What bad run?

I'm determined to not let Saturdays bad run get me down! I'm going to run with Sara again tonight (Megan, one of my room mates, may come too!) and Wednesday. I'll report back on that later.

Thanks Chuck Norris - I think I can do it too.

Beautiful sunny day on Mt. Vernon Trail - TERRIBLE RUN

I feel bad about myself and my run today. I was really psyched to get outside on this beautiful day! I was even on my way to the gym before turning around and saying "Hell no! I'm going to run outside!". I think that's where things started to turn.

I was supposed to run Mt. Vernon Trail by Reagan National Airport around 2:30. I've run it once before with Joey and Marisa last summer, but I've never gone alone and I figure it's a beautiful day outside I might as well get used to getting off my own butt and getting out there without anyone else beside me. Well, apparently my sense of direction is terrible and I ended up completely bypassing the entrance to the park and ending up driving 20 min into Alexandria before turning around and heading home. On TOTAL HAPPENSTANCE I find the entrance to the  park on the way back and decide to get my run on.

Which I thought would be great! The sun was shining and there was a nice breeze, etc, etc. It was a total disaster. I don't know why I was so tired today! I might have gone 3.8 mi, but I probably only ran about 2.8.

Sigh. I just couldn't get my act together. I'm happy I went at all, but I just want to know why it's SO HARD to be your own motivational speaker! I feel like if Sara, Marisa, or Joey was there I could have done a much better job.

Oh well, maybe next week...

What is Goo?

My aunt, Amy, just finished her first 1/2 marathon (Way to go, Amy!!) and in attempts to give me some advice she's told me to become very friendly with Goo. Basically, anything small and packed with sugar, electrolytes, and caffeine that can push you through the last couple miles....while trying not to go into a glucose meltdown and dragging my sorry butt across the finish line 1 inch at a time.

In my searching I've come across Clif Shot Gel Turbo and it sounds pretty promising. - CLIF SHOT® Turbo Energy Gel offers all of the performance upgrades of the new CLIF SHOT® Energy Gel, but also includes an extra concentrated caffeine kick for those days that require just a little bit more.

I'm sure I will soon run into those days that require just a little bit more.

Anyone else have any good advice for when I start hitting the long runs? Carry a 5 hour energy with me perhaps? Also, where do runners put these things? Fanny packs?

Wow, I guess so! Could you imagine me running the half marathon in my hot pink LuLu Lemon fanny pack?!

Oh, the remarks that would come out of Joeys mouth would be priceless.

I think I might need to invest in one of those.

Blind running date @ W&OD Trail

My neighbor, Dion, "set me up" on a running date with his room mate, Sara, who is training for a 10k the other day. Somewhat of an akward situation seeing as we've never really talked before, but I could 100% use a running partner who lives 5 ft from my front door. Turns out to be the most PERFECT situation ever!

We went running on the W&OD trail in Shirlington tonight and it was awesome! We ran a little over 4 miles, probably could have done more, but I didn't want to overexert myself too badly on one of the first runs outside. Anyway - it was beautiful weather outside, a little windy and a little chilly. It was great and I felt really good about the 4 miles and not wanting to die afterwards. There's talks of doing 6 next week - I think we can do it!

Earlier this week Joey and I ran 3.25 miles around McLean and I was dieing! 1) because I didn't eat anything before I ran so I was running on empty, but 2) and more importantly, because he decided to take me up these massive hills! Not to mention the first mile or so of the trail we ran was straight uphill. There is this insane hill right near my old apartment in McLean that I REALLY want to be able to make it up before Joey moves out of the area. When we went, I didn't even make it up the first few feet. How pathetic.

I need to train on some more hills because Run-A-Muck 2011 is coming up in 9 days and if it's anything like last year, the first quarter mile will be straight up hill. YEOUCH! Can't wait.

Until next time.

Struggling 5k to Half Marathon

So. It's only been over a year since I have updated this particular blog. Since then I have done this...



Great Pumpkin 5k - Oct 2010




Love The Run You're With 5k - Feb 2011




Run-A-Muck 2010 - April 2010

As much complaining as I did in previous posts and as hard as it was/is I wouldn't give up picking up running for anything. It's healthy, enjoyable, and has brought me closer with a few particular people.

Since those 3 things, plus the race this whole ordeal started with, I've decided to do this...

http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/virginia-beach

(Oh, and Run-A-Muck 2011 dressed as Saved By The Bell, of course!)

Why? Probably because I was dropped on my head a few times. Or because both my parents used to be serious runners with my mom running the Marine Corps Marathon a few times and my dad/mom running Jay's Run a few years in a row. Maybe because I just want to be able to say I accomplished it on my own. Whatever the reason is - I'm officially signed up and there's no turning back now....unless I want to lose $90 ($97) if you include whatever crappy processing fees.

I'm going to try my best to chronicle this whole process of struggling 5k to Half Marathon. There will be talk of running shoes, sore feet/ankles, goo, and the like. If it sounds boring, stop reading now. For those of you who choose to continue reading, I could really use the support.

I have 136 days to go (roughly 4.25 of the hottest months the DC area has to offer).

I've said it 100 times before and I will say it again - "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

WISH ME LUCK!

I'm boring -

So...the run for Haiti isn't happening because Marisa and I are both poor...and by poor I mean yes, we are poor, but I am also lazy. I haven't gotten back into it yet. I seriously have lost any and all motivation and I certainly don't love it anymore.

It's tough. And somewhat depressing.

I went to the gym on monday and was only on the treadmill for a total of 45 minutes. Pathetic. Only cumulatively running maybe 35 of those 45 minutes. Pathetic. Pathetic. AND to make matters worse, my coworker came into my office yesterday and told me that she ran 9 miles last weekend! I am so super proud of her because that is a lot, but I'm also devestated that I am nowhere near that mark.

I was talking to the pres. of our company yesterday at work and then last night at the soccer game and his advice is to just not train at all. Uh, NOT train at all? Is he clinically insane? He said he ran a half marathon solely by not psyching himself out. Yeah right. But then again, we all know this certain someone sells dreams.

Anyway - tonight I'm either going to run with Pacers or I am going to get in the gym and run a couple miles. I can do it.

I think.

I have to do it.

Falling back in love with it...

This week is dedicated to falling back in love with running (Mostly because I have a race coming up in a week and 1/2).

I've been to the gym to run the past 2 days in a row. I feel good about that. Tuesday was a lot better than yesterday, but at least I made it there both days! I am giving myself today to rest and then I will probably go to the gym Friday night after work. Marisa and I have also planned to run around DC either saturday or sunday afternoon which I am really looking forward to!

Another thought aside from that...I figured with all the running I've been doing I would have lost some weight and I don't think that is happening. In fact, I feel like I have been gaining weight, and that is incredibly frustrating. I think I need to take a serious look at what I've been eating and maybe the answer is there.

That's all for now.