Runrunnyrun

It's been a while!!!

A while since...what? Since I blogged of course...and um...ran. hah.

The half-marathon went pretty well. I did not have a good time. But I learned a couple very important things. 1) do not have any milk before you go run that early in the morning. 2) I do not do well with gu packets on a mostly empty stomach - they make me nauseated.

Anyway, I basically felt like puking the entire time because of the aforementioned things...but I still finished the race! I ran most of it, but had to walk the hilly part in the middle. I really really want to do it again though and figure out how best to eat in the morning without making myself sick!

It was a gorgeous route - you see a LOT of San Francisco and then end up on the ocean! aaaah, I love this place.

Anyway since then running has been sparse for a variety of reasons. But last week I went a couple times and ran my first sub-9 minute mile! That was exciting.

As soon as finals are over, running must get back to a regular schedule. I'm trying to run at least twice a week right now though...

At least there is now SNOW here like for some people. wahahah!

Cold Run

18 Degrees motivates one to keep moving!!!!!

Six Miles in the Desert

I'm in Las Vegas for the International Writing Centers Association conference. I had Wednesday free while my colleagues ran a pre-conference workshop, so I rented a car and went to Red Rock Canyon National Conversation Area. I decided to run the White Rock/La Madre Springs loop--six miles of sandy, rocky, hilly terrain in 80-degree heat-- not to mention that Lansing, MI is at a wonderful 860 feet of elevation, and Red Rock is over 2500.

I did pretty well, for the first 5-1/2 miles. I didn't have to stop and power-hike very much. However, the last half-mile killed me. I had to definitely slow to a crawl because it was all uphill.

Still, it was a great day: Lots of sweet-smelling pinion pine and sage brush, many stellar and pinion jays, some odd-looking bunny and chipmunk things that we're like chipmunk and bunnies back home, some tiny cute lizards, and no snakes. Any trail run without snakes is usually a pretty good trail run.

Oh yeah, and then I go to go see Penn and Teller that night. So, overall, it was a very cool day.

Natures "Call of The Wild"?

OK, I'm sorry to put you through this, but there is nothing worse than being on a 4 mile run and nature "calls" at 1.8 miles. I sound like an Orca whale in labor trying to manage the situation. Plus, you can never get the shoes and warm ups off soon enough when you finally make it home. I leave a trail of running gear all the way to the poop-a-torium. Again I am sorry, but it's an often discussed subject when you are over 50 which you youngsters need to prepare yourselves for. You can thank me later.

Time to Pay the Piper...

In less than 48 hours I will be running my first half-marathon.

I'm kinda nervous and kind of excited at the same time. I'm really worried that when I get there I'm going to get so nervous I'm going to do horribly. But my plan is to tune everyone out except to cheer them on in my head. And the route is going to be GORGEOUS so I'm looking forward to distracting myself by looking out to the ocean.

I've trained enough, I know I can do the mileage. It's just making sure my mind doesn't get the better of me! And, seeing how fast I can do it :) I am aiming for under 2:30 but I'd really like to do it and average 10min. miles (so a little over 2:11). I generally can average 9-10min miles, unless there are hills and then it's variable (depending on different factors) - well this run has HILLS let me tell you.

Anyway, I am looking forward to it 'cause I think it will be fun, and I am gonna feel happy to have just finished it!

Wish me luck :)

A Great Run with an End that Sucked

I ran over five miles today at Lake Lansing Park. The first four miles were awesome: sunny and 70 degrees with that wonderful smell of autumn!

Then I came back to the parking lot. I was about to head out for another half mile or so and head straight back when I saw my husband who had also came out to trail run. While Bruce stretched, I ran tiny little circles around him. I should have just kept going, but no! We live in the same house and work at the same place, yet I never get to see him; therefore, I run in circles around him, which I'm convinced just dumped a boatload of bad karma on me.

After about a dozen circles, I took off down the trail again. I felt really good, so I decided to run out 7 minutes, turn around and see if I can make it back in 5 minutes.

I ran for awhile, checked my watch, and saw that I'd met my seven-minute goal. MISTAKE! In looking at my watch, I tripped over a root and landed spread eagle on the trail. (Luckily no one saw me but a squirrel.) My groin now hurt, but I was still determined to make it back in 5 minutes.

Two minutes later, a bug flew down my throat. I needed to cough it up, but I couldn't because after an hour or so of running, I really had to go to the bathroom. Coughing and running do not work together when you have to go to the bathroom as badly as I did at that moment. So, I tried to run faster in order to put myself out of my misery sooner.

But NOOOOOOO! I twist my ankle on another root with that darn bug still caught in my throat.

I made it back in 6 minutes, used the facilities, and coughed up a mosquito. Expletives deleted.

on being sick and not running

I haven't ran in a week. *la sigh* Too much sickness in me. I wanna be healthy and be able to run again!!!

Lesson I learn from being sick: you don't realize how great your health is or how good you have it until you don't have it any more. As cliche as this may sound, its true.

Here we coooome

With only 2 weeks until the half marathon training is rather important. So it's a good thing I have been sick and not running. harhar. I took about a week off, then went for a 3.5 mile (with the big hill), and an 8. Then I took another couple of days off.

Yesterday though I was pretty proud of myself. I did a 6mile run with Jess and we tacked in the normal hill (which is about a half mile long) and then immediately added another half mile of uphill. I made it up the first hill fine, but then I had to walk a couple blocks. BUT then I ran the rest of the route! woo! I was TIRED though.

The only thing I"m really worried about with the half is 1) the hills - there are 2 and I'm afraid they'll be huge (hello, it's in San Francisco! eveeel). and 2) my mental attitude. I do really well when I run alone or with select people because I just tune out and just run and don't have to think about it. But when other people run with me I get all worried I'm not doing as well as they are and then consequently I do horribly because I get discouraged.

SO my goal for the next two weeks is to work on both of these. #1 shouldn't be much of a problem. #2 is going to be a bit more of a challenge! But I can do it. *does the Rocky dance*

She's Coming On Strong

Mark the calendar!!!! Vickie ran 5k today!!!!!! I think she still hates it. We have both had colds so neither of us have felt like running. It does clear the sinuses.

running with friends

Last night I went for a three mile run with Val, a friend who's also in the soc department. It was my first run since the comp exam so it had almost been a week. And let me tell you one thing, that girl runs fast!!! Its all that long leg! It was a challenge for me to keep up, I knew she would have slowed down if I wanted to or if she could tell that I wanted to slow down a bit but I didn't want to run slower than her so I pushed myself and when we were finally done, was pooped!


That is all.

moving meditation

Normally when I get stressed I stop doing everything that is good for me, eating fruits and veggies, running, breathing, sleeping....all seem to stop and I turn into a zombie of unhealthiness.

With only four days to go until the beginning of the comp exam I feel I'm doing pretty good. I went running for the first time in a while on Friday evening and I felt as if a months worth of stress just melted away in those three miles. I went right about sun down so everything had a dusty overcast to it. The air was cool with just enough breeze and I felt so relaxed and the run felt effortless like I could just go on for ever and ever.

Yesterday I went for another 3 miles. It felt good but wasn't quite the "magic" my Friday night run had been. But I'm okay with that because they can't all be perfect! It still helped me calm down and just relax a bit after a stressful day. I've always been told I should meditate in order to decrease my stress level. But I always feel so much more stressed out sitting there doing nothing then if I were moving. Running is my meditation; moving meditation. Running makes you realize just how simple life really is: keep breathing and put one foot in front of the other...and most important enjoy the view.

Running In The Rain

It seems as though it has been raining forever. It has been raining non-stop since Friday and I can't imagine where all the water is going. Friday at lunch time went for a 4 mile run. I got halfway and it just poured. Add another 5 pounds of water to carry. Saturday Vickie and I took the day off because it literally never stopped raining. Before going to bed we discovered a wet spot in the ceiling of the bedroom (depression sets in). This morning the rain let up just a little so we set out for our run in a light drizzle. I actually felt pretty good. I turned onto Sherman Rd. (the one with those stinking deer) and notice a road closed sign. Continuing down the road a half a mile or so it looked as though a tornado had gone through wiping out massive trees that impacted against homes. I guess our little leak wasn't so much to worry about nor was the torrential down pour when I turned off of Sherman onto Bellevue. I love running. It sooths the spirit and helps get things in perspective for me. Vickie said she still hates it!

on not running

I have been quite the lazy bum of late, I haven't ran in two days!!! And before that, only a few times last week. *sighs* Its all the scariness from my two day exam that is coming up next Thursday. I just get the freaks and can't do anything but wallow in my own self pity...and study.

So...I think I need a running plan for this week so I have something other than that test to think about!

Friday: run 3 miles
Saturday: run 2 miles, fartlek
Sunday: off
Monday: run 5 miles
Tuesday: run 3 miles
Wednesday: off
Thursday: 3 miles? First Day of test
Friday: 3miles? Second day of test, celebrate! Yay I'm done with the test!!!


So there's the plan, lets see if it works. I tend to do things that are down in black and white...just cause they are there.

Our race has been moved!!!

Well guys, we have a slight problem. Our race has been moved from December 20th to November 15th!!!

Bekah and I sadly cannot get to Michigan in time....as we will still be slaving away at the books.

So, your assignment: Find a new 5K race between the dates of December 15th and the 27th. Whoever finds a race first in or near Lansing gets a coffee date with me when I'm in Michigan!!! (Yay! I know how excited you are now!!!)

Entertainment as I Run

Bright and early this morning I embarked on a 9 mile run. It's been pretty hot in Berkeley the last week or so (90s, even 100 sometimes WHOA!) so morning seemed the best time to go. Unfortunately I didn't actually want to go in the morning so we didn't get going as early as we were supposed to (we were supposed to get up at 7 and leave by 7:30 at the latest...well Jess was up at 7, but I didn't emerge until like 7:25. What can I say, I'm not a morning person), as such it was still kind of hot near the middle and end of the run.

The nice thing about running in the morning, however, even when it's hot is that there are plenty of other runners out on the trail. As I ran, sweating like a pig and fogging up my new hip runner sunglasses, I found solace and distraction in the oddities that were passing me on the Bay Shore trail.

First I saw a guy who was running fairly fast, but not sprinting or anything. And his form was just a little...odd. He swung his arms so voraciously that he was literally swinging them up past his face to the sky and back down. I wondered if perhaps he was trying out a new technique for human flight.

A little ways further I passed someone doing the other extreme. He kept his arms down by his side, and seemed to be trying to keep them as still as possible. He looked like a hardcore runner in every other sense - he was fairly muscular, had his little wrap-a-round fannypack/water holder thingie, and looked like he'd been running about 20 miles already. He just...didn't move his arms at all. Didn't even hold them bent at the elbow - just straight down and static. I figured he must have been running so long that he was simply incapable of moving his arms any longer.

And finally, as I ran I saw a woman coming the other way down the trail and I was immediately impressed. From what I could tell, this woman was such a hardcore runner that she didn't even let the recent birth of her infant stop her from running. It appeared that she had strapped the baby to her front in one of those baby carrier dohickeys and was running with it. As I got closer, though, I was disappointed to realize that she just was rather well-endowed (can you use that for a woman? Well I am.) and her shirt + her bust moved and looked like a baby strapped to her front from further away. I was immediately grateful that I don't have boobs.

Runners are weird people. But all these oddities kept me entertained and helped me ignore how thirsty I was and the fact that I couldn't breathe!

Later on in the run, I saw a beautiful monarch. As I watched it flutter around I noticed it had what appeared to be a spiderweb string trailing behind it. I though, "oh it must have escaped from a web or something" and as I thought this, I realized there was a little spider at the end of the string trailing along. There are clearly 2 possibilites for this: 1) the monarch got caught in the spider's web and escaped at just the last minute. The spider, however, grabbed on to the string in hopes of salvaging such a scrumtrulescent and large meal...he probably doesn't know that monarchs are poisonous... OR 2) This is the insect/arachnid world's form of parasailing into which we rarely grasp such a glimpse.

I truly appreciate being entertained on these long runs. I have begun to make it a point to try and look around as much as possible so as to distract myself. Besides the previously mentioned sights, today I saw pelicans dive bombing, and comorants fishing. Aaah, thank you world for your endless entertainment during my self-inflicted torture.




p.s. I finished the run in 1:41. I was aiming for 1:40 so I was pretty pleased...11 minute miles so not too fast, but that's the longest I've ever run and I was pleased I finished in a fairly reasonable time at all! :)

Beware the Odocoileus Virginianus

While running around the block in the early morning I was running on Sherman Rd. which has a soybean field on the left and corn on the right. I heard slight rustling in the corn and looked in that direction and saw a deer. I continued assuming they would ease back into the corn. Oh No!!! Two brown rockets fired in my direction running one in front of me and one in the back within 5 feet. My run picked up a bit due to the adrenalin dump, however quickly wore off and I felt as though I had legs of stone for the last mile. Damn deer probably thought they were funny.

this is not fun, this is not fun, THIS is not fun

Why do I feel that after running only three miles, I ran ten? Why, while running, did I feel I was shuffling and grunting like an old woman trying to cross the street with her walker?

I don't know.

I hate bad runs.

I hate it when you go out for a good run and a horrible run sneaks up behind you and latches on like a five year old kid brother who you can't get off!

Oh well. I guess its a learning/character building experience or something "positive" like that! I just want to be fast and awesome all the time dammit!

Marathon pie in the sky

I really like this magazine. Its a little one that you can pick up for free around Davis. It isn't super fancy but has some great training tips and features REAL LIFE athletes!!! Wow! That never happens!!

This month they have a nice little chart of a twenty week plan to your first marathon! I looked it over and said to myself "hmmm, doesn't look too bad...I bet I could do this."

Me, do a marathon!?! Is it possible???

Let's ponder this together, shall we?

Old Folks at Work Here

Vickie ran 1.5 miles today, 1.0 mile two days ago. She hates running!!! This morning I finally did 4 miles without stopping (38:57). Now it's just doing it consistently. You guys are making me want to stretch out my runs but it may be a while before I can, if at all.

Long run #2

I did another long run today. 8 miles, and I only stopped to stretch and to take some gu at the 4 mile mark. I was proud of myself because usually I try to hit red lights so I can rest. But this time I challenged myself to try and run through them all - so I sprinted towards every one so I would make the green light. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be!

I didn't think I was going to make it the whole way though because it was HOT today, plus I was just exhausted anyway. I think just the 7 from Tuesday, plus swimming yesterday tired me out. So the first 4 miles were pretty hard, and I went really slowly. It took me 95 minutes to finish the whole run, but with the heat and such I didn't really care. Around 4.5 miles it finally started feeling cooler, because the sun was down, and I started to feel better and like I could keep it going for much longer.

I actually felt really good for the most part though, probably because I was running like a snail. I felt like I could have kept going for quite a bit longer and even the hills at the end didn't seem so bad. I felt a lot less tired overall at the end than I did on Tuesday.

I wish I had stopped for some water though. But when I got the the one water fountain on the route there was a guy sitting right next to it who looked like the caveman from those Geico commercials. So I didn't stop, 'cause cavemen make me a little nervous.

Anyhow that's all I have to say. I was happy I finished it - that's the longest I've ever run. Only 5 more miles to make the half and I have another month and a half to train. I may not finish the race in a really fast time, but I CAN DO IT!

I Did It!!

Well, I did it! I went for my 7 mile run, and I only stopped to take my gu, to stretch, and I hit 2 red lights. I finished the run in 75 minutes - not too bad for a slowpoke like me!

I took much of Jenny's advice to not get discouraged by faster looking people i.e. not comparing. Instead I pretended we were all out there training together and I encouraged them and was inspired by their stories...the ones I made up in my head as they passed.

Near the end, as I got really tired of going up block after block of uphill I began to sing inspirational songs in my head. Songs such as, "Another block bites the dust! And another one's down and another one's down, another block bites the dust!" It kept me going.

Working on my stride was hard though. I just can't tell if I'm even on the right track. Though I did notice focusing on my arms, actually, seemed to help a little...at least I felt less tense and I felt like I was being more efficient.

Anyhow, the point is I felt really good for most of the run, I finished it in no less time than usual (I thought I'd go way slower by myself), AND afterwards I ate a wonderful huge salad with lots of carrots in it. So if that cat from the last post doesn't want his, I'll take it.

Oh yeah! AND I used my sexy new sweat band. That thing is awesome! I didn't have to wipe the burning sweat out of my eyes once! I think that helped me a lot, since I didn't have to worry about being able to see and stuff. I was able to focus more on just running. Yay for sexy accessorizing.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES! THEY BE GOOD FOR YOU!

more animals

But they make you grow stronger and run faster!!!

It is time

Today I am running alone again. Jess has hurt herself and is probably not going to run again EVER.
haha no, she'll probably run again on Thursday, a shorter one.

Anyway, so in the spirit of setting my own goals and not comparing with anyone but myself, I am going to go for a 7 mile run today. My goal is to try and lengthen my stride every other section (I'm running on the Ohlone Greenway Trail and it is split up into 1 or more blocks per section), and to only stop at lights and at the 3.5 mile mark (to take some gu of course). I want to get more comfortable with the long runs, because I can do them but they still always seem insurmountable at the beginning.

The trail is pretty flat so I think it will be a good place to attempt to achieve such goals. The only uphill is the last 1.5-2 miles or so and at that point the only goal will be to survive.

my first thirty this summer

I went for a 30 minute run last night. Usually I have to walk at least once, but this time I didn't! I ran the whole thing straight! I felt really good, it was weird! Nothing ached or was sore...or anything! I felt like it was a miracle! I wore my new chubby girl shorts...they were awesome! I didn't realize just how much that was bothering me until it wasn't bothering me anymore! I was like, Yes! This is awesome! I'm totally running 5 miles in the morning! I could run forever!

This morning I'm sore and stiff...so much for a 5 mile run! Oh well, it was a good run.

Kicking ass and taking names

race day, and I'm ready, originally uploaded by Jewell.

I just thought I'd warn all of you with this picture about just how cool (and fast!) my dad and I are. Look at the look of pure pre-running concentration on our faces. It is a sight to see and meditate on for years to come. Have this look (and those sunglasses!) and you will be unbeatable.

Now back to your regular broadcast...

Running Accessories

Bekah and I made a quick stop at Big 5 today. She has a slight sweating problem, aka, she sweats like a horse and randomly screams in the middle of a run, "Ahhh! I can't see!! My eyes are burning!" So, we bought her a sweatband. She will now look like a hardcore runner! I sadly had to buy fat people stretchy shorts cause I keep getting a rash on my long runs from my legs rubbing...gross!!! Stupid legs! Get skinny NOW! We shall look like quite the pair...chubby girl...and sweaty girl unite!

The End.

Death Run

Bekah is in Davis for the weekend and we ran 5 miles this morning...well almost. We really thought we were going to die a couple of times and had to take a couple walking breaks because the sun was beating down on us and making us feel like we were crossing the Sahara Dessert! When we saw a buzzard sitting a top a poll Bekah exclaimed, "Ah cool!!! Look! Its a buzzard!! Wow! He's soo cool! Look how big he is! Wow, I wonder what he's hunting for!" And then I glanced towards the sky and realized there were more buzzards circling in the sky...waiting for us to die!!! Bekah's excitement soon turned to fear which only motivated us to continue running.

We had decided to try a new route, one I had never done before. We followed some roads that are mostly used for researchers and farmers, so I think we had a total of 2 cars pass us the whole hour we were running. Thus it was a bit scary, we just hoped we made it through!

When we finally made it back to the olive grove and the shade we both were seeing mirages of cool welcoming pools of water that we wanted to dive into. We resisted, we knew what was happening and that they were all lies!!!!

The shade brought back our sanity and we made it back to my apartment safe if not totally sound. We both collapsed in front of my fan and slowly came back from the brink of death! After which Bekah says she refuses to ever run in Davis again if its over 80.

After, I made delicious pancakes and we drank Ola Loa to replace our electrolytes that we lost in our death run.

Not So Bad

So there I am doing my fat man trot on my lunch hour upset that I am a trotting fat man sweating and suffering wondering why it's so hard. I turn the corner and up in front of me is a lady in a wheel chair struggling uphill on the sidewalk. Thanks for letting me do my fat man trot.

Stride

My turn to post!!

Today I'm doing a 4 mile run. Jenny and Jess keep yelling at me to lengthen my stride. ;) So I'm going to try today since it's a shorter run and I hopefully won't already feel like dying. We will see how it goes!!!

lady luck

So I did it. Don't ask me how, I think it was pure luck and a good solid back wind but I made it through a 7 mile run with Bekah and Jess through Berkeley. We had to stop occasionally for lights and to suck down some Goo at about 3.5 miles into the run. The first couple miles were horrible, my shines hurt and I kept getting this shooting pain up my leg that made my legs buckle under! But I kept going and after a couple miles and a good stretch I was feeling pretty good! I noticed my run got better as I lengthened my stride.

Today I'm just a bit sore and stiff...I can't touch my toes! Hello down there toes! But I will stretch again later and maybe we can be reunited!!!

and there she goes!!!

Okay so. I'm in Berkeley this weekend and am about to try to run a 7 mile run with Bekah who is training with Jess (her roomie) for a half marathon. Bekah has been doing longer runs, I have not. I am still working on building a "core foundation" for longer and harder runs.

Last week I was starting to feel really sore and didn't feel I was recovering as well as I should so I took the last three days off. Yesterday I ran with Bekah and Jess in Berkeley 3.5 miles (lots of hills!!) and it felt pretty good! I think my body just needed a bit of rest.

I will let you all know how the 7 miles goes, lets hope I make it!!!!

And in the beginning....

Hello All! I just thought this would be a fun way to stay in touch and stay motivated for that big 5K we're gonna be training for over the next couple of months. I thought we could keep each other posted on what we've been doing: workouts, running schedule, and how we're feeling about our running and the like. Also share any crazy stories you have along the way! Basically anything goes here...I think it would be fun to see what everyone else is doing to train. So post away!!!