On Timer

I only had an hour available this morning if we had any chance to make it to church ... the new church ... the church that is an hour drive away in the outskirts of New York City.

Anyhow ... notice the pace ... under 12:00/mi ... whoohoo!!!

Running Stats

Running Time: 55:35
Running Distance: 4.68 mi
Average Pace: 11:53/mi

Freezing Cold ...

... quite literally.

I went out for what was supposed to be a 3 mile run this morning. The timing was perfectly planned ... I left the house at 6:47 ... 3 miles takes me 38 minutes ... I get back home at 7:25 in time for Jason to run out the door.

What I didn't count on was stepping outside into the freezing cold ... actually I did plan on stepping out into the freezing cold and dressed accordingly. What I didn't plan on was the wind. It was fine in my established neighborhood with all the trees and little hills to block the brunt of it. When I hit the new ... read treeless ... subdivision and the straight stretch road where the wind was hitting me face on was when I really felt it. I was dressed appropriately for the cold ... but not for 'that' cold. My breath was literally being taken away from me. So I wimped out and headed back home. Actually as soon as I turned around it was bearable again ... but the decision had been made.

When I got back in I checked the temps ... 20 F but with wind chill felt like 11 F ... Brrr!!!

Oh the cool thing is I had an average pace of 11:11/mi ... AND it's not because I only ran a little over one mile. The first mile of yesterday's run was 12:16/mi. I'm hoping that I'm still on a downward spiral time wise.

Running Stats

Running Time: 13:31
Running Distance: 1.21 mi
Average Pace: 11:11/mi

Ho Hum Run

Today's run was like a been there done that nothing special type of run. Went out came back in. Oh ho hum ...

I had actually planned on running 5 miles but I somehow underestimated my route and ended up back at the house in 4 miles. I have horrible will power in circumstances where my route takes me close to home and I do try to plan accordingly. Interesting ... I know I have horrible will power ... but that is all in my perspective ... maybe I should just get a backbone instead of giving in next time. I'll think on it ...

Running Stats

Running Time: 48:00
Running Distance: 4.00 mi
Average Pace: 12:00/mi

7 Today 7 Back Then

I am loosely following 'The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide' training schedule, though I haven't decided what exactly I'm training for. This week's long run called for a 7 mile run. As luck would have it ... I live on an island and I'm 7 miles away from a public beach with a park. I find it rather exhilerating running to the ocean. There is nothing spectacular about the sights along the way, in fact I've ran in much more attractive settings ... but there is just something special about the act of running TO the OCEAN.

I had asked Jason if he would pick me up at the beach when I was done running. They passed me on their way to the park when I had about a mile left to go. When I finally got there they were down at the shoreline throwing rocks into the water. It was a heart warming experience finishing my run and seeing my loved ones there having a good time while they were waiting for me. I love finishing my runs in sight of my loving family.

So after the run I sat reminiscing while Jason pushed Megan on the swings. I was remembering the first time I ever ran 7 miles. It was late summer in Cedar Rapids, IA and I just walked out my door and went running. I didn't have a route planned it was an as you go type of run. It was hard! I remember walking in my door after the run knowing that I couldn't have ran two steps further. But as exhausted as I was I knew it was a great accomplishment. It doesn't change ... it was a great accomplishment back then ... and it was a great accomplishment today as well!!!

Back then ...

Running Stats (8/27/05)

Running Time: 1:44:26
Running Distance: 7.00 mi
Average Pace: 14:55/mi

Today ...

Running Stats (1/21/06)

Running Time: 1:26:20
Running Distance: 7.02 mi
Average Pace: 12:18/mi

Running Companion

Do you realize that I have never ran with anyone. Well besides back in 2003 when I spent a month or two at the gym running with Christie ... but I think the most we ran was like a 1/2 a mile ... mile at the most. Anyhow, since I picked up this wonderful sport of running back in August it has just been me running all by my lonesome. Until today that is ...

Today I ran with a friend. She's really my sister-in-law, but I would still consider her a friend. She is a daughter of a runner ... and by default a runner herself. But from her own admission has never ran more then 3 miles. I really wanted to run at least 6 today but unfortunately she didn't think she could do more then 4.

Oh yeah ... we were in Pittsburgh ... the really hilly city. I knew a pretty decent running route from the last time I ran there ... three weeks prior to my first marathon. We headed out and ran up and down and up and down and up ... well you get my point.

We ran to a trail and hit a trail exit right at the 4 mile mark. We were going to call for a ride but needed to find out what cross-street we were on so had to walk a bit. Which turned into walking a bit more because we didn't think they would be able to find us on these small streets. When we finally found ourselves we realized we were close enough to home that we should keep going. We got home with 5.88 showing on the foreman so we ran around the block. I got my 6 miles in after all!!! You did good Lacey!!!

Running Stats

Running Time: 1:30:46
Running Distance: 6.00 mi
Average Pace: 15:08/mi*

* This was with 4 miles of running and 2 miles of walking ... not bad eh?!?

Make it Quick

My new shoes arrived yesterday. Of course it was after pre-school so I couldn't make use of them. I have felt the need to run and I just couln't wait until tomorrow. So I got up again this morning at 5:30, ate my oatmeal and waited for it to get light enough outside to head out.

I was out the door at 6:50 with a warning from Jason that I had to be back at the latest by 7:25 so that he could get to work at 7:30 ... I just love living so close to his work!!! Guess what time I got back?!? Yep ... 7:25 exactly ... just in time to meet him at the door as he was headed to work.

Running Stats

Running Time: 35:29
Running Distance: 2.89 mi
Average Pace: 12:17/mi

Not Running Today ...

I woke up this morning at 5:30 ... as in morning ... to get a quick run in before Jason went to work. I dressed to my shoes and headed downstairs for a bowl of oatmeal. I was enjoying my morning cup of coffee and getting some things done around the house when I noticed that I was already having shin pains. I think I made the wise decision when I cancelled my run for the day. I didn't see any reason this early in my training schedule to push it. Besides, I still don't even know what I'm training for ...

I made use of the early morning hours to get a pilates workout in. That was hard, my abs were still sore from my last pilates workout. I look forward to the day when pilates is old hat and it no longer causes me to be sore.

On the Pain Front ... hip is sore, shins didn't get any sorer, neck is stiff ... knee is feeling funky going up and down the steps.

I Need New Shoes

I ran 4 miles today from Megan's school after I dropped her off. Lots of hills! About 3/4 of a mile into the run I got a wicked case of shin splints. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to spring for those new shoes sooner rather then later.

It didn't feel too good, but I kept at it and I'm glad I did. Another great average pace (for me) for today of 12:11 ... over 4 miles ... whoohoo!!! Now I just need to decide if I'm gonna make it out tomorrow morning or not?!?

Running Stats

Running Time: 48:48
Running Distance: 4.01 mi
Average Pace: 12:11/mi

On the Pain Front ... shin splints, sore hip and a sore core (pilates related). Buying new shoes tomorrow ... hope that helps!

Yearly Tally: 7.01 mi

Pilates

I was reminded that I had some Pilates videos stuck away in my video cabinet so I pulled them out today and did one. I did the Winsor Pilates instructional video and 20 minute workout today. It was good and my core is sore. Megan, My 3 year old daughter did it right along next to me ... so sweet!!!

I hope to start adding pilates and strength training to my off days. We'll see how long this lasts.

First Run of the Year

We have had house guests for the last week and a half and they left this morning. I got used to the hustle and bustle and constant going-ons. I miss it, the house just feels empty now somehow.

I took my melancholy state with me on my run today. It didn't help that about a 1/2 mile into my 3 mile run my audiobook, At Home in Mitford, ended. It was good. I would recommend it. I love reading and I get excited about reading. I enjoy listening to my audiobooks and I look forward to listening to them and finding out what happens next. It works because it gets me back out on a run. I just don't seem to get as excited about the audiobooks as I do about book books. I don't know, maybe it's just because I haven't found a really super good audiobook yet. It makes it hard to recommend one over the other though.

So I'm running and watching my foreman, aka garmin forerunner. I am almost home and I have run 2.85 miles with a really good average pace ... hovering right around 12:00/mi or a lil less. I turn the corner and pick up my pace because I'm close enough to 3 miles to give it a good kick and I look down at my foreman only to see that it now says I have run 2.74 miles. It short changed me at least .11 miles. I know .11 miles is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but if you figure I was running a 12:00 minute mile and one tenth of that is 1:20, divide that by 3 and that's adding about 30 seconds to my average pace. That sucked!!!

Running Stats:

Running Time: 37:41
Running Distance: 3.00 mi ... or was it?
Average Pace: 12:34/mi ... or was it?

On the Pain Front ... my left hip is still giving me some twinges. Not necessarily when I'm running ... but in just normal everyday moving.

Yearly Tally: 3.00 mi