tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288306251630003832024-03-05T01:47:51.102-08:00Inspired to Run 13.1inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-42183838938582700322014-01-07T20:31:00.000-08:002014-01-07T20:45:57.931-08:00Dear Resolutioners,My high hopes of blogging again regulary all crashed and burned after Return Post #1 last March. <strong>[Whomp whomp.]</strong><br />
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I did make a second Monument Avenue 10k preview post...but looking back this doesn't make much sense considering I never blogged about the actual race. <strong>[The abridged recap: It was great!]. </strong>My job is just too demanding to commit to the type of regular blogging schedule I had years ago. BUT, I do have a lot of ideas about fitness and running swirling around in my head, so I don't want to shut this thing down. I like having an outlet to share and connect about these topics. So with that, <br />
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IT'S 2014! It's too early on in the year to know what that even means. But as I've scrolled through My Facebook Newsfeed of: Reflections on 2013, Goals for 2014, and status updates bitching about crowded gyms I've wanted nothing more than to post a letter to resolutioners. Mainly because I've been one to Google topics as I'm thinking about change. And I want to offer some insight in case someone is looking for it. <br />
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<em>Dear Resolutioners, </em><br />
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<em><strong><u>DON'T</u> do this alone</strong>. It actually makes me sad to think of heading to the gym, trying to figure out the proper way to use a piece of exercise equipment, doing the best I could according to the pictures on the machine, feeling challenged/overwhelmed, calling it quits, and heading home. </em><br />
<em> </em><br />
<em>I've seen people do this at the gym, and it's just so much easier to stick with something you enjoy and -this might sound ridiculous right now but- is FUN. </em><br />
<em> </em><br />
<em>Inevitably, when people think of workout help the first thing to come up is a Personal Trainer. I don't think there is anything wrong with using a Personal Trainer but if that isn't an option monetarily or is incredibly intimidating for your first trip back to the gym in months or years, there are 3 other things that have worked well for me. So well that removing any one of these things from my routine would create a huge void. </em><br />
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<strong>1)</strong> <strong>Group Fitness</strong><br />
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<em>They say hit the gym with a friend for accountability, but in my experience all it takes is one person having a change in their schedule and both halves of the workout duo are thrown off.</em> <em>Group fitness</em> <em>has been a wonderful way around this for me because classes at the gym are rarely cancelled. Group fitness instructors tend to be very friendly -- they like working out so much they want to share their knowledge with strangers-- and at the very least like to learn the names of the particpants in their class. Getting to know group fitness instructors has held me<strong> <u>much</u></strong> more accountable than planning to use cardio equiptment with a friend. I <strong>know</strong> Nicole will be looking for me in her Step class, and I hate to miss it. The other thing that is great about group fitness classes is the instructors tend to give intensity options that cater to all fitness levels in their classes. </em><br />
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<em>My recommendation for Group Fitness classes is try a lot of different classes until you find the style of class and an instructor you prefer. My personal favorites: Body Pump, Body Step, and Cycle. </em><br />
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<em>I've tried Zumba, Athletic Conditioning, and Kickboxing. Occassionally I'll take them to switch things up, but the most important thing is finding something you want to stick with. </em><br />
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<strong>2) Signing up for a race</strong><br />
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<em>The running community is one of the most welcoming places I've ever found! The thing with runners is we know running makes us happy -- we get REALLY excited when someone new decides to pick up running or try for a new distance. There is absolutely nothing that compares to the feeling of accomplishment when you cross a finish line. Running is hard, but it's an entirely different experience having people cheer for you in a race than spending some time on the treadmill or jogging around the neighborhood alone. Honestly the atmosphere at the races is what makes the training for them worth it. If you can find someone to sign up for a race with you this also helps for accountability, but the first 10k I ever did I ran alone and the feeling of accomplishment was as strong as ever! </em><br />
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<em><strong>One word of caution</strong>: Races are addictive</em> ;)<br />
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<strong>3) Yoga</strong><br />
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<em>Some might categorize this as group fitness, but in my opinion it's more than that. You don't realize how much stress you are holding in and how out of alignment your body is until you start taking yoga regularly and miss a session. I'm of the personal belief that everyone can benefit from yoga. Yoga has been so key for me in injury prevention and stress relief. There is no such thing as being "good at yoga" it's a matter of continuing to challenge your own body. </em><br />
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<em>If you feel you are starting from a place where you have a lot to learn, a few sessions with a trainer is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It's better to be informed and safe than independent and injured. </em></div>
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<em>And remember, "I really regret working out today" - said no one ever. </em><em>If you're using January 2014 to get back into a workout routine, be one of the people who sticks around and is all the happier for it!</em><br />
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<em>This is about more than just how you look. The mood boost that comes after a workout is what keeps me hooked.</em><br />
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XoXo, <br />
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meREDith<br />
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inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-80033801793322660252013-03-17T20:58:00.000-07:002013-03-17T21:02:32.334-07:00A Return to Blogging..Dipping a toe in the blogosphere water…considering I’ve been absent for quite some time.<br />
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<strong>"Fitness is a journey. Life naturally gives you one start and end point. Thankfully you have all the “re-try” attempts in the middle you want."</strong> –Me <br />
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: )<br />
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I’m trying to think of all of the reasons I stopped posting on this blog: My personal laptop died and I was without a computer for a few months. My left foot was bothering me after the Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon and I had to take a break from running for a month or two. My grandfather (with whom I was very close) was diagnosed with terminal cancer. And I dove in head first to my first serious relationship-- all in the Fall 2010 timeframe. It was a period of a lot of transitions, and this little blog fell to the wayside. <br />
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In the past 2.5 years there have been specific moments where I thought about posting again, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to commit to posting regularly, and so I shied away from it. Also, although this is a “running” blog, I started it on the premise of running half marathons, and my last half marathon was in the Fall of 2010. <br />
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At this point I would not say this is a <strong>“Half Marathon Blog.”</strong> My recent obsession is a more well-rounded exercise program that incorporates cardio, weight training, and yoga. And yes, cardio includes running. Running seems to be the fitness activity I <strong>ALWAYS</strong> go back to and never want to walk away from. I’ll give an update on where I’m at in terms of races/training in a different post, but I have truly missed being a part of the online running community! Reading about other bloggers first 5ks, 9 mile training runs, or marathons all excite me and make me want to run more frequently and farther.<br />
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I believe exercise is so important! If even one person stumbles across this blog and is inspired to commit to a fitness routine then that is reason enough for me to start blogging again. I’m going to call this a <strong>"Running/Fitness Blog"</strong> because I may post about topics fitness related but not specific to running. Part of me thinks I seem really young and silly in some of my previous posts, but I specifically wanted to let this blog evolve rather than starting a new one. <br />
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Thanks for having me back!<br />
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<br />inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-82510427231836128832010-09-05T18:54:00.000-07:002010-09-05T20:15:38.735-07:00What 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My finishing time: 2:23:51. I PRed.</span> 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.<br /><br />Look at these splits:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5k-- 30:02</span> (PR for official race) <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />10k-- 1:01:51</span> (PR for official race)<br />(And I was just jogging comfortably)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10 mile-- 1:47:30</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11.4 mile-- 2:02:55</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />12.3 mile-- 2:13:53</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One complaint I have... for being a HUGE race the finish line sucked</span>. 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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh and for the record Miller GD64 also sux.</span>But you probs already knew that, even if you've never tried it. Today was my first time.<br /><br />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." <span style="font-weight: bold;">I didn't die. And I wasn't carried out on a stretcher. Both good things.</span><br /><br />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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">What a joke. </span><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dilD-5r9IWpuSsuaGaLK8t-l-ShBgEfSrDfcU3A-uvI-U9UeXi-nKgC29vpkr72rSXNFwPx_0oT9ChCo8Hi_AHu_VM1970J2HgANYeED-PZibE0jIudMZdjFVBkvn_QmLhbpZ9Y29bhC/s1600/baller.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dilD-5r9IWpuSsuaGaLK8t-l-ShBgEfSrDfcU3A-uvI-U9UeXi-nKgC29vpkr72rSXNFwPx_0oT9ChCo8Hi_AHu_VM1970J2HgANYeED-PZibE0jIudMZdjFVBkvn_QmLhbpZ9Y29bhC/s400/baller.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513629923753050962" border="0" /></a><br />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...<br /><br />And I had a Red Robinnnnnnn Whiskey River Burger after the race. YUM.inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-87522635284042388852010-08-24T22:21:00.000-07:002010-08-24T22:40:27.061-07:00Looks LIke I'm Cramming for a Half Marathon?!!I think I've already determined I'm<span style="font-weight: bold;"> NEVER</span> training for a half marathon in the summer again.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. It's Hott</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Summer is my favorite season</span><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />In a way I have to admit it feels <span style="font-weight: bold;">badass</span> 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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">LOT</span> less mental now for me.inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-30234982182064852292010-08-03T23:57:00.000-07:002010-08-04T19:56:57.232-07:00Yikes...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. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Jershey</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Shore</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Does it really get any better?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL9zrQXB_E_BJjgmK7xs6XM1aiHa182C0q7kCggN9BhZwsTbMrdw821CF3u5i05JjKiDLhGbiCh7V9L7RpenbVYdNn3vZk6FDitWaPAxtXyZwl0A9y8r-5IxGnA-Zmy1A8L8itRXnMWzM/s1600/sharkweek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL9zrQXB_E_BJjgmK7xs6XM1aiHa182C0q7kCggN9BhZwsTbMrdw821CF3u5i05JjKiDLhGbiCh7V9L7RpenbVYdNn3vZk6FDitWaPAxtXyZwl0A9y8r-5IxGnA-Zmy1A8L8itRXnMWzM/s320/sharkweek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501754278640899874" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Other Random Thoughts Floating Around In My Brain:<o:p></o:p><p></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">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 :)<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">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.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">Songs I <b>LOVE </b>right now:<br /><br /><b>Well, Dynamite is still my absolute favorite. It's my ringtone :)</b><br /><br /><b><i>Teenage Dream-- Katy Perry</i></b><br />"We'll Be Young Forever" YES PLEASE.<br /><br /><b><i>I Like It-- Enrique Inglesias <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Pitbull</st1:placename></st1:place></i></b><br />Huh. And to Think Enrique sang Hero and Pitbull sang Holiday Inn.<br /><br /><b><i>Love The Way You Lie-- Rhianna <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Eminem</st1:placename></st1:place></i></b><br />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.<br /><br /><b><i>Club Can't Handle Me-- Flo Rida</i></b><br />Thank God Flo Rida is back. I've missed him.<br /><br />And you [more than likely] heard it here first. This is yet to hit Top 100 downloads on iTunes......<br /><br /><b><i>Could It Be You-- H*wood</i></b>. Sooooo good!</p><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/njL2NRcDi30&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/njL2NRcDi30&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-88629841210525208892010-07-12T21:34:00.000-07:002010-07-14T10:02:40.623-07:00Wish You Were HereOn 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....<br /><br />[drumroll please]....<br /><br />Gym Membership Sales.<br /><br />To the average Joe this probably doesn't sound like all that exciting of a career. <span style="font-weight: bold;">But I think I really may have found a way to combine my need to support myself and love for fitness!</span> 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?<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm68rn4BhAoigFZcQfX6OkATJ5ylbGPaMhj2L7lcfYAT1LV-DbbNeWy417od3v7ugUC6whitUZSNHAsagWR-7w3_6tSHuJJDFMVj-JZjCp4U_Okn3Z2hSO2BiIXnK1eFlcGFZ5vO7DLIPu/s1600/Merica.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm68rn4BhAoigFZcQfX6OkATJ5ylbGPaMhj2L7lcfYAT1LV-DbbNeWy417od3v7ugUC6whitUZSNHAsagWR-7w3_6tSHuJJDFMVj-JZjCp4U_Okn3Z2hSO2BiIXnK1eFlcGFZ5vO7DLIPu/s320/Merica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493271062716963250" border="0" /></a><br />On my staycation, I did a bunch of things I never had before...<br /><ul><li>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!<br /></li><li>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.<br /></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea3JZodxVCWySZnJRQlLZBoSl3X0HFjSPxwdOGG_VcJ5aocK59jZt6k3xEqx_UJNvmb90fLO2XmguihRzYxEzBKvprq9aDXsUVfz1a9i250sE0BYfu58NkcPzqcAZy8UzwP7tBRjKzyeE/s1600/Cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea3JZodxVCWySZnJRQlLZBoSl3X0HFjSPxwdOGG_VcJ5aocK59jZt6k3xEqx_UJNvmb90fLO2XmguihRzYxEzBKvprq9aDXsUVfz1a9i250sE0BYfu58NkcPzqcAZy8UzwP7tBRjKzyeE/s320/Cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493239791754308962" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Took the Alexandria Water Taxi to National Harbor</li><li>Watched the Fireworks from National Harbor Sculpture Garden<br /></li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgFsPHQd14KfDga9rSlLPylXzyJLymXVmsYIMHCKavkkW35WYZDL62y9Ax84tS4RVtbx_A5tQBiRBbpyXOLE40aE6A8Hl9wVaBU-lQkAibkcLH0pMrsHGZozK4aaNTUT9FFp2fcOBTYeK/s1600/fireworks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgFsPHQd14KfDga9rSlLPylXzyJLymXVmsYIMHCKavkkW35WYZDL62y9Ax84tS4RVtbx_A5tQBiRBbpyXOLE40aE6A8Hl9wVaBU-lQkAibkcLH0pMrsHGZozK4aaNTUT9FFp2fcOBTYeK/s320/fireworks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493240439523967890" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Went to Ashton Kutcher's restaurant: <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/1472530/restaurant/DC/National-Harbor/Ketchup-Oxon-Hill">Ketchup<br /></a></li><li>Went to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/rays-hell-burger-arlington-2">Ray's Hell Burger</a> in Arlington</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you're ever in DC I'd recommend doing ALL of these things!</span><br />I also caught up on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Bachelorette</span>. 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).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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..............<br /><br />For those of you constantly looking for additions to your running playlist like me:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Got Your Back-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">T.I. ft. Keri Hilso</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">n</span><br />Somehow I forgot this one in my last music post.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dynamite</span>-- Taio Cruz</span><br />MY FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW! This is also the perfect song to dance to with sparklers. I got to do that on Saturday :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Beamer, Benz, or Bentley</span>--Lloyd Banks</span><br />Yeah, I'm a couple months late on how good this is. I can't get enough.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Top Back</span>-- T.I.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All I Do is Win</span>---DJ Khaled (ft. Luda, Snoop, Rick Ross, and T-Pain)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dead and Gone</span>-- T.I. ft. JT</span><br />Guess I'm on a Hip Hop/T.I. Kick...I keep running to all these songs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ocean Avenue</span>-- Yellowcard</span><br />And in case hip-hop isn't your thing. This randomly shuffled onto my iPod today. GREAT summer song.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm Back</span>-- T.I.</span><br />How fitting. I'll do my best to catch up on everyone's blogs!!!<br /><br />Finally, a few shout outs:<br /><ul><li>I can't believe it, but I won a $20 Amazon gift card from <a href="http://potatojourney.blogspot.com/">Run Potato Run</a>! 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*!</li><li>Get Well Soon <a href="http://minnesotamilage.blogspot.com/">Julie</a>! I really cannot stop thinking about what you are going through.<br /></li></ul>And on happier notes,<br /><ul><li>Congrats <a href="http://barbieruns.blogspot.com/">Barbie</a>!!! Very cute engagement story!</li><li><a href="http://29goingon29again.blogspot.com/2010/07/sweaty-bands-review-giveaway.html">Pam</a> is hosting a Sweaty Band giveaway.<br /></li></ul>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-71415008798093569792010-06-30T08:31:00.000-07:002010-06-30T08:50:38.603-07:00Meredith-ology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkoJfnBMsMLHBiJDE9azv0AXgccav7TAIuV4DrOaLZFTnreSQ2FFjNcrILW_gdXmdiCMMMXh7wY2dRlkx4Z1xLl8q7yJQyvCjZsv_qPhbpUBeA96kI_-Bq0AfLAXOyWJde7g38MQaArJJ/s1600/meredithw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkoJfnBMsMLHBiJDE9azv0AXgccav7TAIuV4DrOaLZFTnreSQ2FFjNcrILW_gdXmdiCMMMXh7wY2dRlkx4Z1xLl8q7yJQyvCjZsv_qPhbpUBeA96kI_-Bq0AfLAXOyWJde7g38MQaArJJ/s320/meredithw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487253523267766722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening Statement:</span><br />If you read <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jamoosh's</span> <a href="http://lastmilelounge.blogspot.com/2010/06/jamooshology-part-one.html">blog</a>, 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span>, but I do think it's nice to learn more about a "running blogger" besides the obvious:<br />1. They run.<br />2. They blog.<br /><br />So, here's some info on me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FOODOLOGY</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your salad dressing of choice?</span><br /><br />Let me put it this way: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Panera</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">vinaigrettes</span> 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your favorite fast food restaurant?</span><br />Speaking of burgers, IN-N-OUT!!!! Though, we don't have that on the east coast :(<br />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-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">fil</span>-a is on Sundays. FAIL.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?</span><br />Probably <a href="http://www.unclejulios.com/">Uncle Julio's</a>. (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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?</span><br />20%<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?</span><br />Chocolate. I pretty much have a piece of chocolate every day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are your pizza toppings of choice?</span><br />I like any topping but anchovies. Mushrooms are absolutely fine if combined with another topping, but I would not order a plain mushroom pizza.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you like to put on your toast?</span><br />Jelly.<br />Or Peanut Butter.<br />Or if I'm feeling kid-like, butter and cinnamon sugar.<br />And let's not forget dipping plain toast into eggs over easy. Yum.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your favorite type of gum?</span><br />Orbit!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TECHNOLOGY</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Number of contacts in your cell phone?</span><br />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...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Number of contacts in your email address book?</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your wallpaper on your computer?</span><br />I'm currently using my laptop from Freshman year of college...um...Rhododendron. It's a Windows wallpaper (red flowers).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How many televisions are in your house?</span><br />Not sure, I'm about to move...to a house with an in-home movie theatre :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BIOLOGY</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you right-handed or left-handed?</span><br />Right<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What’s your best feature?</span><br />I get the most compliments on my hair.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you ever had anything removed from your</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> body?</span><br />My wisdom teeth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?</span><br />Sight. 20/20 Vision. (Knock on wood).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When was the last time you had a cavity?</span><br />A few years ago.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the heaviest item you lifted last?</span><br />Cases of drinks at work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you ever been knocked unconscious?</span><br />By anesthesia.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BULL[CRAP]<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">OLOGY</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?</span> No.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is love for real?</span><br />Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you could change your name, what would you change it to?</span><br />I don't think I would change my name. I'm quite happy with it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What color do you think looks best on you?</span><br />Blue. It brings out my eyes ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?<br /></span>How do you do this by mistake?<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you ever saved someone’s life?</span><br />Yes, I performed rescues the summer I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lifeguarded</span> in a water park.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Has someone ever saved yours?</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DAREOLOGY</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you walk naked for a half mile down </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">a public street for $100,000?</span><br />"We're going streaking!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNylII2Qz4aivN63WF-kKucc2SNFCW8WOwvFInaxu3lth_B1ysVB4KxN6q4I3Za8Zn6dmGuQghCAvz6x1cWW5JFhYFEvGIfNHql8zykT1FJeBTomvfihlbp_q7pl763dNFoivVcFkxT-y/s1600/FranktheTank.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNylII2Qz4aivN63WF-kKucc2SNFCW8WOwvFInaxu3lth_B1ysVB4KxN6q4I3Za8Zn6dmGuQghCAvz6x1cWW5JFhYFEvGIfNHql8zykT1FJeBTomvfihlbp_q7pl763dNFoivVcFkxT-y/s320/FranktheTank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487610890755594130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000</span>?<br />Hell no.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you never blog again for $50,000?</span><br />Where can I pick up this check?! Plus it doesn't say anything about reading blogs!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sa</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">uce for $1000?</span><br />No, though I witnessed a guy do it at a party in California for (maybe) $20. Not sure he collected it all.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypywlNEjs12gzARj9lYI82NAmDzKbcKvmOoNn-3vD6F-LQESSH67cVU0ge2pZyEBqkIRpVLk4UV3iNsmIceIxDJkUEM8K2BT297cK3HvtCpVK45U9v7jr6XyJvezec1tOs-Klza5Tx7er/s1600/hot+sauce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypywlNEjs12gzARj9lYI82NAmDzKbcKvmOoNn-3vD6F-LQESSH67cVU0ge2pZyEBqkIRpVLk4UV3iNsmIceIxDJkUEM8K2BT297cK3HvtCpVK45U9v7jr6XyJvezec1tOs-Klza5Tx7er/s320/hot+sauce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487609992407456306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?</span><br />I'm going to agree with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Jamoosh</span>, "I don’t think this is actually possible. There are too many TVs in public places."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">CURRENTOLOGY</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Missing someone?</span><br />Yep. [Sigh.] Too many of my friends/family members don't live in NOVA.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mood?</span><br />Relaxed. (I'm blogging.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Listening to?</span><br />Let's see what I get on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">iTunes</span> party shuffle... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">DMB</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Up and Away</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Watching?</span><br />I'll probably catch up on The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Bachelorette</span> after this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worrying about?</span><br />Well, I wasn't worrying about anything until I read this question.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">RANDOMOLOGY</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First place you went this morning?</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Harris Teeter</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What can you not wait to do?</span><br />I'm very excited for the Fourth of July. I have friends coming into town, am going to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Nats</span> game, and throwing a pool party/cookout :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What’s the last movie you saw?</span><br />Toy Story 3. IT'S SO GOOD!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you smile often?</span><br />A lot!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you a friendly person?</span><br />Yes!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">survey's</span> done what are you going to do?</span><br />Veg/Pack<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Listening to:</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"></span>Next song that came up on Party Shuffle, <span style="font-style: italic;">Minority</span>--Green Day<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Closing Argument:</span> Let others know a little more about yourself, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">repost</span> this as your name followed by “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">ology</span>” (with your own answers of course)…or not.inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-7467516644338345802010-06-26T16:42:00.000-07:002010-06-26T20:03:05.724-07:00Tre-aaad-mill LOVE[Sing to the tune of <span style="font-style: italic;">California Love.</span>]<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pac</span>. </span>So great. I'm adding <span style="font-style: italic;">California Love </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Life Goes On</span> to my running <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">iTunes</span> tab pronto. <span style="font-style: italic;">California Love</span> is good for anytime... I've warmed up to <span style="font-style: italic;">Life Goes On </span>more times than I can count. Such truth.<br /><br />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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">air conditioning</span>. 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.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKguqWNNYGj0p4xgjJCtoceFFb4ov9Mu3KNrCe7rmgU7Ci_Ao1ATKOnD-6RNLx-hpjWGFLHyvkKLqV1eE1bYrsPNL9g2oQySgkNMywTj5EV1LS2fn_7rAFKIwBfGINF0u1_WwunPGhGm0t/s1600/treadmillscreen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKguqWNNYGj0p4xgjJCtoceFFb4ov9Mu3KNrCe7rmgU7Ci_Ao1ATKOnD-6RNLx-hpjWGFLHyvkKLqV1eE1bYrsPNL9g2oQySgkNMywTj5EV1LS2fn_7rAFKIwBfGINF0u1_WwunPGhGm0t/s320/treadmillscreen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487212442478819522" border="0" /></a>Long runs outside get pretty boring for me without a running partner. Even with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">iPod</span> after 3 miles I just feel really alone. I think it helps me <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tremendously</span> 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.<br /><br />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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">That's the first time I've completed a 10k under an hour.</span> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />One more thing: K'NAAN's <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix)</span> 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!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WTJSt4wP2ME&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WTJSt4wP2ME&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-37729970701952865882010-06-24T20:55:00.000-07:002010-06-24T23:34:11.001-07:00Feelin' HOT HOT HOTSummer 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 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AHnQtY1bg4"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WATER</span></a>. I've always enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a run in the heat.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />In the past week, every run I've done has been outside.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3ish miles Friday</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3 miles Sunday</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2ish miles Wednesday</span><br />and<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 miles Today</span> (Thursday).<br /><br />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.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmURSOGHg2Eh02c4DKxUvNZB9dKuHqoSnUXm0sS57HjPYQQzsottBEI9XlU55mgzDOejitpmaeZIh-rHiJtXj8jMafAleEiJTfQz90seijO-hEUEWCYJtMXDNRBUJi9L72vCFZiPWufvR/s1600/John+grad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmURSOGHg2Eh02c4DKxUvNZB9dKuHqoSnUXm0sS57HjPYQQzsottBEI9XlU55mgzDOejitpmaeZIh-rHiJtXj8jMafAleEiJTfQz90seijO-hEUEWCYJtMXDNRBUJi9L72vCFZiPWufvR/s320/John+grad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486585971282119250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friiiiiday afternoon</span>... 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</span> as I set out on a 3 mile loop at my parents house around 6:00 P.M. I learned <span style="font-weight: bold;">"NO, it's not the fries.</span>" 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</span> 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yesterday</span> 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.<br /><br />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.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> It was just one of those days</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />[Even if you hate country you HAVE to watch this video to the 1:00 min mark!]</span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CootNL2NpX8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CootNL2NpX8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Why couldn't I have at least finished in 8:44?!"</span> was my only thought. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Today</span> 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, <span style="font-weight: bold;">I learned my pace was 7:52 min/mi!!!!</span><br /><br />My gut reaction:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Holyyy crap." Followed by: "That can't be right."</span> 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.<br /><br />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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOT HOT HOT</span> conditions such as these:<br /><br />Sunday, June 20-- High: 93 Low:76<br />Monday, June 21-- High: 92 Low: 75<br />Tues, June 22-- High: 96 Low: 73<br />Wed, June 23-- High: 96 Low: 74<br />Thurs, June 24-- High:100 Low: 79<br /><br /><br />This is pretty awesome. I want one.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VG5o_FH_0gQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VG5o_FH_0gQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-52618541369228594062010-06-16T17:50:00.000-07:002010-06-17T15:27:51.657-07:00It's a Summer Thing!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj9L7P4D1Wt9KCJZcMKpfpkB-RPpP8qAr0-VNuxfTJ9r6bNhdYAge9cWqgwMN1XLeG1truaJ0xgTsBcwc51aW5SWVztFF1wzFw2pKWfNvCqs9OZHEdZplaJsCprEL4AfmP6OgnyOre-ez/s1600/californiaGurls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj9L7P4D1Wt9KCJZcMKpfpkB-RPpP8qAr0-VNuxfTJ9r6bNhdYAge9cWqgwMN1XLeG1truaJ0xgTsBcwc51aW5SWVztFF1wzFw2pKWfNvCqs9OZHEdZplaJsCprEL4AfmP6OgnyOre-ez/s400/californiaGurls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480244250721039090" border="0" /></a>A couple weeks ago I posted some new running iTunes recommendations. Thing is, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">TON </span>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.<br /><br />So "<span style="font-style: italic;">Here's to you, Here's to me</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">May we never disagree</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Lets raise a glass to days gone by</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Here's to life</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Here's to life..."</span><br /><br />Enjoy ya'll.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It's a Summer Thing</span>--<span style="font-weight: bold;">Troy Olson</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">California Gurls-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dog</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Alejandro-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lady Gaga</span><br />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'.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Magic-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">B.o.B. ft. Weezer</span><br />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!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">My First Kiss-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">3OH!3 ft. Ke$ha</span><br />High energy. Slightly offensive. That's typical for 3OH!3 and Ke$ha r1ght?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Somebody to Love</span>-- Justin Bieber ft. Usher</span><br />Featuring USHER. Enough said. This actually isn't my favorite JB song, but it always seems to help me push through a run.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Can't Be Tamed-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miley Cyrus</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Kissin U-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miranda Cosgrove</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">If We Ever Meet Again--</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Timbaland ft. Katy Perry</span><br />I had heard this when I wrote my last post, I just forgot to mention it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Billionaire--</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars</span><br />In my opinion money does NOT buy happiness. But I LOVEEEE this song!!! It's hilarious. My favorite parts:<br />1) "Pull an Angelina and Brad Pitt. Adopt a bunch of babies that ain't never had shit."<br />2) "Give away a few Mercedes like here lady have this."<br />3) I’d probably visit where Katrina hit And damn sure do a lot more than FEMA did<br />4) "Whatup Oprah." (Second time he sings "Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen.)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I Made It-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Rudolph</span><br />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 :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ridin Solo</span>-- Jason Derulo</span><br /><span id="ctl00_cp_lblContent">"I'm feeling like a star, you can't stop my shine, I'm loving cloud nine, my head's in the sky</span>" LOVE it. Haven't we all gone on a solo long run? Builds character.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Haven't Met You Yet</span>-- Michael Buble</span><br />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.<br /><br />Now for some others I run to frequently that I've just never mentioned...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Shout-- </span><span>Wedding Crashers Sound Track<br /></span></span>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.<span style="font-style: italic;"> Wedding Crashers</span> 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!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPYrqjt4fu92FxiriK_sZEtROrorkK1STxwjxz0oF9Ez1_P15j60W0FiGZzo7K3qI4hHl0ctT5nt4qia_0SxT3mi1Ru5sY1SQ29Eh1JnE6ef_8NfltNZllJNjVyyHtoDPPgo6IH_IyeRc/s1600/IslaMere.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPYrqjt4fu92FxiriK_sZEtROrorkK1STxwjxz0oF9Ez1_P15j60W0FiGZzo7K3qI4hHl0ctT5nt4qia_0SxT3mi1Ru5sY1SQ29Eh1JnE6ef_8NfltNZllJNjVyyHtoDPPgo6IH_IyeRc/s320/IslaMere.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483521107515812018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Yeah</span>!-- Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Love in this Club</span>-- Usher</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiss a Girl</span>-- Keith Urban</span><br />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!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Summertime</span>-- New Kids on the Block</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Summertime--</span> Kenny Chesney<br /></span>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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Summer Nights-- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rascal Flatts</span><br />One more ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Like a Prayer</span>-- Madonna</span><br />Not the gLee version. Although that's good too. And what made me realize I needed to add the original to my iTunes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Do Da Stanky Leg-- </span><span style="visibility: visible; font-weight: bold;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Them G Spot Boyz</span></span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chattahoochie</span>-- Alan Jackson</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Good Girls Go Bad-- </span>Cobra Starship</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">There It Go (The Whistle Song)</span>-- Juelz Santana</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Back that Azz Up</span>-- Juevenille</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Humps</span>-- Black Eyed Peas</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Disco Inferno</span>-- 50 Cent</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">P.I.M.P.</span>-- 50 Cent</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Just a Lil Bit</span>-- 50 Cent</span><br />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.<br /><br /><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzY3NDEyNzQyNTYmcHQ9MTI3Njc*MTI4MzIwOSZwPTY5NDMwMSZkPSZnPTEmbz1kOWI5Yjg2MTc4M2U*YmQxOWFm/NDU4Y2I*YmFmODAyNiZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" height="0" /><div style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; visibility: visible; margin-right: auto; width: 450px;"> <object width="435" height="270"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.musiclist.us/mc/mp3player_new.swf"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_purple_noautostart.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musiclist.us%2Fpl.php%3Fplaylist%3D78564731%26t%3D1276741280&wid=os"> <embed style="width: 435px; visibility: visible; height: 270px;" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.musiclist.us/mc/mp3player_new.swf" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_purple_noautostart.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musiclist.us%2Fpl.php%3Fplaylist%3D78564731%26t%3D1276741280&wid=os" name="mp3player" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="335" border="0" height="270"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.musiclist.us/"><br /></a> </div>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.inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-80586838541912538802010-06-08T18:12:00.000-07:002010-06-08T19:33:17.848-07:006 Miles: Good to See You Again!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tonight I ran 6 miles on the treadmill in 58:28. That averages out to a pace of 9:44 per mile. </span>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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Geez Louise was the gym humid.</span> 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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWY_ANGcZrSWf7yNIlnPxpKDYYfdMW_3imvKDR7Y5OV0YqSe3rcUGyF3j30gh_pOXvLAaNTWy9j1alY6J5nPVkf-UxqKR44qoZFEBDOieDRhX9XCG8qxz69w12mfgfEFd434ynWXc947lc/s1600/summersun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWY_ANGcZrSWf7yNIlnPxpKDYYfdMW_3imvKDR7Y5OV0YqSe3rcUGyF3j30gh_pOXvLAaNTWy9j1alY6J5nPVkf-UxqKR44qoZFEBDOieDRhX9XCG8qxz69w12mfgfEFd434ynWXc947lc/s320/summersun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590947426451106" border="0" /></a><br />In other running news...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I ran 3 miles on Saturday in 27:37. Average Pace: 9:12 min/mi.</span><br />And on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday I ran 2 miles in 17:29. Average Pace: 8:44 min/mi. Then an additional mile in 8:34. </span><br /><br />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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aka: I'm pushing myself harder.</span> I don't want to run a single mile slower than 10 min/mi anymore. So far it's working.<br /><br />My friend who has finished a half in 1:58:something wants me to run the Rock 'n Roll half with her. <span style="font-weight: bold;">[Can we say "yikes?!"]</span>. 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 ;)<br /><br />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...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This 2 hours and under talk might be a pipe dream for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010. </span>Basically, I have two months worth of pent of aggression that I didn't get to run out and I'm <span style="font-weight: bold;">STILL</span> 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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">HARD</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">That's why I'm running. For the last mile. When I can give it all I've got. </span></span><br /><br />If you guys haven't checked out Jamoosh's blog yet, one question: <span style="font-weight: bold;">WHY?!</span><br />I've listed it to the right under "Blogs I Read Frequently."<br /><br />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."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r0qG4z5AYDdbtTtZMIfTycq08aFY-PkBqGIb1DSwaFBBOcv0cbUTHkaC22mO4taMqoJY_nmWeD4HCFW2S1EG_z67jMpCXZjF_eMEBmu5Cg-40XPRnBeExV3Nv0iHhKgXzJmbgYhzvxgW/s1600/bottleOpener.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r0qG4z5AYDdbtTtZMIfTycq08aFY-PkBqGIb1DSwaFBBOcv0cbUTHkaC22mO4taMqoJY_nmWeD4HCFW2S1EG_z67jMpCXZjF_eMEBmu5Cg-40XPRnBeExV3Nv0iHhKgXzJmbgYhzvxgW/s320/bottleOpener.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590052246002018" border="0" /></a><br />I like his blog because running is supposed to be fun. And Jamoosh clearly gets that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Life is short... running makes it seem longer." </span>;)<br />- Baron HanseninspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-17043182402833854462010-06-02T19:13:00.000-07:002010-06-03T05:39:08.525-07:00Sharks and Minnows<a href="http://www.theboringrunner.com/">Adam</a> (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.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiupSi_6ytOc-OiNyGqdtLFh5kxEg_FRMKmmrWS4px9qhHF7VOOe_bXU7Lw0DqQgkfV0o8IhwmmDCBNLPa4CGJO4UQ0KS2DVJiUp0kiD-NqkgndVnS4X3UekuL5fwYZIDcGKQ33-PVp6UA/s1600/Versatile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiupSi_6ytOc-OiNyGqdtLFh5kxEg_FRMKmmrWS4px9qhHF7VOOe_bXU7Lw0DqQgkfV0o8IhwmmDCBNLPa4CGJO4UQ0KS2DVJiUp0kiD-NqkgndVnS4X3UekuL5fwYZIDcGKQ33-PVp6UA/s400/Versatile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477995541736362962" border="0" /></a><br />However, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank You. </span><br />Because Memorial Day kicked off the unofficial start to summer, <span>rather than play plain old virtual tag, I'm going to play virtual Sharks and Minnows.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm obviously the shark.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPnbhX_Wn1m-YkZLp8BeX7bTnfsBSy8qDVBS4-3EMKEbxzpPAqUtyjun7SY6Gu0CkCbgSv18e8HBYYnJC7rOAmBGsKEqc3Zwyj2qzamTVsfoGRfqTahUgGBSPqt6VPPlrDBHAs3niXgCa/s1600/Bruce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPnbhX_Wn1m-YkZLp8BeX7bTnfsBSy8qDVBS4-3EMKEbxzpPAqUtyjun7SY6Gu0CkCbgSv18e8HBYYnJC7rOAmBGsKEqc3Zwyj2qzamTVsfoGRfqTahUgGBSPqt6VPPlrDBHAs3niXgCa/s320/Bruce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478002772272201538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And the little Minnows I caught include:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://bananasandtoast.blogspot.com/">Lauren</a> [Bananas and Toast]<br /><a href="http://itjustlookslikeslowmotion.blogspot.com/">Christy</a> [It Just Looks Like Slow Motion]<br /><a href="http://newbierunner82.blogspot.com/">Allyson</a> [So You Think You Can Run? One Way to Find Out]<br /><a href="http://anton-manmusings.blogspot.com/">Anton</a> [Running on Blisters]<br /><a href="http://prettyface59.blogspot.com/">Not Just a Pretty Face</a><br /><a href="http://memphishassumthin2say.blogspot.com/">JF</a> [Daily Trainings]<br /><a href="http://wannaberunner82.blogspot.com/">Melissa</a> [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. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />So without further ado, 7 Random Things about me:<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">I attended </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=JMU">James Madison University</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> in Harrisonburg, VA and majored in Business Management</span>... 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!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LzEm7b8Lh7wwg9eat5YxPrr3Bfhq1V1fY8o8hNXZgXsavsKO0eGR2VXxYHbWnJ9uvWoSbfqXU8TeD2Fv_9hJiHpAt17MJ4iqJXGITEn6e6g-_t4G2_bgN-oibdDfTdwp1qLf3V_t0o5X/s1600/Grad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LzEm7b8Lh7wwg9eat5YxPrr3Bfhq1V1fY8o8hNXZgXsavsKO0eGR2VXxYHbWnJ9uvWoSbfqXU8TeD2Fv_9hJiHpAt17MJ4iqJXGITEn6e6g-_t4G2_bgN-oibdDfTdwp1qLf3V_t0o5X/s320/Grad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478389903139951362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span>2)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">I have a younger sister, Laura, who is 22. And a younger brother, John, who is 18.</span> 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. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Wa-hoo-wa!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIb1KuNbrfy5n0_2WbyqqSo_w7lRbUT_yjEambUeBpyvqju6ltT4rTwruLkzFZ7dkbNxQRaH8cpxi374UVoWCfNcgscmKjnFyykceb5loP7fdY1-kHT_D3vzEl6ncvROGcWhnxiwc-2mG/s1600/christmas+card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIb1KuNbrfy5n0_2WbyqqSo_w7lRbUT_yjEambUeBpyvqju6ltT4rTwruLkzFZ7dkbNxQRaH8cpxi374UVoWCfNcgscmKjnFyykceb5loP7fdY1-kHT_D3vzEl6ncvROGcWhnxiwc-2mG/s320/christmas+card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478393681164711538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer is HANDS DOWN my favorite season</span>. 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.<br />Here I am at <a href="http://www.kingsdominion.com/">Kings Dominion</a> with one of my best friends from college, Erica.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAn1DhiTrVc7QPWLG3DiTtzneEffmkvHuTBm2xy18Mm9QAkWjS7k-JkZimvF14mtaOlBKaZ-sIKzUjeTxCuoKs6GTxHcuKHw7e4f9lWmVAjzT_PygaOo3lq8wnUKs6VMutE3c_SjghJkK/s1600/WaterPark.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAn1DhiTrVc7QPWLG3DiTtzneEffmkvHuTBm2xy18Mm9QAkWjS7k-JkZimvF14mtaOlBKaZ-sIKzUjeTxCuoKs6GTxHcuKHw7e4f9lWmVAjzT_PygaOo3lq8wnUKs6VMutE3c_SjghJkK/s320/WaterPark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478391566747122418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span>4) </span><span>The Office is my favorite show on television...so that m</span><span>ade it even cooler when <span style="font-weight: bold;">I met Pam (Jenna Fischer) outside the Today Show in 20</span></span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">07</span>. I ofte</span><span>n use th</span><span>is as my "fun fact about myself" in ice breaker games.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpG7h9cxlKLwxbhLIxeg2pT36nYWqeJ5TXIF-tPVc0VwCzTZa1gIWPLQGK-LUgfGleFhl2RHFg9IACJK6jo7ia44nO_3-kQJamuvs2OklOmfPVcYlqS-fC_6hzBP3N6Ct9OCLoRbRkyu8/s1600/Pam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpG7h9cxlKLwxbhLIxeg2pT36nYWqeJ5TXIF-tPVc0VwCzTZa1gIWPLQGK-LUgfGleFhl2RHFg9IACJK6jo7ia44nO_3-kQJamuvs2OklOmfPVcYlqS-fC_6hzBP3N6Ct9OCLoRbRkyu8/s320/Pam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478329438862537074" border="0" /></a><br />5) I really like College Football...<span style="font-weight: bold;">I managed to sneak into OU v. Texas Tech in 2008 when I was in Oklahoma for work.</span> 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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaxU_YA71Ru8SCEwYX6RDc0ShCryees48trEPEgVzO18d0gmPAEZbQwbowJZXJU9hF1O76U4LrbLy8HzL9VHUprg2-lYVfRPebqMxx0_xH8vPp8o6h20h1svmoqcFHOYFHJDCR5_ZaKe9/s1600/BoomerSooner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaxU_YA71Ru8SCEwYX6RDc0ShCryees48trEPEgVzO18d0gmPAEZbQwbowJZXJU9hF1O76U4LrbLy8HzL9VHUprg2-lYVfRPebqMxx0_xH8vPp8o6h20h1svmoqcFHOYFHJDCR5_ZaKe9/s320/BoomerSooner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478404624472234306" border="0" /></a><br />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!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KGb2d3wkQ2NzXAILmeB1C4xwO0mYJ7IwOCVWKzECtVDPaDTdSN61v3zxJw0xZjXpUkyDPQbiJjvtt-TyaX4uVZ8iTRQO7nxSboyeSQ1a9j168__67HCkjbUUuvKdwqCbzjrFlihQMW_r/s1600/fonzie703699.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KGb2d3wkQ2NzXAILmeB1C4xwO0mYJ7IwOCVWKzECtVDPaDTdSN61v3zxJw0xZjXpUkyDPQbiJjvtt-TyaX4uVZ8iTRQO7nxSboyeSQ1a9j168__67HCkjbUUuvKdwqCbzjrFlihQMW_r/s320/fonzie703699.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478406104626430690" border="0" /></a><br />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!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy2IWVKD6xtlp2yrf-BYSXOGK0ehRdaoEc4Dw9WLWoiAxH3P3xND2YAVGo29oZKyO2BXZNfYOv0sWD5HD6r3RAisFNT5g5ISbpmv_lb2IB33kwLqcu9UwlQ1dH9Og3CoDk-iNZX4D8pRH/s1600/trl-logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy2IWVKD6xtlp2yrf-BYSXOGK0ehRdaoEc4Dw9WLWoiAxH3P3xND2YAVGo29oZKyO2BXZNfYOv0sWD5HD6r3RAisFNT5g5ISbpmv_lb2IB33kwLqcu9UwlQ1dH9Og3CoDk-iNZX4D8pRH/s320/trl-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478525621853840354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Running updates:</span><br />4 mile run last week in 37:16 (9:19/mi)<br />Outside 2 miler around my parents neighborhood on Memorial Day<br />4 mile run today in 38:05 (9:31/mi). Happy National Running Day!inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-314526843059498132010-05-26T20:52:00.001-07:002010-05-28T17:48:30.482-07:00Where Is This Coming From?No, the title is not in reference to my excessive posting this week. Though it could be.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tonight I ran 3 miles in 27:46 and 3.1 miles in 28.42.</span> According to the<a href="http://www.nbwebexpress.com/runnersX/calculators.asp?whichCalc=pace"> Runner's Express Calculator</a> both distances average out to a 9:15 min/mi pace. <span style="font-weight: bold;">WHERE IS THIS C</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">OMING FROM?!</span>" 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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">A few weeks into pain-free running I'm cranking out 3 miles at 9:15 min/mi pace?! </span>Either I'm going to come down from this high real soon or <span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't know my own strength.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovFZzyqVfQCB5YsRu18Si3W-NRZ5a0Iu80WFZPiYJ6TW4eWxAMK-ySQwuLBH9MdFgJJjin5vuqJGB0_rcnU8Oer4wOFp1bV3_VHjvI6BnXO2vtxnL7g4mYeTNLj3zYZIHhEh3LoXmEpnN/s1600/rugby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475796799061834610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 221px; cursor: pointer; height: 242px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovFZzyqVfQCB5YsRu18Si3W-NRZ5a0Iu80WFZPiYJ6TW4eWxAMK-ySQwuLBH9MdFgJJjin5vuqJGB0_rcnU8Oer4wOFp1bV3_VHjvI6BnXO2vtxnL7g4mYeTNLj3zYZIHhEh3LoXmEpnN/s320/rugby.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My car: Audrey the Audi</span> (It's a '93 so don't get too jealous).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My GPS: Debbie. </span>Named after Debbie Downer. She likes to tell me <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Congestion Ahead." "Traffic Delay reported ahead."</span> 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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shut up and tell me where to turn WOMAN!</span><br /><br />I hope to in the next year have a Garmin brother for Audrey and Debbie. Until then I'll use the pace calculator.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Based on tonight's run, I gotta feeling it's going to be an interesting training season gearing up for the <a href="http://virginia-beach.competitor.com/">Virginia Beach Rock n' Roll Half</a> on September 5th.</span> 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! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Virginia Beach holds a special place in my heart because two of my best friends from college live there</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7-EWJxzFbbe0uzSdANMhy8OyAd3UCuREqBALvKl_JlRMxP5mmkltiGYXKeXSoVn6jysq0fDmqi0UoC0uSJOE-1JXh7uaOWsDUAwEDdd3wFvNvgCZ18EercmREwqukdRLih183TjYdJp0/s1600/fishie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475809023051224066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 342px; cursor: pointer; height: 256px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7-EWJxzFbbe0uzSdANMhy8OyAd3UCuREqBALvKl_JlRMxP5mmkltiGYXKeXSoVn6jysq0fDmqi0UoC0uSJOE-1JXh7uaOWsDUAwEDdd3wFvNvgCZ18EercmREwqukdRLih183TjYdJp0/s320/fishie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />(No not the fish, only one friend is pictured above.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG66IVOmp5bHiSAeszL5oX9Q9kg6x5Pi1rEeAlC8zeAUYQK0sIO1ljkOt6whZgokemvnmo928IatD6_NwVXph2msBuKNILA0EOyFelnK4b2puftA23pHqfbPznzRMZpL6CCY3MMXB16il0/s1600/shamrock1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475810157825677730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG66IVOmp5bHiSAeszL5oX9Q9kg6x5Pi1rEeAlC8zeAUYQK0sIO1ljkOt6whZgokemvnmo928IatD6_NwVXph2msBuKNILA0EOyFelnK4b2puftA23pHqfbPznzRMZpL6CCY3MMXB16il0/s320/shamrock1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here we all are after my very first half</span>. Resa is on the left; Erica, in the middle, doesn't like beer and is completely faking being drunk in this picture. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The biggest lesson I learned from that race is: Don't put on the free finishers hat.</span> Even if everyone else is doing it, I'll wish I wasn't wearing it when I see the pictures later. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge doesn't mean I'll think it's fun. </span><br /><br />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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">right this second</span> <a href="http://www.theboringrunner.com/2010/05/try-it-tuesday-scape-sunscreen-30.html">you can enter to win</a> too.<br /><br />And if one contest entry wasn't enough for you, <a href="http://lastmilelounge.blogspot.com/2010/05/word-up-wednesday.html">Jamoosh</a> is giving away a $20 Road ID giftcard. May the luckiest blogger win!inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-58529687966855598622010-05-25T21:12:00.001-07:002010-05-25T21:59:52.021-07:00Hi5!!!![I'm <span style="font-weight: bold;">obsessed </span><span>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.]<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNom1Nu1ptVssBmAWLvAFDS-6q-QcWWS5wjTRKKCC8MtmH7hqUNMsdILMIQye5VLkQ8hYYay77u-Wi5xmF1eTOU5SfGLGpwAwG8hpvvMj4zXYIte0GklMPQeHtBoNbKFzoa1vq0nz-KTs_/s1600/95internethighfiveau0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 473px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNom1Nu1ptVssBmAWLvAFDS-6q-QcWWS5wjTRKKCC8MtmH7hqUNMsdILMIQye5VLkQ8hYYay77u-Wi5xmF1eTOU5SfGLGpwAwG8hpvvMj4zXYIte0GklMPQeHtBoNbKFzoa1vq0nz-KTs_/s400/95internethighfiveau0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475434817101628418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Meh</span>.<br /><br />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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">"I could have kept going.</span>.." 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! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Words cannot describe how much I've missed that feeling</span>. I also took the treadmill up to 8.1 at the end... I've missed seeing 8's when "sprinting" to the finish.<br /><br />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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The run tonight averages out to a 9:41 min/mi pace. Um, HELLO first 5 mile run since MARCH!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And now to the real purpose of this blog post: </span>Jamoosh over at Last Mile Lounge is hosting a Thorlo Experia Socks giveaway. I get an extra entry by posting this on my blog. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note: I only link to contests on blogs I think are worth reading!</span> 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? <a href="http://lastmilelounge.blogspot.com/2010/05/stones-turned-to-pebbles.html">Go</a>. Laugh. Win socks!inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-54819248202644168782010-05-22T07:51:00.000-07:002010-05-22T09:08:11.587-07:00Treadmill BuddiesI 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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">STILL</span> sounds the same when I say "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hi, how's it going?</span>"... a lot could change in the 30 seconds since I last said it.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-cUhBO2REDginEL5qiwC7qulKJQZ8OsMsSQbjmBjunCDnqE4O-fQKgEaW-fp-XdO1NjpjREJfCgcmZTr5dmPR0inzw_2hpeyt-xnX-EwCgk02gh4_Om1nDLnFwo3X3QjBrIieYrJL1G1/s1600/averagejoecostume.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-cUhBO2REDginEL5qiwC7qulKJQZ8OsMsSQbjmBjunCDnqE4O-fQKgEaW-fp-XdO1NjpjREJfCgcmZTr5dmPR0inzw_2hpeyt-xnX-EwCgk02gh4_Om1nDLnFwo3X3QjBrIieYrJL1G1/s320/averagejoecostume.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474125762368715170" border="0" /></a><br />I'm getting ahead of my self though.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I've touched on this before, but if you ever have to do a run on a gym treadmill....</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">there's a whole nother community just WAITING for you to tap into it. </span>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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">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. </span>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.<br /><br />I'm not sure how many treadmill buddies I have, but for sure four.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buddy 1:</span> A co-worker</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buddy 2:</span> A guy who has run marathons but now sticks to halvsies.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buddy 3</span>: 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.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buddy 4:</span> A recovering smoker who now runs regularly.<br /></li></ul><span>[</span><span style="font-style: italic;">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. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">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! </span>]<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">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. </span>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Simple right? Really beneficial. And not something to be scared of. Unlike this commercial.<br /><br /><object width="380" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4j2xEwEHbrE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4j2xEwEHbrE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-5701922662458853222010-05-18T18:48:00.000-07:002010-05-22T07:31:25.239-07:00Ready, Set, Shuffle<div> </div> <div>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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ready, set, shuffle.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Rain is a Good Thing-- Luke Bryan</div> <div> 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 ;)<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Water-- Brad Paisley</div> <div>This is another hilarious song. My real musical taste could probably be summed up with: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Silly.<br /><br /></span></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Here Comes Summer-- Locash Cowboys</div> <div>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.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Nothing on You-- B.o.B. ft. Bruno Mars</div> <div>(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...<br /><br /></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </div> <div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Airplanes---B.oB. ft. Hayley Williams</span><br /></div> <div>"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....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">MIA--</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Paper Planes</span><br />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.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Watching Airplanes--Gary Allen</div> <div>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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Eenie Meanie--Justin Bieber ft. Sean Kingston</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">OMG--Usher</span><br />Oh Myyy Oh My Gosh This song is amazing. Glad Usher's back.<br /><br /></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">In My Head--Jason Derulo</div> <div>This song is kind of dirty. But if you're okay with that it's good to run to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">How Low Can You Go--Ludacris ft. Too Short</span><br />This is slightly silly, which is why I like it. And it's Ludacris.<br /><br /></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Say Ahh-- Trey Songz</div> <div>I recently learned this guy is from VA. Grew up in Fredricksburg. Thank you hotel TV in Kentucky with limited channels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Carry Out-- Timbaland ft. JT</span><br />I guess "Carry Out" had a better ring to it than "Doggie Bag."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Bedrock--Young Money</span><br />When I first heard this song I had two thoughts.<br />1) I LOVE the Flinstones!<br />2) Did the writers of that cartoon mean to be perverted?<br />One year I'm going to be Wilma for Halloween. It's pretty crazy I still haven't right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Your Love is My Drug-- Ke$ha</span><br />I've downloaded her entire CD. Tik Tik will probably always be my favorite, partially because of this:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OOYMU15bjlA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OOYMU15bjlA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />She has so many great songs to run to!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Solo-- IYAZ</span><br />Much better than "Replay" which I wouldn't want my iPod to be stuck replaying.<br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Tie Me Down-- New Boyz ft. Ray J<br /></span></span>Ray-J is Back!!!!!!<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>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.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Sexy Can I?-- Ray J<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>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.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>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.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Ain't Back Yet-- Kenny Chesney<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>His new single which I downloaded right after it was released.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>His concert is the best country one I've been to hands down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Day 'N Nite (Crooker's Remix)-- Kid Cudi</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tootsie Roll-- 69 Boyz</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Hotel Room Service-- Pit Bull</span><br />HILARIOUS.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Ignition(Remix)-- R Kelly</span><br />Another Hotel Song. Toot Toot Beep Beep!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Boom Boom Boom Boom-- Venga Boys</span><br />The energy this song starts out with really can be a good pick me up if you are getting tired on a run.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Whatever You Like-- T.I.</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Please Don't Stop the Music--Rhianna</span><br />I'll be honest, I like her older stuff better<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Umbrella-- Rhianna ft. Jay-Z</span><br />I recently learned Jay-Z was named after the JMZ green line of the New York Subway. So cool!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">That Was a Crazy Game of Poker--O.A.R.</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">American Pie-- Don McLean</span><br />Same idea as <span style="font-style: italic;">Crazy Game of Poker.</span> This song is long and provides a distraction for a mile. (If you can handle it as it does get repetitive.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Ticks-- Brad Paisley</span><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It's a Great Day to Be Alive-- Travis Tritt</span><br />I dare you to be in a bad mood running and listening to this song. It's near impossible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Like a Boss-- The Lonely Island</span><br />This one is real short but still worth adding to any playlist. And "eat a bagel" classifies it as a running song.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Move Bitch-- Ludacris</span><br />Good for getting out aggression.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Get Back-- Ludacris</span><br />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."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Baby By Me-- 50 Cent</span><br />What playlist is complete without 50? This is one of his newer songs.<br /><br />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.<br /></div><br /><br /><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzQyMzgwOTY*NzcmcHQ9MTI3NDIzODEwNDE4OCZwPTY5NDMwMSZkPSZnPTEmbz1kOWI5Yjg2MTc4M2U*YmQxOWFm/NDU4Y2I*YmFmODAyNiZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" height="0" /><div style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; visibility: visible; margin-right: auto; width: 450px;"> <object width="435" height="270"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.musiclist.us/mc/mp3player_new.swf"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_red_noautostart.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musiclist.us%2Fpl.php%3Fplaylist%3D77790897%26t%3D1274238094&wid=os"> <embed style="width: 435px; visibility: visible; height: 270px;" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.musiclist.us/mc/mp3player_new.swf" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_red_noautostart.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musiclist.us%2Fpl.php%3Fplaylist%3D77790897%26t%3D1274238094&wid=os" name="mp3player" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="435" border="0" height="270"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.musiclist.us/"><br /></a> </div>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-89162886764131378762010-05-17T22:27:00.000-07:002010-05-18T01:12:51.267-07:00Start Spreading the News...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSE2z2VbCXK_GzoJAwPjHl8nVq5O72L7Ca9lNKjASUphaN1hC2fEOaOKZiqna2TAs0Zo5LBjwitJSKF0qEa_Ei1hA_48Wgd7-87yvvs8XX4SmUAzGLxB02nhGYRhB97DZD4bq9CtaoUlv/s1600/yankeehi5.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSE2z2VbCXK_GzoJAwPjHl8nVq5O72L7Ca9lNKjASUphaN1hC2fEOaOKZiqna2TAs0Zo5LBjwitJSKF0qEa_Ei1hA_48Wgd7-87yvvs8XX4SmUAzGLxB02nhGYRhB97DZD4bq9CtaoUlv/s400/yankeehi5.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472480072513557714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">If there are 3 things I love, it's running, Hi5's and Yankee Baseball.</span> 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 <a href="http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/sweetMainSter/">dinner</a> with my soon-to-be housemates, I decided to take a late evening trip to the gym and get in 2 miles.<br /><br />I figured I might as well celebrate the fact that I can run again. <span style="font-weight: bold;">2 miles in 18:52, not too shabby. (9:26 min/mi)</span>. 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...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'll Be Back!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17bIMnpBFQXBq43pMAoEOhYln3moJM8RDtVrSE964BRzZK4peGO6M8wfLBbdSCvBcu1nQXQxnZLhvmgnRea5u1vEzdD9Lor7RZnWQmQtBEuZGGCVD_3vZ-w3jKBR-39eI40CPSyGDcZaE/s1600/arnold-schwarzenegger-the-terminator.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17bIMnpBFQXBq43pMAoEOhYln3moJM8RDtVrSE964BRzZK4peGO6M8wfLBbdSCvBcu1nQXQxnZLhvmgnRea5u1vEzdD9Lor7RZnWQmQtBEuZGGCVD_3vZ-w3jKBR-39eI40CPSyGDcZaE/s320/arnold-schwarzenegger-the-terminator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472497170799845874" border="0" /></a>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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The idea I have floating around my brain is to increase my weekly long runs by a mile each week (if possible.)</span><span> I'm not training for anything yet, just </span><span>wanting to get back to a point where 8 mile runs are comfortable.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Or to only add another mile on to my long runs when I can do it at 10min/mi pace. </span><span>But, one way or another I'll be back. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Last Friday I ran a 5k on the treadmill in 29:56 (which is a 9:39 min/mi pace). Wowzers</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I can still do that/do that again?! I surprised myself. </span>[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.]<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Tonight the tables were turned, and I met a dad who joined the gym 2 days ago. As I was finishing he told me<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"That was impressive."</span><br /><br />Um. Relative comment sir.<br /><br />[Please click photo to fully appreciate what was captured.]<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQnzw9BskgDYwPnl0njB7PoDliTzPF4jNIGYmmBi0yIxtlHf_HBTKY8D535bQc65DObK2Fu8m3nSGtTJY6EbqIStmYSYw9ON8qjZjDvxicba8mae30u97EdXMBdfYKwj3217TqAed2jIR/s1600/marathonYS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQnzw9BskgDYwPnl0njB7PoDliTzPF4jNIGYmmBi0yIxtlHf_HBTKY8D535bQc65DObK2Fu8m3nSGtTJY6EbqIStmYSYw9ON8qjZjDvxicba8mae30u97EdXMBdfYKwj3217TqAed2jIR/s320/marathonYS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472511396539705442" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">That was a good reality check.</span><br /><br />And I do think this injury has made me even hungrier to improve. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Which is cool.</span>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-86100430566584532392010-05-15T14:19:00.000-07:002010-05-15T14:48:02.161-07:003k Race Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rkzYZrjhnLS3KKZMdAzn4P5BOfpnjepkkDzzuDkjsxijY9dhwFu3DQT0Xk2gx6W-qT6n0JfP68nKvo6LS7zkKfgaLxw-hfTRCnnJ7hyphenhyphen0vrcfBUF4eeF0hYiPTGX_o1wBOgeqUyDVkrCF/s1600/IMG00185-20100502-0905(2).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rkzYZrjhnLS3KKZMdAzn4P5BOfpnjepkkDzzuDkjsxijY9dhwFu3DQT0Xk2gx6W-qT6n0JfP68nKvo6LS7zkKfgaLxw-hfTRCnnJ7hyphenhyphen0vrcfBUF4eeF0hYiPTGX_o1wBOgeqUyDVkrCF/s320/IMG00185-20100502-0905(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471612844867887330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Okay, so this race report was a looooooong time coming. </span>I ran the 3k almost 2 weeks ago. There’s not a whole lot to say about my experience from start to finish. I jogged the whole thing on minimal sleep. There were hills. There were no mile markers. My pace was 10:05. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, the race in and of itself is worth its own race report. Spring Hill Elementary put on the race as fundraiser for the school and an effort to encourage physical fitness. From what I understand during recess students had the opportunity to “train” for the 3k by completing laps with their class. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">I remember when I was in 4</span><sup style="font-style: italic;">th</sup><span style="font-style: italic;"> grade there was a running initiative at my elementary school to run the number of miles that it would take to get to Atlanta, GA for the '96 Olympics. </span>I felt so ripped off when I discovered there was no chance to win a trip to the Olympics.<b> </b>Like what was the point in running the distance as a school if I wasn’t going? Talk about pouring salt into an open wound. Every day I was reminded a vacation to the Olympics wasn’t in the budget of my fam, the annoying boy who had a crush on me WAS going, and I was one of the slowest kids in the class<span>. I didn’t play sports as</span><span> a kid… I took Ballet…so really I wanted nothing more than to play on the playground, but couldn’t because our teacher made us run everyday while her lazy ass watched us. </span><b style=""><span>This was actually something we discussed every day. Our teacher acted like running was so fun, but never did it with us.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The fact that the Spring Hill Fun Run/Walk was supposed to be a family affair was the first thing that caught my attention. Obesity in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> is a topic that’s always harped on, and I really think the only way we are going to combat this is if families [and teachers] and friends exercise together. I know if I were in Elementary school I would have wanted my parents to participate with me….and maybe that alone is motivation for everyone involved to get to the point where they can run 1.86 miles.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not everyone ran the 3k. I saw a few people running with strollers at a brisk pace and was really impressed at their level of fitness. It seemed like a lot of people used a run/walk “<st1:place st="on">Galloway</st1:place> method...” And then some people walked the whole thing. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Either way, getting up and exercising before 9am on a Sunday is a gre</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">at accomplishment. At least in my world.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were all at the starting line behind a string. It was dropped without much of a fanfare, so most people started making a comment along the lines of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Whoa, it’s started.”</span> Even when a big deal is made out of the start of a race, I still at times have that reaction. <span style="font-weight: bold;">So, no biggie.</span> I just quickly turned on my watch timer and started jogging.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, in most races I think it’s tempting to start too fast and if I’m not careful I’ll find myself trying to start at a pace that I can’t maintain the whole time because someone around me is. But, I don’t think anything compares to starting a race with a bunch of boys ages 8-10. A lot of them had no concept of pacing themselves…so I went from concern that they would run me over, to amusement as I kept on jogging and they walked around turn number 1. <b style="">Amateurs.</b> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">I will say beating some young boys somehow mad</b><b style="">e up for the fact that I wasn’t a good runner in elementary school.</b> Sweet revenge if you will. Please overlook the fact that I’m 24 and many of them had a single digit age. [Because I am.] ;)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszAMqAMVoOfdyPh5PxKiuXxCzz7K-mZcExfgNY57wvIUJscEtSC18IYDKGhtqJfGvtd2JlxKVuCikSNxjOhKGiN0ypR8HU0tIKj6A19WAceNtApQz16jLS4bd7kVZuRbF8Yf90m85vEFU/s1600/IMG00186-20100502-0905(2).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszAMqAMVoOfdyPh5PxKiuXxCzz7K-mZcExfgNY57wvIUJscEtSC18IYDKGhtqJfGvtd2JlxKVuCikSNxjOhKGiN0ypR8HU0tIKj6A19WAceNtApQz16jLS4bd7kVZuRbF8Yf90m85vEFU/s320/IMG00186-20100502-0905(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471613202669026802" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The post race festivities were really cute.</span> Everyone hung out around the playground. There were water bottles, bagels from Panera, apples, and (though I dislike them) Chewy granola bars. There was a high school band playing….this one kid did a keyboard mash up of just about every song that’s well known or has been popular in the past year. I think he wrote it himself. It was really impressive.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbReDgaCtTSIdhX3e3P_0jmyXscaSRgfMQmH3J1-V_YxmrJKwa0Rw9-RxmsyE3jmMiLCksXQH3ASvCUFwn7RRe3Qpj_m1EDVmfRcSC9ydZLlVY6TFSqwtt4VZACwx8CNey4F4JbDYltGQ/s1600/IMG00191-20100502-0911(2).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbReDgaCtTSIdhX3e3P_0jmyXscaSRgfMQmH3J1-V_YxmrJKwa0Rw9-RxmsyE3jmMiLCksXQH3ASvCUFwn7RRe3Qpj_m1EDVmfRcSC9ydZLlVY6TFSqwtt4VZACwx8CNey4F4JbDYltGQ/s320/IMG00191-20100502-0911(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471611331318858786" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >I’d be interested</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" > in</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> participating in another event like this. It’s the exact opposite of a big, huge, long race…but very fun in its own way.</span><br /></span>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-13607590117198942492010-05-11T22:31:00.001-07:002010-05-12T10:14:37.101-07:003 Miles. YeeHaw!Well, I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I spent mine in Lexington, KY for my younger sister's graduation from college. It was an 8 hour car ride each way...(on the way back we were loaded down with all of her stuff)...and I was bored...so this happened:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu0I_95N83YvlxxA5UCX3m3w4p1hzUH2KNQ3m9rV6U1dwOkcwscxVpHJgRsoYikt1Ikh12OaejcnUkTKsA6zNq2TGfDS6qpXbP6b_ORFLRX1ZCfvubv3iLghc5xizpxyuwA87Uzaqr14a/s1600/JB.jpg"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyMZIKCXmAWVGqkn-QWM3S7HFjxx_wRWGMJa4X8rqxW0PuhiC4zIpqc2Gp3bDi5kywMQWCxmhq-0CPK8Y3LAg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a><br /></div><br />(No homo.) The kids I babysit actually learned the rap part to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Baby</span> first. Then I of course HAD to. We cruise around town like this. I was happy to learn it's just as fun on a road trip. I think my family was impressed. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Maybe just concerned, IDK. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other note-worthy items from (Lexington</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">) Kentucky.</span><br /><ul><li>The bouncer at the bar we went to was wearing a white dress shirt, black dress pants, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Suspenders. </span><br /></li></ul><ul><li>The liquor stores there are called Liquor Barns</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNX1kkuYDrFzue9s1umE0PV0R0gst5aZYu4PRtcNmzLuSEJGU3PR0uvWY1qjTdq3LWPDL4Kj_j4CgpJWqKGfKxEYFH7qvuAFAgJN88gHHb6-y-jDzstxjguSxSksVMLv0k2M1Zs5SOuFf/s1600/IMG00226-20100509-1144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNX1kkuYDrFzue9s1umE0PV0R0gst5aZYu4PRtcNmzLuSEJGU3PR0uvWY1qjTdq3LWPDL4Kj_j4CgpJWqKGfKxEYFH7qvuAFAgJN88gHHb6-y-jDzstxjguSxSksVMLv0k2M1Zs5SOuFf/s200/IMG00226-20100509-1144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470421097832953442" border="0" /></a><ul><li>A friend jokingly asked me if I ran into John Calipari or John Wall (from the UK Basketball team). It would have been amazing to say "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sup Cuz?</span>" to DeMarcus Cousins...or challenge the boys to a game of HORSE, but that didn't happen. We did, however, see a Justin Bieber look alike at dinner on Saturday.<br /></li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu0I_95N83YvlxxA5UCX3m3w4p1hzUH2KNQ3m9rV6U1dwOkcwscxVpHJgRsoYikt1Ikh12OaejcnUkTKsA6zNq2TGfDS6qpXbP6b_ORFLRX1ZCfvubv3iLghc5xizpxyuwA87Uzaqr14a/s1600/JB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu0I_95N83YvlxxA5UCX3m3w4p1hzUH2KNQ3m9rV6U1dwOkcwscxVpHJgRsoYikt1Ikh12OaejcnUkTKsA6zNq2TGfDS6qpXbP6b_ORFLRX1ZCfvubv3iLghc5xizpxyuwA87Uzaqr14a/s320/JB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470422618540949010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't get a chance to run until I got back on Monday night. I just did 2 miles around the neighborhood....and actually walked on two uphills (oopsies). I was pretty achy and wiped out from all the riding in the car and decided "something is better than nothing, I'll push myself tomorrow."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tonight I ran 3 miles on the treadmill in 29:52!</span> That's the first time I've done 3 miles without stopping since the Shamrock Half. I'm getting to the point now where I have to push myself past what's comfortable. It's been so long since I've been able to do that, there's a slight temptation to be lazy, BUT, I want to be back bad enough that I'm sticking to it.<br /><br />I really don't think there is anyway I'll be ready for a half marathon the first weekend in June. (The mileage increase would be a lot more than 10% per week. And it's not like I just didn't run, I've been hurt) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Meaning my next [long] race will most-likely be the Virginia Beach Rock n' Roll Half on September 5th. Geez that's a long way awayyyy.</span> But--- that allows plenty of time to PR in the 5k and 10k distances and work on getting faster. I'm thrilled to be running Advil free and that I have soreness that has nothing to do with an injury.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Also, a friend who ran a half marathon in 2:02:31 Sunday wants to start running together.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Um..."Here is my ass, feel free to start kicking it."</span> I'm pretty excited about this! My goal for 2010 is still 2:10:00, whether I hit it or not, we'll see...inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-55282636289738592192010-05-06T18:19:00.000-07:002010-05-06T23:58:33.280-07:00LOVE it.A few things:<br /><ul style="font-weight: bold;"><li>I went on a 3 mile run Monday</li><li>I saw OK Go Last Night!</li><li>I had a shitty day today...but...<br /></li><li>I went on a 2.25 mile run tonight, and am no longer upset :)<br /></li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeVNXAS8am3Xuwn14r-5-jtS1bbbaNxt9imeH5YqtzKo7YfBHfRvcsfwLSEpfZOH9hPJeScmymWuxYdtFKpUCma8Ai8OJIxUgb0XeoiPLhN7hyphenhyphen0pxoWB4jtBZuCWSG8HvMqbk1hJ2uR6F/s1600/runningShirt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeVNXAS8am3Xuwn14r-5-jtS1bbbaNxt9imeH5YqtzKo7YfBHfRvcsfwLSEpfZOH9hPJeScmymWuxYdtFKpUCma8Ai8OJIxUgb0XeoiPLhN7hyphenhyphen0pxoWB4jtBZuCWSG8HvMqbk1hJ2uR6F/s320/runningShirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468334609313856114" border="0" /></a>If you missed my post about how I prepared for the 3k I ran Sunday, I could summarize by saying "<a href="http://inspiredtorun13.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-not-to-do-before-race.html">I didn't</a>." So I was fairly happy with a pace of 10:05 min/mi on a hilly course, but knew I was capable of faster.<br /><br />Monday night I ran 2 miles on the treadmill in 19:26 (that's a 9:43 min/mi pace). The 3k split was 18:20 (a 9:51 min/mi pace). <span style="font-weight: bold;">HELL YES!</span> I knew I could hit 9:50 min/mi. So what if it was on a treadmill and a day after my race. I haven't been pushing my pace as hard as I had been before the Shamrock Half Marathon so it's a relief to know I can hit those times and feel good doing it.<br /><br />After taking a short walk break I cranked out another mile in 9:30 exactly. Soon I want to do a 3 mile run without stopping.<br /><br />And I think this is coming because tonight I ran 2.25 miles around the neighborhood. I did this in either 22:19 or 23:19... that's sad I don't remember. (It's just been one of those days.) Either way my pace could have been as fast as 9:55 min/mi or as slow as 10:20 min/mi. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm thrilled with either, and the best part about it is that I felt GREAT</span>! I don't know if it's because I took 2 days off of running. Or am finally healing.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Or needed a run like no other.</span> But I have to say the hardest part about this overuse injury has been the days where I just mentally need a long run, but physically couldn't go for one.<br /><br />I'm not the same person when I'm unable to run. The shirt picture is kind of a joke, but I realize myself being a million times happier when training for a race. It's slightly stressful. Slightly a downer of a time commitment. <span style="font-weight: bold;">But overall when I'm training the sky just seems a little bluer, I can't stop smiling, and I have an overwhelming amount of positive energy. </span>Oh-- and I can eat whatever I want without feeling guilty. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Basically this is me:</span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q4h7chFGQw8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q4h7chFGQw8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />I realize this is the movie---but, I think I've actually seen just about every episode of The Brady Bunch. [Oddly,] Peter was always my favorite because he was funny. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Greg was a lot hotter though.</span> Duh. He was so groovy.<br /><br />The Fun Run race report is still coming. And <a href="http://minnesotamilage.blogspot.com/2010/05/julies-first-very-cool-giveaway.html">Julie</a> is hosting a giveaway because she has reached 100 followers! She's from Minnesota (a state that I love)...and trust me when I say I only post links to giveaways I truly want to win. On top of tons of running gear she's giving away <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blindside</span>!!!inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-35988700214849343132010-05-02T08:34:00.000-07:002010-05-06T19:16:52.725-07:00What NOT to Do Before A Race...<span style="font-weight: bold;">So.... I have to say, I probably did just about everything you shouldn't do before a race, even if it was only the Spring Hill Fun Run 3k.</span>..<br /><br />1) I had <a href="http://www.cafeasia.com/">sushi</a> for dinner. I guess the rice in the rolls could count as carb loading, but I doubt raw seafood is your best bet before a run in heat/humidity the next AM.<br /><br />2) The evening began with a pounding of a Miller Lite and ended with a Solo cup full of Gin Bucket. Spaced in between were a Mojito and glass of Riesling. Before big races I usually have one beer to calm the nerves. If the race isn't long, I generally avoid alcohol. This time around I went with pretending I wasn't getting up early to run like everyone else I was hanging out with. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Denial. </span><br /><br />3) Walked around in a pair of 3" heels (to break them in) the night before a race. (They went with my brown dress.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQNk6qXpoIu4LBzh1rovEwYiArxKmObGf8XhwH8oX8pPFqu_HNMjSmXcVIoVA1bE8ADuAlPXcJbe1BnFeGHo6Nhyc_GrzI-zGk7aKuUuPDvJw1irgGuJTzk2pTCqPqIJXcWPFO5oRVg-N/s1600/IMG00215-20100504-0206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQNk6qXpoIu4LBzh1rovEwYiArxKmObGf8XhwH8oX8pPFqu_HNMjSmXcVIoVA1bE8ADuAlPXcJbe1BnFeGHo6Nhyc_GrzI-zGk7aKuUuPDvJw1irgGuJTzk2pTCqPqIJXcWPFO5oRVg-N/s200/IMG00215-20100504-0206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467305960874131554" border="0" /></a><br />4) Oh and danced in 3" heels...at the house warming party I went to.<br />Side Note: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_SI2EDM6Lo&feature=related"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Break Your Heart</span></a>-- is a one-two punch of a download ;) It's great for dance parties---and running.<br /><br />5) Went to bed after 2 AM. Bringing my hours of sleep to a grand total of: 5.5.<br /><br />6) Ate part of a chocolate egg before the race.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimers:</span> I did make sure to drink Powerade Zero, stretch, and take Advil before the race. I think I had the mentality that I knew I wasn't trying for my absolute fastest time, so all I had to do was run the whole thing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Does anyone ever rebel at themselves or running? I think I've been so pissed I haven't been able to train I was very "whatever" about the 3k.</span> I knew I wouldn't be sprinting so did just about everything I wouldn't normally do before a race because....<span style="font-weight: bold;">I. COULD.</span> (Usually I'll eat food that I know sits well, even if it's not my favorite. Make sure I'm not dehydrated. And go to bed early.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My goal was to run the 3k in under a 10 min/mi pace. I finished the race in 18:46.. that's a 10:05/mi pace.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">This was a good test of how fast I could run a hilly 3k</span>, not how fast I could cover the distance. Could I have pushed it harder? Probably. But, all things considered I'm quite happy. I was shooting for the 9:50/mi ballpark, so I came close. This race served two purposes for me:<br /><br />1) Made me realize how much I love races and want to get back out there. <span style="font-weight: bold;">BAD. </span>A 5k will be in my near future.<br />2) Mentally made up for the sour note that was the <a href="http://inspiredtorun13.blogspot.com/2010/03/today-was-fail.html">Monument Ave 10k</a>. No one likes to have a bad race. The 2010 Monument Ave 10k was the worst I've felt in a race (thus far). <span style="font-weight: bold;">As of today it's no longer my most recent race and is truly behind me :)<br /></span><br />As silly as it sounds, I'm proud of myself for running the whole thing. I'm not really in "auto pilot mode" anymore. And I hate hills. The majority of the race was not flat. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A lot of people seem</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ed to take walk breaks, which the more people I see walking, the greater the temptation to walk becomes for me. And I didn't give in.<br /><br /></span></span>Also, I've ran the past four days...<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oopsies?!<br /><br /></span>Thursday Night</span> I ran 3 miles on the treadmill-- 2 in 19:46. A 1/2 mile in 4:31. A 1/4 mile in 2:13. A 1/4 mile in 2:08.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Friday </span></span>I ran 2 miles on the treadmill. The first mile was in 9:15. I then did a 1/2 mile in 4:30ish. And two 1/4 miles in 2:16 and 2:12.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span>-- I went for a run outside. I probably ran about 1.75 miles. Not quite 2. I was excited to try out a new jogging trail!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then today I did the race.</span> 8.5 miles in 4 days isn't a ton, but it's an improvement that I felt up to that. I'm still foam rolling and icing.<br /><br />Here I am after the race with the kids I baby-sit. My "<a href="http://inspiredtorun13.blogspot.com/2010/04/fourrrrrrrrr.html">trainer</a>" is the little one in front. Stay tuned for the race report!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt4kFIjN01sBVkiB_AYvAN63Qs5i_mUPLtt19XVnVBxYuQUpfzB67myqQ1gtk2QmXhz0FdYVRzzvukMIWTzHNotgG_DuunModYmlc5zSVvvWvneKHhK_xQWUc6uimgsy0__RzLThRvgNy/s1600/IMG00213-20100502-1013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt4kFIjN01sBVkiB_AYvAN63Qs5i_mUPLtt19XVnVBxYuQUpfzB67myqQ1gtk2QmXhz0FdYVRzzvukMIWTzHNotgG_DuunModYmlc5zSVvvWvneKHhK_xQWUc6uimgsy0__RzLThRvgNy/s400/IMG00213-20100502-1013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466892792589444802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-29386256762531139822010-04-28T19:34:00.000-07:002010-04-29T22:13:28.811-07:00"I Don't Walk Wit a Limp"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVt0Q2EcbGEoA33QDa0lgCZu7_1tjfpymb4pFMmL3-Y12WPhWHkZGYZPkFCXEdragE203MHKPCRkBMEjsQ3hC5oh35tkpxFju8afJbvf3dPVFWTiDhD6pPBJKBRaVbHW-ybOANDnRrkPf/s1600/LIMP.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVt0Q2EcbGEoA33QDa0lgCZu7_1tjfpymb4pFMmL3-Y12WPhWHkZGYZPkFCXEdragE203MHKPCRkBMEjsQ3hC5oh35tkpxFju8afJbvf3dPVFWTiDhD6pPBJKBRaVbHW-ybOANDnRrkPf/s400/LIMP.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465703739185932674" border="0" /></a><br />Alright, so I haven’t posted on this blog in a week….and it’s not because I’ve been so busy running I haven’t had time. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wouldn’t that be great? </span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It’s because after the Monday that I ran 4 miles I was SORE. Not like the good sore that comes after a tough workout, more like “Whoa, I’m definitely not at the point where I can do this a few times a week.” <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bummer. And REALITY check.</span> The good thing is I love Reality TV, so it looks like I’ll have more free time to watch that the next couple months.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What happened was that after last Monday I realized I’m not going to be able to run a half in June. Attempting to train for that is too much, too soon. And my next long race is going to be in September.</span> I might as well rest up and take some time off because I’m sure that’s all I really need. In college my IT band gave me so much trouble I limped around campus for a couple weeks and was NOT running. Being dramatic I questioned if I’d ever run again… after taking some time off…I got back into running, and went on to train for 3 half marathons. Just to reiterate: <b style="">After sharp pain, I managed to train for 3 halves injury free.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What I’m dealing with now is not excruciating pain. Like 50, “<span style="font-weight: bold;">I don’t walk wit a limp</span>” but I’m running wit [a lil'] one. Which means I’m sticking to 2 mile runs until that goes away. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">(Side Note: Non-censored version of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">In Da Club</span></a> is one of my favorite songs to run to!) </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m jogging at a pace that is sub 10 min/mi. What I’ve been doing on the treadmill is a mile and a half in 14:something. A short walk break then half a mile in 4:something. Or 2 miles in under 20 minutes (no break). I'm not sprinting as fast as I can on the last lap or anything fun like that.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I’ve been following the 2 miles on the treadmill up with 6 miles on the bike. And doing lots of stretching/<a href="http://inspiredtorun13.blogspot.com/2010/04/roll-out.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">foam rolling</span></a> before and after the run. I’m stretching my IT band and hip flexor, because I’m starting to think my hip pain may be a result of a tight IT band which I have dealt with before.<br /><br /><object width="380" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RoHBDim_fzk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RoHBDim_fzk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br />And it can’t hurt to increase my IT band flexibility. After runs I’ll ice my right hip and knee (when I have time.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The amount of running I’m doing doesn’t seem to be making anything worse and is keeping the sport from becoming entirely foreign to my body.</span> I’m not too worried about losing endurance, because I’m not losing speed. I figure if I do the shorter runs at a pace faster than 10 min/mi, the endurance should come back pretty quickly. Mentally, I know what it takes to train for a half marathon. And when I slow down my pace a little I should be able to run at least four miles without stopping.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Four quickly turns into six or seven. And I'm back at the base I want to start increasing my weekly long runs by a mile per week. It's weird to me that this is all just an equation now. There's a lot less anxiety/anticipation/doubt in my mind about ability to complete long runs. Weird, I've now ran 9 miles more times than I can count.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I hope to do two halves in the fall. Until training for that starts I'm focused on full recovery and getting faster at shorter distances. <span style="font-size:100%;">I’m running a 3k this weekend. I'm not going to push myself beyond what's comfortable. But I better run faster than 10 min/mi pace. Sore hip or not. NO EXCUSES.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Also <a href="http://www.theboringrunner.com/2010/04/giveaway-50-road-runner-sports-gift.html">Adam</a> (who comments frequently on this blog) is giving away a $50 Gift Card to Road Runner Sports! If you haven't already checked out his blog, you should, it's hilarious. If you wait until after May 3rd, I'll have a better chance of winning ;) Just sayin'.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-21476976485813341562010-04-19T22:45:00.000-07:002010-04-19T23:48:18.647-07:00Fourrrrrrrrr!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Xqs8gvnIMI5IyBIAN5ykUNWFVqLPHVvP1WSVi3-hCD4w387RBI4j57EL_cncAR_-2Z10e5b4navkteYNVLcgpv-3v-WvAmKxjM7NXRvv4vUMr3LAzG0K1oCGNaAZ_QcU6IQFN6OhyLB1/s1600/houseguest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Xqs8gvnIMI5IyBIAN5ykUNWFVqLPHVvP1WSVi3-hCD4w387RBI4j57EL_cncAR_-2Z10e5b4navkteYNVLcgpv-3v-WvAmKxjM7NXRvv4vUMr3LAzG0K1oCGNaAZ_QcU6IQFN6OhyLB1/s400/houseguest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462107801626444066" border="0" /></a>I'm currently icing my hip as I write this....but I ran a total of four miles today! I felt fine; I think I'll continue with the icing post runs for a while though.<br /><br />I told my dad I couldn't wait to start training again. He took that to mean I wanted to go on a 10 mile run this week and freaked out. <span style="font-weight: bold;">YES, I'd love to go on a long run. NO, I'm not that stupid. </span><br /><br />I did not do all four of these miles together. Timing any of them was a lost cause. But to know I still had the endurance to run four miles in a day without being super exhausted at the end of it is really exciting.<br /><br />Today, I "ran" the first two miles with the eight year old I babysit. She was on a bike and I was running after her. Until we got to hills, then she would tell me to sprint up them, and wait for her at the top (She walks her bike up hills.) I'm pretty sure this is NOT what most people do when they are getting back into running. After we finished she told me she wants me to do this workout with her three days a week. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yes, you read that correctly, I now have an eight year old personal trainer and she's kicking my ass! (All from the seat of a pink Schwinn with streamers.)</span><br /><br />Honestly, hills are probably an element I should have added to my workouts but didn't in the winter because I was running inside. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hills suck.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">But</span>, they make flat runs seem that much easier. And it's only between two and three miles. I get to stop and wait for her a few times. And I'm pushing my pace just trying to keep up with her on the bike. <span style="font-weight: bold;">She's going to look back on her childhood and think how crazy her baby-sitter must have been, and I'm more than okay with that. </span><br /><br />So the above was <span style="font-weight: bold;">Unplanned Workout #1</span>. Workout #2 was also pretty random. I asked my friend Rebecca if she wanted to hangout tonight, and she asked me if I wanted to go on a run. I felt pretty good after the first run, and said yeah if it was 2 to 3 miles. And we could drink a beer after it [ha].<br /><br />Rebecca lives in Arlington (Where I used to live when I had a higher paying job.)<br /><object style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4T1RMuoQnKo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4T1RMuoQnKo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >"I go jogging at a reasonable pace, when I get to intersections, man I run in place</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span>"</span><br /><br />But we didn't do much jogging in the part of Arlington with all the intersections. We ran across Key Bridge, down to Georgetown (an area of DC with shops and restaurants near the university), and down by the Waterfront. We turned around at the Kennedy Center. Ran back through the park. Walked from Georgetown back to Key Bridge, ran across that bridge again, then walked to her apartment. <span style="font-weight: bold;">So we ran at least 2 miles.</span><br /><br />Here's a random video I found on YouTube that gives you an idea of how great this area of DC is for running!<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Xnuwr7f8fA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Xnuwr7f8fA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Where I used to live, this run would have required a metro ride to get to it, but I'm sort of embarrassed I had never done it before. Tons of people were out jogging, and IMO it really doesn't get any better than jogging by water. (Or over bridges). The streets/bridge/path were pretty flat and made me realize <span style="font-weight: bold;">JUST HOW HILLY</span> the neighborhood I've been running in is.<br /><br />I'm not sure what pace we were jogging at. Probably 10:something/mi. But, I made a point of finishing strong/picking up the pace on the last part of our run by the water. And our second run on the bridge. This felt good!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED having a running partner</span>. Not sure we'll do this a ton. But maybe, hopefully, again sometime. I think I'm definitely on a mission to get faster as a runner, but I also want to try new things. I don't want to limit myself to the treadmill any more now that it's nice outside.<br /><br />I still think a half in June may be too much, too soon, but I want to find some shorter races at the very least. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Today was the first good run I've had since the Shamrock Half! And that's something to smile about!</span>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-51412716186804091452010-04-19T19:54:00.000-07:002010-04-19T23:28:32.295-07:00IDKMyBFF.... Rose!It's funny, holidays seem to lead to very similar holiday themed posts in your Reader. In the world of Running Blogs, today brings post after post regarding the Boston Marathon.<br /><br />In order to show that I too am aware the Boston Marathon took place today, I'll say that:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I WANT TO ATTEND PATRIOTS' DAY </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEFORE I DIE!!!! </span>[Preferably, sooner rather than later.]<br /><br />I'm never going to qualify for the Boston Marathon. (I guess the senior citizen age groups are a possibility, but at this point running ONE marathon is still a lofty idea. Me doing two in a pair of Depends sounds pretty ridiculous.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I love spectating. And I loved Boston the one time I went. And I'm in awe of fast runners. So, this is something I'm very serious ab</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">out wanting to witness. It's likely my emotions will be moved to tears. But to laugh, think, and cry in a day is a full day. A heck of day. </span><br /><br />In other news, you know how I've referred to the great Hal Higdon as my BFF? Today I was reading his book <span style="font-style: italic;">Marathon</span> and he mentioned his wife, Rose. I'm over 200 pages into the book, so I doubt this is the first time he called her by name. Either way, today I realized that Hal actually has a wife he can say <span style="font-weight: bold;">"IDKMyBFF Rose"</span> to!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.halhigdon.com/biography/biorose.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat0Kkzn96VV6330nLISqklTwxbRLqFn1teoWCALjFa8Fb8mBOVgmRcbAVgJqYFo73DmVwJpHof7-x7KaptwOBNcCVs5WGcli7OB0PjqvaFwWpoTiuimSMm-fY6qyxXC-DPn1kLu5ypyiz/s400/idkmybffROSE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462100163251379586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">He just got that much cooler!</span><br /><br />And I have to say I think it's fate that I had this realization on the day of the 2010 Boston Marathon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SPECTATING--2011 OR BUST!</span><br />[Well, I hope!]inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028830625163000383.post-7750236133656555272010-04-18T11:27:00.000-07:002010-04-18T17:30:32.457-07:00Long Run Playlist #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KkzztjSxRXLb7l-tsUHUOxG-Ai4w6yVtXTTLuA00ycsJELdz6ti3FZ6uViQHFdiUAvJEeYp2J_VL5mri7gOZTTpjetzDZeWNZVinPFmT6ZZZDh9CwjHhvV5LM8-gQ_Qj3hMkIhOr3MQ0/s1600/longrun.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KkzztjSxRXLb7l-tsUHUOxG-Ai4w6yVtXTTLuA00ycsJELdz6ti3FZ6uViQHFdiUAvJEeYp2J_VL5mri7gOZTTpjetzDZeWNZVinPFmT6ZZZDh9CwjHhvV5LM8-gQ_Qj3hMkIhOr3MQ0/s320/longrun.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461575128363632802" border="0" /></a><br />Not sure if anyone noticed, but I added a link at the top of my blog that lists all of the music I've mentioned in posts. These are songs that I <span style="font-weight: bold;">personally</span> think are good for running to. It's always nice to browse the playlists of others, and I thought this was a lot easier than trying to find music posts in the archives. My taste is pretty random...so...maybe you'll see something that works for you :)<br /><br />Before my first half marathon I made a playlist that I listened to on every training long run. I knew how far I was into the run based on the song, and could tell you what song would follow the one currently playing. Occasionally I'll still use this playlist. But, a lot of new music has been released since then.<br /><br />What I tend to do is make playlists that have songs I like and play them on shuffle for any run 7 miles or less. I don't know what I'm going to get, but I like all of the songs that could end up playing and that's all that matters. When I start running more than 7 miles it's nice to have more predictability and I never put my iPod on shuffle. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I've decided that I like slower/more "chill" music at first and songs that pump me up at the end. It took me 3 half marathons to figure that out...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's the playlist I used for every long run while training for the 2010 Yuengling Shamrock Half.</span> (I didn't make a long run playlist for the OBX half...not sure why, I just didn't.) This takes you on a musical journey through Country Music, Rock, Running Songs, College Football Songs, and Pop Hits. This playlist was helpful to me because at the beginning of an 8-11 mile run, I just needed to take a deep breath and zone out; the songs at the beginning served as a constant reminder to pace myself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Thunder Road-- Bruce Springsteen</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Boss+Running=Amazing. I like how the excitement builds in this song which is pretty symbolic of what happens on a long run.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Still-- Tim McGraw</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Okay, I couldn't add this to my Playlist.com playlist, but it's definitely the second song on my iPod. This is a powerful song of Tim's. I especially like these lyrics:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"When the road gets crazy</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And tries to break me</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And I've had all I can stand</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> I can close my eyes no matter where I am</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And just be still"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. I Love Your Love the Most-- Eric Church</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I LOVE THIS SONG!!!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Verse 1: "I love sleeping in on Saturdays, and I love College Football Games, and I love not acting my age, and good barbecue." YES PLEASE to all of those things. He's coming to DC in June...unfortunately, a lot of people here don't like country and I'm not sure I'll find someone who wants to go. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Already Gone-- Sugarland</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I like this song because it's about growing up. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Fearless-- Taylor Swift</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm a girl, what else do I need to say about this? The feeling that she's singing about is awesome. And I like that this song is about not being afraid to follow your gut/heart.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Hwy 20 Ride-- Zac Brown Band</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A lot of people hadn't heard of Zac Brown Band before the Grammy's?! Not me. This is their current single and for me long car drives are very similar to long runs, so this is a perfect long run song.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Chicken Fried-- Zac Brown Band</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"You know I like my chicken fried, cold beer on a Friday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up."</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Well said ZBB.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Toes-- Zac Brown Band</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The radio edit of this song is: "Toes in the water, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">TOES</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> in the sand" and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">LAME.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> The correct lyrics are "Got my toes in the water, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">ASS</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> in the sand, not a worry in the world, cold beer in my hand. Life is good today."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(It's really a toss up for me about which song the radio killed more. This one or "Sexy Bitch."</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Today Was a Fairytale-- Taylor Swift</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I think she really just released this one to "hold her fans over" until her 3rd album comes out. I liked Valentine's Day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Snow ((Hey Oh))-- Red Hot Chili Peppers</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This song is so amazing. It also was fun to run to when DC kept getting pounded with snow over the winter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. Red Dirt Road-- Brooks and Dunn</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I know I've mentioned this before, but this is such a great song to run to!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. Over My Head (Cable Car)-- The Fray</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes I'd actually listen to this two or three times before going on to the next song. The weird thing is I actually don't like The Fray that much. I think all their songs sound alike. BUT, I like this one. Probably because the girl is on the guy's mind in overtime. And I've ridden on a cable car in SF. Or maybe because this is the first song I ever heard by The Fray...so everything else sounds like this one to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">13. Breakeven-- The Script</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another really good song. I was usually kind of in pain when this one came up, so it helped to know I at least didn't feel as shitty as the singer of this song ;)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. Don't Stop Believing-- gLee</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I also would usually repeat this one. I love the Journey version of Don't Stop Believing, but I have to say the gLee version is even better. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">If this isn't on your running playlist, it should be!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. I Run to You-- Lady Antebellum</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wooo. Running Song. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">16. Need You Now-- Lady Antebellum</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This song is the reason I love Lady Antebellum. It's now crossing over into pop... Who can't identify with this song? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">17. 5k-- Matt and Kim</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is where things start to get more upbeat for me in terms of music. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">18. Ready to Run-- Dixie Chicks</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I put this song here because I'm getting to the point in the run where I'm ready to "do this."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">19. Seven Nation Army-- The White Stripes</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If this isn't a pump up song I don't know what is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">20. Hang on Sloopy-- The McCoys</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up, Seven Nation Army wasn't in <span style="font-weight: bold;">ANY WAY</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> a shout out for PSU.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">21. This is Our Moment-- Kenny Chesney</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He finally released this as a single! I really liked this intro to College Gameday and now I can listen to the whole song whenever I want. I think it would be pretty hard to stop and walk while listening to thi</span>s.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">22. Bad Romance-- Lady Gaga</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Until Bad Romance, BoysBoysBoys was my favorite Gaga song of all time. This one surpassed it, and will always be a workout song in my mind.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">23. Tik Tok-- Ke$ha</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One of my good friends is obsessed with this song. She's running a marathon in October; I decided she was onto something with her musical preferences!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">24. Blah Blah Blah-- Ke$ha</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Nowhere near as good as Tik Tok, but the other single of Ke$ha's that was out at the time. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">25. If You're Going Through Hell-- Rodney Atkins</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One of my top running songs. But you probably knew that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">26. Baby-- Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another song I'm obviously obsessed with.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">27. Break Your Heart-- Taio Cruz</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Everything Luda touches is golden.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">28. You Belong with Me-- Taylor Swift</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The frustration in this song pushes me to run harder.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">29. Stronger-- Kanye</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I pretty much always listen to Kanye and Taylor in a row. This is my favorite song of his. Even if he says dumb things in real life, my workouts would not be the same without him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">30. Party in the USA-- Miley Cyrus</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I really don't think I ever made it much past this song. I think a lot of times my run stopped around Bad Romance. If you've been following my blog...duh. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">31. I Don't Want to Lose Your Love Tonight-- The Outfield</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Besides a song that people get really excited about in bars, it's also great for running. Or maybe memories are what makes this song exciting to run to?</span><br /><br /><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzE2MjE1NzgyMTMmcHQ9MTI3MTYyMTU4Njc1NSZwPTY5NDMwMSZkPSZnPTEmbz1kOWI5Yjg2MTc4M2U*YmQxOWFm/NDU4Y2I*YmFmODAyNiZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" height="0" /><div style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; visibility: visible; margin-right: auto; width: 450px;"> <object width="435" height="270"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/mp3player_new.swf"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_blue_noautostart.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musicplaylist.us%2Fpl.php%3Fplaylist%3D76948731%26t%3D1271621577&wid=os"> <embed style="width: 435px; visibility: visible; height: 270px;" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/mp3player_new.swf" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_blue_noautostart.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musicplaylist.us%2Fpl.php%3Fplaylist%3D76948731%26t%3D1271621577&wid=os" name="mp3player" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="435" border="0" height="270"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.musicplaylist.us/"><br /></a> </div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway, I'll soon be posting more upbeat songs I like for shorter runs!<br /><br />Oh--and yesterday I ran 2 miles on the treadmill in 19:38! </span><span>My stomach felt pretty bad again, but hopefully it was because I had greasy food on Friday night and not a new theme of my runs longer than a mile. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>inspiREDtorun13http://www.blogger.com/profile/06142467653782014657noreply@blogger.com3