Running uphill is great!

If you've ever run with me, it's likely you just choked when you read the title of this post.  I despise running uphills.  Often I cheat and walk up part of the hill.  But one thing I do love is running downhill.  Unfortunately you can't have the reward of downhill without work of the uphill.  I would get all cheesy here and make it a metaphor for life...but I'll let you make those connections.  


We ran 8 miles today!  EIGHT miles!  And even more importantly, I enjoyed it!  This is our second week in a row that we went 8 miles.  Today's run felt better than last week's...I guess that means this training stuff actually works!  I'm so relieved to know I'm not getting up before 6 am on Saturday mornings for no reason!


My favorite exchange from today's run.  We are at the bottom of a big (in my opinion anyhow) hill getting ready to go up.  Joe says, "This is our last hill today.  Right, Gail?" Gail, in a totally unconvinced voice, says, "Uh, sure."  The moral of the story - Joe will say anything to get you to the top of the hill. 

New Shoes!

I'm so excited to try out my new running shoes tomorrow!  I went to Fleet Feet on Monday and Christa helped me pick out the perfect shoe. At least, let's hope it's the perfect shoe. The best thing about buying my shoes at Fleet Feet is the experience.  Everyone is friendly and says hello even if they aren't helping you.  Christa was awesome.  She took her time helping me and asked about any other issues I might be having.  Which gave me the perfect opportunity to complain about how much my calf muscles hate me.  Much to my surprise, she said she nearly quit running because of her calf muscles!!  And I thought I was the only one.  She gave me some great tips!  I already have the stick, but now I'm using it every night before bed.  

Of course going to Fleet Feet and not falling in love with something is nearly impossible, at least for me.  Oh wait, maybe that's my shopping addiction in general.  I did find the perfect running shirt while i was there.  

New shoes and a new shirt what else could a girl want before an almost nine mile run.  How about beautiful weather?  Looks like I'm going to get that too!  Likely it will still be quite cold at 7 am in the morning, but at least the sun will be shining and warming up!  

Notes from Today's Run

Last week's run was cancelled because of the snow.  Just wanted to clear that up in case someone thought I skipped out on it.  

Today's run was 7 miles.  Tammy billed today's run as the most scenic.  It was beautiful...especially if you don't count the hills.  And we passed by Alan Jackson's house (see pics at the bottom).  It was the longest run I've completed since I started running!  We were only scheduled to go 6.5 miles...but we decided to be overachievers and go for a full 7 miles.  

Here are a couple notes from today's run I thought I would share:

- If you are going to a new place for a run, don't trust your GPS to get you there on time.  Sometimes it takes you the "shortest" way...which is not exactly the same as fastest.  One really scary road later, I made it just as my group was headed out.

- Ladies, if you haven't already, please go to Fleet Feet and be fitted for a sports bra.  I promise it's not nearly as bad as you think it will be and you will be doing yourself a big favor! I rank bra shopping with bathing suit and cocktail dress shopping as some of my least favorite things to do.  However, Christi Beth and the other ladies at Fleet Feet make it much less of a chore.  I promise you'll be glad you did.

- Courtesy of my dear friend Nicole, even when your in a hurry it's probably not a good idea to park on soggy ground (love you, Nicole).

Thanks so much to Joe, our chipper leader, Delana and Gail for a great run!  Welcome Angela & Jack to our fun little group.  Chrystyna & Carol, missed you guys!

pretty isn't it?

Alan Jackson's house

Pushing It

If you had ask me 6 months ago if I could run 6 miles, the answer would have been no.  An emphatic NO, with a "why would anyone want to do that" added to the end!  And I couldn't have imagined getting up before 6 am on a Saturday morning and running 6 miles.  However, that's what I did this morning, and I love it!


I still haven't found the elusive "runner's high".  But what I have found are some great people, self confidence and an awesome way to burn a lot of calories!  The best part about running with a group is the way we encourage each other.  The first two miles of every run makes me want to quit.  But being with a group of other runners keeps me going.  


Today's run was especially good.  I'm not sure if it was the mild weather or because I've finally started properly hydrating, but I'm thankful either way.  At the end Joe suggested we push it for our last 3 minute running interval.  Ummm....I've ran over 5 miles already...to me that IS pushing it.  However, I did push it.  We ran faster and felt great about the way we finished.  


Here are the two major motivators for me to push it a little harder at the end of today's run.  

Chick-n-minis, who wouldn't be inspired!

Ahhhh, my personal favorite.  

Second Run

What a difference a week makes.  The weather today was awesome!  I'd prefer it a little warmer...i like the shorts and tank top weather, but today was much better than 14 degrees and snow from last week.


Today's run was five miles, ok so it was just a touch shorter, but i see no reason not to say 5 miles.  After all, I did have to walk to and from my car.  


After running with the 4/1's last week, they were a little fast for me.  Luckily when I got there this morning, a group from my No Boundaries group was there and had decided to run 4/1 but at a slower pace.  I was more than happy to join them!  We had an awesome run!  


Thanks Joe, Gail, Carol, Christina and Corey for a great run today.  Joe lead the way and did a great job.  A positive attitude makes all the difference!  


For anyone who has not been to Ravenwood High School, beware of the speed bumps (actually they are more like mini mountains, at least they are when you don't see them coming and hit them at 40 miles an hour...YIKES)!

The First Run

Today was my first run training for the Country Music Half Marathon. I'm doing my training with the Fleet Feet...I highly recommend them for any running/walking needs you have.

The run for today was supposed to be an easy 4 miles, however mother nature had a little surprise in store for us. Though the snow was should have quit on Thursday, at least according to our weather people, I woke up to a fresh coat of snow on my car. Briefly, I thought about staying in and putting in my four miles on the treadmill. But I was already dressed and thought I would at least meet the group and check in since it was the first day. If it was too bad I could always skip the run.

I had been preparing to run in the freezing cold, but I had not been preparing to run in the snow. My biggest fear was slipping and falling...even on flat dry surfaces, I'm not exactly what most people would consider coordinated.

After signing in, I decided to at least start the run. Bargaining with myself, I decided if it was awful I could turn around. I started out in the interval group running 6 min and walking 1 min. But they proved to be way too fast for me. I fell back to the 4/1 group. It was a much better fit.

I made it the whole four miles, in the snow, uphill both ways. OK, so maybe not uphill both ways, but there were times it certainly felt like it!

Thanks to Rebecca, Erin, and Christina for starting with me...and to Christina who joined me in the 4/1 group and then we progressed/regressed to the back of that group. Judd is an excellent leader and came back for us at the end. It was a great start...and I'm looking forward to next Saturday...well as much as you can look forward to waking up at 6 in the morning on a Saturday and braving the freezing cold. But it will be worth it!