Outside run..six miles that felt like ten.

Well, I did it again! I was able to get out this afternoon and run about six miles. I didn't think it was fun for the first three. It just took a bit for me to get my mojo going:) The final three miles were ok I guess. To be honest, I was moving at snails pace and that felt just great for this afternoon. I had every intention to run ten today but at the end of mile six I was pretty much done. I have been eating like crap for about a week. We made a ton of Christmas cookies and candy. I just can't seem to lay off the peanut butter balls and sugar cookies:)

I need some help! Is there anyone out there who can give me suggestions for a runner's watch...GPS or something else? I have to confess, I am yet to own a fancy running watch. I told my husband that when I run in my races I always check out people and I am able to tell who is a serious runner and who is not. I look at their running shoes and to see if they are sporting a GPS watch. I said no one would ever guess by looking at my timex that I am serious about running. He told me that my watch was my secret weapon...no one would be able to see me as competition:) He was being kind and trying to be funny. My husband was also kind enough to suggest I buy one for Christmas but I have no idea what watch is the one for me. Help!!

Brrr, it is cold, but I think I am getting used to running in it! 12-14-09

I actually got enough nerve to do an outside run yesterday afternoon. I was a little sore but it was nothing that I couldn't live with. I ran in my neighborhood on the roads and that was not fun. There was a snow and salt mixture that made it impossible to get good traction. After about one mile I saw that some of the side walks were actually cleaned off! I was so happy to be on a normal surface with minimal snow and icy patches. I ran around Golden Rod Marsh pond and then up West Fish Lake Road to Weaver Lake Road. I ran all the way down Weaver Lake Road until the break away path to some of the trails. I was able to only run less than a mile on that trail before the cleared snow ended. Crap, I was so hoping I could do my normal seven mile route. I had to turn around and head for home. I ran back up Weaver Lake Road and down West Fish Lake Road back to my neighborhood street. I looked at my watch and I had only ran for 35 minutes. My lips were starting to get chapped but my feet were fine. If it hadn't been for needing some major chap stick I probably would of kept going:) It felt good to get out and run. The cold didn't bother me like it did Saturday. I am thinking that I ran about four miles total. I can't wait for Wednesday so that I can run during the day:) Wednesday is my day off from work during the week and before the snow fell it was my 10 mile day.

The Snowflake Shuffle/My Worst Run To Date 12-12-09

I drove to St. Joseph today to run in a 5k called the Snowflake Shuffle. I woke up at about 6 am and arrived on the St. Ben's campus at 8:15 am. I looked at the temp display in my car and it read "2 degrees"!!! Holy Hannah, I was having second thoughts about this race. My daughter Kay was not able to run with me today because she had a basketball tournament. If she had been able to run I am pretty sure she would attempted to talk me out of it. I was already in the parking lot....to late to turn back. I walked in and got my running bib and t-shirt. I saw someone that ran in some of the same 5ks with me over the summer, so it was nice to chat with him. I also noticed that several of the St. Cloud River Runners were also running. Most of these runners are incredible athletes with stellar times that I can only dream of having. Also, the girl that I graduated with who introduced me into running 5ks was there. Pam introduced me to a few of her runner friends from the Cold Spring area. It was nice to talk to her and her friends.

With about 10 minutes before start time we all walked down the road to the starting line. Pretty much everyone was jumping in place or in some way moving to keep from getting cold. Well, it was frigging cold out there for those first few minutes and then some. I have decided that I hate running in the cold! I also hate running on snow and icy roads. This race sucked so bad for me. It should of been an easy run because it is a nice flat course around the St. Ben's campus and the town of St. Joseph. It was hard running on the snow...so many times I had to catch myself because I thought I was going to bite it. Running on the snow covered sidewalks was tricky because it was hard to pass people. Just a little after mile one Pam passed me. No shocker there, she is a way better runner than me. I was able to pass a few people as well but it was hard to just run normal because of the snow and ice. I was passed by a flipping Santa with a bag full of toys!! Seriously, there is no way that I could of run in a Santa costume and then to top it off actually lug a huge bag filled with toys over my back! I said, "Go Santa!" He told me that he lost his reindeer and needed to fly. I had to laugh, he took his role as Santa very seriously:) My hip started to nag yet again and I just couldn't pull it together for a strong finish. I am not sure what my official time was, but it was 25 something. Oh well, at least I was able to get a run in anyway.

I am hoping to get a few mill workouts in this week or maybe I can get to the club and run around the track. I have not been able to run as much as I want. Before it got cold I was running at least 30 miles a week. Lately, I am lucky to get 10 to 12 miles in....not enough for me.

My next race is the Team Ortho Polar Dash in Minneapolis on New Years Day!! I will suck it up and try to adapt to snow and ice:)

The Anoka Jingle Bell 5k 2009 11-28-09

I ran in the Anoka Jingle Bell 5K with my 14 year old daughter Kay on November 28. We arrived at the Anoka High School and checked in. This was the first time for us and we didn't know what to expect. We went out to the start line with about 10 minutes to start time and did a little warm up. We both decided it probably wasn't going to be our best run....it wasn't. We usually can stay together for the first two miles before I end up breaking away from Kay. Today I was running with her for a whole minute before she said she had a side ache. I really don't remember much of the race other than thinking, this sucks and I don't feel good running today. I attempted to keep my normal 5k pace but I am thinking I was moving way slower. It was a pretty course with the river and trees but there were several killer hills that I didn't get along with:) I don't like hills. I do remember being passed by a 9 to 12 year old little girl who was just booking it:) You go girl!! This was the part of the run that I started to think, Oh my God how much longer before I can see the finish line! It wasn't much longer after this that my right hip started to bother me again but to top it off my left leg was hurting me as well. I am pretty sure that I was limp/running in for the last 400 meters of the race. My offical time was 24:36. Yikes, however, I was still able to take 2nd place for the 30-39 age group. Kay ended up walking part of it and came in with a time of 26:43. She was not happy...her PR for the 5K is 24:30. We hope to have better luck next time. My next run is the Snowflake Shuffle 5k December 12 2009:)