Running blogs are good!

When I went out to run this evening, I was already tired from cleaning the basement (you should see it - parts of the floor are actually visible). I thought maybe I would get in a mile or so, at most. Once I got started, I didn't feel too bad, and - here's the point - I thought that maybe I could make a decent entry in this blog tonight. So, I kept going and (according to MapMyRun) got in about 3.5 miles. Not great, but it's the most I've done in a while, and I felt pretty comfortable for most of the run. Good blog! Good!

Plan for Sunday: 6 miles (run/walk).

On fear-free running routes

I ran 8 miles on Saturday morning, though after checking the run on Google Maps it turns out that it was 8.5 miles. So much for trusting routes on running sites! I chose this route because it was targeted towards people who didn't want to get shot on their morning runs, so I ended up running through some seriously swanky Baltimore neighborhoods, as well as through the campuses of three different colleges.

It was a good run in the sense that I finished it and it was not ungodly hot due to my 6am starting time. But my muscles tired out really quickly, which I think was a combination of quickly ramping up my activity level over the last two weeks (biking, daily workouts, etc.) and not eating a good dinner or breakfast. And getting 5 hours of sleep. I'll be so used to running in bad circumstances that once I actually eat/sleep enough I'll be in a good place! Or so I hope.

Next week is 9 miles, which might happen in DC if I'm there for the weekend.

8 Miler

Ran my 8 mile run this morning. It went well; much better than my failed 7 mile attempt! I think it's because I got a good carb-filled meal in the day before the run. I'm going to try for 9 miles next week, but I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Friday night is the huge 4th of July party I have to help do, and then I fly out to Istanbul at 10 AM on Saturday. I may try to get a shorter run in that morning, not sure if I'll be up for 9 at that point. In Istanbul, I'm going to try to get in some shorter morning runs. I like Erin's idea of running as a tourist activity.

Good Moment

I had a good moment today. This morning, I did not run, because I was sleepy and in a cozy bed. When I got home from work, I tried to talk myself out of running. It's too hot. I'm too tired. I'm hungry. My feet hurt. And then I just put on my workout clothes and running shoes and just went. 2.25 miles later, I feel much better than if I had just stayed home.

For the Love of a Running Buddy

This weekend I ran 6 miles. I was in Philly on a weekend trip with friends, so on Saturday morning I made it out of bed (or the blowup mattress on the floor) and went! I dragged Veronica along with me and we ran all around downtown Philly. It was really a great way to see a city, and we ended up seeing more before 8am than we did the entire rest of the weekend. Running as a form of tourism is very appealing. The run itself went well, I wasn't even sore the next day and needed no post-run nap.

Having a running partner made me realize how much that can add to a training routine. It really helps in terms of making it out onto the road, keeping up the pace and making long distances a little more intellectually stimulating. Ah well! Running alone builds character, or so I hope.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Tried to run 7 miles this morning. It was just one of those terrible runs. I only made it 5 miles before having to stop. From the very beginning, my legs just felt terrible, like I was running through water or something. It was really strange. I tried to push through it, but it just got worse. I can't figure out what it is. I was well-hydrated and it wasn't that hot. I think it's maybe because I didn't eat much yesterday. I don't know. Either way, I'm just writing it off to one of those bad runs. I'll be back at it next weekend.

Wikipedia gets it right

So I'm a little bored at work, so I decided to read the Wikipedia article on marathons. A couple of humorous portions:

"Most participants do not run a marathon to win. More important for most runners is their personal finish time and their placement within their specific gender and age group, though some runners just want to finish." (AKA Bethany Owens, ha!)



It's Phidippides dying at the end of the "first marathon." A good reminder that we train so this doesn't happen to us!

Oh hai.

Soooooo it's been a while since I updated. Pole. But I did enjoy catching up on all the posts!

The move and ungodly commute have really put a crimp in my style, but I'm getting back on the bandwagon again. I'm running 6 miles this weekend (in Philly) and I managed to guilt Veronica into being my running buddy! I've begun running over my lunch breaks in the gym in my office building, I ran 5k yesterday over lunch. The treadmills even have little fans on them so I'm (a little) less sweaty afterwards!

I had quite the adventure while running 4 miles last weekend. I chose a pretty simple route, just a down and back down Charles Street, a main drag in Baltimore that goes from Hopkins to Penn Station. About halfway through, I came to the uncomfortable realization I was in a very sketchy area of town, with no one around except for groups of idle men hanging out on stoops. No women to be seen, which is always uncomfortable. Also, I was clearly the only young white woman that has ventured there in a while, and I was carrying my Blackberry for music with no pockets to hide it. I quickly turned around and got out of there, but it was surprising because though I'm used to city living, DC is much more segregated in terms of safe/dangerous neighborhoods, so I never had this problem.

E!

You can call me Mickey

Or you can just call me Dad. But, you will have to call me "Dad 1.5," as in "1.5 miles at DisneyWorld"! That's right, Erin (and I'm callin' you out, Erin), I ran 1.5 miles in the harshest running environment known to humankind. These people are real runners - they laugh at me (on the inside at least), and would spit on me if they could slow down enough to get a good aim. Yeah, yeah, I know - "But Dad, I run where people are shooting guns at me!" Blah blah blah.

Try running a mile in my shoes ... at Disney World!

Oh yeah! That's right - a mile! At Disney World! Woot woot!

Doin' okay. But just okay.

I'm doing alright on keeping up with my weekly runs. Usually end up running around 5 miles total during the weekdays. I missed last week's 6 miler b/c I was on a trip. This weekend = 7 miles. On the down side, I'm still pretty slow and pretty inconsistent. Need to work on that!

Two miles!

Oh, yeah, two big miles. I've got the momentum now. Tomorrow, 4 miles. Sunday, 8 miles. Monday, 16 miles. Tuesday? I don't think that 32 is out of the question, oh no! Wahoooooo!

Well, I'm a bit of a slacker, but not a complete one

I ran a mile today. I concede that this was not yesterday, which I promised. I am bad, and am hanging my head in shame.

I'm no slacker! I'm not!

I've been getting in some short bicycle rides, and will run at least a mile tomorrow. This I do solemnly promise.

5 miles

I'm back on the wagon! I ran 5 miles this afternoon. :) It was a little toasty, but not too bad.

You guys should run too!