Lickety Split

Today Al, I, Teresa and Haylee ran the Hartsville YMCA's Lickety Split 5k race.  It was at 8am and HOT.  Have I mentioned I hate summer in SC?  If I haven't, you should know I do.  But I digress - the course was extremely, EXTREMELY hilly - which I was NOT prepared for.  I expected a hill or two, but I swear to all things mighty that there must have been 100 hills we had to run up in this race.  Ok, maybe not 100, but at least 4 to 6.  No. Frigging. Joke.

So needless to say, my time sucked.   Two minutes worse than my last race and I was aiming for 40 minutes or less.  Al and I finished in 46 minutes.  Boo.  Haylee finished in 44 and Teresa finished in 39 (she's such a show off you know?).

Guess what though?  Even though my time sucked and the course nearly killed me - I won a medal.  HELLS YEAH!!!!!!  I finished third in my age group - which I don't really know what it was, but hey whatever.  I missed them calling out my name though, I swore the man said Amy Briggs so I didn't budge.  Al and Teresa kept saying "I think he said your name" but I knew there was just no way.  So many people finished ahead of me.  Teresa won first place in our age group - which surprised nobody cause like I said, she's a show off anyways.   I only keep her around because she's encouraging....

Training with Al

I've mentioned before that I don't like to run with Al.   He always proves that he didn't have many girlfriends before me.  How so you ask? 

Well, a perfect example would be our run together this morning.  We don't run together very often - usually only during races and then that only lasts a few minutes.   I woke up this morning with a sore back but decided I'd try to run anyways.  We start out walking over to the other neighborhood....me assuming my back would warm up and I'd feel better before we ran.  As soon as we started running, I knew it wasn't going to be a good run.  We ran/walked the half mile to the stop sign at the end of the road and I was already pouring buckets of sweat.  At 7am, it was cool but the sun came straight down on us so it was HOT.

Not nearly as hot as that race on the Racetrack where I think I saw a turtle melted to it.  But it was pretty close.

I started doing what I do best.  Bitching.  Complaining about my back, how hot it was, how I was the one having to stop running first, how I hate running, etc.  I do this well folks.  Pam and I have it down to an art form when we run together.  Me and Al?  Not so much.  I expected my husband to say something like:

"You're doing great!"

"You're better at running than you think."

"You look SSSOOOO hot in those tight spandex shorts."

Yes, I would have taken the last one as a compliment at this point.  All I got?  The "Al caught in headlights" look which resembles the "Deer caught in headlights" look.  He honestly didn't know what to say to my bitching and profanity.  I'm sorry, running makes me swear.  A lot. 

So there - that's how I know Al didn't have many girlfriends before me.....because if he had, he would have known that when I was going off on my rant, it was HIS job to make me feel like sucky at running.  He failed. 

But the main reason I hate running with Al - he's better at it than me.  But I'm not the one with a gross Planters Wart on my foot.  Just saying.  That's all I got. 

Feeling Good

You probably won't hear me say this often - but I'm feeling pretty good about running right now.  I've started some cross training and forcing myself (and Pam) NOT to run too much.  And I'm seeing some results which is AAAWWWWEEEESSSSSOOOMMMEEEE.  I'm working my hotness on the elipitical machine and doing some upper body work too.  I can die a happy woman if my legs *and* arms get toned. 

Know the best result of all?  My endurance!  I can run a little longer now and I totally think that kicks major ass.  I could cry that's how happy I am.  Of course, I still have a ways to go, but it's improvement.  I like improvement.  My arch enemy the treadmill has helped me build my endurance.....I don't run on it all the time, but it's a nice training tool.

So, maybe it's the head rush or all those crazy hormones running supposedly releases while you're doing it - but I'm considering doing a half marathon in November.

Say what????

Gotta have it

This is my new MUST have in my running journey.  It speaks so many truths about why I run.  :)

Building Endurance

This may sound completely stupid - but I'm using my Wii to help me build my endurance with my "running."  Now before you bash me - remember that I'm not a runner and I need all the help I can get.  :)  So does Pam.  (Can't leave my girl out you know.)

Actually, I think it might be helping.  I've been "running" in place for 10 minutes at a time using Wii Fit.  I've done this the last three nights.  Each night, my little Mii (person on the Wii) has ran farther than the day before.  The first night I could have collapsed by the time the 10 minutes passed.  Tonight on Day 3, I feel like I could have kept going.  That has me STOKED.  Maybe Pam and I have been focusing on speed when we should have been focusing on time or distance.  Or maybe we have been focusing on too many things and just need to simplify our runs.  Basically, Pam is holding me back.  Just kidding!  :)

I have two other workouts that are even longer runs that I plan on working up too.  We'll see how that goes.  Is this going to help?  I have no frigging idea.  But I figure it can't hurt right?   My goal isn't to run faster, I just want to run longer.....so maybe this will help me accomplish that goal.  The test will be when I get back out on the Rail Trail next week.  It's a lot easier running in place inside than running down a trail in the heat!  Wish me luck! 

Will I ever get "THERE?"

I don't know if I'm cut out to be a "runner."  Hell, I don't think I can honestly call myself a runner at this point.  Bottom line - I suck.  Bad. 

*sigh*  I'm going to keep trying because at this point - quitting would just really piss me off.  So, if anyone other than Teresa reads this blog - what's your best running tips for me and Pam? 

We started a new training program for 5ks today.  We'll see how it goes - of course today was an "easy" day in the program.  Tomorrow will be the real test.  We'll need all the help we can get. 

Maybe I'll just invent shoes that run for me.  That's a good idea right?

Operation Rack Rescue

Today Al and I ran another 5k.  My girl Pam was sick (or she had better be!) so she missed it.  Teresa and Haylee joined us on this one though.  I actually posted a better time than the last race!  I finished in 44:26....oh yeah, oh yeah.  14:29 average per mile.  Can I get a BOOYAH!!!!  I am stoked!  It was so frigging HOT that I'm actually surprised that I beat my first time.  Cloud nine, baby.  However, Haylee and I finished DEAD LAST as far as runners went.  I don't care though - someone has to finish last and I *finished.*  Finishing = Winning.

My baby and me before the race.  I know this is mean, but his time was actually about a minute worse than the first race.  *evil grin*



Teresa, Haylee and Me before the race.  

Post race!  I was so glad for it to be OVER.  Doesn't Al look so cute in this picture?  Did I mention that he LEFT me early on in the race?  I think he's feeling guilty about it now though....or he will by the time I'm done with him.  :) 

So, of course I still hate running.  I still feel like I'm just no good at it.  I have no endurance whatsoever.  I'm working on it though.  You would think it would be totally cool to be running on the Track too Tough to Tame (which I feel is a pretty accurate name at this point) but when it's 9am and 200 degrees on the race track, it's not so awesome anymore.  Just saying.