnant--I'm not naive--but that the kids at her house were so nonchalant about it.  I'm not saying I want to go back to the days when pregnant teens are hidden away with some relative, or worse, when they are forced by the boyfriend and the parents to get abortions, but could we have a little indignation?  A little less acceptance?

So those are my thoughts for today.

5 miles at 8:40 pace.  It was a nice run at my sister's place in Michigan.  I ran out of the subdivision a mile and then back in, once around the subdivision, and then back out of the subdivision a mile and back.  It wasn't too hot because I ran closer to dusk.

I wanted to do some faster portions today and I decided that I didn't want to do it out of the subdivision because the cars go too fast around some of the curves.  Around the subdivision is just over a mile, so I just did some spins around it.

I warmed up 5 minutes and then did 3 min fast with 3 min recovery.  I think I did the faster pace 7 times because I ended on a fast(er) section.  It was very warm so I stopped to hydrate after mile 2 and mile 4.  Then when I finished, I put on my bathing suit and walked 1/2 mile to the beach.  Don't get jealous, though.  This "beach" is nothing too exciting.  Just a little plot of sand off a tiny lake.  I waded around in the water with the kids.

Yoga today.  I decided in the past couple weeks that I felt stronger when I was doing more core work.  So I've been lifting and doing ab work, but I haven't always blogged it and I have to keep a better record.  I did yoga while everyone was out of the house at the farm and it was relaxing.  Meant to go running afterward, but everyone came back early.

An easy 6 miles at 5:30.  I am waking up this week before my husband goes to work so I have some extra time.  As long as I'm done by 6:30-6:45, it's all good.

There was a slight chill in the air and a breeze, but I felt good in shorts and a t-shirt. It was already light out by the time I started.  I didn't wear my watch.

Afterward I did pilates and I plan on lifting as soon as I'm done with my cleaning.

Changed this after I mapped it.  I will drive it later and adjust if necessary.

My legs just didn't want to move this morning.  And it is HUMID outside, even at 5:35, which is when I walked out of the house.  If it's going to be this humid tomorrow, I'm going to have to stay close to home and drink something every two miles.

My allergies are bothering me right now and I'm really bothered because my kids are already awake.  Why can't they sleep in till 7?  That would be nice, but it never happens.

My alarm went off at 5:15 and I turned it off.  I went to bed later than normal last night.  Eli has a cold and he took a long time to fall asleep.

I ran at about 5:30 p.m. instead.

Every time I do a run like this I realize I would really like a garmin.  How many times have I posted that?  Maybe for my birthday--only 3 weeks or so!

I did a ladder, starting at 5, going to 1 with equal rest time.  On my first 3 min fast, I accidently went 4, but no big deal.  I estimate that my fast times were somewhere around 7:45 or so, since I averaged 8:30 pace for the run altogether.  This is why I need a garmin :)  The other reason is because I use mapmyrun and it doesn't have the streets in southern Rantoul exactly right.  I don't know how long it takes to get with the times, but construction on those streets ended 3 years ago. 

 It is not as humid out today.  It was windy, but not terribly so.  I felt strong through the run. 

Also did a little pilates.  About 15 minutes

I had a horrible night's sleep.  Mostly I kept waking up because I was dreaming of running.  I either was dreaming that I was running OR that my alarm didn't go off and I missed running.  

Woke up at 5:15 and got out at about 5:30.  It was in the high 50s, sun already up, but definitely not as humid as the other day.  I didn't stop to rehydrate throughout the run because I didn't need to.  

I did run slow, though.  It was nice and I didn't have the usual I-hate-running-slow-and-easy feeling where I wonder why I'm out there running.

So close last week to 6 running days...Yesterday we were up and off to Chicago at 7 and I got lazy after my bro's bridal shower (well, obviously not really my bro's).

But I was up this morning for a run on my sister's treadmill.  I don't know her area that well and I wanted to make sure I ran at least 6 today.

My mile times were 8:57, 8:34, 8:19, 8:06, 7:47, and then 1/2 at 7:30.  After that I cooled down 1/2 mile at 8:57.  I probably should have forced myself to finish a whole mile at 7:30, but I was 1) afraid I couldn't do it and 2) anxious to go swimming with the kids in the pool.

I love summer, and not just because I don't have to go to work  :)

I got in a run.  It was steamy today.  Almost 90.  I took it easy.

I then did 20 min. of yoga.  I taught this morning and I have a class tonight, so I'm glad my not waking up this morning didn't ruin my chances to work out.

I did 3 miles tempo (8:15 pace avg) and then I did an interrupted run for the next 2 miles--ran hard 5 minutes and then did a set of crunches and oblique crunches before running another hard 5 minutes.  I ended up doing 3 faster sections (so 4 sets of ab work) before cooling down.  On my cool down I didn't much pay attention to pace, but it was at a moderate pace.

Average pace:  8:09 (I stopped my watch on the interruptions).

My stomach was icky all day.  

Finally, after dinner I decided that I needed to earn a shower.  I went running basically around the block (a mile to a certain point and then backwards along the same route) so that I would never be too far away from the house in case I needed to go to the bathroom (TMI?).  When I finished 2 miles I thought just 2 was a waste of time, so I went out on one more loop.  I finished just in time.

I really hate this fast/slow set up that I chose when I started this blog.  I never know how to define fast, but I look at it as not slow.

I ran to Walmart and back the same way.  Mile 4 was mostly uphill and mile 5 was mostly downhill.  I averaged 9 min pace for the first 7 miles and then ran 1 mile at 8:15 pace just to push it a little.  My ipod was not cooperating and was spitting out slow song after slow song.  Then, just as I finished, a Prince song came on.  Poop.

Then I lifted.

 Okay, I should have probably blogged about this before so if it happens again I will know that it is just something that happens, but (sorry for the rant)

All through the winter I was pretty steady at 148 (give or take a pound).  About a month ago (right when I had my concussion) my weight shot up to about 152.  I thought it was because I didn't run that week.  Then the next week I thought it was because I was getting my period.  Then the next week I thought it was because I started lifting right after my concussion.  And now I just don't know what it is, but it sure is pissing me off.  I'm at 151 today.  Does anyone else gain weight when it starts getting hot out?  Nothing else has changed--except I'm running a little more.  BUT I AM EATING THE SAME AS I ALWAYS DO!! 

Okay.  Now I feel better.  I'm pretty sure this is a pattern (which is why I'm blogging about it, so I can make sure next year) so I'll just have to get over it.  But really, who wants to be fatter in the summer than in the winter?

An easy 4 miles.  The first .4 and the last .4 were really slow because I jogged with a kid in the jogging stroller and a kid on a bike.  And don't think that kid on the bike was fast.  He was complaining because I was running ahead of him and he got frustrated because he couldn't keep up.  On the way back he was a little better because I told him that I'd wait for him at each corner.

When I was running myself (after I dropped the kids off at SIL's) I ran nice and easy.  The last 1/2 mile I started off racing a girl on a scooter (no eye contact was made, but she brought it, so it was on.  I creamed her) and then kept up the fast pace till I got back to SIL's.

Guessing on the fast miles.  I did a ladder.  started with 4 min hard (after a small warm up) and then went down to 1 and back up.  It was ridiculously hot.  I can't even believe that the computer says it was only 76 degrees.  It felt like it was 90.  Humidity was at 49%, though, and it was sunny.  After the first 2 hard portions I walked a bit of each of my recovery times.  Then I stopped at the house after 4 miles to hydrate.  I carried my water with me the rest of the way.  My cool down was the last 1.5 miles.  My average pace was just slightly over 9 minutes, which is pretty impressive considering how hot it felt AND considering I walked a bit throughout the run.

I accidentally set my alarm for 4:30 instead of 5:30.  I groggily turned the alarm off, so I punished myself by running in the afternoon in hot, windy, humid, and sunny conditions (81 degrees, wind in gusts of 18-24 mph, 70% humidity).  I wanted to do some tempo running once I ran a couple miles, but I just couldn't get my pace where I wanted it.

First 2.1 miles averaged 8:45 pace (but the first 1.1 miles were more like 9-9:15 pace).  Then in my tempo portion, I ran 7:09 and 7:37.  Both too fast (I was shooting for just under 8).  I don't know why I had such trouble hitting the pace because both felt too fast.  Like, they felt really bad.

Then I cooled down (but I really didn't cool down--it was icky) at 9:15 pace.

An easy run to the track (2.25) and then one fast mile on the track (7:25) that felt incredibly comfortable and then the rest was nice and easy.

Going out I knew I just wanted a slow run, but I wasn't sure the distance.  It was a lot hotter than last night; it was 81 degrees with a humidity of 59% when I started, but humidity climbed to 65% and temp dropped a couple degrees by the time I finished.  So I just went by what I could do.  I did my usual 6.25 mile route, and felt okay, so I added a mile before coming back home.  Average pace:  just over 9 min.

My back is bothering me lately (probably a combo of increased mileage and picking up Eli) so after 4 miles I stopped to stretch out my back.  I was laying flat on my back and a car stopped and asked me if I was okay.  That was sweet, but also kinda embarrassing.

I had a lot to think about on this run.  First and foremost was that I forgot to let my SIL's dog out on Monday, and even though I apologized profusely and he didn't have an accident, my SIL is really mad.  My husband thinks I should apologize again.  Then when I was thinking about how guilty I feel about forgetting in the first place, I realized I was going slower, so I thought about the info I am covering in the classes I'm taking.  They are all about leadership style and whatnot.  Interesting.  I had to take a whole bunch of quizzes to figure out my leadership style, and apparently I believe people are mostly lazy and a leader has to threaten them to make them do work (I don't actually believe that).  But at least the quizzes make me think.

Remember when my principal (in not these exact words) told me he would never hire me as dean?  Well today he brought me in his office and told me that they weren't hiring a new dean for next year, but they were keeping the position as a possibility and I should hurry up and finish my degree, and then asked, "You understand what I'm telling you?"  Talk about mixed signals.

A nice run on a nice evening.  It was rather windy, but a lot cooler than it's been recently.  

The track is on my 4 mile route, so I started the route and stopped after a bit less than 2 miles at the track.  I stretched well, concentrating mostly on working the kinks out of my lower back.  It feels a little better, but it still sore.  So are my hips, so I made sure to stretch my hip flexors and ITB better than I have been later.

Then I did 400 intervals for 3 miles (6x400 fast with another 400 after each effort).  I was shooting for 1:49 on each.  My times were 1:40, 1:49, 1:50, 1:48, 1:44, 1:45.  After I finished my 3 miles on the track I went the rest of my route home.  It is gearing up to storm, so it was getting windier towards the end of the run.  It felt good, even though it made me slower.

2 miles with a crabby kid on a bike and another in the jogging stroller.  We stopped at a couple parks along the way.  It was not much of a run.

As soon as I started my warm up, I threw all expectations for this race out the window.  I have never run this trail before and I ran my warm up with a school parent.  I had already done a bit on my own, but we ran 2 miles along the trail. 

You know that a race is going to be interesting when the explanations of the trail along certain miles call them "butt kickers" (except they used the other term).  I knew from running along the first mile of the trail that it was rough.

I started off too slow--I was running with a school friend and I didn't know her pace.  After about 1/2 mile I said my goodbyes and sped up a little bit.  But even at a good effort, the trail kept my pace in check.  Lots of rough terrain, mud, hills, etc.  But it was a great time.  The trails were narrow, but I was still able to do a lot of passing and was only passed twice.

The last 1.5 miles was flat and open, so I was able to go faster.  At the end I kicked it because I had just passed a couple of women and I didn't want to be overtaken by anyone.  It was a good workout and now that I know the conditions a bit better, I'll have expectations for next year.

Just an easy 4 miles.  My knees must've taken a beating yesterday on all the hills.  Today I could feel it in my left knee particularly, even on just slight rises.  Other than that, the run was pleasant.  It is cooling off a little tonight.

I've also decided that my body is just used to night running.  I'm going to be changing up this week because my husband's last day is tomorrow.  So we'll see how long it takes me to adjust OR how long it takes me just to go back to my preferred nights.

Ideally I would have liked to run a few more miles, but this was a bonus run.  I wasn't sure I was even going to get in a run, but my hubby just went to work until about 10:30.  I was able to get in 5 miles before my niece, nephew and SIL came over.

Not sure really how many miles I did, but it was close enough to 7.  

I had XC conditioning today at 7.  I got to the meeting place 1/2 hour early to get in a couple miles before.  It was raining and I was wondering what the turnout was going to be.  Ran 2 miles in the rain.  I felt stiff on the first, but my second felt better and was faster by about 30 secs.

I came back to the meeting place with 10 minutes to spare and started worrying that no one was going to show.  But kids (and my assistant) started showing up within 5 minutes.  We had two groups, a fast one and a slow one.  I let my assistant take the fast group.  The slow group was a little slower than me.

Ran Kaufman route and went a little more than 2x around the lake.  We then went up to the entrance by the stoplight instead of heading straight in and took advantage of the downhill by the softball fields.  It was approximately 5 miles.  By the time we were actually in Parkland, the group had splintered and I was running with Clare.  She said she felt like she wanted to throw up, but still stayed with me.  I think she'll be a decent runner this year. 

By the way, I just want to highlight the fact that it was raining this whole run.  It was pretty cool, but the rain wasn't ridiculously hard.  Just constant.

Too lazy to map this run.  I'm just guessing on the distance based on the time I was out and the effort I was putting into this.  It was an easy pace in perfect running weather.  I got off to a late start because of area thunderstorms and then I was told I had an hour--no more--to run.  I was a minute over :)  

Weather was perfect.  It was dripping a bit, but not really raining, and it was nice and cool.  I wore a new sports bra that I got from Target.  I wasn't sure about it, but it was comfortable to run in.

You'll be happy to know, dear blog community, that when I weighed myself at my mom's house, I was 148.2.  I haven't been gaining weight mysteriously.  My scale at home was just conspiring against me.  Suddenly I feel skinny--I'm still 148 after eating Flat Top on Tuesday night (love the food, hate the price, but it was my birthday dinner) and eating Papa Murphy's pizza yesterday.  I'm now going to throw out my scale when I get home, or at the very least give it a stern talking to.

My mom wasn't happy to hear the news, as she has been gaining weight according to her own scale and she was hoping it was wrong.

When it wasn't raining, it was over 90 degrees...

Yesterday's rain meant my husband had to finish his work starting early this morning, so I did a night run.  I tried to wait as late as possible so it was a little cooler today.  We hit 90 again today, but it was cooling off when I started running at 7.  

82 degrees and 84% humidity.

Note to self:  If you seriously want to run in the morning, get out earlier.  It is no cooler at 9 in the morning than it is be at 3 in the afternoon.  And if you do dawdle, do yourself a favor and run in the evening.

I ran at 6:30.  It was 82, but felt like 89, according to the weather channel (83% humidity).  Supposedly it's supposed to be over 100 today.

Note to self:  it isn't much cooler at 6 than it is at 9. You're better running in the evenings, unless you want to get up at 4:30 and be done before the sun rises.

It was icky.

I waited until the last possible moment to run today.  The heat advisory expired at 7 p.m. and I waited an hour before starting.  The first 3 miles were slow, but once the sun went down it was actually pretty nice and I was able to run a bit faster.  I even got in one more mile than I had planned to do.  

The only bad thing was that I couldn't fall asleep then, which would normally be a huge problem, but I had plans to run starting at 6:30 the next morning.

Started at 6:30 and did 2.4 or 2.5 before the kids came.  Don't know which but I'm logging it as 2.4.  Then I ran 5 with a group of girls with the last 10 minutes at a moderate pace.

It was MUCH cooler today than it was Tuesday, but still humid.

Run was split up a bit.  I got to the park early, ran 2  miles by myself, ran 1 mile with another kid, and then ran 3 ish with one of my slower girls.  Then I ran about 1/2 mile back to my car.  

Class today and family is gone.  I don't know why I didn't go longer than 4 miles, but I enjoyed the easy run.

I got off to a late start today because I let my hubby go to the farm since he was with the kids all weekend.  It was almost dark when I started and I really wasn't in the mood.  I ran an easy 1, a hard one and alternated only for 4 miles.  It was perfect running weather.  The heat wave has broken, at least for the time being.

Ran with some of the girls.  Did a fartlek, even though I'm logging all this as slow.  It was a good workout.  I didn't get there early to get in a few miles because I pressed the snooze.

Now I'm in St. Louis with a friend.  I'm not sure I'll run today, but I might try to squeeze in at least a couple miles tonight.  We'll see.

No running today.  I was in St. Louis.  We went to Grant's Farm.  It was enjoyable.

An easy 5 miles.

The weather here (now I'm in Chicago) is temperate. Makes for a pleasant run.  This was just another easy run.  I did see a deer in someone's yard while I was running.  I got pretty close before it ambled away.  I did much the same as yesterday, except I ran through Swan Pond, which was pretty swampy.

I'm really guessing on my warm up and my cool down.  I warmed up with my brothers before the race.  I had planned on running there, but let my bros talk me into riding with them.  It wasn't hard for them to twist my arm.

Anyway, my youngest brother was planning on running fast with me, but he was pretty noncommital about the whole thing.  He always has trouble breathing in humidity, so I wasn't sure if I could count on him to be my pacer, which is what I wanted.  

Weather was perfect--on the cool side, but still humid, since we've had intermittent rain since last night.

My first mile was 7:03.  My little bro fell back just before the end of this mile.  So I decided to pick a couple of people and just go with them.  The second mile I still felt great. They had a clock and I think I passed it with about a 7:15 second mile (I was paying attention more to the water).  Then I felt a little downhearted because my sons weren't hanging out where my mom had agreed to take them.  I know I slowed down a bit, but then I saw them down the block and picked it up a little.  I was running with a lady in black and I really, really didn't want her to beat me.  We kept trading places, and I let her lead a little in the 3rd mile because it was easier for me to have her as a target if she was in front.  Then I kept looking at my watch and thinking that I had a shot at breaking 23 and I tried to give everything I had.  I left the lady in black (who I later realized was not in my age division) and then passed 4 or so more women on into the finish.  Right after I finished someone told a girl behind me that she was the 9th woman, but I didn't really look at the results, so I'm not sure if I was 8th.  I'll check and post later.

So at any rate, my official time was 22:32.  I looked at the results briefly when I was picking up my medal for first place in my age group!

Update:  I was the 6th woman!!  And one of the things that I wanted to do was beat a couple of girls I grew up with, and I did, by a lot.

Got into the city late in the day, went to dinner with some friends and then ran afterward.  I would have gone longer, but it was getting dark and I was a little leery.

In Chicago still.  Ran from the Hilton to the Adler Planetarium, around it, and then along the lake front up to where I could go under Lake Shore Drive, and then back to the hotel.  Later I went out with my cousin Amy--we had a good time and she stayed with me for the night.

Along the Lake Front up to Navy Pier and then out to Ohio Street Beach, where I saw some crazy people doing tri training, swimming laps along the abutment.  Then back to the hotel to wait for Chuck.  We went to a Brazilian Steakhouse.  Best dining experience.  Ever.  And I don't even like meat that much.  

Still stuffed to the gills with meat.  I woke up at 6 and took 45 minutes to convince myself just to run a few miles before the conference started up again.  I just ran in a giant circle:  from the hotel, through the Museum Campus, north along the lake and then ran down Monroe (I think) back to the hotel.

Just went for an easy run in the middle of a day where I was watching all my nephews and my two.  My mom released me when 2 of them were taking a nap.  I had an hour and I misjudged my distance, so I went longer than that, but it was okay because when I got back, they were still sleeping.  It was pretty humid, but my parents live in Riverside, "a village in a forest."  That is not just a cutesy nickname, either, so most of my run was excessively shaded.  I ran along the river route for part of the run and then turned around and ran it again.  

It was a good.

I'm finally back home.  Ran an easy 6.25 in the p.m.  It was pretty hot and humid--and sunny.  I actually prefer running at my parents'.

Ran 2.2 before the kids got here.  Then, after a warmup, did some ladder intervals today.  I had a hard time keeping up with one of my faster girls, but other than that, it was a good workout.

I ran an easy 6.25 around my favorite route.  I waited until 8 p.m., when it was a little cooler, so the last bit was in the dark.  Every time I run this late, I see an older gentleman walking around my neighborhood and he always smiles and says, "Getting your exercise too?"  It's sorta comforting.

I did an easy 5.6 with the girls, the last 15 minutes we picked up the pace, but I'm still counting it as easy.

Then we had a little scare--one of the girls left us to run ahead, and when we got back to our meeting place she wasn't there.  She didn't drive, and we were wondering if her dad came to pick her up, and in he comes.  So I ran down the trail and the dad drove my assistant to the other side of the trail and he ran back.  About a mile into the run (where I was looking in the ditch/creek for her pink shorts) I got the call that she was okay.  Her dad found her running along the road on the other side of the trail.  She says she wasn't lost...

And then we had to wait because my assistant didn't have his phone with him, so he was slowly running back (looking in the ditch/creek too, I'm sure).  All's well that ends well, but everyone's running with a cell phone next time.  It's funny, because I've never worried about those ahead--I always worry about the stragglers.

I left the house and ran while my hubby took the kids to breakfast.  I told myself that I would keep running after my normal 6.25 if he wasn't home yet.  He wasn't, so I just added my normal 2 mile loop.  

We're leaving for Michigan tomorrow.  I'm thinking about running while we're at the dunes, but that depends on whether hubby thinks he can handle the 3 kids (our 2 and our nephew, who's coming with us).  Otherwise I might run in the p.m. or not at all, depending on how everything goes.

Approximately 6 miles at some trails here in Mich.  I know I was pretty slow as I started, but I picked up the pace throughout the run and tried to push during the last 1.5

Ran with my friend Colleen.  We went through the trails and then pushed the last mile before getting back to our cabins.  Then we felt like we needed some more so we did a cool down around the property here.  A nice run.

This was a horrible run.  I'm tired.  I've been running around playing games every day.  I woke up and had a horrible stomach ache and just decided to run anyway.  For the first mile, my stomach felt pretty bad and I don't know why it passed but it took me a while to realize that my stomach felt okay.  I picked up the pace for the second half of the run.

Went for a run with my brother.  We started off with a goal of 4 miles and then got to talking.  Our talk was probably productive in the long run, but it was one of those painful conversations where both parties get mad and sad at random intervals...and throw in the fact that we were both running.  Our run was probably longer than that, but we did a lot of running in circles and I didn't have a watch, so I don't know how long we went.  

My brother is getting married this Saturday, and this conversation was all related to marriage and all sorts of things family.  Probably not the best time for this conversation, but it's been brewing for a long time.

Another run with my friend Colleen.  Very slow, conversational pace.  We had a lot to discuss.  She and I are like sisters and she is going through some rough times with family and marriage.  Another conversation that's been brewing for a long time.  This one I'm not sure was too productive.  Time will tell.

An easy 6.25.  I pushed a little the last 1.5 miles, but I still wasn't going that fast.

I finished my last summer class with a final!  Yay.  I think I did just fine.

I got home a little late and ran just an easy 4.  My pace was really slow.

I'm exhausted.  I think I need a vacation from my vacation...

I didn't wake up early enough to get in some miles before running with the kids, but I did an easy 5.6 with one of the girls while another girl did intervals.  I wasn't in the mood for intervals.  It was hard enough to get out of bed this morning.  It was one of those nights where Caleb woke up crying from a bad dream and I was tired enough to say he could sleep in our bed.  But he didn't want to for some reason.  Then just when I fell back asleep, here he comes a-crawling into our bed.  So I had feet in my back the rest of the night.

Got to a late start.  an easy 3.5

Ran with a few kids this morning.  I sent one of the girls ahead and stayed behind with a girl who was struggling, so it was easy.

I'm still tired...Hopefully I'll be able to get in a run early tomorrow, but I have a busy day--rehearsal dinner tomorrow!  Lots of preparations to do! 

I don't remember exactly how far I ran this day.  It was around my parents' house in the a.m. before the whirlwind weekend started!  I'm happy to say I ran 6 days this week.  It's been a while.