I've been really enjoying my runs lately. The weather is starting to turn more fall-ish or, as my dad would call it, football weather. I LOVE running in the fall and winter and I seem to do a lot better speed and recovery-wise in the cold. Yesterday, I did 7 miles after work. I ran at an 11 minute pace overall, which is good for me during training runs, but I decided to get in a little practice for the women's half that I'm doing next Saturday. I ran the last 2 mile portion of the course, which involves two fairly large hills; one steep climb and one more gradual climb that seems to go on forever. This was my nemesis during last race, so I wanted to see if I felt better nearly a year later. And I DID! :) I'm not sure how it'll feel running that section after 11 miles but I didn't have nearly as much trouble dragging my butt through that part of the course this time around.
This weekend I have a 7-miler and a 14-miler, so hopefully this nice weather will hold and I'll get to enjoy them both :)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Remembering 9/11
I was away celebrating a friend's birthday this weekend so I didn't get to post my remembrance of 9/11. I guess it is better late than never...
On September 11. 2001, I had just started my junior year of college at Western Maryland College (it was still WMC at that point, anyway). I was living in McDaniel Hall with my best friend and roommate Jeanette. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we had very similar schedules, which included physics 101 with Dr. Jeff Marx. Since our class was not until 10:20 AM, we started our mornings with breakfast together in the college dining hall, affectionately referred to as GLAR. As we did most mornings, we rolled out of bed at 9 AM and stumbled across campus and through the student center to the dining hall. On 9/11, as we passed the reception desk, the TV was tuned to the morning news, as always. However, unlike most mornings, there was a crowd of students watching the news that day. There was such a crowd that we decided to stop and see what the fuss was all about. When we stopped, we heard the story of an accidental helicopter strike at the pentagon. The reporter claimed that the helicopter missed its approach to the landing pad at the pentagon and accidentally struck the building. We accepted this initial report and, even though it seemed to be a bad accident, we went on our way to breakfast. After all, how much damage could a helicopter do to a building?
At this point in the day, I don't think many people realized what was going on, so breakfast was fairly normal. It was only when we started walking back to our dorm room to get ready for class that we realized this was not an accident and nothing was okay. We saw the burning world trade center buildings on TV (at this point, both buildings had been struck) and quickly realized there was a huge problem facing our nation. We ran back to our dorm (literally, ran) and turned both of our TVs to different news reports, trying to get as much information as we could from as many different sources we could find. Since classes had not been canceled, we decided to continue our morning as normal. Right before we left for class, the first tower collapsed. We were stunned. It looked like we were watching a movie and not a real life report. It was so hard to believe that we didn't quite realize that there were people in those buildings...
While walking to class, we passed people who we knew but were in a state of shock and not quite sure what to say to each other. Class that morning is something that I will never forget. We took our normal seats in the second row, next to the window. I can still see the classroom, just as vividly as if it were yesterday. Our professor, Dr Marx, came in with red eyes and tears streaming down his face. It seemed like it took forever for him to gain his composure. When he did, the first words out of his mouth were "wars were started over far less than this"... He spoke about how our lives were about to change forever and how we would never be the same again. I think he went on to teach that day, although the lesson is far gone from memory. After class, we received notice that classes were canceled for the rest of the day and, as we would later find out, for the rest of the week.
We returned back to the dorm room to learn of the rest of the devastation. It was all too much. It was about this time that we realized that Jeanette's dad, who was a federal government employee based in Houston that traveled to DC for business, was actually in DC that day. She couldn't reach him via his cell phone. The next 15 minutes were probably the scariest for both of us that day. We both called, emailed and messaged, just about anyone we could think of to get in touch with her dad. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jeanette reached her dad's secretary in Houston, who told her that her dad was not at the pentagon, nor on a plane that day. He was safe. We would later hear from him, and learn that while DC was in shock, her dad was alive and well and ready to return home to his family.
After those few hours, the rest of the week becomes a blur. I know I went to many memorial services. Several students lost family members in the towers, and it was horrible to think of what they are going through. We watched the towers fall over and over that week, as there was nothing else on TV but news reports trying to come to grips with the tragedy. I remember there were no late night TV shows. The first night David Letterman came back on air, we watched. And for once, the show had a serious tone. How do you come back on air and laugh when NY is still reeling? Eventually, lives returned to normal but, as Dr Marx pointed out, it would never be the same.
On September 11. 2001, I had just started my junior year of college at Western Maryland College (it was still WMC at that point, anyway). I was living in McDaniel Hall with my best friend and roommate Jeanette. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we had very similar schedules, which included physics 101 with Dr. Jeff Marx. Since our class was not until 10:20 AM, we started our mornings with breakfast together in the college dining hall, affectionately referred to as GLAR. As we did most mornings, we rolled out of bed at 9 AM and stumbled across campus and through the student center to the dining hall. On 9/11, as we passed the reception desk, the TV was tuned to the morning news, as always. However, unlike most mornings, there was a crowd of students watching the news that day. There was such a crowd that we decided to stop and see what the fuss was all about. When we stopped, we heard the story of an accidental helicopter strike at the pentagon. The reporter claimed that the helicopter missed its approach to the landing pad at the pentagon and accidentally struck the building. We accepted this initial report and, even though it seemed to be a bad accident, we went on our way to breakfast. After all, how much damage could a helicopter do to a building?
At this point in the day, I don't think many people realized what was going on, so breakfast was fairly normal. It was only when we started walking back to our dorm room to get ready for class that we realized this was not an accident and nothing was okay. We saw the burning world trade center buildings on TV (at this point, both buildings had been struck) and quickly realized there was a huge problem facing our nation. We ran back to our dorm (literally, ran) and turned both of our TVs to different news reports, trying to get as much information as we could from as many different sources we could find. Since classes had not been canceled, we decided to continue our morning as normal. Right before we left for class, the first tower collapsed. We were stunned. It looked like we were watching a movie and not a real life report. It was so hard to believe that we didn't quite realize that there were people in those buildings...
While walking to class, we passed people who we knew but were in a state of shock and not quite sure what to say to each other. Class that morning is something that I will never forget. We took our normal seats in the second row, next to the window. I can still see the classroom, just as vividly as if it were yesterday. Our professor, Dr Marx, came in with red eyes and tears streaming down his face. It seemed like it took forever for him to gain his composure. When he did, the first words out of his mouth were "wars were started over far less than this"... He spoke about how our lives were about to change forever and how we would never be the same again. I think he went on to teach that day, although the lesson is far gone from memory. After class, we received notice that classes were canceled for the rest of the day and, as we would later find out, for the rest of the week.
We returned back to the dorm room to learn of the rest of the devastation. It was all too much. It was about this time that we realized that Jeanette's dad, who was a federal government employee based in Houston that traveled to DC for business, was actually in DC that day. She couldn't reach him via his cell phone. The next 15 minutes were probably the scariest for both of us that day. We both called, emailed and messaged, just about anyone we could think of to get in touch with her dad. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jeanette reached her dad's secretary in Houston, who told her that her dad was not at the pentagon, nor on a plane that day. He was safe. We would later hear from him, and learn that while DC was in shock, her dad was alive and well and ready to return home to his family.
After those few hours, the rest of the week becomes a blur. I know I went to many memorial services. Several students lost family members in the towers, and it was horrible to think of what they are going through. We watched the towers fall over and over that week, as there was nothing else on TV but news reports trying to come to grips with the tragedy. I remember there were no late night TV shows. The first night David Letterman came back on air, we watched. And for once, the show had a serious tone. How do you come back on air and laugh when NY is still reeling? Eventually, lives returned to normal but, as Dr Marx pointed out, it would never be the same.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Race Reviews (yes TWO of them)
So not only am I back, I'm BACK with a vengeance! I decided that I'd start the fall season out with a 5K bang and run two consecutive 5Ks: The LaVergne Parks and Recreation Night Owl Howl (NOH) and the East Nashville Tomato 5K.
The NOH was my very first evening event, except for last year's Ragnar Relay which was a bit different. NOH is held less than a mile from my house and is a road race that runs along a major thoroughfare through my town. I hadn't planned on racing it because I was running the race on Saturday with a date (yes, folks, I'm DATING again!) and I didn't want to embarrass myself. However, when the gun went off, the adrenaline fired up and I bolted. Any chance of negative splits was crushed by my enthusiastic start! I finished the first mile in roughly 8 minutes, which is the fastest I've ran a mile since high school. My overall time was 29:44 which is a PR by ONE second from my old one! I will definitely do this race again! It was so neat running with local folks at night, complete with glow gear :) The finish line was awesome because I could see the glowing time lights for about the last half mile, which was enough encouragement to pick up the pace and get my sorry butt across the finish line.
The Tomato 5K on Saturday morning was kind of nerve wracking for several reasons. (1) I had just PRed the night before meaning my quads were crying! (2) This course was NOT flat and was quite hilly. AND (3) I was running the race with a date! My date and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks so it wasn't our first time out but it was our first time running together AND my first time running with a partner ever. It was a little intimidating but he assured me he wasn't a super fast runner and that we would finish it together. There were A LOT of people at this race (around 1200 altogether) and it wound through some pretty narrow streets but all-in-all, we rocked it. I thought I would have to walk the last mile because my quads were burning so badly from the previous run and all of the godforsaken hills but, alas, I put on my big girl panties and made it across the finish line with a NEW PR of 29:31!!! Woot! :)
The next race on my list is the Run Chickin' Run 10K at the beginning of September so I have plenty of time to relax my aching legs and prepare for what I hope will be a new 10K PR. Then is off to marathon training and a lot of miles.
The NOH was my very first evening event, except for last year's Ragnar Relay which was a bit different. NOH is held less than a mile from my house and is a road race that runs along a major thoroughfare through my town. I hadn't planned on racing it because I was running the race on Saturday with a date (yes, folks, I'm DATING again!) and I didn't want to embarrass myself. However, when the gun went off, the adrenaline fired up and I bolted. Any chance of negative splits was crushed by my enthusiastic start! I finished the first mile in roughly 8 minutes, which is the fastest I've ran a mile since high school. My overall time was 29:44 which is a PR by ONE second from my old one! I will definitely do this race again! It was so neat running with local folks at night, complete with glow gear :) The finish line was awesome because I could see the glowing time lights for about the last half mile, which was enough encouragement to pick up the pace and get my sorry butt across the finish line.
The Tomato 5K on Saturday morning was kind of nerve wracking for several reasons. (1) I had just PRed the night before meaning my quads were crying! (2) This course was NOT flat and was quite hilly. AND (3) I was running the race with a date! My date and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks so it wasn't our first time out but it was our first time running together AND my first time running with a partner ever. It was a little intimidating but he assured me he wasn't a super fast runner and that we would finish it together. There were A LOT of people at this race (around 1200 altogether) and it wound through some pretty narrow streets but all-in-all, we rocked it. I thought I would have to walk the last mile because my quads were burning so badly from the previous run and all of the godforsaken hills but, alas, I put on my big girl panties and made it across the finish line with a NEW PR of 29:31!!! Woot! :)
The next race on my list is the Run Chickin' Run 10K at the beginning of September so I have plenty of time to relax my aching legs and prepare for what I hope will be a new 10K PR. Then is off to marathon training and a lot of miles.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Its Been Awhile...
I've been offline for months, and for very good reason. Earlier this spring, my husband of three years (but partner of nearly 14) asked for a divorce. Its a very long story but in sum, I am SO MUCH better off now. He was cheating (as it turns out, with a 19 year old for the entire duration of our marriage and probably then some) and I now see how much he was dragging me down.
Anyway, I'm back to running, just entered the dating pool for the first time since HIGH SCHOOL, and am having the time of my life :)
More blogs to come! :)
Anyway, I'm back to running, just entered the dating pool for the first time since HIGH SCHOOL, and am having the time of my life :)
More blogs to come! :)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Update Deficit
I am officially a blog stalker. I get online, read blogs, comment occasionally, but never update my own blog. This must change.
I am way behind on posting race updates and such, but maybe after this week's marathon, I can find the time to upload pics. In sum, this racing season, I've run three half marathons, one full (coming up this weekend) and have another half planned for mid-May (although I'll be walking that one with my mom). I'm trying to get 12 "big girl" races in before my "big 3-0" in December. So far, I'm right on track. Not bad for someone who couldn't run at all this time last year.
I'm considering a foray into triathlons this summer but that will depend on how well I can swim. I don't have regular access to a pool so I haven't tested it out yet. I definitely am weakest with upper body strength but I've been going to classes at my gym and getting my @$$ (or, rather, arms) kicked by many instructors. I plan on becoming a member of the YMCA next month so I can swim until my heart is content.
I am way behind on posting race updates and such, but maybe after this week's marathon, I can find the time to upload pics. In sum, this racing season, I've run three half marathons, one full (coming up this weekend) and have another half planned for mid-May (although I'll be walking that one with my mom). I'm trying to get 12 "big girl" races in before my "big 3-0" in December. So far, I'm right on track. Not bad for someone who couldn't run at all this time last year.
I'm considering a foray into triathlons this summer but that will depend on how well I can swim. I don't have regular access to a pool so I haven't tested it out yet. I definitely am weakest with upper body strength but I've been going to classes at my gym and getting my @$$ (or, rather, arms) kicked by many instructors. I plan on becoming a member of the YMCA next month so I can swim until my heart is content.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
ABCs!
A- Age: Twenty-nine
B- Bed Size: King (thank goodness! Two dogs + human = need for space!)
C- Chore you hate: Dishes...
D- Dogs: MY BABIES! (Two, Gigabyte - American Eskimo Mix - and Daisy - Pointer mix)
E- Essential Start Your Day Item: Granola
F- Favorite Color: Pink
G- Gold or Silver: Silver
H- Height: 5'8"
I- Instruments you play: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Horn (a LONG time ago) and some guitar
J- Job Title: Research Fellow... aka lab wench, lol
K- Kids: Just pets at the moment
L- Live: La Vergne, Tennessee (a suburb of Nashville)
M- Mom’s Name: Denise
N- Nicknames: I honestly don't have one.
O- Overnight Hospital Stays: None (thank goodness!)
P- Pet Peeve: People scuffing their feet when they walk. Pick them up people!
Q- Quote from a Movie: Harrison Ford as Dr Crowley in Extraordinary Measures: "I don't care about money! I'm a scientist! I care about more important things than that!" ... My response: Speak for YOURSELF! lol
R- Right or Left Handed: Right
S- Siblings: Younger sister (Jamie)
T- Time you wake up: 6:15 AM
U- Underwear: Always!
V- Vegetable You Dislike: Does hominy count? I know its a corn product (which I like) but when its processed like hominy, gross!
W- What Makes You Late: Disorganization.
X- X-rays You’ve Had Done: Knees, chest and dental.
Y- Yummy Food You Make: Stuffed green peppers and mint chocolate bark!
Z- Zoo Animal Favorite: Tigers (especially the white ones)
B- Bed Size: King (thank goodness! Two dogs + human = need for space!)
C- Chore you hate: Dishes...
D- Dogs: MY BABIES! (Two, Gigabyte - American Eskimo Mix - and Daisy - Pointer mix)
E- Essential Start Your Day Item: Granola
F- Favorite Color: Pink
G- Gold or Silver: Silver
H- Height: 5'8"
I- Instruments you play: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Horn (a LONG time ago) and some guitar
J- Job Title: Research Fellow... aka lab wench, lol
K- Kids: Just pets at the moment
L- Live: La Vergne, Tennessee (a suburb of Nashville)
M- Mom’s Name: Denise
N- Nicknames: I honestly don't have one.
O- Overnight Hospital Stays: None (thank goodness!)
P- Pet Peeve: People scuffing their feet when they walk. Pick them up people!
Q- Quote from a Movie: Harrison Ford as Dr Crowley in Extraordinary Measures: "I don't care about money! I'm a scientist! I care about more important things than that!" ... My response: Speak for YOURSELF! lol
R- Right or Left Handed: Right
S- Siblings: Younger sister (Jamie)
T- Time you wake up: 6:15 AM
U- Underwear: Always!
V- Vegetable You Dislike: Does hominy count? I know its a corn product (which I like) but when its processed like hominy, gross!
W- What Makes You Late: Disorganization.
X- X-rays You’ve Had Done: Knees, chest and dental.
Y- Yummy Food You Make: Stuffed green peppers and mint chocolate bark!
Z- Zoo Animal Favorite: Tigers (especially the white ones)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Frostbite Half Marathon Review
So the last few weeks have been quite eventful (more on that later), but I wanted to post my recap of last weekends half marathon before I forget to do so :)
Last Saturday (February 12th), I ran my first half marathon of the season: the Cedars of Lebanon Frostbite Half Marathon. I lucked out and got beautiful weather, which was in sharp contrast to the snow and ice from the week leading up to the race. At race time, the temperature was in the high 40's and in the 50's by the end of the race.
I decided to challenge myself with this race to see how far I could push my time this early in my marathon training plan. This was a small local race (about 750 people total), so it wasn't super organized yet everything was executed smoothly. I lined up with people anticipating their first mile to be around 10:00. To my great surprise, when my Garmin beeped at the end of mile 1, I had run a 9:20!!! Haven't done that in a long time! Even better, I maintained my 9:20 pace for the first 6.2 miles, setting a new 10k PR for myself :)
I almost wish the race had stopped at 10k, because shortly after the halfway point, the chest discomfort that has plagued my training for the past three weeks struck and forced me to slow to a walk for about a half mile. I continued the race as a walk/run, alternating between a 10:30 pace and a 16:30 pace for the entire second half. In spite of the epic health fail during the second half of the race, I finished in 2:26:04, which is nearly 10 minutes faster than my first half marathon time from last September.
Since this was a low-key local race, they didn't give out medals (so no bling for this one!) but my sister has promised me a kick-ass homemade medal to honor my first race of 2011! :) I'll update with pictures when I get them uploaded but all-in-all, I had a great day and a great run!
Last Saturday (February 12th), I ran my first half marathon of the season: the Cedars of Lebanon Frostbite Half Marathon. I lucked out and got beautiful weather, which was in sharp contrast to the snow and ice from the week leading up to the race. At race time, the temperature was in the high 40's and in the 50's by the end of the race.
I decided to challenge myself with this race to see how far I could push my time this early in my marathon training plan. This was a small local race (about 750 people total), so it wasn't super organized yet everything was executed smoothly. I lined up with people anticipating their first mile to be around 10:00. To my great surprise, when my Garmin beeped at the end of mile 1, I had run a 9:20!!! Haven't done that in a long time! Even better, I maintained my 9:20 pace for the first 6.2 miles, setting a new 10k PR for myself :)
I almost wish the race had stopped at 10k, because shortly after the halfway point, the chest discomfort that has plagued my training for the past three weeks struck and forced me to slow to a walk for about a half mile. I continued the race as a walk/run, alternating between a 10:30 pace and a 16:30 pace for the entire second half. In spite of the epic health fail during the second half of the race, I finished in 2:26:04, which is nearly 10 minutes faster than my first half marathon time from last September.
Since this was a low-key local race, they didn't give out medals (so no bling for this one!) but my sister has promised me a kick-ass homemade medal to honor my first race of 2011! :) I'll update with pictures when I get them uploaded but all-in-all, I had a great day and a great run!
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