My Shoes Have Shippped

I got an email notice that my new shoes are on the way. Guess I'm gonna have to do some more running ;) There are some small races in the near future, like our Pumpkins In The Park and Turkey Trot, but I am not too sure what else lies in my future. Still pondering a 1/2 in the Winter/Spring, but beyond pondering I am not doing much else.

As for Saturdays race, I did find an update on RunKeeper with my splits. Mile 1 was my fastest at 9:53. Way too fast for me ;) I then did 2, 3 and 4 at about 10:30, but slowed down for 4 and 5. Overall it was a good race. I'll admit, my legs are a bit sore and tired still today. Although the soreness is in a good way, I think I'll still take a bit more time to recuperate.

Can You PR A Mismeasured Race?

It was one of those mornings that cant decide if it wants to be a nice day, or a dreary day. Before and during the race the skies would switch between sun and heat and gloom with a cool breeze. I took a few pics, and from one to the next you can see how much the skies changed. By the time we left the race it looked like the decision had been made ... its definitely a gloomy day.

This was the first year the Race For the Cure added a 10K, and you could tell it was not the focus of race organizers. The course was horrible, wrapping back and forth with crazy and odd movements. In addition, we were shuffled off to the lakefront path (which can be nice) while the rest of the people (5K runners and walkers) appeared to have taken over the city streets. It was amazing how few people were doing the 10K when you look at the total amount of people there this morning. It was just crazy!. Not that I think RunKeeper is the end-all-be-all of measurement, but when it doesnt have its hiccups I do believe it to be accurate. According to my data, I ran 5.97 miles today ... not 6.2. The 10K I did in July had a total of 6.14 miles, the difference easily accounted for by hugging corners, etc. I dont think there is a way to shave off .2 miles from a race just by keeping close on the corners, making me think there was a bit of an issue in measuring the total distance of this race. In my gut, mile 6 felt a bit off and might have been the source of the issue) Anyway, if you compare race to race I finished almost exactly 7 minutes faster this time. So even with the discrepancy in distance I still improved on my time quite a bit :

The best part of the race was the treats at the end. There were lots of bananas, which are pretty standard. But there was a ton of other stuff too ... including cheesecake and poundcake from Sara Lee. Oh yeah! We actually ate enough snacks after the race that I felt like I had a full breakfast. There were bananas (and cookies) than I had ever seen at the end of a race.

Race Results
Time:1:03:01   Distance:5.97 mi   Pace:10:33

(Official time: 1:02:58.8)
I ran the first three miles with my friend, who pushed me to run much faster than I would have liked to (and I was still slowing her down). After mile 3 she ditched me and I tried to trail a couple of girls ... but one was a spitter and it was getting a bit gross. Due to my too-fast pace in the beginning, along with a course that had way more hills than expected, I ended up slowing down a bit near the end of the race. Its not the ideal way to finish, but I am glad that I pushed myself more than expected. We will see how I feel later in the day before I decide whether I will thank or smack my friend for making me run so much faster than my body or mind wanted to.

Despite the fact I just gave some praise to RunKeeper, it now does not show my indiidual mile paces. I'd love to report them, but I cant. Figures.

You Puke, You Pay

An interesting blip in the local news caught my eye. Our (Chicago) cab drivers are asking to pass a $50 penalty for cleaning up a passengers vomit. Personally, this doesnt seem like a big deal to me. I have to think that if you barf in a friends car, you would offer to pay to clean it (or do it yourself). If you purged on someone elses clothes or shoes ... I'd also think the same courtesy would be extended. Just because someone is providing a service (the cab ride) doesnt mean you can do whatever you want to their vehicle. What made me curious was how unique this request might be. It doesnt appear to be that common. I guess Chicago must be special :) There are a few other mentions, but it looks like its more common in a University town (again, I can see why).

Here are some places you should avoid if you are a puker:
South Ribble (Lancashire, UK)
Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY)
GW University, fine for puking on shuttle (Washington DC)

And just for fun, a little blip about a woman who intentionally vomited in a cab (and then slapped a cop) in New Jersey.

I Love You ZB Sports

I decided since I ran so fast yesterday I deserve some new shoes. I havent gotten any new running shoes since right before the LV Marathon, which was in December 2007. (While that may seem like a really long time, remember I took a running hiatus during the whole having-a-baby-thing.) I just want to let the world know how awesome ZB Sports is. I have been ordering my shoes from there since a fellow Team In Training person (Kevin) let me in on the secret. This place is AWESOME.

First of all, their prices always beat any other place I look. By a lot. Second, they are always sending out 10% off coupons. Take that 10% off their already kick-butt price and WHOOHOO! But thats not all. There are no taxes (and taxes in Chicago are killer). Shipping is $2.99. Yes, I said (typed) $2.99. Every time I order shoes they are seriously on my doorstop in about 2 days. Its crazy. And one more thing, and this only just makes them more awesome (awesomer?). They donate 3% of their annual net revenues to charity. Did I mention I love ZB Sports yet?

So I ordered a new pair of Mizuno Nirvana's, because I deserve it :)

All Is Right With The World

Yes, its true. I am officially back on the interwebz. (Breathes sigh of relief)

I did have to take Brooke out yesterday to an indoor playgound that has wifi so I could send in an assignment, but other than that I survived. I am now back at Starbucks "working", which means I am spending time catching up on all the time I have lost surfing the web and reading your blogs.

On a good note, I went for a run today. I figured I'd have to be pretty dumb to just attempt to do the 10K on Saturday without any running in a week. So I had my sitter come a bit early and went out for a run as soon as she arrived. Just a three-miler, but I did push myself. (Though pushing myself still makes me the slowest runner out there on the streets, oh well).

I've mentioned before I am a morning runner (that is, when I actually am trying to be a runner at all) so I knew I was in for a bit of trouble today. My sitter was coming at 10:30. Generally by 10:30 I have had a latte and shoved a bunch of other garbage into my mouth. I am also pretty tired after 3 hours of chasing around a baby while also trying to keep the house from looking like a tornado hit it. I tried my best this morning to be smart. We didnt go to Starbucks (so no latte) and I had oatmeal and 1/2 of an english muffin for breakfast. I also repeatedly ignored the petite blueberry scones sitting on my kitchen counter. That's much better than I could have expected and I seriously think I might deserve a medal. Dont worry, I'm going to dinner with a few girlfriends tonight. I will reward myself for my good behavior.

Running Log
Time:31:55   Distance:3.01 mi   Pace:10:37

Compared to my usual 11:30ish pace, you can see that I did actually push myself today. I figured its the least I can do to prepare for this race (really, I couldnt have done much less than I did) without having an amublance trail me for the whole 6 miles. And to admit, running faster today was much easier than running with Brooke the other day. If I had a choice, I'd run a few miles at a fast pace over pushing that stroller any day.

The Internets Are Broken

I seriously feel a sense of panic ... Like my world is collapsing. I
have not been able to get online since yesterday early afternoon.

I have work to do, that of course must be submitted online. Last
night we couldn't find the number to call for tech support, because we
can't get online. There is a package I am waiting for, but I can't
get online to track it. There are some things I need to order, and
they are "catalog/Internet" only (I could actually do this through the
old fashioned telephone ordering ... But Brooke shredded the catalog
and I don't have any of the info I need to place the order).

So a "normal" person would grab their laptop and go somewhere with
wifi, right? Try taking a baby with you to go somewhere and get some
work done. Aint gonna happen. I do a lot of my work during her
naps ... But if I go to Starbucks right now while she is sleeping I am
pretty sure the police would show up at my door ;)

I really would have no choice but to take her, but the stupid AT&T
service people said there would be a tech at my house between 10am and
8pm. AN 8 HOUR WINDOW????

What did I do before the Internet? I seriously cannot remember. How
did we get work done? How did we communicate? And, more importantly,
what is going on in the world of celebrity gossip????? I'm so out of
the loop!

I'm sure you are wondering how I can post this rant if I can't get
online. I do have some access through my iPhone ... So I'm not
totally stranded. But I can't email documents, the web browsing
stinks, and thanks to AT&T (once again) my service is unpredictable
and sketchy at best.

If Its Motivation You Need...

I have a race this coming weekend. I havent been running a whole lot to prepare for it. I thought signing up for a 10K would keep me running, since 6 miles is a bit of a challenge (compared to a 5K), but it doesnt seem to be enough. I run when I can, but it seems to be once a week only! This past weekend (when I was doing my long-awaited-weekly-run) my running partner mentioned a race that might finally prove to be motivational.

The Paris-Versailles: La Grande Classique. In case you can't understand all the French mumbo jumbo, its a 16K (10 mile) race that starts right at the Eiffel Tower. If that cant motivate me, perhaps nothing can.

And though I talk (type) about running and motivation, I can not figure a day of the week I will find the time/ability to squeeze in some sort of running this week. And I have to this week. I cannot just walk up to the starting line this weekend with another week in between runs ... or can I?

Running On Empty

I couldnt sleep last night. It was just one of those things. On top of the problems falling asleep, someone in the neighborhood decided to blow of a bunch of fireworks around 10:30 PM. Then to top it off, Brooke decided to wake up an extra hour early this morning :) The good thing was ... I was up anyway because of my planned run. It also helped to know that even if I had wanted to sleep in this morning, it wasnt going to happen anyway. But it made a little extra work in the morning and I ended up running out of the house in a bit of a tizzy.

In addition to starting my run on a lack of sleep, I was a bit low on fuel. Last night's dinner was the rest of a Cadburry chocolate bar my (awesome) husband brought me all the way home from London. Breakfast was 2 bites of a banana I stole from the baby's breakfast as I was cutting it up for her to eat.

It's amazing how well I have fared on these longer runs despite my obvious lack of care and concern for my body and training ;) I'm thinking I have been a bit lucky this year!

Running Log
Time:55:13   Distance:5.05 mi   Pace:10:56

The 5-miler went well outside of one small hiccup. As we started to get ready to head out along the lakefront path early this morning, we saw a herd of people approaching. Although we often see large running groups, this one was really large. As we tried to figure out what was going on, I began to notice race bibs. It was a bit too early for a race (7AM) so it took me a while to figure it out ... it was the CARA Ready to Run 20 Miler. Its an organized 20 mile run that occurs a few weeks before the Marathon, and its a pretty popular race! When we realized the lakefront path was going to be a mess, we had to tinker around with our route a bit. All turned out ok though, and I survived despite another week without much running between my "long" runs.

Best miles today were 10:17 and 10:27, which felt pretty great to me ... but I'm sure were still way to slow for my speedy running partner this morning. Luckily she was patient and didnt complain about my speed (or lack thereof).

Guess Where I Am Tonight?

Hint...

WE Ran!

I'll update in a bit. Didn't go far and it was still really hard.
Gotta get my coffee...

Running Log
Time:22:27   Distance:1.91 mi   Pace:11:46

I had a video to return (again) and decided to stop making excuses. I ran up there and back with the stroller (and my 24lb baby). It was hard. I think part of the problem was that I ran a bit too fast for something I have never done. I know it says I paced at 11:46 ... but this includes a really long stop at a stoplight. I thought about pausing the time during that wait, but I needed the wait. I figured I should just include the pause into my time, since I probably would have paused even if the light wasnt red :)

I was surprised how hard this run was on my legs. Is that weird? The whole time my legs felt like I was running in sand. In addition, my heart was racing and I was sweating more than I ever do on any other runs. I honestly couldnt have gone any longer or farther than I did this morning. Luckily, my run ended right in front of a Starbucks (convenient, huh?).

World's Largest Gummi Bear? Yes Please!

We are always trying to make things bigger, because (for some reason) bigger is better. Currently, I am trying to make my derriere bigger by sitting on it alot and consuming many Starbucks pastries. Although when it comes to food, I have to say that bigger is not always better. The bigger something is, generally the less tasty it is ... and the more my tummy hurts when I'm done eating it. But yet, its still fun to imagine taking a bite of:
The World's Largest Cupcake
Baking time = 12 hours / Ingredients = 200lbs flour, 200lbs sugar, 200lbs butter, 800 eggs / Weight = 1,224lbs / Calories = 2,000,000

Worlds Largest Cookie Ingredients = 30,000 eggs, 6,500 pounds of butter, 6,000 pounds of chocolate / Weight = 37,000 pounds Diameter = 102 feet

But best of all... World’s Largest Gummi Bear
Why is this one the best? Because you can actually purchase it (and, of course, eat it). It seems like a nice present or stocking stuffer, doesnt it?
Weight = 5lbs / Size = 5.5in tall X 3.5in deep / Calories - 12,000

It's Official. I Cannot Run Alone.

I am not one of those social butterfly types. I actually prefer to be alone most times, and most activites I enjoy tend to be solo-type activities. I love going out with friends every once-in-a-while, but truly enjoy my quiet nights at home.

What does all of this mean (besides the fact that I am the odd, reclusive type)? It means that running should be a great activity for me. It is not a team sport. It is an opportunity to free yourself and clear your mind. It is a way to burn off steam and feel empowered. But when I run by myself I get a little crazy in the head. I think too much about running. I think about every step I take, and every breath I take. I think about how far I have run, and how far I still have to go. I think about my pacing, my stride, how loose or tight my form is. I think about how much it irritates me when someone runs right past me. I think about getting a coffee and a pastry as soon as I finish. I cant seem to find that freedom that so many others do.

BUT ... when I run with someone else that changes. I dont notice the miles tick by. I dont think about my movement and my breathing. I feel strong. I feel like I could go longer. I (almost) forget that I am even running at all. And the funny thing is, it can be a silent running partner. I dont need to chat or bond. I just need that person next to me. I need to match up to their pacing, hear their breathing and the sound of their shoes hitting the pavement. I think perhaps I am more like a clydesdale horse, falling into the rythem of the guy next to me. Or maybe I should be in the military.

Either way, running with someone makes me love running. It makes me see the joy behind the sport. And some suggest I trail someone else when I'm out for a run, or in a race. But I really like to run next to someone. If you were in a race, and the whole time this person just silently ran next to you ... picking up speed when you did and dropping speed when you did ... wouldnt you think it was a big strange? Personally, if someone did this to me I'd either think they were 1) irritating or 2) stalking me. Imagine trying to ditch this shaddow and not being able to, as they insist on keeping in stride with you regardless of your efforts. Creepy, right?

Training Log
Time:54:54   Distance:5 mi   Pace:10:51

See what I mean? The other day I ran a bit less than four and my pace was much slower. I had to stop and walk (but didnt today) and felt tired the whole run (which also didnt happen today). There is one notable difference - besides the running partner - today's run was first thing in the morning. I have always done better and felt better with an early morning run. As the day progresses I get more tired, and I also have to run after eating a bunch of junky food (which I cannot stop myself from doing, I tried). Fastest mile was mile 2 at 10:35, second fastest was mile 5 at 10:45.

Happy Birthday ...

You snore, twitch, and hog the bed. You refuse to bark at strangers
and instead focus your anger on dogs that use your trees as a
restroom. You cannot hear us call you by name, but come running at
the sound of a Kraft cheese single being unwrapped. The quirkier you
get, the more we treasure you. In the beginning, you made a "couple"
into a "family" and today you help make that family complete.

It's been a wonderful 6 years ... Happy Birthday Wrigley!

Get Your (True) Blood Boiling

Ok, I am still not doing much work. I did get one chapter read in a book, but it was boring ... so I am back at blog reading. One of the (non running) blogs I like to keep up with is Clever Girl Goes Blog, and Tia has just blessed me with this Alexander Skarsgård photo shoot. If you are a True Blood fan, you already know who he is. If not, he plays Eric ... and he is vampire (ooohhh!!!!!).

I sometimes love this show and sometimes hate it. It is so over the top and so crazy, but I still look forward to it each week. Its a bit racy, a lot violent, and totally out-of-this-world. Perhaps its that break from reality that I need :) I guess one of the reasons I am iffy on the show is because none of the characters really resonate with me. Sookie (Anna Paquin) just annoys me. I find Bill (Stephen Moyer) to be dull and boring ... and not a sultry-leading-man-type. Some of the other characters are actually enjoyable, but with these two in lead roles I can sometimes find my mind wandering a bit.

Until now.

I never truly appreciated Alexander Skarsgård (perhaps its the vampire thing, because Edward Cullen doesnt do it for me either). I have a new appreciation for him now and wish I could watch the entire season over, just focusing on him. But, alas, I do not have the time. Instead I promise to devote all of my attention to him this Sunday, in the season finale ;)

Back to work now, I swear.

I Pay A Babysitter To Run, Shower And Blog

I feel a bit dumb today. My sitter was due to come from 11-4. I've been dying to go for a run and couldnt fit it in anywhere during the week. Since I agreed to attempt a 5-miler on Sunday, I knew I had to get out today. So when my sitter showed up I went for a run. Then I got home and showered. Now I am at Starbucks "working", which so far has involved about 20 minutes of work and some blogging. What I need to do is pay someone to tell me how to manage my time, not watch my baby :( Sheesh.

On another note, I find myself a bit irritated today as well. All summer we have watched this corner ice-cream shop. It had a work permit in the window early in the spring. Then early summer it put out some benches. And we watched, casually trying to peep in behind the paper-covered windows. In the beginning of August a sign appears in the window "Oh so very soon". We laugh. And wait. One night we walk by and the sign lights are flashing, but the store remains closed. Today the paper is torn down to reveal sparkling clean windows and a shop that doesnt look any different than it did last summer. I can clearly see the cases do not hold any ice-cream. There is not a soul in sight. I swore that I would not patronize such a rediculous place. What type of ice-cream shop OPENS AFTER LABOR DAY??????? Yet, today, when I see the paper removed and can see through the windows ... my heart does a little pitter-patter. It sure would be nice to take a walk one night and get some ice cream. An thus, I am once again annoyed at myself and my major lack of control.

Training Log
Time:42:53   Distance:3.73 mi   Pace:11:30

I didnt feel strong, or good, or happy during this run. It was hard. I started off on my path and as I ran I realized there were an awful lot of people wearing Cubs jersies. Stupid me, I didnt check to see if there was a game today and had headed out on a path that was going to take me right past the ballpark. DETOUR! I got through one mile fine, but then as I kept running I swore I had done almost 3, but hadent even completed 2. At the 2 mile point I was tired. I dragged myself through mile 3 and was almost crying for that last 3/4 of a mile. I did it and I am happy, but I sure do miss that sense of strengh and power that comes from a successful run. Instead I feel like this tired, old lady ... who would rather be at home with her food-throwing-almost-walking-baby.

I'm A Marathon Volunteer!

There was an opportunity to volunteer at one of the aid stations and I quickly snapped it up. If anything can motivate me, its watching the Chicago Marathon! I know it wont motivate me to give Chicago another shot (that is just a bridge I no longer desire to cross), but I do hope it makes me finally take the leap and sign up for one of the Winter or Spring 1/2 Marathons I've been eyeing. I'm so excited! I get to witness all of the action up-close-and-personal and be HELPING the runners at the same time. Even better, I get an awesome official jacket ... and I DONT HAVE TO RUN. WHOOOHOOOO! This is so great.

In addition, I have agreed to attempt a 5-miler this weekend with a friend. Probably not smart due to my lack of running, but I honestly tend to surprise myself with what I can do. My goal is to push out 3.5-4 tomorrow, rest on Saturday, and then go for 5 on Sunday. If I am successful, I can take some of the worry away about this upcoming 10K ;)

On another note, I learned something new today. PDF stands for "portable document format". I use them all of the time, and guess I just never cared to wonder what the letters stood for. Maybe everyone else in the world already knew that, but I am just glad that I have a new tidbit of knowledge.

It's Not Fat - It's The Cure For Heart Disease!

Ok, my Labor Day weekend running plan failed. I ran on Saturday and thought I would run on Monday, but then due the my poor nutrition (and drinking) on Saturday and Sunday, combined with a busy schedule, I couldnt get the run in on Monday. But it is ok! I have just learned that human fat yields multipurpose stem cells. Why run? If I sit on my butt and eat cookies and ice cream (like I did this past weekend) I am actually creating and storing fat cells ... and that is good! Why? Because new (and very early) research suggests that fat cells might be able to be "coached" into becoming any type of tissue or cell in the body. My plan is to be as lazy and eat as much as I can, and then try to get some free liposuction (by offering to donate my valuable fat cells in exchange for the procedure). Problem solved! Boy, that takes a load off my back.

3 Weeks, 3 Concerns, 3 Miles

I have a 10K in three weeks, and although I am not very worried about my ability to complete it ... I do have the pressure of a recent 10K time, which now I guess I must beat. I admit I took my time and went easy during the Fleet Feet 10K back in July ... but I had someone to run the entire race with, had been running fairly regularly prior to the ract, and I still had some energy and drive to push through at the end. This upcoming race is a bit different and I have three big concerns.
1) I'll be running alone (I'm actually not sure I have ever done so in a race)
2) I'm having some trouble running during the week (weekend runs only)
3) I am worried about how I will finish now that I have a recent 10K time

Training Log
Time:34:38   Distance:3.00 mi   Pace:11:33

A little birdy told me that a friend of mine was babysitting last night. I figured that if she was spending her Friday night babysitting (instead of a wild night out on the town), she might be interested in an early Sat run. And I was right! We went out at 6:30 (I even beat Brooke up!) for an easy 3 miles. I am actually suprised because I felt pretty good througout the run, considering it had again been a week between runs. I'm taking that as a good sign and thinking about trying to push out 4 either tomorrow or Monday morning.

Forget Working Out ... I'm Going Shopping

If they tell me all I need is a pair of shoes to build my calves, hamstrings and glutes ... then I believe it. Why would anyone lie?

Reebok's Easytone (while quite ugly), "encourage toning in 3 key areas of the leg" by using "balance pods built into the shoes to create a natural instability". Though I tend to be a bit unstable naturally, I guess a need a little more instability in order to achieve fit and shapely legs! I mean, the Kardashian family wears them ... so they must be good, right?

Or, I can just get myself a new pair of heels, since they also build muscle. I'm thinking that these shoes would make my legs very muscular.

Either way, I'm going to stop running (or trying to run) and looking for an exercise class I can bring Brooke to and find some shoes that will do the work for me instead.

Pawsilates Anyone?

I have a hard time in the city finding exercise classes I can take a baby to. There are a lot of them for when you have an itty-bitty-baby in a stroller, but nothing really for when you have an ansty-grabbing-hollering-toddler that refuses to sit in a stroller for more than 10 minutes. I guess they assume that by the time your baby is about 1, that either a) you are already in shape and dont need to work out anymore or b) that you have returned to work or gotten a sitter and no longer need to bring baby along. Well, neither "a" or "b" are true for me and I'm still looking for a way to work out with a slightly rambunctious toddler. And do you know what irritates me? I can find a pilates class I can bring my dog to, but cant find one that I can bring a baby to. Um, let me tell you the major difference between being a dog and a baby ... you can leave the dog at home when you go out :(  

Once Again, A Week In Between Runs

Every day I think about going for a run. Every day I do not go for a run. I cant find the time. Or I have the time, but not the energy. Or I have the time and the energy but just lack motivation. I thought signing up for the 10K would motivate me, but it really hasnt this time. I guess I keep thinking I have a lot of weeks to train, but then again ... do I really?

I need to run at least once during the week. When I dont run for an entire week each run is too difficult, my body spends more time fighting the run then getting stronger and building any sort of endurance :(

On a better note, I have managed to cook dinner every night this week! We generally eat out quite a bit, which obviously is not the healthiest (or cheapest) way to go. Every week we get a ton of vegetables (many of which, I will admit, never get used). This week I decided to try to use as much of them I could, so I have been cooking. While I'm not focusing on fat or calories, the fresh vegetables have to play a positive role in my diet ... either way it has to be better than a burger and fries. I'm not exactly cooking healthy food, but I have been using some fresh vegetables. We participate in a farm share through Harvest Moon farms. While I am pretty happy about my cooking streak, I am only talking about it because it is about to end :) I have dinner plans with some friends tomorrow night and odds are pretty good the weekend will bring more opportunity to eat out as well. Perhaps I will use guilt to motiave me once again. Since I will likely eat bad foods, maybe I will go for a run in order to compensate for my unhealthy diet :)