August Summary

I'm so far behind my goals that I think I'm going to give up on them and do a re-set. Instead of 1000 miles in 2010, I'm just hoping to run more miles than I did last year. Instead of exceeding a certain pace, I'm just going to enjoy running regardless of pace. Instead of setting PR's, I'm going to enjoy whatever races I do to the fullest. I get more out of running zen than speedy. And yes, maybe this is just an excuse for being a slacker...

However, in August I ran more days than any other month this year. I logged 60.15 miles in 18 of 31 days. AND, I got a COOL new car! Loving my New Beetle Convertible!!!

Team MOJO LOCO

Tonight was the first conference call of Team Mojo Loco. In case you haven't heard, we're running a relay from St. Augustine Beach to Daytona Beach on 12/11/10. At the moment, we have 9 people committed to this relay, with one spot remaining open. If you'd like to join us, let me know. We will be running in pairs in 3-mile legs, then handing off to the next group, and repeating for a total of 9 miles each, and then we'll all run the last mile together. The route is going to be along the beach so there will be awesome views! Team members include running podcast celebrities, as well as plain janes like myself. The current cast consists of:  Zen Runner, Steve Runner, Chris Russell, Marathon Chris, Eddie Marathon, Crazy Runner, Maddy Hubbard, Norman Rosenberg and me. I joined the group in the early stages when there was only one running celebrity involved. I joined because I thought it would be an awesome adventure and great way to meet new people along a scenic route. But mainly because... I LOVE THE OCEAN!!!  I'm really looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Wanna join us?

Too hot to handle

Well, yet again, I opted to sleep late and paid for it later... Yes, my body definitely needed the healing extra hours of sleep, but it meant running in the heat later in the day. I ate a hearty breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and began my run at 10 a.m. I took three bottles of hydration (different contents) to Mountain Park Park; I carried the first bottle of water + organic tart cherry juice blend, and left the other two bottles in a cooler in the car for easy access. My goal was to run/walk 10 miles. I started off feeling great! I took two walk breaks during the first mile, and then kept adding to it after that. By the 6th mile, I was down to a run 90 seconds, walk 30 seconds ratio because of the heat/humidity. During that mile, I started having chills and feeling a little light-headed. I recognized the signs of overheating and smartly called it quits at 6.06 miles. But, but, but... I need to run 10 today! I cooled off in the air conditioned car as I drove home drinking the ice cold bottle of Hammer Heed that I had pre-mixed. I drank a big glass of ice cold water when I got home and grabbed my third bottle of fluids (water + pineapple coconut juice blend) from the cooler to take down to the basement. I had cooled down some, but not completely, so I knew I should play it safe and continue the run/walk method instead of run only. I decided to go by distance, rather than time, since that is easier for me to track on my treadmill. I ran 0.1 mile then walked 0.025, and repeat. It wasn't ideal, but it was done. 10.06 miles logged for the day, plus an improved tan. Woohoo!

National Trail Running Day

Since today is National Trail Running Day, I decided to shift my long run to Sunday and run on a trail instead. I originally wanted to explore a new trail, but I got a message from my sister inviting me to a surprise birthday dinner for her husband tonight, and with all the other things that I had to do today, I just didn't have time to drive too far to explore a new trail. So... I went to Stone Mountain Park, the closest trails that I know of, and enjoyed getting lost in the woods. This was the third time that I've run this route and I still managed to get lost once. It was 88 degrees and 70% humidity when I started. I probably walked as much as I ran, but I didn't care. Just enjoyed the 5.59 miles of trail time.

What's your favorite trail?

two earbuds over-rated

Two earbuds are definitely over-rated!  I wasn't happy when I picked up my favorite earphones for running and realized one earbud was missing. Riley? Daisy? Diesel? ARGH! But I popped the one earbud into my left ear and headed out for an easy run anyway. It wasn't too bad; I actually kind of liked it. I could hear the music and yet at the same time hear my surroundings very clearly too. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise... Thanks kitties!

Is that a llama? emu? horse?

Is that a llama or an emu or a horse walking down the sidewalk of a busy street in Atlanta? Weird... Read a quote the other day that I needed as I have been contemplating backing out of the Chicago marathon and picking one a little farther into the future so I can be better prepared. I haven't run nearly as much as I should have in training for the marathon. The quote was by Confucius, "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." So, instead of bailing on the Chicago marathon because I haven't been training properly, I laid out a new running plan. Simply increase my long run by 2 miles each week, starting this coming Saturday with 10 miles, and fill in the rest of the days of the week with a few miles most days. This will put my 20 mile run 2 weeks before the race, which is perfect for taper. Doesn't give me any back-down weeks, but honestly, I seriously need to increase my base. This definitely isn't an ideal training plan, but maybe, just maybe, it will get me through Chicago and train properly for the next one...

registered: Savannah Rock 'n' Roll marathon

Okay...  It's official... I have no clue what marathon I'm going to run in the spring of 2011, but I've registered for a fall marathon: the Savannah Rock 'n' Roll marathon. A virtual friend of mine had a discount code for $30 off if you registered by the end of today. I haven't run a marathon in Georgia yet and this seemed like a great opportunity! And several vertual friends are now talking about trying to rent a house together for that weekend. Looking forward to meeting new running chics and running a marathon in a scenic town!

hide and seek

My plan to go for an easy 3 mile run turned into a game of hide and seek. About a quarter mile from my house, I noticed a beautiful white cat walking across the street and then sat down at the corner. I didn't remember seeing this particular cat before. About a half mile later I saw a hand-written sign on a light post seeking a LOST WHITE CAT. So I stopped and called the phone number; no one answered at 6:30 a.m. I made a mental note of the address listed on the sign and decided to run back around the block and see if the cat was still there. It wasn't. I kept a close eye out for it as I jogged slowly through the neighborhood and decided to do one more loop. As I approached the house of the missing cat I saw a white cat under the van in that driveway. I knocked on the door and told the owner. Unfortunately, that wasn't the particular white cat that they were missing. Oh well... I tried to do a good deed!

13

Well, I guess 13 was my unlucky number after all. My running streak ended after 13 days. In this photo, my daughter is not thrilled with today being the first day of middle school, and she expresses my sentiments about breaking my running streak. Just too much to do today and couldn't fit it all in. Oh well... It was an interesting experiment that I may try again once we get settled into a new routine.

I am crazy; 13 almost unlucky number

13 was almost my unlucky number... Run Streak Day #13, that is... It was a busy day trying to get ready for the first day of Middle School (for my daughter) tomorrow. While I was on the computer looking up the school supply list, she decided that I needed lotion on my feet... Then she had fun playing and wrote "I am crazy" on my calf. She grabbed my iPhone and snapped this photo. I suspected something was up, but she let me walk around for a while before telling me I should rub the lotion in before we left to go shopping...  Thanks honey!

Too much to do and not enough hours in the day. Mid-afternoon my daughter said, "We don't live in Lawrenceville, Snellville or Loganville. We live in STRESSVILLE!" And I couldn't agree more. She's stressing over the first day of middle school, and I'm stressing over how to get a zillion things accomplished before bedtime. Something had to give... We mutually agreed to skip the swim team party and I came to the decision at dinner time, that my run streak would come to a temporary end.

Exhausted, I fell asleep at 10 p.m. But woke up an hour later, stressed and not able to go back to sleep. I decided to get up and run on the treadmill in the basement (while girlie slept peacefully upstairs) to keep the streak alive for one more day and hopefully bring my stress level back down. Mission accomplished. Now time to climb back in bed for a few hours... night night

Running Streak Day #13

stop to smell the honeysuckle

I'm getting bored with my regular running routes, so this morning I headed out in the opposite direction than I normally do. I went places that I haven't been in years. Walked when I felt like I needed to for 30-60 seconds each. Even stopped to smell the honeysuckle. Change is good.

Running Streak Day 12

quarter moon at sunrise

What a beautiful view to start my morning run on the 10th day of my running streak! Quarter moon still brightly shining at sunrise. I didn't feel the greatest when I woke up this morning, but was determined to keep this streak alive. So happy that I did!

500+ miles

I'm a little behind schedule of accomplishing my goal of 1000 miles in 2010, but I finally crossed the halfway point today: 501.17 miles.  Woohoo!  AND, I've completed an entire week of a running streak. That is SEVEN days in a row of running at least one mile per day. I ran with the pups tonight, and then they were semi-tolerant of sharing their dinner with the kitties... Diesel is under the food stand, munching on a piece of dog kibble that he stole, while Tasha is giving Daisy the evil eye as she's sneaking in.

purple streak

July was a less than stellar training month. My foot hurt and I lacked motivation. I came up with excuse after excuse after excuse to not run. And then I got tired of my excuses... mad at myself... totally fired up... and then decided to start a "streak".  A running streak, that is. I think consistency is a must for me right now. I decided to start on Tuesday, 7/27. I didn't set any distance goals for this week other than to run at least one mile a day, and a long run of 12 miles on Sunday. (I've got to get my butt in gear since the Chicago marathon is only 10 weeks away.)  I also planned to take the pups to run a mile each, every other day, and let them set the pace. They are soooo out of shape! I didn't tell anyone my intention of this running streak for fear of failing on yet another lofty goal. I kept the secret to myself until I reached 4 days of running in a row... the longest streak I think I've ever done. woo hoo! I can do this! But my plantar fascia wasn't too happy on day 4. I iced it off and on all that day. The next day, the plantar fasciitis pain was gone. Could it be possible that this streak is actually helping my PF? And today is day 6, no PF pain and goals accomplished for the week. 1-2 miles each day, starting on Tuesday, and 12 miles today for a total of 20.89 miles for the week.

So to celebrate this crazy new running streak, I opted for a wild purple streak of color in my hair. I totally love it!  Hmmm... wonder what my boss is going to say... will he notice?