Weekend wrap up

Weekends really need to be longer. Or work weeks just need to be shorter.

I mean to get the long run in on Saturday, but I woke up a bit late and had a bowling date to attend. I can't remember the last time I went bowling, but it's probably been over three years. I'm not a great bowler. Heck, a good day for me at the lanes is when I break 80. And given that, I guess it was a good day since I bowled a 109 and a 91. Not bad. I can feel it in my shoulder today though.

Since it was getting late and was pretty windy when I got done, I pushed the long run back to today. But I was a on a strict time scheduled - had a date with my TV to watch the USA v. Canada gold medal hockey game.

I had 6 miles on the schedule today and when I took off it was cloudy, but not snowing. As is my habit, I always seem to start off too fast, but it doesn't seem fast. The first two miles were fine, mile 3 was tougher since I was running straight into a semi-strong wind. Miles 4 and 5 were OK and by then it had started to snow lightly, but hard enough that the flakes were sticking to my clothing. I got home and Garmin Gus told me I was just a tad short of my 6 miles (even though this same route from a few weeks ago was measured as 6.25 miles by MapMyRun.com). So I tacked on an extra block and finished up my 6.2 miles in 1 hour, 6 minutes. Other than my fast first mile, the rest of my splits were pretty consistent - between 10:45 and 11 minutes per mile (remember, I'm not a speed demon!).

So I finished up the run and had just enough time to shower before watching the puck drop on the gold-medal hockey game. Such a good game. He may have been a Fighting Sioux at U of North Dakota, but kudos to Zach Parise on that game-tying goal with 24 seconds left in regulation to send the game to OT! Hats off to Canada on the victory, but congrats to Team USA for the nice comeback.

Now it's off to finish watching the closing ceremonies. I've loved every minute of these Olympic games and am sad to see them end. So many great stories. And great competitions. Can't wait until the summer games in London roll around in 2012 and the winter games come back in 2014 in Sochi.

For now, I've just got to figure out how to occupy myself until March Madness starts in a few weeks!

Three Things Thursday

1. It was an emotionally draining day at work. A long day spent writing about difficult subjects. I don't want to get into anymore details though. Just trust me. It was hard.

2. Because I was at work so late, I had to skip the planned 4-mile run after work tonight. I'd like to fit it in Friday, but I don't know if I should just skip it in order to have fresh legs for Saturday's 6-miler.

3. I've written about The Monster and the nasty medicine that left me 30 pounds heavier. Well last night I got some exciting news. While I still have about 6 pounds to lose, last night I tried on a pair of work pants that I haven't worn since March 2008 since they got too small. Well last night? They fit! Not even tight! So exciting.

And that's all I've got. Time to go watch some figure skating.

Forgive me for going one second over my time limit

I don't like people who hover. You know, that person at the gym who signs up for the time slot immediately after yours and then when you've still got a minute or two left in your 30-minute slot, they come over and just stand there.

Right. Next. To. You. And they stare.

I've dealt with people who hover the last two days I was at the YMCA this week. The woman on Monday has done this to me before. I barely finish my run, don't get a chance to do a quick cool down and I see her impatient looks while I wipe down the machine. Sorry, would you like me to leave it all sweaty?

Today the hoverer at least stood off in the distance. But she's also the girl who monopolizes the treadmills - signing up for four time slots in a row. I understand some people need to get that 2-hour run in on the treadmill. But do it at a less busy time, because at 5:30 p.m.? Everybody's fighting for a chance to run to nowhere.

Let's just say I'll be so glad when I can just run outdoors after work and not have to worry about becoming road kill because it's dark out, there are sidewalks in my neighborhood and the people drive down my street like it's a NASCAR track.

Date No. 1 with Gus

So Gus and I had our first date on Saturday.

The plan was to meet up at my apartment around 11ish and head out for a 4-mile run. I admit, I was being a bit of a girl, and I was running late. But he understood. It was a little awkward attaching him to my wrist though - over the jacket sleeve? Under? We ended up agreeing on over.

We were set. Headed out the door and had to just stand there at the end of the driveway for a few minutes while Gus located the satellites. Finally he had them and we were set.

I started to run.

It was a little weird running with Gus. For one thing, this was the first time I'd ever run and had the ability to glance down and see what kind of pace I was running. So I was a little distracted - as in I ran through a fairly deep, ice cold puddle right around mile 2. Wet feet. Fun.

And I'm pretty sure Gus didn't plan it, but I got to run through snowflakes. Kind of fun. It was just a few flakes when we left, but by the last mile it was actually coming down pretty hard - not sticking to the ground though.

Overall, the run with Gus was good. The only concern I had is either Gus was having such a good time with me that he didn't want our date to end so he fudged the distance, or MapMyRun.com has been lying to me for the last two plus years. Because what I thought was a 4-mile route, Gus told me it was more like 3.7 miles. Hmmm.

I'll give Gus the benefit of the doubt and go with the thought that he just really liked spending time with me yesterday.

There will definitely be more more dates with Gus. And next time? I'll even have mile splits - didn't read the instruction manual that came with him very well. Oops.

Three Things Thursday

1. Looking forward to my first date with Gus on Saturday. The plan calls for a 4-mile run and since it's supposed to be nice, I'm heading outside with Gus. Even though I could probably have my first meeting with tomorrow since I don't go into work until late. But during my run tonight on the treadmill, my left ankle and left knee area were a little tender. Hmmm. Not good. Hopefully a rest day will cure it.

2. Of course replacing my running shoes will probably also help. It's long overdue. Just waiting to get my tax return. Shoes and Green Bay Half Marathon registration. That's what I'll be doing when Uncle Sam gives me some cash.

3. Sunshine. Not only was it sunny out today but Badgergirl's blog got some sunshine sent her way from Suzy and MCM Mama. I'm supposed to pass the sunshine along to 12 other blogging buddies, but it's been passed around quite a bit this week. So if you haven't been tagged, consider yourself tagged.

Meet Gus

Remember last week when I placed an order at Amazon.com that I was super excited about?

Well 10 days after I first placed the order I got an e-mail from the United States Postal Service around lunchtime, telling me a package had been delivered to my apartment. And since I've been stalking my package since it showed up at the Amazon warehouse facility on Friday, I knew what was waiting for me when I got home.

Let me tell you. The afternoon of work? Seemed like it took forever. But I also had a date with the treadmill after work. Finally at 7 p.m. I made it home. There was my package.

So excited.

I got inside, threw down my gym bag and started a pot of water for some pasta. Then I tore into that package.


Meet Gus. Gus the Garmin, he has a very coach-like look to him I think.

I've been wanting a Garmin for a few months now. I even had it on my Christmas wish list, but my Mom told me she preferred to get me a bunch of smaller presents so I had more to open. But I got some Christmas and birthday cash and after shopping around a bit, I found Amazon had the best deal.

So I ordered it. Then I waited. And now Gus is here. Ready to bark orders at me and be brutal when we go out for a run.

I think our first date will be on Saturday for my long run. Can't wait. Of course, I've got to figure out how to use him before then.

Which is why I'm settling in for a night of watching the Olympics and reading the manual that came with Gus.

It's about more than just winning

Since the Opening Ceremonies took place on Friday night, my TV has pretty much been tuned into the Olympics non-stop. All Olympics. All day. All night. What can I say, I'm an Olympic junkie. I love the sports. The competition. The stories. The inspiration.

So far there have been so many stories that have come out of these games. The tragic ending to Nodar Kumaritashvili's story during that fatal luge training run Friday before the opening ceremonies. A young man who dreamed of competing in the Olympic games.

And did anyone catch the Nordic combined Sunday? I missed the ski jumping portion (seriously, anyone who willing hurls themselves off a tall ski jump gets major props from me), but tuned in to see the cross country skiing portion. And I honestly never thought I'd be sitting at the edge my seat, but during that final straight away that's where I was. Hoping Johnny Spillane could pull ahead of the Frenchman for the gold, and even though Spillane finished with silver, it's the first time an American has walked away with a medal in the event since the beginning of the Winter Olympics.

But by far I think the most inspiring story of the games so far has been Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau, who took home gold during the men's moguls freestyle. Yes, his skiing and jumping were impressive (just watching mogul skiing makes my knees hurt), but it was the storyline with his brother, who has cerebral palsy, that stuck with me. How he talked about how his brother inspired him on those days when he didn't really feel like going out to train.

*****

And in non-Olympic news, I returned indoors to the YMCA and the treadmill after work tonight (one of these days it won't be dark when I get done at the office). Did a 4-mile run on the treadmill - a nice easy first mile then some intervals. Felt pretty good, but not as good as that outdoor run from Saturday.

This proves I'd rather run outdoors

It's been almost a month since my last outdoor run. That means a lot of miles have been logged on the treadmill.

First there were brutally cold temperatures. Then some kind of gremlin was living in my chest. And on the days when I did feel good enough to run, there was darkness to contend with.

But today? It was the weekend. And sunny. And no wind. And temperatures hovering near 30. Everything was perfect to head outdoors for my 6-mile run today.

I waited until about noon to head out. I wore a long sleeve tech shirt with a second long sleeve shirt layered over it and then threw on my jacket. An ear band and my running gloves and I was set. Looking back, I probably could have done with a short sleeve and long sleeve tech shirt combo instead of two long sleeved shirts, but I was still very comfortable. I took my gloves off somewhere around mile 2.5 and shoved them in my pocket and my hands were super comfortable the rest of the run.

It felt really nice to be out there, just running in the sunshine and not freezing. My last 6-mile run was back in 2007, and while I've done a handful of 5-milers recently, that last mile was a whole new territory for me. I wasn't sure how it was going to go. But I still felt really strong that last mile, with a nice pace and could have probably kept running a bit when I finally finished - maybe all of the work I'm doing on the treadmill is helping. In fact, the last two miles? They were the fastest of the day - fast being around a 10:12 minute mile. I'll take it though.

In the end I finished 6.25 miles in 1 hour, 5 minutes. Not too bad. Looking forward to a bit of a rest day tomorrow, although I may head over to the YMCA and do some easy biking. We'll see though.