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!

wardrobe failures

My poor, battered toes.

My toe hurts.

The big toe on my left foot really took a beating in last weekend's 20 mile run.  It's pretty pissed off.  And it's sharing it's displeasure with me loud and clear.

So.....I'm still on the quest for the perfect running shoe for my big girl feet.  So far I've tried a couple variations of Asics, two generations of Saucony ProGrid Guide and the Brooks Adrenaline running shoes. None have made me happy. I am left wanting.

Ooooo, that must mean that new gear is needed!!!

Off I went to TC Running Company - one of my two favorite running gear stores.  (The other is Gear Running Store.)  They are both on the other side of the planet from where I live but are sooooo worth the drive.  I picked TC Running because it was open on Memorial Day.

the new kicks

Anywhoo, the upshot of my little shopping expedition was that I ended up with a lovely pair of new shoes. Success!!

What kind, you ask? Nike Structure. I've run about 7 miles in them so far, and so far so good.  Did I mention that they are yellow?  I think the color is officially considered "Lemon Yellow."

Such a subtle and understated color.

Love!

I've been looking for fun running clothes, too.  I don't know if I've mentioned this before but I'm running a couple of marathons this year.

It's true.

So I need fun and inspiring running clothes!

How cute is this running skirt?  Don't you just love it!!

I found a super cute Brooks running skirt on runningwarehouse.com and ordered it.

I was SO excited when I saw it - even cuter in person (skirton??) than online!

I tried it on and the fit was awesome.

But the color of the undershorts.......not so awesome.

Not sure if you're aware of this but I'm getting close to 50 years old.  Due to a nasty combination of a lifetime of poor diet choices and the heartbreak of genetics, I have a hell of a lot of some extra adipose tissue in the gut and thigh areas that I'd really prefer to keep under wraps/ draped in camouflage as much as possible. (I might consider a burka if made of lightweight tech material.)

No disrespect intended to Laura Hillenbrand or Louis Zamperini,
I was merely illustrating a point.
But if you haven't already read "Unbroken" YOU MUST READ IT.
Fantastic book!!

Anywhoo, the undershorts were a huge disappointment.  They were practically transparent. No shit!!  If the skirt were to catch a breeze and fly up it would be both frightening and disturbing for all involved.

On several levels.

Serious wardrobe failure.

I sent the cute skirt back.

Guess I'll keep shopping....

grandma's marathon, round 2

Well, I did it.  I signed up for Grandma's 2012!  Nothing like a little jog in my future to get me blogging again!

I'm assuming my ankle will get over itself by then.  I hope so.  I just started running again and I have races on the calendar for this weekend and next (remember, it's redemption time for me!) so we'll see what happens.  I'll be going nice and slow and have no big goals for either race, other than to show up for the damn thing (Run for the Apples) and NOT walk through the finish chute (Monster Dash 10 mile).  Here's hoping the ankle doesn't complain too much.

My snazzy new trail shoes!

Oh, and my gear whore tendencies continue.  I now own trail shoes! I still have to write a report on the trail race the husband and I did in September.  I'm loving the trail running.

More to come but just thought I'd let you know I'm baaaaaaaaccckkkkkkk!!!

gonna have to get in gear, for real

Last weeks mileage goal: 34 miles
Actual mileage: 27 miles

So, I fell a few miles short of the goal.  That's ok, I was on the mend!  Plus, work was absolutely insane last week with some super long hours.  This week will be a crazy busy one too, but hopefully work will settle down again after that.

Husband's photo #1 - Action shot!  That's me in the green.

I ran the Get in Gear Half Marathon yesterday and other than it being a dreary, rainy, blustery day, it went pretty well.  I PR'd by 7:19!  Race time was 2:23:26.  So, I'm happy about that.  Highlight of the race was when the husband showed up unexpectedly (he had to take DSD to lacrosse practice so I didn't expect to see him at all.)  What a treat to hear someone yell my name just after mile one and look over to see him standing on the sidelines under a big old umbrella!  Getting there meant he had to drop DSD off at practice, high-tail it over to the race site, find a place to park (no easy feat) and then hope to see me among the 6000+ runners.) Seeing him got me a little teary-eyed.... he's the best!  He even tried to take a couple of pictures with his phone.  Side note: This was the day of bad photos. Not a decent one in the bunch! But I won't let a little thing like quality keep me from using them in my blog. 

Husband photo #2 - What's with the puppy-dog paws????

For the first several miles I had to keep telling myself to slow down since I had to do another 4 miles when I was done with my 13.1.  I'd be going along feeling good then glance at Garmin Electra and realize I was running 9 minute miles. I think I played it a little too safe and could have been faster.  Maybe.

Another highlight was when a friend from work ran up along side me at about mile 4.5.  She's training for Grandma's half (this was her first half) and we chatted and ran the entire way.  I forgot how nice it is to run with someone!  She made the day much more pleasant.  My left hip was really sore at the end and I had to push to finish strong.  So I pushed!

The first attempt post-race.  Kind of blurry so I figured I'd
give it one more try. (See how water-soaked my jacket is?
Definitely NOT water-repellent.  Oooooo, looks like
gear whore needs a new jacket!!)

I truly planned to do my remaining 4 miles right away after finishing the race and getting a snack, but by the time I got something to eat and got back to my car, grabbed the camera to snap some pictures (gotta have documentation for the blog!) drop my bib and medal off (love the bling!!) I was soooooo cold and my clothes were completely soaked through..... I decided to head home, get into some dry clothes and hit the treadmill for my final four.  Which I did!  Even though I SO didn't want to.  It was like death by treadmill.  Absolutely awful.  I was tired and crabby as hell and my hip hurt.

But I did it.  I am a bad-ass honey badger.

So while I don't think the two together qualify as a 17 mile run, they sure as hell qualify as 17 miles.  And that's something.

2nd attempt.  Must have hit zoom at some point....
I completely lost interest in capturing the event after this one.

I wore my compression socks for both runs and had no calf pain.  And the chest wall muscle tear was a complete non-issue!!  No pain there, either.  Yay!!

Race day notes: Oatmeal for breakfast.  Cliff shot bloks and GU chomps for sustenance during the race.  No GI issues!  Wore the old blue Sauconys; the pink ones need a little more break-in time. 

I ended the day going out for a fabulous dinner with my folks and brother & sister-in-law to celebrate my parents 53rd wedding anniversary.  I replenished every calorie I burned and then some.  It was a delicious meal! Got home and was in bed with lights out by 9:30.

It was a good day.

Here's TenacityChris's training plan for me this week:
5/1 Sunday
Off Day
5/2 Monday
Kettlebell
5 miles EASY running (11:00 pace or greater)
5/3 Tuesday
7 miles running as follows (intervals)
Miles 1-2:  11:00 pace
Miles 3-7: 4 x  ½ mile repeats at 9:45 pace, ¼ mile recoveries at 11:00
5/3 Wednesday
Rest Day
5/5 Thursday
5 miles easy running (11:00 pace)
5/6 Friday
Kettlebell
5/7 Saturday Down and Dirty 8k race … If you are doing the race at anything faster than slow training run, make Thursday’s run only 2 miles.
5/8 Sunday: 18 Miles Long Run
Miles 1-5:  11:30 pace
Mile 6:  10:45 pace
Miles 7-12: 11:30 pace
Mile 13:  10:30 pace
Miles 14-17: 11:30 pace
Mile 18:  10:30 pace  Finish strong - you CAN do this!  Ice Bath!!!

Looks like it really is time to get my ass in gear.  Grandma's is only 48 days away!  I can do this, right?  I'll be able to finish 26.2 miles.  I will.  Right??

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!