Winder Wonderland of Lights 6mi Run

TH and I drove over to NEP to run the 6 mile race at the Portland International Raceway. My weekly long run was supposed to be 9 miles this weekend. Since we were only running 6 miles during the race I thought I'd run another 3 somethime before and/or after the race. I convinced TH to run just over 2 miles with me pre race,mainly to stay warm. The race itself was more fun then expected. I was worried about getting bored to tears running 3 laps around the PIR. Thankfully I tried to focus on keeping my pace up the 2nd and 3rd laps to notice the repeat of scenery. My goal was to finish in 50 minutes. I've had 2 10K time thus far. One at over 51 min and the other at over 52 min. I wanted to start off the race slow so that I could get negative splits. As the race started, I tried to ignore everyone running the 2 and 4 mile races and took it nice and slow. I felt good and thought I could keep that pace forever. When I checked my watch at Mile 1 I realized that I just ran a sub 7 min mile! What the heck? I forced myself to slow down for the rest of the race. The first 2 miles were fine. Miles 3 and 4 blew because I had to work hard to keep my pace up. Mile 5 was fine. I got there at around 40 minutes. This was great since I would hopefully be finishing in at around 48 or 49. I pushed hard the last mile but unfortunately my final time was 50.19. boooo! I was still satisfied with my time and I'm trying to tell myself that running 2 miles before the race had something to do with my time. I also think the mile markers were off. I really think the mile marker was about 1/4 mile shy of the real distance. This would explain my really fast mile 1, 3, and 5 times and my slow 2, 4, and 6 times.

After the race TH and I went to Red Robin's for some foooooood. it was delicious and warm. We then went to our friends' home up by OHSU who just had their first baby on Halloween. TH and I didn't get a chance to see little JD yet. What a cutie. He just loved sleeping on TH while we watched a movie. He was super good and didn't really cry except right before bed.

I'm still looking for a run to do in December. TH and I were going to do a New Years Eve run, but we might decide to go snowshoeing instead. Any suggestions?

Only a month and a half until the half mary. Holy cow!


Workouts:
Saturday: run: 2miles easy, 6 miles race pace
Sunday: Off
Monday: Run 5.75 miles

Sherwood Give n Gobble Turkey 10K

The race started at somewhere between 27 and 30 degrees. My goal for this race (my 2nd 10K) was to pace myself. I started out nice and slow. The course had a a few rolling hills and the last mile was through a winding, icy and hilly trail. I slipped a few times, but thankfully no falls. Final time: 52:25ish I say ish because we didn't have timing chips. So slower than my first 10K in Corvallis 2 months ago, but the course was also full of hills. I don't know how well pacing helped... I def was able to push it a little more towards the end but My pace was still a sub 8:30. (same as last time) though I don't know how to compare the flat Corvallis course with this hilly one. It was fun, cold, and the race provided a lot of post race goodies such as Honest Tea, Organic Yerba Mate tea and Pop Chips. Not bad for a $15 entry fee. Plus the course was pretty and we got to wear AWESOME hats.

Now it's off to Aumsville to eat with TH's fam.

Hiding in the car before the race so we don't freeze off any limbs.

TH is giddy with excitement.

Sherwood Give n Gobble 10K tomorrow morning.




Workout: 3mi run with The Beagle in the ice, snow, and sun :)

Workout; 5.4 mile run/jog with The Beagle

I'm really trying hard to churn out 2 of my 3 papers right now. I still have my COMP to finish editing, but I also have 2 smaller, less formal papers to write for my Tax Loophole class. I've pretty much got one finished and part of 2nd one started. What I've learned so far? Don't retire until 70 1/2 years old and don't try to route your self employment income through an S-Corp.




I convinced Momma Bear to go to the pool with me today. It was cold and rain/snowing today so I thought a pool workout would be best. I wasn't that sore from yesterdays run, but I thought it would be good to let my legs have a rest. Ironically, during my swim my arms were exhausted. I guess I use my arms a lot while running? Probably, I have horrible form.

Momma Bear seemed to enjoy herself a little more this time. I even saw her stick her head in the water... like once before she retreated to the spa. I'm proud of her though for getting in the water. Swimming can be a very intimidating thing for someone's who's never taken lessons... or really for anyone who HAS taken lessons. We walked to and from the aquatic center, fully bundled up of course. I preceded to take a 4 hour long nap when we got home. I'm getting a cold. I've blown my nose more times that I can count.


Workout: 3ish mile round trip walk to pool; 2000m swim.

Productive and unproductive all at the same time

I slept in this morning with The Beagle. Got up, ate me some flax crunchies cereal with rice milk, ate some bacon then set off on my run. I filled my two mini-water bottles from the water belt the wonderful TH got me for H2C back in August, with about a tablespoon on honey and the rest with water. I think each bottle ( I had 2) is about 8oz. It was raining and about 40 degrees out. I wore my new Target running tights (bargain winner!) and my Costco thermal top. I also had on my Dollar Tree headbands (classy). Apparently, I'm all about being thrifty. The first 2 miles sucked because they alwas do. I took it really slow knowing that I didn't want to kill myself. I just did an 8 mile out and back. Once I got past the turnaround, the next 4 miles went by fast. I drank my honey-water during the crosswalks and ended up drinking both before I got home. It felt great to finish that run. I was smiling the entire last 2 miles feeling proud of myself. I got home, showered, iced, drank 3 glasses of chocolate rice milk, raked the leaves from the back yard, then Momma Bear and I went to get groceries. An hour later it was 2pm meaning that Starbucks had their Buy one, get one Holiday Drinks special. We stopped by and each got a peppermint white mocha. SOOOOOOOOOOO sugary, but so good. I will say that the drinks were a good treat, but not something I could do everyday. When we got home we took The Beagle for a long walk and let him run loose at the high school football fields (I'm pretty sure that's illegal). Momma Bear and I really love to live a life of danger. I had to give The Beagle a bath when we got home since he was covered in mud. After The Beagle ran around the house like a maniac to dry off, Momma Bear decided to open up a bottle of wine. Enough said.

It's 4pm and I'm NOW just thinking about doing some outlining. hum. I guess the title of the post says it all.






Workout: 8 mile easy run.

(P.S. honey water rocks! It gave me a lil kick)

Snow before Thanksgiving

On my drive home from Eugene this late afternoon (Around 4) it was raining like crazy. About a mile or so north past Coburg, I saw not one car but 2 cars in the middle on the grassy median along I-5. I could see their tire marks on the road which seemed weird. It took me a second to figure out how I could see the cars' path. I could see it because there was snow on the ground! This snowy "micro climate" only lasted for about a 2 mile stretch. Afterwards, it was all rain. However at around 6:30p my car thermometer read 37 degrees. hum.





Workout: 1500m easy swim. I was tired.

Wetsuit!

I bought a full wetsuit last night from some woman off craigslist. It's probably a size too small. It's a workout just to get into it. It was $60. It's another motivator to lose 10 lbs.

My scheduled group run today got cancelled due to one member being sick and another needing a rest day. The weather was horrendous, so no complaints here.

Workout: 90min on the trainer BAH

Not that I'm asking or anything.

My Amazon wishlist: HERE


And of course any donation to my entry fee fund would be greatly appreciated. I'm not a real attorney yet so therefore, I have no money.

Workout: 5.75 run

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/or/corvallis/942128988676086299

Workout; Swim 3200m

MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: Regular Run on 11/12/2010

Got new shoes today! I got off work early so I was able to get some studying done and get a long run in before it got dark. Happy day.



Workout: 7.1 mile Run... see stats below

MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: Regular Run on 11/12/2010

Anticipation!

I posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a training buddy. I got a link for a running group in Hillsboro. I joined the group and signed up for my first group run next Wednesday. This is fantastic seeing that it's dark when I go and get home from work/school and my mommy would approve running in a group.









Workout: 3000m swim

It was freakin cold today after work. Mid 40's. Also, thanks to DLS it was dark. I set out do to a quick run. Tried to stay in the lit areas. Only got 3.5 miles in :( Perhaps better planning next time and perhaps I should be more motivated to workout in the mornings.





Workout: 3.5 miles fast pace.

Workout: 3 mile run around da hood.

Scheduling

I just found out (via Fb) that Stayton, Oregon will hold its first spring tri in May. This is exciting becuase TH's mom was looking to do her first Tri next year and this would be perfect for her. Guess what else happens in May? I graduate. Guess what happens the same day as the tri. :( According to the Triathlon Brochure, it starts at 8am. Commencement start at 1pm, but I'm going to guess we have to be there by at least 11:30am for setup? It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get from Stayton to Eugene (at the most). If I finish the tri in 1 hour 30 min, that leaves me at 9:30. THe latest I would need to leave Stayton would be 10am. This is also assuming that my wave starts at 8.... Oh dear.

I dragged my mom to the pool today. She doesn't swim. She doesn't really kick with a kickboard either. Flippers helped. She's hooked. ha



Workout: 1700m swim and a 3 mile roundtrip walk to and from the pool.

Fall Back

Daylight savings starts tonight/tomorrow morning. It'll be light (sorta... it will be 40 and raining) a lil earlier in the mornings. Unfortunatly, it'll be extra dark, extra early. Mother effer. I dread the fall and winter






Workout: Bike trainer: 10 miles; Treadmill: Interval run 5K.

This is how we do it.

That's not clapping from the fans. That's rain. Welcome to the Northern Oregon Coast:

Tracking

I started this blog as a way to hold myself accountable. Well, accountability has been lacking. From now on I will start posting my workouts for the day. :)

Workout: 5 mile run after work

New goals

Hi Friends,

I'm saying goodbye to my VFFs. I'm too impatient to "build up" to them. See one of the only negative posts I could find, Here. I stopped the 100 pushup challange at week 4. Oops. I've seriously considered training for a Half Ironman next season. I think my only option is the Pacific Crest Tri our in Bend in June. Funny how I won't run a half marathon, but I'll do a Half Ironman (1.2mi swim, 56 mi bike, 13.1 mi run).

I've also started a batch of kombucha tea. I couldn't find a SCOBY, so I researched a recipe using raw storebought premade kombucha. Cross your fingers I don't get mold.

Halloween Weekend

Friday night TH and I and our friends went to see Paranormal Activity 2. TH and I saw the first one and really liked it. I'd say see both. Probably better to see it in a theatre on the big spooky screen. On Saturday, TH went hunting for Bambi in the morning and that evening we headed over to his parents' place for a Halloween party. we found our last minute costume... can you guess?


The Beagle dressed as a mummy. He was very threatening and scary... as you can see:

My favorite part of the night was probably when TH's Cousin's son put on my wig and pranced around like a girl. It was adorable and I'm sure he'll regret that decision when it starts trying to impress the ladies.

Sunday was pretty uneventful. I slept most of the day because I wasn't feeling all that great. (No, not because of that!) I went on a short (2mi) run and almost died. I've really had low energy lately. We had a handful of trick-o-treaters. The first one came and the Beagle was in attack mode for some reason. TH was handing out candy and I heard screams and ran to the door. The Beagle was busy wagging his tail saying, "hello," but I guess the kid wasn't so excited. We ended up putting the baby gate up so Attack Beagle couldn't do any more damage.

Here are some pics from the Astoria Triathlon I said I would post.

The Beagle investigating the razor clam. TH and I after the race.