So I signed up..

And it wasn't even a drunk registration! I signed up for the Atlanta Half. It's on Thanksgiving day. Last year it poured rain (I heard it from inside my covers in my nice warm, dry bed!) I needed to do something to force me to commit a little more to my training (which has been total shit lately). I know that I'm stretched way too thin these days, but I need to keep this for myself. Plus if I want to have a decent race at what will be my Spring goal race (ING) in March, then I need to keep training.... I'll figure it out somehow. I usually do.

So things are just super...

I'm so busy that even running early morning has gone out the window. I am so sick of this non-stop schedule, especially since it's mainly school stuff lately. Parents who just don't let up and want my full attention at every moment (despite having 120 students! Grf!) I was able to get 3 miles in Tuesday morning, though. Yesterday I was off of work for a doctor's appointment (and maybe a little Thrashers' practice action!!) and planned on doing the 7 miles I didn't get in this weekend. Sadly, it was pouring rain when I woke up at 6:45 and didn't let up till last night. I was going going going all day, though, so that was my only opportunity. It was raining again this morning, as well!

Plan for tomorrow is 5.5 after work. I have a teachers' workday/conference day, so I should be able to get away with leaving at 3:30 or so. I'm going to the Thrasher's season opening game tomorrow (vs. Caps! Woot!), but I think I will have time to get a run in, then shower quickly....

Mandy wants me to do the Zooma Women's 5K with her in November. I was originally going to use that as my goal HM, but then the training just wasn't going like I'd hoped due to everything else going on this summer. Well, I looked at my current training schedule and I have a 13 miler scheduled that day... should I do my LR the day before and still run the 5k with her or should I run the HM and treat it like a LR? I don't have to decide right away, but I will be thinking about it as I see how training continues....

Second day

So I got up early again today! Yea!! I was so tired and really dragged myself out of bed to get ready. I definitely have to build in an extra 20 minutes or so of wake up time once I'm up.

I've started a routine of:

• getting up
  
• taking my first inhaler dose
  
• getting something to drink
  
• taking the second inhaler dose
  
• playing on the computer (of course!)
  
• then getting coffee ready
  
• getting dressed
  
• taking the other inhaler doses
  
• more computer ;)
• doing my hair routine of all those dang barrettes!
• getting the ipod and hat
• getting out the door

I've been hooked on my London playlist since I've started running early mornings. I usually start with Paolo Nutini's "Rewind". I like that it's so early because I can sing aloud (quietly of course! Don't want to wake anyone) as I walk up to the street corner. It's such a perfect walk since it's just about 3 1/2 minutes long- just enough for a warm up song!

It's a pain to get across the street with the short (5 seconds or so) light. Which is not enough to cross about 7 lanes. Today, I passed a couple of (girl) runners coming at me on the sidewalk in front of Publix just as I had started out. I didn't see anyone else (running at least) the entire time. It wasn't as humid as yesterday, but still a bit breezy. I was fighting some asthma today and stopped again at the top of the hill at Kroger (no gas lines today, though!)

I only did the planned 3 miles (well a tad more just to get to the end of the sidewalk!) and I was glad. However, by the end, I felt I could have gone farther. Tomorrow, the plan calls for 4. They will be tricky to do before work (getting up about 15 mins earlier! Yikes! 4:45???) I think I will go straight on State Bridge and tackle that next hill! Will be a breeze going down, but the reverse leg will be extra fun. I've got the Maroon 5 concert tomorrow night, which means I will NOT be getting up early on Thursday to run! Just being realistic! :)

I did it

Yea!! I got up this morning and ran! :) I did 3.25 humid miles. It was a bit breezy, and approximately 64 degrees. The run wasn't too bad. Had to stop at the top of the big hill past Kroger and then after I turned around at the halfway on Jones Bridge.

I knew I'd be a bit huffy and puffy due to not running for two and a half weeks. However, it wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's run.

Just a small side note about something I saw this morning. The gas stations everywhere around here have been empty for weeks now. Sometimes stations will get a delivery and people just seem to turn up and wait in line for gas! It's really been unreal! Apparently the QuikTrip at the top of the hill next to Kroger on Jones Bridge/State Bridge was filled with a huge long queue down the street. Here's a shot of it this afternoon in the same way! On the left, you can see the sidewalk I run on in the mornings.

Adjusting

Well, it's been a while since I've updated here. I was pretty sick for over a week. Now that I'm well, I've started the new job at the running shop and more tutoring on the other days. It's a bit crazy, but it will all be worth it. Of course, what has been sacrificed?? Running. :( I needed to adjust to the new hours, etc, which I think I am finally doing. Now I need my motivation back- a nice kick in the ass actually!! I am ready mentally to go back out, so tomorrow I WILL run! No excuses. I am also going to start back with my early morning routine. I will have a few difficult days due to the concerts (will likely be quite knackered by Thursday afternoon!!) but I'll work it out. Something is better than nothing. I think the key is to rework my training schedule to align with my new training goal race! Silver Comet trail is out for sure!

On a semi-related running note, I ran into my old friend Ruthie at the running shop today! I haven't seen her in at least 10 years! She is a teacher at Wesleyan and living in Duluth nearby! She has started running (this May!) and is training for her first marathon in November (Chicamauga). We exchanged phone numbers and are planning to run together soon! :) That was a nice surprise actually.

Ok, so goals for this weekend: re-do the training schedule and to run tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Sick :(

Well, after having to skip my run yesterday morning due to too much carp for school, I ended up skipping this morning's run, as well. Probably wouldn't have worked out anyway since it was pouring this morning (and dark!), but I started getting sick yesterday afternoon. I really hope this goes away quickly. All I really want to do is put my head down and sleep. I've heard that it's pretty much a 36 hour thing, so hopefully I will be better tomorrow and can get a run in (at least one!) this weekend.

Yea!

I had a fantastic run this morning. I was dripping from the humidity yet again, but it went well. I wished I could have gone farther but I was out of time for the morning (despite getting up earlier!!) I did the Old Milton route to Jones Bridge Road. I've been having to walk at the very top of the hill (asthma, etc). However, today I was able to keep going. My brain was in overdrive, especially for the return portion. I hardly noticed I was going up the lesser hill going up towards Kimball Bridge in the 3rd mile. Was nice to just *go*. I will attempt to get up even earlier on Fri to get in 4-4.5 miles. This means at least 15 minutes earlier. I'll live.... ;)

Unfortunately, I won't be able to run tomorrow morning, since grades are due at school and I need to go in early to finish them and also give a whole bunch of make up quizzes and a detention! I've got my interview at Fleet Feet in the afternoon! Crossing fingers that I get the job and that it pays well! Gotta start really building the London savings funds!