MCM 10K - PhotoPost

Run: 6.2
Time: 1:10
Mood: Felt great!

This is going to me mostly a photo blog, because pictures speak 1,000 words today. My friends came out to support me and celebrated Halloween to the fullest. (Love you ladies.)

Race went well, it was really fun to be there with all those people. Hip flexors are sore now, but otherwise feeling good. Rehydrating and eating Halloween candy today.

Quote of the day from Boyer as I was groaning after my post-race nap: "This is only the beginning."

P.S. Finishing at the top of a hill = not fun. Good to know for next year's marathon finish.

Ready...

Set....

Go!

Oh wait, not yet.

My support group...

Post-race.

I ran.

"Are those Teletubbies?"

Seriously, you guys are great.

Snipers keeping us safe.

Waiting for the Metro.

"Teletubbies in outer spaaaace!"

They. Waved. At. Everyone.

Countdown Begins

Run: 3 miles
Time: 33:15
Mood: Strong

Did my last real run before Sunday's MCM10K. Felt amazing, not like Tuesday's run where I wanted to shoot myself.

I'm planning on taking today off, then running a brisk mile tomorrow to get the blood flowing. Tomorrow evening will be carb loading (and carving a pumpkin) and lots of sleep.

Tonight is our house's Halloween Party...where I will behave...and not drink...too much. ;)

Day Glo!

Run: 5.5 miles (!)
Time: 1:03
Mood: That sucker hurt

Welp, did a 5.5 mile run (longest yet) while wearing 95% new running stuff. New kicks, new socks, new pants, new shirts, new ear warmer (don't laugh, I have ear issues), new watch ($15 from Target - BAM!).

The run was ok...and by "ok" I mean torture. My sides hurt, my calves hurt, my nose was running and I kept resisting the urge to throw up.

The highlight? Neon yellow running shirt. To my surprise, I saw a lot of people wearing neon yellow while I was on the trail, it seems to be popular as the days get shorter.

Mini photoshoot in the office
before my run. Neon yellow!

Next weekend is the MCM 10K - that's 6.2 miles. I'm shooting for 1:15 or less. So while everyone else is out partying in their costumes next Saturday, I'll be scarfing pasta and mainlining H2O.

Zoom Zoom

After much admonition from my friends, mostly my roommates (Tait...you need new shoes), I decided to break down and get new running shoes.

Now I'm wondering why I waited so long. My old shoes were Nike Zooms so I went to RnJ to get fitted for new ones, and I ended up with another pair of Zooms - Vomeros.



Old kicks.

New kicks.



I may or may not have been wearing them around the office all day. They are magnificent. It's like walking on air. I'm breaking these puppies in this evening.



5 miles.

Run: 5 freaking miles
Time: for me to replace my watch (it died right before the run)
Mood: Holy crapola

I. Ran. Five. Miles. Today.

In a row. Without stopping. Felt great.

Even came home with a bloody sock, didn't even notice. Too many endorphins to feel pain. :)

That is all.

P.S. I need new running shoes.

The 5K From Hell

Run: 3.1 miles
Time: 32:24
Mood: Self-hating

I thought I could use a smaller race to get myself into race mode for the 10K in a few weeks. So I signed up for a local 5K for this past Sunday.

Even though I ran it 30 seconds faster than my previous 5K in July - it sucked.

Thanks for coming out, ladies.

Here's what we learned:

1. Don't drink the entire bottle of Reisling that your mom brings to your house the night before. It might seem like a good idea at the time. It might taste fruity and delicious. But it is a bad idea.

2. Do hydrate the day before. Like a jackass, I drank maybe two glasses of water on Saturday.

3. Don't skip three days of runs right before a race. Just because you ran 4 miles on Wednesday doesn't mean you can take off Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

4. Do high-five the 5 year old who passes you during mile two.

5. Do not listen to your roommates make fun of you for said 5 year old finishing before you (they're just jealous they didn't run it, too).

6. That pain in your side? It's called Karma. Now you've been introduced.

I do thank my lovely roomates (and Allison) who came to watch and cheer me on at the finish.

I. Was. Running.

Run: 4 miles
Time: 45:16
Mood: Awe-some

Tonight's 3 mile run turned into 3.5 and then into 4. I just kept running. Like in Forest Gump...when he hit the one coast and turned around and ran back. Ok, so not like Forrest Gump. But you get the gist.

Basically, I started running and felt so good that I kept going. Cut two minutes off last week's four mile time. I'm running a 5K this weekend, so I needed to do my long run before Friday (when I usually do it).

Saw TWO people (not one, but two) talking on their phones while running, and almost saw some lady die when she ran into the oncoming path of a biker going a million miles an hour. Smart, lady. Real smart.

4 Mile Friday

Run: 4 miles (!)
Time: 47:18
Mood: A little bored

Four miles. Let that sink in. Furthest I've run so far in my training.

I planned a 4-miler for after work on Friday, so I made sure I hydrated and ate enough (not like my Thursday run where I tried to cut it on like 500 calories and a glass of water - it wasn't pretty). I purposely ran slower so I wouldn't burn out, and I made it.

Definitely was a little bored running by myself without music for almost an hour, but it was a nice, quiet run.

Training note: Eating Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich after running for almost an hour = you will want to die. I kept thinking of Jim Gaffigan's stand-up about hot pockets: "Did I just eat that or rub it on my face?"

Maybe next time we do a protein shake or something. :)