Thoughts on a Freezing 8 Mile Run

Start:   Okay, I'm leaving the house.  I have on cuddleduds under my tights, a longsleeve shirt, jacket, hat with earcovers, and gloves, so I'm good to go.  OMG.  It's freezing.  Literally freezing. Actually, it's several degrees below freezing.  There's still snow on the ground - this is a really bad idea.  No, the sidewalks are clear, so the trail's probably okay.  No excuses.  I'm doing this.

Mile 1:   My lungs are burning.  I can see every breath in the air.  Maybe I should have worn some kind of mouth cover.  Oh look - another runner!  Dude, we're hardcore.  Yes, our mutual waves mean "glad to see I'm not the only one crazy enough to run in this."   Maybe this isn't so bad - I'm actually smiling.

Mile 2:   Oh my.  The pedestrian bridges over the creek are still covered in ice & snow and are potential death traps.   Go slow, go slow, don't break a leg.  Hopefully as it continues to warm up, and as the sun keeps shining, then the next ones will be thawing out.

Mile 3:   My hands are hot.  I think I'm going to take off my gloves.  Oh shit.  Nope, gloves going back on!  My palms are really hot.  Do they make palm-less gloves?  I mean, I know they make fingerless gloves...but my fingers need to be covered - my palms are hot!  I should check into this when I get home.

Mile 4:   Okay, time to turn around, and fuel.  Uh-oh, my gel is practically frozen.  Maybe I should stick it in my bra so my body heat can warm it up a little and it'll be easier to get down.  OH GOD...I think I've given my left boob frostbite!!!  Is that possible?  Soooooo cold.    But, it seems to have worked.  And hooray for freeze-proof water fountains!

Mile 5:   Dogs in winter coats are the cutest thing.  Ever.

Mile 6:   Where did this wind come from?  Did I have a tailwind outbound and not even notice?  I feel like I'm slowing down.  Ooof - the wind makes my face hurt.  Back to wishing I have some kind of face cover.  Why does the outbound leg not feel like it's downhill, but the return path definitely feels like uphill?

Mile 7:   This bridge definitely did not thaw out while I was out.  Go slow, go slow, don't break a leg.

Mile 8:  1 mile left.  I am a total badass for rocking this run.  It feels like it's finally above freezing, but I've warmed up a lot, so maybe that's just in my head.  No, it's definitely gotten warmer.  There's less snow along the path than when I started.  This last mile sucks.

Done:   Home!  Home!  Home!  OMG, now that I've stopped moving, I'm freezing again.  Totally shaking, even inside the house.  I'm making myself hot tea and hopping in a steamy shower.  Yay me!

Get a Kick Out of Running

No, I'm not about to share some new running tip about kicking your heels to speed up, improve your   form, etc.  No worries.  I'm all about a good laugh - and getting in a giggle while running is a definite plus.  I love funny running shirts!  I try to pay attention to the shirts of runners crossing paths with me while I'm out and about - seeing race shirts is informative and fun, but nothing beats seeing a funny shirt that makes you laugh while you're working hard.

There are lots of companies out there producing some pretty funny tech shirts these days.  I've "liked" a lot of them on Facebook, so their posts tend to lighten up my newsfeed as well.  There's usually at least one a week that I'm tempted to purchase.  I DO have to restrain myself (most of the time (shhhhh)), otherwise my drawers full of tech shirts would be overflowing even more than they are now!

Since I can't buy them all, I thought I'd share some of my faves (hey if my friends wear them then I still get to enjoy them!).  Y'all have probably seen some of these, but maybe there are some you haven't?:

To start with, I actually DO own this shirt!  My mom bought it for me.  Sadly, being black and long-sleeved, I don't get to wear it often in Texas, but it's a GREAT shirt!  One More Mile has most of the "traditional" funny running sayings on lots of different styles and colors of shirts.  Check them out if they aren't already on your radar.

And for my friends and readers that are triathletes, there are funny shirts out there for y'all, too!  I've seen Triathalon Humor (and those similar to them) at expos, and chuckle as I walk past, while still shaking my head:

 

The ones that are so funny that they'll make you snort while laughing, though, are from a company called My5k262, where they specialize in saying exactly what's on your mind.  This one's actually on my "must buy next" list!:

www.My5k262.com

My5k262 is an awesome site that has hilarious, slightly sarcastic, and offbeat sayings on shirts for runners of all distances, family members, and spectators!  Some of my faves are:

 

Aren't those all great?  And with so many different companies these days, there's definitely something for everyone out there!

Q4U: What's the funniest running or tri shirt that you have?

New Shoes!!!! - Well, Sort Of.

Last week Running Warehouse was having a clearance sale on all of their old shoe models to make room for the new ones, and I took advantage of that sale plus our group code to order a new pair of my model of shoes - and in a shocking pink!!!  Now, generally I leave the super-bright colors to my faster compatriots and go for the more muted colors - no need to draw attention to MY slow-moving feet, LOL!  But, I'm a pink kind of person and getting a color different from my existing pair would make them much easier to tell apart at a glance, so I clicked "add to cart" and completed my order.

The shoes arrived Friday afternoon and I excitedly pulled them out of the box and took this picture:

Then I tried them on - hmmm - feel a little snug...obviously I need to adjust the laces a bit (like I always do with a new pair - in fact, I usually replace the laces with Yankz! altogether).  So I worked my way down the laces, loosening as I went - and then I grabbed the tongue to pull it back up - and a number caught my eye...7.  Seven!  Not 7.5!?!?!  Checked the other shoe - yup, also a 7.  Checked the box - 7.  Checked the receipt - said 7 there too.  

Bummer.  Obviously I got a little click-happy when ordering and selected 7 instead of 7.5.  Good news is that RW does free returns and exchanges, so they're on their way back to the warehouse as we speak.  Unfortunately this means I probably won't get the replacement pair in the correct size in time to feel comfortable wearing them at Big Sur next weekend, but oh well - probably don't want to draw that kind of attention to my feet yet anyway.   

2013 Mini Goals: April: Spring-Clean Your Gear

"April showers bring..."  It seems particularly appropriate that as I'm writing this they're calling for some big spring storms to roll through here tonight.  Spring means showers and spring cleaning.  The Runner's World article "A Month-by-Month Guide to a Fitter, Faster You" lays out monthly mini goals for the year and April's is to Spring-Clean Your Gear.

APRIL: Spring-Clean Your Gear 

We're not sure if running and hoarding have a symbiotic relationship, but many runners do seem to have a hard time getting rid of stinky shoes, sweat-stained shirts, and sagging shorts. Here's help. 

Shoes: The guideline of 300 to 500 miles per pair is a good generality, but Michael Aish, co-owner of the Boulder Running Company Denver Tech Center, is more concerned with how hard you wear the shoes. "If you hit the ground with a clomp and run mostly on concrete, your shoes will have a much shorter shelf-life than if you barely hear your landing and you spend a bunch of time on the treadmill," says Aish. 

Socks: If the elastic is so worn that the sock bunches up, you risk getting blisters. Extra-thin fabric on key pressure areas—under the ball of your foot, say—means you're missing out on cushioning. "Fit is key with socks," says Aish. "If your heel isn't fully covered because the fabric is stretched out, you're asking for trouble. Get rid of them." 

Sports bras: High-impact exercise accelerates the stretching of all the components of the bra that provide support. "A good general rule is that a bra lives for no more than a year if you wear it three to four times a week," says LaJean Lawson, Ph.D., an exercise scientist and expert in sports bra design. D cups may need to be replaced earlier. 

Bottoms: You might need to toss your bottoms if the elastic in the underwear liner is slack; if the words on the care label are so faded you can't read them; if you have to use the string in the waistband to keep them up—or if the string is MIA. 

Smart Readers

So you've weeded through everything, but how do you organize your clothing, shoes, food, and accessories for easy, neat access?

Last fall I organized a lot of my running gear - and realized that I have entirely too much.  Part of the problem is that I have my "fat" gear, my "normal" gear, and my "hope to fit into sooner rather than later" gear.  So I need to sort through what I have first of all, and then determine what I use and what I don't need.  There's going to be some definite spring cleaning going on this month, lol.

Q4U: At some point this month I'll post pics and descriptions of my organization system.  In the meantime, I'd like to hear what you readers use - care to share in a comment?

Support for the Girls

Guys, sorry about this, but this post is for the ladies - or should I say, for "the girls."  I'm just gonna put this out there - I've got a very large chest.  Even when I'm at a weight that I'm happy with I'm definitely...top heavy, to say the least, lol (can we say 36/38DD?).

So when I took up the high-movement activity that is running I basically figured I was screwed and I'd just have to learn to live with the sway, the jiggle, and the bounce I'd always found in "normal" sports bras...  Then I started reading running magazines and websites and saw new terms like "high impact" and "compression" and running bras - yes, there was just a thing as a running bra - not just a general sports bra.  And it was like the proverbial light bulb over my head turned on.  Duh - I'm not the only one out there with this problem - and manufacturers are listening and producing bras for girls with "big girls."

So I delved into the plethora of online research out there, and picked the brains of my running friends, and purchased the Moving Comfort Fiona bra.  I loved it so much I ended up buying 4 of them.  Talk about support, comfort, and structure all in one - so I wore them for years!  My only complaint?  Not a lot of protection from the whole "headlight" issue.

My next search and round of questions for my friends then addressed that problem and I ended up with two more options - the Moving Comfort Jubralee and the Under Armour Armour Bra.  Both have what the industry calls encapsulation, which is basically a structured cup to help cut down on bounce (and also helps with headlights).  So of course, I ended up buying multiples of both styles.  I still wear my Fionas, but mostly on the treadmill or on a run where I know I won't see many people.

So imagine my pleasure when I was scrolling through Facebook and came across the "How to Pick the Best Sports Bra for Large Breasts" article in Fitbie.  And what are the top two recommended for high-impact activity like running?  My current faves!  Yay!  Seems silly, but it's like a validation of my choices.  So, looking for a new bra?  Searching for something to begin with?  Check out the article and see what might be the best option for your needs.  It's got great info on terms, what to look for, and what's important.

No, they're not cheap, but a running bra is one of those things where you get what you pay for!  And don't forget to always, always, always put on some kind of anti-chafe protection in the cups, the chest band, the straps or anywhere else you might chafe - because if there's anything worse than chafing, it's having to put your everyday bra on over a chafed spot from your running bra - ouch!

Q4U: How did you find your "perfect bra?"  Care to share what it is?  Any recommendations you think I or the other readers should try?

That New Shoe Smell & Why a Great Running Store is Key

Aaaaaah.  I love it.  Yes, I've blogged about it before, deal with it.  There's just something so spectacular about a new pair of running shoes.  And I'm willing to bet that most of you get just as excited about it as I do!

I knew that I'd pushed my last two pair of Nimbus 12's past their comfort level for long runs, but was scared to switch shoes before a race - and with as many races as I did last fall, there just never seemed to be a good time.  So now, two weeks after the Disney Marathon (yes, a recap will come at some point) I knew I needed new shoes.  So after a good 7 mile run on Saturday morning - which also reinforced the need for a new pair - I stopped in at Luke's Locker to get re-fitted, sure that due to my blister issue I'd end up in a different shoe.

After taking a look at my existing pairs, the shoe guy had me both walk and run in my socked feet and then sat me down to talk to me - really talk to me.  I did get slightly chastised for letting my mileage get too high on those two pairs as he looked at my healing blisters from the race.  We had a great conversation about my past and upcoming races (turns out his wife ran Goofy two weeks ago!) as well as my current training program.  We talked about my plan to stick with halfs for a while and to lose the weight I put on in the last two years while marathon training.  

All of this reinforced his belief that the Asics were still the right shoe for me.  I need a neutral, cushioning shoe, and Asics is a great shoe for that.  But, to give me a choice he also wanted me to try on a pair of Brooks, so he brought out a pair of each model.  After running in both the Asics and the Brooks, I decided to stick with a new model of my trusty Asics - the Nimbus 14! 

This is exactly why I love going to a running store that knows what they're doing.  I was fully prepared to change shoes just for the sake of change - and instead left with the new model of my existing shoe and armed with a better knowledge of the shoe itself and how I should use it.  These guys know what they're talking about.

Tell Me About Your 2012

Fellow blogger H Love over at Keep on Keeping On had a great post earlier this week about recapping her year of running with a short survey: Tell Me About 2012.  I liked the idea so much I asked if I could do the same.

So here's my 2012:   

Best race experience? There were SO many good ones this year.  But I think I'll have to go with the obvious, which was my FIRST MARATHON!  The Disneyworld Marathon in January validated me as a runner.  A marathon runner.  It was hard, there were tears, there were friends, there was family, and there was Mickey bling.

Dad, BFF, & me after Mickey 2012

Best run?  Again, so many good ones to choose from. Too many, really.  So, I'm going to go with a really general "run" - training runs with my Galloway Girls.  My pace group helped keep me motivated and on-track, helped keep me moving on the hard runs, and kept my mind occupied on the boring ones.

"Lost in Pace" after our 21 Miler

Best new piece of gear?  Well, this one honestly couldn't be more obvious, lol.  It's gotta be my SparkleSkirts.  LOVE. THEM.  2012 was the year I started running in SparkleSkirts, and I've said it before and I'll say it again - there's nothing better for a long run!  They're fun, functional, and stylish!

Berry Smoothie SparkleSkirt

Best piece of running advice you received? "Start out slow and back off."  This is a joke from my friend Megan (remember her blog?), but still it strikes a chord with me.  She said it prior to what we knew was going to be a tough race, and it takes me back to that moment when running was about the company and not the miles or the pace.

Megan & Me at The Patriot's Challenge

Most inspirational runner? My friend Allison.  She was new to our running group this year and fit right in.  Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer just before her big goal race this fall, which she didn't run, and immediately started treatment.  Her positive outlook and determination during this fight, which she partially attributes to her running journey, are a true inspiration to us all.  And she's already planning her running comeback once she's in remission! 

Celebrating Allison's Bday with the Galloway Girls

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?  Friends & bling.  That's truly what this past year of running has been about for me.  My running friends - both in "real life" and online - have kept me going and have helped me do more than I dreamed this year.  And 2012 was the "Year of Bonus Bling."  LOTS of bling this year - and I love it all!!!

So that was my 2012 in a nutshell.  I'm looking forward to what 2013 brings - stay tuned for more on that!

Want to do a "Tell Me About Your 2012" of your own?  Post a link to your blog post about it in the comments below - I'd love to read about your year!

New Skirt - Disco Style!

Emma totally photobombed the pic.

That's right, Leah over at Sparkle Skirts has done it again!  Here's yet another fun new print - the Disco Skirt. As a fun treat to psych myself up for the Marine Corps Marathon, I used my birthday gift certificate from my parents to purchase this new skirt and it arrived tonight!

This picture doesn't do the Disco justice at all. It looks INCREDIBLE in person. I feel bad even posting this terrible in-the-mirror camera phone pic, especially considering I've got some serious post-mexican food bloat going on. But I was so excited getting it and trying it on that I wanted to share immediately. The small clear sequins (although I hesitate to call them sequins - they're like small clear dots on the fabric) add the perfect amount of shimmer when the light hits them with movement.

I tried it on with the following colored tops:

• aqua
• blue
• pink
• raspberry
• purple
• green

Each top highlighted that color in the skirt and really pulled it out to make it seem like the dominant color in the skirt. It looked great with all of them, but my favorite two were this aqua one and the raspberry color (but these are usually my two faves anyway, so I'm definitely biased on that).

I'm going to wear it on my TM run tomorrow and try to remember to snap another pic then to share.

*****Ok, I know what you're thinking at this point - she talks about these skirts A LOT.  She's got to be getting something in return, right - money, skirts, something?  Wrong.  All my Sparkle Skirts were bought and paid for by me.  So why all the hooplah?  I just really love the skirts.  They fit better than any other running skirt I've ever worn, they're made in the USA, and the owner, Leah, is one special lady whose customer service is phenomenal.  So I like to give them/her a little shout out whenever I can.  If you haven't tried a Sparkle Skirt yet, give them a try.  They are worth every penny! *****

Watch Out!

I love my Garmin 305 and it takes some pretty out-of-the-ordinary circumstances for me to run without it.  Saturday morning was one of those circumstances.  My friend L's watch was dead, she was turning back early on her own from our group run, and asked to borrow one of ours.  So I offered mine up, and we headed out - me with "naked" wrists.

Here's where I should say it was a liberating experience to run without it - after all, that's what most watch-free posts are about, right?  Well, I don't know about liberating, but it was a good run.  Of course, I wasn't running completely "naked," since quite a few of our group members have watches that beep on intervals, so I simply listened for theirs and stopped/started with the group.  And I did have a few distance cues since I knew we'd be hitting the lake at 3.5 miles, leaving the lake at 5, have a water stop at 7, and finishing at 9.5.  I found myself consistently looking at my watch, but only felt the need to ask what our mileage was a couple of times.  I can't say I loved running watch-less, but it was by no means the end of the world.  However, I did have to have C email me the "stats" later in the day so I could track the run.

Overall it was a great run, and a worthy redemption for last week's fail.

Do you run with a watch or without?  Is it something you "must have" or something you can take or leave?  A necessary training tool or slave-driving gadget?

Week in Review:

• Monday: 30 minute strength training boot camp, 7 mile bike ride;
• Tuesday: Yoga for Runners DVD, 2.5 mile TM walk (to test out my calves/left ankle);
• Wednesday: worked late, skipped;
• Thursday: worked late, skipped;
• Friday: 30 minute strength training boot camp;
• Saturday: Long group run: 9.49 mi, 2:28 (approx.); 15:36 min/mi avg pace;
• Sunday: rest

The Dark Side

With summer winding down and fall quickly approaching, the sun is appearing later each morning and leaving us in the dark earlier every evening.  Even at the peak of summer you have to get up before the crack of dawn to beat the heat (at least around here you do).  But running in the dark can be dangerous.  So what's a runner to do?

Sure, you could do all your morning or evening runs on the treadmill, but that's no fun.  Which means...you need to be prepared to run in the dark!  A good article about safely running in the dark was recently posted by a local running club on facebook and I'm sharing it here:

Safety Tips for Running in the Dark: Stay Safe When Running at Night or in the Morning.  

Take a minute to read the article - it's got some VERY important safety tips!  I never run alone in the dark, so some of the items didn't really apply to my personal situation, but very often my running group starts our Saturday long runs in the pre-dawn hours.  So as I was going through each item, I made a point to evaluate my personal choices when I run in the dark.

Having a well-lit route, running against traffic, running with a buddy, carrying a cell phone and I.D., and being mindful of your surroundings are all extremely important, but as I see it, the NUMBER ONE item on the list is to MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE!!!  Other runners, bikers, cars, etc. need to be able to see you!  When we're running in the dark, I have the following items on me to help with this:

• My Hat Clip Light for the bill of my visor.  This baby is small and light (I don't even know it's there) but powerful!  I can see the ground in front of me and anyone in the oncoming direction can't miss me!
• Clip-on LEDs for the back of my visor band and the back of my water belt.  I jokingly refer to these as my "blinky butts" since they are on my back side...lol.
• I also try to make sure that I'm wearing light-colored or reflective clothing to make me more visible.

Do you run in the dark?  Did the article make you re-evaluate any of your choices?  Do you have any "must-have" items for your dark runs?  Do you do anything the article doesn't mention that you'd like to share?

Boot Camp, Skirt Converts, and Galloway

Skirt converts!

I had a great training week.  I got in both of my short weekday runs on Tuesday and Thursday, and I started a 6-week indoor bootcamp that I got through Groupon on Wednesday.  It felt really great to get those short runs in, and bootcamp is going to be hard work, but hopefully will be rewarding!  When I follow my training plan, I get enough cardio from running, so this bootcamp will be focusing on strength training.

I've been pretty successful in starting to get some of the girls in my Galloway Group to "convert to skirt" and start wearing SparkleSkirts.  Here, S, L, and I are all in our cute and comfortable skirts after our group run on Saturday morning.  As we pointed out to the other pace groups, we may not be fast, but we ARE fashionable!!!

"Lost in Pace" girls with Jeff Galloway

Speaking of Galloway, the man himself, Jeff Galloway, was doing a Meet & Greet at one of our local running stores here today, so a lot of us came to hear him speak and ask questions.  It was a relaxed and informative session.  He and I even got to have a short and fun conversation about Disney racing!  I asked if he had any insider info on the 20th Anniversary stuff.  He said he didn't know anything about the surprise at Mile 20, but he had been taping spots for a new promo video that RunDisney is putting together that will have hints in it - yay - and will be released in another 3-4 weeks.  Also, he said that the anniversary medal is going to be "SPECTACULAR."  I am SO excited!

Week in Review:

• Tues - 2.2 mi; 30 min; 13:57 pace (2:1,2:1,1:1 interval spacing)
• Wed - 30 min strength bootcamp circuit
• Thurs -
• 2.7 mi; 41 min; 15:01 pace (4x800 speedwork)
• 30 min strength bootcamp circuit
• Sat - 5.81 mi; 1:31:50; 15:48 pace (1:1 interval)

Raindrops on Roses...

...and whiskers on kittens.  Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.  Etc. 

I love that movie.  I was inspired last week spruce up the blog a bit, so I added page tabs to the header (oooh, big change, right?  LOL.).  One of the tabs is "Favorite Things" - a place for me to share with y'all some of my favorite running-related items.  It's by no means a comprehensive list, and I expect it to keep evolving with time, but for now it's got my "big" faves.  Go check it out!

Taper Run with Cattitude!

Today was my last "long" run before San Francisco, and it was...interesting...to say the least!  Since I was tapering and only doing 5 miles, I decided not to join the group (for several reasons: save gas, sleep later, no waiting around for them to finish) and run on the trail nearby.

So what's this about "cattitude?"  About a mile into the run, the trail squeezes between a row of houses and a creek.  As I'm running along, a big fluffy orange tabby cat darts out of the foliage around the creek and starts running towards me!  I figured he belonged in one of the houses, so I slowed down to let him cross the trail ahead of me.  Instead of crossing, he stopped right in my path and looked up at me like "ok, I'm here, now pet me!"  I'm a cat lover, but didn't want to stop, so I maneuvered around him and kept going.  Next thing I know, he's running ahead of me and has once again stopped in my path a few yards ahead, waiting for some attention!  We played leapfrog a total of 3 times before I guess he gave up on me - it was the funniest thing!  I can't help but wonder how many people stop and love on him that he's now perfected this routine?  I've seen plenty of wildlife on and around the trail over the years, but this was a whole new kind of interaction - too funny!

As for the run itself, I definitely didn't prep well enough for it since it was "just 5 miles."  I started out too fast, and got in a decent first 3 miles, but then the heat and humidity definitely started getting to me and I faded fast after the sun started rising high.  The last 2 miles really stunk - boo.

Oh well, it's done, and now San Francisco's only a week away!  The forecast for next Sunday is a high of 65 and mostly sunny - it's gonna be amazing running weather!

Other items of note from today's run:

1. I ran in my new Lotta Breeze Capri Skirt (in all black).  This probably added to the crappy last couple of miles because they're longer and exacerbated the already warm temps.  But I want to wear them for SF and didn't want to not have run in them beforehand.  SkirtSports has another winner with these - no budging, and a cute skirt to cover any areas you don't want the world to see  :o).
2. I think Zico Coconut Water is yucky.  I bought two bottles to try - one regular and one flavored.  The regular is drinkable, but not enjoyable - definitely not something I'd want to carry with me on my run (glad I tried it before I put it in my bottles).  I'll try the flavored one this week to see if it's any better.
3. I used the IMapMyRun+ app on my phone to post my progress to Facebook.  Seemed to work pretty well - still debating using this to post mile marker progress during San Fran.
4. Today's run put me over 300 miles for the year!

Today's Run:

• 10 min. warm-up walk
• 4.99 mi run; 1:05:06; 13:03 min/mi avg. pace.

Five is Fabulous!

Since we've hit July in Texas, and the first double-digit long run was on the schedule this week, from here on out we're starting even earlier to beat the heat - at 5 a.m., no less.  And as terrible as it was to wake up before 4 a.m. so I could be there on time, I have to admit - running when it's (relatively) cooler because of the lack of sun for most of the run is pretty fabulous!

Running in the pitch black of the early morning is a new thing for me, but a few of the group members had headlamps, and almost all of the rest of us had blinky lights (I had one on the bill of my visor, and one on the back of my fuelbelt), so we were ok.

It was very warm - 86 degrees (and humid) at 5am - this morning, so we scaled back our pace again, which made for a slower/longer run, but we got it done!  And the best news???  I didn't have to cut short any of the run intervals, even the later ones!!!  I was able to keep up the group's 2:1 intervals the whole time - wuhooo!  (However, to be honest, the slower overall pace, and mostly overcast conditions toward the end of the run probably had more to do with this than any extra effort on my part...)

Came home, showered, and put on compression sleeves to aid in recovery.  Three more weeks until San Francisco!!!

Today's group run:

• 10.70 miles; 2:30:07; 14:02 avg pace

Belting It Out

I always said that my handheld water bottle was enough for me and I didn't want to run in a hydration belt, but I recently realized that as much as I love my handheld, it just wasn't going to cut it for the long runs involved in marathon training.  So I asked for suggestions from my group members as well as friends who are runners.

After an exhaustive search, I finally found a hydration belt that feels good, carries the right amount of water and gels, and, that very importantly...holds my phone!!!  Yay!  Actually, I found two!  After several strike-outs, I found the Nathan Speed 2 and the Nathan Trail Mix.  I was initially going to choose between the two, but decided to keep both.  Why?  I like the option of having a "sleeker" belt - the Speed 2 - for shorter "long runs" (HM distance or less) because this will hold my phone as well as up to 3 gels.  But for any longer "long runs" I'm going to need a little more room for a little more stuff - so I'll break out the Trail Mix.

I ran in the Speed 2 this Saturday with the group - and liked it!  It will still take a little getting used to, but I can see myself quickly getting to the point of not noticing it.  There was very little bouncing, I had no problem retrieving my gel, the flasks were easy to remove and replace, and refilling them at the water stop wasn't a issue.

Just goes to show that getting out of your comfort zone can be a good thing!

Saturday's Group Run:

• 8.23 mi; 1:54:28; 13:55 min/mi avg pace

Tuesday's Treadmill Run:

• 10 min warm-up walk
• 3.0 mi; 0:40:00; 13:20 min/mi avg pace

Green 6.2: Triply Amazing!

Three amazing things about Saturday's Conn's Green 6.2 5K race:

1. I set a new P.R. for the 5K distance.
2. We ran to/from the race venue.
3. I fell in love with my new skirt.

1.  I shaved 6 seconds off my old 5K P.R.!  The truly amazing thing about it is that it was really hot and humid Saturday morning - high 70's and sunny, with very high humidity.  However, there was some wind to cool us off (is it possible that it was always a head wind?). But, it was a flat course, so that obviously worked to my advantage.  Plus, the race went through my parent's neighborhood, so it was on streets that I know!

2.  Since the race was through my parents neighborhood, and we knew that there would be limited parking near the start/finish line, we decided to run up there before the race and back afterward.  Since I needed to get 5 miles in on Saturday, we measured it out, and, by adding in the distance to/from the house to the race venue to the 3.1 miles from the 5K, it was exactly 5 miles - perfect!  And it worked out great, because it also meant we both had ample opportunity to warm-up/cool-down (maybe that 1.16 mi warm-up helped with the P.R.!)

3.  I've been dipping my toes into the pool of running in skirts.  I bought an "athletic style" Running Skirt brand skirt, have run in that several times, and like it.  I had a small problem with the shorts underneath rolling up a tiny bit, but figured, hey, it happens.  And

there was a little drooping in the back waistband, but I chalked that up to my body type (big hips, smaller waist).  At the Dallas R'n'R expo, Luke's Locker had a Skirt Sports brand "Happy Girl Skirt" on sale.  I tried it on, and bought it, but hadn't really had a chance to run in it.  I decided to wear it for the race on Saturday morning because it was going to be so warm that I felt like even my capris would be too hot.  I LOVED this skirt.  Not liked, LOVED.  It was so comfortable, and I didn't have any of the (albeit small) issues I had with my RS skirt.  I will definitely be buying more of these!  I'm not giving up on RS, but...I might be a SS girl for now.

Saturday's stats:

• 1.16 mi run; 0:14:14 min; 12:16 min/mi avg pace;
• 5K (3.11 mi) race; 0:37:39 min; 12:07 min/mi avg pace;
• 0.76 mi run; 0:09:31 min; 12:31 min/mi avg pace

Is there anything better...?

Is there anything better in one's running life than getting a new pair of shoes?  There was a package from Running Warehouse on the front porch when I got home last night, and these were in it (along with a few other items, of course)!!!  I've been so happy with my current Asics Gel Nimbus 12's that I just bought the exact same pair in a different color (current ones are pink, new ones are blue).  My pink ones have about 250 miles on them, so it's getting close to replacement time.  RW had them for $25 less than list price, plus I got the ROTE discount, so they were pretty reasonable (as far as running shoes go).

I ran in them tonight, and they felt good - I love that "springy" feeling new shoes give you.  Since they're not a new model of shoe for me, just a new pair of the same shoe, I feel comfortable enough to wear them Sunday for R'n'R Dallas - I think.  It's just 7.1 miles, so that shouldn't be an issue, plus they'll match my outfit better than the pink ones (how convenient that timing is....(chagrin)...).

P.S. I'm not quite as excited about R'n'R this weekend as I usually am about a big race.  I don't know if it's because it's not a Disney race, if it's because I feel slightly under-prepared since I haven't run much the last few weeks, or if it's just because of everything else that's been going on recently...  I am, however, very excited about seeing my family this weekend, and (hopefully) having the opportunity to meet up with other bloggers before/after the race!

P.P.S.  If you're running this weekend, my bib # is 21135, I'll be wearing a bright blue v-neck shirt with my black RS skirt and the above shoes, with a black Nike visor.  I'll probably be hanging out with a older, balding man in a Texas State shirt (my dad) and a younger guy (not sure what my brother's wearing).  If you see us, come over and say Hi!!!  If you post a comment and let me know what you think you'll be wearing, I'll keep an eye out for you as well.

Today's stats:

• Garmin battery pooped out on me about 5 minutes in...so this is approximate, but it's a route I run a lot, so at least I have a pretty good feel for the distance.  And I didn't do half bad, considering I was having to self-pace my intervals the whole time!
• ~10 min warm-up walk
• ~3 mi run; ~40min; ~13:20mm pace

Grandma, What Big Ears You Have!

Actually, I have the opposite problem as Little Red Riding Hood's "Grandma."  My ears seem to be unusually small...

I recently purchased a new running earbud from www.onegoodearbud.com - a wraparound style.  I tried it on when it arrived, and noticed that the stereo part of the bud didn't fit well into my ear, and the wraparound plastic earpiece was loose.  Thursday night I decided to try to run with it anyway and see how it did.  I made it two miles, fiddling with it the whole time trying to seat it correctly, before it eventually fell out, and, frustrated, I had to finish without music.

I should have realized that I wouldn't be able to use a standard earbud after all the trouble I had finding my current pair (I eventually had to buy a set with multiple size eartip and wraparound attachments and use the smallest size for both).  For this morning's long run, I switched back to my current pair and loved how they felt - didn't even notice they were in, as usual.

I don't want to discourage anyone else from trying out the onegoodearbud style - it's just not working for me.  But I really like the idea of the onegoodearbud concept - so what's a girl to do?  I'm going to get the non-wraparound style and give that one a try.  I'm hoping that the soft rubber eartip will be smaller, or if it's not, maybe I can switch out the smaller eartip I have on my current pair for the new one.  I'll let y'all know how it goes!

Today's stats:

• 10 minute walking warm-up
• 5.5 mi run/walk; 1:10:44 min; 12:52min/mi avg pace
• Hit the 100 mile mark for 2011 today!  Later than I'd hoped, but a good milestone, none the less!

Thrills, Trends, and Twinges

Well, it's been quite a day!  Three big running-related things happened:

1.  I registered for the San Francisco 1st Half Marathon this morning!  And this officially throws my earlier assertion that "Disney is the only place where I will run a 'long' race" out the window...  As the child of a native Californian, I just can't resist the draw of running across the Golden Gate Bridge!!!

2.  I ran in my first ever RunningSkirt tonight - the "Athletic Skirt" style.  It was just a 2 mile treadmill run, but I liked how it looked, and I liked how it felt!  I think other people are so cute in them, so I finally couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon!  I'm hoping to wear it for the Dallas RnR in March, so I can't wait to road-test it on some longer runs!

3.  During my first mile tonight, my left shin started...well, not hurting, but I was feeling it.  Not sure if it's a sign that it might be close to time for new shoes, or a result of a lot of treadmill running lately, or...a dreaded shin splint - nooooooooo!  It didn't get worse, but it didn't go away either.  With better weather coming, I'll be running outside and in different shoes in the coming week.  I'm hoping that's all it will take to remedy the issue.

Today's stats:

• 10 minute warm-up walk
• 2 mi run; 0:25:58 min; 12:59 min/mi pace

Biker Babe!

Okay, so maybe not in the sense that the phrase has come to mean...but I'm gonna be a biker babe!  Keeping with the spirit of my New Year's Resolution to complete more of the non-running components of each new training program, I've purchased a bicycle!  That's one piece of equipment I haven't owned since my freshman year in college - I'm really hoping they mean what they say about never forgetting, because it's definitely been a while...  I'm really excited about having another cross-training opportunity, especially one that's easy on the joints!  The bike has been ordered, and a helmet and a few other accessories bought.  Now I just have to wait for it to arrive and deal with the "minor" assembly required, then I'll be off!!!

Today's stats:

• 10 min warm-up walk
• 2 mi run; 0:26:26;  13:13 min/mi pace
• 30 min resistance band strength training