Sunday, July 31, 2011

Back in Wisky

I am back in Wisconsin, which means I am back to my gym! The front desk workers were concerned for me because I was gone for a whole month.  I reassured them I still worked out, but not nearly as hard as I do there!

Let's see....here is a run down of Wednesday-Saturday:

Wednesday: went to the pool and flew home after being delayed forever! Thanks to the stormy weather in Milwaukee.

Thursday: Woke up EARLY and went to school to sign some papers then headed to 6 Flags Great America with D.  We only rode roller coasters-which I am kind of scared of-and had a really good time.  The only ride I didn't go on was the Raging Bull...that first drop was way too much for me!

Friday: I was supposed to run with my partner but I have been having trouble sleeping (due to my lack of working out).  So, I slept in and went to Total Body Spin at 5:15.  The class lasted until 6:40! It was INTENSE!  I use spin shoes, so I was a little irritated I had to keep clipping in, but we would spin hard for 6-9 minutes, then jump off the bike and do upper body work with the bands.  Then back on the bike, then we did core work with the medicine ball.  We used the big body balls (what are they called?!) and a tiny bit of ab work.  We ended up doing 30 minutes of spin, 30 minutes of upper body/core and then finished with 15 minutes of abs.  I was TIRED but t was good.

Saturday: Swam half a mile then went to Andy's wedding!  My calves are KILLING me so I may swim again today.

This week, I hope to run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and do spin Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday.  I have a race next Saturday...it is a NIGHT run! Woo!

Is it hard for you to get back into your workout routine or are you pretty consistent during vacation?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

An explanation to my hiatus

Sorry, readers! I have been on vacation for the past 10 days.  You would think after riding in a car for 12 hours, the first thing I'd want to do is go for a run.  WEll, that is wrong...I slept in yesterday and laid around all day.  Today, though, I woke up ready to take on some hills!  I ran around my neighborhood and did 3 miles.  3 torturous miles. 

There is a hill about 5 minutes into my run that is about 1/3rd of a mile long and has about a 25% incline.  I have 0 knowledge about inclines, I am just guessing and this thing is HARD TO RUN.  I made it all the way to the top...but had a little breather before continuing on to the NEXT mountain, about 1/4th of a mile long and just as steep and a bit windy.  I was thinking "Oh, last hill! Woo!"  But, I was wrong.  I forgot everytime you go down a hill, you have to come back up.  So, I went down another...and realized that at the end of my run, I have another hill to come up.  But, in the mean time, I got two glorious down hills.  I will have buns of steel soon, I think.

My goal, by next Wednesday, is to run the entire route without pausing for oxygen.  I'm not sure if this is humanely possible. 

I signed up for a 4 mile run in August.  It is in Waterford, WI.  It will be my first 4 mile race, to kick of my Columbus training!  I'll be hitting the trail again with my running buddy, E.  Or, atleast I hope so.  She may have some fair to run or something :).

Friday, July 15, 2011

Music is life

You know I'm a band director, right?  So, I know music.  Yeah, I may know more about Schoenberg and Berlioz than you may ever WANT to know, but I know music.  I usually run naked from music (just without music...believe me, fully clothed!) but occasionally I run with music, such as when I have to run indoors on the track.  (10 laps for a mile gets VERY tedious...)  Here are my top picks RIGHT now when running (AKA what is on my playlist):

PLEASE NOTE: I did not listen to these versions when linking because I own them all through iTunes or from CDs, back in the day.  They may be EXPLICIT, because I do love rap or they may be POOR quality.  But, you can always run on over to iTunes and purchase them yourself. :)

Imma Be Black Eyed Peas
Animal Neon Trees
Sometime Around Midnight Airborne Toxic Event
Foxy Jane Tony Lucca
Empire State of Mind Jay-Z, Alicia Keys
Gonna Get Over You Sara Bareilles
Tonight Tonight Hot Chelle Rae (Guilty Pleasure...I teach middle school!)
Love Like Woe The Ready Set
Carolina in my Mind James Taylor
Who Says John Mayer (I am a John Mayer FREAK. I love him; he is a musical genious...and I know music!)
It's Gonna Be Me NSYNC (Gotta revert back to my middle school days!)
Good Life One Republic
Pretty Girl Rock Keri Hilson
Never Gonna Leave This Bed Maroon 5
Road Outside Columbus OAR (Reminds me of my college days...going to school in Columbus)
Black and Yellow Wiz Khalifa

I'd like to thank YouTube for supplying my links. 

This isn't the order I listen to them, because some songs are very slow, so I would use those in the middle of my run, when I was comfortable and in my groove.  If I never get into my groove (it's all happened to you, hasn't it?!), then I keep my "bumpin" tunes on.  I own a 4th generation iPod shuffle in bright blue.  I am not advocating running with music, in fact, I am very against it. It is beyond dangerous.  I love to just run with my thoughts.  I have planned my best lessons while running!

Tell me, what tunes are you currently running with?  Who is your LOVE when it comes to music?

Tony Lucca, John Mayer, Maroon 5, The Script are all my favs, but I am a huge popular music fan.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

5K Fundraiser for My School!

I never told you about my race, the one I planned!  I can't take all the credit, my partner in crime, Mrs. 4K teacher (she teaches 4 year olds kindergarten! Too cute!) helped A LOT.  She and I trained for the half marathon together while planning a fundraiser for our school.  It was called "Striding Into Summer".

You think running a race requires a lot of time?  Try PLANNING one.  It was fun, but a lot of work! Shout out to my fellow co-worker/new teacher/across the hall partner, Mr. Art Teacher for designing the logo.

We had 5 prizes that people could enter to win.  We had about 100 people participate, which is AWESOME for the tiny town we teach in and for a first race!  To read about/view it, click here!

Monday, July 11, 2011

New clothes would end wars

I believe if every person had new clothes to wear every day then there would be no more anger/hatred/war.  Think about it.  How HAPPY do you feel when you put on new clothes?  I love it.  It is an amazing feeling!  Something fresh and new from the closet.  If you ask my boyfriend, he would tell you I have too many clothes in my cloest, but hey, I'm not making HIM pay.

So a few days ago I was getting my eyebrows done...yes, I'll admit it to you guys.  On my way out of the salon, I walked into the main area of the store.  I passed a display of workout clothes.  I LOVE Nike stuff, but it IS pricey. So, I thought I'd take a look.  I found shorts that look EXACTLY like tempo shorts, but there weren't.  I used C9 from Target a lot, so I thought I'd try these out.  I know they won't be AS comfortable as the tempo short but they were only $9.60. That's right.  $9.60!!! I am tempted to go back and buy 100 more pairs! Did I mention PA doesn't have sales tax?! AMAZING.  I'm going to run in them when I'm at the beach, so I'll have a full report when I come home!

Do you ever wear anything that is not "brand name" when you run?  I am a clothes horse and shop at LOFT, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Gap, Express, The Limited, American Eagle...I could go on for days.  I love Target, too.  I am a clothes snob.  I am a brand snob, even when running, but these new shorts are AMAZING.  What brands do you run in?  What brands do you play in?

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Portrait of a Winner! errr...Runner!

The closest I EVER have come to winning a race was in 8th grade.  I was at a Cross Country Invitational at Sliperry Rock University.  I came in 22nd out of 400 runners.  I consistantly was a point winner for my team (if you place top 7, you get a certain amount of points...the smallest number wins, like golf).  I usually finished between 4th-7th.  Then, I became a band nerd and didn't run until college.  Here are some pictures from the Whiskey Rebellion 2011.  I placed 9th in my age division-embarrassing!  But, I PRed

This is my game face.

Action shot!

My oldest sister (who placed 3rd in her age division!), my niece AKA her baby and me after the race.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Lazy Day

Yesterday and today, I didn't run. I am really slacking, since I am on vacay. Maybe I'll run tonight, I REALLY want to get a hill run in and being in Pennsylvania makes that very easy!  Last night, Amy (older sister, but not OLDEST sister ) and I went to dinner with our grandparents then out for a drink or two (or in my case three) with her friend.  Thus, the reason I did not wake up to run.  How many of you change your night life habits when running?  I only change mine when I am training and right now, I am not. 

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

LSD in the Morning

Now, don't get all excited here.  LSD=Long Slow Distance.  And by long distance, I mean the longest distance I've run since my half in May=4 miles.  I have been lame this summer and focused on my swimming technique and spinning rather than logging in long distances.  I also changed shoe brands.  I now run in Saucony Omni 9's instead of Asic 2140's which they no longer make.  I had to break those in and the end of the year madness for a first year teacher is insane.  But, I ran 4 miles in 38:59...I will steal that second to make it under 39.  I did it by MYSELF (E-be proud!) without stopping.  It was nice to just run.

I ran on a trail, which I normally don't do.  I don't feel safe on trails, but my mom was walking with a neighbor friend, so I knew I was within 3 miles of them...which, in the long run, wouldn't save me.  It's the thought that counts.


Peter's Trail

Monday, July 4, 2011

Coming at you from the East side

Pardon my hiatus, but I have been traveling and adjusting to a new time zone.  Not really, an hour doesn't throw you too bad, but it is what it is.  I am back in Pittsburgh for 27 days, giving Wisky a brief second to breath without me.  I am enjoying the lack of sales tax on clothing, not buying gas or food and hanging with the fam. 

Today I ran a race: The Whiskey Rebellion.  Not to be confused with Wisky the state.  I ran a PR AGAIN! I keep beating my times! Not to get too cocky, but every time I run, I get a PR.  It's pretty impressive, if I do say so myself!  I ran a 26:46 (or so my watch says, we will see when the results are posted).  From experienced runners I quote "This is the hardest course in Western PA."  It is obnoxiously hilly.  I hail from the flatlands, AKA tornado alley, so all my training the past year has been flat.  Even my "hilly" runs couldn't keep up with the first two hills in this race.

Get ready for my fall training plans.  I'll post them soon!