The final hours of 2010

Where did this year go?  Here it is, the final hours of 2010.  I'm sittin in my hotel room in New York City.  My sister and I decided on Christmas of last year to do this Midnight Run in Central Park.  It was a whole year away and now here it is!!  I've been looking forward to this all year.  I went and got my packet at the New York Road Runners place on 89th street this afternoon.  I got a long sleeve tshirt, socks, and a bag.  (I bought the bag).  It's not going to be super cold.  MSN weather says it's going to be 41 at midnight.  A friend told me that last year it was bitter cold.  I was walking in Central Park this afternoon; I've never been there before!!  I saw many runners and it made me want to be running too.  My daughter and I have been wandering around the city all day with my sister and brother in law.  My sister used to live here and still comes here quite often for her job so she knows her way around which is so helpful.  Last night we went out for dinner then wandered around.  We went to Times Square last night since tonight it would be nearlly impossible to get anywhere near tonight.  It was like another world!  It was late at night but when we came up out of the subway it was like it wasn't even night; it was so lit up!  I was like a kid!  I was so excited about everything!  I took a lot of pictures which I will post soon.  The streets right in Times Square were already closed last night and things were being set up and we could see the 2011 at the top of where the ball drops from.  It wasn't lit up but it was visible up there!

2010 was an OK year as fas as my running.  I logged just over 1200 miles, I ran 2 marathons, 2 half marathons and several other races of varying distances.  I did not PR in anything.  
2010 was a pretty good year for college.  I got 4.0 in all the classes I took.  I got accepted into the RT program which is what I have been working toward. 
I don't know what 2011 holds.  I will be a full time college student now.  I am registered for a half marathon on Memorial Day weekend and also plan on running the half at Grand Rapids in the fall and would like to try for a new PR.  I'm not doing any more marathons until I'm done with school.

Well, I have about an hour to rest before we are going to leave to head back to Central Park to ring in the new year with a run!!  What better way is there!! 

Happy New Year to anyone who happens to read this!!

Runner Nerd
reporting from New York City!!!

Leaving on a jet plane

All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go
I'm standin here ready to run out the door
I'm leavin on a jet plane
don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I can't wait to go

Tomorrow is the day!!!! We leave for New Years Eve in New York City!!!!! 
I've been looking forward to this all year!!
The weather forecast looks pretty good too.  High low 40s, low high 30s.  Yeah, that's cold but when it comes to running it doesn't even require the hard-core winter gear! 

Well, better get to bed; have a 6am plane to catch. 

Runner Nerd
off to the Big Apple!!!

(sincere apologies to John Denver)

1200 miles

This morning I ran 10 miles with a group from the Y.  During the run I passed 1200 miles for this year!! 
This is also the longest I've run since my marathon.  I ran 8 a couple weeks back.  I was dragging the last mile.  According to Garmy I burned 1182 calories!!  Too bad that I ate about 6 times that many yesterday!
It was cold, windy, snowy and icy: everything you could ask for to make a run fun and interesting.  I've been having problems running on these snowy, icy trails.  I must be messing up my stride or something because my left lower calf and ankle will hurt when I'm running.  That doesn't usually happen. I ran 3 miles on Christmas Eve morning on a paved trail and there were places that were icy and for most of the run the footing was bad.  My feet slipped on most steps but I never fell or almost fell,  Then, when I was done running and walking back to my car I slid and nearly fell twice!  I guess walking to the car is more dangerous than running! 

I'm getting exited for New Years Eve!!  The weather forecast right now is high 40, low 33 for the 31st and high 42, low 33 for the 1st.  If it's in the 30s at midnight that won't be all that bad for running!  I won't even need my most hard-core winter gear! 

Runner Nerd
runner of 1200 miles in 2010!

Silent Night Holy Night

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round 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 to 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 clothes, lying in a manger.
 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Preparing for Christmas

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.--Luke 2:4,5,6

I'm in!

I finally got the letter that I have been working toward for 2 years!!  I'm officially accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program and start classes January 10th! 
I have to have a drug screening done so I went and did it today.  I also have to have a background check and fingerprinting done the first week of January. 

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  I didn't have to work today and I spent more hours than I want to admit wandering in stores.  If I haven't bought it or if it isn't done it's not going to happen!  Tomorrow I am going to work on cleaning up around the house then go to the Christmas Eve church service.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, the almighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Grades posted!

I just checked and grades are finally posted!!  Yep, 4.0 in both classes!!
Tomorrow is the day that the letters are mailed out to those who get accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program.  I am pretty sure I will get in.  I have all my other classes taken and it's time. 

Runner Nerd
nervously waiting for a letter!

It's almost over!!

I'm off to take my last final and then go turn my textbooks in at the bookstore!!!!!
Then it's bye bye fall 10 semester!!!!! 

Here I go!

Runner Nerd
about to take a break from nerdness!!

1 final down 1 more to go!!

I took the final in my Wednesday night class.  I got there at 5:50; class starts at 6.  The teacher was giving the exam to us as we came in so I got started before 6 and was done at 6:10.  OK, I studied over the weekend.  It took me a long time to look up and write out everything on the study guide.  I studied during the day Monday and last night I went over and over everything.  Most of today I was studying for the final I take tomorrow but I studied this first in the morning then for about a half hour before I left I went over it again.  All that for an exam that took 15 minutes.  I'm just glad this class is over! 
Tomorrow is my Psychology final.  I have been studying since I got home and will go over it in the morning before I go.  I will be soooooooooooo glad when this semester is over! 

Tomorrow night we are having our running group Christmas party.  We run through a close by subdivision and check out all the lights. 

Runner Nerd
with a sore brain!

2 more days!!

There is only 2 more days left of this semester!  That also means....FINALS. 
I have one tomorrow night and one Thursday.   I have so much studying to do today and tomorrow but I am having trouble staying focused.  I just want this semester to be over sooooooooo badly. 
It's also bitter cold here.  We had our first winter storm Saturday night and Sunday.  Lots of snow and lots of wind blowing it around.  Not my favorite weather. 

Saturday morning I ran an all womens 5K well before the snow started.  It was actually pretty nice for running.  It was cold, I think in the low 30s.  The race was at the Lansing Library and was a fundraiser for the Library.  I placed 2nd in my age group!!  The age group awards were Christmas ornaments, they were large jingle bells!  (The name of the race was Jingle Belles Womens 5K.)  I wonder if I have to put up a tree now that I won an ornament!  (sure hope not!) 
Along the course I saw a dude holding a sign that said, "Jingle Belle 5K: the race that lacks balls"  I thought that was so funny!! 
No more races until New Years Eve in New York City, although that's not a race. 

Well, I better get back to studying. 
Runner Nerd
going crazy right about now

29 miles to go!

I got my log book caught up and discovered that I now have 1171 miles for the year which leaves 29 to hit 1200!  I think I can manage 29 miles in 3 weeks!  I run tonight with the Thursday night gang so I will get 4-6 so maybe I will be down to only 23 to go! 
I'm not sure if I wrote about when I hit 1000 miles back in October.  I was running a half marathon as my long run 2 weeks out from my marathon.  Going into the half I had 988 so when I crossed the 12 mile mark that put me at 1000!  Yep, I shouted out that I just ran one thousand miles since Jan. 1!! (I'm really good at being a dork!)  Several people said congratulations and good job!  A couple of women were just amazed as if it's something unheard of.  I know people who run much more in a year, even 2000 + miles. 
Well, Runner Nerd is off to Psychology class now! Only 1 more week to go!!!!!!!

Runner Nerd
off to campus

The silly side of running.

Since my marathon I have not been over exerting myself!  I've run a few races and a fun run.  I ran a 5K on halloween morning wearing no watch or Garmin!!  I also ran dressed as a bee!  The Tuesday morning group decided to go as a swarm of bees!  The race was in Hell, Michigan and I can say for sure that Hell froze over that morning!!  It was FREEZING! 

A few of the bees!

Yep, I ran a 5K like this!

November 16th I ran in the Wayne County Lightfest Run Thru the Lights 8K which is just a fun run.  It is the opening night of a drive through Christmas light show.  I was decked out in Christmas lights!!  We got very cool long sleeve tshirts that GLOW in the dark!!!!!  This is the 3rd year I've run this.  The first year it was unseasonably warm for mid-November.  Last year it was cold.  This year it was cold and raining and I got soaked.  The route for this is a small portion of the organized 20 mile training run I did on September 25th.  As I was running along this section of Hines Drive in Sept. I was thinking that in about 7 weeks I'd be back on that stretch running at night in the light of the displays.  Anyone who would be reading this most likely knows how your mind can wander on a 3.5 hour run.  I was thinking about the fact that the marathon would be a month behind me at that time and how it would be nearing Thanksgiving and the Holiday season.  As I was running along during the Lightfest run I was amazed at how quickly that time had passed. 

 I know this is B&W but you can see the Christmas lights and glow bracelets on  my wrists! The reason for the big ole umbrella behind me???  Yep, it was raining!

 I am in the middle of two Thursday running group friends.

 I am on the right. We are in front of the display that marks the entrance to the drive through. We have glow bands on our ankles too!

What do soaked runners do after running? EAT, of course!!!!

Friday night I ran in a relay race at EMU.  It was the Candy Cane Relays!  4 person teams each person runs a mile loop around the campus.  I ran 7:56!! There were 2 hills in the course!  It was fun and our team, The Grinches, came in 2nd place!!  We got goody bags as prizes!  Our team leader got us Grinch tshirts!

The Grinches relay team.  We were 2nd place!

Saturday afternoon I ran the Holiday Hustle 5K.  In addition to a long sleeve t-shirt runners get either a Santa hat or reindeer antlers and a jingle bell bracelet!  When the race first starts and everyone is still close together it's quite a sound to hear all the jingle bells!  As I said earlier I'm not over-exerting myself these days, I sure didn't in this race!  I just trotted along at an easy pace until toward the end when I did pick up the pace.  I had 26:38 and wasn't even tired!!  I feel like such a slacker but I also don't feel like putting myself through what it feels like to really race these days.  I will again someday but not right now. 

With a few crazy friends!

Next Saturday I am running an all womens 5K called Jingle Belle run.  Instead of a t-shirt they are giving headbands!! (The type that you wear to keep your ears warm in cold weather.) 

Then after that the next event is the event I've been waiting for all year!!!  The New Years Eve Midnight Run in Central Park in New York City!!!!!!  I am sooooooo excited!  I've always wanted to do it and this year my sister and I are going to do it!!  My daughter and I have our tickets to fly to my sister's on the 30th.  We will take a train to NYC the morning of the 31st.  I cannot wait!!  I can't wait to get back home and wear my t-shirt from that around my friends here!!!!!!

I am also registered for a spring half marathon.  I'm running the half in Traverse City this year.  It filled up in 1 day.  The whole marathon filled up yesterday so that took 6 days.  Last year it filled in mid-January.  (I know because that's when I registered.) 

I don't know yet when I will start training.  I think most half marathon plans are 12 weeks which is March 5th.  I should be able to train for a half while in college full time.  I want to run a decent half marathon, under 2 hours.  In the fall I want to try for a new half PR in Grand Rapids. 

Next week is the last week of this semester!!!!!!  I will be soooooooo happy.  I don't like either class I am taking this semester. (Psychology and Communications) They are both required classes for the program I am entering so I had no choice. 

My kids will be home from college for Christmas break this week.  I am looking forward to seeing them and spending time with them and having them around but am dreading hearing, "Mom, I'm hungry" again. UGHHHHHHHHHHH 

They will come with loads and loads of laundry too! Yippie.

Well, that's about it for now!!

Runner Nerd

lazy runner, nerd and not a candidate for Super Mom!

Where have I been?

Is it really December 5th? 
I started to write about my marathon then saved it as a draft and then never got back to it.
Well, I finished!  It didn't go quite as planned not that I had any plans.  I figured I should be able to run 4:30.  I went out with the 4:30 pace group, AKA the Oprah pace group.  I was right there with them into the 20s.  I slowed down some but I could still see the sign up a ways ahead of me.  My legs really started hurting and when I passed by the 23 mile sign my legs started cramping.  It got harder to run.  I walked a little, maybe a couple minutes and I started running again but the cramps in my calves got really bad.  I walked quite a bit during that mile.  The cramping finally stopped and I got going again and I ran without stopping from the 24 mile mark on.  Somewhere in the 25th mile I heard my name and a familiar voice.  I couldn't figure out who was talking until I realized that a bike was riding along beside me!  It was a friend from the Y!  He talked and kept me going.  It was a tough last mile.  I didn't think I was ever going to see the finish line but finally it came into view!  As always at Grand Rapids the race director was right there at the finish line with arms wide open!  He hugs everyone!!  Soooooooo, I ended up with 4:53 something.  I was a bag of emotions.  Of course, I was disappointed that I couldn't keep up with the 4:30 pace group and this is my last marathon until I graduate and I was sad about that.  I saw some friends and talked to them a little.  One of them had won the masters division.  She had already showered, dressed and came back.  (I had joked with her a few weeks before that by the time I finish she'd probably be half way home!)  I had to sit down and the only place to sit was on a curb.  One of my friends was sitting down there too.  My legs started to cramp really really bad and I had to get back up which was a very difficult thing to do.  I started to wander over to pick up my bag which had a jacket in it.  I made the long walk back to my hotel room.  (it's actually a very short walk and only took a couple of minutes before the marathon.)  I showered and I just felt horrible.  I laid down and next thing I knew housekeeping was opening the door at 3 pm. to see if I had ever left.  I guess I fell asleep!  I hurried and gathered up my things and stuffed them into my bag and got out of there.  It was a very long drive home.  I tried to eat.  I stopped at a McDonalds and got a cheeseburger and I felt a little better after eating it. 
On the way home I got a call from work and had to go to a client's house.  I'm glad it only took a few minutes.  Then my son called and asked if I could bring home a pizza.  I was just getting off the highway in Chelsea so I stopped at Cottage Inn and ordered and waited about 10 minutes for the pizza. I FINALLY got home at 7 pm.  (7 hours after I finished the marathon!) 
So, that was my marathon day.  I can't remember what the temperature was but it was nice.  I did not need a throw away shirt.  I wore a sleevless shirt and a running skirt that I bought just a few days before the marathon.  I know, rule #1 don't wear anything new!  I got lucky, I really liked the skirt.  It was a bit longer than most running skirts I've tried on and the shorts under it were clingier around my legs and they didn't slide up.  It turned out to be very comfortable.  (and quite cute too, in my opinion!!)

So, that's it! My 5th marathon. 
Since then I've run 12-20 miles per week, a few races, a fun run, a relay and continue to run with my Tuesday morning ladies and Thursday night group.  My longest run since the marathon was 8 miles a week ago and it went good but I was worn out.  I also continue to be the nerd that I am!  Two weeks left of this semester and then the real fun begins!!  In January I begin the respiratory therapy program and will be a full time college student for 2 years. 

I know nobody reads this but I feel better now that I feel like I got caught up with my blog!!
Runner Nerd

Went to Hell on Halloween!!

I ran a 5K this morning in the town of Hell, Michigan!!  It was a fundraiser for the Hensleys.  He ran races nearly every weekend and volunteered before and after most races.  She was always helping out too.  You saw her doing registration and packet pick up and always at the finish line tearing off tags before the majority of races were using chip timing.  She often wore a jacket made from race bibs!!  She had a stroke last year and has been in a wheelchair since then.  The fundraiser was to raise money to go toward a wheelchair van so she can go places in her wheelchair.  The timing company donated their services, the Tshirts were donated, porta potties were donated.  Over 3000 people participated and the entire registration fee went toward the fundraiser!!  For many years they organized and were race directors of the Run Thru Hell 10 mile race and since she had the stroke that race has not taken place.  The course was almost all dirt roads except the road going right through the middle of the town of Hell.  It is very hilly around Hell and the 10 mile race was one hill after another; it was a tough course.  The 5K course was hilly too. 
The running group I run with on Tuesday mornings, which is mostly women, went as a swarm of bees!!  We weren't the only group to go as a swarm of bees!  There was a costume contest too.  There were some hilarious costumes!!  It was fun!  It was a fun way to spend Halloween morning!
I will eventually get some pictures of the running group swarm of bees! 

I'm running a marathon in 11 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here I am, in my hotel room in Grand Rapids.  I went to the expo, got my packet, bought a pink 26.2 magnet, gave the race director 2 bottles of beer made in Ann Arbor, got all my stuff for the morning ready and laid out, went to dinner and now I'm just about ready to go to bed. 

This is it!!

Runner Nerd
nervous and excited

has it really been 16 weeks????

WOW!  I ran my LAST run this evening!! Training for my 5th marathon is now complete.  Hard to believe that the last 16 weeks flew by. 
I am going to take the next two days off from running.  I will head to Grand Rapids on Saturday, check into my hotel, go to the expo then dinner with 3 ladies from my Tuesday morning running group. 
I'm getting excited but I am also getting plenty nervous.  I am going out with the Oprah pace group which is 4:29:20 and hopefully I will finish at least a few minutes ahead of them.  I know better than to try to break 4 hours this time; that will have to wait.  I think I can do better than 4:20 but at the same time I just don't want the last part of this marathon to be a death march.  This is my last marathon until I finish college and I'm already kind of sad about that and I want to have good memories of this one so I will be excited about running another one in a couple of years. 
A check of the marathon website reveals 2 days, 9 hours and a check of weather.com reveals sunny and 59 degrees.  Looks like the temp forecast has fallen.  I hope it doesn't fall much more.  I am not good at freezing. 
I still have not decided what to wear! Nothing like waiting until the last minute. 
Well, it's bedtime; have to work tomorrow. 
Runner Nerd
trained for a marathon

One Week till M day!!!

Hard to believe it's so close already!!  Today was my LAST long run!  I only ran 8 miles but it was tough.  I thought it would be much easier.  I hope I do better than this next Sunday. 
It was so beautiful today.  It was sunny and over 70 degrees!!  As of right now the forecast for next Sunday in Grand Rapids, MI is sunny and low 60s.  I know that can change from one extreme to another over the next week; I don't know why I even do this to myself!  I still don't know what I am going to wear either.  I have my packets of Accel Gel.  I don't know what I am doing for dinner Saturday night as there is no pasta dinner this year.  I will have to look into it this week. 
Well, I am exhausted and have a headache so I am off to bed. 
Runner Nerd

People watching

This past weekend I saw some rather interesting sights.  Saturday I worked at an expo for senior citizens medical services.  They served refreshments--donuts, donuts, donuts!  I kept seeing morbidly obese senior citizens stuffing the donuts in their mouths.  One morbidy obese lady had 3 donuts in the basket of her walker then sat down on a bench right across from my table and proceeded to eat the 3 donuts.  One man came buzzing through in his power chair with his plate of donuts on his lap.  The power chair people were there too, touting the fact that medicare or medicaid or whatever will pay for the chairs.  If these people can get these chairs for free what incentive is there to lose weight to improve one's life????????? 
Sunday, after I ran my half marathon, I staffed our first aid station for a fall festival in one of the small communities in our service area.  I got to sit and people watch a lot.  Oh my, the things I observed!  A morbidly obese woman pushin her walker with the seat says,"I gotta stop", and proceeds to turn the walker around and sit on the seat.  Where the handles form where the seat attaches is a triangle shaped opening and the fat on her thighs was bulging through the triangle shaped opening, it was quite a sight.  She then proceeded to smoke a cigarette, then another, then another.  Hmmmmmmm.....well, it's job security for when I'm a respiratory therapist!!!!! 
OK, I'm done now!  Sorry for using the phrase morbidly obese so much; it was the word of the day for me this weekend!!!! 
I still think of the 65 yr old woman I kept seeing during the marathon in May.  I want to be like Dorothy when I grow up!!! 

A half marathon was my long run!

I decided to run this half marathon as my long run this week.  I couldn't face the thought of running 14 miles alone again.  I had to work yesterday so was not able to go to the group run that I have been going to the last few weeks for 16, 20, 12 and 20. 
I had to get up at 4am, leave at 4:45am and drive an hour and 40 minutes to get there. 
I heard from friends who have run it before that the second half has some hills; they were absolutely right!  I was running under 9:30 miles the first 6 miles and was worried that I was running too fast and would have a really hard time the last few miles.  Immediately after crossing the halfway timing mat we made a left turn and there was the first mountain!!  From there on I did not run under 10 minutes until the last mile.  I'm not sure what came over me but I had 8:49 for the 13th mile!  I think I just wanted to be done!  I could hear people around me say that the hills stop after the 10th mile.  I can't really remember but I think there was some uphill after 10 but not as bad.  the last mile seemed to be fairly flat, the finish was downhill. 
I was surprised that they were handing out those shiny blankets at the finish!!  I was freezing and was glad to have it.  I couldn't find my car.  I kept walking and following where I would see a large group of people walking but nothing looked familiar.  It was on a college campus.  I was getting very frustrated since I was freezing and I had to go to work.  I saw a group of people in black and yellow suits which said "staff" on them so I asked and a man took me on a golf cart.  He dropped me off at the edge of the field where the cars were parked and I still had a hard time finding the car.  It looked much different than when I got there with all the cars.  FINALLY, I found the car and headed to work.  I showered and changed into my uniform at one of the stations and manned a medical tent at a fall festival in a small community in our service area.  (A shift that absolutely nobody else in the entire company could cover so I agreed to do after running a half marathon)  A very interesting afternoon but that is for another post!! (tomorrow maybe)

There was a man running the half that I've heard about; he dribbles 3 basketballs!  I saw him by the start line; I believe he starts near the back.  I heard a lady say that he passes her every time and she can't believe that a man dribbling 3 basketballs goes faster than she does!!  I thought to myself, ok, that can be my goal to not let the basketball dude pass me!  I don't remember at what point it was but all of a sudden I could hear the basketballs behind me and then the sound got closer.  This course has 2 portions on gravel trails and I think that slowed him down because I realized that I didn't hear him anymore once I was on roads again after the first trail section.  But...later on, maybe around mile 10 or 11, maybe later, Ican't remember, but I began to hear it again and it was getting closer again.  Well, he never did pass me so that makes me feel better!!  Maybe it was nearing the 12 mile point that I heard the basketballs because I did run the last mile faster than any other mile.  I wasn't aware of him finishing; I'm sure I would have heard the basketballs.  They moved the finishers right on through the area and toward the post-race area.

Sooooo, anyway,  
2 weeks till "M" day!!!!  Grand Rapids, Here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exhausted Runner Nerd

I have a new running partner!

My new Garmin did indeed arrive today!!  It was waiting for me in the garage when I got home!!
She is charging right now.  I may wear it in the half marathon I am running tomorrow.  I don't know yet. 
The weather forecast for race time is 43-47 and raining, not my idea of fun.  Now I am wondering why I ever signed up for this.  It's a big race so I definitely won't be out there alone!
Well, time for bed since I have to get up ridiculously early.  After the race I have to go to work.

is it really possible????

I just checked the tracking for my Garmin and now it says the estimated delivery date is Oct. 2!!  That's tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!  But...does Fed Ex really deliver on Saturdays???  I didn't think did.  I guess I will find out!!  I have to work and won't be home until mid afternoon.

It's on the way

My new Garmin has been shipped!!!!!! Estimated delivery Tuesday, Oct. 5th!!

I knew this day would come eventually

Well, I did it.  I made my decision.  I am getting a Garmin 205 to replace my 201 that recently quit.  The 201 is laying on the table right next to me.  I feel so bad replacing her.  I read several things online and tried them all and nothing brought her back to life.  There is one more thing which involves opening it up which I haven't tried but I might.  From what I read 6 years is longer than most last. 
I'm looking forward to playing with my new toy but I will miss the old Garmie too.  I just hope that the new one isn't too complicated to learn how to use.  One thing I like is that it is BLUE!!!!!!!!!! The only thing better would be pink!  Maybe there will be a pink Garmin someday!!!
The next few days I will have to run routes that I know the distance.  Sunday I am running a half marathon as my long run so I don't have to worry about distance there. 
I will pass 1000 miles for the year so far this week!!!!!!! 
When new Garmie gets here I will post pics, not that anyone doesn't know what one looks like. 
Runner Nerd who is getting a new toy soon!

sad sad day

After nearly 6 years of faithful service I am very sad to report that my Garmin Forerunner 201 has quit.  Garmie has been there with me on most of my runs keeping track of the time, distance and mile splits for me.  She hung in there with me for 3 hours 25 minutes on Saturday and I never even got a chance to upload that run to Garmin Connect. 
I am going to miss her.  I don't want a new one; I just want that one.  :(

A very sad Runner Nerd

Is it really time for......

Tomorrow morning is the final 20 miler!!!  Then it's taper time!!!!!!  I will be so ready for it after this week!!
6 Monday, 6 Tuesday, 8 Wednesday, 6.5 Thursday, 4 Friday = 30.5--> on track for a 50+ mile week!!!
Had dinner, clothes ready, accel-gel in little pouch, backpack packed. time for bed, I need to roll out at 6AM.  I am doing the Detroit Marathon group training run on a course closed to traffic and water and gatorade every 2 miles. 
Later

The 50 mile week begins!!!

I had the most awesome 6 miler ever!!  Everything was perfect! The weather was great, lots of runners were out there running, walkers walking, bikers biking and rowers rowing!!  I love to see the rowers out there on Argo Pond practicing.  I also had so much fun for another reason!! Why is it so much fun climbing over or ducking under baracades????  The trail along the mill race is closed this week so they can remove fallen trees and fix up a couple places where the edge along the water is bad.  When they are finished for the day there is no reason that people can't use the trail but they leave it closed 24/7 Monday thru Thursday.  (this started after Labor day and not sure how many weeks it's going to take)  The workers were gone when I got to the trail.  A biker was just pushing his bike around the edge of the barracade coming off of the trail so I asked him if there were any workers and he said no so I ducked through the middle of the barracade and continued on.  At the other end of the trail I had to duck through the barricade there and then they had the path under the broadway bridge blocked off so I hopped over that and on I went!  On the way back it was the same in reverse!  The Argo Bluffs trail through the woods is open in Argo Park now but the top of the stairs at the other end is still blocked off so I got to climb over that again!!  I explored a new trail today at the end of Island Drive.  I've seen people on foot and on bikes coming from there and going into it but there are "Do not enter" signs posted.  I decided this was the day to explore since I needed 6 miles and my usual route is only 4.5.  It turns out this used to be a road.  There is a very old and rusted road sign for a sharp curve at one point.  It eventually becomes a still used road.  It looks as if they closed off the road at the last house and from there on did not maintain it anymore.  I could see bike tracks and foot prints so there is regular use of it.  The funny thing is that at the other end where it becomes a used road again there is no "do not enter" sign.  There are posts so that a vehicle can't drive through but no signs. 
After I finished my run I went to a core workout class.  I've been going for a few weeks now.  It's held at the running store.  It's just a 30 minute workout but I am sore the next day!  Tonight I learned that I can't balance on a bosu ball!!  They are getting more and more equipment and this was the first time they've had the bosu balls.  I kept falling off!
This week is my highest mileage week of marathon training!  It will also be the highest mileage week of the entire year!  Hard to believe it's almost time to taper!  Seems like I just started training.
Tomorrow is speed work with a group of mostly women I run with on Tuesday mornings.  The coach is having a photographer there tomorrow to take pictures.
Time for bed. 

ONLY 12 Miles

One of the things I love about the later part of training for a marathon is being able to say things like: "I ONLY ran 12 miles today!"  "Oh, I ONLY ran 10 miles yesterday!!!"  After last weeks 20 miler this weeks long run was ONLY 12 miles and those 12 miles seemed to go by quite fast and I was done before I knew it!!  I even negative split!  I did the run with a training group yesterday morning.  Next week is another 20 miler which will be at a big Detroit Marathon training run in Hines Park.  I am not going to Grand Rapids for the 20 mile training run there because I need to get back home and get ready for a hayride we are hosting here for our church. 
Today I went to the trail for an easy 4 mile recovery run.  Not sure what came over me but I took off and felt really good, not even stiff or anything.  I ran 4 miles in just shy of 37 minutes so just over 9 min miles!!! 
Four weeks from today is M day!!  I'm excited and nervous.  This is going to be the last marathon until I'm done with school so I don't want it to be a disaster; I want it to be fun and memorable and all that so I will be ready to do another one when I'm done with school.
Well, time for some homework.
Runner Nerd

Eating during classes

Sometimes I just don't get it.  I've posted before about things that are so very different from when I was in college wayyyyyy back when after I graduated from high school.  I can't believe how many people eat during classes.  There is ALWAYS somebody eating something and usually several people.  It's usually junk food.  This has been in every class I've been in.  They are also drinking Mt. Dew, Red Bull, Monster, and other of those types of energy drinks.  Today the gal sitting next to me had a bag of pretzels and a big bottle of flavored carbonated water, I think it's 1 liter.  She ate the pretzels the first few minutes of class but during the rest of the 1.5 hour class she unscrewed the cover, drank and replaced the cover every few minutes.  It's not really all that big of a deal just strange.  I don't know if I just don't remember it but I really don't think anyone ever ate in class way back when.
I was talking with one of my running group friends last Thursday.  He's 50 and also going to college.  He was telling me about one of his classes this semester where the teacher started the first class with all the rules which included no talking, no laptops, NO EATING among others.  I sure wish I'd have a class where the teacher says no eating!!  My phychology professor doesn't allow laptops, cell phones or talking during class.  It's kind of funny because I thought all those things would be a given, maybe laptops in certain classes where appropriate but not most classes. 
I'm probably just showing my age and should stop now!!! 
I had to miss my running group this morning due to car problems.  (quite possibly the worst thing to happen after running injuries)  Maybe that's why I was noticing all the annoying things people do in college today--lack of running!!  I did go running after class but it sure wasn't a hard core speedworkout like I would have done in the running group. 

Runner Nerd

I don't like what I see

The last few days when I've been running I've been seeing something I really don't like at all.  It's the leaves.  They're changing colors.  I see summer slipping away.  I am not ready.  This summer was wonderful.  I loved it.  This summer was a gift from God to MEEEEEEE!!!!! 
I know it was sometimes hard to run on really hot days and I ran really really slow which was frustrating BUT....It also felt sooooooo good.  I also love the tan line I get on my back from the summer running tops!!!! 
The only good thing is that something I'm really looking forward to is getting closer!!  The New Years Eve midnight run in New York City!!  This is something I've always wanted to do and it looks like I'm finally going to get to! Less than 4 months!!!!!!
5 weeks from today is marathon day!!!!

20 miles

I did my first 20 miler of training for this marathon today!  My longest run before this was 16 (last week) and I decided to go for it and jump to 20 miles today.  The last 2 miles were tough. 
I have to do this again in 2 weeks. 
My new shoes felt good. 
I ran in a group training run so I was always in a group.  I once ran a 20 miler all by myself and I hope I never do that again!  In 2 weeks there is a 20 mile training run on the course of the marathon and I think I'm going to go to that.  WOW! Only 2 weeks left before tapering starts! 
This is going to be my last marathon until I am done with school so I hope it's not a disaster. 
I added up my mileage for the week and came up with 48.8 miles! I am sooooo tempted to go out and run 1.2 miles tomorrow to make it 50 but I doubt very much that I will.  I need a rest day. 
I'm super tired now.  That is something I've noticed this year.  On days I run any distance I am wiped out around 8pm. 
5 weeks from tomorrow is the day!!!! 

New Shoes!!!!

Last Saturday my feet hurt while running.  Yesterday they hurt again and they were sore last night even after I was home.  The light bulb came on!!  I checked my log book to discover that I had run 529 miles in them.  Time for new shoes!!!!  Tonight was running group at the running store, how convenient!!  I knew that my shoes had been made into a new model so I was hoping that I'd like them as much as I like these.  I needed a half size bigger, 10 1/2,  in the new model, Gel Foundation 9.  (I wore size 11 in the Gel Foundation 6) 
so, anyway, I now have these new very bright white and light blue shoes.  I HAVE TO GET THEM DIRTY!!!  They are sooooooooo white!!  I will take them for their first run tomorrow after work!!  (I got them after the run tonight, didn't get there in time to get them first.)
Old shoes, 532.5 miles.  New shoes, 0 miles.

Birthday thoughts

Well, it's once again the anniversary of the day I was born.  Earlier today I told someone that it's my 10th 39th birthday!!!  That got me thinking though....I am weigh around 30 lbs less and I am in wayyyyyy better shape than I was on my original 39th birthday!!  I was not yet running at that point. 
I went to my Tuesday morning running group today and we did 14 400s.  I was actually very consistent today, they were all right around 1:55!!  a few were faster and a couple were slower but all were under 2 minutes!!!  Soooooooo, no sleeping in or breakfast in bed or any such thing as that on my birthday!!!  Who, in their right mind would run 14 400s with a mere 1 minute rest on their birthday???????  Actually there were 2 people doing that today!!  It was also one of the other's birthday too!  She's only 45 and runs faster than me.  After running I had to get to the Y to shower and change and then it was off to class.  This is my last semester of pre-reqs!!  In January I start the Respiratory Therapy Program!!  I can't wait. 
Two years ago I ran a half marathon on my birthday, last year I participated in the run across the Mackinac Bridge on my birthday and this year I had my running group on my birthday.  Most women my age would think I was nuts!!
Speaking of the Labor Day run across the Mackinac Bridge, this is the last Labor Day that Gov. Granholm will be in office.  She is who started the RUN.  Michigan's Governors have been walking across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day since it was built in the 50s.  The story goes that shortly after Gov. G was elected she was told that she would be walking across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day and her response was, "NO, I'm not I am RUNNING across!"  At first the Bridge Authority said it was not possible but she insisted and they worked it out.  There is an application process and until 2008 only 300, now it is 400, people would be chosen.  Michigan residents only, of course!  Runners start in groups of 30 every few minutes because of vibrations or something.  Anyway, what I am getting at, I wonder if the Bridge run will be continued with a new Governor coming in this year.  Hmmmm, I wonder if either Virg or Rick are runners.  I will have to look into that!!  I am sure that many who have been chosen to run will be writing in support of this fun event.  I am lucky to have been chosen to run both times I applied!!  It is a lot of fun. 

So, today I celebrate my health!!  I consider myself lucky to be able to zip around the track 14 times in less than 2 minutes each time!!!  I look forward to just over 5 weeks away when I once again run 26.2 miles!!!!  It won't be my fastest one but I, a 48 yr old girl, can do it!!!!! 

Half Marathon for long run

I ran a half marathon this morning as my long run.  For the first time ever I had a time of over 2 hours for a half marathon. :(   I had 2:09:11. 
When I finished all I could think of is that in 7 weeks I have to go twice that far.  What a scary thought at this point in time.  I sure have a very long way to go in those 7 weeks. 

Last week's run went well.  I only ran 10.  I had a wedding to go to in Traverse City.  I almost forgot about the wedding and I had never booked a hotel room and 2 days before there were very few hotel rooms to be had in Traverse City.  Those available were very expensive or required 2 night minimums.  I stayed in cadillac which is about 50 mins south.  The hotels there are much less than in Traverse City.  I found out about a paved walking/biking trail circling Lake Cadillac and it's 7 miles!!  I had found my long run route!  From my hotel to the trail was 1.5 miles so there was my 10 mile route!  I did that Sunday morning and got back while the breakfast bar was still going!  I was quite sweaty and still had my water bottle belt on and had one of those big waffles drowned in maple syrup!!!!!!! Perfect after a 10 miler!!  

Soooooooooooo, yeah, tomorrow is 7 weeks out from Grand Rapids marathon.

Tide Sport detergent

Sooooooo, the other day I mentioned that I had received a free sample of Tide's new product, Tide Sport, and I was washing the disgusting running clothes from Saturdays 14 miler. Well...they still had that faint running clothes smell. Maybe you have to use the special "sport" detergents over and over to remove the smells or  maybe you have to start with brand new clothes and use these special "sport" detergents.  Who knows??? 

I got the samples from a lady in the grocery store.  She asked me if I was interested in a sample and when I saw what it was I got all excited (like a dork) and told her I run, in fact I had just went running before going to the grocery store so she gave me 4 of the packets!!!!  The only problem is that I usually wash my running clothes all by themselves with the water level on low and the packets are for a full load.  Saturday I washed some towels and other things with the running clothes.  I guess I could try guessing how much to use and then fold the packet over and paper clip it and put it up somewhere where it won't fall over. 

Anyway....I have yet to hear anyone swear by any certain detergent for running clothes.

soaked but not from rain

I had to work this morning and early afternoon so I had to do my long run from 4 to 6:30PM.  I don't know what the temperature was but it was hot.  I have never been as soaked as I was today other than running in pouring rain.  My shoes were even soaked but there were no puddles at any place in my 14 mile run.  My shorts were dripping when I stopped running; I stood there looking down at the drops falling off the bottom edge!! 
This run started out pretty good and went well for about 8 miles then it got tough.  I had so many thoughts of calling it quits at 10 miles but I didn't.  The last 2 miles were the worst; I was barely moving.  Everybody is telling me that it's the heat or that it's the humidity and I sure hope it is or I am in serious trouble and will never be able to run a marathon in October at this rate.  2 weeks ago I ran a 10 mile trail run in 1:38 and today I ran 14 miles in 2:38--a whole hour for an extra 4 miles????????????  Yep, I'm in trouble if I think I am going to run a marathon.  I had water and gatorade with me today.  There were several drinking fountains on the route and never had to drink from my water bottle until somewhere around 8 miles.  I ran the 5 mile loop to Parker Mill and went looking for a drinking fountain there.  I found one but the water was warm. The water coming from the sink in the bathroom was cold so I filled my bottle with that for the last 2.5 miles. 

A friend gave me 2 packs of Accel Gel which is 4:1 carbs/protein.  Last week I had vanilla and today was chocolate.  I do like it better than Gu.  I'm not crazy about it but it is better than Gu.  The vanilla had a caramel-like taste.  I am going to get some and keep using it.  The packets are bigger than Gu packets even though the amount is the same.   I will have to see how 6 packets fit into my spi belt.  Gu gits perfectly.
I have also found something else that I like.  Powerbar Gel Blasts!!  I actually like them.  It's like eating candy!!  I compared the nutrition label for them and Sport Beans, Gu chomps and Gu and it is similar.  I have not tried them mid-run yet. 

Tomorrow I am volunteering at a triathlon type race.  It's 10 legs covering 42 miles.  5 running , 2 biking and 3 swim.  I am manning an aid station; I did the same one last year.  The competitors run through it twice on legs 4 and 6. 

My body is sore and stiff and my right calf keeps getting a cramp.  I think it's time for bed.  BUT...first I have to get my running clothes out of the washer.  I washed them with a free sample of new Tide Sport and can't wait to see if I notice any difference!!!! 

Runner Nerd

Ran a 5k in a dress and tiara!

Tonight was the Red Carpet Run.  This is not your every day 5K!  People dress up in prom dresses and evening gowns and suits & tie, tuxes, jogging strollers are made into limos, you see tiaras on many heads!  the race starts and finishes on the red carpet too! 
It was so much fun.  I found an old dress that I don't wear anymore but most of the dresses the girls were wearing were really fancy.  Some men had tux shirts and bow ties on with shorts and there were even a few full suits!
I was looking at the pictures from previous races on the website and saw that many women were wearing tiaras so I got one and some big "diamond" earrings to wear!
Soooooo, this is what I looked like:

What? doesn't everyone dress like this to run a race?????? 

It was fun!  Now I am going to be on the lookout for something fancier to wear next year!!
Upon crossing the finish line and walking along the red carpet waving and getting your picture taken then getting your chip removed by girls in prom dresses you were given a champagne glass (with champagne even) with the name of the race on it!!  They also passed out bottles of water too since it was a running race and was quite hot!  They gave awards to the top 6 in each age group and I was 6th!!  The age group awards are BIG "diamonds" with the name of the race etched on the top. 
I'm already planning for next year!!
Well, off to bed now.
Princess Runner Nerd

Summer semester is over!!

Tonight was the last night of class.  I'm soooooooo glad!!!  I enjoyed being in class with my daughter and will miss that.  She goes back to college next week. 
I hate to wish the summer away but I am glad this writing class is over. 
I get a 2 week break from being a nerd!!  I wish I got a 2 week break from everything else too.  Well, except running!

Good Running, Bad Running

My marathon training isn't exactly going as planned.  2 weeks ago a 10 mile run turned into a 9 mile run and I was barely moving at the end.  (actually from 7.2 miles on I was barely moving)  Last week a 12 mile run turned into a 10 mile run and, again, I was barely moving at the end of it.  I am having serious doubts about this marathon in October.

This past Saturday I did a 10 mile trail run that I have run in the past.  I was just treating it as a long run and just hoping not to fall.  I actually did better than I expected.  I had 1:38:13.  A week ago it took me 1:52 to run 10 miles on relatively flat paved trails and I was barely moving by the end.  I think my training plan had 14 miles for this weeks long run. 

I've done speedwork the last 2 weeks and it has went pretty good. Tonight I started a core class that will run for 10 weeks.  It's only 30 minutes and I figured I could handle that.  I am already feeling it and it's only been 2.5 hrs since class!! 

I'm going to keep at it and hopefully get things together in time to train for this marathon.  My summer class ends next Tuesday.  I have everything done so I just have to show up tomorrow and next week. 

I have to get a new laptop and I hate making decisions on things I know nothing about.  I have been looking at them twice.  I need to make a decision so I can get it bought and then during the 2 weeks between summer and fall classes I can work on getting whatever I need from this computer over to the new one.  Most people would be excited about getting a new computer but not me.  New running shoes or running clothes or running gadgets...now that's another story!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WON A RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never in a billion million trillion years thought I would ever be saying that line!!!!!!  It's not really as impressive as it sounds.
The Thursday night running group took a field trip tonight.  We went to a small college where they were having a 5K and an 8K as a fundraiser for their cross country team.  Hardly anyone ran the 8K and when I finished they said, "you're the first girl!!! YOU WON!! YOU WON!!!  At the moment I was quite nauseous and just felt like puking and it didn't really register what they were saying.  One of the other running group members told me a few minutes later and then I realized what they were saying when I finished!!  Only 2 of us from the running group ran the 8K.  It was mostly on grass (grass that needed mowed!) and was one hill after another and some of it was on slanted ground.  It was tough.
I guess this was a good workout for me since I am doing a 10 mile trail run Saturday morning.
Well, Runner Nerd needs to get to bed, have to work in the morning.

Finish Line Cam

This is so cool, I'm watching people finish the Lake Placid Ironman!!

Outdoor jobs can be so fun!

When I made the decision a year and a half ago to go back to school and change careers it was a very hard decision to make and was made with more than one instance of tears. 
There are still times when I have my doubts.  I really do like what I do know.  I love EMS.
Today it rained on and off all day long.  When it rained it didn't just sprinkle it really rained hard.  It was either down-pouring or not raining, nothing in between.  I spent the day in a heavy, wet uniform on a very hot & humid day.  A couple times I was just about all dried out and then it would start pouring again. 
If I had any doubts about my career change I don't know.  I'm ready. 

Oh Yeah!! Super Nerd status retained!

Guess what I got in the mail today!!!!  I got my certificate for Dean's List for the Winter semester!!

Runner Nerd
emphasis on the Nerd part!!

No more complaining

After spending the past weekend in Chicago I will never ever again complain about traffic here at home, not even construction zone traffic backups.  We have it pretty good here in southeast Michigan!!

I am also very very very happy that I work on an ambulance here in southeast Michigan and not over there in Chicago.  Nobody pulls over for ambulances in Chicago.  We were walking along a sidewalk in downtown Chicago and heard the sirens coming.  The ambulance ended up SITTING at a red light with all lights on and sirens blaring and the cars on the other street just continued to drive through the intersection and the pedestrians continued to walk across the street in front of them in the crosswalk.  NO WAY!!  Here in southeast Michigan when we come along with sirens the cars clear the roadway. 

Chicago was fun and exciting otherwise. 

Runner Nerd
(needs to spend more time on the runner part, has been spending too much time on the nerd part)

Have you ever met a long, steep hill?

run up the hill
run down the hill
run up the hill
run down the hill
run up the hill
run down the hill
etc etc etc...
This was not your average hill.  A quarter mile of upward sloping road growing steeper the farther up you go.
10 times up, 10 times down.
Is there anything more fun in this world??
And to think that some (most?) people went home from work and sat in front of the television in their air-conditioned houses. 
Oh, did I mention that it was 90 degrees??????  Yeah, 90 degrees.
One good thing is that it was a shady neighborhood street.  (shady as in trees on both sides that blocked the sun) 
I absolutely LOVE hot weather, especially when it gets in the 90s, but like anyone else, I don't run as well.  I am slow to begin with these days and I was the slowest one in the group running uphill.  They all waited for me to get to the top before we went back down.  How nice of them!!  They got to rest but I didn't!  (I just bragged about how many more calories I was burning!!) (I don't know if I really was or not but it sounds good!) 
It sure feels good when you are done!  It's torture during but it's always a great feeling afterward.  Running is strange that way! 
Week 2 of marathon training is underway.
Grand Rapids, here I come!!!!!!

Runner Nerd
who is excited that tomorrow is Thursday and that means RUNNING GROUP!!!!!!!!!!!

America The Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

Run interrupted by a... TORNADO????????

What a way to begin the 16 week journey to my next marathon!!
I headed out for a 7 mile run at Hudson Mills.  It was hot and cloudy and looked like it could rain but it was not windy at all.  As I was running along around 2.5 miles into my run a TRUCK came up behind me on the non-motorized trail and scared the $*%# out of me!  The park ranger said there is a tornado warning and a tornado had been sighted in Washtenaw county and to get in the truck and he would take me back to the parking lot.  Well....I took a look at the sky, it was cloudy and darker off in a distance but it wasn't windy; the tree leaves were just hanging there not moving at all.  I said that I'd just take the short cut back to the parking lot and he said ok and off he went.  (I didn't think he'd actually let me stay out there!)  I really wasn't that far away and I figured I would at least get 3 miles in.   I sped up thinking that if I wasn't going to get the miles in I'd at least get some faster running in.  I reluctantly passed where I would have been turning to run a 4 mile loop and then again only slightly reluctantly turned off the trail to the road-the shortcut back to my car- since it was starting to rain.  I could see my car when all of a sudden it just started downpouring!  The rain was coming down very hard, it hit my skin hard.  I was soaked in just a few seconds!  It stopped raining just a few minutes after I got in the car.  I waited a few more minutes and the black clouds were moving away and the sky was lightening up.  I got out and walked around the parking lot; soaked people were coming in from the disk golf course, must be the park ranger didn't go out picking up disk golfers!!  I was thinking about going back out but there was quite a bit of lightening by then so I decided it best to get going.  I changed my clothes and went to a grocery store a few miles away and when I came out of there it was sunny!  I'd have went back to the park to run some more if not for needing to get home and work on a paper for my English class. 
So much for the first long run of my marathon training program!!  I am glad I ran 6 miles Friday after work.
I have to work in the morning and I am planning on going to the library after work to work on my paper.  I probably won't go running unless I just write like crazy and have my paper almost finished but I don't see that happening.   I really hate to wish the summer away but I will be so happy when this class is over.

Grand Rapids...here I come!!!!!!!!!

Runner Nerd
equal parts runner & nerd today!!

June 25--halfway to......

Can you believe we are now halfway to next Christmas????????????

800s

I did speedwork today!!  I haven't done anything speedy in a very long time, I don't even remember when.
I did 800s with a group from the gym.  We did them on a track.  They did 10 but I did 4 then sat one out and did 4 more and sat the last one out.  Eight was enough for me.  I really surprised myself!  I didn't think I could run an 800 anywhere near 4 minutes.  My slowest one was my first one at 4:17.  From there I had 4:11, 4:07,4:02, 4:03, 4:03, 4:08, 4:10.   We did them on 6 minutes.  The plan was to run 800 then walk/jog 1/2 lap and start another.  I did that the first 2 then I just walked straight across the field!  After a few more one of the others started doing that too and by the end some others were too! 
I would like to start going to the running group I used to go to on Tuesday mornings again; I really miss those ladies.  I probably won't be working on Tuesdays that much so hopefully I will make it some weeks this summer.  They do speedwork.  This group meets every Wednesday night but I'm usually working and would not be off in time to get there.  I did not have to work today so I was able to make this workout.

I have one more week until 16 weeks out from the marathon I am running in October.  I'm not ready to start training again but I guess I need to get myself ready.  At least 4 others from my Thursday night running group are also running the same marathon so that will help to have others getting excited about it too.

Well, tomorrow I do have to work and early too so I guess I better get to bed.  I was just so happy about doing speedwork that I had to write about it!!

Runner Nerd

6 years ago today

6 years ago today all this nonsense started!!  June 5, 2004 I ran my very first 5K!  I had 28:55, I thought I was going to die and didn't think I could possibly ever do that again! Little did I know where that race would lead! 

Two years later I was running 5Ks in the 23s although I can't do that anymore. My 5K PR is on the same course as that first 5K but three years later.
I completed my 4th marathon a week ago!
I guess I have come a long way since then!

Bayshore Marathon

I ran my 4th marathon Saturday! (well, I mostly ran it)
This was my slowest ever marathon.  I knew I wasn't going to PR or anything but I thought I could run somewhere in the area of 4:30.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!  not quite
I crossed the 20 mile point at 3:33.  I knew it would be tough to run the last 6.2 in an hour but I was confident that it wouldn't be that much over an hour, I figured I'd be well under 5 hours.  Well....... I was wrong again!  Between the 21st mile marker and the 23rd mile marker I didn't do very much running, I walked more than I ran.  My calves were cramping and getting the feeling like they were being twisted kind of like when you wring out a washcloth and my right foot started cramping and felt like it was trying to curl up inside my shoe.  Running made the foot thing better but also made my calves really hurt.  As I was approaching the 23rd mile marker I told myself that I'd had a walking break that even Jeff Galloway would think was ridiculous and that I was going to run from 23 to the finish line, it's ONLY 3 miles.  I kept telling myself that I only have 3 miles to go and I go out and run 3 miles all the time.  There was a water stop at the 23 mile point so I drank water and took off running and was surprised that I was running ok.  I thought I was running at about the pace I started at.  I crossed the halfway at 2:12 which is about a 10:15 pace.  My miles were all between 10:00 and 10:37.  The last aid station was at 24.5 miles, I walked through just enough to drink a cup of water and continued on.  I had grand plans to pick up the pace at the 25 mile marker cuz it's only a mile!!  I don't know if I picked up the pace or not but the last half mile was tough.  To add to that there were people everywhere yelling "you're almost there" and "the finish is just around that corner"  I was back on the college campus and there were a few turns and I was seeing things I saw at the very beginning but no finish line in sight.  I knew the finish was on the track and I thought that I had to run all the way around the track but it was only a very short portion of track.  The track finally came into view and then the finish line.  I did it!!!  I ran a marathon!! I had decided during the last part of the marathon that I am not running again for a month. I also changed my mind about the marathon I'm signed up for in October--don't want to do it now.
Right after I finished I heard an announcement that the FINAL shuttle bus to the hotels was leaving soon.  HUH??  I did the math in my head...7+5=12 (7am start + 5 hours = 12 noon) and the buses are supposed to run until 1:15pm.  I checked my watch just to be sure and it was just a few minutes past noon.  I had to get my bag from the bag check area and get to the bus, no time for food.  All of the water bottles had the caps removed.  When I was getting my bag I spilled what water was in the bottle so I had no more water.  I finally found where the buses were and got on the right one and then they were saying that they might not leave until 1:15.  Never again do I not drive myself to a marathon if I am not staying in a hotel close enough to walk.  They did leave shortly and I got back to my hotel with enough time that I didn't have to hurry to get checked out on time. 
Sooooooo, here I am nearly a week after the marathon.  I'm feeling pretty good now.  As for not running for a month...I ran a 10K yesterday!!  Yep, a midweek 10K to celebrate National Running Day!  It was put on by the running store out in the middle of nowhere on dirt roads.  Last year I PR'd there and won the masters!  It's just an informal race where you look at the clock or your watch as you cross then write your name on the big poster board.  The "awards" are leftovers from previous races.  I wasn't sure what would happen when I started running last night but it went ok.  I surprised myself with a 56:50!!  I was actually very proud of myself!!!  Tonight was Thursday night running group.  I ran 3.5 miles and felt pretty good.  I guess I am recovering.  I still don't know if I want to do this again in October.  16 weeks out from Oct. 17 is only 2 weeks away.  I don't know what to do.  I'm registered.  4 others that I know of from the Thursday night group are also registered.  My plan was for this spring marathon to be for staying in shape over the winter and base building for the fall marathon where I want to break 4 hours.  Now I'm not so sure.  Right now I don't even want to think about doing this again.  I guess I just need more time. 
I have a few stories from the marathon but they will have to wait until later.  I need to get to bed.
Runner Nerd

It's marathon night!!!!!!!!!

I'm in Traverse City!!  Got here about 3:30, checked in, walked to local running store (which just happens to have the same name as the one back home!), got my Gu stash (nothing like waiting till the last minute!), came back and then left for packet pick up.  It took me almost an hour to get there and it's only a few miles away!!!!!  This town is a zoo!  I just got back from dinner which I ate in the restaurant in the hotel.  I'm back in my room now.  It is so beautiful and sunny out and my hotel  is right on the bay.  I can see people everywhere walking on the beach and the sidewalks.  How am I going to go to bed??  I want to go wander around downtown.  I know I better stay off my feet.  I do have to make a trip to a grocery store because I have nothing to eat in the morning.  This room does not have a microwave or a fridge so that limits what I could bring.  I guess I will go get a bagel and a couple bananas.  The bus comes to the hotel at 5:15am and is scheduled to drop us off at the marathon start at 5:35.  That's almost 1.5 hour before the start. Don't know how I am going to occupy that amount of time. 
Hard to believe this is already here!
Happy Memorial Day weekend!
Runner Nerd

Marathon training complete

I ran my last run today!!  The next running I do will be the marathon!!  It's so hard to believe it is so close!
I am excited but nervous!  I am becoming a mess of nerves and anxiety!
As of right now the forecast for Saturday is sunny, high temp 80, low 59.  I hope the marathon hours stay in the 60s.  As soon as I am done it can jump to 80; that will be fine with me!!!

I ran 5.5 miles this morning at an easy pace.  I ran at 10 am and it was warmer than I realized.  I don't know how warm it was but I was really surprised.
I don't know why I figured this out but the time between my last run and the start of the marathon will be 68 hours which is something like 2 3/4 days of rest.  (11am Wednesday through 7am Saturday)  This is the kind of stuff going through my mind while running this morning.  I tried to think about the paper I have to start for my English class but couldn't do it, the other thoughts kept creeping into my brain.  I think I decided what I am going to wear.  I forgot to call the hotel to see if my room will have a microwave; I really need to do that.  I have to plan what I am going to eat the morning of the race.  I also think that I decided that it is going to be vanilla Gu every 5 miles. yippie.  I need to pack too.
I have to work a few hours tomorrow afternoon.  I hope to begin packing tomorrow morning.  I am not going to running group tomorrow night.  I will really miss it.  I do have to stop and get the Gu packets.  Maybe I will do the warm up stretching with them.  It all depends on when I get out of work.

Well, I guess it's time for bed.  I hope I can sleep!
Runner Nerd
ready to run a marathon

getting close!!!

I'm running a marathon in 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (actually 4 1/4 days)
Today the forecast for Saturday said mostly sunny and high 63 degrees.  The temp has come down a few degrees but the sun is still there!!!!! 
I am trying to eat extra healthy this week and get lots of sleep. 
I am excited and nervous.   The hotel I am staying at has a restaurant and I was looking over their menu on the website and I think I can find an acceptable pre marathon dinner. 
Well, I must be getting to bed.  The only time I am going to be able to run tomorrow is early in the morning before work which is very unlike me.  I will be going right from work to class.  oh yippie-just what I've always wanted to do-go to class in my uniform. 
Off to sleep now,
Runner nerd

Last long run

Tomorrow will be my last long run before the marathon!  I am going to run 10. 
As of right now the forecast for May 29 in Traverse City is sunny and high 74!
This time next week I will be trying to sleep in my hotel room!  Hard to believe that it's this close now.  It was a long winter. 

where did the cement come from??

OK, how did my legs get filled with cement??  Tonight my legs felt like they each weighed about 100 lbs.
We had a very small group tonight.  We ran 4 miles. 
Marathon day is now on the 10 day forecast!!  As of right now it says mostly cloudy and high 75.  No rain!  It will most likely be cooler then 75 at 7am but probably not 20 degrees!!  I know it will change daily and I don't know why I even look.  I remember 10 days out from my first marathon the forecast was terrible and it went from one extreme to the other and back again over the 10 days.  The day turned out to be perfect!

Bed time, have to work early.

Plan B

It was Plan B tonight.  I had planned on running 8 miles after work.  After work was supposed to be at 5 but ended up being at 7:30 instead.  I don't think I'd have had enough daylight left to run 8 miles by the time I drove to Gallup Park (the long way around since the Geddes Exit is closed) and changed my clothes.  Soooo I came up with plan B! I went to Bandemer Park to run my favorite route!  The parking lot was nearly full and I had no choice but to park next to a truck with 4 dudes standing behind it talking.  I climbed into my back seat and proceeded to change my clothes and they never even looked that way!!  THANK YOU to whoever invented tinted windows!!!!
I ran really good.  The first 3 miles were all under 9 minutes!!  I don't know what got into me!  It was just so beautiful tonight.  The weather was great, it was in the mid 60s and was still sunny.  The water is rushing full force over the dam again and the headrace is full of water again which looks so much better.  It is so good to see the water rushing over the end of it into the river again.  It looked so terrible all winter when they had it closed off.  They are cutting a lot of trees along there because they are going to be digging up those toe drain thingys to repair them.  It really looks different.  It is strange to be able to see so far down the path when entering it without all the trees.  I am so glad that they are not going to remove the dam.
I considered following the paved path back the way I came since I was running so good and to see if I could keep up that pace for another 1.5 miles but the woods won!  The wooded Argo Bluffs trail is my favorite part of this route; I couldn't imagine not running through there.  I had to slow down going through the woods or I'd have fallen for sure.  It's so pretty in there this time of year. 
It's now 10 days till M day and you know what that means!!  I know I shouldn't even think about it but I can't resist.  The 10 day forecast!  I looked on 2 different weather sites but neither had May 29th on yet.  There were only 9 days showing on the 10 day forecast.  The forecast for the days leading up to the 29th show sunny and 70s and 80s!! I know it will change daily.  I don't know why I even look at it.
Well, it's bed time.  More work tomorrow but thankfully not too early!! 
Can't wait till 6pm and Thursday night running group!!!
Goodnight
Runner Nerd

Looking for a plan for the fall

OK, I went and signed up for the Grand Rapids Marathon on Oct. 17 now I need a plan. 
I didn't follow any plan for this marathon I'm running in 2 weeks. 
I've been looking at a few plans.  The thing that is going to be difficult is this school thing.  I have no idea what days or times I'll be going to school this fall.  I run with my group on Thursday nights and I'm not going to change that.  One plan I am looking at has hill workouts or speed work or such on Thursdays.  I prefer long runs on Saturdays but most plans put the long runs on Sundays. 
I used to run with a group on Tuesday mornings and I would like to get back to that this summer when I am not working on Tuesday.  They do speed work. 
One plan has rest days on Mondays another has rest day on Fridays. 
I have no idea what to do.
Maybe I should wait until after my marathon before I worry about the next one.
Tomorrow my next semester starts.  I am only taking one class.  It's been so nice to not have homework hanging over my head. 
Well, I'm tired and heading to bed. 
Runner Nerd

The 20 miler is in the books!! Taper time!

yep, I did it!  I ran 20 miles and it wasn't easy.  The last 5 miles were extremely tough. The last 2 were the worst.  I guess that's how it's supposed to be.
My early miles were too fast.  I ran with the Ironman training group.  They had been riding their bikes for 2 hours prior to the run.  Only one of them did 20 miles.  We first ran 12 miles and came back to the cars.  That's when most of them left.  The coach had stashed water at 6 miles so I didn't have to wear my water bottle belt.  I had sport beans at 6 miles and again at 12.  I think I also had some at 15.  We ran 2 3 mile loops coming back to the car after each.  We finished up the last 2 miles on a track.  We had had enough hills.  We started from the field house parking lot at the community college.
Right now I really don't know what I am going to do for fueling during my marathon.  I absolutely despise Gu (have I ever mentioned that before!!)  I like sport beans but it is a lot of chewing to get a whole pack down.  I only like 1 flavor of Gu Chomps.  There is just no denying that Gu is the easiest thing to carry.  The packets are small and skinny and 6 of them fit perfectly in the little pouch of my spibelt. I think it's gonna be choke down the Gu every 5 miles.  I will live. 
Well, I have to go to work in the morning earlier than usual so I better get my sore tired body to bed. 
Oh, I didn't mention that it was beautiful weather today and for the first time this year I wore a sleevless top!!!  IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!! 
Goodnight
tapering Runner Nerd

20 miler tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day!  I will be running 20 miles. 
Right now the weather forecast says 65 and partly sunny so that's good.  I'm tired of running in the rain.
I am running with the Ironman group from the Y.  They will be riding their bikes in the morning, 50 or 60 miles then running 20 miles. 

When I was driving to work this morning at 8:30 I was thinking that 2 weeks from that moment I'd be 1.5 hours into my marathon.  It is coming up fast!!! 

Well, I'm going to get some sleep! 

Runner Nerd
taking a break from nerd!

Blogging from my Phone!

I can blog from my phone!!!
I am doing this on my new blackberry!!
Ok, this is enough for now; I can sleep well knowing that I can and have blogged from my cell phone!!
Nite,
Super cool, high tech Runner Nerd

Blackberry adventures

I got a Blackberry today!!!  I have no clue what to do with the thing!  The guy in the store showed me how to make a call and send a text message.  He also set up my email address and, of course, Facebook!  I tried posting something to Facebook and failed miserably!!  I would be typing and then it would be gone so I'd start over; turns out that all of the partial messages showed up!!  Yes, my friends are laughing at me!  I promised that I'd not try any more Facebooking with the phone! 
I spent some quality time with the instruction book!  I took a picture with it too!  I was always saying that I was the last person on earth to have a cell phone with no camera!!  I now have a camera on my phone!  I can probably blog from the phone too; I will have to look into that.  I know people do it from their Iphones. 
No running today, resting and recovering from the 25K.  Normally I would do a short recovery run but I am being oh-so-careful with the hamstrings.  I told a friend today that I am treating them like they are so fragile.  I don't know if they are or not.  I just want to make it to the marathon and then make it through the marathon and 4+ hours of running. 

The college kids are home now and the wireless internet card and router are not working very well and it is not a very happy place right now.  I guess I will be on the phone with both Verizon about the card and the router support people to see if we can get it working.  I am getting so tired of this.  I am paying way too much $$ for something that is not working properly. 

Well, my time with the wireless card is up; have to pass it on to next in line.  This is getting really old.

Runner Nerd
with a new toy!
(will post pics soon)

Riverbank Run

Yesterday I woke up to the sound of rain beating against the window; not what I wanted to hear.  Most of my drive to Grand Rapids was in the rain. Yippie.    Geez, I thought Ann Arbor highways are a mess with a bunch of closed lanes and exits but Grand Rapids is way worse, 2 of the highways leading to downtown were closed.  Thanks to a friend who lives near G.R. I avoided a mess.  If you read this, Thanks, friend, for leaving work and driving to an exit and leading me into the city!!!  It is much appreciated!! 
Anyway, after a rainy drive there I checked into my hotel and walked to the expo.  It had stopped raining but it was much colder than it was when I left home.  I discovered that I had forgotten the jacket I had intended to take.  I actually wrote last night about the expo so I won't go into that. 
This morning when I first woke up it wasn't raining but it soon started.  I was having flashbacks.  Last year it rained for the entirety of this race.  It began right as the announcement was made for the 25K runners to begin lining up in the street and it rained the entire 2 hours, 23 minutes that I was running.  I was soaked.  I really didn't want to repeat that experience and today was colder than it was last year.  It did stop raining before the race.  It wasn't raining when I jogged over to where the race starts.  I checked my sweatshirt and long sleeve tshirt with about 4 minutes until the race, I wasn't giving it up until I had to!!  I wore shorts and a short sleeve shirt.  I went back and forth on wearing a long sleeve shirt.  It was 46 according to weather.com so I knew that I'd be freezing to start but if I was overdressed it wouldn't take very long until I would be miserable.  Around 5 or 6 miles I began hearing comments of being too warm and often I saw people taking off jackets or a shirt layer.  The wind came up a few times and that was miserable. 
I treated this as a long run since I know I am nowhere near the shape I was in the last 2 years.  My time was 2:33:46 which is 9:53 pace.  Oh well.  Last year I had 2:23:something and the year before 2:20:12 so I was way slower this year.  This is a huge race and there are always many people around me the entire race.  I picked up my pace at the 14 mile mark even though I knew better.  I kept it up until nearly the end!  The 15th mile was the fastest mile I ran in the entire race but my last half mile took 5:08. 
As soon as I stopped running I was freezing and I had to walk back to the place where gear check was.  It seemed like a very long walk.  Then it was back to my hotel. When I was in the building getting my things it had started raining so I walked back to the hotel in the rain.  I did not have any pants to put on over my shorts so my legs were freezing and my feet really hurt and my legs were getting stiff and sore.  I had 1.5 hours until I had to check out.  I stretched my hamstring, showered and crawled into the bed and rolled up in the covers and took a nap for about 40 mins. 
The good news: my hamstring never bothered!!!  It was well behaved! 
It's now 3 weeks until the marathon.  I will be running 20 miles next weekend.  I have no idea where I am going to run the 20 miles yet. 
It's time for bed, I'm exhausted and feel like I could sleep for 18 hours!! 
Happy running,
Runner Nerd