Week in Review (October 21 - October 27)

Trying to catch up on blogging... I'm sure I'll forget something.

Tuesday - Still working on the Fitness Blender Challenge. This was Day 2 - which didn't feel overly hard... weird. Also ran a few miles at the gym at a fairly speedy pace.
Wednesday - My parents are out of town and the kids had a half day so I took the whole day off so I could pick them up after school. I did the Day 3 video before I took the kids to school. After dropping them off I went for a run on Table Mesa, where I ALMOST GOT BIT BY A RATTLESNAKE. Even writing this 2 weeks later, the terror is still there!!

Showered, picked up the kids and had a quick lunch before heading to Anderson Farms in Erie. I had never done a corn maze before. It was a lot of fun and Ariel is a great navigator.

Dropped Hannah off with my sister and then Ariel and I went to run club. Ariel squeezed in a 2 mile "training run" for her upcoming 10K. What a busy day!

Thursday - Did the Day 4 video during lunch, with an easy 5 mile run at the gym after work.
Friday - The final installment, Day 5. So. Much. Jumping. 1.5 miles on the treadmill - just enough for an extra slice of pizza!
Saturday - 6 easy miles on the treadmill. Dropped Ariel off for a Girl Scout field trip. When she was done, it was time to go to a Halloween party! The hosts had tons of food, games and prizes. Only got one picture, but A was dressed as a pirate and I #ateallthethings

Sunday - Kooky Spooky 10K!

Sad, sad, SAD attempt at baking some zombie cookies. For whatever reason the batter was so sticky. We were unable to get any good ones.

Spent most of the afternoon on the couch in preparation for the Beer Mile. It sounded like a good idea at the time - well, until I actually had to do it. It is NOT as easy as it sounds...

Ariel is cleverly dressed as Batman Sour

We went out for a quick dinner with some friends before heading home. A made a new best friend:

Monday - Nothing. Did this day even happen?

Weekly Miles Run - 31.29
Minutes of Cross Training - 113
Minutes of Strength/Stretching - 0

Weekly Gain - 2.4 (120.8)

• And with this gain (over 5 pounds in the course of about 10 days), I'm done. I don't even know how this is possible. HOW can a person even gain that much?
• I didn't go totally berserk, and YET... (but then I looked at my collage and maybe I did go a little crazy)

Everything Else

• Monday night rolled around and I realized... at some point I should PACK for NYC. It has been so long since I have traveled. This turned out to be a ridiculous 5 or so hour adventure. When will I learn???

Kooky Spooky 10K (Race Recap)

Sunday, October 26

Golden, CO

Weather - Sunny and warm

Ariel had been asking to run a 10K for years. I had been very hesitant to let her sign up for one since she doesn't do much, if any, recreational running. She joined me a few times for run club over the last few months, but other than that, no "training" for this race at all.

She was very excited to go to packet pick-up and get her bib, but was a bit disappointed that there was no "expo" to attend. We picked up our stuff the Friday before at a busy Italian restaurant. Not a great choice for dinner time.

Saturday night she got her clothes ready - Flat Ariel is ready to run!

Race Day

My friends Heather and Dan were super excited for Ariel's race and offered to run with us so we could all motivate her. We didn't get up super early since the race was only about 20 minutes from the house and didn't start until 9:30. We got there with about 45 minutes to spare and got some pictures and used the bathroom.

I knew Ariel was nervous about the distance, and to be honest, so was I. The course is a loop course and it is NOT a flat course. It was unseasonably warm and the sun was beating down on us before we even started running. We lined up just in front of all the strollers and I hoped for the best.

The first mile was a gradual downhill, and was the only mile where A was "happy" and feeling well.

Dan and A

I love Heather's "Top Gun" costume!

Not being a seasoned runner, Ariel was drinking a TON of water because it was so hot. This caught up to her as the miles went on and she got a stomach ache, which made for an unpleasant few miles. Her legs were tired, she was getting discouraged, but we did our best to make it fun for her.

Once we got to some downhill, it was a bit easier to motivate her - mainly, because she wanted to pass people. She did really great the last mile or so - even managed a few smiles for the photographer:

When she could finally see the finish line, she was a bit more motivated. She ran most of the last half mile, and the adults held back so that she could cross the finish line ahead of us. L and Hannah came to the finish line, which made A really happy.

I was pretty disappointed that the announcer screwed up Ariel's finish line announcement. All-Out allows you (when registering) to include a "tidbit" for the announcer to say when you cross the line. He was supposed to say Ariel was finishing her first 10K, but didn't announce it. Kind of a bummer! 

Ariel's Officials

Overall - 223/245

Gender - 153/170

Garmin Time - 1:33:32

Garmin Distance - 6.24 miles

Garmin Pace - 14:59

Mile 1 - 10:37

Mile 2 - 13:43

Mile 3 - 18:49

Mile 4 - 17:20

Mile 5 - 15:14

Mile 6 - 14:53

Mile 6.24 - 12:06

We collected our medals and it was already time to head over to the awards and raffles.

I think Dee, the race director (who knows Ariel pretty well), created the special age group just for her. Regardless, she was pumped to win first place (out of one, she says) in her division. Dee made a really big deal out of the award, which was neat.

Thoughts:

• All-Out really puts on a good event. Ariel has volunteered at 4 races and earned a free entry for a race, and picked this one - which turned out to be a pretty good choice.
• Very clear communication - both in writing before the event and on the event website,
• The courses are very well marked. She runs multiple distances and there is pretty much no way you could screw it up. Plenty of aid stations, all well stocked with water, "electrolyte drink" and 2 of the aid stations had Clif gels (although those were probably intended for the half marathoners).
• The race offers FREE race pictures!! I love free race pictures, and I'm happy that we got a few really good ones.
• All her races now offer separate medals for all three distances, which is also really cool.
• As for Ariel and the race itself, I think she was in over her head for the distance. She normally is fine for the first mile or two, so a 5K with minimal to no training is probably her max for now.
• Overall, it was a pretty fun day, and huge thanks to Dan and Heather for sticking with us on a sunny, hot day. It really made the experience fun for Ariel that her "big friends" were willing to stick with her.

Week in Review (August 12 - August 18)

Tuesday - Back on the treadmill. Maybe because I thought it would be the WORST RUN EVER, it turned out to be just that. My "easy" pace felt impossible, and I walked more than I have ever walked (sans injury) on a treadmill run. I think I gutted out 5ish miles, but I didn't log it and I have no idea on pace. I hated every second of this run. So when I got home I decided I should try a video, so I did one of the arms videos I used to do with some regularity. OMG IT WAS THE HARDEST EVER. I am SO WEAK. What.
Wednesday - Played hooky from work! Ariel and I went hiking in Boulder. The hike was a bit more technical than I expected, but she did a great job.

We hiked to the summit in between the two jaggedy rocks on the right!

We met up with my sister at the Southern Sun in Boulder and I splurged on grilled cheese and beer. Yum. Then, we went to run club. Such a fun day!

A is smoking us in her new Pure Flow 2's

Thursday - Oh wait. Just when I thought running couldn't get any worse, it did. This was also The Worst Run Ever. I barely made it over 4 miles. Same issue, "easy" pace felt impossible. Lots of walking (again) and had to settle for super slow jog at incline. Treadmill, I hate you.
Friday - Up early. Went to A's school to find out who her teacher was going to be and then a long drive to Glenwood Springs. After lunch (which was actually breakfast), we went to the hot springs with the kids.

A refused to strike a pose

Early to bed.
Saturday - Glenwood Springs half  marathon and the longest drive ever home.

Sunday - Nothing in the morning and then roller skating in the afternoon.
Monday - CHAOS. Dead. Half the class was outside and we had to do tire flips and sledgehammer swings. I'm STILL THE WEAKEST PERSON EVER.

Weekly Miles Run - 23.50 (13.1 trail race, 8.95 treadmill, 1.45 road)
Minutes of Cross Training - 60 + hiking and a lot of walking this week
Minutes of Strength/Stretching - 20

Weekly Gain - 1.4 (122.0)

• Considering all the crap I ate, I'm actually surprised this isn't worse. I had soooo many things this week that I would not normally have. And it was all worth it and delicious. 

Everything Else

• I have a third grader!!!!!!

• So our AC was leaking and it flooded the spare bedroom closet. It is moldy and musty and we have a super disgusting fungus of some kind along the walls that needs to be cleaned up. So that was fun.
• Ariel is registered for her FIRST 10K!!! Her and I are going to run the Kooky Spooky 10k in Golden on October 26. She earned a free entry from volunteering. It will be my last "race" before NYC marathon. I'm pretty psyched about it, but I'm a bit concerned that she doesn't really realize how much further this is.
• I spent a bulk of the weekend tracking friends running Leadville and Pikes Peak. I know I said I would never even CONSIDER Leadville. But... I'm considering. I mean, it would be a fight to the finish at my pace, but WOW. I gotta say, I'm tempted.
• Nothing else.

What's New...

Because I love bullet lists:

• NOT new - I'M FUNDRAISING!! I know, I know. People are probably getting tired of hearing about it already! For now, all I'm asking for is money, I'm not going to be doing any giveaways (that may or may not change). I'm raising money for the LAZAREX CANCER FOUNDATION. My goal is $950 and I have until mid August to get the money in, so obviously no rush, but hey, I like to proactive. You can do a tax-deductible donation HERE and I'll also have a link on my sidebar until the end of August.
• I am still NOT over the zombie bird flu plague. Coughing, congestion, fatigue... it's still all there. Going on two weeks. So fun.
• Somewhat related to the last bullet. I have been going on and on for well over a year about how I'm just in general fatigued and tired and everything is so much harder than it used to be, blah blah blah. I finally FINALLY have an appointment to see a doctor next week. Hopefully this is an easy fix and I can get back into some more intense training/running.
• Sorta related: I did not have any calf issues during my half on Sunday. That's new. What else is new is that even though I "ran" the slowest pace ever (11:2x), I am STILL sore days later in my calves. WHY WHY WHY??? It's not like I was "racing" - so annoying.
• WHY do I want to get in to more training? Well... I'm not sure if there were any actual correct guesses when I posted this picture last week, so I'll give you the spoiler. I'm going back to Moab. Not for another attempt at running 100, because that would be CRAZY. However... I did sign up for the 24 hour division. So. We'll see how much I can accomplish in 24 hours.

• I sorta have a new training program. SORTA. That means that tonight, for the first time in... oh, probably a year, I will be attempting some speed work. Don't laugh, this probably means my "speed" will be somewhere in the 9:30 min/mile range. (See above, I'm still recovering from zombie bird flu plague. I've also become the SLOWEST HUMAN EVER. My "race pace" is over 2 min/mile slower than 2 years ago. WOMP, WOMP)
• Related: I'm running a very local half marathon on Sunday. Last year, it was 7 degrees. It was cold. This year, the forecast for the ENTIRE WEEKEND is snow. And THIS is why there are NO RACES in Colorado in the winter.
• Related: I am OVER winter. (Which seems so dumb to even say since we've had the most mild winter ever. Put a little snow in the forecast and I LOSE MY MIND).
• Did you know I'm also running a marathon? Next weekend? No? Well... as under trained and sick as I've been, it should be GOOD TIMES. Anyone else going to be at IMS Arizona???
• SOMEONE HEARD ALL MY COMPLAINING LAST FALL ABOUT THE LACK OF A HALLOWEEN HALF MARATHON IN COLORADO. Just added is one VERY close to my house - called the Kooky Spooky. OMG I AM SO EXCITED. Is it too soon to start planning my costume??? 
• Blah blah blah - hunger/nutrition. I hope that after my visit to the doctor, I can get back to a more vigorous schedule that will allow me to eat as much as I'm used to. I am on a minor candy kick, which I am sure is not helping. Suggestions for better monitoring food intake? Things to consider:
• I will not count calories. I have at least three apps on my phone that are capable of doing that, and I'm fooling no one. I will not do it.
• I will not "give up" anything.
• I really like salads, but they don't seem like a super cost effective lunch. Which is a bummer, because if I had all the money, I'd go to a salad bar EVERY DAY.
• Blah blah blah - the Lazy
• I have a treadmill at home. Did you know that? I've run on it less than a dozen times in the 2+ years I have owned it. It just "feels" different than the ones at the gym, so I don't use it. My recliner FACES the treadmill. I sit in my recliner and LOOK AT MY TREADMILL.
• Should I just suck it up and start using it? For walking? Running? To hang my clothes?
• Should I sell it?
• WHY AM I SO LAZY?
• A is selling Girl Scout cookies again. Well, if by selling, you mean stacking boxes upon boxes of cookies in my hallway, then yes, she is "selling." Last year, I was out of work, and we went out almost every day. This year, I've been sick and working and we haven't gone out ONCE. I'm a jerk. She wants to sell enough to go to camp this summer. Sigh.