TM run.. will it ever end?????????

So I got in 5 miles on the TM today. It felt like 25. Whoa. Is that thing boring!! However, I have to get used to it for the next few weeks to get through this crazy windy/cold/rainy weather. We keep getting random nice weather days (when it gets to the 50s/60s). Fortunately they are happening on the weekends mainly so I can take advantage!

Getting back to HM shape after a month off is not so much fun. My lungs still burn a little from the run today. I think I will be able to do it, but it is really challenging my determination/motivation right now! Amazing how quickly daily habits can be forgotten..... I've officially registered for the Birmingham HM so that is extra motivation at this point!!!

Oh well. I'm already looking forward to the ING GA HM on Mar 30th and the Madison, WI HM on May 25th. After that, it will be some shorter races (5/10ks) over in Europe during the month of June and then the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th one day after I return home from Europe! I'm hoping the décalage horaire will work in my favor since technically it will feel like noon when the race starts!! Notice the Madison HM map I've embedded to the right of this post underneath my running schedule! :) COol, huh??

Early morning

Plan is to get up super early and get in 5-6 on the TM at the gym. I wish I'd have time to get a weight workout in, too. I miss weight training! I can't wait till winter is over and I am not so freaking exhausted after work. By the time I may wake up from a quick nap, it's already dark. Plus, something is causing me not to sleep well. I woke up at least 4 times last night. Looking forward to a great run on the TM tomorrow! (If I say it to myself enough, I'll believe it, right???????????)

I did it!

I finished 8 miles today. It wasn't pretty. Well, I planned to run a mile, walk a minute, run a mile, walk, etc... There were times I considered cutting it short at 6 or 7 miles (before the turn around) but I'm glad I continued. I think mentally it was important for me to do 8 today. I'm pleased with my effort considering I've hardly run 3 miles in the past 6 weeks! This will likely be my strategy in Birmingham.

I went on the Greenway and the weather was about 50 degrees and sunny. Very beautiful day for a run. I am considering doing the missed 5 miles there tomorrow. We'll see how I feel after work and if I'm sore from today.....

Getting in gear

So, I did not do my 5 miles these past couple of days. *Sigh* I hate missing runs, but this is the way life has been ! I'm so out of the habit, too, that rearranging my schedule again to fit runs in is difficult. I am now waiting out the cold morning on my couch with a cup of coffee. It is going to be in the 50s this afternoon, so my LR will be outside (WOOHOO! Down with the TM!) Hard to believe that 2 weeks from today, I will be in AL and DONE with the HM! Wow.

My challenge this week will be to get up early and hit the TM for the runs. Afternoons just aren't working with my after school obligations/tutoring. The other half of that is getting in bed by 9 or 9:30 so I'm not exhausted all day or even too tired to just get out of bed. I enjoy running in the morning, but the key is to get out of bed to do it!

1 down, 12 to go...

Well, I made it out of bed yesterday morning and to the gym. It was blazing hot in there and I'd overdressed in my capri tights and long sleeve tech shirt. Even with the sleeves rolled up, I felt like it was a steam room! Ended up with about 3.6 on the TM with a stop at 1.8 for water. I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt pretty good physically, but the TM is so boring it was all I could do not to let out a huge scream of frustration! I kept trying to concentrate on my music and the TV captioning in front of me, but it didn't work. I wanted to do 4 miles, but had to call it early out of boredom.

I didn't make it up this morning for the gym, but checked the weather and it's supposed to be sunny and upper 40s this afternoon. I think I will easily be able to do my planned 4.5 outside. I'd rather be a little chilly than over hot.

When does Spring start again?????!!!

Yoiks!

Planning on getting up at 5am tomorrow and get serious on my plan for Mercedes (Feb 10th). Got some catching up to do, but I think I can get to a decent place before then! Just pray I can actually get my booty outta bed!

A Snowy day in Georgia

Saturday, January 19, 2008

I woke up Saturday morning to a full-blown blizzard outside my window! Okay, well maybe not a true blizzard, but it's Georgia! We haven't seen snow like this around here in several years. I was excited and got out of bed immediately!

I continued to watch the snow accumulate and my anxiousness grew at the thought of finally getting out for a run in snow for the first time ever. My main concern was traction in the snow or slush and avoiding ice patches. I did NOT want to end up with another new scar on my knees. This was going to be my first legitimate run since November 24, 2007. It's been the longest funk I can remember while running seriously. I was finally ready. The snow was my moment to get back out there!

Got ready (which is a whole process I had nearly forgotten) and made my way out the door. Walking to the road was a great feeling. The music in my ipod slowly prepping me for the run! I love the familiar sounds of my favorite running music!! I did a few test steps before running, just to make sure the slush wasn't going to be dangerous. Everything looked good to go!

I pressed the center button and heard the reassuring words "beginning workout" from the ipod lady. I couldn't help but smile as I ran through the snow showers! I'm sure the drivers going by thought I was crazy! I noticed many people watching me as they went by in their nice warm cars. After the first half mile or so, I was able to relax and not worry too much about my steps or falling. The air was cold in my lungs and I could feel a burning in my chest. I realized that I had forgotten my rescue inhaler and would just have to run through the asthma.

I ran to the stop sign at Webb Bridge Road and Park Bridge, then turned around. I had to come to a full stop so I didn't slip. The thought occurred to me that this was the farthest I had run in six weeks! I was very happy and feeling good (in spite of the asthma.) I ran back, even singing aloud at times. I hadn't seen a soul out the entire time. Just then a boy on a bike came riding by from the opposite direction. I said "hi" but he just whizzed by me. When I got to the corner of the school, I had to stop and walk about 100 feet to allow my lungs to calm down.

I ran the rest of the way home, enjoying the solitude and quiet and beauty of the fresh snow. The muted grey and white was so peaceful. It was a wonderful relief to be running again. The familiarity of the movement was relaxing. I didn't notice the cold at all. If I had had the endurance, I might have run double the distance. As it was, 3.16 miles was just perfect. The walk from the corner back to my apartment was great! I was definitely on a runner's high. Finished it off with a little stretching on my apartment stairs and hot chocolate inside. I wish it snowed like this more often here.

Here's a photo I took of the snow outside my building. You can see my footsteps in the snow in between the pavers.