Monthly Archives: December 2013

We’re Streaking!! {Link Party}

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with , , , ,

streak

My buddy Salt and I would like to welcome you to our first Streaking Party!!

I was intrigued by the Runner’s World Streak Challenge because, well, I like challenges. I’ve been training for my full marathon and already running 4 times a week, I figured what’s 3 days of 1 mile? Sign me up!

Two weeks in and I’m going strong. I’ve been having a lot of fun doing this and on the three days I run only 1 mile, they serve as a cool break from the other “purpose” runs. There is no specific goal with these one milers—just do them. Here’s a recap of the past week : )

December 5: Thursdays are my tempo runs and also treadmill runs. My plan had me running 5 miles so that’s what I did. I love having a plan to tell me what to do (and that I can still control if need be). I’ve also never minded running on the treadmill; I know some runners abhor it but it’s never been a big deal to me. However, lately, I’ve been feeling my shins a lot more on the ‘mill than on the road.

December 6: Fridays are typically rest days so I did a pace mile around my neigborhood to continue the streak.

December 7: Saturdays are my long runs but I had my 15k the next day so I left it to a mile to continue the streak.

December 8: Hot Chocolate 15k! You guys read about my recap in a previous post but I could talk about this day over and over. I won’t though and spare you : )

December 9: Recovery mile to continue the streak. This was a slooooow mile!

December 10: Tuesday is cross train day so I did a streak mile followed by 10 miles on the bike.

December 11: Wednesday is speed day so out to the track I went: 3.16 miles with an 8:34 pace. Also, a member of my run club owns a baby store and was doing a raffle for a BOB Sport Utility jogging stroller………..and I won!!!!! I never win anything, really I don’t, but lately I’ve been on a roll. The stroller is so beautiful.

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I also had my MRI last night. I’m hoping to meet with my doctor soon to discuss the results.

Overall, it’s been a great streak. One of, if not the best, reason I like streaking is that I’m doing it with my “sole” sister, Salt. Talk about motivation. I always look forward to her check-ins on our accountability board to see how her mile went. And, even though her miles are faster than my miles, I know she runs them with the same enjoyment I run mine.

Click here to enter your link and join our Streaking Party!

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

Posted by hellyontherun in Not Running Related, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , ,

So it was a rare late morning/early afternoon and I had roughly about 20 minutes of alone time (both kids were napping) before my son would wake.

During these sporadic moments, I try and catch up on reading whether it’s with a book or a magazine. I typically avoid the television during my alone time but something told me to look at the channel guide—and then I saw it: 10 Things I Hate About You was on.

I can’t resist a Joseph Gordon-Levitt movie, especially a vintage one so I settled back on my couch and hoped my kids would let me watch a good chunk of it.

Evidently, I’m not embarrassed to admit this is one of favorite movies. It’s silly, it’s fun, it’s a good no need for deep thinking movie, and it inspired today’s post : )

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Me

  1. Spanish was my first language growing up but I was an English major in college and am now an English teacher. Being bilingual rocks!
    images
  2. My brother and I were born in the same year, he in January and me in December. Clearly, I was an oops baby.
  3. My favorite book is Where The Red Fern Grows and I cry every time I read it and I’ve read it too many times to count.
  4. There were 600+ people at my wedding
    . wedding
  5. I once danced Michael Jackson’s Thriller in front of hundreds of people.The dance class at my high school sometimes asks teachers to perform at assemblies and for Homecoming this was the dance of choice. I couldn’t pass up this amazing opportunity. Seriously, the perks of being a teacher.
  6. My husband and I love basketball so much we chose our wedding day, October 23, in honor of Michael Jordan and also because it was before the NBA basketball season started.

    michael

    Also, I love that I met Bill Simmons who started as a basketball/sports blogger and is now a commentator for ESPN.

    bill

  7. I hate water. As in the ocean, lakes, swimming pool… I don’t like that I can’t see what my feet are touching and thinking about all the people that have been in the pool I’m considering getting into grosses me out. I would never want a house with a pool either because it’s too much maintenance and I’m lazy for those types of things.
  8. I had (have?) a serious soda addiction. I would drink about a 6 pack a day and in college it was that plus a few Big Gulps.Coca Cola. Don’t even think about offering me a Pepsi.
    coke
  9. I like Meatloaf. Not the food.
    meatloaf
  10. I’ve written before that I’m an oxymoron in so many ways. I’m old school and am very reluctant when it comes to new technology. I’m always the last one to buy whatever was “in” and then never learn to use it to its full capacity nor care. But, technology fascinates me.

–What is one interesting thing about you or that you’ve done?

–Do you share any of my idiosyncrasies?

Hot Chocolate 15K Re-Cap

Posted by hellyontherun in 15k, Race, Running and tagged with , , , , , ,

First off, we’re in need of another YAAAY!!!!

I knew it was going to be a cold one (I have to add the “for Arizona” disclaimer) and it certainly was. I expected it and went prepared with the works: long running pants, long sleeved shirt, running jacket, those ear cover thingys, and gloves. You’d think I was running in Antarctica but I didn’t care—I hate being cold.

 

Pre-Race: Do I look cold?

Pre-Race: Do I look cold?

I had a feeling I’d start stripping during the race and I did; the gloves came off at mile 3 and the jacket at mile 4.

After my watch beeped away the first mile, I saw I had done a good warm up at 9:27. I decided then and there that I was going to shoot for sub 9:30 the entire way. And…..I did it!!

Here are my splits (I love them!):

1-9:27
2-9:02
3-9:11
4-9:16
5-9:16
6-9:17
7-9:05
8-9:18
9-9:07

As I was running and seeing that I actually was completing each mile under 9:30 I couldn’t help but think of how far I’ve come. I felt like I was seeing all of the hard work from the past couple of months right in front of me. Sometimes it’s hard to think that it will pay off but it does, it truly does. I had been a 10 minute miler for such a long time you couldn’t convince me that I’d be running a race with sub 9:30 miles.

When I crossed the finish line and saw that I had finished at 1hr 25 min tears welled up in my eyes I was so ecstatic. My goal had been to finish under 1:30 and to have done it with time to spare made me so happy. You couldn’t erase the smile from my face crossing that finish line. It never went away all day.

To top it off, well, you know what else was waiting for me at the finish line…..chocolate!!! After I collected myself as best I could, I walked over to redeem my mug of hot and melted chocolate. I’m a bit particular when it comes to chocolate but I definitely give this race’s two thumbs up! Perfect Sunday!

Snapshot 2013-12-08 21-00-02

Have you seen your training pay off?

Are you a chocolate lover?

P.S. It was another no music race and I must say, I’m digging the silence.