Should I feel like crap?

So it has been awhile. I have been lazy during the week and getting in the bar min of running. Then some long runs on the weekend. This past Saturday I ran the longest distance I have ever run; 16 miles. Our group run was on Sunday but because I was doing some celebrating of a friends bday Sat night I wanted to get it in Sat morning. I found one other person (Kim) who was doing some celebrating of her own too and we ran it together. Kim came early and set up some water stops which were perfectly placed and well needed. I had stayed out a little late the night before and stayed at a friends place so did not bring all my proper gear; GU, Glide, compression shorts and at first I thought I did not bring enough layers. But it turned out be a beautiful morning to run other then a little too much sun. We started at Station Road at the towpath and ran north pretty much all the way to my house or Rockside road at least (6 miles) then back (6 miles). At our 12ish mile water stop I could feel my legs did nit really want to run any more but could not stop there, only had a little under 2 miles out and back to the cars. What is 4 mor mile when you just ran 12 right? We finished and called our TNT coach over joyed we got it done a day earlier and what turned out to be a much better weather day.

I really do not think I would have been able to get through it without Kim there. We chatted a lot which was great and made the time go by quicker. But our biggest question was toward the end; Should I feel like crap after every long run? After running 16 miles I felt very accomplished but also like I could never run it again! My legs hurt, my fee hurt, my arms are sore and my lower back aches. Mind you most of this hurt goes away within a day if not two and I did throw a pair a heels on that night that didn't help with recovery. But does this ever go a way? I am asking you more experienced runner I guess who run 16 miles on a semi regular basis. Do you still feel like crap after a long run?

Tomorrow going on a third date with a guy which is rare for me. He is nice and we are going to a Cavs game!! So excited but don't want to jinx it so I will leave it at that. Night all. Happy running! Oh and the countdown is 47 days til the Cleveland Marathon! Wowzer that is a small number.

Longest Long Run

I ran 14 miles today and I feel pretty good.  I did the end a little slower then the start because I like running with some one when we are with the group.  We ran out 7 miles and back at Bonnie park in Strongsville.  The weather was almost perfect and can not wait for this week cause it is only getting better. I have some pictures from my Half Last week in Youngstown.  I realize I do not take the best pictures when tired, wet and apparently cold. LOL But here is proof I ran my first and fastest half.    

Here is me running into the finish line.  The only decent pic of me. LOL

I was trying to "hamm" it up for the cam but he caught me mid thumbs up and eyes closed

These two are who I drove out with part of the TNT team.  You see me in the background.  We went directly to the car to get our dry clothes!

And Finally a group photo of everyone from our TNT team that came out for this crazy run.

That is all for now, sorry that I suck at formatting hopefully this post looks ok. Everyone in Cleveland enjoy the weather this week!

Mille Creek Half Marathon

My first ever half marathon race was this past Sunday. This was also the longest distance I have ever ran at once. Which means I PRed!! hehehe We set out very early in the morning after a time change which means I only got 4 hours of sleep. It was very foggy when we all met at Penera which was sadly not open yet. The weather did not seem like it was going to break for us and the ongoing the joke of the day was to look out the window and say "it's still raining." We got there sooner then we thought and hung out at McDonald's where I decided to indulge in a breakfast wrap which I thought I would end up paying for later but it was actually OK. The race started at 8:45 and like the sky promised it was pouring still. It continued raining for the first 3 miles and once it stopped it did not matter because it felt like I had jumped into a pool. Thank goodness it wasn't cold. The course was pretty much a big clover where you saw the same hills 3 times. And when I say hills I mean it. The entire race was nothing but hill constant up and down. Here is the course map and elevation

In the end I was impressed with how well I did. I finished in 2:15:08 which put me at 273rd place out of 337 which only 108 where female. We were indecisive on whether or not the rain helped or hindered us. We just wanted to be dry by the end but I was complimented on how well I kicked it in at the end of the race and that was mostly cause it was just a little hill. I was sooo happy to be done running because those hills were killer. I am hooked now though and want to run another one next weekend. Only 67 days til Cleveland Marathon!

Running. The last week and half or so. . .

So I have been kinda lazy about life and getting thing done the last week or so. I have been sleeping in every morning til about 10 and not doing much. But I have gotten some runs in. So, in advice from a reader, I am gonna get a post in that just records my runs a little. :) Last week I had two 40 min and 1 30 min run. This past Sunday we had a group run downtown. It was an other 10 miler. The weather was decent; it was sunny and about 30. And I ran well. This week I have only gotten two 30 min runs in which I am disappointed about because I should of been out enjoying this nicer weather while it lasts but cest le vie. I plan on running and lifting some upper body tomorrow night. This weekend we have a 12 miler at Rockey River. I just wanted to post a quick one because I have been lazy and needed to get out of that funk. Oh! And exciting news: I signed up for what will be my first long distance race. The Mill Creek Half Marathon which will take place on March 8th. It falls right where needed for training wise. I am a little scared of the massive hills they say are in it but still excited!

10 Miler or a 7 miler with a HILL?

So I ran my first ten miler of the training season yesterday morning. I met up with other TNT teammates at Chagrin Reservation. There was only about 8 of us for a not so bad morning. It was about 24 degrees but really sunny which always makes it seem warmer. One of our coaches described a 7 mile loop with a large hill for us and told us not to worry about the mileage cause we are still early in our training. So I set out to run a little harder since it was going to be shorter. the paths were pretty clear other then a few icy patches. I ran about a quarter mile behind and in front of people for about the first 4 miles. Then caught up to a girl named Jackie when we both didn't know which way to turn. She has a similar stride as me because she was also tall but was a wee bit faster and after getting directed got ahead of me again. At the beginning there was mile markers but then we ran some on the street and I wasn't sure how far we had run. So I decided it was a good time to try some powerbar gel, strawberry flavored. I liked it but I am still leaning more toward the GU because I like the texture better and I love the chocolate flavored one. So it probably took me about 10 min to get the Gel down. I finished the last of it just as we approached the HILL the coach spoke of. Now mind you the whole trail was a little more hilly then we are used to. Us Cleveland Marathoners do not have to do too much hill work because the corse is mostly flat. So I wasnt expecting there was still a large hill after we hit a bunch of small ones throughout. This HILL was not a hill it was THE HILL of all hills. I did not know we had mountains in northeast Ohio but this was like climing up the side of one. I ran to what I thought was half way up and my legs were screaming. I walked the rest of the way up and knew my legs were going to love it eventually but they were not telling me that at the time. There was probably about another mile til our loop ended where we parked and I ran into the lot and went to my car to get some more water and start stretching. The girl who was running behind me came in and mentioned something about the crazy hill and then said how dissapointed she was that we didn't run 10 miles. She looked to me and asked if I wanted to go the three more. At this point the Power gel was kicking in and I said yea! In all reality I too was dissapointed that we didn't do ten. I was siked because 10 miles is a big deal to the non runners out there. So we got another three in and I still felt ok to go more afterwards. Other then the little bit of pain I have in the pad of my right foot, which I believe came from wearing a not so comfortable pair of heals, I felt good today too! We are almost to the half point in training and there is less then 90 days til the Cleveland Marathon! I am very excited. More entries more often is my goal for the rest of the month and training for that matter.

Terrible Blogger

Okay I am officially a terrible blogger. I am going to get back to it though. Running has been awesome. I fall more and more in love with doing it every time I get out there. My training runs have consisted of mostly 3-4 30-40 min runs and 1 long run which on Sunday is supposed to be 10 miles that may be shortened to 7 with a big hill. I promise more updates. I have been busy with just reorganizing life. I quit my weekend job so I will now be able to run with the TNT group for my long runs. I also had a birthday; my 24th. Now just resettling into semi normality because things are still kinda weird at home and I know that is not going to change for awhile. I have been reading a lot about runners and sometimes that can get a newbie down because it is daunting to see how much one person has done. But I have to remember I just started and can get there one day! Tomorrow mom and I are going gambling. Wish me luck! 10 (or 7 mile) report to come on Sunday.

The best 6 Miler!

So I avoided my 6 mile run yesterday by going to Melt for dinner with my friend instead. My first time eating at Melt and I was impressed! If you like grilled cheese, you must make your way there. I had a sandwich with a pirogi, kraut and cheddar (which I am paying for with this migraine today) that was to die for. If you live in Cleveland and haven't been. yet, I say high tail it over there! Don't be turned off by the long wait it is usually quicker then the avg 40 min they say. If you do not live in Cleveland I insist on you coming to visit and we will go! :)

So now onto my best 6 mile ever! I decided to get my long run in this morning at the gym. Got there a little later then usual but there were still tons of people. I got the very last treadmill open (but that is Monday for you) and hopped on hoping to get at least 5 mile in with the time I had. This was my first test run with the new shoes and with my new ipod that I just bought yesterday. I would just like to say I love them both very very much My new shoes are great. What was I thinking training for a marathon last year and not investing in a good pair of shoes? I had no pain anywhere on me while running. I thought the pain was just normal but it really was the crappy shoes I had. I am a little sore now but it is all good because I felt great after the run. I was having a rough morning so that could of motivated me running a little too fast. A 52 min 6 mile is quick for my long run of the week. But like I said it felt good.

Now I am downloading a little more music to the pod and heading to bed because I have this terrible headache.