Three Things Thursday

 I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it to the gym today as one of my cats was pretty well settled on top of my gym bag when it was time to leave this morning.   But I did persuade her to move and managed to fit in my workout. I don't like the treadmill yet I have been having really good workouts on it. I am not trying to do the mega miles on it that many of you do. I usually run 4 miles  with a small amount of walking before and after. I am more honest with my pace on the treadmill and lately I start  at the pace I usually maintain but I have been going steadily up every 5 minutes.  I run most of my run at a decent pace. (all things being relative)

A student's mother sent in CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES for me as a valentine treat. She also sent in a bag of coffee which I got to smell all day!  Another student brought in a cute cute coffee mug for me. What was going on?  We "celebrate" Valentine's Day tomorrow and I usually just get candy hearts and other junky candy.  I was starving mid afternoon and wanted to eat the cookies but I resisted. I brought them home to my hubby.  I remembered my colleague calling me skinny and I didn't want that feeling to go away! Tomorrow will take more resisting as there are bake sales to raise money for Haiti as well as valentine snacks!  "I do not need to eat junk.  I do not need to eat junk."

 I am notorious for buying things and "saving" them for later.  Why I do this I do not know but this week I have been wearing many of my saved items. Today I ran in my new (less than a week) Target seamless sports bra.  I LOVED It.  I also ran in a pair of fitness Capris I got on sale from LL Bean who knows when.  I totally loved these and thought they looked good too.  The problem with my little habit is I bought them so long ago I doubt they even carry them anymore!  

Here I go again, four posts on Three Things Thursday. I live such a wild life!  But I have to tell you! My son has signed up for the Vermont City Marathon! Woo Hoo!  It is his first marathon although he very graciously ran the half with me last year!  I love it!  

Good News /Bad News

1. Monday I got to run 6 miles outside early before an appointment. / It was freezing again. I am going to start doing some major whining soon.
I love running outside early in the morning. If I could go into work after working out.....say around 9 every morning I would be a happy woman!


2. I got into the VCM 2 person relay and can't wait to run it!/It's not until the end of May.
But I have a different half marathon in less than two weeks. There will be a lot of fan support at the VCM though and there is nothing like a "home town" race. 

3. A colleague told me I looked skinny this morning./ No bad news here.

4. I had a good workout on the treadmill today./It was on the treadmill.
Truthfully I do think it is good for me to get on the treadmill as I can't cheat on my pace.

5. I am reading a good book./It is written for middle school students.
One of my students recommended this book to me and he is so excited that I am reading it. I have to give him an update each day as to where I am.  He thinks I am the speed reader of the century and is doing wonders for my ego.


6.  I just got a box of books from Amazon./Who has time for books with all these blogs to read?

Really I always find time to read.  But I am reading less these days. I am most excited for Chris Bohjalian's new book.  


7. Vacation is in 8 work days./ Vacation is in 8 work days.
I need it to be in 3 not 8 but 8 is better than 13 or 18 or.........




What is your good news/bad news?  

10 Reasons to Shop Following a Race or Part 2 of the Race Report

When the opportunity presents itself, shopping post race is good. Here are 10 reasons why it is just fine to do so.
1. You are stimulating the economy in a new area if you have travelled to the race.
2. You worked hard. You deserve it.
3. You are in a new place and should look for merchandise unavailable where you live.
4.  You worked hard. You deserve it.
5. It is great to extend that post race euphoria with some shopping euphoria.
6. You worked hard. You deserve it.
7. You don't want to get home too soon to all the chores waiting for you.
8. You worked hard. You deserve it.
9. It will be easy to talk yourself into buying some fun things because after all........
10. ......you worked hard. You deserve it.

Sooo I shopped after my race!

My best buy, seamless sports bras.  I have a problem with chaffing with longer mileage. I paid a lot for one from Title Nine and it hooks in the back.  Now I get a huge abrasion on my back when the miles are long.

I like this jacket but I am not sure I love it.  I may take it back.  It is very comfortable but the pockets don't zip, no hood.  The jury is still out.

I love the color.  It is the same soft material as the pink jacket.

They did not have this comfy tee in my size. I was on the phone lamenting that fact to my daughter, ESH at Sweat Once a Day who suggested I then get it for her. If you follow her blog you know she loves pink.  Perhaps it is not the only thing I got her.

This is from the EBauer outlet, my favorite thing I got. It is more aqua than it looks here, a henley, 3/4 length sleeve. It all works for me.

I grabbed two DVDs in the $5.00 bin in the check out line, exactly what they want you to do!  I only got one book, I usually stock up on more when I am at Target.

I'm going to throw a little bit about running in here too.  Today I ran 12 with my friend, T, and once again it was soooo cold!  I am not a wuss but I have had enough with the freezing temps. I am not asking for shorts weather but in the 30s would be to die for.  T took a new pic of me for my header.  I thought I should make it a bit more seasonal. She is a great sport to take her gloves off in the temps we are running in.

Overall in my race yesterday I was 96/176 in the middle of the pack which is where I am apt to be. But agewise I am not in the middle of the pack so I feel just great with this!

Intense cold and bone chilling wind don't stop this AGE GROUP PLACER!!!

 Before the race
A year ago January I raced in the Inaugural 5K in Durham, NH. It was easily the coldest day I had ever raced. Well no more!  I don't know what the temperature or the wind chill was but it was FREEZING today in Lake George.  Just stepping out of the car at the elementary school was enough to take your breath away.  But that was nothing compared to running alongside the lake with the wind whipping across the lake to push against you no matter which direction you were running in.  I was very proud of both myself and my friend who braved the elements and ran in spite of the cold.

My friend had come along to cheer me on although I had asked her if she wanted to race.  Much to my surprise she decided to race in spite of the fact that she hadn't been running in awhile.  She weighed the pros and cons and despite a lot of hesitation went ahead and registered.  Many people would have stayed behind in the warm elementary school. I was very proud that she bit the bullet and ran! Of course then there was all the usual agonizing over what to wear. If you didn't have to go outside and STAND THERE waiting for the race to start it would be fine.  I ended up with one layer of pants, long sleeve shirt, vest and hoodie.  I wore a headband, thin gloves and turtle fur.  I did end up with the hood up the whole way even though the wind in the hood probably slowed me down a great deal. (ha ha)  Overall the right clothing decision.

After a short freezing wait the race began.  I took off feeling like I was doing very well.  I came to the first mile marker and my time was 9:13. WHAT???? I was not happy.  Usually my first mile is my fastest.  I am happy if my pace is anywhere in the 8s.  This was not going to get me there.  So I picked up my pace which was helped by a short downhill but not helped by now being on the lake in the wind. We headed past Paul Bunyan who was cheering us on

and I hit mile 2 with a pace of 8:43. Better.  Again a downhill which I used to quicken my pace and we turned a corner and headed back to the lake and more wind.  I kept thinking, this is just 4 miles, you will be done soon.  We get to the end of the lake and start heading UP for the longest hill in the race.  When I reached mile 3 my pace was 9:01.  As you can see there was no guarantee I would be under 36 minutes which is what I was striving for.  I had a little more of an uphill and then it was downhill with a long flat finish.  I had been passing many more people than were passing me so I felt good about that.  Once I got to the flat part I remembered that last year it was much longer than  I thought so I was mentally prepared for that. I passed a woman in a purplish hoodie and stayed ahead of her for quite awhile.  After we turned the final corner she passed me going quite a bit faster than she had been going.  I reminded myself that I should have some left as I started out slower than usual.  I didn't think I could pass her again but knew just attempting it would better my time.  I didn't pass her but it gave me the last minute surge I needed.  I crossed the finish line in 35:49 with a pace of 8:57. It is amazing how much happier I am with that than 9:01.  As soon as the woman in the purple hoodie and I got through the chute we turned to each other and said together, "You were a great inspiration to keep up with!"  I love runners!

Then I waited for my friend to finish, no longer feeling the cold as much in my exhilaration!  Racing always leaves me high for hours!  She was thrilled at finishing and running the whole way.  We went inside, changed and waited for awards.  I placed 2nd in my age group!  I got a pin.  I have placed here each year I did it. One year it was a medal.  Last year a trophy. This year a pin. I must say I am a sucker for the hardware.  No big deal though.

Lake George in all it's winter glory!

       Then we headed out to shop.  I'll save that for another post!  These photos are after the race. We are trying to look cold.  I think we succeeded.  Tomorrow I am scheduled to run 12. I am okay with that but I so need it not to be freezing. I have been a good sport but enough already!

This is the shirt. It is fine, nothing special but I 
at least got a small.

                                                                                 My age group pin.

Three Things Thursday

1. I am really looking forward to my race this weekend. It has been more than a month since I raced (New Year's Day). I am hoping it won't be too cold or icy. A girlfriend is going with me to keep me company and hit a couple of outlets after. Plus Target which we DO NOT HAVE in Vermont!

The picture is from this race a couple of years ago. Last year when I ran this I had a PR for a four miler.

2. I had 3 very different workouts this week. Two were on the treadmill. During the first one I had a cold and felt lousy lousy lousy! I ran my regular distance but slower and with breaks. I probably could have skipped it but I tend to keep going. I use the rule, above the head you can still work out, below the neck skip your workout. Believe me I have looked on the web many times for advice on working out when you are sick. I don't know if I am looking for permission to continue or to skip it. The second workout on the treadmill - two days later after staying home from work and spending the day in bed- was an excellent workout - great pace and good distance. Then today I had a late meeting I wasn't thrilled to go to. Between school and the meeting I headed outside with my Garmin and wound around the streets until I had run 4 miles. It was brisk but it felt great to be outside destressing before having to sit still and listen to people talk for an hour. I was glad I had squeezed this run in.

3. I forgot to tag anyone when I did my bucket list. So if you haven't done it and wish to please do! Have fun with it.

My Bucket List

Anne at Asthma and the Gift of Running tagged me to list my 3 things I want to do before I die.

I have been reading and enjoying these lists on several blogs so am pleased to do my own. I hope I don't make them all running related!

1. I want to run a marathon on another continent. I also want to go to Ireland so why not combine these two. Originally I was going to go for the Dublin Marathon when my daughter pointed out the Dingle Marathon which is stunningly beautiful. A scenic race is always a top priority for me so this is on my bucket list.

2. I want to travel more in general with Alaska, Ireland and many countries in Europe being on the top of the list. I would really like to go to Switzerland and tend goats with Heidi. (I am not sure if younger bloggers know this book??? It is about an orphan girl who lives in the Alps with her grandfather. For some reason I always wanted to be Heidi when I was younger so I better go for it!)

3. I want to retire young enough and be healthy enough to enjoy time to travel, race, visit my children and have some new adventures I can't even imagine at this point.

(4) And I must admit I really want to qualify for Boston at some point!

This was harder than I expected it to be!

What was your most meaningful race? Here's mine -a very special one.

This post was inspired by ESH at Sweat Once a Day who wrote such a wonderful post about me. It got me thinking about my own mother who may not have inspired me as a runner but certainly was an inspiration in many ways. It was also inspired by Christina at Lazy Bones Running who is posting an intriguing question each week. It made me think of a question I would like to blog about and to invite others to do the same.

What is the most meaningful race you have run? It could have been meaningful for a variety of reasons: your first marathon, running for a charity to raise money for a special cause, running with a friend or family member, running in memory of a loved one.

The last reason is the reason for my most meaningful race. My mother died when she was 53 when I was just finishing my first year of college. It left a huge hole in my life which continues to this day. I wanted to do something special in her memory when I was 53. The marathon that I was planning to run that year was past my birthday so I would be 54. I decided to focus on a half marathon that I was already running in the spring.

Once I decided to do this my brain went into overdrive with many ideas. I wanted to raise money in her memory but I wasn't sure how. I decided to just ask colleagues at work and friends. My goal was to get 53 people to donate. I came up with a short note that explained what I was doing and why and passed it out. I didn't know who to ask at work and didn't want to leave people out so I asked everyone hopefully making it clear any amount or nothing was acceptable. I thought maybe I would raise $100.00.

The response was incredible. Many people donated various amounts to my race. Several people asked me to run in their mothers' memories also. I was touched by the number of people who gave me $53.00 realizing the significance of that amount. I had told people I was going to donate the money to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital which was a favorite of my mother. She was also a teacher (like I am) so donations benefiting children were very appropriate. Sixty-four people ended up contributing to this cause. I raised $1415..00, far beyond my wildest dreams.
The race itself was fantastic. Each time I reached a mile marker, I thought there is another $100.00 for the cause. I had prepared a play list I was listening to. I played songs from each decade my mother was alive. I listened to Dixie Chicks in between each decade to easily separate the decades and because they are just plain fun to run to. Ready to Run was my starting song. I listened to songs from Swanee (Al Jolson - 1920s to Fire and Rain - James Taylor , 1970s.) I included some Frank Sinatra to honor my father too. I was just past the last decade when I crossed the finish line. My cousin had sent me a St. Jude medal which I kept in a pocket and fingered from time to time.

The weather was also great. I had a time goal of a pace of 9:30 a mile but this was a hilly course and I didn't know if I could do it. I had told my daughter to meet me at mile 11 because she wanted to run the last two miles with me. But I was ahead of my pace and had only a mile and a half to go when she met me. It meant a lot to me to be running part of this race for my mother with my own daughter. I really worked the last few miles still hoping I could meet my goal but I didn't think I had. Much to my delight and surprise my pace was 9:28 a mile. It was a good ending to a very special race.