Cape Cod Run!

Went for a fantastic run outside last night. My first mile was at a 7:50 pace because I was just so happy to run outside again! Woot! But dude, it was wicked windy, and I was battling the wind for the first 3 miles. Tough! But it was worth it because I got to see Sampson's Island (but the blinding afternoon sun made it look dark).

I'm trying to show how windy it was, but I think I might've failed on that. :P

Went for a crazy early morning run with Uncle Doug this AM. Holy crap it was like running blind! There aren't a lot of street lamps around here, so luckily Doug knows where he's going (because I certainly didn't!). It was kind of fun running in the middle of the arterial, right on the yellow lines! I laugh at the face of danger! HAHAHA! Naw, I was just terrified that a coyote was going to jump out of the bushes and eat me. You know, it sure would have made for some great speed motivation though. Hmmm....no thanks. Anyway, we ended up running 6 miles at a decent pace of roughly 8:20ish. Dude. Uncle Doug may be in his 50's, but he's fast. I'm going to try and convince him to do some road races in the near future. Overall, even though it was 5 in the morning, it was nice to go for a run with Coach Fish. :)

From the Plane

Leaving on a jet plane!
Up in the air and my nose has given up the fight to remain compliant. Sneeze central on the plane for me. I bet you that everyone thinks I have a cold or swine flu or I'm super contagious and 'how rude to sneeeeeze on a full plane?!' I swear I'm not. It's like I'm allergic to planes, or the cheap imitation fleece blankets or even the traytables. It's gotta be those pesky tray tables that are compromising my nose! Naw, it's the dry air and the close proximity of synonymously uncomfortable strangers. Everyone is miserable on a flight, right? I mean people that are claustrophobic MUST take something to pass the time? We are all essentially trapped in a metal cylinder soaring 35K feet above the ground.

Enough of the plane. I'm ready to go chill at the hotel and start this vacation. Perhaps a glass of vino with Travis? Ah yes.

Mt. Adams & Mt. Rainier

The wing and the moon

Day Before Boston

Went for a run with Liz tonight, and it was refreshing! The sunset was
utterly amazing and I had to capture it. It was my "Yes Man" moment
running and taking pictures at the same time. :) I didn't trip! Woot!

Less than 24 hours until Boston/Cape Cod! Sooooo excited! The hotel
we're staying at in Bean Town is a four star and GORGEOUS (we stayed
there for last year's anniversary too). Can't wait to swim and relax
with the Trav hubby.

I'm going to do my fair share of running too!

I'm Not Registered??

Yesterday I was curious about my registration status for the Seattle Half, and it turns out I'm not registered. WTH? I turned in my form and payment over three weeks ago. GRRRR. I contacted the store that I signed up at and asked them about it, and they said they turned them in last week. Shouldn't it be charged by now? The thought of my CC number just chillin' on a piece of paper at the store was not very thrilling to me.

GAH! Breathe...

I did go for a nice little run outside yesterday, even though it was dark out. It just kills me that I've been using the treadmill and I can't go as far on my runs. Tomorrow AM I'm hoping that Liz and I can go for a good distance. I'm thinking at least 8? I just need to get my mileage on. Oh, and by the way, Gus is awesome and very accurate.

I leave for Massachusetts on Sunday! Hurray for anniversaries and vacations and visiting uncles named Doug! I'm stoked for a vacation. I neeeeed a vacation. I'll be sure to run a lot though. ;)

Poll: Who Wore It Best?

My husband Travis is a guy's guy.  He's an architect that loves to lift weights, play sports, drink beer and drive fast.  But don't let the "tough guy" exterior fool you; he's a sweetheart AND he can rock pink like a chick can.  The question is...who wore my Aflac Iron Girl technical tee better?  Him or me?

I Miss Seattle

I just barely got last night's short run in. I only went 2.15 miles, bummer. But, it was a day of hanging out with the family, so I'm totally fine with the low mileage. My run to Golden Gardens was good, with the sunset being a motivating factor as I neared the beach. OH MY GOODNESS it was unbelievably gorgeous. This picture does not do it justice at all:

See the crescent moon on the left?

Running in good old Ballard made me miss living in Seattle so much. :( Plus, I would be able to run in the dark and be totally fine (except if I ran into the crazy, rabies-ridden raccoon of death & destruction) unlike my current residence.

Here's the action shot of me sprinting the finish with the dude at Run Wild last Saturday. I tried my best! (Click the image for a larger view)

OH! Another thing that is totally not running related (but family related) is that I created a website devoted to my Dad becoming a pirate...it's hilarious. You should check it out here.

Oh Geez

Last night's treadmill run was TOUGH. I ran 6 miles at a steady 9:15 pace, at a 4% incline. Then I walked a mile at a 15% incline to "cool down." That treadmill kicks my butt! When I go to Cape Cod next week for vacation, my Uncle Doug says that he's going to try having me go the maximum treadmill speed...just for fun. Isn't that 10 mph? Oh geez, I'd FLY off that thing! I told him I'd try only if there are pillows strapped to me and a mattress up against the wall behind me. I just can see this vision of the 'mill just chucking me backwards like a ragdoll. It's actually kinda funny to think about...but ouch, nonetheless.

Today is family day with my siblings. We're heading over to the beach for a bonfire and smores. We're trying something different than our normal balloon notes, instead we're writing notes to mum and then burning them in the bonfire. Is it just me, or does that sound a wee bit morbid? Eh, it's just so the note is between the writer and mum, and no one else. We'll see how it works. I'm just happy I get to see my sisters and bro tonight. :) They make my world feel complete.

I'll try to get a Sunset Hill run in tonight while I'm at Dad's, but we'll see. I hope I have time because it's where I used to run during HS days.

Hope everyone has a great tuesday.

Run Wild 8K Recap...yes!

I can't even CONTAIN my excitement and thankfulness and happiness (and all the -nesses out there)! Soooo, I was the FIFTH woman overall! I was in the top 5! EEK! And not only that, but I was #3 in my division!!! YES!!!! Can you tell I'm happy? Naw, didn't think you could.

This morning looked really glum, it was dark and very rainy, but apparently people still wanted to come see Liz and I race! We had quite the little entourage, I felt like a rockstar. ;)

• People who came: Liz, Liz's husband, their two kids; Liz's parents; my dad and little sister Liza; my BFF Laura and her mom; Scott & Amber; Jaquelene & John! And, of course Travis. :)

So very awesome that they braved the icky fall weather to watch us run. I feel so loved and blessed to have cool friends and family!

My dad made me open my birthday present before the race, and I'm glad he did! He got me this small video camera to record my races and anything that catches my fancy. Yay! Dad told Travis that he had to use the video recorder at the race, so here are some of the videos:

The start of the 8K and 5K races, with some eager cheerleading by family/friends.

Apparently I'm too quick to be captured on video, that and Trav doesn't seem to know what he's doing with the new camera. Oh well, there was me...for a brief second.

Liz finishing her race! She was amazing!!

At the end of the race, I totally sprinted next to this dude that did not want to be passed by a "Skirt"...he ended up beating me, but only very very slightly. Ha ha! At least I snuck up on him from behind. But, either way, it was fun sprinting the finish in the mud!

**CLICK HERE for the race sequence**

I've got my goofy grin on! Definitely happy to be done. ;)

High five, Liz!

After the race was over, we all headed over to my house for some bad-for-you pizza and an ice cream cake. Yummy deliciousness. My dad and Liza still think I'm a princess or something, because every year my cakes look more and more like I'm turning 5. Oh well, it's cute and it was GOOD. Of course, I'm still wearing my tiara and admiring myself in the lovely little mirror as I type. *sigh*

FINAL STATS:
Mileage - 5 miles
Time - 38:20 (PR!!)
Overall - 41 out of 189
Division Place - 3 out of 32 (F20-29)
Sex Place - 5 out of 105
Pace - 7:40

Tomorrow is the race!

Spaghetti dinner at the in laws, preparing for the race tomorrow
morning. A few friends and family are going to be there and I'm stoked!

Here's the view of Mt. Rainier from their kitchen window...

This is Why I Run...

This is a post that I have been wanting to write about for a while, but just couldn’t get myself to do it. I feel that today of all days is the perfect time to let this out. This is how “Run, Zoë, Run” ended a decade ago…then began again this year.

Ten years ago today, I was 15 and just started my Junior year of high school--not only was I busy with school and x-country, but I was also newly elected as class president. It was going to be a great year.

It was a Friday, my mum and little sister sat on a picnic blanket at Lower Woodland as I ran in a 3A division cross country meet. My mum yelled loudly as I passed “Run, Zoë! Run!” and “Long strides, Zoë, long strides!” and I could hear her every time I ran near. She was a constant spectator at all of my sporting events, whether it was x-country or swimming, she was always there to cheer me on. I ended up doing better than I expected at this particular race, as it was my birthday weekend and I was turning 16 that Sunday. My friends “kidnapped” me by blindfolding me after the race and whisking me away for dinner at Red Robin and the football game afterwards. My mum was in on the plan the entire time and packed my letterman’s jacket and a sweater in her trunk for my friends to bring. I had no idea and the 16th birthday surprise was amazing.

My actual birthday was the fun part. My brother had come up from Oregon to celebrate and all four of my sisters were at our house too. All six of us kids, mum and dad, and of course our Burmese kitten Oliver were on hand for the party. It was rare to get us all together, but it was the best feeling when it happened. Mum made an applesauce birthday cake in her stone baking pan, and my big sister laughed as she juggled five half-gallon cartons of ice cream trying to open the freezer door with her foot. My family liked to be goofy and put on little dance parties, so of course we had to crank up the tunes and act like fools. It was the most perfect Sweet Sixteen.

Two days later, as I was rushing out the back door before I missed my school bus, mum called after me: “Love you! I’ll pick you up from x-country at 4:30!” Those were the last words I heard her speak. Only a few hours later, she was in a coma at the hospital after suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm only God knew about…

Visitors came and went, as we had set up “camp” in the ICU waiting room. I snuck over to a different part of the hospital wing with my sisters, where there was a huge fish tank that had a cute puffer fish. Even through all the gloom of the hospital that puffer fish just smiled back at me, waving his little fins. To this day, I still love puffer fish and they make me smile every time.

Despite us all talking to her in that hospital room, telling her about the plans for the fun hats she would get to wear when she went home (the doctors had shaved a small portion of her head to insert a tube in her skull to release fluid), she went home to Heaven on September 22nd, 1999.

A week after her passing, there was a x-country meet at Lower Woodland again. I wanted to keep going on with everything as normal, especially running, because I knew that’s what mum would want. I ran the first mile of the race before collapsing in a blubbering heap in the middle of the trail. Fortunately for me, I had the best teammates & friends that a girl could ask for and they let me lean on them back to the starting line. It just wasn’t the same without the familiar “Run, Zoë! Run!” called in my direction.

So this is my story, and why my blog is named what it is. The pain is still there, even after all these years, but now—ten years later & more than ever—I can hear her cheering for me on the sidelines.

My Mum. My AngelFish. My biggest fan.

My birthday wish on Facebook Causes benefits The Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

OHMYGOSH!

Came home to a package on the front step...it was from my Uncle Doug.  Even though it isn't my official birthday yet, I still felt like opening it.  I'm glad I did!  You'll never guess what it was!!  Ok, maybe you will...

Ahem.  I present to you, my *brand new* Garmin:

GUS!

So excited!  I just talked about wanting a Garmin this morning!  Right now, Gus is still getting supercharged up, but I'm stoked to see how he works!  Unfortunately I had to run inside today because it was dark and rainy, though I somehow managed six miles.  On a treadmill.  Yikes.  

My Uncle Doug is awesome.  Thank you so much, Doug!!!  

You ROCK!

Oh The Things I Think

*Random Blog Alert*

Dude. I need a Garmin. My iPhone is just not cutting it these days! You know how people name their GPS devices (or at least some of the women bloggers I know of)? Well, I already have a name picked out for my future Garmin: Gus. You know, like the round little mouse in Cinderella? GusGus. :) The name makes me smile, what can I say.

I'm still so much in love with my skirt from RunningSkirts.com. I need about 2 or 3 more! Pink. Black. Bright blue. *sigh* They are too comfortable for their own good.

Danica from ChicRunner is having a Zensah giveaway--75 bucks! Not too shabby. You should most definitely check it out.

I'm officially a bug magnet. On my run with Liz on monday, I probably had at least three fly in my mouth, and one in my eye (but I was wearing my glasses). Seriously. Bug magnet. BM. No wait, that's not a good acronym. Heh heh.

Darn the Darkness

Last night Liz and I ran Soos Creek, but we had underestimated the shortened daylight a bit. Towards the end of the run it was flat out DARK and we picked up the pace hardcore. I felt like we were ninjas, or at least I was in ninja assassin mode. WAAAAAA! We aren't going to do that again any time soon. But, we did manage to get in 5 miles. Woot! Next time, we're heading out earlier...

Tonight's 8 miler turned into 5.3, as I just seemed too tired to function properly. Plus, I got bored doing the loops and circles near my house. Ho hum. However, Jack made an appearance and I met a new friend along the way...this dragonfly that was chillin' on the sidewalk:
She was pretty big, and stayed in the same place on most of my loops. On the last loop she fluttered away, which was pretty awesome that she waited for me to return. :)

Lifted a little with Trav after my run. Couple of deadlifts and power lifts. Nothing too major though. Tomorrow, I'm going to bench again. See if I can increase my max to 75 pounds! Ha ha!

Iron Girl 5K = COMPLETE

What a race! Not only was it a gorgeous summer day (yeah, it is still summer), but the turnout out was fantastic and the crowd was so much fun! After picking up E & Liz, we got to Greenlake a little later than expected, but found a decent parking spot on the street. The lines for the porta potties were wicked long, and of course the packet pickup lines were non existent...and that also meant that Liz and I had a choice between a Large or XL for our fitted pink shirt. :( Bummer dude.

Since Liz had to use the restroom, I found a spot in the starting line that coincided with an 8 min/mile pace, even though I was planning on going faster. The race ended up being about 10 minutes delayed because the restroom lines were so long! EEK! And since I didn't run with my music or iPhone...I was just fidgeting and moving around just waiting for the start.

The race itself was not too shabby. I found a good person to pace and I tried to stick with her for the most part. She was waaay taller than me and her stride was longer, but I held my pace pretty well. The lake was absolutely stunning and I found myself smiling for most of the time, it was nice! Although, the sun was pretty blinding coming around the 2nd mile mark.

Once I hit the boat rental place, I could hear the sound of the announcer over the loudspeaker and I picked up my pace a bit. I paced my blue topped pacer and lengthened my stride, especially with more people coming close to the finish...I gotta look good! I started sprinting earlier than normal and was passing ladies, one even kind of sighed/grunted in disappointment when I passed her. Sorry girl. I took one look at the timer and saw that it still read 23 minutes and I pushed it hard!!! My 5K time is normally in the early early 25 min range, but my best pace was 7:50 min/mile. The announcer actually said "Here comes Zoe Allen crossing the finish line" and I was super stoked! My name over the loudspeaker! :) It was cool.

I promised Liz that I'd run back and find her, and so I started walking back to the boat rental house and cheered for all the women running. It was a little surprising that not alot of people were cheering, or clapping for that matter. I think my cheering helped some of the ladies, though. They'd smile back at me, and it made my day even better. Liz came into view and I shouted "GOOOO LIZ!!!" and then cut across the parking lot to find her at the finish and cheer some more. She did amazing for her first ever race! I'm so proud of her!

Here's us before:

And after, with our medals:*Please disregard my goofy grin, as I knew that I had PR'd but wasn't sure on my official time. I was just having too much fun!

Here's the swag:

Final Stats:
Mileage - 3.11
Time - 23:40
Overall - 47 out of 1277
Division Place - 7 out of 215 (F25-29)
Pace - 7:37

PR, baby! I got in the top 10 again for my division and the top 50 for the entire race. WOO HOO! I am so happy! :) Also, I'm completely in love with my Running Skirt and I could use a couple more in different colors. Seriously awesome to run in, and very very comfy!

Here's Liz coming into the finish:


And here's me coming into the finish (I'm passing the two people sitting on the ground by the orange cones for a brief second at the beginning):

Onto the next race...Saturday 9/19. Scared, but it should be ok.

Early To Bed

It's 10:20pm and bed time now. Race is tomorrow at 8am! I couldn't convince Travis to go with me, oh well. :(

It should be fun!

On a more serious note...

I will always remember those who lost & gave their lives on 9/11.
I'm very proud to be an American.

The Sun's Earlier Curfew

Oh boy, I ate too much today. Or at least my dinner was too heavy (a gardenburger and fries) because I had a Subway veggie sandwich for lunch. Ugh. My run tonight was slower because of the mound of food just sitting in my stomach. I had to walk a couple times, but still managed to keep my pace well under 10 min/mile.

By the way, treadmill running is so HARD. I think I need to post some motivating pictures on my wall so I'm not just staring at it blankly. I mean, the treadmill is in the office next to the computer, and when I'm running, Trav's playing a video game...and so I watch him a little but then I start veering to the left. Not good! I have visions of me tripping and falling on the treadmill and slamming my face on the belt. Kind of funny when I think about it though. ;)
Last night was also a night of lifting: bench (new max. of 70 pounds, ha ha!), deadlifts and jumping jacks.

Wore my Running Skirt again tonight and it's so amazing! The Body Glide stuff I got last week works wonders and I don't know why I didn't invest in it sooner. Thanks for the recommendations again, everyone! My thighs thank you too!

Also, it's sad that at 7:50pm the sun is going down and it's getting so dark! :( Here's the sunset on my last two blocks 'til home. It still is purdy though.

8 Miles on the 8th

I had a great run yesterday and tested out my new Nathan Speed 2 fuel belt. At first I was a little concerned about wearing something other than my normal garb, but as soon as I got my pace going and drowned out the sloshing of the water, I was impressed. I actually put my iPhone in the little pouch instead of carrying it, which was extremely weird after getting so used to holding something. But, I think it helped me with my stride and I didn't feel off balance at all. I know I was only going 8 miles and the fuel belt might seem a little overboard, but lately I've been getting really thirsty when I run (despite staying hydrated throughout the day). And, the once diagnosed exercise-induced asthma is rearing its ugly head again. *hmpf*

Overall, I had a great run and kept my pace under 9 minute miles again (woot!). My white reflective Adidas running shirt seriously stands out and it's wicked comfortable, too! :)

On this run I encountered:

• A ladder firetruck with some *hot* firemen on board. Naturally, I ran faster when they were watching me. ;)
• An older, plump gentleman on a bike that was doing loops in the neighborhood and wheezing. Good for him for getting out there and exercising! I was a little concerned that on one of my loops I'd find him unconcious on the sidewalk, but that didn't happen.
• Another older man (not quite a gentleman) that blew his cigarette smoke right in my face as I ran past him. Grrrr. I shot him a bad juju mind glare in return...perhaps he tripped on the sidewalk later, who knows.
• A little, teeny tiny, yappy white dog that wasn't being controlled well by her owner and ran me into the street. Gah!
• Two teenagers fist fighting in the middle of the arterial by my house, as a bunch of other teenagers looked on. I kept running because, 1. I thought they were just rough-housing at first, 2. a neighbor came out into the street to see what was going on and 3. I didn't have my air horn/mace combo and I was clearly outnumbered. But I swear, the one throwing most of the punches was a scrawny "hipster" wannabe that I probably could've "took on." Ha!

Yes, it was an interesting run for sure. The only bad thing is that I realized that any more miles than 7ish causes my foot to hurt so bad. :( It makes me wonder if I'm just not cut out for doing more than these 8 miles if I get home and I want to cry because of the pain. Stupid foot Neuromas.

1 Year Ago Today!

Today is my first Runningversary!

I started running (again) one year ago, 9/8/08, and my first recorded run was…
Time: 17:27
Distance: 1.56
Pace: 11:11 min/mile

Hahahaha! MAN, I’ve improved! It's such a great feeling. :)

OH, and this is also my 100th post. How cool is that? Happy September 8th!

Runner Profile: Meet RunnerDude

This is RunnerDude: a Dad, avid marathoner, running mentor & coach, and blogger extraordinaire. He writes an awesome running blog that is read by thousands of runners every day with topics that vary from the perfect runner's food to product reviews, race day hydration tips to giveaways. Here's his story...

1. What is your favorite stretch?
I love doing dynamic stretches before a run like buttkicks and walking knee lifts. Dynamic stretches that mimic the functional movement of running are the best type of stretches to do before a run. Static stretches (the traditional stretch-and-hold type stretches) should be done after the run. Of the static stretches, I really like the spinal twist as well as calf and hamstring stretches. At home when I have a soft surface to lay on, I really like the stretch that the scorpion stretch provides.

2. Do you have any pre-race rituals?
I have to tie and retie my shoes about 10 time. I guess that's more of a nervous habit rather than a ritual. LOL!

3. What motivates you to run?
Staying healthy motivates me to run. I have a chronic illness that I deal with (ulcerative colitis) and my running, working out, good nutrition, and my medication keeps it under control pretty well. It's basically been in remission for about 6 years. But whenever I start to slip in any one area I start to see symptoms. Running also keeps me sane. It's my stress release and my down time.

4. When did you start running and why?
I started running my freshman year in college. Not for school but just for myself. I had never been a very fit kid. I was actually overweight in elementary and middle school. Team sports never interested me. But I ran a 10K my freshman year and I loved how it made me feel. That sense of accomplishment and feeling fit was addictive and I began signing up for more and more local races. In 1997 I decided to run my first marathon. After that successful first marathon, I became more serious about my running and began placing in my age division is local races. I still love to race especially half marathons and full marathons. I still love the competition with myself, always trying to set a new PR.

5. Running shoe of choice?
I been a long-time fan of the Saucony Triumph 6 and I'm also enjoying the Brooks Defyance 2.

6. Best advice received?
The best advice I've received was from Joan Benoit Samuelson (the gold medalist of the first women's Olympic Marathon). I attended a dinner at which she spoke. One thing she said that stuck with me was "Don't pay attention to the mile markers." You can take that literally. You know not look at every mile marker. It makes for a longer run. Or you can take it more metaphorically.....look beyond what's right in front of you, have a bigger picture in mind to strive for. Instead of trying to get to the next mile marker focus on the glory of the finish line.

7. What do you think about when running?
Anything and everything or nothing. Sometimes I'll be thinking about my next article for the blog, or one of my kids, or how scary opening my new fitness business is going to be. And then other times, I think of nothing and simply enjoy the shear beauty of the greenways I frequently run.

8. What is something you cannot run without?
My Amphiod handheld waterbottle on hot days and my running buddies on really long runs.

9. What race distance is your favorite?
Well, I enjoy all distances, but my favorite challenge is the marathon—26.2 miles.

10. Most outrageous running story you've heard or experienced?
Well, I seem to have this thing with nature, I've been attacked by a mocking bird, I've been plowed in the back (twice) by a papa Canadian Goose in flight when I got too close to mama goose, I've been chased by raccoons, tripped by a squirrel, stung in the roof of my mouth by a bee, and crossed paths with a coyote (later discovered to have been rabid), and jumped over a copperhead while trail running. Ahhhh Mother Nature!

11. Anything else you'd like to share?
I'd like to thank all the readers of RunnerDude's Blog. Your reading motivates me more than you can imagine. Your comments keep me on my toes and have taught me a great deal. I feel a strong commitment to my readers and I strive to provide the best and most diverse running, fitness, and nutrition information from which anyone can benefit. Thanks!!!!

Be sure to check out RunnerDude's Blog!

My Early B-Day Gift! Woot!

Last night I discovered something in my garage (and no, it wasn't the giant wolf spider carcass that Travis left for me to find next to my boat)...it was a giant box...and it said "Treadmill" in BIG bold letters!! YES!!! I've been wanting/needing a treadmill ever since I started running again last year. But since Travis and I had just bought a house, we didn't really have much disposable treadmill income. I definitely made my argument known on why I needed one especially now that it's getting darker earlier and I'm increasing my mileage. Ah yes, all that persuasion paid off! As my little sister, Liza, looked on, I put together my lovely early birthday present!

Oh goodness, let me tell you that putting the treadmill together became a workout in itself. I already had my running clothes on because I was planning on going over to Liz's and using her treadmill since it was rainy/thundering...but that's when Liza and I discovered the lovely giant brown box in the garage! I had already been lifting heavy boxes and cleaning up Diego's Room (aka our guest room that has a "Diego" [Dora the Explorer's Cousin] light switch that the old owners left behind...the name just stuck) for Liza to use instead of the couch. So, I was technically strength training already. Once I got the thing set up, I was too tired to run and my tummy was grumbling. It was nearly 9pm!

On a side note, I love love love putting things together. I mean, Ikea furniture is my FAVORITE! That's why Travis didn't offer to help me set it up, because he knows I love this stuff (and, actually, I'm better at it than he is...he'll agree). Obviously, I was really excited to whip out my tools and make my Friday a put-the-running-machine-together kind of night. :)

And, I present to you, my new Smooth Fitness 5.45! TA DA!!

Swoon!

Today I took it for a test drive and did three sets of 10 minute runs:
1. 10:02 minutes, 4% incline, 1.1 miles
2. 10:00 minutes, 4% incline, 1.1 mile
3. 10:00 minutes, 4% and 12% incline, 1.2 miles

Oh man, I was sweating like no other, even with two fans pointed at me. Of course, I was re-hydrating (see water bottle on sill), but I could've just poured the water on me and it would have ended up the same. Hmm, re-hydration through osmosis? I think I'm onto something! Ha ha. :)

Then, since I'm crazy, I decided to read my magazine while walking on it at the highest 15% incline for 30 minutes. Jell-o legs!
AND THEN...I ran to Liz's house to feed their fish and talk to their parrot = total trip of 4.68 miles. Obsessed much? ;)

TOTAL MILEAGE: 9.88

*phew!*
Goodnight and have a great weekend!

By the way...

I completely forgot to mention my spiderweb attack last night at the very end of my run (thank goodness!). This web was HUGE and I ran right through it...it was on my arms, face, chest, and even legs. GROSS! Luckily I was less than a block from my house and after "ohmygod it's in my hair"-ing to myself, I continued running to my house (arms flapping, of course), opened the front door, dropped my Road Runner goods and ran straight into the shower. Yeah, after my run, I RAN to the shower. It was probably my fastest indoor pace yet. ;)

Sweeeeet.

INeedToStopSpendingMoolah

I say that under my breath...but it's so true. Running is pricey, yo!

I splurged and bought a Nathan fuel belt. Gah! And a water bottle with a straw (I drink sooo much more water when I'm using a straw...I know, weird). And I also registered for the Seattle Half. Ohgoodnessme. EEK!

And I am NOT running away from my house anymore. It gets dark waaaay too fast and I end up sprinting my way home hoping to jeebus that I won't be hit by a car or kidnapped or whatever. Travis hates that I run alone. I need a dog. Or a running buddy. (Get better and come back to running, Liz! Move up to Seattle, Danica! Run with me, Kerrie! Slow-down-so-I-can-keep-up-with-you, Lindsay!). Since I did run to Road Runner sports, I figured out that they meet every Wednesday at 6pm for a 6 miler. Hey!! I was about 45 minutes late. :( Next week! It'll be like old XC times... sigh.

In a nutshell: no more spending the dough, no more running away, stick to the most daylight, either literally become a dude or find someone to run with, and lastly train for the Seattle Half! :)

Crosswalk Gazelle

I ran 8.14 miles tonight! Woot! I don't know if my feet would've let me go any farther, though...they were shooting pain at every step. Next time I plan a longer-ish run, I'm taking ibuprofen beforehand. Also, it was getting really dark and I wasn't in the best of neighborhoods. Boo.

I noticed that while I'm waiting for stoplights to turn, I usually jump or jog in place and then once that light turns *BOOM* I'm bounding across the street! I feel like my little jump in place shtick is like me as a wind-up toy...then I'm a leaping gazelle going across the street in minimal strides! I'm a wind-up crosswalk gazelle! :)

Overall, it was a great run. Just the perfect amount of hills and sidewalks the entire way. I wore my new Adidas running shirt I got at Nordstrom Rack today; it's white with hot pink mesh sides and reflective parts. It's pretty darn cute, and the best part is that it didn't ride up! Oh, and since my thighs are still recovering from the icky trail run on Sunday, I wore my spandex capris...and it was weird! They are not tapered at the bottom, but kind of flare out, so I was getting annoyed with them "flapping." At least they protected my legs. That's the ticket...

After my run I did some powerlifts and bicep curls, also punched the bag a little bit. My chest is still sore from benching, so I'm not working that yet. Perhaps tomorrow.

A great day of training! Yes...

Liquid Fuel

I may have mentioned my love of Crystal Light before, but I really do have a little mini addiction going on. These colorful packages are so cute and fun and little and refreshing with my daily H20. I mean, they're like candy! Watered down candy, but candy nonetheless.

**Side Note: I would not recommend that anyone pour the powder--Fun-Dip style--into your mouth all at once. Unless, of course, you want to see if your mouth can turn inside out and your face twist in agony....not that I would know or anything. No really.**

So, not only do these packets make me drink a ton more water than I would normally, but they have little added benefits. Hurray for bonuses!

Caffeine (in moderate amounts)
Vitamin E
Zinc
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
And a helluva lot less calories than juice!

Yummeh. My favorite flavors are:
Cherry Pomegranate Immunity
Peach Mango Green Tea Metabolism+
Citrus Splash Focus
White Peach Tea Skin Essentials
Pomegranate Lemonade Skin Essentials
White Tea Blueberry Antioxidant
Lightly Lemon Hydration