Ghostly Gallop 5k

Today I ran my Ghostly Gallop 5k which was a virtual race with Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans - for those that don't know the concept a virtual race means that participants in many different locations run their miles at their own time and in their own place, then share their experiences.  Yes, you run actual miles.  The virtual part is that everybody doesn't gather at the same start line and run the same course.

My result:  3.11 miles (5k) in 36:56 (average pace 11:52).  I consider that to be pretty darn spectacular since my PR (personal record) 5k is 35:20 and is from 2011 when I was running very regularly and had been training for months.  My training has been kind of hit or miss lately, but that is all going to change now.  More on that later.  Anyway, I ran the Wolf River Greenway here in Memphis.  It is a lovely running path, and the scenery can't be beat.  The trees are turning here now, and of course there were lots of runners, bikers, dog walkers, and others on the trail.  I used my Halloween running playlist I blogged previously and just danced my way through it.  Yes, people look at you funny when you do the thriller hands or sing "Werewolves of London" but who cares right?

Here's my race pic.  Yep, that's all you get.  But aren't my compression socks awesome?  Halloween runs rock and I got a lot of smiles and thumbs up during today's run in my black and orange.

Something about running - SMILE.  Not only do all the other runners and walkers and bikers smile back, but it makes YOU feel better too.  Running is supposed to be fun.  90% of the time at least some part of my run is fun, but we all have those runs that really, really honk.

OK, so why is everything about to change?  Because I signed up with an online running coach.  Train With Marc - I am going to buckle down and get serious about this running thing.

Also, our house has been on the market for 6 months.  As dismaying as it is, we made the decision to take it off the market until spring.  We need a break and to get through the holidays.  It is really quite a weight off.  I get to live in my own house again.  And I feel like I can plan more than 2 weeks ahead and schedule myself to do things again without the worry of a sudden house showing.

You may have missed the Ghostly Gallop, but in addition to the Sisterhood there are a ton of virtual runs listed over on Facebook in the Virtually Running group.  Many people use these as fundraising efforts for Team in Training.  And you get a cool medal.  I will post my t-shirt and medal for Ghostly Gallop when they arrive - unfortunately my mail mostly goes to my office so no mail on Saturday.

Keep running and SMILE

Ghostly Gallop Playlist

No, I'm not dead.  I did pretty much quit running on any regular schedule.  But....I'm back.

This weekend I'll run my Ghostly Gallop for the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. It's a virtual race, which means you run on the same day as everybody else, but everybody runs in their own place.  And of course you get a medal and a t-shirt in the mail for when you finish :)

So, here's the Halloween Fun playlist - I'm open to suggestions!!

Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones)
Thriller (Michael Jackson)
This is Halloween (Citizens of Halloween/Nightmare Before Christmas)
The Devil Went Down to Georgia (The Charlie Daniels Band) (DUDE - this is an awesome song to run to!)
I Want Candy (Bow Wow Wow)
Monster Mash (Boris Pickett & The Crypt Kicker 5)
Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr)
Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man (Concrete Blonde)
People are Strange (Echo & the Bunnymen)
Who Can It Be Now? (Men at Work)

Twilight Zone (Golden Earring)
Shirt Skirt/Long Jacket (Cake) (this only makes sense because it is a costume consideration!)


Any suggestions?  It is a really fun playlist and I expect I'll listen to it past Halloween anyway :)

Half Marathon Training vs. DAR

I have been trying to stay on schedule with my training despite the best efforts of the rest of my life to throw a wrench in it.  But yesterday made me really stop and re-consider some things.

I had always believed I would be a Chapter Regent for one year before becoming the Secretary/Treasurer of the Memphis & Shelby County Regents' Council the second year and then going on to be the President of the Council the third year.  Chapter Regents serve for 3 years, and this would round things out nicely. 

But yesterday I found out that I am S/T THIS year.  Now.  And will be President next.  Which made me have to stop and re-think some goals.

I love running, and running is important to me.  But when I chose to get in the line to become Regent I knew I was going to put everything else behind DAR for those 3 years. 

My chosen half marathon was to be Labor Day weekend.  The first event that I am involved in with the Council is two weeks after that.  I also have travel commitments for my state-level chairmanship during July and August.  So....

I am going to continue to train but am pushing my goal race to October to give me more room.  And to take the pressure of airline tickets and vacation plans off as well.  Instead I will try for the RNR St. Louis.  It is a 5 hour drive and we have family there.  There are also several other races within a 5 hour drive that I could do around that time. 

This also will take off a little pressure while training in a Memphis summer....the humidity was 94% today at 9 a.m.

A Day Late .....

But not a mile short.  Got my 4 miles in today instead, and boy did I need it.  Work has been kind of nuts and today was no exception.  So I was ready to hit the park.  There was some group of kids and moms and they were all gathered around a spot on the running/walking trail, so I decided to detour out into the neighborhood.  Lots more shade and something different as well.  Also a few hills and I guess better training than going around and around the same .9 mile surface.

The heat is still here, but it wasn't awfully humid.  I'm still a sweaty girl when I finish.

Did the Runner's Core Level 1.1 again too.  I really felt it in my abs last time, and this time will be no exception.  But I also was able to do all the sit-ups today so that is a win.  The cats want to help - cat hair + sweaty girl + yoga mat = yuck.  Just in case you were wondering.

Ordered Prancer (aka Mr. Dancer) a couple of new pair of shorts from Road Runner Sports.  They have wonderful customer service, a great shoe finder, and their prices aren't half bad either.  Both of us got new shoes from them this year - him the Brooks Beast which he really loves for its excellent support and width, and the Asics Gel Kayano 19 for me.  I'm really an Asics girl at heart I guess - their shoes seem to just melt onto my feet.  They also have a wider width (I've been told I have big feet for a female runner - how rude!!).

Anyway, I also ordered myself a new fuel belt thing and also some salt caps.  I've heard good things about salt caps, and since I tend to be an empty runner and have a very hard time taking in anything but water during a run I hope that they will be helpful this summer as both temps and distances increase.

I'm going to go get in the shower so I can go to bed with wet hair again tonight.  Fun times.  Until Wednesday - keep dancing!

Slow and Steady Right?

Today was a tough day of tilting at windmills and I knew I needed to run as badly as I wanted to just skip it.

I let myself be very slow.  It was hot, humid, and windy threatening a storm.  We had about 6 sprinkles but no rain.  The wind was helpful, but the humidity was killer.

When I got home I did The Runner's Core workout level 1.  It took about 10 minutes, and I couldn't complete all of it.  Planks for days, but situps will stop me in my tracks every time.  And my balance ball was more inflated than theirs so it was pretty funny - my husband had to help balance me.

Bogart the Amazon spent the entire time giving the yoga mat the hairy eyeball.  He really didn't like that thing, and was growling at it when I was doing planks.  Mark had to reassure him I was ok and was not being eaten by the blue thing.

Then I brought in the balance ball and BD immediately went "tall bird" and felt that he needed to protect me from the awful thing.  I don't blame him - I might have needed protection.

I have no doubt that I am going to feel this workout in the morning.  I am going to try to do core at least 3x a week - either after runs or on nights I am not running is still up in the air.

Yeah, OK, I'm not dead

Or injured.  Or anything that might be a good reason not to be running and blogging.

I ran tonight - not a bad run but not great.  I'm officially on plan.

I downloaded the Hal Higdon's 1/2 Marathon Novice 1 Training Program.  It fought with me on wanting to start today, not next Monday.  But I won.  It works well, and I hope it will make keeping up with my runs a little easier since I don't want the calendar on the fridge while we are trying to sell the house.  It does not, however, sync with Garmin or Daily Mile so I will keep using my Garmin too.  Considering how reliable my iPhone has been with run apps in the past and the GPS data, this is probably a good idea.  Garmin won't cheat me out of that last .20 like the iPhone does.

Let me tell you, if you held Hal at gunpoint I don't think he could sound less enthusiastic than he does in this app.  I'm can't find where to turn off his "cheers" but they made me kind of laugh anyway.  I never knew "You're doing great" could be a dirge.  Anybody remember the old Clear Eyes commercials with Ben Stein - yeah, like that.

I discovered if you loosen the laces on your stability shoes too much, your legs ache and feel like lead.  I tightened them back up and the last mile was so much better.  I also discovered that if you run 7 miles in a week for the first time in months, you might experience some delayed onset muscle soreness.  Yeah, I thought I might be immune or something.....

I've missed running.  It feels very daunting to look at 7 miles last week and think that I want to be able to run 13.1 all at once again when this is over.  But I guess we will go back to baby steps.  One of these days I will be a continuous runner and stop the cycle.

My goal is to run the Covered Bridges Half in New Hampshire on Labor Day weekend.  Wish me luck!!