Heading into the holidays

Ok -

I ran the race and finished in 2:19. However, I'm NOT happy w/that time.

Next on the agenda? There's a 1/2 in April.........I'm there.

I hurt

I had no idea running would hurt this much. I've been trying to add more mileage and hopefully some speed, but I'm not so sure my goal is reachable.

I'd like to finish this crazy race in 2 hours, or running slightly under a 10 minute mile, which is doable. Provided my hamstring holds up. And my toenail stays on.

Is 40 really a magic age? Or is it simply a milestone and an excuse to have a maudlin party. Friends say, "40 is just a number", "40 is a state of mind", "the bod just dies at 40". What's a girl to think?

While shopping at Hollister is outta the question, both in style and shape, The Gap and Old Navy are still attainable. 40 should be fine; not be a scary age.

Feet

Who knew?

Seriously, who knew? I had no idea my (OK - this gets a little gross) toenails would try to come off once I started doing longer mileage. I hit my first 9 mile run (actually, 9.25 miles - go me!) yesterday and my second right toe started to swell and bulge. Not at all attractive. The toenail is literally trying to separate from the nailbed and the other 3 edges are all swollen and sore.

Icky - where was this note in my training materials? I have no guidelines in my running and nutrition info about toenails trying to leave my feet? I'm going to have to speak with someone about this. If the information is not in the training 411, the disaster shoudn't happen, right?

So, no running for me today. Nope. Instead, Team Runnermom went to Whales Tale Waterpark. Yup, the temperature hit a balmy 65 degrees in the North Country, but we're hardy New England stock. And we had to use our free passes before they expired tom'w.......

St. Charles Children's Home 5k tom'w - Race Day!

I'm baaaack....!

School started. Again. The whole thing puts a serious crimp in my social calendar and training schedule. I've been really exhausted after a summer of serious loafing...hee, hee! In all seriousness, getting back into routine of 4:30 wake-ups, prepping lunches, clothes, lesson plans, etc. is startlingly hard. I've managed to fit in some running, but last weekend was dreadful.

I thought I'd been hit by a bus. I could barely manage to get outta my own way. On Saturday, I gathered everything I needed for errands, except my wallet. I had coupons, library books needing returning, dry cleaning to drop off, recycle bags for groceries, grocery lists, EVERYTHING. I drove alllll the way uptown to Fiddleheads and completed my produce shopping only to discover NO WALLET. Fortunately, the nice kids at the cheese shop held onto my wares while I zoomed back to get my purse. Honestly...... My run was non-existant, since after 2 miles my legs cramped up. I then finished my cardio time on the ArcTrainer. I had planned on 9 miles, but ended up with 60 minutes of cardio. Oh, well.

The week's beginning has improved with the passing of each day. 6.25 miles flew past me on the Shredder in 60 minutes. Not bad for someone w/stumpy legs!

Today takes the cake. SwimGirl KICKED MY BUTT. You got it folks - my 9 year old did what amounted to a 4.5 mile sprint, telling me I need to improve my times. Good thing she's cute or she'd be toast. I CHASED her for our entire run, which truly was UPHILL BOTH WAYS. Ugh.

What was I thinking when I introduced her to running? I thought I'd found a nice, little way for us to spend time together away from phones, computers, etc. But, noooooooo..... She really LIKES running and is GOOD at it, too. :-P

St. Charles Children's Home 5k goes off on Monday. Let's hope for good times - both on the clock and with our friends. Readers, please go and sign up on Active.com. You can't ask for a better charity.

Last day of vacation

Such a sad, sad day,

It's my last day of summer vacation. Bummer.

However, the kids did a great job today running a 4.2 mile round trip. AND - I learned a new word from my Runnermom friend. Get ready...


Fartlek.

The Fartlek or "Speed Play" Workout

I'd never heard of this one. Apparently, Fartlek (ya just gotta love it!) means speed play in Swedish and has to do with running in intervals to increase speed and endurance. Check out the Web site above to get the 411!!

Enjoy!

And so it goes

Monday was great. My fellow Runnermom and I did 4 miles gently with the kids. SwimGirl and SwimBoyN did great jobs. They set a nice, steady pace and even sprinted the last 1 1/2 block home. SwimBoyC had a harder time. Hopefully, he will get back on his game after the heat of summer backs off a bit.

As today is Tuesday, I opted for a stint on the elliptical, spending an hour on the beast. I really don't like it so much, but the gym does not have a yoga time which properly fits into my schedule, so on to the elliptical.

Tomorrow I plan to run with the wee ones in the morning, but do a "real" run in the afternoon. My schedule says I should do at least 6 miles. I need to plot a course outside if the weather stays drier. Totally can't run outside in the 3 h's: hazy, hot, and muggy (thanks to Paul Harvey!).

Bring it on!

Oh, yeah, check me out~

8 miles - yah, that's right - 8 miles! In under 80 minutes, bringing me to slightly less than a 10 minute mile over DISTANCE. Am I sore? Duh. Hamstrings tight? Yup, right on schedule. Am I obnoxiously proud of myself? As my father would say, "You betta believe it!"

Ladeez and Gents.....I achieved my distance record today! I rock!

Of course, tom'w will be another story. I expect not to be able to move, especially not after driving back and forth to Chestnut Hill (Boston) for a 6 pm wedding in my spouse's Neon. (Did I mention my smoking ensemble thanks to the much tighter legs my running has brought?) AND, after yesterday's disaster @ the gym, I'm feeling much better.

Tom'w's supposed to be 3 miles easy or rest. I'm betting on rest.

It's been a hot one...

Ok -

So it's been 3 days since the last post. Can you say HOT?!

I did take SwimGirl and SwimBoyN & C along w/fellow RunnerMom out on Wednesday. Big mistake. Too hot to live. We were all drenched after 1 mile. The kids were just whooped.

I went to the gym Wed, Thurs, and today. Wed and Thurs were great 6.25 each day. Today, well, not so much. Tired legs, tired of the heat, tired of the mess up in my routine as I went into start cleaning my room for year opening - I dunno. I got 3.25 in and then walked for another 2. Ick.

Tomorrow's another day, right? Just gotta get the run in before leaving for a wedding in Boston. S/b interesting.

Check me out

Hey -

(oops - fell asleep before I could write last night!)

2 runs, yah, that's right - 2.

One w/kids in the a.m. in the steam heat and a 5.25 miles @ the gym.

Bring it on!

The Day of Rest?

Nope, no running today.

I was supposed to rest or do "3 miles easy", whatever that means.

Instead, we went to Lost River and caved. Then to the Cascades for a minor hike for a letterbox (totally pretty, I recommend it!). Sabbaday Falls for another letterbox. Couldn't find a letterbox at Otter Rocks (both of these were on the Kancamagus Hwy). Found another at Clark's Trading Post, a real, true NH tourist trap. Why go north in the height of tourist season? COOLER!

Best Part? Truly edible sushi, gyoza, and shumai at Imperial Palace in No. Woodstock. Who woulda thunk it?!

On the downside? Stuck in 93 traffic on the way home.

If you haven't tried letterboxing w/your kiddos, go here: Letterboxing North America.

7 Miles!

Yee-haw~

I ran 7 miles in under 70 minutes. All right, I ran the distance in 68 minutes and change, but it still counts!

Of course, ya'll should take that run w/a grain of salt, as the run occurred on a treadmill. Why? 'Cause the lovely NE weather popped a 90+ degree day. I'm dedicated, but not that dedicated. I have NO intention of getting heat and/or sunstroke. I also look really ugly when perspiring for long periods of time. The gym is air-conditioned, has a space for SwimGirl to work on some drylands weights, and a conveniently handy shower.

I still say 7 miles is 7 miles, tho'.

So there.

Fabulous Friday

The kids are getting to be quite the little runners~

Myself and my fellow Runnermom took SwimGirl and SwimBoyN and SwimBoyC running for about 3.5 miles before the sun started blasting this morning. The kids only took 1 90 second drink break at about mile 2.75. Pretty impressive for 2 9-year olds and 1 11-year old. They finished the run in roughly 40 minutes. The moms were very pleased.

I clumped along merrily with SwimBoyN who is still a little slower than the other 2, but catching up quickly. I find out lots of info about "kid life" when conversations are not interrupted by phones, games, and MP3 players. I got told all about a new swimming pool and a really cool, scary dream experienced last night. Gotta love it.

Still gotta work up to my Runnermom friend, tho'. She kept pace with the 2 faster kids while pushing a jog stroller w/a 45 pound 6-year old riding in it. Yowza - I am not worthy....

Onward

I needed to run today, but after SwimGirl's big double run yesterday, I didn't want to make her run. Ya know, wee ones should only run so much. So, even tho' the weather ended up being cooperative (sunny, dry, and not overly warm), we hit the gym.

SwimGirl was quite content to play in the 8-14 zone (can you say Wii and EyeToy?), so I went on over to the cardio room. I ran for 60 minutes and put in 6.26 miles. The 2 minute cool down SO counts. At the suggestion of my Runnermom friend who coordinates charity 5ks, I added an incline for the last 5 minutes of my full out run. So I felt virtuous about having 2 bowls of cereal and a slice of cheese for dinner.

Seriously, do you want to cook after running and unloading cases of library books all day?

I actually did remember to stretch out a bit after the run. However, my not-quite-40-year-old knees are screaming when I curl up in a chair to work on my classwork. Silly knees.....

Tom'w = light run w/SwimGirl and her compadres.

Gittin' it dun

Yup -

Ran 2 separate times w/kiddos, each for at least 3 miles. Go me.

And the best part? SwimGirl (my daughter) finally reached her max for physical activity. I actually wore her out - YEEHAH!

Hee, hee....

I love Tuesdays

Ok -

Bit of a late post, as I went to a Girls' Night Out (or in this case in). Gotta love gatherings where we all bring food/wine/etc., chill out, and chat. I didn't even have to drive - Yahoo!

So, the schedule today said to do something non-running, as in elliptical, yoga, or stretching. I chose to do an hour on an ArcTrainer and then work on crunches, abductors/gluts (I think that's what the machines are called). Nice change in pace.

Running w/kiddos in the am, may need to do a "real run" in the pm, we'll see.......

The first Monday

I'm following a 13-week plan published by said local running outfit. Today was the first Monday of the plan, calling for a 2-4 mile run, outside.

Yah, Not Happenin'. The temp today popped up to 90 - have I mentioned my English/French/Irish complexion? I'd be the color of a cooked NE lobster today if outdoor escapades had taken place. So inside I went - thank heavens for gym memberships.

Feeling guilty for not having to run the hills of Seacoast NH, I did 5.7 miles on the treadmill, affectionately called "The Shredder" by another Runnermom. I figured the extra distance made up for not huffing and puffing up the disgusting, glacial deposits for which my home area is notoriously famous.

I now have seriously tight hamstrings since I did not take the time to stretch prior to or at the end of my slog. Oops. Therefore, the Spousal Unit is going to be good-naturedly giggling as I attempt to remedy the issue later by grunting and groaning as I try to touch my toes. Ain't gonna be pretty, folks.

Tuesday approacheth quickly.......

So it begins...

So, I'm 39....

Yeah, yeah - I turn 40 in October. My goal is to run the Seacoast Half Marathon. Why? Because I need to prove to myself I can. I swam and rode bikes, but those are life skills every human should have. Now, I need to get my body out on the open road.

My dad was kinda "old school". In theory, sports for girls were great and to be encouraged. He cheered all his students during sporting events. He was uncertain about sports for me, probably because of the thick, "Coke bottle bottom" glasses I wore. He and my mother were, and still are, protective of their only chick.

However, since the advent of toric contact lenses, I can see much better. However, don't ask me to participate in any sport involving catching or hitting a ball. Ain't happenin'.

The purpose of this blog is to recount my journey up to and past the 11/8/09 running of the Seacoast Half Marathon. If I publish, I'll have NO excuse for not gittin' it dun.

Official Day 1:
I did a big run for me - 6 miles - yesterday. So today I ran 3.25. Tomorrow, my other Runnermom and I are taking a passel of kiddos running in the pm. S/b fun - love watching the little beasties go!