That Redheaded Sister

Hi Everyone.  Super fast post here. 

I am in the throws of my huge show at work, so posting wont happen much until the end of July.  I have so much I want to share, but I just dont have the mental capacity right now to form words, edit pictures, etc.

Of course because I am SUPER busy at work, I want to tackle just about everything.  I have a few projects I want to work on, a few crafty items, I wanted to bake a thank you to everyone working on this show for me, start a savings plan/budget to buy a house, etc.  My head WILL.NOT.SHUT.OFF

Not to mention I am supposed to be running.  I had an awesome/difficult 7.5 mile run last weekend and hope to knock out 5 this weekend, but my evenings during the week are shot.  So much for any of my summer races (expect Peachtree).  I really miss having a running buddy and a workout buddy that is serious about getting into shape.  I am really considering running a marathon next year (since its on my 3o things list) and I need the help.

Ok back to marking floor plans for me! 

How is your week going so far?  I have been trying to keep up my commenting on blogs, but I havent really been able to read much

Tell me about what is going on in your world?

Want to be my workout buddy?  We can keep each other accountable virtually!

So much running this weekend.  I had a four day weekend because I worked through the weekend last weekend.  Thursday I ran umm a mile.  Friday I THOUGHT about going out, but didnt.  I got my haircut instead.  Its so cute!

Saturday I went running with my friend and we ended up running 5.6 miles.  It was a great run.  We took necessary breaks because I had my 10k the next day and I didnt want to hurt myself.  But God bless Ibuprofen.  No pain in my legs, no tape.  I felt great.  So after our run (and sudden rush of motivation) we started looking at local small races.  We have the next two months planned out.  Next weekend we have Guns and Hoses 5k.  This race is to benefit my home county’s police and fire department.  When we signed up we had to pick a team, Guns or Hoses.  My friend is going to be on the Guns and I will be on the Hoses.  The twist?  We are dressing up.  A cop and fireman….YES!  Cant wait!  We have a St. Pattys Day race in March and a pub crawl race in April. 

Sunday was my 10k.  The weather was chilly when we got there, but so sunny.  The pre-race wasnt that well organized.  One bathroom for all the women, no one recorded your time, and we didnt know our race started at 8:30, not 8. There was no course map online, so we didnt know what to expect.

HOLY HILLS!  My ass was kicked with the hills.  0.2 miles was flat.  I did PR though on my 5k distance.  I took a minute off (we had to do two laps of the 5k race, so I “crossed” the finish line a minute faster than the 5k I ran a few weeks ago.  But having to do all the hills again demotivated me fast.  Plus I was getting sore in my legs and I dont want to hurt myself on a little race before my Half.  So I told my friend to go ahead and I ran with a woman who was interval running….1 to 1.  One minute running, one minute walking.  It worked for about a mile, then I was feeling sore just from the stop and go.  I dont know if I could do that during a race again.  Id rather just run it out.  My final time (what I saw) was 1:10.  I dont know the milli seconds because they didnt have anyone timing us…just the race clock.  LAME.  I assume it was closer to 1:11 because my mom sent a picture she took of me standing on the other side of the line and the time said 1:11:05 (and I had been there for a little bit).

It was fun and today Im sore (hills….I hate you). I do find it more motivating training for smaller races than the bigger ones.  Or Im just nervous. 

This week I am going to take it easy again and we are running a 5k + 4 miles Saturday.  I think this way I can give my legs the rest they need but not feel like Im neglecting my training by missing big runs.

AHHHHH 60 more days until the Kentucky Derby Half!

What a week in training.  Last week was my first official week.  Monday I ran 3 miles at the river.  It was cold out, but it was nice. 

Wednesday I decided to do some speed work and I was so happy….I ran a 9 minute mile.  I was on a runner’s high that day.  Thursday my shoe store was having a sports bra fitting event.  It was not only helpful but fun.  They had a ton of food and wine.  Not to mention a raffle.  I was fitted for a new bra and I am very happy.  I got a bra (pictured) with an underwire.  At first I was worried….an underwire ugh.  But its perfect.  There is so much support and comfort.  And NO BOUNCING!  The brand is Moving Comfort and is the Maia bra.  I will use this brand again and again. 

They had a raffle at the event and were giving some really great prizes.  Entries into local races, running outfits, shoes.  I won a bottle of red wine.  I normally wouldnt be poopy, but I was hoping for a race entry or an outfit.  Heck I really wanted the sensor for my Nike shoes.  Plus I dont really like red wine.  Oh well. 

And then there is the issue with my shin splints.  I gave myself Friday and Saturday off to rest.  Saturday night after I went to bed my leg started pounding.  Matt accidentally nudged my shin (barely) and I started balling.  I have never felt pain like that.  I have done so much research and talked to so many people and we all come to the same conclusion: its just shin splints.  Matt told me that I had to give up running for the week!  WHAT!?  I cant give a week up.  I know it is probably stupid, but Im starting to really starting to get back into it. 

Yesterday I did more research.  What could I do to not miss a week of training and have to do workout on the bikes?  I cant swim, so thats out.  (I can swim but its ridiculous).  Then I ran into KT tape.  Remember the tape the beach volleyball players had on their shoulders during the summer Olympics?  That is KT tape.  The real name is Kinesio Tape.  Everyone who wrote about the tape had nothing but good things to say….especially with side shin splints.  I decided it was worth a try.  Its only $13 at Sports Authority and comes in many colors.  They only had three: blue, black, beige.  I got blue naturally. 
I had to watch a video on how to tape myself.  Then I ran 4 miles.  NO PAIN.  In case you missed it…..NO FREAKING PAIN. 

This tape stays on you for 5 days, but right now it looks a little ratty.  If you do use it and shower, it will peel off.  After it dries it will stick back on.  Today:  NO PAIN!  I will be using this forever.  And no one seems to know how it really works.  But what do I care…NO PAIN. 

Today was a stretch day so I sat in the steamroom at the gym.  My leg feels great.  Tomorrow I run three miles. 

I told you I had a ton to post today.

I was going to write today about hydration, but that would be like a quilter talking about building a house.  I dont do it.  So terrible.  I hydrate enough, but I dont follow the rules. 

Instead I am going to ramble about my mileage.  What a disgraceful 22.2 miles for the year.  My goal is 700 miles for the year.  I am hoping now that my training officially started today I can bump that number up faster. 

My goal is to train to run 9 minute miles.  I know I dont have a runners body.  I have flat feet, wide hips, big thighs, big boobs.  Not in my cards to run like someone with a runners body would.  But I will do it.  I am going to pick a few days a week to interval train.  Hopefully I can interval train outside properly.  After my race Saturday I noticed my legs didnt hurt.  I am pretty sure the treadmill has been doing more damage than it is worth.  Today I did trail running and that sort of sucked, but it rained last night so I did a lot of puddle jumping.  Both gave me shin splints.  Bad shin splints.

From now on Im going to stick to the streets.  I am ready for it to be light out when I get off work.  Then I can start doing long runs during the week. 

In other news…..is anyone from Louisville, KY?  I am having a hard time finding a hotel to stay at for my half.  I realized that the race is a week before the Derby which means its the kickoff to Derby week.  Because of this I can only find places near the airport (which I heard is seedy) and for $200 a night.  What to do……

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Mine is a long weekend and I am so happy to see the sun out welcoming me for my run today.  I know I left you all in the dark after last nights post, but I will explain myself later today or tomorrow.  Promise.

My post today is about solo training. 

Right now I am solo training, but only by choice.  For my last half marathon, I trained just about everyday with a friend and came to depend on someone being there talking to me and keeping each other to a pace.  It was motivating and the long runs seemed to fly by.  Then we got to the race and I ended up running the whole thing ALONE…..all 13.1 miles.  I could say I was bummed out, but I was much more than bummed out.  I gave myself a headache I was so upset.  It was my fault though.  I relied on someone else to get me through. 

This time around I am doing as much as I can solo to not set myself up for disappointment come race day.  I am nervous though.  Those long runs seem so daunting.  Up to now my short runs have been on a treadmill (too cold out) and they have been easy.  I have to start outside this week. 

I have a 5k I am running (alone) this weekend.  I keep telling myself its no big deal.  Its really not a big deal, but it would be so nice to have someone pass the time on all these runs. 

If I sound like Im whining, Im not.  Im just expressing what it feels like.  Its nerve racking.

Yesterday I went outside for a run because it was actually warm out.  It sucked.  I guess you shouldnt run when you are getting over a cold.  Attractive.  Im going to try again today.

I was also doing some research on some of the pain I am experiencing.  Foot pain, inner shin splints (instead of normal ones) and it seems to all come back to my shoes.  Great.  I am going to have to buy a new pair of shoes and pray that is why Im in all this pain. 

I hope getting new shoes will also help me improve my time.  Today I am going to time myself and see what needs improvement (if I can find my watch).  On a treadmill a 10 minute mile is not bad, but out there……different story.  Its so dang hilly in Georgia. 

So my goal today is maybe find new shoes that wont make my foot numb and reasonably priced. 

Here’s to a better training cycle.  Next week is the official beginning to race training.  13 weeks out.  !!!!!!!