Now What?

Monday, October 01, 2012

I have a few minutes of peace and quiet and I just realized that last Saturday I ran the last race I had scheduled for the season. It feels sort of weird, like "Now, what do I do?"

This season I did not meet my goal of a sub30, in fact I ran slower than ever on some of the races that I did. However, it was a season of firsts for me. I ran my first half marathon, half of a half trail run, 10k, 5k trail, helped my daughter and granddaughter both get new personal best times. Best of all, I got my three year old grandson interested in running races.

Although I may have been running slower this year I noticed that I feel stronger as a runner. Lately, when I am out running I realize that I no longer feel like that awkward runner:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGojEyYBmwc

Giggles aside, I am giving serious thought to signing up for a half marathon again this spring, but this time I want to focus on a better time. But I have time to think about that one.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LIV2RIDE 10/2/2012 6:46AM

Congratulations on an awesome year! Getting your family out there and exercising is worth more than a sub30 time. I think Your plan of the spring half is great. It will allow you to focus on an aspect of your training. Report Inappropriate Comment

VEGK80 10/2/2012 4:08AM

Congrats on all your accomplishments!! Report Inappropriate Comment

The 5k race was a trail; my first timed 5k trail run

Sunday, September 30, 2012

I ran my first official 5k trail race yesterday. I was expecting it to be half and half like it was last year. It was for the Fighting Saints Battalion Army ROTC and at the university there are a lot of trails. However, it was homecoming week and there were a lot of activities, so the run was out in the woods.

The trail was an old logging road and it was hilly and rocky. I overheard one person describing his run as "uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill; it was like there was no level ground."
I'd say that is a close description. It seemed like I was going uphill the first half and I was so looking forward to the downhill part of the run. When I got to it, it was rocky so I had to use extra caution.

My time was 36:19; I should not have done that 5 miler the day before because I was very tired on this run. It was a beautiful run though because the fall colors are at peak now. Plus, it was beautiful weather. Here is a photo I took on the run. It is blurry because I did not stop to focus.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAYBER 9/30/2012 10:53PM

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FRAN0426 9/30/2012 3:35PM

Congrats on finishing the 5K. It sounds like quite a grueling race with all the upp and down running. But you did it, and maybe next time ease up a bit the day before with a light run---just saying as I myself am not a runner, nor can I ever be with the knee work I have had done. Report Inappropriate Comment

MIRAGE727 9/30/2012 1:53PM

I now realize after so many 5Ks that all courses are not the same. I break down my times, note run conditions, and calculate how I fared matching other runs. I do this as a simple goal. I like the self challenging aspects and why not try to weight yourself out on how well you can do. That one shot you took is nice. Looks like a beautiful run! Thanks for sharing. Stay strong! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIV2RIDE 9/30/2012 11:57AM

Great job! I bet it was beautiful out there too. Report Inappropriate Comment

Could be spooky....(just for fun)

Saturday, September 29, 2012

I uploaded this photo to Facebook and it located a face for me to tag. Can you find it?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WINACHST 9/29/2012 3:16PM

spoiler: Look at the tree that is in the center of the path just past the bench. The face is inbetween the two branches toward the other tree. Report Inappropriate Comment

LABRATIAM 9/29/2012 8:19AM

Darn it....I can't see it... Report Inappropriate Comment

My first fall while running.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Yesterday, as I was running the trails at a State Park, I had my first fall as a runner. We were on the prairie section and it was the last place I expected to encounter a tree root on the path. But there was one in the grass and I caught it with my toe and went flying. My granddaughter told me she thought I was going to flip over. So I imagine I must have looked like I was attempting a handstand.

I am so glad that I am in the shape I am in. It only took me a couple of minutes to recover. I seem to be fine today. I landed on the palm of my left hand (which is the one I injured this spring and have been out of the splint only for two weeks) And I must have used my right hand to catch myself because my right shoulder hurt for a couple of minutes.

And to quote my granddaughter, "It's a good thing I had a soft landing."

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CHRISTINASP 9/28/2012 8:41AM

Glad you landed well....! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAYBER 9/27/2012 9:16PM

Out of the mouth of babes things can make you smile and feel better in minutes one day at a time Report Inappropriate Comment

FRAN0426 9/27/2012 5:39PM

Thankfully your not injured any more than you are. Report Inappropriate Comment

LIV2RIDE 9/27/2012 1:10PM

WOW!! Glad you are ok. Report Inappropriate Comment

DR1939 9/27/2012 11:11AM

Hope you feel okay today. Report Inappropriate Comment

Priorities

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Yesterday, I went to a state park so I could run the trails and enjoy the fall colors. My granddaughter was having a bad day at home so her dad suggested I take her along. She was a bit disappointed that I was going to go for a run and not play at the playground. However, we had an awesome time. Below is just one of the photos I took:



Oh, yeah, I stopped my Garmin after 2.5 miles because our time was over an hour.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ROSALIEESTHER 9/30/2012 2:13AM

Beautiful in every way! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAYBER 9/27/2012 9:20PM

What a wonderful bonding moment with granddaughter And you are setting such a great example for her One day at a time Report Inappropriate Comment

STUFFNEARTABOR 9/27/2012 2:56PM

How lucky you are to have a granddaughter so near & to be able to spend active time with her!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIV2RIDE 9/27/2012 1:09PM

Love the Fall! Being outside has a way of changing your bad day into a good one. Report Inappropriate Comment

SKEETOR 9/27/2012 10:29AM

Looks like you two had a great day! Report Inappropriate Comment