A little bit of everything

I stopped Shredding. I decided that after doing 2 days of butt kicks and then hearing my right knee cracking and popping while doing them, that's not a good thing. As kilax said they would, my quads started to hurt after the 2nd day. I didn't do it on Wednesday morning since I knew I had the 7 mile run scheduled. And I decided this morning (while struggling to get out of bed) that I'll start it after my marathon on the 19th.

I'm thinking of getting one of these for my first marathon.
My medals are hanging around the spare bedroom closet doorknob, next to the cat litter boxes. Not exactly in a spot worthy of medals. I'm thinking of getting this one, to hang on the wall, to show off my first marathon. Not that the time is great or that it's a good photo (my thigh fat is doing a weird wiggle thing), but just to have it hanging on my wall. What do you guys think? Good idea or waste of money?

I'm buying a lot of random things for my Garmin & bike. Cool stuff. Stuff that I don't need. Like a carrying case for my Garmin. And a seat pack for my bike. I did buy 2 white water bottle cages that I did need. But I also bought a blue cycling computer for way too much money when I could have bought a cheap generic one. I'm looking at a Forerunner Bicycle Mount Kit. But I'm not sure I would need that when I could just wear it right?? Gotta get new gloves too. Since I have white handlebars and my gloves are black, I know that they're gonna rub off and leave black marks.

Oh did you see that 2 new versions of Garmin Forerunner were released? (Yes, that's ME talked about in the article!!!!) One that will do heart-rate calorie count (remember when I thought mine would do that??) and the other that is water resistant for those triathletes out there (tempting!!). The 405CX comes in a pretty blue colour too! But it automatically comes with a heart-rate monitor so the price is a lot more than what I paid. Oh and it also comes with options for different wristbands for smaller wrists! How heavenly would that be?!
I also bought a Road ID. Well, a replacement for my current one. I put the same numbers on it; Dad (who changed his number), Brother (who also changed his number) and Work (which also changed) since the last one I bought. I changed my Motto tagline too. Last one was "Keep On Keeping On!" Which I thought was pretty neat. This time I put on "Run & Win Your Own Race." Talk about motivation and keeping it real. If you would like to buy a Road ID, here's a $1 off coupon: ThanksLindsay473840. Can be used 20 times in the next 30 days.

So Target, Wal*Mart, MC Sports, even Chilton's Sporting Goods (a local hometown store) all didn't carry my Clif Shot Bloks. I will be heading to Rockford tomorrow after work then. And will be buying many packages. They only carry the Black Cherry & Cran-Raz (which I tried and couldn't handle the taste. I also have some Cranberry Raspberry juice but don't like it.) Maybe they'll have some other flavours.

Categories: garmin, running accessories, Shred, St. Jude Marathon

A BIG thank you!

First things first: Thank you to all who commented on my self-pity party post on Saturday, here on this blog, on Twitter and on my video over at Runcast.tv! It was all greatly appreciated! I think hearing that this happens to other runner's helps.

I Shreded this morning! I decided to go ahead and try to get up early enough in the morning to do the 20 minutes before work. I set my alarm for 6:10a but one of my cats kept waking me up last night so finally at 6:03a I reset it for 6:30a. I finally sat up at 7am and rolled out of bed around 7:15a. A little late. But luckily, I was smart enough to get everything all laid out the night before and the DVD in place. I finally started around 7:20a but knowing that it was going to take 20 minutes, I knew that I was already going to be late for work.

Level One was decent. I used cans of peas for weights. The very first workout was brutal because my shoulders are not strong at all. Then push-ups. My wrists are bad so I can't do but 5 of them, even doing them the "girl" way. But man, I was feeling the burn by the end of all circuits. I'm gonna do it again tomorrow! They say to do each Level until you feel ready to move on so I have no idea when that should be in order to get all three levels in 30 days. But I don't have much weight to lose but I should tone up a bit. At least I hope. All day long, I could feel the burn in my shoulders. :-) I did get to work late around 8:30a or so. :-( I must get up earlier!!

Then tonight I went running at the YMCA. As I walked out of my car in the parking lot, I wondered why I was running at the Y. It was 50 degrees out (just heard on the radio) and sunny. I rationalised by thinking well, by the time I got home and changed into my outdoor running gear, walked to my start and ran my 3 miles, walked back and changed, I would be late for my 5:30p board meeting. But then I realised that's what I'm doing; walking to the changing room, walking to the treadmill, running and then walking & changing back, would take up just the same amount of time. Haha. So much for being logical.

So I used the treadmill to my advantage. I did a little bit of speed work! In fact, the last half mile I ran at 7.5 mph. That's 8 min/mi! Before that was 7 mph for a half mile. I meant the 7.5 mph to only last for a quarter mile (2.75-3.0 mi) but then Usher's Yeah song came on and it pumped me up for some odd reason and I just kept on going! I got in the zone. I was moving my hands & arms with the beat which raises my heart rate but it didn't matter by that time. I had reached 190 bpm (max of 192 bpm). At 3.40 mi I slowed down and ran at 6.0 mph. It was great feeling! I walked for a little bit but I really had to get going to the meeting which I ended up being late for anyway, sweat still dripping down my back as I walked in!

I think on Wednesday I'm gonna do a 7 mile run or something. I should be able to do this outside. I was gonna do a long run. (I guess to make up my lack of a run on Saturday but yes, I know I shouldn't over do it.) Erin & I are planning on doing a 10 mile run on Saturday, I think. The hour drive over there will give me plenty of time to digest some food this time around!

P.S. Does anyone know of where I can buy some Clif Shot Bloks in DeKalb/Sycamore? I've checked Wal*Mart, Walgreens, Target & MC Sports. All a bust. The only place I know where I can buy them is in Dick's Sporting Goods in Rockford. I'll head up there on Thursday but would rather buy them here in town!

Categories: Shred, speed work