GRASSHOPPER PROBATION

I'm not really sure what "probation" entails, but as of today's suck-tastic race, I am officially in "Grasshopper Probationary Status."

I'm going to guess that there will be no ban on tempo runs, or long runs, or 1200m repeats. Instead, I'm sure during my probation I will have to eat, sleep, and poop endurance workouts. I'm also pretty certain that my every running move will be monitored by RC aka My Probation Officer and that, like a thug who robs a convenient store and gets caught, I'll have to report to him weekly, if not more than that, on my status.

I'm sure your asking yourself how I got to this point...heck, I'm even asking myself the same thing. But I guess it all started with that intervention I had a week or so ago...followed by this lovely gem of an email from RC:

"OK the following is going to be a less than gentle kick in the back side. You are a big girl and you can handle it. Let's start with this: GH sucking in the TEMPO area. You know what RC thinks about TEMPO's. They rule!!!!!! Posers drool!!!!!! (yes, that was really in the email)

Training for a rocking PR in a half marathon and setting the stage for a Boston Qualifying attempt in 2010 requires that you eat, live, and crap TEMPO's. 4 miles for starters, every single week, come heck or high water. I mean if you get hit by a bus, ask the ambulance to stop by the loop on the way to the hospital so you can get your TEMPO run in before they take you to surgery. (yes, that was really in the email)

Next: Intervals - See butt chewing above. Next: Repetitions - See butt chewing above. Next: Marathon Pace - See butt chewing above. At least you were consistent. You dropped everything evenly across the board." (that was by far my most favorite line out of the entire email)

He even included some fabulous pictures of my progress failure over the last 7 weeks. But they are pretty disgusting and I'd like to spare myself the embarrassment.

Instead I'll embarrass myself with a picture of what today's 5k looked like:




And here's how the whole terrible mess shook down:

Mile 1 - I ran too fast. I was supposed to be running a 7:40 but I got caught up in trying to weave in and out of everyone that I sortof lost track of what exactly I was trying to accomplish. And we were running on gravel...something I've never done before in a race (note to self: it's hard to run fast on gravel).

Mile 2 - I knew I was toast. I couldn't speed up. My legs felt like I was trying to run through a vat of jello. The plus? We were back on asphalt, but the toll that the gravel took on my legs (oh and being a slacker for 7 weeks)...well, I couldn't overcome it.

Mile 3 - I said "screw it." Out loud. As people were passing me. I switched my Garmin over to the time of day so I couldn't see the damage and just tried to not get passed by everyone I passed in the beginning (because good grief, that's embarrassing!)

I ended up finishing a whole 2 minutes slower than I wanted to.

And yes, I know that some people would kill me to be able to run a 5k in 24:56. But they wouldn't want to if they knew they were capable of running a 22:56, right?

The only good things that came out of today's race:

- The Jays Hope Foundation made some money for a great cause.

- My brother and the three rugrats came and ran too.

- Troy and I both scored some hardware for our efforts. Aren't these the cutest medals ever? I'm just thankful they weren't hats!



- And I had a good time. Because, really, that's what it's all about, right? If I'm not having a good time with this, then why bother.

As for my probationary status...I think I can handle it. I'm sure it's going to suck to try and get back on top but I know that deep down inside of me there is a 22:59 5k, and even a 3 hour 40 minute marathon brewing too (my Boston Qualifying time).

I just have to keep my eye on the goal, not slack off anymore, and run run run!

KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE - A NON-RUNNING PERSPECTIVE

The last few months have been leading up to the biggest event I think I've ever volunteered for...EVER. It all started because of a denim shirt and a couple of cold Sweetwaters and before I knew it I became in charge of over 3,000 runners and walkers participating in the Komen Race for the Cure.

Just so you know, I complained ALOT over the last few months about it. It was overwhelming and alot of work and just plain tiring. I had no idea going into it that there'd be so much work to do! I spent lots of days wondering what the heck I was thinking signing up for this!

And I really really really really really want to apologize to anyone and everyone that I complained to, griped to, yelled at, or just cried on their shoulder. It was so much work for everyone to be my friend (or my husband) over the last few months. I'm sure of that, and for that I'm so sorry!

At any rate, this last week my love-hate relationship with the Race has turned into more of a love-love relationship with everyone involved. The survivors. The caregivers. The local Komen Board and the Affiliate employees. The Race Committee. And Those volunteers. Oh...the volunteers. I loved each and every one of them and I was shocked at the outpouring of help for this thing. They just rocked and made the whole experience so much better.

Because this was my first year as Race Registrar, I spent most of the last few months totally confused on my job responsibilities. So, I didn't make a big scene when the Race Chair looked at my like I had a 3rd eye when I suggested that I could easily run the Race too...you know, to support the cause, right? Yeah. She told me "no. hell. no."

And you know what...when 4am showed up this morning...and I realized that I had already spent over 20 hours in the last 2 days working at registration and I had another 8 or so more to go...well, when it was finally over with I was really glad that she didn't let me run. I wouldn't have had a good race. And I would have missed watching GT come in 1st overall female, or RC narrowly missing 2nd overall. I would have missed talking to all the survivors who needed a question answered or just a hug to let them know how happy I was that they were there. I would have missed thanking each and every single volunteer who personally helped me today. I would have missed all the cheerleaders chanting about ta-tas and hooters. I would have missed the opportunity to be interviewed for TV (okay, that part I would have liked to have missed!). I would have missed seeing my running peeps cross the finish line with new records and the joy that was written all over their faces. I would have missed out on the opportunity to run later with GT and RC for their cool down run and I would have missed the opportunity to dodge trains and dogs and listen to both of them talk about their upcoming competitions.

So, in the end I was glad I missed out on the Race. The time and commitment that this thing calls for...well, it turns out that it was all totally worth it.

Totally worth it.

(and the fact that Mechel owes me a few nights of margaritas after she delivers that baby...well, that made it worth it too!)

OK...SO MAYBE I'M NOT A PERFECT GRASSHOPPER?

You probably wouldn't know this, but for quite some time I've been struggling with this running thing. I try to blame it on...oh I don't know...every-excuse-known-to-man...I have even been known to make up completely false excuses in my effort to justify my severe case of the lazy's.

And yes, I am completely aware that a "false excuse" is considered a "lie" in most people's books...Sue me...I'm human.

But, it's really been driving me crazy for the last 2 months. I'm not sure why. I know I'm not lazy. I have a concrete goal (two half marathons). I have a ridiculously detailed training schedule. I have my beloved Garmin. I even have the time (even though that's my #1 excuse in the "log of excuses" - which coincidentally has replaced my "log of miles"). I have it all, really...except the "mojo." (What is "mojo" exactly anyway?)

At any rate, I sort of felt like I needed an intervention. But who calls their OWN intervention, right?

Well, I guess I call my own intervention because today when RC called to ask me something about an upcoming race, and in the course of our conversation he said "how was your track workout"....well...I just lost it.

Because I hadn't done a track workout.

In 2 weeks.

Shameful, huh?

So right there, in the middle of the GA Sports Hall of Fame...on my cell phone...I began my own personal intervention. I'm not sure what I said. I think I probably babbled about needing help...losing focus and direction...not being able to figure it all out. I think I even got a lump in my throat.

Yes, right there in the middle of the Hall, I just wanted to sit on the floor and cry about it all.

(I'm sure RC is glad that I didn't because I don't think consoling a grown adult crying about her lack of running is on his list of "coaching responsibilities").

At any rate, I just let it all out. And it felt good. And, as usual, I got some super advice from a super Running Coach!

Basically, it boils down to the fact that I'm not perfect. I know! I was just as *shocked*. He said that in some aspect of all of our lives we need some accountability (ie, we are not made so perfect that we can be motivated to do everything all the time). For some people they might need accountability at work (definitely not me)...for others it might be their diet (again, so not me)...and still others it might be spending (yes...again...not me - you see how I began to think I was so perfect, right?).

No, for me it seems that running (and Personal Trainer Rick, feel free to jump in here and say "exercise in general") is something I need to be held accountable for. Surprising, huh? I haven't been very accountable to RC since the Labor Day Race as he was trying to let my little Grasshopper wings help me fly...

But alas, I have decided that this Grasshopper must have been born without wings.

Because I'm back to becoming RC's sidekick...the real Grasshopper...the numero uno student...the one who is afraid to skip that mid-week long run because RC will see it the Sport Tracker and then say something really nasty like "well, maybe you're not a runner after all...." (by the way...that one stung...) Yes, I'm back to posting about marathon paces and intervals and hill repeats and oh dear...those dreaded tempo runs. I'm back to looking forward to that weekly feedback where RC says "great job little GH....great job."

Yes, me....the not-so-perfect Grasshopper is back....with accountability in tow!

IS BEING A RUNNER IS MAKING ME AN INTROVERT?

During college we'd take all those stupid personality tests and I'd always rise victoriously as an EXTROVERT. Once I was through with college, entering the workforce, some stupid company would convince my employer that "team building" exercises were a total must...and those exercises always including some ridiculous game to determine whether you were an introvert or EXTROVERT. Again, it almost wasn't even a question on which side of the fence I fell on....I have always found myself squarely in the middle of whatever social-ness was going on, and the chattiness....well it speaks for itself, right?

I have even been told that I could get a wall to talk to me if I tried hard enough. I've yet to try hard enough but honestly, I get it from my Dad...the one and only person I know that really can strike up a conversation with anyone, including a wall, if he can't get anyone else to listen.

The only thing that ever made people cock their head sideways in confusion about my extroversion (that word just sounds wrong) is the fact that I'm an accountant...and accountant's are known for having their head up a spreadsheet's rear and loving every quiet minute of it. I guess I was the exception to that accountant rule...and I'm sure my endless chatter about debits and credits made all my college professors want to shun me from the profession for good.

Accountants should be seen and not heard, right?

So it's been well established since the day I formed my first word that I like to talk (who am I kidding....I'm sure it began before I could even form a word.....

At any rate, despite my overwhelming urge to be seen and heard all the time, I'm slowly finding that when it comes to running....well...I just like to be alone.

Okay, so not all the time, but most of the time. When I look back and recall my best runs...the runs that I don't feel an ounce of struggle....the runs where I feel like I could run forever...the runs where my human legs are replaced with cheetah legs....well, those sort of runs are when I've been running solo.

I'm not sure why. Maybe running solo gives me some clarity and focus so I can concentrate on the "purpose of the run." Or maybe it's just that for once, because I'm all alone, I don't feel like I have to talk to anyone.

I was reminded of my introversion (doesn't sound nearly as wrong as "extroversion") last night at the track. Because I've been involved with Race for the Cure, and they have a meeting every single solitary Tuesday (okay, maybe not that many...but they meet alot), I've missed the track workouts. Most weeks I've convinced Troy to go with me to make up the work, but this week I got to miss the meeting and head back to the track! I was totally excited to be there, but not nearly as excited to do the actual work at hand...6 x 30 sec strides (the easy part), followed by 2 x 800s (okay, still easy), followed by 3 x 1200s (that crazy RC really does want to break me).

My first inclination that something was amiss was the fact that I wanted to get there early and get a head start. I wasn't sure why, but I just wanted to be early. I began my 1 mile warm-up and was happy to just be running alone. I got a couple of laps in when super-sonic GT decided to run with me. Now don't get me wrong, any chance I can get to run with this little running machine...well, I'll take it. She's half my age and runs twice as fast as I do. One lap with her is enough to boost my confidence for a year. I ended up running 2 laps at an 8:30 pace with her....yeah, not exactly "warm-up" pace but it was so worth it....

(As a side note: In the course of that run, I decided to ask her two stupid questions: 1. What is her easy pace? A 7:30...yikes! and 2. What was RC going to make them do tonight (we have a couple of super-star high school runners that RC and others coach separate from our workouts)? 4 x 1 mile repeats..yikes again!)

I finished the warm-up and began my striders. I was running with a group of four and felt fine. Then it was time for the 800s. I ran the first one entirely too fast (6:19 pace...when I should have been running like a 6:50). I knew if I kept that up I wouldn't make it to see that last 1200. So, I slowly broke myself away from the group I was running with and finished the rest on my own. Granted, they probably still thought they were running with me, some being slightly ahead of me, and some being slightly behind, but in my mind I was running all alone. There wasn't another single person out there, in my mind. I didn't stop and chat on my cool down laps....maybe a few small words in response to a direct question, but for the most part it was just me and my mind.

As the miles continued I realized that I really do like running alone. No chitter chatter....no small talk...just me and the run at hand. I finished up way above pace (goal was 3:30 for the 800s and nailed them at 3:09 and 3:24 and goal for the 1200s was 5:26 and I finished them in 5:11, 5:18, and 5:24) and was pretty happy with my performance. Then I began the cool down...all alone...in the dark of the evening....4 laps around the track.

I guess technically speaking I wasn't "all alone"...it was nice to hear those that passed me excited about their victory for the evening...or the applause from the crowd at the pee-wee football game going on in the field below the track...or the kiddos running in the dark waiting on Mom and Dad to "hurry UP!" because it was getting close to bed-time.

But the best part of the noise was the constant shuffle of my feet hitting the track...the swish of my drenched shorts...the thump of my heart beat making its decline...and positively nothing else.

TROY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

"Maybe you're just sick of talking about running?"

Wow...

a few words...

a small question...

can make so much sense...

Less talk. More run.

My new motto going into this new set of Phase Training.

40 miles last week. On track for 40 more this week. Goal for October is 200. Crazy crazy goals.

The air is getting cooler. The leaves falling. Feels like there will be some personal bests in my future.

Gearing up for Chickamauga Half Marathon the 7th of November at which time I will PR....because even if I just ran my easy pace I'd PR....heck, I might even be able to walk on my hands and still best my last time....grand how those sort of things work out, huh?

Going into the last week of Phase I of starting all of this over again.

I'm still scared of Tempo runs.

Until next time. Adios...

PUMP UP THE VOLUME

I think I've posted about this before...somewhere...it may have even been my last post but I'm entirely too lazy (yeah right) to go check on it. So, here's the skinny.

I NEED TO RUN MORE.

Honestly, to get the results I want, I need to be running no less than 40 miles a week. Yeah, sounds like a lot, huh? But, if I'm eventually going to be Boston-Bound, I really need to step my game up. And that game involves logging more miles...and pounding more pavement.

Take Exhibit A below as an example. If you look at March 2009, I ran the most miles I've run all year...almost 140! And guess what?



Take a look at Exhibit B below.



Still trying to guess? Well, if you'll look closely you can see that my average pace between February and March had the largest decrease in terms of percentages that-I've-had-all-year. I shaved 20 seconds off of my pace of 10:19 in February, to my 9:59 pace in March (please ignore January's results as there are several factors resulting in my suckage for that month, and furthermore they totally skew where I'm going with all of this.)

At any rate, it is CLEAR AS MUD that more mileage equals a larger decrease in my overall pace.

It just makes sense to me now. All those years of trying the 8,000 different types of running programs out there....and the only one that really works is to just run. Simplicity at it's finest (okay, so all my percentages and over-analyzation of terrain, paces, humidity, etc don't really make it "simple" but you get where I'm going with this.)

I'm setting a personal goal to run as much as I can, but no less than 40 miles a week. And I'm making it public because us bloggers feel like if we make it public...it will happen.

Actually it should be quite easy to hit the streets that much, once you factor in that 10-16 mile long run each week (and yes...I DID finally make it back to the world of long runs!!), 6 miles of group speedwork, and 5 miles for the dreaded tempo run each week. That means I only have to run roughly 5 miles every other day...[which, as a side note, is super-easy to accomplish because I have the stalker thing going on with Cross Fit...it's exactly 2.5 miles from my house and I really really really want to run by there one day and see them doing all that crazy stuff that is Cross Fit, but I have yet to get there at the right time...so you see in a weird psycho sortof way, it's actually motivating me to get the entire 5 miler in. - and yes, I know I could just look online and find out what their schedule is and plan my run around that, but that would take all the fun out of it! Okay, now I do sound psycho...]

But if I'm not motivated by anything else, I can surely be pushed by the thought of hearing RC say...just one more time..."IT'S ALL ABOUT VOLUME"....if I have to hear it again...well...I just might puke.

Finally, if you didn't think I was rocking out this POD stuff...take a look at this. My average pace has consistently and constantly decreased every month (save for July where I think the heat and humidity just got the best of me).



Have a great weekend (and Kat, you can thank me later...lol)

THE RESULTS ARE IN....

And while I did PR (again..), I did not meet my goal of 22:59.

Ultimately, I'd love to blame it all on Team POD, the fact that I was sick for 4 days prior, the fact that I spent 14 hours at packet pickup, etc, etc.

But, in the end it was totally my fault....because for the last several weeks, while I've been posting all the great and wonderful things I've been doing with running...well...I haven't been posting what I have not been been doing.

Which includes, long runs, easy runs, marathon pace runs, and any run that doesn't qualify as speedwork.

Yes, I've been cheating myself by just doing the hard stuff...even typing it, I'm wondering what sort of lunatic ONLY does speed work and tempo runs?? Have I become that insane?

At any rate, I am here to tell you that while speed work is really really really important, all that other stuff in between is, collectively, equally as important. And had I even attempted a long run...oh I don't know...in the last month or so...I may have beaten my goal.

So, with all of that out of the way, I'm over it. I'm done with wondering "what if" and just celebrating the fact that NOT ONLY is my new PR 23:12, but also that I shaved an entire NINE MINUTES off of my 5k time from just this January (and yes, I know that January's 5k was not a PR, but it was my lowest point in this whole running thing and I consider it an excellent reference point for my awesome progression...besides it just sounds cool to say I shaved nine minutes off of my time.)

Here's a brief race recap because well...who doesn't like to know what goes through my head leading up to and during a race??

-TUESDAY: we ran 3 x 1 mile repeats. The goal was to take the average of the three and determine what our race pace would be. I ran mine in 6:59 (I KNOW!), 7:04, 7:06. So, I was instructed at that point to start the race at 7:10, crest the hill, and then try to keep it at a 7 minute pace or below for the remainder of the race....ummm....you want me to start the race at a full minute faster than I think I'm capable of doing??

- THURSDAY: I began to get sick. Luckily, I know someone in the biz...prescription in hand and I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't get any worse. I still met the group for the 5:30am run and since it wasn't a TEMPO run, I actually enjoyed it for once.

-FRIDAY: I'm still not feeling 100% but the race is the last thing on my mind.

-SATURDAY: feeling like I've been run over by a truck. Why am I getting worse instead of better? Starting to worry about the race a little but then re-assure myself by hoping that maybe I've got swine flu and I'll be quarantined and won't have to run the race afterall!

-SUNDAY: Feeling better. Still didn't run or do anything worthy of aerobic activity. Convinced myself that I'd at least run my last time of 23:30 and since I had only run like 12 miles in the last week (yes, that said 12 miles...sorry RC), I sort of wasn't expecting too much of a victory. Four days of packet pickup is starting to wear on my brain. Running, unfortunately, is not.

-MONDAY: ran 2+ miles as a warm-up with Troy and FM. I realized quickly that not running for the last 4 days was not a good thing. We were warming up at a 10 minute pace and I was already feeling out of breath....this is not going to be good. Ran a few striders (20-30 second bursts) and couldn't get any of them below a 7 minute pace. How am I going to RUN a sub-7 pace when I can't even run for 30 seconds at a 7 minute pace??? 5 minutes before the start and a girl asks me if I can help her with her timing chip....I bend over...secure it for her...stand back up....and realize that I'm extremely dizzy...for a second I'm freaking...how am I going to run like this?...and for a second I'm thinking "hey, maybe I won't have to run after all?". It dawns on me that it's probably all the medicine I took or the fact that I've had a cold for 4 days. At any rate, I run over and tell RC...hoping he'd give me some words of wisdom, some advice, anything to calm my nerves....I should have known better...I got a "IT'S GO-TIME GRASSHOPPER"...ummm, that's supposed to make feel better, how??

- I secure my place near the front of the pack (even though we were chipped timed, the awards were going to go by gun time and well, since I am always holding out for hardware, I positioned myself accordingly). My pace partner, Paul, positioned himself directly behind me (as a side note: it does not bother me one bit that someone paces behind me. Because for all the people that are pacing behind me, I am doing the same thing with all of you in front of me.) I instructed Paul that we'd start at 7:10 pace, crest the hill at 7:30 pace and then go sub-7 for the remainder of the run. I also told him I was dizzy and I may peel off at the hospital, admit myself, and take a self-induced DNF if need be.

-It was GO-TIME.

- MILE 0-1: Trying to hold a 7:10 but since the 1st mile is downhill it was virtually impossible. 7:01 for the mile and actually feeling like a million bucks!

- MILE 1-2: We begin the climb up the hill, and honestly, this is the part of the race I've been fearing the most. Thoughts of skipping hill repeat workouts float through my head. I remember years past and having to walk this hill. I feel myself slowing, but I know I'm still moving because I'm passing people. Yes, I judge my performance on how many of you I can pass....I muster up a thumbs up to Rudy which tells me that not only am I not going to die, but I may be capable of running faster. I just want to make it to the top and still have some steam left. And then I got to the top of the hill and realized it wasn't as bad as I had made it out to be. I wanted to be at a 7:30 overall pace at the top and glancing at my Garmin I notice that I'm at 7:19. Holy cow! How did I do that? My confidence begins to build as I start to think I might just pull this off.

Now, here's where my strategy changed and possibly cost me my time (and yes, I know not running enough ultimately cost me...but hear me out on this one): I calculated (via Cool Running's pace calculator) that a 22:59 5k was an overall average of 7:23. So, I decided that by the time I got to the top of the hill that I'd switch over to overall pace (rather than looking at my half mile splits) and that if I could just hold a 7:23 or better, I'd have it in the bag. At the top I was at a 7:19 and the entire rest of the run was downhill, so surely I could just maintain where I was, right????

So, I cruise the rest of the race...thinking holy moly I can't believe I'm actually going to do it! While I can feel myself starting to slow, I'm still maintaining a 7:22...coming into the final chute...still at 7:22...I've got no kick left but really, does it matter? I'm going to make it after all!

I cross the finish line (and for some reason never saw the clock), hit stop on my Garmin and look down to see this:

Total time - 23:16
Total avg pace - 7:22
Total distance - 3.15

What? How did that happen? I mean, yes, I still PR'ed in a huge way, but why didn't my strategy work? How could the course be .04 miles long and I didn't even think to calculate that??

My only hope was that maybe my chip time would be sub-23...but it wasn't.

And just for the record: my strategy would have worked if I had of known the course was long and maintained a 7:17 for the remainder of the race...

So, there you have it. So many factors going into this race determined my success (because a PR and 2nd place age group awards are successes), and just a few factors determined missing my goal (not running enough and relying on a strategy that didn't work for the distance). I am not upset or mad or ashamed one bit because through this all, I have finally realized that I can be good at this running thing. And crap, I've still got so much to learn and do to become excellent at it!

Where to go from here? Almost 8 months and two full phases of POD training and now it's time to move onto other things...running things, but new things none the less. I'll rest for a week or so and begin Phase I all over again, this time training for a half -marathon in January. My PR is 2 hours 16 minutes and I'm shooting for a 1 hour 40 minutes. Lofty, but doable goals. Of course, in order to do this I'll have to get back into the habit of running long, easy, marathon pace, etc. I'm still going to work on my speed for the shorter distances as well and am hoping that by next June I'll run a sub 21 minute 5k. Oh heck, since I'm pouring it all out here, I'll also inform you that after the half I plan on going back to marathon training and am hoping for a 3 hour 40 marathon between next year and 2011 in order to qualify for Boston.

Yes, I said it.

Qualifying for Boston.

But between now and then, I've still got so much work to do...so much POD to still find...and so many more races to run!

**Oh, and the highlight of my post-race victory: having another blog lurker introduce herself to me! Hi Teresa! I LOVE it when people tell them they've been following my blog, so please leave a comment, tell me hi at a race, or send me an email. I promise I won't think you're a stalker :)

Have a great Tuesday!

THE RACE THAT ALMOST WASN'T....

I am usually a little nervous about races. Sometimes (see previous post) I don't even get nervous about the running part. Friday's race (Feed the Bears 5k to benefit the Mercer University Cross Country team) brought a different kind of anxiety....in the form of a bad temper and general loathing.

I have no idea but I DID NOT WANT TO RUN THIS RACE.

I even ran 5 miles Friday morning (the race was that night) just because I was certain that it was going to thunder storm and I'd be able to get out of running the race. As the day wore on and the threat of thunderstorms became a distant fable, I started to think it wouldn't be sooo bad if I got in a minor car crash (like a fender bender) that at least would give the perception that it's okay not to run the race.

That didn't happen either.

So, I showed up early. Got my race registration on and met my running buddies (RC, Marcus, Angela, and Ashley) for a 3 mileish warmup.

I'm sure they wanted to hit me. I complained the whole time. I whined for at least an entire mile. And the bad attitude I was wearing was as unattractive as slouchy boots coming back in style (yes, they were ugly back in the 80's and they are still ugly now).

I was just not feeling much love for this race. And I couldn't figure out why...I just wanted someone to say "Amy, your car is on fire! Quick, don't run! Go find a fire extinguisher!"

Yeah, that didn't happen either.

Fast forward to go-time and I've just resolved myself to run this race and hopefully finish. I kept envisioning myself spontaneously combusting mid-hill, or completely passing out three-tenths of a foot from the finish line.

Did I mention that I really really really didn't want to run this race?

My only motivation? The fact that Marcus wanted me to pace him...and well...that would require me to not only run, but run at a 7:50 pace.

Oh the things I get myself roped into....little did I know that he would be my motivation to not only finish, but finish in a not-so-shabby time.

Mile 0 - 1: despite the race starting on an uphill, mile 1 was easy. I'm not sure why it felt so good but I was casually chit chatting, keeping us locked on 7:50, instructing him who to follow if we lose each other (like when I spontaneously combust.)

Mile 1 - 1.5: we move into the point of the race where we literally are climbing (even if they were small) hills forever.

The Rest of the Race: I start realizing that maybe I'm not going to continue to feel as good as I did the first mile. The course is a 2 loop course, and it took everything in my power to not peel off at mile 1.5 and just go home. EVERYTHING IN MY POWER. I made it past the loop and as we crested yet another hill, I told Marcus to go on ahead. We were pacing at an 8-something and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to recover from it. He pulled ahead and did exactly as I had instructed...started pacing one of the two females who I knew were our pace. For the entire rest of the race it was Female #1 (Andi), Marcus, Female #2 (don't know her but am in awe at how she can run race after race with her long locks NOT pulled up in a hat or something), and then me. We were all within 5 seconds of each other so I was glad that I had sent Marcus in the right direction.

We are coming into the last hill...I'm not sure what happened....I think Marcus may have had ants in his pants...he took off so much so that I lost sight of him. Maybe that's why I ended up running that last hill faster than I ran any of the other 4 hills prior!

So, thanks Marcus for keeping me in the race!

In the end, I ran a good time (24:33)...and while not a personal best for a 5k, it was a personal best for my first night race.

And I didn't combust. Or pass out in front of the finish line. My car didn't catch on fire. And I didn't just lay down on the ground and die.

Nope, in the end I ended up with an okay time and some hardware (1st place for my age).

So, what did I learn?

Complaining will get me no where. Whining is for babies and princesses, and I am neither. If I don't want to keep running, I should just run faster.

And I'll totally run this hard course again next year!

37 miles this week. I'm pushing for 40 next before I start to taper (and get nervous) about the upcoming Labor Day Road Race!

Have a great week!

JIM HERRIN 5K

I went into this run....well...for a couple of reasons, knowing that I'd get a PR.

1. I PR'ed just two days prior on a training run...duh.
2. I knew the course was flat flat flat.
3. I knew I was due a PR.

So, with that I went into this race completely and utterly not nervous. Which sortof scared me. And made me have this weird sensation of reverse-nervousness. I wasn't nervous about running...I was nervous about NOT being nervous.

Geez, I often wonder if I need to be medicated.

At any rate, just so you know, reverse-nervousness causes the same agony that real nervousness does: loss of sleep, stomach issues, grouchyness, etc. I was a basket case getting to the race (running late didn't help either); I made Troy make one pit stop at a convenient store on the way there (dreaded stomach issues); and I'm sure my attitude yesterday morning was less-than-pleasant.

Thankfully, when we arrived The Best Husband Ever (that's Troy) offered to go register us while I ran a couple of warm up miles. I decided on the loop around the mall where the race starts and ends. Because I've run 12 miles around that mall before (marathon training trying to get a long run in before a race a couple of years ago), I knew that the loop around the mall was exactly 1 mile. During that first mile, I had successfully convinced myself:

• To not be nervous about not being nervous

• To have fun because, duh, this is a hobby not a job

• To be thankful for those two Grasshopper legs God blessed me with

Wow, I was a new woman by the time I got through with that first mile!

After my warm-up I was minding my own business (actually, I'm not really sure what I was doing) when two very bubbly runners approached me. Carey* Ann and Beth...introduced themselves (for real) as my very own Blog Stalkers...actually I think one of them even said "I hope you don't think we are stalkers or anything..." For a brief second, their bubbliness made me feel like a rock star! They seemed so excited to meet me, that well, I felt like maybe I should have given them my autograph or something. We spoke for a second and then wished each other well in the race....little did I know that it would take Carey Ann and Beth to get me through those last few minutes of the race!

My brother showed up with the rugrats in tow, and we were ready to begin the race.

Mile .00001 almost looked like a disaster. I was trying to break free from the pack and noticed something out of the corner of my eye. A girl fell and got trampled over. Do I stop? Do I keep going? I noticed some others stopping so (shamefully) I kept on going....

At a 7:30ish pace...but I felt great so I figured I'd just keep at it. We made the one very tiny climb out of the mall parking lot and I was still feeling great. I kept chanting to myself over and over again "this is fun. this is fun. this is fun." Up ahead I noticed local runner Andi and I knew she was about the pace that I'd like to run so I cruised behind her for a mile or so. She broke off to the 10k and I wondered if I'd be able to keep this up on my own. I was moving into that dreaded mile 2 and hoping that I hadn't burned too much during mile 1.

My Garmin was all over the place...I was 7:30 one second, and the next 7:50. I knew I just needed to keep it a 7:50 for a PR, or 7:42 for a sub-24 minute 5k. I passed Troy who was running out with my nephew and gave them the "thumbs up...keep on going" signal.

As we hit the 2 mile mark, this annoying little twit who had been running in front of me decided to stop. Or make a sudden decrease in his pace. RIGHT-IN-FRONT-OF-ME. I tripped over him, he tried to get up, tripping back over me...it was a mess. And I was aggravated! I was certain that he had slowed me down by 10 or 15 seconds at the least! A couple of seconds went by and then he decided to run beside me, apologizing, trying to carry on a conversation! Are you serious? We are running a 7:45 pace, you trip me, AND NOW...now, you are going to try and talk to me? I think I may have blown a snot rocket on him. He jumps in front of me, catches up with a kid in front of us, slows down to START CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION with that guy! Really? Are you kidding me? This is not social hour! If I had one ounce of breath to talk I would have told him "kid, if you can talk you are not running fast enough!" But I didn't...so I blew another snot rocket on him as I passed him...he played the "run around me, catch up to someone else, start talking to them, slow down so that I have to pass him" game for the entire last mile. I really wanted to hurt him.

The only thing that stopped me was the fact that I passed my brother and his daughter on that last mile and I knew they could still see me...Auntie Amy wouldn't look like a very good role model if she kicked a teenager in the shin.

In addition to finding a new found hate for that kid on the last mile, I was also dying. I just wanted to stop and walk. I was hot. I was tired. And I was sure that I wasn't going to PR. I knew there was a running club friend behind me (he told me he was going to use me to pace himself), and I couldn't let him pass me. I also went back to my favorite Blog Stalkers: Carey Ann and Beth. If I stopped and walked, how would I explain that to them? Would they really want to read a blog post that started and ended with: "I suck because I had to walk"? If I had a craptastic race that ended with me bonking, would they decide to stalk someone else's blog?

My rock star ego just wouldn't let it happen!

So, for you, Carey Ann and Beth, I kept on going!

After I hit the mile 3 mark, I just went into autopilot. I knew it was downhill and that I had put in a good effort. I rounded the corner just to see the clock tick over to "23 minutes..."

23 MINUTES?!?!?!

Are you kidding me????

I saw RC at the finish, yelling to "GO GRASSHOPPER! GO!" I started pumping my fists in the air (something I've never done before) and crossed the finish line in....

23 minutes and 35 seconds.

Crazy.

Just crazy.

I also scored some hardware...fair and square, I got 1st place in my age group! Sweet!

A race to remember...a race to inspire...a race to prove to myself that I can do this running thing!

Pictures will be up soon!

Have a great Sunday!

*I had no idea how to spell Carey...I'm sure that wasn't right and I apologize.

WHO DOES THAT?

Last night I attempted my 4th (and wishing it was my final) TEMPO run. For you non-runners still following my blog, a tempo run consists of a short mile warm-up, followed by varying distances of intense pain and agony, followed by a short mile cool-down.

They stink.

They suck.

They are so hard to do.

Yet, it's what RC (and every other good runner) prescribe in order to become leaner and meaner. Or at the very least, just faster.

My pain and agony has increased to 5k TEMPO runs. According to my handy-dandy documentation, I am supposed to be running them at an 8:20 pace, or so. Over the last 3 I've gotten that time down to a 7:55 pace. 7:55 also happens to be my race pace. According to RC, that is nearly impossible to run your race pace for a TEMPO run. Yet, I do the impossible...week in and week out. In other words, I guess I should be running my races faster.

Like a whole minute faster.

But I think that's just down right crazy talk.

Until last night.

A harmless TEMPO run. I went into it with the same bad attitude I have every time I'm supposed to complete one of these. The day leading up to the run usually has me hoping and praying for alot of weird things: I hope that I'll trip during one of my daily errands and end up with a twisted ankle. I pray that it will be lightening at said TEMPO run time. I send voodoo messages to whoever in their sadistic mind invented the TEMPO run. I just want something to happen so that I cannot run a TEMPO. Last night was no exception, and as usual nothing happened that help me postpone the run.

I met Turbo-Tim at the track. He was already warmed up and ready for his run....off he went. I plugged around for a mile or so at a cool 9 minute pace. Stopped for some dynamic stretching, water, ipod check...and off I went. Mile one was a breeze. Kept a 7:49 pace...even getting down to the 7:30's for a bit before slowing myself down. It was just e-a-s-y.

Mile 2 and the brain starts reminding me that last week I wanted to puke around mile 2. It kept telling me to stop...go...stop...you can't do this...why bother...who do you think you are. After about 30 seconds of that, I regained control over my brain...telling it to shut the @#$% up and just go. At least make it to 2.5 miles and then we'll start talking about stopping.

So, I just ran. Approaching the 2.5 mile mark I was clear what my brain wanted...TO STOP.

But, something all of a sudden came over me. I started rationalizing with myself...telling myself all the reasons to NOT stop. That I wouldn't STOP in a race...that I wouldn't sabotage all this hard work...that maybe, just maybe, one day these will actually be fun.

And I just kept going.

Now, don't get me wrong. I still wanted to lay on the pavement and die. But that was just it! I KNEW I wasn't going to die. I KNEW I would finish and have the great reward of knowing that I had finished what I started.

Approaching mile 3, I decided to bag the last .11 miles of the 5k. I had made it this far without stopping...I could reward myself with skipping that last part of the run. I switched my Garmin over from half mile splits to see my overall pace. In my mind, I thought "if I'm at an overall pace of 7:55 I can stop."

I was shocked when my overall pace said "7:51"!

What? How did I do that? Why am I running so fast? Can I do this all the time?

And then...just then...I decided...what would happen if I just finished the entire 5k?

24:21 is what would (and did) happen. A race PR on a TEMPO run. And an overall pace of 7:49, shaving 2 seconds off of my pace in the last minutes of the run.

Who does that? Who runs a RACE PR in a TEMPO run? Who-does-that?

The Grasshopper does. That's who.

Saturday brings a 5k and I'm shooting for the stars! Or at the very least a super-duper PR!

Have a great weekend!

WOODSTOCK/ANNISTON 5K

Friday evening Troy and I traveled to Anniston, Alabama in hopes of securing a coveted Woodstock Bobblehead award...okay, so my real goal was just to run the 5k...in a respectable time...and have fun.

At least I got the fun part right.

Let me preface this post by saying that if anyone knows how to put on a 5k, it's the Anniston Running Club! Holy moly, they got EVERYTHING right! From the pasta dinner the night before (that was REAL food, served on REAL plates), to the post-race spread of Mellow Mushroom pizza, popsicles, watermelon, bananas, cookies, oranges and even Waffle House hashbrowns cooked on site...they really couldn't have done a better job! I've never seen such a well organized start and finish line, the race distance was spot-on, and the city streets were lined with spectators and volunteers. Even the play area they set up for the kiddos was impressive. The race director mentioned that the community "really supports this race"....and wow, do they ever!

As usual* we were late to the packet pick-up/pasta dinner. RC and crew were kind enough to pick up my packet, hold a table for us, and even secure a spot in line for us at the pasta dinner. After dinner RC took us over to the course to set-up our tent, and give us a sneak preview of the course. With the preview done, we headed back to our hotel to prep for the 5am wake up call.

*"Usual" in this context refers to the time period spanning the last 4 years. Prior to meeting Troy, I really used to be on time for things. Really, I did....

5am came too early (and so did 1am and 3am as I spent most of the night tossing and turning). For some reason, I really hadn't been nervous about this race. I'm not sure why. Maybe I really had convinced myself that running only 20 miles over the last two weeks would in fact be great race preparation, or maybe I was just being cocky again...whatever the reason, I just didn't have butterflies in my stomach.

...until RC, Troy, and I decided to do pre-race warm up by running the course. For what looked really innocent in the car the night before, was a totally different story on foot. The first mile was mostly downhill and flat. E-A-S-Y. The only struggle I thought I might have was going out too fast. We made a couple of turns through the downtown residential area during the first mile. On the 3rd or 4th turn, we began to run a long stretch of road (approximately 1/2 mile in length) that looked harmless. From the car, it looked flat. Now, on the pre-race warm up, I could already feel my heart rate rising with each step. It was not in fact flat, but a steady incline for the entire 1/2 mile. And as I was getting out of breath, not even half-way through the course (on the warm-up no less), I started to get those dreaded butterflies. Thoughts of only running 20 miles over the last two weeks, not running hill repeats, etc started to flood my mind. What had I gotten myself into?

We finally made a right turn and the road began to level out...another right turn and we were headed back downhill. Yahoo! Recovery time! Another half mile or so of rolling hills followed by another half mile of flat-flat-flat...in my mind, I began to convince myself that whatever I had lost on that last mile, I could surely makeup on this flat terrain. The final half mile was another climb, but again in my ridiculous mind, I thought that my sheer will to PR would help me climb that last hill.

Boy, was I wrong.

The race sortof went like this:

Mile 0-1: Wow this is easy...maintaining a 7:47 pace, giving myself enough leverage to slow down on mile 2 (if I have to). Why was I ever nervous?

Mile 1-2: Oh dear...what was I thinking? Why am I even running this race? At least I'm still passing people, but really, am I going to make it? [insert a few random prayers] Oh my...am I really thinking about walking? Whose stupid idea was it to run this course in the most hilly part of town? I saw some really good stretch of flat road on my way in...stupid race directors...I'm never running this race again....really, another hill? Give me a break! I hate this race and everything it stands for: torture, insanity, and just plain meanness.

Mile 2-3: Hmmm...well, I'm now 19 seconds off of my overall pace to run a 24:14. Maybe I can make it up on that flat part. Maybe the race directors aren't so stupid after all. Maybe, wow just maybe, it's my fault that I'm running such a horrible race. Ok, shaved 3 of those 19 seconds off...maybe there is still hope for me...why am I running so slow...why won't my legs keep going? I'm never under training again. This really sucks. And I still have one more hill. Just don't walk...just don't walk...just don't walk.

Mile 3 - 3.11: I really really hope that RC and his family and Troy have decided to go get a drink and aren't watching for me at the finish line. I can't even muster a smile...and I'm certainly not going to PR...[insert prayer that they had to run to the car and won't be there to watch me cross the finish line]...this is going to be embarrassing.

Finished. 25:07.

And yes, they were all there at the finish line...with cameras in tow...to catch all my miserableness in action. I could even hear them yelling for me even though I never saw them. Total embarrassment, miserableness, and some serious kicking of myself for under training.

Of course, it only took about 5 minutes of cooling down to decide that I'll be back next year!

I will not let this race beat me!

I went into this race knowing that I would have placed 3rd in my age group if I ran last year's race based on my current PR...so I was really disappointed to look at the race results and realize that I could have placed 3rd in this year's race if I had of trained well the last two weeks. I ended up tying for 4th...just more motivation to go back next year and try for 2nd place (or even 1st!) in my age group.

RC had an awesome race, running it in 17:17 (his goal was 17:20)! Way to go RC!

RC's Mom won First Grandmaster! Way to go Rosie!

And Jim (Team POD) and MaryAnn (Jim's wife) ran a hard-fought race themselves.

The final prize winner for the day was a man who has been participating in the race for the last 15 or 20 years...as he approached the finish line...a little over an hour and a half after the race started, the spectators gathered around the finish line, chanting his name, clapping, screaming...he wore bib number 92 to signify his age...92 years old...he shook his arms in the air as he crossed under the finish line...the whole town stopped what they were doing to cheer him in...it was an amazing, and humbling sight, and one that I won't miss next year for anything!

TEMPO RECAP

Well, I made it through the run...most of it anyway. I don't know if it was lack of sleep (see previous post), dehydration, or just general laziness but about a mile into my 5k tempo run I thought I was going to die...it coincided with the time that RC began to lecture me on the 3 phases of running a race (mile 1 - set the tempo, mile 2 - struggle through the pain, mile 3 - it's all heart). I kept telling myself that it was just mile 2...it was just mile 2...get through it and move on. At the 1/2 way point I told RC I was going to throw up (or I think that's what I said)...of course, being the good coach he is, he told me to push through it. At the 1.97 mile point I just stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn't decide if I was going to throw up or just lay down and die. I hate to throw up so in my confusion I figured dying would be better. We walked it off for a couple of minutes and then I ran the remainder of the 5k at my tempo pace.

Because that's what Grasshopper's do.

They finish what they started.

After the run I was relieved to hear RC say that stopping in the middle of a tempo run is something that he's done often. I was sortof disappointed for stopping, since I had done this before, and at that pace. I was also relieved to hear him say that I was sortof a different case on the tempo anyway because I usually run them at or very near (like within a few seconds) of race pace. For example, I ran a 7:57 today - 2 seconds slower than my race pace. RC runs his at 6:00 - almost 40 seconds slower than his race pace. Of course he further explained that that meant I wasn't running my races fast enough....

I'm officially moving into Phase IV of training which means longer tempo runs...longer intervals...buckets and buckets of fun.

This weekend Troy and I are going to Anniston AL to run the Woodstock 5k with a few members of Team POD. Keeping my fingers crossed that I come home with a coveted Bobble Head! Or at the very least, keeping my fingers crossed that RC comes home with a BIG Bobble Head!

Have a great Thursday!

I'LL DO ANYTHING

For running that is....up at 3:30 this morning...maybe anxious about my 5:30 tempo run with RC? I shouldn't be since according to his latest review of my Garmin data I have become increasingly better at endurance runs (tempos and intervals). Unfortunately, I've traded those runs for my slower, easier runs and therefore my total mileage has suffered immensely.

Who gives up easy runs in place of tougher, challenging runs?

I guess the same person who gets up 2 hours before a run...for no reason at all.

Have a great Thursday!

SOLO RUNNING

For anyone that knows me, you know how much I don't like to be alone. Not in co-dependent-I-can't-think-for-myself way, but more in a I-like-people-and-being-around-people way. I got my ability to carry on a conversation with a wall from my dad. And my sister got the more introverted, home-body type personality from our mom. I guess my brother got the best of both worlds and I'm sure he's flattered that I said that.

So, when it comes to running my immense urge to be around other people isn't much different. I like running with someone...anyone. And, I often find myself sandbagging my run if I don't have anyone to run with. As I've gotten faster in this running game, I've found fewer and fewer people to run with. It's like I'm in this awkward, in between stage of running....my clothes don't fit right, I'm not sure if boys still gross me out, and if anyone finds out I'm still playing with my Barbies I might just die.

Wait...not those tween years. No...it's more like that in between stage where I have a few running friends who (currently) run a tad slower than me, and I've got a few running friends who (currently) run a tad (or a lot) faster than me. And I don't know anyone who is (currently) running at my suggested paces.

And if I continue to sand bag runs, all my currently-slower-than-me-friends will be faster-than-me-friends.

So, this week I made it a point to do some solo runs. And not the easy paced runs...the hard, grueling, why-am-I-out-here-and-when-can-I-stop sort of runs. Mainly my speedwork (4 x 1200s) and my tempo run. I need to feel okay running alone and (gasp) I need to actually try and enjoy them enough that I can regularly become a solo runner.

I chose a busy track for my speedwork. It was early morning and all the mall walkers were out in full bloom. There were no runners, so that actually made it easier. I didn't feel like I was competing with anyone but me. My goal was to run them in 5:35 (or around a 7:25 pace). I ended up finishing them...all 4 of them...all by myself in 5:35, 5:24, 5:29, 5:30. After each interval I would huff and puff and say I'm going to blow this house down quit on this next one. But, I'd rest for the prescribed 4 minutes (see I do listen RC!) and like a German wind up doll, I'd just do it all over again. After I finished I found out that most of the mall walkers were watching me the whole time...in amazement (their word, not mine) that I just continued to push on, lap after lap after lap. It felt pretty good to think that for the first time in my life, I completed an entire speedwork session with the assistance of no one. (Okay, and it felt good to know that everyone was watching me in amazement too...)

Yesterday I decided I'd do a 5k tempo run at a 7:55 pace...all...by...my...self. As I warmed up I thought about how I tend to sand bag myself at the beginning of a race by doing the exact opposite of most everyone else - I start off too slow. I tend to start around an 8:15 out of fear that I'll go out too fast and bonk in the end. I needed to prove to myself that I can start off fast and hold on. I decided that I'd start this run at 7:55 and just hang on for dear life. (Also, the benefits of running solo...I'm sure if I had of been running with RC and brought up this hair-brained idea, he would have asked me if I had been taking too much pain medicine and told me to just follow the program...)

Well, I ended up starting off at 7:42 for mile 1 (maybe I am on something?) and then 7:46 for mile 2 (maybe I'm just an idiot?). And then I realized that my heart rate was red lining it (199) and there would be no way that I'd be able to continue for another mile....if I wanted to live to see Saturday that is.

So, I stopped. Rested for a bit and finished up the last mile at my marathon pace (8:45) thus proving to myself that 7:42 is still too fast for me to start. But, I also proved that I could run by myself and continue to run even when my body just wants to lie on the ground and die. I also think know that if I had of started at 7:55 I would have been able to hang on for the remaining mile. And I was pretty damn proud of the fact that I still continued to run at a not-easy pace for another mile just because I was supposed to run a solid 5k.

I might frequent this running alone thing again soon. I actually enjoyed them, despite the fact that on both occasions I thought I might die. I got to actually think through my runs...the strategy, the pace, the pain and suffering. All of it.

I may become an introvert, home-body after all....or maybe I'll just take this solo thing one step at a time...

Have a great weekend!

A LITTLE BLOGGING LOVE

Yep...that's what I'm giving you...a little love...in the form of two posts in one week!

And this one won't even be about running.

For the record, if one more person tells me "I only read your blog posts that don't have to do with running because that running stuff doesn't make any sense to me", I'm going to S-C-R-E-A-M. It's running...put one foot in front of the other. How complicated is that? Besides, look at the title...it's not called "Amy's RUNNING Life" for nothing...

But I digress, because this week I've only run 12 miles and I won't be allowed to run again until Monday...so no running updates. Boo for that.

Actually, now that I'm typing, I'm thinking this post is going to be short and sweet. Because typing with 1 1/2 arms is no fun. Want to know why?

On Thursday, Dr. 90210 decided that I needed yet another surgery on my arm (actually, he decided many months ago but we just got around to doing it now). So, I had this huge dent in my arm (and yes, I know my husband owns a company that removes dents...just not this kind of dent...actually, I think if I would have let him, he would have tried). At any rate, Dr. 90210 moved some fat around (unfortunately not from my butt) and made my dent go away. Or at least we hope it did. I'm now in a half cast with my arm splinted at an approximate 90 degree angle. And it's my left arm. And I'm left handed. Which is making normal life a little difficult. And to top it off, because Dr. 90210 doesn't want to have to repeat surgery (for a 4th time) he doesn't want me doing anything...including running. He sucks.

Oh, and Troy watched the whole thing. I, on the other hand, turned Micheal Buble up really really loud on my ipod and kept my eyes closed for the whole thing. Yes, I was awake during it all. And yes, on more than one occasion I thought I was going to pass out. It never hurt but it all just felt weird...in a weird sort of way that made me want to pass out.

So, I'm left with nothing to do for the weekend except drink beer and surf the Internet. Wow...now that I type it, it doesn't sound so bad.

In other unrelated news, I still heart my new job in a much bigger way than I ever thought I would. I've been so busy I haven't really had time to stop and think about whether I miss my other job or not. I like relatively being on my own schedule. I like sitting in my office at home and working from my pajamas. I like feeling busy and productive and actually making a difference for my future. I just love it! It's been one month since I left the cushy life of a government employee and by the looks of the way business is running, I definitely made the right decision.

So, there...a little blog love...have a great weekend!

TO MY PERSONALITY...WITH LOVE....

Dear Type A Personality,

You and me...we've got big problems. Yeah, I know you had a serious case of separation anxiety a few minutes ago when I ran 4 miles and refused to look at my Garmin...I could hear you up there screaming and shouting that we might not be on pace....we might be running too slow....we have no idea how far we've been...

I'm sorry but it was just something I needed to do.

Without you breathing down my neck.

Because you, Mrs. Type A, are driving me nuts. What with all the list-making, schedule-planning, bin-organizing....it's just too much for me sometimes. We have got to loosen up those apron strings!

Don't you remember the good old days? Back a few years ago when life was full of surprises and plans were only made 5 minutes in advance? Those were the days when I felt carefree enough to do silly things like jump out of airplanes, or run marathons on little to no training, or (gasp) get a tattoo....yes, my dear enemy...those were the good old days.

But now life is just full of plans and organization and lists. And it's all so chaotic and jumbled. Lists are starting to run together, bins are overflowing, and really...today I even told Troy to go to an appointment IN-THE-WRONG-PLACE. You have even had me add "pick the cat up from the vet" for three solid days on my schedule. And guess what? I still forgot to pick her up!

I'm getting little done and my brain is overflowing. My running is taking a back seat to spreadsheets and charts and notepads...oh dear the amount of paper that I'm wasting is just breaking my heart!

I JUST CAN'T TAKE YOU ANYMORE!

It's funny because most unorganized people that I know tell me how impressed they are with my discipline, my organization, my tenacity to get it all done. While flattery doesn't do much for me, I know it just inflates your oversized ego and really just makes you want to be more organized. It's such a ridiculous thought. Why can't we just be like everyone else? A little messy...a little scattered...a little (gasp) rebellious even? Why can't we just have fun more?

So, personality I had to punish you today for making me so stressed out. I had to just run to run with no distance, time, or speed in mind. I just had to run for me. And even that last mile, the one that I had to walk because I thought I was going to throw up? Yeah, that one was just for you too. Consider it a figurative middle finger to your attitude as of late.

Sometimes I might like you, but more often then not, I despise you. But ultimately, I know you aren't going anywhere anytime soon. So every now and then I'm just going to have to let go...regroup...make you take a back seat to the rest of my life.

Today, Mrs. Type A Personality...well today was just that day.

Sincerely,

Amy

So here I am....working (or trying to work on) Phase III (or is it IV?) of this Team POD training. And for some reason I am just helplessly unmotivated. It's like my brain says "GO RUN" and my legs say "DO SOMETHING ELSE." At this point in my training I should be running at least 35 miles a week....and I'm struggling to get eek out 30.

You know what? Screw this post.

I'm going to run.

NO SHE DIDN'T....

Let me get two things out of the way:

1. I'm bound to offend someone by this post but I can't apologize for my blatant honesty, so feel free to leave your comments but understand that it won't change my opinion on this topic.

2. I really am grateful for the fact that I can run, and place in my age group...really, I am.

With that out of the way, I want to find out who ever ever ever ever thought it was a good idea to give away anything OTHER THAN a trophy for an age group win?

WHO?

Seriously, who was it?

Because I would like to personally dedicate this blog post to them.

Two weeks ago I ran a 5k. And I PR'ed. And I knew that for the first time in my life, fairly and squarely, I placed first for my age group. FOR-THE-FIRST-TIME people. I was so excited to get yet another "piece of plastic" for my growing trophy case (yes, it's that particle board shelving system...that's my trophy case).

But then...right before the announcement of the awards...I noticed....that there weren't enough trophies sitting there for all the age groups...3 deep....but there were...oh no...really...it can't be...

It was.

Caps.

Lovingly embroidered in festive red, white, and blue, probably by some local business owner who put their heartfelt time and energy into embroidering each and every age grouper cap.

Yes, it was those kind of caps.

And then the director of the race stands on her podium and explains to the crowd that her teenage daughter told her that only people who are 19 and below like trophies.

I almost choked on my Gatorade.

For real? Who is this teenage daughter and where is she?? We need to have a little chat.

Besides that, who in their right mind would listen to a teenager's opinion? Especially when it comes to something so delicate like race trophies???

I'm sorry. Hats are swell. Really, they are. But nothing...I mean N-O-T-H-I-N-G is better than having a professionally sculpted runner girl in a realistic running pose...the gold plated ponytail...sitting atop a particle board base...with a gold plated ENGRAVED plate telling the WORLD that I just got 1st place for the 30-34 age group.

I mean, really, what is better than that?

So, to all you race directors and would-be-race-directors: don't cheat us me. I just want the plastic girl with the ponytail...just a trophy. No more. No less.

Of course, I'm keeping the hat...lovingly displayed amongst my gold plated ponytails...so don't ask for it, cause you're not getting it.

LIFE IS GOOD.

Yeah, I owe some really good posts....I've been busy....

beaching it...

running it...

hanging out with kiddos (not mine)...

losing my car keys in the ocean when I don't have a spare set...

It's been a busy last few weeks!

I've PR'ed by 6 seconds on a new race course.

I've realized that my progress in running is only going to come when I learn to overcome these stupid fears that if I run too fast I'll just stop in the middle of the road.

I've been to the beach twice, which is evidenced by my unsightly tan lines (only on the front, of course).

I've quit my job and gone to work with Troy at his business and am loving it! Morning pedicures and afternoon naps...these are the days of my life.

Right now I'm sitting on the sofa, watching stage 8 of the Tour de France, drinking a beer....all at 11am...

Life is good peeps...life is good.

Promise to start posting more often, and better posts....for real.

Salute To Freedom 5k....Chasing the Rabbit...And Adventure Racer, I am Not

I told you'd I'd post more often, and lordy lordy it's hard to keep that promise.

At any rate, I ran my race last Saturday. I did not have a flying PR like I had hoped, but I did finish within 2 seconds of my last PR (24:35) which tells me that the last PR really was that...a PR..and not just a stroke of luck.

I ran most of the course prior to the race (RC racing strategy #1), and did 6 strides right before the start (30 seconds bursts...RC racing strategy #2). I maintained a consistent 8 min pace for the first mile (RC racing strategy #3) even though I really wanted to run faster and stop getting passed by all those people who go out too fast. I was good until the half-way point. And then I'm not sure what happened...it was a combination of turning around and realizing that we running into a head wind, and the sudden realization that trying to shave so many seconds off of my time just wasn't happening. And then I thought I wasn't even running my tempo pace because when I run a race my mind tends to play tricks on me...Saturday was no different, as my mind was telling me that my tempo pace was 7:45 and I was running an 8:01. Fortunately for me, RC has a much better brain than I do and laughed (and probably thought to himself that I probably used to be blond) when I explained to him that even though I didn't PR I was more mad that I didn't even use it as a good tempo run. Duh...my tempo run pace is more like an 8:20 something. So, I spent at least a good 1.5 miles beating myself up about it, when in actuality I rocked out a superb, controlled tempo run. Go me (after the fact, of course).

I found out after the race that one of our local super-star's Dad was chasing me the whole time...no, not like that! He and I run at relatively the same pace during the weekly track workouts, so he decided that his strategy for this race would be to chase the rabbit..or the Amy. And he PRed too! Fast forward to Tuesday (the next track work after the race) and Super-Star's Dad was instructed by RC to chase me on our 6 x 800's. To say it mildly, I was flattered. There used to be this time in my life where I felt like I was chasing everyone else and always pulling up the rear. Well, I'm still chasing everyone else but it felt good to know that I was finally...FINALLY...pulling someone along. Not sure what RC has in store for us tonight, but I wouldn't mind being chased again (that sounds weird....)

Since I've waited so long to post about a race 2 weeks ago, I'll fill you in on my racing adventures last Saturday too. Who doesn't love a 3 for 1 post? It goes something like this: Troy volunteered to be on an adventure race team with a former teammate...The Siego on Ft Yargo...some how or another, I agreed to be a part of that team not fully knowing what I was getting myself into. In other words, I was sick to my stomach everyday for a week leading up to and including the day of the race. Turns out I had reason to be scared. I've come to learn that every adventure race is different, and this one proved to be the same...different than what I thought. It consisted of 3 legs: a bike (mountain biking of course), a canoe, and a trek (I thought it was going to be a trail run...but it wasn't...more on that later). We had to orienteer through the woods on each leg and get at least 2 checkpoints on each leg. We had 5 hours in the blazing GA heat to find as many checkpoints as we could. We were randomly selected to do the trek first which I was excited about for the first 5 minutes because I thought it was trail run.

It wasn't. We made our way up the hill following the power lines (running...with a camelbak...and a life vest...which just made me feel like I was running in my own personal sauna). There were supposed to be two checkpoints at the top of the hill...just off in the woods...and looked relatively easy to find in the woods. They weren't. Actually, they were both misplaced and we spent almost an hour and a half looking for them. That wasn't the bad part. The bad part was tromping through knee to waist high brush and dead trees...and I couldn't see my feet...and I was getting stuck by thorny vines...and I kept thinking "what if I step on a snake?" NO, really what I was thinking is "4 more hours of this???" The other part of the trek that I wasn't looking forward to was a swim across the lake (guess that's why it's called a "trek" and not a "run"). I don't swim. I'd like to learn. I don't swim in lakes either. And I don't want to learn how to do that. Fortunately Troy cut his big toe trying to get a checkpoint in the lake and then with all the time we had already wasted, my team members decided to bag the swim (and they have no idea how grateful I was!)

Onto the canoe. No big deal except that there wasn't a 3rd seat so I had on knee pads and was supposed to sit on my knees the whole time so I could paddle. Sitting on my knees hurt my ankles so I opted to just paddle sitting on my behind...which wasn't really paddling at all. It was more of a "clank-clank...clank-clank" as my oars hit the side of the boat and never came close to hitting the water. At this point I didn't care because I knew I didn't have to "trek" through any scary brush anymore. I did feel bad for my teammates though because so far, on this adventure, I have been useless (and just so you know...I was pretty useless the rest of the race as well). We opted to just get the mandatory 2 checkpoints and move onto the mountain bike (I could hear angels signing in the background!). One important thing I did learn on the canoe: rowing would probably make my arms look really really amazing.

Back to land and oops! someone lost our checkpoint passport! Luckily a fabulous and wonderful team found it at the last checkpoint and brought it back for us. Thanks guys!

Onto the mountain bike. This was the part I had the most fun in because, well, I just like riding my bike. I thought I was pulling up the rear, but luckily we were with another team of all males for most of it, and I was better on the bike than one of those guys. Score one for Amy! Because we had spent so much time on the previous legs of the race we basically just had enough time to ride the course (you had to go all the way around the lake) and get a few checkpoints. The only part that really sucked was at the end we took some pretty hilly street roads. And I was out of steam. I ended up pushing my bike (how embarrassing) but I was so ready to be done with this race that I really didn't care what anyone else thought...

All in all, I liked my team (Troy and Dave) and my team name (Two Farts and A Tart) and that was about it. I'm not the adventure racing type. The tromping through brush and having to get checkpoints part really soured my taste for all things adventurey. I think (if I learn how to swim) I could totally do a trail triathlon? Is there such thing? Maybe I could be talked into another one? Who knows.

So, there are my adventures as of late. I'm really going to have to get on the blogging bandwagon as these posts are entirely too long!

Oh, one last thing: I quit my job last week to go pursue my dream of being an Olympic athlete. Okay...so that's not what I'm going to be doing! Actually, I'm going to work with Troy at the business he started 10 years ago (http://www.denttricks.com/). It's pretty exciting and not at all as scary as I thought it was going to be...and maybe...just maybe I'll have more time to post more often :)

Have a great week...I smell a beach trip in my future!