200 miles and a rainy run...

Today marked my 200th mile since January 1st of this year. I've been tracking my miles since the beginning of the year and today marked mile 200!! So many more to go...but it still feels good. I ran 5 miles in the misty, yucky, cold rain this morning and I feel fantastic now. I think people were looking at me like I was nuts, but when I left it wasn't quite raining yet. Oh well. This Saturday is the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K. I'm so excited!! The expo is on Friday so that should be fun. My girlfriend from Richmond is coming down and we are running it together. She has done way too many marathons to count, so I don't know if I will be able to keep up with her, but it will still be fun!

7 Miles!!!

I did it-7 miles in 57:46. I was so pumped!!! Garmin gave me an avg pace of 8:16. I feel great-right now at least. Dan was making muffins and had all the boys dressed when I got in. I left the house at 6:45 am. The weather couldn't have been better. Now I don't feel so bad for pigging out on that pizza at Giuseppi's last night. It made it that much better...I told Dan that if I finished under an hour I wanted to celebrate with a special drink tonight. I think I will. I also want to give a shout out to my pregnant friend running a half-marathon in D.C. this morning. You are truly my inspiration. You rock!!!

Best time ever!

This morning was a four mile run. It's funny, these runs are becoming super easy and to think I used to dread 4 miles. I could do it in my sleep now. Garmin said avg pace was 8:11 MM. So far that's my best time yet...I'm loving that Garmin so much. It has definitely motivated me to kick it up a notch with speed. Tomorrow I'm shooting for 7 miles..we shall see!

Let's talk nutrition...

What do you eat before/after a run? (for those of you who even know about this blog, not too many do) I am not one of those that can eat before a run, but I know when I start my longer runs I will need too. After a good run, I love eating Luna Bars, with my favorite flavor being Nutz over Chocolate. What do you eat during the day to stay fueled? I've been so HUNGRY since I've started increasing my milage. I also love Clif bars too, especially Peanut Chocolate Chip. I also drink a 12 oz G2 as soon as I come inside after a run. So tell me, what do you eat?

Running is a drug....

Today I had my heart set on just staying in bed. Yesterday I did a pretty tough cross-training workout and my calves and back were hurting. Besides, it was 37 when I get up. WTH? I'm over the cold!!! But I got my butt up anyway and just wanted to get it over. As I was running, it got easier and easier to keep going. Dan was going to work a little later, so I knew I had more time. I ended up running 5 miles instead of my normal 4! I was pumped! Garmin said I burned an extra 120 calories and I still ran at my consistent 8:21 MM! It really is a drug because now my body doesn't ache quite so much and my mood is lifted. I think now that it is getting lighter earlier I can get more miles in during the week. I may do a 4-6-4 during the week and get my longer runs done on Saturday morning. That may be the plan for now until I need to bump it up further along in my training.

Running Fashionista!

I love a cute running shirt, as well as a comfy one. No cotton shirts for me. I discovered Running Banana while searching for running shirts online. You can custom make your own running shirts or search through their cool slogans and designs. I am definitely going to get a singlet and a long sleeve one. These are the ones that I designed....

front of singlet

back of singlet

Now check it out and go design your own...

A "beautiful" run..

Yesterday my 6 miles was absolutely beautiful. One morning I'm going to take pictures of the marsh view I get on my run. It is amazing...and according to my Garmin, I ran an 8:13 mm. I finished the 6 in 49:15-my best time yet. I seriously could have gone more....but I had so much to do this weekend. Oh well, next weekend I'm going to do a short run and then after that is the Bridge Run and then it's time to get some longer runs in....I'm so excited I can't stand it! Who would have thought? Besides, with all that I ate this weekend, I better get my butt out there....

Gulp! Double Gulp!

I can't tell you how long it actually took me to press the "pay now" button, but I did it. I am officially registered for the Charlotte Marathon on December 13, 2008!!! WOW, it's real now. I'm gonna do this thing. I'm scared! I'm excited! I'm nervous! So many emtions. I know I have a while to process and train. My sister-in-law lives in Charlotte, NC, so it will be great to be up there. We'll just make a family trip out of it! It's only about 3.5 hours from here. I decided against the Kiawah Marathon because so many people that have done it don't really like it because it loops so much...kinda boring. Besides registration doesn't open until August and there was no guarantee that I would have gotten in it (it's a lot smaller than most), but now I am OFFICIALLY REGISTERED for the Charlotte Thunder Road Marathon!!!!

I got my new shoes on....

and everything is gonna be alright! Can't wait to break out these 'bad boys' tomorrow morning..these are the Mizuno Wave Rider 11's-in pink, no less. What shoes do you wear for running? According to our local running store, these were highly recommended to me.

Amazing 4 mile run...

I had an amazing 4-mile run this morning. According to my Garmin, I averaged 8:25/mm. Not too bad I guess. Of course there's always room for improvement. It was a beautiful 63 degrees when I left at 6:40 am! I ran in shorts and a tank. I felt so good after the run too...SPRING is definitely in the air.

I want to get a couple of marathon books too...I'm considering this one and this one. Anyone have any suggestions? How about gu vs. sport jelly beans? Just thinking ahead to my long runs...

It has finally happened...

and every runner said it would. After a long 10 or so years of running off and on-I am finally addicted. I LOVE it now and actually look forward to it. I never did before. When we were trying to get pregnant and going through fertility treatments I was advised not to and I had NO problem with that. But now I have a newfound love for it. Yesterday I did 4 miles and I honestly could have done 4 more but Dan needed to go to work... I guess I need to start going earlier, it's just that it's so dark. On the days that I don't run, I do strength training and although it's important, I don't get out of it what I do with running. I find myself a little "crabby" when I don't run also. I'm finding myself reading blog after blog of people training for a marathon and it motivates me even more. I'm trying to improve my time and yesterday I did 8:30 minute miles and I was so happy! I also keep stalking the Kiawah Marathon website to make sure I haven't missed registration...I will be so bummed if I miss it!! I never thought I would be a "runner" but now I am proud to be one. I love the fact that my boys can look up to their mommy as an "athlete", I hope they will catch the running bug too! I feel better than I ever have in my entire life and I owe it all to my new outlook on running....

New Blog, New Post...

Join me as I discuss running and training for a marathon while being a mom to 3 kids at the same time....I'm so excited to be embarking on this adventure and can't wait to share my details along the way...