We All Dashed Through The Snow (virtually).

Suzanne at Cows and Lasers and Everything In Between

She didn't just sign up for one virtual race, but FOUR virtual races.
You can read all about it here.

"I walked a mile around the house while preparing Christmas dinner at Allan's mom's house. I literally walked around the house with the dogs the whole time we were preparing dinner and waiting for the rest of the family. It was probably a little more than a mile but at least a mile for sure!"

 Melissa over at Crazy or Determined?
multi-tasked by combining a 2-mile run and spending quality time with her dad. 

 "I went through a run through my parent's neighborhood in Virginia. Luckily it was in the upper 50s and not too cold. Plus, my dad went on a bike ride beside me while I ran, so I felt like Rocky. ;)" 

 

Kyria at Travel Spot  was brave and hit the snow and ice combo trail. 

"It was a very hilly dirt logging road with snow and ice! I ran for a little over an hour, which I assume to be about 6 miles, since my Garmin was on the fritz due to the trees. It was so nice to get out of the house and get some fresh air and exercise (and work off that turkey!)"

Julie from ROJ Running.  

"I did a little impromptu workout yesterday, when I spent 20 minutes chasing my sister's dog around the neighborhood afte rhe escaped haha. Unfortunately I don't have a picture, because my phone had an error and erased all my media ) ; I wanted to let you know I did it though!"

Kristan over at I Will Tri wasn't able to run due to an injury. She has been using the elliptical machine. 
Send some good wishes her way and hope she has a speedy recovery.

Christine over at Dream Big Runner didn't run because she found a more fun way to work out - Playing Xbox Kinect. I think she is onto something here .... you know ... a fun and effective way to cross-train because she is really sore! Also, if you are in search of a challenge for 2012, take a look at Christine's 100x Challenge.

Darlene and Sabrina are unaccounted for.

Thanks for participating in the "virtual race." Let I said before, I had this just to hold us all accountable for moving a little during a day when we probably would rather sit down on our bottoms and eat cake. :)
And of course, mostly to keep me accountable for it because I am notoriously for not moving at all during special days.

Dashing Through The Snow Virtual Race

Hello everyone!
How about a virtual race done specifically on Christmas Day?


http://www.emblibrary.com/el/Products.aspx?CS_ProductID=D3494&CS_Catalog=Emblibrary



Race Date: Christmas Day 2011

Time: All day Christmas Day. When the clock strikes midnight till the next strike at midnight

Distance: 1 mile OR 5K (3.1 miles) OR 10K (6.2 miles) 
Type of Race: Run or Walk or Run and Walk
Optional: Feel free to deck yourself up with boughs of holly, or Santa suit, or anything that's Christmas-y.

Why This Race?
1. Because I need a race before the end of 2011.
2. Because we eat too much cookies, cakes, casseroles on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
3. Because some people need the run to get away and clear their head.
4. Because some people just need some kind of "race" to keep them accountable during the holidays.

What do you do?
Comment under this post if you want in. Now, this is a race to hold you accountable for working out on Christmas Day. You DO NOT have to commit to the distance. But if you want in, you are committing yourself to working out on Christmas Day. That's why I am keeping the distance pretty flexible because I know it will be a hectic day. But do at least take 15 or 20 minutes to walk with your kids/dogs/loved ones.
If you commit yourself to the race and didn't race, you will DNS. And there will be consequences! :)

After the race, take a picture of yourself in all the glorious Christmas sweat.
Email your picture to me at runchristinarun@gmail.com. 
Include the following information:
Your name.
Your blog.
Distance Ran:
Optional: A little blurb about the run or a random thought that occured to you? Or a Christmas cheer? Or if you have a race report, even better!

What will happen to those who DNS?
You will be featured too! I will have a list of DNSers. Hate me? Don't. I'm just trying to help. :)

Edited 12/15/2011: 
Remember, this is just a "race" to keep you moving on Christmas Day. So, even if you are walking to get coffee or walking the dog, it will work too. You may complete the distance all at once, or break it up into chunks. You may do it on the road, on the trails, on the treadmill, or even up and down your driveway.
Just keep moving .... :)

Done! Done!

Oh yeah! Let me try to be short on this post since I have quite a bunch to do today.

I ran my long run today. Eight miles. Eight miles on the treadmill. Guess who feels like a lab hamster right now? Ahem. I do! I'm not going to lie. It was not 100% fun like hamsters made it out to be. I almost went bonkers as I plopped one foot in front of another for forever.

Turns out running is a mental sport. And I must be a mental patient. I ran the 8 miles into 2 segments because I thought it would hurt less and make the 8-miles more palatable. Yeah right!
So, first, I ran 3 easy miles.

Then, I ran another 5 miles.

Just because I am such a sucker for torture, I ran another 0.28 miles to complete my 3rd virtual race hosted by MCM Mama. It's her birthday.

So, there you go. A grand total of 8.28 miles in 1 hour 37 minutes at about 11:39/mile pace.
After my run, I went home and took a good semi-cold shower. Does that count as like a ice bath?
And then, I drove to MacDonalds. I know. Don't judge. I got some yummies for my belly.

Chocolate milk, anyone?

And pancakes. And a hashbrown. 

Now I have to read that Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide. 

August Goals

Woo hoo! I am quite a blogger today huh?  I spent a WHOLE LOTTA time on the Internet browsing at race calendars, checking out hotels/plane tickets as if I was really going for a destination half marathon and read a lot of blogs. I also gave some thoughts about August and running.

Goals for the Month:

1. I am going to run 60 miles this month. 
2. A virtual race (see below).

So, I clicked and clicked and clicked and hey! I found myself on MCM Mama's blog.

And I clicked and clicked and somehow, I signed up for a virtual race.

And Hey! Hey! Hey! I didn't just remain the usual "play safe" girl and signed up for the 4-mile run. I committed myself to the 8.25-mile run! We gotto think big. Dream big. And accomplish big!

OH YEAH! August is still gonna be oven-hot in SE Arkansas so I am thinking it will be done on the dreadmill. But, I'm gonna do it. We gotto challenge ourselves, right?

So, if you are interested in a virtual race, head on over to MCM Mama's blog and check it out. Let's celebrate her birthday with some miles!

What are your August's running goals? 

Virtual Run Report

Today is the day when I finished my 2nd virtual run this year. Hosted by Running Diva Mom, I ran 1 mile in 10:32 minutes.

It started out one lazy 5:30 a.m. when the alarm went off.  I rolled out of bed and headed to the gym because I had promised a friend that I would do fartleks with her. 

I did my fartleks. It was 2 miles of staying on task and at the last mile, I got impatient and went out of the structure I had initially planned.
I changed the pace setting for every 0.5 mile.
12:00/mile for 0.5 mile, 10:43/mile, 11:46/mile, 10:00/mile, 10:30/mile, and then I hovered between 10:30 and 7:30ish/mile for the last 0.5 mile. 

2.08 miles for 24:52 minutes followed by 1 mile for 10:32 minutes.
Another three miles down.

"Oh what a wonderful morning."

Or was it "Oh what a beautiful morning?"
Oh ... whatever.

I woke up this a.m., itching to run outside.  I have been running on the 'mill for the past week and I longed to be outside. So, I jumped out of bed and got ready.  Since I didn't exactly ate enough last night, I ate a Powerbar at the dining table before I headed out. 

Then, I drove my car to the curve down the driveway so Buttercup won't follow me. I like this dog, but. I also really need time to myself and not worry or bothered by people, things, or animals around me. I just want to be responsible for myself and my actions. Here's a shot of me, just before I started pounding the gravel path. I forgot to freeze some water last night in my bottle, so I dumped a bunch of ice in the bottle instead.

And so I ran and I ran. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, but it wasn't blazing. The air was crisp, the breeze was cool, birds were chirping, leaves on the trees were rustling, and I smelled a heady scent of honeysuckle as I ran. How great can this get? I ran and delivered a kiss at Keith's office and turned back. I had planned to just do a 3-miler but a fast 3-miler today, but I ended up doing 6 because I didn't want the "pretty" to end. I want to embrace what's left of the cool crisp mornings Southeast Arkansas is blessed with before we get a heat wave! Anyhow, this is me, six miles later, feeling happy.

Here are my splits and I finally have a pretty successful negative splits:
11:4511:30
11:34
11:27
11:14
10:47
Total: 6 miles in 1:08.20 at 11:23/mile pace.
May Done and Did = 17 miles
May To Go = 33 miles.


On another note, Running Diva Mom is hosting a Virtual Race for New and Seasoned Runners. Donate $1, run, and win some cool prizes. I ran my first virtual race in April and I had so much fun. A race is a race, no matter where I run it. So for those of you who needed a reason to get off the couch and do something, do this.
And for the seasoned runners, challenge yourself and take your legs out on a joy ride!

My First Virtual Race

I tried to complete this virtual race earlier this week - all 7.something miles of it. But because of a poor prerun hydration and nutrition, I struggled every bit along the way.  I logged 6 miles and also refrained from begging the boyfriend to drive me home.  Today, I wanted to finish the rest of it.

So, I started running this morning. About 1.8 miles into it, I knew I had completed that race distance. But I kept on going. I hated how I had to call the run off earlier this week, and I wanted to run nonstop, the entire race distance. And I did, plus a little bit more.

I am glad I did because I felt good after the run. Above is a picture of me, not wearing a blue top for a change after my 9 miles.

Here are the splits for this run:
Total Time: 1:53.39  Total Miles: 9:27 miles
11:51
11:50
11:51
12:10
12:18
12:20
12:34
12:39
12:42
3:21.91 (.27 mile)

It wasn't fast and I know I can do better. But I just don't really know what was going on with me. My legs felt a little heavy. My ankles just a tad tired. I felt like I could use a good massage - and I am not the kind of girl who likes to be massaged by strangers. Maybe I am a little tired?  Maybe I will continue running shorter distance (like 3 or 4 miles), but at a faster pace this coming week to give myself a little rest?  Ok, I have to laugh at myself when  I say 3 or 4 miles is a short distance. Haha. Six months ago, that would be my LONG RUN! Anyway ....  Do you have moments like these? Do you take a little break from running longer distance?

What's happening?

I feel nasty not running. 
I managed a pathetic 2-mile run yesterday because I still had lots of paperwork to finish AND filing for taxes. Since I was going to run some measly 2 miles, I told myself to give it all I have ....  I started off with an easy 11:00/mile pace. About a mile into it, I sped up to about 10:30/mile pace (1-mile), and to a 10:00/mile pace )0.7-mile) and then to a 9:30/mile pace (0.3 mile). Finished the 2 miles in 20 minutes plus a couple of seconds. Not too shabby. I was drenched in sweat and it felt GOOD!

Today, I was planning on running 6 or 7 miles in the afternoon. But guess what I did?
I went to a nursery and bought some periwinkles, in addition to the other plants I bought last weekend and hadn't had the time / chance to plop it into the ground. SO, I spent my afternoon digging and plopping plants in the ground.  Dragonsnaps in the pots, tomato plants in the pot, peppers in the pot. Petunias in the ground. Two gardenias in the ground and some kind of pink something something ... I'm not born with green fingers/thumbs ... so, we'll see if all these somehow will survive. Gonna try to take some pictures tomorrow and show y'all what I have!

Lastly, do check out Aneta's blog for her virtual race. I copied and pasted this information off from her blog.
When: April 15, 16, 17 OR 18, 2010
Distance: 12.3 k or 7.64 miles
How: You can do this distance in 1 day, or split it up in 2 or 3 or even 4 days!
The catch: You must wear ur pjs!!!! (and no, i do not mean you have to wear the whole thing, but one piece of it.)
How to win the prize: Before April 18th is over, you must send me a picture of you in your running pj gear and your finishing time!

Did you do something instead of running today and made you feel yucky?