Good Run, New Gear and Some Other Stuff

So I ran five miles tonight and then went out to eat some Mexican ... bad combo. On the better note, the run was good; it was a route that my boss alerted me to. It's pretty hilly but it's one of my go-to runs. I mean really, there aren't many places to run in Raleigh that isn't a hill-fest!

After work today I went to Raleigh Running Outfitters to check out some kicks. I think I found the ones I want to get. Nike Structure Triax. I didn't go for it tonight because I wanted to check and see if I could get them any cheaper anywhere else. Good rule of thumb: I typically wear a size 7 heel, probably a size 7.5 sneaker, but I tried on an 8.5 and they said that's the best fit for me. The guys helping me said having about a thumb's width of extra space is good since your feet will swell after such long runs. Anyway, they were having a 50% on-the-rack sale so I got two pairs of Nike running shorts, a Nike sports bra and then a few GU packs (all for $50!). I've never tried GU so this weekend we'll see what the fuss is all about. I also bought the GU Chomps - apparently they're new. I have a feeling I'll be able to tolerate those a little better.  Something about the texture of the straight-up GU makes me nervous.

So I saw this cool little thing today on Runner's World. Marathon Pacing Temporary Tattoos. It's called PaceTat and it lists every mile split and finishing times. Looks like a good tool if you don't have a good watch or like Runner's World suggests, if you're running solo. They say it's pretty durable. I would hope so if it needs to last 26.2 mile! Could you imagine that ... mile 22 and you wipe the string of sweat dripping from your hairline with your forearm. Awesome ... miles 22 through 26.2 is now on your face.

Thanks for checking out my blog, I appreciate the support! 'Til next time! :-)

Something Else to Buy ... It Never Ends

I mean seriously ... look how beat these things look. The first time I wore these was the week before the D.C. Cherry Blossom 10-miler, which was in the early part of APRIL! If you know me, you know this ... I'm frugal! There I said it! Running shoes are expensive - not to mention the unnecessary amount you have to pay to enter the race in the first place. Anyway, I knew it was inevitable and I know can't push these troopers much more than I have. They're Adidas, which has been what I've worn for about five years now. Not by choice. IU is sponsored by Adidas and since I was on the FH team, we got all that stuff for free. Yes, at times it looked like Adidas threw up on me in red and white. :-) I have no complaints about Adidas running shoes but I'd like to switch it up a bit just for kicks (no pun intended).

I went into the Raleigh Running Outfitters (love this place by the way) off Six Forks Road in North Raleigh and fell in love with these Nike shoes. They have this shoe grid to help determine what shoe is right for you. Then, the shoes are all classified on the wall according to the grid. They look at your walk, your arch and some other things and then pretty much just tell you what section of the wall to stick with. I just trusted whatever they were saying. My sisters recommend Mizuno. I need to research those more than I have - they love them. If you're into the technicalities you can check the how to in picking the right shoe. I'm more into how it feels when I try it on. I know there's more that should go into making that decision but that's just how I am. 1) Are they cute? 2) Do they feel good? 3) Does the person helping me recommend them?

So that's my next adventure ... shoe shopping ... without the heel.

Ran three miles tonight with my sister and my two nieces, which entails two strollers to push. Lucky me - I pulled the short straw and got to push the (almost) three-year-old. Whew! Talk about adding another element to the work out!

The Skinny on How I Got Here ...

I've always been an athlete, yet not always a runner. I've played many sports growing up, predominantly field hockey, where I was always told to run as fast and hard as I could. Sprints, intervals, changing directions. I carried my FH career into college where I started as center mid on Indiana University's team. Just like most anything else, it had its ups and downs; but I promise you the ups heavily outweighed any downs. The feeling of connecting as a team and representing something so much bigger than yourself is indescribable. Anyway, I'm not here to talk about my FH career. I brought it up because I wanted to give you a background of my running history. Make your time, hit the line, go faster, pick it up, hustle, hustle, hustle. Once my career was over, I needed something else. I needed more competition.

Why not running?

Initially I never ran more than 30 minutes. I must have had speed instilled in me. I was much like a Chevy Camaro SS ... zero to 60 in 4.7 seconds. Basically, I started off sprinting. I just didn't know any better. So I wouldn't say that 30 minutes was a goal of mine, it was more like I just couldn't run any longer. I was spent. Obviously I had to learn to slow it down, become more like my last car - my little red Volkswagen Jetta. It took her awhile to get going, to get used to the distance we were traveling. Bless her heart and God rest her soul.

My sisters had all run races, 5Ks, 10-milers, half-marathons and marathons so my competitive side wanted to do it too. (There are five girls and a boy in my family.)

My first 5K was the Wake Forest Turkey Trot (NC). This was right up my alley. I finished third in my age group running at a 7:12 pace (and won and medal - woohoo). I think there were 700 or so in my age group. I can't remember exactly.

My next race was the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom 10-miler. I got better a little in my training since those two races were a couple years apart. I had the opportunity to run with my sisters at times who all stressed the importance of pacing yourself. When I finally listened and used a little discipline I realized running longer than 30 minutes wasn't so hard after all. I finished that race in 1:17, running a 7:42 pace or so. Apparently the Expo and packet pick-up wasn't stellar according to my sisters (who had run it with me) but the course and was very flat and beautiful. This is definitely when I got bit by the race bug. I needed more! There was something about total strangers cheering me on and sincerely motivating me that had inspired me. I'm addicted.

Then, I ran the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 5K in Raleigh, NC with my colleagues. Most of them ran/walked the recreational race but I got up a little earlier to participate in the competitive one. I finished 10th out of thousands in my age group. Running at a 7:30 pace or so, I experienced another eye-opening race. This one for a different reason. To compete for a cause is like nothing else. It really puts things into perspective. I was happy and proud to be running for the millions who have died, defeated and are still battling breast cancer, especially my boss, who is going in for surgery next week.

Now here I am. I've signed up and am training for two races. The Baltimore half-marathon is Oct. 10 and the OBX full-marathon is Nov. 9. I'm following the Runner's World novice-marathon training guide and it just worked out that the week I will be running the half I'm supposed to run a 14-miler.

I'm early in training but I know I have a lot to look forward to ... the love/hate relationship I will develop, the cuts and scraps I will endure and the passion that will conquer.

Thanks for coming with me on my journey, where I hope to discover more inspiration to overcome any vulnerabilities that may arise.