Recap and upcoming goals.

So this last weekend I decided to have a little fun with my long run and take a day trip down to Aberdeen, North Carolina, in order to run the 12k’s of Christmas at the Reindeer Fun Run. It’s a race that I had done before right after my first half marathon in 2012, and I remembered that it was a ton of fun even though I came away with IT band trouble right after (thanks, weak ass glutes!) So since I had 8 on the calendar as a cut-back and a 12k is 7.5 miles it was meant to be for me to return. Even though I had a really late night beforehand, I woke up at the joyous hour of 5:30 in order to hit the road with enough preparation time.

The thing I like about this race is that it is a bigger race (for a 5k) but has a real homey, small town vibe about it. It’s almost all families and pets, with everyone in costumes, and there are trains, and it is basically freaking adorable. It warms even my bitter cold heart. I was in sort of a grumpy cat mood (shock) because of the late night and the weather was a bit iffy with cloudy raining drizzle in the forecast. Luckily it was warm enough that I wasn’t going to freeze but I wasn’t in the brightest of places and prepared myself to feel tired and sluggish and just set an easy pace for the whole thing. As usual what I think and what actually happens are not the same thing.

So I lined up, Santa blew the horn for us to go, and started at a comfy pace…. a comfy pace of 7:36. Hmmm a little surprising but no worries, my plan was to just stay there until mile three and then back off. The course is a really nice course, but it is hilly and constantly either uphill or downhill. I wasn’t bothered, since I was just using it as a long run and was enjoying the opportunity to throw in some hill work. It came to pass that my goal to stick to a 7:30 pace for three miles expanded to 5, then 6, and then I decided to just take it all the way. I ended up finishing at a nice 56:22 pace which I was more than happy with. I felt great, not spent, just a little tired. Maybe my speed is finally returning!

I waited around for results (I was 4th in my age group) and then drove home after devouring some delicious tacos for lunch nearby. All in all, it was a very successful long run/actually-sort-of-racing day.

Now looking forward to this weekend I am signed up for the Kiawah Half Marathon. I didn’t have any sort of time goal in mind for this one because I thought that like the Battleship I would just run it super easy and have fun. Now I think I might be capable to sort of race it a bit. I had promised to pace a friend for part of the race (he is racing in the full), but now I might focus more on myself (I’m the worst). I don’t think I have a chance of PRing since I set that in the middle of marathon training and full fitness, but I plan to see just where my legs are at.

I am sure to take my laptop and try to actually chronicle this weekend properly but we shall see what happens. I also have finals and so part of my vacation will be spent studying like a nerd. Such is life.

Out of the mouth of bitter turtles…

Getting back into shape suuuuuuuucks. I have to admit that in the last two months of running I have become pretty discouraged. After having such a solid base of running built up over two years to start trying to get my legs back has been tough. I was really enjoying just being able to run at first, but then I became really impatient with how slowly it is taking any sort of speed to come back. It hasn’t been until this week that my tempo runs have felt good and my long runs still wipe me out. Slowly but surely like the most bitter turtle to ever exist I am slowly chipping away to bring my paces back.

I normally wouldn’t be so impatient (lies, I have no patience) but with the Kiawah half marathon coming up in two weeks I would like to slightly push the pace. A PR will never happen but I don’t want to run 13.1 miles feeling like I am going to fall apart. I keep telling myself I need to instead focus on the fact I have a whole weekend away to have run at the beach and explore Charleston. I whole weekend to forget all my finals awaiting me once I get home… I know I probably sound super negative but really I have been mostly happy with everything. One day I will be back racing and faster than ever because I intend to focus my inner rage into every race. All my pain and suffering will be worth it… hopefully.

In the mean time it is the holiday season which means that I am enjoying running in some more fun holiday themed races and the fact that Christmas lights help light the sidewalks at night. 😉 I have even gotten my booty in gear when it comes to shopping and decorating! Exciting times in my life.

The weather here has been a roller coaster ride for the most part. Freezing in the 20’s one morning, then 70’s and sunny the next day. I am learning to enjoy both extremes but it does tend to wear your body out trying to adjust to it all the time. Also it is annoying to pack multiple outfits to be ready for any temperature change when most of your day is spent on campus.

I am hoping to suck it up and be a little more responsible with this blog but until finals are over you get no promises from this chick! Pray for my soul.

Catching up-

My return to running has been harder work than I ever imagined. I have been trying to be conservative and careful while also returning quick enough to not lose entry and hotel fees on any more races. It has been an extremely hard balancing act and so far I have just managed it. I had forgotten how painful and hard it is to get back into running shape and I can’t wait until I act like a five mile pace run ain’t no thang!

So with an entire month of running behind my I have so far run one 8k, a 10 miler, and a half marathon. I am definitely not in “racing shape” but was able to use these races as a nice distraction to get some longer mileage in. The 8k is organized by a local run club that I am a part of at a wonderful afternoon race with Oktoberfest games and beer afterwards. Plus it is always great to have another day to hang out with run cub friends (even though I am an antisocial grumpy cat).

I have to confess that I have never done a 10 mile race before (what is this less than a half marathon crap?) but since I train on the American Tobacco Trail all the time I felt like it was a great excuse to 1) get my last long run in before the half with company and motivation, 2) not have to carry any water thanks to water stops (so lazy), and 3) get an amazingly cool pint glass as a finishers prize which I could (and did) fill with delicious beer. I really enjoyed this race and will add it to my calendar in all future years in order to get as many glasses as I can!

Cheers!

The first week of November is always a packed weekend for races in North Carolina with the City of Oaks races and the Battleship North Carolina half marathon. I had signed up through the running club I formed with friends at work and I pretty much worked my out-of-shape booty hard core in order to be able to get to this race (sort of) fit. Everyone else was running their first half marathon at this race and so it made it special to be able to relive it with them as the Battleship was also my first half. So even though this is half #9 in my tally it was like starting over again. I promised to pace one of the ladies and enjoyed taking it easy. The race is timed for perfect running weather but a cold snap made it a little brisk and there was some gusty wind around the bridges and water front! I about froze my shorts off and ended up cutting away from my friend at about mile 9 to stretch my legs and finish in some nice 7:30 min miles. Felt great to be able to pretend to be in shape for a few seconds before the crushing gravity of how fit I really am came crashing back down on my pitiful soul. Afterwards there was plenty of celebrating and partying to be had!

I have another 8k on Thanksgiving to run (a tradition for me) and then a half marathon in December which I will be helping to pace a friend who is running a full on the same course. I am hoping to be closer to my usual race pace for that and if I feel good to have fun adding in a little kick towards the end. I am not putting any pressure on myself though because I am not willing to push myself if I am not ready. I would rather have some nice easy races, then try for something I am not capable of and be disappointed. If anything this injury has taught me that I need to enjoy and be content where I am at in that moment on each run and forget about my times before. I will be back to my usual paces once I am ready but for now I am focusing on laying the ground work. I am only about 30-45 seconds off right now which is really not that huge of a difference.

I am choosing to learn and grow from this experience more and more each day and looking forewords to using this to my advantage for many more years of running.