Snappy Sneakers

Slow and steady wins the race....right?

2010-02-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

Don't worry, I'm still running! I ran 4 miles yesterday and it felt really good! It was my second day outside, it's nice to have some different scenery. Although I feel reaalllly slow outside. Mainly because the only other people that run in cold weather are marathon runners. They are fast and super fancy with their water bottle belts and all. The nice thing is that everyone waves and smiles at each other, it's a good motivation to keep going. No one waves at the gym.

This weekend is 5 miles..... here's hoping it's as good as yesterday's run!

Still truckin'

2010-02-04T13:05:00.000-08:00

Classes have officially been in session for 2 weeks now. That means I have to stay on my running schedule, otherwise it will get too easy to talk myself out of it. I still haven't upped my mileage much. I've been going about 2-3 miles. This Sunday I am going 4, I hope it's nice outside, I don't know how much fun 32 laps will be...

On a good note, I can run a mile in 10 minutes! I don't know if I've ever been able to do that, not even in the elementary school mile tests (which I hated by the way). Now, 10 minutes is if I'm running only 1 mile, I slow down a bit when I am running more than that :)

This birthday was a running birthday, an ipod nano, new earphones, running pants and a shirt. Verrrry nice. I didn't run sunday because 1: I was getting over my birthday celebration, and 2: I was coming to terms of being 25.......eek!

20 weeks away!

2010-01-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

We are 20 weeks away from the run! Plennnty of time, but no more slacking. I've been running pretty consistently since buying my new shoes. I am still taking it easy on my foot. I've stopped icing it and haven't had any pain for the last 2 runs. woohoo, one hurdle overcome!

I've been running inside, I'm not minding it yet, but I can see myself getting a little stir crazy in the next month or so. It's not so bad because the track runs around the basketball courts, so I can watch people play, at least it's something distracting.

I've also made up my running chart for the next 20 weeks. More as a guide than anything else, but it will help to motivate me. Right now I am running 2 miles at a time, but am really trying to increase my speed a little. Sunday is my "big" run, a whopping 3 miles, but hey, I have to start somewhere right? I feel like I could be running 3 miles at a time right now, but I don't want to take a step backwards with my foot.

Also--water, water, water,water!!

New Year= New Shoes

2010-01-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm back, after traveling around Wisconsin and Minnesota for the last 2 weeks. Not much running involved, but lots of good food :)

I learned a valuable lesson yesterday. The last few months that I have been running (actually since last may) have been a little painful. I would finish running and the arches in my feet were sore. Then I would wait a few days, try again and it turned into an endless cycle. I was a little concerned about it, and didn't know what it could be from. So instead of going to lady footlocker I decided to try going to a small locally owned running shop to see what they had to say.

A lady in the shop, who is also a personal trainer had me take off my shoes and do 3 squats. Then she pin-pointed where I was hurting. I was amazed. I figured it was going to be something where I had to purchase expensive arch supports or see a doctor but all she said was:

"How old are your shoes?" as she looked over at my dirty, tattered up shoes..... I told her 2 years, with 2 races in them... bingo!

Now I own a new pair of shoes, (asics, newer version of my old pair). I went for another run and surprise no pain! She said I should ice my feet and take some ibuprofen and I should be feeling 100% in no time. It's amazing what a new pair of shoes can do for the body and mind.

Just wondering if anyone out there has a rule of thumb on shoe purchasing, how often do you purchase new shoes?

How cold does it have to get before the geese leave??

2009-12-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

I've been really bad about running the last week or so, finals, papers and presentations have consumed my life. I went for a run today and it felt good, I definitely prefer running outside, even when it is cold. The only issue was geese, again. Why are they still here? Shouldn't they be south by now?

Not sure when I am going to get outside again, we're suppose to get a bunch of snow this week. Looks like it's going to be a white Christmas!

Is it bad that I already need some encouragement ?

2009-12-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

2 bad runs, 2 days in a row... I'm thinking Thanksgiving got the best of me...ugh. Tonight I had a double side ache, it even hurt to walk, ever had one? I think I need to make some real changes, rather than just say I am going to. (I was so good 2 weeks ago!) I have to start drinking more water, rather than just carring my water bottle around. Tonight after class I am stopping at the grocery store and picking up some power foods-aka bananas.

I'm determined to make tomorrow a better run day...

I got lost!

2009-11-30T19:34:00.000-08:00

Alright, you have to be careful when you drop your youngest off at dance and head out for a run while she is at practice (of course, in the dark)...that is until you decide to veer off of your normal route. Feeling a bit cocky, I decided that I would not only run to the main road and back, I would make it a circle and go over a block too. Good idea, except that block was angled back toward the main road (AWAY from Megan's practice)--of course, I was unaware and am running and running, and get to the end of the block and look to where I thought I was going, thinking that I was just heading back to pick up Megan, but to see, gasp, that I was turned completely around and wasn't sure where I was!! To make matters worse, I had forgotten my phone, so I didn't know what time it was, or anyone to call, so I RAN back the other direction, I was cutting through peoples yards, praying for no big dogs, and got back to Megan's practice just in time. phew. Next week, will run to the busy street and turn around...no fancy stuff.

The Well Traveled Path

2009-11-18T18:07:00.000-08:00

I've discovered that I am sort of like a horse...it's a lot of work to run out, but boy, when I turn around, I can make tracks to get back to my starting point. It took me 13 minutes to get to the street that I was going to turn around at and then 9 min to get back...huh? Obviously I look forward to getting to the end point, but sheesh. Maybe my muscles are just warming up...

Weather is still good for running outside, but am thinking that I might need to start looking for a gym. I also need to start working on sit ups--you know Joanna, build up those core muscles! :) I need to actually use my exercise ball, and not just let the kids play with it.

Better day!

2009-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

I had a better day. 3.75 miles on Wednesday! It was a beautiful day, and no geese. :) I'm feeling more confident, I think I will stick to 2-3 miles until Christmas. One thing I am trying to figure out is how to make my knees stronger... I think the answer is going to have something to do with weight training, ugh.

Not a fan of geese.

2009-11-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

I've been running pretty consistently lately. I went for two runs over the weekend and felt good. Today I decided to get out there during my break between work and class. The weather is gorgeous, no wind and just enough breeze to keep cool. I got out of my car and started on the path. I'm pretty sure there was either gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe or cement because my feet didn't want to move. It was a short run today....really short...Lesson learned: coffee, pretzels and grapes are not good energizers for running, I'm going to have to change up my breakfast diet.

My run today was interesting. As I was running it started to smell a little bit like a zoo, I came around a corner and kid you not, there were hundreds of geese, the smell was overwhelming. Half of them were in the water, and half were on land, none of them were on the running path, which meant I had to run in between the two groups. I kind of felt like I was in the middle of a war zone where everyone was waiting to see who was going to make the first move....

Then I kept going, and ran into another group of geese, this time on the path. I ran right up to them and they didn't move. I stopped and started clapping to try and scare them away. They were not impressed, just looked at me like I was a weirdo (I'm pretty sure the people driving by thought the same thing.) They finally started moving when I started jumping, then I made my getaway and sprinted through them.

Finally I saw my car and breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time I felt my foot land in something soft...that's right... goose poop...

all in all, I've had better runs..

8x13=104...yeah right.

2009-11-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was kindly introduced to the indoor track. It's nice, there's no wind, it's warm, plus there are drinking fountains. There is just one problem, the sign on the door, 8 laps equals 1 mile...what?! That means I have to actually keep track of how many laps I do? I start running, 1...2...3....3...4...5..hmmm. I'm not sure, but I think I ran somewhere around 16-18 laps. On a positive note I ran the whole thing!

While I was running I was thinking about how people say they solve their life problems while running...I would like to say this is true for me too, but in all honesty I'm thinking this: "1 down," "how much longer?" "almost there!" "my side hurts" "I don't think I can feel my legs" "breathe in- breathe out" and today "what could I use to keep track of all these laps? Maybe one of those golf ticker things..." I think I really enjoy running because it's a time of the day that I am not worrying about things. I'm not worrying about how well I did on an exam, or if I'm going to fail out of the mba program. I just have to think about breathing and getting around the next turn.

On another note, yoga is a good thing--it forces you to stretch, and it stretches hips and calves. Jill-invest in a dvd, talk to laura belle, or look into exercise on demand. Because I have a feeling you think the same about stetching as I do, which is stretching for 1 minute should be good enough.... and then we hit 8 miles and wonder why we still hurt...

Next scheduled run-Saturday morning, hopefully outside.

One more day down!

2009-11-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

Feeling optimistic!

Well, ran 2.5 miles today. I should actually be more accurate...I ran/walked the 2.5 miles. It still felt good to be outside--I am getting more excited now--we can do it Joanna! My legs are tired and I am going to take tomorrow off. I also need to drink more water during the day. I see on the weather that it is suppose to be in the 60s this weekend--great running weather!

Megan likes the name, snappy sneakers...there are lots of letters that are also in her name..."That's my letter, that's my letter, that's my letter..." she has been pointing them out as I type.

2009-11-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

A reason to get through the holidays without putting on the extra 5 pounds...

I have been telling myself for weeks to get off the couch and put on my shoes and go out and run! I always seem to find an excuse of why I can't do it...until Joanna called and said that she wants to do another run. After my initial thoughts of "Is she crazy?!", I started to see the reasons that we should do it.

#1 I eat and eat and eat at all of the holiday parties...
#2 I drink and drink and drink at all of the holiday parties...
#3 I feel better when I work out!
#4 I agree, being 500 miles apart from a sister kind of sucks after a while. It is nice to work for something together!
#5 My husband tends to work out more if I am working out, so it is a win win situation.

Now, the hard part, getting going--I have been doing a lot of sitting and not running...so, even though I know what it feels like to run 13.1 miles (or even 5 miles!), it is still hard starting out. I had to walk a few times to catch my breath, but the last half mile felt pretty good. It seems like I need at least a mile to just warm up now.

I day done...how many to go until June 6?

Convincing myself this is a good idea.

2009-10-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

2 sisters - June 6th 2010 - 13.1 miles.

Here we go again.

So this means that I have forgotten how time consuming, painful and dedicated this is...wrong. But I also have not forgotten how it felt going through the finish line together. Besides, I've done it once, I should be able to do it again, right? Let's see, I went out for the first time in months and ran two miles. (woohoo!) Except 3 days later my calves are still sore and I kind of hobble when I start walking around....

Some convincing...

1. I am going to be in incredible shape...
2. Having a goal will make running/exercising easier. No longer will I feel like I'm doing all this work for nothing.
3. The race is at the beginning of June, I'll be able to put on a bathing suit with no worries...unless of course I eat 12 pizzas and drink a few gallons of wine in the weeks immediately following the event which I'm here to tell you is highly likely.
4. We are going to be training in the middle of winter which means our legs will become numb faster.
5. As of now we have 7 months to train, much longer than our last one.
6. We won't have to say "I am so out of shape" anymore.
7. Being 500 miles apart we'll have something to do together.
8. We now have a blog to express our true feelings about running, which means not taking it out on others...maybe.

Here it goes...next step officially signing up.