How'd I 180 and 10 Days till the 7 Mile Bridge

So first things first:

I FINALLY GOT SOME RUNNING DONE!?!

It felt really good to finally get out there.

Monday I did a 4 miler and yesterday (Tuesday) I did 3 miles only about 40 seconds off my time pre-sabbatical

Today I'm slated to run with my co-worker which always turns into a walk :\ but I may need to leave her because I have some serious work to do in the next 10 days and I won't be able to run tomorrow. I don't like doing that but I might have to :( Normally, I would walk with her and then run on my own but I won't have time for that today because I'm getting behind on my study schedule and I need to keep it balanced.

I feel like I've done a 180 from the last 40 days. I don't know what came over me and was keeping me from running but it's gone now. I'm not going to question it and try to figure out what happened, I'm just going to be thankful it's gone.

The 7 Mile Bridge Race is 10 days away ... and even more exciting, today they announce the New York City Marathon Runners. I signed up last year (when my running was much more consistent) but I still want to get it, it would be great motivation to stay on track! It would be my first full! :}

Happy Wednesday!

17 days and a case of D.D.D.

It's 17 days till the 7 mile Bridge and I am suffering from a case of D.D.D. (Discipline Deficit Disorder).

On Sunday, I got out there did a run/walk of the Rickenbacker Bridge.

It's a great place to run or ride bike and on Sunday's it's full of other athletes and aspiring athletes running/walking/biking their way to fitness which is usually very motivating for me.

I covered 5 miles only 3 of which were run which kinda left me defeated.

I did do great on the bridge which was motivating but I kinda lost my gusto towards the end.

Tonight I plan to run come hell or high water :) Not sure what I'll cover but running will get done!

Happy Wednesday!

24 days till 7 Mile Bridge

It's 24 days till the Seven Mile Bridge and this week:

• Mom celebrated her birthday by running a 5K, I paced and we got her a PR by 10 seconds. Score one for YAY!
  
• I haven't run otherwise. Score one for Boo!
• Spring break is over and back to the Grad School Grind. Score one for ??? hmmm ... I'm kinda glad to be back and working on Grad School but the Tests are Killer ... this one's a Tie.

Wishing everyone a Happy Wednesday!

The Rumors of My Dimise Have Been Vastly Overstated

Life, as it tends to do from time to time, has gotten increasingly busy in the last few weeks but I wanted to pass by a give an update:

• Grad School is going good. I am realizing that although my English BA is helpful with all the papers, I got a 96% on one and a 100% on the other. I don't have a great basis for financial concepts so I am finding I need to study them extra hard, but it seems to be paying off.
  
• It was Mr. Boyfriend's birthday was last weekend and I was able to squeeze in some family time :) which means I forwent my running time :(.
• Mrs. Mommy ran the Miami Beach 5K ... I forwent running the half (being that my training has faltered in the last two weeks) and hung back with her and she got a PR and 4th place in her age group. Very motivating for her :)
• I haven't been running due to tests. Yes, I am 3 weeks in and I've already had two test in both classes. [Insert Boo Here]
  
• But I am on spring break this week. Yes, I am already on Spring Break (it's an accelerated program :) hehe so I am planning to run tonight.
  
• This weekends is Mrs. Mommy's Birthday and how does she want to celebrate you ask? By running another 5K. I'm so proud :) hehehe

And just so you all know, this not posting so often thing may become a habit over the next 18 months but I can promise a few things:

• I promise to post at least once a week with a recap, even if it's just bullets so you know I didn't vanish :)
• I am still following your blogs and reading faithfully in any spare moments, even if I can't comment as often as I'd like or at all :\
• ... and I promise not to give up running. :)
  

Happy Tuesday!

Wednesday Hump

So last night I got in a treadmill run and I was surprised to find that although I felt lazy and didn't really feel like running I ended the run well above my average.

I ended up with 4.137 at 45:00 (10:52 pace)

I was so happy to see an average pace in the 10s. What's even better is I didn't feel over-exerted or nauseous (a key sign that I over did it) or tired. Score one for me! :) Woo-Hoo!

I followed it with a great dinner and some quality study time with my mom, she is my study-sounding board and is helping me figure out my Finance Class.

Tonight I am taking a rest and sneaking in some quality boyfriend time before getting some more study time. I think this one-day on, one-day off is going to work for me :) I just need to make sure I don't skip any more long runs. For some reason my long run phobia has returned, I really need to shake that off!

Happy Hump Day!

Race Report: Calle Ocho 8K

Another Weekend Sabbatical.

Sunday

I bailed on my long run because the morning was too cold. I convinced myself I would do an afternoon run but then, of course, got tangled up in other things. Mr. Boyfriend and I ended up having a lovely afternoon at the South Miami Art Festival and having a nice dinner together together at our favorite little Pizza spot: Gables Pizza and Salad.

Saturday

I couldn't wake up because I had gone to sleep after a long JAM session. I played Guitar, Bass or Drums most of the night :) I didn't run and by the time the afternoon rolled around I had a migraine. Couldn't study, couldn't rest so just went to sleep early in hopes of running Sunday (which I didn't).

Friday

Before going to JAM was the Calle Ocho 8K.

I didn't know it was the first year of this race. Before I left home that wouldn't have made any difference to me. In my mind race start was 6:45 and I was leaving an hour early, plenty of time.

Then as soon as I left the house to head for Downtown Miami, the traffic started. I was driving on Calle Ocho, which is the only was I know how to get to Downtown Miami (mind you there are about a dozen ways to get there but that's the only one I know).

An hour later, I was panicking. I was finally Downtown but could not find the parking garages mentioned on the website. I called my mom and she told me not to worry that it was the kids race that started at 6:45pm that I had until 7:15pm. But I still wasn't finding parking. Frustrated I gave up and parking in an alleyway by a bank that was closed. I figured that with all the commotion and bumper to bumper traffic they couldn't get a tow truck in to tow me away anyway and the cops had the runners to contend with (I know not the right way to think but I was REALLY frustrated by then!)

I got to the starting line about 5 minutes before and got to warming up. When an announcement is made that the race start will be held 15 minutes for some reason I am blocking out at the moment ... I really didn't care ... I had 15 more minutes to warm-up and I was happy.

As soon as we got started I realized I had worn the wrong underwear :\ being that they bunched up in the most ungodly way and stayed there for the remainder of the race.

I decided not to think about it and once I got started everything went pretty smoothly. The 5k and the 8k course were both turn arounds on the same course which didn't strike me as odd but as I read the reviews I realized it wasn't the best idea. The race course goes down Calle Ocho and towards the middle runs into a row of Art Galleries and Street Concerts (which happen every Friday) and the people weren't there as spectators for us but they still cheered us on, which was nice.

The turn around was dark but by that time I was more concerned with keeping my pace. I kept it in the 10s the whole way so far and I wanted to keep it that way. Unfortunately, I couldn't maintain it for the rest of the way.

I still felt I finished pretty strong and ran a good race.

My training has been wonky the last two weeks and I expect it to stay that way for a bit but I still felt good about the race.

The reviews on the other hand aren't so great.

Not sure if I would run it again next year.

Today is the beginning of week two in grad school ... I am cooping a bit better but I know if I was running more consistently it would be easier. Going to take the suggestion of running one day and then one day off and see if it helps.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

It wasn't meant to be ... or was it?

So last night, the weather nixed my run. As soon as I steped out the door it started to drizzle.

Not being one to be easily defeated, I decided I would do a few laps around the block and get a feel for the rain. By the time I finished the first lap, the downpour was starting and I ran inside and decided it would be a night for studying instead.

Today, I didn't really have a run on the schedule being that tomorrow is the Calle Ocho 8K but being that I've missed 3 runs (including yesterdays) over the last 10 days I wanted to get a few miles in. I promised myself it would be an easy run, no pushing myself and being that today I'd be visiting Mrs. Mom it would be on the treadmill ... but low and behold the set of running clothes I have stashed at Mrs. Mom's house was still in the washer (i.e. WET!)

I thought about taking this as a sign and I still might, but I tossed the clothes in the drier and am hoping to jump on the tready in the next half hour or so and get an easy run in. No goal on the mileage, just go with what I feel.

For now, I snuck in this blog post and a little review time while I wait.

No moment goes wasted :P hehe

Happy Thursday!