Run, Baby, Run….and bring your friends and family

In general, on the days that I work, I don’t have time to work, take care of kids, commute and exercise. Today, though, it was 70 degrees with blue, blue skies and that last hint of summer in the air. No way was I staying inside. I left work and made it home with just enough time to change and walk the mile plus to pick the kids up from daycare. I felt a little funny pushing the empty double jogging stroller. Like, “Hey, lady, did you forget something, or are you just crazy?” I got there just before they closed and the kids and I had a pleasant chatty walk home, learning all about crosswalks and round-abouts and idiots who go onto the freeway from the inside lane of the round-about and almost hit women with jogging strollers. But I digress. I’ll have to keep the stroll in mind in the future; it was a pretty good and quick way to stretch my legs after work and enjoy my kids’ company. I’m off to try Kim’s EZ8s class tomorrow.

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 10/23/2007
• Time: 17:15:00
• Total Time: 00:40:00.00
• Distance: 2.5 miles
• Average Pace: 16:00/mile

This is what I remeber from running previous marathons. It’s not that the training is that hard, it’s that it’s time-consuming and (at times) a little tedious. Bringing in that extra day of running also cuts out my day of swimming, biking or taking some fun random class. I found myself dreaming of swim sets last night, of descending 100s and IMs and….sigh. And it was back on the treadmill today. Went pretty well actually, fueled by the fact that I took my daughter swimming afterwards. Cutie girl, she had to show off for everybody there. As soon as anybody looked at her, she was kicking and “skulling” (as only a 2 year old can!) and blowing bubbles and grinning, grinning, grinning. The rest of the time, she was clinging for my neck and asking for repetitions of Captain Kangaroo, over and over and over again. We had a blast. Maybe I’ll swim tonight…

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/22/2007
• Time: 09:30:00
• Total Time: 00:29:34.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 9:51.13/mile

As most of you know, I’m a great big wimp about scary places and people in the dark. On a positive note, this does get me out of walking the dogs in the dead of night, but really, it’s not such a great trait. (I’m thinking that my husband, who does have to walk the dogs in the dead of night, agrees with this assessment.) 6:30 am, in the dark, in the fog and the mist, down a deserted trail counts as a creepy time and place. A place where Freddy Kruger and Jason from the Halloween movies could certainly live, or at least sleep for the night. I know, Jason wears that hockey mask and all, so who really cares if it’s dark or light, but my imagination runs unchecked in the dark. Kim and I managed a mile or so in the dark, and then headed for the bright lights of North Bend…the rest of the run was great. We were planning on 8, then hit 8.5 and then just “had” to keep going until 9. (It’s like a sickness, I swear. We just can’t stop if we’re that close to the mile.) While it wasn’t the fastest run ever, it was comfortable and my feet felt so good in the new shoes. Very nice not to feel each individual rock due to the lack of cushioning! I’m off to take the kids to a Halloween party now (a pirate and a ladybug. No costume for me.) and feeling great.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/21/2007
• Time: 06:30:00
• Total Time: 1:36:35.00
• Distance: 9 miles
• Average Pace: 10:44.01/mile

Or at least back in my favorite weekend class. (Which I can tell I’ve missed!) Another Saturday morning of inspiration, hard work and smiles. I needed it as we braved Costco right after that. Ever taken a 2 year old and a 3 year old to Costco on a Saturday around lunch time? You need all the inspiration you can get! Long run tomorrow. I got new shoes last week so I’m very exicted to have comfortable, if somewhat wet, feet for the 9 or 10 mile run!

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 10/20/2007
• Time: 09:30:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 10/20/2007
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 00:30:00.00

We had a great trip, lots of sun and fun and sleeping late. I went with the best of intentions. I brought my running shoes, shorts, tank tops. I was ready for some Florida training. We were staying by busy roads. Without sidewalks….so it was back to the treadmill. I think I have a mental block now about treadmill training. I called it after 2 miles of treadmill pain in the Florida humidity. (Needed a little more ac, that’s for sure.) So…we walked everywhere. I managed to hop onto the stairclimber one other day, but couldn’t face the thought of another treadmill run. Still, the vacation was a blast, and I’ll be back into the runs on Sunday!

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 10/17/2007
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Distance: 3 miles

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 10/17/2007
• Total Time: 00:15:00.00

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 10/17/2007
• Total Time: 00:35:00.00

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 10/16/2007
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 20:00/mile

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 10/15/2007
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Distance: 3 miles