This is Just Crazy

 

Congratulations to Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang who has broken the marathon world record in Berlin. The 31-year-old won the race in just 2 hours 3 minutes and 23 seconds.

Dress for the Run

Most of us love cool running or work out gear but did you know you can actually get themed gear? Doing a zombie run? Try INKnBurn for some very cool zombie or Halloween clothes!

Zombie arms anyone?

ZombieMart is a zombie related store but has some zombie themed running gear. We all know zombies hate fast food and....







Work Week

 

Just in case I don't check in during the next week, know I am in California for my work stretch. It's been a rough week with hospital orientation and then two night of work at the new ER. I fly to California tomorrow morning, work Thursday through Tuesday and then fly home Wednesday. Back to my Texas job that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And then finally almost a week to get some rest. I'm sure I will need it by then! I may not have the energy to run in CA but I will eat clean, drink my water, and laugh a hellava lot!



Oh Hell Yes!

 

Oh Hell Yeah! No other words needed!

 

 



I am loving these shoes! A few wacky and wild shoes published in Competitor.

 

Merrell Barefoot Run Bare Access Arc 2, $90

Merrell Barefoot Run Bare Access Arc 2, $90, an uber-flexible, low-to-the-ground trainer designed for running on roads and smooth trails.

 



 

Are these too much? LOL. My hubby and I became Duck Dynasty Fans this summer!

 



Tired, need a nap, and ran anyway

Yep, another day of boring orientation at the hospital, sitting in a chair, not moving, pretending to pay attention to something I've already been doing for 100 years. I missed my morning run, I missed lacing up, I missed lifting weights. I hate this, it's painful for a type A whirlwind who could do a commercial for the energizer bunny. Three more painful days and then I can get some sort of routine into my life. I head to work in California next week but will spend the weekend spreading my cramped wings and soaking up the sun. I did a quick mile and a half when I got home, still testing the boundaries of my back, I'm ready to let her rip....

Safety First

I've been out of commission since Thursday, made a wrong turn and felt a shooting pain in my lower back. I scared everyone letting out a scream every time I moved a certain way for several days! My poor husband, even trying to sleep was a nightmare (no pun intended). Rest, ice and ibuprofen for a few days seems to have done the trick. I'm still taking ibuprofen around the clock and can deal with the dull pain in the back. I have orientation everyday this week for a new job and so I'll have to really manage my time to get my training back in gear. I planned on an outside run this evening but the thunderstorm pushed that to a treadmill run. I also only planned on an easy mile and ended up feeling pretty good and did a two miler. Pain is no worse and I hope it stays that way.

While I was being a couch potato, I had a chance to catch up on some great articles. If you don't read Women's Running, you should. It's published by the same folks as Runner's World, yes, I read that one too. Anyway, This article made me think of the ways I put safety first. I now live in a still unfamiliar area and so getting hurt on a run and my husband not having any idea where I am worried me. If he was home, I'd leave my map up on the computer and he could pretty much judge my time. If he is at work, especially since we moved here and he works 30 miles from home, how will he know where I am. I was in the habit of texting him when I started and when I returned, but it still isn't enough. I wear a RoadID bracelet and now have downloaded their app on my phone which I always carry! The app is GPS based and when I start a run, I send hubby an ecrumb and he can follow my route or at the least, he will get a message/phone call if I am stationary for a set number of minutes! Safety first!

 

 

If that isn't enough, I bought a pretty little purple stun gun. Yes, you can order them from Amazon and I did. It came with a carry case to clip on your waistband or belt but it's also small enough to carry in my fuel belt pocket. Radical? Probably but picture this. I'm on a run, alone, all 100 lbs of me. I see a car pass me and pull over. No biggie, he is just stopping. I continue on, round the corner and see the same car pass me and pull over. Aware but not concerned, maybe he's lost, checking his map, making a phone call. Several more blocks and turns later, I see the same care twice more.  I convince myself that I am paranoid and I can probably outrun him and I am almost home and I pick up speed and the only weapon I have is a plastic water bottle, empty at this point and I start scanning the ground for anything to use for a weapon and pick up my speed some more. I arrived home safely, in a panic after seeing the same car, the same man half a dozen times in a 45 minute run.  I started speaking to other runners about my concerns. The stun gun was just one more thing we could do to help protect ourselves.

fart·lek ˈfärtlik/ noun

1. 1.

   a system of training for distance runners in which the terrain and pace are continually varied to eliminate boredom and enhance psychological aspects of conditioning.

Last week I decided I needed to stir things up a little. I was tired of the same old stuff, I was not enjoying my runs as much, and I wasn't seeing the improvement I wanted. So this week I am not running anything longer than 1 mile. Some speed work thrown in, thus the fartleks, lots of strength training, and more cross training.

Find A Way

"The toughest athlete in the world is a 62 year-old woman." - D.L. Stewart. Dayton Daily News

 

Aint that the truth. Diane Nyad has been one of my hero's for years, and this weekend, she found a way. 53 hours, 110 miles, wow!  Go Diane Go!

 

 

Happy Labor Day!

Exercise to be fit, yep, that's my motto.

 

Mark reminded yesterday that I had passed my 6 months of being smoke free. I had to stop and think about it but he is right. I'm incredibly proud of myself and while I still have an occasional craving (the weeks of moving and driving cross country was one long craving!), I am easily redirected (that's nurse talk, ha) and the cravings pass quickly. I remember making the decision, I was an occasional runner (is that like a social drinker?) and struggled to breath with each run. I had visions of events, both running and tri's and I knew I would never succeed while smoking. I also knew I wanted to be healthy and fit! So I put them down, yep, just over 6 months ago and now cringe when I see someone smoke, especially a young person. Now I am not an occasional runner, I am a runner, one training hard for a half marathon. I am healthy, I eat clean, I train hard, and yes, I am worth it!