Bragging Rights

OK, I don't usually post more than once a week, cause after sitting on a computer all day at work, I just can't do it when I get home. However, tonight I was just way too excited about my run and needed a moment to pat myself on the back.

I came home from work tonight and decided to go for a short run since we missed out on the gym this morning. It seems a Telemundo event at UM (our gym) was hogging all the parking so we came home and walked the dog instead. Anyway, I had a lot of energy after a long days work and the weather was warm and pleasant without being horridly humid.

I headed out alone and not only did I run a PR for my normal, short 3.2 mile campus loop. But I ran it in, (drum roll)

27:28!!!!

For those of us "mathmatically challenged" folk, that's a 8:31 pace!!!

Splits
1 - 8:55
2 - 8:31
3 - 8:23
1.38

Look at all those EIGHTS!

I really can't believe it. I don't know why I am so happy about it. I PR on this course often since I run it so much and since I have been running with J my times have been getting faster, (of course, it doesn't feel that way when I am running next to him cursing under my breath about him not slowing down for me, but whatever...).

For some reason though tonight, it seemed really fast. Maybe because I ran it alone and wasn't running fast just to look good in front of J's buddies, or to keep him from having a slow run. It was just me, and my random neighbors watering their lawns I needed to impress. I really can't believe that one year ago I was struggling around the same 3.2 mile loop, cutting my runs short and barely maintaining a 10:30 minute mile pace for 3 miles. I am so proud of myself for coming so far in my running in the past year, doing it smart and staying injury-free (knock on wood).

OK, I'm done.

We also had a good run Monday morning around the golf course with Kevin and Kenia.

5.6 mile - 53:29 (9:33 pace)

No PR, but a really nice run, and I felt great at the end of that one. Unlike my wonderful run today in which I felt I was going to drop dead on my front lawn for about 20 seconds when it was over.

Whatever, I still feel like a rockstar. Of course, I have to get up in 6.5 hours to go for another run. And we all know how rockstars are in the morning...

Spring Training

I'm back in the swing of things after sitting on my butt and whining all last week. I'm feeling better, more energetic and ready to get serious again about running, lifting weights and getting in shape in time for the upcoming marathon training and summer in general. I really need to spend the next few weeks eating better and toning up. I have come to the realization that I can run all I want, but my body is stuck and I need to get serious about NOT skipping my gym days. I always feel better after lifting, especially after a weekend-long food fest when family comes to visit.

Last weekend my parents came to town to celebrate J's birthday. It's always great to see them and we had a nice time showing them around Miami and relaxing around the house. Of course we ate waaaay too much, but what's a celebration without food? And alcohol. And more food...

I was also pretty excited to get my brand new t-shirt quilt that my mom made for me.



She decided a few months ago she needed a hobby and settled on quilting. I told her I always wanted a tshirt quilt so she was excited to make one for me as her first project. I brought her a bunch of old tshirts the last time I was in Sarasota that I dont really wear anymore but can't bring myself to throw away. I am a tshirt JUNKIE, I'm talking dozens and dozens, so I had no problems finding old shirts for her to use. It came out great and I love looking at it and reminiscing about all my old favorite bars, restaurants, concerts, places I've lived, etc. Maybe one day I will get a running quilt.

Anyway, here are my workouts since my last post.

4/14 (Sat) - 3.22 miles/27:56 (8:40 pace) Hot, humid and miserable
4/16 (Mon) - 5.6 miles/53:33 (9:33 pace) Decent run
4/18 (Wed) - 5.6 miles/ 51:21 (9:10 pace) Beautiful morning, great run.
4/19 (Thurs) - Hour long walk with Zero
4/20 (Fri) - 5.66 miles/51:34 (9:06 pace) Farthest run EVER without stopping once! Felt great. Yay me!
4/21 (Sat) - Gym. Abs, Lift, 30 minutes elliptical
4/22 (Sun) - 5.78 miles/54:58 (9:30 pace) Late run so very warm, but nice breeze.

Not bad. I'm finally feeling pretty motivated. It was hard to get back into it again after the Sarasota Half.

Every excuse in the book

I've been busy with work, life, etc. and haven't had too much time to write. I have also been extremely lazy, which keeps me from having too much to write about in the old running blog.

I was pretty good last week. Not as well as I had hoped with my newly dreamed up plan, but not bad.I had three really good runs and racked up quite a few miles.

Sunday - Gym - Lift, 40 minutes elliptical
Monday - 5.6 miles - 53:12 Humid and pretty tired
Wednesday - 5.6 miles - 52:54 REALLY humid, but a decent run
Saturday - 10.7 miles - 1:45:39 Really good run with Jeremy, perfect weather, sunny and in the 60's.

Good thing we did the 10 miler because later we went to Taverna Opa on the beach with some friends for Kevin's birthday.



It's a greek place with good food (and a lot of it), good ouzo,



and lots of dancing on tables and napkin tossing.



Anyway, it was a good night. Then the next day was Easter where we proceeded to eat waaaaaay too many dishes prepared with cheese. So good yet so bad. Oh yeah, and chocolate. Dont' forget that. Cadbury Creme Eggs have some protein, right?



So, after that Monday's run pretty much sucked. We went out for out 5.6 miler, but cut it short after about 4 miles, (which I haven't done in FOREVER). My stomach was bothering me and I was feeling really bloated and dizzy. Also, it's always hard the first week or two of humidity to get back into the swing of things.

Last month my excuse was the time change, now it's the humidity.

Anyway, since then I have been finding every excuse not to get up and run. From an early morning downpour (excusable even though we could have gone to the gym instead) to late nights up because of work obligations (could have run after work) to now cleaning the house because my parents are coming for J's birthday this weekend, I have every cop-out down to a tee.

I really am running in the morning. I swear.

Sooooo Sleepy

I have no idea why, but I have been sooooo tired the past few days. Simply exhausted. I'm not pregnant and don't feel like I'm getting sick, so I'm not really sure what's going on. All I want to do is nap though. I think we should be allowed to nap more often, who's with me on this?



This week has been a pretty slow running week. I only did one run on Wednesday around campus. Actually, I must have been on some running high from the Celeb 5K, since I ran it in my best time ever, (3.2 miles - 26:45). So that was pretty cool. I have to admit, I was getting a bit cocky thinking about how great it has been to run so many PR's in such a short amount of time.

Then I ran 8 miles on Saturday.

Ha, that one definitely knocked me back down to my level. It was not good. My stomach was killing me the entire time and I was just so tired. Jeremy was a trooper and hung with me, even though I could tell he was itching to go a bit faster. And I even felt bad about the snotty way I yelled "You're killing me!" when he started the run way too fast and waited too long for the first couple walk breaks. Poor guy.

Today we went to the gym and did some light lifting about 40 minutes on the elliptical machine. I think we are going to try to get back to our old training routine of:

Monday - run
Tuesday - gym
Wednesday - run
Thursday - gym
Friday - rest
Saturday - long run
Sunday - gym

We'll see how that goes. Especially now with all that energy that I dont have.