Halfie in May, you say!

I upped my mileage today by a full half mile. So far to go before I can even think about going a half marathon, but, I think May is a good goal. Last year this time, I was in Albany, NY preparing to run a half with my father-in-law and my friend, Mary Karen. That half marathon was wonderful for me - I served as motivational speaker for everyone around me....lol. I then ran the Williamsburg Half with Francine ...that was another great half marathon! Any excuse to go to Virginia to meet up with our friends. After that, I ran the Rochester Flower City half with my fellow local running freaks, Jenn, Russ, Judi, Melissa, Derrek, Curt, Sean, ... last, I made good on my word to a college friend, Rob, and ran the Buffalo half with him and his wife. I suppose it should be a good year, right? 4 half marathons? The year prior, I Ran two full marathons - all amounts to the same.

Sidelined since June has not been all that bad, I've actually enjoyed the rest BUT, I am ready for another half in May...or two. Here's what I think: Flower City Half on May 1st with all my locals; possibly Cleveland half on the 15th with some college crazies...then down to Utica again to run the Boilermaker in July with anyone in the area who wants to join me for one of the most amazing times one can have during a race.

Oh yeah, I had a fun time on my run. I really wish I had my camera, it was a day for running!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Go Judi and Russ!

Loved reading about the Disney challenge and can't wait for the FULL race report. I'm trying to imagine the shock of running in hot weather after all that cold training!! You guys are awesome! I too wish I could have run those last few with you today, although all that snow doesn't sound too appealing.

I am having a hard time getting out there but am totally craving it, so today on a rare walk with the dog (usually I'm with the baby and Sweetie is on Luna duty) I ran and walked. I looked silly with my jeans kind of falling down and I was hiking them up every few steps,and  my silly wool hat and street shoes didn't make me look much like a runner, but hey, I'm a runner inside and this was better than nothing and Luna was PSYCHED!

So, like work, I'm doing what I can and as Baby gets bigger and more independent (want that/dread that!!) I will be able to do more.

Laura, how about a halfie sometime in May? That would have us start training (back at zero, novice program, I'm afraid) in January. The Bavisela in Trieste is the first weekend in May. A couple weeks before that there's another half that I use as a practice in Slovenia. Sweetie and I are planning to make running appointments on a calendar so that we can both get our training in.

Think about it.
Also, the rest of you, our virtual training club, What do you think? You up for a halfie in May?

Disney Marathon would be nice

I'm certainly a cold weather runner. I love it...love it. Today was a balmy 20 degrees. The east coast was getting slammed with 20 inches of snow, we were facing gale-force winds, and I caved....couldn't do it. I just couldn't.

My friends Judi and Russ did, though. When I read that they were scheduled to run 24 miles today, I hurt for them. I considered heading to Lima to run the last few with them but, as I said, I caved. You see, Russ and Judi are scheduled to run the Disney Marathon in a little over a week. I talked Russ into running his first marathon last year and he signed a pact with Judi to run Disney with her...her first marathon. I am so proud of them for sticking to their training schedule today, of all days, because it was COLD!!!!! As I read Judi's run report today, I chuckled at her comment that her water in her water bottle froze. I know what it is like to feel an obligation to get out there and run. When Kari and I received so many generous donations for Rotary during our training, there was a certain sense of higher obligation. Russ and Judi must feel the same, as they have done an exceptional job raising funds in memory of Judi's brother, Jim, who died several years ago of cancer. I believe that they are only a few dollars short of their goal!!!

So....good luck Judi and Russ!!!

As I said before, I love running in the cold, but I have to admit that Disney wouldn't be bad after a day like today.

That used to be me

Not that long ago, I was consumed with blogging, Twitter, facebook, running, and everything that tied them all together. The everything that tied them together was the running that I did, and the encouraging of others to run. Well, for the past 6 months, I have been sidelined by a nagging Achilles tendon injury. I say sidelined quite loosely, as I will admit that I enjoyed the break. I will admit that now, but I won't scream it from the mountaintops. For the most part, I have not missed the running and the sweating, and the endless piles of sweaty laundry. But, enough is enough. I've gained weight, I've become self conscious of my weight again....and so, I return (happily) to running. I am happy to be out there...I am happier running in the cold weather than the heat, so I feel that I have timed my comeback perfectly.

So, I'm back on Twitter, I'm back blogging, back on dailymile, back at it!!! Back running....that used to be me, I think I miss her! I am running my measly 2 milers -ever cautious of that Achilles, but I can feel the urge to "up" those miles...I see a halfie in my near future.

I DID IT

FIRST POST-NATAL RUN

16.02 minutes
2.25 miles

Dreadmill. Now if you'll excuse me, there is a 1-month old getting her diaper changed screaming her head off. I must go...

THANKS, LAURA!

I love those jeans

A few days ago, I squeezed into my favorite pair of jeans. I call them my skinny jeans. Well, not that I'm skinny now, but I was when I wore them the day after I finished my first marathon. When I say that I squeezed into them, I mean that literally. I can wear them but I must do so with a baggy top (better cover up the squeezed-up love handles.) anyway...

I spoke with Kari last week. We both pledged to start back at our running TODAY!!!!

I DID! for the first time since June, I tied up my running shoes and headed out for a good old fashioned run. I had no garmin, no iPod, ... Just me and my headlamp. I felt unusually strong and the Achilles felt non-existent. NICE!!! (2 miles and felt great!)

Thoughts? I thought about all of my running friends: Russ and Judi (running the Disney Marathon in two weeks); Mary Karen (getting back on the P90x wagon tomorrow); Al, Ms. Fool, Jenn (all nursing injuries); Michael (getting back into the VFFs after some time away); Minken (expecting the 2nd baby soon ...that will keep him running); my husband (an obsessed runner now...OMG!) and all the rest of you out there in running-land.

Now, lets all see when Kari gets out there.


Ahhhh....it feels good to be here again.