I'm now posting semi-regularly at http://detoursandspeedbumps.blogspot.com/.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Moving and Blogging
Evidently it's easier to just start a new blog when you change your gmail address. And, I suppose it was time. So much has changed: quitting job for a new stay at home mom job, taking care of a 1 year old, being pregnant with #2, living frugal...etc.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Chilly 5K 2012
Still hammering out the details of my 2012 goals, but regardless I decided to start it off with a New Years Day race - the Chilly 5K in Joplin, MO. It was a fun event with 300+ participants and chili at the finish. It runs (hehe) from the North YMCA to the South YMCA. Point to point races are always good - no duplication of scenery (the course was through part of the May 2011 tornado devastation, which has a way of putting your pain into perspective as well). It wasn't flat, but not terribly hilly either. The wind was at our back for 2/3 of the race which was awesome. The man offered to pace me to what we hoped would be a post baby PR. At the start of the race I was pretty unsure and had stomach issues. We finally got going and I was able to let go of some of my nervous energy. The first mile was pretty good. The second mile my lungs were hurting. The third mile my body chimed in, but I was still able to kick a little in the end and finished in 23:41.8. A little less than 2 seconds off my overall PR at 6 months post baby. This made me happy. :-)
The stats (just for fun): 73rd out of 306 overall; 16th out of 160 women; 2nd in my age group; 7:37minute/mile pace.
I have to admit it was fun (and hard). Now I'm anxious to get out on a flat, fast course on a day I feel good and see if I can break my PR. Also planning to go back to doing speedwork and see where it takes me.
Here's a pic taken a few yards from the finish line where I look the least like I'm going to collapse (but, there was an ambulance there if I did!!):
The stats (just for fun): 73rd out of 306 overall; 16th out of 160 women; 2nd in my age group; 7:37minute/mile pace.
I have to admit it was fun (and hard). Now I'm anxious to get out on a flat, fast course on a day I feel good and see if I can break my PR. Also planning to go back to doing speedwork and see where it takes me.
Here's a pic taken a few yards from the finish line where I look the least like I'm going to collapse (but, there was an ambulance there if I did!!):
Till next time - Run on!
Chanti
Thursday, December 15, 2011
I love to run...
Truly I do, really love it. Especially on those days when everything just feels right. You are able to clear your brain from the 'piles' of things you feel that you should be doing - laundry, cooking, cleaning, even spending time with family to carve out that little piece for yourself. Those days when the weather is your perfect temp (whatever that may be). Mine seems to be around 35-40 degrees - crisp and cool. Your body feels good, no real aches and pains (at least tolerable levels). On those days running is easy to love.
Luckily, I've had a few of those runs lately. Not enough that I'm dying to get out the door every single day, but enough that some days I am chomping at the bit to get a run in. Today is one of those days.
Being able to run through pregnancy was awesome, but it was also hard and I didn't have those perfect runs for whatever reason. Being able to run with this:
Luckily, I've had a few of those runs lately. Not enough that I'm dying to get out the door every single day, but enough that some days I am chomping at the bit to get a run in. Today is one of those days.
Being able to run through pregnancy was awesome, but it was also hard and I didn't have those perfect runs for whatever reason. Being able to run with this:
is a total treat, but I admit it's hard to have a perfect run when you are busy protecting your precious cargo from the yahoos out on the streets. Not to mention the extra weight - great for making you stronger, but not so light and free. Days when B can keep M and I'm able to just go sans stroller I feel bouncy. I'm definitely not complaining. I want all the days, but I just really want to appreciate those few that really keep me coming back and leave me feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and healthy.
These thoughts were all leading me up to the fact that I don't have a routine anymore. I don't have a goal anymore. I don't have a plan for those days when I don't want to get out the door. M is 5-1/2 months old. I think it's time. Just running when I want too or can find the time was great for a while, but I think it's time to get more serious. I know that my schedule as a running mother will have to be flexible, but flexible is better than non-existent. Right? So, what's the plan? What should I train for? 5K, 10K, 1/2, marathon? Initial thought is marathon training is too time consuming for now. So, focus on a 1/2 or work on that 5K PR? This is what's on my mind. Time will tell what I decide.
Till then, run on.
Legs & Lager 5K
Ok, so posts are few and far between, but that's not because I don't have things to say. Time just slips away these days. Mostly thanks to M:
But, I wouldn't change that for the world. Then, there are the holidays to prepare for and in-laws moving back to town. Anyway, I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things. I thought to begin I would back track to the last race I did - Legs & Lager 5K. B and I both did this run sans stroller thanks to Great Granny coming to stay with M. Pre-race we decided to do some warm up running on the single track just off the Greenways trail that the race was being run on. That all went well and good. (Running single track and not falling is a little unusual for me - hehe). We realized we had some more time so we decided to go around the block prior to race start. About 1/2 way around we hear the 5 minutes till race and decide to head back and take the short cut on the old railroad track. I cut the corner short and hit a hole where there evidently was a post at some point, but was covered with leaves and down I went. Lovely, always good to start a race bloody and bruised. It probably looked worse than it was. I got some sympathy from fellow racers prior to the start which is always nice. ;-) I gave B a kiss then went to line up close to the back since I'm not feeling very speedy as of late (or ever really - ha). The gun went off and we took off. I made sure not to go out too fast. Managed to pick off a few peeps on the way out, then distracted myself by cheering the race leaders (including B) on their way back. I finally made it to the turn around and realized I still felt pretty good. Had a bit of a mental let down when the slight turn in the trail was not the one closest to the end as I had thought. Luckily my pride at just having passed a couple people and B cheering me on allowed me to keep pace until the end. Finished in 24:47. I took another minute off my post-baby time. Only one more minute to take off before I'm back to pushing for a new PR. Whoohoo. Considering my sporadic running schedule lately I'll take it.
Till next time - run on.
But, I wouldn't change that for the world. Then, there are the holidays to prepare for and in-laws moving back to town. Anyway, I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things. I thought to begin I would back track to the last race I did - Legs & Lager 5K. B and I both did this run sans stroller thanks to Great Granny coming to stay with M. Pre-race we decided to do some warm up running on the single track just off the Greenways trail that the race was being run on. That all went well and good. (Running single track and not falling is a little unusual for me - hehe). We realized we had some more time so we decided to go around the block prior to race start. About 1/2 way around we hear the 5 minutes till race and decide to head back and take the short cut on the old railroad track. I cut the corner short and hit a hole where there evidently was a post at some point, but was covered with leaves and down I went. Lovely, always good to start a race bloody and bruised. It probably looked worse than it was. I got some sympathy from fellow racers prior to the start which is always nice. ;-) I gave B a kiss then went to line up close to the back since I'm not feeling very speedy as of late (or ever really - ha). The gun went off and we took off. I made sure not to go out too fast. Managed to pick off a few peeps on the way out, then distracted myself by cheering the race leaders (including B) on their way back. I finally made it to the turn around and realized I still felt pretty good. Had a bit of a mental let down when the slight turn in the trail was not the one closest to the end as I had thought. Luckily my pride at just having passed a couple people and B cheering me on allowed me to keep pace until the end. Finished in 24:47. I took another minute off my post-baby time. Only one more minute to take off before I'm back to pushing for a new PR. Whoohoo. Considering my sporadic running schedule lately I'll take it.
Till next time - run on.
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