New Idea

My later start time has made it difficult to blog. Too much of a rush showering and getting out the door for summer school. However, tomorrow I will definitely blog since Mike has given me some nice material to work with.

Today I went to the dark side and joined the walkers. I am going to try and do this on my non running days. It was a nice morning to start this ritual, but don't worry, it won't replace my running.

I have found a new marathon idea for the group... taking a cruise in Alaska or Caribbean and run in each port for a total of 26.2 miles! Sweet! http://www.runningcruise.com/

A nice 6:00 run with Elyse and Jenny (Yes, I am rubbing it in!) We decided that we need a nickname for Kristi B. Referring to our fellow runners as new Kristi and old Christy probably isn't politically correct or at least doesn't make for cheerful running partners. And Kristi with a K or Christy with a C is too long to say as we are huffing and puffing a way. I am sure this is one that Mike will get right on. We all know how inept Tom is at coming up with nicknames, so we can't give this one to him. Plus, it is quite apparent he is a "user". He just uses us when he needs companionship on long runs, otherwise we aren't good enough for him. His pink Ipod is more important than our cheerful conversation or maybe he just got tired of hearing groans instead of laughs after one of his many jokes. Tom - I don't think new Kristi has heard the grape joke yet.

Good luck at the Stampede or the Butterfest Tent!

Speed Work

Just Kristi and I this morning at 6 am. Jenny sent me an e-mail with excuses, but I think we will need to run by the golf course sprinklers some time soon anyway. If I remember Mike's rule correctly, it doesn't matter if you have an excuse or not.

So, since I had Kristi to myself and she is too new to complain (we still have her believing that she is LUCKY to run with us - hah!) we did speed work. We warmed up by running out BC and then to the track where we did 1 lap at fast pace (under 2 minutes) and 1/2 lap walk repeated 5 times. It was painful, but went a lot faster with someone sharing the pain with me. Thank you Kristi!

We got a lot of laughs out of the cheerleader who was NOT happy that she had to "run" laps. At the end she was being made to finish the required number of laps. I commented to her fellow cheerleader that was the acting task master that she was pulling my 9 year old's trick of walking as slow as possible. In a 9 year old's mind this is a way of punishing YOU. I told the task master that she she tell her friend that she tell her I said she is acting like my 9 year old. She found that pretty funny. Sadly, this teaches me that I will still be dealing with these tactics when my 9 year old is 16.

A small group, but a new runner! Another cousin was added to the cousins. Christy's cousin, Allie, came. I am afraid us old ladies may have scared her off - with our pace not our early morning, no make-up GOOD looks!. Hopefully she will return!

We added on to the "New Route" to make sure the New Yorker will continue to run with us. I was thinking this morning... "When is the new route no longer called the "new route'?" I suppose when I come up with another one, although in a small town this becomes more and more difficult to do.

I just found a new web page with everything running. Well, not everything running, but it is a quick place to see blogs on running: http://running.alltop.com/

Last Bakery Run

A sad day today - the Bakery's last day. A tear came to my eye when I reached in their cooler and realized that I was taking the last Diet Dew. It felt like they were saving it just for me.

We beat the rain and got 7.39 miles in. I still am struggling, but glad I did it.

Wausau Running

I explored Wausau in the mornings this week. I got out two mornings while in the historic town for a meeting. I forget how fun it is to explore a town while running. Plus, I leave my Garmin at home and just enjoy the adventure.

Wausau was particularly great because of all the "painted lady" Victorian houses from the lumber Baron days and the slightly new ones of the early 1900's. I didn't even mind that they were all located on a very steep hill. So, I got a good hill work out in while viewing the historic beauties. Yes, I was thinking about you all. I found it was much easier to run hills in a new town.

The weather was glorious too... cool, but sunny and calm.

New Picture

Did you notice there is a new picture at the top? Courtesy of Wendy's Facebook page!

A nice albeit FAST run this morning. Thankfully Elyse stayed back with me while Sandy and Jenny took off. Those half marathoners just keep on rubbing it in, even after the marathon! But it did feel good to see that I can still run under a 9:00 pace! Plus there was a REASON why I was struggling.

It was NOT raining

It was NOT raining this morning and Jill didn't show. I admit, I got out of bed, walked outside, stood there for a few seconds and decided it was indeed raining. I went back to bed, but the draw of not letting anyone down and the desperate need to run after a week off got me back out of bed. I thought there was a big group running this morning and figured that SOMEONE would show. However, after I got all my running stuff on and check the poll I learned it was just Jill and I and as I said... she didn't show.

BUT I was sooooooo desperate for a run, I went by myself. My favorite morning worker (NOT!) - the loud radio, no muffler newspaper delivery guy - did accompany me for the first 1/4 mile. Then I spend the rest of the run trying to think of humorous, guilt ridden things I could say in my blog this morning.

It was fine, really Jill, it was. I also didn't have my Garmin (low battery - once again proving Christy's opinion of them) and NO running PARTNER so I could go on any route I wanted and at any slow pace. Of course, I didn't do a new route (didn't have the Garmin to track miles) but the pace did feel good. I even got to stop and chit chat with the walkers who, of course - unlike Jill, could tell it was NOT raining.

Inspiration

Go to this story for a source of inspiration for Sunday's marathon (and half marathon).

I think it was a record today.... TEN people running! It felt like a Saturday morning run! Maybe the newspaper will do a story on us NOW! At least then the guy who did NOT see the herd of runners 5 feet away from him when he PAUSED at the stop sign might get a clue that he has to be awake to drive. (BTW - I use 'herd' in the most beautiful sense possible).

Mike was in his glory because he had another guy to talk football with. However, it was short lived when he found out the other half of the Swanson team is a Vikings fan. I guess his nickname will be PackerHater. Now the BeerHater will have a com padre.

Of course there was lots of talk about the Marathon, but more talk (actually taunting) by the halvers. Just remember that we expect you be there cheering us on so we can throw our sweat laden shirts at you. And most importantly, we expect be handed a cold beer as soon as we exit the runner area. A foot massage might be nice too.

A damp, but fairly warm morning. A big group... Christy, Sandy, Jill, Elyse and Kristi. I finally got to meet the new Kristi. I am not sure how we should differentiate her from Christy. Kristi with a K? Kristi with an I? Hmmmm will have to think of that one. I am sure that Elyse is hoping Kristi hates beer so she can take on the "Beerhater" nickname. She grew up and went to college in Wisconsin, so I am sure she likes beer. Life is just against you Elyse.

Kristi was very patient with my endless stream of questions. I had to get the dibs on the new girl. Plus it is the old trick "If I keep her talking she won't realize how much pain she is in and will come back and run with us again." Of course, I forgot to factor in that talking makes running harder... so I am sure she was actually wishing I would shut up so she could run!

One more short run before the marathon!

Arm Sleeves

A nice run with Christy, Jill and Katie this morning. We were commenting on how nice it is to run in daylight.

My new running thing is arm sleeves. You probably have seen them on elite runners when weather is a little on the cool side. I was wishing I had some at La Crosse. The seem perfect for keeping you warm at the beginning of a run, but easy to remove when you or the arm temperature warms up. Since Green Bay can be a little cool at the start, I thought I would look into getting some.

Well, I found that they are almost $34. A little to rich for my blood, especially since I may only wear them once or twice a year (on my regular non-race runs a long sleeve shirt will do). In searching for a cheaper price I came upon on posting that said they just got some men's tube socks and cut the foot out. A lot cheaper and since they were so cheap, you can just toss them during a race after you no longer needed. So, when I was in La Crosse this weekend at TJ Maxx, I found a pair of Under Armor baseball socks. The only draw back was that they are bright yellow, but what the heck. So for $4, I had 4 socks. Last night I cut the toe out. I cut them long figuring that I like to have something I can pull my hands into and if I find the are too long, I can cut them shorter. After performed my surgery on them, I decided to give them a test run this morning.

I decided to wear them "upside down". My forearm is thicker than my ankle, so I figured it made more sense to wear them so the cuff of the sock was actually at my wrist. This also worked well because then the finished cuff (the non cut end) was at my wrist.

They worked well!

They didn't feel too tight and they didn't fall down either. At the end I felt like they might be slipping down, but I think they were just getting heavier from sweat. They might not perform as well as the real thing, but they do what I need them to do and for only $1.00 each I can't complain!

Finally, a run where I felt good, but perhaps it was because of all the distractions.

First, we did a new route which I believe was truly a new route, not just a variation of an old stand-by or one run backwards.

Second, we got to hear about Elyse's Flying Pig Marathon. It sounds like it will have to go on the list, but I have to wonder if it was that good or Elyse's opinion was tainted by the fact she ran pain free and PR'd! Don't we all LOVE races where we PR? In all seriousness, I have heard that is a great and fun marathon to run.

I am anxiously awaiting my most recent running purchase - an Elitesport Seatshield. I finally accepted the fact that I would not get it as a gift from my loving husband. I really dislike getting in my car to go to work and finding it still wet with sweat. This will also help with the "burning butt" problems often encountered in a car with leather seats in the middle of summer. Hopefully it will be all that I hope. Ah... the little joys in life!

A nice run with the Cousins and Bella (the dog, not the vampire) this morning. We got it in before any sprinkles began. I will be so glad when I can have a run with energy. It seems like it has been a very long time. Next time I am going to have to insist that I take Bella so she can pull me a long. No wonder Christy is able to cheerfully chat with her cousins as I struggle along behind. I am in that place where the taper time giddiness has not taken hold and I am in the "why did I sign up for a fall marathon" place.

Today was the 1st annual La Crosse Fitness Festival. Perfect weather conditions. It was about 48 degrees at the start and sunny. There was no breeze to begin with, but a steady north wind developed. The first 3 miles were a little tough as I was waiting for my body, legs and feet to warm up. Around mile 5-6 I started to pick up the pace. Unfortunately shortly there after we turned north (into the wind) and encountered several (at least it felt like several - it might have been two) hill. At about mile 10.5 I started struggling. This was because a fellow runner said "You have a great pace going. I think I will try and keep with you." I also struggled to get my last electrolyte pill out which I think broke my rythm and I never got it back.

It was a good training exercise since I had to employ the "I can do it" chant the last 2.5 miles. I had my worst time, but kept under 2 hours (barely - and only according to chip time). However, I am okay with that (kinda) considering 9 days ago I ran 21 miles in the worst conditions possible - 89 degrees and strong winds. My body was not recovered yet.

Overall for a first marathon, I thought it was well organized and well staffed. No chance to get off course. I was disappointed that they didn't have any energy gel for the half marathon and didn't give it to the full until mile 21. The post race activities were good. COLD water... so----o important. Also, cookies, bagels, bananas, oranges, brats. No complaints... a well run race especially compared to Norwalk's first attempt.

Melissa had a good race, but struggled at the end (don't we all?) Jill said she had a good marathon with a time around 4:18. Judy did well too... despite saying she "didn't care" and was just going to have "fun", she still beat me with a time of 1:52. You are an inspiration Judy! Larry, I am sure had a good walk. Thanks to Jenny for cheering along the way!

Hopefully we will have similiar weather for Green Bay!