Insane Lady

So in the past 8 days, I have completed two races after (1) striking the musical set until 1:00 a.m. and (2) dancing until 2:00 a.m., and the craziest part about all of this is that my time really didn’t decrease as much as I would have thought after taking 2 months off.  Let me tell you a little bit about the races that I recently completed…

The Prison Break Dash was a lot of fun because of several reasons.  It was only a ~30 minute drive from my apartment, and when I arrived, there were a lot of people and kids dressed up as either police officers or inmates.  I opted for the striped shirt myself, so that I may be able to wear it again after the race.  However, there were plenty of people in orange.  Additionally, when the race began, they started sounding the horns as though a prisoner had just escaped from the facilities.  The course itself was very pretty raging from a view of the prison’s facilities to the woodsy grounds The only real negative part of the race was a section call “Hell’s Hills,” so you can imagine why that wasn’t exactly my favorite part of the run.  After the race, the had a TON of water, Gatorade, bananas, pb&j sandwiches, go-gurt, granola, and dog treats.  I appreciate it when they have a nice array of foods after the race.

The Manassas Runway 5k also had it’s benefits.  First of all and most importantly, the entire course was flat.  I didn’t have to worry about my knees as much going up or down any hills.  Additionally, before and after we ran, there were airplanes lifting off to landing nearby.  The only negative was the weather before we started (really chilly). Personally, I enjoyed the fact that the race was just a single loop because I could see where I was relative to the finish line which made running easier.  I definitely want to complete this race again next year, due to the fact that the course style lends itself to PRs.  I also passed quit a few people at the end of the stretch. 🙂  Gotta sprint at the end of the race like a cracked out orangutan.

Otherwise, I’m trying to get back into shape still.  I’ve been considering getting a coach from The Running Store to give me personal advice for my training because I know that running 3 miles every other day will only do so much for me.  I need to get some speed work and hills.

Getting Back Into Running

So, as my last post explained, I had a hiatus for running for quite some time.  Because after that post, my poor head cold took a turn for the worst and gradually turned into a sinus and ear infection as well as strep throat.  So now that I have finally finished my round of antibiotics, I’m hopefully healthy enough to get back out in the mornings to get some running in before my race on April 19th!  In order to prep for this race, I’m going to write out my plan of action to build up some of my time I’ve lost over the past month.

1 April 6 – Nike + body flexor
2 April 7 – 30 minutes running (~3 miles)
3 April 8 – Rest / light yoga
4 April 9 – Nike + tighten up
5 April 10 – 30 minutes running (~3 miles)
6 April 11 – Rest / dynamic yoga
7 April 12 – Dance!
1 April 13 – Nike + body flexor
2 April 14 – 30 minutes running (~3 miles)
3 April 15 – Rest / light yoga
4 April 16 – Nike + dream team
5 April 17 – #0 minutes running (~3 miles)
6 April 18 – Rest / light yoga
7 April 19 – Race Day

*Daily yoga poses from #detoxyobody on instagram

This program is taken from the Nike + Training Application under the Get Toned Beginner Program.

Far Too Long

Oh, wow.  It is so easy to let time go by without noticing the change here.  But now I’m back!  I’ve sadly been taking a break from running since March 1st.  Clay and I had spent some time in PA and brought back our dog Duke.  Although a lovable creature, it has taken us some time to reorganize our schedules to make sure his needs are met.  On top of that, I have been dealing with a head cold and a possible flu/food poisoning bout as well as some yucky snow day weather.  But that won’t stop me!  I’m ready to get back out there and run (outside, FINALLY).

Clay and I had a nice short walk with Duke today, and I couldn’t help but be jelly of all the runners out there.  My poor belly hasn’t held down more than a few crackers in the past 2 days, so I’m waiting until I can actually nourished my body.  But, man, that weather was a beauteous 50 some degrees with some light coverage and wind.  Perfect long sleeve shirt and compression sock weather.

One of my old friends from high school posted a really lovely poem about herself (as she is beginning her own blog as well), and I couldn’t help but be inspired to write my own to go with the day.

A Runner’s Fear

Treading on sidewalks,
Weaving through soggy, snow grass
Covered in dog shit

I couldn’t help myself with that one.  Duke has me walking through some pretty nasty paths.  Let me try again for something (hopefully) more profound after I’ve been out running again. 🙂

Middle/High School Times

So here are some really interesting numbers that still pop up from my previous running experiences in middle and high school.  In order to find some of the times, I had to do some digging on Google.  It didn’t take long, though, and I’m really happy that they still have these times posted (as horrible as they were).

Event: District X Section 1
JR High Girls 1.75m
Date: 23 October 2004
Time: 16:52 9:38

Event: 400m
Date: 22 April 2006
Time: 1:20.64

Event: 800m
Date: 13 May 2006
Time: 3:16:14

Event: Columbiana 5K
Date: 9 August 2006
Time: 29:05.8

Event: Grove City Invitational 5K
Date: 7 October 2006
Time: 27:06 8:44

Event: Region 1 Jr. Varsity 5K
Date: 21 October 2006
Time: 28:16.60   9:07/M

Event: SRU Invite JR Girls 5K
Date: 16 September 2006
Time: 29:33 9:32

Today’s Run:
Where: Treadmill 😦
Distance: 3 miles
Time: ~30 minutes

Monday Fail Whale

So I didn’t quite get out of my apartment this evening, as I recalled how shoes are required to have 24 hours to “reset” after a run.  I feel like that’s cheating, but in the same breath, I would mind getting myself another pair of shoes.  Speaking of shoes, I just recently bit the dust and brought a fancy expensive pair of running shoes.  The last time I remember going all out for shoes was in high school when I needed running spikes for track.  While we’re on high school, here’s a random shot I found recently digging through old pictures.  (I’m the only one standing up.)

Back to my shoes…
I had spent some time in The Running Store finding out that I (obviously) had flat feet, but I didn’t roll (pronate? over pronate? prenatal?) too much on the outside of my feet.  I just needed a baby stabilizer!  So I did the whole “speed dating” ordeal and ran around the building a couple times to get a feel for each shoe.  I purchased a new purple pair of newtons (check out that alliteration, folks!).  I couldn’t help but giggle when I took a seat and looked at the shoes and box closer.  The shoes are called “kismet.”  According to Google…

kis·met

ˈkizmit,-ˌmet/

noun

1. destiny; fate.

   “what chance did I stand against kismet?”

   

   Of course I would pick out a pair of shoes called fate.  It was if I was destined to have them!  You can check those beauties out here:

   http://www.newtonrunning.com/womens-kismet-core-trainer

   Back to my main point (as you can see, I tend to jump around a bit).  I dislike the fact that you should wait 24 hours before running in the same pair of shoes.  I mean, I UNDERSTAND it and all.  Girlfriend is not interested in injuring herself, but it does suck if you miss one morning (especially Monday), and then have to keep to a late night running schedule for the rest of the week.

End of Days

This morning, the boyfriend and I decided to try and get in a run before head off to work.  However, to make a long story short(er), the code to the fitness center was not working and it was raining out.  So we’ve decided to go on our run after work today (6ish pm).  And so, instead of complaining, I’m making my schedule work for those lovely circumstances.

“Life is always going to throw you circumstances that don’t wok out for you.  You’ve got to stay adaptable.” -Clay

Those Crazy Subscription Boxes

I have recently been a more sceptical person when it comes to subscription boxes.  I mean there just so many in this day and age!  I have tried out Fabletics (workout clothing) as well as Ipsy (beauty suppies).  And now I’m looking into more running-based boxes so that I may be exposed to more running inspired goodies.

Based off my research, RunnerBox seems to be the most reasonably priced with the most beneficial items.
http://shop.therunnerbox.com/the-runnerbox-category

Here’s a review from another runner,

“Pros:

• This box was beyond stuffed!
• Filled with items beyond food – even Injinji socks and sports washing detergent!
• Many different samples I wanted to try but hadn’t yet (score!)
• RunnerBox, TriBox, and Gluten Free options

Cons:

• No cons with RunnerBox! They rock!

Pricing:

• BiMonthly (every other month) – $20.00
• 6 month subscription (3 boxes total delivered every other month) – $20.00 per box
• 1 time GiftBox – $20.00″

  You can find her blog here: http://www.justmeandmyrunningshoes.com/2013/06/monthly-athletic-subscription-boxes.html
  She analyzes some other running subscription boxes as well.

And So It Begins…

Today will be the first of many in which I share my growing understanding and struggles along the path of the running lifestyle.  I’ve always been interested in said lifestyle, but I’ve never been fully committed.  I mean, jeeze louise, I have only hit 24 in the past month.  I think I’ll be okay if I start this phase of my life a little late.

This place will also serve as a place for me to regularly record my times and workouts for the day instead of going out and buying a $20 book.  I had been looking on Amazon at the Runner’s World journal-esque book, but I just can’t convince myself that I’ll actually sit down after every run to hand write my feelings and times (as I’m generally running out the door to get to school).  Which leads me to my schedule…

I teach high school English during the day and choreograph the high school musical and color guard by night.  The only relevant part of that sentence in regards to my running is the time (or lack thereof).  I regularly arrive at work 1.5 hours early (6:45 am), and then I teach and rehearse until sometimes 8:30 pm.  So throughout this blog, I am not only explaining my own personal journey with running but also reinforcing how a person with such a hectic schedule CAN and WILL succeed with persistence.

Most Recent Run:
Miles: ~3.9
Time: ~45 minutes
Place: The dreaded treadmill D:
My Feels: The bf and I took a baby teaspoons of Scream before our run.  I’m not sure if it really did anything to help, and I gulped down a lot of water after that anyways.  However, it was a GOOD run in my mind.  I felt a little lightheaded halfway through (as I started out too fast), but my body was pleased afterwards.