September 25, 2014

Gadgets and stripes

Today is already Thursday! I feel like I was just whining about my long run yesterday, but it was actually a week ago. Tomorrow, I have another long run, and I just hope I feel more motivated than last week.

After the kids left for school this morning, I got ready to run. I downloaded a card game app to my phone yesterday, and I really wanted to play it--but I told myself I couldn't play it until after I'd gotten my run done (just three miles). I had been browsing through apps on my new phone when I noticed one with a bunch of card games (I love cards). I discovered that it actually has "my" game--the one that I've been playing since I was probably Eli's age, and have never won. I play it (with actual playing cards) several times a week, hoping that I might win it someday. Anyway, it's on the app, which I was so excited about! It's called 13 Stacks. (The app is called Card Shark Collection, by the way, and it has all of my favorite games--well worth the $1.99 download if you like cards!)



Anyway, after getting ready to run, I felt a bit ridiculous with all the gadgets I was wearing (I forgot to take a pic in my running clothes, so I had to recreate it in my jeans):

Gadgets? What gadgets?
The Fitbit is so small (and I normally wear it under my jeans, attached to my underwear) that I don't really notice it. But since I'm wearing this iFit band for a few weeks, it feels awkward wearing my Garmin along with it. When I got ready for my run today, I had all three gadgets on, and felt a little ridiculous ;)

It was really humid this morning. I noticed it when I was walking Eli to the bus stop, and quizzing him on his spelling words. The paper that listed his words felt soggy by the time we got to the end of our street. So even though the temp was low (48 degrees), I still got really sweaty for a three-miler, and looked like I'd run much farther.



As I was running today, I was thinking about how hard this pace feels right now, when just a year ago, I was running 10+ miles at an 8:45 pace. I'm not necessarily upset about it, because I haven't been focusing on speed at all this year (I can't even remember the last time I did speed work, actually!); but I think I'd like to get back to doing some speed work after the Runner's World Half & Festival next month. I feel like I'm starting back at the beginning, and I'm sure it'll be really difficult at first, but hopefully my muscles (and my lungs) remember how to run fast!

I'm setting a goal to be able to get back down to a sub-2:00 half-marathon by May 2nd. What's on May 2nd? The 500 Festival Mini Marathon in Indianapolis! I've done that half-marathon four times (I walked it in 2008, 2009, and 2010; and ran it in 2011). It was the first race I've ever participated in, actually, and it holds a very special place in my runner's heart.

And in May, I'm going with some very special friends: my Ragnar team, From Strangers to Sole Mates, is having a reunion. I'm SO excited about this! So I'd really like to get back in good running shape for that reunion, and hopefully pull off a sub-2:00. Anyone else doing the Mini in May? If I remember correctly, it's the largest half-marathon in the country, so I'm hoping to run into a few readers.


Noah cracks me up! My mom's neighbor gave me some really nice clothes that she didn't want anymore, and when I tried on this blue and white striped shirt, I couldn't decide if it was really cute or not cute at all. I liked it on the hanger, but I wasn't sure if it looked okay on me. Noah was the only one around, so I asked him, "Do you think this shirt is cute? Or ugly?" He studied me for a second, then said seriously, "Well, I think it would look nice if you wore blue and white striped pants with it."



Haha! Jeans are out--I guess I need to find me some blue and white striped pants ;) That's what I get for asking a 10-year old boy for fashion advice. I ended up wearing the shirt--I like it!

9 comments:

  1. My goal is for the 2015 Mini Marathon to be my first Half Marathon!!

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  2. It's a very cute shirt! It also looks good with your jeans!

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  3. It looks great! It would look adorable with some brown boots.

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  4. I love the shirt and I also really like Aaryn's idea!! She's right it would look great with brown boots!!

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  5. I love the shirt!!!

    Question, since you have walked half marathons and run them, did you find that it hurt more to walk it? My last 2 have been more walking then running for various reasons and my body just seems to hurt more after the walking ones.

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  6. After about a five year hiatus from any consistent running, I'm doing a half marathon this weekend. Contemplating flying home to Michigan for the Kalamazoo Marathon on May 3rd. :)

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  7. I like it too. For some reason, lately I find myself liking striped shirts. Not sure about the striped pants suggestion, however.

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  8. Are you going to follow a specific plan to get under 2 hours for your half-marathon? If so, I'd love it if you'd share it with us. I wanted to get under 2 hours for my last half-marathon, but it went really badly. My training wasn't going well, and I'd just found out that I was a bit anemic. I'm looking to do my next one at the beginning of May as well, and aiming for under 2 hours again. The problem I always have with "official" training plans is that I play a lot of tennis, and so I can't run 4 - 5 times per week, so I adapt them all. I'd be curious about what you're doing.

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  9. Hey, long-time lurker here. I just wanted to say how impressed I am by your story, and I get excited when I see your posts in my Reader. You seem to be doing well with intuitive eating lately; I can only hope to start doing that at some point in time! Still working on the weight loss and healthier lifestyle for now. I have to say, though, if you took your kid's fashion advice, you'd look like a prisoner circa 1920. I challenge you to Google Image search 1920 prisoner. :-)

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)