Long time no blog...

Well howdy! Yes, I realise it's been nearly 3 months since my last entry. Such is life... Some updates- I ran the 10K mentioned in the last post and had a blast. I did pretty well and enjoyed the course. I would do this race again next year in fact! I also had fun afterwards with friends. I will post a photo or two once I get home.

Sadly, training was spotty up until the ING Half on March 29th. I did not do as well as I had hoped, but in the end I did enjoy the run/sights. It was windy and cool at the start (pre-dawn) and actually continued to get colder as we went along. That part was tough. By the end, I just wanted a big coat. It was chilly while waiting for my friend Stuart to finish the full, but we went quickly to Stats nearby for lunch and beer, so it was well worth the chillbumps!

Since the race, I've been less-than-motivated to start training full time again. I have done a few shorter runs here and there, though. School and tutoring have just been way too busy to work in runs. However, this past Sunday, I finally got out for 3 miles on the Greenway. I did a few miles the weekend before as well. Monday, I was off school for a couple of doctor's appointments so I took advantage of the time to get another run in. The miles weren't pretty, but I got them done! This morning, I was up at 5:15 to do another 3 miles. It's been a while since I've done a pre-work, early morning run. I'm sitting at my desk at work now, trying to fight off a nap. Luckily today is field day, so I don't have any students in here! The weather this morning was just about perfect for running- upper 50s/lower 60s with a bit of wind and a bit of humidity. I can feel myself getting back into shape- going farther each time without my lungs wanting to explode. Hopefully by the weekend I will be able to do the 4 mile "long run" I've got planned for Sunday. Tomorrow is another pre-dawn 3 miler. I definitely predict a nap happening this afternoon once I get home from school!!!

Recovered

After battling a sinus infection all last week, I finally was well enough to get in 2 longer runs this weekend. I was able to get in 7.4 miles last Sunday. This was my longest actual run in many months. It felt great in fact! Then Tuesday, despite waking up with a sinus headache, I went out for 4.5 miles. Thursday, I got in a 5k. Friday and Saturday I just felt too crappy, so I waited till Sunday. I was so happy to wake up infection-free. I got in 6.3 on Sunday (another good run!) and 7.5 on Monday. I wanted to go 8.5 but ran out of time (I was a few minutes late to work as it was). I took Tuesday off (obviously) and woke up early this morning to go out for 6. Unfortunately, the rain was coming down hard and in the dark, it would not be safe for me to be out there. It is looking like this will be thunderstorms by the afternoon, so likely no run after work either. Maybe I can get them in tomorrow morning before work if it's not in the 20s like they said it might be. Cross your fingers it is warmer.

I've been noticing a trend where I am really warming up the first mile, but then the rest of the run goes fine- breathing gets easier, legs just go, and I'm enjoying it. I'm happy about that. Only a little over 5 weeks left till the race. I've got a 10K this Saturday, so hopefully that will go well enough!

Hey! I put my new shoes on!

After a week delay due to illness ($#%#!!!!!) I was able to get out today for 3 miles on the new shoes. I didn't want to push it for several reasons- new shoes (need to break in), cautious in case the knee pain thingy was still lingering, and because it'd been a while! My asthma was not happy with the strong head wind, either. I had to stop once to use the inhaler (yum!) and a couple of times in the first 2 miles to catch my breath (I hate the inhaler so I was resisting). By mile 3, I was feeling much better! The breathing was steady. I had turned around earlier than the planned 1.5 point (approximately 1.4?) just because I wasn't feeling it in mile 2. I was starting to think I'd been too ambitious! By the time I got back to the normal corner stopping point, my nike+ ipod lady announced "400 meters to go." *Sigh* Doesn't she know I can never stop once I hear that? I have to finish!!

So, I ended up finishing the 3 miles after all, running right to my building to finish. I really could have gone farther by that point. I will save it for the run I hope to get in tomorrow before the thunder storms come in. It's going to be 70 degrees tomorrow! I can't let that pass me by.

Best part? The new shoes (Mizuno Inspire 5s)! I also put in some blue Superfeet we got free through the running store. I figured I'd try them out with the new shoes to see how they treat me running. So far, they were fine. Supportive in the arch, but not annoying like most products can be. To be honest, they didn't feel much different than I'm used to with the custom orthotics. This is good since Superfeet are only about $20 vs. $300 for custom ones! I'll keep you posted as I put more miles on both the shoes and the superfeet.

ING was not to be...

Oh well. No ING for me this year. I waited too long and couldn't get in. Just as well, judging by the yucky weather. I got to sleep 11 hours last night instead! (I even forgot about/missed my last opportunity to go to a Thrashers' practice today! Sad) I didn't even make it down there to cheer all the KRs on.

Yesterday was a lot of fun, though. I got to the expo about 8:45am and reported for duty! Got all signed in and got my volunteer orange shirt (kinda threw a wrench in the whole "I'll be wearing my KR shirt to help stand out!" plan) Started at the registration/packet pick up tables. Yea!! Fun! Then someone came and and asked me to go to the children's area to help monitor the kids in the play zone! WHAT?? But, I didn't get up at 6:30 this morning to go babysit! Grf! I was promised a replacement soon... Took about an hour or so (an hour too long), but I finally got to go back to the registration table. I stopped at the Nike+ area and chatted with the woman for a good 30 minutes or so and told her all of the issues/ideas I had for nike+!! Finally! I could remember them at the right moment. She even videotaped me giving some of my suggestions! Pretty cool! Now when all those things come to the site, you can thank me personally! ;) I told her about needing a way to put in runs manually. I said they don't have to count for challenges, but it would be nice to have a back up when something goes wrong with the sensor/ipod (low battery, etc...) I also (finally!) remembered to suggest that the online run graphs include all of the information you hear on the ipod during the runs (time at that point, etc....) She told me about her suggestion of adding in a monthly calendar type function where you could chart out your planned runs. She also told me that others had thought of adding a projected weekly mileage function that would show under your my runs area. The bar would then turn green as you met the goal and show clear if you didn't. Nice! I look forward to seeing some of these improvements!!

Anyway, the rest of the volunteering went well. I was with 2 really nice folks. One was from the Cayman Islands originally and even knew an old college friend of mine, Annie Briggs! Small world! (Ala)Michelle came by and we caught up a bit. She couldn't make the dinner later, due to staying with friends (and needing to visit with them instead). Still great to see her! One of the parents of a student I took to France last year came by as well. She recognized my name from my name tag! Random! Chatted with some Chilean runners, South Africans, a nice guy from Guinée (he seemed pleased I could speak French! :) ), a guy from Brighton, UK and many more. I loved seeing the excitement and anticipation in everyone's faces. I will definitely do this again next year!! Perhaps next year I will actually register on time myself, and run the darn thing, too!!

After my shift, I played around at the expo- did a cool Mizuno foot analysis thingy. Pretty much told me everything I knew, but I got a print out of my feet! :D Listened to Grete Weitz speak. Very very cool! Finally found Tithers/Sherry at her Tri booth. Chatted a bit with her, then got back on the Marta (in the rain) and headed back to Lindbergh- the dinner meet up spot. I was a good hour early, so I hung out at Taco Mac for a bit. Sherry got there first and we went over to the Chili's and waited for the rest of the group. All in all it was a great dinner. Got to meet Aimee (luckylily) and her husband and the twins!!!! I'm definitely in love with the boys! Such cute sweeties! I also met Lloyd (Roots), Becca and Brian (Snooze and Toejam) and Sarah (Stitcher) who drove in all the way from Auburn, AL! Beth/Crazyfrog and Heather/QN were also present!

It was long, exhausting day, but well worth it. Now it's time to focus on next Saturday's 10K in Charleston, SC (Cooper River Bridge Run). I will be running after work tomorrow for sure. Stay tuned. I will also upload some photos from Saturday here, once I've dumped them from my camera!