A Little Running Shenanigans…

So it’s almost half way through March, so I thought I would update how my return to running has been this year. After the plague, and my almost zero month of running in December, I took it easy and slowly worked my way back into a normal workout routine.

So far this year, my beloved Garmin has spend the entire time in the junk drawer in my kitchen. All of the 148 miles I have logged in 2015 have been done without concern for my pace, and it has been so nice! I used to think that every run needed to be logged in my Garmin, but now it has been very freeing.

I wanted to get back to running because it’s fun, and I think I am getting there.

I even ran my first race without my Garmin.

I can’t decide if I am delaying getting it out and dusting it off because I am afraid to or if I just don’t want it to feel like work again. For now, though, I think I will leave it where it is and stick to the running I’ve been doing.

Next up is the Go Girl Half Marathon. I can’t remember the last time I ran two half marathons in one month. I have been wanting to do an all girl race, and I have lots of friends running it, so it should be a really fun race.

How About Some Goals…

So I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. I think they are silly and people don’t stick to them. I think if you want to do something you should set goals. Small steps in the right direction are more apt to get you where you want to go than a New Year’s Resolution.

I have considered my goals for the year, but I thought I would focus more on monthly goals for now.
Here’s what I have come up with so far, they cover a range of shenanigans.

• On the running front, how about I start running again? My total of 9 whole miles run in December might seem impressive, but I’m ready to start hitting the streets again. So far, so good. I am focusing on running because it’s fun, not because I have to. Two Saturday’s in a row of 5 miles a piece, a hill workout, and even a not so terrible treadmill workout so far. I’d say I’m off to a pretty good start.
• Running naked. Yep, for the entire month of January my goal is to run sans Garmin. I do not want to worry about pace AT ALL for at least one month. (I will reassess this goal for February when February gets here.) This is not to say that I am not keeping track of my miles, but I know most of the routes we run so I can keep track of my distance but not care about how fast I get from the start to the finish.
• As for meal planning, I plan to do it. December was especially hectic with all the baking, and I feel like we were always scrambling for what we were going to have for dinner. Now we talk about it, or we have for the last two weeks, and we have a list of dinner options on the fridge and the girls get to pick.
• January has been much less busy on the baking front, but my goal for this month is marketing, marketing, marketing. I’ve baked up a couple of batches of cookies to take to my favorite salon for passing out. Valentine’s day is right around the corner!

• I also plan to get more organized with my business. (Set up my LLC, and open a business account.) There I sais it, so I have to do it. I have the forms for the LLC in my in box, just have to do it.
• I am so excited that I actually bought a new, to me, fancy camera last week. It’s a Nikon D3000, and my first goal with it is to learn how to use it. I signed up for a photography class, and since I missed the first class last week I am going to night for the make up class. Should be interesting.
• Finally, my last goal for January is to get more yoga back in my life. When I PR’d the marathon, almost two years ago, I was practicing yoga pretty regularly. In fact, all I was doing at that time was running and yoga. No strength or anything. After the horrible miles of 2014, I realized that the thing that was missing for almost the entire year was yoga. I am working on getting back to my mat. It’s good for me and I really enjoy it. It’s practically a no brainer.

Pack it Up...

They say that all you really need to be a runner is a pair of shoes, but if you have ever packed for an out of town race you know that just isn't true.

First things first, I headed to the chiropractor this morning to get adjusted and get my IT band taped up.

Yep, that is pink tape, I had to bring my own because I wanted something to match my new tank I will be wearing on Sunday. Those are a pair of Injinji socks that I wore today. Yes, I wear them when I am not running. They just make my toes very happy.

You know what else makes me very happy?

I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.

So I started packing tonight. We are planning to drop the dogs off at the doggie hotel, and hitting the road by about 10 tomorrow morning. What am I taking with me?

• Shorts. Yes, shorts! I can't remember the last time I ran in shorts. I am actually planning to wear the same shorts I wore for my first marathon. They will forever be known as my marathon shorts.
• Tank. I was super jealous of my friends that ran the Disney marathon last month in their cute OK Runner tanks, and I got mine today.
• Socks. My new Injinji compression toesocks.
• Shoes. I can't believe I am running a marathon in a pair of New Balance shoes. They have been good to my feet for the last two months. I do look forward to the Ravenna 4s I am getting soon, and I will work them into rotation with the New Balance shoes.
• Warm layer. Knee sock arm warmers, throw away shirt, gloves, ear warmer. I doubt I will need the ear warmers, but I will probably wear the gloves, the t-shirt is one I will leave behind, and the arm warmers are something I could live with not coming home with.
• Odds and ends. Rain jacket, wind jacket, capri running pants, cropped running pants, long sleeve shirt, visor, body glide, paper tape (to protect my toenails), extra socks, compression calf sleeves (you never know), compression socks for post race, Spi belt, GU chomps and my Garmin and charger.
• Then you have pajamas, Sunday post race clothes and all bathroom necessities.

There is alot to think about when you are packing for a destination race. I hope I don't forget anything.

I need to make sure I have a playlist ready to go in the morning.

I am sure I will check and double check everything that already made it into my suitcase tomorrow. I am glad that we aren't going to be in a big rush tomorrow. I am nervous enough as it is.

Race weeked here I come!

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Final Long Run and I Feel Like Crap...

My last long run before the Cowtown Marathon was supposed to be 20 miles. By the time I went to bed Friday night I really wasn't feeling that well. I was tired and went to bed early and ended up sleeping horribly.

The plan was to meet Anne at about ten til 6 to head to the College of Education on campus for an organized run. Rochelle joined us and we setted into a very comfortable 6 mile run to start the morning off.

After Shaun Martin offered a Navajo blessing, sprinkled some corn pollen and lead the group in a yell, we headed off towards the east and the rising sun. We did about a two mile loop before we had our first water stop. There was a pretty big group with some of our Saturday regulars and a bunch of others and it felt like an organized race. The pace was pretty speedy and after the first stop, Rochelle and Anne headed towards home and Sarah (the newest addition to our regular group) settled into a pace that wouldn't kill me for a total of 20 miles.

Did I mention that when I woke up I was not really feeling it? My throat was pretty scratchy and my head was pretty stuffy, but I was going to push through and get it done. It was not an easy day for me. There was more than my fair share of snot, lots of wind, and even some sprinkles near the end.

You know, I have meet the best people through running. The women that I have been lucky enough to pound the pavenemt with. Anne and Rochelle got up to meet me at the crack of dawn so I wouldn't have to run alone, and Sarah stuck with me for the rest of the day. I am very thankful for my amazing, supportive friends. I could go on and on about the others that weren't there for this particular run.

In all we ended up with 18.25 miles in 2 hours and 53 minutes. The pace was a little slower than my marathon goal pace, and I never really settled into the cofortable pace and feeling of the first six miles. There was no definite route for the final four miles or so and when it started sprinkling on us Sarah and I ended up calling it a day.

I came home and did the best I could to take care of myself. Ice, hot shower, protein, compression and food.

Then I got to go get something really awesome.

The new Garmin Forerunner 10, and it's pink, and it actually fits my super tiny wrists. It's also super cute. Did I say that it's pink? It comes in green and I considered changing it up a little and getting that one, but I decided I would stick with my favorite color. I can't wait to try it out on Tuesday.

 

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