Rainy Evening

My playground tonight

So tonight after class I got two miles in.  Not what I wanted but it is better than nothing.  The rain started really coming down around mile marker one so I headed back- only to have it ease up considerably when I got back to the start.  Murphy's Law in action.  The good news is that the weather is now cool enough that I am running the whole time again without needing to take any 'cool-down' breaks (starting with last week in Santa Barbara).

Monday's (non)Run

Monday looked great when I woke up.  It was cool with a light rain and I was really looking forward to my run after class.  However, while I was in class the floodgates opened.  Normally, I would still run- it was not storming, there was no lightning- but there were some really deep puddles forming, the rain was coming down hard enough that it stung, and on top of that it was getting dark .  So not wanting to injure myself I headed home.  Wednesday is the next time I will get a chance to run so cross those fingers that it will be at least decent weather as I am less than seven weeks away from the Governor's Cup.  On that note I did sign up for the Ray Tanner 12k today (does thinking about running count?).  This will be my first 12k and helps to keep me on track with my mileage.  So here's hoping tomorrow is good otherwise I have to run seven miles this weekend after taking a week off to stay on schedule and that really doesn't sound like fun.  I want to ease back into it.

Santa Barbara

So I only ran once this past week.  In my defense I was on vacation and I walked between 3-6 miles a day.  So all told I am happy with my run- and really how many of you kept to your exersise programs while on holiday? :)  The run was awful and the course was just absolutely dreadful as you can see from the photo.  I don't know how anyone could possibly stand to run in those conditions day after day.  It was hard, but I perserviered.  So seriously, back to the grind this week.  I need to get back on track which gets harder to do as the days get shorter.  I need to map out a nice, well lit path since I will be running after class.  Anybody have any ideas?  Preferably downtown since that is where I will be.

Dam Run

I ran my first 10k this weekend.  It was not pretty, and boy was I slow- even for me. I did run most of it taking just a few walking breaks at the water stops and up a hill.  I was just not feeling the hill at all yesterday... and as far as courses go in Columbia it was flat and downhill... so I do mean hill (singular).  Anyone who has run here will know what I mean.  The race planners around here love some hills.  But I digress.  I did it.  I completed my first 10k and have my first medal since elementary school, even if I did get beat by a seventy year old.  :)  Who was awesome FYI.  I only hope I am still that active when I am that age, or who am I kidding, now.

Hydration Belt and Wildlife

Tonight after class I went for a run and I gave the hydration belt a go.  It worked well especially since it was so hot and humid even at 8pm.  I stopped some poor woman and asked her to take a picture- 'cause I needed a sexy picture to go with such a sexy belt.  There was a lot of sarcasm in that sentence in case you didn't pick up on it.  Though, as you can see, it is reflective and very safe even though it is a glorified fanny pack. 

While out tonight testing the new equipment (it is not a toy, because toys are fun) I had this animal (see photo below) pointed out to me.  I think it is a beaver, that is what the couple who showed me said anyway, but beaver or not it is a huge rodent that gnaws on trees.  That tree was a regular tree on Saturday and look how much is gone now.

10 weeks

Ten weeks to go until the Governor's half marathon and I am getting nervous.  I am trying to train but life gets in the way sometimes, though, I am still on schedule per my training guide.  Speaking of training I bought a hydration belt this weekend.  I am going to try it out tomorrow night and see how it goes.  I feel that it looks incredibly dorky but it will free up my hands.  I seem to carry way too much stuff (ipod, phone- for both safety and GPS/running app, keys, water) and at times I feel like I am juggling while running.  So again, I am going to give it a try.  The running app seems to have worked out well, so, fingers crossed that this will too.  I will at least need it until the temperature starts to stay below 80 and probably at the half itself so I can carry my GU and stuff.

Back at it

After taking off last week, I am off and running again.  In a cruel twist of fate the mild and pleasant weather of last week is gone and it is in the upper 90's again (though the humidity has been in the 30's or lower- so small blessings).  I have already run twice this week and am shooting for a third tonight before The Game.  For those of you not in South Carolina, it is opening night for football season and therefore a religious holiday.  Everything will be shutting down around 3pm as everyone heads to Williams Brice.  So I need to run fast so I can get home and ready in time for kickoff.  Go Cocks!