This morning started off pretty crazy! I woke up on the couch after about 4 hours of sleep, from the licks of a hyperactive pup waiting to be either taken outside or fed! (Hello, they should have been in the kennel...what was up with that!?)

I ignored the licks and fell back to sleep, only to be awakened again by a large body mass and the sound of grunting (Shnook had jumped up on me as a springboard to get to the top of the couch- OUCH!)

Okay, I was awake. I fed the dogs and took them out for their morning walk. Then I decided to get a run in. By 6:55 I was out the door and running in such prime conditions!

My total for this morning is a little over 7 miles. We'll just say 7 to round it off. I'll run again tonight if I have the will and energy (today is Brock's bday party at a large putting golf course...I might be too tired later!)

Oh, cupcakes are done baking....gotta go!!

I'm Still Here!

The last couple of days have been so crazy busy, I haven't had a chance to sit and collect my thoughts for a posting.

Well, let's see...I didn't run on Thursday like I had planned, just because Randy ended up having to go into work after I got home from work, (he originally had the day off)...But that happens.

Friday morning I got up early and ran 3 miles. It's not much, but I had to keep it short so I would have time to get ready for work. I am quite spoiled having a part time (afternoon only) job, where the morning is mine to do homework, housework, and get a good run in. This past week of being at the school full time has shown me what life will be like when and if I work full time....WHEW!!!! My little sister graduated from High School tonight. It was a pretty nice ceremony in Saint Croix Falls. The boys were tired, hot, and thirsty, and complained a bit, but overall, they acted quite well!

This morning is Saturday. I don't usually run on Saturdays, and since I have class in River Falls all day today, I won't be getting a run in. Tomorrow will either have to be one long run or broken into two decent runs (maybe 6.5 mi. and 4 miles). I'll think about that later! Gotta run (not literally...I have to get ready for my extremely LONG day!)

Thought for the Day: Time flies, so enjoy your life by the moment!

Sorry

Okay, I didn't do a tempo run today (thanks T)...

It was interval training...which is quite dumb on my part since the Garmin even said INTERVALS....Well, better to know this now, rather than having to keep fumbling up my terms!

WHOA!!!

So I have today off of work. I had every intention of going out early for a long run, but I chose to take a nice long nap instead (from 9 until 11am!) When I finally got off the couch, I got into my running gear and headed out the door.

What a beautiful day! Nice and warm (not too warm)- with a slightly hearty wind. (Horrible around the second curve of the lake).

Okay, I put the Garmin on, and set forth to do a decent tempo run. 1/4 mile hard, 5 minutes of recovery. I did this 7 times, then went for a 2.5-3 mile cool down. My first and seventh 1/4 miles were not so good, but every one in between ranged from 1:30 to 1:42. This was pretty good, with the head wind throwing me around like a spaghetti noodle on some of them.

All in all, I'm glad I went out today. I figure it was about a 7 mile run in total. Good to go for today, but I did end up dragging on the final mile with a really bad pain in my knees and the right side of my groin. I think because this is my very first tempo run since college in '98, the old knees had a rough time handling a little "speed"!

Thought for the day....I like my life. I'm pretty happy with it. If I were a porcupine, I would be sad. I don't think I would ever feel comfortable just relaxing- knowing every time I go to hug a friend, they'd be full of quills...

Tuesday's Finest...

Today I worked all day. Our 4k students are experiencing what it will be like to be kindergarteners, which means school all day...That's for today, Thursday and Friday. They always have Wednesday off, so that means I do too!

I didn't run today...I logged 0 for the day. I felt bad, because I almost think I should be running every day, but I read in RunnersWorld, that getting burnt out is not the way to go. So, hooray for a day off!

The big day is coming closer. You know, the Gary Bjorkland Half Marathon up in Duluth (don't call it Grandma's...that's the marathon!) I'm plotting out a strategy for my training in the next 4 weeks. I think I'll ask my twin brother...he's kind of a big deal in the running community!

Well, I have homework already due for this coming summer course (my first of 4 for the summer), and I best get that started since my first class is this Saturday!

Thought for the day: Fruits and vegetables are great. Eat them all the time and you'll be running...to the toilet!

Foolish??

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BEEP........

Okay. So I worked outside all day, planting roses, watering our yard and garden, pulling weeds (because we have over 2 trillion of them), and enjoying the wonderful weather. I knew I wasn't going to have a chance to even THINK about going for a run until after 6pm (when Randy got home from work).

Randy got home, and I got ready for a run. I was planning on a 4 mile recovery run from my long run yesterday (hey, 10 is long for me). But I had this grand idea that I was ready for some speed training, because, hey, I've worked hard at building up my endurance and didn't want to get caught in the 8:20-:30/mile comfort zone. Well, long story short...I was going for a 3 mile "power run", went out at 6:55 for my first mile...I can't believe I did that. Tony always says you need to warm up before hitting it hard. I learned my lesson after my second mile turned out to be 8:00 pace, but finished the last mile in 7:15 seconds. Okay, so I think I'm ready to have someone tell me what to do...I need a coach. Was this a foolish run??

Thought for the day...Sometimes you think you can, you think you can, you think you can...but you just can't. Those are the days you learn something.

Long Run=Tired Legs

Running on a nice day is nice. Running on a cold day is fine. Running on a hot day after 10am is NUTS...That's what I think!

Okay, so I decided to train with my virtual partner on the Garmin. I figured, it would be nice to have someone (even though that someone is on my wrist), to push me (or slow me down...) I thought since I was going 10 miles today, I would take it a little easier than my pace at the last (and first) half marathon I ran. I set my time at an 8:30 pace.

By 7 miles, I was so hot, and my sweat glands obviously don't work on my head (since I just get red in the face and don't actually sweat there). Anyway, I saw a friend out in her driveway and said, "STACEY....AGUA POR FAVOR?"- She teaches her 4k class Spanish). Stacey ran in her house and grabbed me a glass while I jogged in place. It set me back a bit, but I was still about 50 feet ahead of my training partner at the time, that the stop seemed okay! AND I felt a little less like passing out!

By the time I rounded the lake on the last turn, and veered onto 200th, I felt like being done...I was just spent. Seconds later, the timer beeped and sang a happy tune...I had beat my training partner by a mere 5 seconds. Not that I wanted to BEAT my virtual training buddy...

Overall, this was a great run...It was a nice opportunity to get some big miles in! Tomorrow, I will go for an evening run. Probably 4 miles. Tuesday I won't run (I'll be working ALL day...our 4K kids have "kindercamp" where they'll experience the life of a kindergartener with school all day, three recesses and nap time for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday!) Wednesday will be my long run again...but I might just go 7 or 8 miles. I haven't thought about Thursday and Friday yet...we'll see....

My Thought for the day...

Are we really being positive role models allowing our children to sit in front of the t.v., buying them video games and allowing them to play them at their discretion, and allowing for computer time (of course, whenever WE'RE not on the computer)...I can't be a positive role model simply by going for runs. As a parent, I should be out in the garden with them, digging in the dirt, handing them the hand shovel, and hunting for bugs and other small creatures...without nature, children cannot thrive. Without love for the Earth, our Earth cannot thrive.

Today is Saturday. I woke up late (around 7am), and really wanted to just stay in bed. But it would be a perfect day for a morning run, the temperature is nice already, and the wind is blowing just enough to give relief (and not blow you over!)...But I can't run this morning, because Randy is leaving for work now, and the boys can't be home alone! (of COURSE!!). Sooooooo, I'm going to think about running this morning, and just do yoga and free weights here at home.

I have a thought of the day...Do you ever wonder why the rooster crows in the early morning...do you think it's to wake you up? No, they crow because they're staking their territory, it's a testosterone thing. It's a self-serving act...and we thought they were just annoying us!

Today is the first day of the rest of your life..

Today I ran about 7 miles. I felt pretty good. I was going to go just 3.5 miles, because, well...it's Friday, and I wasn't looking for miles, just a good run. I went around the lake once and decided to keep going. I ended up twice around the lake and ran a little extra for kicks!

I just got my grades today. I'm extrinsicly motivated, so I was hoping for a 4.0 this semester, though my math content and techniques course didn't go as well as planned...things happen, I guess without some bumps in the road, you'll never know how to rebound.

I'm hoping to do yoga tomorrow morning and run long on Sunday. When I say, "RUN LONG", I mean I'm going to run maybe 10 miles. 11, if I feel good!

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
But today is a gift...
that's why they call it "the present"!!! I'm going to have a great day!