Running bling

Gearing up for Nike

Spent the past 4 days curled up with a major bellyache and was really missing my regular workouts.  Today hit the pavement in the pouring & misting rain and it was AWESOME.  It's always fun to be on a run and get rained on but actually heading out INTO the pouring rain is another story.  Had to dig deep but oh my was it worth it.  Warm but soggy, the legs felt amazing after 4 day break.  Just felt free & empowering to be out in the empty gray morning, although even in rain, the older folks who walk their dogs are always out...I love it.

I wish I was doing Nike with a group or at least one person I knew, the shuffle to get to the city pre-race is a bit tricky & not excited about that but overall super-stoked to be with 22,500 other amazing female runners who are out there getting it done.

Fuel

I wish I ate clean 100% of the time, I know my body would love me for it.

STRETCH!

I wish I could outsource my Fonda to someone...

Best Ever

Best ever ad....I think of nearly ALL of these things on a run (except the Vaseline...ok maybe that too, I admit... when my armpits chafe on long runs).

They scored big with this ad, kudos marketing department & you're runner research! Pancakes, cheetahs, potties, donuts (even the pink is spot-on), all of it...this is the visual mind of a runner. Makes me proud to be one!

Quiet Stillness

My cozy autumn/winter feelings are already creeping back in & I am feeling quieter, slower & wanting to fill my belly with all things pumpkin!  It is also that time of year that I eat a lot of rich foods & sweet foods...usually I eat for comfort & also 'tis the season of goodies all around.  I'm not swearing off the goodies for the season, I can't (and don't want to do that, I like my pumpkin pie & candied walnuts too much) but I am committing to working out and eating as clean as possible so that I feel good & confident during the dark & short winter days when those cases of the "lazy's, downers, mopey's" can creep in to your psyche.  I also love the tradition of not making new year's resolutions based on my weight, fitness or health.  This is the 3 or 4 year that I have committed to getting healthy BEFORE Jan 1 to avoid the "next year I will love my body & be happy with myself"...I want it now not next year!

Did a fabulous 5k Harvest Fair fun run today with Storm & CJ Lightening, Saxy (10k for her!)...a beautiful autumn morning.  I was super tired from a long 9 mile run the day before (on the heels of a long run Thursday, which I shouldn't do, need more short runs) & night out dancing but it felt amazing to be out there & push through the tired & get those endorphins, nothing better!  Ummmm yeah and CJ Lightening is only 8 wks post-baby delivery and KICKING ASS, I am so motivated by her grit & grace!

The last week or so I have been very quiet & tired, not sure if it is coming off being sick, running, triathlon, or getting sick again (nooooo) but I seem to think it has to do with the change of the seasons and needing to just be quiet & cozy.  It's not a bad quiet, just mellow, a bit weepy (but not in a sad way), my acupuncturist would have some beautiful way to sum up my feelings & remind me to just chill during the cold dark months....To take care of myself & SLEEP more.  Runners World mag said that while training for a marathon one should get 9-10 hrs of sleep a day, WHAT?!?!?!  

On my schedule for fall is: the Nike Women's Half Marathn in 2 weeks (YEAH!), Mermaid 10k in November and a Maui Marathon in January.  I have already started mapping out fun events for 2012 that I don't want to miss. I hate it when I look up an event and see it was the weekend before or something.  I really want to do a lot of women centered runs, centuries & Tri's in 2012.

List of Awesome (my to-do list basically :-)

• 2012 events calendar (Cinderella, Death Ride, TriGirlTri, P10)
• Core work, arm weights, strength training
• Gym classes for cardio, strength & crankcycle
• Clean eating
• Acupuncture
• Physical Therapy on right ankle

A Good Tired....

Good week coming off Mermaid Tri~feeling so empowered after ocean swim and the whole event overall was just righteous.

• Monday & Tuesday, lazy rest days.  
• Wednesday, hot & sweaty 15 mile or so hill climbing ride.  
• Today ran about 8-9~went out for 2 hours, more running than walking but walked a fair amount (all over body tired).  Was shooting for 10-11 miles but that wasn't gonna happen.  

All in all feel great but sore and tired...heading into possible Tri Girl Tri if I can get my butt out of bed for a winding and dark drive to Berryessa on Saturday.  If not, no worries.  Harvest run on Sunday, 5k if Tri and 10k if no Tri.  Loving Autumn, love.

Mermaid

Go!

Going for it!

Morning of Tri glory

Swag

Awesome

Well, I did it...the Triathlon not the Duathlon.  I did the swim I was so terrified of.  I didn't love it, it didn't get any easier, I loathed almost every minute of it actually but...I did it.

THANK YOU BEEZUS, whew!

I know now that if I had switched to the Duathlon I would have regretted it.  I do want to train for and compete in a Duathlon someday but in this case I would be switching to the Dua out of fear and that is never a good idea. I did try to change to the Dua and if it had been easy, I would have done it & been Ok I'm sure.  The Mermaids at registration pushed me just the tiniest bit to reconsider and I jumped on it, in my heart (even my terrified heart) I think I wanted to do the swim.  I may never reg for another Tri that has an ocean swim in it but at least I wrapped up my last ocean swim in a good way, getting it done & not bugging out!

The rest of the Tri was awesome as usual, transition to bike was a long walk uphill but I loved it, allowed me time to absorb the fact that I actually completed the swim! Bike portion was easy (except the one time I nearly smashed into a parked car when not paying attention, humbling!) The run was easy, slightly uphill but so do-able.  Only problem was I blew past the restrooms for some reason and I should have taken the opportunity...I spent 2.5 miles needing to pee!  All in all the Mermaid triathlon was nothing short of truly AWESOME.  The organizers are top rate and the women, so motivating, inspiring and supportive.  I can not say enough about them, just plain RAD.  I hope to do every Mermaid event I can and be involved with them for years to come.

TriGirlTri is this weekend, signed up when I was positive I would flake on the ocean swim.  Excited to do the Tri but bummed I have to drive 1.5 hrs at 6am....ick.  Oh well, time to pull on the big girl panties and TRI and like it!

To swim with sharks or not!?

Hmmmmmm ponder ponder