Random running thoughts

Running gives me a lot of time to think.

I usually tell people that running quiets my mind (much like knitting) but to be honest...I still think a lot while running.

Most often it goes something like this:

-Oh man this feels good. Feel how good my legs feel!
-Think about something that happened that day
-I need to slow down.
-Oh gosh...I can't breathe!
-Just keep running Sprinkles. Don't be a wuss.
-I swear to you I am dying!
-Think about something else - You got this.
-Deep thought.
-I'm dying! Why do I do this?!

And so on and so forth.

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People often say that running is cheaper than therapy. Is that true? Let's look at some numbers.

Therapy costs anywhere from around $40 - $60 a session.

Running so far for me:

New shoes: $120
New running gear: about $50
Ollie the wonder foam roller: $40
Running socks: $10
Tom Tom Runner watch: $167 (although mine was a gift)
Compression socks: $15 (also a gift)
Runner's world mag subscription: $10
Gym membership cuz it's too cold/dark to run outside: $34 a month
Sign up costs for races: Anywhere from $25 - $200

Someone do the math. Is it really cheaper than therapy?

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Exciting news on the "Getting others to drink the running kool-aid" front! My sister "Kiddo" has started the C25K program. She's on her second week and has already signed us up for a fun run! I can't wait to run the Neon Vibe 5K with her in March!

According to her Facebook page: "So, a week into my c25k program and I'm already at the point where I can't wait till my next run."

Hooray! Great job kiddo! I'm hella proud of you. :)


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I got a some great running pressies for Xmas that I still haven't talked about!

First of all...I'd like to introduce Tom Swifty!

Waldo's a shameless photobomber

 

Tom Swifty is the Pink Tom Tom Runner watch that my parents got me for Xmas. I LOVE IT! It tracks my runs via GPS or if I'm at the gym it uses my natural running rhythm to track how far I've run. And it's surprisingly pretty accurate! 

 

I'm able to upload the information easily into my runkeeper account and also into Tom Tom's own sports/running website. From there I can see my splits and all sorts of fun stuff.

 

There are a lot of different training features I can use and different functions that I haven't tried out yet. It will let me pick a distance and then tell me how close I am to the goal.

 

All in all...it's pretty sweet. I love it.

 

I also got these awesome compression socks from the Kiddo.

 

I love the color!

 

I wore them after my last race to see if they helped my legs not be so sore. I like to think they helped. Plus I felt pretty awesome wearing them so that's always a plus! 

Stubborn Warrior: New Years 5K recap

Ok...so January's race is in the bag. I know...Its taken me almost 2 weeks to blog about it. Sorry. I'm a slacker.

This was an interesting race because it was the first race of the new year. It was also my first race completely by myself. I didn't know anyone there...I didn't have anyone to cheer me on...it was all Sprinkles.

Screenshot from my phone as I left the house!

 

 

So I woke up at 5:30am and got ready for the race. As you can see from the pic, it was bitterly cold outside when I left at 6:30am. The race didn't start til 8am but I had to pick up my race packet so I wanted to make sure I had enough time.

 

The race was held out at the Dorthea Dix campus which was really nice. I got there good and early and drove around a bit trying to figure out where to park. Finally I found a small parking lot near the start of the race.

 

That is when I figured out that it was a small race and that I didn't need to get there super early next time.

 

 

Best bib number ever!

 

There was a total of about 130 runners. We started about 10 mins after 8am and we were off!

 

The first mile was bitterly cold. My legs hurt so bad from the cold. Every step I took felt like daggers to my thighs! Finally around mile 2 I warmed up enough to enjoy the run. The sun was warming up and the scenery was beautiful. I was running pretty much by myself with one or two people passing me or me passing them. It was awesome.

 

I was so proud of myself for running the whole thing. I was even more proud when I saw my time! I got a PR! (not that I've run many 5ks...but still!)

 

I ran the 5k in 32:46 which averages about a 10:30mm. Not too shabby!

 

I placed 49th overall and 19th out of the women.

 

Stubborn Warrior is a local series of which there are 5 runs total. This was the first. Each run, they give the top 50 guys and the top 50 women points. 1st place gets 50 points, second place gets 49 points and onward. So coming in 19th of the women...I got 32 points! Not bad!

 

I plan on running all 5 races so hopefully I will better my times and get a lot of points!

 

The best part is that the race is run on the same course each time so I'll really get to see some improvement hopefully!

 

 

 

Donuts never taste as sweet as they do for a post-race treat!





BRRRRR!

Well...it's official. I am SOOO glad that I got a gym membership! Thanks Bliss!

It has been so cold here lately. How cold you ask?

Yesterday it was 9 degrees.

That was not a typo. It was really 9 degrees. With the windchill it felt like it was in the negative degrees! NEGATIVE!!!!

I don't know how people live in states that actually get snow and deal with temperatures like this all winter long!

I very much enjoy running inside where it's warm.

Until it warms up - I have a beard

First Adventure of 2014!

So I have this theory...how you close out and start the new year is sort of how your year will shape up. 2013? Don't ask...let's just say it wasn't the greatest start. :)

So I closed 2013 with my knitting friends. We hung out at my friend M's house with her husband, her fake sister, and another one of my knitting buddies. We had good food and lots of fun just watching random YouTube videos and knitting. It was awesome.

Yesterday, I managed to get myself out of bed and drive out to Durham to Eno River State Park. I met up with the Raleigh Trail Runners and went for my first ever trail run. 30 mins out...30 mins back.

It was hard! I'm not sure Trail Running is for me. There's lots of logs and branches to jump over...rocks to twist your ankle on, and leaves to slip and slide on! It is kinda fun because it's a challenge. You have to step carefully.

At one point...I was leading a small group (it was single track so only enough room on the trail for one person at a time and I ended up in front somehow) and I got us off the trail! Whoops! We had to double back and I was thankfully in the back of the pack after that!

All of the other runners were much faster than me but since I am learning to appreciate my own pace...that was ok by me! I did end up walking with a really nice girl for a bit so that was awesome. Total - I ran about 3 miles.

We all got back and then it was time for the real adventure! We headed to the quarry to do a polar plunge! We hiked another 3/4 of a mile and when we got there...there were other people jumping in too! I've been told that some of them were naked but can't confirm this as I didn't see it. (Thankfully!)

We went to a slightly higher point and started right in on jumping in! I was the 3rd person to jump in...

Am I holding my nose as I jump?

 

SO COLD!!! The shock of the cold literally takes your breath away. As I was underwater waiting to surface I had the brief thought that I might die underwater. But then my muscles unfroze and I surfaced. I managed not to curse (as there was a news guy present) but I think I might have yelled "CRAP it is COLD!"

 

 

Get me out of here!!

 

I managed to swim to the bank and climb my way out of the water. There were a bunch of roots that you had to use as a ladder to get out. My muscles did NOT want to cooperate and so I ended up almost falling back into the water!

 

 

I am not staring at her butt. I am trying my best to get out of the cold-ass water!

 

The funny thing is that it was actually warm when you got out of the water. I managed to change without anyone seeing any naked bits (as did everyone else) and we were on our merry way back to our cars.

 

A group of us decided to celebrate our plunge with some food so we went and had an early dinner. While at the restaurant...we saw ourselves on the news! NBC 17 had sent a guy out to tape us and we made both the 6pm and the 7pm newscasts! You can't really see me in it except the side of my face for a brief second and my legs/shoes in one shot. LOL.

 

All in all...it was a great start to the new year. Meeting new people, chilling with friends, good food and great adventure. Plus some knitting and running to boot!

 

Here's to 2014 - may it continue to rock my world!