Lessons

This morning we learned that one of us should always have a cell phone and it is best to be running with someone.

Christy took quite a spill this morning on some ice. She hit her head pretty hard and has a nice goose egg. CHRISTY - if you are reading this... do not hesitate to call the doctor.

An overall scary experience.

New Things

It was a morning of new things...

I broke out my NEW running shoes... always a happy day even though the new ones are brown.

CHRISTY showed us a NEW route this morning. At one point I almost took over again from sure habit, but she quickly stepped in and reminded me who was boss this morning.

My NEW experience was being a little late... my CAR battery was dead. NOT my GARMIN battery like Christy thought. Yes, we all know it is a little early in the morning and our brains (Christy's) aren't making all the connections they should.

Another NEW experience was NOT wearing my Yak-Trax. Although it wasn't because I didn't intend to, I was just running (no pun intended) late and didn't have time to put them on. But it was good - the ice seems to have dissipated to a acceptable level for January. PLEASE no more ice storms!!!!

NEW - Mike didn't say a word through the whole run!!!! (gottcha!)

Quiet Run

Since Bryan told us Christy's crash story on Saturday, Mike, Jill, Christy and I didn't have anything to talk about so it was a quiet run. Thanks Bryan.

Dedication

I thought I was going to be running alone this morning. Katie bailed...something about it being too cold and Mike was a little tardy in coming. I had already decided that I was going to run anyway. (getting on the scale before coming helped with that decision) Thankfully, Mike came. We almost slipped and fell in the first 5 feet. Edwards parking spot and sidewalk had not been salted and was glare ice. The number on my scale was instantly forgotten and I said "Maybe we shouldn't run today" but Mike was dedicated and we continued on. It was slick, but for the most part manageable. A slow, but good 6.06 miles.

2009

Just Christy and I for the first run (for me) of 2009. It was a bit chilly when running into the wind, but still warmer than it has been. Unfortunately, I don't have any humorous tidbits to start of the new year, but here is what I hear on the running front:

Christy - GB Marathon
Rhonda - GB(?) Marathon - FIRST ONE!
Katie - GB Marathon - FIRST ONE!
Allison - GB Marathon
Wendy - GB Marathon
Jill - LAX Marathon
Elyse - LAX(?) Marathon
Sandy - GB Half(?)
Al -GB Half??????
Jenny - ??????
Sheri - ?????
Bryan - ????
Tom - ????
Mike - ?????

I think there may be some newbies out there we need to draw into our circle......

Last run of 2008

The last run of 2008 was a cold one with a couple of inches of fresh snow, but the slipping and sliding didn't seem too bad.

It was a good year. A total of 1291 miles for me and two marathons. Even better was that I came away from the marathons with a positive experience. I loved Green Bay because it got me over my "I Hate Marathons" mentality. So, I headed into Chicago with a good experience under my belt. Chicago will definitely go down as my most memorable and enjoyable marathon. It was so fantastic to train and run that race with all my running friends. Whoever said running is a solitary sport is wrong!

Even better was that 2008 was injury free. My plantar fasciitis did not rear its ugly head again! I am looking forward to 2009!

Beat the record!

Today I surpassed my record for mileage run in a year! Yeah! The weird thing is that the previous record was set the year I ran only one marathon. You would think I would have passed that year's mileage earlier since I ran (and trained for) two marathons this year! It proves my theory that I over trained for my first marathon.

Speaking of marathons...... the talk is starting. One person, who I will leaved unnamed (for the moment) says that they are ready to run another one! It looks like I might be pulled in to training for the GB marathon. I have been on the fence any way. I just happened on the following quote that is on the back of my Lutheran Digest. It seems like a sign that I should run the marathon given I was writing this post when I happened upon it:

In Courage

We totally

Forget the self

And the Cares

Of the Day

Are set aside

For the greater good

-K.S. Harding

I am sure that the quote was not inspired by someone that chose to train for a marathon just to help her fellow runners out, but hey - when you get a sign you should just roll with it!

Desperate Phone Calls

This morning at 4:30 I got a desperate phone call from my GOOD friend Christy. Here is how I I remember it:

She said, "Oh Allison, Oh Allison please come and run with me. Or else all by myself I will be". I responded "Oh Christy, the problem I do not see. Jill said she will be there unless it is below 5 degrees." She cried, "Yes! Yes! It is true, but Jill said a run she will not do!" Aghast, I must say, I was to hear such a buzz. So with a heavy heart I did tread. Out of my nice warm snugly bed. Off to run with my GOOD friend Christy. Although my eyes were a bit misty. My mood was quite blue. I could not see how this could be true. That our "friend" Jill would be such a pill. It wasn't even below 5 degrees! In the future, her friends she will have to work hard to appease.

Good readers, please remember that I am writing this at 6:00 in the morning. Good thing I had such a WONDERFUL run with Christy. Too bad Jill missed it.

I know you are wondering

I know you are wondering if we ran this morning. Yes! Elyse and the Cousins and I ran. It wasn't bad. If fact, I over dressed. I have to stop letting all those naysayers get in my head! The Walgreens clock said 7 below. There wasn't hardly any wind, so that wasn't a factor. We were a little quiet to begin with. No, it wasn't the shock of the cold. I think it was trying to speak and be heard clearly through face masks. It was so quiet that I even asked a question about football! We adjusted and by the end were chatting away. All of our cars started and we were back on our way home again.

In between storms

There was a nice little group this morning trying to get a decent run in between storms. It appears that a new guy is becoming a regular - welcome (back) to Al. Also Jenny, Judy, Elyse, Jill, Katie ran. I am sure Elyse and Jill were feeling a little let down after the "guest" runner appeared yesterday. I am still bummed I missed that. I wasn't happy when we started but at home I was glad I had did it. It improved my outlook for the day.

A little cold this morning

It was cold this morning. Maybe I was thinking that -2 wasn't that bad when it actually is. I didn't put my face mask up all the way and midway through the run I couldn't listen to the conversation because I was starting to worry about frost bite. Or maybe it was because my ear drums were frozen. Needless to say by the time I got home (and looked in the mirror) my fears were gone.

I am looking for someone in the group to give the srewshoe method a try. This cheap way of preventing slipping in the winter was featured in Runner's World last month. Plus Ryan from Hillrunner sent me a comment with a website with instructions on how to do it. They say it doesn't ruin your shoes so you can keep on running in them after the snow and ice has melted away.

Facebook - so I am discovering the world of Facebook. I have been more of an observer the last few days. I am not quite sure how I want to participate or how much I have time for, but it is cool seeing what old friends are up too.

I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow. No, not because of snow, not because Mike is buying donuts, but I think he has SOMETHING up his sleeve. I know it will shock you - NOT MIKE! but I think it is true. He is more concerned than usual about whether or not we will be coming. Hmmmm

Peas and Hair

Running in the morning is so great because you learn of ways you can help your fellow runners/friends. Here are a couple to put on your goodwill list for the holiday season:

1. Deliver a bag of frozen peas to Bryan Friday afternoon. If you are wondering why, you will have to ask him. It is just too personal to put here..... but think about it - frozen peas - 3 kids.

2. Compliment Jenny. Not that this is normally hard to do, but the rumor is that she has a new hairdo. A man noticed it, so it must be very different.

3. Medical appointment for Christy. She is showing early signs of developing Tourette Syndrome. Throughout the run she says heel, heel, heel. No, she is not saying it to Mike. She knows he would not listen anyway. She is training our newest running partner - Belle. No not the vampire, Bryan's new dog.

4. No help needed. I think Mike has come a long way since he started running with us, so I will just let him bask in the glow of his achievements - like getting a REAL water bottle. After all, it is the little accomplishments that matter most in this holiday season.

5. Marathon punch card - similar to a golf punch card. Too bad these don't exist. Jill could use one. I think it might help with expenses when she runs 4 marathons next year.

It was a good run this morning. The snow was packed down for the most part so running was relatively easy (I said RELATIVELY). Temperature was a balmy 8.

Pleasant Surprise

Christy and I got a pleasant surprise this morning when Katie came careening into the parking lot. Good thing she was late getting up or else she would have noticed the temperature and not come. I am surprised she didn't turn the car around when she saw the middle school clock say 12 below zero, especially since we wouldn't have known the difference since she wasn't signed up. What dedication you have Katie - it is dedication - right?

As you can imagine it was a cold run. Plus my Yaktrax broke a wire. I was expecting it since the wires were starting to break. They are several years old, so I suppose it is time for a new pair. Off to the Internet.....

1200 mies

Today I passed my goal of running 1200 miles in a year. I realized that in 2006 I had 1,276 miles which surprised me considering this year I trained for and ran TWO marathons. I wonder if I can get 73 miles in before the end of the year to beat my previous record. I am not sure I really care or not, especially with snow on the ground. NOT my ideal running condition!

Ran today with Judy, Jenny and Bryan. The let me join them since 'i' is close to 'y'. I am the only one with out a 'y' in my name although technically I believe Jenny is Jennifer. It was warmer, but running in about 2 inches of snow is never any fun. I like to go longer on Saturdays, but today I was good with 5.