Running through a winter wonderland

Yes, it's been a while since my last post.  Mostly because I have been fat and lazy enjoying the holiday madness.  Yeah, I have only run twice in the past week.  Sad, I know. I plan to do better now that the holidays are almost over.

My holiday was wonderful. Flew to AL to see Jon's family and then to Atlanta to see mine. We spent the 23rd, 24th at their house. Very nice and relaxing as always. Did presents there Christmas morning and then drove to Atlanta.  We got a Wii from my in-laws! 

My parents had driven down from Chicago to stay with my little brother and sister and law and we all gathered at their condo Christmas day for a lovely meal and played fun games etc.  Had a great day after (following the run) and saw some friends for lunch and then hung with the family that night playing more games and going out to some of our old hang out spots with them that evening. 

But, the 10 miler I had while in Atlanta over Christmas is worth writing about!  It had snowed the whole time we were in Atlanta.  The first White Christmas there since 1882!!  It was so pretty but freakin' COLD.  I mean, Chicago cold.  It only snowed an inch or so but the sidewalks were icy, roads were fine.

My dad and my plan was always to run the 10 miles I needed to that Sunday after Christmas. Luckily I had packed enough clothes and was plenty warm.  But I haven't run in that sort of cold/snow conditions since running in high school in Chicago!

I felt like CRAP. My body was fine, including my knees but it was my breathing and stomach. Mostly because I probably ate too much the past few days, drank too much wine the day before, and my stomach wasn't feeling great. My whole body felt like I was pushing a truck and it was windy too.  I don't even know my mile pace, I didn't want to know. My poor dad probably felt like he was walking I was going so slow. But, I DID IT. I ran the full 10!!!

It was beautiful however. We ran through several of the old neighborhoods I lived in over my years of living in Atlanta.  There were people out sledding at Candler Park and it was quiet, not crowded. So surreal and really gorgeous. Especially since a lot of the homes are older and very very nice. 

Even though I felt like shit, it was a great experience.

I have another 10er this weekend, hopefully even though I have slacked I will be okay. I know it won't be that cold here this weekend! 

Then it's diet time and really getting on it come Monday.  Need to start doing weights, sit ups etc if I want to actually lose weight.  I think can do it, just need to be disciplined.

10 Mile High

Obviously today's run was a 10 miler!!  And it was great!!  The weather was chilly but good for running.  By mile 3 I was hot but still kept my long sleeves on since there was a slight breeze.  It was mostly flat, all on the trails downtown.  I saw some parts of the trail I hadn't been on, and wouldn't run alone on! They were behind some of the 'transitional' neighborhoods on the East side.  That being said, it is a very pretty stretch of the trail and you feel like you are not in a city!!

I was very happy the run went so well because I had some shit-tay runs this week.  I am tired because of the new job, still adjusting to the new schedule and working hard to prove myself so even though I am not getting up ridiculously early I am exhausted.

Also, I HATE THE GYM.  I am so over it.  I got this LED band for my arm at REI that lights up and a screaming highlighter green shirt so I am going to attempt to run outside either before work and see what the 'scene' is by my apartment. Or go to this neighborhood on my way home that I run in sometimes and run after work since it is well lit.  The bad thing is since I don't get off until 5:30 now I won't get home until 7 if I run after work.  But again, something has to change. I only ran twice this week, 30 mins each and they sucked and were soooooo boring.  Cold is not an issue, even in the 30's in the morning like it was today I still only wore my half tights and long sleeve shirt over a tank.  I'll keep you posted.

Regardless, I was proud of myself today and am really liking our little group. There were a few gals that hadn't run with us in a while today but we still only had a total of 7 in our time group.   Next week is another 10 miler but I'll doing with my dad in Atlanta. He will KICK MY BUTT but it will be good. Then I think we taper in the 7-8 mile range for a few weeks.  The race will be here before I know it!  Then I have to figure out a schedule to keep going!

Have you seen the little piggies...

No, I know I eat like one and am starting to resemble one but that is not what I am talking about.  We will get to the title of this post later.

After several craptastic runs this week I was a little nervous about the 7 miler this morning with my usual time group.  I was basically exhausted all week, probably because of the adjustment to the new job, even though I am enjoying it, and having to run in the morning in the gym.  I did go to REI and get an arm band with an LED light on it though so I am going to attempt to run after work at some point this week on the trail. Even though it'll be dark I am hoping not dark enough to where I can't see, and with the band at least people can see me.

Back to this morning.  Our group was smaller, only about 6 of us. Our coach Grant said people start to fall off around the holidays and actually I like the small group.  It was a FANTASTIC run.  Through the South Congress/S. First area and through St. Edwards University, a private school in South Austin.  It is gorgeous, and the views of the city are stunning.  All of us felt great and supported each other. There were some hills but nothing like last week.

After the run Grant treated us to some Torchie's Tacos at the S. 1st trailer park eatery and we joined the 10:30 mile group as well. It was really fun actually getting to know each other better.  I was telling them about my injury and shockingly people noticed I was missing a few weeks.  I was telling them about last week and my coach Grant goes, 'Well, I think you are totally back and will be fine'.  That felt good.  I am not as nervous now about the 10 mile run next weekend.

The BEST part of our run however was through some of the cute neighborhoods downtown. We were about a mile from 'home base' when we passed this house and in the front yard was this HUGE pig, the biggest pig I have ever seen! (not that I have seen that many). We all thought it was a statue at first but then it moved. Just hanging in the front yard. No leash, nothing.  WELCOME TO AUSTIN. ha ha ha.  It was a nice little ranch house too! 

Because it wasn't far from our meeting place I drove back by there on my way to the taco trailer and took some pictures. The owner was out there and she even let me pet him!  She said this happens ALL the time and the pig is used to the attention. His name is Thomas and he was soooo sweet. He was even oinking, ha ha ha.  So I got to the trailer and shared the pics because apparently the group before us that we ate with had taken a wrong turn and missed him! Grant had me text him the picture so he could send it to his wife, and she agreed with me that he was adorable.

Here is Thomas the giant neighborhood piggie:

Tread-hell

My new work schedule is from 8:30 to 5:30 so it's dark when I need to get up to run and almost dark by the time I get off work. So, I have to get up at 5:30 am and hit the stupid gym.  I am going to check out some running in the dark gear, maybe a lame ugly reflective vest or light so I can run after work.  There isn't a safety issue as far as people etc on the trails after work, just an issue of TRIPPING.  Yikes!

So, this morning I did my scheduled 30 mins. The crappy thing about getting up early and running is I am not feeling awake until the 20 min mark, even after a 5-10 min warm up.  And I don't have time to run longer than the 40 min total because otherwise I would have to get up even earlier.  Regardless, the run was fine and my knee felt good. It was a little sore yesterday and I iced last night. We'll see how it does today.  I plan to hit the gym tomorrow and Thursday morning unless I can get some 'night gear' tonight after work.

However, running on the treadmill is better than not running at all!!

The hills are alive...

...with the sound of runners cursing them!

This morning was my first Saturday back with the group and I was excited and nervous. I had three so so runs during the week because of the stress of ending my job and starting the new one.  The job is going to be great once I know how to do every thing.  But I just have to be patient (and not be so hard on myself) and it is a lot of learn as you go. Luckily it is very similar to my job at the firm in Atlanta that I worked at for three years and so I am not completely in the dark.  Just learning how they do things.  By Friday once I RELAXED things were going better and I think it'll be a good fit.

Back to this morning.  I decided to run with a slower group because I was nervous about my knee and the longest distance I have run since the crisis was 6.5 miles.  9 miles  intimidated me.  Especially after they told us about the course and how hilly it was and this would be the hardest run of our training.  I started out fine with the slower group and by mile 3 I was regretting not running with my usual 10:45 group.  We started out on the trails and about mile 3 is when we got in to the hills. Once we got in to the hills I was fine with the slower pace. Ha! We ran up through this gorgeous neighborhood right off the lake but it was steep hills and rolling hills for 3-4 miles!!!!  I ran them and felt good but dang...sometimes I think I could have walked faster up them.  Lots of gorgeous homes and scenery to look at however. 

There were only about 5 people I was running with once we started the hills.  One girl was from the 10:30 group who had lost her group when she stopped in the restroom while still on the trails. This was a blessing. The two of us went on up ahead of the others and actually got a good workout for the last 4 miles or so and caught up with my 10:45 group and ended up finishing with them. I was soooo happy and this restored my confidence!!

My knees felt grrrreat during the run but of course my calves were and are tight from the hills.  I plan to stretch a lot today and tomorrow. My knee is a now sore and I will ice and rest it until my next run on Monday.  I hope I can walk on it tomorrow or I will be so upset.  It's not that bad but tomorrow is when if it's f-ed up again it will be hurting.  Doing laundry and watching football today so I can keep it elevated/iced etc.

Next weekend is just a 7 mile run and I plan to go back to my regular group. If the knee is okay, I will be just fine.  Praying the knee will be okay tomorrow.   

As bad as the hills were...they felt amazing afterward and I have a great sense of accomplishment from today even if I was slow.  The purpose was to run it and finish it, and I DID IT.   

I deserve some WINE.