Monday Brain Exchange Week 31- Race Reports

Since links are still kind of an issue, I have decided to link everyone who has participated in my M.B.E recently:  Kandi, Andrea, Kim, Darlene, Kim, Kera, Steve, Kitzzy, Whitney.  If I missed you, please let me know!!!

Every Monday, at the end of the current weeks M.B.E answer, I will post a question for the following week.  This way you can cue your post for Monday if you wish.  If Monday doesn’t work for you, you can still play along any day of the week that works best. If you want to play along, all you have to do is post the question and your answer on your own blog.  Link your post to my blog so that I know you have participated, and in the following weeks post, I will link all the participant blogs from the prior week.

This Weeks Topic:  Race Reports

This Weeks Question: Do you enjoy writing your race reports?  Do you use them later for reference?

 I love writing race reports!  Actually, I write them in my head as I am racing most of the time.  For one, it keeps me focused on something and for two, it gives me something to push harder for- race reports, when you think about it, are just another way to stay accountable!  And they are even better for reflecting on later.  I always reference my reports for repeat races.  I like to see where I want to make changes and what I can do differently.  Re-reading reports helps me to remember what did work and what did not work.  I think even if I wasn’t blogging, I would keep reports of some nature.

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Next Weeks Topic:  Building Mileage

Next Weeks Question:  Regardless of the distance you train for, or whether it be road racing or triathlon, training is time consuming.  What are your tricks for fitting all your training into your schedule?  How do you balance family, friends, work and training?

Post Race Thoughts And Onelittletrigirl Unplugged.

Hello interwebs.

I thought I might have a delayed reaction to not meeting my goal at the 8K last weekend.  The good news is that didn’t happen.  There is no bad news. 🙂  I am really truly happy with my effort out there- I pushed hard, left it on the course and did the best I could.  Like I said, just because my best wasn’t my best time, doesn’t mean I didn’t give it my all.  For my first 2011 showing, I am proud.  And I think it says a lot about where I am going with my running in 2011.

Oh and I managed to get a pretty good shot snapped during the race- woo-hoo!

Since returning from VA on Sunday, my training has gone awesome!  Usually post race, I struggle with the first few workouts but this week, everything from my swims to my lifting to my running has been great.

I gave myself Monday off to recoup from all the driving I did (11.5 hours in less than 3 days!) and then first thing Tuesday morning I was in the pool.  I lifted first and I have been working with some new weights and doing some new routines and finding that for the first time ever, I like lifting.  I think also, for the first time, I am really seeing results.  Ever notice how seeing results makes you want to do more of what you ae doing?  Yeah, I have that going on.  I swear my arms and back have never looked this good!  As for my swimming, I have been sticking to pure freestyle for the time being while I adjust to being back in the water after over six months off from the pool.  Next week though, I will start incorporating my swim workouts.  I am the swimmer in a relay tri the first weekend in June and it’s a good team.  My friend Shauna is the biker and she is amazing, as is my friend Lisa who will be doing the run leg of the race.  We are hellbent on hitting that podium!  Yeah, no pressure there, right!?!?

When it comes to my running, this is the best start to a year, and training schedule, I have had since I started racing.  However, with that said, I cannot get the notion that I will get injured out of my head.  It still amazes me how much of what we do is mental!  I thought about this a lot on my run yesterday morning.  Right now, I am only running short distances while I work my mileage up, but I know that if I cannot get rid of this fear it will start to mentally screw with me.  I just can’t let it go…for two years in a row, I started the year out hurt.  Starting over.  I am so afraid to have to start over again…I am really afraid that for the third time in a row, the marathon will elude me.  And I want it so bad!

In other news…I’ll be a little MIA this weekend.  I have already been unplugged from Facebook since last night (which if you know me or are my FB friend, you know how hard this is for me) and as of tomorrow morning I will be unplugging from blogging until my MBE post goes up on Monday.  To be more precise, I will be unplugging from the internet all together until Monday morning.  This weekend R2 and I are heading into the city.  Philly, that is.  (For those who don’t know, the “city” is Philly for those in South NJ.  For those in North NJ, the “city” is NYC.)  It’s no special occasion; we simply just wanted some time together.  Between our schedules (read: my schedule) we don’t get to spend a lot of time at once together.  But this weekend, we are  unplugging.  After my run Saturday morning we will be heading into Philly for a day of sightseeing (he has only been once and I look forward to being a tour guide!) and then later dinner at the Melting Pot and later to check out some of my favorite Irish pubs in the city.  All of that is going to be amazing fun but I really just cannot wait to sleep in- neither of us have anywhere to be and we can just sleep in!  Ahhh…the little things.  Good food, great city, sleeping in…oh, and my pretty awesome boyfriend too!

Lastly…I want to give a shout out to my friend Michele.  You would remember her from Shamrock last year; we went down together and she ran the half.  This weekend she is running her first Marathon, the Nations Marathon!  She has trained so hard…really given this her everything, and I just want to wish her the best.  Please send some great racing vibes to her for this weekend!!

Oh, and PS- LATER DUKE FANS!!!!!!!

Shamrock 8K Race Report

First race of 2011 is in the books!

I headed down on Friday to lovely Virginia Beach- had a fairly uneventful drive and got there about 2pm.  The expo seemed smaller to me this year than last and we really didn’t spend too much time there.  I wanted to get some CEP’s but they weren’t there so that was the only real bummer for me. That  night, her cousins (we stayed at their house right off the beach) made a fabulous dinner of Alfredo and Salmon.  Ah-mazing.  And then it was off to bed.

Pre-Race:  Up and at em by 5:30 and to the race by 6:15.  We got a fabulous parking space which was nice because it was raining. Ugh. I don’t so much mind running in rain, but I very much mind standing around in it.  Once we got down to 31st street where the start line was, we stayed out of the wind/rain at the local hotel.  Right before they started lining us up, the rain stopped.  But the wind…well, that would be a whole nother story!

Race: Nicole and I started off together at a comfortable pace just under 10 minute miles.  Everything felt good.  I was really just cruising…and at a pace slightly faster than I am used to for starting out.  It felt good, so I kept up with it.  The first mile flew by.  As did the second mile.  As I came into the third mile I knew I needed to slow it down- Nicole went ahead and I kept steady at about a 10minute mile.  I came into the 5k mark at a little over 29 minutes.  This was good!  It was all good.  Until I got to the boardwalk.  Mile 4 was a complete fail.  The wind was horrible- sand in my eye (even with my glasses on), wind pounding me in the face, everyone trying to run on the left so as not be hit by the sand…crowded, annoying, fail!  With that said, I did not let it get me down- I knew I had a bad mile, but I also knew I could still make my goal of under 50:00.  I pushed so hard.  Dug deep. Thought positive. I did everything I could.  I left it all out there in mile 5.  And I came in at 51:13.  1 minute and 13 seconds over my goal. 

Breakdown:

Mile 1- 9:44

Mile 2- 19:38

Mile 3- 29:35

Mile 4- 41:07

Mile 5- 51:13

Overall, I am happy with my performance.  So I didn’t make my goal.  So that sucks.  But the race was hard fought.  And this time last year, I was hardly even running.  This was my first race of 2011′ my first race since November of 2010.  At the end of the day, I gave it all I had.  It wasn’t my best showing, but it was my best effort.

Stats:

Division- 252/719

Gender- 1384/4867

Overall- 2994/7675

Post-Race:  Met up with Nicole (she ran 47:02!) and headed to grab our post race adult beverages.  Yum!  Snacked, listened to some music and then grabbed lunch at a local place called TapHouse.  Awesome lunch!  Then headed home and took a nap before going out on the town that night. 

It was a good trip and I am glad I went, but I was exhausted by the time I got home on Sunday night.  I drove right to R2’s house and stayed there so I didn’t even unpack until after I got home from work yesterday!  I woke up today, swam and tonight I work!  Training is in full swing; I feel great but I am tired! I need a vacation from the vacations I have been taking!!! 

And of course…photos:

 

Monday Brain Exchange Week 30- Your First Kicks

Still having link issues- urrrg!  The good news is- MBE has made it 30 weeks!!!

Every Monday, at the end of the current weeks M.B.E answer, I will post a question for the following week.  This way you can cue your post for Monday if you wish.  If Monday doesn’t work for you, you can still play along any day of the week that works best. If you want to play along, all you have to do is post the question and your answer on your own blog.  Link your post to my blog so that I know you have participated, and in the following weeks post, I will link all the participant blogs from the prior week.

This Weeks Topic: Your First Kicks

This Weeks Question: All runners have a connection to their shoes.  Tell the story behind how you came to love the kicks you’re in- what were your first shoes?  What do you wear now?  Do you stick to one shoe or change it up?

Like most people, when I first started running, I wore basic running shoes.  I am pretty sure they were New Balance.  I was having all kinds of trouble to my shins/calves so on a recommendation from my Uncle, I went to the local running store.

And that is where the Brooks Adrenalines and I fell in love.

I tried on at least three pairs that day…I didn’t really like any of them.  Then, the last pair they brought out, “good for overpronators” were the Brooks.  I had never even heard of Brooks.  I loved them the second I had them on- and haven’t wavered since because any time I do try on a different pair of shoes, I always come back to the Brooks.  And always the Adrenalines.

I usually have two pairs rotating at all times.  One pair, the new ones, are always for race training, where as the old ones are for just wearing around or to the gym.  I usually change out my shoes every 350-400 miles or so, give or take.

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Next Weeks Topic:  Race Reports

Next Weeks Question: Do you enjoy writing your race reports?  Do you use them later for reference?

Up Next- First Race Of 2011

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

When I planned my race schedule for 2011, I was purposeful about waiting until I had some base-training before even thinking about racing.  The first plan was to race a half in March, but thinking that could be pushing it, I decided to keep it simple.  So, this weekend, my first race of 2011- a nice little 8K along with beaches of Virginia. 🙂  That’s right, I am headed back down to VA Beach! 

I really did want to claim redemption after last year, but the truth is, I really would just be pushing myself.  Right now, I have been following the 10% rule like it is my job and I have been really putting in some quality training.  The 8K simply fits better into where I am right now with my training.  And even though my runs have been good for the most part, I have no idea what to expect from this race.  My last 8K was only a few weeks after I was allowed to run again last year and I posted just over 50:00.  I would really like to break 50:00, so I have made 49:49 my goal for the race.  If I hit it, I do.  If not, I don’t.  Either way, the first race of 2011 will be in the books!

Two Sidenotes:

• This morning at the gym…with eight available ellipticals, the hairest man alive who was also sweating like a pig and breathing hard while talking on his cell phone…got on the machine right next to me.  This happens to me ALL.THE.TIME!  Why is it that people insist on getting on the machine right next to me when there are plenty others available?!?!  Ahh…life’s greatest mysteries.
• Today is the start of March Madness–> let the insanity begin.  My brackets are done and I am just waiting for 12:15 when it all begins to go down!  Let’s go UNC Tarheels ♥

30 Days Of Truth- Day 4

Day 4- Something you have to forgive someone for.

The truth is, at this point in my life, I don’t have anyone to forgive. 

I actually forgive pretty easily.  It wasn’t always like that; I used to be a serious grudge holding bitch.  But at some point, I just gave in.  It is simply easier to forgive.  It doesn’t mean what they did is okay or that I will soon forget those acts.  And it certainly doesn’t mean I want them in my life.  And that’s just it actually; it comes down to this- not forgiving people who aren’t a part of my life anymore only seems to hurt myself.  I just don’t have the energy for the anger that not forgiving people causes me. And I am not in a place in my life where I want to use space in my heart for resentment and ill feelings.    

If you think I have something to forgive you for, you can rest assured I already have.

Day 1–> Something you hate about yourself

Day 2–> Something you love about yourself

Day 3–> Something you have to forgive yourself for

Monday Brain Exchange Week 29- Music Montage

I am having a serious issue with links- for whatever reason, when you all link your questions, they are not ping-ing back to me.  Last week the only one I got was from Darlene.  I’m working on trying to figure out why they are coming back to me, but for this week and until I figure it out, just let me know in comments that you participated and I’ll make sure to credit you.  Thanks 🙂

Every Monday, at the end of the current weeks M.B.E answer, I will post a question for the following week.  This way you can cue your post for Monday if you wish.  If Monday doesn’t work for you, you can still play along any day of the week that works best. If you want to play along, all you have to do is post the question and your answer on your own blog.  Link your post to my blog so that I know you have participated, and in the following weeks post, I will link all the participant blogs from the prior week.

This Weeks Topic: Music Montage

This Weeks Question: If you had a soundtrack for your training and racing, what songs would appear on it?

I listen to so many different songs when I work out, I wouldn’t even know where to begin.  I like everything from country, to 80’s pop to hip hop depending on what workout I am doing and what mood I am in at the time.  Instead of listing all my songs, which would take forever and possibly bore you out of your skull, I shuffled my Ipod and chose the first 10 that came up.

Pink- So what

Eminem- Soldier

Chevelle- Send the pain below

Black Eyed Peas- Boom Boom Pow

Paramore- Decode

DJ Khaled- All I do is win

Sugarland- Down in the Mississippi

Tom Petty- American Girl

Black Eyed Peas- Let the beat rock

All American Rejects- Move along

I am currently working on putting together another new playlist for marathon training- and I want some new tunes to add to the mix.  Even if you don’t participate in MBE, let me know your favorites in the comments below!

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Next Weeks Topic: Your First Kicks

Next Weeks Question: All runners have a connection to their shoes.  Tell the story behind how you came to love the kicks you’re in- what were your first shoes?  What do you wear now?  Do you stick to one shoe or change it up?

ABC’s Of Onelittletrigirl

I have really loved reading all the ABC posts.  And everyone is doing it. 

<sigh> I am such a follower*.

A) Age: I’m 29.  I can still say “in my twenties” for another 4 months!
(B) Bed Size: Queen.  I love love love my bed. 
(C) Chore You Hate: Folding Laundry.  I don’t mind washing it.  But I would prefer to leave it all in the dryer and pick from there.  I LOATHE folding!
(D) Dogs? I like dogs, and want them when I have a house, but know it is unfair to keep one in my condo…especially since I am home less than a few hours a day/night.
(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Brushing my teeth.  First thing I do after I pee even if I plan to go back to sleep.
(F) Favorite Color: Lilac purple.  And all blue.
(G) Gold or Silver? Either. And I wear both.  I am a rebel!
(I) Instruments You Play: I am a hell of a tambourine girl.  In my next life…I’ll be the singer of a dive bar band. I even have the band name picked out.
(J) Job Title: Everyone’s bitch.  Not to be confused with my hobby of simply being a bitch.
(K) Kids: Been working on avoiding that for many years now.  In the future though…I’ll be an amazing mom.
(L) Live: New Jersey.  No, we don’t say Joisey. No, I do not watch the Jersey Shore. Yes, we have an attitude you won’t find anywhere else.  Jersey girls are the best girls ♥
(M) Mom’s Name: Janie
(N) Nicknames: A few.
(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? Had an exploratory surgery they took my appendix.  It was intense and I still remember it like it was yesterday. 
(P) Pet Peeve: I could be here all day with this.  Biggest- ice chomping, manner-less kids, and when people smell something and say “ew smell this” like I would want to smell the “ew” too!
(Q) Quote from a Movie: “In the immortal words of The Doors, ‘The time to hesitate is through.’ “- Empire Records
(R) Right or Left Handed? Right.
(S) Siblings: Half-Sister.  Emphasis on the half.
(T) Time You Wake Up? Gym mornings 5:15am.  Non-gym mornings 6:45am.  Weekends differ but usually never past 9am.
(U) Underwear: I refuse to give myself a wedgie all day every day.
(V) Vegetable You Dislike: Almost anything cooked.  Raw veggies though are my favorite!
What Makes You Run Late: Other people.  Or not having something to wear. Or checking “one last thing” on the computer.
(X) X-Rays You’ve Had Done: I have totally lost track.
(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Anything with chicken, buffalo dip and pasta salad.
(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: Penguins.  And Orangutans.  Santa never brought me either!

*Speaking of followers…thank you all for following me faithfully- and all your kind words and emails from yesterdays post.

Mean Girls (And Boys)

I almost shut down my blog a few weeks ago.

Not kidding.

Before I made a ridiculously rash decision though, I contacted a friend.  I really needed some perspective on how I was feeling and luckily she knew exactly what to say (and more)!  For quite a few months now, Jill and I have been forming quite the friendship.  We email fairly often and I know I can count on her to always make me feel better.  And she came through again!

I am not shutting down my blog.

But I am putting the whole thing out there so you all know why I would even consider such a thing.  And after I do, I’ll either be loved or vilified.  At the end of the day, I only need people in my life who need me in theirs!

A little while back, I received an email (I am nice enough not to say names) from a blogger that was rather harsh.  This struck me as odd for a few reasons: 1- I do not read this persons blog. 2- To my knowledge they did not read my blog. 3- I did nothing specifically to this person to precipitate this email. 

Basically, the email was in reference to a comment I had left on another blogger’s blog.  It was a random comment, wherein I was playing along with what seemed like a fun post.  It is true that most of the people commenting were ones I do not commonly converse with, but the blog itself was one I had been reading/commenting for quite a while.  It appears that I had missed the memo that some posts were to be commented on by only the “inner circle” of bloggers.  Hmmm…maybe a disclaimer would have helped!  Apparently, this person wanted to put me in my place and inform me that I am not part of the elite inner circle and that commenting on people’s blog posts that I don’t know about won’t get me in either.  (They of course did not use the term “elite inner circle” but it was implied that some people are “better” than others.)

You might be shaking your head thinking WTF.  I guessed that, because that was my exact same reaction.  Honestly, I was stunned.

First of all- I do not wish to be a part of the Elite Blogging Circle.  You all know who you are. You are the ones that started where we all started…but as you got bigger, you decided some people weren’t worth your time even if they were your “friends” beforehand.  You are the ones with 500+ followers- and you are so uber focused on that number.  You are the ones who never come around to blogs like mine unless there is a fun give-a-way or exchange.  You are the ones that only comment certain people.  And as it turns out, through emailing with a few people, I am learning that I am not the only one who has been the brunt of a mean email via the “elite” bloggers. 

Second of all- I am pretty sure that if others knew who this person was (or who the others were that I have heard about), they would either be totally shocked or not shocked at all…depending of course in what circle they roll in.

At any rate, that email caused me to reassess quite a bit.  I was trying to keep up with over 100 blogs on my reader.  Ridiculous. I don’t have that much time on my hands.  But I was trying to keep up- to keep up with blogs I shouldn’t even have been bothering with in the first place.  Yeah, that had to stop.  Even more ridiculous is that of the blogs I have stopped reading, I doubt half or more even realize.  And the most ridiculous of all, is that I almost let this idiot (yeah, I am sure you are reading…you ARE an idiot) keep me from blogging.  You almost won.  But that isn’t me.  You don’t get to win.  I will not let you, or anyone, control me.  This blog is staying whether I have three readers or three hundred readers.

The only other thing I will say about this…is that I appreciate my loyal readers.  Some of you have been with me from the very beginning.  And I hope you are for a long time because I do not plan to go anywhere!

Oh Yeah, It’s Mardi Gras

My body has NOT handled coming back from Florida well!  Or maybe I have just worn myself out.  Either way, I have been struggling with sinus issues and the cold from hell since early Saturday morning.  I finally gave in today and decided to stay home from work.  Plans include laying in bed, watching movies and catching up on blogs.  I am officially over 300 posts behind. WTF!  Oh, and maybe I will unpack from Florida finally too!

It always figures that when I get into a good groove with my working out, I get sick.  But honestly, I am happy to be getting it out of the way before the big time training hits.  Plus, if I had to be sick over any weekend, this past one was okay with me.  I didn’t have too much planned which is odd for me, and maybe it was for the best that I stayed in and rested.  I have a hard time with resting.  I never seem to be able to just do nothing.  The thing about resting is….resting means not working out.  Not working out makes me antsy.  I feel like I am losing everything I have worked so hard for in the last eight weeks.  After taking the end of 2010 off, I came back with a vengeance.  I am finally getting to a point where I look at myself and think “Damn…the work is paying off” and I am so afraid I will lose all of that.  I haven’t been able to do a workout since Saturday!  I am grappling with the idea that I will have to start over!  And I feel like the past two years have been a series of starting overs!  Even today, after my benedryl coma was over this morning, I got up and did laundry.  And since writing that first paragraph, three hours ago, I did finally unpack from Florida.  And I won’t lie…I had planned to run…but the simple of act of getting ready to run wore me out and I ended up sleeping for an hour!  Yeah, I know….rest rest rest!  Heard!

I had hoped to write a little more, but I have been struggling to even write this much.  Looks like this cold is going to win this fight too.  And I think I need to get back in bed!  I know my blog hasn’t exactly been quality lately, but hopefully once I am into my training and racing that will change.  Thanks to you all who have stuck through this bit of dry spell with me.  Love you all!

Do you have a hard time resting when you are sick?  Or resting in general?