Saturday Shenanigans

I've had an amazing, active, fun and very productive day. I'll have to recap it in bullet form because I'm too tired for paragraphs.

• Woke up before 5 am, before my alarm, to get ready for my run. I was really looking forward to it because I was trying out some new routes and it was short milage.
• Biked 4.5 miles to meet my running group. The cool air felt great and the bike ride was a great warm  up. I had almost abandoned the idea the night before, but since I got up in time I went for it and I'm really glad I did.
• Ran 8.5 miles with my group, including 3 miles of rolling hills, and we had a blast. It was just 5 of us girls today, and it was funny that we didn't spend the entire time talking about running skirts lol I really like running hills because they make me feel really strong. 
• Biked 6 miles back home, through a more scenic route to check out the new trail extension.
• Did 25 minutes of yoga as soon as I got home because my body needed some TLC after all that activity.
• After a shower and breakfast, I was still full of energy so I cleaned up a bit and got the laundry ready while Jason finished his run. 
• Did 3 loads of laundry while wearing my compression gear and cleaning up here and there. 
• Went grocery shopping to stock on fruits and vegetables because I realized this week that despite being a vegetarian I do not get enough servings of fruits and veggies. My goal for this coming week is to earn that HBBC point for 7 servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Cooked chick peas I had soaked and made homemade humus, which is stupid easy/fast now that we have a real food processor, and then prepped food for a dinner party at a friend's house.
• Dinner party fun! We had a blast with great company and delicious food. 

Friday Funny: Race Signs

These are 2 of my favorite signs that I saw during the OUC half marathon. The first one of course made me smile because bikes are awesome and it was the first clever sign I saw on the course. And now that I think about it, we did run by Kyle's Bike Shop less than a mile later lol. The 2nd sign was just what I needed to inspire me to kick it up a notch for the last 5K and finish strong. 

There was also a huge group from lululemon cheering and holding signs. Most were sayings I've seen before, but still made me smile. Here are some of them:

• Runners do it LONGER
• Run like you stole something
• Your perspiration is my inspiration
• Kick some asphalt
• The END is NEAR
• Like our best bras, we SUPPORT you

TTT: Chilly Run, Chaturanga, Walking

#1: Chilly Run - It was 44º this morning and when you factored in the 11 mph winds the feels like temp was 39º Brr! But that did not deter me or 3 other hard core members from my group from having a great run this morning. I ran a 1 mile warm up in 11:36, which was faster than I intended but I was freezing, then ran another 4 easy with the group @ 11:52 pace. My legs feel a bit sore. With enough clothes, running in this weather is not bad at all. Here's a list of everything I wore, and while I unzipped my jacket a little, I was never hot. I did shed the buff after 2 miles and the gloves during the last mile, but was very comfortable the entire run.

• Nike Pro Fitted Short Sleeve tech shirt
• long sleeve tech shirt
• windbreaker jacket
• C9 tights
• windbreaker pants
• thick socks
• headband & skull cap
• bondiband buff
• gloves

#2: Yoga - I've been rocking the yoga lately. Yesterday I did a sun salutation flow from Yogamazing and it had a LOT of down dogs, planks and Chaturanga poses (where you hold the down position of a push up). It was a great upper body workout, even though what I meant to do was an energizing flow. My arms and shoulders are quite sore today. I've been trying to do at least 10-20 minutes of daily yoga, and I love starting or ending my day this way, but I'm taking tomorrow off. Right now my body is asking me for extra sleep, so I will oblige by setting a later alarm. If I happen to wake up earlier on my own and have time for yoga then great, otherwise I'll take the extra sleep.

#3: Walking - I've also been a walking machine lately. Our bus route got changed so now I have an extra half mile walk each day. I've also been walking to a further bus stop when I get there before the bus, and try to get a little extra walking here and there whenever the opportunity presents itself. I track my walking during the day whenever I walk at least a 1/4 mile, and I've been getting in at least 3-4 miles each day.  It's great cross training and a quick way to earn extra HBBC points ;)

Wordless Wednesday: OUC Half Race Photos

I love these race photos. You can tell I was having a blast in every single one of them. Not a single grimace amongst them :) I love that I am making the sign language symbol for "I love you" in the 4th photo.

HBBC Update - Week 1 & 2

At the end of week 2 of the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge, which started November 19th, I am on the top 3! I am in shock! Of course, week 2 included the marathon and all the walking I did as active recovery. Now I am determined to maintain that lead so  in the next few weeks there will be a ton more walking, taking the long way when possible to get in any little bit of extra walking, lots of yoga, and I may even start biking to work again! :) Below is the score tally for the first 2 weeks.:

week 1: 

• walked 16 miles 
• ran 17.2 miles 
• 28 minutes of yoga (1.4 points)
• total = 34.6 points

week 2: 

• ran 31.4 miles
• walked 17.1 miles 
• biked 5 miles (1.7 points)
• 69.5 min of yoga (3.5 points)
• total = 53.7 points

Total after 2 weeks = 88.3 points

And I already have 35.9 more points for week 3! I gotta step it up because I already see that I'm losing that lead, and we can't have that :)

Week 48 Recap

I cannot believe it's already December and there are only 4 weeks left in 2011. This was marathon recovery week, and yet I ran 18 miles including a half marathon race, and walked 20 miles! But really, I took very good care of myself because I was not even sore before or after the race and I still finished with a decent time without pushing myself at all. The extra walking was part of active recovery, and I did plenty of yoga and massage stick too. I'm feeling great, both physically and mentally, and I'm already itching to race again. No worries, I'm taking it easy this week and won't be racing again until the new year (unless I can find holiday 5k I can fit into my training schedule)

Last Week's Accomplishments

• ran 18 miles, including the OUC half marathon
• walked 20 miles - I'm pretty sure this is the most I've ever walked in a single week.
• 5 yoga sessions; 1hr, 40m
• biked 8 miles! I know this isn't much, but I've basically haven't biked in 6 months loll

Goals for this week:

• walk 3 miles each day
• run 15 miles (3x)
• yoga/core/strength - at least 10 minutes per day; 7 sessions; 1-2 hours
• bike - just get on my bike

Corn Maze

Today we tried something new and went to Long and Scott Farms to play around their corn maze. This thing was pretty big and disorienting, specially for someone who doesn't have any sense of direction to begin with, but it was a lot fun. To distract you from the fact that you are lost in a maze, they have a kind of scavenger hunt you can play while you are in there. They also give you this flag on a stick that you can wave around over the corn stalks if you need help. Thankfully, we did not need to use it. We were in there for close to 2 hours and covered over 2 miles. My feet are killing me now. I'm looking forward to an easy recovery week with lots of yoga :)

Race Report: OUC Half Marathon 2011

FUN FUN FUN! That's the word of the day. I am so glad I ran this race this morning because I had an amazing time. It was just what I needed to complete my marathon mental recovery and get my mojo back. This was half marathon #11 and the 4th year in a row running this same race. I am in awe that I was recovered enough to run a half marathon 1 week after running a marathon and I feel great. The weather was amazing and I surprised myself with a great performance. This finish time ranks 6th out of 11, and I'm thrilled I managed a sub-12 min/mile pace.

The fun begun even before the race started. I chose a super cute matching outfit, because you always perform better when you feel good, and the primary goal for this race was FUN :) I wore my Half Fanatic shirt with a black running skirt and blue/yellow matching socks, wrist bands and headbands. I felt like wonder women with the wrist bands lol (Blue top and black bottoms seems to be my dress code for this race lol)

I walked to the start a block away and finally met some fellow half fanatics for a super fun photo shoot, then met my Galloway group for a group photo. I started the race with Kerrie & Muki nice and easy with 1/1 intervals. Dave from Half Fanatics found us and took some fun photos of us, then ran a few miles with us. He is a blast!

I kept up the 1/1 intervals and a comfortable average pace through mile 10, never looking at my phone because I didn't want to push it and stop the fun! The clock at mile 10 read 2:06, and I knew it took us a couple of minutes to cross the start line. I was still feeling amazing and knew I could easily run a 5K in about 35 minutes to finish in under 2:40, so I picked up the pace.  I abandoned the 1/1 intervals and ran steady taking a short walk break every 1/2 mile. My iPhone app says I ran the first 10 miles in 2:04 at an average pace of 12:24 min/mi. I clearly had a lot left in the tank, because the last 3 miles were 11:16, 10:24, and 9:59 for a an overall pace of 11:56! The best part was that my knee never protested and I still felt amazing when I finished with a HUGE smile on my face. So I probably could have finished even faster, but I would not changed a thing because this is exactly the race I wanted to run -- no, that I NEEDED to run to get my mojo back and oh yes it is back with a vengeance! =)

Official Stats:

• Clock: 2:38:43 
• Chip: 2:36:30 
• Pace: 11:56.8
• Overall: 1889 / 2151 
• Gender: 892 / 1082
• AG: 160 / 174

I met up with my group after the race for some more photos, then walked to Julie's for brunch and mimosas! After I got home, showered, and iced, I rode with Jason to get a haircut. I'm telling you, I am on fire today!

OUC Half 2011 Pre-Race Thoughts

Tomorrow I'll be running my 11th half marathon. It will be my 4th year in a row running the OUC Half, which was the first one I ever ran when I started running in 2008. Since I have no expectations other than to have fun and finish, I'm not anxious tonight. I just feel like i'm getting up to do another long run with my running buddies. This is the reason I wanted to run tomorrow, to regain that feeling of enjoying the journey no matter the outcome.

Many from my group are also running it, and I'm looking forward to seeing them in the morning and maybe running a few steps with them before they take off and run their own races. There are plans for mimosas after, so that will be our carrot during the race :) I'm also looking forward to my first half fanatics meet up and photo op before the race, so I plan to wear my half fanatic shirt and maybe some fun socks.

Much like the first time I ran this race, I'll be leaving my watch at home. I'm going to run with my iPhone, strictly as a time piece and camera, because I have to juggle picking up my packet and being at 3 different pre-race photo ops, but I'll be leaving it in my pocket and out of site during the race. I guess I should go to bed now :)

Three Things Thursday

#1: Running - I ran 3 glorious miles with my group this morning! :) I wanted to take it easy, so we ran with 1:1 intervals, but still managed a 12:40 pace; I'm really pleased with that. I am sure the fact that it was 45º out had something to do with it. Needless to say, I did not run in a skirt this morning. I'm recovering really well and I'm barely sore anymore. Gotta love ice baths and compression gear :)

#2: OUC HM - I registered for the OUC Half Marathon tonight, for the 4th year in a row. This was my 1st half marathon when I started running in 2008, and I've run it every year since, so I could not pass this one up. However, I'll be taking it easy and paying very close attention to my body. If it wants me to walk more, I will. It's all about enjoying the journey. I don't even plan to wear a watch (I mean it this time!) or carry my phone, but I do want to run with my camera so I can capture the fun! 

#3: Fun-Filled Weekend - This is going to be a packed weekend, starting early on Friday afternoon with a work picnic and the 1st Friday Ride that night. On Saturday morning I have the half marathon, followed by post-race mimosas with my running group and a celebratory dinner that evening. I hope to have time to check out Orlando Power Yoga and use our Corn Maze Groupon on Sunday.