July 16th we ran 12 miles
August 16th (or the week of) we will run 17 miles
September 16th it will be a *short* 12 miler
And October 16th the mack daddy: 26.2 miles.
Gulp.
And ya'll...3 months goes by pretty darn fast. But ironically it is not the 26.2 miles I fear doing at the moment. Nope. It is the 20 mile training run that we are slated to do week 15 of our training. Everything I have read says if you can do the 20 miles, you can do the 26.2. They say the last 10K is a mental game. But what they DON'T examine is what happens if you can't do the 20 miles? What then? It's not like you can turn around at week 15 and say, "Oh well. Couldn't do the 20 miler. I guess I am not doing the marathon". So you sort of have to push through it, I suppose. Jeez. A lot of pressure lies in that training run on September 24th.
At this point in my training, I am putting my faith in Hal Higdon, my Saucany's, and my Divas.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Hooked on a feeling
I suppose it's the feeling the gambler gets when she walks into the casino and hears the clink of the slots and sees the dealers at the blackjack table. It's probably the feeling the car enthusiast gets when he hits a classic car show and smells the exhaust of a 1957 Camaro or spots the shiny red paint job of a souped up Mustang.
That's how I felt walking through the doors at Playmakers Thursday morning, coffee in hand, ready to face the madness of the semi-annual sidewalk sale. I got that jolt of excitement (coupled by caffeine), butterflies in my stomach and a skip in my step like I couldn't get in there fast enough. Once I walked through the doors, got a whiff of that "Playmakers smell" (akin to a "new shoe" smell) and grabbed a big red shopping bag to stash my treasures in, I was in my glory.
Background: I love to shop. I love to run. When I can bring both worlds together, it is like mixing chocolate ice cream with Reese's peanut butter cups in a DQ Blizzard: Heaven. Playmakers caters to the running population here in the greater Lansing area and sells everything from sneakers (yes, SNEAKERS. not TENNIS SHOES), Uggs, running clothes, yoga attire, kids stuff, and any kind of accessory to running you could think of, down to GU and 26.2 stickers.
Every January and July they hold a "sidewalk" sale where they close the store down on a Wednesday, mark down prices, and open their doors Thursday morning at 6 am so crazy individuals like myself can storm in looking to stock up on gear for the season. The place is madness. Think day after Thanksgiving sales...but worse because you have lots of type A runners (like myself) looking for specific things in a very calculated manner.
My first rule for the sale: Get there the first day. Earlier the better.
Second rule: Bring NO kids.
Third rule: Hit the clothing items first, hit the shoes second. If there is time, shop for hubby and kids.
Fourth rule: Try not to calculate the cost of the collective items in the gigantic red shopping bag.
Fifth rule: Try to get only what you need.
I guess this July I "needed" lots of things: 2 pair of sneakers (the tried and true Saucanys plus a Brooks trail runner), 2 pair of shorts, 3 tank tops, 1 visor, 1 cute t-shirt (everyone needs a cute t-shirt), pair of unders and bra (can't neglect the nether regions), sports bra (impulse purchase that may be returned) and 6 GUs. Oh, and 2 sleeveless shirts for the hubby (don't worry, he went Friday and purchased his own bounty).
The piece de resistance? When you leave the store, they hand out chocolate covered Dove bars. Hey, it ain't no Reese's flurry, but I'll take it.
Last rule: Once home, lay out ALL of your goods and justify OVER and OVER the uses you will have for each said item. Try everything on again because you know your mirror at home is much more truthful than the distorted ones in the store. If satisfied, ceremoniously rip the tags off of each purchase, declaring the items officially YOURS.
Now all that's left to do is take your new goodies out for a test run :o)
That's how I felt walking through the doors at Playmakers Thursday morning, coffee in hand, ready to face the madness of the semi-annual sidewalk sale. I got that jolt of excitement (coupled by caffeine), butterflies in my stomach and a skip in my step like I couldn't get in there fast enough. Once I walked through the doors, got a whiff of that "Playmakers smell" (akin to a "new shoe" smell) and grabbed a big red shopping bag to stash my treasures in, I was in my glory.
front of store (picture from Playmakers website)
Every January and July they hold a "sidewalk" sale where they close the store down on a Wednesday, mark down prices, and open their doors Thursday morning at 6 am so crazy individuals like myself can storm in looking to stock up on gear for the season. The place is madness. Think day after Thanksgiving sales...but worse because you have lots of type A runners (like myself) looking for specific things in a very calculated manner.
picture of the sidewalk sale from Playmakers website
Second rule: Bring NO kids.
Third rule: Hit the clothing items first, hit the shoes second. If there is time, shop for hubby and kids.
Fourth rule: Try not to calculate the cost of the collective items in the gigantic red shopping bag.
Fifth rule: Try to get only what you need.
I guess this July I "needed" lots of things: 2 pair of sneakers (the tried and true Saucanys plus a Brooks trail runner), 2 pair of shorts, 3 tank tops, 1 visor, 1 cute t-shirt (everyone needs a cute t-shirt), pair of unders and bra (can't neglect the nether regions), sports bra (impulse purchase that may be returned) and 6 GUs. Oh, and 2 sleeveless shirts for the hubby (don't worry, he went Friday and purchased his own bounty).
The piece de resistance? When you leave the store, they hand out chocolate covered Dove bars. Hey, it ain't no Reese's flurry, but I'll take it.
Last rule: Once home, lay out ALL of your goods and justify OVER and OVER the uses you will have for each said item. Try everything on again because you know your mirror at home is much more truthful than the distorted ones in the store. If satisfied, ceremoniously rip the tags off of each purchase, declaring the items officially YOURS.
Now all that's left to do is take your new goodies out for a test run :o)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
For the love of Avocados...
I'm really into Avocados right now. That's right...with a capital A. Between breakfast, lunch and dinner (and snacks) I swear I could eat at least 2 per day. It's all healthy fat, right? This week I've concocted some pretty yummy things with this Mexican (or Californian) gem and thought I'd share with you. If you have a favorite avocado recipe, please feel free to comment...the more ways I can 'em, the better ;o)
Think I could throw them in my green smoothies????
Kim's Guacamole
2-3 medium avocados
2 limes
big handful of cilantro
1 garlic clove
1-2 jalepeno peppers
red onion
1-2 plum or vine ripened tomatoes
plenty of sea or kosher salt
mash avocodos and squeeze juice of both limes. give a generous sprinkle of salt. chop cilantro, garlic clove jalepenos and red onion with a mini chopper and add to mashed avocados. coarsely chop tomatoes and mix in. salt more to taste.
BBQ chicken wrap with...avocado
chicken tenderloins (i used a whole package so i'd have leftovers)
bbq sauce with a sprinkle cumin mixed in
1/2 avocado
sea salt
1/2 tomato
cilantro
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
whole wheat tortillas (burrito size) or wraps
Salt and pepper chicken and grill, brushing with BBQ sauce. OR pour BBQ sauce on top of chicken and bake in 350 oven for 20 minutes or until done. Let cool.
Lay out tortillas (2). Slice chicken and put into wrap. Top with sliced avocado sprinkled with a little sea salt, sliced tomato, a little cilantro and some shredded cheese. Roll up and slice in half! Makes 2 wraps. I kept leftovers of all ingredients on hand and ate one of these almost every day this week for lunch!
Simply Laughing Cow and Avocado wrap (thanks to Sara)
Take one wedge of laughing cow cheese and spread on a tortilla. Mash 1/4 to 1/2 avocado with a little lime juice and sea salt and spread on top of cheese. Roll up and enjoy!
Kitchen Sink Spinach Salad with...you guessed it...Avocado
Baby Spinach
1/2 cucumber-chopped
2 tomatoes-chopped
1/4 cup red onion-chopped
2 grilled chicken breasts (i marinated mine in italian dressing overnight)-chopped
2 hard boiled eggs-chopped
chopped bacon (a few slices...or more)
1 avocado chopped
Layer the ingredients in the order above (or however the heck you want to). Serve with your fav. dressing. Mine would be ranch :o)
Think I could throw them in my green smoothies????
Kim's Guacamole
2-3 medium avocados
2 limes
big handful of cilantro
1 garlic clove
1-2 jalepeno peppers
red onion
1-2 plum or vine ripened tomatoes
plenty of sea or kosher salt
mash avocodos and squeeze juice of both limes. give a generous sprinkle of salt. chop cilantro, garlic clove jalepenos and red onion with a mini chopper and add to mashed avocados. coarsely chop tomatoes and mix in. salt more to taste.
BBQ chicken wrap with...avocado
chicken tenderloins (i used a whole package so i'd have leftovers)
bbq sauce with a sprinkle cumin mixed in
1/2 avocado
sea salt
1/2 tomato
cilantro
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
whole wheat tortillas (burrito size) or wraps
Salt and pepper chicken and grill, brushing with BBQ sauce. OR pour BBQ sauce on top of chicken and bake in 350 oven for 20 minutes or until done. Let cool.
Lay out tortillas (2). Slice chicken and put into wrap. Top with sliced avocado sprinkled with a little sea salt, sliced tomato, a little cilantro and some shredded cheese. Roll up and slice in half! Makes 2 wraps. I kept leftovers of all ingredients on hand and ate one of these almost every day this week for lunch!
Simply Laughing Cow and Avocado wrap (thanks to Sara)
Take one wedge of laughing cow cheese and spread on a tortilla. Mash 1/4 to 1/2 avocado with a little lime juice and sea salt and spread on top of cheese. Roll up and enjoy!
Kitchen Sink Spinach Salad with...you guessed it...Avocado
Baby Spinach
1/2 cucumber-chopped
2 tomatoes-chopped
1/4 cup red onion-chopped
2 grilled chicken breasts (i marinated mine in italian dressing overnight)-chopped
2 hard boiled eggs-chopped
chopped bacon (a few slices...or more)
1 avocado chopped
Layer the ingredients in the order above (or however the heck you want to). Serve with your fav. dressing. Mine would be ranch :o)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Take me home...country road...
I have to say, there is a marked difference between running in the country rather than the 'burbs. I can't say I prefer one over the other as they both have their strengths and weaknesses. And here in Dewitt, we get to do a little of both. Take it to the South around here and you are running in the 'burbs. Running on the pavement, dodging kids riding bicycles and curious dogs, smelling summer bbqs and freshly mowed grass, hearing the occasional hoot/holler from a car-load of teen aged boys (we are a good looking group of runner girls after all).
Take it to the North though, and you are in a different world. Pavement turns to gravel and dirt, a delight to the knees for sure. The cookie cutter houses of suburbia give way to scattered farm houses and rows and rows (and rows and rows) of corn. The smells out here...not so pretty...a mix of cow manure (sometimes so unbearable you have to breathe through your mouth) and stinky farm animals. And speaking of animals...you get so many spectators along the way. From the random farm dogs that greet you on the road, to the cows and horses that stand quietly by the fences and look at you as if to say "what in the HECK is that THING doing?". Country runs are so peaceful and quiet....just listening to the crunch of your feet on the dirt road.
And the occasional SCREAM of the divas. Which is what happened at the end of our 11 mile run Thursday evening. After winding through the country roads of Dewitt we paired off the at last few miles of our sweaty journey. About 1/2 mile away from my house and sweat soaked, Staci and I are happily chatting about something food related I am sure when out of nowhere we hear a strange guttural noise and a loud hissing from the side of the road. Staci (closer to the source) screams and lunges toward me. I scream because she is screaming. All the while...we are still running and screaming! I turn to look to see what is causing this reaction from an otherwise quiet gal. Crouched on the side of the road is a crazy looking raccoon...NOT your Disney movie variety for sure. This guy had WILD looking eyes, crazy fur that was half missing on his body, and he just kept hissing at us with teeth glaring! Our hearts skipping like 10 beats, we pressed on home, figuring the crazy looking 'coon had scampered away. Don't they say animals are more afraid of us than we are of them? Not the case with Ricky the Raccoon here. He paid a little visit to Sara and Danielle who were a minute or so behind us, equally scary the bejesus out of them!
Take it to the North though, and you are in a different world. Pavement turns to gravel and dirt, a delight to the knees for sure. The cookie cutter houses of suburbia give way to scattered farm houses and rows and rows (and rows and rows) of corn. The smells out here...not so pretty...a mix of cow manure (sometimes so unbearable you have to breathe through your mouth) and stinky farm animals. And speaking of animals...you get so many spectators along the way. From the random farm dogs that greet you on the road, to the cows and horses that stand quietly by the fences and look at you as if to say "what in the HECK is that THING doing?". Country runs are so peaceful and quiet....just listening to the crunch of your feet on the dirt road.
And the occasional SCREAM of the divas. Which is what happened at the end of our 11 mile run Thursday evening. After winding through the country roads of Dewitt we paired off the at last few miles of our sweaty journey. About 1/2 mile away from my house and sweat soaked, Staci and I are happily chatting about something food related I am sure when out of nowhere we hear a strange guttural noise and a loud hissing from the side of the road. Staci (closer to the source) screams and lunges toward me. I scream because she is screaming. All the while...we are still running and screaming! I turn to look to see what is causing this reaction from an otherwise quiet gal. Crouched on the side of the road is a crazy looking raccoon...NOT your Disney movie variety for sure. This guy had WILD looking eyes, crazy fur that was half missing on his body, and he just kept hissing at us with teeth glaring! Our hearts skipping like 10 beats, we pressed on home, figuring the crazy looking 'coon had scampered away. Don't they say animals are more afraid of us than we are of them? Not the case with Ricky the Raccoon here. He paid a little visit to Sara and Danielle who were a minute or so behind us, equally scary the bejesus out of them!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
I'm meltingggggggggggggggggggggggg...
So you know those really HOT days of summer? I mean those REALLY hot days where you walk outside and you *try* to take a breath in but you feel as if you are swallowing water instead? Those sweltering days where you go outside to grab your mail and you have sweat trickling in between your boobs? (sorry, men out there...in between your back...) You look on your street and there is NO ONE, not even a dog, outside playing. Then, in the distance, you see some crazy ass fool be-bopping down the street. Is she...? Nah. She couldn't be. But as she gets closer you realize, yep, that insane person is actually RUNNING in this scorcher. IS SHE NUTS??!?!
That would be me.
I would have gone on the treadmill. Really, I would have. But, I promised my running class I'd do a group run with them. Besides, my car thermometer is *only* reading 81 degrees (ps. it's 10 am). Compared to the 90 degrees I ran in yesterday, this is some cool weather. I might grab my running tights. Brrrr...
Anyway. I meet up at the Y with 2 other hardcore fools and we start off on our 6 mile run. 2.3 miles into it, one of the gals veers off, taking the shorter route back to the Y. Smart, smart girl. Staci and I press on. My tank top comes off mile 2.5. Let me digress here about running in just a sports bra. I have NO shame. If it is hot, and you are running with me, you might see a little bare stomach. Hell, today I would have run naked if it weren't against the law (Is it?). So, I say whether you have a flat iron tummy or a little love handle action on the side (like I do), let her all hang out. Maybe just try to tan the belly a little bit beforehand so it isn't so blaring white, OK?
Anyway, here we are, be-bopping down the street. Me in all my sports-bra-clad wonder, sweating and panting like my dog when she doesn't know better to come inside on a day like today. 1 mile feels like 10. I make Staci stop with me at the park for a small shower in the water fountain. I make Staci stop so I can pick up my discarded tank top from earlier (good excuse, huh?). I make Staci stop and walk with me because I am hallucinating. Staci, by the way, is trying to chat with me in an effort to keep both of our minds off the heat. It would have probably worked better if I wasn't moaning every 2 minutes "OH MY GOD. IT IS SO HOT. ISN'T THIS AWFUL? OH MY GOD. IT IS HORRIBLE OUT HERE". So much for a positive attitude, Coach Kim.
Finally we are on the home stretch. We may be picking up our pace a little as we know the end is in sight. I even start contributing to the conversation instead of grunting and groaning. I glance up at sign in front of the high school that reads the date, time and current temperature. 92 degrees. Are you freakin' kidding me? No wonder there was NO ONE out on the roads with us. We passed not a single biker, runner or even dog walker. Not a one.
Crazy ass-fools, indeed! But oddly enough, afterward when we were walking back to the gym and discussing cold Oberon beers and 5K races, it didn't seem all that bad. :o)
That would be me.
I would have gone on the treadmill. Really, I would have. But, I promised my running class I'd do a group run with them. Besides, my car thermometer is *only* reading 81 degrees (ps. it's 10 am). Compared to the 90 degrees I ran in yesterday, this is some cool weather. I might grab my running tights. Brrrr...
Anyway. I meet up at the Y with 2 other hardcore fools and we start off on our 6 mile run. 2.3 miles into it, one of the gals veers off, taking the shorter route back to the Y. Smart, smart girl. Staci and I press on. My tank top comes off mile 2.5. Let me digress here about running in just a sports bra. I have NO shame. If it is hot, and you are running with me, you might see a little bare stomach. Hell, today I would have run naked if it weren't against the law (Is it?). So, I say whether you have a flat iron tummy or a little love handle action on the side (like I do), let her all hang out. Maybe just try to tan the belly a little bit beforehand so it isn't so blaring white, OK?
Anyway, here we are, be-bopping down the street. Me in all my sports-bra-clad wonder, sweating and panting like my dog when she doesn't know better to come inside on a day like today. 1 mile feels like 10. I make Staci stop with me at the park for a small shower in the water fountain. I make Staci stop so I can pick up my discarded tank top from earlier (good excuse, huh?). I make Staci stop and walk with me because I am hallucinating. Staci, by the way, is trying to chat with me in an effort to keep both of our minds off the heat. It would have probably worked better if I wasn't moaning every 2 minutes "OH MY GOD. IT IS SO HOT. ISN'T THIS AWFUL? OH MY GOD. IT IS HORRIBLE OUT HERE". So much for a positive attitude, Coach Kim.
Finally we are on the home stretch. We may be picking up our pace a little as we know the end is in sight. I even start contributing to the conversation instead of grunting and groaning. I glance up at sign in front of the high school that reads the date, time and current temperature. 92 degrees. Are you freakin' kidding me? No wonder there was NO ONE out on the roads with us. We passed not a single biker, runner or even dog walker. Not a one.
Crazy ass-fools, indeed! But oddly enough, afterward when we were walking back to the gym and discussing cold Oberon beers and 5K races, it didn't seem all that bad. :o)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Not sure what hurts more...
Not sure what hurts more...my head or my hamstrings.
Just because I run, doesn't mean I am in shape. I have learned that the hard way after a torturous Bootcamp class at the Y. What kind of instructor would inflict that kind of pain on her students? Um...that would be me.
Michelle asked me to sub for her bootcamp class a while ago and I (too) eagerly agreed. I mean, what could be so hard about that? I run. I'm fit. No big deal.
I sensed I would be in a little bit of trouble when she gave me her list of exercises to do in class. Then, I decided to swap out some of the lunges (she had lots of lunges going on) with some "fun" speed type drills. I think I got a little overzealous with the old school PE drills...was I thinking I'd be sporting the track suit and whistle while my students ran cone to cone?
What I forgot is when you teach a class you also have to do the moves yourself. And everyone is watching you so you have to do them 1. correctly 2. at maximum intensity 3. for ALL the repetitions. Yeah. Wasn't really thinking about that when I added those suicide-type drills to the workout.
I knew I was in trouble when I felt the stiffness in my hamstrings and butt about 1 hour after class ended. By the end of the day, the only thing that was easing my soreness was the frozen vodka lemonades I was sucking down like slurpees. (Recipe for this lovely concoction to follow on "Downright Sinful" section of blog)
This morning, I hobbled down the stairs with the grace of an 80 year old (no offense to any 80 year olds out there reading this blog). My ever so observant 5 year old pointed out, "Mom, you can't walk right?". I am hoping the 3 Motrin I popped serves dual purpose: to stop the pounding drums residing in my head from excessive vodka lemonade consumption AND to make sitting down to go pee not such a challenge. We'll see...
Just because I run, doesn't mean I am in shape. I have learned that the hard way after a torturous Bootcamp class at the Y. What kind of instructor would inflict that kind of pain on her students? Um...that would be me.
Michelle asked me to sub for her bootcamp class a while ago and I (too) eagerly agreed. I mean, what could be so hard about that? I run. I'm fit. No big deal.
I sensed I would be in a little bit of trouble when she gave me her list of exercises to do in class. Then, I decided to swap out some of the lunges (she had lots of lunges going on) with some "fun" speed type drills. I think I got a little overzealous with the old school PE drills...was I thinking I'd be sporting the track suit and whistle while my students ran cone to cone?
What I forgot is when you teach a class you also have to do the moves yourself. And everyone is watching you so you have to do them 1. correctly 2. at maximum intensity 3. for ALL the repetitions. Yeah. Wasn't really thinking about that when I added those suicide-type drills to the workout.
I knew I was in trouble when I felt the stiffness in my hamstrings and butt about 1 hour after class ended. By the end of the day, the only thing that was easing my soreness was the frozen vodka lemonades I was sucking down like slurpees. (Recipe for this lovely concoction to follow on "Downright Sinful" section of blog)
This morning, I hobbled down the stairs with the grace of an 80 year old (no offense to any 80 year olds out there reading this blog). My ever so observant 5 year old pointed out, "Mom, you can't walk right?". I am hoping the 3 Motrin I popped serves dual purpose: to stop the pounding drums residing in my head from excessive vodka lemonade consumption AND to make sitting down to go pee not such a challenge. We'll see...
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Excuses, excuses...
I find it interesting that when I have a particularly crappy run, like my 10 miler this morning, I have tons of excuses swirling around my head for the entire 90 minutes or so as to why the run sucks. But, I find it even MORE interesting that most of those excuses for why the run was crappy, well, they also have been reasons why I have had a stellar run in the past. Let me show you what I mean...
Here is the collection of the excuses I was saying in my head during my junky 10 mile run today:
1. I am running too late in the morning and feel sluggish after breakfast
2. I hate these sunglasses. They are slipping all over and distracting me.
3. It is too sunny outside and too freakin hot
4. These dirt roads are uneven and annoying and I feel like I am running on the beach (yes, an exaggeration)
5. I hate running by myself. (well, except for the annoying fly buzzing around me for 2 miles because I smell like a garbage heap)
6. My playlist is horrible on my iPod and it's making me run too slow. I should have left my iPod at home.
7. I didn't eat the right thing for breakfast. I forgot to eat a banana. I NEED to eat a banana before I run. What was I thinking???
8. I didn't drink enough water before I left and I am dehydrated (which I was because I was getting the chills)
9. I planned my water/gel stop to late in my run (mile 6.5). The last 3 miles now feel like I am running through sludge.
10. I think my shoes are tied too tight
11. This black tank top attracts the sun and makes me too hot.
12. I haven't ran this distance in a few weeks so my legs are not built up for it yet.
13. The horses on the farm are staring at me funny (OK. That wasn't really an excuse but I did lose my footing a couple of times because I was watching them)
14. I forgot to shave my legs. That must be causing some sort of wind resistance slowing me down...don't swimmers need to shave their legs so they can swim quicker...?
as I got more tired...the excuses obviously got more ridiculous...
OK. About a month ago I ran almost the SAME route in about the same conditions as I did today. I had the best 10 mile time I have ever run in a long time. Here's my spin on the above excuses for that day:
1. I love running later in the morning. It gives me a chance to digest my breakfast and ease into my run.
2. Wow! I am glad I wore sunglasses. If I had the sun in my eyes it would be a total distraction.
3. What a beautiful sunny day for a run!
4. These dirt roads are so easy on the knees...ahhhh....
5. Sometimes I love running alone...just me and my thoughts
6. This music is motivating me to push it faster!
7. Thank God I didn't eat a banana this morning because all I would be doing is burping that sucker up.
8. I am glad I didn't drink too much water or else it would be sloshing around my stomach
9. Having my water/gel later in the run is helping me to hammer out the last few miles.
10. I hate my shoes too loose...I am glad I tied them tighter today.
11. I think this is my favorite black tank top to run in
12. My legs really needed a break from the long mileage so I am glad I took a break.
13. The horses on the farm are staring at me funny. No matter the run...they always stare at me funny. They are probably thinking "What in the heck is that thing doing running around?"
14. I can't remember if I shaved or not that last run so I got nothing on that excuse
Oh well. I think some days you got it and some days you don't. Perhaps next run I'll try to do it early in the morning, with my running divas, leave my iPod at home (along with my sunglasses), eat a banana and drink plenty of water, run on pavement most of the way (avoiding those pesky horses) and be sure to shave my legs.
Here is the collection of the excuses I was saying in my head during my junky 10 mile run today:
1. I am running too late in the morning and feel sluggish after breakfast
2. I hate these sunglasses. They are slipping all over and distracting me.
3. It is too sunny outside and too freakin hot
4. These dirt roads are uneven and annoying and I feel like I am running on the beach (yes, an exaggeration)
5. I hate running by myself. (well, except for the annoying fly buzzing around me for 2 miles because I smell like a garbage heap)
6. My playlist is horrible on my iPod and it's making me run too slow. I should have left my iPod at home.
7. I didn't eat the right thing for breakfast. I forgot to eat a banana. I NEED to eat a banana before I run. What was I thinking???
8. I didn't drink enough water before I left and I am dehydrated (which I was because I was getting the chills)
9. I planned my water/gel stop to late in my run (mile 6.5). The last 3 miles now feel like I am running through sludge.
10. I think my shoes are tied too tight
11. This black tank top attracts the sun and makes me too hot.
12. I haven't ran this distance in a few weeks so my legs are not built up for it yet.
13. The horses on the farm are staring at me funny (OK. That wasn't really an excuse but I did lose my footing a couple of times because I was watching them)
14. I forgot to shave my legs. That must be causing some sort of wind resistance slowing me down...don't swimmers need to shave their legs so they can swim quicker...?
as I got more tired...the excuses obviously got more ridiculous...
OK. About a month ago I ran almost the SAME route in about the same conditions as I did today. I had the best 10 mile time I have ever run in a long time. Here's my spin on the above excuses for that day:
1. I love running later in the morning. It gives me a chance to digest my breakfast and ease into my run.
2. Wow! I am glad I wore sunglasses. If I had the sun in my eyes it would be a total distraction.
3. What a beautiful sunny day for a run!
4. These dirt roads are so easy on the knees...ahhhh....
5. Sometimes I love running alone...just me and my thoughts
6. This music is motivating me to push it faster!
7. Thank God I didn't eat a banana this morning because all I would be doing is burping that sucker up.
8. I am glad I didn't drink too much water or else it would be sloshing around my stomach
9. Having my water/gel later in the run is helping me to hammer out the last few miles.
10. I hate my shoes too loose...I am glad I tied them tighter today.
11. I think this is my favorite black tank top to run in
12. My legs really needed a break from the long mileage so I am glad I took a break.
13. The horses on the farm are staring at me funny. No matter the run...they always stare at me funny. They are probably thinking "What in the heck is that thing doing running around?"
14. I can't remember if I shaved or not that last run so I got nothing on that excuse
Oh well. I think some days you got it and some days you don't. Perhaps next run I'll try to do it early in the morning, with my running divas, leave my iPod at home (along with my sunglasses), eat a banana and drink plenty of water, run on pavement most of the way (avoiding those pesky horses) and be sure to shave my legs.
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