ABCs of Me :)

Everybody's doing it, so here's the ABCs of Me: a fun glimpse into my life :)

A-Age: just turned 28
B-Bed size: Queen, but California King is what I want next. Jake and Dexter take up all the space!
C-Chore I hate: cleaning the bathroom is the worst
D-Dogs: two rescued mutts that hog the bed, Jake (5) and Dexter (4)
E-Essential start to the day: breakfast - I wake up starving! my current favorite is turkey sausage on a whole wheat english muffin with mozzarella cheese and tomato

F-Favorite colors: blue, blue and blue
G-Gold or silver: Silver
H-Height: 5'8"
I-Instrument I play: HA! I'm tone deaf and have no rhythm
J-Job title: Director, After School and Summer Programs
K-Kids: 375 at school, 3 of my sister's, none of our own yet :) I still cherish sleep
L-Live: Belleville, MI
M-Mother's name: Norma
N-Nickame: Rose is my nickname, some kids call me Rosie, I grew up with Hambone and my sister calls me Babs
O-Overnight hospital stays: never! never even been to the hospital as a patient.
P-Pet peeve: messing up there/their/they're
Q-Quote from a movie: "And here's some crayons in case you get bored." ~Mrs. Potato Head, Toy Story 2
R-Right or left handed? Right
S-Sibling: two older sisters, I'm the baby :)
T-Time you wake up: anywhere between 5a on a good day to run or 930a if I need a sleep-in day
U-Underwear: clean daily ;)
V-Vegetable you dislike: squash
W-What makes you run late? my husband. If I'm not 15 mins early, I think I'm late - I get that from my mom
X-rays I've had: dental and my foot once, but no breaks
Y-Yummy food you make: desserts - cake balls are the best!

Z-Zoo favorite animal: monkeys! my husband loves the sea otters

Now you know everything about me! We can be bffs!

5 Boring Miles

I had 5 miles on the plan today and thought it would be no big deal after the 10 miler this weekend. I couldn't have been more wrong. I did them on the treadmill at the gym and was B-O-R-E-D out of my mind. Even with 4 tvs and 1 movie screen right in front of me and about 10 meat-head gym rats nearby, I was still bored.

I don't know what it is about running inside on a treadmill, but I always want to stop. I'm not hurt or tired, just bored. When I'm running outside, I never stop for walk breaks, but on the treadmill I can come up with a million excuses to walk.

I think my new plan is to get up and drive to the nearby metropark to run on their cleared path in the mornings before work. I don't get up early enough for it to still be dark out which is good. Plus, I only run two weekdays right now, so I don't think it will cramp my style too much.

I have to say that I feel great about my running and couldn't be happier that I'm now 'out' to the blogging world. It's such a rush of energy to get re-motivated about my training plan and upcoming races. When I was bored on the treadmill today, I wouldn't let myself get off so I wouldn't let down any of my blogging friends. So, thanks to all of you out there :) I appreciate you all!

10 Miles and Outing Myself

Today was my longest long run to date - 10 miles! I ran them at the nearby metropark and it was great! I can't believe I've never thought of running here in the winter before. It's gorgeous and plowed - unlike most places nearby - and only a ten minute drive from my house. It was nice outside and I didn't even need hat or gloves :) I planned to try another flavor of gu on this run, but I forgot my water in the car. I ended up just fine although I won't make this mistake again.

There were plenty of other people on the path - runners, walkers, dogs, families - that made it more exciting and made me feel like we were all running together.

The real thing I was happy about is that I got out there and ran 10 miles on my own! That's huge, especially this week. I've been sick on the couch with a fever for days and the inactivity was killing me. I then began to doubt myself in my running endeavors and just felt like crap. Good news is that I received some good advice from a fellow blogger and it got me right back out there.

I'm outing myself in that when I began running I told very few people - for a variety of reasons: they wouldn't care, they'd be annoyed by me, they'd think I fail, I would fail, they'd think that I was looking down on them for their sedentary lifestyle, etc.

Through this entire process, I've wanted to do it all by myself and once I [insert any goal here, such as: finished a half marathon, or a full, or I felt like a runner], I'd share it with others. I think I'm just now realizing that this isn't the best way to go about it.

I'm finally just going with it. I'll follow my training plan, blog what I want and feel proud about it. I'm not holding anything back in fear of 'bothering' someone else.

The running blogs have been so absolutely motivating and keep my going each day. I just want to say thanks to all of you!!

Best Day Ever!

This past Friday was amazing for so many reasons:

1) I had the day off as the beginning of my week-long Mid-Winter Break :)

2) It was GORGEOUS!! 50+ degrees outside and sunny

3) Outside long run - in a tank top!

I haven't done a long run outside since 6 miles, so I was thrilled to get back out there. I didn't wear a hat or mittens, only wore one pair of pants and wore one less layer on top - it felt great. The route I take is a huge rectangle from the house. 1 mile east, 1.5 miles south, 3 miles west, 1.5 miles north and 2 miles west back home. Simple, mindless and almost all on dirt roads with no cars. By mile 3 I was so hot, I took of my jacket to just my tank top - I would have never guessed that it would be nice enough in February in Michigan to cut out that many layers! The sun was shining and there was no wind at that point.

Definition of sexy:

Around mile 5, I passed a woman walking and she was so friendly - with a big smile, she said, "look at you go, great job!" It totally made my day and kept me on a high until mile 7. The last two miles were brutal however. Not because I was tired or my left knee was hurting (although my IT band was a little sore), but I was running into the wind. It was so hard to move! Once I got back into the city limits and to sidewalks, it got much better and I was able to complete the entire 9 mile run feeling great.

Once I got home, I felt like I had at least one more mile in me, which is a great feeling to have after a long run. This is my longest at-home training run ever!

My other excitement for this run was that I used Pandora on my cell phone for the run. I don't run with music outside at all - I like to be aware of my surroundings and just take it all in - but just having music on low, without ear buds, was great. About 5 miles of the run are on dirt roads with no traffic, so it kept me from being bored. And I started a new station called "Black Eyed Peas" which kept me going with all the up-tempo music. Lots of fun!!

I can't wait for it to be spring so I can do this all the time :)

Cheap New Running Shoes!

So I didn't get up early Saturday morning and drive back to Ann Arbor to return my new but not perfect running shoes. I chose to sleep in and finish an amazing book I had just started (ROOM by Emma Donoghue - I highly recommend it). I will for sure return them on Monday after work - how romantic for Valentine's Day, I know.

The reason I went with a new shoe, different from the worn out pair I have loved for almost a year now is that the running store I shop at didn't carry the exact same shoe or New Balance's updated version in my size. So, I tried something new and it backfired. Oh well, I'm not permanently damaged :)

This morning I googled my existing running shoes and found them on clearance for $40!! I paid almost $100 for these last year and spent just over $100 on the new pair on Friday and this very morning I ordered TWO pairs of my already favorite running shoes in my size for less than $90! Best day ever!

Now I can't wait to for them to get here, with free shipping, sometime this week or next. Scheduled for today is an 8 miler which I'll do on the treadmill at the gym with my husband. Yes, he hates the gym and hates it even more for us to go together, but he lost in racquetball yesterday and this is his punishment! Thank God I beat him in multiple deuces in the third game!

My friend Nathan is running his first full marathon today in New Orleans and I can't wait to see how it went! Go, Nathan, Go!!

More than half way there!

Six weeks down on the training plan and they've gone really well. Now, it's only five weeks left until the Grosse Ile Half Marathon - which I'm definitely doing. How could I have doubted that? Anyway, I'm excited for it.

I finally gave in and bought a gym membership for the rest of February and March earlier this week. With the huge snow storm and consecutive below zero days, I just couldn't run outside anymore. Most people stopped shoveling their sidewalks and the ice was getting more difficult to navigate. Running in the street worked just fine in the summer, but with the huge snow piles on the side of the road cutting into the already narrow shoulder, it just stopped being safe.

I did my first long run at the gym - 7 miles. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There was plenty of junk on the tv and lots of fun people to watch at the gym. I made the mistake of going at 7pm when there were so many people there that I got the last treadmill (with the broken earphone thing for the tv sound). Since then, I've been going after 9pm and that works out great. There's never more than 5 people there at that time.

I got new running shoes tonight and was so excited to try them out for tonight's 4 miler, but they're going back first thing in the morning. The arch is too high and there's a 'bump' under my middle three toes. They caused my heels to hurt and for me to just run weird. I'll take them back and find a perfect pair tomorrow. Good thing I tried them on the treadmill and not outside :)

Half Marathon Training Plan

I'm not really sure what I want out of this blog - I started it to keep track of my running progress mostly because if it was written down I'd be accountable. I've been so nervous to tell anyone about my beginning running in case I fail or quit or just plain suck. It took until I completed my first half-marathon last October that I even shared the blog with most people.

Anywho, since the new year I've been addicted to reading running blogs. It's weird, but I feel more connected with these strangers that blog about running than most people. I haven't joined a local running group as the Belleville one seems full of old people (I have no basis for this claim short of their website) and the Ann Arbor one intimidates me. AA is such a health-nut town and I just don't think I'd fit in.

I really do enjoy checking out everyone else's blogs and it keeps me going and let's me know I'm on the right track. I'm just not that good of a writer/runner/interesting person to have a super-exciting blog like they do and I'm okay with that.

I've been right on track on my training plan for a half-marathon for the past 3 weeks. I run on Tuesdays and Thursdays before work, long run on Saturdays and short recovery run on Sundays. It works out well for me. All runs are outside, since I'm too cheap for a treadmill (anyone wanna trade your treadmill for my elliptical??) and get bored on the TM at the gym and so I canceled my membership. The only part of the outside runs that I hate is the 1/8 mile from my neighborhood to the high school that doesn't have a sidewalk. I literally have to run through the snow in the front yard of 4 houses. It sucks, but it's only that first (and last) part of the run.

I got all sorts of awesome running gear for Christmas, including a long-sleeve tech shirt in obnoxiously bright yellow from my brother-in-law. Love it! It's perfect for my early morning runs when it's sometimes still dark. My mother-in-law is so sweet: she found a thin and silky pair of long underwear that she loved and thought I would love it too, so she ordered a set for me. I just got them from her last week and I LOVE THEM! The pants are perfect for underneath my running tights and my thighs no longer burn from the wind! I'm a bit too embarrassed to mention that I've worn the long sleeve top every day this week to bed, oh well. Thanks Carol - I love them!!

So yeah, three weeks down and feeling great about the training plan :) I have 7 weeks to go until the race - that's nothing! My long run is 6 miles so far and they have felt great. I'm just excited for the snow to melt and it to warm up a bit, since I should get much faster :) I still home home all sweaty and feel great!! So, I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and see how it goes!

Short and Sweet Running Plans for 2011

Races:
Grosse Ile Half Marathon March 20th
Mt. Clemens Half Marathon April 30th
The Crim 10 mile Flint August 27th
Detroit Full Marathon October 16th


Times:
5K under 30 mins
10K under 1 hour
Half under 2 hours, 30 mins
Full just finish :)

Girls on the Run 5K

The Girls on the Run 5K was Sunday, November 21st and it went really well. We've had GOTR at Emerson in the past, although it was always a separate program put together by parents for some of our older girls (middle school). This year, I brought the program to Emerson for 3-5th graders and was thrilled to see 8 of our girls thrive within it. I was very excited to run the season-ending 5K celebration with the girls.

In addition to being excited to see our girls through to the end of their first running program, I was also excited to return for personal reasons as well. The GOTR 5K is the very first race that I ran last year. If you remember from much earlier posts, my sister talked me into walking a 5K last October and from then on I was determined to run one. In training for a December race, I talked Pat into running the GOTR race with me last year as our very first one. So, this day held a lot of meaning for me.

I met the girls early and they were very surprised and excited to see me there. I think the main part was that I was in running tights, a long sleeve tech shirt and a headband - not normal clothes they'd ever seen me in. I don't think they recognized me at first :) We hung out, stretched, and chatted with parents before it was time to begin. This race took on a whole new meaning to me this year as I was here for moral support to my girls and to let them know how proud I was of them and that it's okay to walk some if you need it.

It was nice to chat with parents as I discovered that many of them were runners themselves and were thrilled to share their running stories with me. Four dads ran with their girls; with the GOTR coach, her mom, and me, that made 7 adults running with our girls and numerous others cheering us on the sidelines. For me, it was one of the first times I felt companionship in other runners as I typically run all of my races alone - definitely a plus for all involved.

The race went great; I started off with a few of our girls, lightly jogged with one, and then was able to get into a groove by myself about a mile into the race. It was so nice seeing so many girls out there. I even ran into a handful of girls I knew from summer camp! In contrast to last year, I was able to run the entire time and have breath to cheer on all the other girls (last year, I ran solo, listening to an ipod and just trying to finish with a walk break at mile 2). I made 'friends' with a girl who was on my pace most of the race - she would walk for a bit, then sprint, then walk again. She'd drop behind me then shoot past me and every time we passed, she smiled as I gave her encouragement - it felt amazing!

Overall, it was a great day. The cool thing about the GOTR 5K is that it's so friendly and laid back; they aren't timed and emphasize just getting out there and completing what you put your mind to.

I couldn't help but time myself though, and I finished one minute slower than last year's same race: 33:20 :) But I'm totally okay with it and very happy for this very different race experience. I hope we get a new team this spring so we can do it all again!

The above picture is one of the GOTR coaches running with one of our girls and her dad. Much smaller and a bit ahead of them is another one of our dads running with his son (a GOTR brother).

I'm still a runner :)

Now that it's been more than a month since my first half marathon, I still consider myself a runner. After my ice bath, I never felt any pain after the half marathon - it was amazing! I felt better after 13.1 miles than I did after the Crim's 10 miles (although that race had much more hills than the Detroit Half Marathon).

Since then, I've still been running and have actually been enjoying running outside in cold weather. When in the summer, I had to wait for certain times so it wasn't too hot out to run, now I have to time my runs right so it's not too dark :) I also have been working on increasing my winter running gear so that I don't have to do laundry every other day.

Even on Turkey week, I squeezed in 5 runs and they each felt amazing! I just can't get over how great I feel after a run. As hard as it is to get out the door, I always feel amazing when I get back.

The best run I've had since the half marathon by far was my run in Mt. Clemens yesterday morning. It was my first run in our hometown ever and it was amazing. I ran for 4 miles around Pat's mom's neighborhood - which is one of the nicest in the city. It was so much fun reminiscing all the memories from living there and hanging out with friends as I passed so many people's houses.

Skip this part if you're not from MC: I ran up S Wilson from Carol's past Stouter's and Gies' house. Turned the corner at Cass and came back down Moross. They're really fixing up the oldest house in MC, it looks great! Down our old block of Moross was fun as I listed off all the houses that I knew: past the Lang's, Hug's, Beller's, Sarver's, Gramer's, Jon's... it was so much fun! They still haven't fixed the sidewalk a few houses down from ours where the best puddles were after it rained. Our old house now has a fenced in back yard and I couldn't see the tree house we built. I continued down Moross all the way to Bellview, turned and went up Beuland past Rosco's house and up Lodewyck past Mrs. Baark's and Grandpa's houses. The new house on the corner of Lodewyck and Church enormous - I'd love to see the inside. I rounded out the rest of Lodewyck and turned back south onto Miller. Took that until it ended at Robertson and ran down to South street past the synagogue. Skipped Queen street and jumped back across Church next to the HS and down to Smith street. I was amazed to see how different Smith and South are as compared to the rest of the neighborhood. Past the Callanan's house and Stark's to turn the corner at Bellview and headed back home. The only problem with this route is that the last mile was all into the wind. It made the end tougher than the first 3 miles, but it was nice to still check out everyone's house to keep me distracted. The blue house (that is no longer blue, but you know what I mean) at the corner of S Wilson and Bellview was littered with all sorts of tacky Christmas decorations already. I was excited to see that the McNally house wasn't decorated yet in the same fashion :)

It's always exciting to try a new route, but this one was the best. I'm looking forward to going back home for Christmas and doing it again!

For now, I plan to run 4-5 times a week and in January get back on a half marathon training plan. I have two half marathons in my sights for early 2011: March 20th on Grosse Ile and April 30th in downtown Mt. Clemens.

The Grosse Ile race I read about in an issue of Runner's World. A girl around my age who was born with cystic fibrosis and found refuge in running is putting on her very first half marathon with all proceeds going to cystic fibrosis in her home town of Grosse Ile. Being that we visit Grosse Ile often as Pat's Aunt and Uncle live on the island, I thought this would be perfect. I emailed the girl Emily directly and now am all set and excited to run that great course with her in March.

For more info about Emily and what she's doing to help patients with CF, check out her website: http://www.outruncf.com

I found out about the Mt. Clemens half at the expo for the Detroit Half. As I was walking through a sea of people and booths, I saw a screen with a picture of Metro Beach on it. This is the beach we grew up with and isn't that popular, or so I thought. It drew me to the booth where the lady shared info about a new healthy initiative taking place in Macomb County. They're putting together a half marathon and 5K in April called the "Let's Move Festival of Races" that begins and ends in downtown Mt. Clemens - just minutes from my parents' house! I'm so excited to be able to run a familiar course in a race - I've never had that experience before.

If you're an east-sider and want to check it out: http://forms.journalregister.com/micentral/letsmove/race.asp

I'll keep you posted on how it's going, but now you know what I have in mind so I have to follow through :)