Monday, June 25, 2012

50 shades...

I finally joined the bandwagon and picked up 50 Shade of Grey.   I tend to read entertaining books, I could care less if it has any literary merit.  When I read, it's for pleasure.  I also tend to get hooked on books that some people roll their eyes at, which is fine, to each their own.  So with saying that...I loved 50 Shade of Grey.  I couldn't put the book(s) down- I read all 3 in 4 days.  I stayed up til 1am reading.  It was a fun story, perfect for a summer read.  Sad part was I really didn't want to do anything else until I finished them.  Including, gasp, running! (actually, I did have legit reasons for not running) 

Here's a great review from another blogger if you curious about 50 shades  http://fromgrindtowhine.com/2012/06/01/50-shades-of-empowerment/

And if you haven't seen the SNL amazon commercial for 50 shades...I'll let you goggle it, when you want a laugh.

Air Force Training  Week 6

Sunday- Canton Half marathon 13.1 in 1:51
Monday-Spinning 17 miles easy (just to flush out the muscles-seems to really help me after hard runs)
Tuesday- off
Wednesday- xtrain- tried Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD
Thursday- spinning 23 miles hard
Friday- off
Saturday- 5.5 miles- dead legs still from the half
Sunday-9 miles with Carrie

Next week, looks like a new distance 14 miles.  I'm nervous about it.  We might go to the running store in town that does running groups- just to break it up.  

Do any of you run with a group (esp. UAR)?  How is it? 
Do you prefer groups or running solo? 
Anyone else read Shades of Grey?

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Canton Half Marathon- Race Recap

 



Wow! Canton, very impressive inaugural marathon!  

I decided on a whim to sign up for the Canton for the half marathon since my training plan for the Air Force Marathon had me running 12 miles this weekend.  I knew that it might be risky to run a 13.1 race in June in Ohio.  It could be hot and humid or a pleasant 60 degrees.  It's Ohio after all, which means you could experience 4 seasons (sometimes) in one week.  But my mom lives in Akron (30 mins away-for those of you out of state) and made for a great excuse to head up for a visit. 

Took my dh to explain the tee is supposed to look like a football jersey, duh!
The Expo:
I didn't have much expectation for the race expo, since this was going to be a smaller race and it was the inaugural year.  The packet pick up was painless- no waits, very friendly (love the midwest!) volunteers.  Then we wondered through the expo.  They had a nice group of venders.  It took my dh and I about 40 mins. or so to wonder through.  I looked at fuel belts for carrying H2O but couldn't commit so just browsed.  I have a hand held water carrier right now but I'm thinking I'll want more H2O and I'd like to carry Nuun while I run as well on the longer runs.  Any opinions on fuel belts? I've looked at Fuel Belt and Nathan brands, also the Amphipod versions but not sure...
McKinley Memorial, Canton, OH


After the expo, my historian hubby wanted to stop by the McKinley Memorial since President McKinley was from Canton.  It was on the map and nearby so we headed there after! Wow! Talk about impressive!

Race Day:
Self portrait with DH before the race- looking pretty good considering it was 5 am!
 Race started at 6 am, so 3:30 wake up, 4:15 departure.  30 min drive to Canton.  The only people on the road were cars with 13.1 or 26.2 stickers on them.  Looked like we were all heading to Canton.  It was awesome to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the stadium all lit up along I-77.  We parked at the fairgrounds and they had the Canton buses stacked up and waiting to take us to the start line.  I was afraid we'd be get to the fairgrounds and have to wait or worse try to walk back to the start, but it was very well run. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame aka "the juicer"
We were there plenty early to hit the restrooms (yes, flush toilets at the stadium!).  Thank goodness, since I have a super sensitive nose when I'm nervous (so any gross smells sends me into gagging).  Anyways, time to stretch, chill out before hand. 

Around 5:45 headed down to the corrals and I thought was the start line.  We stood around and people watched.  Then we started walking, and walking and walking (probably about .25-.5 miles) under the I-77 overpass to the park.  It makes sense not to have the first .5 mile downhill- I can imagine there would have been lots of people running into each other trying to take advantage of the downhill.  Anyways, delayed start by about 25 mins.  I didn't mind that too much, after all, it was the first year they were doing it.  Although, a few port-a-potties would have been good to have near by. (They were all up the hill by the stadium).  Guys were sprinting towards the treeline for one last pee. 

Finally, the race started.  The course was hillier than I was expecting.  I had looked online at the elevation chart and it looked like there was only 200 ft difference, and I figured after the Flying Pig, that it wouldn't be too bad.   The hills just kept coming!  They weren't huge, but at times, I wanted to scream "mercy"! 

Photo by dh Finish line was ready to go!
The course support was amazing, all the volunteers had smiles on their faces and the fans were out there!  Once again, I wasn't expecting much since it was the first year but people were out there.  Only in a few places, mostly between miles 6-8 the support was a little thin.  I'm glad I had water for that section as well, since there wasn't a water stop once you went back into the neighborhoods.  Overall, I was very impressed by the course volunteers!  Thank you!

I felt pretty good the whole time.  I experimented with my nutrition this time.  I've always gone conservatively with the Cliff Bloks that I take generally 2 at mile 6/7 this time I popped 2 at the start, 1 at mile 5,  mile 7, mile 10.  I took Gatorade on the course as well.  Usually, I'll drink Nuun after my runs.  I felt pretty good the whole time, and my pace was pretty consistent until miles 11-13 then it was consistently slow! That is when my pinky toe started to protest- honestly- do I need a toe nail there? It's so annoying that every race it starts bothering me.  Grrrr- funny how something that small can bother you so much!  
Race Stats:
Official time: 1:52:16 (mine was a minute less-since I had a potty break during the race)
Age group: 17th/153
Overall: 307th/1788

It was a good race/training run.  I finished strong and I got to run a great race.  I will be planning on doing this one again.  Smaller scale than Cincy or Columbus but Canton put on a great race.  I'd recommend it!


2012 medal- that thing is solid!
Happy Finisher!



Friday, June 15, 2012

Road Trip!

Family reunion time! sort of.  Heading to Akron to visit my mom and stepdad, but it works out that my brother is going to be in town from Utah, and my dad will be in town from Arizona.  Can't wait to see everyone together.

 I'm hoping the drive there will be uneventful, but I'm going to have 3 very tired boys in the car.  My dh and cub have been doing cub scout camp all week, and last night cub's friend spent the night (also a cub scout).  They got up at 6 this morning and after swimming and sun I'm sure cub's going to be a bear (forgive the pun!) later.  Also, Buster has been going to baseball day camp (although only half days) he too got up early.  Now add my dh who will be exhausted from being in charge of the pack this week, I'm hoping we'll get through the drive without too many issues.  I'm seeing the portable DVD players being busted out in the near future. 

I'm also running the inaugural Canton Marathon well, the half, on Sunday.  The temps look a little warm, low for Sunday is 67.  Start time is 6am. I'm sure it won't be a problem since I should be done in 2 hrs, but they are already offering deferrals until next year for the Full marathon runners.  I wondered when I saw the Canton Marathon booth at the Flying Pig expo that it would be too warm for a June marathon in Ohio. Then I went and signed up for it. Ha.  Just must remember that it's a training run.  I'm going to go on feel, since there is no point in stressing about pace.  It's going to be hot, humid and it's not what I've been training for, so just a nice training run with a tshirt/finishers medal. 

I think they are hoping to be packed too!
Air Force Marathon Training week 5:
Sunday- 11 
Monday-Spinning
Tuesday-3
Wednesday-6
Thursday-Spinning
Friday-rest/stretch
Saturday-rest
Sunday- 13.1

So, in hopes that someone actually reads this...

Any big (running or non-running) plans for this weekend?  Training runs?  


And I rediscovered despair.com.  So here's a picture to leave you with
Persistence Demotivator

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Yay! Summer's here!

Wow! I'm so happy to finally be on summer vacation.  It's nice to have some down time to try to get all the projects that I've been wanting to do done.  I'm going to have to do a list otherwise it might get lost in the shuffle of summer camps/ swimming lessons, oh, and marathon training. 

Speaking of... week 4 of marathon training.
Monday- spinning class

Tuesday- ran 3 on trails, then our end of year school party was cancelled since it was also the transit of venus watching party and it was cloudy-boo.  Anyways, headed off to spinning again since the class was heading out to happy hour/$1 burgers at a nearby bar afterwards.  I felt guilty about going, but I can't remember the last time I went out with people for drinks.  (oh the life a mommy!)  It was nice, but made sure I was home for storytime. 

Wednesday- 6 miles on the trails again- felt awesome and pushed myself.  Ran it in 56 mins.  More about that time later...

Thursday, Friday, Saturday- I took off.  I was too busy with work and I was tired.

Sunday-  Ran 5 on our trail, then ran the Dirty Dude Girl 10k so a total of 11 miles.  I felt great the first part.  The race part I was struggling. Carrie kept pulling ahead, and I just couldn't make myself do it.  I'd like to think it was because I was saving myself for next weekend (wow-really soon) since I'm running the Canton Half Marathon but I just didn't have it in me. Vegged around the house watching recorded stages of the Criterium du Dauphine the rest of the day.  Can't wait to watch the la Tour de France.  Even my boys get into it. 
Yes, we did pass the little girl
Was happy with a strong finish - didn't want the skirt girl we'd be chasing down to catch me at the end.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Air Force Marathon training week 3

This was such a non week for me but here it goes...
^.^
Monday- spinning nothing/ "rest day" Memorial day- no classes at the rec- as it should be.
Tuesday- run 3 √
Wednesday- run 5 ran 6√
Thursday-run 3 watched soccer tryouts instead
Friday- rest √
Saturday- spinning watched soccer tournament instead
Sunday- run 6√

 Total: 15 miles

Next race:  Canton 1/2 Marathon in 14 days- which is supposed to be a training run.  We'll see.

Anyways, here are some pictures from this week!
Cub smiling after a well played tourney



Buster playing barefoot during the half

Also- If anyone is interested in an Air Force 1/2 marathon bib- I have one, let me know if you would be interested in buying  it.  Need to act very soon.  I have to sell it by June 15th.


Review: Athlinks

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