Long run

Today I ran the farthest since coming back from Plantar Fasciitis.  I ran 7 miles and it went quite well!  I didn't get out to run until nearly 4pm because I spent yesterday and most of today with my niece who is due to have a baby next week.  She needed help with laundry because she isn't able to reach down into the washing machine right now.  She's been exhausted lately and had a mountain of clean as well as dirty laundry.  We washed loads of laundry and folded the mountain of clean laundry.  She has a big walk in closet and the floor was completely covered and you couldn't walk into it.  I crawled in there and just started folding clothes and pulling other stuff out to see what she wanted done with it.  We got a lot done that she has trouble doing by herself right now.  So, anyway, after my job was done there, I headed on over to one of my favorite running parks, Hudson Mills, to run 7 miles.  I had 7 miles on my schedule and Hudson Mills just happens to have 7 miles of paved trails!!  It was starting to get dark by the time I got done.  It's unusual to go for my run that late in the day and especially after having a big lunch!  Yep, my niece and I took a lunch break and went to TGI Friday!  It's our favorite place to go; we've been going there together for years.  I was kind of dreading the run since it was so late in the day but it seemed to go by fast.  I actually enjoyed it.  I had no problem with my foot.  My run ended by the office/activity building and I went in and used the restroom and then jogged out to my car!!  I know that doesn't sound like much but when I was battling the plantar fasciitis, once I stopped running it didn't take long until my foot would stiffen up and it would be hard to walk on!!  I really feel like I am back and on my way to Key West!!!!  Just 10 weeks from tomorrow!!  I can't wait to be there!!!

In the week coming up, it's Turkey Trot time!!  I'm running a 10K at the Y.  I'm also volunteering with setting up for packet pick up, and clean up after the race.  This started out in 2005 when one of the trainers put up a sign to go running on Thanksgiving morning.  There were 7 of us that icy morning and we ran 5 miles!!  This year we had just shy of 700 participants.  There is a 5K and 10K. 

Runner Nerd
late afternoon runner

Running in Lights

Last night was one of my favorite events!  This is the 5th year I've run it. It is the Wayne County Lightfest Run Through the Lights 8K.  It's a 5 mile long drive-through holiday light display that is along a road that runs through a string of parks.  Every evening during the holidays for certain hours it is closed to regular traffic and cars drive one way through.  They always have a run on the Tuesday of opening week.  It will open on Friday.
This run is just for fun.  There are no bib numbers, no chips, no timing, no winners, no age groups or anything but an unbelievable number of people show up for this!!  They allow both running and walking, strollers and dogs too.  They say it's a dress rehearsal but I think it's a way to get extra money for the electric bill this thing must ring up!!  It doesn't cost as much as most races, I think I paid $15.00 and they give a nice long sleeve t-shirt.  I like the long sleeve t-shirts!
They give each person a glow necklace.  You will see people wearing all kinds of light up things.  A couple years ago I got the idea to attach a short string of battery operated lights that I use on a wreath to my shirt.  In other words, I run wearing Christmas lights!!!!
This is my friend and I with our lights and glow sticks: 

 Here we are by one of the light displays:

 Here we are helping the elves:

We had so much fun!  My friend in the pictures is also running the half in Key West.  When I run with her she pulls me along faster than I'd normally run.  I ran with her and running group friend who usually runs a lot faster than me.  I ran the 5 miles in 49:22, a 9:52 pace, quite a bit faster than I have been running on my own.  My foot behaved and the weather wasn't as nice as last year (mid 50s); it was 35 degrees, which isn't bad for running. 
I have two more holiday themed races, one is in the evening so I will get to wear my lights again!!  The other is in the morning so I will just wear my red and white knee socks!

As for the other part of my life - college - I will be done with classes in 3 weeks!!  I will be graduating in 31 days!!!  I'm almost done being the world's oldest college student!!

Runner Nerd
runs wearing lights

Runner Nerd is training for a half marathon!

11 weeks till Key West half marathon!!!!!!  I'm training!!!!  Today was my long run of the incredibly long distance of 6 miles!!!  Ok, so 6 miles isn't a very long run, but for one who is just returning to running after 2 months off for plantar fasciitis, it's a very big deal!!!  My foot behaved nicely and I was even still moving when I finished!!  My first few post-PF runs were not so good; I was barely moving the last half mile or so.  Today, my 6th mile was faster than my 3rd, 4th and 5th miles!  As Garmy beeped for 5 miles, I realized that I was feeling pretty good and picked up the pace a bit!!  My overall pace was 10:56 which isn't great but for now I will take it.  As I continue to get rid of this weight I've gained since becoming the world's oldest college student I hope to see my pace get faster.
There is one thing I am totally sure of now:
KEY WEST, HERE COMES RUNNER NERD!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be there on January 20th!!! 
My running group friend, Erika, is thinking about going too!!  She doesn't know for sure yet but she wants to.  She was supposed to run the NY marathon tomorrow.  She had PF last year and just started running in the early summer after 4 or 5 months off.  She had a great training and was really looking forward to the marathon.  Her flight was Thursday late afternoon and she didn't know for sure if it was going to go until only a couple of hours before departure.  She flew into Laguardia which was still closed Thursday morning.  She picked up her packet before the cancellation was announced so she has her bib and the shirt.  After the marathon was cancelled, she was able to buy some running clothes half price.  She texted me earlier today saying that marathon runners can run 4 laps in Central Park tomorrow morning at 9 am.  She is planning on going and running. 
I hope that she is able to go to Key West, her and I have a blast together!  Tuesday night we went to the haunted attractions at Wiards Orchards in Ypsi.  It had rained most of the day so the haunted hayride wasn't running.  We went through the haunted mine shaft, haunted insane asylum and the haunted barn!  I haven't been to any haunted houses in years! 

Next Saturday is the Iron Turkey which I've run for the last 3 years.  I don't know if I will be running it this year.  I am not up to 9 miles yet.

One month from today is my last class!!  42 days until graduation!!

Runner Nerd
running again

Halloween dress up and running

Tonight was one of my favorite fall fun races.  It's called the Headless Horseman 5K.  There is actually a dude in a headless costume riding a horse!  People dress up.  I wore my big orange jack-o-lantern tshirt and orange/black striped knee socks.  The race is at night, after dark, so I also wore light up bracelets.  They were giving out glow sticks so I pinned mine into my pony tail.  (they came on a string but I took the string off and used a safety pin to pin it to my scrunchie.)  I wore my running skirt since it wasn't that cold.  A lady took a picture of me and texted it to me but I never got it so I can't post a pic but I did have one last year and I wore the same this year.

Same race last year, same clothes this year

The race course goes though a park and along a lake and then back out of the park and down the street to a cemetery.  The run winds through the cemetery and along a lake, which was really cool because there was a big ole full moon right up above us!!  There is nearly a mile in the cemetery.  It was chilly but not too cold for running.  I did have to wear gloves and a headband but I wore my skirt.  After the race there was baggies of CANDY!!!  I had a mini Milky Way bar in mine  - my favorite!!!  There were also popcorn balls; I haven't had a popcorn ball in forever!  I thought I was just going to taste it with a few bites but later on after I got home, I got it out of my bag and finished it up!!
As I was walking back to my car (a few blocks) I realized that my foot never hurt at all, not even a twinge, while I was running the race and as I was walking to the car it wasn't hurting!!!!  I was sooooo happy!!  I had the biggest smile on my face, even though it was dark and no one could see it!!
KEY WEST, HERE I COME!!!!!!!

Runner Nerd
making a come back!!

Feeling Left out

Tomorrow is the Detroit and the Grand Rapids marathons.  I have several friends running in each.  Other friends ran Chicago a few weeks back and a couple of others will be running New York City in a few weeks.  I feel like I'm the only one who isn't running a marathon or half marathon this fall. 
I AM running again!!  I've run 2 miles, 3 miles twice and 3.5 miles and all went well and my foot behaved itself.  The Key West Half Marathon is 13 weeks from tomorrow; one more week until a 12 week training program would start.  I AM going to Key West!!  I am sooooo looking forward to it and can't wait. 
School is down to 43 days until my last class (6 weeks from Monday!).  I may have found my calling!!  I finished my neo-natal ICU clinicals (very sick babies) and then it was on to my long term care clincals.  This is people who are ventilator dependant for a long term, sometimes forever.  I liked it a lot.  I can see myself doing it.  They are going to hire 4 new respiratory therapists in the near future and I talked to them about it.  I have to let them know when I graduate and pass my boards.
Finding a job is going to be a huge priority now.  My daughter is going to study abroad next semester.

I have been doing a lot of biking during the time I wasn't running.  I recently saw this guy while riding:

I've been seeing him since he was little while running but I never have my phone with me when running but I do when I'm riding my bike so I stopped and took his picture.  This cow is almost completely white except for this black spot on his side and some black on his neck.  His other side is completely white.

Another picture:  I wonder if this is intentional.  The sign says Great Harvest Bread Co.  What are the chances that some of the lights would burn out and leave these words:

I think it's intentional; I will have to go in there one of these days and ask (and buy a yummy cookie!!)

Runner Nerd
running again

Only 2 more months of being the world's oldest college student

2 months from today, Dec. 15, I will graduate and give up the title of world's oldest college student!! 
can't wait!!!

Runner Nerd
close to being done with the nerd part

Got through it.

I got though "that" day, the day I was ignoring and hoping would go away!!
I went bike riding since I can't run.  I never imagined that on my 12th 39th birthday that I wouldn't be able to go running.  The next two years my birthday will be on Saturday and Sunday so I better be able to run!! 

Can't run so I bike

I saw my neighbor out in her yard so I asked her to take a picture of me.  I have to say that I did feel much better and inspired after talking with her.  I've known her for years, we met when our kids were young.  I never realized that she is older than me.  She always looked so young.  She told me that she will be 58 in a couple of months.  I was quite shocked; she looks so young.

So, I made it through!  Now I'm back to the life of the world's oldest college student!

Runner Nerd
world's oldest college student