No one has ever drowned in sweat. --Author Unknown

And I proved this true once again.  The new kicks were tested two times over.  I still am in love with them!  <3 First, a quick 2 mile run on the treadmill at lunchtime on Wednesday.  I was glistening a bit when the boss saw me and said I "looked fast" in them...I'll take it.  Second, a 4 mile training run with Teresa at 7 AM, bright and early Thursday.  Just one mile in and I was drenched.  Glad we ran early since the heat index hit the 100 mark, but less happy that my co-workers saw me loooking like a sweaty mess before I hopped in the shower.  The things we do for our training runs.  As a single mama, I have limited time to fit in the mid-week runs...so I get in, where I fit in...even if I have to embarass myself a bit.  :)  But, like the post says...no one has ever drowned in sweat...

So in love....

My new shoes are here!  Nothing like a new pair of shoes to make a girl happy! <3 They are all black and will match most of my running gear...unlike my purple ones!  I tried them on and they feel like my other shoes.  I will know for sure tomorrow when I wear them for my quick 2 mile run.  Gotta love Roadrunner Sports...they have a 90 day guarantee so I have plenty of time to try them on for size. Now I am off to ride bikes with the munchkin!  Or teach him how to ride rather.  Either way we will have lots of fun and get a little exercise!

Race Time

Race Time, a set on Flickr.

Just a few random race pictures for inspiration!

Mama Needs New Shoes.. no really...

So, I walk in from my 6 miles this morning and said to my ex-husband (side note: he watches the munchkin so I can run)... and I said I think I need new shoes. He says...aren't those new.  I reply...got 'em in March and have run a lot.  Cue sly look...which means "I just want some new kicks, I don't need 'em."  Seriously...this isn't just a want...I think I need new shoes. Left knee and right arch ached throughout my short run.  Could be that I favored my left side when my right foot hurt, but whatever.  Good thing, I ordered some new all black ASICS, which should be here in time for my Tuesday run.  :)  Other than my slight aches and the crazy heat in the Midwest, my run was pretty good. So very glad that it was only 6 miles since the ladies were all out of town or not feeling well.  It is clear that I like to chat up a storm when I run to keep me occupied.  Today, I jammed to some old school hip hop...hope no one heard me busting a rhyme.  lol.  That must have been a sight.  Red-haired, Irish girl rapping some Ross.  Ah well, it's done.  Now to wait for my new shoes...I needed ASICS, I wanted them in black.  Alas, I guess me and my ex were both right...but don't tell him that! ;)

8 Mile (cue music)

Sometimes I just feel like, quittin I still might
Why do I put up this fight, why do I still write run (Eminem, 8 Mile)

This is how I feel the first mile of EVERY run, no matter how long or short. Ya just gotta push through it...and so I did. 8 miles done. Now, of course, there was this scrumptious breakfast casserole awaiting us, but we still did it. ;) We kept a decent speed even with the humidity. It got up to low 90's yesterday. Overall, I feel great today. My left knee is a "smidge" sore. I hate to even jinx myself. Alas, I am attributing it to my weight. Gotta "lighten the load" a bit. Last half marathon, I was about 12 pounds lighter. On to the dreaded "d" word...My diet was really quite good last week. I even skipped pizza on Friday Family Movie Night. I did have some popcorn, but it was the 100 calorie kind. Diet is good, run was good and today is the day of rest! Yeah for me!

Hindsight is 20/20

So here goes, I ran 4 miles with my running partner (or attempted to anyways!) After a picnic at work where the managers cooked for staff. Needless to say, I was helping to prep food and cooking on the grill. I started my run and got a side stitch in my first mile. Heat + pain= grouchy runner. :( Still, we kept running. After about 3 miles in, I got goosebumps. Now why on Earth would I get goosebumps while running in 85 degree weather. Needless to say, I was a tad concerned. So we walked for a bit. We jogged the last stretch. I was still wondering what in the heck was going on. I mean really, I ran 7 miles on Sunday so why would a piddly 4 miles (in my sarcastic voice) be so bad?! I walked back into the building...after about 3 minutes in AC, I began sweating like a pig. Then it dawned on me...Drink more water! And eating more food would be good too! One cup of coffee, one bottle of water and one diet coke does NOT do a body good. A protein shake and a grill chicken salad is not enough either. Hindsight is really 20/20!

And the decision was made...

Race time

As a single mom, it is easy to get wrapped up in work and motherhood and let your health slide. The cold hard facts are that my munchkin is 3 years old and I honestly don’t have an excuse for being out of shape. It all started when I said to “the ladies,” I think we should do some races again. (The ladies are my very best friends who can be convinced to participate in any number of super outrageous schemes just because we love each other so.) We picked a half marathon because it was long enough that we had to actually train for it or we would kill ourselves. And so it began. We started slow. But like all things, we just can’t stop…so we have…gulp…decided to do the 2011 Columbus Marathon. Join us on this adventure as we train for a race…just to check it off our “bucket lists.”