One More Day!!

I have not run since last Thursday.

I did not get to make a new distance attempt to run 4 mi on Saturday, I did not run it Sunday to make it up. I did not run on Monday because that throws everything else off for the week. I didn’t run 2mi yesterday morning as I would have, and I won’t attempt the 4 mi tonight instead of the 3 mi that I was originally planning.

I do hope to run the 2 mi that I would normally run tomorrow. That is a good ease into it distance after a week. Then attempt the 4 mi on this Saturday.

My shoulders are tight, my head is spinning, and my new ‘neakers are lonely.

Is it possible to gain 100lbs by not running for a week?

I had a schedule change last Saturday due to a friend needing a ride after dropping of his truck at the shop. Same friend has suggested that I not run and take a break rather than my theory to just ignore the shin splints. Grrrr….I’m finally able to up my distances and now I should take a break?!?!….Grrrr. (Note: said friend can already run 5 miles at a time.) So when my friend found out that I missed my launch window for my run on Saturday he said he felt bad, for about 3 seconds, then he said he didn’t want me to run anyway so he didn’t feel so bad. Now, add that to the fact that yesterday’s normal short run was scrapped a long time ago for a one day scheduling conflict and I figured I might as well take the week break and wait till Thursday to run.

Oh yeah….The same friend put a nice bruise on my other leg Sunday at fighter practice. Thanks Buddy, now both legs feel beaten. (It’s all part of the game….It’s just funny he did it)

To be completely honest….my right leg feels much better. I think it might have helped to take a break. Shhhh don’t tell my friend. (Remember: He is a boy….and boys are eternally dumb)

ONE MORE DAY!!….Then…..RUNNING!!!!



(For those who don’t know….Fighter practice: Full contact medieval martial art combat with armor and sticks….yes you get hit, no there is no weight classes, yes it’s co-ed, yes the boys hit hard.)

One is Silver And The Other Gold

Distance: 2.0 miles   Time: 22:43 min    Inside 8:30 pm
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??:?? inches (falling)

This was a pretty good run. I would have written about it last night along with several other plans to get things done I had, but a friend called and since we are terrible about keeping up (we talk about every 4- 6 months or so) we were up till 2:45 in the morning. She is my best friend from high school and while now we do not talk as often as we should and we don’t know most of each others friends, we have some people who overlap and we know the names of those others. We keep track of parents and talk about our domestic projects….she is doing this to her property…I am doing that to the house. It’s nice to catch up and we get off the phone after hours of conversation promising that we will keep in touch more often…..and we will, for a little while….then we get busy. We talk in July for her birthday….(She still has her call coming later this month) and we talk in October for mine. We never forget that. We often go to the same event in March. In between….it’s hit or miss, but when we hook up again, it’s like we just picked up our favorite book right where we left off.

Then there are newer friends. Also with birthday’s in July….Happy Birthday MagnetBabe!! I’m having lunch with her today. We met in grad school….many years after high school (like 11 for me) We lunch most weeks when one or the other of us doesn’t have people in town or when we are not out traveling our selves. She helped me move into my home and comes to my super bowl parties. I got a phone call the morning after she got engaged and I could not be more excited for her and her fiancé. I suppose in 11 years we too may call a couple times a year on birthdays or holidays. We will pick up where we left off each time like it was yesterday. But for now….I have a lunch date for my friends Birthday.

Yea!! Birthdays!!



(Shhhh...Iknow this post really wasn't about running but I think I have shin splints in my right leg and that is why I have been sooooo sore, but I'm not admitting that out loud... then I'll have to deal with it)

Good Bye Sue

Another Wednesday and another long run. This was easier than the other 3 miles in the gym. My right shin is still not super happy but here I sit with ice on it as I type.

Today would have been an ordinary day. Just a regular day after a holiday. Go to work, then to teach at the CC then to the gym for my run. Just as planned. But this morning I got a text message. Ms. Sue Wolf had passed away last night at 7:30. It was no longer a regular day.

Sue was the office manager at the USF Physics Department since the beginning of time. (Although she was not that old) I didn’t know the department with out her. She was there when I got there as an undergrad and there when I left with my Masters. She used to set up Friday happy hours, and played one season on our softball team. (got an ugly bruise on her shin from a ball with a bad hop) Sue ran that department, she was queen bee. If your professor said this and your graduate advisor said that….the truth was what Sue said.

A couple months ago Sue was diagnosed with cancer and was told it was already too late. Much of what happened after that was kept private out of respect for her and her family. She loved them very much and somehow took even more care of them than she did of us if that was possible. Sue was a force of nature at the university and she will be terribly missed.

It was an honor to have known someone who worked as hard and cared as much as Sue did.

Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 36:54 min    Indoors 8:30 am
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??.?? inches 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Distance: 1.5 miles   Time: 16:34 min    Partly Cloudy 8:30 am
Temperature: 80 °F    Humidity: 86%      Pressure: 30.15 inches (falling)

YEA!! It’s the fourth of July!! One of my favorite holidays!! (Halloween is my very favorite) Here are a few past 4th of July highlinghts….

July 4, 2006 – I am going to go see Superman Returns on the IMAX in 3-D. (I haven’t seen it yet so don’t ruin it for me

July 4, 2005 – Cook out with Randy and then movies on the couch. It was a nice quiet fourth and lazy day off (Big party to attend was on the 3rd)

July 4, 2004 – I took a weekend trip to Charlotte, NC to see the little brother and his wife. We had a great time. Cookout, Baseball, Fireworks what more could you want, and those were just the activities on the fourth. (If you ever get to Carowinds Theme Park I highly recommend the BORG Assimilator!!! It’s like flying)

July 4, 2001 – Went to a party as the Designated Driver and came home with a KITTEN!! Really!!! Loki was a party favor from a fourth of July party. Thanks to J and K for encouraging me to take him home!! I’ll never forgive you two. Everything nice I ever had has been broken.

There have also been several years where the party has been at two houses and I just hopped between them. One was at the home of some friends from the Physics Department, including a July 3rd party last year. And the other at the home of one of my baseball buddies!! These parties always begat endless stories of the people in attendance, usually a burning monkey, and fire breathing.

Grrrrrrr!!!!

Distance: Grrrr miles   Time: Grrr min    Partly Cloudy 8:30 am
Temperature: 82 °F    Humidity: 80%      Pressure: 30.18 inches (falling)

Well, I have apparently hit my limit. Last week I ran every run. This upped my weekly mileage from 2-3/week to 9.5 miles. I was doing well and went out on Tuesday for the 1.5 in the morning and missed Wednesday’s 3 mile but did it instead of 1.5 on Thursday. Well yesterday I went to TGI Friday’s and had to walk a few steps to sit at the table behind the bar. My shins HURT!! I had no Idea. Well this morning I got the full Idea!! I think while I am sleeping someone is coming into my room and beating my shins with a baseball bat!! I started my 3 miles this morning and had to turn around and walk back after about a mile. Not just my shins but my right knee too!! I must be over compensating or something. I can’t cross my legs with out the pressure hurting my right knee and shin. Today’s run was short but at least it was something. The next scheduled run is a short one on Tuesday morning. I will take lots of ibuprofen and put ice on my leg till then. Wish me luck.

It’s just frustrating because none of the runs were that bad. I just upped the number of times I got out a week. And I was really enjoying it. (even if it was hard to get up for the mornings) I’m sure I just need to get used to the extra miles.

Sitting now to run later….

Reasons to Run

Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 36:15 min    Partly Cloudy 8:30 pm
Temperature: 85 °F    Humidity: 63%      Pressure: 30.05 inches (falling)

Sometimes I run because the alarm went off and it is time to get up and do that. Sometimes I run after work and teaching and I enjoy the movement after being inside all day. Often on Saturdays I run because the sun is shining and I live where other people vacation. I run to breathe, I run to get out of my head, I run to pray and think. I run ‘cause I’m happy, or sad, or lonely, or frustrated or excited. I run cause I feel fat and board or skinny and energetic. Sometimes I just run.

Today I ran because BOYS ARE ETERNALLY DUMB!!! I want to poke all of their eyes out.

1) Don’t get snippy with me at work ‘cause you can’t do it and I can and you need my help when you don’t want it!

2) I miss my best friend at work because he doesn’t work there anymore….NOW WORK SUCKS!!

3) I am unhappy with my dart throwing partner at work just because he wasn’t there all week…..he got a vacation. (Note: he didn’t do anything I just was board all week)

4) Don’t tell me you “Thought that was the plan for Friday” when you made a HUGE deal about being busy all weekend, including Friday!! I know perfectly well it was supposed to be Thursday!!

5) If you are a liberal SHUT UP!! If you are a conservative SHUT UP!! I’m tired of all of it!! Is there any other subject when it isn’t football season!! How ‘bout them Rays?!?!
(Note:I have not yet recovered from the last presidential race at work)

Well that is all I have to say. Boys are eternally dumb!! (I know we are probably eternally crazy but that is only to them and they are DUMB!!)

I went to the bookstore tonight and bought a book on my assigned reading list and now I am going to go try to hide for the weekend and read it.

Running Crazy!! (‘cause they made me this way!!)

This does get easier....RIGHT?!?!

Distance: 1.5 miles    Time: 16:50 min    Dawn 6:00 am
Temperature: 79 °F   Humidity: 89%      Pressure: 30.00 inches (rising)

Ok I was up again in time to run before work. This has to get easier at some point. It was easier last Thursday than it was today but I'm glad it's done for the day. It does make it easier to not have to think about when I eat and what I eat before I run. My tummy is funny about eating and running, always has been. In high school during track season I had to be careful what I picked in the lunch line….not always an easy task. Lunch was always far enough from running time after school that timing wasn’t a big deal but spaghetti day was a sad because it was one of my favorites but I didn’t dare if it was a long workout day.

In fact it is my turn to make dinner for “family dinner night” And I have some well loved stragglers joining us as well so with a larger crowd I think I will fix Magnetbabe’s Pomodo sauce. YUMMY!!

Longest Run and Fire!!

Distance: 2.27 miles   Time: 27:44 min    Partly Cloudy10:00 am
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 63%      Pressure: 30.00 inches (rising)

Yesterday went well. I ran all 3.5 miles. I did take a small rest break when I had to stop at two larger stoplights. I stopped the watch once and waited an extra light cycle at one of them. So the time is how long I was running but still for a half mile increase it’s not so bad.

So pictures were requested from Thrusday Nights fun…Here ya go….


This one they are fanning out the water to make the shield and are pushing back the fire shooting straight out at them from a pipe to reach a valve to shut it off. The valve isn't really the one to shut it off but they have to get that far for the exercise.


Notice that the cone of water causes the fire to be drawn into the center of the cone so the fire is right up to the end of the nozzle of the hose. The first firefighter is on the other side of the water with the nozzle in his hands.


Look how close the fire gets!! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!


Then they had a gas canister up against a short wall (like the outside of a building) and the flame was shooting straight up. One line had a hose with the shield the other side had a straight steam for the sword (you can see it best in this one)


Then when they advanced they changed the sword to another shield and got right up onto the fire. Notice how they are deflecting the fire up so that the gas doesn't ignite till it is higher up. They then moved forward till they were almost to the canister.

I had a lot of fun, and between two of the exercises my friend came over and he looked like a great big kid in a candy store and was happier than I had seen him in months. I think he likes his new career choice.

Ooooo….Fire Pretty!!

Wednesday
Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 39:24 min    Inside 10:00 pm
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??.?? inches

Thursday
Distance: 1.58 miles  Time: 17:33 min    Clear 6:00 am
Temperature: 75 °F    Humidity: 89%      Pressure: 30.08 inches (rising)

Working with my new theory that I decide the day before when I will run, I figured the best time to do a distance at the end of my limit was not first thing in the morning. So after I worked yesterday and then taught a lab at the community college I went for a run. Note the 10:00pm start time. It went surprisingly well. I had a treadmill with a TV attached and ESPN Wednesday Night Baseball!! I didn't even know I was running. I never thought I would enjoy a treadmill soooo much.

Half way through my run I pushed the pause button for like 30 seconds to take a drink. (I can't do that well while running and outside I don't care if I make a mess but inside I needed to stop before I showed the world I was a slob) The lady next to me had been walking there for a few minutes already. She looked over and said....”Did you just run the whole 20min?” I said I had but I was only half done I'm not very fast. She was impressed. So I started again but my new friend and I continued to chat. While I ran and she walked. That was cool. She asked me how I could run so long. I pointed out that other people run much longer, but that I had started a year ago running for 5 minutes and walking 5 minutes and that very very slowly I upped that till I was running a mile and now up to 3 but that was about all I had done. She said she had joined the gym 3 weeks ago and was up to walking for 15 minutes at 3mph. I told her to keep at it. When she got to 12 min she said she was going to see if she could run. She upped her speed and ran for about 45 seconds. I told her it was a start. Next time a little less speed and if she could keep her balance then letting go would make running easier using her arms. She tried again at 16 min and went a whole minute. (I was right about the letting go) I don't know if she will ever do it again and before she runs toooo far she really needs to look into a better sports bra and runners instead of cross trainers. (I didn’t tell her that. She will figure it out soon enough I’m sure.) But I remembered being there. That was a long time ago. But only like a year ago.

Then I went home and looking at my planner for today realized that I have evening plans so I have to run in the morning. So that means that I ran 3 miles, drove home, fell into bed, got up, ran 1.5 miles, and came to work. (I must be crazy!!)

My plans are....really cool!! A good friend of mine is in the fire academy through the same college where I teach. They have a "Night Burn" where they use gas to "burn" a building and practice putting it out with a technique called "sword and shield" (They use a mist to shield them from the heat and help suppress the fire and a stream of water to spray more directly, the sword) which is ironic for this friend on soooo many levels, but I digress. Anyway they are allowed to invite people to this to watch. I get to go!! The pyro in me is very excited, even though nothing will actually burn.

Running with flaming marshmallows…on a sharp stick....now that might be fun!!

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

Distance: 1.5 miles     Time: 19:15 min     Dawn 5:55 am*
Temperature: 75 °F    Humidity: 92%      Pressure: 30.07 inches (rising) 

Ok…I did it…I got my ass out of bed and ran in the morning*. It wasn’t too bad. Other than the fact that my feet were wet from the dew in the grass and I really need to look into that pair of gills for breathing. That isn’t a typo for the humidity. That is what happens when the dew point is only 3 °F below the current temperature. It’s not that bad when the trade off is 75 °F to run in but after only a mile and a half I was soaked.

Here is the plan as it stands now. I want to run more….but the space-time continuum just does not seem to be cooperating with the 26 hour day theory I came up with. So each week I am going to plan my runs for the week. Each day I will finalize my schedule for the next day and decide when I will run. IF like today I cannot find a time to schedule the run then I guess I better to hurry off to bed so I can get up early to get the run in early. I don’t sleep too late but mornings are an untapped resource for time in my world.

So far it is working 100%!! (granted one data point isn’t much of a trend line but I’m trying to be positive)

Wake up!! RUN!!

(* Note to Big Feet: I was up early like I promised!! Drive Safe to NY)

New 'Neakers!!!

Distance: 2.33 miles  Time: 30:14 min    Mostly Cloudy 1:30 pm
Temperature: 87 °F    Humidity: 51%      Pressure: 30.05 inches (falling) 

I bought new shoes on Saturday!!

I   L O V E   N E W   S H O E S ! ! !  

Really, I’m a nut!! But I love them. I have a shoe cycle you see. The oldest pair is for yard work, then the second pair is for everyday. (note that I wear sneakers every day!!) and the new pair is for running. When the everyday’s get worn out (holes in the toes or flat bottoms so I slip in the rain etc…) they become yard shoes and I buy new runners. That way the runners never “wear out” and I don’t have to pay attention to the miles on my shoes. At least not yet. So I loved my runners so I am happy that I get to wear them all the time and now I have brand new runners!! And I love them. I even get the treat of wearing them all day for the first couple days to get my feets used to them. Only for 2 days, then I am good about wearing them only for running!!

Well Sunday’s run was in the new shoes!! I LOVE THEM!! I was going to go 2.6 rather than 2.3 (I knew the measurements of the USF trail), but I was getting a little bit of soreness in my shins and knees. This is typical for me with new shoes so I didn’t up the mileage from the last run, but at least I didn’t drop either, and I am not sore or stiff at all so they should be just fine from now on.

New Runners!!! YEA!!!

Shocking....I know....

I know that everyone is just shocked by this revelation!! I am what I am!!

Thanks to GirlGoyle for the fun!!

However, while I do play flag with the boys every football season....I own a PS2 not an XBox.

You Are Boyish Sexy

You're the kind of girl who gets along with all the boys Whether it's holding your own in a game of touch football... Or kicking some major butt while playing Xbox. You hang with the guys easily, while still keeping your girly sexiness.

What Kind of Sexy Are You?

Two for one

Tuesday
Distance: 2.27 miles  Time: 27:44 min    Partly Cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 63%      Pressure: 29.88 inches (falling)

Sunday
Distance: 1.33 miles  Time: 12:55 min    Partly Cloudy 11:00 am
Temperature: 83 °F    Humidity: 61%      Pressure: 29.95 inches (holding)

I never got around to updating for the run on Sunday so I will update both runs now.

Sunday was nice but as there were other physical activities planned with the guys I only ran once around the trail at USF. That was probably a good idea since after playing with the guys I had T-rex arms and wouldn’t have been in any sort of shape to use them for running after.

Today I had a client cancel their tutoring session so I used my free hour to get in the run. IT WAS HOT!!! Also the wind was at 17mph with gusts to 27 mph (Thanks Alberto!!). That made it harder but it felt good while I was running. Now that I have stopped I am soaking wet!! But I did to two and a quarter straight through with out stopping or walking at all. I seem to do well mentally with increases of a quarter mile. It might take me forever to get to 5 miles but at least it’s better then the mental monkey on my back. I figure when I run more miles at a time it will be easier to increase by more because it will be a smaller percentage. If I jump even by a half mile right now that’s a 25% increase!! I know I run too many numbers in my head….if it has numbers I analyze them. (Did I mention I was nutz?!?!)

Running against the wind!!

Tropical Update

....we are fine...everything's fine here... how are you? :)

We will have to see how the neighbors to the north do in the panhandle but the bay area is no worse for wear for the most part. Rain and some good gusts. More moss in my yard than on my trees. That sort of thing.

This is going to be a long season!!

I really prefer Baseball Season

Distance: 3.1 miles   Time: ??:?? min    Sunny 10:00 am
Temperature: 87 °F    Humidity: 48%      Pressure: 29.95 inches (falling) 

June 1st was the start of Hurricane season. I have never gone hunting for one but I hear it’s a good time. (I know that was terrible….sorry) Here it is the 10th and we have our first TD. That’s Tropical Depression for all you non-hurricane involved people. SO???!!! It is forecast to head straight for the gulf coast of FL. SHOCKING I know. This early in the season it isn’t likely to make it up to Hurricane status. (of course now that I have said that….SHUT UP RGFL) We really need the rain so hopefully that is what we get from this TD.

Today I went for a 3 mile run. Well that was the plan. I haven’t been very consistent lately and tropical season is never good for consistent outdoor activities without a VERY flexible schedule. I really need to get that treadmill….

The three turned into running 2 and then walking home with spurts of feeling guilty and also not liking how slow walking is and wanting to get home so I ran some more. That’s ok I hadn’t run more than 2 miles in quite a while, so I did make it that far. I think it is time to make a plan to run….and a plan for how to keep the plan. I know this is becoming a theme with me. “I’m going to make a plan….” “Missed the plan…” Blah blah blah but life has settled down a (very) little so I will try again. Someday I will have all kinds of time. I hope I still like to run at the age of 92! Part of the problem is….I think….that I had a goal to work for to do the two 5k’s a while back so I worked up to them so I could do them. I am going to have to find a local anything I guess to work for. Maybe even a few months away and a little longer. Hmmmm…..

Also I started this to get into better shape. So far it has worked but along with the level off in running has come a leveling off in weight loss. I have been stuck at –30 lbs. The break was good to keep things in perspective and not become tooooo obsessed with everything, but now a little hard work wouldn’t hurt. Just not losing ground is not working for me anymore. I am ready to try improving again….

Running to improve

Get out of my HEAD!!!

Distance: 2.13 miles  Time: 26:14 min    Sunny 12:00 pm
Temperature: 84 °F    Humidity: 60%      Pressure: 29.86 inches (holding) 

I went for a run this morning. I really needed to get out of my head!! So I didn’t plan on a set distance but just to go till my brain had stopped thinking tooooo much. So I got to about 2mi and felt good so that was the stop. I went to the park near my house. One of my favorites. And played Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium. All of this did the job!! I got out of my own head and could be more productive the rest of the day. This is part of the stress release that happens to runners.

The guy who runs around the park backwards was there again. Not unusual for a weekend day. Today he was just getting started when I got there so I saw some of the other activates that I had not witnessed before. He did a handstand facing a light pole with one toe of his shoes on the pole. Then he scissored the other leg out to ~45 degrees and back really fast. Then after a min or so dropped the leg beside the pole to ~90 degrees then switched feet on the pole and did the other leg. Very interesting. Finally he stretched with both feet on the pole by twisting his body. Note this whole time he didn’t come down from the handstand till after he had done the twists. THEN he ran around the park backwards. I don’t think I could have held myself up in the handstand that long let alone wiggle all over in the time I was trying not to fall on my head. This guy becomes more and more entertaining every time.

My mind is racing!! (now If my feet would just work as well as my brain….)

Toooo Much FUN!!!

Distance: 1.3 miles       Time:??? min        Partly Cloudy 12:00 pm
Temperature: 90 °F    Humidity: 55%      Pressure: 30.06 inches (holding) 

FUN!! Magnetbabe, Big Feet, Mother of Big Feet and I went for a run/walk. BF and I ran and MoBF and MB walked the trail at USF. It was very nice. It was however very hot. Summer is here even if we do have like 22 days to go before it is official!! With the heat index it felt like 96 degrees. It’s not even JUNE!! Soon thunderstorm season will be here and that will help some but then it just keeps getting hotter and more humid anyway!!

The run was fun and then lunch afterwards with the ladies was a blast!! Mmmmm Chicken Philly with buffalo sauce….YUM!!

The rest of my long weekend was fun too. An event in the Ocala National Forest with lots of friends, Kaine and Michelle’s wedding on Sunday then GameWorks after to play video games with the guys, the run on Monday, and later that evening a movie with friends where then even more show up than you think are coming!! We saw Over the Hedge. Toooooo cute!!!

Running to the next fun activity….

Playing Catchup

I know I’m getting behind. That happens at the beginning of every semester. Lucky for me I only have to teach a lab two nights a week. Yea!! A little free time!! So….here is the quick update:

Sunday’s run went well my ankle was fine and since I did some other training activities with the guys first I only ran the trail once. Then I was pooped!!

Last night I got nothing done because the guys next door fed me leftovers from their big family dinner and gave me expensive beer. Finally I walked home at 10:30. YUM!! But lazy me got nothing done.

At least I took the video back to the store first and won’t have late fees.  One small bit of control in my life….I didn’t get video late fees. Sometimes you have to take what you can get.

Tag I'm it

Where’d ya go?!?!

I have found myself….see I’m right here!! Did ya miss me??

I know I usually update about a Friday run. That got sidetracked till maybe (I repeat maybe) Sunday morning. I fell on Wednesday in a hole!! A size 6 ½ swallowing hole and twisted my ankle. It’s not bad. Not even go to the doctor bad, just frustrating when I push my clutch bad. Well I know better, so, darn it, I will wait. Today the ankle barely bothered me and I did quite a bit of walking the mall with friends looking for a dress for a wedding I have to attend next weekend. So…maybe tomorrow morning. I’m going to get dressed and go…if I go very far is yet to be seen because I know better than to push a minor injury to make it a chronic minor injury. Just ask the tendonitis in my elbow that will not let me train for that black belt. Hope for a post soon. I am sure it will just be another day or so.

Just call me hop-along runner

Loki - Norse God of Trouble and Mischief

The sick kitten update is that yesterday morning Loki came to breakfast moving a little slow but he did not have a fever. Then yesterday afternoon when I got home from work he was right inside the front door waiting for me exactly where he belongs. He is back to his loveable ole trouble makin’ self.

Sick Kitty

Distance: 2.0 miles   Time: 22:19 min    Partly Cloudy 5:45 pm
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 54%      Pressure: 29.94 inches (rising) 

I got an unexpected run in today. I stayed home sick from work today. No, no I’m not sick and I didn’t play hooky…exactly. I had to stay home because when I fed the three cutest kitties this morning Loki did not come for breakfast!! I finally found him in the second bedroom under the bed. After I dragged him out and took his temperature (105°F) it was official, I was calling in. I got an early appointment at the vet who sent me home with an antibiotic to keep him from getting any secondary infections and told me it was the kitty flu and if he wasn’t better in a few days bring him back.

So….I got in a run. 2 miles and I ran the whole way and it was a decent time for me!!

Back to taking care of Loki…

Nice Day, Nice Run

Distance: 1.33 miles  Time: 15:33 min    Partly Cloudy 5:00 pm
Temperature: 78 °F    Humidity: 35%      Pressure: 29.88 inches (falling) 

I ran the trail at USF yesterday. The whole thing. For the first time in quite a while I felt really good when I was running again. It was beautiful out again and I was really lucky. We have started to get a little rain in the afternoons and earlier this week it was much more humid. On Thursday I was throwing the football with a friend and I felt so winded because it was so humid. I’ll get used to it again during the summer but those first couple days are hard.

I went hunting again for a treadmill this afternoon. There were not any this week at the “thrift stores” and the Flyer did not have anything this week either. I looked at Craigslist (thanks GG and MB for the referral) they were not quiet what I was looking for but I will keep checking back. So that is the treadmill update….

I also realized the other day that I did not update what happened to the Draft Day Dash I was going to run. I had not sent in my registration when I found out that was the weekend my brother and his wife were coming so it was just better if I was not wiped out from a run while they were here. Trust me we got enough work done for multiple runs.

I guess with the end of the semester and all the other stuff going on this year I am feeling rather out of control. This is always a problem for crazy control freaks, which I am. So I am going to try to take control of my running a little more now that I am running more comfortably again. I have to get control of something in my life and this seems like one of the better things to start with.

Running out of control!!!

Under 11!!!

Distance: 1.0 miles   Time: 10:54 min    Sunny 11:00 am
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 59%      Pressure: 30.00 inches (falling) 

Today’s run was at the park near my home. I was going to run farther but I started out so strong and was really doing well that I wanted to see how well I could do one mile. I normally don’t time things other than to keep long term track. I post them for each run but don’t actually compare them day to day. Today however I was going so fast (well for slow little me anyway) that I decided not to back off, but to try to finish a really strong mile and I was under 11min!! That’s a big deal for me!! So while I cut the run short I really pushed for a hard mile. It’ll all come out in the wash I guess.

Also, yesterday I went “hunting” (that is what one of the guys calls shopping) for a used treadmill yesterday. I found a really nice one at the Salvation Army. The kind you see at the gym, that you do not sound like a baby elephant on and, is all cushy under the belt. I got them to plug it in for me and was running along just about convinced this was the best deal ever and, even though it was a little big, I could make it work. I stepped off the belt and shut it off when I remembered I had not checked that the incline feature worked. Well, good thing I was off the belt because when I turned it back on it went FULL SPEED!!! None of the controls responded and we had to shut it off at the switch. Then I could not get it to start again. The incline would go up and down but the belt refused to start. I guess that it was just not meant to be. Oh well. It was a little too big for my rooms anyway and a lot of money at $150 to not be sure it was going to keep working, even though it was probably at least a $2,000 machine. (I have been pricing new ones too) I know I can get a cheaper one on another weekend at Salvation Army or GoodWill or out of the paper so I will just keep looking. It does not have to be as nice as that either as it is just to supplement running outside, which I prefer.

However, hurricane season and thunderstorm season are on the way….and the hurricanes never come during the week when you could stay home from work and hide inside in a nice warm bed. They always come to ruin the weekend when you could be out for a nice long run. Then again….I’ll most likely lose power anyway have to run in circles around my dining room table….that I will not be able to get to because all the porch furniture will be there.

Well the good news is…

Starting to run a little faster…who’da thunk

Some times you just have to schedule a tummy ache

Distance: 2.2 miles   Time: 31:22 min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 79 °F    Humidity: 57%      Pressure: 30.07 inches (holding) 

It was such a nice day outside today that during my break today I scheduled a tummy ache for 4:30 this afternoon. That way I got home before the afternoon rush. I took my time changing clothes and waiting for the temps to cool a little bit….then I took advantage of this time of year in Florida. This is the longest distance lately but I never intended to run straight through. I just wanted to keep my heart rate up for a full half hour or so. I ran for several minutes then walked for two then ran again. It is a fantastic day!! YEA!!...

Now since it was so fantastic I need to water my lawn because that means it didn’t rain.

|: Run, run, run, walk, run, run, run, walk :|

Thanks MB!!

Thanks to Magnetbabe for my new running buddy....the little tiger on the side bar of this page. :)

I had to have one too

Let the craziness begin...

Distance: 1.3 miles   Time: ??:?? min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 83 °F    Humidity: 27%      Pressure: 30.00inches(holding)

The day was fantastic. The humidity was so low!! I tutored inside all day except for lunch with magnetbabe and we realized too late that would should have taken our lunch to go and eaten outside. Why does food always taste better outside? So when I finished with my last tutoring client I couldn’t get to the trail fast enough and yet I laid down on a bench in the shade outside the library just to be outside before the craziness begins.

The craziness is my family!! Not one of them alone is crazy but at a pack they are nuts. My brother and his wife (no sister-in-law jokes…I really have the best one) are coming to FL from NC, They get passed amongst parents this afternoon and end up with my Dad and his wife here in Tampa for dinner. Then tag I’m it. I entertain them for the night and Sunday we do a “project.” In this case It will be to remove an unwanted fence in my yard. Then Mom and her husband come to pick them up and have dinner tomorrow evening!!

The house is sooooooo not ready so I guess running is out for the rest of the weekend. I’m really glad I made yesterdays a good one.

I CAN’T WAIT!!!! ARE THEY HERE YET!!!!

Ran yesterday…run again on Tuesday.

*This all sounds like a perfectly reasonable plan but it took 1.5 weeks of endless phone calls and e-mails to arrange. This is plan #345,792

Short runs on Tuesdays

Distance: 1.66 miles  Time: 19:49 min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 84 °F    Humidity: 53%      Pressure: 29.94inches(holding)

It was Tuesday again yesterday….that happens once a week or so. This week I was in charge of dinner so another quick run to get in before the adopted family gets together. It went much better than last week’s (I wasn’t as hungry this time) and I finished the last block with my sprint as always, and still had time to take a shower before I had to start dinner.

Sunday I ran as well. It wasn’t the most productive run but I ran. I went to the trails at USF. That is one of my favorites and where Randy and I always ran so it was good to run it on Sunday. I didn’t keep time or distance I just went for a run.

Quick RUN!

One year ago today....

Some times it's hard to remember our blessings. That I have a roof over my head, food on my table, the three cutest kitties, support in all I undertake from friends and family, and my health. We are reminded of the work it takes to provide food and shelter, and kitties remind you of there existence every time they expect a meal. Friends and family come to visit, go to lunch with you, or call and you are happy to hear from them and support them back. It is health that we so easily take for granted.

I closed on my first home on Friday, March 25, 2005. One of my closest friends, Randy, went with me that afternoon to buy paint, door locks, etc. All those things you need for a new home. Some other friends came that evening to the new place and Randy picked up Pizza to have a picnic in my new home. Over the next several days Randy and other friends and family came and helped me paint the rooms of my home different colors. Finally on April 1, I was preparing to move the next morning when, while talking to Randy on the phone, he mentioned his back was stiff and he might not be as helpful as he would have hoped. The next morning he was as strong as ever and the move was finished in a short period of time. Over the next two weeks we would learn that the sore back that night before and next couple weeks was a symptom of a much bigger problem.

On April 23rd Randy called me in the early afternoon. He was going to the ER because the pain had become so bad he was having trouble breathing. After I joined him there the doctor removed his shirt and asked me where he had received bruises all over his body. I had to say I did not know. As the day turned to evening I found out from the doctors that something wasn't right with Randy’s blood counts. At this point we decided I should call his Mother. A call neither she nor I will ever forget. I told her that we didn't know what was going on yet but we were not looking at a simple pulled muscle in his back.

Randy was diagnosed with leukemia, Acute Leukoblastic Leukemia, to be exact, and to add to the difficulty of this disease it was found that he had the Philadelphia chromosome. Chemotherapy was started, and within a day or so and Randy felt much better than that first night. As a testament to his strength and courage he breezed through treatment after treatment with very few side effects. Hair loss, some insomnia, and the worst to him.... the hiccups.... Leave it to Randy to get the silliest side effect and take it to the extreme!!! At the time of the second treatment all tests showed no sign of the cancer and he was declared to be in remission with 6 treatments yet to go. This was a fantastic outlook. However the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome worried the doctors. The leukemia was expected to return within 3 to 5 months after the chemo treatments finished. When leukemia returns the prognosis is rarely good.

He decided to undergo a bone marrow stem cell transplant. The transplant must be done while the leukemia is in remission. A "perfect match" was located and in late November he was given his new donor cells. All went very well and he was home in his apartment for Christmas with his family. On December 31st he was admitted back to the hospital with abdominal pain. In time the doctors would diagnose the problem as Graft vs. Host disease and for the next weeks Randy would fight harder than he had ever had.

Randy lost his fight on January, 29 2006.

Cancer effects everyone differently, the victims, the family, the friends. This is the effect on me. Randy always inspired me to work harder. When things got tough he gave me his strength too so I could get through. I can only hope that I was able to do the same for him.

Now he inspires me to help raise money to find a cure and to spread the information of the effect cancer had on my life and that we should all be careful that we don't take our health for granted.

I was lucky to have shared many things with him, running, movies, TV shows, video games, we did homework together, and defended our theses and graduated in the same semester. He stood by me when I wrote my thesis and helped edit it, and was there to watch as I defended it for my degree as I was there when he defended his less than a month earlier. He taught me about curling, pitched for our department softball team, and helped me with repairs to my new home. More than anyone else he believed (almost more than I did) that I would close on the house I wanted so badly. He took care of my kitties if I went out of town, watched football with me, went to a baseball games with me, and even threw a surprise party for me when I got full time and a raise at my job.

I was lucky to have known a friend like Randy and honored that he called me friend back.

I was lucky to have the all too short time with him that I had, and I miss him so much.

One short year ago today I took my health and my friends health for granted. And this was one of the longest years of my life.


*This post fulfills one of many requests from the american cancer society to place the I fight cancer ribbon on my blog. Please click on the ribbon on my sidebar and check it out.

HEY!! Who put that wall there?!?!

Distance: 1.2 miles     Time: 18:45 min     Sunny 5:00 pm
Temperature: 80 °F    Humidity: 67%      Pressure: 29.87inches(holding)

Note to self….eat something before you run!! I have “family dinner” with friends every Tuesday night and we call it family dinner because we each take turns cooking for the 4 of us and we always call if we aren’t going to make it and this is how we catch up for the week. It’s just a second family in town that I picked.

Anyway….I was squeezing in my run and didn’t want to ruin my dinner. (Which was a HUGE fantastic salad with fresh grilled chicken, romaine, carrots, spinach, corn, cheese, tomatoes, etc… with all the fixings on the side so we could pick what we like!!!) So I was very hungry and didn’t eat before I headed out the door. That’ll teach me. I ran the first .75 miles in ~8 min. For me that would be pushing ~10.5 min mile. An improvement for me. I was fine for another min or so…then BLAM-O!! I ran right into it. A huge section of the planet turned into goo and stuck to my shoes and made me work really hard at everything. A stitch in my side suddenly appearing didn’t help either. Moral of the story….have that snack!!

Eat to Run!! Run to Eat!!

Working back up...

Distance: 1.5 miles     Time: 19:28 min     Partly Cloudy 5:00 pm
Temperature: 78 °F    Humidity: 56%      Pressure: 29.97inches(falling)

I ran a new route that I mapped. It is just in the neighborhood but I liked it. Baseball and softball fields and the cemetery. Might seem creepy but it is one of my favorite sections to run past. It’s one of the really cool old cemeteries with the really big headstones. One is Jewish and those stones and graves are really interesting.

I was stiff when I started out but I loosened up quickly and today I’m not sore at all. I’m very glad. It really seams to be true that you lose your mileage very quickly when you take a break. I think 1.5 once more tomorrow and then up to 3 miles on Wednesday. If I have to walk part of the 3 that will be ok, but at least I will get in all the distance. The 29th is the Draft day dash and I would like to be back up to that again.

Running….not far…but Running

Adventures of RGFL

Distance: ???                 Time: ~20 min          Partly Cloudy 4:00 pm
Temperature: 83 °F        Humidity: 31%          Pressure: 30.02 inches(falling)

I had the best day yesterday!! Including the fact that I got the run in!! I really was getting antsy about not running!!

I slept in, I get to do that on Fridays when my first tutoring client is at like 11:00. My tutoring was really ON for both subjects I did. Lunch with the Physics Boys was good. My last client of the day called earlier in the week and said he had Good Friday/Easter stuff going on so he would see me next Friday. Fine by me for an easy day once in a while.

Since I had time (and I had thought ahead to bring clothes) I went to the trail at USF to run. I had decided that since it had been a little bit I was going to run ~20 min rather than a distance. Then I’m not so stressed about how I’m doing I just go till time is up. I concentrated on picking up my knees more so it was really 20min of running and not just running at the beginning and more “jogging” by the end. That was apparently something I need to do more often. (Like from now on) My thighs were burning by the end and today they are stiff. That is the only part of me sore, so that was the part that really got the workout.

I then went and got a hair cut (I was looking a bit shaggy) at a little place near the University. I just wanted a walk-in appointment. The girl was the best ever!! I HATE!! I mean H A T E ! ! haircuts because they always pull my hair. I have long hair and lots of it so they pull a lot!! Well she didn’t make it hurt. NOT EVEN ONCE!! It was the best, and she did a good job so I will be back!!

Then I went home and got ready to go to a movie with a friend. We saw “Lucky Number Sleven.” It was good I really liked it. Also I saw a preview for a movie of the type that MagnetBabe usually sees with me. So I’m sure that will be a good movie trip in the future.

I went home late and slept well and continued the good day by getting up when the kittens were hungry enough to wake me and then headed off to the Tampa Museum of Art, which is free on Saturday mornings, and saw the WILD THINGS: The Art of Maurice Sendak Exhibit. Where the Wild Things Are is one of my favorite books so this was really cool!!!

If I make it to my Mom’s in time for dinner tonight it is Meatloaf with rice pilaf and then egg dying activities…. Sunday is Church, Lasagna for Easter Dinner (YUM), Back to Tampa for a run, and finally some geeking out with the football boys for some gaming.

I think I’m doing OK.

Running with the WILD THINGS!!

Success!!

Yesterday was the First Annual Miles for Moffett Event, and many of Randy's family and friends walked together. Everyone had a great time!! The mile went really fast and we all walked as a big group. People found us from our shirts and we saw people we knew in other groups walking for friends or family of their own. It was a huge turn out I hope the Moffitt people know what a fantastic event they put on.

As for our little group I think everyone had a fun time!! We hopped and walked and skipped and monkey walked and giggled and bounced and walked backwards to take pictures all the way along. The brunch afterwards went well and everyone stayed and visited for hours. It was very nice. I’m ready for next year!! I will post pictures as soon as I have them.

Now I need something else to think about...hmmmm...well I’ll come up with some big scheme I’m sure.

Next up the Draft Day Dash...

Running into my self at this point (am I comming or going)

Wide awake!!!

Well here we go!! It is the night before the Miles for Moffitt walk/run and I am up late!! I mean it is only a mile and it is only a walk but then everyone is coming to my house after the event for brunch. I hope the house is clean enough, I hope the food is enough, I hope everyone likes the food, I hope the kitties are good, I hope the people are happy, I hope…. Well you get the point.

I don’t usually worry about people coming over and I guess I’m not really worried about any of these things all that much. I do want everyone to have a nice time since this is the first time we are participating in this event together. I want to do this every year, and I have been sooooo excited to spend time with friends and family of my friend Randy that I guess I’m just up.

This is it….this is what all the fuss was about. Let’s make it a good one.

We have a nice size crowd and I am very proud of our group and how we have stepped up to do something for cancer awareness and research during a dark period for all of us. I am sure Randy would be honored and would know how much he is loved.

Walking for the greater good

Super Slacker

Well I have been Pathetic haven't I. I haven't taken a whole week off from running yet!! Aren't I the biggest slacker EVER!!

I have some ideas up my sleeve and some firming up of plans that I will be doing over the next couple days and then I will start on Friday. I’m very excited that with the time change I can run later into the eve.

I wanted to go on a run tonight but traffic took longer than I thought so I have to wait. That is part of my new plan. I’m going to pack clothes on some days so I can sneak in the run, or try mornings again…..(well It’s worth bringing up again even if it never happens)

So for today….I’m a slacker!!

Speed Work

Distance: 1.3 miles       Time: ???              Bright and sunny 5:00 pm
Temperature: 59 °F        Humidity: 32%          Pressure: 30.04 inches

I was a little short on time so I ran at USF around the trail but I used the fitness stops as markers for a sprint workout. I jogged a nice long on at the start then alternated walking and sprinting. It was a good run. I like to run hard like that sometimes. I feel like a real runner rather than a jogger. I know that I start running even when it is a distance but I end up pretty pathetic by the end. I used the sprints to concentrate on my feet and how long they are on the ground. I read an article that said that improving turnover rate is important for not plodding along during the long runs and that sprint type workouts help this. They also help you get faster in general so it’s all good.

I was also thinking about a new interval type workout where I run one sprint one walk one run backwards one and repeat. I may have to do this one at the local park rather than USF because the local park is a sidewalk. It might be safer than the trail when I’m not looking forward. Also then I could do it the first time around with .2 mile segments then with longer segments the second time or next time etc.

Speed runner Me!!

More Pirates!!

Distance: 2 miles         Time: ???              Partly Cloudy 5:00 pm
Temperature: 59 °F        Humidity: 53%          Pressure: 30.04 inches

Wow a big cold front moved in. Well cold for Florida anyway. At first I thought I was going to be whiney about the cold and then I remembered that it will be hot way toooooo soon so I was chilly at the beginning but warmed up quickly and was very happy after just a few minutes.

I have made a point on these last two runs to pick up my knees every now and then to make sure that I’m more running than jogging. Also I made sure that my arm swing went from my midline in front to my hip so that I get the most out of the motion of my arm swings. It helps pick it up through out the run and make sure I’m not getting lazy. Every time I felt tired I concentrated on these two things and they not only gave me something to think about but also seemed to pick it up enough that anything that felt tired seemed to work more efficiently and didn’t feel so tired.

I have found another run. April 29^th is the Draft Day Dash a 5K put on by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the benefit of some local charities. (I’m not sure which ones yet but I called the Bucs home office and they haven’t called me back yet.) It might not be a cancer run but I have to keep running and there isn’t one in the area that I have found. So this sounds like fun!! It is on the day of the football draft and starts in front of Ray Jay stadium and ends by running into the stadium tunnel and onto the field with the finish on the 50 yard line, while you watch yourself finish on the Jumbo screen!! How cool is that!!

Note that means another reason to do my favorite type of running:

P I R A T E R U N N I N G ! ! AAAARRRRGGGG <--Pirate for GO BUCS!!

Easy Tuesday - Soooooo Stiff!!!

Distance: 2 miles         Time: sub 28 min       Mostly Cloudy 5:00 pm
Temperature: 78 °F        Humidity: 79%          Pressure: 29.93 inches

Well it’s that time of year again where the humidity in FL is higher then the temperature. It was a very nice night out. 2 miles on a Tuesday night is pretty good. I didn’t have a lot of time so I jumped online and measured a route (see links) and went for a run. I was really tight in my legs. I think because I was still very sore yesterday after the fitness trail on Sat. I wasn’t useless, just stiff so by next week’s workout I should be good!! YEA!! Then the following weekend is MILES FOR MOFFITT!! There is still so much to do. Well no use sitting here writing about it…

…gotta Run!!

Friday's run and Saturday's workout!!

Distance: ? mile          Time: ~15 min          Clear and warm 10:00 am
Temperature: 72 °F        Humidity: 69%          Pressure: 30.16 inches

Yesterday (Friday) I ran for ~15 min with the point being to just go and do it for a time rather than a distance. I didn't have a lot of time so I thought I would try this theory. Then I wouldn't be upset that I was running late or anything. I think it worked well enough. I will have to do more of this sort of workout so that I can just go for a run. It was a nice day and I ran at the trail at USF.

Today I did the trail at USF for the fitness trail. I was happy to do all the exercises with the jogs in between. A year or so ago with Randy we had to walk most of the way to do the exercises or run the trail but not stop at the stations. I only had to walk once where I was supposed to jog and that was between the last two leg exercises. I could tell they were getting tired on me. I did complete all of the exercises at the highest “par” except the upper bocy stations. (I sooooo have T-rex arms!!) I guess I’ll have to keep working on them.

I found a really awesome resource on Runner’s World!! It’s a personal trainer system called Smart Coach. You enter the last race and time you completed and your goal and how long till you want to reach it and it gives you workouts for 3 days a week at a choice of 3 different intensity levels. Very cool!! I will use it to set up my next goal. I think that will be 5 miles. (5k – 5mi sounds reasonable) then I’ll move to a 10K…maybe. I don’t have a race at 5miles coming up. In fact I am having trouble finding races in my area for the summer. Not that I’m completely surprised at that so I may have to wait till September or October to find another race I want to do. In the mean time I can just improve and extend my distance. I know the summer will be tough because of the heat and humidity here in good ole F-L-O-R-I-D-A. (Yes, I sang it like they do in the swamp)

Tomorrow….hmmmm….I haven’t come up with a plan but I will need to soon. I’ll let ya know what I figure out.

Run Strong!

So far so good

Distance: 3.3 miles       Time: no time          Clear and warm 10:30 am
Temperature: 72 °F        Humidity: ??%          Pressure: ??.?? inches

I ran the tree today but it was a little weird. I borrowed a friends GPS running calculator. It was really cool. I measured two trails near USF today so I did 2 miles (2 x 1 mi trail) at one park and then the trail at USF and found that it was ~1.3 miles

So there was a break in the middle of the run but the trails are only a few minutes drive apart so it was worth it today to do it that way. Now I can run on the trails and have a better idea of how far I am going.

My arms are sore from the work on the fitness trail yesterday. It's not too bad though. I am also ready to add a short free weights program to tomorrow and some yoga for flexibility. I will pack a lunch tonight to save me time, so I am doing well on my new changes.

Until next time....keep running!!

Goal #2: Rounding out the fitness plans.

Distance: 1 mile          Time: 11:54:50 mile    Clear and warm 11:00 am
Temperature: 81 °F        Humidity: 47%          Pressure: 30.20 inches

Now that the two 5K’s are done, and I’m not worried about the Miles for Moffitt fun run because I can run the mile and the event is more about all of us gathering in the memory of Randy and the awareness of the fight against cancer. So today I get started on a new goal. This week is Spring break so I do not have to teach 3 nights this week. This seems like the best time to start some new habits while things are a little slower and then I can continue them when things gear up again. To accomplish the first goal I had to run regularly to get to the 5K mark. This new goal is to now to add meal planning and to place some cross training on the off days. I’m going to add just some small additions like the Saturday run will now be a short warm-up before a fitness trail, and Monday and Wednesday mornings having some in-home core, flexibility, or upper body work. These are small additions and will facilitate each other. I don’t seem to have time to do small ½ hour workouts on Monday and Wednesday because I am running around finding my lunch in the morning or finding dinner at night. If I have my meals planned a little better the night before (even just lunch) then the next morning can have an easy ½ hour of workout time to get me started. That’s my thinking.

Today I did start the Saturday part of this by running one mile in the park and then doing the fitness circuit on the trail. I wasn’t overly impressed. Most of the upper body exercises were either too advanced even at the lowest level (and I’m not the worst to try the trail) or the equipment was built for men. Some of the shortest of the fitness bars was too high for me to reach to do the recommended exercise. I’m 5’ 5” and that makes me right at the national average for women. I’m not tall but I’m not short either so this seemed to not be helpful. Next week I will do the fitness trail at USF instead. I like that one better. The important part is that I did complete the workout and it was a workout. I also ran between about every other exercise so I got in a little more mileage today but I don’t know how far it ended up adding on.

I would hope that my next goal would be reached within a few weeks to a month since they are a scheduling/habit goal rather than a mileage goal. In the upcoming weeks I will decide my next running goal.

I’m a well rounded runner!!

5th Annual Bolt Run

I did it again!! YEA!! and I did it better!! By my watch I had a time of 40:34!! That is 1:20 faster. Last time my watch was with in a couple seconds of the chip time, so since this time there were no chips I figure the watch is better than the "official" time since I didn't start near the start of the pack.

This was a much smaller crowd and I was worried that with out people all around me I wouldn’t keep going but I was still distracted enough to not notice that I was still going.

I made a friend for the day. She is in town at MacDill AFB for a couple of months and was doing the run. I guess she figured out that I was alone too because she started a conversation with me while we were at the start. Afterwards I found her again (she ran much faster than me) and we hung out at the “after party.” It’s really more like a picnic on the plaza, but it was the best part. This time there was fruit and water but not just bananas. I’m not a big banana fan personally. AND there was PIZZA and BEER!! It rocked!! Two guys came and sat near us and joined in the conversation and the 4 of us waved at Thunder Bug (He is sooooo cute) and listened to the winners. (not me…hehehe) I had a lot of fun!! It was nice to talk about our times and improvements even though my time was soooo slow but they were all encouraging and nice and gave me some tips but weren’t nasty about if I was making any mistakes.

Last week was for me but this one was for Randy!! I’m glad it only got better. I know that as I do more of these I will get to a time when my times level out and some will be better than others, but for right now, I’m glad I am improving.

Running a little faster!

Told you I did it....

Here I am!! That's me!! I'm running like a Pirate!! It looks like I'm walking but I'm running Wait, I have another to prove it.....





See Here I'm running. I didn't say I ran fast I said I ran!!




Here I am at the finish area with the Pirates!! AAARRRGGG!!!!

I had a very good time.





Saturday is the 5th annual Bolt Run 5K. It is put on by the Tampa Bay Lightning for the benefit of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society!! I hope I do well again!! I don't think there is a picture company there this time. Nothing was in the literature about it but if there is I will post more pictures after that. I don't have anyone to come and watch or run with this time again so I can't have someone take a picture as I go by.

Gasparilla 2006 - Distance Classic - 5K

I DID IT!! I ran like a pirate!! I ran the whole way!! I really really did!! And they give you a medal for finishing!!

I took only a few walking steps twice to slow down to drink water at the two water tables (and they were crowded so you had to slow down)….That was it. Other than that I ran the whole way!! I had a chip time of 41:54 and a pace of 13:25.7. (According to the results posted to the web site!!) I know from my own watch that my first mile was under 12 minutes which was better than all the training runs. So I must have really slowed up after that but I ran the whole way!! When the pictures come in I will post them. And we don’t have to discuss my placing in either the women or the over all or the age group but there were more women then men and there were 6419 total runners!!

I wasn’t going for a time and I wasn’t going to run the whole way I was going to have fun and do it and I did better than I had hoped!! AND had a lot of fun too!!!

To top it all off, just when I got back into my truck a friend called and said she had an extra ticket to the Storm game this evening!! I said I had to check on some stuff, but then called back and told her I was in. THEY WON!! And they beat the only undefeated team in the AFL. It was a very exciting game and a lot of fun.

Needless to say I am wiped out!! I’m going to bed early tonight and I am going to read. Then tomorrow I am going to putt around the house most of the day and relax!! (Is it legal to drug the kitties so they will sleep in….it’s not….darn!)

AAAARRRGGGG!!!!! (<----Pirate for RUN!!)

My Running Feets!!!

I went to the Health and Fitness expo today to pick up my Race Package for the 5-k tomorrow. There are free samples, my number, coupons etc in the bag. How ever they made me walk to the very back of the expo to pick up my stuff. Aren't they smart all those booths of stuff to buy and people to hand you free stuff.

Then in front corner of the room that I walked passed as I was leaving, there it was, a booth of people selling Nikes. Big deal people selling Nikes, but they had those treadmills with the camera behind them to watch your feets!!! I HAD TO DO IT!! I stand slightly pigeon toed and have very flat feet but I don't tend to over pronate (roll my ankles in) like most flat-footed pidgin-toed people (well no one is perfect). Soooo I waited my turn and put on the shoes they gave me (so they have everyone in the same shoes). What did I find out? That I don’t pronate like most people with flat feet, I have a good heel strike, I run up the outside of my feet like I should, and my toes come up off the ground like they should. Basically I run correctly!! That was good news, he said he would never have guessed from my stride that my feet were flat and my big toes were best friends. I should still wear the shoes with more support in the arches. He confirmed that it is my flat feet that make my knees hurt when the arches in my shoes are bad.

The coolest part was watching my feet do their thing with out messing them up by looking down or sideways to try to watch them. On Monday I went to MOSI to the BODIES exhibit. I saw all the bones in the feet, ankles, and legs and the muscles that move them. Then to watch my very own two little feets running on the screen moving like they should was really cool!! I imagined the bones in my feet pulling and pushing the ligaments hanging on and my bones allowing my ankle to stay straight. Very interesting. I would recommend it!!

I got runner feets!!

Happy Presidents Day!!

Distance: 3 miles         Time: ??:??         FOGGY  8:45 am
Temperature: 56 °F        Humidity: 96%       Pressure: 30.26 inches

3 M I L E S ! ! ! Ok still some walking spots but only .3 miles and not all at once!! I can now do Gasparilla 5k this weekend. Good thing too since I have already paid to take part. It should be fun, I am really starting to look forward to it. I think tomorrow night I am going to go look at the race route, and I will try to just run 1.5 tomorrow with out stopping and a short mile on Friday to stay loose.

My calf didn't tighten up at all so I hope my shin doesn't start to ache like after the 2.75 run. I also have not been getting the cramps in my calf at night so maybe I am finally getting in better shape.

I ran near my home today. That way I only knew the half way point much like on race day. I won't have tenth mile marks like in the park. So I had to push to make it just a little farther before a break. I think it worked. I had a little bit of an idea of how far things were and I will for the race but I really only knew the route and the turn-around. I like to map the routes using "America's Running Routes" I don't save mine but I have my own list. I know it is about around the cemeteries near my house. That is a quiet run. (hehehe)

The park is my favorite but I like the streets too. Most people are nice and smile as you pass. I try to say "morning" as I pass and most smile and say it back. The neighborhoods near my home are older and near downtown so there are many different people on the streets. The only rude people were some tourists that had all of their luggage on the sidewalk waiting for the city bus and between them and their luggage they took up the whole sidewalk and they didn't even make an attempt to give me a path. I had to drop off onto the busy street. I didn't say morning to them. I usually like the tourists but these people were just rude. Most of the people on the street in the morning are part of the "work force" walking to work or waiting for the bus. They all look different and you can tell they all have different backgrounds and stories. All the shops are opening too getting ready for business for the day. I would be one of them most of the time driving to work or already there by this time but I happen to get Presidents day off, so it’s nice to see what happens when I’m not rushing to work myself.

I can run miles and miles :)

Active People Watching

Distance: 2 miles         Time: 28:44         Clear  12:30 pm
Temperature: 75 °F        Humidity: 50%       Pressure: 30.2 inches

I think that someone has tied lead weights to my ankles this week. I ran today instead of yesterday because I also have Monday off for President’s Day so I can have a good long run on Monday.

So my park that I run in is always fun because on weekend days like today I can kind of people watch while I run. There are some pavilions that always have some activities going on.

Parents dropping off children to birthday parties and handing them gifts before they run off and telling them not to forget to say thank you for being invited.

Two guys starting a grill and hanging balloons while asking on the phone "where everybody at?"

The guy who runs around the outside of the park backwards...yes backwards...this is the second time I have seen him.

People who walk to work who must live nearby walk through the park in restaurant uniforms.

The guys playing basketball with little kids, and the cheering that goes on when one of the kids scores.

There are older people walking around the path together sitting on the benches that are along the path for a rest. (There is a senior center at one end of the park)

There is a shuffle board court next to the senior center too, but I have yet to ever see anyone on it. I figure that even they think that shuffle board is dumb!!

Little kids playing, riding bikes with training wheels, rolling down the hill.

A group of guys playing soccer…sort of, because there really isn’t a big enough area but they kick the ball around and try not to run into little kids.

And finally the guy who plays racquetball in the courts that is often there and is way too excited for a guy playing for free in a park. He wears the goggles with the thick elastic strap, a head band, and wrist bands and swears like a sailor about every play.

Running...and watching.

Introducing.....

A friend of mine, magnetbabe, has declared February 15th Blog about your Cats day. So....

LOKI
He is an acquisition from a 4th of July party. And I was the sober one!!






FREYA
I got Freya because Loki was a lone kitten and needed a friend...(Or I was going to lose my sanity) She was from a litter from a friends cat that "got out" before getting fixed.




SAGA
This baby girl was pathetic and starving on the street corner and my heart just melted for her. (and when I say pathetic she was P A T H E T I C ! !) She is now Happy and Healthy and Loki's Pride and Joy.




So those are my Kitten Mittens!! And while I get no sleep on cold nights because they are all on top of me I love every minute of it.

Going for the gold

Distance: 1 mile          Time: 12:15:01      Partly Cloudy  4:30 pm
Temperature: 45 °F        Humidity: 64%       Pressure: 30.13 inches

Way tooooooo cold. I did only a mile because I was very uncomfortable. If this is the weather on race day I may be walking more than I run. Or maybe I shouldn't wear the jacket and just freeze at the beginning. I warmed up after about 3/4 miles and could of taken off the jacket. I know that people up north run in much worse than this but I am not used to how to dress or to prepare. Lucky for me I only have a few days a year to deal with it so the odds are I will be just fine on the 25th.

I haven't done the Yoga yet. I also ran hungry....never a good idea. I can't run right after I eat but I shouldn't be hungry either. So I ate. I will do it after the longer run on Tuesday.

Sometimes it's fun during the Olympics to know that I am not an athlete like them but I can do something that more than 50% of the population cannot do. I can run over a mile. So I still do what we all did as kids. When I finished that mile today....I took the gold. In my own little race.

Crusade update: Today I registered for two of the three events coming up. Now the money is spent and I am committed. I was glad to see when I looked up the Miles for Moffit 1 mile fun run/walk that it is especially for walking/running in memory or in support of some one who has cancer. That is exactly what I wanted!!

Running for my own gold

Yoga Stretch Theory

Distance: 2.75 miles      Time: 38:05         Partly Cloudy  7:30 pm
Temperature: 55 °F        Humidity: 64%       Pressure: 30.13 inches

A bit chilly last night but I did very well. I finished the 2.75 strong and while my right leg was tight I was able to run to 1.5 miles (21:01 min split) before I took a .1 mile walk. I don't think I needed it but I wanted it. I will think about waiting till I really need it tomorrow when I do the shorter run, and again when I do this distance on Tuesday.

I started something new last night. I picked up a video of Yoga for flexibility. I really hope that helps the night cramps in my legs and the tightness in my calves and arches especially on the right side. I figure on Friday and Sunday I have time after the run usually so I will do that video at least both of those times as soon as I am done running so that I am still warm. It felt very good last night after the run.

For the first time I feel good about being prepared in time for the run on February 25th. I know that is because I have had more time in the last two weeks to make my scheduled runs. I look forward to next Friday when the first 3 mile run is scheduled.

Running to make the distance.

I need gills!!

Distance: 2.5 miles         Time: 34:19            Cloudy/Foggy  4:30 pm
Temperature: 55 °F        Humidity: 83%       Pressure: 30.13 inches

First I notice that the local pressure is exactly the same as on Sunday but the temp is down and the humidity is WAY WAY UP!! It is worse in the summer but with the cold it was a weird sticky mess, making it feel more like swimming, I can not breath like a fish!!

Next, I noticed that the time is greater but I also realized on the trail that Sunday's run was really more like 2.3 miles so I will have to correct that. Most importantly I walked less this time and ran longer legs. My right calf still got tight but did not completly cramp up!! The sections I ran were each a mile with a .1 mile walk then the next mile and a .1 mile walk.

Friday's goal will be 2.75 miles and to make each leg between walks 1.25 - 1.5 miles. I am feeling confidant that I will be able to run like a pirate on the 25th. I am not worried about having to walk on that day because I know that I could mess up my first time and end up going out too fast with a group and needing to walk but I want to walk a minimum.

I also counted the steps during the 2 .1 mi walks it's ~190 steps/.1 mi that is a good enough estimate for the race if I need too walk I can count steps.

Crusade update: My friend's sister is soooo excited to do the Miles for Moffitt she has recruited more people (as have I) and she wants to put together something fun like t-shirts and stuff with his name on them!! I think it will be FANTASTIC!!

I'm a Runner!!

Crusade

Distance: 2.5 miles       Time: 28:53 min     Sunny 12:45 pm
Temperature: 61 °F        Humidity: 48%       Pressure: 30.13 inches

A week ago my friend with leukemia passed away. As my running buddy he kept me going. Now as the drive behind my new crusade he is still doing the same. When I started this blog I didn’t know what I was looking for. Why share my meager progress with total strangers. Now I think I know. Soon I will post a blog about my friend and place the “I fight cancer” Ribbon on my page. The post will fulfill one of several suggested ideas for a requirement to post the ribbon on a web or blog page, several of which I will end up doing before my crusade is finished. For now I run.

I finished the 2.5 miles today and it was beautiful out. I miss him running with me most on days like this. I had to walk a few times due to some calf cramping. I have also had cramps in my leg at night. I hope when the stress has passed and I can run on more of a schedule some this will all pass too.

I stated that the training to work up to 5k was for a run here in Feb. That will still be the first run. There is also a run on March 4th to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and one on April 8th to benefit Moffitt Cancer Research Center where my friend was treated. The first thing I can do on crusade is pay the money to take part in these events where the proceeds go to these charities and that also encourage healthy activity and thus reduce the risk of cancer in people.

I am honored that my friend’s mother and youngest sister, who will be in town in April, and some of his closest friends would like to take part in the Miles for Moffitt run with me. I hope we make him proud. And I hope that better treatments and cures are found soon.

Running to keep running

This too shall pass

I ran today after I went to visit with my friend in the hospital. His Doctors came today to talk with his Mother. I was there when it was decided that all treatments would stop except the pain meds to make him comfortable. I have to admit a little peice of me is holding out for a miracle. Now the longest couple of days are to come.

Today my run wasn't as helpful in clearing my head as yesterday but his drive to workout and run with me is what will keep me running right now. When he first got sick the doctor told him not to raise his blood pressure too much by lifting or running so I would go for my run for the day and then go to his apartment and we would go for a walk. I miss him on the trail already but I had always thought it was temporary. This too shall pass. Now I know that this is not the way it will come pass and I will be running alone for a little while.

Someday I may find another friend to run with. Maybe I should get a dog. They are always in the mood to run, and they don't take as much work to coordinate a schedule.

running buddies are forever

Run while you can

Distance: 2.25 miles      Time: ~30 min       Bright and Sunny 10:30 am
Temperature: 62 °F        Humidity: 55%       Pressure: 30.42 inches
Mile Split: 13:09:57

Today's run went well. Better than I thought it would for sure. I ran so I wouldn't get any farther behind but I didn't want to. It turned out to be a good run and I feel much better now that I have finished.

I was kind of a mess this morning because I am worried about a friend who is gravely sick. He is one of my best friends. The doctors give him only days to live. I woke up not wanting to do anything. I know I have a million things to do in my life, none of which mean anything in the long run, but the kitties are unhappy if I don't change the litter.

We used to run and workout together, and since he got sick we have still talked of plans to work him back up to where he was. I know that he wouldn't want me to miss the run I am planning and if I skip my runs I will never increase my distance to 5k in time. So I ran. I feel much better and I have a better outlook for the day. Now I don't feel like quite the mess I was this morning.

There is another local run in March that benefits the leukemia and lymphoma society. I have decided to run in that one too. Maybe the money that is raised will help some other person not to go through what my friend is going through.

Run like there is no tomorrow

One foot in front of the other

Distance: 1.75 miles      Time: 21:38:40      Partly Cloudy  11:30 am
Temperature: 79 °F         Humidity: 52%      Pressure: 30.24 inches

Well I did run today and that makes this new schedule already better than the last. Now to stick to it!! It was a beautiful day out almost a little hot. I Love the "winter" on the Gulf Coast of Florida!! However....come July I will be a whiny bitch about the same weather.

Today was a struggle but I not only upped the mileage but did it soon after another increase so once I have started 3 days a week again and I have caught up in distance I shouldn't have such a hard time. (I hope, I hope)

I am very happy that I finally have the City's skyline on the blog. I fought with the damn template for 2 weeks on and off. GO ME!! Now I really like my blog. A few more color changes and I'll love it for sure.

Run Run Run!!

Another change in plans.

Well faithful readers another week has passed with another batch of missed runs. I have to figure out how to not miss them. Mostly I have to not try to run after a long day of two jobs. So I am shifting the whole week to run more over the weekends and also I have to up the mileage a little each day to catch up but I think I'll be ok and then I will be able to maintain on the original plan till the race on Feb.25th.

So yesterday afternoon I ran 1.5 miles. I was supposed to be at 1.75 miles this week. SO..The new plan is to make the three running days Friday, Sunday and Tuesday. Then Monday, Wednesday and Thursday when I teach it will not interfere. Now the plan to catch up is to run 1.75 tomorrow (Sunday) and 2.0 miles on Tuesday!! That should catch me up!! YEA!! I think this is going to be a good plan.

Also today I found a paved trail at a park close to my home with every 10th mile marked and fitness stations along the way. Maybe after the race or on Saturdays I will start to workout with the stations too. I'm going to do my run there tomorrow and I'm very excited!!

Keep running!!

Friday's run

Well I wasn't as diligent this time at writing right after my run so I don't have temp and atmospheric info. The run was a little over 1.25 miles, but not quite the 1.5 it was supposed to be. Although it was cloudy and cool, it was mostly a nice day. I ran the trail near the University and it is a little short of the goal distance, but I had run out of time to figure out the extra distance. I figured any run was better than none. I will be ready for this weeks runs because Monday I am off so I will have all the time I need to run as far as I want. Also, as I mentioned in the last post, I now have a late night backup so I can plan ahead and have clothes and shoes with me. The ~1.25 mile time was 17:54.

My Waiting Audience

I feel like I have let everyone down by not posting this week. And by everyone I mean all of my faithful readers who must be too interested in my stories about the weather to comment. Mostly I guess no one has started reading about me but that is ok because I haven't had much of note yet except for me.

The truth is that I have not run this week so there has not been a run to report on. This is not a good thing either. Life got in the way a bit, and with it getting dark so early makeup time is at a premium. Yesterday I did a search for a gym location that is open late. (I have a membership from my job) So tonight I will do the Wednesday 1mile run and tomorrow continue on schedule. From here on out I should not have to worry about how late it is because I can run at night at the gym.

I NEED A TREADMILL AT HOME!! I don't want to buy one till I'm further along in my running endeavors. It should be appearing my list of needs very soon.

I will post how the gym run goes tonight when I am done. Till then sorry to have kept you waiting.

Plan for week 2

I figured Sunday each week is a good day preparation for my weeks running workouts. I use Sunday to check my personal schedule for the week this is perfect for my running schedule as well.

A little information about the run I am preparing for....as mentioned in my profile I live in a city that is invaded by pirates each year. This year there the festivities include a 5k run, a 10k run, and 1/2 and full marathons. I will be taking it slow and running the 5k run. Since before my Christmas break from running I was up to being able to run a mile this is the next logical distance. The run is February 25th. So I have plenty of time. The idea is to increase the longer distances by a .25 mile each week to build up. The easier 1 mile Wednesdays will turn into 1.5 mile Wednesdays and then 2 mile Wednesdays as the others get longer.

So week 2 preparations for my 5k run are a follows:

Sunday: Rest - Walk/Jog day -- I had other physical activities planned so this will be "rest" as far as running is concerned.

Monday: 1.5 miles - another up in the distance. Wish me luck

Tuesday: Rest - Walk/Jog day -- I hope to do a nice long walk/jog for endurance. At least an hour if not 1.5 hours.

Wednesday: 1 mile - Ahhhh....I remember when the mile was the hard day. :)

Thursday: Rest - That's fine by me!!

Friday: 1.5 Miles - I hope that like the second 1.25 mile run last Friday this is better than the Monday version.

Saturday: 60 min walk. I have to start doing these. I seem to skip them for taxing house work but I should really do both.

Well there you have it. The week of January 8th - 14th.

Run like a pirate!!

Brrrrr.....

Distance: 1.25 mile   Time: 16:49:07  Bright and Sunny 7:45 am
Temperature: 53 °F    Humidity: 59%   Pressure: 29.96 inches

Ok...Note to self 53 °F is a little cold for short sleeves. I don't think I would have been uncomfortable with a light sweat shirt or workout jacket. Even better my long sleeve workout shirt!! It's likely to be cool like this again so I will keep that in mind.

Again my 1.25 mile time went down!! Yea!! I felt better today too. My right foot cramped a little but it was better than Wednesday. It wasn't easy still but I was able to give a good little push at the end so I must have had something left.

This completes 1 week of work since I started this page. I don't know if this is helping but I'm enjoying playing with the html code when I'm not posting. Tomorrow 60 min walk and a rest day Sunday should be a perfect plan.

Two more lbs gone!!

Distance: 1 mile      Time: 13:24:63  Partly Cloudy 6:30 pm
Temperature: 61°F     Humidity: 63%   Pressure: 30.06 inches

The last two days in a row that the scale said 193 lbs. I figure if it is on the scale two days in a row then I can count it. So two more pounds gone!! Yea for me!!

Also tonight my time got faster!! Yea!! I was a little worried that I started too fast but it felt so good I just kept going. It's not faster than the first mile but it's better than the second run.

It was a little cooler but it didn't take long for me to work up my sweat!! So I'm good.

I was glad I could run. I have a friend who is in the hospital right now after some rejection problems from a bone marrow stem cell transplant and he is doing better today but he is in rough shape. Some friends went to see him today and I talked to his family. He is getting weaker all the time. I'm glad I could run. He couldn't run right now if he wanted to. It will be a long time before he can play football with us again.

I was also a little wound up from the friends going to the hospital and some other minor over all but personal stresses. It was a nice relaxing run.

Days like these

Distance: 1.25 miles  Time: 17:59:82  Sunny, Bright and Clear
Temperature: 73°F     Humidity: 79%   Pressure: 30.11 inches 

Days like these I love that I live in Florida!!
I live where other people vacation!!

My run went well. I did the entire way. I was slow and my feet were a bit crampy. Probably because my calves are sore....That's where the leap second leaping got back at me!! Oh well. I did it is the important thing. My mile time was 14 min and change so much slower than last time. The last 1/4 mile was one of the best. I guess by pushing for one 1/4 mile more, I sped up.

The rest of the weeks plan looks like this:
Tomorrow is a rest/jog-walk day, then a 1 mile distance scheduled forWednesday, Thursday is REST, 1.25 miles on Friday and a 60 min walk Saturday.

Well I'm off. After holidays housework beckons.

Happy New Year!!

My 60 min walk yesterday went well. While I was a little sore when I first rolled out of bed it wasn't bad and I was able to run around all day no problem.

The New Years celebration was fantastic, and there was a new guy to get to know. It went a little slow but he was ok over all. I also talked everyone into leaping the leap second at midnight. It was soooooo much fun.

Today I was still a little sore but if the second day is worse and all the leaping for the leap second last night did not seem to make it much to discuss. Today was rest/jog-walk. I chose rest rather than to schedule something, but really I did very vigorous house work and packing of Christmas decorations, disposal of tree, removal of house lights and packing of everything ....tomorrow the floors will be mopped....from one end of the house to the other. I love it when the house gets clean.

Tomorrow's scheduled run is 1.25 miles. I measured out the route today so I will be ready. I hope to go mid morning before the house work begins. I will make this distance. I know from the 1 mile day it will be the end of my limit but I had enough left that I could have pushed so I can do it.

If you are a runner....Think of me as you most likely run much farther.
If you are not....Think of me as you sit on your couch and know I miss it, but I love this too.