shallow to the core

Ok, so I admit I'm more than a little bummed I didn't run yesterday.  This cold is really kicking my ass so I know it was the right decision - trying to run 10 miles in this condition would have been an absolute suckfest.  But still.......

Why am I bumming?  Because I didn't get to try to improve my time from last year? Yeah, partly.  It's a great course that's mostly downhill so I was looking forward to trying for a shiny new PR.

Because it was a missed opportunity to run with the husband?  Of course!  I love running races with him.

Because I didn't get my precious bling?  Well, duh.  You KNOW how I am about the bling.

What's missing from this picture? Oh yeah, THE FINISHERS MEDAL.
Dammit!!

But the biggest reason I'm bummed about not running in yesterday's race?  Not the chance to rise to the challenge of a new PR...... not the opportunity to run with the husband....... nope, I'm bummed because I didn't get to wear the arm warmers purchased specifically for the Monster Dash.

My awesome arm warmers

In addition to being a bling whore, I am a gear whore.  And I was looking forward to rocking my newest gear!

Extreme arm warmer close-up.  Aren't they cool?

Oh well, there's always next year, right?  And really, who says I have to wait a whole year?  Skulls are always appropriate - I'm sure I can find another opportunity to rock 'em!

gear whore

My hair stylist once called me a product whore because I can always be counted on to buy crap that feeds into my dream of making my thin tresses look fabulous.

It's already been established that I am most definitely a carb whore.

And I was asked by one of my friends on dailymile.com if it's possible that I'm a cowbell whore.  My answer?  Oh my, yes!

Well, I think I may be turning into a gear whore.  I love getting new running gear - love the clothes, love the accessories (read: calf sleeves - but I really DID need them!), and love the gadgets (Garmin Electra!).... Hopefully, the husband isn't getting freaked while reading this.  I don't want him to think he needs to initiate an intervention. 

I'm going with, "the camera angle made my calves
look abnormally girnormous and misshapen."

Take a look at my sassy new calf sleeves!

Skins A400.  I LOVE them.

Absolutely NO calf pain since I started wearing them.  None!!

And just look at how sexy they make my legs look.

I was careful to not show the pasty fat stores  bulging out from the elastic constraints at the top of the sleeves.

But look at my ankles.  That lily white skin you see is not a trick of the camera - that's my actual skin tone.  Did you know that I'm a red headed Irish lass?  S'true!

And here we have my sweet new kicks!

Back in the Saucony's.  ProGrid Guide 4.  And Pink!!  So girly!

You'd hardly notice I'm wearing a frickin' size 12 because the pink makes them look so very dainty and princess-like.






  


I tried to get a shot of the new kicks in the sunlight but Jane wanted to get headed out on our walk.

Jane won.

Speaking of Jane, here's a shot of her channeling Santa's Little Helper (the Simpson's dog) while we were out on our Easter Sunday walk.

Back to my gear whoreness..... The only snag in my gear acquisition plan is that I hate to pay full price for stuff.  HATE TO.   So that constantly gets in my way.   I guess that makes me a frugal gear whore???  (Cheap just doesn't sound right.)  But oooOOOooo!!  FrugalGearWhore could be the subject/title of my next blog!  My frugality has limited me to two pairs of running shorts that I'm willing to wear in public, and one pair of running pants.  I know I'm going to have to bite the bullet at some point and get more clothes (regardless of discount status) because I can only do laundry so many times each week....

Anywhoo, I don't think I'm alone in my love of gear.  I just know there are p-l-e-n-t-y of you out there.

Speak up!  Tell me about your gear love!

And oh please - I need a sassy new outfit for Grandma's so if you know of any discount running gear places I should be haunting, tell me about that too!

sunday synopsis

Freaking windy windy windy run!  Gorgeous sunny day though.

Today's 15 miler fell a tad short....

Pre-run.  The husband had to take a
picture of me in all my runner geek glory.  He
 also tracked me down on my run to give me
water and got ice for my ice bath.
Thanks love!!

I stopped at my brother & sister-in-law's (hey B & B!!) house to use their bathroom (this was at the start of mile 8), oohed and ahhed over their awesome new fridge and gawked at the ginormous dog (pony?) who was a puppy just yesterday....

Anywhoo, I paused my Garmin while I was there but because I took so damn long to get it going again, it shut itself off.  Then I overestimated how far I had gone and thus underestimated how far I had to go.... so the upshot of it is, I ran 14.5 miles, not 15.  Frankly, I don't think I could have gone another half mile.  After about mile 11, my left hip and my right calf were killing me.... Surprisingly enough, I wasn't physically tired - I was just too sore to move very quickly.  But the chest wall issue is so much better!  It was pretty painful at the beginning and hurt to take deep breaths but seemed to improve as the run unfolded.  I just hope my little legs can get stronger.  It sucks to limit the run because of pain.

Distance: 14.5 miles
Overall Pace: 11:19 minutes/mile
Gear: 
Tunes - The iPod was a savior today.
Fuel belt - I wanted to rip off my water belt and throw it far, far away for the first half of the run.  Damn thing kept bouncing up, shifting around.... it was SO annoying!!!  I found myself saying things to it like, "I hate you and your ass face!" <Ooo, name that movie!!> and "You, f-ing SUCK!!" quite a bit while I was pulling it down and adjusting it over and over and over.  After the sweat started seeping through my clothes the belt stayed put and did the job it's supposed to do which is to carry fluids without being a complete pain in the ass.
Shoes - I forgot to mention that I returned the Asics.  They just weren't doing it for me.  So I'm back in the old Sauconys and have ordered another pair, but this time in PINK!!  Can't wait for the new shoes to arrive.  I figure, better the devil you know....
Sustenance - Pre-run.  Oatmeal with banana and blueberries.  NO eggs!!  During run: GU chomps.  I felt like they gave me some good energy boosts and there were no GI issues at all.  Whoo hoo!!
Clothes - Moving comfort bra.  Success!  My ONE pair of long (almost long enough) pants - I wanted to keep my cranky calf warm.

Overall, I guess I'm satisfied with the run - my longest distance to date!!  I just need to figure out the whole pain issue.  The ice bath afterwards was wonderful!  (I still can't believe I love them as much as I do!)

And OMG was I wishing for the snot rocket skills today.  My nose ran like a fire hose.  My gloves are gonna need a good washing!

make it so, number one

I have this blue running jacket that I really like.  It was a Christmas gift from the husband.  This jacket FITS.  It's soft, its comfortable, it's fitted and has good lines, it's long enough that my stomach isn't exposed and has those thumb thingies that I like so much.  You know, the little holes that you can put your thumbs through so the sleeves are pulled way down on over your wrists?  This jacket has really long sleeves! I'm 5'11" and have orangutan arms so most running jackets/long sleeve shirts NEVER seem to have enough real estate to cover my entire arm.  Running pants are the same.  All my running pants are capris whether they were designed that way or not.  Plus, I have to admit, I'm cheap.  Or frugal.  Or whatever you want to call it.  I hate to pay full price for stuff.  And I really hate shopping for clothes (see orangutan arms, above) because it's frequently such a disappointment.  I may have to expand my horizons beyond the sale rack to find gear that fits.  The weather is getting cooler so I guess it's time to act.

Proof of one-time winter running.
Beloved blue Jacket worn
underneath the green one.

Historically, I haven't done a lot of outdoor winter running.  Actually, I've pretty much taken the winters off from running.  I'm kind of a wuss when it comes to cold weather.  Anything below 20 degrees is a bit much for me to take; throw in some wind and I'm outta there.  Couple that with the possibility of having inches of tender skin exposed and I'm not usually willing to brave the bitter elements that Minnesota winters can toss out.  <One exception: this past New Year's Day, the husband and I ran in the Team Ortho Polar Dash.  It was a beautiful day, about 3 degrees, (yes, THREE degrees, but NO wind!).  One of the coolest (no pun intended) things about the entire event was as we were waiting for the starting gun with the few thousand other racers, seeing the steam rising above everyone in the morning light.  Another very cool (really, no pun intended) thing was the spectators who were out to cheer us on.  Minnesotans are a crazy bunch!>  Anyhoo, my dislike of running in the cold is going to have to become a "like." (Cheering spectators would help.  I always seem to need more cowbell.)  I'll need to train outside this winter - the treadmill is just not going to cut it.  I can only manage about 4 miles before I am bored out. of. my. mind.  Too much time on the treadmill makes me crabby.  Kind of kills the endorphin boost I hope to get from running.

So, back to the blue jacket that I like so much...... I  was wearing it last spring on an especially chilly day and was feeling all stylish and runner-like (having actually just completed a run even!) when I saw my brother.  I had paired the jacket with my ONE pair of black running pants that are almost long enough to reach my ankles, had the jacket zipped all the way up, and my hair pulled back into a tight ponytail.  My brother looked at me and said, "Make it so, Number One." Ok, maybe I DO look a bit like a graduate of Star Fleet Academy.  All that's missing is the beam me up pin.  So I guess it's time to do something about the wardrobe. And embrace my inner Trekkie.