Bah Humbug

Bah Humbug. That is how I have felt about running lately. Bah Humbug, Blah, Whatever (or Whatevs since that seems to be the cool term now), Ugh, or any other apathetic term will sum it up.

I have been running, and sticking to the schedule for the most part, but I really haven't wanted to. It has been a half hearted effort and the bare minimum. Mediocre has been good enough for me these past few weeks.

I think part of it is the weather. It is really hard to get excited about a 10 mile run when it is -10 degrees outside and your choices are a treadmill, an 1/8 mile indoor concrete track, or a .40 mile padded indoor track that is 45 minutes away. I have come up with every excuse in the book to put off some of these long runs. In the end I have done them but not well.
I think the other part of my blahness is that my body just doesn't do well over 7 miles. You would think that with my body shape I would be made for running but that just isn't the case. Anything under 6 miles and I am fine but over that becomes a real physical struggle. My hips hurt, my feet hurt, I have IT Band issues, Hip Flexor issues, Plantar Fasciitis, and lower back pain. I feel like I am always taping, stretching, and strengthening just to stay ahead of the issues.

My countdown clock says 26 more days until the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and I have such mixed feelings about the race. I am very excited to go to Disney, to run in the park, to run with Chris again, and to experience what is sure to be an awesome time. On the other hand I am just ready for it to be over with.

It really stinks and I hate feeling this way. I'd really like to have the running warm fuzzies again.

HM Training - Week 8 Day 3

HM Training - W8, D3. Run 7 miles at 2 minutes slower than 5k speed

It was cold with 20 mph winds so I was forced to run inside. I couldn't face the Dreadmill and didnt have time to drive to the base so I went to the indoor track at the Community Center. The facility is fantastic but  track is only 1/8 of a mile.

8 times around for 1 mile x 7 miles = 56 mind numbing laps. I also had to run super slow so I was there forever going round, and round, and round..

I'm still dizzy and leaning to the left.

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Turkey Trot 5k

A week and a half ago (Where has the time gone? I knew I was late in writing this but not a week and a half late!) I ran in the Turkey Trot 5k at the Common Ground Community Center.

 

Holy hill (s) running man!

The course was pretty nice, except for the monster hill on the way back. I was running in a group of people when we started down the hill in the beginning of the race. One lady said "Hey, this is nice to run downhill. I am going to do great!" Not really thinking I said "Yeah, but we have to run UP the hill on the way back". Boy, if looks could kill!

There were quite a few people, they allowed you to wait inside for the start, and there were plenty of bagels and drinks. It was nice to see a policeman on the course since it wasn't closed, even if it was mostly in a neighborhood. The start was well done but the ending and after was quite strange. 

There was no time clock, just two people with stop watches. One for the girls and one for the boys. The finish line even had two lanes. One for the girls and one for the boys. The person with the stop watch called out your number and time as you crossed and someone with a clip board wrote it all down. 

I have been to a race without a time clock but never have I seen the finish line separated and then even the results totally separate. The results were only by age group and on two sheets of paper. One for the girls and one for the boys. Even as addicted to numbers as I am, I dont have the effort to take all the times and figure out where I am overall and female. 

But I do know that I was 11th of 17 for my age group and I got a PR! WOOT!  

32:19!

Boy was I shocked when I realized that my PR was by 1 minute and 36 seconds! I had only run once that week and it was my 4th consecutive weekend to run a race. I thought for sure I was getting close to burn out with all that racing. There was also that aforementioned hill that I had to walk quite a bit of and the fact that I was by myself without Chris pushing me. 

Chris was out of town and Addison was with a babysitter so this was the first time I was completely by myself. It was a bit strange not to see my family at some point during the race. I realized how much I like having them there.. even if I have to listen to the complaining about the early morning get ups!

I wasn't totally alone though..I did meet Monica (who had found this blog before the race) and her husband. They were super nice and great fun to hang out with before and after the race.  It was her first 5k and she did fantastic! ..and smoked me by about 5 minutes. Good job to her! I hope to run with them again sometime.

Taken after I got home from the race. Got to love a 6 year old with a camera.

Halloween 5k

Addison and I were supposed to run in the Monster Dash and Little Goblins run at Valas Pumpkin Patch last weekend but we were out of town for Grandma Greats funeral. I heard it was a great race but challenging due to the hills. I would be interested to see the elevation of the race since I know how tired I am after spending the day at Valas.
Will, the President of Team Nebraska, was kind enough to save our tee shirts for us so we still have a memento.

We found a Halloween 5k in Illinois while we were there. The course had a pretty big hill with a few baby hills so I wasn't all that sure about doing it. I really was looking for a super flat 5k to get a new PR. Race season is coming to a close and I really wanted to get a great time to make up for not pushing it on the last 5k I did. Knowing me and hills, I didn't think I would do all that well on this course.  My training plan called for me to run 5k anyway so Chris and I decided to do it and see what happened.

There were no kids events so it was just me and Chris. My Fickle Fan Club ditched the race for a warmer environment so there are no photos for this one.

It was pretty cold so I wore my new Nike half zip jacket over another compression top. Apparently I get really hot when running and half way through started to overheat and then tried to take the jacket off while running. We were making good time so I didn't want to slow down to do it. Besides, how hard could it be to take off a top while running?
 For me.. HARD. Part of the problem is that I had put my Garmin on over the sleeve and then forgot that fact when I was trying to get the top off. I got it over my head, one arm out and then got stuck. To make matters worse the jacket had thumb holes, which I also forgot about. To make maters even worse, my racing numbers were pinned to the front of the jacket and partially to my shirt.I was determined to get it off and not to slow down.

But have you ever tried to run with your vision partially blocked by a thick jacket, your thumb bent backwards, your hand tied up across your body unable to swing, layers pinned together, all while going up hill?
Chris said I looked like someone in a straight jacket who is running from the mental ward while being stung by bees. Harsh.. but yet so true.

 I picked someone to keep up with and  try to pass and was able to do so. We were a good pace behind her most of the way and only caught up at the end when we had to sprint up the hill to the finish line. By the way.. steep uphill finish lines are just plain cruel.

My time to beat was 34:14. With the hills and Jacket Drama I knew it would be close, if not a little over my PR. Chris knew our time and was really pushing me up the hill to the finish line. Imagine my surprise to see my official time of 33:55!
I haven't been able to find the results on line but the race director told me that we were 60 and 61 of 135. I don't know how that falls out for my age group or women but I will be interested to see. Regardless, I'll take a 19 second PR any day!

Swamp Stomp Cross Country 8k

This screen shot sums up the 8k XC race. 270 feet of elevation gain. At one point I thought I was mountain climbing. Holy Hills Running man!

Team Nebraska, the competitive elites who go to championship events, hosted this run. Needless to say I am not elite, not semi elite, and not even .00000001 elite.

To prove my uber non eliteness,  I came in dead last in my age group and 2nd to dead last overall. I was leading the back of the pack right from the start.

Could I be any more ungraceful?

Addison had a great time in the Gator Gallop. She ran this race last year and it was fun to see her run it again. I have to give Team Nebraska props for putting on awesome kids races. All kids get really nice finisher medals, tee shirts, and a huge fuss made over them. It is great to watch how excited they are about running. Start them early!

Even with being 2nd to last overall I still got an 8k PR with a time of 59:01
I probably could have been a minute or two faster but at the end I had to pee, badly, and was afraid to run too much. Last thing I wanted to do was come in last with the added bonus of wetting my pants. Since no one was around I thought about going in the bushes but just couldn't bring myself to do it.

All things considered, I am pleased with the time.

Catching Up

Life has gotten in the way.. I am still running but have not had time to blog about it. Chris's Grandmother died so we traveled to Illinois last week and then my Father had a medical emergency that took up a lot of time (Ever tried to get someone from Calgary, Canada to Omaha, NE without them being able to rent a car or fly in an airplane.. and have ER visits along the way??)

In order to catch up quickly I am going to combine some posts.
HM Training - W5 D3 - 3.5 miles
HM Training - W5 D4 - Swamp Stomp 8k XC. New 8k PR! WOOT!
HM Training - W6 D1 - Skipped pool running
HM Training - W6 D2 - Traveling

HM Training - W6 D3 - 5 mile run with Chris in Illinois. Our route makes me giggle
HM Training - W6 D4 - DH Homes Halloween 5k in Illinois.. New PR of 33:55. WOOT!
HM Training - W7 D1 - Traveling, skipped pool
HM Training - W7 D2 - 3 mile run.

Race reports and photos coming soon.

Race to the Holland 5k results

Time: 34:14  - A new PR!

51/95 Overall

12/43 Women

1/4 Age Group

Can you believe? A PR and 1st in my age group! I could not believe it when I saw that I was 1st. Granted, there were only 4 of us and only 95 people overall but whatever! 

1st is 1st!

HM Training - Week 5 Day 2

W5, D2 - Run 5k

34:08 which is my best 5k time ever! Is it considered a PR if it is a training run and not at an actual race?

Race to the Holland 5k Halloween run

I was supposed to wear the tutu but Addison wanted to wear it more than I did.

What a great race! Usually inaugural races have all kind of issues and lots of complaints. But I have to say this one was FANTASTIC! From the closed course, police escorts, the scenic view across the bridge, water stations, clear instructions, separate start times for the 10k, 5k, and walkers, lots of indoor bathrooms,  to the MEDALS, I would say it is one of the better races I have been to. Kudos to them!

I felt great, had no aches and pains, was pretty strong and fast (for me.. its all relative). I had watch issues once again - hit stop instead of lap at mile 1 and didnt notice until about .30 later - so I dont know my time yet. From glancing over the time keepers shoulder (did you know this really ticks them off?) it should be 34:14.

A PR by 2 seconds! Woot!

But dang it! I absolutely could have pushed it and run harder. I had a lot left in the tank at the end. I just didn't know how well I was doing and still have the fear of bonking at the end. That is something I really need to get over. Same with not sprinting at the end. It just never occurs me to go for it once I have the finish line in site. I am happy with my time and the way I felt but had I pushed it I might could have gotten into the 33s.

But I am healthy, happy, and have a new medal and that's what counts, right?

HM Training - Week 4 Day 3

W4, D3 - Run 40 minutes.

My Garmin froze right at the start so I have no idea how far I ran. I did have my Galloway timer so I was still able to run the cycles and know my time. I was at the school track and tried to keep up with the laps but that went out the window at about lap 8. Based on how I felt running and my previous times I think it was about 3.75 miles, give or take a bit.

I really liked running on the track because it felt so much better on my knees and joints. It didn't feel as jaring and it was an even surface. It drives me nutty that all of the sidewalks in Omaha seem to be slanted and the roads have terrible crowns to them. We have these beautiful trails and miles of running paths.. that all slant to one side. I think that is a major contributor to my IT issues.

The down side to the track is that I can see where I am going and how much farther I have to go  so it is too easy for me to get all mental about the distance/speed/time/effort/how much more part of it. I need a course where I can't see how far I have been or how far I have left to go.

I guess for me, ignorance is bliss.

Running bag or clown car?

I noticed my running bag was getting a bit heavy so I decided to see what all was in there. I have a habit of picking up things and saving them just in case I ever need them.

Because you one day may need 4 tubes of chapstick, a cut in half straw, and 50 band aids, right?

Who knew you could get this much stuff in one bag? And all of that is only in the main compartment since I don't use the side pockets. It's also not including clothes.
Stuff just kept coming out..and out.. and out..





My normal sized running bag. In purple, of course.




My running bag and all the junk in it!

A bathing suit
2 washcloths
A pair of running shoes that I don't wear
LSU hat
2 wet wipes
A refillable bottle
A bottle of water
A thing of sanitizer
Pair of toe socks
Hairbrush
Instant clod pack
2 IT Band straps
1 knee strap
Chris's sunglasses and bag they go in
4 travel sized Biofreeze
4 peppermints
3 Ginger candies
2 fruit roll ups
A cut in half straw
1 hot pack
2 cold packs
Coconut water with mango
50 band aids
2 bags of peppermint tea
Spi belt
A thing that blinks at night
A first aid kit (like the 50 band aids weren't enough)
4 rubber bands
1 pair of gloves
2 Kashi pumpkin spice bars
A package of pretzels
A package of German gummy bears
A tennis ball
1 strawberry Shotblok
1 Clif fruit chew
Moleskin
Jeff Galloway running book ( cause when I am running I might need to read about running)
Toggles
40 safety pins
Hair clip
Eye drops
4 tubes of chapstick
2 packs of sport beans
2 tubes of natural pain relief cream
An ankle brace
Punch card for the swimming pool

All I need is a couple of Clowns to climb out of my bag and I'll be set!

Speaking of Jeff Galloway..

Me and Jeff Gallway at his Omaha Marathon running clinic. He is an Olympian and I look slightly high.


If you ever have a chance to hear him speak or to attend one of his seminars I highly recommend that you do. He is very interesting and his clinics sum it all up for you. Its one thing to read about his methods and another to hear him explain in person. I was able to ask a lot of questions and talk to him afterwards.
I even got him to sign one of his books.

I am such a groupie.

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And so it begins... again.

I started training for another half marathon a few weeks ago. I feel so much better physically and mentally about it this time and am determined to do it the right way. I have run 6 miles a few times the past few weeks and am happy to say that I don't have any pain and I am getting faster. Thanks Jeff Galloway!

I am following his plan and adding a day of deep water pool running. Three days a week plus a pool day is manageable for me. I think the other plan of 5 days of running was just too much on my body and too much with my schedule. There are a few days of intervals in there to give it a bit of a challenge.

Today was Week 3 Day 4 - long run and I ran 6 miles. On your long run days you are supposed to run at least 2 minutes per mile slower than your normal pace, more if it is warm out. Do you know how hard it is to run that slow? I am a 10:30 to 11:00 minute miler so I had to run at 12:30 to 13:00 minutes, plus 30 seconds to 1 minute more because it was about 75 degrees out. That put me at running a 14 minute mile. Heck I walk that fast on my walking segments! I looked pretty funny out there going so slow. But I have to admit that it did work. I was not out of breath, had no pain, and felt like I could have kept on going. I actually look forward to long runs now.

Crazy.

Chicken Wings

Well. I am now a proud member of the "Super Bad Race Photos Club".

Seriously. I have looked through hundreds of professional race photos and all of them have the same thing in common - they are bad. Really bad in some cases. I swear the photographers must go to a class that teaches them how to get the runners in the worst position.. mouth wide open or in a grimace, looking like you are about to pass out, gravity pulling you down, and in my case chicken wings flying.
 

Mile 5.5. I am not sure what Chris is doing. Thats the gesture I use when yelling at cars to slow down. Maybe he is telling the photographer that we are running slow.
Note to self - A running jacket tied around your waist does nothing to enhance your figure when running.

Chris looks way too happy and springy here for having just run the longest distance in his life.

Chicken Wings flying, pasty legs, and I look like my brother. Not a good combo.

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Omaha Marathon - 10k

Hand crafter finisher medals. They were given to us at the finish line by Marines in full dress uniforms. Pretty cool!

Apparently I have short term memory loss when it comes to races. During the race I have all these observations and thoughts that I want to write about but then forget it all once I get home. Some races I cant even remember the course. This one was like that.. I remember all the people at the start, mile 3 when they yelled out our time and I thought we were doing pretty good, runners stopping to high five a group of cute little girls with cow bells, and Chris's never ending chatter.

6.2 miles of Chris yakking away.

If you know Chris you know that he rarely talks, even to me, so the never ending stream of him talking while running is quite funny. I thought it might stop after 3 miles since he has never run farther than that but even a 10k couldn't slow him down.

But really I am not complaining. It does help, it does push me, and it is really nice to run with him. Ill miss him in my upcoming races.

There was one runner that stuck with me because she was wearing a customized garbage bag with her numbers pinned on the front. She had cut the arm holes into a short sleeve shirt, it was fitted through the body, and even longer in the tail. It really was awesome except for the swishing... swish, swish , swish, swish is all you could hear within a 50 foot radius of her. The swishing did help me have a fast mile. I had to get away from it!

The two photos above are all I have of the race since my fan club abandoned me due to the 5:30 am departure time.  Pfft. Fickle bunch, aren't they?

The course had some hills and inclines, I had watch issues at the start that caused us to walk until I fixed it, and the fist mile was crazy crowded so I was slower than I wanted to be. I might have been able to beat my 10k PR with out all of that.
But all things considered, I am happy with my time. It was fun and a good race all around.

Shoreline Classic 5k Results

Chip time 35:55

320/435 Overall

169/250 Women

28/40 Age Group

The hills and humidity got me. I knew I was going to be slow but was hoping to be a bit faster, especially after my PR last race.

But I could have been first if I was in the 60-64 age group.;) Oh well.. On to another race.

Shoreline Classic 5k

Sunday Chris, Addison, and I all ran in the Shoreline Classic in Decatur, IL. We were in Illinois for a wedding the night before so of course I looked for a race in the area.. Totally addicted, I am.
Chris and I did the 5k and Addison ran in the Mighty Tot Trot.

It was storming on our drive from Springfield to Decatur and cold too. I didn't have high hopes that it was going to clear but I was running no matter what the weather. There were finisher medals! Ill run in blizzards for the bling.

The course was a nice one but had some unexpected hills. It went along the lakeshore and then through a cute neighborhood. Several people were in their front yards, sitting in lawn chairs, yelling encouragement as we ran by. That was nice and did help, especially on the hilly sections. Between the not at all flat course and the super high humidity my lungs/asthma were not having a good day.

But it was fun to run with Chris again. Especially since he attempted to have more positive reinforcement this time and I didnt threaten to duct tape his mouth like I did last time

About half way through the race we picked someone that we wanted to beat and made that the goal for the rest of the race. She was wearing pink, easy to keep an eye on, and was moving quite a bit faster than us. At one point we lost sight of her but we found her again at a hill and we managed to cut some distance. I guess my halfhearted attempts at hill training had paid off a little bit.

With the finish line in sight she kicked it into gear. Ugh. So we did too and clearly I did not learn my lesson from the last time I ran too fast. And clearly I forgot about the high humidity. My lungs were on fire, I was seeing spots, and I wasnt quite sure I was going to make it to the finish trying to run that fast.
Whatever, I was just determined that Pinkie was not going to beat us.

And she didnt! We came in about 5 seconds in front of her. Woot! But I'll be feeling it later..





Waiting to run..


Where's running Waldo?



After..



My fans. Still just two of them.



Truckin'

Location:Decatur, IL

Officially 3rd place in my age group..

Well, according to the web site, I did indeed place 3rd in my age group. I am not sure why one list shows one age grouping and another shows something else.. but I am going with the one where I am 3rd! Wooo Hooo!


It was not chipped timed so according to my watch and Chriss watch my time was actually 34:16.


All of the fast people must have been running in the 10k. ;)

Make a Wish 5k results

Corey:
74/174 overall
42/112 women
9/32 age group

Chris:
73/174 overall
32/62 men
7/18 age group

Dave:
110/174 overall
42/62 men
4/7 age group

I think we all did pretty well.. but I do have to admit that I am a bit miffed. Most races use the standard age groups of 5s. So in most races I am in the 35-39 age group, once in the 30-39 group. For whatever reason MaW had huge age groups and I was in the 36 to 49 one. I have no idea why but a lot of the racers thought it was weird.
I was 9 of 32 in this age group but would have been 3rd if the age group had been normal.

3rd!!

I would have gotten an age group medal!! Do you know how far fetched it is that this will ever happen again?? Just my luck!!

3rd!

*sigh*

Running Man and a new new PR!

I was finally able to talk Chris into running a 5k race with me and we had a really good time.

Although his idea of motivation and mine are quite different. His idea is to yell things like "Really? Are you going to let that guy with a double stroller and a dog pass you? Run faster!" I was hoping for a more subtle approach like "Good job Honey. Keep going!" LOL

Whatever motivation he wants to give me I will gladly take since I got a new PR.. of 57 seconds! That's almost one whole minute faster! I came in at 34:16!

That's 57 seconds off my last run PR that was 18 seconds faster than my previous PR. Its also 4+ minutes faster than my time from the Boxer 5k 2 weeks ago.

Fantastic!

My Mom and Dave were visiting again so Dave walked the 5k and he also got a new best time by 3 or 4 minutes. Since this was Chris's first race he also got a PR. And my Mom and Addison were at the right finish line this time so I would say it was a great day for all of us!

My socks rock! And Chris looks like a Mizzou bumble bee.




Ready to go..





Lots of people





At about 1.5 miles




My fans. All 2 of them.




Chris looking good. Me, not so much.




Determined not to get passed on the final stretch




This is what happens when you run faster than your body can run.




Dave bringing it home




We survived and all had new best times. Notice I'm not rocking the socks anymore.. They died on me at 2.5 miles. But I love 'em anyway.