Happy Turkey Day!

Go for a run tonight or tomorrow morning to stave away the guilt, make it a sweaty one so you don't feel bad about about the second piece of pie with whipped cream. Drink nogs, wines, spirits or beer - whatever your poison. Enjoy the designed gluttony of the day.

Me, I'll be in the back yard practicing my sprints. Why you may ask? I have one word for you, SHOPPING. Yes, I get up at the crack of dawn to stand in line to save $5.00 on something I don't need. I will be sucked into the spell of the "Free Tote with Purchase" and "Buy One Get One Free" signs. My day will start at 4 a.m., I will shop - go home to loving grandparents who will cook me a fantastic breakfast - then I will go out and shop some more. With my mother at my side no deal will go uncovered and/or unpurchased. This is my vow to you readers: I will shop as though I am running a race, I will go hard, I will aim for the negative split (second half is mall shopping- gotta hit that hard!) and I will PR!

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Kicks = Sore Legs

My enthusiasm for running has increased, so much so that I spent all day Saturday searching for a new pair of running shoes. My old shoes (rest their soles -HA, get it?!) weren't handling the increase in my mileage very well. In fact they were letting me down, more specifically - letting my arches down. They were a simple pair of neutral cushioned Nike running shoes I bought at Kohl's on sale a couple of years ago. They have served me well in my running infancy and have gotten me through two 5k's. But, I knew after the hellacious arch pain I was experiencing that I needed a shoe with more arch support. So, off I went to Aurora Farms! I tried on a few pairs of shoes of various brands, got super pissy with the one shoe salesmen when he wouldn't let me go outside for a quick jaunt, I take it he was not a running enthusiast, definitely not a runner. So finally I decided to do things right and head to Second Sole. Luckily, a friend of mine was working (so I knew I wouldn't get hosed) and I got to business trying on fancy running shoes with good arch support. I ran around the store and outside feeling super cool and finally decided on these beauties:

The Asics GT 2150's! I put them on and they fit like a fancy pair of Italian calfskin driving gloves! Needless to say, after dropping a Benjamin on running shoes I have felt compelled to use them, and so I have.

I have done a few miles here and there, did my first back to back days of running, and needless to say now my legs are very sore. They pain is worth it though, I look at my shoes daily with admiration and have even decided to give them names: Greta and Gerta. I feel if my shoes are in fact two stern German ladies, I'll run harder, faster and further. Makes sense, right?

I'm Awesome

I haven't been running that much. Here and there a mile or two, but that's it. The most I have ever ran is 4 miles and I've done it a few times. This past week I've been stressing out over real life issues. Part-time professorhood depends on courses filling up and I have been shamelessly selling my classes to students as of late. With the holidays fast approaching I've been out shopping (trying to be one of the early shoppers this year) and lamenting the minuscule size of my pocketbook. I still have to finish my master's thesis, and let me tell you- those things don't write themselves! I stress easily and sometimes the thought of getting a run in puts me damn near the edge of a breakdown.

So, at this point you're probably wondering how I have managed to stay sane as it takes very little to pull me down into the depths of craziness. Well, I will tell you: I have these moments of pure resolve. I go into a cave of thoughts (quite literally I don't respond to the outside world) and I find my resolve to, erm, GET SHIT DONE. Well I had one of my cave moments this weekend. I spent all of Friday and Saturday in my mind cave, much to the dismay of the people who interact with me on a daily basis. I came out of the cave on Sunday when I went for my run.

I geared up for a nice Ohio fall day, high near 67 and mostly sunny. Perfect for a run really. I went down to my beloved towpath and thought to myself "You need a challenge missy!" So I ran past the first mile marker, then the second, and then... I KEPT GOING! I thought to myself I could turn around at 3, run back 2 and walk the last as a cool down. And - I did it. I don't run fast and I don't run far, but yesterday I ran 5 miles in 1:00.44. A 12 minute mile pace works for me and lord have mercy, did it ever feel good. (But let's just say, now I know about chafing.) Right at the fifth mile when my body was screaming at me Viper (I have such a hard time calling him that, but yes- a person from my real life) came up behind me with some words of encouragement. He volunteered to finish with me, but he had his Brooks T6 Racers on, and when he does that you know he means business. I told him to go ahead, besides - I truly felt like this needed to be between me and the towpath.

Needless to say I've been out of my mind cave since then and come to a few conclusions about real life and running.

1) I need to run to keep me sane, so I can't dread getting out there or I'll go insane!
2) I need lasik surgery, running in glasses sucks (I can't wear contacts)
3) I need to get back into my yoga practice... it helps keep me sane, too.
4) It's good to have people in your life to help you celebrate your small victories (thanks Viper!)
5) My thesis won't write itself, so people who read this - harass me shamelessly to get it done :-)
6) I ran 5 miles yesterday for the first time, I am awesome.