Lost speed

I should be happy that I ran 2.1 miles last night and appear to be mostly pain free today. However, all I can think about it my pace. Average of nearly 12 minute miles. I've lost a lot of speed.

I know in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. The fact that I am running, and as the Hubby pointed out last night, should make me happy.

But I'm struggling with the fact that I've lost my speed. I look at my cottage cheese thighs and get angry. Come back muscle! Come back speed! Come back strength so I can feel the ground under me fly by at my normal 9-10 minute mile pace.

A month of catching up.

Fine. My new scale can calculate BMI. Fine. I'm not happy about my number. Fine. I'll go run some more. I weighed myself this afternoon. Blah. Blah. Blah.

(I know it's been forever since I posted and I start off bitching.)

Not a whole lot has been shaking these days. I gave up accessing the internet for non-work-related activities, while at work, for lent. I've been quite productive at work these days. Driving the desk has been hectic, I still don't have this two bosses thing down. But I have tried to make some connections over the course of the last two weeks to help in the career development world. However, I sometimes think that when the economy gets back on line I may jump ship for a mid-size... something just doesn't feel right. I don't know if it is company size or being a compliance trainer.

Nevertheless, I have made some friends at work and some of them are as insane as me. Three of us are joining a 4th for a 50k next month. We each run 7.25 miles, which doesn't sound too bad, until you add in the layer that part of this run is up a freaking ski jump. No freaking joke. A ski jump.

Before I started training for this task I pulled the trigger and went into the doc. I was diagnosed with asthma early in my pregnancy with Little Missy and I never did anything about it until now. Last year I wasn't training and I could tolerate not breathing well for a few weeks. This year I felt it was in my best interest to finally follow up on this whole inability to breathe thing. The doc gave me an inhaler to try and so far I have used it before every run. It seems to help a lot during the run. I'm still struggling at bit a night but I'm trying to use it sparingly.

The biggest thing cooking these days is my quest for a new ride. My SD is the lucky recipient of my current ride once she turns 16. I like my ride but it's not the most convenient when the SD and Little Missy are in the car. How often does that happen you ask? Enough times with the visits to family, etc. So, I'm looking to upgrade. Husband and I went to the nearest Toyota and Honda dealers to test drive the Prius, Camry Standard, Camry Hybrid and Honda Accord. It's down to a toss up between the Camry Hybrid and the Accord. The Accord is more stylish and has a great interior but doesn't ride as well as the Hybrid. Plus... it's a hybrid. I dig the idea of buying something that supports fuel efficiency and flexibility. Ugh... I hate making a decision about what I am going to drive with a mere 20 minutes of driving. Maybe I should just flip a coin. Peanut gallery, any thoughts?

11.24 Off to the races

I'm off to freeze my hiney off running in the cold. At least it warmed up more than I expected. I have a scarf, gloves, hat and layers. I'm not looking forward to this. Thought I should get this out there before I come home and drink oodles of hot cocoa.

11.12 I'm gonna race

Yesterday I signed up for my first race in 2 years. It's the 24th of this month but it's only a 5k so I think I should be able to handle it. I'm running with a friend from work and the race starts from our main campus. Nothing like leaving for a race from work.

However, it snowed last night and I'm not the best cold weather runner. At least I'll get a beanie hat and a shirt out of the deal.

Wish me luck!

FYI, my arm hurt from my flu shot last night and I couldn't sleep on my left side (boo hoo, I know). It's been forever since I had a shot and didn't expect I'd be this much of a wuss. Still hurt a bit today.

11.3 Oh the weather outside...

sounds delightful. I decided to work through lunch so I can skip out early and go home for a run. How can a Minnesotan pass up a 70' day in November? There should be a state law that if it hits temps this high this time of year we can skip work.

Even though I ran yesterday I am going to take advantage of the fantastic weather and get another one in today. It's not like my fat ass can't use the exercise.

Now.... where did I put that leftover Halloween candy?

TC 10 Mile

My in-laws and I are registering for the TC 10 mile. I haven't run a race since the last time I ran this course in 2006 before becoming pregnant.

I'm not sure I am ready for this. I think I should have started with a couple hundred 5k races before getting back into mid-distance runs. Oh well. The race is a lottery so we won't know if we are in until July 18th. In the meantime I need to maintain the thought that we could get in and get my butt in gear. I haven't been able to make it past 3 miles on a run. How the heck do I think I'm going to make it 10? Yeesh. I used to kick out 5 miles without question. What happened to me?

Today is a run day so I'll go pound the pavement during lunch and see if I can get my head back in the running game.

A beet

This is what I look like after running these days. I nice red beet. Not sure if it is associated with overheating or lack of oxygen, all I know is the folks at the gym at work today were probably worried I was going to keel over.

I joined the gym at work on Friday (a mere $18/mos). I blocked out my lunch for the remainder of the year and have a plan to run at least 2 days a week and either lift or take a class the other 3 days. They did a 'fitness assessment' (blood pressure: high, weight: high, pulse: normal) before I could begin working out for obvious insurance reasons. I about fell over when I saw the number for my weight. Urgh. Damn complacency and slowing metabolism.

Today was my first official day back on the wagon. I thought I would run outside but it's a bit on the chilly side so I opted to hit the treadmill. I don't think I have run inside in over a year. It was a bit of a trip and I instantly remembered why I prefer to run outside. The damn displays. How long do I have left? What's my pace? How many calories have I burned? It's like an obsession. I am out of practice and forgot to grab a towel to hide the numbers.

Nevertheless, I did end up running 3 miles. It is damn hot in this tiny gym and coupled with the extra 15lbs I am carrying, I look like a new kid on the block. I swear, looking at me after (and during, I presume) a run you'd be surprised I have run a marathon, numerous halves and countless 5ks. It's going to be an uphill battle.

And I have to get in the habit of packing stuff for 'after' the workout. While the gym has showers and hair/body shampoo they do not provide you with deodorant and brushes! Luckily, I keep spares at my desk and was able to finish getting ready back in my cube.

This evening, I bike home and can call it good. No pressure to feel like I need to squeeze in a workout after Claire goes to bed. This doesn't mean I won't be using the BOB. Oh no. This is what I need to do to get my ass in gear to push the BOB. I did that on Saturday for 33 minutes and looked like a beet that had been pulverized.

My 200th Post!!!

Holy cow. I was actually going to post about my first 30 minute run in nearly 2 years but I just realized this is my 200th post. Doing a little dance in my cube.

So, as I was going to say. I had one of those runs this weekend where I felt like I could go forever. Well, not forever, really, but I wasn't dying when I got back home. I almost called my dad and told him we should rethink the 'quitting while we are ahead to train for a marathon' thing. I know I didn't do my full 3 miles but for not having run for many moons, I felt pretty darn good. I now have a new technique. Run with the jogging stroller 3 days a week and then doing a long run without the jogger. Man, I can run a lot faster and longer when I am not pushing a 20 lb kid in a 20 lb stroller.

Now, if I could just drop the extra 10 lbs I am carrying I'll be FLYING!