Tempo Day

I can't believe that today is December 21 and it is 80 degrees. Today, I ran in the same attire I normally wear in July. We have had 28 degree nights then up to mid 60's lower 70's during the day. I took my boys to the park earlier today and seriously thought about working on my tan. 

I did a quick little 3 mile tempo with about an average 8:45 pace earlier today. It was a really good run. I felt great and enjoyed myself. 

One of my Christmas presents to myself arrived just a few minutes ago.  I ordered a pair of Sketchers GoRun 2's. OMG, they feel great on my feet. I may have found my new favorite shoe. I put them on and did a brief 1/4 mile lap around our property and loved the way they felt. I am itching to give them a try for real run now. 

Takes on Sketchers GoRun's????

I Need Words of Wisdom

20.01 flipping miles I ran today. This is the longest mileage I am to run withmy marathon training plan. During my last mile, I was pretty sure that I was going to die. My calf muscles were tight, quads hurt, and cramps in my hip flexors. I am looking for suggestions in what do do in the next 4 weeks to make sure I cross the finish line in my inaugural 26.2.  

Change of Routine

I hate and can not believe that I have not blogged in over a week. I was really hoping to stick to my goal of 3-4 times a week. Anyway, I hope after I finish adjusting to my new job I will get a better handle on my blogging again. 

So a brief cap of last weeks runs ( all two of them). I did a speed run one day and a 5 mile easy run with a friend Sunday. I have been working 12 hours shifts so there will be no running on my work days during winter months unless I find a really safe neighborhood. I  hoping to join a gym here at my new place of employment and maybe learn how to "really swim". I am excited about that. 

How do others working 12 hours shifts fit in outdoor runs on workdays?  

How Many Miles?!?!?!?!

Yesterday marked another milestone mileage for me. They were slow miles but, they were running miles. In the end I logged 18.34 miles in 3:24 only walking to hydrate, refuel, and during one water bottle malfunction. For fueling I used jelly beans every thirty minutes and a GU at 1:30 in. My method seemed to work well. I felt great until around mile 16 when I started to feel like in between my big toes on both feet were splitting open. Around this same time I also began having a little tightness in my left hip flexor. It seems my hip flexors are always the first thing to know when they have hit mileage they have never seen before.

When I arrived back home, I was a little afraid to take my shoes off to see what was going on with my feet. To my surprise (and relief) I couldn't see any visible problems. Today, I did have blisters show up in these areas.

I began my new job today so, I knew an ice bath would be a must post run yesterday. I tolerated it some better this time. 

I  not sure if it was the coffee or the space Hester that made it more tolerable.

Completing the 18+ miles yesterday really gave me a confidence boost in believing that I can finish a marathon. 

This leaves me with a few questions that I would love to hear from you all about. 

How many miles do you get up to in a long run during preparation training?

Is there anything I can do to prorect my feet from this blistering?

What are you refueling methods? Any of you use jelly beans?  What's the big deal with Swedish fish?  

How Many Miles?!?!?!?!

Yesterday marked another milestone mileage for me. They were slow miles but, they were running miles. In the end I logged 18.34 miles in 3:24 only walking to hydrate, refuel, and during one water bottle malfunction. For fueling I used jelly beans every thirty minutes and a GU at 1:30 in. My method seemed to work well. I felt great until around mile 16 when I started to feel like in between my big toes on both feet were splitting open. Around this same time I also began having a little tightness in my left hip flexor. It seems my hip flexors are always the first thing to know when they have hit mileage they have never seen before.

When I arrived back home, I was a little afraid to take my shoes off to see what was going on with my feet. To my surprise (and relief) I couldn't see any visible problems. Today, I did have blisters show up in these areas.

I began my new job today so, I knew an ice bath would be a must post run yesterday. I tolerated it some better this time. 

I  not sure if it was the coffee or the space Hester that made it more tolerable.

Completing the 18+ miles yesterday really gave me a confidence boost in believing that I can finish a marathon. 

This leaves me with a few questions that I would love to hear from you all about. 

How many miles do you get up to in a long run during preparation training?

Is there anything I can do to prorect my feet from this blistering?

What are you refueling methods? Any of you use jelly beans?  What's the big deal with Swedish fish?  

Jingle Jam 10k Recap

Yesterday, a friend of mine and myself ran the Jingle Jam 10k in Evans, GA. My friend has caught the running bug and I  am so excited for her. She ran her first 5k not even a month ago and contacted me minutes after she was done saying she wanted to go farther. She had already done several training runs that were 4-5 miles so, I told her I would find a 10k that we could do together.  Her first race was not officially timed and she wanted to to something more "official".  After a little searching of upcoming 10k's nearby I came across the Jingle Jam 10k and we signed up. 

Based on her fasted 5k I figured she could do a 10k in about 58-59 minutes. She finished in just a little over 58 minutes. Pretty awesome for a first timer! 

I ran beside her until the last .2 so we could encourage each other.  My finish time was 57:16.  No negative splits for us but, that's ok (this time). 

This race was the most well put together run I have done to date. They really did it up big time including a race expo the day before. The only draw back I had was the fact of no race day packet pick up. This made it a little inconvenient and added extra expense to us out of towners who didn't have any local connections to pick up packets for us.  The course was USTAF certified and was definitely challenging with lots of hills. The highlight for me were the FREE post race massages offered. I would run this race again just for the massage.  I also enjoyed seeing the runners in their Christmas race costumes.  This is most definitely a race I will do again in years to come.

Pre-Race

Post-Race

Massages

This review is my opinion only. 

Have any of you ran or are running any Christmas themed races? 

Is South Carolina the new Florida?!?!?!?

Now don't get me wrong, I love the summer and warm weather but, it is December and it feels like June. This is me and my running attire after my run today. 

Way too little clothing and way too much sweat for a December run.  By the way, is it socially acceptable to post a selfie on a blog?  

On another note, I should be getting some new shoes delivered tomorrow. I have given the Newtons a good try and I just do not think they are for me. I am going back to my roots and getting the saucony ride 6's. I had the 5's and loved them. I owned another pair of saucony's before the rides and have loved every pair.  I also have a pair of Nike zoom volero's coming in a few weeks. I am excited about giving those a try too. I have read where they were the most popular shoe worn by the top100 finishers in the NYC Marathon. Now, if I could only find a retailer that would ship me shoes to "try out" and write reviews, I would be in heaven.....hint hint if anybody can hook me up 😉. 

I am doing a 10k jingle jam Saturday. I haven't put too much thought into this run because I am running with a friend who is fairly new to running. I will proably try to stick with her during the run and not worry so about my time.  I will be wearing jingle bells with red and green running attire. I will let you know how it goes. 

What's your favorite shoe?

How's the weather where you are?

It's Officially Christmas Season

Drumroll please........it is officially Christmas season. I am watching Mational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for the first time of the holiday season. I love Eddie and Clark. 

I could go on and on quoting this movie but, I will spare you. 

I did a 5 mile run today and it felt like summer. The humidity must have been 100%. 

I ran past an old friend of my moms house and she was out working in her yard so I stopped for a quick chat and ended up going inside and drinking a diet coke with her. I have known this lady my whole life and it was nice to catch up. She was very near and dear to my mom. I love the fact that I haveaintaines relationships with most of my moms old friends. It helps me keep her legacy alive. 

What are your favorite Christmas movies?

What are your favorite quotes from Christman Vacation?

Missing In Action

Yes, I have been MIA for a week from the blogging world and basically from the running world as well. Last week was a short work week for me and I was looking forward to kicking it off but, unfortunately the stomach bug that has slowly been visiting us one by one and week by week knocked on my door Wednesday morning. It kicked my butt worse than any run could ever do. I stayed on my couch long enough to watch Gone With the Wind two and a half times.

Sickness couldn't hold me down for long though, I had people to feed, a house to clean, and Black Friday shopping to do. Slowly but surely I managed to do all of the above after thoroughly disinfecting my house for the third time now. I seriously thought about serving Thanksgiving lunch from my floor due to its cleanliness.

I braved the Black Friday crowds with my sister in laws as it is a tradition for us and we enjoy the time with each other.  I didn't really buy a whole lot this year but, l enjoyed my company. 

Saturday was rivalry Saturday in South Carolina so off I went to see my Gamecocks beat those stinky Tigers for the FIFTH straight year!!!!  

I love Gamecock football. I was brought up on it and for as long as I can remember I have been going to the games. My oldest dearest friends (the twins) have been there through most seasons with me.  Our friendship dates back to my birth. 

These guys were even cool enough to have both had jobs working on the Gamecock sidelines. 

I let a few stinky tigers hitch a ride to the game with me but, they didn't have much to say on the way home. One of these gals is my dear sister in law and the other is another friend that dates back to kindergarten. 

Sunday I was to do a long run and had perfect conditions for it. I set out for an 18 miler and accomplished 5 miles. I have never had a run that bad. My legs were heavy, I had a spot hurting on my foot, and I just couldn't make myself run another step. I have heard people talk about bad runs and now I know what they mean. I have had times where I didn't want to go but, I was glad I did it afterward but, I have never had a day like this. I am blaming it on my stomach bug and poor appetite/diet that I had in the days following that.  I guess my body just wasn't ready. Anyway, I can't dwell on the bad so, I am looking forward to having an awesome week to make up for it. 

Tonight we decorated our tree. The boys were interested in helping for about 10 seconds and then they were off doing something else. I am not sure how the tree has a needle left on it. I have swept up enough to restraw my flower beds. 

So how do you make up for bad runs?

Colored lights or white lights in your tree?

Real tree or artificial?