Here it is, the last day of 2009. Can you believe we have completed 10 years in the 2000s already?? Hard to believe. It seems like it wasn't that long ago when people were panicking and stockpiling food and stuff because we didn't know what was going to happen when the year changed from 1999 to 2000.
Well, after the 5K I am running tonight I will finish the year with 1021 miles! This is the fourth year I ran over 1000 miles.
Tonight I have 1021 miles, tomorrow I have ZERO. It's time to start all over again. My new log book is standing ready and waiting to be written in!!
Three of my Thursday night running groupies are going to be running in this race too!! One of them is inviting the rest of us to her house for dinner!!
My daughter is having a few friends over. She has been busy cleaning the place up!!
Tomorrow one of the trainers at the gym is having a group run. He said 7 miles but asked if anyone was interested in going 10 so I said I would but I don't know what is planned. He will most likely have 2 or 3 short loops planned so people can drop out when they want to.
Happy New Year and Happy Running to anyone who may happen to read this!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
20 degrees and dark and yes I was fully aware of it!
Tonight while running I was asked if I was aware that it was 20 degrees and dark. I was wearing my winter running gear, a hat, gloves, a reflective vest and a light strapped around my head so not only was I aware of the temperature and the darkness I was properly outfitted for it. I just love those kinds of questions!!
The Thursday night running group ran on Tuesday again this week since Thursday is a holiday. We ran from the store to a car dealership 2 miles away. A radio station was broadcasting live from the car dealership and was inviting people to drop in and enter to win hockey tickets and they were giving away gift certificates for various restaurants, massages and hair salons. I got a certificate for a massage!! I know this place has some good sports massage therapists! One of our group won the hockey tickets!! He got a call shortly after we got back to the store!!
The Thursday night running group ran on Tuesday again this week since Thursday is a holiday. We ran from the store to a car dealership 2 miles away. A radio station was broadcasting live from the car dealership and was inviting people to drop in and enter to win hockey tickets and they were giving away gift certificates for various restaurants, massages and hair salons. I got a certificate for a massage!! I know this place has some good sports massage therapists! One of our group won the hockey tickets!! He got a call shortly after we got back to the store!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
EWWWW something stinks!
It's my running clothes....but they are clean.... I just washed them....but they smell like I smell after a long sweaty run.
Oh dear, what's a girl to do?
Oh dear, what's a girl to do?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
1000 miles!!!!!
I didn't even realize it but I passed 1000 miles on Thursday morning!!
I ran 10 miles earlier today. Maybe I should say I covered 10 miles on foot as it was more like waddling! I ate soooooo much yesterday. Garmie says 1141 calories burned today so that might cover the ice cream.
This was one of those days that I wish I carried a camera running. When I was just getting started it was snowing. It was bright and sunny and the big white snow flakes just looked so cool! There was a dusting of snow on the ground of the wooded trail I started on and the snowflakes floating around and the very cold looking, fast moving river beside me made for a very scenic run. It snowed on and off during my run. The wooden bridges and boardwalks were slippery but the rest of the trails were good. I stepped in a deep puddle about 2.5 miles in and my left foot got wet. I had to turn around and go back on one of the trails because it was completely under water at one point. It is a boardwalk that goes over a stream and today the water was covering the boardwalk.
It was around 25 degrees. My winter running gear keeps me warm but as soon as I stop running I am freezing. I went to the restroom after I finished running and as soon as I came out of the building and started walking to my car I was freezing and ended up running to the car. The fancy wicking clothes keep your skin dry as you are running but as soon as you stop all that sweat that somehow comes to the outside all goes right back through to the inside and it is ice cold!
I wore the hat my sister gave me for Christmas. It works! My head was warm, the inside of the hat was dry and the outside was soaked when I took it off, that's how it's supposed to be!
Well, I need a nap but I also need to attempt to get my house back to normal too. My daughter and I may go to a movie tonight too. Just sitting back and watching a good movie sounds so relaxing right now!
Lorenda
runner of 1000 miles!
I ran 10 miles earlier today. Maybe I should say I covered 10 miles on foot as it was more like waddling! I ate soooooo much yesterday. Garmie says 1141 calories burned today so that might cover the ice cream.
This was one of those days that I wish I carried a camera running. When I was just getting started it was snowing. It was bright and sunny and the big white snow flakes just looked so cool! There was a dusting of snow on the ground of the wooded trail I started on and the snowflakes floating around and the very cold looking, fast moving river beside me made for a very scenic run. It snowed on and off during my run. The wooden bridges and boardwalks were slippery but the rest of the trails were good. I stepped in a deep puddle about 2.5 miles in and my left foot got wet. I had to turn around and go back on one of the trails because it was completely under water at one point. It is a boardwalk that goes over a stream and today the water was covering the boardwalk.
It was around 25 degrees. My winter running gear keeps me warm but as soon as I stop running I am freezing. I went to the restroom after I finished running and as soon as I came out of the building and started walking to my car I was freezing and ended up running to the car. The fancy wicking clothes keep your skin dry as you are running but as soon as you stop all that sweat that somehow comes to the outside all goes right back through to the inside and it is ice cold!
I wore the hat my sister gave me for Christmas. It works! My head was warm, the inside of the hat was dry and the outside was soaked when I took it off, that's how it's supposed to be!
Well, I need a nap but I also need to attempt to get my house back to normal too. My daughter and I may go to a movie tonight too. Just sitting back and watching a good movie sounds so relaxing right now!
Lorenda
runner of 1000 miles!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Oh Holy Night
And she brought forth her firstborn, a son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shephards abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around about them and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And there were in the same country shephards abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around about them and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2010 races
Several of the running bloggers I follow have now posted their planned race schedule for next year. Do I dare?? I will try to do the same by the end of the year. I am afraid that as soon as I do something like write out a list of the races I want to do next year for the world to see my hamstring will laugh in my face and decide to pull again. I hope not, I've had enough of that.
The Thursday night running group ran tonight since Thursday will be Christmas Eve. I ran 6 miles. I don't know if I will get another run in between now and Christmas. I want to do a long run the day after Christmas, at least 12 miles. I'm still thinking about where I want to go to do it. I am now only 15 miles away from 1000 for the year!!!! I could do it this week!!
After running I went shopping. I figured I should probably give my children something on Christmas. I told them that their college educations are their christmas presents this year! Gifts are very practical at our house this year.
It's bed time, I'm exhausted!
The Thursday night running group ran tonight since Thursday will be Christmas Eve. I ran 6 miles. I don't know if I will get another run in between now and Christmas. I want to do a long run the day after Christmas, at least 12 miles. I'm still thinking about where I want to go to do it. I am now only 15 miles away from 1000 for the year!!!! I could do it this week!!
After running I went shopping. I figured I should probably give my children something on Christmas. I told them that their college educations are their christmas presents this year! Gifts are very practical at our house this year.
It's bed time, I'm exhausted!
Monday, December 21, 2009
I rated my professor!!
During this semester I found out about a website called rate my professor dot com. I'd never heard of it before. I looked up the professors I've had classes with since going back to college. I found out that people either love or hate my Bio professor, nothing in between. I liked him; I liked the class; I actually wanted to go to class. I just put a rating up for him!! I gave him a good one.
Family Christmas Get-Together
Today we went to a family get together at the home of relatives in Ohio. We had a drive of about 1.5 hours. I took my Detroit Free Press to read on the way. I sure learned a lot on my way to the relatives today!
I read that the former Mayor assistant/mistress is making payments of $245 per month to pay off the fines ($100,000) she was charged; she has yet to find a new job and is living on savings and help from family to support 9 and 11 yr old children. She has been considered for some good jobs but was not hired for fear of the publicity that could happen.
I learned that there is a company in Livonia that puts up christmas lights at homes and businesses then takes it all down and packages it all for storage in January. It costs $600-$1000 for a home. WOW! They have customers all over the state.
I read an article about Diagnostic Medical Sonographer training programs. This is a career field that is growing and in demand. Most programs have waiting lists for students to get in. (There were a lot of students in my Human Bio class who were planning to go into the DMS program. )
UM is starting a new weekend MBA program for people who work full time. They will attend classes Friday evening after work and all day Saturday two weekends per month for 2 years.
I learned that holiday sales are still a bit lacking and the sales of gift cards are expected to be high this week. Stores like gift cards since most people will spend at least a little more than the value of the gift card. Yep, done that!
I saw pictures of the home of the captain of the Detroit Red Wings decorated for Christmas swedish style. It's very pretty, kind of makes me want to do some decorating here.
I learned that there is a nicotine vaccine in the works. The article told the story of one man in the trial who had great results. He received a shot once a month for five months. After the first shot he was already not craving anymore and cigarettes no longer tasted good, burned and gave him headaches. That was 3 years ago and he has not smoked since. It's not on the market yet and another study is starting at the end of this year. WOW! I know so many people who wish they could quit smoking.
MSU is building a new art museum.
An endangered gray wolf was killed in the Upper Peninsula, the DNR and USFWS are investigating.
Michigan is third in Christmas tree production. (Oregon 1st, N Carolina 2nd)
I learned something I never knew--there is a state song called "Michigan, My Michigan" The words were printed in the paper:
MICHIGAN, MY MICHIGAN
A song to thee, fair state of mine,
Michigan, my Michigan.
But greater song than this is thine,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The thunder of the inland sea,
The whisper of the towering tree,
United in one grand symphony,
Michigan, my Michigan.
I sing a song of all the best,
Michigan, my Michigan.
I sing a state with riches blessed,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The mines unmask a hidden store,
But richer thy historic lore,
More great the love thy builders bore,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Glow fair the bosom of they lakes,
Michigan, my Michigan.
What melody each river makes,
Michigan, my Michigan.
As to thy lakes thy rivers tend,
Thy exiled ones still to thee send
Devotion that shall never end,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Rich in the wealth that makes a state,
Michigan, my Michigan
Great in the things that make men great,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Eager the voice that sounds thy claim,
Under the golden roll of fame,
Willing the hand that writes the name,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Yes, I was happily reading my Detroit Free Press all the way there! I have never had a problem reading in the car.
My sister who lives in California was there today!! I haven't seen her since last Christmas.
My Grandma started a grab bag gift exchange years ago. She thought there were just too many things bought and given and too much wrapping paper ripped up! Grandma didn't like us ripping wrapping paper! We are still doing this, Grandma died in 2001 but we never even considered not carrying on the tradition of grab bag gifts! Grandma also gave everyone a brown grocery bag filled with all kinds of things and not always things you think of giving as Christmas gifts. Some of the things I can remember being in our bags were things like catsup, thread, oranges, apples, potatoes, and even toilet paper!! (yes, I'm serious!) Grandma was in assisted living and a nursing home the last 7 years of her life so the brown bags stopped during that time but not the grab bag. Grandma was at my house for the family Christmas parties every year to preside over the grab bag festivites! The year after my Grandma died my Aunt wanted to bring back the brown bags. We do it differently now, my Aunt passes out the brown bags and we all contribute things. Some of the things that landed in the bags this year were small packs of kleenex, tea bags, cocoa mix, dishcloths that my aunt made, popcorn, and lots of other stuff. (No toilet paper this year but there has been times that toilet paper has appeared in the bags!!!! )
One thing the family Christmas parties has never lacked is food! I ate way too much today. Good thing I get to start going to my Tuesday morning running group again this week! I sure have missed it and now I really need it!
info from Detroit Free Press. 20 December 2009. Print edition. Sections A,B,C,D.
I read that the former Mayor assistant/mistress is making payments of $245 per month to pay off the fines ($100,000) she was charged; she has yet to find a new job and is living on savings and help from family to support 9 and 11 yr old children. She has been considered for some good jobs but was not hired for fear of the publicity that could happen.
I learned that there is a company in Livonia that puts up christmas lights at homes and businesses then takes it all down and packages it all for storage in January. It costs $600-$1000 for a home. WOW! They have customers all over the state.
I read an article about Diagnostic Medical Sonographer training programs. This is a career field that is growing and in demand. Most programs have waiting lists for students to get in. (There were a lot of students in my Human Bio class who were planning to go into the DMS program. )
UM is starting a new weekend MBA program for people who work full time. They will attend classes Friday evening after work and all day Saturday two weekends per month for 2 years.
I learned that holiday sales are still a bit lacking and the sales of gift cards are expected to be high this week. Stores like gift cards since most people will spend at least a little more than the value of the gift card. Yep, done that!
I saw pictures of the home of the captain of the Detroit Red Wings decorated for Christmas swedish style. It's very pretty, kind of makes me want to do some decorating here.
I learned that there is a nicotine vaccine in the works. The article told the story of one man in the trial who had great results. He received a shot once a month for five months. After the first shot he was already not craving anymore and cigarettes no longer tasted good, burned and gave him headaches. That was 3 years ago and he has not smoked since. It's not on the market yet and another study is starting at the end of this year. WOW! I know so many people who wish they could quit smoking.
MSU is building a new art museum.
An endangered gray wolf was killed in the Upper Peninsula, the DNR and USFWS are investigating.
Michigan is third in Christmas tree production. (Oregon 1st, N Carolina 2nd)
I learned something I never knew--there is a state song called "Michigan, My Michigan" The words were printed in the paper:
MICHIGAN, MY MICHIGAN
A song to thee, fair state of mine,
Michigan, my Michigan.
But greater song than this is thine,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The thunder of the inland sea,
The whisper of the towering tree,
United in one grand symphony,
Michigan, my Michigan.
I sing a song of all the best,
Michigan, my Michigan.
I sing a state with riches blessed,
Michigan, my Michigan.
The mines unmask a hidden store,
But richer thy historic lore,
More great the love thy builders bore,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Glow fair the bosom of they lakes,
Michigan, my Michigan.
What melody each river makes,
Michigan, my Michigan.
As to thy lakes thy rivers tend,
Thy exiled ones still to thee send
Devotion that shall never end,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Rich in the wealth that makes a state,
Michigan, my Michigan
Great in the things that make men great,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Eager the voice that sounds thy claim,
Under the golden roll of fame,
Willing the hand that writes the name,
Michigan, my Michigan.
Yes, I was happily reading my Detroit Free Press all the way there! I have never had a problem reading in the car.
My sister who lives in California was there today!! I haven't seen her since last Christmas.
My Grandma started a grab bag gift exchange years ago. She thought there were just too many things bought and given and too much wrapping paper ripped up! Grandma didn't like us ripping wrapping paper! We are still doing this, Grandma died in 2001 but we never even considered not carrying on the tradition of grab bag gifts! Grandma also gave everyone a brown grocery bag filled with all kinds of things and not always things you think of giving as Christmas gifts. Some of the things I can remember being in our bags were things like catsup, thread, oranges, apples, potatoes, and even toilet paper!! (yes, I'm serious!) Grandma was in assisted living and a nursing home the last 7 years of her life so the brown bags stopped during that time but not the grab bag. Grandma was at my house for the family Christmas parties every year to preside over the grab bag festivites! The year after my Grandma died my Aunt wanted to bring back the brown bags. We do it differently now, my Aunt passes out the brown bags and we all contribute things. Some of the things that landed in the bags this year were small packs of kleenex, tea bags, cocoa mix, dishcloths that my aunt made, popcorn, and lots of other stuff. (No toilet paper this year but there has been times that toilet paper has appeared in the bags!!!! )
One thing the family Christmas parties has never lacked is food! I ate way too much today. Good thing I get to start going to my Tuesday morning running group again this week! I sure have missed it and now I really need it!
info from Detroit Free Press. 20 December 2009. Print edition. Sections A,B,C,D.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Running log books
I got my new running log book yesterday. Here it is with 52 weeks of blank pages, 52 blank weekly mileage and year to date miles boxes, a blank shoe page, 3 blank pages of "rave runs" and 5 pages of blank race reports. Blank pages all waiting to be filled with my running mileage, cross training, race reports and hopefully NO injury reports followed by days or weeks of blank days like a few times this year. I'm looking at my current book with only 1 full week left in it. In the front cover it says: Journal for the year ______to______. I wrote Jan. 1, 2009 in the first space. I REMEMBER DOING THAT like it was yesterday! I put my race bibs in the back and I stick the D-tags on the inside of the back cover when I ran a race that used them. I wonder if anyone else does that. Hard to believe this book is just about full.
I have tried a couple different online running logs, for awhile I tried to keep one that is on the Runner's World website but I didn't keep up with it. I like using the log book and writing in it with a pen, would that be considered "old school"??? Oh well, it works for me. I can just grab the book and write, no waiting for the computer to turn on, web site to load, clicking in each box, saving, etc. I can pick it up and look up things like my time in a race or whatever. I'm sticking with it!! I like the one put out by Runner's World.
Today I ran 7 miles with a group of people at the gym. It wasn't as cold as I thought it was. I wore my Underarmour coldgear shirt and was too warm. It had snowed some overnight, enough to make it difficult in places. I stepped in a big slushy puddle and splashed all over the front of my legs. I have 20 miles for the week and am right on track to hit 1000 miles before the end of the year! I doubt I will do any running tomorrow, we have to go to a family get together in Ohio. My sister from California is flying in tomorrow morning!! I haven't seen her in about a year.
I have tried a couple different online running logs, for awhile I tried to keep one that is on the Runner's World website but I didn't keep up with it. I like using the log book and writing in it with a pen, would that be considered "old school"??? Oh well, it works for me. I can just grab the book and write, no waiting for the computer to turn on, web site to load, clicking in each box, saving, etc. I can pick it up and look up things like my time in a race or whatever. I'm sticking with it!! I like the one put out by Runner's World.
Today I ran 7 miles with a group of people at the gym. It wasn't as cold as I thought it was. I wore my Underarmour coldgear shirt and was too warm. It had snowed some overnight, enough to make it difficult in places. I stepped in a big slushy puddle and splashed all over the front of my legs. I have 20 miles for the week and am right on track to hit 1000 miles before the end of the year! I doubt I will do any running tomorrow, we have to go to a family get together in Ohio. My sister from California is flying in tomorrow morning!! I haven't seen her in about a year.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday night running group
Every Thursday night I run with a group. We meet at the running store, whoever shows up, and we run. We have fun.
Tonight we ran through a couple of subdivisions that are near the running store and called it a Christmas Light Run. We did see some really nicely decorated houses and yards. One house had a pine tree in the yard done in blue lights, it was so cool. When we returned to the store we had chili and other food and we watched the Grinch movie. One of the group members who sings opera sang a few songs for us too, that was nice and we all enjoyed it.
Today was my last class of the semester! I am oficially done! I got 4.0 in both classes so I am one extremely happy little nerd right now!! I have 3 weeks off until next semester starts. I am going to try to get some cleaning done in my house and my car. My car looks like I live in it. I need this break!
Tonight we ran through a couple of subdivisions that are near the running store and called it a Christmas Light Run. We did see some really nicely decorated houses and yards. One house had a pine tree in the yard done in blue lights, it was so cool. When we returned to the store we had chili and other food and we watched the Grinch movie. One of the group members who sings opera sang a few songs for us too, that was nice and we all enjoyed it.
Today was my last class of the semester! I am oficially done! I got 4.0 in both classes so I am one extremely happy little nerd right now!! I have 3 weeks off until next semester starts. I am going to try to get some cleaning done in my house and my car. My car looks like I live in it. I need this break!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
It's official
I got my final grade for Human Bio class, I got my 4.0!!!! I got the highest grade on the final!
I didn't do much today, my first day of freedom!! I spent some time with my niece whom I haven't seen in over a month.
I have to go to my english class tomorrow, I'm not sure why as we are all done with everything and there is no written final. The teacher said it's a scheduled class so there has to be class. Oh well.
I got the books for one of my classes of next semester used from someone who just finished the class. It is a computer class, intro to computers. There are 2 huge, heavy books that I will have to lug around in my backpack. I got them for half the price they are selling for in the bookstore and I was looking through them and there is no writing in them, they are like new!! My other class, medical terminology, is switching to a new edition of the textbook so I will not be able to buy a used book from anyone.
Tomorrow night is a Christmas Party after running group! I just finished making some really yummy white chocolate/cranberry brownie thingys!! I will make a crock pot of chili tomorrow before going to class. We are going to run through some subdivisions that are near the running store and call it a christmas light run then go back to the store for food! We are also going to watch a Christmas movie, I'm not sure which one. Should be fun.
I didn't do much today, my first day of freedom!! I spent some time with my niece whom I haven't seen in over a month.
I have to go to my english class tomorrow, I'm not sure why as we are all done with everything and there is no written final. The teacher said it's a scheduled class so there has to be class. Oh well.
I got the books for one of my classes of next semester used from someone who just finished the class. It is a computer class, intro to computers. There are 2 huge, heavy books that I will have to lug around in my backpack. I got them for half the price they are selling for in the bookstore and I was looking through them and there is no writing in them, they are like new!! My other class, medical terminology, is switching to a new edition of the textbook so I will not be able to buy a used book from anyone.
Tomorrow night is a Christmas Party after running group! I just finished making some really yummy white chocolate/cranberry brownie thingys!! I will make a crock pot of chili tomorrow before going to class. We are going to run through some subdivisions that are near the running store and call it a christmas light run then go back to the store for food! We are also going to watch a Christmas movie, I'm not sure which one. Should be fun.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Final Exam
It's over! I took my only final exam today. The teacher said the grades would be posted within 2 hours (and they were the other times we had exams) but they aren't. This is torture.
After class I celebrated completing this class by RUNNING!! I ran 10 miles. I changed at the gym and took off from there to the paved trail then ran till Garmie said I'd run 5 miles and turned around and headed back. About the time I turned around the temperature really dropped and the trail started getting icy. I felt like I was running on a treadmill when I wasn't. I ran along the edge when I could. My hamstring had it's moments but it backed down and behaved when I told it to! Yes, I talk to my hamstring muscles sometimes. (what? doesn't everyone??)
This evening I saw the movie, "Blind Side". It was good, I enjoyed it. I never realized that it was a true story until the end when they showed pictures of the real people.
I can hardly believe that I don't have any homework to do!!! This is great! I have 3 weeks off then it starts all over again.
After class I celebrated completing this class by RUNNING!! I ran 10 miles. I changed at the gym and took off from there to the paved trail then ran till Garmie said I'd run 5 miles and turned around and headed back. About the time I turned around the temperature really dropped and the trail started getting icy. I felt like I was running on a treadmill when I wasn't. I ran along the edge when I could. My hamstring had it's moments but it backed down and behaved when I told it to! Yes, I talk to my hamstring muscles sometimes. (what? doesn't everyone??)
This evening I saw the movie, "Blind Side". It was good, I enjoyed it. I never realized that it was a true story until the end when they showed pictures of the real people.
I can hardly believe that I don't have any homework to do!!! This is great! I have 3 weeks off then it starts all over again.
This is it
In 7.5 hours I take the final exam
I sure hope I remember everything I studied today
when it's all over Runner Nerd is gonna put aside the Nerd and become just Runner for about 1.5 hrs!!
ok, time for some sleep
Runner Nerd
overstudier
I sure hope I remember everything I studied today
when it's all over Runner Nerd is gonna put aside the Nerd and become just Runner for about 1.5 hrs!!
ok, time for some sleep
Runner Nerd
overstudier
Sunday, December 13, 2009
18 more down, 34.3 to go!!
Ran 18 miles this week so I only need 34.3 more to hit 1000 for the year!
I studied at the Library today. There was something going on at the theater which is in the building right next to the library, that parking lot was full and the lot in front of the library had a lot of cars in it when I got there, I had to park way out which is unusual for a Sunday. When I came out of the library 3.5 hrs later the lots were nearly empty and my car was wayyyyyy out there all by itself!
Friday night at the party for my running group the boyfriend of one of the ladies proposed during the gift exchange!! I have never seen anyone propose in real life before. We do a gift exchange where we all bring a gift then we do the draw numbers thing and pick a gift when our number is called. One of the gifts was a banner rolled up and when the person who picked it opened it there was a note on it that said something like get a friend to help you unroll this. It was a long banner asking her to marry him. She had her back turned and was talking to someone as the rest of us were figuring out what it said!! It was really cool and she said yes and he gave her a ring!! They have been together for a long time. oh, yeah, the person who picked that "gift" then got to pick a real gift!! It was the highlight of the night!!
Tomorrow is my last day to study for my Bio final then I take the test Tuesday at 11 then I am DONEEEEEE!!!!!!!! I will wear my running clothes under sweats and go for a wonderful long run after class on Tuesday!!!!!!! After my run I will check online for my grade, gotta love it, within 2 hours after taking an exam the grades are posted online!!
I studied at the Library today. There was something going on at the theater which is in the building right next to the library, that parking lot was full and the lot in front of the library had a lot of cars in it when I got there, I had to park way out which is unusual for a Sunday. When I came out of the library 3.5 hrs later the lots were nearly empty and my car was wayyyyyy out there all by itself!
Friday night at the party for my running group the boyfriend of one of the ladies proposed during the gift exchange!! I have never seen anyone propose in real life before. We do a gift exchange where we all bring a gift then we do the draw numbers thing and pick a gift when our number is called. One of the gifts was a banner rolled up and when the person who picked it opened it there was a note on it that said something like get a friend to help you unroll this. It was a long banner asking her to marry him. She had her back turned and was talking to someone as the rest of us were figuring out what it said!! It was really cool and she said yes and he gave her a ring!! They have been together for a long time. oh, yeah, the person who picked that "gift" then got to pick a real gift!! It was the highlight of the night!!
Tomorrow is my last day to study for my Bio final then I take the test Tuesday at 11 then I am DONEEEEEE!!!!!!!! I will wear my running clothes under sweats and go for a wonderful long run after class on Tuesday!!!!!!! After my run I will check online for my grade, gotta love it, within 2 hours after taking an exam the grades are posted online!!
Friday, December 11, 2009
10 degrees, windy & 11 nutty people out running in the dark
10 degrees, windy, 11 nutty people running on the sidewalk along Jackson Rd. wearing reflective vests and headlamps. Yep, that's normal.
It was COLD out there. I wore a new pair of Asics winter tights that I bought in the middle of summer at a big sidewalk sale at the running store. I like them, they fit good and they look ok on me but I'm not sure if they are as warm as my Underarmour Coldgear tights. We just did a simple out and back on Jackson Rd tonight. The "out" went fine, the "back" was into the wind. My face felt like after dental work! Right now the thought of training for a spring marathon isn't very appealing. Maybe we are getting all the nasty weather out of the way now and come February it will be 30s to 40s, no snow and sunny!! Yeah, right. If I do decide to do Bayshore, Feb 6 is the day I need to start the training but there is that little detail of base building between now and then. I JUST DON'T KNOW.
In other things...
Today I gave my presentation in my English class. I got a 100%!!!! (within the next couple days I'm going to make a blog post of my presentation subject, it's an interesting story of a woman who was ahead of her time in the 1930s) I will get a 4.0 for the class!! I also got my writing portfolio back. I got 100% on that too. (300 of 300 points) My teacher wrote that I should write "in your own voice" more. I'm not really sure what he means. I am not a good writer and never have been. I am glad that class is done even though we still have to go next Thursday. My final in Human Bio is Tuesday and that class will be done, the teacher isn't holding class on Thursday. As of right now I have 99.3 in Bio so as long as I don't have a total disaster on the final I will end up with a 4.0 in that class too! I have some studying to do this weekend.
Tomorrow night is the Holiday party for the running group that I've had to miss out on this semester. I found a great gift for the gift exchange, it's a necklace with a little running girl on it!! It is so cool.
Next Thursday night we are having a Christmas party at the running store after the group run. We are going to do a short run through a couple of subdivisions that are near the store (Christmas light gawking) then back to the store for FOOD!!!!!!!!!! We are also going to watch the Grinch movie. It will be fun. I just hope the running store remembers to put something in the weekly e-newsletter next week; they forgot to this week.
That's about it for now.
It was COLD out there. I wore a new pair of Asics winter tights that I bought in the middle of summer at a big sidewalk sale at the running store. I like them, they fit good and they look ok on me but I'm not sure if they are as warm as my Underarmour Coldgear tights. We just did a simple out and back on Jackson Rd tonight. The "out" went fine, the "back" was into the wind. My face felt like after dental work! Right now the thought of training for a spring marathon isn't very appealing. Maybe we are getting all the nasty weather out of the way now and come February it will be 30s to 40s, no snow and sunny!! Yeah, right. If I do decide to do Bayshore, Feb 6 is the day I need to start the training but there is that little detail of base building between now and then. I JUST DON'T KNOW.
In other things...
Today I gave my presentation in my English class. I got a 100%!!!! (within the next couple days I'm going to make a blog post of my presentation subject, it's an interesting story of a woman who was ahead of her time in the 1930s) I will get a 4.0 for the class!! I also got my writing portfolio back. I got 100% on that too. (300 of 300 points) My teacher wrote that I should write "in your own voice" more. I'm not really sure what he means. I am not a good writer and never have been. I am glad that class is done even though we still have to go next Thursday. My final in Human Bio is Tuesday and that class will be done, the teacher isn't holding class on Thursday. As of right now I have 99.3 in Bio so as long as I don't have a total disaster on the final I will end up with a 4.0 in that class too! I have some studying to do this weekend.
Tomorrow night is the Holiday party for the running group that I've had to miss out on this semester. I found a great gift for the gift exchange, it's a necklace with a little running girl on it!! It is so cool.
Next Thursday night we are having a Christmas party at the running store after the group run. We are going to do a short run through a couple of subdivisions that are near the store (Christmas light gawking) then back to the store for FOOD!!!!!!!!!! We are also going to watch the Grinch movie. It will be fun. I just hope the running store remembers to put something in the weekly e-newsletter next week; they forgot to this week.
That's about it for now.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Mission almost accomplished
Today was my last lab for Human Bio class and I could not be happier!! I said goodbye to the kitty I've been disecting for 10 weeks. I am very disappointed in myself, I missed 3 on the test we had in lab today so my grade is 94. My overall grade was 98.5 and with this 94 it will bring my grade down to 97.8. I know that's not tragic or anything, I still have a 4.0 for the class. Oh well, I have to get past it and study for the final which is next Tuesday.
To celebrate being done with lab and the final lab test being over I went for a 7 mile trail run!! I didn't run very fast but I ran and my hamstring never hurt. It snowed on and off while I was running, that's the first time running in snow this season. I really enjoyed my run and I am 7 miles closer to my goal of 1000 by the end of the year!! (I think I now have 46 to go)
My daughter had all of her finals yesterday and today and she is now home until the end of the first week of January, over a month. I still have another week and there goes my quiet house.
It's snowing. We are getting our first snow of the season. My daughter and I went to town earier in the evening and on our way home we saw 2 cars slide into the median or ditch, typical on the first snowfall of the season. People seem to forget that you have to slow down when it snows and becomes slippery.
OK, I am off to bed. This college student nerd runner is exhausted and has an oral presentation to finish up for Thursday English class. Yippie. That is another class I will be very happy about finishing.
To celebrate being done with lab and the final lab test being over I went for a 7 mile trail run!! I didn't run very fast but I ran and my hamstring never hurt. It snowed on and off while I was running, that's the first time running in snow this season. I really enjoyed my run and I am 7 miles closer to my goal of 1000 by the end of the year!! (I think I now have 46 to go)
My daughter had all of her finals yesterday and today and she is now home until the end of the first week of January, over a month. I still have another week and there goes my quiet house.
It's snowing. We are getting our first snow of the season. My daughter and I went to town earier in the evening and on our way home we saw 2 cars slide into the median or ditch, typical on the first snowfall of the season. People seem to forget that you have to slow down when it snows and becomes slippery.
OK, I am off to bed. This college student nerd runner is exhausted and has an oral presentation to finish up for Thursday English class. Yippie. That is another class I will be very happy about finishing.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Last Lab!!!!
Yayyyyyyyyyy!! Tomorrow is my last lab in Human Bio class!!! Well, actually it's today, just realized it's Tuesday now!
I believe I am ready for the test.
After school I go running!!!!!!
Time for some sleep now.
I believe I am ready for the test.
After school I go running!!!!!!
Time for some sleep now.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Octogenarian Marathoner
I stumbled upon an article about a dude who is 80 years young and still running marathons! He recently ran his 456th marathon and he didn't even start running until he was 51 years old!! WOW! That is an average of 15 per year! The article says his record is 24 in one year. GEEZ, that's 2 per month! I couldn't even run without pain for 7 weeks after my last marathon. (makes one wonder why I'd want to do it again!) He ran a marathon ON his 80th birthday even!!
His first marathon time was 3:53:45, that's faster than I've ever run one. His PR was at age 58 with 3:00:12. WOWWWW!! He has run 10 Bostons with a PR of 3:04:25, also at age 58. (only a week after the 3 hour PR!) He's been slowing down these days; the last time he ran a sub 4 hour marathon was in 2003 at age 73 (3:59:01). His fastest marathon of 2009 (so far, he still has 2 more to run this year) was 5:22:19. He is running Boston in 2010 according to the article. The qualifying time for 80 years is 5 hours so he must have qualified late in 2008 at a race that was a qualifier for 2010. For having run 456 marathons he's only run them in 37 different states. The author of the article said he is in "octogenarian overdrive"!! I guess so! This dude is not spending his retirement in a rocking chair!
YOU ROCK, Bob Dolphin!! Go kick age group butt at Boston 2010!!!!!!
His first marathon time was 3:53:45, that's faster than I've ever run one. His PR was at age 58 with 3:00:12. WOWWWW!! He has run 10 Bostons with a PR of 3:04:25, also at age 58. (only a week after the 3 hour PR!) He's been slowing down these days; the last time he ran a sub 4 hour marathon was in 2003 at age 73 (3:59:01). His fastest marathon of 2009 (so far, he still has 2 more to run this year) was 5:22:19. He is running Boston in 2010 according to the article. The qualifying time for 80 years is 5 hours so he must have qualified late in 2008 at a race that was a qualifier for 2010. For having run 456 marathons he's only run them in 37 different states. The author of the article said he is in "octogenarian overdrive"!! I guess so! This dude is not spending his retirement in a rocking chair!
YOU ROCK, Bob Dolphin!! Go kick age group butt at Boston 2010!!!!!!
Christmas Parade
Each year on the night of the parade and the tree lighting in the park they put out luminaries made from milk jugs along both sides of main street. A couple years ago I drove through the town on that night and saw them. It is really something to see, very beautiful. When I was on my way to work it was still light out but the luminaries were sitting out along the street. They look funny when it's light, they look like milk jugs!! When it is dark and they have a candle burning inside them they don't look like milk jugs. I took a few pictures when I was stopped during the parade. I was driving very slow and had to stop a lot since the float in front of me included people walking. There were a lot of kids walking in it too so it moved slow like most parades do. The luminaries show in the pictures but it's not as pretty as seeing them. I love luminaries and candles. My kids say I have an obsession with fire because I like to light lots of candles. One year we had a hayride party and I had carved a bunch of jack-o-lanterns and had them around the yard and I had orange luminaires around the area where we had a fire going. I tried to do the same thing the next year but it was too windy and they wouldn't stay lit. I usually put luminaries along our driveway on Christmas eve, sometimes they stay lit and sometimes they don't.
I posted the pictures I took of the luminaries, hopefully they show up enough. I also posted a pic of one of the fire trucks with christmas lights on it! It was blocking the street where all the paraders entered the street from the staging area in shopping center parking lot.
I'm not very good at doing this, I don't know how to arrange the pictures but this isn't quite what I had in mind!! I have a computer class next semester, who knows maybe I will become more tech-savvy! ha ha!
I feel like lighting candles now!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
25 miles this week!!
25.7 miles to be exact!! The last time I had 25 miles was the week of September 7-13, I had 28 that week and thought I was right on track for the 25K I was planning to run a month later but I pulled my hamstring again the following week.
Yesterday I ran 10 miles after work. It was 45 degrees and sunny. I wore a short sleeve shirt under a long sleeve shirt and took the short sleeve shirt off after 5 miles. I ran a loop and came back to my car to drink then continued on. I really slowed down the last 2 miles. At times my right hamstring hurt a little but I never pulled it. It was sore today so I didn't run. It's not like when I pulled it and I am really hoping that I don't start pulling it again.
After running I went to Panera Bread to study. The music they were playing was very annoying. I did manage to get a lot done. I have 3 more weeks of classes and I am so ready for this semester to be over.
I had pretty much given up on the idea of having over 1000 miles this year. I have had over 1000 miles the last 3 years. With all the hamstring pulling and low mileage I figured it was out of reach this year. Well, last week I passed 900 miles so then I wondered if maybe I could do it. This week I now have 929 miles for the year which leaves 71 miles to reach 1000 and there is still 4 1/2 weeks left!! I think I can do it, I HAVE to do it! I will have to run less than 20 miles per week to do it.
I keep a running log book. The one I use is by Runner's World. I've used this same one for years, it's very simple. Each 2 page spread is one week with a section for each day and a box for weekly mileage and year to date mileage. I love watching the year to date mileage climb each week. It's what keeps me going, I find it very motivational. Then comes December 31/January 1 and my mileage goes from over 1000 to ZERO overnight. If I do decide to run a spring marathon it won't take long for the miles to start adding up again. I guess I better start thinking seriously about it because Feb. 6 is 16 weeks out from the marathon and I will need to start training. If I keep up the mileage I am running right now I will have plenty of base to start training on Feb. 6. Jan 23 is 18 weeks out, some training plans are 18 weeks. The marathon I am thinking about running fills up well before the date. (Memorial Day weekend) The half marathon fills up in January. I just don't like winter and snow and cold, it's so hard to get my butt out the door to run. Last winter there were more weeks than I'd like to admit that the only times I ran were Tuesday mornings and Thursday nights, both running groups. The Tuesday mornings were on an indoor track, the Thursday nights were outside. Next semester both of my classes will be on Wednesday and I will have a 3 hour break between them so I am thinking that I could go running then go shower at the gym and head back to school with time to spare.
If I decide to run a spring marathon maybe I should take a weekend to go somewhere warm to do my long run!!!!!!!!! yeah right!!!!!!! I can dream!
Yesterday I ran 10 miles after work. It was 45 degrees and sunny. I wore a short sleeve shirt under a long sleeve shirt and took the short sleeve shirt off after 5 miles. I ran a loop and came back to my car to drink then continued on. I really slowed down the last 2 miles. At times my right hamstring hurt a little but I never pulled it. It was sore today so I didn't run. It's not like when I pulled it and I am really hoping that I don't start pulling it again.
After running I went to Panera Bread to study. The music they were playing was very annoying. I did manage to get a lot done. I have 3 more weeks of classes and I am so ready for this semester to be over.
I had pretty much given up on the idea of having over 1000 miles this year. I have had over 1000 miles the last 3 years. With all the hamstring pulling and low mileage I figured it was out of reach this year. Well, last week I passed 900 miles so then I wondered if maybe I could do it. This week I now have 929 miles for the year which leaves 71 miles to reach 1000 and there is still 4 1/2 weeks left!! I think I can do it, I HAVE to do it! I will have to run less than 20 miles per week to do it.
I keep a running log book. The one I use is by Runner's World. I've used this same one for years, it's very simple. Each 2 page spread is one week with a section for each day and a box for weekly mileage and year to date mileage. I love watching the year to date mileage climb each week. It's what keeps me going, I find it very motivational. Then comes December 31/January 1 and my mileage goes from over 1000 to ZERO overnight. If I do decide to run a spring marathon it won't take long for the miles to start adding up again. I guess I better start thinking seriously about it because Feb. 6 is 16 weeks out from the marathon and I will need to start training. If I keep up the mileage I am running right now I will have plenty of base to start training on Feb. 6. Jan 23 is 18 weeks out, some training plans are 18 weeks. The marathon I am thinking about running fills up well before the date. (Memorial Day weekend) The half marathon fills up in January. I just don't like winter and snow and cold, it's so hard to get my butt out the door to run. Last winter there were more weeks than I'd like to admit that the only times I ran were Tuesday mornings and Thursday nights, both running groups. The Tuesday mornings were on an indoor track, the Thursday nights were outside. Next semester both of my classes will be on Wednesday and I will have a 3 hour break between them so I am thinking that I could go running then go shower at the gym and head back to school with time to spare.
If I decide to run a spring marathon maybe I should take a weekend to go somewhere warm to do my long run!!!!!!!!! yeah right!!!!!!! I can dream!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Just say NO to shopping on black Friday!!
It's 2:30 pm on black Friday and I haven't been to a store yet!!! I will be going for a short run in a little while. I will be driving right past Best Buy, Kohl's and Target on my way to the trail to run!! I won't even feel the slightest urge to turn in! I have no deisre to join in the madness.
My daughter was at JC Penney at 4am, she wanted to do it just once, she said. She says she was in and out in about 5 minutes to buy a pair of jeans that were $14.00 in the wee hours of the morning only. She then went to Walmart but turned around and left as soon as she was in the door, she said she had never seen anything like it. It was crammed with people, she didn't know how she would have walked back to the DVDs which are in the back. I wonder if she took a picture, I'll have to ask her later. She then went to Target which was the late opener at a very late 5am! She then went to Best Buy after that. Then her and her friend had breakfast and she was home at 10:15. She is now sound asleep in the living room. I didn't even wake her up when I made myself some lunch!!
I guess I should get back to my homework. The end of the semester is so close and I am so ready for it to be over.
My daughter was at JC Penney at 4am, she wanted to do it just once, she said. She says she was in and out in about 5 minutes to buy a pair of jeans that were $14.00 in the wee hours of the morning only. She then went to Walmart but turned around and left as soon as she was in the door, she said she had never seen anything like it. It was crammed with people, she didn't know how she would have walked back to the DVDs which are in the back. I wonder if she took a picture, I'll have to ask her later. She then went to Target which was the late opener at a very late 5am! She then went to Best Buy after that. Then her and her friend had breakfast and she was home at 10:15. She is now sound asleep in the living room. I didn't even wake her up when I made myself some lunch!!
I guess I should get back to my homework. The end of the semester is so close and I am so ready for it to be over.
If I ignore it will it go away?
HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When did they start calling it Black Friday? Eariler in the week I saw signs on a couple of stores that said they were opening at 4AM on Friday. FOUR AM???? WHY????? Where will I be at 4 AM? Hmmmm...oh, I know....I will be in my bed wrapped up in my flannel sheets and fleece blankies SLEEPING!!!! No shopping for me, no lining up in the dark waiting for stores to open for me. I would much rather go for a run. Maybe I will dress in black and go for a black Friday run!! I did see some black Friday races advertised but they weren't close by. I need to do homework too, I did very little this evening.
My daughter and I went to see the new Christmas Carol movie this afternoon. It was in 3D. That was the first time I've ever been to a 3D movie.
If I ignore the holday season that is upon us will it go away? I really feel like digging my John Grisham Skipping Christmas book out and re-reading it. I like that Dude's idea and how he sticks to it!! (too bad he doesn't get to go on the cruise in the end)
When did they start calling it Black Friday? Eariler in the week I saw signs on a couple of stores that said they were opening at 4AM on Friday. FOUR AM???? WHY????? Where will I be at 4 AM? Hmmmm...oh, I know....I will be in my bed wrapped up in my flannel sheets and fleece blankies SLEEPING!!!! No shopping for me, no lining up in the dark waiting for stores to open for me. I would much rather go for a run. Maybe I will dress in black and go for a black Friday run!! I did see some black Friday races advertised but they weren't close by. I need to do homework too, I did very little this evening.
My daughter and I went to see the new Christmas Carol movie this afternoon. It was in 3D. That was the first time I've ever been to a 3D movie.
If I ignore the holday season that is upon us will it go away? I really feel like digging my John Grisham Skipping Christmas book out and re-reading it. I like that Dude's idea and how he sticks to it!! (too bad he doesn't get to go on the cruise in the end)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Turkey Trot
I got up early this morning to go run 6.2 miles!! I ran a very informal turkey trot held at the YMCA I belong to. It was fun. The course was a 5K course with the option to run it once or twice. I suggested that last year and everyone thought I was nuts!! I wanted to run 10K since there is no Thursday night group run tonight. My friend, Carol, said she'd run with me. Carol has been running good lately, she has been Miss Speedy lately! She's been winning or placing in her age group (same age group as me) in everything she enters lately. I didn't want to hold her back but she insisted. She took off at the end and finished just ahead of me on the UPHILL finish! I had just over 55 minutes which is right around 8:50 pace. I haven't run that fast that far in a very long time so I am happy with it. She was talking the whole time, I had a very hard time talking. 9 minutes is about where running becomes a non-conversational pace for me.
I can't believe what I did, I forgot to clear my last run out of my Garmin before the race.
Well, just got a call, time to head out to Grandma's for dinner!! Good thing I've already pre-burned 600 calories!!!!
I can't believe what I did, I forgot to clear my last run out of my Garmin before the race.
Well, just got a call, time to head out to Grandma's for dinner!! Good thing I've already pre-burned 600 calories!!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Give Thanks
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. --Psalm 136:01
6 miles
Yesterday was another great November running day! Once again in late November in Michigan I was able to run in short tights and just one shirt layer!! How often does that happen? Late in my run I was pushing up the sleeves thinking I should have worn short sleeves!! Just before the trail parking lot I saw one of those signs with the temperature that said 52 degrees. I ran 6 miles! I even managed to stay under a 9:30 pace! I feel like I am on my way back to running like I used to. This weekend will mark 10 weeks since the last hamstring pull.
Hard to believe it's that time of year again. Yippie. If I ignore it will it go away?
My mileage is so below what it usually is and I'm not doing the workout classes I usually do since going to school this semester which sounds like a holiday weight gain disaster waiting to happen.
I will be running a 10K in the morning. Right now I'm not even sure what we are doing for dinner so maybe there won't be any huge dinners!! My daughter will be home from college and we are planning on going to a movie in the evening.
Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who may happen to read this!
Hard to believe it's that time of year again. Yippie. If I ignore it will it go away?
My mileage is so below what it usually is and I'm not doing the workout classes I usually do since going to school this semester which sounds like a holiday weight gain disaster waiting to happen.
I will be running a 10K in the morning. Right now I'm not even sure what we are doing for dinner so maybe there won't be any huge dinners!! My daughter will be home from college and we are planning on going to a movie in the evening.
Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who may happen to read this!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
running in shorts on Nov 21
Is it really November 21st? I ran 10.5 miles this afternoon in shorts & short sleeves! It's weird but I'm not going to argue! I had a great run. I ran at my 2nd favorite running place, Gallup Park. I parked in the boat launch parking lot, ran the loop to Furstenburg Park and back then continued on around the other side of the park to the loop to Parker Mill and back to my car which was 7 miles. Stopped at the car for a drink and gu chomps (they're ok) then I decided to do something I very soon regretted!! I decided the loop around the arboretum would be just the right distance to make 10 miles. I guess I had forgotten that trek up Geddes Ave to the entrance to the Arb....UPHILL ALL THE WAY OVER A MILE. I finally got to the Arb and by going this way I got to run DOWN the famous Arb hill!!!! (all because I like loops and not out and back runs) After that it was pretty flat all the way back to Gallup. I ran along the river and through the something-prairie (can't remember the name) crossed the RR tracks (shhhhhh don't tell anyone) and back to Gallup. It was a little longer than I remember, I hit 10.5 miles when I got back to the main parking lot so I stopped and walked around to where I parked, about 1/4 mile, which is good for me anyway. I brought my bio books with the intention of going somewhere to work after running. I changed in the back seat of the car. I took a wet washcloth in a ziploc baggie. I put the baggie in the window when I stopped at the car for a drink because sun was shining in on the dashboard. After my run the baggie was warm, the washcloth wasn't really warm but it wasn't cold either. I used it to wipe the sweat off, changed and headed off to Panera Bread for lunch and studying. I got quite a lot done. I knew that if I went somewhere I'd sit and actually do the work, at home I'd have taken a shower first and would have found a way to get distracted. Oh, I almost forgot, I saw a pair of mallard ducks right as I was getting back to my car. Nobody was launching any boats at the boat launch today so they were just hanging out. I got my camera out of the car and took a couple pictures. I will add them to the post when I get home as I don't have the camera cord here.
Here is the Garmin map of my run: my 10.5 mile run
Well, it's time to head home. It was a great day for a run.
Here is the Garmin map of my run: my 10.5 mile run
Well, it's time to head home. It was a great day for a run.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Once again...the old lady comes in 1st place!!!
This is getting to be so much fun!! Today was exam day in Human Bio class. This test was hard, very complicated stuff like the nervous system and endocrine system and a bunch of other stuff too.
I again got the highest grade in the class!!
I had my laptop with me today and I checked for grades just before heading to lab but they weren't posted. When the teacher got there he said he got them posted but since it was time to start lab I wasn't able to look. When we were cleaning up another student asked if I had my computer with me so we could look up the grades. I was all nervous, I wasn't sure how I did and I didn't want to click on the word "grades" but when I did there was my ID# right up there at the top of the list!!!!! The student who was looking at the grades with me had been .02 of a percentage point ahead of me but I had passed him!!! The teacher was laughing at us! We admitted we were total nerds!!
Tonight I ran an 8K in a big park where they put up a huge drive through light display every year. Opening night they have a run through it. It's fun, there are no bibs or time or winners, I think they do it for the $$ to help pay for the HUGE electric bill they must get every January! The tshirt is really cool this year. I like it. I remember doing this run last year, it was FREEZING. This year it was somewhere around 50. I only wore 1 layer!
Well, I have a paper to work on, I totally ignored this paper and another assignment I have for english class all weekend so I could study for the bio test.
I again got the highest grade in the class!!
I had my laptop with me today and I checked for grades just before heading to lab but they weren't posted. When the teacher got there he said he got them posted but since it was time to start lab I wasn't able to look. When we were cleaning up another student asked if I had my computer with me so we could look up the grades. I was all nervous, I wasn't sure how I did and I didn't want to click on the word "grades" but when I did there was my ID# right up there at the top of the list!!!!! The student who was looking at the grades with me had been .02 of a percentage point ahead of me but I had passed him!!! The teacher was laughing at us! We admitted we were total nerds!!
Tonight I ran an 8K in a big park where they put up a huge drive through light display every year. Opening night they have a run through it. It's fun, there are no bibs or time or winners, I think they do it for the $$ to help pay for the HUGE electric bill they must get every January! The tshirt is really cool this year. I like it. I remember doing this run last year, it was FREEZING. This year it was somewhere around 50. I only wore 1 layer!
Well, I have a paper to work on, I totally ignored this paper and another assignment I have for english class all weekend so I could study for the bio test.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Is it really November?
What a beautiful day today! It was in the high 50s and maybe even low 60s all day. I had to work until 4:30 and after work went to the park to go running. I ran in shorts and short sleeve shirt on November 14th!!! The only problem was that I ran out of daylight and could only run 5 miles. I wanted to run more. I didn't think I should be out alone after dark even though this park is in a good area.
The wooded trail is so different than the last time I ran through there, the leaves are all off the trees now and the weeds have died down so you can see the river clearly now. The trail was covered in a thick layer of leaves which made it slippery and hides the tree roots and rocks. I stumbled on a rock once but didn't fall. Even though I was running in the last hour of daylight I saw lots of others out there running too! I love being out running and seeing other people doing it too. When I run the roads around where I live I never see anyone else running.
The wooded trail is so different than the last time I ran through there, the leaves are all off the trees now and the weeds have died down so you can see the river clearly now. The trail was covered in a thick layer of leaves which made it slippery and hides the tree roots and rocks. I stumbled on a rock once but didn't fall. Even though I was running in the last hour of daylight I saw lots of others out there running too! I love being out running and seeing other people doing it too. When I run the roads around where I live I never see anyone else running.
This is one cool dude!!
I saw this in last Sunday's Detroit Free Press and went looking for more information online.
In Illinois a 101 yr old dude just bought a new 2010 Camaro!! YES, one hundred one years old! I found youtube videos of him and the car. His name is Virgil Coffman. I absolutely love what he says..."Who cares what you drive, whether you're 100 or 50." In other words, no old fogie Cadillacs for this dude!!! Who knows, in 2063 I could be buying a brand new Jeep!!
YOU ROCK, Virgil Coffman!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Info from Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 Detroit Free Press print edition, page 2B and youtube video.
In Illinois a 101 yr old dude just bought a new 2010 Camaro!! YES, one hundred one years old! I found youtube videos of him and the car. His name is Virgil Coffman. I absolutely love what he says..."Who cares what you drive, whether you're 100 or 50." In other words, no old fogie Cadillacs for this dude!!! Who knows, in 2063 I could be buying a brand new Jeep!!
YOU ROCK, Virgil Coffman!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Info from Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 Detroit Free Press print edition, page 2B and youtube video.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Runner party tonight!
Just takin a break from studying.
Tonight the running group I've had to give up going to this semester is having a party!! I can't wait! I miss those ladies so much. I can't wait to see them again. I can't wait until this semester is over so I can again go back to Tuesday morning speedwork torture!!!!! Maybe I will actually get my speed back up again!
Last night I ran 7.5 with the Thursday night group I go to. We start out together for about 1.5 mile then the speedys go on ahead and we kind of spread out. I wonder what we looked like when we were still all together, it was dark, there were 8 of us running in a group all wearing either reflective vests or reflective stripes on jackets, and headlamps, wonder what that looked like to oncoming traffic! We start out on a main road but it has a sidewalk so we weren't in the road. Most of our run is on dirt roads.
OK, back to studying. I have to work tomorrow so have to get as much as possible done today before I go to the party. Big exam on Tuesday in bio.
I'll go running in one of the parks after work tomorrow--can't wait!!!!
Tonight the running group I've had to give up going to this semester is having a party!! I can't wait! I miss those ladies so much. I can't wait to see them again. I can't wait until this semester is over so I can again go back to Tuesday morning speedwork torture!!!!! Maybe I will actually get my speed back up again!
Last night I ran 7.5 with the Thursday night group I go to. We start out together for about 1.5 mile then the speedys go on ahead and we kind of spread out. I wonder what we looked like when we were still all together, it was dark, there were 8 of us running in a group all wearing either reflective vests or reflective stripes on jackets, and headlamps, wonder what that looked like to oncoming traffic! We start out on a main road but it has a sidewalk so we weren't in the road. Most of our run is on dirt roads.
OK, back to studying. I have to work tomorrow so have to get as much as possible done today before I go to the party. Big exam on Tuesday in bio.
I'll go running in one of the parks after work tomorrow--can't wait!!!!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Another Nicholas Sparks book is made into a movie!
After school today I went for a run then went to a movie. (Ok, I came home and showered first!) I went to see the Amelia Earhart movie. One of the previews was for Dear John which is a Nicholas Sparks book. I read it a few months ago. The movie doesn't come out until February. Why do they do that? They go and show the preview then say you have to wait 3 months to see it??? Oh well. I like Nicholas Sparks' books. Every time a new one comes out I anxiously wait until it comes out in paperback to buy it. They can tell you when it's scheduled to come out in paperback at Borders or Barnes & Noble when it first comes out. Why don't they just make books in both hard and paper covers right away????? Anyway...back to the movie I saw tonight...
This is kinda funny...I don't know that much about Amelia Earhart but I do know who she is and I know that she disappeared flying a plane many years ago. Sooooooo.....knowing that, why was I sitting there during the movie on pins and needles hoping that she finds the little island and lands safely?????? I already knew what happened to her. Did I really think they were going to rewrite history?? I never knew that she was married so I learned something new!
I can't wait to see the new Christmas Carol movie, maybe next Tuesday. (Tuesday is $5.00 day at NCG Cinemas.)
This is kinda funny...I don't know that much about Amelia Earhart but I do know who she is and I know that she disappeared flying a plane many years ago. Sooooooo.....knowing that, why was I sitting there during the movie on pins and needles hoping that she finds the little island and lands safely?????? I already knew what happened to her. Did I really think they were going to rewrite history?? I never knew that she was married so I learned something new!
I can't wait to see the new Christmas Carol movie, maybe next Tuesday. (Tuesday is $5.00 day at NCG Cinemas.)
Saturday, November 7, 2009
I am officially a nerd!
Here is a picture of me with my sash on that I will wear on my gown when I graduate. Until then I have to put it away and not lose it! I put it in my closet, folded and in a plastic bag. Now I have it written down where it is! I was surprised that they gave the sashes out today, I figured they'd do that at the time of graduation. I am going to my first meeting on Wednesday. The first thing I am going to volunteer to help with is a food drive for a womens shelter. After the ceremony I celebrated by going to the trail, changing out of my dress into running clothes and running 10 miles! This is the first double-digit run I've done since September 12. I pulled my hamstring again during the following week. It's been 7 weeks now since I last pulled it, do I dare dream about running another marathon? It was a beautiful day today, I ran in shorts and a sleeveless shirt! I ran pretty good for 8.5 miles, the last 1.5 got tough. I am sore now. I ran on the Falling Waters Trail, it's a paved rail to trail. It's very nice, most of it is wooded and there are some ponds at places. There aren't too many road crossings after the first 1.5 miles. It is a great thing to have in this area...however...I don't like out and back runs, I much prefer loops.
This is the map of my run of today: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/18255081
This is the map of my favorite running route at Bandemer Park in Ann Arbor:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13288665
You have to admit the straight line is pretty boring!! I know, part of my favorite route is out and back...but that is a very scenic section! It is right alongside the Huron River and I will try to explain this: the section between Broadway St. (the trail actually goes UNDER the road) and toward Main St. (it looks like I ran down the middle of the river on the map) is a dirt trail with the Huron River on one side and the other side is what is called a headrace (I think that's what it is called) from a dam (where I cross from one side of the river to the other-that is a bridge over a dam). It's really cool running through there, I like it. That dam is probably going to be removed and, as I understand it, the headrace will no longer be there. I'm writing a paper for my writing class on the dam removal! I was against it until I started reading more about it; I still hate to see it go (and hope it doesn't) but can understand the reasons now. Maybe I will write about that here after I finish my paper. I am facinated by that dam! When I cross over the bridge the water on one side is barely moving but it comes rushing out the other side all white and foamy. It is so cool, sometimes I pause from my run and watch it. I guess it doesn't take much to amuse me!
Well, this honor student/runner is tired and needs to get some sleep! I didn't do any homework today so guess what I am going to be doing tomorrow!
L
Friday, November 6, 2009
What happened to college in 25 years?
As I've written before, I went back to college in January of this year. I am now in my 3rd semester. Until this semester my classes were all online. This is my first semester of on campus classes. I knew it would be different than when I went to college in 1980 but I had no idea how different. The first day of my bio class the first thing the proffessor said is NO CELL PHONES IN MY CLASS. He was very adamant about it, said he did not want to hear a cell phone ring. I was surprised that he had to announce that, I would think it would be the way it is. So far I've never heard any cell phones ring but all during class students get up and walk out the door to answer their cell phones!! The lecture is an hour and a half and people are in and out the door the whole time, I don't know if they are going to the restroom or answering cell phones or what but it's just weird, that never happened when I was in college before. Two young girls sit behind me and they talk most of the time class is in session. Yesterday the teacher looked up there and asked if they had a question and one of the girls said, "oh, no, sorry, we were just talking." Apparently she didn't see anything wrong with it!
I also have an english class, it's a writing class. It's one of those classes that is required for any major, I think everybody takes it. The english classes I took years ago transferred but they were not the equivalent of this one so I had to take it. It's a writing class and we write essays. The classrooms in this building (a rather new building) are clustered around a central room that is full of laptop computers. When class starts we go into the room and get a laptop and when it is work time we use them to work on our essays. When the teacher is going to talk he first asks everyone to close any open laptops and won't start until they are all closed. Last week he forgot to do that, he just started the lesson. I could see 3 students using their laptops while he was talking. One of them was on her Facebook page and was chatting in the little box in the corner. I could not see what was on the screen of one of them but he was sharing it with another student and they were definitely watching something on that computer screen and not the teacher, I have a feeling it was youtube videos. Yesterday the same girl was chatting on Facebook and the girl sitting next to her was posting pics on her Facebook. The teacher also caught a girl working on homework for another class. My favorite thing is when the teacher gives a due date or an instruction of some kind and within 30 seconds someone asks the due date. Last week he handed out a paper with information on an assignment and the due date was on the paper, sure enough less than a minute after handing it out you heard the familiar, "when's it due?" It's also surprising how many just don't do the work. The last paper was a research paper requiring at least 2 sources. Our book outlines how to cite sources using the MLA format. There is an example for every possible thing that could be cited. Each example is broken down into sections, even spaces and periods are pointed out. Each section is highlighted in a different color, even the spaces and periods. Yes, this is complicated but with these examples it is very doable. The teacher actually showed several works cited pages that were turned in with essays, there was no resemblance at all to the MLA format. I can only wonder where they got the ideas that they were doing it right. Our teacher said over and over and over many many many times (yes, really that many times!) that URLs are no longer given but over half the essays had them in either the in-text citations or the works cited. The guy was soooooooo frustrated.
I'm also surprised at how many younger students miss class all the time or they never stay for the whole class. I didn't know it was an option to leave before class was over, you never saw this when I was in college before.
One thing that is different now that I really like is that after taking an exam within a couple hours the grades are posted online! The last exam was on a Thursday and during a break in english class I logged into the class website and saw my grade about 2.5 hours after taking the exam. I like that! I would not have liked waiting until the following Tuesday to get the exam back and find out what I got for a grade. Emailing professors is a very easy way to ask them questions or get information. I don't email professors very often but when I have they have responded right away.
Well, this post is getting really long so I will wrap it up. I could go on and on about the things I see in classes but I will stop!
This Saturday I will become a member of Phi Theta Kappa which is the National Honor Society for community college students!!
I also have an english class, it's a writing class. It's one of those classes that is required for any major, I think everybody takes it. The english classes I took years ago transferred but they were not the equivalent of this one so I had to take it. It's a writing class and we write essays. The classrooms in this building (a rather new building) are clustered around a central room that is full of laptop computers. When class starts we go into the room and get a laptop and when it is work time we use them to work on our essays. When the teacher is going to talk he first asks everyone to close any open laptops and won't start until they are all closed. Last week he forgot to do that, he just started the lesson. I could see 3 students using their laptops while he was talking. One of them was on her Facebook page and was chatting in the little box in the corner. I could not see what was on the screen of one of them but he was sharing it with another student and they were definitely watching something on that computer screen and not the teacher, I have a feeling it was youtube videos. Yesterday the same girl was chatting on Facebook and the girl sitting next to her was posting pics on her Facebook. The teacher also caught a girl working on homework for another class. My favorite thing is when the teacher gives a due date or an instruction of some kind and within 30 seconds someone asks the due date. Last week he handed out a paper with information on an assignment and the due date was on the paper, sure enough less than a minute after handing it out you heard the familiar, "when's it due?" It's also surprising how many just don't do the work. The last paper was a research paper requiring at least 2 sources. Our book outlines how to cite sources using the MLA format. There is an example for every possible thing that could be cited. Each example is broken down into sections, even spaces and periods are pointed out. Each section is highlighted in a different color, even the spaces and periods. Yes, this is complicated but with these examples it is very doable. The teacher actually showed several works cited pages that were turned in with essays, there was no resemblance at all to the MLA format. I can only wonder where they got the ideas that they were doing it right. Our teacher said over and over and over many many many times (yes, really that many times!) that URLs are no longer given but over half the essays had them in either the in-text citations or the works cited. The guy was soooooooo frustrated.
I'm also surprised at how many younger students miss class all the time or they never stay for the whole class. I didn't know it was an option to leave before class was over, you never saw this when I was in college before.
One thing that is different now that I really like is that after taking an exam within a couple hours the grades are posted online! The last exam was on a Thursday and during a break in english class I logged into the class website and saw my grade about 2.5 hours after taking the exam. I like that! I would not have liked waiting until the following Tuesday to get the exam back and find out what I got for a grade. Emailing professors is a very easy way to ask them questions or get information. I don't email professors very often but when I have they have responded right away.
Well, this post is getting really long so I will wrap it up. I could go on and on about the things I see in classes but I will stop!
This Saturday I will become a member of Phi Theta Kappa which is the National Honor Society for community college students!!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Singing in the movie theater
Tonight I went to see one of those special one showing movies. It was about a christian group from Australia called Hillsong United, the movie was called Hillsong United We're all in this Together. It was about the things they've seen as they've travelled the world performing concerts. The first 30 minutes was supposed to be the band singing new songs that have never been performed before and it was live. I didn't know that but that's what people were saying. Anyway, the live part started but there was no sound and the people at the movie theater said they were working on it then they said that they had called somebody to find out what to do. A man stood up and said that while we are waiting to hear Hillsong United 2 boys from their youth group would lead everyone in singing their songs. It was really cool! I just recently discovered Hillsong United so I do not know any of the songs but I was enjoying the young people singing. Then they got a girl to sing a song that they said was too high for them. She didn't want to do it but many people in the theater were asking her to do it. She had barely started (and she had a beautiful voice) and the sound came on so we got to hear the last 2 songs, I really liked what I heard. The movie was good, it was a lot to take in. Since I've been home I have been sitting here watching and listening to youtube videos of Hillsong United instead of studying for tomorrows classes. Oops!!!
I just thought that was the neatest thing for those 2 teenagers to do at the movie theater when the sound wasn't working!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPuUIUWE8h8&feature=fvw
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord...come before his presence with singing." --Holy Bible
I just thought that was the neatest thing for those 2 teenagers to do at the movie theater when the sound wasn't working!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPuUIUWE8h8&feature=fvw
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord...come before his presence with singing." --Holy Bible
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
OH YEAH! The old lady aces another test!
I had a test in Human Bio lab today. The test was on the muscles and organs of the cats we have been disecting for the last 4 weeks. The test consisted of pins with numbered flags pinned in the organs and muscles of the disected cats. We had a numbered answer sheet on which we had to write the name of the structure next to the proper number. I (the oldest student in the class) got them all right!!! I got the only 100% on the first lab test which was on bones. I won't know how I did in comparison with everyone else until scores are posted on Thursday after the other section of lab takes their test.
I'm actually really glad I don't have to look at those dead cats again. It didn't bother me disecting them but it wasn't exactly enjoyable.
After school I went over to the trail, changed in the backseat of my car and went for a 5 mile run-2.5 miles out and back and I even negative split!!! I forgot my Garmin but I know where to turn around to run 3, 4 or 5 miles so I used my watch and hit the split button when I turned around. I was almost a minute faster coming back. I picked it up a couple times paying close attention to my hamstring, if there had been even the slightest twinges I'd have stopped but everything was ok. I do speedwork with a group of mostly women on Tuesday mornings but have had to reluctantly give that up this semester since I had to take a class on Tuesdays. I will be back with them as soon as this semester is over. I already know that both of my classes will be on Wednesdays next semester, I will be at school ALL day on Wednesdays. I am excited to get back running with them again but also a bit afraid of the hamstring. It was during one of those speed workouts that I first pulled a hamstring muscle. We were doing 800s and I was running good, I surprised myself on the first one, I think it happened on the 2nd lap of the 2nd 800. It felt like somebody stabbed me in the back of the leg with an ice pick. It just happened out of the blue, no warning, I went from running fine to almost falling it hurt so bad. It's been a recurring thing all summer but it's been almost 7 weeks now since the last time so I am hoping I can get on with running again and build my speed and endurance back up again.
Well, it's off to bed, I have a huge day of studying tomorrow. We are studying the nervous system, what a complicated thing that is! Soooooo much to learn. The teacher records the lectures and puts them online so I listen to them and go over my notes and add to them and change things I wrote the first time. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I wrote something, it's kind of funny. It definitely helps me but I was asking others if they use the recordings and it seems that very few do. Told you I have become a total NERD!!
I tried a new recipe using quinoa tonight. I had never used it before. I like it. It's not a pasta; it's a grain. I am going to try red quinoa next.
Time for bed
I'm actually really glad I don't have to look at those dead cats again. It didn't bother me disecting them but it wasn't exactly enjoyable.
After school I went over to the trail, changed in the backseat of my car and went for a 5 mile run-2.5 miles out and back and I even negative split!!! I forgot my Garmin but I know where to turn around to run 3, 4 or 5 miles so I used my watch and hit the split button when I turned around. I was almost a minute faster coming back. I picked it up a couple times paying close attention to my hamstring, if there had been even the slightest twinges I'd have stopped but everything was ok. I do speedwork with a group of mostly women on Tuesday mornings but have had to reluctantly give that up this semester since I had to take a class on Tuesdays. I will be back with them as soon as this semester is over. I already know that both of my classes will be on Wednesdays next semester, I will be at school ALL day on Wednesdays. I am excited to get back running with them again but also a bit afraid of the hamstring. It was during one of those speed workouts that I first pulled a hamstring muscle. We were doing 800s and I was running good, I surprised myself on the first one, I think it happened on the 2nd lap of the 2nd 800. It felt like somebody stabbed me in the back of the leg with an ice pick. It just happened out of the blue, no warning, I went from running fine to almost falling it hurt so bad. It's been a recurring thing all summer but it's been almost 7 weeks now since the last time so I am hoping I can get on with running again and build my speed and endurance back up again.
Well, it's off to bed, I have a huge day of studying tomorrow. We are studying the nervous system, what a complicated thing that is! Soooooo much to learn. The teacher records the lectures and puts them online so I listen to them and go over my notes and add to them and change things I wrote the first time. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I wrote something, it's kind of funny. It definitely helps me but I was asking others if they use the recordings and it seems that very few do. Told you I have become a total NERD!!
I tried a new recipe using quinoa tonight. I had never used it before. I like it. It's not a pasta; it's a grain. I am going to try red quinoa next.
Time for bed
Monday, November 2, 2009
the sights and sounds of fall running
Yesterday I got out and ran! I ran 8.5 miles. I am running slower these days since the hamstring pulls but I am slowly working my way back to around a 9 min pace. I ran good for 7 miles then started to feel some twinges in the back of my leg. I told my hamstring muscles to behave. (Yes, I said it out loud!) I concentrated on my form and keeping my upper body upright because it tends to start sagging when I get tired. That seemed to help. I was starting to slow down too, I've really lost my endurance. I really ran slow the last half mile but afterwards I felt good. I was a little stiff later on but overall I felt great.
Some of the sights and sounds from my run: Leaves everywhere! I saw people raking leaves at 2 different houses. I saw (and heard) a guy blowing the leaves across the road to the edge of a field. I saw someone using their lawn mower and a big bagging thingy on it to pick of leaves. No burning leaves, thank goodness. Many times in fall when I go running someone will be burning leaves and I end up breathing in the smoke and then I can taste burning leaves for the rest of my run EWWWWWWWW!
I saw a combine in a soybean field and was passed by a tractor pulling something behind it.
I saw an unusual and unexpected thing for this time of year, I saw a newborn calf. It was in the corner of a pasture at the intersection of 2 roads, The mom cow was standing by it. I stopped and looked at it, it was sooooo cute. He tried to run away but he was still wobbly on his legs. I continued on and passed this spot again about 30 minutes later and the calf was still there in the corner of the pasture, this time all by itself. I wasn't that far from home so when I got home I drove back to that spot and took a picture of the little guy! I will try to put the picture on here if I can. That is odd for this time of year, calfs are usually born in spring.
I run on rural roads around where I live when I run from home. The road I live on is a main road so it is quite busy. I run on some roads that have very little traffic and I am able to run in the middle if I feel like it! I don't listen to music when I run so I am able to hear a car coming. Tomorrow I have a test in Biology lab. I'm very confident that I know the material. I didn't get to run today. I had to work a few hours today. I work part time and since going back to school it's more like part part time! Tomorrow I will run after school at a paved trail near school. I pack running clothes then change in the back seat of my car in the trail parking lot!! That's why they invented tinted windows-so people can change their clothes in the car!!
Well, I just did the picture and it came out at the top of the post!! That's the little guy I saw yesterday on my run! Isn't he/she soooooo cute!!!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Introducing Runner Nerd
Hello! I decided to try my hand at keeping a blog to keep track of my running and how things are going in school. I went back to college this year at the age of 46. My last kid graduated high school this year and is now away at college. I've been thinking about a slight career change for a few years now. I decided it was now or never.
The runner me:
I ran track and cross country in high school and in college (a teeny tiny college) but after college it was time to enter real life and I thought that if you weren't training for the olympics that's all there was. I didn't know anything about local 5K races or marathons. I don't think I'd ever heard of a marathon at that time. If someone had told me that I'd someday run 26.2 miles I'd never have believed them. I ran the 800 (aka half mile) and my longest runs were 6 miles.
Fast forward about 20 years...I'm closing in on 40 and not liking it one little bit. I had been going to a gym for a couple years and had met quite a few people who ran. I found out about age groups and found out that people my age and older (much older even) are out there running 5Ks. I didn't know what a 5K was at first then found out that it is actually the distance I ran in cross country. Thoughts of running kept creeping into my brain. I remembered running and I remembered that I enjoyed it. When I would be driving down the road and see someone running I would wish I was running too. Then one day when I was 41 years old my college student niece asked me if I want to walk in the Detroit Race for the Cure with her. I'm not sure where this came from but I blurted out, "I'm going to RUN it!" I started running on a treadmill at the gym, I asked the spinning instructor about training for a 5K....I still joke with that trainer about that day!! I tell him that he was a bad influence!! I asked for help training for a 5K and 3 years later I'm running a marathon then one day I find myself following him out into and swimming across a lake! I had to go and ask a trainer who does Ironman triathlons for running advice!! I ran that 5K in 28:55 and felt like I would fall over at the finish line, my whole entire body hurt and I felt like throwing up. I didn't think I could ever do that again. I went back and ran the same Race for the Cure the next year in 25:39!! After that I began entering more 5Ks.
Well, I guess it became a habit because my 3rd year of running I ran just over 1000 miles for the year! I was beginning to sometimes place in my age group in 5Ks and I ran my first half marathon! The next year I ran my first marathon and have run 2 more since then.
Sooooo, here I am. This has not been a good running year. This summer I had my first injury--a pulled hamstring muscle. Just when I thought it was better and I was running again it would pull again. This happened 3 times. It's been 6 weeks since the last time it pulled and I am hoping that it's behind me. In July my mileage went from 30 miles/week to 10 or 12. It has not been much fun. I had to skip two 10 mile races that I really wanted to run and had to switch from a 25K trail run to the 10K of the same race. I ran the slowest 10K I've ever run, I suppose the fact that it was a trail race had something to do with that! I placed 2nd in my age group so that was fun! It had been a very long time since I'd placed in anything!! I am finally able to keep up with the others at a group run again! I run with a group on Thursday nights. I'll write more about them in the future.
The student me:
This semester is the first that I've went to the college for classes. Until now my classes have been online. I have become quite the nerd! I am the oldest student in both of my classes but have the highest grades! Many things have changed since I went to college the first time, I will write about that next time. Some things are good, such as after an exam within a couple of hours the scores are posted online--I like that!! Some things are quite unbelievable, such as kids texting constantly during class then they ask the teacher when an assignment is due 30 seconds after he said it or when it's staring at them on the screen. (screen=what used to be a chalkboard) This happens EVERY class.
I have no idea if anyone else will ever read any of this, I'm not sure anyone would want to!! I'm doing it for myself, I guess I am thinking that when school gets really tough next year when I actually enter the program I am going for I can look back and see how far I've come or something like that!!
Runner Nerd
The runner me:
I ran track and cross country in high school and in college (a teeny tiny college) but after college it was time to enter real life and I thought that if you weren't training for the olympics that's all there was. I didn't know anything about local 5K races or marathons. I don't think I'd ever heard of a marathon at that time. If someone had told me that I'd someday run 26.2 miles I'd never have believed them. I ran the 800 (aka half mile) and my longest runs were 6 miles.
Fast forward about 20 years...I'm closing in on 40 and not liking it one little bit. I had been going to a gym for a couple years and had met quite a few people who ran. I found out about age groups and found out that people my age and older (much older even) are out there running 5Ks. I didn't know what a 5K was at first then found out that it is actually the distance I ran in cross country. Thoughts of running kept creeping into my brain. I remembered running and I remembered that I enjoyed it. When I would be driving down the road and see someone running I would wish I was running too. Then one day when I was 41 years old my college student niece asked me if I want to walk in the Detroit Race for the Cure with her. I'm not sure where this came from but I blurted out, "I'm going to RUN it!" I started running on a treadmill at the gym, I asked the spinning instructor about training for a 5K....I still joke with that trainer about that day!! I tell him that he was a bad influence!! I asked for help training for a 5K and 3 years later I'm running a marathon then one day I find myself following him out into and swimming across a lake! I had to go and ask a trainer who does Ironman triathlons for running advice!! I ran that 5K in 28:55 and felt like I would fall over at the finish line, my whole entire body hurt and I felt like throwing up. I didn't think I could ever do that again. I went back and ran the same Race for the Cure the next year in 25:39!! After that I began entering more 5Ks.
Well, I guess it became a habit because my 3rd year of running I ran just over 1000 miles for the year! I was beginning to sometimes place in my age group in 5Ks and I ran my first half marathon! The next year I ran my first marathon and have run 2 more since then.
Sooooo, here I am. This has not been a good running year. This summer I had my first injury--a pulled hamstring muscle. Just when I thought it was better and I was running again it would pull again. This happened 3 times. It's been 6 weeks since the last time it pulled and I am hoping that it's behind me. In July my mileage went from 30 miles/week to 10 or 12. It has not been much fun. I had to skip two 10 mile races that I really wanted to run and had to switch from a 25K trail run to the 10K of the same race. I ran the slowest 10K I've ever run, I suppose the fact that it was a trail race had something to do with that! I placed 2nd in my age group so that was fun! It had been a very long time since I'd placed in anything!! I am finally able to keep up with the others at a group run again! I run with a group on Thursday nights. I'll write more about them in the future.
The student me:
This semester is the first that I've went to the college for classes. Until now my classes have been online. I have become quite the nerd! I am the oldest student in both of my classes but have the highest grades! Many things have changed since I went to college the first time, I will write about that next time. Some things are good, such as after an exam within a couple of hours the scores are posted online--I like that!! Some things are quite unbelievable, such as kids texting constantly during class then they ask the teacher when an assignment is due 30 seconds after he said it or when it's staring at them on the screen. (screen=what used to be a chalkboard) This happens EVERY class.
I have no idea if anyone else will ever read any of this, I'm not sure anyone would want to!! I'm doing it for myself, I guess I am thinking that when school gets really tough next year when I actually enter the program I am going for I can look back and see how far I've come or something like that!!
Runner Nerd
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