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