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!