56 Days Until the Disney Princess Half Marathon

 

 

Christmas is over.   Santa was very good to me this year.  I got a Bondi Band Princess hat, a medal holder, an awesome "Race You to the Castle" shirt, a Team Sparkle skirt, some new running clothes, a Handana, some Gu and a Garmin. 

 

I was SO excited to try out the Garmin on my run today.  I got dressed in my cold weather gear (complete with the hat so my ears wouldn't get cold.)  I have to use the Garmin and my Timex because the Garmin doesn't do intervals, so I looked like an 80s dancer or a Zumba instructor with all of the junk going up my arm.  Either way, I used the Garmin to track time and distance and the Timex to track intervals.

 

THE GARMIN LIES.

 

After the first lap, I noticed that the Garmin was tracking a shorter route than I had thought I was running....by a tenth of a mile.  It was also showing me that I was pretty slow.  That was pretty frustrating.  I have not been going as far as I had thought and, obviously, I haven't really been getting faster.   I hate the Garmin.  I came home and told my husband that I was going to flush the stupid, lying thing down the toilet.  He just laughed at me.  Obviously, I am not going to do that.  I am going to use the information and get better (and hopefully faster.)

 

When I finally got a minute to upload the data, there were some interesting things.  First, there is a map of my actual route.  It looked like spaghetti on the plate.  I was all over the road.  Was I running drunk?  It shows that I totally cut through the court instead of running all the way around.  I didn't do that.  I ran all the way around every time.  Second, it tracked my average pace, my best pace, and my moving pace.  There was a moment during my run that I was running a 9.16 minute mile.  Who knew that I had it in me?   Obviously I can't sustain that, but it's in there somewhere.  Finally, it tracked my calories burned.  The treadmill lies to me.  I sort of believe the Garmin.  I wore the heart rate monitor today, so that makes it a little more accurate.

 

All in all, not a bad run.  I'm going to have to get used to the new technology, but I hope the accurate distances will remind me to keep going.

 

Today's Stats (from the Garmin):

2.41 miles (NOT 2.58 miles) on 31:31 (13.06 minute mile)



60 Days Left

 

I looked for any reason in the world to skip my run today.  It was supposed to be short since I attempted my long run on Thursday.  I got up early with the baby, so I was tired.  The plan was to run right after church  When I got home, my husband was just waking up, so we got to talking.  Then it was lunch time.  Then I just didn't want to.  One of the big boys told me to stay home and snuggle with him on the couch.  How can you resist that???

 

Then I started to feel some guilt.

 

So, I got dressed.  Since I waited so long to get moving, I couldn't run for very long, but I could get my usual short run in.

 

 

Once I got started, I didn't want to stop.  My legs felt like they had the 11 miles in them that I couldn't finish on Thursday.  I wasn't trying to go fast, but it felt good to go.

 

It was a beautiful day to run.  I was in long sleeves, but I could have worn short sleeves and been comfortable.  I also got to see the new baby girl down the street.  (I'm having serious baby fever, but that is another post for another blog.)

 

Unfortunately, the watch stopped me today.  I would have liked to keep going, but my husband had to go to work.   If I wanted a shower, I had to go in. 

 

I took some great advice after my long run fail the other day.  I read through my previous posts and I really have come a long way.  I'm not going to qualify for Boston any time soon, but I am going to run a half marathon two months from today.....and another 3 weeks after that.....and another 5 weeks after that.....and I am toying with another 4 weeks after THAT.  I have already registered for 6 races in 2013 and I am planning to run in every race put on by a local running company so I can get a special gift (and 5 more medals!) at this time next year.   My typical short run is 2.5-3.5 miles.  My running interval is up to 2:45 and I could probably push it up to 3 minutes.  I was able to submit a time to runDisney that should move me out of the last corral.  I have almost put enough miles on my shoes to need a new pair.  I don't whine about how hard it is too much.  I finally got a good finish line picture at the race a few weeks ago (only to find out that it costs WAY too much to buy it).  I actually look forward to my running time, even if I don't think I want to go.  It's not getting easier, but I am getting better. 

 

Today's Stats:

2.58 miles in  31.28 (12.1 minute mile)

63 Days Left

 

 

Dear Jillian, I love you.  I think you are an amazing trainer.  I love that you are no nonsense.  I love that you yell at people on TV, but then take the time to talk to them and find out what is really going on.  I would love to have a training session with you.  But, for once, you are wrong.  Sometimes your legs just give out, even when you want to go forward.

 

The plan had 11 miles on it today.  I was prepared to run 12.  I had my pre-run breakfast and had all of my stuff ready to go.  My head was in the game.  I knew what I needed to do and I was ready to do it.  In fact, once I got started, I even toyed with the thought of running 13.1 today.....just to see if I could.  The run started nice and slow.  It was a beautiful day to run.  I was excited to be out there.  Everything felt great....and then, all of a sudden, it didn't.

 

Today I logged my first DNF.   I ran until I was tired, and then ran some more.  I ran until it hurt and then I ran harder.  My entire running board on Pinterest flashed through my head.  There was nothing that I could do to keep the legs going.  They just stopped.  I had only gone about 6 miles when they started to feel heavy.  At 7.5 miles, every step was hard.  At 8 miles, I felt like I was running so slow that I was going backwards.  At 8.5 miles, I felt like I was taking 5 steps during my 1 minute walking interval.  The last half mile was the longest, hardest half mile I can remember.  As much as I wanted to keep going and finish my 12 miles, my legs thought otherwise.

 

So, I stopped.  I didn't run 2 more laps at the park.  I walked to my car and drove home.  I'm irritated that I didn't finish, but I really don't think I could have done it.  But, then I remembered this:

 

I ran 9 miles today.  In 2 weeks, I will try 12 again.  In 2 weeks, I will finish.  My training is a little ahead of the suggested plan because of the Wicked 10K and then the Surf-n-Santa 10 miler.  I have some time built in for a bad week.....but I'm still cranky that I couldn't finish.

 

Today's Stats:

9 miles in 1:59:36 (13.2 minute miles)

 



65 Days Left

 

The dreams are starting again.  It's been a while since I had a dream about the race.  Last night, the dream was WEIRD.  I got to the starting line and started when the gun went off.  Then I got tired and went back to sleep.  (In my bed, not sure how I got back there.)  But, then my alarm went off at 6:00 and I was in a panic because the race started at 5:30 and I was late.  So some random girl that I don't know in real life, but who was my friend in my dream, offered to take me to the start.  I told her that I had started the race already, but she could drop me off at mile 5 or so.  She did and I just jumped right in to the race that was already in progress.  I got to the finish line faster than all of my running friends (all of whom were in my dream.  I cheered them all across the finish line.)  Even though I was a big fat cheater in dreamland, I told everyone not to worry.  I wasn't running for time because of the crazy start.  It's going to be a long 65 days if the dream stick with me until race day.   I guess my letter to Santa would ask to start every race that I finish.

 

Maybe the crazy dream stems from the crazy running week I have.   I almost ran 12 miles today, but I hadn't mentally prepared or physically prepared with fuel and hydration.  So, I ran my short run today and I am going to run my long run on Thursday....when my husband is home and awake, which will not be the case at any point during the weekend.

 

My body might be starting to believe in this distance running thing.  Maybe I should ask Santa to help me love the runs.....all of the runs.  I am starting to dread the short runs.  They seem like an irritation in the schedule.  I look forward to the long runs.  I plan for them and, even though they scare me half to death every other week, I have been enjoying them.  My body is fighting me on the short runs.  My legs scream at me - every part of my leg hurts at some point during the short runs.   My breathing isn't right.  The music on my iPod isn't what I want to listen to.  Then, at about 2 - 2.5 miles into the run (right about the time to stop if it's the really short run), it starts to get easier.  My body parts start to work together.  It's almost like my legs stop throwing a tantrum and give in to the fact that we are really doing this running thing.  Then the run is over.  I fought my body for the entire thing.

 

Today's run was supposed to be just under 3.5 miles.  My legs and I were having a battle of wills, but I was making decent time.  Then, in the second lap around the neighborhood, one of my neighbors was out.   He and his wife JUST had a baby (like last night was their first night at home).  They are a Navy family without a huge family support system in the area.  I started asking how everything was and offered to bring a meal and before I knew what was happening, my watch had beeped through 1 walking interval and 1 running interval.  I sort of lost steam after that.  Then, as I was coming up the street, the boys were getting off the bus and started running toward me.  The baby ran to me and wanted to be picked up.  I really lost steam after that.  It was getting close to lunch time, so I cut my run short.  Instead of 4 laps (which I am trying to make the norm), I did my usual 3.

 

Maybe tonight I will dream of running a whole race....with speed and ease.  Maybe I will dream of snuggling with my children.  Maybe visions of sugar plums will dance in my head.  Either way, hopefully Santa grants my wish to run faster.  It would be a Christmas miracle.

 

Today's Stats:

2.58 miles in 34.36 (watch time.....spent 3.45 talking to the neighbor)

- 13.3 minute miles if you don't subtract for the stop

 

2.58 miles in 30.91 (actual running time - adjusted for the chatting)

- 11.9 minute miles

 

67 Days Until the Disney Princess Half Marathon

 

 

Today was a busy day.  I sang 2 full church services for our annual Lessons and Carols services this morning.  It was magical.  It was tiring.  Then I came home to be mom...alone....for the third day in a row....on a weekend.  The kids called their grandparents and invited themselves over to watch the Redskins game.  My mom came to pick the up.  The baby thought he needed to go too.  So, I had the afternoon to myself.  It was cloudy today and cool in my bedroom - PERFECT conditions for a nap.  My house has been neglected the past week or so.  It desperately needed to be cleaned.  I knew that I had at least an hour all alone.  I could have taken a nap or cleaned my house.  Instead, I got into my running clothes and got on my treadmill. 

 

 

I did my warm up walk and got to going.  Last time I started too fast.  I'm not ready for 6.0 on the treadmill.  So, this time I ran at 5.5 for 2:45 and then walked at 4.0.  As I was finishing up my second running interval, I noticed that the treadmill was reporting an insane number of calories being burned.  While I LOVED the number that I was seeing, I was concerned that it may be incorrect.  So, I pressed a button on the treadmill.  It switched to a 9 minute fitness test.  I couldn't figure out how to switch it back.  So I hopped off and turned the treadmill off.

 

When you turn the treadmill off, it loses its data.  I had gone a half mile into my 3 mile run.  I hadn't set my watch, so I couldn't pick up where I left off.  So, I started over.  I lost that half mile like it never happened.  I kept my 5.5 running speed for 2 miles then I was fighting it and losing so I dropped the speed to 5.3 for the next 3/4 mile.  It was hot.  It was hard.  I was tired.  I really prefer to run outside, but the treadmill will do for short runs.

 

Either way, I got my run in.  I'm glad I did.

 

11 miles next week.

 

Today's Stats:

3.1 miles in 36.36 (11.7 minute mile)

 

(with the lost half mile - 3.6 miles in 42-ish - 11.6 minute mile)

 

 



70 Days Left

 

 

We lost a princess last night.  I am heartbroken.  I shouldn't be, but I am.  My Princess friend, Jen, decided that it is not the right time for her to run the Princess Half Marathon.  In fact, she decided that it is not the right time for her to run at all.  She wrote all about it over a Running @ Forty-One.   It seems like Rhode Island makes her sick.  It's also tundra cold up there from about October 1st until June 1st (or even later).  It's hard to run in the tundra cold.  She made the decision that is best for her.  I'm glad that she is going to be happy with her fair weather running.   But, I am still sad.  I was looking forward to running with her.  I do hope to see her during the weekend because she is going to be in Florida anyway.

 

On the other side of the emotional spectrum, I found out some GREAT news yesterday!!  I was accepted into the Inaugural Nike Women's Marathon in Washington DC.  It's 13.1 miles, not a full marathon.  It was also a lottery registration, not a first come, first served registration.  There are people that didn't get in.  But, I did!  And so did Princesses Elizabeth and Jennifer.  Not only do we get to run another half marathon together, but we also get a Tiffany necklace at the finish line.  Yes, please!

 

Running partners come from all over.  I have my Newport Princesses who I can run with in spirit.  We stay connected through our super secret Facebook page.  I also have my Moms Run This Town running ladies.  I have yet to actually make it to a group run, but one day I will and it will be great to run with them.  They have been familiar faces at races.  It's always great to have people to talk to as you are waiting for the start.  Then there are the Princess Half Marathon Facebook pages.  Those ladies are a hoot.  I am hoping to meet some of them in Florida.  Even though my actual runs are solo, I still share them with these different groups.  They celebrate my victories with me and pick me up when I have had a bad day.  It makes this adventure easier and I am so thankful for them all.

 

It's a low mileage week.  I went a little extra today because I ran an extra lap for Jen.  (Pouring a drink for my homies just didn't seem appropriate....the extra lap did.)  I was almost as fast as her!

 

Today's Stats:

3.44 miles in 40.39 (11.7 minute mile)

72 Days Left

It's Tuesday.  The schedule says to run.  I came up with a million and one excuses today.  Some were pretty much in my head and some were legitimate.  I promised myself that I would just run tomorrow.

I woke up this morning feeling icky.  I can't even define what icky means....I just felt icky.  So, instead of putting on my running clothes, I stayed in my pjs.  I didn't even walk my kiddos to the bus.  My husband did it.  It didn't get dressed until it was time to take the baby to the Little Gym at 10:00.  I put on my race shirt from the 10 miler this weekend.  It made me think about running.  It made me play hard with the baby at the Little Gym.

We had an altercation with the substitute bus driver today when the big boys came home from school.  The altercation was that she wouldn't let one of the boys off the bus.  They were the only 2 kids left on the bus at the last stop.  One of the boys had lost his id card.  Even though I had mine...with his name on it, which she could have opened his backpack to confirm, she made him sit down and took him back to school.  I went into mama bear mode.  Once I got my baby back and then went and made a fuss at the school system transportation office, it took me a good hour to calm down.  All I could think about was running it out.

But...we had a project to finish first.  In preparation for Christmas, hubby and I started cleaning the big boys' room YESTERDAY.   We had to finish today.  It took 3 more hours today (on top of 3 yesterday.  Who knew that when we told those stinkers to clean, they just threw everything into the nearest bucket or under the bed?  We had to separate Legos from Lincoln Logs and Star Wars from Spiderman.  They are lucky that we didn't take all of the toys out.)  After that was dinner.

Because I am waiting patiently with no patience whatsoever to find out if I got into the Nike Women's Marathon in Washington DC, I have been all over e-mail and Facebook like a stalker for two straight days.  During one of the Facebook checks, a Princess from one of the Facebook groups asked who would be joining her (virtually of course) for an evening run.  Like a moron, I told her that I would.  Then my chicken ranch tacos started to settle in my tummy and my run didn't seem like a good idea, but, there's always tomorrow.  I tucked my sugarplums all snug in their beds and came upstairs to check email and Facebook like a stalker again do some work on the computer.  I was ready to get back into my pjs and call it a night. 

The stupid treadmill started staring at me.  I remembered that I ran my mouth on Facebook and said that I was running tonight.  So, I sucked it up.  I went and put on my big girl running clothes and I got on the treadmill.  I didn't have my watch and I didn't have my iPod.  I found a Mickey Miles Podcast on itunes and got going.

Before we get to the particulars of the run, let just say that there will be no more podcasting during running.  I need my tunes.  I need a beat and I need lyrics.  People talking makes me watch the numbers on the treadmill slowly tick by.  

Back to the run....amazingly, I felt good.  I started my walk at 4.0.  Anything slower just felt....slow.  So, I went with it.  After a quarter mile warm up, I was ready to run.  Since I didn't have my watch, I was forced to use the clock on the treadmill.  I hit the treadmill up to 6.0 (which, as you will soon see was not the best idea I have had in my life) and got to running.  Without my watch to beep at 2:45 and because I was running at a gazelle-like 6.0 (I am a 5.2-5.5 kind of girl, usually), I dropped my intervals to 2:1.  I could keep the 6.0  running/4.0 walking pace for 20 minutes.  Then I hit the wall.  I mean, crash test dummy style. I was sweating and out of breath.  I had a cramp and those tacos I mentioned were threatening an encore.  So, I slowed it down to a more manageable 5.5.  However, the damage was done.  I couldn't recover during the walking breaks.  I was dying for water.   I made it 2 miles.  I went another half mile to cool down a little bit.

I didn't get my 5K in.  But, I ran.  I did it.  I didn't die and I didn't puke.  I had sweat dripping off of me like it was summer again.  It was a rough 2.5 miles.  I hated it today.   It was hard.  But, it calmed me down.  I don't feel as icky.  I'm still checking my email like it's my job.....running can't cure everything.

And I don't have to run tomorrow because I ran today.  Thursday had better take notice.   We have a date.

Today's Stats:

2.5 miles in 32:34 (12.9 minute mile)