Thursday, October 30, 2008

Wind down


Well after an extremely active vacation I have returned to a week of sloth! I haven't done a damn thing that resembles a work out this week! Ugh. I was feeling sick on Mon-Wed. Today I was feeling better, but I just got a flu shot and immediately felt like butt again. Is that all in my head! My mom is visiting until Sunday so I doubt I will be doing much workout wise while she is here. But from next week on my goal is to get in 5 workouts. Surely that's achievable. I'm through the draining first trimester, it's time to get a routine before the winter gloom sets in.


Saturday, October 25, 2008

CA/OR vacation



Well we made it home safe and sound from our west coast vacation. We had a great time and it couldn't have come at a better time. Work has been so stressful lately I was about to crack, so a little time away was much needed.

We flew into San Francisco on Sat and then rented a car. We decided to take the scenic route and drove up highway 1 to Fortuna CA. The trip up the coast was scenic and beautiful, but boy was it windy and slow and we were both ready to be out of the car when we got to our hotel 7 hours later! We saw lots of neat little farm towns and quirky shops and eateries, stopped a few times at the scenic overlooks. We got to our hotel pretty late on Sat and I felt pretty cruddy from the 5 hour flight and then 7 hour drive, not the best stage for a race the next day. Gary's sister Laura and her fiance Ross met us in Fortuna. We all had dinner and then headed to bed.

G and I got up bright and early and were greeted by cool temperatures and misty rain, yuck. But it cleared up soon enough. The race was in the Humbolt redwood forest. It was a small race, absolutely gorgeous. I was feeling pretty good race morning and was rareing to go. The start was a big cluster F but quickly everyone spread out. It turly was the Ave of the Giants marathon, the trees were enormous and hovered over us. It took me a few miles to get settled in. I ran without my garmin for the first time in forever, I didn't want to push myself. I ran the first 5 miles with a really nice lady from Missouri. But at mile 5 I had to stop for a bathroom break, my first of 2! Oh well. I felt really really good for the first 8 miles, no pain, no tiredness. By mile 9 my feet were really aching, like they did back in the spring when I was training for Cinti. By mile 11 it was excruitiating. And my sides starting hurting. So, the last few miles were no fun and I did a run walk shuffle. I came in under 2:30 which was my goal, but it certainly wasn't a race for the books. Gary on the other hand came in 1:54. I was very proud of him. Not bad for his first race with very little training. Once I crossed the finish line I was in a cruddy mood, I was bummed that once again my feet had broken down, I'm sure the new added weight doesn't help. I quickly got over it and we loaded into our cars to start our drive to Medford OR where Ross and Laura live.

We stayed with them for most of the week. We did a lot of fun things and got to check out Grants Pass, Medford and Ashland OR. We took a hike one day that was along some rocky cliff paths that led us to a rushing part of Rouge River where we got to watch the Salmon fighting their way up river to spawn. That was really neat. Gary and I also went to Crater Lake on Wed. It was one of the most beautiful sights ever, there are pictures below. After leaving OR Gary and I headed to San Francisco. We checked out the Golden Gate Bridge parks & recreational areas, Haight Ashbury, Fisherman's Warf, Union Square and even went and saw the Rocky Horror Show live on stage in the Mission. We had a nice time, but are glad to be home with the dogs! And my feet need a few days rest from alllllll the walking/hiking and running we did. Good times.






Thursday, October 16, 2008

Almost vacation time!

One more day of work and then freedom! Gary and I are going on a week vacation starting Sat. We are flying into San Francisco and then taking highway 1 up the coast to Humbolt CA. We’ll stay there Sat night, then Sunday we will wake up and run the half marathon at the Ave of the Giants marathon. That should be pretty, or really boring, trees might get old after 30 mins or so, I hope not! Running has been slow, slow, slow, but I’m still getting out there, so I think I will be fine. We’ll then grab some lunch in northern CA and head to Medford OR where my sister in law now lives. We’ll stay with her for 3 days. We are going to go to Crater Lake, other than that I’m not sure what we will do, but we’re planning on lots of hiking. On Thursday G and I will head back down to San Fran and stay there for 2 nights. We haven’t been on a week vacation since our honeymoon 4 years ago. I am going to miss my dogs L But luckily a good friend is going to stay at our house and sleep with them so they don’t get lonely.

Last night I met Salty and we ran about 3.5 miles, it started to rain and got too dark. But we had fun. After that I power cleaned my house in prep for my friends stay. I still have some work to do. Nothing feels better than a really clean house. Tonight I am meeting some friends for dinner, but when I get home I have to finish up and tomorrow I will worry about packing. So, bloggy friends I hope you have a nice weekend. For my peeps running Columbus good luck!

Oh and get this the AKron marathon sent the members of team speed bump onesies and a thank you note. How freaking thoughtful is that. I will definately run at least the half there next year. What a great race.
Monday, October 13, 2008

Back at it

I had a really, really, really stressful week last week at work. I had clients on site so I ended up having to work late everyday, also it was the last week one of our very intregal team members was working here, so I had to spend a lot of time sitting with him trying to get every last drop of help from him that I could, and I was sick. So, to say it was a crappy week would be an understatement. I was able to shake it when I stepped out of these doors, but it made for some very long days and my workouts just did not happen. But I made up for it a little.

On Sat I met Sara and South Chagrin and we ran 6 days. It was just absolutely gorgeous out. Perfect fall day, clear, crisp and sunny. Afterwards we went to breakfast at yours truly. Then I went home and walked my dogs 2 miles. Then I went to the gym and lifted weights for the first time in forever, that felt great and I am sore from it in that good way. I then proceeded to mow the lawn. Hubby was sleeping b/c he has been working nights, so he had to miss one of the nicest days this year. Sunday morning I got up and met Ilana at the Beachwood park and we ran. I only managed 3 miles, my legs were really sore from the squats and lunges and that park is hilly. So, I called it a day after huffing and puffing my way through the 3 miler. When I got home from my run, G was just getting home from work, so we went to breakfast together. Breakfast out twice in one weekend! Now that's a good weekend :) Afterwards we went to a baptism for G's cousin's baby, she is 2 months old now. It was nice, and we went to a party afterwards. Poor G was up for 24 hours by the time we got home, but it was a nice day spent with family.

This morning I amazed myself and got up at 5:30 am and headed to spinning. I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I got to the gym for a 5:30 workout, it's been ages. Very sad. The spin class was good, I didn't have too hard of a time. I even stayed for abs afterwards and lifted arms a little before heading home. We will see how I feel at about 3 today, I will probably crash, but hopefully I can get back into the 5:30 routine. Workouts after work just aren't happening.
Saturday, October 4, 2008

Phew I did it

I ran 12 miles today. I wasn't sure I could do it. I haven't ran over 8 miles in about a month. So, I was able to get through it and felt pretty good. I have a half marathon in 2 weeks and I have been pretty worried I wouldn't get through it. But I did. We started at Station Bridge this morning at 8:30 and it was COLD and foggy and kind of surreal, but by the end of the run it was a gorgeous day. I got a kick out of seeing all the wooly worms that have come out. Fall is here.

I ran 6 miles on Wed night, but I was pretty sick Thurs & Fri and just took it easy. So, my tally for this week is one spin, 2 runs and 1 ab DVD. Not quite what I was looking for, but better than nothing. I will run or spin tomorrow, but I didn't get the weights in. This week was pretty tough. I didn't feel good and I was a bit of an emotional wreck due to some work stress among other things. I am through my first trimester now and I am ready for that supposed burst of energy I will getting soon.
Thursday, October 2, 2008

Keep on keeping on

I feel worse this week and last than I have this whole pregnancy. I have been okay with my workouts though. I took Monday off. Tuesday I did 45 mins on my bike and last night I ran 6 hilly miles with Sara on Hawthorne Parkway. Today I need to run and lift weights. Friday I will spin, Sat I have a 12 mile date with Sara at the towpath and Sunday I will do a short recovery run and weights. I sooo don't want to do 12 miles, but I have a half mary scheduled on 10/19 and I need to know I can get through it.

I had an u/s last night. It was great, I could totally see the baby moving it's arms and legs around and having a good old time. Love that little blobby squiggle.

About Me

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Mnowac
distance runner attempting to run a marathon in every state, vegetarian foodie, mediocre triathlete, sucky swimmer, mommy to Harper, tea lover, coffee drinker, animal saver, hubby snuggler, race addict, full time working 31 year old living in cleveland
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Marathons so far

  • Sept 2012 - Corning, NY - TBD
  • April 2012 - Louisville, KY - TBD
  • Sept 2011 - Erie PA - 4:25
  • June 2011 - South Bend IN - 5 hrs+ (it was 98 degrees!)
  • Dec 2010 - Rehoboth Beach DE - 4:26:06
  • Nov 2010 - Huntington WV - 4:11:44
  • Oct 2009 - Towpath - Cleveland area OH - 4:30:35
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