Clean up, clean up

No runs today, but I did get my workout for sure.  The hubster and I have to move out of our tiny abode tomorrow, so we spent the day getting rid of things and cleaning.  We have destroyed the awful sleeper sofa!  No more sleeping like a bat!  We're sleeping on the mattress on the floor.  

Tomorrow we have to pack up the rest of our stuff in our cars and head to my hometown.  The hubster and I are on the job hunt.  

This is the hubster and I on our way to a college formal.  Just thought you might like to see who I'm talking about.

Most miles to date

Today (and most of last week) has been pretty cool for end of July. So, I got a long run in today.  9.15 miles at a 10:23 per mile pace.  Then the hubster and I walked two-thirds of a mile to get lunch and back.  And with all of that I'm back on top of the Nike+ leader board, but not by much.  (Did I mention that I am super-competitive?)

Anyway, I have covered 50.8 miles this month! I'm hoping to get one more mid-range run in once we've moved, but I'm not sure that it will happen.  The downside to this is I am beating up my shoes pretty bad.  I bought them at the end of May, and they have 97.5 miles on them.  I'm rotating them with my old shoes.  Let's just hope that the hubster and I find jobs soon, so I can buy new running shoes.

Well...

I have been off track on my training recently.  Life has gotten in the way.  My hubster and I are moving out of the tiny abode, and so we've spent much of the day cleaning and moving stuff out of the place.  That counts as a workout right?

Hopefully, once the first move is completed, I will get to be back on track.

Rest day

Today has to be a rest day because I have 5 bug bites on my feet.  Socks and shoes make my feet itch.  It really stinks because we have a cool streak of with perfect running weather (in my opinion).  Temperatures here haven't been more than 75 degrees for the last few days. It has been fantastic!

Outside of running, the hubster and I have been applying for jobs and packing up the teeny apartment.  He should be finishing up all of his graduation requirements today, and tonight my sorority is presenting the extension plans at Kent.  I am so excited to be involved in this opportunity, even if it won't be for a long period of time.

What a difference

A day makes.  Yesterday, I got up early to get a run in while it was cooler out and had a terrible time. Today I wasn't feeling good from the start, but went later (cool-snap anyone?).  Ran 4 miles and it felt pretty good.
This afternoon I walked to and around downtown Kent.  There are a lot of interesting places to look and shop in the updated part of town. I'm really going to miss the ability to walk and do things, but moving is a part of life.
The hubster just ordered some dinner.

Trying to get back on track

Last week, I only ran once.  I had planned on running Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, but life and the weather got in the way.  I ran Tuesday; it was a good run.  Thursday rolled around and there was a heat advisory.  The heat advisory continued into Friday as well.

I attempted to get back in the swing of things this morning with a 3 mile run.  As I headed out the door, something felt off. Less than a quarter mile in, and my heel was hurting.  I slowed my pace, and continued on my way.  The more I ran, the more my leg started to hurt.  Then I would walk, and my leg would feel better. I would start running again, my leg would hurt, I would start walking--and it continued in a vicious cycle until I got home.

I thought that using my foam roller would help, but there is still some tightness that won't go away in my calf muscle.  It kind of feels like I had a charlie horse in my leg, but I haven't had one in a while.

Hopefully, it will feel better tomorrow so I can get another run in before the next heat wave starts.

Curveball

I love running outside.  I hate running on a treadmill, and I don't have one handy at the moment.

I woke up to a heat advisory, and the temperatures were already too hot and humid to run. I could have skated instead, but my skates are at my parents house in PA.  I feel like a total slacker today-- not that I have been because I made lunch for the hubster and myself, started dinner, and cleaned the shower.  But it stinks when I can't go for a run or skate.

Tomorrow, we are heading out on a grand adventure. We have a friends' wedding to go to in Cranberry Saturday, so we are going to run some errands tomorrow.  First stop is his parents' place to get some of his out of season stuff out of our tiny abode.  Then we have to go to two different DMVs--he has to get plates, I have to change my name on my license--in two different states.  Finally we're off to my parents' where we'll be staying for part of the weekend.

Hopefully, I can get a run in tomorrow and remember to bring my skates back with me. I really miss the ice, and I am terrified to go back out and have lost everything.

Me skating in 2009 at ISI Adult Champs in Lake Placid.  I won this event 😄in old skates with no edges or rocker on my blades.  

Humidity is the enemy

Seriously though, the humidity is the worst.  I got up a little earlier today to try to beat the heat.  The temperature was okay at 73 degrees, but the humidity was 93%.  Today was a three and a half miles on a trail and the bike lane.

Humidity is bad because I 1) have a hard time breathing and 2) turn into a male lion.  Because I have spent most of my athletic career in cold ice rinks, breathing in warm, moist is really difficult.  The other issue with humidity is just a general thing, but my hair does some seriously weird stuff.  It gets bigger and bigger unless I put a ton of conditioner in it. Not as bad as a friend of mine, but still.

Summer running is hot

So, the heat of summer has hit hard.  I'm not an early bird, but I think it will become a necessity.
Today is a semi-rest day since I had to walk downtown to pick up some Vera Bradley I ordered.  So I walked roughly 3 miles in 90 degree heat-not my best idea.

With it being so hot out, I have been trying to use the slow-cooker and tonight's meal was a hit.  I put some boneless chicken breast, pasta sauce, and parmesan cheese in the slow-cooker on low at lunch.    I made some pasta to go with it.  Even the hubster liked it!

Hopefully, I can get up early enough tomorrow to get a good run in before it heats up.  Then Thursday and Friday will be back to back runs.  Saturday, the hubster and I will be off to another wedding.

Weekly recap

This has been an interesting week.  The summer tutoring program I was working is now finished. That means I can run more consistently :), but I'll have no income until I can substitute again :(.

 July  7
     Long, easy run of 10 in Kent

July 8
     Rest day/travel back to home for work

July 9
     AM tutoring. PM 3.3 run then soak in the hot tub

July 10
     Rest day and tutoring

July 11
     Last day of Summer tutoring :(

July 12
     4.1 run, mock interview, and travel back to Kent.  Also walked to town from the university.

July 13
     Rest day before long run Sunday

July 14
     6.1 mile run

This week (except Sunday) was supposed to be a lower mileage week. When I followed the Galloway plan for the princess half,  it seemed like every other week the mileage dropped to 3 for the long runs.  I didn't like that since my 30 minute runs were 3-5 miles.

Currently, I am trying to convince my hubby to walk a 5K with me by the end of the year.  I think he'll do it.  I'm looking for a 10K or a closer half to do before then, but with not knowing where going to be yet, it's difficult to pick a race.

Disappointments and triumphs

I am extremely competitive.  In high school and college, I competed in taekwondo and figure skating. I would travel a lot for events; Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Arkansas, and all around Pennsylvania for tournaments and competitions.

In my senior year of HS, I decided to try to make top ten in taekwondo.  I had just earned my first degree black belt the year before, and had placed in all of my tournaments prior.  My parents took my brother and I out of school to compete at fall nationals; we were excited.  Once we got there, I found out I had two judging assignments before my ring.  I was not happy, but part of being a leader is stepping up to the challenges that are laid out in front of you.  Things didn't go according to ATA's plan, and I was late to my ring.  It had me rattled.  I had never felt that before; normally, I am pretty calm under pressure. But here I was in unfamiliar territory, with competitors I had never met, and I felt completely out of sorts.  I didn't have time to warm up or anything. I went out and competed.  But it wasn't my best performance.  I felt awful-my parents took me out of school to Disney World just so I could make the top ten.

That tournament sealed my fate.  There would be no top ten for me.

That adventure showed me that I need to give 110% in everything I do.  Because I took the pressure off of my skating to focus on taekwondo, my skating improved.  I started doing better at competitions in skating.  I started placing in events and trying out new ones. I struggled with a jump for a year, and I finally started landing it consistently in competitions. It was a turning point. Skating brought my confidence back.

I transfered all that I learned from my disappointment to make my running better.  Every time I run a race, I know I have to give it every ounce of energy I have.  I have to constantly train to improve my time.  I compete against myself when I run.  I have to beat my last time, wether it's my 5K or a half marathon.  Just like in skating or taekwondo, each time I pushed to make my program better.  I can't control all of the situations, like the weather, the judges' moods, my competitors' performances.  I can only control what I do.  The rest is out of my hands.

(Just so everyone knows, I still skate.  Not as much as I wish I could. I really hope to get back on the ice ASAP.)

I never thought...

I'd be a runner.  You see, I have been a figure skater for over half of my life. I started running to help stay in shape for skating, but then something happened.  My kindergarten teacher and former co-worker was diagnosed with cancer.  I started to relive feelings I felt when my mom was diagnosed with Hodgkin's over 15 years ago.  At one point during my mom's treatments, she told me that you only have one life, so you need to take advantage of each moment.

I decided to run the Disney World Princess Half Marathon this year. The Princess Half Marathon benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, as well as other charities. I had originally wanted to run as part of Team in Training, but I started too late to fund raise for it. My mom was worried that I wouldn't be able to do it at first.  I had only run two 5Ks prior to deciding, one of which I sprained my ankle.

From October on, I have developed a love of running.  I spent time and energy running farther and farther than I ever imagined I would run.  I sought advice from runners who had run Disney before (This site has great advice).  I began to feel better about running and my decision to run the Princess Half as my first half marathon.

February came, and I completed the Princess in 2:44:27 (chip time). I started in corral F and enjoyed every moment of the race.  There was always something to see or people cheering us on. I made some rookie mistakes (cotton t-shirt), but I was running for a purpose.  Even though I didn't run for Team in Training, I felt like I was supporting them.

Since the Princess, I have finished three more 5Ks, achieved a 5K PR of 27:28.10, and married my husband.  This year has been full of many adventures, and I can't wait to see what else this year has in store! 

Thanks Marathon Foto for the only picture I have during the race!