Crazy Week!

This week has been a challenge with a 5th little person in our home! My nephew Nicholas spent the week with us.  Mainly because I miss spoiling him as I did my niece and also to give my sister some much needed time off.  She works very hard to keep her life going and Nick is a handful when coupled with a very active teenager with ATTITUDE!

I was able to get in a long run with Tisa this past Friday.  7.5 miles!!!! Holy cow, I can't believe we did it.  We went to Clearbrook Park which means 13.2 laps around their track.  It was overcast and about 72 degrees.   We did the run without stopping in about 1 hour and 20 min.  Tisa even said she could have run another lap.  I was concerned that someone had taken over Tisa's body because that comment was totally out of character.  I am so proud of both of us for how far we have come.  It makes the 1/2 marathon seem more attainable. 

Yesterday 8/31, we took Nick back to Mechanicsville.  I was able to run a short run of about 3 miles in my sister's neighborhood.  It is a great place to run, flat, and some shading.  The traffic is always minimal when I am there although she says it is too much for her to walk sometimes.  I listened to a podcast while running by ashlanddave.   ashlanddave.podbean.com    I have been following him lateley catching up on back issues.  He talks during one of his weekly runs.  Pretty cool to listen to others working in runs, working toward goals and dealing with life at the same time. 

Tisa called tonight to set up a running schedule.  Hopefully will do long run this coming Monday to stay close to the weekend schedule of increasing by .5 miles each weekend.  That means 8 miles this time.  WOW!  I know we can do it. 

My daughter Hannah started a blog this week.  She will be completing 8th grade this year and I have given her this task to write a blog for the year.  She got a new Mac laptop and I am hoping to take some of the free classes at the Mac store so she can get the full effect of the computer and perfect this blogging thing.   hannahs8thgradeyear.blogspot.com

Running Challenge

This week should be challenging to fit in runs since I have my nephew visiting for the week.  Normally, I would just take my kids with me, Makenah and Lilah on their bikes, and Isaiah in the jogger.  But, now I have to impose on my hubby a bit more to watch Iman and Nick.  

Tonight, I ran with Tisa at the hospital.  Our usual 3.3 mile loop up to pharmacy school.  I made the mistake of eating about an hour before our run,  not just a snack but my whole meal.  MISTAKE!!!  I had a lump in my chest for the entire run.  Ughhh!  We are getting quicker though and are able to talk most of the run.  It is good to notice these little changes over time.  Makes me feel stronger.

I called the Extra Mile Podcast phone line for the first time tonight.  I felt pretty dorky and was probably jumbled, but maybe next time, my techy hubby can set me up with a recorder.  I m enjoying more podcasts.  It's good to hear about other like me with lives and hectic schedules just trying to fit it all in.

Long Run 7 miles or maybe not!

Tonight was to be a long run of 7 miles.  It was still pretty hot around 7pm when I was to meet Tisa, so we went to Clearbrook Park.  I figured it would be shady and cooler than my neighborhood.  We needed to run 12 laps around the park and we were doing great when the sun started to set and we were chased out by the groundsman who was to close at dusk.  8:15 tonight ended up  being dusk.  We only ot 11 of our 12 laps completed.  But, the run felt great.  Much better than last weeks long run felt.  Tisa did great.  I felt like we picked up speed at the end and kept a great pace.  I honestly was a little discouraged by last week's run as it was hot and it felt awful to run for 75 min.  I am really proud of how far I have come in the last year.  I know I can finish this half marathon in November and I hope Tisa will continue with me as she is doing GREAT!

Busy week

This has been a crazy week.  I ended up working an extra day to cover 2 call-ins in one day and then stayed late to cover someones choir practice.  The up side however, is that now I am off for 2 WEEKS!  I never take time off so this will be great.  My nephew is coming for a week and I will be focusing on getting the kids off to a great school year. 

My runs have been staying fairly consistent though as far as distance and time.  This whole training for the 1/2 marathon will continue to be a challenge.  Just increasing my time by 10 min last weekend was tough.  This week, I need to run 7 miles to keep on schedule.  That's 7 miles at one time!!!  Tonight, Tisa came over and we ran 4 miles.  We kept a great pace, and felt good after.  Tisa looks rested from the beach...I am jealous.   

Will check in Sunday after long run......

Harris Teeter 10k and 20k 8/10/08

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TISA!

Today, we traveled to Leesburg, VA for the 20th running of the Harris Teeter/YMCA 10k/20k.  It was a beautiful morning of about 73 degrees.  The course is great and flat, with lots of shading along the old railroad tracks.  Tisa and I both had a new PR.  Hers 68:07 and mine 66:07.  How fun!  This run fit perfectly into our training sched for the half marathon in November.  

My great hubby ran the .25 mile kids run with Makenah. Lilah and Isaiah.  They got little cow bell medals. Thomas also ran.  NO official times for the kids.  Just fun and free ice cream.  

Thursday Nite

Iman plays his new guitar for our family on Skype.  He was able to run with Tisa and me tonight, in the jogger as usual.  He is very into Tisa and wants to carry on a conversation with her while we are running.  It is nice to have him along and I hope somehow he will learn to stay active all through his life.  Usually when I am walking for my cooldown, I will let him out of the jogger to run.  Pretty cute.  

This Sunday, we are planning to go to Leesburg to run a 10k.  It is time for our 6 mile training run so this fits perfectly.  Tisa is coming and it is her birthday.  Brooke called today to say that Faye wants to run, so it should be a fun time.  

The two little people I have included above are my new nephew and niece.  Blake and Ella.  They were one week old this Wednesday.  They are preemies born at 28 weeks.  They are holding their own right now, causing much emotional distress to their parents because of the prematurity, but hopefully all four of them will muttle through.  

Funny!

Palmer Freak Fest & Pierre Dynamic Duo

This has been quite a week.  Last Sunday, I started to mentally prepare for this upcoming 1/2 marathon in November.  I started with a long run of 5 miles with Tisa(who is running with me(:).  On Tuesday, I went hiking to Old Rag Mountain (see prev post).  Just after I fell asleep that night, I got a call to come be with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law for the birth of their twins, who came at 28 weeks (little stinkers!)  What an amazing event, although a little stressful for me to be with them and feel like I was the best patient advocate I could be.  It can be an awkward position to be in to be taking care of a family member during a birth.  My friend Sarah was a great primary nurse to Becky and I was able to mainly be a support person.  All of my fellow L/D nurses were great to her...Lisa...Debbie...Sara...Stacy...Amanda, our tech.  Thanks guys!

I had to work 12 hours that day after only a few hours of sleep in one of the call rooms.  My muscles were starting to hurt at this point.  I really thought I was in better shape.  This hike kicked my butt!  Thursday continued with sore muscles.  I tried not to complain too much.  Friday after work I wanted to run 5.5 miles so I could do my long run with Tisa, but we were both easily persuaded to only complete 3.  It was a hot, humid evening and we were both feeling PITIFUL!  We were able to complete the 3 miles.  

Today, I have tried to focus on cleaning my house which gangs up on me when I work a few days in a row.  I somehow convinced Doug to clean the downstairs and mop the kitchen which makes me soooo happy.  

My plan is to do a long run of 5.5 miles in the am.  I will start adding a 1/2 mile to each long run on the weekends in preparation for the 1/2 marathon.  

I found this funny quote...love it.  I think maybe, though, I am making some of my friends crazy talking about running all the time.  Oh well!

"Why aren't you signed up for the 401k?  I'd never be able to run that far."--Scott Adams, Dilbert (4/2/01)