All Good

Never underestimate the power of running. As a runner, I am constantly asked, "How can you do that?" How can you go out day after day and pound the pavement? I often want to ask, "How can you not?"

As fellow runners, I think most of the readers of this blog don't need a lecture on the physical or mental benefits of running. But it never hurts to be reassured. I have been dealing with a lot of crazy at work. Yesterday afternoon, I had an hour long meeting with a client that brought me down. Way down. I left the office for the track feeling exhausted and questioning whether I ever do anybody any good.

Ten minutes later, I started my track repeats. I decided to do 400, 800, 1200, 800, 400 to mix it up a little. As soon as I started the fast repeats, my self-doubt started to disappear. Because there's no room to feel exhausted or worthless when you are using every ounce of your being to fling yourself around the track as fast as possible. And when you're focusing all of your concentration on getting to that finish line (or in this case, the spot where my G2 was waiting) without puking, it's hard to feel bad about yourself.

I left the track, having accomplished exactly what I set out to do. I was proud of completing a tough workout. I was sweaty and tired, but nowhere near as exhausted as I was when I left the office. And even though my difficult clients were still waiting with all of their drama and problems, running reminded me to put everything in perspective. I don't create people's problems - I just try to fix the messes they get themselves into. Doing this job isn't what defines me and if I have a bad day, it doesn't mean that I am a failure or a worthless person. But being a runner (and being a mom and a wife) DO define me. Succeeding in those things is where my sense of self worth comes from. And if that doesn't keep me going to the track, I don't know what will.

After I got home from the track, my hubby, Sophie and I headed out to golf nine holes. My general Pollyanna sense of happiness just kept going and going - we had a perfect night of golf, with perfect whether, and a perfectly behaved near-two-year old (is that an oxymoron?). I went to bed last night feeling like it had been the perfect summer day.

Race Report - Pine County Fun Run 10K

Let me start by saying I don't think I really like 10K's. They're just too hard. Short enough so you feel you have to run fast (and remember, fast is relative, because I am not fast) and long enough so you feel you are going to die. Anyhow . . .

Saturday I ran the Pine County Fun Run 10K. This is the ONLY race I know of that is held within 6 minutes of my house. My friend Cheryl is the race director. I always help with registration, so I was out the door at about 6:45 Saturday morning. We had a very busy hour registering runners (twice as many runners this year than last year!), and then it was time to start.

My goal was to run an 8:30-8:45 pace. My training for the month of July has been a little lacking, so I thought that was a reasonble goal. We started off and I immediately started out too fast. A ton of people were running the 5K, which started at the same time, and I'm blaming those fast 5K runners for my fast start. First mile: 8:07. I backed off a little the second mile and managed to get closer to my goal pace at 8:24. Once the second mile is finished, you turn onto a stretch of road that I simply refer to as "that bitch." It is a long, wide open expanse of hell. I started feeling nauseous and I'm sure it was just the mental block I have in my head about this stupid road. Mile 3: 8:45.

We finally hit the turnaround and I was on the way back. A little over a mile of my nasty road nemesis and then it was back into neighborhoods. At this point, I was just out of steam. I really felt my lack of training taking its toll during miles 4 and 5. I did not want to have any 9:00+ miles, but just could not get my legs moving. Both 4 and 5 clocked in at 9:17. I picked it up during the last mile, knowing I was closer to the finish. When we turned the final corner, I realized that I may still have a shot of finishing in under 54:00, so I really pushed. I just missed it, crossing in 54:02.

Which is a PR. By two whole seconds. So I should be happy, right? But I feel sort of crappy about the race because I don't think I ran very well. And I feel disappointed in myself for slacking during the month of July. On the plus side, I am finally feeling super motivated again where running is concerned. I want to get my miles back up this month and be ready for my short races in October and November. I also got some running loot for my birthday - my hubby bought me new running shoes, and with my birthday $ I bought a new sportsbra and some Gu (because Gu is like birthday cake, right?). I'm headed to the track after work to try out the new shoes. Hopefully all this broccoli I'm eating for lunch won't make a reappearance . . . .

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Pushed Sophie on the swings. A lot. Also managed to chase her around in the sand, play with her in the lake and watch Finding Nemo a few times. I did fit in a little running, some biking, and some bean bag toss (or, as my father in law calls it, cornhole -- he insists that's the true name). I had a great time and wish I could have spent another week or so up there.

But I'm back. Unburying myself at work, washing massive amounts of laundry, and, most importantly, running. I ran 8 miles yesterday and it felt great. I'm planning on heading to the track after work. I've decided to let go of the sub-2:00 hour half marathon for my Mora race (on August 15th). I just have not put in the long runs. I'm still running the race, but with a new goal of simply doing the best I can. My focus now is on the shorter races I have scheduled for fall - a 5 miler and three 5K's in October and November. Last year I set new PR's at all of these races and I would love to be able to do a repeat this year. So I'm going to continue my weekly track work and focus on really speeding up my 800's. I'm also adding a weekly hill run (which for now will replace my weekly mid-distance tempo run). I think I need to shake things up a little to keep me excited about running.

I'm looking forward to catching up on what all of you have been up to for the past two weeks!

Daisy Downer

I'm looking for my running mojo. Has anyone seen it? It's average height, blond (smoking hot, of course), and oh, smoking fast. It up and took off and in its place left a drab, slow, blob-girl counting down the dwindling final days of her twenties. (That's right, my big 3-0 is only two weeks away. Candy and running shoes are acceptable birthday gifts.)

I ran a 5K on Saturday and it was just blah. I can't figure out what the problem is - I know I can run faster, but the last couple of races, I just haven't cared that much. I think some apathy I've been feeling in other areas of my life (hello, work) is dripping over into running. Which really pisses me off. So I've got to chase it away somehow. Just haven't quite figured that out . . .

On a more positive note, I am leaving for vacation on Saturday. A week at the cabin with the family. My husband sent a list of all the things we need to bring (boat, fishing stuff, etc.). I responded with: "Don't forget, I want to bring my kayak, my bike, the jogging stroller, and Sophie's little car." His response: "We're going to have to rent a semi."

Call it a Brick

I have to admit that I've been getting a little tri-envy lately. I read tales of my fellow bloggers training for and completing triathlons and I think, "ooh, that sounds fun." And then I remember that I can't really swim. And the thought of swimming in open water (without a life jacket, kickboard, arm wings, or rescue boat) and crashing against other people while swimming completely terrifies me.

Even though I'm NOT training for a tri (I know my limitations, after all), I am trying to diversify my training a little bit. I've been biking. And last night, I added swimming. I took Sophie to a tot's swimming class. So maybe putting your chin in the water, blowing bubbles, putting your nose in the water, and putting each ear in the water isn't a traditional swimming workout. It's in the pool, so it counts. If I keep it up, in ten years I may be ready to take on that tri.

To create my "brick" workout, I ran 6 miles when we got home from the pool. If you count the wrestling match I had with Sophie getting her out of the pool and changed into dry clothes before we came home (can we say terrible twos?), then I really did have my own little triathlon last night.

Sidenote to Athleta: I love you. You know I do. But you really should add a warning to the description of the Shirred Bra Cup Tankini. I suggest the following: Even though this swimsuit is marketed to our larger-breasted customers, BEWARE, you may end up looking like a porn star. You SHOULD NOT wear this swimsuit to baby swim class. You WILL look like a whore. Sex-starved fathers of infants and nursing babies may stare. A lot. You may feel like you are swimming in shark-infested waters covered in blood rather than in the kiddie pool.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Can I Get a Do-Over?

I give myself a big fat F for Fail on the healthy front for the weekend. Let's break it down. I was visiting my grandparents in Wisconsin from Thursday night until late last night. How many runs? Zero. How much DQ ice cream cake? Um, too embarrassing to tell. To top it off, I couldn't get my lazy ass out of bed this morning to get in a run before work.

Eight hours into the week and I am working like a fool to make up for my weekend debauchery. Healthy eating? Check. (The lunch makeover is going extremely well - enjoyed another big salad today.) Running? I'm just getting ready to change into my running clothes and head to the track for a speed workout. Then I'll pick up Sophie from daycare and hit the grocery store on the way home for some healthy stuff to grill for supper.

There is one little gray storm cloud on my A+ Monday. A teensy tiny headache. Okay, a big giant headache. Ice cream withdrawals? Probably.

No Lions, No Tigers . . . Just Bears

I'm usually pretty tired (okay, half asleep) during my easy early morning 3 milers, but this morning I got a big wakeup call. About a half mile from my house on the way back I saw a black bear come up from the river and cross the road. I pointed it out to Jim (who runs with his head down and never sees anything - kind of our standing joke) and he got super excited. We continued on and a truck pulled up to us. The driver told us to be careful because he saw another bear in a driveway just up the road. When we ran up to that house, we saw a HUGE black bear practically on these people's porch. We looked at each other and said, "Maybe we should run a little faster." I talked to my mom this morning and told her about our bear spotting. Her suggestion? To carry a tin pot and wooden spoon while we are running so we can make a lot of noise. Probably not going to happen.

Anyhow, Sophie and I are off tomorrow to southern Wisconsin to visit my grandparents for the long weekend. Hope everyone has a great 4th of July!