Catching Up - Races, Travelling, Training

I haven't posted since May 9th.  
I haven't been a very good blogger lately.  I haven't been doing anything out of the ordinary or anything; I just haven't been keeping up on blogging!  All of a sudden, my iPhone won't email pictures to me anymore and I have no idea why.  That makes it harder to get the pictures I take on the phone to use on the blog.
I've run a few races, volunteered at a race, taken a couple of short trips, tamed a feral kitten, had some great runs and had some really bad runs.
A week ago Saturday, June 28,  was one of the really bad ones.  I ran eleven miles but after mile 7 it got tough.  I walked a couple of times up hills.  I was so upset.  I don't know why it was so hard.  The next day, Sunday, I only ran three miles but that was very difficult.  I wasn't quite back to my car when I hit three miles and I just walked the rest of the way back; I never do that.  Monday I tried to do a tempo run but that didn't quite go as planned.  I ended up doing mile repeats.  I made it two miles then had to stop and rest about a minute and then again at the third mile before running the fourth mile.  I guess it's better than nothing!  I wasn't looking forward to Friday which was the Hanover Firecracker 5 miler at all.  I was very surprised that I ran good and never had to walk up any hills, and there are three big ones on this course!  I came in at 44:20 which is an 8:52 pace.  I even got third in my age group!!  After the race I changed in my "changing room" in the backseat of my car behind the tinted windows and raced over to Grass Lake where the rest of the family was getting lined up for the parade with our vintage tractors.  We pulled our church float with one of them and I walked along beside the float passing out invitations to the Vacation Bible School.  I still had Garmie on so I reset her and started it again and I walked 1.84 miles in the parade!
My cousin who lives in Alaska was home visiting his parents (my Aunt and Uncle) so we had a get together there yesterday so I didn't go to long run group.  My sister who lives in California was able to come and attend the party so I got to see her too!  My sister-in- law and I talked about our plans to run the Vegas Half Marathon in November!  She hasn't been running since we ran the Chicago Marathon but she's getting ready to start training again.
Today I was going to head to Chelsea to go for a run when I saw on Facebook that one of my running friends was running on my favorite route and posted a couple of pictures so I decided to drive 15 minutes more and run on my favorite trails!
Argo Pond was beautiful today with the sun shining on the water.

Argo Pond

I always love passing this sign:

Do not enter 

This is an old road that has been closed for a long time.  The do not enter sign is for cars.  It is ok to walk, run, or bike on it.  It's just kind of fun to run past the "do not enter" sign!  I only run through here occasionally; it adds about a mile to my run.
There is also an old leftover sign from when the road was still a road.  I love this sign:

sharp curve ahead

I'm now training for my four half marathons this fall.  I am training for my goal race which is the Women Run the D women's half in Detroit on Sept. 21.  It's 11 weeks away now!  I ordered a book called, "Run Less, Run Faster".  I somewhat followed the first week of training but had to make some changes because of the 4th of July race.  I also spent an entire day helping my very pregnant niece with  some things she needs to do before the baby comes so I missed the speed work out that day.

I can hardly believe that the 4th of July has passed.  After the 4th of July summers just seem to fly by.  After the winter we had I want this summer to last a very long time.
Tomorrow is back to normal life.  I have a corner piece of cake, too many pulled pork sliders, more cake, cookies, two oversized meals on the 4th, and ice cream twice to work off and recover from!  It's always a fun weekend when the 4th falls on a Friday!

A big storm is brewing; what great timing, right when the holiday weekend is over and it's time to go to bed!

Runner Nerd
celebrates the country's birthday

Ready to go!

The work is all done!  I ran my last run of training for the Key West half! 
This is what I was up against today:
on the streets:

snow covered street

on the trail:

snow covered trail

Tomorrow I will not have any snow to deal with!  I'm all packed and ready to go!  I have a feeling I'm going to be driving to the airport in 4-wheel drive.  I have to pick up my friend, Erika, at 7am so I need to leave at 6:15 am with normal roads.  I'm thinking I'm going to have to plan on leaving at 5:30 am and see how things look when I get up.  We'll see. 

Runner Nerd
off to Key West

One more run to go before I'm outta here!

Just one more run in this frozen tundra that is Michigan in January and then I'll be running in sunny Key West!  Tonight was group run at the running store.  Only three people tonight; gee, I wonder why!  It was 24 degrees, the sidewalks weren't knee deep with snow like last week but there were patches of ice that we had to really watch for.  The roads in the two subdivisions we ran through were good.
I am so looking forward to Key West!!  I leave Friday morning!  My friend and I rented bikes today!  They will be delivered to us at our hotel soon after we get there!  We're both excited about the trip!  I don't know if I will be able to come in under 2 hours but I'm going to try and have fun trying!
I'm just about all packed.  I did my monthly weigh in at Weight Watchers today so I'm good for this month!  I'm sure I'll gain a few lbs in Key West!  I can't wait to get one of these gigantic cookies again!!
Well, I guess I should go organize my suitcase; I've been throwing things into it for the last week.  I will probably eliminate a few things before I go.  Tomorrow is my last day home and I have to leave my house early Friday morning so I need to be completely packed as well as have things around the house done, such as emptying the overflowing wastebaskets!  If I didn't empty them, when I get back there would be trash piled as high as they could get it to stay on top and then trash everywhere! 

Runner Nerd
packing

Ididarun 8 mile night cross country run

Last night was the annual Ididarun 8 mile cross country race in Linden, MI.  It's put on by the cross country teams of Linden Schools, a small school district about an hour away.  This is the fourth year I've run this.  The first year there was a few inches of snow and it was cold.  The last two years it was unseasonably warm for January and the course was muddy.  This year the snow was deep but it had warmed up yesterday and Friday so a lot of snow melted but the temperature dropped in the late afternoon so there was some freezing of the melted snow!  The parts of the course that are on the cross country course had deep snow and to add to the fun, in some spots, there was water under the snow!  Your feet sink right in with each step.  Before the race, the director said, "your feet WILL get wet!"  Oh, he was right!  My feet got soaked.  The run is 4 two mile loops.  Each time around the off road sections wiped me out more and more.  It just took so much to stay upright and to get through the snow and snow/water.  There were some slippery spots on the paved parts, too.  On the last loop, the wind came up and it got colder.  My lips and cheeks were numb.  I kept thinking that I should have just went to the group long run in the morning, ran my 8 miles and called it a day!  I also used this race for my last long run before Key West last year.  I was never so glad to be finished as I was last night!

Cold, wiped out, and soaked feet

I had looked up my time from last year and it took me 15 minutes longer this year.  I was surprised that it was just 15, I thought it would have been more.  I won my age group!!  (Actually, I was 2nd but the winner was the Masters winner.)  I changed into dry clothes and socks right after finishing but I did not have dry shoes with me.  They always have soups after this race.  I had clam chowder soup and it was really good but it didn't sit well which made for a really long drive home!  I walked around in my socks until it was time to leave and then I had to put my feet back into my cold, wet shoes.  I had also forgotten my coat so I had to walk out to the car without a coat and in wet shoes!  I was very happy for my heated seat cushion! 
I actually learned after the race that a lot of people decided to do the relay option which is two people each running two loops.  (People who had originally signed up for the whole 8 miles.)   I guess there weren't that many left running the whole 8 miles.
So, with that, I've completed all of my long runs for Key West!  Just a few short runs this week and I'm off to Key West!

Runner Nerd
ready for Key West

Key West, Here comes the world's oldest college student!!!

I am officially registered for my graduation present to myself!!  I can't think of a better way to celebrate graduating from college and beginning my new career than to go to one of the coolest places in the world, where it's beautiful in the middle of January, and run a half marathon!!!
When I first started this college journey, my first thought was to do the goofy challenge the 2nd week of January  (Disney half marathon on Saturday and Disney marathon on Sunday).  It did not take long to realize that there would be no way that I could train for a marathon while going about the business of being the world's oldest full time college student and maintaining that all important 4.0 GPA.  When I learned of the Key West half in January I thought that would be perfect!  Half marathons are so much easier. I would have over a month after graduation which can go a long way toward getting ready for a half marathon as long as I had a good base. 
I'm really excited and looking forward to this!!  I've been saying for over 3 years that I'm going to go to Key West after graduating and I can't believe that I am now actually registered for it!!  I'm winding up my next to last semester then will have a 6 week break and at the end of August will be beginning my last semester!!
Soooooooo, anyway.... I have registered for...

Now, I have work to do.  I'm embarrassed beyond embarrassed to say that I've gained 10 pounds since becoming a full time student.  That is number one priority to get rid of that.  My mileage has went down to almost nothing, from 25-30 miles per week to 10-12 miles per week.  With weight gain and such reduced mileage I am so out of shape.  I run soooooo slow.  Turtles run faster than me.  I have a hard time running under 10 minute miles.  When I run with others on Tuesday nights, I can keep up 9 minute miles for a couple of miles but then I really slow down.  These days, 4 miles does me in.  So, I have to make a comeback!  My heel has been bothering me, it's symptoms of the "PF" word.  (can't even type it!)  I am going to one of the massage therapists at the place I go who has developed a massage technique for PF.

Today I ran 3 miles, my heel was good but afterward I drove about a mile to CVS to get a newspaper and when I got out of the car I had to give it a moment before taking the first step.  GEEZ, when is this going to end?????  

I have new next door neighbors whom I haven't met yet.  I still can't believe the old neighbors are gone :(   They built the house and had lived next to us for 21 years.  I am planning on making some chocolate chip cookies this week and taking them to the new neighbors and meeting them.  The recipe I'm making is one I got from the old neighbor!  It's the best chocolate chip recipe ever!! 


Runner Nerd
Key West bound

Less than a week

Well, it is now Sunday, May 22 and the world as we know it did not end!!  I had forgotten that it was supposed to until this week when it was all over everywhere you looked!  When in New York City over New Years they were all over the subways passing out literature and putting up signs warning that the world ends May 21, 2011. 
Sooooooo, this means that I have a half marathon to run in less than a week!!!!  I did my last long run Friday since I had to work most of the day Saturday.  It was only 7 miles but I was slower than slow; I think it was my slowest overall average pace yet. 
I booked my hotel room on Friday! Nothing like waiting till the last minute to book a hotel room in a major tourist city on a holiday weekend!!  I actually found one 5.5 miles away and it's a lot less than I expected.  The address is not Traverse City even though it is so close and that makes a big difference in the price!  I'm happy!!! 

On the nerd side of things:  I got a 98% on a test this week!!!  I have another one on Wednesday this coming week.  I'm getting the hang of doing things at clinicals and am enjoying taking care of patients and am looking forward to my new career someday!!! 

Time for bed. 
Runner Nerd
needs sleep

Water Everywhere!!

I've heard of "water under the bridge" but what about water OVER the bridge?

I had to do my long run on Friday afternoon this week.  I had to move most of my daughter's junk stuff out of her dorm today. 
The Huron River always swells in the spring but this was quite something!  In several places along my route there was some water on the trails but in one area the trail was completely under water!!  A bridge was even under water!  These pictures were taken in Fuller Park along Island Drive. 

I guess I am NOT going to continue over this bridge!

the river is on the other side of those trees!



The Huron River overflowed!



DETOUR!!!



Too much water



The river is supposed to stop on the other side of the trees.

It's now down to only 4 weeks until the half marathon.  I'm still running so slow.  Next Saturday my son graduates from college so I am not sure hwo I am going to work in my long run.  I will probably have to try to run on Friday again.

Welcome back to speedwork!

The last 2 weeks I did speedwork with some people from the gym, led by the triathlon coach.  The last 2 weeks went pretty good; the workouts were 3-3.5 miles plus warm up and cool down and we were done in less than an hour.  The first week was in pouring rain, last week we were out there running in summer clothes. Today we were back in tights and long sleeve shirts (I wore 2 shirts).  This was one crazy killer workout.  2 sets 1200 fast, 400 slow; 2 sets 800 fast, 400 slow; 2 sets 400 fast, 400 slow; 4 sets 200 fast, 200 slow.  We had a 1 mile warm up and 2 mile cool down.  If  I have calculated this all correctly, it's a total of 8.5 miles.  THAT'S NUTS!!! 
I am not fond of any speedwork over 400s.  When I saw in coach's email yesterday first line: "1200 fast then 400 slow then repeat"  I considered skipping it!!  By the 2nd 800 my legs felt finished.  We went off the track for the cooldown, a paved rail-to-trail runs right behind this high school track so we headed over there and ran a mile down and back.  (there is a mile marked out behind the school with each 1/4 marked; I figured we'd run to the half mile then turn around but noooooooo they just kept going.  The last half mile back I was barely moving anymore.  I was worn out!!  When I got into my car it was 7:45 and we had started right at 6. 
I'm sore now  You know, I really should use that big black post looking thingy sitting over there in the corner collecting dust (AKA foam roller) but that would result in more pain!!!

Well, I'm plopped in my chair and I'm going to watch my favorite show (and the only TVshow I watch), Ghost Hunters!!!!!!!!

Runner Nerd

One final down, one to go!

Just like the title says, one final down and one more to go!!!  One of my class's final was today even though there is still one more week to the semester.  I'm pretty sure I did ok.  I am pretty sure I will end of up with a 4.0.  I am glad this final is out of the way and that I only have to study for one at a time. 
I didn't even run this past weekend.  OH, CRAP, my half marathon is only 6 weeks away.  Train?  Oh, am I supposed to train???  I was talking with a friend of mine today and made the comment that I sure hope that I can finish the half marathon before the marathon winner finishes.  It's been a long time since I've run a half when there was a full marathon going on at the same time.  I've always finished before the marathon winner and then watched the male and female marathon winners cross.  He asked if there would be big time elite racers there.  This is a small marathon/half marathon and no elites will be there.  I looked up the results from last year and the winning time was 2:24:09.  I can't imagine being that long even if I do go over 2 hours.  Even so, I still want to finish under 2 hours.   It sure would be nice if the weather would improve and make it pleasant to go running.  Soon, I hope. 

Sandhill Cranes are back!!!!

I saw 2 Sandhill Cranes today on my way to work!  That must mean that Spring is near!!

Yesterday I ran 8.5 very slow miles.  I just couldn't move any faster.  I sure have a long way to go in 10 weeks if I am going to run this half marathon in under 2 hours. 

Bad test grade, Slow running, Sick from Tetanus shot, Life has to get better

I survived the spring break where there was neither spring nor a break. 
Test #1, first day back, 96%.  That means I missed 2.  I haven't seen the test yet to know what stupid mistakes I made.
Test #2, second day back, 86%. A new LOW for me.  I have never ever in my entire life had a grade that low.  Our teacher sent a message on the online classroom thingy saying that the class average for this exam was 80% and said that some may need some extra help and tutoring to bring their grades up to passing.  Since I was 6 points above the class average and my overall grade in the class is at 90% right now and the limit for passing to failing is 73 or 74 (can't remember; didn't think I'd ever need to think about it) I highly doubt I'd be a candidate for any extra help; I'd get laughed at for asking.  What is wrong with wanting to get high grades??  I'm constantly told that when I graduate and get my license that nobody is ever going to ask what my grades were or if I was at the top of my class.  What's wrong with wanting to be anyway, even if nobody ever asks?? I've heard several classmates say that they've had 4.0s in the pre-reqs and had the goal of keeping that up but have now lowered their expectations.  I just can't see doing that. 
Ok, enough of that!
Test # 3, third day back 100% although this test was nothing difficult.

One of the requirements for health care programs and jobs is having all childhood immunizations.  In the past what I had always done was use my school records from way back when.  Well, now that's not good enough for us old fogies.  Back in the day our Mommys filled in a form with the dates of our immunizations when we enrolled in kindergartin, now they call that "self reporting" and it's not acceptable now.  Sooooo, I had to have titers which are blood tests for the immunizations.  If your titers come back not showing any of the immunizations it doesn't mean you never had them or you don't have the immunity but you have to get the immunization.  Mine all came back positive!!!!!!!!!  I was due (overdue actually) for a tetanus booster so I got that Thursday.  I remember the last time I had one that I had a very sore arm for a few days but this time it made me really sick.  I met up with a classmate at the public library on Friday afternoon to study.  We were there over 4 hours.  I was really uncomfortable most of the time; I had a headache and my lower back was hurting then my legs started hurting.  I thought it was because the chair was uncomfortable.  When I left the library it was sunny and 45 so naturally I decided to go running!!  Bad idea.  I did not get very far and knew something was up.  I could barely move and my entire body hurt.  I ran 3 very slow miles. (31 minutes) and when I got back to my niece's house (I was house-sitting) I could barely get up the 3 steps to unlock the door.  Everything hurt and I was miserable.  I showered and curled up in the bed with a heated blanket and slept for about 2.5 hours then woke up extremely hungry but just didn't feel like I could get up and get dressed.  I did manage to get jammies on and went downstairs.  I was so hungry but at the same time couldn't even look at food.  I drove to McDonalds (yes, in jammies) and got a cheeseburger.  I don't know why but sometimes when I am sick that is the only thing I can eat.  It's not even something I eat normally.  I haven't been to a McDonalds in a long time.  After I ate the cheeseburger (no top bun) I had an apple, a really yummy Kiku apple then my tummy was happy but the rest of me was still miserable.  I took ibuprophen and went back to bed and slept nearly 11 hours.  I felt much better Saturday morning and even went running.  I ran 6 very slow miles.  I didn't have the body aches but I still couldn't move very fast.  I intended to run 8 but changed that plan not very far into the run. As Saturday went on I got achy all over again but not to the extent as Friday.  I've never had a tetanus shot do this to me.  I'm still not 100% but am much much better today. 
So, anyway, there is the most boring blog entry ever written!!!!!!! 
Last Saturday (March 5) was 12 weeks out from the half marathon I am signed up for and I was supposed to start training.  OOPS, I kinda forgot!!  The weather was awful and I had the 3 tests hanging over my head and I had to work way too much and never felt like I got to study sufficiently.  I house-sat that weekend too and took running gear but the weather turned to horrible cold and inches of snow and I didn't have the right gear with me.  Soooo, I guess my half marathon training has officially begun with 11 weeks to go.  It will be interesting to see how well I keep up with it until the weather warms and daylight lasts longer and until I am completely done working.  (yup, I am in the process of quitting my job!)

Well, a little more studying for, yes, another test tomorrow then off to bed.
Runner Nerd
having trouble with the runner part AND the nerd part.
(may have to change her name to jogger average student)