Running Wogging & the Glass Half Full

Today I begin my life after 13.1. That milestone complete, it's time to 'man up' and see if this running thing is for real. I wear my running gear to drop the kids off at school- grab a fabulous caramel machiatto at Durango Joes with my sister-in-law Jen, type up a little blog post - It's time- Get in the car to head to Berg Park- a perfect easy 3- But boy, do I have to go- Drat- stupid coffee! Then I had a grand idea- next to Berg is the Marriott, and right inside their conference entrance is a gorgeous foyer with a nicely situated 'water closet'- complete with chandelier- Marriot 'water closet' heehee Pat myself on the back for my great idea- Then  I'm off- Off on my first 'after 13.1' run. I think there's something wonderful about this run. There are no expectations- I run, with every intention to walk. But the run feels heavenly, and the day is absolutely gorgeous- Everyone seems to be out today- I say...

Get going. Just get out and go somewhere. Some days are like today- You wake up and your body says NO- All last week I had this nagging pain in my shin- Bruised? Strained? Who knows- Today it told me "don't you dare" --- So I didn't. I have come too far to worry about a little walk. You know what cracks me up about the whole 'running' thing? This almost 'step-sister' mentality toward walking- I find myself falling into that trap more often than not- turning my nose up to a perfectly good walk.... Today it was too dark for photos- Snagged  off computer's "sample picture"file!   Granted, I realize I'm training for a RUN,   but if a walk helps me reach my goal- so be it!!!    But today as I was WALKING :O)    I thought about all the times people ask:    "Do you REALLY run?"    Well, if you want to get particular,    I guess I could put a new heading    in...

There's something fun about a Saturday run. Less time constraints- A more relaxed feel- This morning was just like that. I drank in it's quiet restfulness. Then I realized it was already 7am- Gotta get out the door if I'm ever going to get back- I go to grab my Asics, thinking they'd be best suited for a longer run, but it seems my Brooks Cascadias hid them! I give them the 'mommy eye' - they promise to be good- so on they go. The trails were calling my name as I headed out- but I had to detour down into the neighborhood to mail a letter. A little warmup jog felt good- passing houses and people going places- CRAZY DOG runs out towards me barking--- ****** you know I love dogs, and never had a fear before I started running- What is it that makes dogs want to lunge out and 'get' a runner? Tennille had given me pointers the other day on what to do the next time I ran into a dog- should I try it? ********* "NO!" "S...

Hit snooze twice on my alarm this morning.  Luckily, my clock is alarmingly fast, making my actual out of bed time 4:45. No worries, I only had another 4 to tackle. AND I'd planned ahead and had everything ready. Oh yeah, "everything ready" to me means; I've forgotten to charge my head phones, Can't find socks, Have to scrounge through the laundry for that running shirt I just plain forgot to wash, but can't live without. SERIOUSLY!!!!! (you know- I HAVE asked for organization EVERY year for Christmas- no one seems to listen) Funny how these little things become the undoing of me. Same story in getting the kids out the door for school. I keep telling myself, "everyone else is competent and able to get with the program- why not you?" Oh, well I come just as I am. Hooked up my HUGE oldschool headphones,  stuffed the three miles of chord down my shirt, and headed out. Endomondo said I was running. I began my warm up w...

What is it about this time of year that turns me into a proffessional sleeper?  Silly alarm clock~ Don't you know it's Fall? Yet another lost morning~ When oh when would I run?  Then I remembered a quote I'd snatched from Pinterest last night: What was my excuse? Too tired, too busy- WHAT? I chided myself for my laziness, and determined a suitable punishment- the dreaded treadmill- Taught my kindermusik classes, and raced upstairs to 'get-r-done'. I had 40 minutes until I had to pick up Molly from Kinder. Chose a machine, but it didn't work. Settled for the next one over. Then it began... the whir and clank, blinking lights, and blur of the mini TV. This is inhumane. What do you look at when you run on a treadmill? Look straight ahead, there's a clock~ tick tock~ Look down, and it's the Price is Right~ Oh joy. My goal was 4~ On a regular run, 4 takes me an hour.  I only have 40min~ I pushed the lever, making my sp...

Forgot a few fun running details from yesterday's 9.5miler. Sky was amazing- That is one of the main things I noticed, as I'm used to running in the dark. A 'dark' run brings more caution, you are at a heightened awareness of everything around you, each noise, light, movement has you questioning what could go wrong. A daytime run is a busy run. Cars and people, the hustle and bustle of life- I didn't like that so much. I hate wondering if the car that just stopped on it's way out a parking lot, stopped because he saw me- or because his phone rang. I loved that I could finally run up college-hood-mesa road. No light posts takes it off the table for a 'dark' run, but perfect for daytime, as there is very little traffic. Hills are becoming manageable. I will wear my more supportive Asics for long runs. Move Free supplements will now be a part of my nighttime routine. Sunscreen. Duh----- (yep, I got burned) Oh, and the most amazing discovery of all- Capri-s...

Last night I was feverishly getting ready for today's run. "Practically giddy" was my Facebook status- I think it was the impending run, and NOT my late night latte- but you can never be sure- It's almost like the house goes into 'nesting' mode- Lunches packed- Floor swept and mopped- Clothes picked out- Backpacks ready- As if he didn't already know, I whisper to my honey Ryan, "Tomorrow's my long run..." Don't know what it was I was hoping he'd say, but it didn't even cross my mind he'd ask: "what time do you start?" *****OK who told on me!? I thought we had a deal people- Hubby is NOT to know the scary details of my training- Like when my brother-in-law outed me about a dog biting me-(no blood and gore, just tore a hole in the side of my running pants) OR when someone else started talking about us girls running on the highway- OR what time I start my long runs in the morning- So shhhhhhhhh ************* "3:45...

Today the noise in my head was louder than my iPod- Life gets messy- Not in a 'poor me' kind of way- just messy- you know- The work The school The house (The laundry) Pile upon pile of life- the compartments of you squeezing in- Wife Mother Friend Everything important, everything good- Everything screaming for attention- Overwhelmed? How can I possibly be overwhelmed? So many others do so much more. But here I was, the wrong side of the bed holding my hand as I started out today. I walked, I ran, then walked again. 4 miles down and back. I snuck home- Slid back under the covers- Back to the right side of the bed. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Yesterday I was feeling like the ugly step sister- Went with Clare and Jen to try on my 'lust list' shoes, only to find that the 'glass slipper' didn't fit- At first I thought it was because I was rushed, perhaps I'd tried on the wrong size-so I went back- Nope- they just don't fit- I was crushed- every Cinderella in the world would be wearing MY shoe, but me. I actually had a pity party that went like this: Naw---- I'll spare you- But today, the most fabulous thing happened- Got a text from Tennille: When r u going to Brown's? Want to meet there and have coffee? Tennille is the most amazing- -Accomplished violinist -Wonderful teacher -Runner!!!!!! Back to Brown's- the shoe quest continues- Can I just say, there is nothing like staying local for important things like- hmmmmm Coffee-Today (compliments of Tennille) was Andrea Christina's Chi Latte iced! (I'm actually dying to take my honey Ryan there...

Well, it's here, the last long run before MY HALF - so close to 13, almost a teenager- I'm a bit blah- Not even a nervous butterfly- Usually that means I will fail miserably- Perhaps it is just my training keeping me calm- I think I'm a bit sad- in a relieved kind of way- Sad that this part of my journey is almost done- Relieved that the next two weeks are more simple and relaxed. What next? I can't stop running. I've just barely begun. Part of me is frustrated that I am still very slow, the other side could care less. The run has become this most amazing thing. You've got to try it- just a baby step here and there. Walk, Wog, Jog, Run! Wish me luck- - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

So- I took care of those nasty leftovers- you know- those miles I'd been collecting that had to get done this week. So glad too, it's been raining off and on ever since. This morning woke up cold- my first thought was long sleeves- my second-crawling back in bed. Didn't though, out instead to brave the day, and the wind, and the 8 long miles that lay between me and my weekly mile goals. ....I ran the college loop almost with my eyes shut-- then asked "now what"? I needed to go somewhere- I was feeling a little wimpy, what with the snuggle-ly cold and my wishy washy mileage goal- and all. So I plotted a landmark to run to in my mind and went-- ******** I remember the first time I picked a landmark-- only it was walking then, and my daughter, Kate joined me in going to the library. I remember thinking, as we started out, how far away it seemed--- 5 miles for sure- only to find it a solid 1.5 - making the round trip only 3. We had a blast, ...

So I have this running Chart It's just like my alarm clock- always telling me what to do. Sometimes I listen- sometimes I hit snooze- This week was a snoozy kind of week. So now I'm left with leftovers- Two 4milers to be exact. Dilemma. Run tomorrow-Friday-4 Run Saturday -4 Or just get it over with and do 8 to rest up for Monday's 12-- Hmm Keep you posted. P.S. Because my lovely computer died, I've been iphone blogging hunt and peck style--- This afternoon I somehow deleted a past post-(Put Up A Parking Lot post-maybe even more---) Any thoughts on how to get them back? I contacted the app helper people- fingers crossed- Till then- why not plan your next run? - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Today's run was a Saturday run. I actually thought about getting my long run in today, even set my alarm the night before, but turned it off when it tried to get me up (I don't like being told what to do) That left me waking up late, scrambling to get out the door- Starting late, this run was already shaping up to be different; why not 'shake' things up and bring my headphones? Headphones have been left at home lately, trying to get myself able to run on my own without entertainment... But today I was running on the wild side! HA! I told myself, as I turned them on, there would be no walking on this run- end of story. Looking at my training schedule, this week had me running 4, 5, and 11 miles- 11 was out, leaving a 4 or 5 left for the run. Planning runs are getting easier. I try to add something unexpected in each run to keep it exciting, but It helps when you have a few routes plotted mile-wise, so you can stitch them together to create a great run....