Monday, March 12, 2012

Happy Day to me!

Happy Birthday to me! I arranged a birthday present for myself: a wonderful 6 miles with my favorite running buddy today--my husband! However, it didn't start off as good as I would have hoped. We planned on going to our usual running path, but once we got there...we saw that it was "under construction" so it immediately pissed me off. We drove to another place and it was fine..but it was an unknown path for us..so it confused us. And that pissed me off too. So....pissed off and trying to stay in a good mind frame for a 6 mile run was a bit difficult. The first 2 miles SUCKED ASS. There's no way to sugar coat that..it really did. After that..it got easier. It wasn't my best run, but it was a nice run. I'm thankful that it wasn't snowing..because almost every single year on my birthday it's either snowing, blizzarding or something of the like. It's just what happens. Today felt more like a nice October day instead of a day in March. I'm thankful that I was able to have my husband run with me today. It's something that is really rare these days and I really miss that. Overall, the run was good. The time/pace was good. The path we ran on was different, but pretty. It was a nice change of scenery. I'm really proud of my husband for running the entire 6 with me..not that he hasn't done it before, he's just hasn't been that hardcore into running these past few months so for him to keep up with me and not complain or bring my momentum down was awesome...and for that I'm really proud.

So that's my "Happy Day" report of the day. I "ran" into a new decade and did it with my all-time favorite running buddy.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The best and the highest.

I can't say enough wonderful things about today. I got to shut off my alarm, sleep in a bit and not be rushed out of bed. The weather was pretty decent by the time I was ready to run this morning so I took advantage of that and ran outside for the first time since the end of September! Yes, I said it. I know that there have been a handful of opportunities to run outside due to the very odd winter season we've been having. But in my defense, I get up super early to run, light and temperature are two issues for me..temperature more than anything. But, I finally have some new gear, so hopefully the weather will stay relatively decent and I'll be outside more.

I'm not even sure there is a word or words to describe how my run was today. I'm still speechless.. It was freakin' phenomenal! I don't know if it was just being outside running for the first time in what has seemed like forever, my new shoes, the fact that I slept a little longer, or the fact that the sun was shining..whatever it was it was AWESOME. In the 2yrs that I have been running, I have never had as good of a run (GREAT, I should say) as I had today. There are just no words..I finally got that HIGH. The ever elusive runner's high that some people experience alot, sometimes and some not at all. I've been there once before when I completed 10k (not a race, but on my own) but I have never experienced something like this. It was the "I can't stop talking about how great my run was, can't stop smiling, spring in my step, feel like I can conquer the world, saying yes to everything type of feeling. HIGH. And all from a fantastic run.
Today's schedule had me doing 3 miles. Well, I ended up doing 3.75 miles, and could have kept running for a few more miles at least..but I stopped at 3.75. My time/pace was the best it's ever been. I was a bit nervous going out for the first time in so long. I didn't want to get discouraged with a bad outside run. Thankfully, luckily I was the exact opposite of discouraged! My average overall pace was a 9:32/mile which is pretty damn good for me. I haven't been running that fast on Millie that's for sure. But I will give her credit for all of the months I've been running on her, doing fast walking at steep inclines, running intervals, etc..it's all paid off and definitely benefited me today. Even when running up a hill on my route that normally "gets" me..that totally didn't happen. I beasted that thing and made it my bitch! I owned this whole entire run. I didn't even feel like I was running as fast as I was, I didn't feel like I was "pushing myself" or having to push myself. I wasn't constantly looking at my watch or thinking to myself that I wished I'd have stayed inside. What I was thinking was that I was in complete awe of myself. Yes, it sounds like bragging, but screw it, I don't care. This run was THAT good. I was THAT good. Hell, I was great!
The only thing that would have made this run perfect was to have my running buddy with me. But, because I had such an awesome run..it did inspire him to go and get some for himself!


YAY!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Training--a few weeks in.

I'm starting on week #3 of my half marathon training and it's going just fine. I did end up missing on short 3 mile run the first week due to my prior commitments with an event that I wasn't able to schedule a run around. Otherwise, I've been on track and doing good. I finally treated myself to new running gear. Shirts, a jacket, pants, capris, socks, shoes--pretty much everything that I've needed for quite awhile. I tried out a different brand of shoes and love them so far! I'm really loving the "shape-wear" pants I found made by Danskin. When I have them on it looks almost as if I had some liposuction! Whoo! So--yeah..new gear is always a plus.

As for the running, it's good. I'm not going to say it's stellar or great, but I'm a work in progress--as anyone should be. I'm following the Hal Higdon plan and liking it thus far. As the mileage increases on my weekend runs..I get a bit nervous..afraid I'm not going to be able to do it, but only time will tell.
I'm still using Netflix on my phone and classical music to help me stave off boredom on the 'Mill..but it seems to be getting much nicer outside (where's the winter this year?) so hopefully I can start taking advantage of that soon. It's hard to do that when my only chance to run is early in the morning when it's the darkest and coldest. Soon though.  Soon.

I ran my first "official" race this past Saturday (March 3rd) it was a virtual race via Twitter called #anywhere5k. It was pretty neat to register (it was free!) and run anywhere (hence the name) and then report back your time and have results posted. Check out the #Anywhere5k results here!



Well, that's my update for now. Be back in a few weeks to do another update. My 30th birthday less than a week away--my gift to myself? A 6 mile run! Hopefully outside too!

PS: My newest favorite quote: "Pain is temporary, internet results are forever."