There's no place like HOME

End of January and Spring feels like it's here already, 50 degrees today! Contemplated wearing shorts and a T for my run, but then i saw that the wind was about 12mph and decided against it.
I wore capris, reg sports bra, long sleeve white nf, nf headband and shades. Today was going to be my rest day, but i couldn't let the nice day slip by. Also being in the car for 4+ hours didn't help either. I knew the run would help with recovery also so I decided on a quick 4 miler on my favorite route. nothing like a warmer day to tune out on a familiar landscape. The wind was brutal on the way down, but i knew that the way back would be a tailwind, so its always worth it!

I forgot to take the picture until was about to get changed, oops.
4.01 miles in 33:18, last mile at 7:39! man it feels good to be home

City Sucks

My first run in the city! Do you realize how hard it is to run on a city block when you have to stop at every fricken light?! It sucks, thankfully I have the feature enabled on my watch to pause when i stop so the time is closer to accurate. My first mile was torture. The plan was to run 8 with 10x100m. I ran close to that, I did most of the strides at the beginning mostly to help my body warm up faster. I chose a route alongside the Mississippi River, another extension of the Grand Round. Got side tracked with not paying that close attention, good thing i remembered my maps!

Wore REI socks, colder temp Brooks pants, sports bra, ice breaker mid, and alo outer with the vest. the weather was supposed to be warmer, but when i went out at about 9 am it was only about 30. I was glad i wore the gator and the the warmer hat too!

My body was definitely tired from the previous day and the strides also did a toll, but doing them at the beginning helped alot to help my recovery.

7.48 miles in 1:08:37

First Run in Minnesnowta

Yesterday was a rest day, mostly out of convenience. We drove from Marquette MI, to Minneapolis MN, about an 8.5 hour drive=awesome. We would not however let the drive hinder us from our exercise. We did a little research and came up with a place that we could both start at and her could ski and i could run from. Running around the lakes seemed to be the best bet. The weather was a bit chilly, 23 degrees but windy. I forgot the dermatone for my face, so I was a bit wind burnt when I got finished.
The run overall was great, I was practically jumping up and down so excited to run after being cooped up in the car all day! I found a great path (the Grand Round Scenic Pathway) and it was a mostly paved shared bike/pedestrian path. Most of the path was still snow covered, even though like here snow was scarce elsewhere. Being as the path gets used alot by commuters and other fellow runners, the snow was packed and for the most part easy to follow. I did bring a map to make sure I was on the right track though.
I forgot to pack my fuel belt, and was not going to carry water in my hand, so I had no water for the duration, but i did bring a gel to take halfway through. That was the first time I have taken a gel in the cold weather, it did vary in consistency but not frozen! I got more than halfway through the route and was about to go around another lake, but by looking at the distance I had already ran and the distance it was to get back, I would have been over mileage by about 3 miles and I wasn't prepared for that. At that point I turned around and had the wind to my back(finally).
my legs got a little tired around mile 10, but didn't stay that way for long and it was a good run the rest of the way back, i could have went further given the time.

12.1 miles in 1:45:57, right on time for what I told Roger i would be gone!

I wore pretty much the same thing as Friday, except black bula neck gator, shades, and REI socks, and Berkeley hat, it is a bit warmer than the quilted one.

Nothing Like a Run before a 6 hour car ride

The weather was in the teens Friday and I had to get a run in quickly. Roger and I were headed to northern Mi for a ski race for him. I decided to run 7 miles, the route that i run for 7 is actually a little over that. I run to my work and back along Cottage Grove Rd, I would have to say that is my favorite route to run. The tranquil run alongside the highway may seem dangerous to some, but I find it quite peaceful and I turn to that route when I need it the most.

I do believe that this was taken before i left, usually the vest is unnecessary, but on the way down i encounter a headwind 90 percent of the time, so it is helpful as I am warming up.
so for clothes: as you can see northface quilted hat, bula neck gator, red craft base layer, ice breaker mid, and alo outer layer. Vest as added precaution, sporthill tights, smartwool socks and the usual shoes.


No more coils for this lady. i have found they don't help that much and have hurt my feet. my right foot is acting up and fearing a bunion is forming :/


7.20 miles in 1:02:09

Today was 5 miles, felt good went a bit off of a regular course. I really like running alongside the hwy way better than in town. It was about 20 degrees, wind at about 5mph but not bad really. Also we found my missing glove, which was a total lifesaver. tomorrow was a scheduled rest day, but with going out of town tomorrow a.m. and not being able to get a run in on Saturday, I am going to run before we leave. We will be in Minnesota sun, mon, and tues so i will find a route to run those days.

I wore sports bra tank, ice breaker long sleeve, and alo long sleeve with sporthill tights, rei socks, bula neck gator, nf hat, and nf gloves. no coils today and threw on the vest as i was leaving the house, probably could have done without it. i didn't put on dermatone either and i was ok because it wasn't that windy.  Looks like tomorrow will be 7 miles and then 12 on Sunday!



shoo fly

Day 3:
So starting the day a little slow and planning on doing 7 miles and only doing 6 due to short time before having to be at work. so i add a mile to tomorrow, simple as that.

It was a little warmer today, low 20's but no wind!!! I ran my regular route which is always nice. still missing a glove, and my other ones were still wet, so took a pair of the kids knit gloves. Lower temp berkely pants, reg sports bra, white nf long sleeve, nf black half-zip, and windstop nf jacket. Blue bula neck gator, and nf knit hat. I was comfortable, cold at first but that's  how it should be.


   Tomorrow will be 5 miles. Wish me luck!



It's a new day

yesterday was my first official day of training for my second marathon. I am using a new program this time, the Pfitz 18/55, which is basically an 18 week program peaking at 55 miles per week. I am tweaking it a bit so that I am actually peaking at a higher weekly amount.
I had a good idea to document my attire, my feelings, my progress all by pictures. The pictures may be a before, after, or during shot. the main goal of this is see what i am wearing in what temps, how i was feeling, etc. hopefully this will benefit myself in the future for future races and maybe some others as well!


yesterday was also my birthday and i forgot to take the picture, but today i did!

I probably over dressed today, I could have went without the vest, and the balaclava i wore today was one that I had never worn before and was too loose. the route I normally run is into the wind down and tailwind on the way back. Leggings, brooks colder tights, rei socks, sports bra, blue craft base layer, ice breaker long sleeve and alo orange top. sporthill balaclava, berkely hat, no buff today which was OK, since i was on the warm side. thinner gloves.

It was 20ish but with 15mph winds, I really hate the wind!


On other news it is about to be my...9 month sober anniversary on the 27th. so that's good!

i will try my hardest to post everyday or at least post a bunch of days at a time  :)

p.s. i have set a goal this year to run 2,012 miles in 2012, if i can surpass that, then THAT would be awesome!