Thanksgiving Wrap-Up

Wow..it's amazing how quick a week can go by. I was very excited Thanksgiving morning to do the run on Riverside. I decided to play "Ken In Training". So here are some of the photos of the event on Thursday.


Here, some of the Runners World crew gathers to discuss the nice warm weather (okay so it was a little chilly, but bright and sunny day for a run!!









So the sun angle was awful here...but this is the crowd anxiously awaiting the start. If you look through all the people, you might possible see Mayor Kathy Taylor. All I remember is she was wearing blue (GO JAYHAWKS!!!)














I was sooo very excited to see Linda and Sue there. I am hoping they will sign up to train for the April Marathon/half-marathon. Both are such light-hearted and good-natured people. Yeah Them!!








I took this while trotting along, so I am very excited that it's not just a giant blur. This was taken on Riverside as the upper and lower routes merged heading toward the 23rd street bridge. There was a lot of "jockeying" for position still at this point...I felt like a superstar to still be in a crowd :).





Finally, the good ol' Trail Zombie passes me, but I had to take the moment to demonstrate my new photo taking abilities.












Another "while running" photo...much more blurred, but given that it was around mile 3, I was glad to be able to 1) be moving, and 2) have enough mental capacity to take the pic....to get Roman and I think he said his nephew. It's interesting though. At this point, Roman asks "How's your run?" In the moment "ughh" is all I could respond. Really though, in the big scheme of it all I did the 4.25 in 54:59 (yup under 55) so for me that is really a decent run. I had just lost the crowd and felt pretty isolated when I crossed paths with him. Just reinforces that running is all about yourself.


As I crossed the bridge over Riverside, I thought it was great to see so many people hanging around and shooting the bridge and sharing thanks with each other after the run. What a great event and beautiful day for a run.






Well I was going to post some of my pictures from the rest of Thanksgiving weekend, but think I will wait for another day. I do feel the need to post this last one though. This is my car in Pittsburg, KS this morning (11/30/08).

Ode to the Mediocre Run

It's so much easier to sit down and reflect on the "good" or invigorating runs, rather than the mediocre runs. I don't dare call them bad, because not showing up would be considered a bad run to me. It was great to see everyone tonight after being out of town for the last 2 runs. I was excited to show up tonight too to hear the buzz about the run thanksgiving morning. I need to do that run just to be aware of what I put in my mouth. I eat so much better on workout days because I don't want to put in all that effort and blow it for a couple bites of food. I started off feeling pretty good for about the first mile tonight. Then the lovely leg workout with the trainer from yesterday started to kick in. My quads, hamstrings, thighs, and gluts felt like junk around 1 1/2 miles. So felt like I was lifting lead on the way back to the car. I know in the long run the training helps tons with my running. I think it has improved my posture, therefore breathing, tremendously while running. Oh well...every run can't be stellar. I almost didn't write about tonight's run, but I think it's important to log those runs that aren't so great as well as the ones that make you feel like a superstar. I do thank all of you fellow runners out there with smiles on your faces...helps to keep the spirits up. Hope to see many of you Thursday morning! For those of you I don't...Happy Thanksgiving!!! Gobble Gobble!

Craving to Run

Yup that's right ladies and gentleman, I got home from Chicago yesterday and all I wanted to do first thing this morning was go for a run. I packed my running clothes and took them to Chicago but forgot my running shoes, and didn't think my dress shoes would do the trick. So this morning I put on my gear and headed out to Lafortune, a nice 3 mile loop that would keep me from shortening my desired distance of 3 miles. I really need to follow Ken's behavior and carry a camera with me when I run. About 1/4 mile into the run I crossed paths with Meg...I was so glad to see that she was feeling better and up for a run. Then at about the 2 mile marker, Hayley went flying by in the other direction. Seeing familiar faces along the path kept me putting one foot in front of the other. It was a slow run for me today. My brain was pumped for it in the beginning, my body not so much. At the 2 mile marker my body was pumped for the run, but my brain was checking. Time to get the body and brain back on the same page.

I thought I would post a couple of my fun and funny pictures from the convention in Chicago.

This is a photo of my colleagues from U. of Kansas (Julie & Sandy). We went to a restaurant called McCormicks Seafood. Seeing as how I am allergic to seafood I can tell you the apple salad was quite yummy.


This was one of our silly moments in the hoisery section of Macy's on State Street. We decided to play as if we were teenagers who killed time by taking photos of themselves.



These are my former graduate students and doctoral mentor and myself just before our presentation at the conference. Everyone did a phenomenal job representing the Univeristy of Kansas and ACTS project.


This truly was a highlight for me. Julie Andrews received the Annie Glenn award. In 1997, she underwent vocal cord surgery and had major scarring that prohibits her from singing. In person her voice disorder is quite obvious. Still, she is an amazing speaker. So poised and articulate. It was great to see her.

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday. Although, I will be signing up for the April 1/2 marathon training Monday evening. I was hoping to run the Lawrence (KS) half, but they have cancelled it due to the economy. They were unable to get enough sponsorship. So looks like I will be heading to OKC!!!

If you can't laugh at yourself what can you laugh at??

Last night wasn't as chilly as I expected which is a good thing. I made the decision to do a 2-miler, but try to continue to push myself with speed, since I was going to go "light" on distance. I did well for myself. I finished with an average pace of 12:20/mile. I would like to continue to see that pace decrease to be closer to 12 over 3-4 miles. But...the highlight of yesterday was receiving pictures of myself on Sunday's Rt 66 quarter run from Ken. Man, do I need to work on my posture or what? I talked to my trainer about it..and he was like "duh Sandra, why do you think we are doing all these core muscle exercises?" Okay, so those weren't his exact words, but I told him I thought we were doing it because it was a fun form of torture. So please enjoy a few laughs at these pictures as I know I did:



This is me doing the smile on command. Thanks Kathy!!


This is me knowing the picture is coming, but I also know I get the chills after a run, so putting the jacket back on before the wind takes hold. I know very appealing!! HAHA!

Have a Great Thursday run everyone. I will be in Chicago learning what cold and windy is really like....

See you next Tuesday!!

Where's Waldo? I mean Bobby..

The runners world crew seemed absent in the photos online...but I found this one. Can you spot the Runners World guys????

Quarter Marathon...CHECK

I did it. I finished the quarter marathon today. This medal is mine all mine. I have to say it was a really great run for me today. I had the goal of finishing in under 1:30. I am so proud of myself that I finished in under 1:25 (at least according to my Garmin, can't wait to see the "official" result time). I have to say that I am very proud of all the Runners World gang. Everyone looked so great, and it was so great to have the group cohesion at the start of the race. Although it was chilly, I greatly enjoyed the laughter and laidbackness of all the Runners World crew in the make-shift Runners World tent. This has to be one of my first "event" runs that I finished feeling very positive and upbeat.

Now what? Well...I plan on keeping it at. I have my eye on the Lawrence, KS half marathon on April 19th. I need to stay in my positive running place and just keep at running. I do think my personal training is paying off as well, as it is helping with my posture which is helping me to breathe better (at least tha tis my thought process at this moment). I do hope everyone else had an enjoyable run, and has taken part of the day today to revel in the accomplishments that we all achieved.

Thank you to the whole Runners World crew for the positive atmosphere and support!! I look forward to meeting the "new" training group for the 1/2 marathon in April. I also look forward to seeing everyone's fun pictures from the day.

Nothing to do with Running...Celebrating my dog being 1 year old

Okay...so today is my doggie's 1 year birthday and he looked so cute chewing on his new stick I had to post the pictures
....
This is a picture of him about a month ago just hanging out in the front yard....he loves to be outside!!



This is him celebrating his birthday in style. All wrapped up in my nice fleece blanket without a care in the world other than enjoying chewing on his stick.

I just had to post one more, cuz I think he's absolutely adorable.

I Taught Mike Something.....

Now if only I could remember what it was, so I could put it on here. How funny is that. I can even remember where the moment occurred..it was past the wooden bridge but before the very large tree on the right. Anyway...if I catch up with Mike on Sunday maybe I will ask him to remind me what it was that I taught him tonight.

Tonight's run...well I started and finished. Considering the grueling workout I had with the trainer yesterday that alone is an accomplishment. During my training session I reminded Andrew, the trainer, that I had the "big run" on Sunday. He said eh the workout today shouldn't affect that. So I was expecting a workout that was heavy on arm and abs...OH foolish foolish me....it was all about squats (of course there were the obligatory push ups, but)...C"MON!!! So today has been a day of drinking very little to avoid excess trips to the bathroom as squatting is one of the most difficult things to do. I have to say that I have not felt my inner thigh muscles in a while and I definitely know they are present. So starting out on the run tonight...i felt like a snail, but was thankful I was able to move forward and not necessarily in reverse.

So...Sunday is right around the corner. Signing up for the quarter marathon on a whim may have been a very wise decision. I am soo stoked about the accomplishment I am soon to achieve. I wish everyone running this weekend (whether in an event or not) a great run and a good time within your own head. Running to me is a great way of meditating :).

Remember everyone....happy feet :)

Stupid Garmin...okay stupid garmin user

Well at least my ability to correctly operate (meaning hit start) my Garmin happened tonight and not during some event that I really wanted to post my "actual" time. Was a decent run for me tonight. I have been making myself do the lovely strength exercises on the Wii Fit (which i have absolutely no strength). Well I spent some time doing the lunges and well let's just say my legs are feeling it. So...i was a little concerned how the run would go, but seemed to go okay. I had a little more awareness of my achilles and calves today than usual, but I figure that's just my body's response to my quads feeling a bit tender. Tomorrow is Wednesday, which means i have a trainer appointment at 7AM...hope he goes easy on me, so I can complete the quarter marathon on Sunday.

I hate that I feel the need to say "I'm only doing the quarter"...that's just not right. I know there are the supercools doing the full marathon and I truly sit in awe of anyone that can complete 26.2 miles at one time. I hope to maybe work up to that some day, but don't want to minimize my own accomplishment of completing 6.55 miles at one time. It will be mighty chilly and anyoone that is out there on Sunday is accomplishing something!

6 Whole Miles

What a beautiful morning for a run!! Okay, so I could have done without the wind gusts out of the North, but...overall was a great outing for me. I have start by saying thanks to TATUR Dave and Mike for chit chatting with me making the miles just quickly tick by. The first mile was spent primarily with Dave learning and trying to grasp his game plan for his pacing with Kathy later in the day. His response of "i'll only be pacing her for like 30 miles" just made me laugh. Gosh what a slacker...ONLY 30 miles....My response of course was "how on earth do you do that?" It was comforting to hear the response of "I'm not really sure". That's exactly how I felt when my trusty Garmin beeped at the 6 mile marker. I'm not really sure how I did that distance today. Not only did I do the distance, thanks to Mike hanging with me for the first 4 miles (I walked from 4-5) I finished with an average pace of 13:12/mile. I was elated!!! Seriously. My legs feel a little like jelly, but so incredibly awesome. I'm ready to face the 1/4 maraton head on next Sunday.

I do have to send big time kudos out to SONYA. I am not really sure she understands how much she inspires me. She is always in a great mood with an upbeat spirit. I think she also has to be one of the most consistent people out there pounding the pavement. I think she's AWESOME!! and can't wait to hear about her marathon finish!!

I wish a great day and weekend to everyone. Hope the pavement is passing quickly for Ken and Kathy and anyone else out there on the 100 miler...

Whirlwind

Today has been quite the whirlwind of activity for me. I will skip all of the details and just state that I had a decent run tonight (thanks Mike!!). I actually ran my 3.2 miles at an average pace of 12:20. Can't wait til that is my norm and not a major accomplishment :)

I was Tagged by Bobby

Wow new to blogging and already tagged...6th folder 6th picture....This is a picture of my nephew, Jason, on Aug 1, 2006. His birthday is June 28th, 2006. I was fortunate enough to get to visit him in Florida and help out my bro and sis-in-law with their 2 daughters, Nicole and Megan.

It is great to have my only brother live in Florida and be on good terms so that I can get away to Florida every now and again. I love his kids too...they are awesome and so incredibly smart!! I hope to get to spend some time with them all over Christmas Break! I also would like to train for the Kennedy Space Center 1/2 marathon that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year, next year. The finish line is on the launch pad...how cool would that be?

So now I am supposed to tag someone....I am going to pick an unsuspecting person from the RunnersWorld blog, as I know very few people...so......the lucky winner is......

Chrissy...post your 6th picture from your 6th folder and tell us all about it....

Personal Training Update

I thank TU for having such a great deal on personal training. I almost missed my 7 AM session this morning. Fortunately my dog makes a great alarm clock and knows my schedule better than I do. Woke up at 6:25 with just enough time to take the dog outside for his morning jaunt around the yard and put on the good ol' workout clothes. Then off to the TU gym. It's amazing..students can use this great facility for FREE and there were only 2 people there. Anyway...I digress...get to the gym this morning and there's the trainer, Andrew, all smiles and ready to kick my butt. We start of with some loosening up moves...which actually feel pretty good. Then it's off to do 2 laps around the track for a warm-up. I am not sure I would be able to do more than 4 laps around the track (takes 8 for a mile) as it was quite repetitive and with very few people to "people watch" I get stuck in the thoughts in my head. Nice short run finished...off to the "room of death" okay not really but sure does feel that way at times.

First stop, row machine. I do have to admit that I find the row machine quite therapeutic. Well that is until I am given a distance and a time limit, but still...I dig it. Then out comes the piece of torture. I am not how many people have died on a Bosu Ball, but I thought I was going to this morning. I had been on a bosu ball before when you stand on the ball part while doing things like bicep curls. But to my surprise, Andrew flipped it over I had to stand on the black flat part and do squats. I have never had my legs shake so bad in my life!!! no exaggeration. Of course I did some yelping (sorry to anyone else who might have been in the gym) but got through my 15 squats. Then it was on to my favorite...push-ups. I hate push-ups...it is definitely funny though to just sit there in the "ready"position and see the sweat beads falling off my head. I have to envision that I am stranded in the desert and those sweat beads are the only form of water I can get...then dip down (the push-up part) and think how gross it is and push away. I know sick the head games i play huh. It is after all 80% mental. Andrew then guided me through several more exercises before getting to do everything again.

I have been warned that my legs may be a bit tired/sore tomorrow for the run with the group, but you know as Andrew says "pain is weakness leaving the body", so I will be there with a grin.

Let the adventure to good health continue...

Buellar? Buellar?

I definitely felt like the teacher in Ferris Buellar's Day Off tonight on the run. I know that when we started at 5:30 there were at least 20 people around me. As I hit the 1/2 mile marker there was Ruth, Marvin, Boomer, and myself. Then at the 1 1/2 mile marker there was Ruth and myself. It was nice and dark so it was hard to tell if there were others among us. It is funny though as we were trotting along in the darkness, I made the comment that it was soothing running in the dark in that the social pressures lessened. I never realized until that moment how self-conscious I feel while running. Something I definitely need to get over.

Well it seems I have mud back on the bottom of my shoes, my pace was back to snail's pace. Of course tonight I think I will blame the darkness and my cautious steps...but I really need to find a way to make myself go a little bit faster. If anyone wants to volunteer to help push me to that consistent 12 minute mile I promise not to whine too much....

It was great to hit the pavement tonight. Another great November evening, don't know how many more mild evenings we'll be fortunate to have. It's off to meet with the personal trainer tomorrow...I am already dreading the push-ups.

Springlike November Day

Wow! Is it really November 3rd? It feels like early May. I decided to lace up the ol' running shoes this morning before heading out to work. I used to be a die hard morning runner, but since moving to Tulsa have shifted to more of an evening runner. It felt good to check out the neighborhood this morning, the weather was so cooperative. I do have to say I think I was moving at a snails pace, but at least I was moving.

The exciting news of the day today is my new adventure on the Wii fit. I have been hearing all these great things about the wii fit. And although, Guitar hero is a great workout for for the fingers and wrists and vocal cords, it doesn't help so much with the overall toning of the body. So...I plugged in the balance board and off I went. It was quite fun and entertaining. We'll see how the overall progress goes, but it was nice to do something different.

Tomorrow I will meet with the RunnersWorld crew and will hopefully trot along Riverside and get my miles in before it gets too dark. Time to start dusting off the good ol' headlamp :)