Dix run

Today I ran in Dix, IL. I'm down here visiting my brother and still had to run since I have an 8k next week! I woke up bloody early but it was too cold to go running, 50 degrees. At 8am, it was starting to warm up, so I got dressed in shorts and a tank, with a normal cotton shirt over that. It was 55 when I left. I decided to run 4 miles, 2 miles north on Rt. 37 and 2 miles back.

When I got just out of Dix, this cyclist comes up to me and asks me if I ever ran Tunnel Hill. I said no, he explained why he asked because he came across a blog that said she ran Tunnel Hill and thought that there couldn't be many runner's in Dix. I asked where it was at. He said further south than here. Then I remembered that it was in my Biking in Illinois book, that it used to be a railroad track and it might be the only trail in Illinois that goes through a tunnel. Still it's kinda weird that he was asking me and I was running and we were having a conversation.

It was weird though, I started to get a really bad cramp in my lower stomach area, below my belly button and above my pubic bone about the 1.75 mile. I actually had to stop, run off in the strip of pine trees and try to pee. By the time I found the trees, I had been stopped and walked for a little bit. Nothing came out when I dropped trou but a little tinkle. By that time, I felt OK to keep on going. So at the 2 mile mark, I turned around and headed back. No more cramps.

I eventually had to take off my cotton shirt and tuck it into my shorts. I used it a few times for my snot rag. Later that day at the St. Louis Zoo, I sneezed like 25 times in a row because of my allergies. That was not fun but my Dad was laughing.

All in all, today's run felt OK. And I think I know what to finally wear in the odd temperature of 50's/60's.

Categories: allergies, Dix, southern illinois

Run down to Prairie Park

Brent and I went running tonight. We ran from his house for a change and it was nice. Ran down to Prairie Park and ran through the disc golfers on the bike path and down to Taylor and back to his house.

We also had to go running tonight. He was in the middle of a life changing decision and needed to run to clear his mind, I decided. He kept saying that his heart was heavy and I was worried that he was going to have a heart attack!

He hadn't run in more than a week so he stopped around 3.5 miles. I kept on going and ended up finishing around 4.12 miles. I was on a runner's high again! Just felt so good. I even had a conversation the ENTIRE TIME running. That was most highly unusual for me.

Pace ended up being an average of 9:39 min/mi. His ended up being 9:38 he said.

Categories: Brent, runner's high

St. Jude all over again

As of yesterday, I officially entered the realm of a Marathoner. I signed up for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, TN on December 6, 2008. Pretty nifty. I ran 3.5 miles yesterday. I think I want to run again tonight. There's a group meeting at 7p but I think that's too late for me. Don't know. Last night I ran at 6:30p but I didn't eat anything beforehand or after. I need to eat sometime at night! I'll talk it over with Brent and sees what he wants to do for tonight. I need to get up to par for the 8k in a few weeks!

Categories: St. Jude Marathon

TurtleTrot 5k 2008

Yesterday Brent & I ran the TurtleTrot 5k. The week before we were having nice weather, 60's and 70's and then came the cold air. I seriously don't know how to dress for cold weather running. The race began at 10am and we got there around 9:15a with plenty of time. I was debating what to wear. I decided to just go with my running fall tights and then a short sleeve shirt and then my running jacket.

The starting line was moved this year, it was pushed back a bit but we still ran the same route up to a point, then I forgot where we changed course. There were still plenty of bloody hills. I keep forgetting how bad this course is for hills! But I didn't see the one that I had to launch myself up using a toe hole. There was one hill in which I ran up and at the top I said Holy Craps and the lady in front of me turned around to look at me. Also, I know that the end of the course was changed. Where Deb was at last year was a place that we ran towards her and then turned right. This year, we ran past that spot straight. So it was different but I still knew when the end was coming up. And I felt the same way I did last year, tired and wanted to walk plenty of times but I didn't.

I kept with two ladies the entire time. Both in front of me the first half of the course. Around mile 2, I dropped one of them and then stayed with the other. She finished 2 seconds ahead of me.

Brent never ran with me the entire time. I did get to kiss him before the race though. He took off like a bullet from a gun right away. Last time I saw him was right after the water station because it double looped back. As we were going down the hill to run towards the water station, the guy in first came up the hill to pass me. I looked around for Brent and that's when I saw him and ran into the second lady by accident. But he totally beat me by a lot of minutes. Which I guess is OK. I knew eventually he would get faster than me. It's inevitable since he's a guy but to be honest, I thought that my training would keep me ahead of him for a little while longer. But at least I have the knowledge that I can run 13.1 miles.

My Nike+ said I was .98 at the 1 mile mark and then 1.53 at the water station. Then 1.97 at the 2 mile mark. The end said I was 3.05. So not bad over all for their distance. 2 mile mark said I was at 18:28.

I wanted to drop my jacket so bad during the race but I didn't want to deal with having to go back and pick it up later.

I came in second overall in my age group. Last year, I came in first, so no double peat. But considering how I was having a hard time with the weather, then my allergies (I hadn't any Claritin in days and my nose was all stuffy and I felt it in my chest) and I woke up with a sore muscle in my back, I ran faster than I did last year.

Finish: 29:05
Brent: 26:22
Weather: 40's & 50's, a little cloudy, a little sunny

Categories: Brent, races, Turtle Trot 5k

St. Patrick's Day 5k race

Brent & I traveled down to Bloomington to do a 5k race in March. The race was at 1p so luckily, we along with my friends Kevin & Jess went to breakfast that morning. We were dropped off near the starting line by them while they went to find parking and they said that they'll be at the end by the time we finished.

Brent & I had a lot of time to warm up and just wait around before the start of the race. We kissed each other good luck and off we went. We were staying side by side most of the time. It was great. We reached Mile 1 and the guy said that we went 8:30. I looked at Brent saying we're going too fast, we're not going to be able to keep this up this pace.

Brent managed to get in front of me by this time. I was taking pictures of his butt mainly. The route was very unimaginative. Flat, through subdivisions, boring. This one part did have it double back on itself so I got to see people in front of us and then behind us.

Mile 2 split time was XX:XX. That's a negative split right there folks!

Mile 3 was. Not a negative split but still rather fast! Brent was long gone by this time, he just kept speeding up. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a runner.

We rounded a corner to go back on the road that we first ran on, so I knew that the finish was coming up but I just couldn't make my legs go any faster. I instead was watching this guy in front of me that was bow-legged run. That was interesting. Brent really took off by this time, he zoomed past plenty of runners I saw.

At the end we found Kevin & Jess and I told them that I sat another Personal Record time. The last time I did was that when I ran in the Mackinaw race! Seems like when they watch me, I do well!

Finish: 26:21 (a new PR!)
Nike+ 3.01 (that's .09 miles off! wow, quite a lot)

Categories: Brent, races, St. Patricks Day 5k

Finally shoes!

I was up in Rockford yesterday and went to Dick's Sporting Goods. I had a $20 gift card to use. And I wanted to look at shoes. So on the way to the back, we passed by a clearance table with a bunch of shoes on it. So we started rifling though the table and was looking for running shoes for me and Brent. They were mostly old shoes, like models no longer made and sizes that are odd (like 11 & 12 in women's). I saw a lot of my old shoes, the GT-2110 by Asics but they were size 6. I missed those shoes so much. They were nice to run in. Then he found them in size 11 but wide width. I tried them anyway on but alas they were in fact too wide.

After a few more searches through containers then Brent found a discovery of just size 11 of the GT-2110! I tried them on and they were decent width wise but a bit long. I'm now thinking I need like size 10.5. The special was buy one pair get the second half off. So after a few more searches Brent found another pair of GT-1110 (a much older model and part of the 1000 series). So after trying on that, I decided to get both. Then with my $20 discount, both pair were only $53! How excellent!

Sure the shoes were older model but that's OK. My Nimbus' aren't cutting it anymore. Problem is they are both size 11 and we'll see if I can run in them. Plus the problem is my Nike+ adapter. It's laced up in my shoe. So I don't know how that'll happen everytime I want to switch my shoes.

In running news: finally went running outside today. It was nice and sunny and then actually somewhat warm. It was awesome! Brent went with me and we ran 3 miles (I ran 3.1). At a slow pace too which was nice. We could actually talk a bit during the first part of the run! I just wish this weather would stay. With this much snow this winter, I think I'm done with winter. I want the nice weather to stay and spring to come!

In race news: I found a 5k in Bloomington, IL to participate in. It's going to be nice because it will be the weekend before I start my new job! The day before St. Patrick's, so it's a St. Patrick's Day run. And then we're going to go out the night before, stay the night with my friends down there and dinner after the race. Yay for celebration!

In other race news: I did not sign up for the Rockford Marathon/Half-Marathon. Yesterday was the deadline. A little too pricey for me now and I haven't been really training too well. So I decided that my first marathon will be the St. Jude Marathon on December 6th. I will be raising money for it again too. I'm excited. So I will start my Marathon training in August with still doing 5k & 10k this summer. I'm excited!!

Categories: marathon training, shoes, St. Jude Marathon

Chili Chase 4m run

Sunday was my first race of the season! Very excited about that.

It was cold but the sun was shining. But because it was cold, it was also very confusing as to how much to wear out on the course. I was going to wear my winter UnderArmor leggings and then my jogging pants over that. I did eventually take the pants off. Then I was just going to wear my winter UnderArmor shirt and a jacket. But once I saw Brent take off his fleece pullover, I was thinking of not wearing my jacket. In the hour of waiting around, I did realise that I was cold and Brent likes the cold so I'm gonna keep my jacket on. We did see guys in shorts & short sleeve shirts. CRAZY!!

Before the race, a guy asked us if we saw the course yet. He said the first quarter mile is all downhill and ice so we should walk it. We find out where the course is at and go check it out. Yep, ice. But we manage to find a bit of snow on the side that will help grip it. Then we realise that the finish is at top of the same hill which means we have to run back UP it at the end.

While waiting for Brent to come back from a bathroom break, a saw a girl a bit younger than me wearing a NIU sweatshirt so of course I said, Go Huskies! And then the mother in front of her turned around and I saw that she too was wearing a Huskie sweatshirt. So we were talking about the event and that we were heading back tonight to go to the Memorial Service at 7pm.

At the start, it's in the shade and I was cold with my jacket on so I don't know how Brent was managing. Then the race started, it was a lot of short steps to make sure that our legs weren't going to slip out from under us. Brent was behind me most of the time going down just because it was single file alongside the road. At the bottom of the hill, it got to be drier and sure enough my iPod said it was .25 into the race. That's when Brent caught up with me and we ran side by side for a little while. I took a few pictures of him. Then I sped up a bit and took pics of him over my head. That was cool.

At one point in the 1st or 2nd mile when Brent was behind me, I patted my butt trying to indicate come and get this! Those miles were mostly clear as they were roads in a subdivision.

At the start of the 3rd mile, I was going to leave him behind and start doing my own speed but I just kept checking over my left shoulder to see if he was still behind me or if he fell down. I couldn't just leave him then. There was a small turnaround and I thought maybe then I could go. But by that time we were back on ice and snow on the bike path. But again, I didn't. I did speed up a little bit, told my body to kick in a little bit. By that time I was getting a little warm but still happy that I had on my jacket and hat. I took off my gloves around mile 2 or 2.5.

Then once the start of the 4 mile began, I decided now was the time to heave-ho. So I got my burn on but it wasn't much of a burn by that time since I spent a lot of energy dodging the puddles, stepping gingerly over the ice. But I did manage to really kick it in the last half mile.

I saw Huskie girl in front of me then but I didn't think that I would be able to catch her but at the bottom of the hill that we began running on, I managed to catch her and then pass her! I thought about saying "Go Huskies!" but I didn't want to egg her on and have her pass me. I also managed to pass another older lady on the hill but man, was it hard to run up it, not the hill part but the snow & ice part. I managed to get to a dry place and then all the snow fell off my shoe but then I ran into slush & snow again and the tread would just get snowpacked again.

I didn't look behind me once I started running up the hill but knew that Brent was not that far behind me. So once I got to the finish corral, I got out the camera again, took a picture of my time, tore off my running tag and then turned to get his picture, after he crossed the line. I hugged him immediately. I was so proud of him that he came in that close behind me!

We stayed for the post race just in case, I was in the top 35. But they started at #35 and when they got to the 20's something they had said a time of 34 minutes so I knew I wasn't in the contention. But the results were posted today. I was number 37!! Just 30 seconds in front of me! Boo to that! Oh well, it was just a travel coffee cup and I have plenty of them and don't drink coffee anyway.

So anyway, there's the race. First of the season and first for Brent ever! Yay for a boyfriend to want to do something with me that I enjoy!

Categories: Brent, Chili Chase 4 mile

First race of the season

So this whole giving up all beverages but water is turning out to be a lot harder than I imagined. Especially when I think about running and my precious Gatorade Rain Berry or Ice flavour. How I miss thee so.

This Sunday I have a race. First one of the season! A 4 mile one in Davenport, IA. It's going to have chili afterwards. But of course, no vegetarian options. Stupid meat-eaters. And my boyfriend will be joining me. I told him that I will run my own pace, finish and then run back to him to cross the finish line with him. So very proud and excited no matter what the outcome! I'm hoping for a 35 minute finish. That's just under 9 minutes a mile.

I'm buying new shoes soon. Mine are too small, both my running & everyday shoes. On the 17th, I spent all day trying to find shoes. Famous Footwear, Payless, Wal-Mart, MC Sports, Kohl's. Hardly any of them carried size 11 shoes.

MC Sports had the best deal. Their shoes were on sale and then second pair 1/2 off. So I found a pair of running shoes I wanted and normal everyday shoes. I ask for size 11 in the running shoes. Nope, only size 10. So I try them on. Too small, my toes will hit the front wall. So then I ask for size 11 in the everyday shoe. Nope, only size 10 in those too. I ask if I can buy those online through the website. Sure enough, I can, I was told.

I went home, looking through MCSports.com and the shoes are NOT on sale. And they also don't have the second pair half off discount. But they do have size 11.

So I wrote to them. They can't do anything to help me out but it just sucks that they do this to people. And it's too late to go up to Dick's in Rockford. Stupid big feet of mine.

I really want the Asics GT-2130. I have 2110 and they were awesome. I just picked them cause they were blue, not knowing then about the whole arch issue. Then I switched models and went with the Nimbus 9. Boy was that ever a mistake. In the last weeks of training for my half marathon, my knees gave out. I'm blaming my shoes. But now I know that the 2100-series is the best for my foot.

Anyway, here's to the first race with many more this year!

Categories: Brent, races, shoes

Runner's High

I totally bypassed 5 miles.

Last week I ran 4 for the first time this year. Tonight I ran 6.5.

Back in August, when I was training for my HM, I was supposed to run 6 miles on a Saturday and I just couldn't do it, I waited too long in the morning and it got too warm. I was so dissappointed. Then on the following Monday, I had leftover red beans & rice for lunch and that evening in the cool weather and a slight mist, I ran 8 miles. I just kept going. I knew when each mile was but at 4 I decided I better turn around now.

Tonight was the same way. I had the red beans & rice for lunch but this time it was on the treadmill so I could only go for 60 minutes. And that was fine with me because while I could have kept on running, I also didn't want to push it too far too soon. Instead, I pushed the speed tonight!

I started out at 6.2. But even before mile 1 completed, I upped it to 6.8 when two certain songs came on my iPod. Then I brought it back down to 6.4 for a little while. Then when I realised how much fun I was having I upped it to 6.5. Then again to 6.7 and 6.8 and the last minute was 6.9. The last 10 seconds of my 60 minutes of running, I ran at 7.5 which is an 8min/mi (and 800 calories per hour).

I don't know what it is about red beans & rice but they are magical for me. Twice now, when I eat them for lunch, I manage to have the willpower and energy to keep going throughout a run and keep going past my endurance. I'm not sore at all as of this writing. It was the most awesome feeling.

I even managed to play around with my Nike+ a little bit. As I kept upping my treadmill speed of course my feet were slowing down as I getting tired. So my Nike+ was thinking that I wasn't going as far. Towards the end of the run, Nike- had me at .2 miles behind my treadmill distance. That's bullshit. So around the 2.88 mark I think, I changed my form and started pumping my legs really really fast. I held the Nike- in my hand so I could see the changes and sure enough, it registered me at running an 8:04 pace at that time but it only caught me up by .02 miles. Then of cousre since I was turning my legs at a faster rate, that got me tired more so when I stopped doing it, it thought I was slowing way down and that is how I managed to get .2 miles behind the treadmill. Stupid Nike-. I wonder if I should re-calibrate it again.

At any rate, I had the runner's high again tonight and I loved it.

Total distance: 7.6
Total calories: 753

Categories: nike+

starting all over

I'm up to 4 miles now. I was supposed to run 8 today but I am definitely not up to 8 continuous miles. The past 2 times I ran, I did the 4 miles. But I did them at a slow pace, 10 min/mi. I figured that training at a faster speed last year may have been the reason for my sore knees. So I'm going to slow it down. Maybe I can run 8 miles at that pace but I don't know. Then once I get outside, I won't have a choice but to go normal pace. I cannot for the life of me go slow outside, I can't control my own speed too well.

There's this online store called OneMoreMile.net and they had a slogan contest. It's where I got my shirt that says "13.1 miles. Been there, done that." and undies that say "Sorry, I have to go running." I submitted the slogan "Running is my boyfriend." I want a shirt that says that!!

I'm not doing the indoor triathlon after all. I waited until pay day to sign up but I forgot to that last Friday and the deadline was Superbowl Sunday and I was in Chicago all weekend. But Brent's doing it so I'll be there to support him and then to revive him.

I get to go to Iowa in two weeks! Yay for racing season!

Categories: Brent, running is my boyfriend