During my last mile of running this weekend, I seriously considered knocking on every door I passed to ask for a glass of water. Clearly, I was not in the right state of mind. I was dehydrated.
This weekend I was house/dog sitting and was not in my normal environment that I typically am to prep for my early run with Jamie on the weekends. I had a bowl of oatmeal and nothing to drink. I left the house to drive to Jamie's and brought nothing that resembled liquid with me. I then get to Jamie's and only down a gulp-full of water with the Ibuprofen Jamie graciously offered me before we put our bodies through hell. I realized that I had consumed absolutely no liquid this morning as I hit mile 3, which was well into the forest preserve. How could I be so silly to not drink any water? Water is everything when running. I should know this more than anyone. I get overheated so quickly that I NEED to hydrate (and hydrate well) every time I run. Needless to say, I completed the run -- 8 miles! I have 8 mile legs! I was dying at the end, but Jamie had water for me when I arrived at her house which I loved.
In the future I need to remember that H2O is my friend and it will help me complete the run without the feeling of death on my trail.
Monday, May 11, 2009
music dependent
Jamie and I did our weekend run -- my first run in May! I drove to her place and then we drove to the forest preserve to do our run. We decided to do only 6 miles instead of the expected 7 since 3.5 miles would have been hard to measure with the poor marking system in the forest preserve. Really, we just wanted to get out of there and not run, but lets blame the system instead of ourselves.
I panicked right before we began because I realized my mp3 player was not charged. I thought to myself how did I drive ALL the way out here to the SUBURBS (no less) without checking that my little music friend was dead. Jamie offered to not run (always trying to get out of it), but I decided that we were out here -- we were going to run or at least try.
About 15 paces into the run, I was panicking. There is no way I was going to make it 6 miles without music. I started sweating (not that I wasn't already), but in a different way. In a way that I was having an out of body experience. I was realizing how ridiculously dependent I am on my music to run. As I saw Jamie get farther and farther away from me (as she tends to do with her 10:30 mile) I decided I was going to squeeze the last seconds out of my mp3 player. If I could only hear a little glimmer of "gotta gotta cut loose" I could maybe have a semi-decent start. I turned it on and the music had never sounded so good. All of a sudden, I realized I was at a mile and then 2 miles and by some higher power my music lasted the whole damn time. It was AMAZING and I ran the whole thing!
Note to myself: Always check the mp3 player before going out on a run because you are music dependent!
I panicked right before we began because I realized my mp3 player was not charged. I thought to myself how did I drive ALL the way out here to the SUBURBS (no less) without checking that my little music friend was dead. Jamie offered to not run (always trying to get out of it), but I decided that we were out here -- we were going to run or at least try.
About 15 paces into the run, I was panicking. There is no way I was going to make it 6 miles without music. I started sweating (not that I wasn't already), but in a different way. In a way that I was having an out of body experience. I was realizing how ridiculously dependent I am on my music to run. As I saw Jamie get farther and farther away from me (as she tends to do with her 10:30 mile) I decided I was going to squeeze the last seconds out of my mp3 player. If I could only hear a little glimmer of "gotta gotta cut loose" I could maybe have a semi-decent start. I turned it on and the music had never sounded so good. All of a sudden, I realized I was at a mile and then 2 miles and by some higher power my music lasted the whole damn time. It was AMAZING and I ran the whole thing!
Note to myself: Always check the mp3 player before going out on a run because you are music dependent!
Monday, May 4, 2009
a run on the lakefront
I decided to try out my running legs again this weekend after what seemed to be forever, but in reality was only two and half weeks. I rode my bike to the lake and then took off south on the lakefront path. It was the best run I had done in months! Although I was moving a bit slower than normal, I felt strong and comfortable up until the last 10 minutes of my 5 miles. The weather was so glorious and I sometimes forget that I need to change my running wardrobe according to the weather. I was definitely overheating by the end, but I finished in an hour so I was still pleased.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
new shoes
It was my first time in a Fleet Feet store and it was a great first experience. They use old running bibs as your 'waiting in line' numbers instead of the pull numbers that you grab at a deli. After waiting for about 30 minutes (and Ross getting multiple stares due to his intense medical pictures in his book that he was studying from), it was my turn. My shoe guy, Marcus, measured my feet and we found out that my right one is a half size bigger than my left, which wasn't new news to me. Marcus brought out their 'test shoes' that have no support at all and then asked me to run on a treadmill that they have set up in the store. While I was running, he videotaped my feet to see how I actually land on each foot with every step. We noticed that there was a definite roll inwards of both my feet when landing, so I would need a shoe with moderate support. I tried on three different shoes and I ran in each pair. I decided to go with the Asics since they felt the most natural to me while running. I am hoping to test them out for the first time tonight after work. Looking forward to it, as long as my knee holds up.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
1 mile = pain
My plan was to run 4 miles yesterday.
When it came down to it -- I ended up running only one and my knee was aching the whole time. I was meeting my friend Ang for dinner so I decided to run out near her place in a forest preserve. I parked my car, wrapped my knee, and headed out. Along the way I saw at least 7 cars with middle-aged men (who were alone) just sitting in their cars. It was a bit creepy. I also saw a deer, which was much less creepy. Ahh -- the beauty of running in a forest preserve and not east on 18th among the trash and broken asphalt.
Looking ahead: I am going to swim tomorrow for a low impact workout and I am considering not running the 6 miles this weekend, which would be incredibly disappointing, but might be worth it in the end.
When it came down to it -- I ended up running only one and my knee was aching the whole time. I was meeting my friend Ang for dinner so I decided to run out near her place in a forest preserve. I parked my car, wrapped my knee, and headed out. Along the way I saw at least 7 cars with middle-aged men (who were alone) just sitting in their cars. It was a bit creepy. I also saw a deer, which was much less creepy. Ahh -- the beauty of running in a forest preserve and not east on 18th among the trash and broken asphalt.
Looking ahead: I am going to swim tomorrow for a low impact workout and I am considering not running the 6 miles this weekend, which would be incredibly disappointing, but might be worth it in the end.
Monday, April 13, 2009
the knee that could
Our before shot:
just keep running, just keep running, just keep running running running...
This was my mantra for Saturday's run with James. I was feeling really good for the run before we left. I woke up early, had a great breakfast, and even got some reading in before we left. However, as soon as we started I knew it wasn't going to be good. We ran in the city again, however we got stopped by far less lights this time (the first half anyways) than last weekend.
I was keeping up with Jamie's pace for the first mile plus change, which is no easy venture. Jamie has been running incredible times lately -- a 10 minute mile is her average now. I am still just under 12, which I am completely happy with. Slow and steady wins the race is my motto. Once I hit mile 2, my knee was hurting and it was not about to let up. My right knee has been in the slightest amount of pain since the Shuffle -- some days it is fine, others not so much. I felt like the run back from the halfway point was less difficult than on the way there. Maybe it was because I knew I would be home soon. Although I did want to stop running and just walk the rest of the way at one point, but my knee and a little bit of willpower kept me going, so I struggled through and ran the damn 5 miles in pain. I was pretty proud of myself and my knee that I hung in there and fought it out.
Did I mention I was overheating starting in mile 2 as well? When I hit 2.5miles (Jackson and Michigan), I had to ditch my long sleeve shirt and run soccer mom style with the shirt tied around my waist. I was getting some crazy looks from tourists who were bundled up in their winter coat, gloves, and a scarf while I trotted by in a sleeveless shirt. It was 35 and sunny -- sleeveless is completely acceptable in Chicago!
I went to Target later that evening and bought myself a wrap bandage, which I shall be trying out later this week when I find time to run again.
Looking forward to: The CD with new tunes Jamie is burning me!
just keep running, just keep running, just keep running running running...This was my mantra for Saturday's run with James. I was feeling really good for the run before we left. I woke up early, had a great breakfast, and even got some reading in before we left. However, as soon as we started I knew it wasn't going to be good. We ran in the city again, however we got stopped by far less lights this time (the first half anyways) than last weekend.
I was keeping up with Jamie's pace for the first mile plus change, which is no easy venture. Jamie has been running incredible times lately -- a 10 minute mile is her average now. I am still just under 12, which I am completely happy with. Slow and steady wins the race is my motto. Once I hit mile 2, my knee was hurting and it was not about to let up. My right knee has been in the slightest amount of pain since the Shuffle -- some days it is fine, others not so much. I felt like the run back from the halfway point was less difficult than on the way there. Maybe it was because I knew I would be home soon. Although I did want to stop running and just walk the rest of the way at one point, but my knee and a little bit of willpower kept me going, so I struggled through and ran the damn 5 miles in pain. I was pretty proud of myself and my knee that I hung in there and fought it out.
Did I mention I was overheating starting in mile 2 as well? When I hit 2.5miles (Jackson and Michigan), I had to ditch my long sleeve shirt and run soccer mom style with the shirt tied around my waist. I was getting some crazy looks from tourists who were bundled up in their winter coat, gloves, and a scarf while I trotted by in a sleeveless shirt. It was 35 and sunny -- sleeveless is completely acceptable in Chicago!
I went to Target later that evening and bought myself a wrap bandage, which I shall be trying out later this week when I find time to run again.
Looking forward to: The CD with new tunes Jamie is burning me!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
5er again!!!!!
Sam and I did our second 5 miler on Saturday morning. Ok, it's hilarious how different Sam and I are...by the time we got to our halfway point and were turning around, I was pretty chilly and really could have used some gloves and Sam was just about to pass out from heat stroke. Crazy.
This long run was another good feeling run for me. I was telling Sam later that day that last time we trained, I would get nervous before each long run. And now, it's no big deal to me. Next Saturday we're doing 6 miles and that's exciting to me to take it on, not intimidating in the least. We're doing the forest preserve, which we haven't done yet this training season and it's going to be awesome. Whoo hoo!!! Forest preserve!!!!
Sam? Your thoughts??
This long run was another good feeling run for me. I was telling Sam later that day that last time we trained, I would get nervous before each long run. And now, it's no big deal to me. Next Saturday we're doing 6 miles and that's exciting to me to take it on, not intimidating in the least. We're doing the forest preserve, which we haven't done yet this training season and it's going to be awesome. Whoo hoo!!! Forest preserve!!!!
Sam? Your thoughts??
Saturday, April 4, 2009
2nd run together!!!!
I would just like to start off saying that I'm SOOOOOO proud of Sam for doing the Shuffle last week, especially in that terrible weather. If I had been signed up, there is no doubt in my mind that I would have immediately tried to bail, then guilted myself into running it with Sam, bitched the whole time about the weather, and basically ruined the whole experience for everyone. Running a race is an amazing feat in itself. Running the whole race is stupendous. Running the whole race when the weather is absolute shit is godly. You're the best Sam!!!!
Today, we ran a 5 miler together. I went to Sam's to do it. It starts and finishes with a hill, damnit!!!! It was a good run. It's weird to do someone else's course and not know where you're going and about how long it takes to get there. It was tough on the first half for me to really get into it because I couldn't visualize how much further I had to go until it was time to turn around and run back. And, I'm used to running in the 'burbs and avoiding streetlights. The stopping and starting was weird to get used to as well. But in the end, we finished the run, we didn't stop for anything except cars, and we even managed to talk during some of it!
I keep thinking to myself how much better the training is going to be for this halfer and so far, it has been. Last training, there would have been no way in hell Sam and I could have spoken a word to each other. Plus, we push each other to keep going-it's much easier to stay motivated when you know your running partner isn't giving up. I'm really excited this time around. It feels great and I'm ready for the harder runs to start coming (basically, everything after 5 is going to be a bitch to do). :)
~James
A picture of us after the 5 miles (added by Sam)!
Today, we ran a 5 miler together. I went to Sam's to do it. It starts and finishes with a hill, damnit!!!! It was a good run. It's weird to do someone else's course and not know where you're going and about how long it takes to get there. It was tough on the first half for me to really get into it because I couldn't visualize how much further I had to go until it was time to turn around and run back. And, I'm used to running in the 'burbs and avoiding streetlights. The stopping and starting was weird to get used to as well. But in the end, we finished the run, we didn't stop for anything except cars, and we even managed to talk during some of it!
I keep thinking to myself how much better the training is going to be for this halfer and so far, it has been. Last training, there would have been no way in hell Sam and I could have spoken a word to each other. Plus, we push each other to keep going-it's much easier to stay motivated when you know your running partner isn't giving up. I'm really excited this time around. It feels great and I'm ready for the harder runs to start coming (basically, everything after 5 is going to be a bitch to do). :)
~James
A picture of us after the 5 miles (added by Sam)!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
the shamrock shuffle
Outside the apartment...the first thing I saw when I woke up the morning of the Shuffle!
I ran my first race! I completed the Shamrock Shuffle (an 8K or 5 miles) on March 29 in just under an hour. The details...
Mile 1: My feet were completely soaked in the first minute of actual running. The road was completely covered in slush and snow, but I started off strong and ended up behind a group of three in green who were keeping a consistent pace, so I decided to stay with them. Wardrobe issues (i.e. pants) were already a problem.
Mile 2: Typically mile 2 is the difficult one for me. Even if I am not looking at the time or calculating how many blocks I have already run, I can tell when I am running mile 2. It was no different this time.
Mile 3: Grabbed a cup of Gatorade and tried to drink it while still running and failed. Side pains started creeping up, but a group of four people on the side of the road with a sign that said 'You can do it' kept me going. I actually started crying (yes as I was running) because I felt so proud that I was actually running a race. It was really heartbreaking last November when Jamie and I didn't run, so I was just thrilled to be doing what I set out to do.
Mile 4: I felt like I was moving at a turtle's pace. I lost the three in green and my knees were hurting, but I decided I was going to do this if I got this far so I shed my hat, gloves, and ear warmers and immediately regained energy. Clearly, overheating and me do not work well together.
Mile 5: I started seeing runners who had already finished and they were cheering us on, so I was dead set on finishing this thing running until we rounded Roosevelt and started going uphill. I am not sure who designs the course, but really uphill at the end? Not a good idea. After climbing the hill, I could see the finish line and knew this race was mine. I felt I finished strong although I was way too hot and in pain.
Here are some pictures from the day...
Just under a 12 minute mile...
My fans...
Contemplating life or why I decided to run in this crazy weather...
Overall: I was a little bummed that I didn't run with my partner in crime for my first race, but I am pretty sure Jamie would have hated the weather and running in it, so it might have been for the best. It was a good race since I ran the entire thing in the time I wanted!
Song that got me through: Alan Jackson's Boot Scootin Boogie.
Note to self: Overdressing is never a good thing. Wear less clothes.
I ran my first race! I completed the Shamrock Shuffle (an 8K or 5 miles) on March 29 in just under an hour. The details...
Mile 1: My feet were completely soaked in the first minute of actual running. The road was completely covered in slush and snow, but I started off strong and ended up behind a group of three in green who were keeping a consistent pace, so I decided to stay with them. Wardrobe issues (i.e. pants) were already a problem.
Mile 2: Typically mile 2 is the difficult one for me. Even if I am not looking at the time or calculating how many blocks I have already run, I can tell when I am running mile 2. It was no different this time.
Mile 3: Grabbed a cup of Gatorade and tried to drink it while still running and failed. Side pains started creeping up, but a group of four people on the side of the road with a sign that said 'You can do it' kept me going. I actually started crying (yes as I was running) because I felt so proud that I was actually running a race. It was really heartbreaking last November when Jamie and I didn't run, so I was just thrilled to be doing what I set out to do.
Mile 4: I felt like I was moving at a turtle's pace. I lost the three in green and my knees were hurting, but I decided I was going to do this if I got this far so I shed my hat, gloves, and ear warmers and immediately regained energy. Clearly, overheating and me do not work well together.
Mile 5: I started seeing runners who had already finished and they were cheering us on, so I was dead set on finishing this thing running until we rounded Roosevelt and started going uphill. I am not sure who designs the course, but really uphill at the end? Not a good idea. After climbing the hill, I could see the finish line and knew this race was mine. I felt I finished strong although I was way too hot and in pain.
Here are some pictures from the day...
Just under a 12 minute mile...
My fans...
Contemplating life or why I decided to run in this crazy weather...
Overall: I was a little bummed that I didn't run with my partner in crime for my first race, but I am pretty sure Jamie would have hated the weather and running in it, so it might have been for the best. It was a good race since I ran the entire thing in the time I wanted!
Song that got me through: Alan Jackson's Boot Scootin Boogie.
Note to self: Overdressing is never a good thing. Wear less clothes.
Monday, March 23, 2009
I'm writing in this blog too. Sam, did you pick the background? Is this going to be a democracy or do you rule it all because I have some questions about the design choice...
Anywho, I second Sam's wrap up. The first halfer attempt blew so bad, and not in the good way. It was so frustrating to have put all that time and money into a goal we really wanted to achieve. I can't think about it without getting pissed, mostly at myself. We should have just tried to run it. But that was the past!!!!! We have new things to look forward to now.
First off, anything that is going to happen in the state of ILLINOIS and not INDIANA is just better (bitter much??). And secondly, I feel like we're better prepared this time around, mentally, emotionally and physically. But most importantly, it's going to happen this time and it's going to be AWESOME.
Sam and I did our first long run together on Saturday and were SHOCKED at our times. We couldn't believe we did it that fast. Sam google mapped it because she didn't trust my spedometer (damnit Sam!!!! Always second guessing me!!! :) It was a great start to the season. I can't wait to keep it up!!!
Anywho, I second Sam's wrap up. The first halfer attempt blew so bad, and not in the good way. It was so frustrating to have put all that time and money into a goal we really wanted to achieve. I can't think about it without getting pissed, mostly at myself. We should have just tried to run it. But that was the past!!!!! We have new things to look forward to now.
First off, anything that is going to happen in the state of ILLINOIS and not INDIANA is just better (bitter much??). And secondly, I feel like we're better prepared this time around, mentally, emotionally and physically. But most importantly, it's going to happen this time and it's going to be AWESOME.
Sam and I did our first long run together on Saturday and were SHOCKED at our times. We couldn't believe we did it that fast. Sam google mapped it because she didn't trust my spedometer (damnit Sam!!!! Always second guessing me!!! :) It was a great start to the season. I can't wait to keep it up!!!
the worst weekend ever
This email was sent to a few people the weekend after the first halfer. I thought I would post it to remember that disastrous weekend. Originally sent on November 3, 2008.
I am writing this lovely email to all of you, so I do not have to re-tell my depressing story over and over again, although some of you have already heard it. Enjoy.
Friday morning: It was the weekend of "the halfer"! Finally, it was here. I just had to make it through the day and I would be golden. I began my morning with a nice bike commute to work, a healthy breakfast, and lots and lots of water. I was hydrating myself all day and taking one too many trips (if you ask me) to the bathroom.
Friday mid-morning: I was snacking on some amazing pumpkin seeds and I felt a funny sensation in my mouth (more specifically, the top back corner). I didn't think much of it since I had been having dental issues for some time now. I carry on with my work and can literally envision myself crossing the finish line.
Friday afternoon: I have just received confirmation from Jim that I can leave work early! I settled in to read some news and enjoy my chicken and rice soup and BAM...half of my molar is no longer attached to my mouth! There was no pain (thank God!), but I was quite concerned. I actually had a small meltdown at work -- tears and all. I was so fearful that this would ruin my chance to complete the half marathon. I had been training for so long and I didn't want this tooth thing to ruin it. I called my dentist and he said to come in on Monday and he would put a cap/replacement on it. Luckily, the tooth I cracked was the one that I need to get a root canal (fun!) on and the nerves were dead already so again, no pain.
Friday evening: I got home from work, packed, changed into comfy road trip clothes, charged my camera battery, etc. Time is slowly ticking away while I wait for Jamie to arrive. In the meantime, I cook dinner, eat, clean the apartment, make a phone call. Jamie finally arrives after over two hours of sitting in traffic. She eats and we jet out pretty quickly. There is not much traffic so both Jamie and I were pretty thrilled. We realized that I have forgotten my camera battery just as we reach the Indiana border and my heart sinks as I realize I will not be able to document this amazing weekend. We saw a sign that said 65 (the main expressway we are supposed to take according to google map) is closed! Ahh!! We followed detour signs for quite sometime, but they started fading, fewer and fewer signs and then, there were no longer any signs and I am on pitch black road in the middle of Indiana. Just for the record, Indiana does a very poor job of posting signs and reassuring its' drivers. I called Ross to see if he could locate where we were in relation to 65 and we were way off -- where was this detour taking us? We pulled off the road and stopped at the first thing that would be able to give us directions. A lady at a hotel gave us directions to get us back on 65. It was country cornfield back roads for the next couple of hours. I will not bore you with the details of us being almost killed twice (people in Indiana can not drive, nor do any of the street lights actually work), not knowing where to actually turn to enter the expressway, and not fully understanding why we were driving west when we needed to be going east. We finally made it back on to 65, just in enough time for my gas light to flip on. Now if I was with Becca and we were driving to Naz like the good ole days, I may have chanced it, but who knew what else was going to get thrown at us, so we decided to get gas right away. The only good part about Indiana is the cheap gas. I filled my tank for a whopping $29 (awesome)! Getting back on the expressway was another story. There were no signs and no entrance back on. We ended up in another small town and asked a guy at the gas station how to get back on to 65, he gave me directions, but didn't seem sure, so I didn't want to chance it. We drove through a Taco Bell drive thru (there are A LOT of Taco Bell/KFCs in Indiana) to confirm directions, where the guy actually shut the window in our faces! Luckily, there was a nice, although odd looking white/blond haired teenager that gave us directions. At last, 65 was ours and we were almost there. It turns out, we still had 47 miles to go! And just about then we realized there is a time difference and we are actually an hour ahead now. We arrived at the hotel at 2am (Indiana time - ugh) and tried to check in (the computers were down), so we waited and they gave us keys finally! Keys to a bed -- hooray! We weighed our options multiple times -- should we try to run this beast on only 2½ hours of sleep? Are we nuts for trying to do this? Why did we drive all the way to Indianapolis if we aren't going to do this? In the end, our sleepiness and some would say our better judgment decided to sleep and not run.
Overall message: We didn't run "the halfer". We were pissed most of the weekend.
I am writing this lovely email to all of you, so I do not have to re-tell my depressing story over and over again, although some of you have already heard it. Enjoy.
Friday morning: It was the weekend of "the halfer"! Finally, it was here. I just had to make it through the day and I would be golden. I began my morning with a nice bike commute to work, a healthy breakfast, and lots and lots of water. I was hydrating myself all day and taking one too many trips (if you ask me) to the bathroom.
Friday mid-morning: I was snacking on some amazing pumpkin seeds and I felt a funny sensation in my mouth (more specifically, the top back corner). I didn't think much of it since I had been having dental issues for some time now. I carry on with my work and can literally envision myself crossing the finish line.
Friday afternoon: I have just received confirmation from Jim that I can leave work early! I settled in to read some news and enjoy my chicken and rice soup and BAM...half of my molar is no longer attached to my mouth! There was no pain (thank God!), but I was quite concerned. I actually had a small meltdown at work -- tears and all. I was so fearful that this would ruin my chance to complete the half marathon. I had been training for so long and I didn't want this tooth thing to ruin it. I called my dentist and he said to come in on Monday and he would put a cap/replacement on it. Luckily, the tooth I cracked was the one that I need to get a root canal (fun!) on and the nerves were dead already so again, no pain.
Friday evening: I got home from work, packed, changed into comfy road trip clothes, charged my camera battery, etc. Time is slowly ticking away while I wait for Jamie to arrive. In the meantime, I cook dinner, eat, clean the apartment, make a phone call. Jamie finally arrives after over two hours of sitting in traffic. She eats and we jet out pretty quickly. There is not much traffic so both Jamie and I were pretty thrilled. We realized that I have forgotten my camera battery just as we reach the Indiana border and my heart sinks as I realize I will not be able to document this amazing weekend. We saw a sign that said 65 (the main expressway we are supposed to take according to google map) is closed! Ahh!! We followed detour signs for quite sometime, but they started fading, fewer and fewer signs and then, there were no longer any signs and I am on pitch black road in the middle of Indiana. Just for the record, Indiana does a very poor job of posting signs and reassuring its' drivers. I called Ross to see if he could locate where we were in relation to 65 and we were way off -- where was this detour taking us? We pulled off the road and stopped at the first thing that would be able to give us directions. A lady at a hotel gave us directions to get us back on 65. It was country cornfield back roads for the next couple of hours. I will not bore you with the details of us being almost killed twice (people in Indiana can not drive, nor do any of the street lights actually work), not knowing where to actually turn to enter the expressway, and not fully understanding why we were driving west when we needed to be going east. We finally made it back on to 65, just in enough time for my gas light to flip on. Now if I was with Becca and we were driving to Naz like the good ole days, I may have chanced it, but who knew what else was going to get thrown at us, so we decided to get gas right away. The only good part about Indiana is the cheap gas. I filled my tank for a whopping $29 (awesome)! Getting back on the expressway was another story. There were no signs and no entrance back on. We ended up in another small town and asked a guy at the gas station how to get back on to 65, he gave me directions, but didn't seem sure, so I didn't want to chance it. We drove through a Taco Bell drive thru (there are A LOT of Taco Bell/KFCs in Indiana) to confirm directions, where the guy actually shut the window in our faces! Luckily, there was a nice, although odd looking white/blond haired teenager that gave us directions. At last, 65 was ours and we were almost there. It turns out, we still had 47 miles to go! And just about then we realized there is a time difference and we are actually an hour ahead now. We arrived at the hotel at 2am (Indiana time - ugh) and tried to check in (the computers were down), so we waited and they gave us keys finally! Keys to a bed -- hooray! We weighed our options multiple times -- should we try to run this beast on only 2½ hours of sleep? Are we nuts for trying to do this? Why did we drive all the way to Indianapolis if we aren't going to do this? In the end, our sleepiness and some would say our better judgment decided to sleep and not run.
Overall message: We didn't run "the halfer". We were pissed most of the weekend.
the halfer - again
Jamie and I have both registered for the beast that is called the halfer. We will be running the 13.1 Marathon in Chicago (no time change!) on Sunday, June 7. So now it begins. The workouts, the long runs, and the highs and lows that come with the game of running. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to it this time around.
Since the debacle of the Indianapolis half marathon (or better known as 'the race we do not speak of'), Jamie and I have been discussing running a half marathon. It was a tough call (at least for me) to say yes, I will try this - again. It was a long journey last time with no destination. And I know it is about the journey, not the destination, but when you are planning on running a race, you plan for a destination, you plan for a finish line and there wasn't one - ever. However, I have decided, perhaps against my better judgment, that I will train for and run a half marathon.
Check out the website: www.131chicago.com.
These are pictures from last time we were training...we were pretty excited...
Since the debacle of the Indianapolis half marathon (or better known as 'the race we do not speak of'), Jamie and I have been discussing running a half marathon. It was a tough call (at least for me) to say yes, I will try this - again. It was a long journey last time with no destination. And I know it is about the journey, not the destination, but when you are planning on running a race, you plan for a destination, you plan for a finish line and there wasn't one - ever. However, I have decided, perhaps against my better judgment, that I will train for and run a half marathon.
Check out the website: www.131chicago.com.
These are pictures from last time we were training...we were pretty excited...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)