Getting Back Into the Swing of It

So I haven't done anything earth shattering, but I have gotten my butt back on the road.  I took the week off of work last week and started putting a few miles in every few days.  I started by knocking out a 5K on Saturday...felt pretty good.  The next day I went out thinking 3-4 miles...at 1.13 my right knee twinged and I turned around.  I would've typically run through it and finished the mileage but having not been training and having so many races on the horizon, I thought it best not to push.  I did run the 1.13 back, but very slowly and with a grimace.  My low back had been bothering me a bit and I knew my hips were out of line so I got in with the chiropractor on Monday, once he had me walking on level ground again (it wasn't an easy task...he hadn't seen my back that bad for a while), I put my orthotics back in my shoes, asked my daughter to bring me my knee straps when we met on Wednesday (she did), and broke out  my foam roller.  Tuesday I set out for an evening 3 miler and decided right away I was feeling good and wanted to go for 4.  By mile 2, I was feeling great and turned it into a 5 mile tempo run.  It was an awesome workout and it felt great to be back.  Saturday I went out for a planned 7 miler and knew by mile 1 this wasn't gonna happen.  I hadn't fueled properly and while my heart and lungs felt great and my legs weren't complaining, there was just no gas in the tank.  I turned it into an easy 5 miler and finished content to check the box on a run, but not feeling great about the effort.  Today is a new day and I've been fueling.  Tonight is 3 miles of killer hills.  I'm debating whether I'll log 3 or 4 easy miles Thursday, but I probably will...then I'll rest up for VA Beach RNR 1/2 on Sunday.  I'm not setting any records, but I'm getting back in the swing of it and trying to prep for my back to backs without doing any damage to myself with too much too quick.  I decided not to run the Hidden Treasure on 9/9...probably should use the time to rest and train for the 3 1/2s in the following two weeks.  Imagine that...I didn't register for a race...maybe I haven't gone completely crazy just yet after all.   

Half Crazy or Completely Insane???

I'm still not training...I know I need to be...haven't run since I ran with the fireflies (well, unless you count 2.7 miles with a 7 year old).  But for some reason I have gone a little ridiculous on signing up for races too...I was perfectly content to do VA Beach then knock out my two double weekends and that be it for the 2012 season.  Then while planning travel to MN for my niece's wedding in October I couldn't help but wonder what races might be nearby that would possibly work seeings as I was traveling anyway....the wedding is at 3:00PM on Saturday...that leaves PLENTY of time for a Sunday morning race!!  I'm not much of a drinker anyway so wouldn't be "partying" like that at the reception, moreso just being there to wish them well and share in their happiness...I don't need booze for that.  Hmmm....just happens that Council Bluffs, Iowa is only a four hour drive and there's a 1/2 there Sunday morning.  Next thing I know...I'm registered.  A few hours later I wondered if that was the only/best bet for that weekend and low and behold there's a 1/2 in MN only an hour from the wedding and 15 mins from where I'm staying the morning of the wedding!  I'm not in the wedding party, I have no responsibilities prior to the ceremony...quick math...8:30AM start time, 02:15 run average, quick shower, get ready, hour 15 min drive....SHOOT....PLENTY of time to even be there early!!!  So, yep...I signed up!  And now for the revelation....that means back to back weekends of back to back doubles!  Oh my...as I mulled that over was I in panic?  Nope...my mind was already racing ahead to wonder if that got me another moon status in Half Fanatics....four 1/2s in 9 days???  Maybe??? Quick check and....nope....BUT 20 in 365 days would bring me up a level....hmmmm...quick count...on 10/28 I'll have 19 in 365 days!!!  Shoot...George has been trying to get me to do Philly...it's a short drive, cool medal, I've got a RNR Tour Pass so no additional entry fee....signed up!!!  Wait...recount those races...oh man!  That's 20 in 370 days....I'll have to squeeze in another before 10/28 for the moon status....ahhhh there's one on 9/9 at a small town by my hometown and I've not run that state in the last 365 days so it'll fit the bill!!!  But...that would mean a 1/2 on 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/22, and 9/23....ummm...did I mention I haven't run in quite some time???  Haven't pulled the trigger on 9/9 yet...but I somehow think I will somehow end up doing so...in the meantime....runners/50 staters/Fanatics....you get it!  Everyone else...yep, running's a mental sport, and we're all insane!  ;)  This weekend I'll be logging some miles!

Fireflies Make Me Smile

I love running at night in July.  I love lightening bugs.  There's nothing quite as tranquil as running along at night amongst their flickering...so long as you do it safely.  Let's face it, a women running alone at night isn't always the best idea; and anyone running at night is taking a gamble with their safety if the area has traffic and doing so alone is a different gamble if there's no traffic and/or an obscure area.  SO....my night runs are usually limited to my hometown (a small island where everyone knows everyone) or the military base where I work.  Both have minimal traffic to be concerned with and with a little extra attention to your surroundings can be safe.  So...when I was about to head home from the island one recent Sunday even and I REALLY wanted to pull four miles, but it was still insanely hot outside I decided to throw my running clothes in the car, drive the four hours, and stop at base to pull my run around 10PM before heading home.  After my drive I arrived on base to an inquisitive gate guard wondering if I'd lost my mind to be coming to work so late.  I explained I was just looking to run, was wished well, and headed across base.  After parking and changing I clipped my flashing pink strobe on the back of my sports bra, slapped my pink reflective braceletts on my wrists, started my Garmin, and hit the road that runs along the river front.  The peace of running through the woods was offset by the flickering fireflies and I couldn't help but smile...until I was startled by sudden movement fairly close to me.  I refocused and saw a half dozen deer who were equally startled and kept about my business.  The air was still thick from the heat of the day (it had been a scorcher) and I could tell I was truly out of shape but was determined to keep a good pace for my four miles.  Crossing the bridge over the creek at low tide just before the two mile turn around point was horrendous...the heat radiating off of the dry marsh nearly sucked the breath out of me, but I got a nice break with a bit of a breeze as soon as I hit the other side. Sadly, the turn around point was less than a tenth of a mile away so I knew I had to endure that again soon.  The return crossing didn't seem as bad as I pushed the pace a little to hurry it along, but that push made the next half mile drag.  I started focusing on short reference points to get me through mentally...four miles may not be much, but in the heat, at 10PM after a 4 hour drive it was getting the best of me quickly.  Once I hit the 3 mile point I found myself struggling to come up with the next reference point until I saw the edge of the woods...and smiled at the thought of the lightening bugs to come.  Sadly, once I made it to the woods the lightening bugs were gone for the evening.  Slightly disappointed I felt my pace slow unconsciously with the let down and not willing to sacrifice my time in the last 1/4 of a mile I forced myself to pick it back up.  I then settled my disappointment with the realization that my little pink flashing strobe would have to be lightening bug for the remainder of the run.  Yes folks, it's the simple things...I like pink and fireflies make me smile.  :) 

My four miler on the books I felt pretty good about the pace but know I have to get back to regular training if I want to improve my results.  I'm still looking to break 2 hours in a half, but a goal without action is simply a dream and I know at this point that's what I'm doing...dreaming.  I'm going to have to get serious about my training to make it a goal.  And I will eventually, but for the rest of 2012, I think I'm just going to enjoy the races and check off the states. 

Since my last post I've decided to add the VA Beach Rock N Roll half.  I love the RNR series, VA Beach is close to home, and the medal this year is a really cool wave...I'm sold.  I'd already planned to do the Denver RNR and St. Louis RNR, but I've recently expanded those trips.  As I stared at my pink highlighted map of the US, I realized the majority of my remaining states are central US and while I've made quite a bit of progress rapidly in my quest for 50 things are about to slow down given that all of the driving states are just about done.  So, I started looking at the possibility of pulling back to backs to maximize the travel budget.  So folks...I am currently all set to fly into Denver on Friday (9/21) and hit the expo, do dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, and crash for the night; wake up and run the Denver RNR on Saturday (9/22), grab a quick shower, then drive 8 hours to Kansas where the next morning (9/23) I'll "Run for the Rocks", before flying home from Kansas that night.  It will be the first time I run 13.1 on consecutive days.  So far, the closest I've run 13.1 together has been with 6 days rest.  But it won't be the last!  On Friday, Oct. 19th I'll be flying into Indianapolis, hitting the HRC, and running the Indianapolis Half Marathon on Saturday (10/20).  Then after showering I'll drive 4 hours to St. Louis, hit the expo, hit the HRC, and crash to rest up for the St. Louis RNR on Sunday (10/21).  I also intend to run Council Bluffs, Iowa on 10/28 as I'll be 5 hours away the day before for a family wedding.  Those six races will likely wrap up 2012 for me, but we'll see...in the meantime....I'd better join the fireflies if I intend on being ready for the upcoming challenges!