I Have Moved

I'm not dreaming anymore. I'm doing. Come check me out at littleonerunner.blogspot.com

:o)

I promise to update more frequently!

xo

Ew. Ick. Yuck.

I rode my bike at dusk tonight.

I ate two bugs.

I have a mosquito bite between my eyes.

I am working out earlier from now on.

Running is a drug.

And I am so addicted to it. The 14-mile long run on Saturday was my favorite training run so far. And I said that about the 10-mile last weekend too. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I've been more strict about my training lately... so instead of my runs feeling like hell, they feel pretty good. It makes me feel so... proud.

I have been having some knee discomfort, so it looks like I will be heading to Athletico or something of the sort. I honestly think it's because of how tight my hamstrings are. Stretching my hammies always seems to help.

Quick little 20 minute run today to get back in the game after Saturday. I'm always amazed that it's harder to do the short runs on Monday than it is to do the long ones on Saturday.

What the heck is a track workout?

I have yet to make it to a TNT Wednesday night track workout. And all my training says to do on Wednesdays is "track workout." Sometimes there is a little more information, like "timed 5k" next week. But in general, I have no clue what a track workout is. At 22 years old, I have just entered my athlete phase of life. This is it for me. There are no basketball or softball drills to recall, and I can't re-create that time when my track coach made me run sprints.

To date, I've kind of just avoided my Wednesday workouts and cross-trained or something. But starting Monday, I have decided to commit 100% to this training and really see what I can do. So today, I made up my own track workout. And I'm tired.

I normally run/walk at a 7:1 ratio. I have just recently worked myself up from 6:1, so 7:1 is still a little challenge for me. (I'm hoping to be up to 8:1 or 9:1 by the Chicago Marathon.) I thought about changing my ratio to push harder, but instead opted for go.as.fast.as.i.can.manage.while.in.the.run.part. And I'm pretty certain it worked. I know damn well that I am spent. I did 8 cycles of my 7:1 ratio for a total of 32 minutes, and I really pushed myself the whole time. I walked faster than normal, and when I ran, I ran. Then, for the last 7 minutes running, I ran even faster until I reached a sprint for the full last two minutes. I'm not sure if it's a track workout, but what I do know, is I am ready for my rest day tomorrow.

I'm back!

Even though it hasn't been documented here... I have, in fact, been running. A lot. I love training with TNT, and I'm starting to really feel like a runner... okay, a run/walker. Here are some of the things I have learned so far in training for my first marathon:

1. Run/walking makes me way happier than running.
2. I can run 12 miles. Who knew?
3. Being part of TEAM is incredible.
4. There are people who walk faster than I can run.
5. It's okay that there are people who walk faster than I can run.
6. It makes me deliriously happy to have dirty running shoes. In fact, it makes me feel like a badass.
7. People are incredibly generous.
8. I might just be addicted to running.

I had an incredible 10 mile run on the Lakefront this morning. Incredible. I met new people, found people who actually ran close to my pace, and due to a conversation with a new friend... I have found myself contemplating my second marathon (Dublin?) before I have even finished my first.

Super day.

I'm a slacker.

I haven't posted in way too long.

Extended race report is still in my brain.

But student teaching and job searching have taken over my brain.

I'll post it soon.

I promise.

:o(

Shamrock Shuffle

I just wrote a long post about the Shuffle. Then my computer froze. Crap.

Long story short: 1:04:15... Jon's time: 1:04:14.

Short story long to come later.