3 miles.....actually 2.58 and a huge wipeout

Today was my first injury as a runner....my first fall. We are at our summer house in Michigan and I planned on doing a nice, easy 3 miler this morning. I started out a little later than I hoped but was very glad when I started my run to feel the cool breeze. Although the sun was strong, it was nice out and very comfortable for a run. My first mile was great, my split was about 8:22. The next mile was a little slower but I was still around 8:30. As I was in the middle of my 3rd mile, I was about (luckily) 50 feet from our house. I was planning on doing a final loop to finish up my run. All of a sudden, I slipped (loose gravel I believe) and because I was crusing I just lost control, tripped on my knee then ended up on my shoulder. The first thing I did was stop my watch (and was very pissed I wasn't going to be able to finish this run when I noticed my knee gushing with blood, for a split second I actually considered continuing on). The next I looked to see if anyone saw me, I was in shock I fell and was waiting to hear "are you ok" from some poor bystander. But nothing. So I hobbled up the road to the house and put on a brave face for the girls. They were sorta excited to see that Mommy too gets boo boos and needs band aids.

My knee scrap is pretty bad, my shoulder one too. Very sore. My hand is scrapped too. So I will medicate the wounds and rest. And hope I am better in time to run the 10K this Saturday. DARN INJURIES!!!!!!

3 mile run

Temps were 77 but very humid. I again tried to push myself for the first mile but was sorta disappointed I didn't run faster. It was very thick outside so maybe that was it.

My splits:
8:15
8:43
8:15

I was glad I was able to finish fast but wished I was closer to sub 8.

9 miles

I am doing my long runs during the week during this training. It frees up time during the weekend Corey puts the girls to bed so I'm able to get my run in before dusk but after the sun isn't so brutal.

Last night I ran 9 miles a little ahead of schedule but I want to get in as many over 8 miles as I can.
I did not hydrate all day and even had a beer at dinner. But I took my hand held water bottle which helped so much!

The weather was about 80 with heat index. Fairly comfortable

I started out slow and steady. Around mile 6 I bumped into another runner I see during my runs. She usually paces a bit faster than me but I passed her last night even joked with her about it. Around mile 7 my left knee started to get a little sore but today it is fine. I felt strong in the last mile so I knew I held back a lot during my run which is good. My splits were all over the place. I was conservative during most of the run since a. I was tired from a long day of going downtown with kiddos and rearranging Annies crib to toddler bed b. I ran right after dinner and a beer!

My splits:
9:22
9:11
8:55
9:21
8:54
8:41
8:56
8:59
8:39


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3 miles

3 miles training - 25:58

splits: 8:20, 8:40, 8:30

It was hot, about 80, heat index of 89

I tried to run the first mile faster, but ended up just about 8:20. Not a bad run just humid. I was also tired from a long day

Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon

This was my second half marathon. I enjoyed the training because it was so much cooler. I started to train in January and really enjoyed the cold long runs outside.

I heard this course was hilly. and it was! Starting around mile 8 it got hilly and it lasted until mile 12. It was beautiful and so fun to explore where Lincoln lived. we made a weekend of it and the kiddos loved it! Anyway, the course was great and I ended up running with a simliar paced guy from about mile 3 until 8. It was so nice to talk to him during those miles.

I finished in 1:56:37 - meeting my goal of going sub 2!

Beverly Turkey Trot

Corey and I signed up for the Beverly Turkey Trot in November. I wanted to run a 5K after these longer distance races to see if my time improved and also to run a Thanksgiving race!The course was run through a neighborhood in Chicago called Beverly. It's a cute area, simliar to Homewood with tudors and cape cod houses. The streets are actually hilly. It was a very chilly day and I loved it...I really prefer running in the cold.

Corey pushed the girls in the double stroller. I started the race towards the front because I really wanted to push myself. I was hoping to finish faster than my last 5K which was 27. I don't know my splits but I was very happy with my finish of 25:47, 8:17 minutes per mile pace.

Hot Chocolate 15K

My college friends came to Chicago last November for a little reunion and for us to all run the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K. It was so fun! My friend Stacy has been running longer than me and runs a tad bit faster. It was great to pace with her and try to keep up with her during the race. The race was HUGE, our friends all ran the 5K except Sta and I and my sister in law Christie ran it with us too. I pushed hard and was pretty happy with my finish time of  1:24:48 with a pace of 9:05. I started out with a sub 8 mpm but soon had a huge cramp on my right side. What a pain! I was able to just keep going and finish strong. The best part was the Ghiradelli Chocolate at the end...and of course seeing my best friend and our college friends!

Chicago Half Marathon - September 11, 2011

The big day finally arrived. I had trained using the Hal Higdon Novice Half training plan. My longest run was 10 miles. I had ranged around 10:00 minute miles during training, with some runs sub 9, around 9:50.  I was lucky it was a mild summer so I was able to do my long runs outside during my training. Shorter runs were done on the treadmill or outside.

I hydrated on Saturday. I stupidly drank too much that Thursday before celebrating my birthday and felt like crap on Friday and at the Expo. But by Saturday I felt much better and hydrated a bunch.

It was hot. They actually flagged the race yellow half way through.  The first 5 miles flew by. I had chills that I was actually doing this race. My pace was good, I felt strong. Around mile 6 I took a GU pack as I started to hit a wall. Mile 8 my Uncle John was playing the bongos and that was amazing how much energy that gave me! Miles 9, 10, 11, 12 were really long. I was ready for this to be over with. Plus it was hot and no shade heading back south on Lake Shore Drive. But all the cheerleaders and encouraging posters really helped. I finally got into a zone and finished. As I was rounding the finish line White Striped "Seven Nations" was playing and as I ran through the balloons and stuff I couldn't believe I did it!!

I tried to find my time but I couldn't get the website on my iphone to work. I was guessing I finished around 2:12 or so. As I took the train home after the race I finally was able to see my time - 2:07:44! I was thrilled and even more so that my pace was 9:45.

Coloma Glad Peach Run 10K

As part of my half marathon training I had to run a 10K about 4 weeks before the half. I signed up for this 10k during our girls week in Michigan. I was really excited to run this race since it was 6.2 miles and I had at this point run longer distances since the 5K races. The day was cloudy but warm. I felt strong for the first 4 miles. I started to hit a wall around mile 5 and the last mile was up a huge hill. I remember stopping for water as I had a really bad cramp. I pulled it together and was able to finish in 59:57 with a 9:38 pace. I was happy to finish under an hour so I was very happy with this race.I also remember I peed a little bit towards the end of the race...shhhh

Lodi Corn Festival 5k

In June 2011 I did another 5K with Corey, his sisters and a few friends. It was a super hot summer day and the race took place on hilly country roads, with little shade. I kept pace with his one sister and ended up finishing with her. The race was not chipped but we finished around 27:30. So pretty much the same but the fact that it was hilly, I was glad I was able to maintain my pace.

Apollo 5K

I kept running after my first 5K. I decided to sign up for our town's local 5K on May 21, 2011. It was a pretty warm day. The course was through the neighborhood around the Dog Park. Some of the streets were a bit hilly. Corey pushed the girls in the double stroller and went ahead of me. I tried to keep pace with him and as I approached the finish line was shocked to see 27:xx minutes on the clock. I gunned it and finished in 27:37. I was so excited to cut off 4 minutes from my 5K. Yes, I was liking this. Liking this so much I decided that I'd sign up for a half marathon in the fall.

Race to Wrigley 5K - April 2011

Ok...so I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I signed up for my first 5K and decided to do the Wrigley one because the Cubs are near and dear to me and I sorta felt like my dad would be with me if I did it at Wrigley. I trained for 6 weeks. I believe my longest run was 4 miles during my training runs. I ran 4 times a week and enjoyed all my runs. I remember the first time I ran 3 miles on the treadmill, I came home on a high telling Corey "I did it, I ran the entire 3 miles" and I felt all flushed and prickly.

The day of the race we took the train up to Wrigley.  I wore the given tech shirt (too big) and long running pants plus my new Asics. When I first started to running my knees hurt so bad. I would come in from runs and not be able to work upstairs. I realized my old new balance weren't cutting it so I went for the old standby and supportive Asics.  My knees were better in a week!

It was a rainy morning. I think it misted the entire race. We ran up Addison, north on Ravenswood, down on Irving, looped back then south on Clark right to Wrigley. It was great. I finished in 31:31 which was fine. I had no goal other than to finish!

I was hooked. I didn't want this to be my last race. I was excited for this new hobby I found.

So I decided to see what these 5ks were all about...

There are a zillion blogs out there now all about moms that run. It's nothing new, people have been running since the beginning of time. But for me, it's a very personal feat I have decided to take on. I like many others, never enjoyed running. I dabbled a bit in high school running on the lake front, ran off and on in college on our hilly running paths or the dreaded treadmill in our school's gym then started to run off/on after I was married. But it never really stuck. I never really wanted it to stick.

Fast forward to a year after giving birth to my second beautiful daughter. My body wasn't bouncing back so fast and it did the first go around. And, being a new stay at home mom, I needed to give myself a goal work on. So I signed up for the Run to Wrigley 5K back in 2011. I decided to see what all the fuss was about...why were so many people running these 5K races. I'd train for it, run it then see how it went. Well....over 15 months of running consecutively I can say that my life has changed. I have become another mother runner. And this blog is my life of a mother runner. It's a personal journal for me to record races I have run and set goals for myself.