The Dublin Double: 10K and 5K 15 minutes apart

Yesterday I ran two races back to back.  I was a pacer in both.  It was really really cold. It was 14 degrees and feels like of 4.  I was not happy.  I had to leave home at 5:30 am for an hour and 15 minute drive and 7:30 am start time.  I paced the 10K at this same race last year.  This was the first time this event company offered the option of running both races.  The 5K started at 9 am.  As the 65 minute pacer, I was in the second start wave for the 10K so that left me with 15 minutes between races.  I paced with Josh of Clippin Along blog.  This was his first time pacing 65 minutes, he usually paces 60 minutes.  We both had trouble staying on pace!  I had my Garmin set to give me a split every quarter mile and it should have been 2:36 each time.  We had more than a few quarters where we were too fast.  I don't even know if anyone was trying to follow us.  We eventually finished and we were a minute fast.  I went through the finish chute and the pace team coordinator took my 65 minute sign and handed me the 10 minute sign for the 5K.  Josh took the 1st time 5K sign which starts toward the back where there tends to be more beginner runners.  We headed over to the start area to wait to get started in the 5K.  I had just run a 10K so I was standing around in an already sweaty shirt and gloves.  I was FREEZING.  My hands were so cold that they were hurting.  I was wondering if I had frostbite.  I really wanted to just go home.  I was miserable.  Once I started running, my hands warmed up quickly.  I was glad because I was really thinking that I was getting frostbite.  Just like the last time I paced 10 minute miles in a 5K for this race series, people thought I was going too fast.  I was really close to my goal split of 2:30 every quarter mile except one very late in the race where I was nearly 30 seconds too fast.  I came in right at 31 minutes which is right where I should have been so I wasn't going too fast.  The 5K went by really fast.  The 5K starts in the same place as the 10K but cuts over to close to the 3 mile point of the 10K so the course is pretty much the second half of the 10K.  There were still some 10K walkers and runners out there.  I finished and got my Dublin Double medal and turned in my pacer sign and then along came pacer Josh so we got a picture with our signs:

two races, two medals

I was surprised that the two medals looked the same except the one had the addition of the words, "Dublin Double" across the pot of gold.  Oh well.  I'd be fine without the silly medals but they are always given to the pacers. 

Medals for 10K and Dublin Double

 I had a hard time getting a good picture of the medals, the pictures kept coming out so dark and I had help from my daughter's kitten, Ollie:

picture helper

I left right away after the 5K; I didn't even go to the food tent.  I drove all the way home with the heater on high and the heated seat on high. 
I was really stiff and sore by the time I got home.  I was sore the rest of the day.  This is the longest I've run since Key West. 
I was only home 2.5 hours and had to go to my Niece's concert.  She sings in the Belleville Community Chorus so I was off to Belleville at 1:30. 
I  was so tired when I got home that I didn't even work on a blog entry. 
Well, I'm off to go for a short, easy run now!  It's 34 degrees - more than double what it was yesterday morning when I was running these races!

Runner Nerd
going for a run

Pi Day

It's Pi day! 3-14. 
I don't remember a lot about Pi from my high school math class days. It's used in finding circumference, pi r squared, or something like that.  I can remember 3.1415 and that's about it. 
I'm not sure when March 14th began being used as a day to commemorate pi, I've only been aware of it the last few years.  I saw something on facebook yesterday about running 3.14 miles!  I would have never thought of that on my own.  Soooooooo, today...

Pi day run

I ran Pi!!!  Actually, I stopped Garmie at 3.14 miles, reset it and then continued the last quarter mile back to my car. It was nice for running today.  It was 46 degrees and sunny!  I'm so ready for warmer weather.

Normally, I take Fridays off from running but I'm pacing a 10K on Sunday and might be running a 5K right after that so I'm taking tomorrow off instead.  There is a 10K and 5K starting an hour apart with the option of running both - they're calling it the "Dublin double".  I didn't think I could do the 5 K since I'm pacing 65 minutes so I wouldn't be finished within the hour but there are two waves 10 minutes apart so I could jump into the second wave.  I could also just start out after everyone is gone and see how long it takes me to catch up to the back of the pack!  These races are huge and there are lots of walkers in both the 10K and 5K so I could definitely do it. 
If I do run 9.3 miles on Sunday it will be the longest distance I've run since Key West.  I've been going to group run on Saturdays the last 4 weeks because I just wasn't running very much on my own.  Since returning from Key West I've had no motivation and the weather we've had all winter hasn't helped.  I ran very difficult 6 milers the first three weeks and then last week ran 7 miles and it went much better.  Those first three weeks my pace got slower and slower after passing three miles. When we'd run 4 or 5 miles on Wednesday night group runs I was falling apart after three miles. The week we ran 6 was the worst.  We've even had to cancel group run a few times because it was impossible to run on the sidewalks.  The running store is on a major road which we have to run down to get to dirt roads or subdivisions.  It has really nice sidewalks but they were a mess of snow and ice. 
I've actually run 20 miles the past two weeks!  I'm making a comeback!

I don't have to get up early tomorrow morning for the drive to running group so I am going to rot my brain with a Netflix movie or two!!

Runner Nerd
also a math nerd

Slacking streak

Some people try for a running "streak" of a certain length.  I was going to try for the Runner's World holiday streak that was all over Facebook prior to Thanksgiving.  The challenge was to run at least one mile every day from Thanksgiving until New Years Day.  My Turkey Trot muscle pull ended my streak before it even began.  After a week off and being careful running for the next two weeks I was able to resume training for Key West but I just stuck to the training schedule and didn't try to run every day. 
Since the Key West half I've been on another kind of streak:  a slacking streak! Since Key West I've only run a few short runs.  I've run a couple of 5Ks and some short runs.  The most I have run is 5 total when I ran 2 miles after finishing a 5K a couple weeks ago.
The weather has been really bad.  It's been so cold, single digits to low twenties.   We have had snow forever.  It just keeps snowing more.  I can't run around home right now.  There isn't much of a shoulder along the roads out here to begin with but now with all the snow that's been plowed off to the sides, there is nowhere to get off the road.
I decided that I really need to get a good run in again.  I decided to go to the Saturday morning run group today.  I haven't been since two weeks before Key West.  I figured that I didn't need to get up super early and make the drive to run with the group when I wasn't training for anything.  I thought that I'd just run on my own but I haven't.  I hadn't run since Friday, February 7th, a week and a day ago.  If I didn't run today or tomorrow I'd have a week's page in my running log with a big ZERO in the box at the bottom.
I ran 6 miles and my average pace was 10:07.  My first 3 miles were 9:32, 9:23, and 9:11 and then I fell apart - the last 3 miles were 11:04, 10:20, and 11:09.   I was exhausted and sore.  I've been sore all day.  I am really out of shape. 
I'm glad I went, I really enjoyed this group during the summer when I was training for Chicago.  The group is a lot smaller now than it was in the summer but still has a bunch of people show up.  I will probably go at least a couple more times and hopefully I can get back to running on my own until when I would start to really train for the half marathons I'm running in the fall. 

Runner Nerd
out of shape

Groundhog Gallop 5K

This was the scenery at the location of the Groundhog Gallop 5K today:

5K in the snow

The temperature climbed all the way up to 30 degrees!!  When I woke up and looked out the window I saw that it had been snowing all night..  Oh great!  I got dressed and headed out!  The race took place at a school which, not being open today, did not have the parking lot plowed so it was quite a mess parking but I found a spot.  I had to trudge through the snow to the school entrance.  I had to register.  I saw a lot of friends hanging around waiting for the race to start.  When it was time to go out to the start line, again, it was a hike through the snow.  Footing was really bad to start; we were running along a drive behind the school.  We turned onto a road where it wasn't much better.  It was snowing and I think there were little ice balls in the snow because it stung when it hit my face.  My first mile came in at 10:28; yikes, that's slow!  Eventually, we turned onto the paved rail to trail and the footing was better.   Miles 2 came in at 9:18; now, that's better!  The home stretch was on the sidewalk and driveway into the school which had really deep snow and impossible footing.  My 3rd mile came in at 9:59. 
After finishing, I went back out with a few friends to run a couple more miles so I had a total of 5 miles for the day.
My 5K time was 32:50 and I placed 2nd in my age group!

Later on this afternoon the snow got the best of our little snow plowing machine!

stuck in the snow

The picture really doesn't make it look stuck but it was!  All it would do is slide sideways farther into the field behind it.  I had to pull it out with one of our big tractors.  I got my farm girl on today!!

Well, I am tired and about to fall asleep.  Running in the snow is tiring!  

Runner Nerd
has had enough winter

Runs for Cookies Virtual 5K

I participated in a virtual 5K organized by a blogger who I follow.  Katie at Runs for Cookies put on her second virtual 5K on her birthday.  I had no desire to go running today.  It was snowing, the wind was blowing, it was cold, the road was snow covered.  If it hadn't been for this virtual 5K, I highly doubt I'd have run today.  I considered going to the Y to run on a treadmill.  There was just no way that I should be out running on the roads where I live in these conditions.  There is very little shoulder to begin with and with the snow there is nowhere to get off the edge.  I decided that I'd go run on the residential streets of Chelsea. I had to go somewhere to run, I would have to drive to the Y or I could drive somewhere to run outdoors.  I chose outdoors.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate running on a treadmill?  I think I have!! 
The streets had seen one pass of a snowplow but the footing was pretty bad most everywhere.  I took my selfie for my "results" at the trail in the woods behind the hospital.  (I stopped Garmie to take the pic.)  I really needed the rest; it was difficult running in the snow. 

heading into the woods

I stopped Garmie at 3.1 miles which was about 1/4 mile from the car.  I continued to run back to the car but needed the 3.1mile run for the virtual 5K. 
My results:

5K in the snow, not fast! 

I also took a picture of my shoes after I came out of the woods:

after running in deep snow through the woods

This is the collage that I submitted to Runs for Cookies for my virtual 5K:

Runs for Cookies virtual 5K

This is another one of those days when I sure didn't want to go out and run but was very glad that I did after I was done!  This weather can't last forever, or so I hope.  I've had enough.  

Runner Nerd
runs in snow

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

Longest and coldest run

Today, I ran my longest long run in training for Key West.  I ran 12 miles.  It was 17 degrees with a "feels like" of 0!  I got slower and slower the last 4 miles.  My legs got really tired.  I was so glad to be done.  I ran in a group training run with a marked route and water stops.  All that is left is 8 miles next Saturday and then it's off to Key West!!
After running, I went to visit my niece and help her out.  She's expecting her second baby and is exhausted right now.  She wanted a banana, she was craving bananas!  We went to Kroger to get bananas and a couple things she needed.  When we got there the parking lot was full.  We had to pull in where another car pulled out.  We weren't sure what was going on.  As soon as we walked in the store, we were greeted by a totally empty banana display stand.  Not a banana to be seen.  The store was packed; there were people everywhere.  There is a huge snowstorm and sub-zero temps in the weather forecast so apparently people are stocking up!  It's a good thing that she didn't need milk because we were also greeted by:

It's gonna snow so hoard milk!

The cereal shelves were also pretty bare!  She wanted Life cereal and there was plenty of that on the shelf!  The checkout lines were really long and went down the isles.  It was crazy because you had to find your way through the people in line for checkout while you were in the isles shopping.  I needed a bag of cat litter so I got that.  I went through the U-scan and there was barely any wait.  I walked up and in a minute a checkout machine became available so I texted my niece to hurry up and get down there because there was nobody.  (She had went and got in a long line in a regular checkout.)  We were really glad to get out of there. 
When I left to drive home, it had not started snowing in Ann Arbor where my niece lives.  When I got to Chelsea it was lightly snowing.  As I drove north of Chelsea there was snow accumulating.  The closer I got to home the more it was snowing and the more snow there was accumulated.  I had to switch into 4WD and drive super slow for the last few miles! 
Next week is an 8 mile night cross country run that I've done the last few years.  If we get all this snow that is being forecasted, it's going to be ridiculous this year.  The last two years have been muddy.  The race is loops mostly on a high school cross country course.  The first year I ran it the snow was deep and I fell.  Falling a week away from my half marathon in Key West is something I don't want to do!

Runner Nerd
getting ready to be snowed in

Running in the Snow

Yesterday I was so disappointed to have to miss the Jingle Belle Women's 5K.  It snowed all night and the roads were covered.  It would have been fun to go and run through the snow.  But, it was my daughter's college graduation and we had to go up and move her out of her apartment before the graduation.  I posted on Thursday that I was planning to pick up my packet and shirt on Friday which I did.  I've run the race the last three years so I don't feel bad wearing the shirt.  I looked up the results today and found out that the winning time was 25 minutes so the course must have been really bad.  The winning time is usually 20-21 minutes.  (It's only women.)
I got my fill of running in the snow today!  I ran in the town of Chelsea.  I run mostly in neighborhood streets.  The footing was really bad.  It was either ankle deep snow or it was a slushy mess.  I ran 4 miles and it took 42 minutes.  There were times I was going really slow.
I took a few pictures, mostly because the friend who I am going to Key West with is in Florida right now and I thought she should see what I went through today!

paved trail that had seen a snow blower

For the full effect, I put the hood of my shirt back on:

Wooded trail

In the cemetery I made tracks through the snow!  I was the first to trek through this particular path:

My tracks in the snow

I had a hard time getting out the door to run today.  It was one of those days.  It was 23 degrees.  As I was running there were times that it was tough because of the snow but after I was done I was so glad that I had got out and ran!  I even saw 5 others out running which always motivates me.  One of the sayings you hear a lot is that you never regret that you ran but you regret when you didn't run.  Today was a perfect example of that!  After running, I had to stop in the grocery store for a few things.  I felt so hard core in my running clothes! 

Runner Nerd
ran through the snow

Muddy Shoes

Yesterday, my run resulted in:

Muddy shoes and tights!!

Mud covered shoes

Trying to scrape some mud off before getting in the car!

I ran my favorite 4.5 mile route which includes a 3/4 mile jaunt through the woods!!  As is usual in the early spring, the woods were super muddy!! What is it about running in the mud and getting ones shoes all muddy?  I love muddy shoes!  I had a pretty good run.  I ran from Bandemer Park along Argo Pond and over the dam and along the headrace.  They have been cutting a lot of trees along the river; I wonder why.  I saw something that I haven't seen in a long time.  Along the river along the headrace trail I could see tents on the other side of the river.  The tents are where homeless people sleep.  A few years ago there were always tents along the river but you could barely see them because there used to be a lot more trees.  It's been some time since I've seen tents along there.  I also saw an old couch on the other side of the headrace which is kind of funny!  There were people sitting on it enjoying the new "rapids" they made in the headrace.  They were definitely not homeless people.  I continued on to Maiden Lane, crossed to Island Drive and down and back and on the way back to Bandemer, I took Argo Bluffs trail which is through the woods and that is where I got my shoes all muddy!!  It's my favorite stretch of that run! I saw several people in the river along Island Dr. and in Bandemer under the M14 overpass and it looked like they were taking samples or testing or something. 

My next event coming up is a week from today, Monday, April 1st, AKA April Fools Day.  I will be running the annual Twinkie run which is always run on April 1st regardless of the day of the week.  The race supports the ALS Foundation.  My Grandfather had ALS so I consider it a worthy cause.  I looked up Twinkies nutrition info and I am going to have to count 4 weight watcher points for each Twinkie I eat; good thing I'm running a race!!  I usually run a few more miles afterward since the race is in Gallup Park, another of my favorite places to run!

I am only 2.5 pounds away from my pre-college weight!!!!!!!  Last year I wore my running skirt to the Twinkie run and about fell over when I saw a picture that my friend took; I looked soooooooo huge.  It was awful.  This year isn't looking like it will be running skirt weather but if it does happen to be warm enough, I can wear my first running skirt again!!  It's not the one I wore last year; I wasn't able to fit in this one last year.  It would be so awesome to be able to wear it in the run!  If not the Twinkie run then hopefully the Detroit Race for the Cure in May. 

Runner Nerd
has muddy shoes and wants to wear blue Nike running skirt again

Pacing Sucess!

Today was the 10K in which I was a pace leader.  I was really nervous about this because I am so bad at judging my pace.  There was one other 65 minute pacer and she also has a Garmin.  I set my Garmin to give me a split every 1/4 mile and figured out that it should be 2:36 per quarter mile.  We were pretty close most of the time.  Most of the time we were within 3 seconds of 2:36!  It felt like I was running so slow.  I could easily talk while I was running.  It was a pain to constantly be checking my Garmin but it was all part of pacing.
We came in at 1:05:04 which is pretty close!  The runners all sprinted in once the finish line came into view and some picked it up and took off after the 6 mile marker so all of the runners that stayed with us finished under 1:05.  It was hard not to pick up the pace especially when the finish line was in sight.  Another really STRANGE thing was to finish a 10K race and NOT feel like collapsing into a heap on the ground!!
It was a freezing 25 degrees this morning.  I ended up handing out the pacer bibs, their safety pins and their shirts and I didn't have my gloves on and my fingers were so cold and numb that I had to sit in a running truck belonging to the people setting up the finish line timing equipment so that I could pin my bib on.  We had a tent to wait in but it was still 25 degrees!  When we were standing in the starting area, my feet became sooooo cold.  I hate cold feet more than anything.  I have a pair of winter trail running shoes that keep the cold air out, unlike my regular running shoes.  A couple weeks ago, my feet were hurting in my trail shoes so I figure they are probably getting too old.  It's hard to know because I only wear them in winter.  So, anyway, I've been wearing my regular running shoes for all running now.  The days I ran in the snow, I wore two pairs of socks.
Here I am right after the race with my sign:

65 minute pacer

 

 

official time was 1:05:04

Good Run Today

I dragged my feet, put it off all afternoon; I knew I had to go for a run today.  I checked the temp, chose my running clothes and was off to Chelsea to run on the streets there.  I just like running there; I get bored running around here.  As usual, I saw several other people out running and that always motivates me so much. 
I was thinking that I should try running my pace for the 10K on Sunday, 10:25, but the first time I looked down at Garmy, she said I was running a 9:10 pace.  I was feeling good and decided that I should just run.  All of my miles were in the mid 9s!!  I'm getting back to my old running ways!!  I planned to run a route I ran the other day that took me 35 minutes and was 3.5 miles.  As I was on the homestretch, I realized that I was going to be back before 35 minutes so I ran around a block to add a few minutes to my run and I ended up running 4 miles even!! The reason for 35 minutes of running is because of how it works into the plan I am following to lose this crazy college weight gain; weird, I know, but it works!
It snowed lightly the whole time and I just had a really enjoyable run!  I don't understand why I like to run when it's snowing because I really hate snow!!  I think there is just something about running along with white "confetti" falling all around you!  It's so cool when it's snowing those really big, fat snowflakes, although that wasn't the case today.  

Runner Nerd
just running

7 miles

I ran 7 miles today.  I tried to figure out how to run 10:25 pace which is what I will need to lead my pace group in a 10K in 2 weeks.  Sometimes I got it, sometimes I didn't!  There were some areas of my run where it was very difficult to run.  The dirt trail around the cemetery and the trail through the woods on the hospital campus both were difficult.  The snow had a frozen "crust" on top and the footprints that were there were all frozen; that is extremely difficult to run on.  I had a couple dirt roads on my route and they had icy spots.
The run actually went well and seemed to go by fast.  It was cold, 23 - 24 degrees.  I have the gear so I was fine but I did get cold toward the end and when I stopped running, I was freezing.  I did a few lunges and stretches - after I started my car and turned on the seat heater!! I drove home with the heater on high and I never got warm.  I couldn't wait to get in a HOT shower! 

I've lost 15 lbs!!!  YAYYY Weight Watchers Points Plus program!!!!!!!  I wore a size 10 skirt that I haven't been able to wear in a long time!  I had a funeral visitation so I decided to just try it and I didn't expect it to fit but it did!  I was so happy; I really like that skirt and it's very appropriate for a funeral visitation.  I also found that a running skirt I bought several years ago fits again!  Now I can't wait for warmer weather so I can wear it running!
This is a bad cell phone in the mirror self pic:

I can wear this skirt again!

Tomorrow I plan to run 3 or 4 miles; it looks like it's going to about the same temp.  Yippie.
I've had enough already.

Runner Nerd
not liking winter running

How far does my food travel?

I am  really missing in-season fruits in my part of the world. I know we are supposed to be aware of how far our food travels but I really like grapes and blueberries.  Lately, grapes come from Chile and they aren't all that great and it seems like I have to throw out more than usual because they are squishy.  The grapes are also tiny which makes removing them from the vine a pain.  It also seems like so many of the little tiny stems stay attached to the grape so I have to remove each one and that takes time.  I'm not much of a kitchen person! 
I saw blueberries in Sam's Club on Friday and they looked soooooo good!  I looked at the label on the box and it said: Naturipe Farms, Salinas, CA.  I was so excited because they came from within the United States!!!   I went back and forth on whether or not to pay over $6.00 for 1.5 lb of blueberries.  The deciding factor was that they came from California!! 
When I got them home and began washing them, I noticed that farther down on the label it said: "Product of Chile".  Oops!  Apparently, Naturipe Farms of Salinas, CA gets the blueberries from Chile and packages them under their name - or whatever.  Oh well!  They were sooooo good!!!  They are almost gone. I did not have to throw out very many for being bad, only a few.
I buy Whole Foods 365 brand frozen blueberries and other fruits; they are really good and barely more $$ than big supermarket brand frozen fruit.

I went running today.  It was 20 degrees and was snowing.  I always like running when it's snowing; I don't know why because I don't like snow.  I wore the shirt I bought last year that I never got to wear!  I wore it with a thin baselayer shirt under it and was fine.  I wore a hat today for the first time this winter.  I usually wear a headband.  I think I would have been ok with just a headband today.   I'm trying to push myself on short runs; today was just 3.5 miles.  My miles were between 10:18 and 10:47.  That's so slow.  I am even considering doing a few runs on a treadmill at the gym to force myself to run 9 minute miles and see how long I can run at that pace.  I must be desperate because I hate treadmills!! 

I recieved my Respiratory Therapist license in the mail on Friday!!  I couldn't believe that it came so fast.  So far, none of my classmates have received theirs and some of them took their exam well before I did.  Now, I just have to get these last two exams done so that I will be at the level of "registered".  It doesn't change anything but all the hospitals require it. 

Runner Nerd
Licensed Respiratory Therapist

Longest run and 2 weeks to go!!!

Two weeks from today I will be running in Key West, Florida!!  I will be in the southernmost city in the United States!!  I will be where it is "far from normal, close to perfect"!!! (fla-keys.com/keywest)

Yesterday I ran my longest run in my training for this half marathon.  I ran 12.2 miles.  It was cold - 30 degrees, which isn't really that bad but I just wasn't enjoying it.  Part of my run was on dirt roads which had been plowed but still had snow on them.  Most of the time it was fine running but there were places where there was more snow and it was harder to run on.  I decided to use my ipod on this run.  I rarely run listening to music.  I was never on a main road.  I combined a couple of my 4 mile routes in Chelsea and added 4 miles on Trinkle Rd out and back from the high school.  I ran really slow.  I know I'm not going to be able to run this half in under 2 hours but I really really hope that I can run it faster then I ran yesterday.  I'd like to think I could do 2:10 but 2:20 is the most I want to be out there.

My daughter leaves to study abroad on Tuesday.  She will be gone 3 months.  I think that will be the longest I've ever went without seeing her.  We won't be able to talk very often either.  She will have internet access so I will get emails from her.  When she went to Africa on a Lutheran mission trip when she was 17 there was no contact at all; that was hard.  After she leaves, I have to get myself in gear and review for my board exam.  I would like to take it on Monday, a week from tomorrow.  I guess I just need to sign up for it that day and then I am committed.

Thursday will be 10 days out from Key West which, to runners, means - 10 day forecast!!!  It's both good and bad!  I don't know why I continue to look at it every time I have a major race.  It changes daily; it can go from one extreme to the other.  I have been following the weather in Key West for several months now and it really doesn't fluctuate much.  This time of year it is consistently in the 70s; in the summer it's consistently in the 80s.

Next Saturday I will be running 8 miles which sounds easy but I'm going to use a night cross country race that I've done several times as my run.  So much for easy!  I've already told my friends who also run this race that I'm going to be very cautious out there because I'm not taking any chances of falling or even twisting an ankle.  The run is on the grounds of a high school; some of it is on their cross country course and some in parking lots and driveways that wind around the athletic fields.  The cross country course parts usually have deep snow and there's a big hill!

Well, I'm off to help a panicky kid get packed for 3 months of traveling!! 

Runner Nerd
off to Key West in 12 days!

Missing New York

I'm kind of sad today.  I had planned to return to New York City this year to run the midnight run in Central Park like I did on New Years Eve, 2010.  It turns out that I just couldn't do it this year.  My daughter is preparing to study abroad next semester and we have to have her all ready to go on January 8th.  I'm going to Key West in 3 weeks which is going to cost more than I thought it would.  College nearly cleaned out my savings even with the scholarships I received.  (If it wasn't for the scholarships, I'd have a lot less to spend on Key West.)
Anyway, I'm going to run the local New Years Eve run tonight.  It's at 10pm which isn't as much fun as midnight.  It is small town and nothing like the atmosphere in Central Park on New Years Eve.  There were so many people there!  It just goes to show that runners just love to run!  Runners celebrate every occasion by running!  The run is 4 miles and I didn't run very fast, it was so crowded at the start that it took 11 minutes for the first mile!  It did thin out somewhat but there was still so many people all around me!  There were fireworks, too!  I had run nearly 2 miles when the fireworks stopped! The 4 mile run took longer than it usually takes me to run 4 miles but it was over with so fast! 
As for real life - Weather Channel website says 27 degrees at 10 pm here which isn't too bad.  I will think about sunny days, palm trees and shorts while I run!!  I go to Key West in 2 weeks, 3 days!
Tonight, I will be missing and thinking about this:

My daughter, my sister and I in Central Park before the run

My friend, Nestor (who lives there), and me after the run

Next year, for sure!!  I'm going next year!!  New York City, I will see you this date next year!!!

Runner Nerd
longing for the fun in Central Park

Loving the Weather

How many March 17ths do we, in southeast Michigan, get to go running in shorts and sleeveless shirts??  No hat, No gloves, No tights, only 1 layer on March 17th!!!
I went to my favorite 4.5mile route which begins in Bandemer Park.  I can remember running this route during the winter in past years and how difficult it was for the 3/4 mile stretch through the Argo woods trail trudging though the deep snow!  Today, March 17th, Argo Pond was full of rowing crews out there rowing when there should be people out there ice skating!!  There were even 2 boats of 4 shirtless U of M dudes!!  I was staring a bit too much and I ran into the fence that runs along between the trail and the railroad track!
I had a great run; the Huron River provided wonderful scenery and entertainment!!  Lots of ducks are back!!  Two ducks were meandering across Island drive and then a car turned off Maiden lane and the ducks were in the middle of the road so I was clapping my hands and stomping my feet to get them moving but they just stood there looking at me like I was a nut!  The car beeped it's horn and the ducks took off across!  I guess I wasn't scary enough!  I found mud on the old Cedar Bend Drive!!!  Muddy shoes at the end of a run is always good!  One thing about the detour back to Argo (which I had to take because the little bridge between the dam and canoe livery is completely out) is that it adds two giant hills to the route, whereas the trail along the headrace is flat. I could take the headrace trail out but if I had come back that way, I wouldn't be able to continue on through Argo.  It also adds about 3/4 mile to the run and with taking Cedar Bend made my run 5 miles instead of 4.  I can't believe how many other people I saw out there running!  Even though I usually run alone, it is always so cool to see others out running.  There were also many people walking, walking dogs, pushing strollers and lots of bikes.  I think there were even more people out than I'd see on a summer day.  Weather this unseasonably warm is quite a draw to the outdoors!
The last 1/4 mile of my run was tough.  Hard to believe that I only have 4.75 miles of endurance in me these days.  I felt really good after the run.  I do still enjoy running; I just don't run very well these days. 
I don't have class on Monday so I did not do any school work today!!  Tomorrow I will be in my spot in the library all afternoon and then I will go running again.
I got a 98 on a test last week and another 98 this week - nerd status maintained!!!!  My ICU clinicals are going well; I love working in the ICU.  My patients are very sick.  Something I have noticed in these last 2 months of working in the ICU is that there are very few patients in the ICU who did not smoke.  That's all I'm saying for now; I'm organizing my thoughts for a future post on this subject.  I am very much looking forward to my new career as a respiratory therapist even more now.
Ok, time for bed.  Runner Nerd is tired from running!!

Runner Nerd
non-smoker forever

It's running group day and it's raining out there.

I'm sitting here in the library, been studying for a few hours and it's just about time to leave for running group.  Normally that would make me excited and anticipatory (is that really a word) but it's raining outside and I HATE running in the rain.  It's also cold - 38 degrees to be exact.  I'm not looking forward to this; I'm actually wishing I could study more - now that IS crazy!! 
Two more weeks to go!!  My last final is Dec. 7th and it can't come soon enough.  My brain is exhausted!  I got a much needed 100% on an exam in a class last week.  I'm in the 4.0 range but just barely.  Now I just have to ace that final. 

Well, I am off to run in the rain, get soaked and freeze! 

Runner Nerd
needs a break!

A First for Runner Nerd (not one she ever wanted to see)

College is getting harder.  I have also been working a lot the last few weeks.  Last week and the week before I worked more hours than I have in quite a while.  It really made it hard to study the way I usually do.  I have had 2 tests now that I felt very unprepared going into.  I got an 88 on one of the tests.  I've NEVER had a grade that low before.  I was shocked.  It was a really hard test and as soon as I started I knew I wasn't prepared.  I've had to make the difficult decision to quit my job a couple of months before I had planned.  I knew that I would not be able to work when I have to start hospital clinicals next semester because  I will have 2 full days of clinicals and 2 full days of classes. 

It has been bitter cold here.  Last night during the Thursday night group run I was actually wondering what I was doing.  My face was so cold.  But....when we finished up it was still a tiny bit light out!!!!  The last couple weeks it has still be a little light out when we started but last night was the most light we've seen on a Thursday night run in a long time!  Does this possibly mean that spring is on it's way??????  It won't come soon enough for me.  Today I also got to go for a run.  I don't even know when the last time I ran 2 days in a row.  I hope to be able to get more running in once I am not working.  I will have to soon if I am going to have a decent half marathon in May.  It wasn't as cold today but it was still bitter cold.  It just isn't fun in this weather but I can't stand the thought of running on a treadmill either.  I ran so slow today; my body just wouldn't go any faster and it was difficult.  I was running on cleared paved paths so I can't say that it was from the deep snow or bad footing. 

Well, it's time to go turn on my heated matress pad and get ready to crawl into a warm bed and read my new Runner's World (March issue).  Maybe reading about people running will help me to feel like doing it again. 

Runner Nerd
bad grade nerd and slow runner