A breath of fresh air

Will and I ran the first three miles with Jade.  And we ran in rain.  Well, it was between a mist and a drizzle.  The morning was so warm that I took off the stroller's rain cover for the last mile and a half.  Will and I enjoyed the misty drizzle.

Will and I tried a new running route.  We ran and ran and ran.  Up the hill.  Down the hill.  Up the hill.  Down the hill.  Up the hill. Down the hill.  On and on... For a while it seemed like the run and the hills would never end.

I'm probably still tired from the race.  We'll try the new route again next week.

Will and I ran with Jade this morning.  Today was much more enjoyable than yesterday.  Will and I didn't miss the hills and we loved Jade's company.

Will and I ran the new, hilly course from Tuesday.  I know I said I wouldn't try it again until next week, but Will and I were looking to run at least five miles and the new, hilly course is a wonderful loop.  We faired better today on the hills and the course didn't seem as long. 

Will brought along a stick he found.  He waved, tapped, and tasted the stick before he peacefully dropped it about mile 3.

Will, Jade, and I ran up, up, up the hill to a neighborhood and then back down the hill again.

Today I was telling Jade about my recent bids on eBay. I have been bidding on a couple Bucilla felt Christmas stocking kits. I don't remember the titles of the stockings, but one is three bears decorating a tree and the other is two polar bears sledding. I have already made three stockings: a big Santa (I don't remember it's official title), a big snowman with lots of snowflakes (Let It Snow!), and carolers in front of church (O Holy Night!). I am working on a fourth (Santa's Toy Shop). I love the detail of the embroidery, beads, sequins, and colorful felt. I also like how it's easy to stop and start working on them. And they're not too hard to make. Mostly you just tie lots of knots.

Anyway, Jade's Christmas stocking growing up was a felt stocking! Her grandma made it for her. And she didn't think anyone made felt stockings anymore. After the run, I showed her my stockings and some online. Jade's thinking about making two for her and her husband. It was fun to share something I really like with someone and have them be excited about it, too. That doesn't always happen. For example, I tell people about the blog and usually they don't get excited. However, I was thinking it would be fun to wear a fastrunningblog.com t-shirt. The shirt would be a good conversation starter and runners could stare at it as I pass them.

I am loving the summer weather!  The high today was 86.  I hope fall can be nice and long, too.

My fast miles were awesome.  I was trying for 1:50 quarters.  I started out slow again, but overall I was pleased.

2:02

1:58

1:53

1:51

1:53

1:53

1:52

1:49

So, 7:44 and 7:27 for 15:11!  That's a PR for an outdoor track.  I was very tired, but I ran the 3.2 more miles to make it an even 7. 

Will and I ran the first 3 miles with Jade.  Will and I saw some interesting mushrooms.  They were flat, as big as my hand, and grew out from the bottom of a tree.  It looked like a very nice place for a big toad to sit.  Will enjoyed the entire run.  We loved  the temperature:  71 degrees.  Tomorrow morning it is suppose to be 48!  And Wednesday 39!  Winter is coming.

A couple questions:

1)  Is it healthy to run fast miles during a long run?

2)  What is a good winter training for me?

For the first time, I miss the mountains.

Will and I were taking a new way to the store.  I missed the exit.  As we drove on to the next exit, the rolling hills gave way to flat fields.  I looked to the left and was surprised not to see mountains.  I had forgotten I was in Iowa.  No mountains.  Just clouds. 

I am grateful to be surrounded rolling hills and trees.  They are beautiful.  I love the fall colors especially the trees that turn red.  Without the hills and trees, I would miss the mountains even more.

Will and I ran the hilly course today.  My right ham string is still bothering a bit.  Almost three miles into the run, Will and I found the stick will dropped last Thursday.  I picked it up and Will waved it and tapped it, but did not taste it this time.  Will dropped it again this time at about mile 5.  I don't think we will see it again.  But, you never know.

I appreciate all the comments from yesterday.  But, I need to go to bed, so I won't get back to you until tomorrow.  Thanks for all your support.

Will, Jade, and I ran the four together.

I wasn't planning on running 8. How it happened...

About 5:20 am, Will woke up. After forty minutes of quality crib play, I went to get Will. Will and I went about our morning as usual. Will ate three quarters of an orange and a handful of Special K. I ate my bowl of Special K. The weather channel informed us it was 41 degrees with not much wind. (Thank goodness! We had plenty of wind yesterday.) I helped Will put on his sweats and jacket over his pajamas. After we velcroed Will's shoes and said good-bye to Dad, we were off to run 6 miles

And then during mile 3, Will feel asleep. We had a busy day ahead of us and I decided 1) this would be Will's morning nap and 2) a three mile morning nap would be too short. So I kept running. Adding another half mile, after another. Will woke up happy at the beginning of mile 7. And the rest day went well enough.

The extended run was refreshing. I was able to think. By the end of the run, I made sense of where I stood on some family matters. It felt good to be able to sort things out in my mind. I feel much better.

I would love to run in the Moab Half with the Dashing Divas and the PF Chang Rock'n'Roll Marathon with you, Shauna.  Those races sound awesome.  No promises, but thanks for the invitations.  I feel the love of the blog!

Will woke up this morning at 5.  I was worried that Will would fall asleep again during the run.  I had big plans for today and Will's morning nap was crucial for making those plans work.  He didn't fall asleep!  It was wonderful.

My plan was Will to sleep in the port-a-crib, so I could attend a quilt group this morning.  I knew Will might cry a bit because he would be sleeping in a strange, new room.  I figured he and I could handle it.  Actually, I didn't give either of us much choice because today the quilt group was tying my denim blanket.  Everything was working out perfectly.  I even fit in two errands before we headed to the church for the quilt group.  Will was getting very sleepy in his car seat.  I started to think maybe he wouldn't fuss too much because he was so tired.  And then. . . we got stuck behind a TRAIN!  A very long train.  A very slow train.  A train that stopped dead on the tracks with two train cars to go!

We waited.  Will feel asleep.  I waited and waited.  I laughed when the train came to a complete stop.  Some cars turned around, but being new to the area--I had no idea if there was another way.  Our car was also trapped between another lane of cars and a curb.  We waited for a half an hour.

With Will awake, we tied the denim quilt.  The women in the quilt group are extremely nice and patient probably because they were all mothers of fifteen month olds at one time.

Questions for all you mothers:

When did you know your children were ready for one nap a day?

How did you teach them not to throw their food on the floor?  (Will throws his food on the floor when he is finished.  Sometimes I am able to anticipate when he is done, but other times I clean the floor.)

The forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms for the next three days.  For my run, temperature was a wonderful 51 degrees and the sky is filled with low grey clouds.

I wanted to run eight minute miles for 4 miles today, so I could build some confidence for my 5k race next weekend.  I have only run three 5k races.  The first race was in 2001 and I ran it in about 27 minutes.  (This first 5k was my one and only race from 1993 until 2005.  Before that I ran track in seven grade and a mile run for kids when I was about 7.)  The second race I was almost five months pregnant.  I ran it in about 30 or 31 minutes.  The third race I ran with Will when he was three months old.  Again 30 or 31 minutes.  So, next weekend will be my first 5k that I will go for a big PR.

As I started my run, I considering being more realistic with myself.  I felt a little cold and slow.  Plus, I have never run a fast four miles outside of  a race and decided I would be pleased if I ran three miles in 24 minutes.  I figured if I could do 3 miles in 24 minutes, I definitely could break 23 minutes in a 5k race. So, I set out to try to keep my quarters close to two minutes.

Here are my mile splits:

8:05--first three quarters were down hill.

7:58--very pleased with this mile.  I didn't know if I was going to be able to keep up the two minute quarters.  But, I did.

8:01--I was determined to get another eight minute mile and this mile was a little more up hill.

8:11--last three quarter completely up hill.  A very big hill.  I felt good that I had gotten 24:04 for three miles and just tried to get up the hill in another 8 minutes to reach my original goal of four eight minute miles.

32:15!  I am very pleased.  And I am excited for next Saturday's 5k in Swisher.

 Does anyone else think it would be cool to run 2008 miles in the year 2008?

I don't know how you guys do it.  Getting out the door to run once is tough.  But doing it twice a day.  My hat's off to you, Lybi, and you, Michelle, and anyone else that runs twice a day.

So this morning, Will and I ran three miles with Jade.  Then Will and I rushed off to the doctor's for Will's fifteen month check-up.  I was under the impression that Will didn't have to get any shots at this well baby appointment.  WRONG!  Poor Will.  He got four shots AND they pricked his finger to draw blood.  He was so sad.  When we got home, he slept for two and a half hours.  He's back to his normal self tonight.  We were just dancing to music and bouncing, throwing, and kicking the BIG basketball.

This afternoon I ran five.  It's definitely different running without Will or Jade or my watch.  I felt good when it was over.

Will and I saw two deer with very long legs and two beautiful hawks on the run.  We also saw a man in a Civic roll down his window and stare at us.  That was a little scary.  I didn't have my glasses on, but I stared back.  Quickly, I decided to head back towards home and was very grateful to be running on a busy road.  Nothing happened, but I kept looking over my shoulder just in case.  Probably he didn't mean anything by it--maybe he was also going for a run.  But, it's better to err on the side of caution.

Today I decided to run four instead of six miles.  Will and I had a pleasant run with Jade.  Near the end of the I asked Jade if she was ready to run five miles.  Four miles hasn't been a big deal lately and she said she was up for trying.  So, next Wednesday, we'll try our first five mile run together.  I want to come up with a couple five mile routes.  Got to have variety.

I am grateful for running partners.  They make the world a better place.

Addiction.  It's the only way to explain it.  I can't stop.  While, I was changing sheets and loading the washing machine, I thought I could run another three miles.  No sweat!  And that's what Will and I did, after Will ate lunch.  Seriously, I couldn't just run four today.  Had to run more.

Will and I saw a blue jay and a cardinal.  We also saw beautiful fall trees. 

I felt a tired on the run today.  Not worn out, but tired.  I hope I haven't over done the mileage this week--I wanted to get over thirty miles.  I don't think I have.  Tomorrow I am going to run four.

I'll probably be fine.  It's just a race.  If I don't finish under 23 minutes, life will still be good.  And I can try again later.

The wind was hurendous! So, of course, I thought of Michelle and the jogger stoller became five thousand trillion times harder to push.  As Will, Jade, and I kept going the run got easier.

Today it took my two and a half miles to tell Jade the story line of the movie Prestige.  Wednesday, Jade told about me the latest episodes she has seen of the TV series Jericho.

Tomorrow's the 5k in Swisher!  Overall, I am excited.  23 minutes here I come!

Overall, I consider it a good race since it's pretty much my first 5k not pregnant and not pushing a jogging stroller.  I was hoping to break 23 minutes, but 23:56 works and I learned a lot. (7:43 pace)

The best part of the race was my family.  My parents are in town from Ohio and my dad decided to enter the 5k as a walker.  After I finished, I ran back to walk in with him.  However, I ended up jogging to keep up with his fast walk.  And my dad took home the first place trophy for the male walkers!!  It was a riot!

I also ran with my nine year old sister in the kid 400 yard dash.  She got 2:08!  It was a lot of fun to cheer her on.

My husband was so kind and followed Will around during both races.

About my race, I didn't warm up well.  I only noticed when I started the race.  My feet didn't feel right.  In fact, it was like I didn't have feet--just stubs.  I thought that maybe I tied my laces too loose.  However, by the beginning of the third mile, my feet finally felt normal.  Part of the reason was the temperature, 41 degrees.  Again, I should have warmed up better.  I know for next time to run at least a mile before my race.

I was the fourth women to finish. It was cool to recieve a trophy for finishing first in my division.  And I am sure I'll break 23 minutes soon.

Will and I ran the first three miles with Jade.  Then Will and I headed to the track.  There we ran the fast mile in 8:14.  Will did not enjoy the last mile and a half of the run. 

This morning I did not want to run.  In fact, the idea of not running today sounded very appealing.  Then I reminded myself how I'd feel better if I went.  I decided I'd put it off for awhile and run after lunch, but then I thought of all the errands I wanted to do.  Running this morning was the only way to fit everything in my day.  I finally got out the door around 7:45.

Although, the run seemed long, it was pleasant enough.  Will and I saw two dead moles or mice and two very graceful deer.  Actually, Will didn't see the deer.  He feel asleep about half way through the run.  And I failed to mention that Jade, Will and I saw deer yesterday, too.

Jade, Will, and I ran our first five miles together.  It went well.

I didn't want to run today at all.  And I didn't not enjoy my run.  Tomorrow will be better because I'll get to run with Jade again.

Jade, Will, and I tried a new route, an out and back.  It worked well and of course there were some great hills.

Will and I dodged a lot of tail-gaters this morning.  With bike lane, we didn't have to slow down too much.  We saw a lot of gold and black.  Will and I were mostly wearing navy.  I was sporting my Boston Red Sox beanie.  I am with Mik'L--Go Red Sox!

Will and I ran the first three miles with Jade.  Today's run felt better especially the last mile and a half.  My hips have been achey the past couple of days, but during the run they felt great.  I don't know why they are stiff.

I did some fast miles with the jogger stroller.  Will and I enjoyed the weather (65 degrees) and the sunset.  Here are my mile splits:

8:11--mostly down hill with a tail wind

8:28--just rolling hills through the trees

8:36--mostly up hill with a (well, it felt ferocious) head wind

I still feel tuckered.  It's a good tuckered, though.  My right hip was bugging me during the entire run.  Definitely a muscle thing.  I am taking Shauna's advice and stretching more.

Jade ran six with Will and I today!  We ran another hilly route.  We tied Jade's record for her longest run.  She's one tough gal!  However, I hope I am not pushing her too much.  We plan on just doing five on Friday.  I am trying to think of the flattest possible course.  Well. . . not much is flat around here, but there is definitely less hilly.

Will was a pilot for Halloween.  We went trick-or-treating to three neighbors' apartments and Will got eleven peices of candy!  He didn't know what was going on, but we loved seeing our neighbors.  I am grateful for wonderful neighbors.  It's always nice to have friends near by.