35 days to go!

I have had a pretty good run of runs the last few days. On Sunday, I ran up Sunset, which was beautiful. It is an 8.5 mile run, up hill for the first 3 miles, and I absolutely kicked it's ass! I was really surprised with how not tired and sore I felt for the rest of the day. It wasn't like I'd even worked that hard. Normally after running up Sunset, I am totally beat. But not now... Monday I kicked Melissa's ass on a run. She was doing pretty well for the first 2 miles, but the second two she got pretty far behind me and I kept having to circle back and meet up with her. It was still fun to run with a friend. Then Tuesday, after pilates, I did my five mile route as quickly as I could to get an idea how fast I could run the gallop and gorge on Thanksgiving day. I forgot to bring a watch and forgot to check the time before I left, so it was difficult to tell, but I was able to push myself pretty hard the whole run and felt good at the end. Wednesday, just did a light and easy four miles. Stayed up late partying with my cousins, being a little overconfident in my abilities to run, and so I was tired on Thursday morning. The race started at 8 am, which seems silly to me to start so early on Thanksgiving. I mean why not start at 9 or 10, right? I was tired and not really looking forward to running 7 minute miles. Jacob and I were going to try and finish it in 35 minutes, that was the plan. Needless to say, I let Jacob follow through with that plan and I ran with my cousins at 8 minute miles, which is really pretty good considering I normally run 9 to 9.15 minute miles. I finished in 40 minutes, and was really glad it was over and on to the "gorging" part of the day. Again, we stayed up late partying with my aunts and uncles and cousins and the mayor. We had to leave Chapel Hill at 6:30 this morning to get to work and the bed we sleep on is not very comfortable, so I'm a little cranky today. When I got home this afternoon after work, it was cold and gray, and as I've mentioned before I don't always like running on Friday afternoons... all this to say it took A LOT of motivation to get me out the door! Fortunately, the boys wanted me to drop them off at the theater and I knew that was the best chance to go... and so, I did.... really, really wishing I could take a day off! But, I can't... yet. I ran a really slow, pretty lame 5k in the 'hood. It wasn't exactly fun, but it is over now. Tomorrow I'll be more rested and it will be easier to run, I think. Either way 35 days left to go!

Keep on running?

I went back to NYC on Monday (319) for a wine tasting. It was basically like flying in for lunch, but I didn't pay for it, so why not? We had to get up at 5 am, out of the house by 5:30 and to Charlotte by 7:30. On the plane and then meet for lunch. I knew trying to run today was going to be tough. At first I thought I would rise at 4 am and go... but I should know better about myself than that at this point. We got to the city by 10:45 and lunch was looking like it was not going to start until 1:00 or so... so we rode to the hotel hoping for an early check in (which we got). We put our running gear on and run up the Hudson River Greenway. I need to mention that we had not had much to eat during all of our travels (Jacob and I) and our bellies were VERY VERY empty after that run. We did just three miles (since we didn't know how delayed lunch would be). We showered up and got out of the hotel and into a cab with about 20 minutes to spare. We arrived at the restaurant on time. We were ready for the big lunch, excuse me, HUGE LUNCH we had been promised with our wine tasting... only to have the opposite happen. Our wonderful host, a big wine distributor in the city, wanted us to try all 35 wines BEFORE eating a thing. You know, so as not to "disturb" our palates. Well, no matter how little wine you swallow, how much you spit, if you have eaten NOTHING since 5 am and run three miles and it is 2:30 in the afternoon, you will be drunk and feel like shit. It is unequivocally true. So, we were drunk and starving. We spent the rest of that day trying to find enough food to soak up the alcohol. We ate some pretty good stuff in NYC, but unfortunately a hamburger or hot dog would have done better and then a romp in the hay and bed. So, for next time... we know better. On Tuesday, we got up pretty early and were surprisingly not hung over. We got some bagels and coffee and took a short walk. Then we decided to get our run over with so we could eat and eat and eat and eat and make up for the previous day. This time we ran South on the Greenway, which is just a fun and easy place to run. If I had to do it everyday, I would get bored, but for a couple of days, it was nice. We ran just a touch over four miles. Went to the hotel showered and got down to the business of eating. And we definitely made up for time lost the day before. I won't go into all of the details, but we had some amazing Iberion pig ham (some tapas place in the Lower East Side) and pulled and cut to order organic noodles in a soup bowl (at Hung Ry in NoHO) that were so amazing, I can't wait to go again! And then, we had to come home.

So, running at home again... Wednesday (321) did four miles... nothing exciting to report. I was happy to be done with it and even happier to hit my pillow that night...Oh, wait... I had to have a big fight with my husband... which helped fuel my run today... if only we could run away from fights, I'd be in good standing. I hardly had anytime tonight, so I just planned on doing the 5k, but I was so distracted and had so much on my mind, I just kept going. Ended up doing my five mile route since it is so ingrained in my mind and body. It was nice, but my life was here to smack me in the face (children fighting, avoiding their homework, house a mess, employee schedules needed to be made, employee's drama needing to be attended to, many bills to pay, a possible 20K tax bill, a loan modification that isn't working, and oh, that fight with my husband that still needs addressing). Shit. Maybe I should have gone Forrest Gump on the day and kept on running. Running and running and running. What a pleasant thought.

315 days, five states

New York was wonderful! I had a great time with my friends. And running in Central Park was awesome. It is so full of people running, walking, cycling. It's a fun change of pace. I ran on Friday (309) in the park around the boathouse and another inner loop. Just running and sight seeing. And the NYC marathon was in two days, so I was running with all these folks who were training, speaking different languages, the whole awesome NY experience. Then the second day in NY (310), I ran the long outer route. And played my favorite park game... see who I can catch. I find someone in front of me and catch them and then I catch the next person and the next. So on and so forth. Well, in Central Park on marathon weekend, that is quite a challenge! I was able to catch a lot of women and a few men, but there were definitely plenty I could not catch. It was a fun run and running by women who look like they need to eat a sandwich (or 40) is always satisfying. So on Sunday, we went to Stamford and I got to run in this really cool park reserve of sorts. I ran on some pretty technical trails, which I have mostly avoided doing at this point to avoid ankle twisting. So, my pace was slowed and I ran about 4.2 miles and kept my accommodating travelers waiting perhaps longer than they would have liked. But, it was good and then we went and had an excellent lunch followed by cheese and port. I was in heaven! Being in Connecticut makes it five states that I have been in this year. NC, SC, GA, NY and CT. Pretty neat.

We had to leave NY, unfortunately, but c'est la vie. So back at home... Monday after an EARLY flight, I did just 3.2 miles. My pace was fine and the weather was even finer! Tuesday, a run with Mauri, who is just so funny that it's easy to run with her. We did 4.5 miles and then I went straight to pilates. Wednesday (314) did my favorite N. Asheville route, and again the weather was amazing. And now, day 315 finished four miles in 35 minutes. The weather again is unseasonably warm and AWESOME! I know I am getting spoiled. But with 50 days to go I'm feeling rather buoyant about the whole affair. And sometimes surprised that it has been this many consecutive days. It's kind of crazy really.

two months more to go

I'm a little too excited to blog at the moment. I'm heading to New York tomorrow for a long weekend with my girlfriends, and well, it is difficult to sit still. This worked well for my run this afternoon. It's sort of gray and cold outside (not really cold, about 60) but the kind of day where you want to be lazy... and normally I would want to be lazy, but I'm so pumped up for my trip running was a breeze. The leaves still have some color and makes the world feel brighter than it is. And 60 weather is a pretty perfect temperature for running. I don't overheat or drench myself in sweat. And with less than two months left to go, I am happy for the temperate days. Running in New York should be fun. We are staying not too far from Central Park, so I can run in the park, which is always nice. And then on Sunday, when we go to Stamford, I will get to run in the countryside. All in all, lots to be excited about!
And I feel pretty positive that this is going to be a mild winter. So, running outside will be a breeze! Hope does spring eternal, no?

Day 300, less than 65 to go!

I have been running my five mile route all week to see how long it takes me, depending on the day and how I feel. It's been somewhat interesting. Monday (298)I ran it the regular direction. Easy at the start, a little hilly in the middle, easy at the end. It took me 45 minutes. Tuesday (299), pilates day, I ran out of time to do the whole thing, since I decided to run before pilates, and could only do a 4.5 mile run. I did it in the opposite, more hilly, direction. It took me 42 minutes, less the 1/2 mile. Wednesday, day 300!!!! I went out in the more challenging direction and ended up shaving off the last quarter mile big hill. So... it took me 43 minutes, but I lamed out a little. Thursday, making only 63 days left to go, I did the route, again in the opposite direction to try to get a real time. It took me 48 minutes. I was a little surprised that my time was 3 minutes longer, but I am having PMS and I think that makes me feel a little sluggish. So, tomorrow, I'll try the normal way and see what I come up with.

I am feeling a little funny about counting down the year this way. It makes it feel like the year has flown by. And, I'm really looking forward to the year being over so I can take a day off. I started this as a healthy distraction from what I assumed was going to be a tough year, and the winter was. But the spring and summer and fall have all been really good. So, I didn't need the distraction. It's not as if it hurt me, but it sometimes feels silly. Maybe the winter months will prove that it's good I did it for a full year and not just a season or six months or what have you. I don't hope for that, but it is hard to say. The days lessening in light and the cool breezes in the air definitely have me fighting the winter dread (as well as my husband, who really gets affected by the season change). Running IS good for boosting the mood...

If I could bottle it....

When you have a really good run... good energy throughout but feel worked at the end... weather nice (although not a necessity) the sense of euphoria is so wonderful and beneficial to the whole day. Unfortunately, it doesn't last as long as one might like and for me, at this point, I have to run 6 miles plus to get that feeling (most of the time). Sometimes I'm just so damn happy that I'm done with my run for the day (like last week when I was sick). But if I could bottle that sense of elation and pure energy, well...I'd be rich... and totally euphoric all the time... it would be nice...

I ran with a new person this week, which was fun. Mauri, who I have known for years, is a big fitness person but not a big runner (although she is six feet tall). We went out and kept a good pace for a quick four mile run (she is perpetually running behind so that was all the time we had). It was refreshing to run with someone new and Mauri just has such a bright and fun personality that the miles just flew by. If we had more time, I could have run for a long time with her, but she is not quite sure she is ready for that, but she's going to try next week.

I have 67 days left. I need new running shoes horribly, but I buy the most popular style and have the most average foot size... so hopefully they will be in next week. In the 297 consecutive days that I have run, my joints, hip and leg, have been doing really well. My feet, mostly, have as well (I did lose my left middle toenail and the right one is getting ready to go...). But when my running shoes are shot (which they are now) I can REALLY feel the difference. My left foot and knee start to bother me after about 2.5 miles and don't stop until I stop... good shoes are pretty darn important.

And again, I have to say, fall in Asheville is the most AMAZING time to run! Right now the world just looks on fire with the bright, beautiful colors of all the leaves. It is just so spectacular, I can't get over it (obvi, as all of my last few posts can attest). Now that I have run and cleaned my house, I am going to sit outside and enjoy another wonderful day in Asheville.

B.S. and shit

So... I had/have walking pneumonia. May explain why running has been so rough... but this close... waddaya do? but keep on running. This is where I am SO happy that three miles is the minimum, because at this point I can do three miles in my sleep. Which sometimes I wish I was. Anyway... Thursday (287) I had two cups of black tea in the late afternoon and TORE UP a five mile run. I mean, I had NO IDEA that black tea could have that effect. (I'm a little fired up this evening since I had to leave our restaurant early with my two exhausted children and make a "off the cuff" dinner while my husband and in laws dined at my place. And then, in this state, I emailed my BFF who hates me currently, so on fire...). Friday (288), sick, and I mean SICK again. Could barely run three miles. Same with Saturday. Sunday... a touch better. In laws back from dinner and have to go now... ciao.