Sunday, February 28, 2010

It Was a Seventeen Mile Weekend!

This weekend was very busy as always!! I got off from work on Friday feeling very tired and ready for my weekend to start. It was so nice outside that I decided to run five miles. My plan was to run the first 3.1 miles hard like I would for a 5k. I feel like because I have been doing longer distance races that I may have lost a little of my speed. I run slower splits for the longer runs and feel like I have forgotten how to bust and move it 5k style:) Well, I think I did pretty good! I chose to run on the roads and picked a mile loop and ran it three times. Iadded the little extra needed to make it an official 5k run. How did I do? Mile number one my time was 7:40, mile number two 7:43 and mile number three 7:58. It has been some time since I have done this and I was feeling pretty crappy after mile three! I was happy with my splits and know that I need to work on getting them down. I then did a much slower two mile cool down:)
Kay had more basketball games this weekend! After we got back Saturday from her second game I went outside for another run. This run was also a five miler....an easy five miler. I was pretty consistant with 8:30 to 9:00 minute miles. I was pretty sore from Friday's faster pace run. Today I went out again for a seven miler and I was hurting everywhere. My hips, calves and ankles were a little stiff:(






This is one of my hills that in the summer and spring I ran everyday! It is my Weaver Lake Road kicks my butt hill:)

This is what the sidewalks are looking like on my runs. The snow is starting to melt but it freezes and causes these patches of thick ice.

This is the upper portion of the Weaver Lake hill.

Here is part of my run that corners around a cute little park. In the spring and summer there are always kids playing ball:)

This is the East Fish Lake Road hill that I run. There is actually a flat area before this hill and I use it for the sprinting portion of my runs:)

This picture was taken about one mile from my house...thank goodness this portion is down hill:)


Saturday I went shopping for running gear!! I am never lucky enough to find good deals and sadly I paid full price once again :( I purchased a pair of Nike Fit running pants that I absolutely love! I already have a pair of these and I figured I better buy another one before they discontinue it. I am looking forward to warmer running weather and couldn't pass up this cute little Nike Fit running skirt and light green shirt. Now if we could just get some nice days with warm sunshine and I will be set:)

Slomo tagged me some time back to write ten whatever things I want to share:)


1. My favorite brand name of jeans is Express.

2. My favorite colors are blue and black.

3. My favorite running distance for sprints is the 100 meter dash. My favorite distance for road racing is the 10 mile or half marathon.

4. My favorite fast food style place to eat is Chipotle:)

5. My favorite fine dining establishment is The Voltair in Chicago. It was the best Italian food I have ever had....hands down!!
6. My favorite summer family vacation was to Montana!

7. I have been to the Cheers bar in Boston and the Coyote Ugly bar in Nashville:) The girls working at the Coyote Ugly tried to get me on the bar dancing with them! I refused and told them I had not had enough to drink yet for that:)

8. The person that I most admired growing up was my grandmother. She was a strong German farm wife and I loved her so much. She was always there for me and encouraged me to be the best that I could:) I miss her dearly:)

9. I love it when my children have giggling attacks!! It is so contagious:)

10. Caribou Coffee is the best!

I am now going to tag a few of the male bloggers that I follow. I have included some blogs that I just recently started reading and others that I have been reading for some time:) I love getting to know more about people and would love it if you could just post a few random things about yourself that you think is interesting or unique!!
Tri Diesel














I hope that everyone has a great week!!

Also, check out Molly's blog because she is hosting a wonderful giveaway!! She is giving away the Le Creuset Square Baking Dishes in a lovely spring like blue color:)

46 comments:

  1. Great list!
    I liked seeing the photos of where you run. It looks alot like it does here in Des Moines and makes me feel like a whimp for running inside so much. I really hate the cold hahaha!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I see you are wearing your favorite colors! I love your new stuff. I LOVE Nike fit and I can't find one of my favorite shirts any more so I think you are wise to get the pants while you can. My roads look like yours and I spend a lot of my time worrying about cracks, bumps and stuff that could trip me up. Awesome times on the "5k"!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice job balancing family life with running. A 17 mile weekend with those fast times is impressive. I always like to see pictures of where my fellow bloggers run. It looks like Weaver Lake Road is a nice challenge to run. I personally love to run up hills, especially since the reward is being able to run down them! Should I comment on the new running attire?! Nah, I'll play it safe. :-) Thanks for the words of encouragement on my blog. Since you've tagged me, I'll be posting about my ten things soon. If I forget, feel free to nag/remind me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Julie! I never could "bust and move it 5k style", so great job on your speed work! I can't believe that 5k and 10k's are your favorite distances, those are my LEAST favorite. Eek!

    I have those Nike Fit running pants and I love them! Best pants EVER and I bet you look great in that color green.

    Chipotle is awesome. The next time I go to Chigaco, I'm going to have to check out The Voltair. Sounds fab!

    I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Stay off those bars girl. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. way to go on your hard 5k trial run, and all that running this weekend period. if only the snow would melt now! love the pics :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. love the green shirt and skirt, but by the looks of the snowy/icy photos...it is going to be quite some time before you get to test those out!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's why we love trails - you don't have to worry about that 5k speed demon stuff!! Nike is notorious for their turnover on styles - 3 months and gone if you are lucky, same with many of their shoes. Nice to have the sunshine - have a great week!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Julie;-)
    Nice splits on your run, and your pictures are makin' me appreciate the cali weather here.
    And cute running gear. I don't know if you've heard of Athleta, it's a women's fitness clothing line and they have fab running stuff. I know I'm biased b/c I work there 1x/wk, but I think you'd like their stuff;-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the pictures of where you run! I have run that area often when I run the Rice Lake Trails and go further toward Weaver Lake. Mostly I run where it is very flat in Brooklyn Park, though... from the dam on the Mississippi out to Elm Creek Park. It was neat to see that you run where I have run :) Wow... you run the hills over there!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your pictures look like how mine would look. I cannot wait until all the snow and ice melts!!

    Cute new running clothes! It's fun to get new stuff every once in awhile. I have a pair of NikeFit tights that I absolutely love so I'd imagine those pants would be super comfy too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Adorable running clothes! I can't wait for the warm weather too! It will be nice to run without 2-3 layers on top.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ok, Ok. ... I'll do the list just because you are awesome!

    Isn't it amazing how a hard 5k can just kick your butt? They just hurt.

    Great weekend Julie and those snowy pics made this Texas boy grab a blanket and cuddle up!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nice weekend of running! Love the cute new skirt.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great job on your run and I love your new running clothes, especially the skirt! It was fun reading your list of favorite things; yeah for Chipotle, yum!
    meg

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great job on the run Julie, you are a speed demon!

    Loved the list!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. HA!! You get Blogger of the Week and then tag me!!!!

    I am kidding, well, it gives me something to think about

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice speed! We are paying the price now with our running conditions but the payoff will start in April! - D

    ReplyDelete
  18. Those look like the sidewalks I have been trying to run on. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nice pictures!!! I just got home after 3 days "inside" ice and snow. I prefer the warm italian weather... Enjoy running!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice photos and list! Fun to see where other people run. I must take photos of my routes as well.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice 5K, Miss Speedy! Thanks for tagging me!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I wouldn't even know how to beginning running in that ice and snow! I've probably slip and break my face! Thanks for tagging me too! I guess I'll have to make up a list!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your running routes are looking an awful lot like ours here in Md. right now. That's sad b/c Maryland should not look like Minnesota! Love the clothes you picked out--skirts are the best. Bring on the warm weather so you can show those legs!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow Julie you are pretty fast! I don't think I could keep up with you. Sounds like you got some good miles in this weekend. Loved the list.

    It looks like we have similar weather conditions that we are dealing with her in Chicago as well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yuo are so photogentic :) grea pics! There is a Coyote Ugly in PA and it sucks! But Chipotle...now that is love <3

    ReplyDelete
  26. You come home tired from work and bust out a 5K? What kind of punishment is that? I, personally, would be skairt to run in that. I guess you do it out of necessity. Hard core? Will your husband woo me next? ROFL.... :-)

    p.s. You tagged me...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great job on the 5K. I always tell myself it is something I should do, but I never get around to it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. There are lots of cobblestone streets where I live. They get incredibly slick when they get wet, and when they ice over, forget it! And I have lots of turns on my route, which makes them even more dangerous. Thus, I treadmill!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great list of things to share and awesome running!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I couldn't really focus on your list as I was still thinking about your run splits. They are better than my 5K race splits!

    Those pictures make me c...o...l...d!

    Have a GREAT rest of the day:)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the clothes - be careful on the sidewalk!

    ReplyDelete
  32. hi julie. like the list. you are the second person in a few months that has mentioned voltair in chicago to me.

    not so fun looking ice on the sidewalks. how long does it take for all that snow to melt? we have one last weekend of basketball for the boys. your daughters season must be winding down soon?

    great running julie. keep kicking! cheers!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. What's that black stuff under the snow where you run? Could it be......pavement?

    OK girl, you gave me some homework to do. I'll have to dream up some facts.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sometimes you just gotta pay full price to get the good running gear, before it's all gone! : )

    thanks for posting my giveaway, and chipolte.....yum.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great list, thx for tagging me was interesting seeing what came to mind as I typed...nice job on the runs our conditions are ridiculously trecherous right now!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great work in your 5K!
    I can't wait for spring to get here. Pictures of snow and ice just don't do it for me anymore.

    Oh crap, you tagged me? That means I got work to do! Yes, I will come up with my list tomorrow. =)

    Have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  37. 17 miles - rock on! I'll bet that course is just awesome in the Spring. Hopefully that ice will melt sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Loved the pictures! I could definitley get used to running there - just nt on that ice! Yikes!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow what a great running weekend!! You really logged the miles and speedy too!
    Thanks for sharing you 10 things. I love Chipotle! We don't have one here but I make sure to hit it up when I go back home to Chicago or go visit AZ.
    Love the new running gear! Good thinking buying another pair of running pants. I hate when you find something you like and then they discontinue it!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks for visiting my blog. The East Fish Lake Road hill is covered with snow but the training there is nice. Enjoy the sprinting portion of your runs on that track. :)

    Before I ran in the afternoon I had to go to Rome for a task at work where I see a "stop and go" tour. It allows tourists to visit Rome enjoying a special view.
    I write here its website: http://www.romeopentour.com/index-en.asp

    Although I don't Know if you and your family will visit Rome I think the website above gives you an interesting idea for your "Italian plan".
    Have a nice training.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Nice blog Julie (found my way over from Tall Guy's blog) and I might pop back from time to time

    ReplyDelete
  42. Way to bust out some speed! The running outfit is adorable. I think I have those same pants and I love them. I wear them over my tights when it is bitter cold and windy. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Nice 5K! I think it is so hard to run 5k time in training, without the race pressure. Awesome job! So, do you know about google shopping? This is how I find the best deals. I enter the item I want to get, and it spits out all the deals available on line. You can also select free shipping. It's great!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Julie, you did great - I'm so impressed at your 5k effort, that's a tough session to do on your own. I plan on visiting our local time trial for a blow out on Saturday, it gives me an extra push having other runners to hang on to!

    Really like your running pics - its fascinating for me seeing where you go for runs all that way across the pond. Keep 'em coming. Happy Running, RB.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wow, there is STILL a lot of snow and ice on the sidewalks - but it looks like it is starting to melt!! The great thing about splitting up your runs like you did is that you can really ramp up the mileage quick. Nice work!!

    Chipotle is probs my fav fast food too. Maybe because it doesn't totally seem like fast food to me?

    So, I am tagged - thanks!... What do do, what to do.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Good work out there, Jill! The pics of your running routes brought back nice memories of MN... And, thanks for your kind comments on my blog :) Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete

 
Free Hit Counter