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

Laminate Flooring

We're going to replace the flooring in the addition to our home that was built in 1997.  It's an open kitchen/living room.  The living room area is carpeted and the kitchen has vinyl flooring.  The carpet is really bad.  It's old and stained from kids and the big beast dog and everyday life.  We're going to do the whole thing along with the mud room in laminate flooring AKA fake wood.  It can stand up to the farm boys coming in with their dirty boots and the dog can puke on it and it can be thoroughly cleaned up.  The vinyl flooring in the kitchen was top of the line when we put it in but even top of the line doesn't last forever.  It is harder to get it clean these days.  It used to clean up just like new even when it was really dirty with just a swipe of the mop but not anymore.  (Believe me, it could get really really dirty!)

When we first started talking about this, I thought it would be rather easy to go pick it out.  Well, I was quick to realize that this was going to be anything but easy!  There are sooooooooo many choices and it is so overwhelming.  When I started looking at the displays and realized that there were so many I almost said forget it; we've lived with gross carpet this long and we're just fine!   I brought some samples home.  I've been there twice looking at it and have brought samples home both times.  I'm narrowing it down.  I realized that I tend to like the darker shades better.  I also like the styles that look like older floors.  I tend to like hickory patterns the best.  We have a builder lined up to install it.  It's a man who has done work for the farm.

Laminate floor samples

This is a bunch of samples.  I have more than this.  So many different choices.
Narrowing it down a bit:

Finalists

These are a few that I really like.  I'm really leaning toward this one:

Pergo Max Handscraped Richland Hickory

I've actually found a couple of blogs of people who put this in their homes and have posted pictures of it.  It looks good.  

In other things, it seems that I now have a cold.  I am so over winter already.  I ran three extremely slow miles today.  I was planning on going to the group run tomorrow morning but then I remembered that my daughter wants to go to an event for the Humane Society, Paws and Claws.

It's bed time for me.  Hopefully, sleeping in instead of getting up early and going running in the 3 - 5 degree (feels like -5 to -8) temps that are on the current forecast for the time I would be running in the morning will help my cold to go away faster. 

Runner Nerd
has to pick out a floor

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

Birthday Plans

Today I was reading a Facebook post by Runner's World magazine.  It was a list of the best half marathons.  I knew the Key West Half Marathon was on that list but I found another one on the list - the Chicago Half Marathon and it's 2014 date - September 7!!!  MY BIRTHDAY!!!!  I knew my birthday would fall on a Sunday this year and I knew I wanted to find a good event to do on my birthday and I believe I've found it!  I'm so excited!  I can't wait to go back to Chicago for another run!

Runner Nerd
spending my birthday in Chicago

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

Being a bum in Key West

Since I didn't do very much blogging in Key West, I'm going to try to try to write some highlights of the trip, not necessarily in chronological order, just as I think of things!  

Once the half marathon was out of the way, it was time to have some fun in Key West!  I couldn't wait to visit a bakery that I visited last year, Mattheessen's bakery for a giant cookie!!

Giant chocolate chip cookie from Mattheessen's bakery! 

Erika and I each had a chunk of the cookie and took the rest back to the hotel room and had more later and finished it off the next day!  They are really good!  I bought another chocolate chip and an oatmeal raisin on the last day we were there to bring home and I cut each into four pieces and froze them!
We rode our bikes around quite a bit.  We had fun goofing around with a bunch of sculptures in the Mallory Square area:

High-fiving a sailor

flirting with railroad worker

Helping an elderly lady with groceries

We saw cruise ships docked in Mallory Square, we took lots of pictures in those photo thingies - I'm sure they have a name but it's where you put your face through an opening:

Oyster waitress

Fishing charter

Sunday night we went to Willie T's bar to listen to my favorite Key West singer:

Gerd Rube

I listened to him last year when I was there and I looked up his website shortly before my trip and found out that he was playing in Key West again this winter!  I was so excited!  He also had a brand new CD so I bought one when he was on his break:

My new BFF!

While he was on the stage and between songs, he commented on my shirt! He asked if I had run the half marathon and asked what my time was! 

We went running both of our remaining mornings because we were in Key West and could run in shorts and back here that was not an option:

71 degree temp difference at 7:23 am

Running along the ocean

playing in a sculpture on the beach

Monday night we stopped by the Southernmost point because every time we go by there it's crowded and there were always long lines for pictures.  When we got there, there was nobody else around!  We took each others pictures and then two men came along and asked if one of us could take their picture so they took ours together.  It worked out well!

Southernmost Point at night

goofing around at the Southernmost Point

We went to a drag queen show!  That's something I've never done before!
Monday afternoon, we rode our bikes all the way around the perimeter of Key West.  The half marathon used to go all the way around but the main road is under construction on the north side of the island so for the last two years the course had been an out and back along the south side.  Last year a lady told me that the other side is really boring and we really are running the best part of the course twice with the modified route.  She was right.  The other side is very commercial and looks like any street in any town around here:  McDonalds, Burger King, Home Depot, gas stations, muffler shops, etc etc etc...  There was also a lot more traffic.  If I'm never on North Roosevelt Ave. again, it will be ok with me! 
All too soon, it was time to pack up and check out of our hotel room.  We were able to leave our luggage in a room at the hotel since our flight wasn't until late afternoon.  It rained a little bit on Tuesday morning while we were packing but then it stopped and the sun came out and it was really nice.  We rode around, stopped at shops, and had a late lunch since our flight was going to be so late.  While we were having lunch, it began raining again and rained really hard.  We were sitting along an open wall in a restaurant on the harbor.  It did eventually stop raining and we got on our bikes for our last hour of riding around Key West.  At the time we started to head back to the hotel it started to rain again.  We got soaked!  We had to change our clothes before leaving.  (We had to change EVERYTHING, that's how soaked we were!)  The desk clerk called us a taxi, the taxi came and we were headed to the airport.
Our flight home was uneventful, both planes left on schedule.  We got back to Detroit, my diesel Jeep even started right up.  (I parked in the enclosed parking garage connected to the airport; well worth the extra few dollars per day cost.)  I dropped Erika off at her apartment and headed home.  I got home at about 2:15am.
To sum up my 2014 trip to Key West:  I had a blast!!

Key West 2014

Runner Nerd
home from Key West

Key West Half Marathon

I started this post in the afternoon of the half marathon and then worked on it some more in the evening but never finished it.  I  never worked on any blog posts after that so I am finishing it up after coming home.     .

Today's the day!

My countdown app on my phone started at over 200 days and now the day is here!  I got dressed, ate my bagel and banana, put gels and a hand towel into the bag I'd be checking and we were off on our bikes to the race site!  We took pictures, of course!

ready to run in Key West!

A really odd thing happened before the race.  The Half Shell Raw Bar, which is a main sponsor of the races, was open for runners to hang out and use bathrooms.  A young man was bringing out the cleaning cart to clean restrooms but runners were lining up to use them.  A man said to the crowd, "Does anyone speak Spanish?"  Erika does speak Spanish so she asked him why he wanted to know.  He asked her to tell the restroom cleaner to hold off cleaning until the race starts so that the runners can use them. When he came out of the supply closet, Erika proceeded to speak to him in Spanish but he shook his head and said that he doesn't speak Spanish!  Erika apologized and asked him in English to hold off on cleaning until the race started.  The man who had asked for someone to speak in Spanish was nowhere to be found, he had left.  I also apologized and told the young man that someone had asked for someone to speak to him in Spanish and so did some other people.  He said it was no big deal.  That was just so odd.
Anyway, I checked my bag and eventually we headed to the start line.  I got in the mass of people and Erika stood along the side because she didn't start the 5K until 20 minutes later.
Once I got out of the crowd of the start, I was running along at a comfortable pace but I wasn't running at 9 minutes.  I knew right then that the sub two hour goal was going right out the window, it wasn't going to happen.  My first thought was 2:05.  Miles 1 - 8 fell between 9:19 to 9:51.  Miles 9 and 10 were 10:00 and 10:21.  Mile 11 was a bit faster at 9:54.  There's something about passing the 10 mile mark of a half marathon and I always get excited after passing 10 miles!  It didn't last long!  Miles 12 and 13 were 10:20 and 10:15.  Mile 12 was the worst.  I actually thought I'd passed the 12 mile marker and missed it.  The mile markers are painted on the streets and I did miss the 2nd mile marker earlier.  I looked at Garmie and saw that I was only at 11.8 miles and hadn't missed the 12 mile mark!  Finally, 12 miles came and that last mile was tough.  Erika was by the side about 1/4 mile out and ran in with me.  I ran as fast as I could with Erika trying to get me to go faster!  We crossed the finish line together with out hands in the air!  I got my medal.  This was the strangest medal I've ever seen:

strange medal

I couldn't figure out why there was a pointy thing sticking out of the bottom of the medal!  It's a bottle stopper!  Once I recovered and the nautious feeling passed, we got a bottle of water and went looking for the food!!  They always have beer and a special cup for the beer.  Last year, I just went to the front of the line and grabbed a cup because I don't drink beer.  Erika is all about the beer so we stood in the long line, which moved along pretty fast, to get beers and a cup!  The truck behind me in the picture has the beer kegs inside of it and they are dispensing it on the outside of the truck. 

Erika and her beer! 

My Garmin read 2:08:36.  Kind of disappointed but it's ok.  This is just the wrong time of year to be in the kind of shape I'd need to be in to break 2 hours.  When I got my bag back from gear check, I checked my phone because I'd signed up for text tracking!  My results were in a text message.  My actual time was 2:08:28!  Erika really surprised herself by running the 5K at an 8:20 pace!  I can't remember just what she said her time was.  I can't look it up since she took the timing tag off of the back of the bib.  (explanation for removing timing tag in my last post.)  We had some snacks and hung around enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful day!  It had warmed to 70 degrees! Yay!  I couldn't believe that the Key West Half Marathon was already over!  I looked around for what was promised for after race food and has been a regular feature of the Key West Half Marathon.  I'm talking about -- Frozen, chocolate dipped key lime pie on a stick!  They had it last year, they had recently mentioned it on their Facebook page.  I didn't see anyone walking around with it, we looked everywhere.  I guess they didn't have it this year.  Someone told us that a shop that sells it is right nearby so we walked over there and Erika bought us frozen key lime pies on sticks!  The shop, kermit's, is right on the half marathon course very close to the end.  We stood along the side cheering for people who were running in.  One lady saw us with the pie on sticks and yelled out, "YES! The reward at the end!"  I felt bad because we weren't able to tell her that we had bought them and there was none this year.  As we were walking back, several people walking by asked us where we got them and we told them that we bought them at Kermit's.  I will have to write to the race director and ask what happened to the pies. 
We rode our bikes back to the hotel, showered, went to lunch and then to the beach!  Erika is all about the beach!  As I sat on the beach, my body began to stiffen up and soreness set in.  Yep, I guess I really did just run a half marathon!  We snuck into a big hotel across the street from the beach to use the restroom and then we rode our bikes back to the hotel.  I actually felt better after riding the bike and wasn't as stiff and sore. 

I can't believe that another Key West Half Marathon is over already!  I'm really looking forward to the two days I have left in Key West.  I am definitely going to get to the bottom of why there was no frozen key lime pie on a stick this year!!

Runner Nerd
Key West Half Marathon finisher again