10.5-something mile run

As usual, I really didn't want to run this afternoon but I made myself put on the clothes and go out. After 6 minutes I considered turning around and saying "screw it....I don't want to run so I shouldn't have to", but I forced myself to keep on truckin to complete the Ten More Miles! challenge.

I had put on tights and windbreaker pants to stay warm, and after 15 minutes I shredded the pants (and my hat) and carried them the rest of the way. A sign said it was 37 degrees out but with the sun, it felt a lot warmer.

I'm glad I'll reach my 40mi/wk goal this week (knock on wood) but it's almost as if I'm expecting a break after I reach this goal....but nope, I'll have to do the same thing next week. It's okay, I need to get into a different mindset. I don't think I've run 40mi/wk on my own for at least 5 months...that's sad.

Don't eat Greek after a 7 mile run :(

Yesterday was my husband and my 3 year anniversary. Our rehearsal dinner, and our 1st and 2nd year anniversary dinners were at this great Greek restaurant, Santorini Greek Kitchen. It's very good and they always give you a crapload of food. So all day yesterday at work, I was looking forward to it. I wanted to make sure I had an appetite, and that's part of the reason I ran 7 miles immediately before dinner. Bad idea.

My first mistake was to come home after the run and not drink or eat anything. About 40 minutes after my run, we headed off to the restaurant. We first ordered this great bottle of wine that we always get. After my first sip, I thought it tasted different than before- not that good. Then the feta/pita/cucumber sauce appetizers came and for some reason, they didn't taste that good either.

It sucked...I realized my body was depleted of something and that Greek food was not going to replenish it. That unusual Greek taste that I usually love now disgusted me. So I only ate a tiny bit of the appetizers and then put the rest in a to-go box. Then came our salads, and the gyros- packed on with huge piles of potatoes, green beans, and rice. I took one bite of the gyro and almost puked...and the same happened with the rice. Dangit!

I literally just sat there with tons of food around me and I couldn't eat it. I apologized to the waiter. (Woe is me)

After dinner, we came home and I was able to eat some of my vanilla Wendys frosty. :) Somehow that tasted perfect.

All in all- it was just really interesting to me that even though I was super hungry and I normally like Greek food, my body wouldn't take it because I needed carbs and other stuff. I kept craving a huge pot of spaghetti or even just plain bread. Ohh well. I'm now glad I have tons of leftovers that will last me the rest of the week. (I still have to run today to make my 40mi/wk goal, so hopefully that'll happen wayyy before mealtime).

7 mile run

I came home from work and was tired and didn't want to run, but I made myself and I did 7 miles. Woohoo! I ran outside and it was cold but it was way better than the treadmill. I listened to my little book on cd.

Another 5 mile run

Dangit...I was trying really hard to get my 10 miles in today to meet the Ten More Miles! requirements for January. I ran on the treadmill and even though I hate that machine, I thought I'd last 10 miles since I would be watching a couple of good videos. Well I was going strong until I checked the freakin mileage and realized that I had only been going for 3.9 miles. That moment right then and there ruined it for me because it felt like I had been running for at leaaasst 5 or 6 miles. So even though I was feeling fine at 3.9 miles, I got discouraged and said screw it. I made myself go 1 more mile and then called it quits at 5. Isn't that dumb of me?

My goal (not too serious of one, though) is to try to run at least 40 miles per week, starting now. Well...I have 30 miles to run before next Monday and it doesn't seem too hard, so we'll see.

Bop To The Top

Today I mailed in my registration for the Bop To The Top "race" on January 24. For those of you that don't know, it consists of running up the 37 floors of the OneAmerica building in downtown Indy. The winner from last year did it in about 4 minutes. Since I suckkk at walking up stairs, let alone running up them, I predict I'll finish in about 7 minutes...who knows. Hope it's fun. Only $20.

5 mile run

I drove to IL by myself last weekend and so I listened to A Million Little Pieces (yes, I know it's fake) on cd (which, by the way, would be better read). I decided to listen to it while I ran yesterday and it turned out to be very helpful, although it was annoying to hold that big portable cd player. It took me awhile to get into the groove of running but I went 5 miles and felt fine. I think I need to find a really good, intense book and listen to it during future ultras.

Ten-More-Miles Challenge

Alright. So Rob called me out. We all know the reason I haven't been posting is because I haven't run for a week or something. I know you're sick of reading my stupid posts that keep saying I need to run, I ran, then I slacked; I need to run, I ran, then I slacked. Ay ay ay.

I'm going to get off my lazy butt and run. It's January now! I think the main reason I want to run is because I keep eating sweets and not magically getting fit.

So anyway, thanks to Rob for the reminder of the Ten-More-Miles! challenge that's going on; and thanks to Mike for setting it up. Please visit the website and join the challenge. It only costs $10. Here are the basic rules from the website:

"The running premise is that you must run a long run of 10 miles in January and 10 miles longer each successive month. The run can be a part of any race, or training...you CAN walk the distance as long as it is consecutive. As the mileage increases past 50, I think it might even be appropriate that a nap is allowed, the same way ultrarunners nap in 100 mile races sometimes, as long as you get up and run right after...".

See- it's not too hard. February will be the longest I've run on my own in a long time (knock on wood). If you only make it one month, then good for you! You've donated $10 to charity.

Brian- you've done 7+ so far...now make it 10!

2 miles

Yesterday I reallllly didn't want to run but I made myself do 2 miles, averaging 7:18 pace. I made myself go out and run, that's the point.

Warm, warm weather

How was I bundled up running in 4 degree weather just a few days ago and today I was exposing the white legs running in 67 degree weather? Holy moly it felt nice out today! What a teaser. It felt like a warm summer night, ahhh.

I just now went running for 50 minutes at the canal. I would have liked to keep going but it was too dark out. Afterward I wanted to do a lot of hill repeats but I stopped after 2 for fear of seeing a dead body floating in the White River. Oh well.

Yesterday I wasn't in the mood to run outside and so I attempted to run 10 miles on the treadmill. I felt like if Rob could do it, I could do it. Yeahhhhh right; we all know I have no discipline on the machine. I ran 2 miles then walked 2 minutes. Then I attempted to run another 2 miles, walk 2 minutes, etc. Well because I hate the treadmill so much I only made it 1 other mile and then called it quits. 3 miles are better than no miles, right???

Ninja Turtle? Ghost Buster? Randy?

Welp for some crazy reason I decided to go out for a run this morning, on the coldest morning yet, instead of the treadmill. It was 3 degrees out and it said it felt like -12 degrees. Holy moly.

This morning I was in the mood to go outside because:

1. I wasn't at work
2. I was in a happier mood because of #1 and because of Xmas coming
3. I never get to run outside in the mornings
4. No one would be outside to make fun of my mummy-looking-self
5. I don't have pressing plans today so I could take as long as I wanted
6. If Brian and his siblings could do it outside in the freezing, then I could do it outside in the freezing
   

I somehow made myself go 8.5 miles in that brutal weather and I somehow ran it in 1hr 11minutes, when it felt like I was running 15 minute miles. I was so bundled up I could barely move my legs; I had about 20 extra pounds on me.

I brought my Camelpak (I still get confused- is it Camelbak?) and tried taking a drink after 21 minutes of being outside. A freakin ice cube came out of it, no joke! All of the water in the straw was frozen! I've never seen that before.

Anyway, I'm glad I did it and it's all over. Now I just have to deal with a burnt-looking face. I forgot to cover up my cheeks against the wind; dangit.