I've touched on this before, the secret underworld and unique language of runners. But I have recently learned the greatest word in the runner's dictionary: Tapering. This is were we begin to run fewer miles in order to conserve energy and allow our bodies to recover for the big day. I look forward to the two weeks of tapering.
Yesterday we ran a cool 8 miles, my lungs felt good, it was fairly mild out, and my last Team Challenge practice. It was definitely bittersweet, I don't know what I am going to do after Vegas... I need, and like, the commitment to my team to be there every Sunday morning, bright and early.
My iPod malfunctioned again, surprise, it claims I only ran 7.02 miles but I know it was 8 total. It also claims I was out there for 1 hour 20 minutes. I'd like to think I run that fast.... but I feel like that's incorrect. My average pace hasn't been 10 minutes since I was stuck at 3 miles. Usually the time function isn't wrong on the Nike+, so I don't know what to think. When I first got the Nike+ it was amazing, but it tends to fail a lot. Once my funds improve... i.e. after paying off Vegas... I may be purchasing a GPS watch thingy-ma-bobber. The weirdest part of the Nike+ is that in the earbuds it told me "congratulations you have reached your goal of 8 miles" then I press "end workout" and the screen says 7.02 miles. ARGH!
But the good part of the run was that I felt good! This is exciting and scary at the same time... why is 10+ miles such torture and 8 miles a breeze? Makes me nervous for race day. I do NOT want to crawl to the finish line. I'll crawl to the medal tent, the bagel tent, and the buffet, but I will not crawl across the finish line!! :)
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
12 miles of death.... ok, maybe not that dramatic
Winter weather has finally arrived in WI, I should be grateful that it just arrive considering its mid-november. However, the reality of WI is still hard to swallow.
Last week we celebrated daylight savings by accepting the sky being pitch black at 5:00pm, I busted out the reflectors and drove around for a good 20 minutes looking for a safe place to run. My area is lacking a few essentials: 1) sidewalks 2) street lights. I finally settled on an old stand by Rawson ave. its pretty hilly and not quite 2.5 miles, but it was the only area with a decent sidewalk and street lights. I got home from work seriously de-motivated. The heat was malfunctioning at work so our offices were 85 degrees... I was drained, but knew I had to get in my miles. I ate a quick dinner (since it was already dark out no need to rush out to beat the sunset!) and headed out. I wanted to vomit the entire time and came pretty close on a few occasions. Fortunately I made it out and back without any problems.
Later this week I did the "endless" loop around my apartment, its quite boring but there were streetlights and its not highly traveled. Not a bad day out, pretty average.
SUNDAY RUNDAY: 12 miles. I headed out excited to hit a new personal best. I wasn't even sure if my iPod mile counter went that high!! (It did.) The wind was cold and blowing strong, I went through an entire pack of tissues before I finished. The NEHOD almost got the best of me again. But in the end I finished the 12 miles. Around the half way point Coach Tim started to run with me, and of course the run went better when he did. Its so funny to see my Nike+ pace chart after the run:
----^---vvv---v__v(Tim arrives)-------------------------v(mini NEHOD)-----v(NEHOD)------------12miles!
At the first mini NEHOD my breathing stopped again like the last big run. Tim suggested we cut it short. I was not having that idea! I think I even stomped my foot! "No!! I gotta finish this 12 miles!!" "Alright!" and off we went up the evil NEHOD. Coach Anne met up with up, my guess is the other runners were wondering where I was! So me, Coach Anne and Coach Tim trudged up the hill. We were talking about mantras or "self talk"-for all you counselors out there. I have several, "I've made it this far only _ to go." "I think I can!" "Keep moving" and now my new favorite "Wheat Monkey" a local brew that is soooo tasty! Like a horse and carrot. So as we finished up I started saying "wheat monkey" out loud. Helped me not to focus on the pain and focus on the deliciousness of the beer chilling in the fridge!
After the run, Lisa and I headed to some shops to pick up even more running gear (as if that is even possible, I swear we have everything one could possibly imagine). The cold air definitely impacts my lungs, I was looking for some "turtle" thing Tim told me about that essentially covers the mouth and sheilds the neck from the blowing air. We both needed additional reflectors since it is so dark out. And an essential supply for the big race- a non-fanny pack-fanny-pack :) Please don't judge, we are both a little sensitive on this topic. But how else are we going to capture all the glorious (and not so glorious) moments of the big day? I need my camera. I have decided not to take my phone, I don't want to be "that guy" on my phone/texting during one of the most exciting days of my life. You will all hear about it afterwards. You wouldn't text during your wedding would you? I certainly hope not!
Ok, but back to the shopping experience. I know my body was rejecting the torture I just put myself through and Lisa is dealing with shin problems. We looked like a trainwreck... here is what we looked like:
Day after the marathon- You Tube
And on that note:
Dreams are often challenging, but challenges are what we live for.
Last week we celebrated daylight savings by accepting the sky being pitch black at 5:00pm, I busted out the reflectors and drove around for a good 20 minutes looking for a safe place to run. My area is lacking a few essentials: 1) sidewalks 2) street lights. I finally settled on an old stand by Rawson ave. its pretty hilly and not quite 2.5 miles, but it was the only area with a decent sidewalk and street lights. I got home from work seriously de-motivated. The heat was malfunctioning at work so our offices were 85 degrees... I was drained, but knew I had to get in my miles. I ate a quick dinner (since it was already dark out no need to rush out to beat the sunset!) and headed out. I wanted to vomit the entire time and came pretty close on a few occasions. Fortunately I made it out and back without any problems.
Later this week I did the "endless" loop around my apartment, its quite boring but there were streetlights and its not highly traveled. Not a bad day out, pretty average.
SUNDAY RUNDAY: 12 miles. I headed out excited to hit a new personal best. I wasn't even sure if my iPod mile counter went that high!! (It did.) The wind was cold and blowing strong, I went through an entire pack of tissues before I finished. The NEHOD almost got the best of me again. But in the end I finished the 12 miles. Around the half way point Coach Tim started to run with me, and of course the run went better when he did. Its so funny to see my Nike+ pace chart after the run:
----^---vvv---v__v(Tim arrives)-------------------------v(mini NEHOD)-----v(NEHOD)------------12miles!
At the first mini NEHOD my breathing stopped again like the last big run. Tim suggested we cut it short. I was not having that idea! I think I even stomped my foot! "No!! I gotta finish this 12 miles!!" "Alright!" and off we went up the evil NEHOD. Coach Anne met up with up, my guess is the other runners were wondering where I was! So me, Coach Anne and Coach Tim trudged up the hill. We were talking about mantras or "self talk"-for all you counselors out there. I have several, "I've made it this far only _ to go." "I think I can!" "Keep moving" and now my new favorite "Wheat Monkey" a local brew that is soooo tasty! Like a horse and carrot. So as we finished up I started saying "wheat monkey" out loud. Helped me not to focus on the pain and focus on the deliciousness of the beer chilling in the fridge!
After the run, Lisa and I headed to some shops to pick up even more running gear (as if that is even possible, I swear we have everything one could possibly imagine). The cold air definitely impacts my lungs, I was looking for some "turtle" thing Tim told me about that essentially covers the mouth and sheilds the neck from the blowing air. We both needed additional reflectors since it is so dark out. And an essential supply for the big race- a non-fanny pack-fanny-pack :) Please don't judge, we are both a little sensitive on this topic. But how else are we going to capture all the glorious (and not so glorious) moments of the big day? I need my camera. I have decided not to take my phone, I don't want to be "that guy" on my phone/texting during one of the most exciting days of my life. You will all hear about it afterwards. You wouldn't text during your wedding would you? I certainly hope not!
Ok, but back to the shopping experience. I know my body was rejecting the torture I just put myself through and Lisa is dealing with shin problems. We looked like a trainwreck... here is what we looked like:
Day after the marathon- You Tube
And on that note:
Dreams are often challenging, but challenges are what we live for.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Daily Mile
I finally bit the bullet and succumbed to peer pressure. I joined Dailymile an online running/sports community. But the best part is now you can see my mileage add up in my final weeks before Vegas!
Friday, November 5, 2010
13.1 Vegas Play List
Here is the official play list I will be running to down the Vegas strip!
1)Heavenly Day-Mandisa- Nancy Raffaelli
2) Only the World- Patti Griffin- Aunt Kay
3) Midnight Special- CCR- Seattle Bruggies
4) Savior- Rise Against
5) Collapse-Rise Against
6) Heart of a Champion- Nelly- Sara Taylor
7) Long Forgotten Sons- Rise Against
8) Re-education- Rise Against
9) I Like It- Enrique w/ Pitbull- Bob, Melissa, and Danny
10) Strength to go on-Rise Against
11) Eye of the Tiger- Survivor-Phil Raffaelli
12) Fighter- Christina Aguilera
13) Life Less Frightening- Rise Against
14) Beat It- Michael Jackson
15) Paper Wings- Rise Against
16) Half Way There-Rise Against
17) To Them These Streets Belong-Rise Against
18) Morning After Dark- Timbaland- Sara Taylor
19) Crazy Bitch- Buck Cherry
20) Give It All- Rise Against
21) Tik Tok-Ke$ha
22) Under the Knife-Rise Against
23) Come On Get Happy-David Cassidy
24) Superbitch- Authority Zero- Kristen
25) Prayer of the Refugee- Rise Against
26) Raspberry Beret- Prince- Marci
27) Worth Dying For-Rise Against
28) Behind Closed Doors- Rise Against
29) Anyway You Want It- Journey
30) Never Again- Kelly Clarkson
31) The Good Left Undone-Rise Against
34) Come On Feel the Noise-Twisted Sister
35) Regulate- Warren G- Krolick
36) Survive- Rise Against
37) Run This Town- Rihanna
38) But Tonight We Dance- Rise Against
39) Rock Your Body- Justin Timberlake
40) The World's Greatest- R. Kelly
41) Sex on Fire- Kings of Leon
42) Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson
43) Jump Off- Lil Kim
44) I wanna Rock- Twisted Sister
A grand total of 2 hours 30 Minutes, I hope *fingers crossed* to be finished before!
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
1)Heavenly Day-Mandisa- Nancy Raffaelli
2) Only the World- Patti Griffin- Aunt Kay
3) Midnight Special- CCR- Seattle Bruggies
4) Savior- Rise Against
5) Collapse-Rise Against
6) Heart of a Champion- Nelly- Sara Taylor
7) Long Forgotten Sons- Rise Against
8) Re-education- Rise Against
9) I Like It- Enrique w/ Pitbull- Bob, Melissa, and Danny
10) Strength to go on-Rise Against
11) Eye of the Tiger- Survivor-Phil Raffaelli
12) Fighter- Christina Aguilera
13) Life Less Frightening- Rise Against
14) Beat It- Michael Jackson
15) Paper Wings- Rise Against
16) Half Way There-Rise Against
17) To Them These Streets Belong-Rise Against
18) Morning After Dark- Timbaland- Sara Taylor
19) Crazy Bitch- Buck Cherry
20) Give It All- Rise Against
21) Tik Tok-Ke$ha
22) Under the Knife-Rise Against
23) Come On Get Happy-David Cassidy
24) Superbitch- Authority Zero- Kristen
25) Prayer of the Refugee- Rise Against
26) Raspberry Beret- Prince- Marci
27) Worth Dying For-Rise Against
28) Behind Closed Doors- Rise Against
29) Anyway You Want It- Journey
30) Never Again- Kelly Clarkson
31) The Good Left Undone-Rise Against
32) Viva Las Vegas- Elvis
33) I Gotta Feeling- Black Eyed Peas- Bykowski34) Come On Feel the Noise-Twisted Sister
35) Regulate- Warren G- Krolick
36) Survive- Rise Against
37) Run This Town- Rihanna
38) But Tonight We Dance- Rise Against
39) Rock Your Body- Justin Timberlake
40) The World's Greatest- R. Kelly
41) Sex on Fire- Kings of Leon
42) Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson
43) Jump Off- Lil Kim
44) I wanna Rock- Twisted Sister
A grand total of 2 hours 30 Minutes, I hope *fingers crossed* to be finished before!
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
THANK YOU
Its almost official *pending checks being processed* I have reached my fund raising goal!
$2500
This is obviously very exciting! 1) Its going to help people coping with disease 2) Its freaking AWESOME 3) I can focus on training, you know that other seemingly impossible element of this whole process.
BIGGEST SHOT OUT goes to my Dad's amazing boss, he generously donated double what he told me he would! What a guy! For as long as I can remember (and probably before that) he has been so generous with all adventures me and my family take on. You all probably know him, he does the voice for Speedway commercials: "come in for 99 cent 2 liters of coca-cola" Yup, that's our guy! Or in the greater Milwaukee area the International Mini commercials.
Although this is a huge weight lifted, I'm going to miss fund raising; I forgot how much I love organizing events. And hey, its basically been my social life for the past couple months. Good thing I have lots of miles still to log before the big day!
Another great big thank you goes out to all those people that donated, whether big or small, each penny is appreciated and I never would have met this goal without you.
Just a reminder about where your funds are going:
-to raise awareness
-to find a CURE
-to improve quality of life
$2500
This is obviously very exciting! 1) Its going to help people coping with disease 2) Its freaking AWESOME 3) I can focus on training, you know that other seemingly impossible element of this whole process.
Although this is a huge weight lifted, I'm going to miss fund raising; I forgot how much I love organizing events. And hey, its basically been my social life for the past couple months. Good thing I have lots of miles still to log before the big day!
Another great big thank you goes out to all those people that donated, whether big or small, each penny is appreciated and I never would have met this goal without you.
Just a reminder about where your funds are going:
-to raise awareness
-to find a CURE
-to improve quality of life
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