I just might start liking the running *&^%#@ again!

Yea! Houston Fit started this morning -- bright and early at 6:30 am!

This is the Fall training group, so we meet at Luke's for 5 weeks before moving over to Memorial Park when the regular group starts.
I REALLY like this group:

• it's MUCH smaller (I'd guess the 1/2 marathon group is about 40 people, for the regular session it was about 300.)
• we should have some more interesting routes (not having to run up/down Memorial to Uptown or River Oaks. And not the dreaded Blossom street)
• Luke's is open, so we can go inside for the restroom and to soak up some A/C!
• They had cold paper towels waiting for us at the end of the run -- AAAHHHH (and water/gatorade to drink)
• I know or recognize a LOT of people. About 10 PIMsters, some people from last year, and other people that just look familiar from "somewhere"
• The 1/2 group is MUCH better organized than it was in the past. Although most of the coaches seemed to be for the fast folks and most of the folks seemed to be in the slower group.
• We can actually hear what the head coach is saying!
• The group seems to be very talkative.
• Headphones are banned from all group runs (Yea!)
• It's getting me up and on my feet and I actually liked it again!

Although I like it being small now, I'm glad we join up with the regular group later when our runs start getting longer. If I was training with a group this small, I would end up running most of the long runs solo. I need a couple of hundred people with me on 10-milers so I won't be all alone! (And I was still solo for about a 2 mile stretch on Dunleavy last year. Apparently I run at a really weird pace. According to the guys on the bikes, I was inbetween two really big groups of people.)

A good thing about getting up this early on Saturday is then I went right over to Target & was able to get a parking space in the front row & be able to shop without a crowd! I thought of going by Houston Garden Center for some more grass, but opted to go home to eat & nap instead.

Have a great weekend -- and a great run!

Weight loss Challenge

On the off chance I have a lurking reader out there that does not also read Viv's blog, you should check it out and consider signing up for her Weight Loss Challenge.
In a nutshell, e-mail her your starting weight on Sunday June 1 and each Sunday throughout the month (which will remain private!).
Those that lose the most percentage-wise will not only have a hot bod & bragging rights, but also some pretty sweet prizes:
Brooks Running will be sponsoring a complete outfit of one of the winners choice.
RunJunk.com will be sponsoring $50,$30,$15 gift certificates (AND 5% discount to all participants through the month of June using this promo link in addition to a free hat or visor on purchases over $100!)
Running Knitter will be knitting some custom made cozy socks for lounging in after a long run.
Check out her blog for full details.

I'm in!

Luau for Leukimia & Lymphoma (TNT benefit)

If anyone is looking for something to do Friday that sounds like a great time AND will benefit a great cause, there is a Luau for Leukemia & Lymphoma at the Social on Washington tomorrow eve. There is a $15 cover, and $10 of that will go to Team in Training. If you do go and mention Fe Henning's name, the $10 will go into her fundraising account :-).

Fe is training for the San Antonio Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon (WOOT!!). This will be her FIRST 1/2 marathon! Send some positive vibes her way -- both for the training and the fundraising!

http://www.thesocialinfo.com/events.php

Gonna run tonight, gosh-darn-it

OK - the sunburn redness has gone away, so tonight I'll actually strap on a sports bra & if not in too much pain set out on a slow re-entry run.
I did go for a rualk (run-walk) last Saturday, so at least I've gotten out there some.

Somewhere I read about someone that listens to books-on-tape while running. I decided to give that a shot when I ended up on the audio book aisle at Sam's. The first one I picked up was about a knitting shop, which made me think of Running Knitter & I thought that was a good sign. I didn't pay attention to the title, but later saw it's The Shop On Blossom Street. Which could either be a good or bad sign - since that's the street so many training runs go down leaving Memorial Park.

With the book loaded on my iPod I set off last Saturday and although it did make the time go by quicker, it doesn't do much for helping with speed. Between listening to the book, the oppressive heat, and my running funk, I walked a lot more than I ran.
But, listening to more of the book is part of what's making me want to get out some more.

Burn, baby burn....ouch

Yesterday I, along with Jennifer and her niece Jackie, went to Bryan Beach (near Surfside). That morning, before leaving home, I started applying sunscreen. I still got burned.

I reapplied a couple of times out there, we had an EZ up canopy (granted, I usually was not underneath) and I had a big floppy hat.
Guess this is proof that I'm getting old -- I used to never get burned. Ozone layer, global warming, blah blah blah. I'm just old.

I did spend several hours out playing in the pretty impressive waves, so sunscreen would have been worn off while in the waves. (Dang ocean stole my hair tie the first time I was out there and then my sunglasses the last time I was out there! The waves were knocking us all over the place -- what fun!)

My shoulders are the worst, as you can see..... And I know they have a tendency to burn since they're not exposed to the sun as much as the rest of me, so I had taken special care to apply more sunscreen to them.


I did make the stupid mistake of forgetting about my feet & they are also a bit crispy. Not too bad, though. Legs & arms are fine. And luckily my scalp looks good -- that's the WORST place to get burned (and then to peel). I do put sunscreen up there too!

The first sunscreen I used was some of that bug & sun stuff (spf30). I'm not using that kind anymore. The other stuff was spf 15, the regular 30 was safely at home, ooops.

Needless to say, I'm staying indoors today.
Hydrating and moisturizing & vitamin e-ing. All that salt water yesterday and now all the lotions today my skin feels really good now!
No running for me today ;-)!!!

Response to Steeeve & I like being a penguin!

This started out as a response to Steve's comment on the last post, but then it got so wordy and morphed into an "it's cool to be slow" message that I thought it was worth of being it's own post.....

Oh Steve -- I think your WAY underestimateing the "power" of PIM. I know quite a few people that are returning to PIM now that had previously done it several years ago (like me). In fact, I had to convince 2 people that Jack and you are not the same person (big compliment to you both - you both are awesome!)

Although it may seem like people are dropping out forever, the things learned and experienced in PIM stays with folks.

Remember I sent that e-mail to you, Amy & Andrea about 2 years after I did PIM thanking you for being such great inspiration and that I think of you doing non-running activities. Even thought I wasn't running, you were still a great influence on me! [Note: I located that e-mail and attached is as the next post.]

PIM, and a lot of the other running groups, put a really big emphasis on speed. Doreen & I went to that first Strider's meeting partially because when someone from the Striders spoke at PIM they acknowledged the slow people.

I'm not fast.
I'm not going to be fast.
I don't really even care to be fast.
I'm okay with that.

But it did take a couple of years to come to terms with that.

I have to find my own glory when finishing after others have finished, hydrated, cooled off, eaten, stretched and sometimes left.

In Houston Fit, I realized that I can go the distance with out being fast. And I really prefer longer, slower runs. I don't want to do speed work, it hurts my knees and I get no pleasure from doing it. I refuse to do an indian line, ever.

5Ks are a big turn off to me since I am slower. I'm not out there for speed. I don't want to run at "5K pace." I want to jog along in my own little groove. That's where I find happiness.

I really don't have much incentive to do 5Ks. They are rather embarrassing for me since I finish near the end. I already have plenty of cotton t-shirts (I'm planning on making them into an art car!), goodie bags for 5Ks have been disappointing after seeing 1/2 marathon's swag (esp. Seabrook!), there's usually not much food left for the slow folks and of course no awards for the slowpokes.

And then everyone wants to know your time.

Hey -- I don't ask you how much money you make, don't ask me how fast/slow I run!
You run for time, I'll run for fun!

However... the Race for the Pennant does give game tickets & it's hard for me to pass up a good discount. But that's the first day of Houston Fit fall 1/2 marathon training. It's a toss-up....

Now that I realized that I'm okay with being in the back of the pack, I'll keep chugging along at my happy little pace.

So many people that are into running scoff at joggers, but I'm perfectly happy jogging along at my own little pace... Whether it's with a group or solo.

*The miracle isn't that I finished, but that I had the courage to start*

That quote takes me back to the PIM influence -- Amy Benedict (the best PIM coach ever!) told our group about John Bingham and even printed out some of his writings for us. The Penguin has been a huge influence in me having the courage to continue/come back to running. (And having a coach let us know it's fine to be slower helped.)

Sometimes encouragement takes a while to set in....

As an add-on to what you just read about PIM, I went back in my e-mails and located the message I sent May 23, 2004 to two of my former PIM coaches (note that I said running is not for me - famous last words! But then again, I'm a jogger, not a runner!):

Amy and Andrea,

Y'all probably don't remember me, but I wanted to let both of you know that your coaching during Power In Motion is STILL a wonderful inspiration to me.

I was in your classes like two or three years ago and decided running is just not for me (Amy was in the Fall, Andrea the following Spring).

However, things that I learned from you both have stuck with me and when I'm working out or at the gym or doing other activities I think of your encouragement and it helps me to complete whatever I'm doing.

A couple of examples:
Amy, I remember asking you once "When is all this running crap gonna start to be fun?" You're response was "When you get to stop and eat." I still laugh about that and it gets me to perceiver and swim another couple of laps.
Andrea, your encouraging e-mails to the group were wonderful and I think back on them while doing the last 15 minutes on the elliptical machine.

Thanks for being such awesome coaches, all the incredible encouragement and providing inspiration that has really lasted years!!!!

Wahoo!
Anna

PS -- I decided to copy "headcoach" so the PIM "powers that be" know what a fantastic service you both have provided.

All Day Boot Camp, take 2

Well faithful readers, you will recall that I was pretty stoked about signing up for All Day Boot Camp, but then one-thing-after-another that was done poorly/wrong made me stop and demand a refund. After a couple of e-mails with the owner, who is now much nicer, she has convinced me to give them a 2nd chance (for free). So tonight I'll see how it's improved.

I really, really liked Love Your Body Fitness bootcamp, but they are on a little hiatus until June.

I was going to try West U Fitness boot camp, but it doesn't start until 6:30pm and the location has me doubling back past work after I go home for an hour and a half. So I didn't even try it out since I knew I wouldn't want to go at that time.

Still not getting that running bug.

It's hot out there!

C'mon y'all -- send some postive running mojo my way!

Big ole goose egg

Anyone notice that big fat 0 next to my miles run for the week over on the side bar?

I have.

Kinda disappointed to see it there, but not getting up to do anything about it.
I am pretty impressed with my 300+ miles since 7/7/07 (when I started tracking miles), and impressed with my close-to 150 miles this year.

Still disappointed in that ZERO for this week.
(I did run in boot camp on Monday, but didn't log it)

To run or not to run....that is the question. And the answer is not....check back with me next week to see if the answer will change....

Love to Viv

GOOD LUCK VIV!!!

Rock out your 1st 1/2 Marathon this weekend!

You'll do awesome -- as you have been doing!

Keep inspiring me!

Bring home some BLING (it's all about the medal!)

Lots of love,

From the entire Anna-omaly family.

ShamPooch

I almost don't want to post this so it isn't too crowded, but not that many people read this anyway.....

Whole Foods on Kirby
Saturday, May 17th
ShamPooch12:00–4:00 p.m.
Free
Calling all dog owners and dog lovers! The Humane Society will be here to Shampoo your Pooch. Enjoy a Hot Dog and Dogfish beer while your pooch takes part in a Doggy Tastefair and Dog Wash. After the bath every pup will go home with a doggy bag, we are sure to have you wagging your tale.

I'm a strider

I just signed up with Houston Striders.

Not sure if they're much better/worse than any of the plethora of other running groups in Houston, but I've heard of them for a long time, they seem to have some slow folks (like me) and they have free food at their meetings! I think they were the ones that originally developed our beloved Power In Motion training group.

I went to their meeting at Chatters on Tuesday. They didn't seem real welcoming to new people. I stood around by myself for a while, talked to one nice younger lady but then went and sat by an older lady where there was an extra seat and she wasn't too friendly. No one seemed to be approaching new people and there wasn't any sort of a welcome table. If my friend Doreen wasn't coming, I may have bailed.

Once Doreen got there I had someone to talk to & then it got better.
There was a (FREE!) buffet -- greek-type salad, bread, 2 kinds of penne pasta with vegetables (alfredo or marinara)and roasted chicken breast with tea or water. (We had wondered about food & I figured it was order off the menu & separate checks. Doreen had thought maybe munchies.)
We went through the buffet line and sat at a 4 person table. The two guys that came and sat with us were both really nice, then they left and two ladies came that were both new also, so it was better then.
A lady spoke on the training programs that they are setting up and reformulating & it was a really good talk. We both took notes! The lady really knew her stuff & I learned a thing or two (or ten). I don't think I'll join up with their marathon training program (still want to do Houston Fit), but can run with the Striders during the week. They run at both Memorial and Terry Hershey (JD -- that's out near Katy....)

Oh yeah -- the Striders are the ones that sponsor the Houston Half in November and at the end of the meeting gave away the extra singlets. I got two!

So I figure my free meal and two singlets somewhat offset the $22.20 I just spent to join up.
(And maybe now I'll be fired up to run some more....)

6 word MeMe

WOW - I haven't blogged in a while. Partially because I've been working in exile and partially because I mainly started blogging about running, inspired by Viv, and lately I've been hating running.
Which brings me to my 6 word MeMe that Running Knitter tagged me with creating. Here it is:

Why the heck do I run??

That pretty much sums up how I've been feeling lately. I've been doing bootcamp, hiking, pilates (1st time, it's fun!) along with eating right. But...when it comes to running, I've lost that lovin' feeling.

I am somewhat looking forward to Houston Fit (Fall 1/2 marathon training) starting at the end of the month and went to a Houston Striders meeting last night (free food and some free singlets!), so that has me fired up some.
Still not wanting to put the foot-to-pavement. I'm thinking if I slack off for a week or so that I'll get the desire back. I hope.

So, fellow runner, Why the heck do YOU run? Let's itemize:

1. 'Cause it feels so good when you stop
2. Meeting other health-minded people (both in person and in blog-land!)
3. Opportunity to join in a great running community (I'm considering joining Striders and/or another group)
4. Lose weight & feel great
5. Having alone time to think, clear mind, etc (sometimes not a good thing....)
6. Feeling of accomplishment
7. Notice things you don't see speeding by in a car
8. Commune with nature
9. Buy cool gear (which is actually a negative since that's some pricey gizmos!)
10. Race packets and 5K shirts to eventually have made into a quilt
11. Deena Kastor eats 5,000 calories a day and is a stick figure!
12. Deena Kastor eats FIVE THOUSAND calories a day and is a stick figure!
13. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MEDALS!!!

Still not feeling to fired up, but I really do want more medals....

WHOOPEEE!!!!!

OHMIGOSH!!!

This isn't as great as the Viv-at-the-Gap epiphany, but I'm pretty stoked about it!

I was looking through thumbnails from the Cinco de Mayo 5K and saw someone that might be me, but then thought "HA!! You're much fatter than that" I looked at the thumbnail a little more and decided yep - not me. But went ahead and clicked on the pic to see just how wrong I was and.... IT IS ME!

WOO-HOO!!! I'm not as fat as I think I am!!! (At least in this pic). (Although my upper arms still look big - both in the pic & and person.)

Boot camp today was GREAT. On my way home I was even thinking of trying to go on Wednesday before PIM, but since it's our last PIM session would like to be fresh to get in one last good run with them. Unfortunately, this session of boot camp is over after next Monday and the next won't start until 6/2 - a two-week break. I just found one I like and it's ending so soon! But I'm signing up for the full session (7 weeks I think). Memorial Park, 5:30 pm in July....woah.

Weekend wrap up: early rising, exercise, napping

Saturday was the Cinco de Mayo run. Which meant a 5:15 AM wake-up, leave home at 6-ish to make the 7am start time. Ugh. But, it was a really nice morning. Cool-ish and low humidity. The run was along a loop that was repeated in part, but since we were going around in circles you couldn't really tell. Until getting lapped, but in my little penguin world I'm okay with that. And I was only lapped by about 3 people before I took the turn back & they sprinted onto the end.
My time wasn't as well as I had hoped, but not bad considering I've been hating running a lot these past couple of weeks & therefore not doing it too much! I finished in 39:something...
So then I came home and took a nice long nap....

Sunday morning I went along on the Bayou City Outdoors Houston hike. We did a little over 6 1/2 miles from Jackson Hill back to Memorial park. We were headed down to the bayou, but more than half of our group missed the fork in the trail, so ended up having to track them down on the biking trails. Winslow came along for this jaunt and stayed perky through out most of the trip. He was dragging on the last 1/2 mile or so & I considered picking him up, but didn't want to embarrass him. Amazing he's still so spry at (almost) 16. Quite a wonder dog.
So then I came home and we both took nice long naps.....

Boot camp is tomorrow - yeah!
This is the last week of my 21-day My Fit Foods challenge. Man I still love their food! I think my economic stimulus funds will just go right over to them...