Crawling Over

Quick post before I go tackle a mountain of paperwork.

I went to a step class at the Y this evening. And wowweeee! I worked it! 

I hate steps.

Hate.

Mainly because it's never ending.

And I feel like I am going to trip and fall - because I am born clumsy.

Also, I don't feel it after the workout. Maybe I am not doing it right?

I survived though.

Still don't like steps.

But glad I went and got some exercise in.

Knee?

I haven't ran since my half-a$$ed run on Sunday, so I can't tell you about it.

Yeah, I'm frustrated.

Yeah, I am tired of these nonsense - knee, cough, blah blah blah ....

Yeah, I can't wait to go out and run a good run without pain or worrying about pain.

Yeah, I am scared about my half marathon #3 that's coming up in less than 2 weeks.

Oh doobabdoodoo!

Right now, I am throwing any time goal or PR out of the window.

I am just going to work at NOT DNSing or DNFing.

I can be the last dang person to crawl over that finish line, but I am going to get it done!

(Oh well, please please, don't let me be the last dang person).

Two pups and a class

Thursday was spent playing with Buttercup, Paddy Wag, and the neighbor's puppy.  

I don't know her name, I just call her "Puppy."  

Buttercup, being the older lady she is, stayed under the car port after a mere few minutes with the pups.

 Boy am I glad that Paddy Wag didn't try to mouth Puppy's head this time. 

She is actually playing nicely. 

Love how Paddy runs to me when I call her.
And look at Puppy trying to be like the big dog! 

*****

I also went to a total body workout class at the Y in the evening. 

I usually steer away from classes because I don't know anyone and I really don't like confined places. 

However, the instructor is actually Ms. T - a sweet girl I run with sometimes. 

And I promised her that I would attend.

She promised that her classes are easy on the knees and there'll be no steps.
I dislike steps workouts. 

I'm glad I went. 

I'm going to go at least once next week! 

Maybe that will help with my flexibility and core strength.  

Remote Challenged

Happy Friday everyone!
Phew, I am feeling 200% better compared to 2 hours ago! And I have a lot to say today.

1. It started out as a sluggish, can't keep my eyes open, dragging my junk-in-the-trunk kinda morning. I was up about 9 a.m. and had some Greek yogurt with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey.  As I sat letting the food digest a little before I head out to the Y to run, I got sleepy. I mean, "Seriously? I just woke up!" I didn't know where time went but at one point, in my bed, I had my eyes wide open and said to myself, "Enough is enough. Get out of bed and get moving!"  It was about noon when I finally step foot at the Y. Better be late than never, right? I could be this girl below, but instead, I was up and running.

2. I was assertive today. I went to the reception desk at the Y and asked if I could borrow their remote control for treadmill room. The lady jokingly asked if I didn't like the program that was on. I told her, I didn't mind the program, but running to General Hospital will probably send me to the pysch. ward at a hospital.  Anyway, she gave me the remote and I was excited.
(Pat on my back for just opening my mouth and ask.  Squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?)

3. I'm excited about the remote control because we don't have cable tv at home. Yep. No antenna or cable TV. Nada. (Reasons: expensive, a lot of trashy shows, time sucker). Then, I realized that I didn't exactly know how to work the remote. There are too many buttons on this remote with so many colors! Somehow, I got to the REALLY adult channels.  I was mortified! I hit whichever button that was the opposite of the button that led me to Pornoville. It worked. I stayed safe parked at some channel that was doing a feature of Sandra Bullock. Much better, right?

(Random Thought: I like Sandra Bullock and her ex-husband is a big fool! She is so pretty, so classy, so girl-next-door yet so wow!) 

4. So, the whole time when I fiddled with the remote control, I had the treadmill set to a slower pace and  I was walking.  Then, when I found the channel I wanted, I increased the pace and today was pretty darn good. I kept my pace somewhere in the mid 9:00ish range. I paused the treadmill 2 times (very briefly) to catch my breath and have a sip of water.

             2.05 miles - 22 minutes (walk at the beginning + run. Rest/sip)

1 mile - 9:31 minutes

Did I not go kinda fast today? Ha! After the run, I did 50 crunches on the big ball and did some squats using the ball against the wall and holding out a medicine ball out. My knees were not 100% thrilled. But it was done and I love it!
(Reflection: Isn't that amazing? Less than an hour ago, I was not in a happy mood. I felt lazy and sluggish and was just feeling yucky! But now, after a good run, I feel like a complete changed, new person. I have energy. And I have happy. 

5. I gave the Bondi Band another try today, using all the sweet suggestions from fellow bloggers. I had the band pulled a little down and it stayed on the whole run.  Love it. It helps prevent a lot of sweat from rolling down my face. Now, I want to collect all the black/white Bondi Bands since my workout clothes are all black/white/blue.

(Question: How do you wash your Bondi Bands? I washed mine in the shower using shampoo/bath foam. Is that OK?)


6. I have to say, I can't stay up until the wee hours of the morning like I used to. I remembered the days of staying up till 3 or 4 or 5 a.m. in the morning to study for a test and staying up to go dancing and have a few drinks. I have stayed up for the past few nights, helping the boyfriend laser engrave a bunch of cutting boards.  And I am tired pretty much half of the day.  So far, I have finished 2 pallets (4 more to go!). That's the thing being a boss of a small business in a not-so-rosy economic climate - (1) can't afford to hire workers, (2) it is difficult to find a dedicated employee who takes pride in what he/she does. So, since school's out for summer and I don't have to work, I am doing a little pro bono work for him. It is good though. He works long hours and with me helping him at the office, we get to spend quality, productive time together.

How was your run today? What challenge did you face today during your run? Did you overcome it?
C'mon. Brag about it. Toot your own horn.

Weekend Eight

In A Nutshell.   I completed eight miles this morning - the farthest I have ever ran. And I feel good! I decided not to take Buttercup because we haven't got that leash issue settled and I don't know if she will be able to take it.  I had to drive myself halfway down the driveway and parked my car there to pretend that I am going elsewhere but run.

Gear. Or the lack thereof. I just had my Garmin on and the pass to the local YMCA. I thought I would swing by there midway and get a sip of water at the water fountain or use the restroom.

Fun Sights.  I tried a somewhat different route today and ran down the square. It was quite different and I had to work around some vehicles. Thank goodness I went early enough so there weren't much traffic. It was quite a good little run down around there - no gravel, no potholes, just nicely paved sidewalk. I ran past Molly's Diner and I am sure they were serving up some yummilicious breakfast! I didn't stop for anything. Bummer!  I also saw a dead raccoon on the side of the road. See what happens when you don't wear reflective while running up and down the road?

Waterbreak.  I ran to Keith's office, said "Hi" to him and gave him a kiss.  He tried out a sales pitch on me and I got some water and used the restroom. And I said, "I gotto run!"

Random Thoughts. Maybe I will need to take a cold shower later? Does a cold shower works like an ice bath? (What I did? A hot steamy shower with blasts of cold spurts on my legs. That's all I can take.) 


By The Numbers:  The goal today was to finish the 8 miles without walking and to do so within 1 hour 45 minutes.  Slow and easy is fine. I just want to enjoy the run, enjoy my thoughts, and enjoy this pretty day. 

mile 1 = 12:22/mile
mile 2 = 12:24
mile 3 = 12:11
mile 4 = 11:43
mile 5 = 12:03
mile 6 = 12:12
mile 7 = 12:24
mile 8 = 12:22
So, there you go, 8 miles in 1 hour 37 minutes.

I Need To.  Be serious about cross-training and doing things to strengthen that knees up.

Looking Forward.  I am looking forward to the 10 miles next weekend and the Shamrock 5K race. And my new handheld water bottle. And some GU gels I ordered online. And a new short sleeve running t-shirt.

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.