Alice is a Runner!

Sucking Air the Whole Time...

For some reason, I kept huffing and puffing during this run.  I just couldn't figure out why I was having such a hard time.  Then it hit me, two days in a row, I have gotten little sleep.  I guess getting a good night's rest makes  a difference on the run.  I better get to bed! 

I am sad that the nice weather will be leaving us for a few days again.  I remember that March and the beginnings of spring is like this, but I sometimes forget when it is really nice. 

 Good run.  I almost had to call the police mid-run because there was a man yelling at a lady below one of the bridges of the trail.  I stopped and listened for a few minutes and made sure he was not going to hit her and then moved on.  I do have to say that I thought about the situation for a few minutes and decided that I am very glad that I will never be in that sort of a situation.  I will choose the man I will be with for my life wisely.  The end.

 I am getting excited for the first 5k of the season that will be on Saturday.  I am hoping to blow my PR out of the water.   

I'm Gonna Wash that PR Right Out of My Hair!

This race was proof again that I can do ANYTHING.  I really didn't want to run as fast as I did the whole time, but I did.  I really didn't want to keep going, but I did.  I really didn't want to run ahead of my running buddy at the end, but I did.  And it all was awesome.  

Marion helped pace me and keep me motivated.  She was with me every step of the way, even if it was a bit uncomfortable for her lungs(her training has been a little bit back and forth thanks to recovering from trying to take on a car!).  She also coaxed me into running ahead of her the last .5 and kept yelling at me from behind.  She is one heck of a cool lady!  We were both kick butt steam engines today!!!

I did hit the PUKE ZONE the last half of the race.  Marion says that is the zone you should be running in during a 5k.  I also liked that she said: "Whether you are running fast, or running slow, you are going to hurt."  I guess it is always better to run faster then, right?  She also kept reminding me that I wasn't going to die!  I think she needs to write some sort of book about running races.  We could call it:  $#*! My Pacer Says.  What a guru!

The best part of this little race every year is the fact that many of my students help make it happen.  The JROTC at our school hosts the event, in a way.  Many of them run in a group, some with army boots on, carrying our school flag and chanting cadences.  Others help along the route to direct the runners and offer words of encouragement.  I really love when they see me out there and get excited.  The will hoot and cheer and tell me that they love me.  Those little moments make the hard moments from work disappear and again remind me of why I do what I do everyday!

Another part that was fun about the race today was running past people who stopped running.  It felt so good to know that I never stopped.  I also enjoyed running past one man in particular, who was very miffed that I passed him(because girls can't beat guys, right?).  He then started to run faster and overtook me again.  I had more steam and got ahead of him again and shortly after, he gave up! That was a good feeling.   

This was a great race on a great day!!! 

Two short treadmill miles.  Running on the treadmill was made easier by watching Pixar shorts!

Birthday Shoes are Fun!

I bought myself a new pair of running shoes for my birthday.  They are fun!

The birthday was a great day.  I liked that the sun came out this afternoon and I was able to have a nice little run.  Happy Birthday to me!!! 

My brain is fried and I do not remember this run at all.  It must be the sometimers kicking in!

Nice morning run on a nice Saturday.  The weather has been amazing and I am loving it.  Took a different route and had new music and it made all the difference.  Quick but fun run before enjoying a nice Saturday.  Perfect!

Lifted weights.  I really need to build up my strength.  Since losing the sixty pounds, I have a hard time opening jars.  I used to be a big brut and I think some of the weight I lost was muscle.  Must build back up.  I also want to work on the legs so they get injured less often!

Ran from work to home and back (needed to pick up something I needed to give a co-worker).  Nice run.  It was pretty warm even with the cloud cover.  I am so excited for spring.

 I am thinking my milage will be pretty low this week.  Need to figure out how to get lifting in without cutting too much time from running.  What a crazy weird juggling act! 

This was my longest run ever.  It actually felt good for the most part, which is suprising seeing it was done on a treadmill.  I am away for the weekend up in Manila, Utah and even though I probably could have ran outside, I really don't like running on highways, even if in the middle of nowhere.  Glad I brought my stuff to run because I feel like I am eating everything in sight this weekend.  I have absolutely no willpower.  Yikes!  I think the whole running 5 miles was actually me feeling a bit guilty about not running much this week and eating out a little bit more than I should have.  Silly guilt!

What Goes Up, Must Come Down!

Great run!!!!  I thought it was going to be cold because it felt cold when I went outside at lunch, but I realized half way through this run that I probably overestimated the need for all the clothing I had worn!   The sun was actually out and I was quite toasty.

 I took a different route and it was a whole lot of fun.  It even had a nice little hill in the middle and I was pleasantly surprised by how it didn't suck to run up that hill.  

Running is awesome right now.  I am faster than ever and feel like I can run longer than ever.  Awesome. 

Ok run.  It is late on a Friday night and I am bushed.  I think trying to remember this run will make my head explode.  I like my head, so I won't even think about it! :)

Longest Road Run!

This was a great run.   I took one of my favorite routes through town, which leads me to the cemetery.  Some of you may see this as weird, but I love to run there.  It always seems so peaceful and quiet there.  I am loving that I am feeling better while running further.   It is fun to think that three miles actually feels little!  Great stuff.Don't worry.  I ran left!

Hilly run again.  My knees felt it a bit near the end.

The weather was gorgeous so I decided to get out there and run.  It was very nice to wear shorts and a t-shirt.  No long sleeves needed today.  My knees are feeling it today(saturday) I had planned on putting in another two, but I guess I will have to settle for a walk or some exercise bike.  Silly knees.  I am not quite sure how to keep from overuse problems with my knees....any suggestions from the pros out there?