Race Face

Well...I suppose I am a real runner now. I have been captured with the dreaded "Race Face."

I got an email today that my race photos were posted for my viewing (and buying) pleasure. Let's be honest...I'm not paying 10 bucks for a 4x6 of me looking like a dufus. Hopefully some day I'll get a good race photo of me that I feel like blowing up to poster size...but until that day happens...I've taken these lovely pics with my phone for your laughing pleasure!

Enjoy!

This is the best of the bunch. Yes...I give the thumbs up! when running.

 

 

So focused on the finish line!

 

 

My friend Joe always says I look like Phoebe from "Friends" when I run. This photo proves that.

 

 

Race Face!

 

OK. You can stop laughing now. You're welcome! 

 



Weekly Recap

Oh man....what a week!

I have not run a whole lot because this week has been so crazy!

Monday:

I managed to sneak out of work early (I took my boss home) and worked in a run with the Wal-dog. We only went 2.05 miles because it got dark. I do NOT like to run in the dark. I was impressed with Waldo. He kept up like a champ!

After my run (and a quick shower), I went to my C25K graduation! We all met at Crabtree Tavern and enjoyed a great meal together. There was lots of laughing and joking around. We gave our coach/leader/guy a card and gift card to Fleet Feet. I told him he could use it to get some new shorts! (The day we ran in the SLEET, he showed up in shorts!) We've all promised to keep up with each other and go running together again.

Such a good looking group!

 

Tuesday:

 

I had tickets to go see Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at the PNC Arena! I pretty much paid nothing for my ticket because I had won a gift card from the PNC Arena that I used to get it. So imagine my face when I found out that it was $20 to park!!! Crikey!

 

I went to the show by myself and had a blast. I sat next to the nicest family. It was a little uncomfortable sitting next to the mom while the opening acts were rapping about F-this and F-that. I told the mom that they seemed like cool parents to take their kids to a concert like this. (My parents would have NEVER gone to a rap concert with me. Or even let ME go!) She told me that they didn't censor their kids music and that they were both straight A students so they didn't worry too much about it. It's just music. I thought that was a cool way to look at it.

 

The two opening acts were ok. They were Big K.R.I.T. and Talib Kweli. Honestly, I wasn't terribly impressed. Maybe because the sound quality wasn't that great? Talib Kweli rapped over a track of himself for a couple of songs and that really just turned me off. They both had a couple of songs I enjoyed but honestly, I just wanted to hear Macklemore.

 

Plus I was really uncomfortable when I saw a young girl (maybe 8 years old?) walk past me in a homemade Macklemore shirt while one of the opening acts was singing "F-these haters, F-these hoes." *censor is mine and mine alone.

 

Macklemore does curse in his songs. But it's not every other word. I have a problem with people who can't talk or rap or sing without cursing every 3 words. There are lots of words in the English language!

 

After the opening acts, we got to sit there for about 30 mins. Weee! So fun. I know I'm getting old because I texted Bliss and told her I was ready for the main act to start already. It was past my bedtime!

 

Finally at 9pm...the main act! Such a great show. Macklemore had such a stage presence. He would talk to the crowd and really kept the energy going. I just loved it.

 



Why is it in this day and age I still can't get a good concert pic on my cell?

 

Wednesday:

 

RatBastard and I went to therapy. I supposed now that we're back together I should come up with a new nickname for him. I'll think about it.

 

Therapy went well. We both really liked our therapist and RB really took it seriously and opened up a lot. I'm looking forward to our next session. We even have homework!

 

Thursday:

 

Stitch 'n bitch night with my knitters! Where my stitches at? I'm working on a pair of fingerless mitts that are currently the bane of my existence. I have frogged them once completely and now am ripping out two rows. On DPNs. Boo!

 

Friday:

 

Hasn't happened yet but I have a Girl Scout meeting tonight! We're going to work on our detective badge and probably talk about our pending trip to Savannah next year! Fun!

 

HOPEFULLY I can get some running in on Sat. I feel like I haven't run in forever but I think that since I ran so much last week...I'll be ok this week. But back to the grind next week! I'm running 8k on Thursday next week!

 

Running update

I have been running!

Last week was a crazy week with running.

Monday - Hibernian Harriers Run Club
Tuesday - C25K meetup group - W8, D1
Wednesday - Ladies night at Fleet Feet
Thursday - should have been W8, D2 but I needed a rest day
Saturday - C25K meetup group - W8, D3!

On Wed, I went to Ladies night at Fleet Feet. It was very fun. I got there and there were about 14 of us ready to run. We took some pictures and then we were off!

Good looking group!

 



It was a straight shot down Six Forks Rd and then back. The way down was easy...I was running at a good pace and felt great. I loved watching the people in the cars just staring at us as we ran past. The way back was much harder...it was all up hill! I don't remember there being any downhill!!!

Back at the store they had some delicious cocktails for us to try as well as some snacks. The stuffed mushrooms were particularly delicious as I shoveled about 12 of them into my mouth. I had to apologize to a lady for eating while she was talking to me but I was STARVING after running 3.49 miles!

After I ate, I decided to go get a chair massage. I was 2nd in line so I talked to a guy about being cryogenically frozen. Apparently, its the new thing to do in sports medicine. You take off your clothes (you wear panties and gloves) and then step into this machine with your head outside of it. The blast you with cold for about 3 mins. It makes your blood go to your core and is supposed to rejuvenate muscles and all that good stuff. I can make an appt for to try it for just $20 so I might do that. It sounds interesting!

The chair massage was excellent. I wish I could get one of those after every run! After that, it was all over. I took my picture with my running friends and we were outie!

 

My running girls!

 

 

On Sat...we ran our last meetup group! It was kind of bittersweet. It was awesome because everyone was able to run the full 35 mins and most of us went the full 3.1 miles (5k!). We actually ran a little further...3.35. Not too shabby! I also found out that I look like a total doofus when I run!

 

 



Goofy girl!

 

This week will be rough trying to fit my running in. I need/want to run at least 3 times this week...but I have a full schedule.

 

Mon - Meetup group graduation! Hooray for a nice dinner with running friends!

Tues - Macklemore concert! I can not wait!

Wed - Therapy session with RatBastard - should be interesting

Thurs - Stitch n' bitch

Fri - Girl Scout meeting

Sat - will definitely be able to run

Sun - The new Hunger Games movie! Catching Fire here we come! 

I can't believe it...

I use RunKeeper to track my runs. I've been tracking my weekly runs religiously since August. I started running in June but wasn't so diligent in keeping track.

I decided to do the math and see how many total miles I've run in just a bit over 3 months.

118.5 miles!!!

I can NOT even believe it!! How on earth did I run that many miles? Not to mention the fact that a lot of those miles were hard won on my own.

This is so freaking true!

Crazy week!

It's been a crazy weekend and is shaping up to be a crazy week!

I took my GS troop camping this past weekend. It was a lot of fun but also very exhausting. I'm extremely lucky in that I got to go with one of our mom's who is amazing to work with. We get along really well and work well together to keep the girls safe and happy. The girls make me laugh all the time with their antics.

The best part about camping was that it reinforced the fact that I really am a runner! I left the girls in very capable hands and snuck in a run! I did 3.25 miles. It was super hilly and slightly chilly!

Happy Camper after a good run!

 

On tap for this week...

 

Monday: Run with the Hibernian Harriers Run Club. We'll be running in costume so that should be hella fun!

 

Tuesday: Run with my meetup group. Then spend some time with a friend of mine.

 

Wednesday: Tickets to the Hurricanes STH party! I'll get to visit the locker room and meet some of the players. I can't wait!!! Pictures will be posted!

 

Thursday: Halloween! I'll be dressing up for work and then running with my meetup group. Knitting group to follow! All in costume of course!

 

Then this next weekend is the City of Oaks Marathon! I'm hoping to make it out to the expo and am really looking forward to volunteering and seeing what goes into a marathon and half.

 

In other news: I heard from Ratbastard. I sent him a card last week and wanted to know if he received it. So I texted him. We chatted for a bit via text last night. It was nice to catch up with him and hear what he's been up to. My feelings are so mixed regarding that whole situation. I just don't even know. Who knows what will come of it...if anything?!

 

 

The GS bandito says surrender all your S'mores!



Getting my swag on!

If you know me in real life....you know that I love free swag. I use coupons, I like freebies, and I live for a good deal.

Because I'm so cheap...I like to volunteer my time rather than give my money. (mostly because I have more time than money)

So when I heard they needed volunteers for the City of Oaks Marathon in my home city, I was all about it. Hang out with runners....experience the race without having to run it or pay for it...and get free swag? Sign me up!

I had my volunteer training session last night. Plus I picked up my swag!

I get a a tech hat too!

 

This picture in no way demonstrates just how bright YELLOW this shirt is! I love it!

 

I'll be going to the race expo and hanging out with runners. Then on race day you'll find me at about 26.1 miles (or 12.8 if you're running the half marathon)...near the finish line!

 

I'll be the one yelling "You're almost done! Great job! Don't quit now!" 

 

What day is it?

It's WIP Wednesday!

Well...It would seem that running has stolen my knitting mojo. I'm still knitting...mostly on Thursdays at my stitch-n-bitch. But I don't have any great, new projects burning a hole in my head. I haven't been researching anything fun to knit. I haven't picked out a pattern or any new yarn.

I'm frozen in knitting time right now.

I am making a hat for my ex-husband. I have cast on twice for it. I am tired of it already.

So for today...here are some pics of projects that will probably never be finished...that sit around my house just begging to be frogged or worked on.

This scarf is for me and I still can't bring myself to finish it.

 

I called this my Layoff Hoodie. I started it when I got laid off last year. I never finished it. I messed up the cables and found out I was purling backwards. I need to frog this sweater but just haven't.

These socks make me both happy and sad. They are a great color, great yarn, great pattern. I just can't bring myself to figure out where I left off and finish a whole 'nother one!

 

I used to use knitting as a way to quiet my mind and keep my hands busy. I love to multi-task so it was a great way to get something done while I did something else. And while I still love to knit, I'm not sure I need it as badly as I needed it before. But hopefully my mojo will come back because I still want to make myself a sweater. And if I ever manage to frog that Layoff Hoodie - I've got the yarn for one! 

Running store reivew

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit a new running store just down the road from me!

Fleet Feet opened a new location here in Raleigh, NC! They had a bunch of grand opening activities. Unfortunately, I didn't get to participate in the store-to-store run (they ran 8 miles!) but I did get to try a delicious smoothie, pull 2 ducks to win prizes, vote for the best decorated pumpkin, and learn some new techniques on my foam roller.

I arrived around 10:45am and visited the tent outside of the store first. I talked to some lovely ladies about the inaugural Rock n Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half. Sadly, I won't be able to run that one. I'll be out of town with my GS troop in Savanna, GA!

Then I got to pick two ducks out of a kiddie pool. The ducks had numbers written on them that corresponded with prizes. I picked an 8 and a 9. I got a pair of Brooks branded shoelaces and a flashing Fleet Feet light that I can wear in the dark when I'm running!

 

Who doesn't love free swag?!



I also got a little pin from Brooks that says "Pick up the pace"

From there I went into the store and was very impressed with the layout. Men's clothing to the left, Women's to the right and shoes straight in front in the back. I walked around a bit and made my way over to the shoes. They had my beloved Adidas Supernova Sequence 6's and they had the $5 cheaper than what I had paid for them! Dang!

I talked to a super nice saleswoman about options for socks. I am forever having a problem with my no-show socks slipping. It drives me crazy. She showed me some great looking options.

They were doing some demonstrations with the Trigger Point Performance The Grid Revolutionary Foam Roller.

I happen to have gotten this a couple of weeks ago and thought I could use some better ways to use it. She showed me the best exercises to do with it. It felt amazing. I didn't realize that the little grid parts could be used in different ways to get different results. I now love Ollie (yes, I named my foam roller) even more!

From there I was done so I went over to Panera and got a free bagel. It was delicious. I realized while there that my free blinky light didn't work, so I went back over to Fleet Feet and they hooked me up with one that worked.

I can't say more about how nice and friendly everyone I spoke to who worked there was. They were so helpful and their prices were very reasonable. I will definitely shop there for my running needs!

Running for life

I thought I'd break down the timeline of my running history for you.

For 31 years I did not run unless someone was chasing me. I was the ultimate couch potato. I ran when I was a kid and a little in high school but never enjoyed it. As an adult I would hop on the treadmill from time-to-time but always overdid it and never stuck with it. And surely never liked it!

Sometime this year someone mentioned the Couch to 5k (C25K) program to me. It piqued my interest and I got this bug in my ear that said I should try to run a 5k. There are tons of great 5k runs out there nowadays: fun runs, color runs, mud runs, electric runs. I love stuff like that!

They say that nature abhors a vacuum. So when my relationship ended...I needed to fill that space with something positive. I jumped on meetup.com and found that there was a C25K program starting within a week or two. I signed up.

I ran with that group for 2 weeks. It was June. It was hot. It rained a lot. But I enjoyed it.

 

My first run with the group!

The best part about the C25K program is that it works because it starts you off slow. That first week you're only running a total of 6 mins. You walk 5 mins (warm up), then run for a min, walk for a min and a half X 6, then walk for 5 mins. You slowly build up the time and your muscles and eventually you end up running a 5k. It's amazing. It doesn't allow you to burn out but it still challenges you.

 So why did I only do it for 2 weeks?

 

 

I blame this guy.

 

I sprained my back lifting my dog Waldo. He was hiding under the bed. I went to pull him out and picked him up to put him onto the bed for a quick snuggle. When I lifted him...I felt a sharp pain in my back. A trip to the doctor confirmed that I sprained my back and put me out of commission from running for three weeks. Thanks Waldo! 

 

By the time my back healed...my group had moved on without me. I was too far behind to catch up.

 

So I did the unthinkable. (for me at least) I ran by myself! I live 5 mins from the greenway so there was no excuse. I ran 3 times a week for about 6 weeks by myself in August and Sept. I finished the C25K program on my own! I was super stoked.

 

Then I ran the Electric Run in Sept. I thought I would have to run it alone, but when I got there I spotted a bunch of my friends from the original meetup group that started it all! They let me run with them and I had a blast. I had to walk some parts of the 5K...it was rough...but I finished!

 

So where am I now? Well about 3 weeks ago I joined up with the new C25K group and I am running with them. It's funny to see how easy the early runs in the program are now that I'm used to running 30 mins non-stop. But it's also nice to run with a group and meet new people.

 

I'm running the C210K program on my own. I'm planning on running with a different group of runners some days. I'm registering for an 8K Turkey Trot (a race held on Thanksgiving morning). I'm volunteering for the City of Oaks Marathon. I'm going to enter the lottery for the Nike Women's Series Half Marathon in DC. Hopefully I'll get accepted and actually get to run that Half Marathon! I'm planning on running a full marathon with Bliss in Oct. of next year.

 

Lots of fun running stuff!

 

Me in all my reflective glory before my run last night!

My glass slippers

So I got new running shoes this year. Twice...if you count the fact that I bought a new pair when I started the Couch to 5k program this summer.

I started with the cheapest sneakers I could get. On a rained-out beach trip, my bestie and I went to the outlet mall. I got my Adidas Liquid 2's for around $30. Not bad for a cheapo like me!

Aren't they pretty?!

 

However, they are not proper running shoes. I jerry-rigged them with a Dr. Scholls gel insole to stop my shins from hurting. They looked hella good though!

 

 

With the advent of the great experiment...I decided it was time to get serious and get myself fitted for some new running shoes. So I went over to my LRS and got these bad boys:

 



 The Adidas Supernova Sequence 6

 

Let me just say that these shoes are AWESOME!!! I love them. They cost more than anyother shoe I've ever worn...but they are a dream to run in. I just wish they were brigher colors! 

Obsessions

I often become obsessed about things. It happens often enough that when I get excited about something, my friends joke that I'll soon be over it.

However, two things have stuck with me so far.

The first was knitting. I started knitting as a NYE resolution to learn something new. (And we all know how those turn out!) My first project was a dog sweater that pretty much took me a year to finish.

(Can you spot the glaring error?)

From there I progressed to more knitting, more yarn, and even a Stitch n' Bitch group!

This blog will cover lots of my knitting and knitting stories I have no doubt.

The second thing that has stuck with me is running.

I started running when an ex (Ratbastard) broke up with me. He told me I couldn't/wouldn't/shouldn't ever run a 5k....so of course I had to prove him wrong!

I ran that 5k...and have continued running for myself!

As my latest obsession, you'll probably read most about my running. I just love it.