Looking back and ahead, July goals, and what nots.

Looking Back:
1.  June has just zipped past me and I hate to think that summer break is nearing its end. Oh no! I love my summer breaks and having time to run whenever I want. In June, I logged exactly 50 miles and not a step more.  I logged a pitiful 14 miles in January, 25 miles in February (of which some of them were cycling miles), 63 miles in March and April, 64 miles in May and 50 in June. I think I used the "hot" and "humid" excuse a lot in June. 

2. I ran one 5K race (Squire Creek Peach Festival 5K) in June with Judith and her friend. It was a peachy good one and the three of us PRed in it.  I finished the race in 33:03 minutes.

A picture of me, Judith, and Kelsey after the 5K at the parade

3. Looking back, I have been bad with my eating habits in June. I gotto work on eating nutritious and healthful meals in July. I feel like I have gained some weight too. I haven't been logging in long runs (the ones that burn some serious calories) but I have been eating the same amount of food (and probably more). Gasp!

Looking Ahead

1. Running goal for July = 60 miles.  I need to incorporate more runs outside so I'll get accustomed to running in the heat because .......

2. .... I have registered for another 5K race - Ding Dong Days 5K (yeap, what a interesting name) - in Dumas, Arkansas on the 24th. I think my boyfriend's little brothers (they aren't little anymore - more like tween/teen) are running it. I want to PR in this one. Maybe a 32:00 minutes and under this race. 

3. My friends are thinking about doing the RnR New Orleans half in Feb 2011. I think I am going to run that.

4. I'm still looking at trying to run a half or at least a 10K by the end of this year. I'm probably going to race that by myself, which I'm not sure. It's gonna be my first long race, so I want it to be "just perfect." There is one in Arkansas that I have been looking at for a while. It said the course has some rolling hills and when I clicked on the elevation map diagram, it just won't show up.  Of course, when I tried to bypass the online registration and wanted to print out a registration form like it had instructed me to, there was no such link for me to print one out. Is this a sign that this isn't going to be a well-run race?

Other What-Nots

1.  Age Group Rocks is hosting her first giveaway.  There are 2 Bondi Bands up for grabs. Head over there and check it out.

2. And in case you didn't win her giveaway or can't wait any longer (like me), I ordered some Bondi Bands for myself and as a gift to others. I found a coupon code online. Enter "JULY" and that will give you 1 free Bondi Band for every 3 purchased.

3. Team Marcia at Running Off At The Mouth will be running the Chicago marathon as part of the Lupus Charity Team in honor of Alex, her neighbor with Lupus. A donation will earn you multiple entries to some fabulous prizes.

4. Girls Just Wanna Go Run is giving away a zebra print travel mug with the option of 13.1, 26.2 or Run.  If you can't wait, go to Lift Your Sole Web site and enter girlsjustwannarun10 for a 10% discount.  

Hope July will bring you more happy miles running!

Giveaways in Blog Land

I didn't run today. I am taking it easy and resting the knee. Trail running worked some muscles that I didn't know I had. My butt muscles are aching - a nice ache. :) The knee is not too too bad. I can go up the stairs pretty painlessly. So I am excited.

Here's what other bloggers are giving away in Blog Land. Check them out!

Run Momma, Run is giving away some a top and Ryders sunglasses.
My Reason to Run is giving away a pair of orangish/brown Thorlos Experia socks. Ends March 31st.
Mommy's Fit for the King is giving away a iFitness belt and Gu. Ends March 31st.

Have fun and happy running!

I am liking the treadmill runs.

I learned.  Plan your run the night before. It helps me focus and keeps me less flustered. I know where I am going, and how fast I should be going. 

Attitude Change.  I am beginning to really like the treadmill, especially if I need to keep up at a certain pace. Today's workout was a mere 3 mile run. And last night, before bed, I wrote out on a piece of notepad what I wanted to achieve in those 3 miles.  I was so excited that I really can't hardly wait to go for that run.  I didn't make it to the Y this morning because of the time change and I can't help feeling gipped off my sleep.  But the run was at the back of my head the entire day. I knew that when I got home, I will have to put on my running shoes and head out. I did.

By the Numbers.  Here's the data for today's treadmill run. The pace in parenthesis was my intended goal, and the highlighted pace was what I accomplished.
Mile 1 = 11:32/mile (Plan: 11:30/mile)
Mile 2 = 11:07/mile (Plan: 11:19/mile) Yay, that kinda made up for the slack in Mile #1.
Mile 3 = I started off at 10:00/mile pace for 0.5 mile, increased the speed to 9:41/mile for the next 0.25 mile and finished up at a 9:30/mile pace. (Plan:10:00/mile pace.)
Total: 3 miles in 32:32. My best time ever.

How I Am Feeling.  STILL feeling good

Highlight.  Ego boost! A somewhat fit looking man came and got on the treadmill next to mine. He started off kinda at the pace I was going. But I just keep going faster and faster and faster. It felt so good. I feel strong and thought I could go faster than the final 9:30/mile but I refrained.
So, do you have any ego boost moment?    Haha. I am still feeling pretty darn good!

Giveaway.  Confessions of a Rambunctious Runner is giving away "My life on the Run" by Bart Yasso.  She wants to start a "Bloggerhood of the traveling book" where the person who gets the book will read it and have a giveaway and pass the book around bloggers.