Anna-omaly

Toughest 10K - Galveston edition

2011-10-27T12:20:00.007-05:00

Since this was the 2nd race in the first-year "Bridge Series" I HAD to do it even though I was already signed up for the Houston Half the following day. The things I'll do for bling! (It's now started to become more about the challenge than the bling, but I'm not quite ready to admit that.)

I was dreading having to drive down to Galveston and do this race all alone. Would have loved to have someone just come along even if they didn't do the race. Luckily I was easily able to talk Tommy into doing it with me! Yay! Luv ya, man!

Price & swag:
The $40 price tag was $5 higher than the Kemah edition. There was a lot more cost involved in this race since it was run in Galveston (which is nortiously difficult to deal with) and on a federal Interstate. Not sure what all was involved int he latter, but I know TxDOT was involved.

The only swag was a gender-specific technical fabric shirt - no hat or medals. I received a nice (personal) e-mail from race director Robby Sabban explaining that this race was more expensive than the others and there was not the budge for medals. Most 10K don't give medals, so not something typically expected at races. This was after I had posted a request for a picture of the bling on their Facebook page.

Pre-race:
When we turned off the main street onto the street behind the Galveston Daily News, people were parking all over the side of the street and walking. I asked one person if the lots were full and she said that she had not driven all the way down. So I went down there & there was plenty of (free) parking and several volunteers directing us where to park. Very conveniently located across from pre/post race and the start line. I had to do race-day packet pick-up, which was quite time consuming at Kemah (one line to get bib #, another line to get bib & packet and a 3rd line for race chips). They had the bibs in the packets and in alphabetical order, so the pickup was very quick. You still had to go to another line to pick up the chip, but that moved quickly also.

RUN!
The 7am start time meant we started in the dark, but that's not too unusual for most races. We did a little section on the Galveston side of about 1/2 a mile before getting to the Causeway. There was one water stop on this section, as water stop (or any support) on the bridge.
There were impressive cones on this Interstate bridge (TxDOT requirement) that were taller and closer than any other I've seen in a race. Only one lane of traffic was blocked off. Along with the wide shoulder, this provided a comfortable course from the traffic on the causeway.
Although this pert-near 3 mile bridge is long, it was not a difficult climb. MUCH easier than Kemah!
Views were great going over to Tiki Island just as dawn was breaking. (Coming back was not as comfortable as the sun was in our eyes.)

We were just past the 2 mile marker when the race leader went past us headed back to finish. Runners were very good about all staying in the shoulder lane, leaving the other lane for returning runners.

There was a party feel on Tiki Island as we circled around. There were two water stops in this 2/10ths of a mile or so loop.

Back across we not only had the sun to deal with, but also the wind. I did take a short walk break of under 1 minute when cresting the Causeway.

Coming back, I saw the Finish line was not where the Start line was & worried "WTF?? -- Where's the finish??" Luckily, it wasn't far - we turned into the drive of the Galveston Daily News & it was right there, less than a tenth of a mile.

One minute under goal - WHOOPEE!

Post-race:
Although we did not get medals, the post-race food was better than Kemah (and better that many races - MUCH better than the half I did the following day). Mario's pizza had fresh cheese pizza (if you noted when they came out of the thermal carrier, it was even a bit warm. Although cold pizza is still great.) Toll House Cookies were there handing out freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Miller Lite or 64, Muscle Milk, some new fangled waters and sodas were also on hand. Oh yeah - we were all handed a cold bottle of water while in the finish chute as our timing chips were cut off. These little nicety are really appreciated!
Although the food was good at post-race, I did miss having a DJ. There was an announcer calling out finisher names, but not tunes at post-race. Koala was doing massages.
A nice post-race!
(I had 3 cookies, 2 slices of pizza, 1 beer and a muscle milk -- that pretty much cancels out the calories burned doing the race!)

One more race -- LaPorte half-marathon in December -- to complete the bridge series!!

Toughest 10K

2011-09-18T06:45:00.004-05:00

HA! Well, so much for me keeping up blogging. But, I do plan to post race reports & here's one:

The Toughest 10K - Kemah edition.
(Which has always been the only addition, but race director extraordinaire Robby Sabban has now created a 10K over the Galveston Causeway which has been dubbed Toughest 10K - Galveston.)

Price & swag:
This 10K was a bargain at $35 and in Robby fashion would include a technical fabric shirt and hat! Plus, medals to all - yeah! (All about the bling!)

Previously in the year, I had mentioned to some friends that I'd like to run the Kemah bridge, but let's just save the entry fee, do it on our own & go eat at one of the restaurants with the savings. That was before I found out it's one of Robby's races. I didn't know anyone else doing it, so was glad I signed up for the race since I have wanted to run that bad boy. (Not necessarily 4 times.)

Pre-race:
Parking was free in the Kemah lots, which was a nice bonus. I started talking to the man parked next to me, Gerald. It was his first time running a road race in 20 years, so he was pretty nervous! I continued to see Gerald through the morning and also ran into Diane and Terry from Houston Fit. Aside from that, there were ~850 strangers.

RUN!
That was more runners than I expected, which made it nice for this race. We spread out across the streets of Kemah on our way over to the bridge and were never congested. And there were always lots of runners to look at both in front and behind.

I have never run that bridge before and found it quite intimidating. I had initally thought the 2 passes meant you go over the bridge and then back over, crossing twice. Oh no....silly Anna...that's only one pass. You do that loop twice, crossing the bridge FOUR times.

Pass #1
As I was going up the first time I thought DAAAAMMMMNNNN!!! It was one hella of incline! Made the Fred Hartman look easy and Mt TCJester seem like a speed bump. Was pretty windy too -- on the way down my right contact lens was moving around in my eye. As I was coming off the first pass, I saw Terry across the way starting his second. A minute or so later the leader, John Yoder, went blasting past. He finished in under 40 minutes.

Pass #2
Coming off the bridge, the course circles around underneath. It was nice to be flat, but DANG the fish smell was strong! Normally it wouldn't bother me so much. But normally I wouldn't be tackling my personal Everest...
I walked a lot of the second pass. And it was less of an incline coming this way.

Pass #3

Coming off the bridge, the course either goes back around a big parking lot and underneath the bridge to do the second loop or off to the right to circle through Kemah and back to the boardwalk to finish.

I was glad there were mostly people still running with just a few runners that completely lapped me.
Going back up that bridge again was TOUGH. TOUGH.

Pass #4

I was pleased to see that I wasn't at the end of the pack. But going back across this time I took an extra walk break that ended up being very extended. I should have been running. Finally I had a little internal conversation/yell match with myself and got back in the race. I probably lost 3-5 minutes. Running is so mental!

The end

I was quite annoyed to see we had to go to the right and through all of Kemah before going back to the boardwalk. Even thought this was just around a quarter of a mile, that's FAR at this point!

I did set a reasonable goal for myself & finished about 13 miutes under that goal. Yeah! Still not bragging-time, but I was good with it.
Although on the way home, I was thinking I still had a little energy left, so I could have hit it a little harder....

Post-race:

Peter, "The Other Brother" was the DJ, so music was good. There were the promised ice cream bars, fruit, cereal & honey milk. Koala was doing massages. A nice small post-race. No hot foods, but this was 'just' a 10K.

Well that's kind of a crappy race report. Hopefully I'll get back into blogging and the ones in the future will be better :)

Suprizing good 'freezer kill' lunch

2011-09-01T12:27:00.005-05:00

In an effort to eat better & cheaper, I've been trying to limit my dining out to 3x per week. So with my Sunday breakfast run already taking up one spot, that only leaves 2. Meaning I should bring my lunch most of the week!

And I've used up my 3x, so I knew *should* bring my lunch today, but didn't have anything prepped. I do have a couple of emergency tv-dinners & planned to bring one of those. When I opened the freezer, I noticed a box of vegetables that have been there for a long time & the package of precooked beef strips I got at Sam't that are really good.

Tossed that in the lunch bag & hoped for the best.

It ended up being dang good!

I REALLY like this meat & will buy it again:

It's precooked, so just a minute in the microwave or a couple of minutes in a skillet after cooking some fresh vegetables & presto-- great meal!

Not sure how much I paid, but definitely worth the money! I had it in the fridge for a while before freezing it & it's still great.

Yummy, easy & healthy!

The vegetables were good too, but not sure how healthy they were.

Can't remember which one it was, but it was from the Healthy mix line at Green Giant. Possibly heart-healthy. Their website doesn't list the varieties. Odd.

It was a mix that contained black beans so combining it with the beef was a big dose of protein.

It had a sauce that was buttery, so maybe lots of hidden fat? But it's the HEALTHY line!

I got a fruit & vegetable share from Central City Co-Op yesterday, so hope to cook this evening after tempo run. Hope to we'll (meaning I) will see....

Facebook trumping blogger

2011-09-01T12:11:00.002-05:00

I was a little late coming into the blogging realm back when it was popular a few years ago. And jumped right off when Facebook came about. Oh, how I love Facebook!

But the Facebook romance is getting a little boring now. I'm slowly starting to pull away. And would like to get back to blogging again.

The blog did mainly turn out to be about running. But most of my Facebook posts are about that too. I dislike that I can't easily go back and find posts on Facebook later. I enjoy going back and re-reading older posts on Blogger and espically my race reports.

Facebook is MUCH easier to post photos and I try to be good about adding informative captions that tell more about the race than just what's in the picture. But that's not the same as a written-out report.

Since I have LOTS of races on tap, figure I should dust off the old blog and get back to it now.

We'll see how good I do at it. (And 'we' really mean 'me' as I doubt many others will read this & that's fine.)

Little fun things....

2011-02-22T21:07:00.003-06:00

Just downloaded the data on my Garmin from my speedwork & forgot what a thrill that is to do :-)

Looking at the little map & checking the stats. I hadn't done that in SO long.

Was pretty impressed that my speed bursts on the fartlek were in the 9-min range. Overall times was.....not impressive. But I am impressed with the 25 seconds x8 that were fast!

My running clothes are so ill-fitting! And tech fabric does not shrink as much as I want to think it has.... bleck.

Must stay focused & not get drawn up into little things....training for a marathon is also a marathon.
OMG - typing 'training for a marathon' just had me skip a breath..... I really am going to do this.....

Fingers crossed!

Back on the road...this time to 26.2 (*yikes!)

2011-02-18T08:57:00.004-06:00

Oh my.

Both physically & (more importantly) mentally I haven't seen why people want to run 26.2 miles. Of course, the same could easliy be said for 13.1 or even 3.1, but 26.2 just seems CRAZY.

After completing more than a dozen half-marathons, the thrill wasn't there like it used to be...
Could I be ready to do a full?

Even training wasn't the same, was kinda been-there-run-that.
Could I be ready to do a full?

Looking at my medal rack full of all that dusty bling was beginning to lose meaning.
Could I be ready for a full?

Hello? Hello?

2010-03-31T22:24:00.001-05:00

Been thinking about blogging again.

Maybe tomorrow.....

Sidelined from long runs

2009-03-26T14:33:00.002-05:00

When I start to run now, my legs from my knees to my ankles feel "squishy" and I just can't do the speed. They're fine any other time - no pain at all & I can jog okay. But can't rip 'em up (as if I could anyway).

I was advised to lay off the long runs for a couple of months. Nothing above 6, possibly 8 miles. Basically, sidelined until Houston Fit Fall Half starts in May. It'll be June or so 'til I get back to distance.

This should give my body some time to adapt to more speed work. I still have my two speeds of stop and go. Not doing long runs is supposed to help with faster-, medium- and slower-fasts.

We'll see. It's kinda good so now I'm not tempted to do any half-marathons for the next couple of months. There's some that are tempting (that would be travel).

DONE!!!

2009-03-17T16:13:00.004-05:00

I'm the Michael Phelps of Land!

On 3/15 I completed half-marathon #8 for this season (as marathon season runs in Texas) and earned medal #8.

Eight 1/2 marathons in 4 1/2 months.

And looking at my 8 medals, I am over my obsession with earning bling!
Instead of it being all about the medals, now it's just 'a lot' about the medals :-)

My performance wasn't what I had hoped, but it was fair. This season was about quantity. Next season will be quality.

Pelican Challenge report and wrap-up of this season to follow eventually....
Thanks to Javier & Bill for getting me to start blogging again.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MEDALS!!!

2009-03-12T21:38:00.005-05:00

I'm going to need some positive images to get me through these two cold, wet 1/2 marathons this weekend. Here's the image:

It's ALL about the BLING!!

Surfside Beach (half) Marathon

2009-02-15T21:41:00.010-06:00

WHEW!! The Surfside Beach (half) Marathon was tough!

They put on a nice race down there, but didn't get much cooperation from Mother Nature!

The fog was really thick when we first got down to the beach and it was difficult to tell where to go while also making sure to not drive into the ocean!

The first 4-5 miles of the race were good, it was cloudy but the weather was nice.

It was really nice looking at the water and seeing the blue-green color which faded into grey and then the white caps breaking stirring up the brown sand at waters edge. The sand felt good, not difficult to run on at all.

But then we headed into some strong wind. My back ached from being hunched down and was super glad to see the turn around for the 1/2 marathon at mile 9. And I thought of the poor marathoners that would keep going for another 7 miles into that wind!

After the turn, things were looking good for a while and the the thunder started cracking. I never saw any lightning but the thunderboomers were loud!

And then the skies opened up. The rain was like needles coming down and with the high winds it was somewhat vertical. Luckily for me, I was headed away and once again I thought of the poor marathoners headed into that mess. Someone that did the marathon said it almost felt like small hail at times.

And it did get really chilly.

I'm guessing the rain kept up like that for an hour or so, then stopped, but later rained some more.

I had a PRW - Personal Record Worst. Doing good until the weather turned & after that I just bagged it and walked it in...

At packet pickup, we got nice yellow windjackets with an embroidered logo, a stone drink coaster, a coffee mug and some thick winter-type gloves.

Aside from one dead dolphin, the beach was pretty clean. Small patches of seaweed about, nothing that impeded the run. I heard from the marathoners that there was more debris past the 1/2 turnoff, but not bad.

The pavilion where the post race party is usually held was a victim of Ike, so the party was in a tent. There were a lot of beach houses that apparently felt Ike's wrath also. Most were still mostly-standing, but not sure if they can be repaired or will need to be rebuilt.

One of the cutest things ever at a race -- they had blue porta potties for boys and pink ones for girls! AND they had a handwashing station in between complete with soap, water and paper towels! That's about as classy as you can get for outdoor temporary facilites on the beach!!

Water stops along the course were adequate & this was the only race I didn't carry fluids. One also had Gu. Crowd support was basically non-existant, but we had the waves to cheer us on :-)

Mowi Wowi set up a stand on the beach and all finishers got a free smoothie. I had a mango-orange/pina colada combo that was awesome.

The post race meal was BBQ! It was great and plentiful - sliced beef, chopped beef, sausage, chicken, beans, BBQ cabbage, potato salad and pickles/jalapenos/bread. They had a variety of store bought cookies, muffins, coffee cakes & bagels both before and after the race. Sodas, tea & water.

I'm starting to get choosy on which races I want to do a second time and this is one I definitely plan to do again next year!

Hope Mother Nature is nicer then.

5 down, 3 to go

2009-02-10T10:54:00.003-06:00

For anyone that just happens to drop by....... (Javier).....

I'm still running. So far I've done:

Koala Houston Half on 10/26/08
San Antonio Rock and Roll Half on 11/18
Dallas White Rock Half on 12/14/08
Houston Fit Half in training (it counts!) 12/20/08
Aramco Houston Half on 1/18/09

And I've got 3 more halves on tap:

Surfside Half (on the beach) 2/14/09
Seabrook Half 3/14/09
Seabrook Half AGAIN on 3/15/09

I just started StayFIT, Houston Fit's 5K/10K training program. I don't plan on doing many 5/10Ks, but want to do the training to work on speed. We meet every Tuesday evening for speed work and every Saturday morning for hill/distance work.

In March I'll also be coaching Power In Motion again.

I'll try to be better about updates..if anyone besides Javier still stops by!

2008-11-03T08:18:00.001-06:00

One medal down, 7 to go!

2008-10-26T12:19:00.004-05:00

Woo-Hoo!

Thanks to Coaches Alan & Kathleen with Houston Fit Fall Half and my friend Tom Brannon, I finished the Houston Half in UNDER THREE HOURS!
Yea Me!

Alan & Kathleen have been a super tremendous support all training season long (since May) and Tom was a super sweetheart to show up to cheer me on throughout the race and even did the last 2 miles or so with me.

I forgot to hit stop as I ran through the finish line, and then stopped to get my medal, hug Javier and pose for some pics and then stopped my Garmin, which showed 2:54:39. So I'm guessing maybe 2:50? That would put me just under 13 min/miles for 13 miles. DANG!

My previous 1/2s have been in 3:21 and 3:11, so this is a HUGE improvement.

Here's a few pics:

Jackie, Anna, Brenda & Kathleen, all smiling with medals!

Alyssa & Anna with medals, waiting for massages.

The medal - a little boring, but a medal nevertheless!

Pics from Javier

2008-10-26T12:09:00.000-05:00

Javier was at the finish line of the Houston Half and was nice enough to take some pics of me:

Coming across the finish line (chip time 2:53:39.5):

Getting the medal:

With Javier:

With my friend Tom, that came out to cheer for me:

THANK YOU JAVIER!!!!

Marathon season goals

2008-10-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

Here are the half marathons I have in mind for this marathon season:

Koala/Luke's Locker Houston Half Marathon -- Sunday, October 26, 2008

San Antonio Rock and Roll Half Marathon -- Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dallas White Rock Half Marathon (maybe) -- Sunday, December 14, 2008

Aramco Houston Half Marathon -- Sunday, January 18, 2009

Surfside Half Marathon (on the beach, probably walk) -- Saturday, February 14, 2009

Seabrook Half Marathon -- Saturday, March 14, 2008

Seabroon Half Marathon Trail Challenge (ANOTHER half marathon) -- Sunday March 15, 2008

WOW!

Possibly a BIT way too ambitious, but I'll see how the osteo-arthritis and osgood-schlatter in the knees does and give it a go.

Yikes -- being in writting on the world wide web makes these more real!

But, I'm totally okay with not making them all, just a darn good attempt.

If I'm successful at the Trail Challenge in Seabrook, I earn 3 medals for the weekend.
That will give me a grand total of EIGHT medals for the season, making me the Michael Phelps of land.

WOOT!

Ike

2008-09-15T20:15:00.001-05:00

House is fine, but no electricity. Now I'm a refugee @ a friends sucking up electricity & internet. More when normal is returned......

2008-09-03T10:06:00.004-05:00

Happy 1st Birthday to the Boardwalk Bullet roller coaster in Kemah!

That's me in the front seat with my arms up! (And that was ride #6 of the day, we had exclusive ride time for an hour Sunday morning.)

After that, I went down to a really nice cabin on Quintana beach.

Hope everyone else had a nice Labor Day weekend also!

PS -- I ran 8 miles on Saturday, 3 on the beach on Monday and 2 yesterday.

Miles and Miles to go....and already went

2008-08-21T08:52:00.003-05:00

Last night I hit 450 miles logged (since I started running 7/7/07) and after this weekend I'll be at 300 miles for 2008!

WOW - that's a lot of running!

And it really doesn't seem to be that difficult anymore.

Viv and Timmy both commented on how I just glazed over 9 miles in my last post. Really, I didn't think of it as that big of a deal. That's what was on tap for that day, so that's what I did. 5:45 start time and all.
Dang - I just said 9 miles was no big deal!

Now once I hit double digits (like Eileen just did) in a couple of weeks (9/13), THAT will be a big deal.

Whew - tiring weekend!

2008-08-19T12:42:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning I had to wake up at 4:45 to run 9 miles and Sunday was an even earlier wake-up, 4:15, to go deep sea fishing.

I was exhausted, but had a great time doing both!

Saturday afternoon I was complemented on my complexion (a result of the 9-miler, I'm sure) and I have about 5 pounds of fish in the freezer from the fishing trip.

After eating so much fish in Alaska and then last week had mahi-mahi almost every night, I'm getting close to being fished-out! Last night after Pilates I stopped at the store and got corn tortillas and shredded cabbage to make fish tacos, but I was still plumb tuckered-out from the lack of sleep over the weekend that I was just too tired to make some. And tonight it speed work (yea!) and a BCO event leader meeting, so they won't be made tonight either. Maybe tomorrow after off-season PIM....

Speed training, Fartleks & Orienteering

2008-08-15T13:28:00.002-05:00

run, Run, RUN

This speed stuff isn't as bad as I thought it would be!

Tuesday the track workout was a bit intemeditating. Luckily I recognized one of my back-of-the-pack half-marathoners that told me we usually divide up from the full group. Whew! There were only about 6 of us halfers there (and about 40 in the other group). I did have a hard time running all-out (which is still rather slow) ALL the way around the track, trying to stay at the same pace. My running buddy kept me encouraged and I made it. Our slow jogs were actually walks. We got all 6 sets in - earlier I had e-mailed with the head coach that gave me an out saying I may only do 4 sets. At the end there was a mix of pride that I did it, but disappointment that I felt I did it rather poorly. (My fasts were the same as others slows - sometimes I was even slower than them.)

Wednesday I was feeling good from doing the track workout that I decided to through some fartlek-ing into my normal easy run. (All my runs thus far have been easy. I have two speeds - slow and stop.) It was fun! I would run all-out to a light pole, then walk to the next, etc. I know I probably wasn't doing this totally right. But hey, "fartlek" means speed play and I was speedy and playing! I did do too much and had to walk home instead of jog.

Thursday was the monthly Social-O, so that was once again some speed work in between stopping to find the controls. At the end I did a mini-hill so I could mentally pat myself on the back for hill work too.

Today is rest day -- yea!!

Tomorrow is NINE miles bright and early at 5:45 am.....

Alaska pics!

2008-08-13T13:09:00.002-05:00

Here's some pics from my trip!

On my first-ever whitewater rafting experience, I "rode the bull!" But initially got bucked off good - I'm the one laying on the bottom of the raft in this shot:

We did a 1/2 hour or so lecture on how to stay in the boat, how dangerous it would be to fall out, where to keep your feet under straps so you stay in, etc. Then we had to practice strokes to be sure we were all prepared for the dangers that lay ahead. We were warned about the first rapid and told to pay attention. Right before we got to the rapid, the guide asked "Who's gonna ride the bull?" Huh? What the heck is he talking about. Riding the bull is sitting on the very front of the raft with your legs on the outside and a rope up between your legs and trying to stay on, just like riding a bucking bull. "Right" we thought -- We were just told how dangerous this rafting in Class III-IV is and now he's saying this - surely he jests. Nope. He was serious. And at the last second I said I would. It took so long to get over the big tubes to the front that by the time I got there I was never on good before we hit the first of the rapid, so I spent the entire run on the bottom of the raft getting hit in the face with 33 degree water. At one point I started to panic since I couldn't take a breath, but luckily I had enough sense to put my head down and block my face with my arm so I could breathe.

It was so much fun!

Later I got up before we went in to a rapid to get used to the feeling of hanging off the front of the raft and then was able to stay on through the rapid - it was a blast!

The last day we went hiking on a glacier, which was seriously cool:

I had some thicotropic glacier mud on my nose to keep from getting sunburned.

We also rafted past the Spencer glacier which had several super neat icebergs in the water. Since it was cloudy, the ice looked bluer!

I think this iceberg looks like a frog.

In Anchorage, we went to the Seavy dogsled experience where the did a little skit/show about sled dogs and the Iditrod. Mitch Seavy won a couple of years ago. His son was in the show who is the youngest person to compete in the Iditrod (or something like that).

The best part was petting the sled dogs and getting to hold the adorable sled dog pups!

I'm here!

2008-08-12T13:10:00.002-05:00

In case anyone wondered, I'm still here!

Alaska was great except for the weather -- CLOUDY, rainy and cold. As bad as it is to have to re-acclimate to the Houston heat & humidity, I much prefer it to dreary grey skies. Luckily even though it rained every day in Alaska, it was a light shower that we were still able to get out in easily. Here, when it rains it doesn't mess around about it.

I'll post some pics here sometime.... the highlights were:

glacier hiking (SO much prettier in person and crampons are super-cool)
whitewater rafting
rafting past icebergs
petting sled dogs
running in Anchorage! Running is such a great way to see a town. And I found a slammin' Himalayan restaurant, REI, liquor stores, laundry, Wal Mart and all kinds of cool places. And if you ever need to find a porn store in Anchorage, I know where one is.
I'm not much into spotting animals (years as a zoo docent and previous travels has me dulled to that), but we did spot a bear, whales, lots of caribou, moose, eagles, puffins, seals, and other critters I forget. Oh yeah - a muskrat (right?) swam right behind my canoe.

Now I'm getting back into the running thing and we are ramping up FAST. Ever since I've been back Saturday long runs have been increasing by a mile each week. This week we're up to nine. Then thankfully we do a drop back next week(to 6) and start building again.

Planning on going to my first-ever speed work session tonight. Scary.

Evolution into a runner continues....

2008-07-14T14:13:00.004-05:00

It's a slow evolution, but I amaze myself when I do runner-centric things.

In getting ready for my trip to Alaska, I'm packing running shirts as everyday shirts. I could pack the plain one (solid color), but am picking ones with the names of the various running groups or races I've done. Partially to show off that I run & partially Texas ego. But I am thinking of myself more and more as a runner.

Last night I spent about two hours planning out routes to run in Anchorage. (I did this when I went to New Braunfels too.) For this trip, I have three different routes planned, so no matter what I have a backup. (And am prepared to run in the rain & cold.) Running through Anchorage is one of the things I'm most looking forward to on the trip! Crazy, huh?!?

I'll be in Anchorage from Wednesday night 7/16 through early Monday morning 7/21 and am planning on a long (6-8 mile) run on Wednesday, about 2 miles on Thursday morning and 4 miles or so on Sunday!
The next week (Monday 7/21 through Sunday 7/27) I'll be off in Denali National Park, Tangle lakes and Matnuska Glacier and will have limited luggage, so chances are the running shoes won't make the cut. I'll be doing a lot of hiking, paddling and climbing. So I'll still be active, just not running.

And I'm planning this running because I want to, not because I have to --

WOW!

But no, I will not be running on top of Alaskan mountains.
I will be hiking them, though. (And had my dr. call in a perscription for altitude medicine.)

Speed work and hills that was FUN!!

2008-07-11T13:28:00.002-05:00

Last night I wrangled up about 20 of my Bayou City Outdoor buddies to join me at the Houston Orienteering Club's FREE monthly Social-O and it was the MOST FUN way to get in speed work and hill training ever!

I've been doing this for about 7 years on & off, but am usually going slow with someone to teach them how to do it. Since there were so many people, I was able to bolt around between groups and got in a good run & then did the Miller Theater hill twice (I wanted to do it more, but didn't want to have points taken off for being late).

Orienteering is finding your way through unfamiliar territory using a topographic map and compass to find control points. In this "Social-O" you receive a map of Hermann park, Rice U & the medical center and then go to a point on the map to answer a question on the quesiton sheet (such as what color are the flowers, what number is the bus stop, etc.) And you have a one-hour time limit.

Since you dash off to the next point, but then have to stop and locate the information to answer the question, it really ends up being like speed work! One of the questions was about the statue at the top of the Miller Theater hill, so there ya go!
Fun!

It's the 2nd Thursday of each month through October. You Houston folks should join us next month.
It's FREE!!

message from Viv

2008-07-11T13:24:00.003-05:00

What a thing to send out to people at work on a never-ending Friday....

HILLS!!!

2008-07-08T11:38:00.003-05:00

Yea!! Tonight is hill training!!!

(Did I convincingly sound excited?)

As much as I would like to skip out on the hell of hills, I'm going. And I'm going to make me like it (maybe not).

It's the last time the Fall Fit group has our private hill training. In a couple of weeks it will start for the entire Houston Fit madhouse of a crowd. Not sure if I can hang with a big gang.

Send some positive hill vibes my way between 6:30 & 8 tonight.

UPDATE: That wasn't so bad. It was actually rather enjoyable. I got lapped FOUR times running the Waugh/Memorial cloverleaf, but there were other people that couldn't keep up with me, so it's all good. (I did walk a lot, but a speedy walk!)

Plus, the people that lapped me are all in the full marathon group. Since I'm a half-marathon person, I should have only done half anyway! We did over four miles!! Our long run last week was just 3 miles (5 this week).

But I really think I did well since I told the injured Running Knitter that I would run "for" her while she's still in recovery :o)

Holiday Weekend wrap up

2008-07-06T23:22:00.002-05:00

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend!

Mine started on a festive note - we got out of work at noon on Thursday and when I came home all of the houses had an American Flag in the front yard - a real estate agent put them there. I need to remember to get the name and send her a thank-you.

I really didn't take good advantage of my extra time off and basically laid around the house most of the day, but did pack for an overnight kayaking trip and took Winslow to my mommy's house. While there I hooked up at DTV converter box to her analog tv (neither of us have cable). I hate the converter box - it's like watching tv through the VCR, you have to use two remotes and there is a black screen for a little while when changing stations. And channel 8 (PBS) doesn't come in both at her house and mine. (I e-mailed them and the engineering director e-mailed me back very quickly, to which I responded & will probably get another e-mail from him tomorrow). She had me unplug the thing until she has to have it. I may do the same with the one I've plugged in.

On Friday I did the Run Wild 5K and had a really good time. I'm not a 5K fan, but it is really nice to see so many people I know and don't normally see. There were a LOT of PIMsters there, along with some Houston Fit friends and my gang from Bayou City Outdoors. The run wasn't too horrible. Although Garmin did say it was 3.33 miles! My average pace was a speedy (for me) 12.14 min/miles, which is really fast for me. Not so sure about the old Garmin 301 (still can't figure out why I can get the intervals to work). May NEED a new one.....

I had to cut the after race party short (shame too - there was 2 rows with brew, Michelob Ultras and Katz Ice Coffee. I did partake of 2 rows & Katz). Carol & Michelle were meeting at my house at 9am to load up & head out to San Marcos for 2 days of paddling. It wasn't TOO difficult to figure out how to load up the three kayaks on top of Michelle's car & we were off.

We got rained on quite a bit on the way out to San Marcos and were discussing the planned route for the day's paddle. Tracy was in charge & we were a little scared of how difficult the paddle would be for us in touring kayaks (the others were all in whitewater boats). We decided to bow out of the days paddle and tube instead. Although in the end we ended up drinking at the hotel pool instead! We did meet up with the rest of the gang for dinner & fireworks.

Saturday's paddle on the San Marcos was really, really nice. It has been a year since I've paddled (although I own a kayak, I can't transport it since I drive a convertible!). I would have liked to stayed and done the same route again! But we had to head home....

My neck/shoulders were a bit sore from the paddling and possibly still from the massage from hell, so I popped one of each of the drugs when I got home last night. It takes about 24 hours to regain energy, so most of today was spent sleeping...

I did pick up the precious (16 year old) puppy, go to the grocery store (Randall's has watermelon boats filled with cut fruit for $10!), got in a little run tonight and have officially begun packing for Alaska.

Oh yeah -- I'm going to Alaska July 16-26/27! 5 nights in Anchorage (hotel) followed by 4 nights in Denali (tent) and 1 night at Tanglewood Lakes (lodge). (And with the time change, one night flying home)

Off to bed now....have a great week!

There is such thing as a BAD massage

2008-07-02T10:11:00.003-05:00

A VERY BAD massage!

Last Monday I was feeling great after running ~5 miles both Saturday and Sunday mornings in hilly New Braunfels. After a great pilates class, I went for a massage. Didn't really need one, but thought I deserved one.

I went to Avalon massage school, where I have gone several times and had the best massages I've ever gotten - by new graduates that have some great techniques. And an hour and a half massage is $50! (Nice private rooms, subdued lighting, aromatherapy & soothing tunes playing).

When I got there, the receptionist said the intern was not available, but an instructor agreed to do the massage at no extra charge. SCORE! -- I thought.....

Right from the get-go it was not a good massage. The guy (Noel Solis - beware of him!) made some crack about people getting massages from him need to "take as much as they can handle" or something like that. Right then I stopped him & said I was there for relaxation and rejuvenation, not some hard core crap - I do that to myself running & boot camp, etc. He said okay. I said I DID NOT want to be sore the next day. He said I wouldn't.

But then he started HARD. I told him again I did not want to be sore. He eased up some & said I wouldn't - he's an instructor & knows what he's doing and is very good at it. It would just be sore while he was doing it, but then I would feel great.

This bullshit (and I don't curse) went on throughout.

If he was an intern I would have stopped him in the middle & left. If he would have been a regular masseuse I would have also. But he was so insistent that he's an instructor and is great at what he does, etc, etc, etc.

I was in more pain when I left than when I went in.

It was worse the next day.

The following day I had to go to the doctor. She said my back was bruised and swollen. It was so tender she couldn't touch me.
She prescribed an anti-inflammatory AND pain medicine AND muscle relaxers -- three different drugs!

It took an entire week for me to get over all that.

And now, I really NEED a massage, but am too scared to go get one. Seriously, I really don't know if I'll get then again anytime soon. And with training ramping up, I'd like to be getting them monthly.

AND, I've lost a week of training. I'm a measly 1.8 miles away from making 200 miles this year, but haven't been up to getting in that silly amount. I have the Run Wild 5K this Friday and am going to have a super-sucky time since I haven't been running at all.

I am going to file a complaint on that "Instructor" with the Texas Department of Health Services, the ones in charge of licensing massage therapists. I'll attach the e-mail response I got from him when I told him how sore I was....

Mother Nature beginning to speak?

2008-06-24T08:33:00.002-05:00

Today is hill workout day, and the news reports are reporting the possibility of bad weather this eve.

Sounds like Mother Nature REALLY does not want me to do hills!!

Favorite part of toobin weekend? Running!

2008-06-24T08:23:00.004-05:00

Which of these items would be your favorite activity:

Toobin' the Comal river during the day & at night
Hamburger & hotdog cookout
Illuminated & Discovery tours at Natural Bridge Caverns
Jacuzzi time, lots of great jacuzzi time
Hanging out in a condo with some other folks, eating junk food & jello shots & champagne
Getting up at 6:30 am for a 5 mile hilly run and then cooling off by jumping in a 70 degree river.

I must be freakin' nuts, because the 6:30 am 5 mile run was my favorite part of the weekend. I enjoyed it so much that I did it BOTH days! (9.7 miles total). On Sunday I even threw in some core work between the run & jumping in the river (straight after the run, still dressed, minus high priced electronics and shoes/socks).

The awesome jacuzzi time does come in a close 2nd...

Toobin @ night

2008-06-20T06:28:00.002-05:00

This weekend I'm going night toobin' and you're not -- HaHa!

I do have a 5 mile run planned out for Saturday morning in New Braunfels. When I was there last August I did this same route, so it'll be interesting to see how much better/worse I do this time.

I am so ready for some chilaxing time. (I've been wanting to use that word, Viv!)

Have a great weekend!

Mother Nature doesn't want me to do hills!!

2008-06-17T18:43:00.002-05:00

Today I sucked up the courage to go to my first-ever hill training.

Just as I was pulling up (still in the car) BAM - thunder, lightning and rain. (And it hasn't rained much this year.) The sky is still grumbling 15 minutes later and it's pouring out.

If Mother Nature doesn't want me to do hills, I think that's a dang good sign for me to not do them! (Ever?)

Garmin interval not working

2008-06-16T13:11:00.000-05:00

Help me Garmin users -- I can't get my interval times to work anymore!

I go into Training Assistant - Interval Workouts - Set Time & Rest Time - then set the time, rest time & reps, hit done. The "Press Start to Begin Intervals" screen comes up. I press start and it just starts going like normal, no intervals. No beeps at the end of the set time or rest time. No interval workout at all.

I thought maybe I did something wrong, but have gone over & over it.
I've tried setting the intervals at 10 seconds and nothings happened interval wise -- it just keeps on going like I'm not using the intervals.

I've used them a lot in the past without a problem.

Any ideas??

I have the Forerunner 301.

I've gone through the manual and looked on their website & tried to find help through internet serches too.

Weekend review

2008-06-16T12:32:00.003-05:00

Kind of a low-key boring weekend. Got to rest up for night toobin next weekend!

Friday -- I went to watch the bats at Allen Parkway & Waugh. There was a big crowd there and a lot of bats to see! They started steaming out about 8:15 and there were still some vortexing when we left about 10pm.

Saturday -- I love Houston Fit Fall 1/2! We had a GREAT run. A really supportive, talkative group of ladies (where ARE all the men?? During Spirit of the Marathon, they showed Chicago Fit's weekly meeting and it was mainly women there too. I didn't realize I had said "Where are all the men" so loud until the theater started laughing).
We did 4 miles and I was really wanting to run some more, but didn't want to push it and then have an injury.

That afternoon I went to a kayak rolling practice & pool party. It was fun. I realized it's been an entire year since I've been kayaking. I have one, just can't transport it!

Sunday -- I did as little as possible and it was nice! I did go visit my mom for a long time and took along Winslow and the dog I'm dog-sitting. Also did some more research on Alaska activities, I leave a month from today!

And I cooked my meals for the week, filling up the little black boxes from My Fit Foods so they're all set to go in the fridge:

breakfast - scrambled eggs (more white than yolk), veggie sausage patty & boiled new potato

lunch -- spicy baked chicken with new potatoes and cabbage (weird once-a-year cabbage craving)
dinner -- interesting mix of soy sauce & ginger on chicken with cabbage some zuccini and peppers along with some broccoli
snacks -- cottage cheese & raspberries & strawberries, EAS protein shakes, yogurt, peaches, almonds, Oatmega bars (only 2 snacks per day, but those are all my options for the week).

Plus I got in a simple little 2 mile run at 9:30 pm last night. I think I'm now officially in the 13+ min/mile category. So it's looking like every 6 months or so I'm getting better by a minute per mile. Maybe by the time of the Houston 1/2 in January I'll be down to 11 min/miles! (But would be happy with 12 min/miles and satisifed with 13 min/miles.)

Fancy new lightbulbs not so great....

2008-06-12T20:23:00.005-05:00

I learned that those fancy-schmantzy new lightbulbs that are way more expensive than the good ole ones we've used since childhood do not work in fixtures with photocells. (Photocells are the sensors that will turn a light on when it's dark and off when it's light out. One of the joys of homeownership - having to learn all about things you never wanted to know about.)

That sucker didn't even last 24 hours. Back to the good ole standbys I've always known and loved.

Random thoughts on the road

2008-06-11T22:04:00.002-05:00

I wish I had a little micro recorder to take along on runs. I think of some good things out there, but then get back inside & *poof* it all disappears.

I did a couple of things to be proud of along my run today:
- I did it. That's good for me lately. (OHMIGOSH - I just realized I've actually done something (run-jog or pilates) everyday since Monday of last week!! It's been moderate enough activity that I don't think I'm overdoing it, though.)

- I was planning ahead on where to walk & drink and realized I was thinking "I'll take a break when that light pole gets to me" instead of thinking when I get to it. I didn't even realize I was doing that at first. Pretty cool.

- My walk breaks usually would time out at 7 minutes, in Houston Fit I'm with a group doing 5/1, so I should be super prepared!

- I might actually be acclimating to the heat. At least I thought I was since I wasn't miserable (@ 6:30 pm) like I was last night (@ 10pm). But then I came in and checked the weather on the internet and see humidity was way down. So I might not be as acclimated as I had hoped. The Houston Fit newsletter for this week talked a lot about acclimation. I threw that last comment in just so I could use the word acclimation again since I know it's Viv's word of the month.

- I did a negative split - mile 1 was still a bit too fast, but miles 2-4 were each slightly faster than the last. The overall times were much slower than what I have been doing, but in the HF newsletter it did say that most times will be about a minute higher due to the heat.

- I enjoyed my run!

Karma

2008-06-10T22:35:00.003-05:00

*&^%$#! that Karma!

Since I taunted in my last post, that mean ole Karma came back on me already.

I've been doing great sticking to my training schedule, plodding along. Today I didn't get a chance to run until 10pm. Ugh that's late. And still hot!
Despite drinking my entire hand-held water bottle, I still lost .3 lbs. of sweat. And it's still pouring out....
You're welcome for the nice visual.
Pleasant dreams....

HaHa

2008-06-10T17:41:00.005-05:00

I'm going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and you're not. HaHa.

(I don't really care much for chain restaurants, but I like to tease people....)

I heart Houston Fit!

2008-06-07T11:07:00.002-05:00

Man that run felt good today! HOT, but good. (Although I think I'm acclimating pretty well.)
I did walk a tad bit, but my running buddy du jour (Kate) and I kept each other on track - knowing when to push each other & when to slack off.
I had Garmin issues (it wasn't beeping for the intervals like it should, even though I pretty sure it was set right), but according to the folks I finished with we made GREAT time - 13 min/miles. Woo-Hoo!

Running can be *fun*

Just 'cause I wanna

2008-06-06T20:25:00.002-05:00

Houston Fit is bright and early at 6:30am, so tonight is usually a no-run night.

But I really wanted to do a little running.

I only did a mile and 3/4 - came back to check on the sprinkler in the front yard and decided it was too late to keep at it tonight. At the end I had the precious puppy along, so it was a really slow run (He's a spry 16 year old). But we netter out at a 15 min/mile.

I learned a joy of home ownership - getting to run through your own sprinkler at the end of a run. Wonder if the neighbors were watching.

PS -- Tomorrow I have to exchange a pair of white denim capri pants I bought because I can literally take them off without unbuttoning or unzipping them! Woo-Hoo!
(But I did compare them to a pair of jeans I own and even though they are the same size, the capris are obviously bigger.)

Chuging along.....

2008-06-04T20:50:00.005-05:00

Attn non-running readers: This is a boring running post, you may want to skip it (Kelly).

This running crap isn't all that horrible!

I just did 2 miles (@ 8pm, 85 degrees, 70% humidity) and it felt pretty good. My knees are hurting (lifelong knee problems) a tad. I might have gone around another mile, but don't want to push it. (In case you didn't know, I've been slacking a LOT lately.)

I averaged 13:45 min/miles which is great for me (Esp. since I stopped a couple of times to try and coax a lost doggie over to me, who I later coaxed back home not even knowing that was his home, 2 streets over from where I first saw him. And I also stopped twice to upright overturned trash cans -- it got windy!)

Last year at this time I couldn't even fathom running. I was a PIM drop-out and just knew running wasn't my thing.

11 months ago I couldn't run more than 1/4 mile without gasping for breath and having to walk (and sometimes just turning around and going home). 6 months ago I did 13.1 miles in training. 5 months ago I did an official 1/2 marathon.
And have plans to do a lot more 1/2's in the future -- (Houston in October, San Antonio R&R in November, Houston in January, possibly Surfside in February and most definitely Seabrook in March - possibly both Sat & Sun).

And now to get back into training shape...
Yesterday I did a mile, today I did 2 miles.

I'm getting there....at my own pace....

(Plus, I'm tired of seeing that little 0 on the sidebar as the miles I've run....)

Now I need to work on getting my eating totally back on track so I can kick some booty in Viv's Independance Weight Loss Challenge.

Two thumbs up!

2008-06-01T18:32:00.005-05:00

I don't want to give anything away, so won't give a detailed review, but do give Sex & the City two thumbs up.

I went in with low expectations, since movies don't usually live up to the original form (book, show, play, nursery rhyme even!). I was very pleasantly surprised with the script, storyline, acting, etc. All 4 ladies had pretty good plot lines. Now thinking about it more, I could knit-pick a lot of it and I like liking the movie, so I'm not going to think about that anymore. Just go, sit back & enjoy!

One thing, I thought Carrie was wearing the same shoes in a couple of scenes. I'm not a big shoe-ho & not really into fashion at all (this weekend I bought clothes at Target & Sam's Club!). Since shoes are such a big deal in S&TC, I was looking at them and surprised to see the same or similar shoes in multiple scenes.

Worth going to see now instead of waiting for video. I got my $7.50 worth!

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

2008-05-31T14:12:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-31T12:34:00.004-05:00

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)

2008-05-29T17:42:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-29T08:11:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-26T12:47:00.004-05:00

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!

2008-05-23T08:33:00.011-05:00

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....

2008-05-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

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

2008-05-21T13:02:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-16T17:31:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-15T23:03:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-15T09:49:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-15T08:48:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-14T07:51:00.005-05:00

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:

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

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

WHOOPEEE!!!!!

2008-05-05T19:36:00.007-05:00

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

2008-05-04T21:15:00.002-05:00

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...

2008-04-29T07:22:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I switched over to the fun-looking bootcamp and it was SO MUCH better. It was tough, but the trainer was really good and kept it interesting. There were about 15 ladies, which was kind of too many for my preference, but it was fine being that large. Apparently a lot of them are school teachers and talked about that a lot.

This one, Love your Body, is all women (with a man trainer) and you sign up for one day a week, although it is offered on both Monday and Wednesday evenings. (They also have some morning/day sessions and a 1 1/2 hour Saturday 6:30 am session. I'm sorta-kinda thinking of going to that one.) Right now I'm just doing Mondays until Power In Motion ends in 3 weeks, then I'll do Wednesdays too.

Now I can enjoy boot camp like Running Knitter!

Also, I'm down 6.4 lbs in 9 days on the My Fit Foods Challenge. It's really not hard to stick to it at all since the food is so freaking good. I did miss up a little on Saturday when I went to 2 parties back-to-back, which wasn't bad until party #2 pulled ribs off the grill. I shouldn't have, but did and it really wasn't that good. It did screw up my weight loss mode some, so it's kind of good I did that so now know the effects. I do wonder losing this quickly it usually doesn't last. But I am eating real food & a lot of it, so it seems healthy for me. I would love to eat their foods all the time, but it's just too freaking expensive for me. (~$22 day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks).

I'm working on the 6 word meme that Running Knitter tagged me with & will post it soon, but doubt I will tag more people to do the same. But may, so watch out.....

EAS protein drink + Boot Camp = Puke

2008-04-23T21:28:00.002-05:00

Good news and bad news...

Good -- Boot Camp was much better today. The trainer had notes with a planned workout routine and it was a not-so-crappy, harder workout. We went through it quicker than he expected, so he improvised some & it was a good workout. Still plan on switching over to the other one when this one ends, though.

Bad -- I had an EAS protein drink about 4 pm. Boot camp was at 5:30 (and then Power in Motion should have followed at 6:30, 4 miles). An hour and a half is so not enough time to have a milky type (soy actually) drink before a tough workout in the heat! I bailed on the 1/4 mile jog at the end. An also skipped out on Power In Motion, although I did show up and stretch with them so I get counted as being in attendance for the perfect attendance award.
That EAS drink was pretty darn tasty too....if you're going to have to puke, it's not a bad thing to puke....

Tomorrow is good tv night - Ugly Betty, Lost & Gray's Anatomy. So I have to figure out when to get in the 4 mile run I didn't do today. May skip Gray's - never did really get into that show. Plus, by then it will hopefully be cooler. Just not sure if I will do 4 miles that late. Plus, at that time I usually stay in the 'hood so I don't have to cross busy streets, which means loops around our three one-mile blocks and that gets boring.

I'm sticking to eating good! I so love My Fit Foods. I went by today to pick up my foods for the next 4 days - yeah! (There isn't any EAS protein shakes included this time, darn!)

I'm melting.....

2008-04-23T07:39:00.003-05:00

Quick update before I head off to exile (outside the loop, beltway & Hwy 6):

Jimmy Buffett was awesome as always. Can whacking beach balls for an hour followed by standing/dancing for 3 1/2 hours count as strength training and cardio??

The gazebo looks great & doesn't dominate the back yard like I thought it would.

Houston Garden Centers all across town are out of grass. I planned on that being my workout on Sunday, but did get in some "workout" planting an orange and lemon tree, cleaning the gutters, attaching a handle & latch to the storage shed door and other general housework.

My Fit Foods rocks - on day 3. I love, love, love their food -- just wish it was cheaper so I could always eat it!

Boot Camp sucks - not challenging enough, poor instructor, even worse owner, boring exercises, they cancelled class Friday!, we've ASKED to do more ab work (who ever asks to do crunches??) and haven't been doing them, the class doesn't last the full times it's supposed to last. It just all around sucks. BUT, I did find out about another evening boot camp - they meet just next to the one that this one meets & they have fun! So next month I'm doing that one instead. Class is tonight (missed Monday due to Jimmy!) so hopefully it'll be better.

It's freaking hot out -- I tried to run yesterday about 6:30, and decided to abort after a mile & go back out at 9pm. At 9 it was still icky, so before the end of the driveway I realized I could do the elliptical in air conditioned comfort while watching Sunday's Desperate Housewives on the computer. So I did 35 min elliptical followed by about 10 minutes of abs.

Boot Camp followed by Power In Motion tonight - whoopee!

goal reached!

2008-04-16T10:43:00.003-05:00

Back on March 14 I set a goal of reaching 100 miles by April 15 (I was at 60 miles at that point).

I reached my goal!

(With a 15.9 mile cushion!)

The Jimmy Buffett concert is Monday & I'll be there guilt-free (even though I will be playing hookie from Boot Camp....)

Also on Monday, I'll be starting the My Fit Foods 21 Day challenge. I probably should set a goal weight to reach or target of how much to lose, but am not sure what is a reasonably acheivable goal at this point..... I'll have to ponder on that.....

checking in....

2008-04-14T18:44:00.003-05:00

Hi readers!

I've been really busy lately (and without internet most of the day!!), so haven't had time to post lately, but been thinking about the 4 of y'all!

Running Knitter -- I just came from Boot Camp & it was fun. The other group next to us was using some fun equipment that we didn't have, though. We mainly did a lot of core work, which is what I REALLY need. It wasn't really as tough as I thought it would be, so that's good! At the end of class he asked the 6 of us if it should be easier/harder/same. We mostly said the same for now, but harder later. Whenever I was wanting to stop doing something, I just channeled some boot camp vibes from you and pressed on!

Timmy -- Winslow & I really enjoyed meeting you & Calvin at the arboretum. He's even cuter in person!

Viv -- I LOVED your post yesterday about shopping. You should REALLY consider submitting that to Reader's Digest or Women's Health!!

Cara -- I had oatmeal ala Cara while camping this weekend!

Crawfish + Beer + Late Nights = BLECK!!!

2008-04-09T21:45:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I learned that (you may need to sit down for this) I prefer to eat healthy, not go out drinking all night AND enjoy getting up early for a long run on the weekends.
EEEK - guess I've grown up. (And none to soon since I had a grey eyebrow hair last week.)

Friday was all-you-can-handle crawfish & beer for $10 at PJ (!!!!)
Saturday was a dual birthday party dinner at El Pubelto Place for 2 friends (and 30 others) followed by Absynth and Poision Girl til 2am
Sunday was crawfish & beer at Front Porch
Monday was the Astros home opener from suite #1 with free food & booze.

Tuesday I picked up an order of good healthy food from My Fit and started back running. Only 2 miles, but 2 good miles. (The 4 miles I did on Saturday were just pathetic.)

I'm feeling so much better already.

Unfortunetly, I have a big nasty project at work that is going to have me working late and venturing not just outside the loop, but also outside the belt (egads) and (painful just to type) outside Hwy 6. Oh, the horror. Down I-10 at that.
I will work Boot Camp into the schedule, though. Starting Monday at 8PM in Memorial Park. So I'll be getting home at like 9:15 pm.
Oh dang - I just remembered I'm dog sitting next week too. Crap. Literally probably.
OK -- on that note, I'm going to bed....

Will run for medals...even if they are plastic

2008-04-02T22:01:00.008-05:00

Whoopee!! Another "medal"

It's not the fancy-schmantzy Tiffany number that Running Knitter will get at the Nike Women's Marathon, but I love it anyway.

It's my "Whoopee, we made it half-way" medal to keep our Power In Motion running group members motivated to make it through the 10 week program. A fantastic idea since now is about the time to consider dropping. Jack, the main coach, is a really great guy - I'm pretty sure this was his idea & a brilliant one!

And I needed some motivation. I did not run yesterday (see - I'm not hardcore!). In fact, I didn't run at all since last week's PIM. But my medal will get me back on track and out running like on my schedule!

It's now proudly hanging on the bunting I got from the last baseball game in the Astrodome along with my race bibs and other "non metal" medals:

The "real" medals are on display right by the front door on the key box -- I plan to get a shadow box for them along with a picture from the events, but that just hasn't happened yet.

Weekend wrap-up

2008-04-01T08:26:00.009-05:00

I love, Love, LOVE backpacking Lake Georgetown w/ Houston Sierra Club. It's a once a year trip that I've done five times.

The trail is a bit challenging in parts, but it's just 11 miles total, 6 1/2 the first day and 4 1/2 the second. So you end up at camp about 2:30 with pleanty of time to goof off and, like this year, EAT.
I gained about 2 pounds on this trip!

queso - velveeta & rotel is heaven in a pan
ham, cheese & cracker tray
bisquick sausage cheese balls (I LOVE those!)
stove top with turkey spam, cranberries & pecans
chili mac (minus the ground beef - funny story)
oatmeal raisin walnut cookies
raspberry crumble

And I did get to try Oatmeal ala Cara, which is great -- can't believe I never mixed trail mix into my oatmeal before - it's great!

Pictures from the trip are on fotki.

Monday was spent returning my poorly designed REI Roadster tent to REI for their new Quarter Dome T1, so now I'm anxious to get back out on the trails again! I'm going to miss my funny looking little Roadster, but this new tent is free-standing, super quick to put up and (cross your fingers) not supposed to leak! (I had to bail out of the Roadster on Friday night which had over an inch and a half of water.)

Tonight back to running...I think I will even if it's raining. Yikes - I'm becoming hardcore! Next thing ya know I'll be a triathlete like Viv (if I learn to ride a bike....)

PS -- I had a Cliff Shot gel in Razz(berry) on Sunday for the first time. Tasted like ketchup. Now, I do like ketchup quite a bit. But not in the middle of a hike with no fries (etc) in sight. It was just wrong. I had a vanilla one before & it was fine. Even thought I really like the cute packaging, I'm going back to Gu.

Boot Camp

2008-03-27T14:37:00.007-05:00

If I blog it, I must do it!

NEXT BOOT CAMP CLASS STARTS APRIL 14th

At allday BOOTCAMP we train you the way coaches train athletes. Each boot camp session lasts for one month, each class lasts one hour, three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), and an optional Saturday class.
Each person is challenged at a level that is just right for them. Groups are kept small, which allow trainers to give personal attention to everyone in the class. For classes with a small turnout the instructor will make sure that each member gets a great workout.
Each day is a different workout, and over the course of a week workouts will include a combination of cardio training (long distance running, short hill workouts, sprinting on the track, running stairs, etc.) cross-training (agility), and strength training (push-ups, pull-ups, abdominal workouts). Each class ends and begins with stretching.
Whether you sign up for the morning boot camp class, the after work boot camp class, or the evening boot camp classes, you will have access to all four sessions for the price of one:

5:00 AM - 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Midtown Boot Camp - Memorial Park Boot Camp
Sugar Land Boot Camp - Cinco Ranch / Katy Boot Camp
Kingwood / Humble Boot Camp - Dowtown Houston Boot Camp

I'm going to plan on attending the 5:30 pm Memorial Park Boot Camp.

(Thanks Running Knitter for the encouragement!!)

Funyuns

2008-03-26T14:10:00.007-05:00

This post is for Kelly - one of my lurkers who sent me an e-mail saying he's been checking out my blog, but is bored with all the running talk. Maybe now he'll start leaving comments....

Although it appears that the amazingly wonderful Wassabi Funyuns are no long available (may they rest in peace - they lived far too short of a life), there is a new Funyun in town - Flamin' Hot ones.

And they are rather spicy hot - the wasabi ones were not hot, they just left a yummy wassabi taste wafting across the taste buds.

Jennifer brought me back a bag from her road trip to visit her daddy over Easter along with a big yummy strip of turkey jerky and some Ghirardelli chocolate. That makes a mighty fine meal for someone having rodeo withdrawals.....

And I'm going on a 4 hour road trip to go backpacking this weekend - me thinks there just might be some more Flamin Hot Funyuns in my near future....

On the road again....

2008-03-24T20:40:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday and Friday I was bummed that I couldn't go running - Thursday I went out to dinner (sushi) and Friday went to the rodeo (going before work is so not an option!) Wednesday was Power In Motion, where we only did 1 1/2 miles, so I wanted to get in some more.

Then this weekend was a blur of all-day yardwork, Easter visit with mom, major housecleaning and some couch time.

So tonight was my first long run in 6 days. And man it sucks to wait that long between runs! I went oh-so-slow. But was finally feeling good, although hungry, at the end. I just did 4 1/2 miles, but hey - that's 4 1/2 more than I've done all week!

And looking forward to running tonight - probably in new shoes!

Rodeo Vittles

2008-03-22T20:39:00.002-05:00

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is all about the food!

Sure, there is world-class rodeo action, big name musical acts, a carnival, beautiful livestock, amazing school artwork & quilts. But the food is the #1 draw for me.

Here's a recap of this year's schmorsborg (in 2 rodeo visits):

foot long corn dog (I had a craving!)
wurst-bob (5 different sausage samples on a stick)
cookies & cream ice cream (during the rodeo)
roasted corn (they were small, so the lady gave me 2!)
kettle corn (Jennifer's, had 2 handfulls)
fried chicken (supposedly the best ever, I had been looking forward to this for 2 weeks. VERY disappointed!)
papa john pizza (during the rodeo - food offerings in the stadium are so disappointing!)
cotton candy (purple)
fried moon pie on a stick (just to say I had it - worse than it sounds. But it looked good!)
five Miller Lites (in 1 visit)
two diet cokes
one iced tea (1/2 sweet, 1/2 unsweet)

Medal maddness

2008-03-18T21:08:00.002-05:00

November is too long to wait for another medal!

Considering (considering) doing Angie's 1/2 Crazy 1/2 Marathon at the beginning of April - only 3 weeks away and I'm backpacking one of those weekends. After that I don't think there are any more 1/2s around these parts until the fall. (And all vacation time is going to the Alaska trip in July!)

The relay on Saturday was great, and now I want to cross both the start and the finish of a 1/2 marathon - -before November!

UPDATE: I've e-mailed one of my PIM coaches and he advises me against running this since I haven't been training for that long of a distance & there isn't enough time to prep. He's probably right. Dang it.
There is one up in Dallas May 4....but that would probably mean missing the goal PIM 5K in Houston on May 3.

Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon - Course

2008-03-15T01:40:00.000-05:00

The Seabrook Lucky Trails race course is SUPER NICE!

It's a trail run - mostly crush granite and very well-worn grass and dirt trails, but a slight bit of street time, a boardwalk or two and some cross-country on grass by the bay - nice variety!

A fun mix of city, forest and even bay views to keep the run interesting!

It starts at a city park with a large pavilion and skateboard ramps, circles around it (~2/3 mile?) and then down the sides of a gully (~1/3 mile), down a trail next to Toddville road (~1 1/3 mile), then down through a wooded area (~1/3 mile) and across Toddville road through some dense trees (~1/3 mile), across a boardwalk and past a cemetery (~1/3 mile) and then around the really pretty Pine Gully Park on Galveston Bay (~1/2 mile).

Then you go back!

So for about 1/2 of the course, there are runners going in both directions (eventually, at some times).

Even though the trail is narrow at points, it really didn't get crowded.

I only did one loop (with Viv doing it when I finished).
True 1/2 marathoners did the entire loop twice.
And on Sunday, marathoners would do it 4 times.

Since the course is through interesting, changing vistas, it really wouldn't get boring.

There were trivia questions every mile to make it even more interesting! A sign had a question printed on it and then about 1/3 mile on down was the answer. Really cute idea!

There were three main water/Gatorade/etc stations that were EXTREMELY well stocked (even cold towels and vasoline!) with at least 2 additional places fluids were being handed out. So we never went more than about 3/4 mile without fluids!!

Spectator support was pretty non-existent. The volunteers at the aid stations were VERY supportive!

NEXT YEAR -- I'm definitely planning on doing the entire 1/2 marathon and would really like to do it both days......

Seabrook 1/2 Marathon Relay - mile by mile

2008-03-15T00:10:00.003-05:00

Mile 1 -- Since the trails are so narrow, the start began on the street instead of trails. (I think this made my leg slightly longer -- according to my Garmin, I did 6.6 miles instead of 6.55!) We were on the street for about 3/4 of a mile before we hit the trails. There seemed to be a lot of walkers & I realized I was going too fast for me. I tried a couple of times to slow down, but that's so hard to do when feeling good!

Trivia -- Who is Casper the Friendly Ghost's Girlfriend? (Wendy)

Time - 12:08

Mile 2 was along trails that were mainly crushed granite, but it was much nicer (smoother, not as much movement) than the Memorial park trails. I went to the first water stop which also had gatorade, oranges, banana and even oreos! LOTS of volunteers. Aside from them, there were very few spectators. The trail was crowded, but not too bad. People did mainly stay to the right (except for the ones with headphones! I've decided I agree with the movement to ban them from races). Reall funny thing overheard -- A lady said to the lady she was walking with "Do you know how many calories Denna Kastor eats every day?" She, I and one other person all replied immediately "5000!" Obviously, we all watched Spirit of the Marathon. I pretty much knew the first runners would head back towards me somewhere on loop two, and it was until I was at my mile 1.7 .

Trivia -- What color is Spock's blood? (Green)

Time - 14:16

Mile 3 was super nice - through the woods and then on to the park on Galveston Bay. Since this is close to the loop around point, I met a lot of runners going the opposite direction. It seemed like the people around 9 min/mile were the friendliest. At this water stop, in addition to water & gatorade, they were giving out cold towels - that were awesome! Man, they felt so good - and stayed cold until well after the run. I almost didn't take one, thinking I didn't really need it but it was so nice and refreshing I'm glad I did. As I looped around and started passing those slower than me I advised them to get one too! We went through the grass along the water line, so I did continue walking instead of running after I finished my cup of gatorade for a while and took a few pics, I never stopped chugging along, though...

Trivia -- How many times did John Glenn orbit the earth? (Three)

Time 14:35

Mile 4 my knee really started "tweaking" bad - I know I was limping some. As I started down a side "bonus" trail I had some of my gatorade & was glad I carry water - even though there were pleanty of aid stations along the way. People were quite talkative along this little stretch. At the end of this bonus trail was yet another water stop, again fully stocked with water, gatorade, towels & I think fruit. I took a gatorade & walked while I drank it. The leader ran towards me (on his 2nd loop) at my mile 3.6, so I guess I was maintaining my slow pace at a constant speed! I was pleased to see I did the 4 miles in under an hour (54.71 min).

Trivia -- What country is Heniken from? (Netherlands)

Time - 14:12

Mile 5 I was beginning to feel tired. I had a Gu - I never did take any of that stuff during the Houston 1/2. Not sure if it helped to have it or not. I learned that in the future I'll take those things when I know a water station is nearby! Luckily on this trail, they are close & I only had about 1/2 a mile until there was a mini-stop that was just two guys with an igloo of water & gatorade. In another 1/3 mile or so we went back through the (1st, biggest) water station that we had gone through already. On this pass I noticed along with all the other offerings was a big ole jar of vaseline. Man - this marathon though of everything!

I knew it was inevitable -- I was looped by the first runner at mile 5.0. This was about the only time the trail got croweded, with us slowpokes finishing our first loop, the medimum fast group coming back out on their second loop and the speediest ones flashing past us on their way to the finish. Trivia -- Where is Harry's New York Bar located? (Paris)

Time - 14:19

Mile 6 - Although I was really tired, I was kind of wishing I had signed up for the full half (!!!!). Quite a shock from a back-of-the-packer that just got looped! But as my fun was coming to an end, I wanted to keep playing. There was still a long way to go, but I was in my little groove. My knee was really hurting and I was wishing I had remembered to put on the icy hot and take the asprin, both of which were in my race bag in the car.

Trivia -- Where is Mount Olympus? (Greece)

Time - 15:06

The last .55 mile (or .6 per my Garmin!) I was feeling really good. I noted, according to my Garmin, my 10K time would have been nicely under 1 1/2 hours, which pleased me. (1:24, I think).

I was surprised that I felt like I had some gas left, so was able to sprint it in a bit.

I saw Viv on the other side of the timing mat waiting for her chance to go and gave it all I had. We touched fingers ala ET and she was off.

I know I stopped my Garmin, but apparently I hit it again since when I looked later it was still ticking off - dang it! I remember it said my mileage was 6.6, but can't remember the time. My official time was 1:32:16, so I'll go with that.

As I stepped forward a bit, I got my medal - yea!! It is a LOT smaller than the "real" half marathon medal, but it's still pretty cool to get a medal for "just" running 6 1/2 miles (WOW -- a year ago I would have never imagined saying that!). Next year, I'm doing the full half!!

No more trivia.

Time: 8:20 (14:91 min/mile or 13.67 min/mile depending on mileage!)

Official time - 1:32:16. (14.07 min/mile @ 6.55 miles, 13.96 @6.6)

I then went to change shoes, get my running jacket and headed down to just before mile 6 to cheer on runners while watching for Viv. I really wanted to go eat, but that would just be wrong with my relay partner still out there! (I should have grabbed the slightly frozen recovery drink I had in my running bag, but didn't - duh.) So I had pleanty of time to stretch and hopefully my constant clapping gave some other runners a boost!

Viv came ripping through looking great. She said she was out of gas, but was going strong!

And she brought us in with a finish time nicely under 3 hours -- Whoopee!!

The after race food was hot off the grill -- hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs (sadly, no beer). According to Viv she was offered a taco, but I think she hallucinated that part. There were also complimentary massages -- ahhh...

Medal Envy

2008-03-15T00:00:00.002-05:00

Although I'm nicely proud and very happy to have received a medal for doing a 1/2 marathon relay (I wasn't really for sure we'd get one), I am green with bling envy.

Check out the medals you get for doing the 1/2 marathon and the full marathon - they rock!! After getting the awesome race packet and running the beautiful course, I had already decided I was going to do the complete 1/2 marathon next year. Now after seeing the great medal it's 100%!

AND -- if you take on the challenge of doing the 1/2 marathon on Saturday and either the full or half on Sunday, you get a 3rd medal!

It's all about the medals......

60 miles so far this year - woo-hoo!!

2008-03-14T10:32:00.008-05:00

WOW - I'm impressed with me for hitting 60 miles so far this year!

60!

Espically since the entire month of February I just logged 2.3 miles. What the heck happened there? (Oh yeah- I had to work a lot. Plus, Feb is a short month.... Yeah, I know it's leap year. Those are my "reasons" and I'm sticking to them.)

I guess I should try to hit some mile targets to keep myself on track (plus, then I can justify buying rewards!). Twenty miles a month sounds like a pretty darn good goal for me, but since I can apparently hit that without even trying, I guess I'll bump it up some....

GOAL -- 100 miles by Tax Day, April 15.

40 miles in a month might be a bit too much, but between the yardwork being done in the backyard, getting a cedar gazebo, paying off the fancy refrigerator I bought and my trip to Alaska in July, I don't really have any reward money anyway.

OH -- If I make my 100 mile goal by April 15, I can go see Jimmy Buffett guilt-free on 4/21. (In other words, I'm buying myself my goal gift before I even began working on the goal!)

PIM e-mail -- Hot shower vs ice bath

2008-03-14T09:38:00.004-05:00

Here's an e-mail I sent out to the people I suckered into joining my running group/training:

Hi Happy Little Runners~

Hope your all sticking to your training schedules and are starting to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after completing your workout. I rarely enjoy the beginning of a run, but the feeling after makes it worth it all.
"Why do I like to run?"
"Because it feels so good when I stop!"

Some of y'all seemed to be MIA on Wednesday....You missed a good discussion on stretching. A handout is on the PIM website.

One thing that was mentioned was taking a hot shower and then stretching on the unusual occasion when you're not able to stretch right after a run. I'm assuming she said hot to warm up your muscles. But hot showers/baths are BAD after a run.

The best thing after a long, hard run is an ICE BATH.
Luckily, y'all aren't doing the mileage yet to get you to this point. I decided to do one after the Houston 1/2 marathon & I could tell that it really, really helped. (Plus, I had a beer and burger along with me in the tub.)

Something about cold preventing the lactic acid from building up, which is what makes your legs feel heavy later. I had read a lot about it on the Houston Fit discussion board & finally decided to give it a shot & I am glad I did.
A couple of hours after my long run on Sunday (6.2miles) I took a hot bubble bath. When I went to run Tuesday (rained out on Monday) my legs felt horrible. Of course, I also have run 26 miles this month so far and only ran 2.3 the entire month of February so that probably contributed quite a bit. But the pain was weird. It wasn't until after I was looking up if any one advocates a hot shower after a run (no one does that I could find) that I connected the heavy leg feeling and the hot bath.

Proceeded with care....
And have FUN!

Wahoo!
Anna

Bonus e-mail!
I forgot to suggest in my last e-mail to keep a log of your time & distance running. (Distance may be difficult for you now, but you can guesstimate.)
I've been discouraged at some of my times lately, but looked back at what I was doing in July when I started & then I realized how far I have come. It's been a big boost!

I use the training log on RunnersWorld.com, which is free & I like a lot. There is a route section whereyou get a street map and you can plot the points you run & it calculates the mileage. It was pretty easy to learn to use.
Also, it's sometimes surprising to see how many total miles are run. I just hit 60 for the year!

Wahoo (again)!
Anna

PS - Another way to track progress is to blog. My friend Viv, who I met in PIM last Fall & am running the Seabrook 1/2 marathon relay with on Saturday has been blogging about her training (and 60 pound weight loss!). After reading her blog for a couple of months http://imnotfittorun.blogspot.com/ I started doing my own http://anna-omaly.blogspot.com/ which helps me stay motivated.

The BEST race packet EVER!!!

2008-03-13T12:41:00.012-05:00

Woo-Hoo!!

I just picked up my race packet for the Seabrook (1/2) Marathon (relay) that's this Saturday and it's DA BOMB!!!

First off, the shirt isn't a cheesy cotton shirt, but a TECH SHIRT. The color is "steel" - I thought that was funny. The multi-color logo for the marathon is where the pocket would be on the front and the insurance company logo on the back is large, but the color blends so it's not obnixious like some. The shirt is way too big (unisex sizing), but after getting my microscopic unwearable Houston Fit shirt, I'd rather err on the large side.

We also got a TECH HAT (!!!!!) in hunter green with the multi-color logo on the front (the wording in black blends in with the dark green, but it's still super nice, and a GREAT surprise!) AND we got TECH SOCKS -- New Balance Elite performance running socks.

Plus, a Miller Lite (cotton) SUN VISOR, a fancy glittery City of Seabrook KOOZIE, and a City of Seabrook LAPEL PIN.

There was also a sample & a buy-one-get-one free coupon for Detour BAR, a sample of UDDER BALM and a coupon for a free GO KART ride at a place really close to my house (which is odd, since I'm about 50 miles from Seabrook).

And.....I did confirm that even us lowly 1/2 marathon relay-ers will get a finisher's medal!!

Pooped, pleased penguin

2008-03-09T18:35:00.008-05:00

So today Nathalie and I went down to Seabrook so I could run the route of the Seabrook (1/2) Marathon (relay). It was tough, but I did it. It took a LONG time and I took a nice rest break in the middle to look at the waves crashing and the sailboats in the bay and the pretty, pretty sky.

I did the first 1/2 (3.01 miles) in 44:49, which is 14:53 min/miles. My HR was 143 ave, 208 max. I should have been pumping it out harder, but it was just really, really hard to get motivated. I walked quite a bit. I probably would have walked more, but Nathalie was behind me walking & that kept me motivated. I kept thinking of her coming out to cheer for me at the Houston 1/2 marathon & wanted to make her proud of me. (I'm REALLY PROUD of her -- she's doing the Avon Breast Cancer walk - 40 (FORTY) miles in two consecutive days. Yikes that's a lot. Plus, she's raised ~$1700!! MAN!! -- If you'd like to donate to her walk, you can do so at http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/Houston?px=3856907&pg=personal&fr_id=1420

The course (Seabrook trails) is a rather narrow path - I wonder how it will work in a marathon setting. Hopefully there will be lots of start times! It starts out at a little park with skateboarding ramps and basketball hoops. Then down a gully and to Toddville road, past houses. Then into a wooded area and finally over to Pine Gully Park, a really nice park on Galveston Bay (although the restroom was out of toilet paper, I was just happy to see a restroom at that point!). And then back the same route.

As I was waddling along, I came to a realization -- I'm going to get lapped next week. Fast fast people finish a 1/2 marathon in right over an hour. I'll finish my 1/2 of the 1/2 in an hour an a half (or more). So some people will be done before Viv ever even starts (We haven't discussed it, but I think I should go first....Not even sure how this whole relay thing will work) I think this is the first time they're doing a relay for the 1/2. Since it's all on one trail, I bet people will be coming back before I'm even 2 miles in. What a depressing thought. That won't stop me though -- I'll keep waddling along. I'm still going faster than all those people that don't even have the courage to start!!

And so because of this realization, I came home and ordered a shirt from John Bingham. On the back is this logo:

I doubt I'll get it this week, but it would be really nice to wear it next weekend.

The return trip of the trail went better, time wise was about the same. I ran around extra at the end to make it be 3.1 (5K) since I thought that's the distance I did the on the out (it was 3.01 - duh). Time for this was 44:47, 14:24 min/miles.

SO....my 1/2 marathon relay time will be about 1 1/2 hours. But I can make it, and that's the important thing. No matter when we finish, we'll get medals & it's all about the medals!!

(Now I'm wondering if we do both get a medal -- surely we do! We're only paying $30 each, so maybe we'll just get a tech shirt?? I'm in it for the medals!!)

Well that sucked

2008-03-08T12:00:00.001-06:00

I attempted a run this morning. But my knee and body in general said No-No-NO!

The Buffalo Bayou Regatta was going on this morning, so I planned to run along Allen Parkway and see all the pretty boats. First of all, I never saw any boats (must have started VERY late) and my knee was tweaking BAD. So I did a little slow walk instead and went home.

How sad.

Tomorrow I'm going to go down to Seabrook to run the trails that will be the route for next week's 1/2 relay. Hopefully I'll feel better after knowing my approximate time.

Whoa.....

2008-03-08T07:00:00.001-06:00

One week until the 1/2 marathon relay

YIKES!!!

Starting to remember why I like this.....

2008-03-07T19:46:00.011-06:00

I came home from work and immediately changed into my running gear, picked up a few twig-lets in the yard as I procrastinated, but then headed out for a "long" run.
I put long in quotes since 5 miles used to seem like no big deal, now it seems like a pilgrimage. And this time a trip to KFC would be my mecca.

The trip to KFC, combined with my Fear Of Viv and disappointment in myself were what got me going.

The initial mile was hell, as always. Had to take walk breaks. Did it in 12:51, though - my best mile time (HR 153 ave 169 max). Part of that is me not knowing how to pace & part is because I was cutting through Lazybrook where I had to run in the street.

The second mile I was along White Oak and kind of getting into a rythem, but still hating running. I did it in 14:36, so obviously walked more. HR 156 ave, and 168 max. Must have been way off on that pacing still!

Mile 3 was a little better feeling. I was realizing what my 5K time would be & not pleased but not too saddened either. But at the same time I was thinking if I had to run all this same distance again (like I'll have to in a week) I'm not sure if I'd make it. But I was still along White Oak all alone - in a marathon situation there will (hopefully) be spectators and all the excitement & energy of the day. I did this mile in 13:48, HR 156 ave, 168 max.

Mile 4 was coming back up through Timbergrove, so there was some breaking to cross TC Jester and Ella. It was nice to be back in the 'hood. When I've run this route before, I usually cross through Timbergrove in the beginning and then Lazybrook on the return, but I think I like this way better. The Lazybrook route is faster up to White Oak, but the Timbergrove part is more enjoyable (we have sidewalks on both sides of the street & larger front yards). This mile was in 15:40, my slowest mile and the heart rate was only averaging 144 with a max of 163. I didn't realize I had slowed THAT much! But I was wiped.

I was doing some block circling trying to hit the 5th mile, but just did .91. This part of a mile was at a 14:43 pace with a HR ave 147, max 159. I was pretty spent at this point. Even the Fear Of Viv couldn't get me to run more -- I was wanting that KFC and to just stop this craziness. I did start imaginign the disappointment of Shane - Viv's husband who will probably be at the 1/2 relay with her & will be hoping for a good time for her, which I will screw up with my waddling.

So on my 4.91 trek I did it in a total of 1:10:21, which is an average 14:19min/mile. HR ave 151 with max of 169.

Wonder how much more I can improve in seven days for the Seabrook 1/2 marathon relay??

As I finished my less-than-five-mile long run, I did have a sense of accomplishment. Although I was really tired, I felt good, slightly proud and semi-strong. Then I remembered this is why I liked running.

That evening my body really felt good. Tired, but pleasantly so. Some coach, probably PIM in the past, said that after a workout you should be pleasantly pooped, but spent. That's the feeling I had. And the mental feeling was good. I know I'm still slacking from where I want to be, but heck I just did 5 miles! That's good!

Maybe this is that so-called Runner's High, which I used to hear of but since I started running have decided it was a myth.

Back in my first PIM season, I asked my coach Amy Benedict (still the best PIM coach ever) "When does this get to be fun?" and she replied with out hesitation "When you get to stop and eat."

On the first day of Houston Fit the guy doing the intro seminar posed the question "Why do we run?" and followed it up with the answer "Because it feels SO GOOD when we stop!"

The running still sucks some, but the feeling after is really great!

E-mail to my PIM group...

2008-03-07T09:19:00.001-06:00

WOW!!
Wednesday was freaking crazy!!

That was about twice as many people as in the fall. My group last time had about 12 people, now it's more than 30.

Things this week should be a little calmer. Also,time change is Saturday night/Sunday morning, so it will be light later.

With the rain last night, most people probably didn't run (I didn't). So today's rest day was by default taken yesterday - meaning run today!

The training schedules are on the PIM website:http://www.powerinmotion.org/under the "training" tab.

Here's an explaination of how to read it --
5x(3R/1W) means to run for 3 minutes, walk for one minute and do this five times (total of 20 minutes)

You don't NEED it, but you can get a watch with TWO interval timers at Academy for $39.99. Then you can set one timer to beep after 3 minutes, then it beeps after a minute, and repeats until you turn it off.

A 15% off night at a running store will happen at some point this PIM season, but they're not sure yet when. We always get 10% off at Luke's Locker, just let them know you're in PIM.

I plan to run along Buffalo Bayou tomorrow morning and down in Seabrook on Sunday morning if anyone wants to come along. Let me know if you'd like to meet somewhere on Monday or Tuesday to run!

Have a great weekend & some great runs.

Wahoo!
Anna

PS -- remember to GO SLOW -- your running should be at a conversational pace. If you're unable to talk without panting like a dog in the summertime, you're going to fast.
Resting is very important too, take your rest days and your rest breaks -- that's when the body repairs and heals.

If you go too fast in the beginning, you run the risk of burning out -- we're in this for the long haul, so take it slow and enjoy it!

2008-03-06T14:53:00.001-06:00

Marathon hopeful, 101-year-old , training hard
Wed Mar 5, 11:47 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters)

Already Britain's oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin now aims to become the world's oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette.

Sprightly and bearded, he completed a half marathon at the weekend in five hours 13 minutes. The former Army physical training instructor works three days a week for a London plumbing firm and says he has trained for the April 13th race in his spare time.

"I've said I'll attempt it," he told Reuters by telephone from his workplace at Pimlico Plumbers. "I haven't said I'll complete it. If I do make it, all the better. I hadn't thought of doing it before but someone asked me and the money goes to charity so why not?"

His sponsorship money will go to the Rhys Daniels Trust, which provides temporary accommodation for families of patients in specialist children's hospitals.

Martin, who had 17 children and returned to work at the age of 99 saying he was bored after two years of retirement, would beat the previous record for world's oldest marathon runner by eight years.

"If I finish, I'll do what I always do and have a pint and a fag," he said. "People ask what is my secret but I haven't got one. They say fags and booze are bad for you -- but I'm still here, aren't I?"

(Reporting by Peter Apps, editing by Paul Casciato)

PIM started again!

2008-03-06T07:43:00.003-06:00

Yeah!
Power In Motion (PIM) started again last night. It was SO good to see my gang from last season & all the new folks I suckered in to joining up.

The "new" folks (along with their group):
Natahalie - A
Doreen - A
Yvette - A
Heather - A
Tina - A/B
Wanda - B
Mary Ellen - C
Melissa - C
Mel - C
Randi - D
Sandy - E+
Scott - E+
(Rebecca maybe?)

The PIM group was HUGE!! I guess about 200 people.

Our Carbo/Dawn group had 60 - last season there were about 30. I am, once again, a carbo. I wanted to be a dawn, but just not fast enough. Before we started, Coaches Manny and Trish saw me and both pointed and said "You don't belong here - you need to be an Enduro" But I'm not fast enough and and this point can't do 3 miles solid. I ran pretty hard to try and make the Dawn group, but fell short and was really feeling bad. Then I looked at the others in my group and saw Mary, who was with the group last year. Everyone else has moved on to the Enduro (and up) groups, so there was comfort having someone else "left behind" with me.
As I continued to look around, someone else looked familiar -- I was really shocked to see my Houston Fit 1/2 marathon coach in my "slow" group! And she was with a lady who was also in my HF group that's run the Rocky Raccoon 25K. Maybe my little slug-group isn't so bad after all!

Wahoo!
Anna

E-mail to my future PIMsters

2008-03-04T12:00:00.001-06:00

Hi Future PIMsters,

Woo-Hoo!! I'm so excited that PIM is starting up
again! It is such a fun group and a great environment
to learn to run or build on current knowledge.

SIGN UP:
Be sure and SIGN UP for PIM on-line - it's $39 in
advance on-line, but $50 if you wait and sign up in
person tomorrow.
The address to sign up is:
http://www.harra.org/clubportal/EventDetailPublic2.cfm?clubID=955&EventID=55211

THIS WEEK:
Come ready to run!

On Wednesday we divide up into our groups:
- those that don't run at all (Aerobics & Batons)
- those that can run 1 mile (Carbos & Dawns)
- those that can run 3+ miles (Enduro, Fitness, Gu &
Hydrations).

The Aerobic & Baton groups (which are divided by last
name) will go into their first workout - run for a
minute, walk for two minutes seven time (21 minutes
total).
The other groups will run to determine grouping.

SHOES:
If you need a new pair of shoes (I do!) wait and we
may have a night at Luke's Locker when we all get 15%
off. Anytime you go to Luke's, let them know your
with PIM for a 10% discount.

Definately go and get professionally fit for shoes -
the staff at running stores are trained to determine
which shoe is right for you. Te right shoe is
CRITICAL. Shoes I've gotten at Luke's have been
decently priced - all right around $100.
If you don't run much now and your shoes are more than
about 1 1/2-2 years old +, it's probably time for new
ones. (Mine are 6 months, have about 200 miles on
them & I can tell it's time. You're supposed to get
about 350 miles from shoes. I'm noticing a difference
& am looking forward to new ones.)

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Wahoo!
Anna

Waddling on

2008-03-04T08:02:00.003-06:00

I ran.
When I wanted to walk, I imagined Viv with a whip behind me.

2.9 miles, 39:44 (13:43 pace).

I felt okay when I was done. Not sure if I would have been able to do that all over again, but I better be able to in a week and a half!

The Fear of Viv

2008-03-03T08:04:00.002-06:00

OK -- I'm finally running again. Less than 2 weeks to the 1/2 relay with Viv and she's kicking ass running fast while I'm being a lard ass.

I started out running Sunday for the first time in...a really long time. I quickly realized that I was even more out of shape than I had already thought - which is pretty sad. I ended up walking most, but I did do 5 miles in 1:20, 16/miles. Sad, but the way I felt I thought it would be even worse.
Viv rocked the Rodeo 10K in less than that time.

For the month of February I only logged a massive 2 miles. TWO! How sad is that???

I've got to get it in gear fast!
I can't let Viv down this bad!
I needed a swift kick in the backside & the FEAR OF VIV is going to do it!

(Luckily PIM starts Wednesday -- that'll help!)

One

2008-02-26T19:39:00.001-06:00

I ran.

One mile.

It was cold.

So I stopped.

I'm pathetic.

Running TONIGHT

2008-02-26T08:01:00.003-06:00

OK -- by putting it in writing, I have to do it. Tonight I'm going to run!

I was going to yesterday, got dressed, then waited for Jennifer to pick up Bosco (I was dog-sitting this weekend), and then I was just too hungry. So I ate and planned on going later, but didn't.
I did do my new 10 minute pilates workout DVD that has 5 different 10 minute exercise segments using a resistance band. I did upper body and abs. I like the DVD much better than the other one I got - Tae Bo Amped.

But TONIGHT, I am going to go run!

loser girl

2008-02-18T08:54:00.003-06:00

OK -- here's my reason for not running this weekend (and for needing to buy new dishes).

The dishes I have are over 10 years old, probably more like 15 (they came from "Stor" that was the prequal to Ikea, in the same location). They are beginning to break easily. Apparently I missed picking up a shard of broken plate, which became embedded in the ball of my left foot. It was painfully extracted with tweezers and a safety pin, but left a good divot in my foot. And I wasn't sure if I got it all.
It doesn't hurt so much anymore, so I think I did get it all.

But this week I'll have a hard time running because I have a Alaska trip meeting tonight, am teaching a backpacking class tomorrow and have a birthday party to go to on Wednesday. Thursday I need to go to the personal training at Bally's circuit.

And I'm not doing the Park to Park 5 miler next weekend - I'm just not ready.
I really need to get my act in gear since I'm doing the Seabrook 1/2 relay with Viv & she's much faster than me already! Yikes!!

Back at Bally's!

2008-02-07T21:10:00.000-06:00

I went back to Bally's for the first time in........4 years or so! And - they let me renew for $99/year - great price!

Speaking of prices -- I forgot to include in my running expenses tally:
$60 - Houston Half Marathon 2009
$30 - Seabrook 1/2 marathon relay with Viv - 3/15

Wahoo!
Anna

I ran good!

2008-02-06T20:05:00.000-06:00

Running still sucks, but I did waddle along well tonight - 3 miles in 38:39, which is 12.53 min/mile.

And tomorrow I'm going to venture back into a "real" gym. My fitness has started to decline since my Fit Camp ended & I haven't been able to find another similar deal. Today I got an e-mail from Bally's for free group personal training on Thursdays in February. I called the one by me & they said come on in. Wonder how much of a sales pitch I'll get to sign up with them again - if they honor the last offer I got I will ($96/year). Good luck to me!

don't wanna run.....

2008-02-05T20:08:00.000-06:00

In case you didn't know, I really don't like running. I like getting medals. I like the feeling of accomplishment. I like losing weight and gaining strength. I even like sweating and following a training schedule. But I don't like running.

With the 1/2 marathon goal looming, I plugged on (after the pneumonia break) and got my training runs in and made my goal.

But now I really don't want to run.

I scheduled in a 5 miler, 10K and 1/2-1/2 marathon to make me train. But yeah...that's not working.

I even just did my taxes to delay running tonight and now it's raining. Yea!!

I've been reading Marathoning For Mortals and Runner's World to try and get fired up to no avil.

PIM starts again on 3/5, so that will hopefully get me back in the swing of things. I still meet them in the off-time, but it's just not the same as having a group run. (I'm so slow I end up running solo & I really don't like running at Memorial - I feel like a hampster on a wheel.)

But I have been doing core work - so far every day this week!

Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathons

2008-01-31T14:25:00.001-06:00

I just signed up Viv and I to do the Seabrook Lucky Trails 1/2 marathon relay on Saturday 3/15!! They have a 1/2 marathon and a 1/2 marathon relay on Saturday and a full marathon, full marathon relay and 1/2 marathon on Sunday.

Still debating if I also want to do the "full" 1/2 marathon on Sunday. That's a LOT of running, but then I would get TWO medals!

I'm going down there this weekend for another Krewe du Lac boat event (the Royal Ball this time - on the Stargazer yacht in the Yachty Gras Parade. Let's hope we don't ram the boardwalk again!!). On Sunday I'm going to check out the marathon route (it's 6-ish miles, so you do it 2 times for the 1/2) and then decide if I think I can handle doing both.

I'd really like a 2nd medal. It's all about the medals!!!

(P.S. -- I taught myself how to make text into links! I'm such a good little (remedial) blogger!)

Houston Half 2009

2008-01-31T11:48:00.000-06:00

I just registered for the Houston Half Marathon 2009!
Today is the last day to register to get the price of the 2008 half marathon - $60.
I guess I'm in this for at least another year.

I should have gotten a hotel room for the San Antonio Rock & Roll (half) Marathon in November. I checked a couple of places today & they're booked already!

Shipwrecked on a paddlewheel boat in Kemah

2008-01-28T13:03:00.001-06:00

Taking a break from regularly scheduled running blogging, here's an Anna-omoly.....

I went on our annual Krewe Du Lac (Kemah Mardi Gras Krewe) paddlewheel boat/bead tossing excursion aboard the paddlewheel boat Spirit of Texas on Sunday. The cruising part came to an abrupt hault after we rammed the boardwalk, ruining a good hunk.

We cruised along the Kemah boardwalk & were throwing beads to the people on the boardwalk. On the 2nd pass the captain came on the PA system and was frantically saying "watch out" (or something like that). I wasn't sure if he was talking to the people on the boardwalk, a boat, or the folks upstairs (I was downstairs at
that point). I looked out the window and realized we were going to ram the boardwalk!

The first hit took out about 8 boards between the Cadillac bar & the Flying Dutchman, leaving a BIG hole in the boardwalk. (So pedestrians would have to go all the way around) The second hit - closer to the bridge, I think right past the Aquarium only marred a
pylon (no boardwalk there), but was a BIG hit that knocked a lot of people on the boat to the ground despite the captain's frantic warnings to hang on (some people sitting in chairs fell over
backwards). Most all cocktails were lost & two people downstairs were bleeding (not sure about upstairs). Some people panicked after that (the drunkards). For the final hit, everyone downstairs was either in a chair or on the floor and braced. That hit wasn't too bad of a jolt & just took out 3 boards on the end of
the walkway.

The captain said (after hit #1) that we lost the engines, throttle & steering. Jennifer said the engines did sound odd before the first hit.

They got the boat tied up to the boardwalk by Pappadeaux and we waited with the band playing on, the bar staying open, and boaters coming by for beads until we had to abandon ship (after about an hour) onto a pontoon party boat in groups of 30 to go back
to Endeavor Marina.

Kemah & Seabrook police both came on board. Someone said the Coast Guard too, but I'm not sure about that. We had to sign a passenger manifest on the rescue boat. And I have a pic of me kissing the dock when we safely arrived back.

Shipwrecked on a paddlewheel boat in Kemah -
hysterical!

Wahoo!
Anna

TexMed 5K and more spending!

2008-01-27T21:04:00.000-06:00

Saturday in 42 degree temp I did the TexMed 5K. I've done this one before & like it because:
- you get a long-sleeved t-shirt
- they have a great after-party with pleanty of food, drink, treats, beer and a rockin' band
- there are a LOT of walkers, so even though I waddle through I still finish in the top 50%.

I did not finish in under 40 minutes, but did finish in 40:30, a 13 minutes/mile pace, which is DAMN (I cussed!) good for me.

Afterwards, I went by Sports Authority to pick up my 1/2 marathon finishers technical shirt (they RAN OUT on race day! I'm almost positive we had to put our size down when we signed up & they ran out!!!)

In our goodie bag from the 1/2 marathon/marathon/5K was a save $20 on a purchase of $75 coupon from Sports Authority, so I spent more -- but I did just get items I needed and were already on sale - 2 bras & a long sleeved under armor shirt.
So -- added to the tally is:
$15.34 sports bra (regularly $35.99)
$23.35 sports bra (regularly $ 37.99)
$27.66 underarmor long sleeved shirt (regularly $44.99)
$71.82 - total with tax.

Not bad for normally-priced $128.97 with of stuff -- but still more spending.....

Running is not cheap!

2008-01-25T20:45:00.000-06:00

In Spirit of the Marathon, someone mentioned that aside from shoes, running doesn't cost anything.
BULL!

On one of my long runs, I started tabulating what all I've spent & I guesstimated it was about $750.
Someone commented that since I've spent that much, I shouldn't have to spend anymore.
Wrong!

I went to Luke's to sign up for the 5K tomorrow & wanted to buy some insoles for my shoes (200 miles, should be able to get another 100-200 out of them). I've been using the ones that come with shoes so far & thought I should upgrade. And I got some sport blocs that I should be having on long (7+ mile) runs.
Then I went and got a running book by John "The Penguin" Bingham I've been wanting.

Man it all adds up quick!
So now, in addition to tracking my miles (on Runner's World), now I want to start tracking my spending. I don't know if Blogger has some neat way to do that, so for now I'll just start writing down expenses:

$11.00 Spirit of the Marathon movie - 1/24
$18.00 Gel insoles for shoes - 1/25
$ 1.80 Black Cherry gel blocs - 1/25
$ 1.25 Razzberry gel - 1/25
$15.95 Marathoning for Mortals book - 1/25
$ 2.50 Run Right Now training/log - 1/25 (not sure if I'll use, but it was $2.50!)
$25.00 TexMed 5K - 1/26
$75.50 total

Spirit of the Marathon

2008-01-24T22:58:00.000-06:00

The movie was great!

I wish they would have gotten more into the science/physiology of running like the NOVA special did. It was great as it though!

In a way, I like that it was a one-showing. The theater was packed and I recognized quite a few folks that run at Memorial - people I've never met, but they knew me & I knew them. Plus, it was nice being in a theater which was probably 98% runners (and 2% spouses of runners). Hearing the reactions of other & the groans/chuckles was fun - you & the rest of the audiance were able to relate to the people in the movie.

The race at the end was Chicago, but it was Chicago 2005 (I think) not this last disasteous one.

After watching the movie, it reinforced my desire to run, but also that presently I don't have the desire to run a full marathon. I realized during the 1/2 that it's about 60% mental. Mentally, i just don't wanna run 26.2 miles. I think in a few years I may want to, but right now I'm quite happy with my 5Ks, 5-milers, 10Ks, and 1/2 marathons.

Wahoo!
Anna

Back running the streets

2008-01-22T19:26:00.000-06:00

Tonight was my first run since the 1/2 marathon nine days ago. According to most of the info I've read, they say don't run for a day per mile, but that just seems crazy. I think maybe that means race-run. I don't do that anyway!

It felt really good to run again. And I did great for me:
- mile 1, 12:06
- mile 2, 14:15 (I took a little walk break in there)
average 13:11/mile

I've pretty much decided to do the TexMed 5K on Saturday. Mainly because Viv is doing it & she's excessively cool. Also, they give out a long-sleeved shirt (at least they did when I did it a couple of years ago).

I hope the weather isn't too crappy to meet up with PIM tomorrow. Even though we don't run together (way too fast for my waddling!) I like to meet up with them.

I blogged -- yeah me!!

Wahoo!
Anna