Swimmer's Kick

Last night was a fabulous easy run with Ben. 5.25 miles, 83 degrees. There was nothing special about last night's run, but I felt good and strong. I wanted to keep running and now I'm kicking myself for not running longer.

This morning's swim team practice was fun! I almost made it all the way through the workout which is quite an accomplishment for me. The air was chilly this morning, but the pool felt great. I really enjoy swimming outside so much more than inside.

And...I have a great swimmer's kick! It might be the only thing that is great or right about my swimming, but I'm going with it. First swimming compliment from my coach! Woo-hoo!

Decision Time

Wow, this weekend FLEW by!

8 mile run Satuday morning and a fabulous Barbell class Sunday morning. Laying by the pool, dinners with friends, book club, shopping...and of course the weekend cleaning and laundry. No wonder it flew by!

Now it's time to vote: Should I do the Fit to Fight Triathlon the day after I get back from vacation? I have to decide this week!

To Loveland and Back

Ben and I had to switch up our weekly runs this week so that Marc and I could attend the visitation for his friend on Tuesday night. We ran Monday instead and I didn't get to run again until yesterday. Monday feels like months ago - I can't even remember what route or how far we ran.

Last night we met at the trail and ran to Loveland and back. A nice round 8 miles. It was beautiful out and the first time Ben had made it all the way to Loveland. Win!

We saw fawn twins along the trail on our way back. They were so adorable. I wanted to bring them home to play with Sid. I wish I had had my phone on me to get a picture.

It's finally Friday...enjoy!

Public Service Announcement

I've been running...and swimming...and doing barbell...and biking. I just haven't felt like writing about it. It hasn't seemed all that important in the grand scheme of things.

Tonight we will pay our respects to one of Marc's friends who passed away in a car accident last week. Marc is very close to his older brother and dad as well. It's been a rough week, an unfortunate eye opener.

So, here is my plug: Please, please, please wear your seat belt. 

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Pet Peeves

Having done a few races with a lot of newbies in them recently, I'd like to share my list of pet peeves. It's not long, but I think other runners would share the same ones. So hopefully this will help cut down on newbies partaking in the following activities in the future.

1. Wearing your bib number on your back. It goes on the FRONT. Plain and simple. Race officials and photographers need it on the front. Plus you look silly with it on your back.

2. Wearing your race shirt to participate in the race. I feel the same way about concert shirts. Don't do it. Everyone will make fun of you.

3. Walkers waking 3, 4, 5, or more people across. This is especially irritating when there is a shorter and longer race that meet back up and the walkers of the shorter race get in the way of the runners of the longer race. Please be respectful.
4. Ipods. I know people love them. I can't stand running with one. If you insist on using yours, make sure you can hear people and cars. I've seen someone come close to getting hit during a race because she was listening to her ipod. True story.

I feel like I've made the world a better place now! Do you have any race or running pet peeves?

When it rains, it pours!

We look a little better here than after the Warrior Dash, huh?

After having a wonderful time at a beautiful wedding Friday night I got my booty out of bed bright and early to run with my running group. It was my first run with them since the Derby Marathon, and it felt great to finally be back. I got to catch up with friends and share our new goals for the fall marathon season.


Of course it was absolutely pouring. Thankfully it stopped at some point, I'm not even really sure when, maybe 3-4 miles in? Once you are wet you don't even really notice it anymore so it's hard to remember. I was only planning on doing 6.5 miles since we'd been out later and it stormed in the middle of the night so Sidney kept me up for quite a while...but somehow I ended up doing 9.5 instead. This is one reason I love the running group - incentive and motivation to do more and push yourself. I did start out slower with a friend, but she turned back and mile 3 or 4 then I ended up with some other friends. I eventually ended my run with new people and much faster than I had anticipated. I am very happy that I have continued to push myself and not let people hold me back. I hope I can keep that up!


This morning was absolutely gorgeous and Marc and I headed up for a bike ride. We rode from our place to Loveland, picked up the trail for a bit, then took the roads back to our place. Coming home from Loveland was HILLY! I was never so happy to see Montgomery Road. We ended up at 24.25 miles, which is the farthest Marc has ever ridden!

Thursday at the Track

Picture via http://www.usd219.org/Track.jpg

According to Smart Coach, this entire week was supposed to be easy runs. Boring!

So I pulled one of my favorite speed workouts out and convinced Ben to join me for it.

Yasso 800s. Basically you run 800 meter repeats in the minutes and seconds of the time in hours and minutes you want to finish your marathon in. For example, if you want to do a 4:05 marathon, you run each 800 in 4 minutes and 5 seconds. You work your way up to doing 10 of these in one workout. Between each 800 you do a 400 meter recovery jog. We ran a half mile warm up and a 3/4 mile cool down. It was cooler last night - low 90s instead of upper - but the track was HOT!  Poor Ben's feet in his vibrams could feel the heat of the track through his "shoes".

It felt great to be on the track again. I was allowed to run in the inner lanes this time too :)  Erin and Carter used to make me run out in lane 6 or 7 when I did track work outs with them. It was only so we could run the same pace, but it made for a lot of laughs.