Race Report - Run for the Apples 5 Miler

After what feels like months of crappy weather (okay, it's only been a couple of weeks), this morning I was shocked to see some light creeping in through my bedroom window. Two possibilities: alien spaceship landing in my front yard or the sun. Even though I thought the alien spaceship was more likely, the sun was actually shining. A crisp, sunny, perfect fall morning.

Sophie and I picked up Jim and we headed to White Bear Lake and the Pine Tree Apple Orchard. This race starts a couple of months of my must run races and I have been looking forward to it all summer. As we were standing around waiting for the start, I got to meet Melissa. It was a great surprise to meet a fellow running mommy blogger.

Once the race started, it was a s-l-o-w first mile with lots of walkers and runners just mish mashed everwhere. When you have hundreds of people running through the paths of an apple orchard, it really takes a while to spread out. The first mile marker is right back near the start, so I was happy to be able to ditch my jacket with my mom and Sophie. The sun was warming me right on up!

The second mile starts with a really tough hill. The word "hill" doesn't really do it justice. I just kept reminding myself that this was the worse it gets. And kept putting one foot in front of the other. I slowed up a couple of times to wait for Jim because I really wanted to run this race for fun, together. About a half mile from the finish, I could hear the crowd and the announcer and felt the excitement of being so close to being done. Kick time. The final downhill was slick and I really had to concentrate on not falling on my face. Success. Crossed the finish line in 44:51. Garmin says 44:17, but I wasn't sure exactly where the start line was, so who knows. Either way, another year at a fun race.

After we had a chance to catch our breath (and preview the awesome finish line picture my mom snapped - hopefully I'll be able to edit this post tomorrow and add the pic), we headed into the apple store to load up on apple treats. Yum.

For post-race recovery, I've been channeling my inner domestic godess. My grandparents, mom, and in-laws are all coming over tomorrow, so I cleaned, scrubbed, organized. Oh, AND I made some delicious cornbread from scratch and my first ever cheesecake (pumpkin). Hopefully it tastes as good as it smells! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Confession Time

Running the risk of embarassing myself even more so than I did by posting my reenactment picture, I think it's time to tell you all the truth. I cannot do a true, for reals, push up. Well, I can sort of do one or two. But several in a row? Like is required during Kettlebells class? Um, no. Big fat fail.

I can do a bazillion push ups on my knees. No problem. But make me go on my toes and I shake like a leaf and collapse onto my belly. It is really humiliating. I need to figure out how to toughen up and do a real push up.

So I will make you all a deal. YOU teach me how to do push ups. Give me whatever advice you have. In exchange, I will impart really the only piece of wisdom I have: how to survive winter running. I may not be able to give any advice on any other area of running, but I have run through cold Minnesota winters for several years and I know my snow and ice. But first, I need to figure out how to do push ups. Because I have a total girl crush on my kettlebells teacher and I want to impress her with my superhuman strength.

Snowy Run

I don't have any way to prove this, but I'm pretty sure I wore my running hat and coat the earliest ever last night on my five-miler. I don't think I've ever pulled out the winter gear in October before. Granted, it wasn't full on winter gear (the Under Armour extra warm tights and double layer turtle necks are still in the closet), but still. Winter, you and I didn't get along very well last year. And you're really pushing it already this year. Watch it.

Running + Sunshine = Happiness

A couple of weeks ago, I took off from the office door for a run and cursed the sun. It was too hot, humid and ugh for my liking. All I wanted was a little rain cloud to block the sun and cool me off a little.

Last night, I took off from the office door for a run and did a little happy dance because the sun was shining. I commented on how great and warm the sun felt on my face. What a difference a couple of weeks (and a forty degree temperature difference) can make!

The sun is trying to peek out from the clouds now, so it looks like my post-work track workout could be another sunny one. After what feels like nonstop rain for at least a week, I'll take it.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend! I'm so jealous of all of you headed to Chicago, I can almost taste it. Can't wait to read the race reports!

Nuun Love

A while back, I got lucky and won some Nuun from the lovely Marlene. Last weekend, I was very happy to get my super cute little box of Nuun in my mailbox. An eight miler last Wednesday night was the perfect time for a test run. I dropped a tablet into my water bottle and let the fizzy wonder begin. By the time I set out for my run, I had a tasty bottle of Nuun waiting for me.

The first taste of Nuun surprised me. It tastes almost carbonated (maybe it is carbonated? who knows?), and is very light. I liked it a lot. Regular Gatorade tends to get overly sweet and heavy for my tastes. So the verdict on the Nuun? Loved it. Now I'm hoarding the rest of my supply until marathon training starts again. And adding a handheld water bottle to my Christmas list!

Other things I'm loving tonight:

• putting on a pair of jeans I haven't worn since before I got preggers with Sophie and finding that they fit just right
• Twins WIN!!!

Not so much loving all the rain we are getting though. Blech. Kinda ruining my annual steamy love affair with fall running. Oh, and someone told me it's supposed to snow on Saturday. Spare me.

Marathon Envy & September Recap

Oh, fall marathons are everywhere! All of our local news stations were giving the "Twin Cities Marathon forecast" last night. All you bloggy people are running fun marathons. And I am jealous. Not of all that long run training during the hot summer months, but I want to be running a marathon. All that marathon envy has me looking forward, trying to pick my spring marathon.

Here's the tentative plan: run either Madison or Fargo in May. Still trying to decide between the two. Madison? Loved the half there in August, lots of family close by, and I think the course would be awesome. Fargo? My sister ran there last year and I spectated - seemed like a fun environment. Also, they're doing a deal this year where you get a special medal if you run the 5K Friday night and the marathon Saturday. Like North Dakota's version of the Goofy Challenge. Sort of tempting for a medal whore like myself. Anyhow . . . I'm also going to put in for the lottery for Grandma's half, but sign up for the full if I don't get in. And possibly run a marathon in May AND June. Nothing for some of you pros, but a big deal for a once-a-year kinda gal like me. So yeah, I've been spending a lot of time on marathon websites. Dreaming and drooling.

Looking back: September was the first month of my 350 minute per week (of exercise) challenge. It was very successful. Highlights - tons of cross training (everything from biking to Jilliam to kettlebells). Managed to lose 5 pounds without changing my diet. Lows? The running mileage. Lowest mileage month so far. So my October goal is to keep up the 350 minutes per week but get those running miles back up there.

Tomorrow my baby turns 2! I've scrubbed the house, bought the makings for lasagna, and wrapped all the presents, so I'm ready. Also looking forward to reading all the race reports from this weekend. Feed the marathon envy. :)

Finally, Dorkiness Confirmed

Luckily for me, this picture is quite blurry. I think you can probably still pick up on my clenched fists, knock-knees, and staring into outer space. Just remember, this was a reenactment -- this is NOT how I actually run. Well, at least I think it's not.