400

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 85 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 400.3 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 177.9 Money Found For Food Bank: $31.61

This morning's wasn't a run to see if I could do it, it was to see if I really wanted it. And, evidently, I did. I wanted to turn the running odometer to 400 miles for the year. Boo.Yah.

 

It wasn't as muggy as yesterday morning, but it was hot early. So, the middle of the run was hard fought. However, I was smart enough to give myself another destination to give the run a bigger purpose. And, today, it was more flamingo art:

Oh, how that made me want to find a beach!!

Of course, the peacock flamingo ...

... and, a gal having a really bad hair day!

This was my favorite ... very serene.

Of course, someone had to sport the bling!!

And, my vote -- similar to yesterday's --
for most creative!

Fortunately, around the 6th (of 9) mile this morning, I came upon a gas station where I could refill my much-needed water:

The most boring but probably one of the most important pics.
Ever.

It was the coldest water known to mankind ... and, it was delicious!!

 

I made it home with two pennies and standing upright. Not too shabby!

 

The real victory today isn't the number 400; it's that I could do it. I didn't even consider there was another possibility. The only consideration revolved around desire. That's a good place to be; the work to get here was worth it. It always is no matter the endeavor, isn't it?!

 

Tomorrow likely brings about another run, but I'll decide just where and how long then! I'll check in after and let you know what was what! See you then!

 

Friday's Frolic

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 85 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 391.4 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 177.9 Money Found For Food Bank: $31.59

It was a disappointing morning for the pooch:

"I tried to convince her to take me. OH, how I triiiiiiiied ..."

It was one of those mornings where I wish she could understand more than, "Not today, Elly." She gets that. She didn't get that it was because I love her that I wasn't taking her. It was almost 70 degrees, and it. was. muggy. Bleh!!

 

So, the poor thing was left behind while I went on my morning adventure. This morning's run was mentally routed based on particular targets (something Aaron saw that you're about to) and -- of course -- money scoping, but I was totally off on its mileage. I thought I would end up running about 4 miles, and it turned out to be 6. That made me feel a little better for feeling and looking like this ...

Just keepin' it real.

... because I was starting to wonder if there was more wrong with me than just the fact that I didn't bring water with me. (Note to self: Just bring it unless the mileage is certain. And, by 'certain', I mean mapped out and not  estimated. Clearly, I'm not good at that.)

Run the Edge warned us about this this morning on Facebook.

At least I knew where  I was going ... and, I just had to see these so I can also show my flamingo-lovin' dad!!

He sees your every move ...

Here's the face of the one above ... you might note the original
eyeballs were removed for artsy eyeball replacement. Cool
and gross all at the same time. Oh, but look at the one in the
background ... SPARKLY!!

The sparkly bird's face.

To know me is to know without my saying so that this is my
personal fave ... looooove the colors!

My vote for most creative! ROAR ...

After the flamingo fiesta, I ran through a number of metered areas ultimately resulting in 28 more cents for the Food Bank! In one of the spots, there were a handful of families hanging out by their cars pretending not to try and figure out what I was doing. I just wanted to say, "Watch and learn ..." I thought better of it, though, because, really, they didn't care.

 

I cared a lot that I was getting really hot, though. So, I distracted myself with a little bit of nature ...

How very To Kill a Mockingbird ...

The baby bunny let me get quite close because, evidently, that
clover was scrumptious.

The distractions were good, but I also took a short walk break in what turned out to be the 5th mile. There was simply no need to torture myself nor overdo it. Especially with no water. I'd already been mighty surprised at my faster-than-expected pace (funny how different it is when my favorite, four-legged friend isn't with me), so it was best I chilled at some point. Besides, I had to grocery shop immediately after (another reason Elly couldn't go), so I didn't want to be all weird and wonky in the middle of the story. Being messy and smelly was enough (yeah ... they love me).

No real need to be nice about it; I really really really
smelled really really bad ...

So, that's 6 miles in the books which brings the mid-year total in a very doable hit-400 by June 1 range. That's not the worst idea I've ever had. It's not necessarily the most awesome, either, so I have a bit of thinking to do tonight about what I want to do tomorrow. It'll be a surprise to everyone (including to myself), so I'll check in with the outcome tomorrow! Have a great start to your weekend, and I'll see you after the morning run!

Mental Scramble

I know you can relate to this: Everything is going along fine and you have the basics of your world under control when BAM suddenly everything feels higgly piggly and everything feels overwhelming like you'll never feel normal and under control again and there was no real apparent reason for this internal shift it just happened out of the blue.

And, then you write a run-on sentence about it because it's therapeutic.

That's precisely how I feel right now, this very minute. There are too many pieces scurrying around in my brain, and I need them to relax! None of it is out of the ordinary, and every bit of it is manageable. It's just daily to-dos that need doing. But, right now, it's all in a mental pile.

It's not unlike how I sometimes feel before a long run or a Half Marathon, by the way, when all of the training suddenly feels inadequate, and like the miles in front of me are totally and completely undoable without dropping somewhere in the middle of the route. Yeah, those thoughts still happen, but, like right now with the things I have to do, I rely on a solid history of success, and I forge on!

I'm pretty certain this will happen in the morning, though ...

... and, I'm pretty certain, I'm going to take her lead! It will be a good excuse to just take some time out to chill, and it will be a great way to start the day! I'll check in after! You know, to confirm I didn't just stop and drop somewhere in the middle! 'See you then!

Magic Number

As you might recall, I went to the dentist today instead of running.

I have never minded going to the dentist, though, so it was fine. And, it needs to be done. So ... there.

In the meantime, I finally made myself sit down and figure out how to work the rest of the calendar year so as to hit that 1,000-mile goal for the end of the year. I started to drive myself crazy trying to figure out just how many miles to run on what days to make this happen. Fortunately, I finally realized it was ridiculous to lock myself in to that kind of detail for the rest of the year. During a specific training window, it's one thing. When the miles can vary day by day, it's entirely another. Besides, the schedule I was creating looked monotonous and boring and it just wasn't going to inspire me.

So, I finally got smart. I scheduled the training days for the Fall Half, then I figured out which weeks remained to use for variable running. From there, I figured out how many miles a week I needed to average, but I've left the specifics up to scheduling as I go. Wow ... how very caution-to-the-wind of me ...

Anyway, I now have it set so I can figure out what to do for the week instead of what to do for the entire summer and late Fall. I can't tell you how refreshing that feels!

Oh, and the magic, week's average number of miles:

A totally doable challenge!

I didn't even factor in the other two days in May I will use to run, so those miles will be called bonus buffer. Fab!!

Tomorrow's a very busy day, and, while not restful, it is a rest from running day. It's going to feel good to get back out there on Friday, but I'll check in before! See you tomorrow!

Who Needs In-Tact Toes Anyway

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 84 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 385.4 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 177.9 Money Found For Food Bank: $31.31

It used to be that I needed a week after a Half to recover. More recently, it seems I need a few days to heal some wounds:

Just in general, my toes have taken a beating this year. But, after Saturday, the little piggy that stayed home and the one that cried wee-wee-wee-wee all the way home were disgusting complete with one blister I felt forming at Mile 8 and the other I wasn't aware was there until Sunday. I would have showed the battle wounds yesterday, but they looked like a crime scene. So, you get the aftermath that's been bandaged for some semblance of cushion during the morning run. They're healing pretty fast, but I will note that I never knew to what extent the top of my stayed-home toe touches carpet when I walk until now.

 

Those spots are sore, but running isn't making them worse, so Elly and I were at it again this morning! It was far less humid which was a very big relief to us both! It was also refreshing to run this route any ol' way I wanted with zero on my mind about using these miles to build up to a race. I even took a minute to stop and smell some roses ...

Yummy smells for us both. Roses for me;
potato chip bag for the hound!

There's every chance in the world I would have done that anyway, but, again, it's nice to have some loose parameters right now!

 

So, speaking of parameters which means I'm thinking about goals, I'm going to sit down with the calendar very soon to map out a plan for the rest of the year. I already have a Half scheduled for Fall, so that builds in 8-10 weeks of specific miles. I want to work around those to see how to best accomplish my end-of-the-year goal of 1,000 miles. Or, I'll find out it's ridiculous, and I'll create a Plan B ... !

 

Okay, back to today's run because this was pretty fabulous ... There we were, jogging along, when we approached one of my very favorite areas which is where all of the ally cats congregate. I pretty consistently see members of the tabby quartet, some of whom I did see today. I got a treat with the appearance of the long-haired black beauty ...

Elly saw her up ahead before I did!

Silly me, I expected s/he would skidoo as we approached like the others do. HA! Not so much. Instead, s/he hunkered down, poised and ready to do damage if necessary:

That cat did.not.move. a muscle except to watch us pass. I would have taken another picture, but there was a dude who works there hanging out, and I just didn't feel like explaining. Or being looked at weird. That cat's a beauty, but I warned Elly as we passed that it could take her if antagonized, so she needed to mind her manners.

But, really, who -- man or beast -- would even consider being nasty to this sweet face?

I *love* when her tongue goes wonky!

We wound up just shy of 4 1/2 miles, and we scored five pennies along the way. That's a good way to start the day!

Tomorrow? It's a Rest Day because I scheduled a dentist appointment right at the same time I'd be running. That's what happens when you're expected to figure out a wee part of your life 6 months in advance! I'll check in after anyway! See you then!

Go While You Feel It

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 83 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 381 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 173.5 Money Found For Food Bank: $31.26

First thing's first:

A thank you to all who have served, past,
present and future, and have fought for
the freedoms we enjoy. Thank you.

This morning, I was back at it! (When I got up in the middle of the night, my thighs were all, "Ha, ha, haaaaa ... you think you're going to run when you get up!" But, somehow, that feeling of 'my legs are made of concrete' passed.) I've learned I may as well use the residual delusions of grandeur adrenaline that follows a Half Marathon and go ahead and run instead of taking a break. I've noticed a pattern where I'm still pretty pumped after a Half only to be totally over the running thing and wanting a break a few weeks after. So, run now, rest later. That's the plan! (And, there will be a rest coming; I've also figured out that not resting is just a stupid idea.)

 

BESIDES, I HAD to take my new shirt out for a spin, right?!

I figured sacrificing my eyesight to put
the purple bling directly in the sun made
 a whole lotta sense ... ha!

I also had to take my pooch and my favorite running pal even though it took no time for Aaron to point out, "This run is not at all what was advertised!" Translation: I had more spring in my step than I anticipated last night when I told him he was going PLUS it was huuuuuumid. Gross humid. Look at Aaron right after the first mile:

Look close, and you can see he's melting.
At least he found money in the process,
right? hee hee hee ...

Elly was panting it up early on, too:

I might have been, ummmm ... we'll go with 'somewhat annoying' at my unadvertised pace in the muggy weather, but these two had their own special moments. Elly was her usual must-investigate-everything-off-path self. And, then there was Aaron. Check this out ...

... and, now, allow me to caption the picture with his own words. Verbatim. "Ooo, let's see if there's a snake under here." Okay, I didn't even know (a) that cardboard was there. Yes, I spy coins and miss crap like this. And, (b) that he'd stopped, and (C!) much less stopped to investigate for live critters.

If he thinks that will make me uninvite him from now on, he's wrong. Snake looking. Seriously.

We saw lots of pretty stuff along the way, though ...

The thistle is coming back in droves!

This is actually by someone's mailbox ... soooo pretty!!

It was totally worth heading back out today. Not only was it a great opportunity to give the muscles a bit of a shake-out, but we also found 35 more cents for the Food Bank. And, fortunately, we found no snakes.

Oh, and in an unexpected-yet-refreshing moment, we ran into a friend of ours who was out running. She noted the humidity before saying, "Yeah, my run sucks. I've done a lot of walking!" to which I high-fived her and said, "But, you're doing it!" and we parted ways.

I don't think I can explain how relieved I am to have abandoned the walk-break stigma. It's saved my can more times than I can count in hot weather. It's a smart strategy; I'd rather walk a few yards than have heat stroke, just sayin'.

With a run that turned out to be almost five miles (as we went out of our way to check out one more look-for-money possibility!), we finally arrived home:

That girl in the middle had fun, but she
is HOT!

With that, I'll be back out there tomorrow! It's fun to run the training routes without actually training on them! It's also good to capitalize on every moment I feel like running because there are enough where I don't! So, I'll check in after! Enjoy the rest of your three-day weekend!!

Celebrating Number 10 at the Go Girl Half Marathon

Happy Sunday!! I hope your weekend is a long one and a good one!! I woke up feeling every bit of yesterday's run which only tells me my weekend started off great! I'm ready to race recap, so let's do this!

While I slept great the night before, there was nothing in my eyes that said I'm ready to take this on!

Thank you, Crew, for another very early Saturday wake-up!

But, I was ready at least in my own mind, and that's where it really counts on that morning! Besides, my fabulous shirt needed another spin around town, amiright ?!

And, while I'm busy getting my bib on,
take a moment to admire that rockin'
purple hair thingy!! SWEET!

We arrived in plenty of time, but my time was quickly used because I needed to stretch. I mean, I needed to check out the post-race headquarters. Which is when I should have been stretching. But, I had to check stuff out, like, just in case I needed some post-race plastic storage, I knew just where to get it:

And, this is what Pit Crew #2 looks like when she realizes she
is about to walk in front of the camera!

I enjoyed the variety of ways people expressed themselves including ...

... and ...

(there was another expression of this at the starting line ... see?):

Her upper ...

... her lower!

For real, I don't blame anyone for slapping that on themselves on race day. I just don't.

On my way to the starting line, I passed the big bling ...

In a couple of hours, one of you is mine!

One more pic with the young Crewers ...

... and, I was on my way to the start!

The Half Marathoners participate in their
death march the ritual of taking their spot!

Of course, while waiting to start, I had to do my usual scoping of the shoes. Most people were pretty spread out, so I didn't get my normal feast of color, but two totally caught my eye. These ...

Very summertime goodness, don't you think?
Like, rainbow sherbet! Mmmmm ...

... and, these ...

There was a lot of chatter going on in the crowd, but I, as usual, just blocked it out. Most people talk about their intended times or (my favorite this time) how someone they know just ran his or her first Half Marathon and did so in some lightening fast time and how much they suck for doing so. That made me giggle a little bit, but I do make a concerted effort to not listen to what's around me because I don't want to get caught up in it. It's an interesting dynamic I've set up for myself by running solo all the time then putting myself in a big crowd for a race full of people talking about times, pace, expectations and outcome hopes. I just want to get going!

Soon, it was time to move forward to get ready to go! Right before we started, I saw this ...

... and, the Crew saw this:

Check out the tye-dye family on the left ... I loved their
solidarity and told them so right before Mile 10. (Which is
down hill, so I was able to easily communicate. Ha!)

Shortly after 7 a.m., it was go time!!

I love this one with Pit Crew #3 looking for me (*sigh!*) I am
actually directly below the pedestrian sign!

I'm here behind someone, but that's not why I kept it ... check
out the group of hams in the middle cheesin' for the camera
and having no idea it's some random person's husband taking
them and not for any kind of publicity or race pic! It happens
almost every run, and it cracks me up every. single. time.
There's never an official photographer at the beginning, people!

And, now I've caught up to the Crew!! LOVE them!

Right at the beginning of this course, there is a short but sharp hill. (The pre-race information referred to it as "a doozy." They ain't whistlin' Dixie on that one.) It isn't fun, but I was ready, so it's one I can cruise up and find some good space from the dense starting crowd. The good news about this course is that for every up (and, there are a lot), there was a complimentary down (whew!). And, the first down lead into this:

A couple of miles of trail running (manufactured trail, not the rocky-just-plan-on-twisting-an-ankle kind) usually annoys me because I get tired of the monotony. On this run, though, I actually embraced the trail opportunities and saw them as welcomed breaks from the demand I've put on my body this calendar year (Plus, who schedules a Half Marathon at the end of a school year, anyway? Nice timing!). Anyway, aside from the many, many pebbles that wound up in my shoes, the trail was a successful venture for me (not so much for the person who fell in front of me ... she was fine, by the way ...)!

I know I'm there because I see the puppy paws glowing on my
shirt! (The guy on the right kind of cracks me up right there on
the other side of the wall. And, in case anyone wants to stop
and make a call, they can do that, too ...)

There I am! (Hey, I guess that guy was cheering for me!
JUST KIDDING!)

waterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwaterwater!
(I haven't yet mentioned it was a little humid ...)

After leaving the trail, I hit the part of the road last year where I saw a storm coming. Fortunately, it looked like it would stay away at least as long as most of us were on the course this year (whew!). And, soon after, I saw the Crew again ... the entire Crew!!

I saw this ...

... they saw that!

Quick selfie with the pup!! Oh, crap ...
zoom's still on ...

One more time!! Success! Thanks, Elly,
for allowing me to completely manhandle
you to get this!

Quick check to make sure I got it (check
out what the trail did to my shoes!) ...

... and, I was back on my way!

It was at this point that I also handed off my camera to the Crew. Believe it or not, I didn't want the distraction. It's not that I was taking it so seriously, but I was needing to focus on what I was doing if I was going to keep up a steady pace. As I felt my mind debate strategy vs. pictures, I left the picture taking to the Crew!

 

This particular part of the course kind of sucks because of the plethora of rolling hills, and I wasn't in the mood for that. I chatted with some people only to find out that I could do the whole 'your pace should be such that you can still talk' thing but it made me feel like I wanted to throw up when I was finished. What's that about? And, of course, the talking stopped-sudden nausea hit right at the bottom of yet another climb, so I walked a spell to realign my insides! There was a course volunteer along that stretch who called to me, "It's okay! It goes down at the top of the street!" Years ago, I would have been mortified "caught" walking. Now? I gave her a thumbs up and a smile and called back, "I'm looking forward to it!"

 

That down hill is fantastic (what one isn't?), and I truly was looking forward to it. I enjoyed it so much that, while going down, I called out (yes, literally), "I do love me some down hill!" I continued with, "Especially when I'm not fearing getting struck by lightening!" Both announcements elicited some giggles, but the last one separated the pack from those who ran last year and those smart enough to get out of it who didn't.

 

A few miles and up another big hill that I walked (and had every premeditated plan to do so), I saw the Crew where I called them over to give everyone a mid-race smooch. I felt I'd blown them off at the last stop, and that wasn't happening again. And, you know what's super-awesome about a race focused on women? There is a lot of stopping for hugs-kisses-cheers along the way. It's a whole different vibe, and I wasn't missing out on it!

 

The race volunteers were equally enthusiastic about getting in the spirit of the run, many of whom cheered as though they personally knew you. One volunteer was super-upbeat around Mile 9 asking everyone who passed for a smile (that's not necessarily easy at that point!) and giving high fives. I beamed a smile without being asked which seemed to give this guy extra enthusiasm because he high fived me in such a way that he smacked my hand back against my own head. It wasn't very hard, and it was actually pretty funny. Hashtag: Shouldakickedhim. Hahahahahahahaha!

 

After the race, Aaron asked what I liked the most and what I disliked the most about it all. What I disliked the most was the middle (Miles 6 through 9) because, mentally, I felt like a hamster in a wheel. I was totally looking forward to Mile 10, though, and it was finally here:

I turned the corner down there and saw the Crew at the top of
the hill. I've already admitted to them that I thought, "They're
at the top. The top. Really ?" (I can't make as many pain and
suffering faces if I'm heading toward them, just sayin'.) Aaron
explained they went to the top on purpose as incentive. That
worked for me in retrospect, and now I'll be better prepared!

Once up the hill, it's nothing but flat. And, that's nothing but fabulous!

 

It began to sprinkle along Mile 11, but I thought to myself, "Oh, I do. not. care.!" I briefly talked with a woman along this stretch, too, but I politely explained I couldn't talk long or I'd get nauseous (but not before she confirmed what I've been saying about the Rock the Parkway route: It being called 'flat' is a big, fat lie!!). There was a huge brigade of bike riders along the trail here, too, which was a bit unfortunate. I found out later it was an organized group that wasn't supposed to hit the trail until a couple of hours later when we'd be finished. Whoops. Everyone worked well together, so it turned out okay. Besides, a mile from where we split from each other was the home stretch ...

I must have been miming to the family, "I want my margarita
to be thiiiiiiisss biiiiiiiig ..."

Just three minutes slower than my time in April (super sweet!!), I crossed the finish of my 10th Half Marathon into the congratulatory hugs and kisses from my fam!

My biggest fan and my biggest medal.
This medal brought to you by Flavor Flav ...
for real, it's almost as big as my face! That's
seriously good bling!

My sweet, good-smelling kiddos!!

Mary Kate (virtual running partner extraordinaire) recently posted this on my Facebook feed (I think from Run the Edge's page ... or ...) ...

And, all I can say is, I see your free banana t-shirt and raise you ...

... all of the orange slices I could get into
my mouth!

Of course, they had their traditional smoothies for our wine glasses!

Oh please, no, I didn't just use a plastic cup. I used my wine
glass. And a plastic cup!

Deeeeelish! Especially cold. I got one that was warm. It was
nasty. Even PC#2, who complains about nothing food-
related declined that! Never fear, I got a cold one!

One more pic with the goodies before the rain hit ...

... and, that puts it in the books!

If you know nothing else about me, know this:

When I started running, I couldn't run three-tenths of a mile without being out of breath.
When I started running my way and not worrying about what anyone else thought (unless they supported me), I started to succeed.
When I ran my first Half Marathon, I didn't know if it was going to be my first or my only.
I never saw this coming. But, I know exactly how I got here.

Take hold of your life your way, and put people around you who will cheer you for exactly who you are no matter what it is you're doing! Thanks for coming along with me on this journey and all that have lead up to it!!

And, tomorrow, we get back at it ... See you then!