Now for the longer race

I went for a long walk with a little run here and there yesterday.  I didnt know how long it was until I got home to plot it as my battery on the footpod wore out...  I covered a little over 4 miles.  I was hoping to cover 5.  Just couldnt figure out how to eek some extra distance out of it.
Today I went for an AM run.  I do enjoy the morning runs.  Unfortunately I do not think they will be enough to get me in shape for the Ramblin Rose 5 mile race in 5 weeks.... So I need to think of some other things to get a move on.
I havent been on my bike or in the pool in ages.  I need to get back at that.

Race day

I think some of this training has paid off.  I ran two mornings this week.  Didnt think too much of it.  But I guess every bit counts.
Wasnt my over analytic self with the race today. Sure we got there early but I didnt pick up my packet the day before. I pretty much winged getting to OrthoCarolina. And I didnt even look at the course of the race.  That is just crazy for me.
You might say I was distracted.  Which I need to be at times.  The release from pressure is good.  And it seemed to be OK on my overall race.
I ran the first mile without stopping. YaY me!  I did pretty good on the second two miles as well.  I was pretty happy with my overall time and pace.  And I felt pretty good too.
Now to start training for the next race.  About a month away and two more miles to add to the mix.
Wish me luck

Better get moving

Yesterday was a half day for me. It was a nice uneventful afternoon. I went to SMC and went for a run. I did a crazy route - 3 minutes run head back towards the beginning each 1 minute walk. It extended the 2 mile route to be 2.5 miles. I also added another mile on the route just to get more activity under my bed.
At the beginning of all this I passed a fellow runner that told me I better get moving. I figured out what he meant when it started to rain on me. Thankfully it was only rain at that time and I just got wet but did not have to rush to get to shelter. However the second storm cloud that blew through was much stronger. It was perfect timing to get back to the car. By the time I was pulling out of the parking lot the skies had opened up and it was raining thundering etc. it went that way off and on over he rest of the afternoon.
This morning there will be a four mile hike. I need to get moving.

Don't bug me

There can be so many hazards with running. First if you are klutzy you need to be careful. Depending on where you run you should be careful of cars and other vehicles. I came across other hazards with last nights run.

First off, I am now packing bug spray in my bag along with sunscreen. Have you seen the news on West Nile? So the bug spray has come out. Of course the other day when I ended up doing some tree climbing along the trail I did get a bug bite. Then unthought of that awful poison ivy from hiking in Cozumel. I got nervous it wasn't a bug bite. So to help take precautions the bug spray is in the bag. Of course a little bugger got me right on my elbow last night. Only covered 2 miles.
Hazard two... Well this might not impact everyone. Somehow between the HRM sports bra and sports bra I pinched a piece of skin under my arm. It was just uncomfortable after a while. When I got home I realized it was more than just uncomfortable. Nice ol' irritated piece of skin. I have switched up the sports bras for today's run in hope it won't get any more irritated.
And lastly - hair ties. How in the world did I knot my hair around my ponytail holder? And in a good way. In don't know nautical knot terms but this one was a good one. Unfortunately I did end up having to cut it out of my hair. Well I cut the damaged hair. CSM will love that at the end of next month when I go to get my hair cut. Hopefully I can avoid that again.
Did cover two miles. Trying for 4 today. Half day - so we shall see how I step up with that free time.

Quiet time

I made an amazing dinner tonight.  Monday ended up being Mexican with my mom and her friend.  Always good intentions but they fall through when it comes the cheese sauce and refried beans.
Tuesday night was dinner with a vendor.  I had an odd seafood salad of clams, mussels, calamari and octopus.  I figured light high in protein low in fat. I forgot about tentacles.  I did not eat the octopus.
So tonight was a wonderful medley of everything I have needed and wanted to cook.
Grape tomatoes tossed with olive oil Salt and pepper Grilled amd then tossed with basil.
Grilled zucchini.  Grilled chicken.
Grilled portabello mushroom topped with pesto hummus.  A side of prosecco.
All very tasty.
The last few paragraphs have been voice recorded so much easier than typing on the small screen.

Ate dinner at the dinner table without the tv on.  I have yet to turn it on and it is very peaceful.  I should remember to do this more often.

Contemplating should I go to bed early again so I can go running in the morning or will my neighbor make another 1250 am errand run and wake me up?

Olympics

AKA why I did not get up early on Monday.  And I had done such a great job of planning ahead.  I found NBC love streaming online and watched in real time.  Bit I got tired (ok more like ears bleeding) of Jessie J.  They went through all this formality of the flag.  I figured it was done. Bit it wasnt.  Not until I got home from the grocery store did I realise MISSED TAKE THAT!!! WHAT??? HOW COULD THAT BE?
So I watched NBCs edited broadcast for all those hours in fear of them being cut.  Bob and Al and Ryan did not know what to do with them. So there was a lame instruction and then there they were... Jason, Gary, Mark, Howard.... you light
...  turn the tv up! Do an internal happy dance. Goosebumps!  Good stuff! Thank you for not cutting.  Although they did cut the dancers that followed and I have yet to see much of that.
It was good.  It was late.
No early alarm.
But lots of searching for footage since then.

This week

We spoke last on Saturday.  We went out that night.  Interesting comes to mind.  No need to get into details.
Sunday was going to be a run.  Then.it was going to be a swim.  It turned out to be jumping jacks and burpees.  And odd day of marginal productivity and an egg mcmuffin.  These things happen when you go out late the night before.
Monday was nothing - see next entry.
Tuesday I ran before work.  I only ever do the 1.5 miles.  I always want to do more but I get consumed with time.  Truth be told my lazy days dont start all that timely so I could still do 3 miles and be ahead of the lazy days.
Today turned out to be a nice 2 mile run walk with a co-worker.  I felt awkward as her 26 year old dancer self surely could have run laps around me but she kept with me.  We are doing a 5k in 10 days so I need to get on that some more.
So will run again tomorrow.

Rain no ride.

Got the run in.  Need to post pics of trail.

Dinner with friends

That seems to be the theme for the week. Last night I went by to see some friends in their new house. Got to meet their new baby. He is a cutie. We bonded over dinner time preparations. Dinner was tasty. Grilled romaine, chicken and an orzo combination that was very tasty. Mixed some wine and good conversation in it all. A nice evening. I have to chuckle as with all homes... There is a new living room, family room, screened in porch, even bonus room with entertainment center... But we hung in the kitchen.
Tonight is a night out on the town. A multiple birthday celebration. I think I need to run out for some party hats today. We have dinner plans at 6. The restaurant has a rooftop patio so I am hoping the weather holds.
And later this week there is a vendor dinner. Ok that might not be "friends" in the conventional sense but we are all work friends.
So today to offset this I need to get a move on. Hoping to start with a 4 mile run and then maybe a bike ride. Which will lead to a long hot bath and a nap and an unproductive day between now and dinner at 6. Lol

Crazy rain

It is pouring down rain again tonight. Last night I got a flash flood warning on my phone and there was very little rain. Tonight it is just gushing down! But no warning. Go figure.
Thankfully I got a run in earlier. Ok even if I hadn't I surely wouldn't be going for a run at 9:46pm. Ran with a coworker. It was a good time.
Ran yesterday before that storm.
And a morning earlier in the week.
Tired and feeling it in my legs.

Run

Did I ever mention my Sunday run?  4 miles.  First three 2 minute walk 3 minute run for the first 3 miles.  Walked last mile.
Yesterday did not result in a run.  Had tentative plans that did not culminate into anything.  Hate that.  Came home.  Fixed up dinner. Cleaned up kitchen. And then nothing.  I suspect because I spend a majority of my days scheduling I have become a bit anal retentive on the subject.  Oh well.  This continues to be a learning curve for me.
In an effort to stick with plans for the rest of the week I went to bed early and got up early to go for a run.  I only covered 1.5 miles but it is better than nothing.  And it opens up my evenings...  might eventually get back in the water.  Fingers crossed those storms stay away.

4 miles

I ended up covering 4 miles today.  Haven't gone that far in a long while.  And even more rewarding.. I did a 3 2 sequence.  I ran 3 walked 2 or vice versa given the fact I started with the walk.  I did well with the first 3 miles until my phone acted up.  It gets tired too.  Around minute 38 it started skipping and trying to dial out.  Quirky error.  I walked the last mile.  Good outing.

I am dressed to swim.  But instead made an attempt at greens.  I needed to use that chicken stock from yesterday for something.  And I tinkered around the house some.  Oh and Andy Murray.  Good stuff.

Going to go hang with friends some and then off to the food store.

I am very excited by the closing ceremonies rumor.  I think a performance from Take That would be too much to ask.  Oh the things that distract me.

Out with the old. In with the new.

I never thought I would be one of those people that required frequent sneaker replacement.  Oh how things have changed.

Before and After treads.

Quiet

I have been quiet this week.  Distracted I suppose.  Off kilter with my goals in mind.  Did I mention distracted?
So I had a nice visit with a friend last weekend. She and her family recently moved back to town.  We swam with her daughters and had some a lunch.  A good time.  No real swimming went on. 
Monday I went for a run.  It was one of the more painful runs I have been on in a while.  My legs were all sorts of tight.  By Wednesday I could still feel the pulls in the muscles.  Not fun.
Tuesday was to be a swim day but again those late day storms blew in and screwed up all aspects of training.  Went out for drinks with a co-worker.  It was fun.  Met some people.  A good time.  But this has become one of my distractions that I need to put a stop to.  And for so many reasons...  wallett, waistline, lifestyle.  I do not need or want to be sucked into other people's bad habits.  I have worked hard to create good habits for myself and need to stick with them.
As a result unfortunately Wednesday was a miserable day.  Plus those achy muscles I mentioned earlier.
Thursday was a birthday outing for a friend.  Now that was fun.  There is a new bar in town and a friend is the bar tender.  It is a tiny place.  Kind of feels like you are hanging out with a few of your not so closest friends in someones garage bar.  Not too bad.
Friday another friend was visiting from out of town.  That ended up as drinks and dinner.  See what I mean distraction.  I kind of like being anti-social but I know that is not always the best approach.
And finally yesterday - well I had every intention.  But nothing every happened.  I spent a better part of a day working on a birthday present for a friend.  I think she thought I was baking for her.  Which I was not.  Now with some creative thoughts overnight I think I will find myself working on it some more this afternoon. 
But first a run.  I am going to try for 5 miles.  I know it wont be a full out run.  But I need to get my mind set and body OK with that distance for the race at the end of September.
I have opted not to sign up for that tri around the same time.  I really want to get my head around this always evasive running.
Oh and I did lose a few hours on the second grey book.  The emails segment makes me chuckle.  Reminds me of someone.  However I feel like the author stole the idea from Bridget Jones.  Not that she didnt steal the whole concept from the Myers woman.  Speaking of which.... think I will upgrade my playkist before today's run.  hello ADD