The Usual

1.0 mile lunch walk and in the evening a 3.0 mile run in 26:30.

New Miles: 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0
Total Miles: 905.5
Miles Remaining: 597.5
Weight: N/A

Tunnel Vision

Went on a walk to the rock in the river with two of my sisters then we walked thru a tunnel which was just over .5 miles one way - we went thru and back. Our hearts raced in the darkness as if we'd been running so it felt like greater exercise than just a nice walk. We did a total of 1.0 miles.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 901.5
Miles Remaining: 598.5
Weight: N/A (but around 131.0 due to crazy eating of delicious foods)

900 Miles!

Eager to wake up in the morning and run I did take my time getting up. I got out of the tent at 7:45 and my 3 sisters and 1 brother and I went on a run. Running some gravelly backroads then onto asphalt was a delightful run. I had used Map It! and figured out where 1.25 miles was -- and when in the middle of no where my landmark was: End of an open field near a house. We ran out and as we were running our uncle and cousin drove by coming back from the store - we waved. Then we ran beneath some very buzzy powerlines - which made us sprint a few hundred yards.  We enjoyed conversation and running. Then we turned around and went back to the cabin.

 

Once back Bridgette and I continued on down the road to the tree line beside an open field - indicating we'd gone .25 miles. Then we of course ran back and evened out the mile to 3.0 total.

Being just one mile shy of 900 miles and still feeling very energetic I rounded up my brother and sisters again and they agreed to come walk with me a mile. I checked to see if Ryan wanted to join and my happy face was met by an awakened grumpy one that said no. So I bounded off and then we walked .5 miles up the road and .5 back to get me to my 900th mile! Yay! We got pictures together to document my accomplishment -- using my new Kodak Playsport zx5.

Later in the day Ryan and I headed down to the river and walked the Rails-to-Trails for a bit. We headed to a rock we like to stand on on the rover but there were sunbathers so we just turned around and walked back to the tunnel to look at that. We did .5 miles

New Miles: 2.5 + .5 + 1.0 + .5 = 4.5
Total Miles: 900.5!
Miles Remaining: 599.5
Weight: N/A

Pandora the Explorer

I got out of work and drive home so I could run 2.0 miles so that over the weekend I could reach 900 miles. I ran 2.0 in 17:13 310cals 1%, mostly at 7.0mph or 7.5mph pace. I got the Kindle and tapped Pandora and put it on popular music. Turns out pop music is good for running hard as everything was very dance-music, lively, driving-beat-ish. I got those 2 miles done, showered, then got on the road and drove a few hours for my family's weekend camping trip.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 896.0
Miles Remaining: 604.0
Weight: 128.4

Like a Chicken

I ate a 100 calorie wildberry sherbet popsicle while on the front porch waiting and hoping the UPS truck would pull up. Just as I was finishing it did! Why was this exciting? Because I ordered a Kodak Playsport zx5 camera and it was to be delivered today!

I am excited for my new camera because I have big plans for it. Mostly involving it sitting in my running belt on runs and being called up to action to document my running. I figured some big milestones, such as the ever approaching 900 miles, would be a good to document. My dream though would be to have this with me for a half marathon and every mile I get it out and take a pic of myself so that by the end of the Half I have a mini-history of the journey.

After running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting organized, I transitioned into actual running. I went onto the treadmill and walked about .15 then I ran at 6.1 then 6.3 then 6.5 and for the final .75 miles I ran at 7.0mph. During teh run I donned headphones and used teh Sansa clip to listen to pop music. Could I understand the words? Not so much. But did it have a good driving beat? Quite! I was nice and sweaty by the end and felt good about it. Total Workout: 2.0 miles in 18:51 323cals 1%.

A few miles closer to 900... which I was hoping to get to over the weekend. So we shall see what happens!

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 894.0
Miles Remaining: 606.0
Weight: 128.4

I Love the 90s

So I love the 90s as in the theory of 90 degree heat and sunshine and the ability to cool off. What I don't love is 91 degree heat in the baking sun where there is only an occasional slight breeze to help you and you are wearing more clothes than you'd like and you can't jump in a pool afterwards. Such went my walk. In theory it was going to be amazing and enjoyable. In practice it was hot, and hot, and distractingly hot. I could scarcely keep my eyes open, I felt myself frying, and the amount of sweat was beyond work acceptable levels. But I am glad I got in some exercise. It was a taxing 15 minutes!!

It left me curious as to how football practice was going to feel. Current assumptions are that it will not feel good. I will be in a pool of my own sweat so that will be a bonus and I hope as refreshing as swimming in an actual pool. My face will fry. My mouth will dry. It will be interesting!

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 892.0
Miles Remaining: 608.0
Weight: 128.8

Empty the Tank

Pre-practice I did a lap, stretched, did a lap, stretched, ran 2 laps then stretched and then Bridgette asked if I'd do another lap so I did. I did 1.25 miles in 9:11. During practice I ran hard and got a lot of running in (i need a pedometer for sure!). We did 12x50 yard jog/sprints. I was pretty tired by the end - with my right butt mucle not being so happy and all my muscles feeling rather tired.

But then I determined I still had a little bit left in the tank and what better way to prepare for football season than to go the extra mile when I'm already pretty exhausted. Plus my OCD side didn't leave me happy that I did 1.25 and I needed to even it out. So post-practice I did another .75 miles. Total Run: 2.0 miles in 15:13 PLUS 2 hours of Gaelic football practice.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 891.0
Miles Remaining: 609.0
Weight: 127.6

Take A Different Route

Yesterday I had energy to run but it was late evening and I didn't want to shower before going out so I opted to not run, saved my energy, and stayed up late. All the running energy I conserved I spent on a 4.25 mile route - a different one than my usual. Ryan has a usual route that I am too scared to run since I think the shoulder of the road isn't big enough, especially when the plants are all grown. But despite my fears I decided that today I would take a different route. And so at 2pm I went off and ran down the hill to the road near a creek - and I followed that along until the next town about 2 miles away, went thru the town then up the long gradual hill for 2 miles. I wore my water belt and had had my sunblock on and it was hot but not too hot and then some rain clouds moved in.

I did 4.25 miles in 40:58, making it home about 2 minutes after a light drizzle started. Then I went a did yardwork for 2 hours since the rain stopped and held off. I dug a home for the Kwazan Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree in the front yard. In the backyard I moved the Semi-Dwarf Peach Tree and Semi-Dwarf Plum Tree closer to our house so they would have more sun throughout the day.

New Miles: 4.25
Total Miles: 889.0
Miles Remaining: 611.0
Weight: 128.4

A Do Run-Run

Lunch time found me perusing Lowe's website where I discovered trees were 74% off; so instead of walking I drove to Lowe's and purchased a Kwazan Flowering Cherry Tree. It was 12 feet tall. I fit it into my Honda Fit by beding teh branches back on themselves. I hope my poor tree survives! Because he sat squished like that for about 5 hours before I got him home. Then I went back to Lowe's and bought 2 Semi-Dwarf Peach Trees and 1 Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree. I really wanted the Pussy Willow but sadly someone had bought it. Then I went home and dug some half holes and placed my trees (still in their pots) in them. I also moved some ornamental grasses to make room for them. That was about an hour of digging and carrying and looking and digging.

Since it is mid-June it was still light enough out at 8:40pm and so I went on my 3 mile loop. I felt good and maintained a decent clip. I wanted so badly to get home in under 25 minutes. Near the end I pushed myself to make it and didn't waste the energy to look at my watch. I told myself, "Run as though you have only a few seconds to spare. If you run as hard as you can and don't make it then you at least know you did try. Don't rely on knowing ho wmuch time you have left to be your motivator." And so I did run hard. I crossed into my driveway and looked at my watch and it read "25:05". I was disappointed to have not made the mark but I did still feel a sense of accomplishment since I knew I pushed it hard and did give it a good effort. And Heck! I just did 3 miles in 25:05! (8:21 pace!)

I then caught my breath. Changed into a less sweaty shirt and met my friends out at Applebee's.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 884.75
Miles Remaining: 615.75
Weight: 128.8

In My Own Debt

Lunch Walk 1.0 - cool, sunny, breezy day (mid70s?)

Football practice. Pre-practice I ran a lap in 1:49 then stretched and ran another (3:48). After practice I owed myself that last half mile and so I ran it, completing the mile in 7:40. Having a 1.5 hour break in between my half miles seems like it is helpful in getting me a good "mile time". So while I know that means nothing at least the solid half mile time was really good: 2:52 (I feel as though that can't be right... yet that is what it is. Plus someone did ask me if I ran a lap and I got to tell him I ran 2; if I did do them that quickly I can see why he inly thought I did 1 lap.) Total Workout: 1.5 hours of football (including 12 x 50 yard jog-sprints) + 1.0 miles.

New Miles: 1.0 + 1.0 = 2.0
Total Miles: 881.75
Miles Remaining: 618.25
Weight: 129.8

Lunch Walk

Super sticky day; hot; humid; rain clouds threatening. But enjoyable 1.0 walk.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 879.75
Miles Remaining: 620.25
Weight: 130.2

Tracking My Time

Lunch Walk: Nice walk on a hot, humid, overcast afternoon. 1.0 miles.

For Gaelic Football practice we moved to a field that was inside a track. I got to practice a bit early and decided to run. I did 1.0 miles in 8:15. I ran the first lap then stretched (and paused my time) and then ran 3 more. For the final lap my sister Bridgette joined me and she ran on the grass and I on the track. Then we did a good football practice filled with running and then 10-50 yard jog/sprints. The sprinting wasn't hard - we got 10-15 seconds of rest in between. But my ankle did hurt off and on a bit, especially at the end due to all the cutting and abrupt stopping and kicking I had put my foot thru. But all-in-all it was fine and hopefully the right amount to improve its strength rather than overdo it and weaken myself.

New Miles: 1.0 + 1.0 = 2.0
Total Miles: 878.75
Miles Remaining: 621.25
Weight: 131.4

The Run Percent

On Saturday, June 9 I had a football game in the 90 degree sun. It was difficult and reminded me that a few months ago I told myself to start doing some sprint work. I really really need to start doing that. If a football game were a slow run with no sprints I'd be good. But it's not/ The good part was that my ankle didn't hurt when I kicked the ball. I did stiffen and sore up later but I was happy to have been able to run around. Though I was quite rusty and missed a number of shots (blah!).

On Sunday, June 10 I coached the last soccer game of the season, got sunburned on my shoulders, then went swimming. Then I went out and drank a beer and ate nachos. On my way home I decided I wanted to do a quick mile. So I got home, changed, then went to the track where before running I saw a friend just finishing up his workout. We chatted for a bit and then I mustered up the commitment to running. I did a warm-up lap and then stretched out. Then I put a rollicking song on the iPod shuffle and started running. I did that 1 mile in 7:00!

This has me excited to go time a mile when I haven't been drinking or eating bad foods as I am sure I could run faster. Total Workout: 1.5 miles with stretching in ~18 minutes (.25 warm/cool). At 10:30pm it was still 80 degrees out.

New Miles: 1.5
Total Miles: 876.75
Miles Remaining: 623.25
Weight: ~130.0

Fun and the Run

Early morning run of 2.25 miles in 24:28 356cals 1%. Like usually I started off slow then after a lap increased the pace and then I ran solid for 2 miles.

New Miles: 2.25
Total Miles: 875.25
Miles Remaining: 624.75
Weight: 130.6

Lunch Walk

Walk at lunch in the sunny sun for 1.0 miles.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 873.0
Miles Remaining: 627.0
Weight: ~130.0

And miles to go because I sleep

I laid in bed half awake, half asleep and enjoyed not getting up for about half an hour. Then I pried myself up with much reluctance. I then got onto the treadmill, walked .25, then ran 1.25 at every increasing pace until I maxed out at 6.8mph for a little under 3 laps. A cute baby bunny sat in the shade under the holly tree the whole time so he was cute to look at. I schemed up a plan to make him like me - where every morning I make him comfortable with my presence so that eventually he hops over to me and eats snacks out of my hands. We'll see how this goes. Total Workout: 1.5 miles in 15:32(?) 237cals 1%.

New Miles: 1.5
Total Miles: 872.0
Miles Remaining: 628.0
Weight: 130.2

Evening Run

7:30pm evening run in the fading sun. Ran my 3 mile loop in 27:00.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 870.5
Miles Remaining: 629.5
Weight: 130.0

So Easy, So Hard

I mainly motivated myself out of bed this morning because I thought of a good title for this blog post. But hey, whatever does the trick! It is so easy to lie in bed and sleep; so hard to motivate myself to get up and walking. But I did pry myself up, stumbled to the treadmill and walked 1.0 miles at 4.2mph. This woke me up and so I then ran 0.5 miles at 6.3mph. Total Workout: 1.5 miles in 19:05 1%.

While running my right ankle was really tight and felt weird. It didn't hurt so much as just felt uninterested in bending or letting my foot push off the ground. I really need to take my doctor's orders and get physical therapy! I need to get my ankle back to a happy place. I kicked a soccer ball just a few times at practice to check out how my ankle was doing - it hurt - so my conclusion was that it's not doing as good as I'd like it to be. I am glad I am able to walk and run so I am thankful for that!

New Miles: 1.5
Total Miles: 867.5
Miles Remaining: 632.5
Weight: 130.0