XT today was going to the doctor!

I forgot that I had a lab appointment last week and big checkup this morning and had mucho things scheduled for today. Went to trainer at 6 am (uggh), showered at gym (uggh2), and went and had lab drawn. Then saw the doctor at 9 and then went home to feed the hungry doggies. Then had to go back home and meet the airconditioner repairman to fix upstairs AC. Which, of course, went on the blink just days after the one year warranty expired. Have choir practice tonight and then will come back to work--trying to make a living. My XT today consisted of three minutes on the elliptical which is just about how long I LIKE to stay on that machine!

Debra Fergason just sent me a neat link to add to your reader for your blogs from Jeff Gallaway. He has a great piece about running in the heat. Wish we had a swimming pool to dip in somewhere along the way on Saturday!

http://feeds.feedburner.com/JeffGallowaysBlog

The Devil's Advocate for Marathon Pace

All things were going well today for the morning run with me--which is unusual, as you know! No blisters, stomach issues, etc. But, it was amazingly hot and muggy to me which really affected my ability to run and breath. I have been doing 5:1's for several months and I truly struggled to do 2:1's. Which brings me to my next point. Marathon pace in Mississippi in August is quite different than what marathon pace might be in Chicago in October. So, if you've set your goal for some particular pace for Chicago, don't be disappointed if you can't push yourself to do it here or even to do it 2 minutes per mile slower. I truly think some of us may have a heatstroke on the 18 miler if we push ourselves hard. In fact, I think Clark, the Butt Man might oughtta bring a few bags of IV solution to have on hand just in case!

Now you guys know why I was so FOR training for a marathon in January. I would MUCH prefer my long runs be in October, November, and December, even factoring in the cold. So, my message is, do NOT try to run 18 miles FAST this Saturday unless the temperature and humidity are lots better than they were today!

Carol's new walking buddies

I used to walk with my friend Julie at the mall on Mondays but she has been sick for the last couple of months so I mainly have mowed the grass instead. Or gone and walked at 645 am with two other friends. But, I forgot to call them last night to see if they were walking so I decided to walk with my dogs this morning. My daughter, Kilby, has been doing this as the vet says that all three of them are too fat. She usually take the two younger ones first for a long walk and then comes back and takes the old girl, Aspen, next for a shorter one. This makes Aspen SO mad that she usually produces an accident for Kilby to clean up in the house when she gets back. Kilby is out of town so I decided to be nice to the doggies. So, I took Aspen first so I would not get a surprise from her ire at having to wait her turn. Went 0.8 miles with her and at a pleasant pace. Got back, and hitched up the one year old puppies on one leash--have a splitter that goes to each collar. Whoa, baby, they almost had me airborn!!!!! The two of them together weigh about as much as I do so I wasn't too good at pulling them back speedwise. But, after a little while, they slowed up to smell anything and everything along the way. And to get tangled up in the splitter part of the leash or to get ME tangled up in the splitter. I'm sure I was the entertainment of the neighborhood. And, they were dragging on the way back so I kept trying to manage to pour water into their mouths from my water bottle which seemed to choke them. I think it took us an hour and a half to go about 3.5 miles!!!!

I mowed the grass in stages over the weekend due to heat and overheating of mower. It was hot as Hades on Sunday for sure--I almost gave out before I could finish. I do NOT see how people mow in the afternoon, or, even worse, run in the afternoon!!!!

Another Saturday under our belts

I was lazy and ran at the Rez today. You see, I can sleep 30 minutes longer if I do that and every second of sleep counts! I missed getting to see everyone though so I look forward to THAT part of next week. Cannot say that I relish running 18 but I will be happy about it when I'm finished, right???? And so will you guys. I had a bad run today. Plan was to run from Usual spot at Lakeshore to Foxbay and back. Forgot to think about bathrooms, and my stomach decided to act up. So, I tried to visit the firemen but they appeared to be sleeping, and I didn't want to wake them up so I went into the woods. Still not feeling great so, I decided to turn around and go back to Lakeshore. When I got to the Boat Dock Road (?Fannin Landing), I realized that THAT bathroom was actually closer so I walked down to that one. Mind you I did a LOT of walking as I can't run when my stomach is talking to me. Then I ran some and met up with Sally on the Causeway over the water. She had a blister and was walking so I decided that I should keep her company and walk some more. Actually, walking felt great to my legs so maybe this will make me stronger for next week's run. Or, maybe I should just walk more and forget this !@#@#$%#$ running!!!! Came home and mowed til the lawnmower screamed and smoked for mercy and went dead. Then edged some and used the blower. Not even 1/3 through but at least I got started. Now at work and the blankity blank air conditioner is on the blink. But, at least I'm somewhat accomodated to being hot, huh?

The Day Off

Wow, how good today felt. Not to set the alarm at some ungodly hour. To lounge around in bed til 7 am seemed like sleeping til noon. How rested I feel. Hopefully ready to run tomorrow! I still have to go buy some Powerade as that is the drink of choice at the Twin Cities Marathon. I like the Performance Gatorade but recall having stomach growls from Powerade. But then, I often get stomach growls from most anything I intake while runing, so maybe it will be okay this time. I can't believe we're almost at the end of our training!

Hills and Blisters in New York, But It Was COOLER!

What a dummy I am. I wore tennis shoes on the plane to New York to save room in my suitcase. On Saturday, Benjamin and Lauren were going to have a session with the wedding photographer at 3 pm so we went in to be there at 11 for Lauren to get her hair done, have lunch, and then meet photographer at Central Park. We drove in from New York so we had to park the car a pretty long way away from where we were going, 3 different times and places, and walk a lot. Now, I don't mind walking at all but I was DUMB enough to wear flip flops. The minute we started walking, I could tell these shoes were not comfortable but I didn't have any others. They rubbed a blister on top of my right foot, just a little one, but they rubbed a LARGE, tender one on the ball of my left foot.

I drained it Saturday night and found some bandaids and an old corn pad and bandaged it all up Sunday morning. Unfortunately, bandaids on the bottoms of feet running long distances tend to come aloose and move around!!! I knew I probably should not run at all or maybe just do 8 miles. But, most of you who know me from years past know that I am stubborn and a SLAVE to the numbers on my watch!!!!! I was determined to do the 16. Pain or no pain. Lauren planned out a route from her house, an 8 mile route. Plan was that I would stop at the house and refuel/rewater and do the loop again. Well, the air was beautifully cool and dry but there were some SIGNIFICANT hills along the way. And remember, we were staying at her parents' house in the town of Dix HILLS---duh, there were hills! She had said I could vary the route and run most anywhere so, when I realized I had missed one turn but was still very close to the house, I decided not to go back to the house. I didn't want to repeat--I hate repeats of the same route like doing the lake in Clinton more than once. So, on I ran. My foot got sorer, and sorer, and sorer. I could have called my son but I decided that running in pain might be good training for the marathon. What a twisted mind I have. So I ran up a street and then turned on a main thouroughfare. Bathroom stop and water refill at a Dunkin Donuts. Ran for a long time and the businesses got a little less impressive as I went along. Boarded up buildings, pawn shops, thrift shops, foreign languages, people aimlessly ambling about. People going into closed businesses and coming out---? drug deals--would I even recognize that if I saw it???? I didn't want to turn around until I was at 10.75 because I thought that would put me at 16 getting back to her house but at 9.99 miles I decided running alone in a sketchy part of town probably was NOT wise. So, I turned around and ran back forever, past the street I was supposed to turn on. Then I turned back around and turned back the right street but was still not sure whether I was headed back the right way. Intervals were MUCH easier in the cooler air and the first ten miles were done in fine form and style. Doing the marathon shuffle or walking after that. When that watch said 16.00 miles, I called my son's cell phone and he did NOT answer! So I kept hobbling forward and he finally called just about the time I recognized the street I wanted to turn on. He came and got me and saved me about 3/10's of a mile more--I walked about a half mile extra.

I wasn't as sore after 16 as I was after the 13, thank goodness because we went out on Lauren's parents' sailboat which was delightful. Then we changed clothes and went to a foodtasting at the temple where they are going to be married--Wedding Crashers we were because there was a real wedding going on and we got to sneak in and sample all their food while they were in the ceremony!!!!!

Exhausted today after adventure getting home on the plane, as always. Look forward to seeing you all on Saturday!!!

I am RACE READY!!!!! and a reply to Mandy

I am pitiful. I love to run in new running clothes. I guess anything that is motivating is okay???? I have some Race Ready shorts that I got at Fleet Feet two years ago. When I got them, they were tighter than I like and I tried the biggest men's ones they had and they didn't appear to be any roomier so I stuck with the women's ones. They also are a little on the short side for a youngster like me. And, I think they actually have shrunk a little with many washings as I would hope and pray that MY butt has not gotten any bigger in the past 2-3 years with mucho exercise. Also, when the pants are tight, the pockets do not have much room to hold anything or get anything in and out of them! So, I bought two pair of a larger size offered on their website. The plan was to only get a pair of black ones, but the circle ones looked real cute, so I got them. And they are so cute that I wore them today on my run when I didn't even need any pockets! Although, I must say I put my half full Propel bottle in the back pocket while I mowed the backyard before I leave town and that was a big plus. Every time the mower went dead, being choked by the large quantity of Bermuda grass (despite the fact that I just mowed this grass Saturday afternoon!), I had a swig of Propel. And, I ordered some of the Race Ready Tights with pockets--a splurge. But, I like these circle shorts so much that I might just wear plain tights under them in the marathon!!!!

Blogger won't let me make a comment to Mandy so I'll just do it here. With your experience and credentials and personality, you WILL get in to dental school. (You need to find out their application to acceptance rate--I think I read somewhere in the paper that most of the people that apply get in????--I'm not sure. The bigger question is how hard it is going to be to do this with one or more children since you've been talking about having another little cutie. But, once you finish, you probably could tailor your hours around your children's schedules. Once they get into regular school, having time to work gets easier than when they are little. Hopefully you have grandparents around to help do the babysitting!