Happy Memorial Day

Things have been pretty damn hot around here lately. The run this morning was brutal (7:45am). I can't believe how flipping hot it is outside. During those wretched 3.2 miles today, I decided that I will no longer run in the mornings if the sun is out, which should be interesting considering the sun comes up now around 6am. I just can't take the Miami summer heat. The run this morning can only be described as thick. The humidity made it feel similar to what I would imagine running in maple syrup would feel like. If the maple syrup was boiling on the stove that is.

Yesterday's run was no walk in the park either. Actually I did a little walking in the park at one point since I was exhausted from the heat. We were going to do 8 miles, but had to cut it down to a little over 6. And I felt those 6 miles for the rest of the day.

Here is my week so far. A little more motivated than last.

Tuesday - 5.6/53:02 - 9:28 pace
Wednesday - 6 (?)/58:30 (Run with Mercy, not sure of exact distance)
Saturday - gym, lift, abs, 30 minutes elliptical, 20 minutes stepmill :(
Sunday - 6.14/1:08:42 - 11:11 pace (did I mention it was warm?)
Monday - 3.2/28:40 - 8:54 pace (not bad pace, but miserable run)

I'm not sure how much running I will get in this week and over the weekend since I will be in Ft. Lauderdale with J helping him with his NASSM conference he and his colleagues are hosting. Apparently, I am the official photographer which is seriously going to cut into my pool/pina colada time. Oh well. When I get back it will be MARATHON TRAINING TIME!!!! I better get in some R&R now.

Busy wasting time

So I had to change things up a bit here. As a graphic designer I get a bit bored looking at the same visual stimuli for too long so I changed my template. I also started a new photojournal in an attempt to force myself into shooting at least once a day. I love playing with my cameras and take one with me everywhere I go so I'm hoping this little experiment will help my photography skills as well as a give me an easy way to document my life with as little typing as possible.

I also finally posted a countdown clock for my first marathon that I found on Micki's page. Maybe if I stare at that clock ticking down it will inspire me to get off my butt and run some more.

Last week was ok. I got a few good workouts in.

Monday -05/07- Gym - Lift and Abs
Tuesday - 05/08 - 5.6 miles/51:32 - 9:12 pace (good run)
Wednesday - 05/09 - off
Thursday -05/10 - 3.2 miles/27:01 - 8:23 pace (NEW PR!!!)
Friday - 05/11 - off
Saturday - 05/12- 10.71 miles/1:44:36 - 9:45 pace
Sunday - 05/13 - Gym - lift, abs, 45 minutes elliptical

Not too shabby. During the 10 mile run on Saturday we ran past a 10K that was going on. We didn't even realize we were running on their course. We were like,

"Why are there traffic cones and cops everywhere?"

Then all the sudden a few thousand people were running towards us. It was pretty funny. It also gave me the motivational boost I needed to get moving.

The Thursday run was pretty awesome too. Another PR for the campus loop. Only ONE SECOND shy of a sub 27 minute run. Oh well. It's coming soon, I can feel it.

Actually I think I was feeling inspired running with Jeremy that morning since it was our anniversary.



Awwww...four years of wedded bliss. We both worked all day but had a nice dinner later at Flemming's Steakhouse. And of course, a super-fast run with him was a nice way to start the day.

This past week wasn't so good as far as running is concerned. I wasn't feeling so hot earlier this week so I just took some time to sleep in before work. After work I was feeling exhausted so I just relaxed. I did manage to get in two workouts at the gym.

Monday - 5/14 - Gym - Lift and abs
Sunday (today) - 5/20 - Gym - Lift, abs, 40 minutes elliptical, 10 minutes stepmill

I was beating myself up about it. Then I realized in a few weeks I would be running my brains out in the Miami summer heat at least 5 days a week while I train for my first marathon. That made me feel better.

Oh yeah, and I went to the beach again yesterday!



Not that I'm trying to rub it in or anything ;)

Aaaannd the Pendulum Swings Back...

So, yeah...

Remember what a badass I was a week and a half ago when I ran all those miles in one week (31:11 miles to be exact) and was so cool and proud and felt like a rockstar and blah, blah, blah...? Well, it seems as though old Newton's Law of Universal Gravity (what goes up must come down) is in full force as far as my running is concerned.

Last week I ran a total of...drumroll...

3.1 miles

(Insert Debbie Downer soundbite here)


I'm not quite sure what prompts me to run my ass off one week, then decide the next week that I can become totally lazy. It's not like I was tired from the mileage. I wasn't burnt out at all. I'm not injured. I'm not busy. It's almost like something in my brain gets all fired up and tells me I am a dedicated runner (something I am still coming to terms with since I was never an athletic child/teen/young adult). I make a plan and go, go, go. Not all Type-A, but with regular common sense. Then, I reach a short goal (a good mileage week, five pounds lost, a PR on an easy race, etc), I get all cocky and something deep down inside tells me,

"It's OK. You can quit pretending so hard to be a healthy athlete. Sit down and relax and be the lazy bum you really are. You deserve it, you ran over 30 miles last week! You wouldn't have done that 10 years ago!"

Stupid devil's advocate.

It seems to me that I have a severe case of Bipolar Running.

It always seems to happen this way. I get on a roll for a short amount of time. Then I pat myself on the back for a job well done and reward myself with laziness (my favorite treat), not just in running, but with any excercise program and eating in general, which is the main reason I have always had issues with my weight and health. I guess it's just annoying that as I've gotten older I seem to have gotten a grip on this aspect of my psyche with every issue except running and eating. I often wonder how many other runners and people in general out there who always seem like they have their sh%t so together go through this very same thing.

Anyway, enough whining. Last week wasn't a total bust. I did go to the gym last Monday to do some light lifting. And those 3.1 miles I ran were for the Mercedes Benz Corporate Run in downtown Miami. It was a decent race, but HUGE (21,000 people running a 5K). It was also extremely hot (upper 80's). I ran a good time (29:07) considering the conditions. I actually wasn't even going to run it that fast, but my friend Mercy was runnning with me and wanted to try for a good time. Actually out of the people that ran from our company ( I think about 20-25 ran), her and I were the 3rd and 4th fastest back and the first girls. Here we are after the run at the company tent.



Look how happy she looks! She will kill me if she see's I posted this picture.

And finally...
the main reason I didn't do a long run this weekend was because we put it off until Sunday, then when we woke up it was so beautiful we decided to spend the morning on South Beach instead.







Yeah, I guess sometimes running can wait a day or two.

Going and Going...

I did some serious running last week.



I logged 31.11 miles from last Saturday to this past Sunday. That is the most I have ever done in one week and that includes the times I was training for the two half mary's. Considering I'm not training for anything and just running to run, I am pretty proud of myself. Although, lets be honest...this wont be an every week occurrence. I think I just had a alot of energy.

After last Tuesdays 3.2 miler around campus I was inspired. Wednesday morning I had a nice run with J and Kevin around the golf course (5.6miles/52:41/9:24 pace). Thursday after work I ran with my friend Mercy around her hood which she said it was slightly over 6 miles (56:26). Although I love running with J, it was nice to switch things up and run with someone different and in a new environment. We also talked the entire time which made the run fly by.

Friday and Saturday I took the days off (mostly due to an excessive birthday celebration). Then Sunday morning J and I did our long run. We totally lucked out and woke up to a beautiful, sunny, warm, yet low-humidy filled morning. The run was great. Well, at least for the first six miles, then I started to wear out. We ran from the circle to the toll booth to Key Biscaye (10.71 miles). After we were done I realized why I was so dead. Our time was 1:44:13 (9:43 pace). While it was no world record, it was definitely faster than I have ever run that distance before. I was exhausted for the rest of the day.

Monday I went to the gym to just do some easy lifting before work (yawn).

Oh yeah, and I cut off all my hair.



Yes, it's very short and I love it! Just in time for summer!

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.

Celebrity 5K

We had another race this weekend. Luckily it was 10 miles shorter than my last couple of competitions.



The Celebrity 5K to benefit the Homeless was this past Sunday on Miami Beach which we went to with our friends Andy, Glenna, Kevin and Marissa.



The weather was beautiful (sunny, breezy and in the upper 70's), it was well organized, lots of entertainment and there were plenty of Port-O-Potties at the start (my personal favorite). They did however use the term "celebrity" pretty loosly in this case. With the exception of course, of the Queen of Miami herself, Ms. Gloria Estefan.



Don't ask me who the guy is behind her.

The race started at the Miami Children's Museum. While we all hung out before the race, we split up at the start since I wanted to run for time. I hadn't done a 5K since the Turkey Trot in November and wanted to see if I could beat it (28:31). Jer and I took off at the start and maneuvered our way through the throngs of people in front of us. There was a pretty decent crowd, around 3,000 and we we didn't bother to make our way up to the front in the starting gate while we were waiting, which we paid for when the race started.

I have to admit, I dont really remember much about the run. It seemed so much shorter after running a couple Half-Marathons, but it wasn't easy since I was running at a faster pace than I normally do. Plus the whole race was into a headwind facing the Miami sun, which is NOT cool. Oh and the bridge...I forgot about that. That sucked too. So basically I was not happy the whole time I was running. Jeremy told me later, he looked over at me during the run and I looked really angry, so he didn't talk to me. Funny, that's WHY I needed him to talk to me, to take my mind off my misery. It was pretty nice to see mile marker 3 though and know I didn't have 10 more miles to go.

All my grumpiness paid off. I came in at 26:45, a new 5k PR!!!!

My chip time said 27:42, but they didn't have a mat at the start and were going by clock time. Here are the old splits:
1) 9:10
2) 8:26 (not bad for the wind and bridge)
3) 8:21
.1) :45

I came in 11th out of 137 in my female age group (30-34)!!! I thought maybe we were just slow, but I looked in the age group under mine (25-29) and I would have been 19th out of 160, so it's still a pretty decent time, (dumb I know, but I was curious). :)

I was so excited! That is 1:44 off my best time! I have to say alot of this is thanks to Jeremy. Even though he didn't "talk" to me, I would have slowed down without him. Of course, for 26 minutes he pissed me off, but my lazy-ass needs that push. I would have never run that fast if he hadn't been there. Funny how he pushes me without saying a word.

After the race we met up with everyone and went to the afterparty at Nikki Beach, where they fed us a gourmet brunch (fancy bagels) and gave out awards.



It was really nice and I joke, but the spread was really good. Also, it was the first 5K I have ever been in that gave out medals to all finishers. And not dinky ones either, but really nice spinner medals, pretty impressive. Afterwards we hopped on a shuttle that took us back to the start (another very well organized part of the race).



All in all it was a great run. If anyone is in Miami in March looking for a 5K to run, I highly recommend it. And it's for a really good cause.

Listen to Your Instincts

Sometimes it's hard to hear that little voice inside your head that is telling you to do all the things in your life that are good for you.

Even if it's screaming at you.

Jeremy and I had planned to go for our 5.6 golf course run early this morning which was totally fine with me. Until I decided to polish off a bottle of red wine last night while catching old episodes of Sex and the City. I woke up without a hangover but was really tired. As Jeremy sat in the living room at 5:45am waiting for me to get dressed, I hemmed and hawed in the bedroom trying to think of every excuse in the book not to go. Although the windows were open and the last few remaining days of humidity-free Miami weather were calling to me, I just wasn't having it.

I walked to the living room and whined.

"I don't feel like going..."

Instead of encouraging words, his response was brief.

"Fine"

GUILT!!!

This is why running with your husband is wonderful and terrible all at the same time.

Anyway, I went (stupid guilt) and it was a beautiful morning. Once I got out there I felt great, very light and calm for some reason. Our friend Kevin was there when we arrived so we started our run together.

One of my goals for this year is to try to run a 10k without doing walk breaks. I always do 3-4 miles walk-break free, but anything beyond that I usually add them, including our 5.6 mile runs in the morning. Even if we cut the walk breaks back, I usually do at least three. Since Kevin was there and he doesn't do them I told Jeremy we should try to just run the whole thing (by WE I meant ME since we all know they can run circles around me walk breaks or not). He asked if I was sure and since I was feeling so well around mile 1 I decided it was a good day to try.

Long story short. The run rocked. Not only did I cut out all walk breaks (with the exception of the mandatory stop we do for water around mile 2), but I also ran an average of a SUB 9 MINUTE MILE the WHOLE TIME!!! The 4th mile was rough, but having the boys there talking helped to take my mind off things.

Final stats:
5.6 miles
50:14 minutes
Ave pace: 8:58 per mile
PR for course!!! Next goal sub 50 minutes (soooo close)!

Moral of the story: Always run when you are trying to find excuses not to. They are always your best bet. It's fate's way of tricking you into keeping up the excercise.

I'm on to you Fate.

Lazyyyyyyy...

...well, until today that is.

I have to admit, I didn't run 5 steps the week after the Sarasota Half Marathon. Is that a good idea for the whole "training" thing? Probably not. But it felt sooooo good to be totally lazy again. Lucky for me, I now know better than to stick with that plan for too long.

I did manage to make it to the gym a couple of times for some weight training and some fun on the elliptical machine. But that was about it. With the whole early time-change, it seems harder than normal to drag myself out of bed in the morning. So I pretty much slept in every day and went to work. Imagine my surprise when I would come home from work stressed out and mad every night and couldn't figure out why.

Then last Wednesday after work the sun was still shining and the weather was beautiful so I decided to go for a short 3.2 mile run around campus. It was so much better than I had expected (29:31), considering I hadn't run since Sarasota and the difference in how I felt when I was done was amazing. All the sudden my stress was gone...imagine that. So yeah, I started running again.

Saturday, Jeremy and I went on a 7.2 mile morning run up to Cocowalk and back (1:12). It was a little warm out, but only because we didn't start till 10am. Then this morning we went for our morning 5.6 mile run (53:51). I was perfect. Not too fast, but not slow. It stayed nice and dark almost until the very end (which I love) and the sunrise at the end was beautiful. Oh yeah, the no humidity, slight breeze and cool weather helped too.

Guess it's time to stop being lazy and enjoy the cooler mornings.
Sigh...

The 2007 Sarasota Half-Marathon

Well, the Sarasota Half Marathon is over and it was a huge success. So huge in fact, I still can't believe it myself.

Chip time - 2:09:32.

That's right, 15 minutes off my Half Marathon time from just 5 weeks ago! I knew I was holding back a little bit during the Miami Half, but I really didn't expect to do a sub 2:10. I think maybe I was hoping it somewhere in the back of my mind, but I didn't want to say it outloud in case I jinxed myself. Actually, had the weather not been so perfect, I'm sure it would have added a minute or two (or five) to my overall time.

Jeremy and I drove up to Sarasota on Thursday night after work. Since it is about a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive, we got in around 11pm, talked to my mom for a bit and went to bed. Friday we got up early and headed downtown for lunch. Afterwards, we strolled around the bayfront as I played with one of my new camera lenses.





We went to the expo at around 4pm to pick up our packets but didn't stay too long. It wasn't the biggest expo in the world, which made it easy to walk through it quickly and avoid spending too much money. The race tshirt was cute too with the little grouper logo on it.



Sunday morning we went to the Broken Egg for breakfast with my parents and ate blueberry pancakes the size of my head. We all hung out the whole day and later my dad made an awesome spaghetti dinner for us with garlic bread and a salad. I didn't get to take a bath like I like to do the night before a race but I did stand in the hot shower for about 20 minutes. It helped loosen up the muscles and relax me for a good nights sleep.

On gameday we woke up a little after 4am. We packed our bag the night before so we pretty much just got dressed, drank water, ate half a Cliff Bar and took off. By South Florida standards, it was pretty chilly outside (HA! - in the 50's) with just a slight breeze, so it was really, really nice. Pretty much perfect conditions for running.

We drove to Ringling Museum of Art where the race began and parked fairly easily. Of course as soon as I got there I had to use the bathroom so I got in line to wait.



But after about 15 minutes of standing still, I decided to just find a bush. Aahhh, the realities of running. Why is it there are NEVER enough port-o-potties?

After that we gathered in the corral and only waited about 5-10 minutes before the race started. The weather could not have been better and I felt great. I was also really excited about running with Jeremy. Since the Miami Race, we have been running together at least 3 days a week and it has been really nice. He gets me running faster, but he never pushes me or makes me uncomfortable. He is truly a great running partner.

Awwww..shucks.

The race began at 6am with the Half and Full starting together. The first few miles were through a neighborhood that had NO lights, so that was a bit rough in the dark with 2,500 other people. Somehow we managed to not get run over. It also made it a bit hard to take walk breaks at first so we tried to jump up in the grass when we had to slow down. Jeremy did a pretty good job of giving me a fair warning when our breaks were coming so I could maneuver around everyone. We had decided to try to run the first few miles around a 10:30 pace (with 5:1 walk breaks) and did a good job of pacing ourselves right on. As the sun came up and the miles wore on, we both felt great and the scenery started getting better. As a matter of fact, for about the first 8 miles, I barely felt like I was running at all. I attribute this to the perfect climate and good company.

After the neighborhoods, we did a stretch down US 41 which was a bit boring and a little scary since half the road was still open to traffic. We were a little to close for comfort to some of these cars driven by random retirees when it's barely light outside. Who drives that early on a Sunday morning anyway?

Then we came to the new John Ringling Causeway which is beautiful, but a lot taller than I remembered.



Especially the second time we had to run across it...with a headwind...at mile 8.



As we turned around and headed back to the museum, that's when I started feeling it. US 41 didn't seem so short and sweet on the way back. And since when was it uphill? I lived in that town for 12 years and never remember 41 being on an incline. Once we got back to the neighborhoods, I didn't care as much to look at the quaint houses in the daylight as I had thought I would when we were running out.

Our strategy going into the race was to see how I felt at mile 10 and then we could forgo the walk breaks if I was up for it. I thought I could do it, but luckily Jeremy made me stop one more time at mile 11. Good thing, because the last 2 miles were a lot harder than I had expected. I knew I could do it, but I was feeling a little nauseous and I REALLY wanted one more walk break. The hard part was, I had no idea where we were or how far we were from the finish. The final half mile was filled with all these twists and turns and banyan trees. I saw what seemed like a million runners walking towards us with their medals around their necks cheering us on, but where were they coming from??? I wanted to kill one guy when he said,

"Good job guys...come on...only two more football fields to go!!!"

Um...I am no football whiz, but at that moment he may as well have told me I had another 20 miles to run. Football fields are HUGE!!!

But there was Jeremy, whispering to me how strong I was and how I could do it and not to leave it at mile 12. It sounds so stupid, but for once, I really, really neeeded someone to cheer me on. A hard thing for me to admit.

When I finally saw the finish and looked at my watch I realized I was very close to running a sub 2:10. We took off as fast as my feet could go and ran across the finish. It was a total blur and definitely much harder than Miami, but I wasn't dying and after about 3 minutes, I felt fine. It was an awesome run, perfect weather and so much fun.






Here are my splits:
1) 10:37
2) 10:21
3) 10:24
4) 9:47
5) 10:14
6) 9:32
7) 10:19
8/9) 19:36 (missed a mile marker?)
10) 9:44
11) 9:28 (no wonder I was getting tired)
12) 9:35
13.1) 9:51

It was such a great day and a huge accomplishment for me. I kind of feel like a dork saying it, but I am really proud of myself for this. It's amazing how much a 13 mile journey can change someone's perspective.

The Second Half of My Marathon

If I run two Half-Marathons, it's almost like running a Full, right?

Ha, I know that is so not true.

This weekend Jer and I venture up to Sarasota to run the Sarasota Half Marathon which will be my second Half Marathon to date. The race got great reviews last year and is supposed to be a beautiful course, so it should be a good time.I am excited to not only run the race but also do it with Jeremy. It will be the first race we have run side-by-side since the Race for the Cure back in 2000.

Mostly though, I am just looking forward to getting out of Miami for a few days. Sometimes, life is hectic here. Going back to my parent's house is always relaxing and Sarasota/Bradenton is just so much more laid back than Miami. We just need to get away for a bit.

So my last few runs have been pretty good. I am still having trouble getting out of bed at 6am to go lift at the gym, but I do manage to get in at least 3 runs a week, pretty honorable if you ask me.

Last week I ran another PR for my 3.2 mile course around campus. I ran it by myself and logged in at 28:04. That was a great feeling.

Saturday, Jeremy and I slept in untill 8am and then went for a nice 9 mile run through Coconut Grove. Even though we slept in, the weather was still perfect. Sunny, in the 70's and low, low, low humidity. It was awesome. The perfect day for a long run.

Here's my recent activity:
2/21 - 3.2 miles - 28:04
2/24 - 9.03 miles - 1:30:04 (a little over a minute per mile faster than my training pace for the Miami Half)
2/25 - Gym - Lift/Abs/ 30 minutes, Elliptical
2/26 - 5.6 miles - 54:33 (humid again)

I am going to do one more slow 3 mile run tomorrow morning to get loosened up and then that's it before Sunday. Since my last time was 2:24, my goal for this one is around 2:15. I think if the we start out slow and the weather cooperates (they are predicting a high of 68 and partly cloudy) I should be ok...hopefully. If not, as long as I come in around 2:20 I will be satisfied. But running with Jeremy pushes me a little harder, so hopefully I'll do myself proud.

Oh, and we signed up for another race tonight. The Celebrity 5k on March 25th. Apparenty, there is a red carpet invloved somehow. Miami is a funny place.

Life After the Race

Good news, I didn’t lose my toenail. It only came off a little bit, but since the nail is small, it barely made a difference. The pain is gone too. Can’t say the same about Jeremy’s though. His big toe is a hot mess ever since the marathon. Poor guy.

So, we pretty much have our whole year planned as far as running is concerned. Since the training and race experience for the Miami Half was such a success, I have decided to sign up for the Sarasota Half Marathon, which is actually in two weeks. It is in my hometown and where my parents live now, so it will be nice to run in such a beautiful course that I know so well.

We have also already signed up for not one but TWO full marathons this year. My first will be the Columbus Marathon, October 21st. I love Columbus, Ohio so much and since it is where Jeremy and I met, it will be really special for me to do my first full there. He is even going to slow down and run it with me. I can’t wait to go back, see the leaves turning colors, go to an Ohio State football game and hang out at all our favorite places again. We are also going with our friends Kevin and Marissa. Kevin went to Ohio State, so he is excited to go back as well.

Then we signed up during the registration blitz for the Miami Full for next January. If you signed up before a certain date, you got a percentage off, so I got in for around $40. Not too bad. That way, Jeremy can run it with his normal group and I can train with my Footworks group again.

I have been doing pretty well keeping up the running since the marathon. The only problem is thatmy appetite is out of control. I can’t seem to eat enough. Also, since it has been cooler the last few weeks, it has made it really difficult for us to get motivated to get out of bed in the mornings to run. I know this is stupid, since all I do is complain about the heat and humidity down here, but when it’s in the 40’s and the windows are open and you are under all the blankets snuggled between a warm husband and a purring cat, running just doesn’t sound like so much fun.

However, we haven’t given up completely. We have been running at least 3-4 times a week still and even manage to get to the gym every now and then for a lift session. Soon, we will be on a more regular schedule every week which should include lifting 2 times, two regular runs, one long run and a leg session/ hour-long cardio day at the gym. We just haven’t been able to get into that motivated place yet. Also, since Jeremy has been training for marathons non-stop pretty much for the past year and a half, I think he is getting a bit burned out.

To mix it up a bit, we have been finding new places for our Saturday morning long runs. Two weeks ago we ran up South Beach. We started at Smith and Wollensky’s and ran to the Eden Roc Hotel and back for a nice 8 mile run. The weather was beautiful and my new running sunglasses worked like a charm.

Last Saturday we woke up a bit later since it was nice and cool out and drove out to Key Biscayne. We did a 10-mile run through Crandon Park and back over the Rickebacker Causeway and bridge. It was a great day for a run, sunny and cool until we got to the bridge, where is suddenly got windy and bitter. But we finished strong and I ran it at the fastest pace I had ever run that distance. Then on Monday of this week, we braved the cold (low 40’s, freezing for Miami) to go on our golf course loop. I ended up with a PR for the course at 52:24 /5.6 miles, so that was pretty exciting. Amazing what cold weather and no humidity can do for your running. Here is a rundown of my last few runs:

2/5/07 - 5.6 miles / 53:33
2/9/07 – 5.6 miles / 53:00 (PR)
2/10/07 – 8.1 miles / 1:20:09
2/15/07 – 5.6 miles / 53:31
2/17/07 – 10.74 miles / 1:43:09
2/19/07 – 5.6 miles / 52.24 (PR)

All in all, pretty good, not too much slacking in there. Even got a couple of PR’s for the golf course route. Running with Jeremy has really been helping out my speed. Well, that and the weather.

Of course, it will be in the 80’s again by Saturday, so I will have something new to bitch about.

More Marathon Pics

Here are some more fun shots from the ING Miami Marathon courtesy of Action Sports International.

Me. This is the very best picture on there, and it's rough.


Jeremy, hot husband.


Tracy and Lesley, my running buddies throughout training and the race.


Andy and Glenna, so cute.


Kevin and Marissa. He ran the last mile in with her after running his marathon so he could cross the finish with her for her first marathon.


Good times.

So today was my first run back since the race and the feaking weather is killing me. I ran 6 miles with Jeremy at 8am and it was in the upper seventies with about 80% humidity. What a difference it makes starting at 8am as opposed to 6am. I wont be making that mistake again.

Other than that the run was ok. My legs are a bit heavy still, but not too bad. We ran at roughly a 9:30 pace which is 1:30 faster than my Half Marathon time, which may have been another reason for feeling so rough today.

Also, I think my toenail is coming off. I am afraid to take off the dark nailpolish to look at it. It is killing me though. At least it's not the big toe. Stupid wet shoes.

13.1 Wet, Humid, Wonderful Miles

I did it. I am officially a half-marathon finisher! Here is my proof.



I am quite proud of my time too, considering my long run average was much slower, the weather (more on that in a moment) and the fact that it is sometimes hard to get a good pace in a race with thousands of people. Last week I was hoping for 2:40. Then the day of the race I figured I would be able to do 2:30. So to come in at 2:24:05 is quite an accomplishment. Especially since the whole race I felt like I was holding back. Anyway, here is my event rundown.

Saturday morning Jer and I met up with Kevin, Marissa and Eddie at our house so we could all drive down to South Beach for the expo. The expo was extremely well organized and spacious since they moved it from downtown to a bigger facility on South Beach. We wandered around and got all our loot. They switched the cotton tshirts this year to a dryfit running shirt which is ok but it's pretty heavy. I guess it's good for people who aren't from Miami but I don't think I'll be running in it much down here. They did give out really nice dryfit running caps too which are white and extremely light (good for the blazing sun). The hat totally made up for the shirt.

After the expo we headed home to relax for a bit. We filled up on turkey sandwiches, fruit and tons of water for lunch. We watched Talladega Nights to laugh and unwind. Then we caught a broadcast of the P.F. Changs Rock-N-Roll Marathon they were playing on one of the ESPN's. It was exciting to watch the runners, just regular people with one shared goal, and the crowds cheering them on. I couldn't believe in a few hours it was going to be me.

Later we ran down to the Knight of the Gables where Footworks was throwing the pre-race pasta party. We didn't eat but just stopped by to show support, say hello and wish everyone luck. Then we headed home for our own pasta party. We made whole wheat pasta with homemade garlic toast for dinner. Later, I relaxed in a hot bath for about an hour, which I think from now on will be my pre-race must-do. It made a huge difference. Afterwards, Jer and I drank hot tea and laid out our stuff for the morning.



I didn't think I would be able to sleep, but I was out by 11pm and slept really well. I was worried a bit about the weather report saying there was going to be thunderstorms in the morning and a high of 79 degrees. The weather had been so nice all day, they could be wrong, right?

The alarm went off at 3:15am. Yes, that's right, 3:15. I felt pretty good and walked outside first thing to check the weather. Hot, thick air hit me like a brick wall as I noticed the puddles on the driveway rippling from the light shower. Maybe this is the worst of it. Maybe this is the "thunderstorm" in which they speak. It will clear up, South Florida rain never lasts long, (I'm sure you can see the ominous foreshadowing here).

So everyone met up at the house and we carpooled to downtown Miami. We found parking and made it to the Foorworks tent by 5:00am. I found Tracy and Lesley who I was running with and said my goodbyes to Jeremy and everyone else. We decided to try and find some Port-O-Potties with a shorter line and for some reason figured that the ones right in front of the corrals would be the ticket. As we stood in our half-hour line, the light sprinkle came back, which quickly turned to one of those crazy South Florida rainstorms that unleashes itself relentlessly for about 20 minutes. Everyone and everything got soaked. I kept telling myself I could deal with the rain as long as my shoes and socks stayed dry and I held up that false hope for about 10 minutes, then it was no use. By the time we lined up in the corrals my feet were squishing with every step and I was wringing out my clothes in a last ditch effort to lose some water weight.

When the announcer counted down to start we barely heard it since the speakers were covered in garbage bags to protect them. Fortunately the excitement helped our spirits and as soon as we crossed the start we felt a million times better. The rain died down to a light sprinkle about five minutes into the run and I barely felt a drop after that until it stopped completely. Of course at that point it was in the 70's with over 75% humidity. Love that tropical weather.

The course was beautiful. We started at the American Airlines Arena downtown and headed over the bridge towards the beach. Ran past the Port of Miami, cruise ships and Star Island. Headed up Ocean Drive on South Beach, back up the other side of the beach through some beautiful neighborhoods, over the Venetian Causeway, back through downtown and ended up at Bayfront Park. It is definitely a beautiful course and I recommend it for anyone who doesn't live here. While the crowd support is lacking a bit, the scenery really makes up for it. As I ran through my city, I wondered how I always forget how beautiful it can be. Here is the course from above:



Our pace was good. We started out slow, but not too much slower than our Saturday morning runs. My plan was to run slow at the start, keep a good pace, skip the walk breaks after mile 10 and run it in at the end if I could. My plan actually worked great. Running with Tracy and Lesley helped me so much. We talked about random stuff the whole run to keep us busy. We made each other take the walk breaks in the beginning when others didn't want to. We stuck with each other during bathroom breaks and all helped to pace each other perfectly. Their families were there to support them and since most of my friends were already running, their support kept me going as well. So at mile ten we stopped the walk breaks and at mile twelve they told me to take off. I felt so good I wanted to see how well I could run it in without killing myself. I felt like a rockstar, passing everyone that last mile. It really is a testament to how well the walk/run program worked for me that I could take off the last mile and run it in at such a good pace and feel great. Here is a rundown of my splits:

1) 11:49 (start, rain and bridge)
2) 11:12
3) 11:35
4) 10:50
5/6) 23:54 (No mile marker at 5, plus a bathroom break)
7) 11:06
8) 10:49
9) 11:17
10) 11:09
11) 10:43 (no walk breaks)
12) 10:07 (no walk breaks)
13.1) 9:30 (big finish)


More pictures here...

I really felt the whole time that I could have been running it faster which makes me feel good, but I was scared to take off and get too tired at the end. Plus, since it was my first, I just wanted to enjoy myself, the surroundings and my company. So I have no regrets, other than wishing the race was held today (one day later) instead (Sunny, high of 65 degrees). Oh well. At least at this point I am used to running in the rain and humidity. Although the huge blisters covering the bottom of my little toes from the wet shoes are a new adventure.

The end of the race was great. I relaxed at the Footworks tent, ate, drank beer, told race stories and watched all my friends come in. Due to the weather, everyone finished this years race a bit slower than the year before. Jeremy came in at 4:27, which he is not overly thrilled about. I just keep reminding him that he finished, didn't quit, didn't get injured and that is still a pretty damn good time. Of course he doesn't believe me. I know how hard it must be to work so hard to improve on something, only to have it end up worse. I think he just needs a cooler climate to run in.

The rest of the day was pretty good. We hung out alone with pizza and ice cream. Watched Get Shorty and the Simpsons and went to bed by 9pm. Life doesn't get much better than that folks.

P.S.
Congratulations to Mark and Ali who got engaged at the start of the race!!!

Training's Done

I can't believe how long it's been since I updated this.

I've been busy as hell, but the good news is that I've been running. A lot. Jeremy and I have been running together which has been good for making me go out and do longer runs. Instead of being lazy and sticking to my 3-4.5 miles around campus, I have been getting my butt out of bed a couple times a week at 5:30am to drive to the Coral Gables Country Club to run around the golf course (5.6). It always seems like a horrid idea when I'm in bed, but once I'm up running around the course with J, talking about our day ahead, and watching the sun rise above the banyan trees and the fog settle on the golf course, it seems like the best place in the whole world. It's been a great way to start the day. Of course the days we sleep in is nice too.

Running more with Jeremy has been great for both of us, but especially me because it pushes me to run a bit faster. He never makes me, as a matter of fact, he is always encouraging me to slow myself to a comfortable pace. But running with him makes me want to push myself harder, and I love it. Not only have my 5.6 mile runs progressively gotten faster, but I have run my fastest 3.2 mile loops after running with him. Here's a look at my runs since I last updated.

1/4 - Elliptical 45 minutes, stretch
1/6 - 13 miles - 2:40:12 Good run, felt great until walk breaks around mile 11. Hurt to start running again.
1/7 - weights
1/8 - 5.6 miles - 56:41
1/10 - 5.6 miles - 55:05
1/13 - 10 miles - 1:50:05 - Good pace, ran closer to race pace.
1/15 - 5.6 miles - 53:40 - PR for course
1/17 - 3.2 miles - 29:02 - PR for course
1/22 - 5.6 miles - 56:53 - Slow taper run
1/24 - 2.94 miles - 27:36 - Slow taper run

I am feeling a bit anxious since I haven't run too much in the past two weeks. I missed the long run last weekend due to Mercy's bachelorette party. I know I am tapering, but it still makes me nervous for how things will go on Sunday. I just feel like it's been so song since I did a long run. Now I know what people are talking about when they say the taper makes them nutty. I thought they were crazy before, but now I see their point.

So now it's just chill time till gameday. Basically trying to eat well, sleep well and drink a lot of water. I think my plan for the big day is to run with the training group, specifically Leslie and Tracy and take walk breaks up to ten, then depending on how good my pace is, how my knees feel and how tired I am, I will just run the rest of the way in. I can do 3 miles without stops and the last time I did the 13 mile run, after mile 10 the walk breaks hurt more than they did good. While I was running I felt great, but then I would stop and starting up again was killing me. Anyway, I guess we'll just see how it goes Sunday.

Oh yeah, I have my miles logged since I started my training. Since 9/30/06 I have logged 244.35 miles. Not too shabby.

Merry New Year!!!!

Holidays are fun. But it's a good thing they end quickly. If not I would be 400lbs and constantly drunk.

I feel a little better this week about my training. My long run on the Saturday before Christmas was good. It was scheduled 10 miles but we made it 12 at the end. We ran a different route this time through Key Biscayne and Crandon Park. It was a beautiful morning as we ran along the water and watched the sun rise. Good stuff. We felt good at the end so Leslie, Tracy and I decided to run the Rickenbacker Causeway back and forth one time to add another 2 miles. The bridge is a lot harder (and more windy) after a 10 mile run, but it was ok and we finished strong.



I had a good run with Jeremy on Christmas morning around my parent's house in Sarasota (5.75 miles/57:00). We figured out we like running together. I think he just likes the walk breaks I make him take, but whatever. We had good conversation while running and decided maybe we should try running together once a week. Which will be good for my training, maybe not so much for his.

When we got back to Miami on Thursday, he took me for a run that he usually does with a friend of his. A 5.6 mile loop around the Coral Gables Country Club. It is a beautiful run around a great neighborhood. We ran and decided which houses we would buy or not buy when we win the lottery. That was a great run. The weather was cold and I ran a good pace 5.6 miles/53:23.

Saturday our long run was a Hash Run. It was a beautiful course through Pinecrest (more lottery homes) and we ended up at Joanne's bakery where we didn't get beer :( but were rewarded with a huge, free breakfast of fruit, juices, coffee, bagels, and other assorted breads and pastries. The run ended up being about 9.5 miles and we set a good pace, no one got lost and Mercy even showed up! It was actually pretty fun and all the new courses have helped to keep the boredom levels low.

Today, after our long (but fun) New Year's weekend, Jeremy dragged me out of bed at 5:15am to go run the golf course with him. It sounded like a good idea until I started actually running. It was horrible, the worse run I have had in awhile. It was hot, and humid (82 degrees in JANUARY?!?!). I was stiff, felt dizzy and all sorts of other crybaby stuff. If I hadn't been with Jeremy I would have quit at mile 0.5. But I finished it cause I have to be a tough guy around other people. We ran it in 5.6/55:57. Not horrible with walk breaks and I finished strong. I think I was just feeling like a baby.

Other than that, I have the big 14 miler this Saturday. The longest run before my mini-taper. Half-Marathon in 26 days!

Yuletide Cheer

Haha...right.

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like it's not really Christmas? It just feels different for some reason this year.

This past week I have been so busy with working, baking, shopping, wrapping, stressing and getting sick that I have only had a chance to run once, on Thursday morning. It was a nice 3.2 mile loop (30:40) that came just in time when I felt I was about to crack under the holiday stress.

My long run Saturday actually went great. A nice 10 mile run. Ran it slow again but I felt so strong at the end I didn't even care. Tomorrow morning we have another 10 miler with the option of making it a 13 at the end. I am really hoping to feel good enough to make it a 13 and get that barrier out of the way. But since I am getting a nasty cold, I don't know how great I will feel after a 10 mile run. Stupid germs.

The Nike Run Hit Remix was a lot of fun last Thursday.



Jer, Kevin, Marrissa and I all went to South Beach together and ran the 5 mile run which featured entertainment every mile from 90's phenoms, Young MC, Vanilla Ice, Digital Underground, Coolio, and De La Soul. The run was great, a little dark at first, but overall put together well. We ran it strictly for fun, so we weren't overly concerned with our time and started at the back of the pack with the 11-12 minute groups (even though the guys run a 8-9 minute mile pace).

At about mile 2 there was a 40 second Florida DOWNPOUR that soaked everyone for a minute. It ended quickly enough so no one thought much about it. We wound around and ran down Ocean Drive then ran the last mile and a half on the hard sand of Miami Beach. It was sprinkling a little and of course we thought it would end soon enough. We finished the race slow (54 minutes) but felt great. We somehow lost Kevin and Marissa and while we were waiting at the end, a hurricane of biblical proportions decided to come through and soak everything in it's sight. I hadn't seen rain like that in months. It was a complete downpour with 25-30mph winds, out of nowhere. It must have lasted 30 minutes (unusual for a Florida December rain). There was no place to go for cover and everyone was exposed on the beach, so needless to say everyone was drenched. I was standing in water up to my ankles as we waited at the bag check to get our stuff (nightmare). They had to shut off power to the main stage and cancel De La Soul because the wind and rain where tearing the stage apart. I would have been more dry if I had jumped in the ocean and swam for an hour. Of course by the time we made it back to the car, the wind and rain had stopped and it was a lovely evening. How I love Miami.

At least I got a medal :)

Tomorrow after our run, I'm off the Sarasota for Christmas with the family. Maybe then the Christmas spirit will finally creep in.

Happy holidays!

Tired and Unmotivated

I'm not sure why some things make you want to run forever and others make you stop in your tracks. I have felt so tired and unwilling to make an effort to run since Thanksgiving and I'm not sure why. Well, I kind of know why, I just have a lot going on. But it's nothing that should keep me from running, the one thing that actually makes me feel better.

The funny thing is the last few times I've run have been great. My Turkey Trot was fun. We had perfect, cold fall weather and I actually got a PR for a 5k course (28:31).

Here are more pictures from The Turkey Trot and Thanksgiving weekend.

Anyway, I have been running, just not as much as I was a few weeks back. The weekend of Thanksgiving I was home at my parents and decided to take a few days off to let my legs heal. It seems as though I was having the beginnings of an IT band problem in my right leg. Pain in my hip flexor was ultimately making my knee feel weak and numb during my runs and causing extreme pain towards the end. I learned some new stretches which seem to have helped a bit and it hasn't been as bad as it was the week before Thanksgiving.

After Turkey Day I had two good runs during the week.
Tuesday - 3.22 miles / 31:08
Thursday - 4.58 miles / 47:32

Then my long run on Saturday was great. It was a 10 mile run and really humid, but for some reason it seemed really easy. Probably because I had taken it easy that week. Then Sunday I spent 2 hours sweating and lifting in the gym.

Last week I only ran once.
Monday - 3.22 / 30:40
It was a great run, and my best time for that loop. But then I took the rest of the week off before my big 12 mile run on Saturday which was a total mistake.

It started out ok. The weather was great and I had Tracy there to talk to me the whole time which was nice, but around mile 10 my hip and knee started acting up. I had a much harder time starting up the run again after walk breaks and it was way harder than I expected. Luckily, Tracy just kept talking and kept me distracted until I made it back safe and sound. It wasn't that I felt like I couldn't do it, it was just really hard at the end. I guess it was about time I had a crappy long run. Hopefully this week will be better.

So this week I have been trying to run and stretch more. So far,
Monday - 3.22 / 30:23
Wednesday - 3.22 30:29
Both great runs. Monday is my best time so far. I think today I would have beat it by a long shot but I had to stop for traffic for like 10-15 seconds towards the end. Oh well.

Tomorrow I am going to South Beach to run the Nike Run Hit Remix. A 5-mile run that has stages set up throughout the course with crazy-ass bands from the 90's playing. Young MC, Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Digital Underground and De La Soul are all performing! How awesome is it going to be to run my as Young MC is singing "Bust a Move"??!?! Oh, and the best part, Gerardo is the MC! That's right, RICO SUAVE BITCHES!!! I really can not contain my joy at the absurdity of it all.