What a Joke.

I'm not a very serious person. I'd say I'm almost never 100% serious. Even if I'm having a serious conversation... I tend to insert jokes. I'm silly. I can't help it.

BUT the one thing I have been the most serious about is running/training...until this past summer. I don't know if it was my lack of desire to train in the summer or too many distractions or work or WHAT but I didn't train as hard as I should have. Today I "ran" the Rock n' Roll half.
My finishing time: 2:23:51. I PRed. I could have done A LOT better if I didn't lose steam around mile 9. For the first time in my life I experienced what it felt like to feel really dehydrated in a race. At every water stop I was guzzling 2-3 cups of water/Cytomax. It was as if the water stops couldn't come soon enough.

Look at these splits:
5k-- 30:02 (PR for official race)
10k-- 1:01:51 (PR for official race)
(And I was just jogging comfortably)

10 mile-- 1:47:30
11.4 mile-- 2:02:55
12.3 mile-- 2:13:53

One complaint I have... for being a HUGE race the finish line sucked. There were blow up arches along the course but the finish line was not marked with a huge arch that could be seen from a distance. The last mile or so was a straight shot on the board walk but it was impossible to tell how close we were to the finish. Meh. Oh and for the record Miller GD64 also sux.But you probs already knew that, even if you've never tried it. Today was my first time.

Also today the first time in my life I used the "Galloway" method in a half marathon...meaning I ran out of steam around mile 9 and started taking walk breaks. My initial goal was 2:10:00ish. I hit sub 10 min miles for the first 10k. When the heat started getting to me I decided on a 2:15ish goal... and somewhere between miles 9 and 13.1....I decided as long as I PRed I'd be happy. I guess I did a good job of "listening to my body." I didn't die. And I wasn't carried out on a stretcher. Both good things.

My finishing time isn't what I'm frustrated with. I managed to PR taking walk breaks versus the other 3 races where I jogged the entire thing. What a joke.

Right now I think I'm stunned that I seem to have lost a bit of a passion for running. I don't know why. Maybe because my running buddy moved away? Maybe because the good friends who originally got me into running halvsies aren't my good friends anymore? Maybe I just want to run and not do a long race? Or maybe I'm just tired because I've been up since 5am? I feel numb right now. I think I'll stick with 5-6 mile runs until I get inspiRED to do another half. Which could very well be the Shamrock because that's the only half I've found so far that I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.


On more positive notes: I'm really excited about the yellow tank top I got for this race. The Virginia Beach Rock n' Roll Half has blue and white theme colors. I thought yellow would go well with the blue. Blue is so boring...

And I had a Red Robinnnnnnn Whiskey River Burger after the race. YUM.

Looks LIke I'm Cramming for a Half Marathon?!!

I think I've already determined I'm NEVER training for a half marathon in the summer again.
1. It's Hott
2. Summer is my favorite season

I run in the Fall, Winter, and Spring because it's a distraction while I wait for the Summer weather and pool time to get here. And there is just so much more going on in the Summer that it makes training difficult. My new job hasn't helped things.

Last night I ran 2.5 miles, this AM I ran 3, and tonight I ran 8. That means I ran 11 total today..and 13.5 in a 24 hour period. That's more than I've ran in a whileee. I hope to get one more long run in, which will most-likely be 10 miles...and then we'll see what happens on race day. I'm still running faster than I have before. Today nothing was slower than a 9:40 min/mi pace. I completed the 3 mile run in 27:20. I wish I could have done 11 miles straight, but work got in the way.

I'm hoping that by training at a sub 10 min/mi pace (although on the treadmill), I should be able to run the entire race close to a 10 min/mi pace. If not, it's totally my fault for not training hard enough and I'll have motivation for my next race. I guess worst case scenario [besides an injury] would be failure to PR, since my first 3 halves all have very similar finish times. I know I was capable of faster than 2:26:ish at the 2010 Shamrock Half but opted to run with my friend. Then I had to go and have IT band problems.

In a way I have to admit it feels badass to say I've been "lazy" and can still whip out long-ish runs in the time I want them. I may be crying around the 11 mile mark come race day...and I gotta feeling I'll be more sore this time than I have been in the past. I'm definitely ready for the beach afterparty! And getting Red Robin or Seafood afterward. Tapering shouldn't feel all that different than the rest of my summer. Heh. Anyone else get lazier about training after 3 races? It's a LOT less mental now for me.

Yikes...I'm Running a Half Marathon in a Month!

((Hey Oh)). Long time no post ay? I think between trying to adjust to a new job/schedule and making the most of summer...I'm spending a LOT less time in front of a computer. At work blogger is blocked. If I'm not working I'd rather be pool side. I'm also a sucker for summer TV. The Bachelorette. Shark Week. Jershey Shore. Does it really get any better?


I'm not going away, but bear with me if my posts and comments aren't all that frequent. I'll figure out a balance eventually. Side Note: From January-June I was pretty unhappy with the lack of direction in my life so I ran and blogged A LOT. Both were my outlets. Obviously I still love to run and write, but I'm happier than I've been in a loooong time, so I'm obsessing less over both.

My training has been less frequent this time around, BUT I'm running faster than I have in my life. I've done 3 miles runs with an average pace slightly below 9 minutes per mile. Tonight I ran 8 miles in 1:18:14 (Including the downtime when the treadmill shut off at an hour and I drank some Powerade.) That's an average pace of 9:46 per mile. If I can keep this pace up...hopefully I'll get a decent half time. The heat could do me in though. I've decided this race "Is What It Is" and I'm not sure training during the summer is really my cup of tea. I'm also not sure how I've managed to get faster except that when I run 3 miles at a 9 min/mi pace it makes a 9:50 min/mi pace seem a lot more comfortable and easy.

Between now and September 5th I want to do a 10 mile run and an 11 mile run. Whether I run 9 miles or not is TBD. I might be running out of time. It's pretty crazy how methodical training has become to me. It's a lot less mental and a lot more about forcing myself to do something I know I'm capable of. I wish I had higher weekly miles, but if I continue to hit the long runs at the pace I want, I guess I can't complain. I'm less burnt out and not over training.

Other Random Thoughts Floating Around In My Brain:

• Finding out a guy likes to run is a turn on for me. I wouldn't say that MUST RUN is a requirement, but it's like we instantly get each other. It's cool :)
• Runner's High makes me more absent minded than a drunk. I pumped gas after running 8 miles and drove home without putting the gas cap back on. I didn't realize this until I got home. Luckily the gas station attendant found it or a good samaritan turned it in. I also left my change of clothes at the gym. Geez Louise. I'm probably lucky I made it home in one piece.

Songs I LOVE right now:

Well, Dynamite is still my absolute favorite. It's my ringtone :)

Teenage Dream-- Katy Perry
"We'll Be Young Forever" YES PLEASE.

I Like It-- Enrique Inglesias ft. Pitbull
Huh. And to Think Enrique sang Hero and Pitbull sang Holiday Inn.

Love The Way You Lie-- Rhianna ft. Eminem
I actually haven't been that excited about Rhianna's new stuff and prefer a lot of rappers to Eminem. However, this song has increased my appreciation for both of them.

Club Can't Handle Me-- Flo Rida
Thank God Flo Rida is back. I've missed him.

And you [more than likely] heard it here first. This is yet to hit Top 100 downloads on iTunes......

Could It Be You-- H*wood. Sooooo good!

Wish You Were Here

On July 1st I moved to a group house in Northern VA with a pool and hot tub (Photos to follow). The reason I could afford to move was because I've started a new job doing....

[drumroll please]....

Gym Membership Sales.

To the average Joe this probably doesn't sound like all that exciting of a career. But I think I really may have found a way to combine my need to support myself and love for fitness! Already, I'm a million times happier than I was IT Consulting. The free membership and ability to watch TV at work are definite perks. Oh and goofing around is typicallll :) Remind me again why I sat in a cube for hours on end?

Partially because of all the transition and partially because of the July 4th holiday... I've been absent in blog world for the past couple weeks. I don't think I'll be going on a true vacation this summer...so I took a stay-cation in DC. I had 7 friends come in from out-of-town, including 3 of my besties. Here I am on the Fourth with my friend since middle school, Melissa. We used to pass notes and giggle at silly boys together...substitute texting for the notes and not much has changed.


On my staycation, I did a bunch of things I never had before...

• Went to a Nats game. Believe it or not this was my first one. Strasberg wasn't pitching and the Mets beat us. This definitely won't be my last this season!
  
• Hosted a cook out/pool party. Clearly my mom's idea of an All American Fourth has worn off on me :) I made a funfetti cake with homemade cream cheese icing.
  

• Took the Alexandria Water Taxi to National Harbor
• Watched the Fireworks from National Harbor Sculpture Garden
  

• Went to Ashton Kutcher's restaurant: Ketchup
  
• Went to Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington

If you're ever in DC I'd recommend doing ALL of these things!
I also caught up on The Bachelorette. Dear God Kasey must have been an actor. Or mentally insaneeeeeee. I did 18 miles last week. My longest run the week of the Fourth was 5 miles. (A lot of 3 milers happened).

Today I ran 5 miles in 46:56.... that's an average pace of 9:23 min/mi. This was on the treadmill and I think my "comfortable pace" is now around 9:30...I started at that pace and picked it up at the end.

If I'm being honest I need to get serious about the long runs. I need to do an 8 miler REAL SOON. I'm actually scared about how HOTT this Rock n' Roll half might be. I wish I had someone who wanted to go at about a 10 min/mi pace to run with..............

For those of you constantly looking for additions to your running playlist like me:

Got Your Back-- T.I. ft. Keri Hilson
Somehow I forgot this one in my last music post.

Dynamite-- Taio Cruz
MY FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW! This is also the perfect song to dance to with sparklers. I got to do that on Saturday :)

Beamer, Benz, or Bentley--Lloyd Banks
Yeah, I'm a couple months late on how good this is. I can't get enough.

Top Back-- T.I.
All I Do is Win---DJ Khaled (ft. Luda, Snoop, Rick Ross, and T-Pain)
Dead and Gone-- T.I. ft. JT
Guess I'm on a Hip Hop/T.I. Kick...I keep running to all these songs.

Ocean Avenue-- Yellowcard
And in case hip-hop isn't your thing. This randomly shuffled onto my iPod today. GREAT summer song.

I'm Back-- T.I.
How fitting. I'll do my best to catch up on everyone's blogs!!!

Finally, a few shout outs:

• I can't believe it, but I won a $20 Amazon gift card from Run Potato Run! Just for being a follower! She recently started blogging/training and sadly is dealing with a knee injury. I know she could use some of the advice/encouragement I was lucky enough to receive with my IT band injury. So *cough* go to her blog *cough*!
• Get Well Soon Julie! I really cannot stop thinking about what you are going through.
  

And on happier notes,

• Congrats Barbie!!! Very cute engagement story!
• Pam is hosting a Sweaty Band giveaway.
  

Meredith-ology

Opening Statement:
If you read Jamoosh's blog, you've already seen his completed survey. He suggested everyone answer the same questions and post it to our respective blogs. I've outgrown the days of doing email surveys...and definitely would never fill one of these out on Facebook, but I do think it's nice to learn more about a "running blogger" besides the obvious:
1. They run.
2. They blog.

So, here's some info on me.

FOODOLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice?

Let me put it this way: Panera Greek Salad Dressing and Newman's Own Oil and Vinegar are good enough that I've put them on more than just salad. I like vinaigrettes and ranch a lot, but am not picky. I TRY to use low-fat dressings rather than cancel out my healthy food choice to eat a salad. IMO, a 22g of fat burger trumps 22g of fat ranch dressing.

What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Speaking of burgers, IN-N-OUT!!!! Though, we don't have that on the east coast :(
If we're defining fast food as restaurants with a drive through I stick to: McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell. The only time I ever crave Chick-fil-a is on Sundays. FAIL.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Probably Uncle Julio's. (That link is worth clicking on.) And, I make a point to try new sushi restaurants. That's not a specific place, but I'd say I go out to eat for sushi more often than any other type of cuisine.

On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
20%

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Chocolate. I pretty much have a piece of chocolate every day.

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
I like any topping but anchovies. Mushrooms are absolutely fine if combined with another topping, but I would not order a plain mushroom pizza.

What do you like to put on your toast?
Jelly.
Or Peanut Butter.
Or if I'm feeling kid-like, butter and cinnamon sugar.
And let's not forget dipping plain toast into eggs over easy. Yum.

What is your favorite type of gum?
Orbit!

TECHNOLOGY

Number of contacts in your cell phone?
I lost all of my contacts a week ago when my phone died. I had hundreds . Right now I have 47. I still need to add my sister and future roommates back...

Number of contacts in your email address book?
I don't use this feature. Gmail [aka. the greatest thing EVER] remembers contacts when I start typing the first letter of a name/email.

What is your wallpaper on your computer?
I'm currently using my laptop from Freshman year of college...um...Rhododendron. It's a Windows wallpaper (red flowers).

How many televisions are in your house?
Not sure, I'm about to move...to a house with an in-home movie theatre :)

BIOLOGY
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right

What’s your best feature?
I get the most compliments on my hair.

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
My wisdom teeth.

Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
Sight. 20/20 Vision. (Knock on wood).

When was the last time you had a cavity?
A few years ago.

What is the heaviest item you lifted last?
Cases of drinks at work.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
By anesthesia.

BULL[CRAP]OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No.

Is love for real?
Yes.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I don't think I would change my name. I'm quite happy with it.

What color do you think looks best on you?
Blue. It brings out my eyes ;)

Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
How do you do this by mistake?

Have you ever saved someone’s life?
Yes, I performed rescues the summer I lifeguarded in a water park.

Has someone ever saved yours?
My dad caught me when I started to roll down a mountain overlook as a young child. I have no recollection of this; guess I got the running gene from him.

DAREOLOGY
Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?
"We're going streaking!"

Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
Hell no.

Would you never blog again for $50,000?
Where can I pick up this check?! Plus it doesn't say anything about reading blogs!

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
No, though I witnessed a guy do it at a party in California for (maybe) $20. Not sure he collected it all.
Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?
I'm going to agree with Jamoosh, "I don’t think this is actually possible. There are too many TVs in public places."

CURRENTOLOGY
Missing someone?
Yep. [Sigh.] Too many of my friends/family members don't live in NOVA.

Mood?
Relaxed. (I'm blogging.)

Listening to?
Let's see what I get on iTunes party shuffle... DMB Up and Away.

Watching?
I'll probably catch up on The Bachelorette after this.

Worrying about?
Well, I wasn't worrying about anything until I read this question.

RANDOMOLOGY

First place you went this morning?
Harris Teeter.

What can you not wait to do?
I'm very excited for the Fourth of July. I have friends coming into town, am going to a Nats game, and throwing a pool party/cookout :)

What’s the last movie you saw?
Toy Story 3. IT'S SO GOOD!

Do you smile often?
A lot!

Are you a friendly person?
Yes!

Now that the survey's done what are you going to do?
Veg/Pack

Listening to: Next song that came up on Party Shuffle, Minority--Green Day

Closing Argument: Let others know a little more about yourself, repost this as your name followed by “ology” (with your own answers of course)…or not.

Tre-aaad-mill LOVE

[Sing to the tune of California Love.]

2Pac. So great. I'm adding California Love and Life Goes On to my running iTunes tab pronto. California Love is good for anytime... I've warmed up to Life Goes On more times than I can count. Such truth.

Yesterday, after a week of outside runs I went for a 7 mile run on the treadmill. I know a lot of people hate it, but I LOVE the treadmill. I like that I can watch the World Cup while working out. It's so much easier running on a flat surface in air conditioning. All the stats I could ever want are flashing in front of me during my workout. I'll even admit that I'm entertained by the cursor moving around the "track." (This isn't the exact treadmill I use, but close enough.)

Long runs outside get pretty boring for me without a running partner. Even with my iPod after 3 miles I just feel really alone. I think it helps me tremendously to be surrounded by people working out in the gym. Usually at least one person I know will ask me how my run went. It's a lot harder to throw the towel in early if you know that's going to happen.

The 7 miles on the treadmill were a lot easier than 3 outside in the heat. I ran 7 miles in 1:07:05 at an average pace of 9:35 min/mi. (The treadmill cuts off at an hour. Adding my two times up I got 1:06:50, but I think I lost about 15 seconds taking a drink of Powerade after an hour.) The 10k split was 59:39. That's the first time I've completed a 10k under an hour. It's definitely cool to know I did it, but at the same time I don't feel any different. Aren't you supposed to feel different when you check off a goal? I know for a fact every mile was sub 10 minutes. Maybe I'll feel different once I do this with a chip time. Who knows when that will be.

I have a little over 2 months until the VB Rock n' Roll Half. I think I will continue with the short outside runs and long runs on the treadmill for the next month. Once I'm back up to 10 miles, I'll go on a long run outside at 7 AM and see how that feels. I don't like getting up early to run unless it's for a race, so I'm going to do as little of this as possible. I'm hoping that by running shorter distances in hotter conditions, I'll trick myself into thinking its comfortable outside at 7AM.

One more thing: K'NAAN's Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix) is a FABULOUS song to run to. I downloaded it because I saw it on the Top 100 List on iTunes. Yesterday I think I repeated it about 3 times. I love the drum beats and the "Forever Young" parts!

Feelin' HOT HOT HOT

Summer is hands down without a doubt my favorite season. I don't mind being hot. A good sweat is good for the soul. And there is just so much you can do involving WATER. I've always enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a run in the heat.

HOWEVER, I've never trained for a long race in the summer, and wow is this pushing me. I'm in dire need of a long run. 7 miles is going to happen very soon on a treadmill, just so I can have the peace of mind that's where I'm at.

In the past week, every run I've done has been outside.
3ish miles Friday
3 miles Sunday
2ish miles Wednesday
and
2 miles Today (Thursday).

Life's been really hectic. My brother graduated from High School. My uncle was visiting from California. Work, work, work plus other random stresses/commitments led to no long run since the six miler post. I'm okay with this. June has been a "run for fun" month for me....which I think I needed to have between recovering from an injury and a true training schedule. This past week I did my best to get out there in the heat and get my body acclimated.
Friiiiiday afternoon... I drove to Richmond for my brother's graduation. I was really hungry when I hit the road and craving something cheesy. I caved at the sight of The Golden Arches for a Double Cheeseburger + Hi-C Orange Drink. Not sure why I was craving a beverage I used to order when I was five. I knew I was planning on running, figured this could be a bad decision, but thought "maybe it's the fries that lead to stomach pains" and didn't order those.

Friday as I set out on a 3 mile loop at my parents house around 6:00 P.M. I learned "NO, it's not the fries." I took a walk break at the top of the big hill at the two mile mark. And another before I made it back to their house. I'm of the belief that something is better than nothing, but I also freaked out that I couldn't complete this 3 mile run without walking and that I gave into a stomach ache due to poor food choices.

Sunday evening I went for the same run at 8:00 P.M. without any problems. I'm HOPING that the temperature of my half marathon on Labor Day will be more comparable to a run at 8:00 P.M. than a run earlier in the day. I told myself to take this run at a comfortable pace with completion being the only goal. I later learned my pace was 10 min/mi. I was thrilled to learn my "taking it easy pace" was right at 10 min/mi.

Yesterday I just didn't feel like running. I think I would have been fine if I had had time to go to the gym to run on a flat treadmill in air conditioning, but I had little-to-no motivation to run around my neighborhood in heat/humidity with hills. I ran about a mile loop then took a Powerade break. Because I knew I probably wouldn't make it more than another mile without stopping, I decided to do a "mile time trial" for kicks/punishment.

I felt like I was going at a good speed. This isn't a flat route. At the half way point my watch said 4:22. When I arrived back at my house and saw that my watch said 8:59 I dropped an F-Bomb. It was just one of those days.
[Even if you hate country you HAVE to watch this video to the 1:00 min mark!]



"Why couldn't I have at least finished in 8:44?!" was my only thought. Today I checked my route on "Map My Run" because I knew it was "about a mile." Turns out the one mile time trial I did was actually 1.14 miles. When I put my time and distance into the pace calculator website I use, I learned my pace was 7:52 min/mi!!!!

My gut reaction:
"Holyyy crap." Followed by: "That can't be right." But after doing some mental math...I think it is. It's only 8 seconds short of 8 minutes. I had absolutely no clue I could run that fast, and I think I'll soon be going to a local track to test my one mile time for realzies.

Today I ran 2 miles at a pace somewhere between 9:30 and 9:45 min/mi. I guess this is about what I've been doing on the treadmill, I'm just shocked I'm able to maintain the same pace outside with hills and HOT HOT HOT conditions such as these:

Sunday, June 20-- High: 93 Low:76
Monday, June 21-- High: 92 Low: 75
Tues, June 22-- High: 96 Low: 73
Wed, June 23-- High: 96 Low: 74
Thurs, June 24-- High:100 Low: 79


This is pretty awesome. I want one.

It's a Summer Thing!

A couple weeks ago I posted some new running iTunes recommendations. Thing is, a TON more music comes out in the summer than at any other time of the year. I already have a LIST of songs I'd recommend that got left out two weeks ago. I think a lot of these could double as additions to a BBQ playlist.

So "Here's to you, Here's to me May we never disagree Lets raise a glass to days gone by Here's to life Here's to life..."

Enjoy ya'll.

It's a Summer Thing--Troy Olson
Mmm...this isn't a power song, but will be going on my next long run playlist. It's chill which I need at the beginning of my long runs. And the lyrics are pretty awesome. See above quote.

California Gurls-- Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dog
This is going to be one of the biggest songs of the summer, and really THE reason I felt compelled to post a new list of running songs. I hadn't heard it when I wrote my last music post. This is everything I could ever want in a running [and summer] song.

Alejandro-- Lady Gaga
At first I wasn't sure what I thought about this single...but now I love it. I've had a great time dancing to it more than once. I'm not 100% sure what it's about (this tends to be common for me with Lady Gaga songs)...I think she had a thing with a Spanish boy and now its over....if she's singing about strangers at a bar I could relate. Just sayin'.

Magic-- B.o.B. ft. Weezer
B.o.B. is SO freakin' good. Everything I hear by him, I seem to LOVE. And yay for something new by Weezer. This is upbeat and fast paced!

My First Kiss-- 3OH!3 ft. Ke$ha
High energy. Slightly offensive. That's typical for 3OH!3 and Ke$ha r1ght?

Somebody to Love-- Justin Bieber ft. Usher
Featuring USHER. Enough said. This actually isn't my favorite JB song, but it always seems to help me push through a run.

Can't Be Tamed-- Miley Cyrus
There will never be another Party in the USA, but it's Miley, so I downloaded it. I heard after her latest album she wants to concentrate on acting. Lame.

Kissin U-- Miranda Cosgrove
Just in case JB and Miley weren't young enough music for you, I'll admit iRun to iCarly. The last time I was riding in the car with one of my best friends she disclosed that she runs to this song. Her friend riding in the back seat said she does too. They are the ones who got me hooked.

If We Ever Meet Again--Timbaland ft. Katy Perry
I had heard this when I wrote my last post, I just forgot to mention it.

Billionaire--Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars
In my opinion money does NOT buy happiness. But I LOVEEEE this song!!! It's hilarious. My favorite parts:
1) "Pull an Angelina and Brad Pitt. Adopt a bunch of babies that ain't never had shit."
2) "Give away a few Mercedes like here lady have this."
3) I’d probably visit where Katrina hit And damn sure do a lot more than FEMA did
4) "Whatup Oprah." (Second time he sings "Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen.)

I Made It-- Kevin Rudolph
Again, IMO, money=meh. But this is a pretty good analogy to how you feel with any accomplishment. And hey-- if you cross a finish line--guess what, you made it :)

Ridin Solo-- Jason Derulo
"I'm feeling like a star, you can't stop my shine, I'm loving cloud nine, my head's in the sky" LOVE it. Haven't we all gone on a solo long run? Builds character.

Haven't Met You Yet-- Michael Buble
Despite that I feel like I need jazz hands when I hear this song, it's positive! I still don't really understand how this is a pop song. It's not. It's so not. But it's good.

Now for some others I run to frequently that I've just never mentioned...

Shout-- Wedding Crashers Sound Track
Whenever it shuffles into my running playlist I instantly get a burst of energy. Waiting for the "Shout!" parts is a nice distraction. It's pretty hard not throwing my hands up obnoxiously throughout the run. Sometimes I will at a low level. I just can't help it. Wedding Crashers is one of my favorite movies. One of the greatest compliments I've received is being told I look like Isla Fisher by two separate people!

Yeah!-- Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris
Old School. Oh wait that's another Will Ferrill/Vince Vaughn movie I love ;) This shuffled onto my playlist when I did my first comeback five miler. I decided right then and there that it's fabulous to run to.

Love in this Club-- Usher
This is a classic. How can you not love this song? I may have been to an apartment dance party where every time Usher said "in this club" everyone sang "on this rug." For this reason, this song still CRACKS ME UP a year later.

Kiss a Girl-- Keith Urban
This also shuffled into my playlist on my comeback five miler. Don't think I had ran to it before that night, but I've ran to it since!

Summertime-- New Kids on the Block
This is a summer playlist after all right? "I like this part"= Best part of the whole song. I don't think New Kids had much of a comeback, but at least this song happened.

Summertime-- Kenny Chesney
I swear I really do run to this. I'm not just listing them because they fit the theme. Summer's my favorite season though.

Summer Nights-- Rascal Flatts
One more ;)

Like a Prayer-- Madonna
Not the gLee version. Although that's good too. And what made me realize I needed to add the original to my iTunes.

Do Da Stanky Leg-- Them G Spot Boyz
I have really eclectic taste. For the length of time it plays I'm thinking about the funny times I've had going out with friends and not the amount of pain I may be in on a run.

Chattahoochie-- Alan Jackson
I've witnessed some of my guy friends sing this in Karaeoke. I really only listen to this song in the summer, but thinking about them singing it ALSO distracts me from my run.

Good Girls Go Bad-- Cobra Starship
There It Go (The Whistle Song)-- Juelz Santana
Back that Azz Up-- Juevenille
My Humps-- Black Eyed Peas
Disco Inferno-- 50 Cent
P.I.M.P.-- 50 Cent
Just a Lil Bit-- 50 Cent
I'm not even going to try to be cute about the fact that I run to these songs. I love Hip Hop. I love Country. I love Pop. I mix things up. I thought it made since to cluster the dirty songs together.

Hope this helps for anyone in need of some new [summer] running music! As always I'm adding these songs to the Running iTunes link at the top of my blog.

6 Miles: Good to See You Again!

Tonight I ran 6 miles on the treadmill in 58:28. That averages out to a pace of 9:44 per mile. But that's not what I did. I ran the first 3 miles at a pace of 10 min/mi. Mile 4 was 9:50 min/mi. Mile 5 was 9:40 min/mi. And Mile 6 started at 9:30 min/mi....and got increasingly faster with each lap. If I felt like running a 10k I probably could have finished in under an hour. I didn't feel like it tonight though.

Geez Louise was the gym humid. It actually was hotter inside the gym than it was outside. The thing I'm most concerned about with the Rock n' Roll half is the weather, so I figured I might as well get used to running in humidity. I'm kind of mad at myself for turning the treadmill fan on low for Mile 5. I could barely feel it, but I feel like that's "cheating." It's not like I'm going to have a fan for this race.


In other running news...
I ran 3 miles on Saturday in 27:37. Average Pace: 9:12 min/mi.
And on Thursday I ran 2 miles in 17:29. Average Pace: 8:44 min/mi. Then an additional mile in 8:34.

Tonight I think I was less concerned with my time (as long as it was less than an hour) and more focused on running 6 miles without stopping. My goal is to work back up to 10 and 11 mile runs. Then start trying to shave minutes off my times. I might actually cut my weekly mileage down a bit from the last time I trained, and just make sure that every run I do has a purpose. Aka: I'm pushing myself harder. I don't want to run a single mile slower than 10 min/mi anymore. So far it's working.

My friend who has finished a half in 1:58:something wants me to run the Rock 'n Roll half with her. [Can we say "yikes?!"]. I have another friend who has done a half in 2:02 who might run with us. That is if she doesn't run a full marathon two weeks later ;)

I still don't know how fast I could run a half because I had to go and get hurt after/during the Shamrock. My guess would be currently it's somewhere between 2:15-2:19. My goal for 2010 is 2:10 or less...

This 2 hours and under talk might be a pipe dream for 2010. Basically, I have two months worth of pent of aggression that I didn't get to run out and I'm STILL working to get this out of my system. It's going to take a while. Until that point it's as if every run I go on, the beginning is just killing time until I get to the point where I can push myself HARD.

That's why I'm running. For the last mile. When I can give it all I've got.

If you guys haven't checked out Jamoosh's blog yet, one question: WHY?!
I've listed it to the right under "Blogs I Read Frequently."

Speaking of the Last Mile. My keychain came in the mail yesterday that I won from Jamoosh's Last Mile Lounge giveaway. He blogs about beers that the sole thought of will get you through the last mile. He also brews some of his own beer. Hence the "Last Mile Brewing."

I like his blog because running is supposed to be fun. And Jamoosh clearly gets that.

"Life is short... running makes it seem longer." ;)
- Baron Hansen

Sharks and Minnows

Adam (The Boring Runner) tagged me with The Versatile Blogger Award. Whether he actually thought I deserved it or was running out of contacts who haven't done this yet, I do not know.

However, Thank You.
Because Memorial Day kicked off the unofficial start to summer, rather than play plain old virtual tag, I'm going to play virtual Sharks and Minnows.
I'm obviously the shark.
And the little Minnows I caught include:

Lauren [Bananas and Toast]
Christy [It Just Looks Like Slow Motion]
Allyson [So You Think You Can Run? One Way to Find Out]
Anton [Running on Blisters]
Not Just a Pretty Face
JF [Daily Trainings]
Melissa [Crazy or Determined] <-- When you come back from the blogging break ;) I'm pretty sure none of you have received this award yet. I like your blogs...and I'd love to hear 7 Random Things about you. That's the acceptance speech you're supposed to give when you receive the Versatile Blogger Award.

So without further ado, 7 Random Things about me:

1) I attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and majored in Business Management... What I'm about to be doing career-wise with my life...should be kept on the hush for the time being. [Sorry]. I'll summarize with chasing dreams. And it couldn't be more different than IT consulting! (This photo is with my Grandad. One of my favorite people in the world. He's also hilarious!)



2) I have a younger sister, Laura, who is 22. And a younger brother, John, who is 18. Laura just graduated from Asbury College in Kentucky. She's going to be an Art Teacher. John will be attending The University of Virginia in the Fall. Wa-hoo-wa!



3) Summer is HANDS DOWN my favorite season. I love everything about it. Warm Weather. The Beach. The Pool. Water Parks. Amusement Parks. Long days. Cookouts. Fireflies. Sno Cones. Baseball games. Fireworks. Ice Cream. Concerts. Flip flops. Camping. The Fourth of July. You get the idea.
Here I am at Kings Dominion with one of my best friends from college, Erica.



4) The Office is my favorite show on television...so that made it even cooler when I met Pam (Jenna Fischer) outside the Today Show in 2007. I often use this as my "fun fact about myself" in ice breaker games.


5) I really like College Football...I managed to sneak into OU v. Texas Tech in 2008 when I was in Oklahoma for work. It was The Game of The Week and had record attendance. NBD. I went to the game with my friend Ashley from middle school. She was living in Tulsa at the time.


6) I met Fonzie (Henry Winkler) in the DFW airport in 2008. A March snow storm canceled a ton of flights...his was cancelled too! He told me I had beautiful hair and to have a safe flight!
7) I was on TRL/the screen in Times Square in 2007. Ciara was the guest host...and a show clip I was in was shown on the screen in Times Square. I guess you could say that's my claim to fame!

Running updates:
4 mile run last week in 37:16 (9:19/mi)
Outside 2 miler around my parents neighborhood on Memorial Day
4 mile run today in 38:05 (9:31/mi). Happy National Running Day!

Where Is This Coming From?

No, the title is not in reference to my excessive posting this week. Though it could be.

Tonight I ran 3 miles in 27:46 and 3.1 miles in 28.42. According to the Runner's Express Calculator both distances average out to a 9:15 min/mi pace. WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?!" The fastest I've ever run 3 miles was last Fall (in the midst of half training) at 25:49...and [honestly] the only reason I was able to do that was I was trying to show off around a trainer at my gym. A few weeks into pain-free running I'm cranking out 3 miles at 9:15 min/mi pace?! Either I'm going to come down from this high real soon or I don't know my own strength.

I've posted the pace calculator website on the side under "LOVE It" for those of you who, like me, have yet to adopt a Garmin. Anything that expensive that comes into my life gets a name.

My car: Audrey the Audi (It's a '93 so don't get too jealous).
My GPS: Debbie. Named after Debbie Downer. She likes to tell me "Congestion Ahead." "Traffic Delay reported ahead." when really we are just approaching construction. In Northern Virginia there's always something under construction. Debbie acts like we are approaching a 20 car pile-up when in reality the construction does not even effect my travel time. I just drive past it. Silly Debbie. Shut up and tell me where to turn WOMAN!

I hope to in the next year have a Garmin brother for Audrey and Debbie. Until then I'll use the pace calculator.

Based on tonight's run, I gotta feeling it's going to be an interesting training season gearing up for the Virginia Beach Rock n' Roll Half on September 5th. I'm a little scared about how HOT it could be, but I've heard a lot of good things about this race and know enough people who have done it, that it's going to be my next long race! Virginia Beach holds a special place in my heart because two of my best friends from college live there.


(No not the fish, only one friend is pictured above.)

Here we all are after my very first half. Resa is on the left; Erica, in the middle, doesn't like beer and is completely faking being drunk in this picture. The biggest lesson I learned from that race is: Don't put on the free finishers hat. Even if everyone else is doing it, I'll wish I wasn't wearing it when I see the pictures later. Just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge doesn't mean I'll think it's fun.

Something I'll need this time around that I didn't need for the Shamrock races is suncreen. How convenient Adam is giving away Scape [Runner's] Sunscreen. And how's that for a segue? Only a year ago I learned the correct spelling was NOT segway. Scary. Right? If you head to his blog right this second you can enter to win too.

And if one contest entry wasn't enough for you, Jamoosh is giving away a $20 Road ID giftcard. May the luckiest blogger win!

Hi5!!!!

[I'm obsessed with Hi5's. Here's one from me to you for having good taste in reading material and being awesome! True story: this blog doesn't load on the computers of the non-awesome.]

Last week I meant to do a 4 mile run for my 10% distance increase per week...that didn't happen. I did two 3 mile runs. And a hilly and humid 2.5 mile run outside on Saturday. I feel like I'm forgetting a run in that recap, but it wasn't any longer than 3 miles. Meh.

Tonight I hit the gym knowing I needed to run at least 4 miles. The last time I ran 3 miles I had that feeling "I could have kept going..." just the gym was about to close. Tonight after I was 1 mile in I decided to push it to 5 miles. I completed the run in 48:29. It was one of those runs where you just feel great and want to run forever! Words cannot describe how much I've missed that feeling. I also took the treadmill up to 8.1 at the end... I've missed seeing 8's when "sprinting" to the finish.

The crazy thing is I'm not sure I was running this fast pre-injury. I think I could have probably done it, but wasn't pushing it so hard. Now I've just decided my pace is going to be at least 6.1 when I step on the treadmill (9:50 min/mi) and I'll build my training distance up at that pace. Maybe I'll have to slow down on longer runs, but I hope not. The run tonight averages out to a 9:41 min/mi pace. Um, HELLO first 5 mile run since MARCH!

And now to the real purpose of this blog post: Jamoosh over at Last Mile Lounge is hosting a Thorlo Experia Socks giveaway. I get an extra entry by posting this on my blog. Please note: I only link to contests on blogs I think are worth reading! Last Mile Lounge has got to be one of the funniest running blogs I've stumbled across. If you like beer, ridiculousness, and running what are you waiting for? Go. Laugh. Win socks!

Treadmill Buddies

I work at the front desk at a gym. I greet members as they come in, whether they say "hi" back or not is a different story....it's cool though. My theory is it never hurts to check that my voice STILL sounds the same when I say "Hi, how's it going?"... a lot could change in the 30 seconds since I last said it.

Maybe because I'm familiar with the faces of members that come into the gym that's made me a bolder person in treadmill land? Or members aren't afraid to approach me when they are working out because at some point they've seen me working? All that I'm saying is I might have a slight advantage over the "Average Joe" in doing what I'm about to suggest.


I'm getting ahead of my self though.

Do you realize you're in an exclusive group? If you are reading this and have a blog of your own...you're a "running blogger." Of the thousands/hundreds/handful that enter races...the majority of them don't go home and write about it. They upload a photo on Facebook (on a good day) and that's it. Through blogging I've connected with people that I absolutely WOULD NOT have brushed toes with at any race. Even if we lived in the same area we just do not have similar paces. And it's AWESOME.

I've touched on this before, but if you ever have to do a run on a gym treadmill....
there's a whole nother community just WAITING for you to tap into it. True there are some people that you probably won't learn much from...the magazine readers, the people that don't bother with workout clothes they are going so slowly on the treadmill, or that girl that drinks from a 2 liter bottle of soda while working out.

However, after a few months of working at the gym, I learned that some of the runners in treadmill land actually know each other. They say "hi" in passing...and catch up on races they each are training for. The gym I go to now is probably the 5th I've gone to regularly in the course of my life....and the first where I've taken the time to get to know people around me. More than likely if you work out at the same time, you're going to see the same people. And more than likely, even if you like to jam out to iTunes or stay in a "private zone" talking to someone for half a mile or mile will make your run go by a LOT faster. Even knowing the person next to you is reason to keep going if you want to quit. A "we're in this together" mentality that you only get with a running buddy.

I'm not sure how many treadmill buddies I have, but for sure four.

• Buddy 1: A co-worker
• Buddy 2: A guy who has run marathons but now sticks to halvsies.

• Buddy 3: A girl who has her sites set on Boston. She's run a sub-four hour marathon, but currently has a few overuse injuries (runner's knee and ITBS) and is not training to BQ this year.
• Buddy 4: A recovering smoker who now runs regularly.
  

[The crazy part is Buddy 2 and Buddy 3 are actually engaged. I had no clue since they never go to the gym together. I met them each individually and somehow they figured out they both talked to me when they were at the gym. They are both really nice, fast, and fans of me, so if that doesn't scream a future of happiness I don't know what does! ]

A lot of people loatheeee the dreadmill, but if you are forced to take your workout inside to a gym...I'd say it's worth it to strike up conversation with anyone who looks like they might be training for a race. Or getting back into working out. I do a lot of runs at the gym. If I'm there 4 days a week...even being able to run next to someone I know ONE of those times switches things up. It's nice because it's not a set meeting time, just a pleasant surprise. And pace doesn't matter whatsoever.

The other night I had planned on doing a 2 mile run. I saw Buddy 4 who was in the middle of a 5 mile run. He said "I'm dying right now"..and I told him I'd run 3 miles, since we'd finish about the same time. We talked for about a mile.

Simple right? Really beneficial. And not something to be scared of. Unlike this commercial.

Ready, Set, Shuffle

Not too long ago I posted the long run playlist I used when training for my last half. When I posted it I gave a disclaimer that I'm weird and I like running to more "chill" songs until the end of a long run. On shorter runs I do NOT run to slow/chill songs. I'm overdue for a post about these faster songs. So here are some, my taste is pretty eclectic. Don't be fooled that this list starts with 3 country songs. Most of the songs are Pop or Hip-hop. Ready, set, shuffle.

Rain is a Good Thing-- Luke Bryan

This is the song I'm currently OBSESSED with. I actually hate rain but this is so funny. Even if you don't like country music, one listen has got to be entertaining. Rain makes corn ;)

Water-- Brad Paisley

This is another hilarious song. My real musical taste could probably be summed up with: Silly.

Here Comes Summer-- Locash Cowboys

Summer is my favorite season HANDS DOWN. I spend the rest of the year looking forward to it and counting down the months, so any song about summer I love.

Nothing on You-- B.o.B. ft. Bruno Mars

(The Beautiful Girls song) Hellooooo, if you are a single guy and DON'T have this song on your iTunes. One question: WHY? It's a way to get on a girl's good side without even trying if you play it crusing around in your car. Actually, maybe this is player music? I donno. But I love it. I also love...

Airplanes---B.oB. ft. Hayley Williams

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now." I've decided I have a thing for songs about airplanes....

MIA--Paper Planes
I'm a huge fan of this song. Such a huge fan that I'm surprised I haven't already mentioned it on this blog.

Watching Airplanes--Gary Allen

Flying and airports are two of my favorite things. Back in the day (which was rarely a Wednesday) I flew a lot as a consultant. Enough to get upgraded to first class on Northwest Airlines. Last of the mohicians, since Northwest is now Delta. LAME.

Eenie Meanie--Justin Bieber ft. Sean Kingston
One of the things I really like about Justin Bieber is he features well-known artists in his songs. That's more than a LOT of young artists can say they have done.

OMG--Usher
Oh Myyy Oh My Gosh This song is amazing. Glad Usher's back.

In My Head--Jason Derulo

This song is kind of dirty. But if you're okay with that it's good to run to.

How Low Can You Go--Ludacris ft. Too Short
This is slightly silly, which is why I like it. And it's Ludacris.

Say Ahh-- Trey Songz

I recently learned this guy is from VA. Grew up in Fredricksburg. Thank you hotel TV in Kentucky with limited channels.

Carry Out-- Timbaland ft. JT
I guess "Carry Out" had a better ring to it than "Doggie Bag."

Bedrock--Young Money
When I first heard this song I had two thoughts.
1) I LOVE the Flinstones!
2) Did the writers of that cartoon mean to be perverted?
One year I'm going to be Wilma for Halloween. It's pretty crazy I still haven't right?

Your Love is My Drug-- Ke$ha
I've downloaded her entire CD. Tik Tik will probably always be my favorite, partially because of this:



She has so many great songs to run to!

Solo-- IYAZ
Much better than "Replay" which I wouldn't want my iPod to be stuck replaying.

Tie Me Down-- New Boyz ft. Ray J
Ray-J is Back!!!!!! Maybe that's only exciting to me and a few of my friends, but I about flipped when I heard this song. It's been a long time coming.

Sexy Can I?-- Ray J
Our joke was that this song didn't get nearly enough airtime (which it didn't). And once it gets stuck in your head it's hard to get out. So we'd try to get it stuck in each others heads. For me, the entertainment value of this song is enough to stick it on any playlist. It's probably going on my next long run playlist.

Ain't Back Yet-- Kenny Chesney
His new single which I downloaded right after it was released. His concert is the best country one I've been to hands down.

Day 'N Nite (Crooker's Remix)-- Kid Cudi
This is where some of my "not so current" songs begin. I don't think this one could ever get old for me. Dancing. Running. Whatever.

Tootsie Roll-- 69 Boyz
1994! "Cotton candy sweet to go let me see that Tootsie Roll." I actually run to this kind of a lot. It's a classic.

Hotel Room Service-- Pit Bull
HILARIOUS.

Ignition(Remix)-- R Kelly
Another Hotel Song. Toot Toot Beep Beep!

Boom Boom Boom Boom-- Venga Boys
The energy this song starts out with really can be a good pick me up if you are getting tired on a run.

Whatever You Like-- T.I.
This is a song people always seem to go crazy about if I'm out dancing. I don't blame them. I also like running to it.

Please Don't Stop the Music--Rhianna
I'll be honest, I like her older stuff better

Umbrella-- Rhianna ft. Jay-Z
I recently learned Jay-Z was named after the JMZ green line of the New York Subway. So cool!

That Was a Crazy Game of Poker--O.A.R.
O.A.R. is my favorite band. This is one of their most well-known songs. I like it, and at around 8 minutes it also can do wonders at making a mile of your run pass by.

American Pie-- Don McLean
Same idea as Crazy Game of Poker. This song is long and provides a distraction for a mile. (If you can handle it as it does get repetitive.)

Ticks-- Brad Paisley
You know he's married to Kimberly Williams the actress in Father of the Bride? If you've never listened to this you should it's really funny/clever. I discovered it was a good workout song when an instructor played it during a cycling class I took in college.

It's a Great Day to Be Alive-- Travis Tritt
I dare you to be in a bad mood running and listening to this song. It's near impossible.

Like a Boss-- The Lonely Island
This one is real short but still worth adding to any playlist. And "eat a bagel" classifies it as a running song.

Move Bitch-- Ludacris
Good for getting out aggression.

Get Back-- Ludacris
And this is THE SONG to listen to if you've had a bad day. Luda even says "I'm having a bad day, don't make me take it out on you."

Baby By Me-- 50 Cent
What playlist is complete without 50? This is one of his newer songs.

So as you can see I run to a wide array of songs. Really if something amuses me or makes me laugh there's a good bet it will instantly be added to a running playlist.

Start Spreading the News...

If there are 3 things I love, it's running, Hi5's and Yankee Baseball. Tonight I managed to combine them all. (The Yankee fans in my family can be traced back to my great-grandfather, so I'm definitely not a bandwagoner.) After a dinner with my soon-to-be housemates, I decided to take a late evening trip to the gym and get in 2 miles.

I figured I might as well celebrate the fact that I can run again. 2 miles in 18:52, not too shabby. (9:26 min/mi). Little did I know, I'd be celebrating Thames walkoff homerun right as I completed my workout. The timing of that couldn't have been better! I think it's safe to start Spreading the News...that...

I'll Be Back!
I'm feeling less and less rusty. This run didn't take as much effort as it would have two weeks ago. My goal for this week is to go on a 4 mile "long" run. The idea I have floating around my brain is to increase my weekly long runs by a mile each week (if possible.) I'm not training for anything yet, just wanting to get back to a point where 8 mile runs are comfortable. Or to only add another mile on to my long runs when I can do it at 10min/mi pace. But, one way or another I'll be back.

Last Friday I ran a 5k on the treadmill in 29:56 (which is a 9:39 min/mi pace). Wowzers. I can still do that/do that again?! I surprised myself. [Sigh...I had external motivation. There was a cocky boy on the treadmill next to me. He squirts me with cleaner when he cleans off his machine. And is mildly flirtateous. I wanted to out run him. So I did. He only ran a mile and a half.]

One thing I really like about the treadmills is that you do end up running next to people you never would if jogging outside. I've met two different marathoners at my gym and they always talk to me if our paths cross in the treadmill section. It's fun to be able to discuss upcoming races and they've given me advice on dealing with the hip/IT band injury.

Tonight the tables were turned, and I met a dad who joined the gym 2 days ago. As I was finishing he told me

"That was impressive."

Um. Relative comment sir.

[Please click photo to fully appreciate what was captured.]


I told him it was awesome that he was getting back into working out and I didn't use to be able to do that. I'm just coming back from an overuse injury. I literally was in my own running/Yankee world so I hadn't so much as looked at the distance or pace on his treadmill.

Lately my loss of endurance has been on my mind. I've had to turn down long race invitations, even a 10 miler bib that was free :-/ I didn't even think about what I'm able to do now being seen as impressive by someone who never works out. That was a good reality check.

And I do think this injury has made me even hungrier to improve. Which is cool.