Sunday, December 29, 2013

A Year In Review...

Heidi
OK, so a year in review...I ran a lot of races....the end.    No really, I did do a few things I am proud of this year.  So here goes...
January
I ran the Disney Family 5k during marathon weekend in Disney World.  Kristen ran the half and Brian ran the Goofy challenge (the Half and Full marathons.)  Perfect reason to go to Disney.  Oh Kristen and I made some life altering plans for 2014 and 2015 while watching the marathoners finish in Epcot...over a few beers.  UGGGHHH!!
February:
I am pretty sure I took the month off.  It was cold out.  I ran on the inside track and got a shin splint.  The beginning of the end of 2013.  However, Kristen did convince me to sign up for the Rock and Roll Philly Half in September...
March:
I ran the Bunny Hop 5k in Downingtown with my friends April ,Heather and Diana and Haley and Tyler too.  It was a 5k PR.
April:
Ran the Hershey 10k "with"  Kristen, Brian, Carly, and Heather G.  My first 10k and was very happy since I trained and ran it with the stupid shin splint.  It was a PR..he he.
May:
Mother's Day Race...The Color Run in Baltimore.  My three children and Kristen and her son, Dylon  and I ran it.  It was a fun, super hot day to run.  Kristen let me beat her.
I ran the Turkey Hill 5k (with April, Heather F., Haley and Kylee-Heather's daughter.)  It was "hilly."  They had really good after race Turkey Hill food!!  And the race was cheap too. 
Also ran the Kennett Run 5k with all three children and Kristen and her family and our friend Diana.  Was happy to beat my Kennett time by a lot from the previous year.  Kennett was the first race I ever ran.  (Shin split disappeared, like magic).  Oh and we drank "free" beer after this race.  Always a good one!!
June: 
My friend April and I ran the DUB C 4 miler in West Chester.   It was a 6pm race and oh yeah...it was pouring down rain the whole entire race!!!!!!  Technically a PR!!!  We drank a few beers at Kildares afterwards.  Love West Chester races...when they are done!!
MY FIRST TRIATHLON!!!  Jackie and Kristen did it with me.  It was a sprint in York, PA but I was so excited to do it.  I can't wait to do more!!    Also a PR...ha ha.
July:
Good Neighbor Day 4th of July 5k in Downingtown.  It was hot.  Ran it with the whole fam (minus the hubs) and my friends April and Heather F.
August:
Nada....was training for the Rock and Roll Philly.  Had to get my mileage up!!!!
September:
FIRST HALF MARATHON!!.  Rock and Roll Philly.  Horrible time but I made it.  Oh and Kristen and Justin ran it as well.  They beat me.  (I am just cracking myself up...)  OH and my shin splint magically came back with a vengeance.
October:
Marshallton Triathlon...you can read the race report.  Not a "real" triathlon but still a lot of fun.  Oh and did I tell you I beat Kristen and Jackie??  HA HA HA HA HA
Run the Grove 5k.  It is a local race and not only did I get a 5k PR but I also crushed my time from the previous year.  Oh and Justin, Brian and Emma ran it too.  Justin and Emma got awards!!!  I did not.
November:
Chester County 5k Turkey Trot in Downingtown.  (I love Downingtown races, can you tell??)   Wanted a 12 min mile and a PR and I did both.  That might have been my racing highlight for the year, other than the Triathlon in June.
December:
Three days after I ran the Turkey Trot, Kristen, Brian, Diana and her crew and I  ran Brian's Run 5 miler in West Chester.  It was a very nice day and I just ran it to run it. (It was a PR though...ha ha.)  I was still a little bit sore from the Turkey Trot.  It was a hilly race.  Troy (who came for drinking reasons only), Brian, Kristen and I went to The Landmark in West Chester and had a few afterwards.  I probably should have stretched first. My damn shin splint was killing me!!!!  
So there you have it....2013 in a nutshell. A great big thanks to Kristen and all of my racing buddies!!!  I love "running with" you all!!!   I can't wait for 2014.  SO MANY MORE PLANS!!   Now to heal my shin splint and knee!!!!





Friday, December 27, 2013

Procrastination

Kristen


I don't have cable, but I still love to watch TV.  On one of the more recent episodes of Modern Family Phil was trying to hit a year end goal to keep an elliptical in his bedroom.  As I was laughing at the jokes, I thought that is me right now.

A few weeks ago as I was perusing my running log, I realized that I was awfully close to being able to reach 1000 miles for the year.  A few weeks ago, it would have been very easy to hit it, but in my soul I am a procrastinator.  So here I am with 5 days left in the year and 40 miles left to run.

Is it impossible-no.

Is it what I want to do-maybe.

Am I going to go out there and run every day until I feel like Phil-yes!

That's the beauty of procrastination-I had 365 days to hit 1000 miles and that should have been an easy goal.  But then after my half last January, I took the rest of January and all of February off from running-in my defense, I did not have a lot of warm weather clothes, which has since been rectified.

It still should have been easy, but then I spent most of October sidelined with an injury.  And still I should have made goal, but here I sit with 5 days left wondering if I have it in  me to run 40 miles.

I will keep you posted...

On another note, Christmas has come and gone-it was a great year!  Personally, I got lots of running clothes to keep me warm.  It has made all the difference already.  My hands are not in pain from the cold-its the little things! 

How about you-any fun gifts to report?

 Running's (& Smiling's) my favorite :-)

Friday, December 13, 2013

Angels Are Watching

My plan for today was simple-finish Christmas shopping.  It seemed easy enough-sure it was cold and I was going to have to get in and out of the car 100 times, but one day to get it all done was definitely manageable.

So here I was 4 stops in and getting ready for the next shopping area.  I had just gotten onto 30W in Lancaster.  I'm driving along with traffic at a quick pace when all of a sudden there is something enormous in the road in front of me.  A quick check into my mirrors let me know there was no avoiding whatever this was.  I ran over it and immediately knew that at 38 years old, I have my first flat tire.  I change lanes and get pulled over into the breakdown lane.  Once my heart rate returns to somewhat normal, I see that 4 or 5 other cars also have hit the same thing that I did.  I call the husband who tells me to call AAA.  Before calling, I check to make sure only one tire is flat-thankfully just one!  AAA gives me a wait time of 45 minutes.  I think to myself 2 things-at least I don't have any kids in the car and I wonder if I should pull up to the exit that's 1/4 mile in front of me.  Anything seems safer than sitting here for the next 45 minutes.

As I contemplate what to do and search frantically for the one thing my husband told me never to lose no matter what (the lug-nut), I happen to look into the rear-view mirror and notice a mini-van slowing down.  I think-wow that would be so great if someone would stop and help me.  Now, while all this is going on, all the other cars that had pulled over have disappeared.  I have no idea where they went, but I am sitting on 30 by myself.  Anyway, the mini-van stops and a man gets out and approaches me.  He asks if he can help.

I tell him I have called AAA but I would love the help.  I also tell him that I have no idea how to change a tire-period.  Seriously, I've been driving for 22 years and have never been in a situation where I have needed to change a tire or even have had a flat.

Anyway, I show him where the wonderful people of Honda have decided would be a good place for a spare.  This is the reason I would never be able to attempt to change a tire-I would not even be able to get the spare out of the middle of the van.  Mr. Stranger has it out in no time.  He asks me where the jack is.  I say, "With the spare?"  Where else would it be?  Just to be clear-it's not with the spare.

We halfheartedly look in the trunk-I know it's not there, although apparently there is some secret compartment back there that holds the jack.  Mr. Stranger goes and gets his.  I sit back in my car because I really don't want to get hit by the trucks whizzing by me.  He jacks it up and starts changing it.  I sort of hide my eyes because he is literally changing my driver side front tire with cars going 60-70 miles an hour past him.  I am not pulled over too far because of snow.  I really fear for this man's life who so kindly stopped to help me.

Meanwhile, in my rear-view I see 2 state troopers pulled up along the road cleaning up whatever it was that slashed my tire.  They eventually make their way up to my van and pull over enough in the lane to block it and give Mr. Stranger a little room to change my flat.  Thankfully, they stay until we are all done.

All of a sudden Mr. Stranger tells me he wants to show me something.  I get out and I kid you not, right there with 2 state troopers blocking the road, cars and trucks speeding past, I get my very first lesson on how to properly change a tire.  I would have laughed out loud right there if I wasn't so shocked by the whole situation.

Anyway, after talking to Heidi later, she brought me back to reality and informed me that my weak biceps would never get the spare out in the first place much less be able to loosen and tighten the lug-nuts properly so the lesson was really not needed.

I continued on my way, but by then the fun was over and I just made the stops that were critical and came home.  The husband is generally disgusted by the way I go through brakes on the van and when he called our tire guy was shocked to learn that I haven't gotten tires since 2009, so not an overly big deal to replace them now. 

I am humbled by the kindness of this stranger and am thankful that God puts people in your place for a reason.  So to this stranger who stopped to help me today-thank you.
Mother Teresa Quote

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Week in Review

Kristen

I'm so glad to be off the injured list.  It lurks in the back of my mind to continue a little longer to take things slow and easy but I have a hard time with that.  As I was logging my miles at the beginning of the week, I realized that I am close to hitting 1000 miles for the year.  If only I hadn't taken February off, I would have hit it-lesson learned.  Anyway, with 3 weeks and 2 days left in the year, I have 105 miles to run which is 35 miles a week.  It's not impossible, but I would prefer some nice spring weather while doing trying for it.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Sunday: 
Run 5 miles at 8:12 pace
Heidi, my husband and I ran Brian's Run-a race in West Chester.  It was a great day and a great race!

Monday:
Rest/Walk with Heidi.

Tuesday:
Run 8.3 at 9:05 pace
I don't usually run more or less than a perfect mile, but since I'm chasing 1000 I figure every little bit helps. 

Wednesday:
Run 4 at 9:27 pace
I was definitely not wanting to run today but 4 is certainly better than nothing.

Thursday:
Run 12 at 9:42 pace
Heidi and I went to this park that has a 2.5 mile loop.  It's our second time running here and I should really enjoy the change in scenery, but for whatever reason I don't have great times here.  I was hoping to get 13 or 14 miles but I couldn't force anymore miles.

Friday:
A much needed rest day.

Saturday:
Run 8 at 9:13 pace.
I was only planning on 6, but I was feeling really good and went a few extra.

Sunday:
Bike 35 minutes
My husband set up the trainer in the basement.  I would have rode the equivalent of a netflix show but the seat was torture.  I'm hoping he can switch seats and then I can pedal and watch TV to my heart's content-it's the little things!

How did you do this week?  Anyone working towards a particular goal?
This is my favorite running quote of all time. Running is a blessing!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Stream of Consciousness

Kristen

-Heidi has been bugging me for years to run the Turkey Trot that her family runs.  Sadly, it's in the opposite direction of where we celebrate our Thanksgiving.  The town where we do celebrate has it's own Turkey Trot, but they call it a Sticks and Biscuits race-something having to do with hockey.  I'll pretend that it's a Turkey Trot.  Anyway, all but my youngest ran.  It was cold, which is why I have never committed to this in the past.  The good thing was I ran fast to get done and out of the cold!

-My oldest son ran his first 5k.  I am very very proud of him.  Running does not come easy for him, so for him to commit and finish is a very big deal.  I hope he runs more races.

-Heidi roped me into a December challenge.  We have to either run a mile each day or walk 2 miles.  So far I've done every day, but based on the colder temps coming, I may become a big wimp-I'll keep you posted. 

-Can you believe Christmas is 3 short weeks away?  Me either-have to figure out what I'm buying all my favorite runners!

-Finally, we were at my in-laws for Thanksgiving.  My mother-in-law loves to take pictures!  We avoided the annual Thanksgiving Day family pictures.  I thought we would avoid it completely but she trapped us Saturday morning before we left.  So to wrap things up for today here is the most awkward of those pictures-just thinking of this cracks me up-have a great day!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

December 1st....Holiday Running/Walking Streak

Heidi and Kristen
 
 
OK so in the December Runner's World, The Newbie Chronicles article talked about not gaining weight and doing a holiday running streak.  What is that you ask??  It means in order not to gain any weight, you run at least one mile every day from Thanksgiving through and including New Year's Day. 
 
Well so far, Kristen has done this.  I, however, have not.  I ran a turkey trot on Thanksgiving and today (Dec. 1st) I am running Brian's Run in West Chester with Kristen.  It is a 5 miler and I did not want to run in between for fear I would be in pain.
 
So I am going to make my running streak a December Running Streak.  From December 1st to January 1st.  Who would like to join us??  It is not too late to start!!!!
 
All you have to do is run at least one mile every day from today until January 1st.  If you are not a runner???  That is ok.  You can make your's a Walking Streak.  Just walk two miles every day from now until January 1st.  Or you can combine the two...running and walking.  Just do something every day. 
 
What do you get you ask??? NOTHING.  That's right.  NOTHING!!!  No extra weight!!!!  So everyday, go on the Grumpy Runners Facebook page and let us know how many miles you logged in.  We look forward to hearing from you!!!!



https://www.facebook.com/grumpyrunners2?ref=hl