top five

This past week was a busy one, to say the least.  And I'm anticipating this coming week to be even more busy.  There's Christmas Service reheasals, and then five services packed into three days (www.grace.org/christmas).  And in between there is a Christmas Party for the Wilmington Youth Ministry on Wednesday.  Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I've got to pack for Louisville and find time to get my runs in!  Tis the season...

And while we're on the subject of running, I had some time to think yesterday on my 12.5miler.  I began to think about my current top five winter running related things.  Here's what I came up with:

5. Zumba!  It may not come as a surprise to you that I don't like to cross train.  I know that I should...but I don't.  Until now.  I have been introduced to Zumba and it's so much fun!  One hour of fun, sometimes challenging dance moves that get your heart rate up and your whole body involved.  So. Fun.

4. Tights - Never thought I would wear running tights when I first started running but man, they are so comfortable and perfect for those cold days when you're logging lots of miles.

3. Chocolate Milk - There is nothing more that I want when I get back from a long run than a nice big glass of chocolate milk.  Lots of protein to help with muscle recovery and pure deliciousness.

2. Lake Quannapowitt - I know I've told you before how much I love the lake in my town, but I'm gonna say it again.  It's not only a perfect 3mi loop around (yesterday, I did it twice) but it's beautiful, as well.  And there's always people out walking/running/dog-walking to do some quality people-watching.

Aaaaaaaaaaand finally,

1. Stretching after a good workout - Some people don't like to stretch out, some do.  I'm in the camp that does like to.  It feels very satisfying to stretch out some tight muscles after a good, hard workout.  And it keeps me loose and prevents my muscles from getting too sore.

I'm taking a deep breath and diving into Christmas week!  Hope yours is relaxing and not quite as hectic as mine has turned out to be.  Merry, Merry, everyone!!

christmas wish list

I just read an article on runnersworld.com about the wish lists for a few chosen pro-athletes/runner types.  Check it out here.  Some were practical, some were ridiculous, some were noble and some were just down right weird.

Case in point.  Dave McGillivary, race director for the Boston Marathon, had this as number three on his list:

"Non-sleeping pill–I've always felt that sleep is over rated. As humans, I know we all require sleep, myself included. However, who invented that and why? We are only here for a short period of time. Sleep is such a waste of valuable time. I'd like someone to develop a pill that mimics sleep by slowing your metabolism but allows you to stay awake and function throughout the night. That would be a big seller–well, I'd buy it but not sure anyone else would."

This is in direct juxtaposition from what I posted yesterday.  Our bodies need rest, our minds need rest.  It's good for us!  And quite honestly, the thought of doing stuff (whatever the stuff may be) for 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, sounds awful!!  I get out of bed in the morning thinking how great it will feel to go back to bed at night after a full, satisfying day.  I love my sleep.  I need my sleep!  

To each his own, and all that...but that pill sure won't be making it on my Christmas Wish List!

In case you're wondering what IS on my list:

1. Donations to the Respite Center!!!

2. coffee, in any form.

3. an oversized fisherman's type sweater, like this.

4. Asics GT-2170's - I go through 2-3 pairs of shoes a year.  

What's on your Christmas Wish List?

day(s) of rest

It's been a while...and I must confess:  my run streak is way over.  I was coming down with a nasty head cold and knew that if I didn't take some days off from running (because I couldn't take them off from work!), it would just get worse.  So last Monday was the last day of my run streak.  I took a few days off, threw in a day of Zumba, and finally got back to some mileage this past Monday.  And it felt gooooood!

While I'm bummed I wasn't able to make the run streak last longer, I'm proud of myself for how long it did last (and totally impressed with those still doing it - shout out to my cousin, Carol!!).  Never before have I run 15 days in a row.  Can't say that again!  I've also relearned a valuable lesson:  rest days are important.

I wasn't making every run an intense one, but I might have unconsciously tried to.  I wasn't running as far as I could each time, but like I mentioned before, it's hard to stop at just one mile...  It just turned out that right now, at this time, my body couldn't take it.  Fighting off the sickness was more important to me that fighting to keep the streak alive.

Because, in case you haven't heard, I've got a marathon to train for!  I think it was good to relearn this lesson now rather than halfway into my training.  It's good to take a day or two a week to let the muscles heal, let my body rest and repair before assaulting it again with miles and miles.  Even our Creator took a day off and created a whole day for us to be still - it's a built in rest day!!

I plan to get a few miles of speedwork in at the gym tonight - not my favorite.  Tomorrow night is Zumba (seriously, if you haven't tried it, get some friends together and head to the gym.  It's so fun!!  But mainly just for women...).  Saturday is going to be a long run; and I can't wait for it...  Sunday will be my day of rest, in more ways than one.

getting by with a little help from friends

The past few days of the run streak have been tough...  I'm now sick.  It's just a head cold (coughing, sneezing, runny nose) but it makes sleeping harder, which is what I need to get over it.  Oh, the irony...

I have SOOOOO been wanting to give up, get some rest and get rid of this icky feeling.  But I SOOOOO want to finish out this streak business too!  Decisions, decisions.  I need to figure out at what point do I call it quits.  I'm not there just yet...

Totals:
Friday - 2.16
Saturday - 10.65 with my friend, John!  Without him I would have run slower and shorter.  Yay, accountability!
Sunday - 4.21
Monday - 2.59 - with my friend, Kirsten at 9:20pm after a dinner party with lots of fun friends.  (True Friends run with you after a dinner party, late in the evening...) 

Thanks to Johnny and Kirsten.  Couldn't have kept it alive without you!!!  :)

look what i got!

There's absolutely no turning  back now!  I received my Invitational Entry from the Respite Center in the mail yesterday.  It is currently on it's way back to Hopkinton and soon I will be officially registered for Boston!  SO EXCITING!

day 11

I have never run this many days in a row.  And I know why too:  It's hard!  I'm tired!  Today, I wondered why I was doing this?  Not sure, other than to say I did it...

I thought about only running a mile today, but once I get going it's hard to train my brain to run slower and shorter than if I was actually in training.  Because when you're training, the runs mean something.  You've got to get a certain amount of mileage in each week - a hill run, a tempo run, a speed workout and a long slow run.

But when you're not really training for anything the runs don't really matter as much.  I'm much more free to just enjoy myself with out worrying about pace or how many more miles.  As long as it's more than one mile each day, I'm golden!

It's a new way of thinking.  One that I can give in to until January 1st.  And that begins Boston Marathon Training.  (Nervous Excitement!)

For the record:
Sunday: 1 (you recall the Mt. Dew debacle...)
Monday:  4.81
Tuesday:  4 (at a sweltering gym)
Wednesday:  6.6
Thursday:  2.76

just say no

I made a foolish bet with a friend on Thanksgiving.  I bet against the Packers and for the Lions - being from Michigan, I want to see Detroit do well!  The wager was this:  If the Packers lost, my friend (who hates running) would have to run 5miles.  If the Lions lost, I would have to drink a liter of Mountain Dew (I don't drink soda). 

Unfortunately for me, the Lions lost.  My time to honor my commitment to drinking rocket fuel (aka Mountain Dew) came on Sunday morning.  Just as I was preparing to teach middle schoolers and high schoolers about developing a good reputation and character lessons from the book of Ruth.  Let that be a lesson to them:  don't bet against an undefeated team, especially when the team you're rooting for hasn't won a Thanksgiving Day game in quite some time.

I didn't have a problem with the drink (beside the fact that there are only about three pronounceable ingredients: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and yellow #5), the problem came after the drink had been polished off; chugstyle in front of 5-6 middle school boys who now undoubtedly have much more respect for me.

I was sitting in the worship service and felt my heart start to beat with gusto...not necessarily fast, but just intensely.  Like I could feel every beat through my whole body.  Then my extremities started to feel funny:  my feet got tingly, my fingers were going numb.  And then it was like an assault on my stomach.  Nothing pretty happens from there.  My friend said this was all in my head, but believe me, when you don't ever drink stuff like that, that stuff will attack you.  And nothing good ever comes from an attack.

It hit me when I emerged from the fog that takes place after such a large consumption of sugar:  no wonder there is an obesity epidemic in America!  There's this haze that settled over me when I started to crash.  I didn't want to do anything but lie on the couch.  I cared about nothing but what episode of 30 Rock I'd watch next.  I didn't feel like running.  I didn't feel like cleaning, or folding my laundry.  I just wanted to sit on my bum and shut down. 

Which is why I only ran one mile yesterday.  I felt horrible all day and there was no way I was even attempting a long run.  And I vow to never drink Mountain Dew ever again.  To any bets involving the stuff, I will just say, No Thank You!