two days!

Two days until my 5k!


I did a nice, slow run this afternoon with my neighbor. I decided that I'm going to do a nice, slow run at the race. Time isn't going to be important to me anymore. -This is mainly because I don't think I'll get a good time- This is a fun race. Everyone is supposed to dress up in a costume in honor of Halloween.

My neighbor and I haven't even decided what to be yet! We're thinking skeltons or something easy. We'll paint or face and maybe find some pj's that already have bones in the fabric. We don't have much time to figure it out. We're going tomorrow after we pick up our race packets to look for something.

Oh, and I got this:

It's the Nike+ chip and the watch that goes along with it. It was like $60 at Dicks and I couldnt pass it up. The chip goes into your sneaker ..you're supposed to have the Nike+ sneakers that have the built in compartment for the chip - which I do. Awesome. Aaron doesn't and he just puts it in his sock. Still reads.

Anyway, you slip it in your sneak or your sock and it counts your pace, how many miles you've run, and calories. -I think. I haven't mastered it yet and I still think we havent calibrated it right. But once you're dont with your run, you plug it into your computer and it brings up all of that information. You can even chart it on www.Nikeplus.com. It's pretty neat! And so far, it's been worth it.

5 days

5 days until my third 5k! 
I will be running in the H.O.M.E Sports and Freedom Middle School Harvest 5k. 
H.O.M.E  provides direct support and assistance to children who are infected with HIV/ AIDS. 
This will be my first charity run. 


I'm so nervous though. Maybe some of you runner out there can explain to me why I am getting really, REALLY sharp pains under my ribs? I can run fine for the first 2 miles. But lately, I have been having a rough time breathing right. I get some intense sharp pains under my ribs.. so bad that I can't even run through them anymore. It's defeating and very annoying. Could it be because the weather is getting colder? I can't think of any other reason. I mught try and Google it.. 


Anyway, I just wanted to put this here first. I doubt my time is going to be any better. Not that it really matters but I just wanted to throw that out there. That I probably wont have a new PR. Ot would be nice if I did but physically, I doubt I'll be able to.. 


Is that bad? That I can doubt myself so much? I am just going to run it. I'm gong to run how ever I feel like it. I wont quit. I wont walk. I'll make it.. I just dont think it's going to be my best race...


Anyway - I'm trying to see if I can talk my friend, Leah into doing the Historic Half with me in May. It will be my first half marathon and I am positive that by then, I'll be able to run the 13.1 miles. 


So that is what I will be training for now :)

3 runners die in Half Marathon

My friend, Leah was supposed to sign up for this half. She lives in Michigan. This is just the saddest, eeriest, story..http://www.detnews.com/article/20091018/METRO/910180321/Three-runners-die-in-Free-Press/Flagstar-half-marathon.

It makes me worry about Aaron's half that's coming up in December. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. Aaron just finished a 20 mile run on October 10th so I hope that he'll be okay. The article says that as far as anyone knows, these guys that died we're all very healthy. I hope an autopsy is performend so they know what happend.

It just freaks me out. I mean, this is something that these men trained for. They're familes were there to watch, everyone was cheering them on. One guy even crossed the finishline before he died. I just cannot imagine what their families are going through. I mean, waiting, and waiting for their loved ones to cross the finish line just to find out that they had colapsed and died at mile 11. 2 miles short of the finish! I just can't wrap my head around it..

Many prayers to the families of these runners..

<- I want this. It's made by Brooks and it's $80. I saw it in VA Runners this afternoon and tried it on. I'm in love. It's PERFECT for outdoor, cold weather running. It even has the long sleeves with the hole in it for your thumb and the mitten flaps for your hands so you don't have to wear gloves.


I'm praying that Santa brings it (before) Christmas. And he will if he know's whats best for him :)


VA Runner is really expensive, so we headed over to Target and found me some running pants -that I'm not thrilled about- and a long sleeve shirt to go under my Nike jacket that I wore today in the freezing cold rain.. bur.

My 3rd 5k!!

Okay, I've totally ducked out of my half marathon and have decided to get a few more 5k's under my belt. Maybe even do a 10 miler somewhere in there. So I sigend up for this today: http://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/fms/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=WO59KIszKRE%3D&tabid=3993&mid=6266
And then I have a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Aaron's going to run the Blue and Gray Half Marathon in December, then the Sweethearts (couples race) On Valentines Day. I think thats a 4miler.. or 5.. not sure.. and I'll run the Marine Corps Historic Half on May 16th!
Aaron will probably want to run it with me and it's the day after Benny's 2nd Birthday so hopefullllllyyyy my parents will be down to watch the boys.

Anyway, thats my planned schedule right now. I just hope I can keep it up. We're planning out going out today to look at running watches. I really want this one: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=349 we're hoping to kind of get it for eachother for Christmas.

Oh and I ran in this ICK this morning. I did about 2 miles. It was raining and abour 40 degrees. I was miserable. I guess it's time to think about cold weather running gear.. blah.. more money.. can't I just win the lottery?

I swear I'm not a stalker.

Meet Jillan. She's my "inspiration" that I've been talking about. She ran the 20 miler with Aaron. Anyway, shes awesome. She has ran almost every race this year. I have only come across a few where her name isn't on the finishers list. And she's always finishing in the top 5 for her (our ) age group. (she's 26) Her pace is around 8:36 a mile. Sweet.

I now want her to be my BFF. Seriously. I need a running partner! I need a MOTIVATED running partner. Someone who wont quit when it gets hard. Someone who is better than me so I can motivate myself to be a better runner.

I mean, she's a distance runner. I have decided that a distance runner is what I want to be. As long as my pace is under 10 minutes a mile, I'm golden.

Now.. I'm thinking about signing up for this Halloween 5k. BUT you are "encouraged" to wear a costume. WHAT? Okay.. what kind of costume amd I going to wear while I run? Maybe just paint my face?

Ideas? Suggestions? Thanks!

ps - I ran 4 miles on the stupid treadmil tonight. I hate that thing. Guess Id better get some cold weather running clothes.

Whoot whoot!

I just ran 4 miles! FOUR!

So it probably doesn't seem like a lot to most of you BUT  it's one mile closer to 5 Miles. 5 miles is pretty far when you think about it. (on foot anyway)

I want to sign up for a half marathon. I'm on the fence about it though because I have never ran more than 4 miles without stopping in my life. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. I think, maybe I should sign up for a 10miler first. Agh.. there is one on the 24th of October in Charlottesville, Va. But, thats so close. And I wouldn't have anyone to watch the boys. I would say Aaron could but he likes to be in every race that I'm in..

 I want to continue my running, (Especially now that I have found more competition) I want to be good at it, I want to be able to say that 3 miles is just a warm up, and one day, I hope that I can. But reality is, this is probably just a phase for me. Although it's been a "phase" for almost a year now, I'm afraid that the day is going to come when it's, too cold. Or too hot. Or..I don't know.. just anything to keep me from going.

I had one of those days today but I overcame it. I only let myself have 2 days off at the most. But I'm so afraid that I'm going to give in to just wanting to sit down and watch tv with my family for once. That I'm going to give in to not having to take two showers a day, or do more laundry because my clothes are sweaty..

::Just had a sudden change of heart::

But, I'm not a quitter. I wont allow it. Running is something I need to do. I have finally made it part of my life. Theres no stopping me now! -insert smily face here-