runningboots

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

I suppose it's time to make my list of New Year's Resolutions. I "tried" to get in better shape last year...and I was doing ok for a while. But after the last race, I pretty much just stopped. It's a New Year so now it's time to start training and see how I do.

Ran the races..woo-hoo!

2006-10-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged...eep! After the Run Hit Wonder, I took a week off from running and then the week after that I was sick. I pretty much kept up training by working out on the elliptical machine :) I know it's not running but it's a lot easier on the joints.
The Run Hit Wonder race was a blast. However, running 5 miles, not so much fun but at least I finished. I was happy Mike was taking his time and stayed with me to help me to run. He had an injured knee and he still could beat me to the finish if he really wanted to.
Today I did the Bucktown 5K. What really sucked was that my IPod went wacky the night before and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I think it's working alright now, but the battery was low before the race. I was kinda nervous about this race because it was being timed. I think i did alright for me. My time for running the Run Hit Wonder was about 1:14 (it's excluding the stop at the port-o-potty and watching the bands) and my time for the Bucktown Race was about 44:00. Overall, I think i did better this race in time. Woo-hoo! Hopefully I'll try to keep training, at least for the next couple of months. :)

2 more days!!!!

2006-08-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've been able to keep up with training the past week. I took Friday off from it. I ran for like 3 miles on Saturday and went for 4 miles on Sunday. Monday night I worked out on the elliptical machine for an hour. Today I'm gonna do some running and see how that goes. I basically do a run/walk. I haven't really gotten adjusted to doing a continual run, I tire out pretty fast. I'm nervous, but I suppose it doesn't really matter if I finish last in the race tomorrow...at this point, I just care about crossing the finish line. Today I did a run/walk of 4.64 miles in approximately 1 hour and 11 mins.

Countdown...1 week!

2006-08-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

I have one week before my first race...I'm feeling a little nervous about it. I've been making decent progress I suppose. On Monday I did a run/walk of a little over 4 miles. Tuesday I was on the ellipitical for about 45 mins. Wednesday I ran a little under 4.5 miles in about 1 hour and 15 mins. Today I'm hoping to hit the elliptical machine for at least 45 mins. I hope I can time myself and do a little better before I have the race.

Gotta Focus!

2006-08-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Although I've been exhausted a lot lately, I've been able to squeeze in some training. I did 40 mins on the elliptical on Tuesday, and on Wednesday I went 60 mins on the treadmill and covered about 3.40 miles, Thursday I did 45 mins on the elliptical. Friday I used as my off day and was able to go out with the ladies from my softball team :) We went to Hogs & Honeys and took a ride on the mechanical bull. However, my knees feel really messed up from it because after I was thrown off the bull and landed on the inflatable padding, some guy wanted to get up and ride the bull...he jumped over the gated area and landed on the padding...which made me fall to my knees...needless to say the bouncers threw him out of the club. Saturday my knees felt sore so I did about 45 mins of elliptical. Today, I tried to run outdoors...I'm still not used to it. I probably did about 2.5 miles in under an hour. I have about 11 days to run 5 miles...I'm so nervous! I guess I'll just have to do better tomorrow.

Panic Attack!

2006-07-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

I am so ready to panic....I have 2 weeks to run a 5 mile race. However, I haven't been able to train, I was doing alright with training at the beginning of last week. I did a 2 mile walk on Monday and then I tried running outdoors Tuesday morning before work. I got up at 5:00 A.M. to do it. I think I did about 3 miles in 50 mins. I'm not too sure because I don't have a stop watch, and I don't really have a pedometer. The rest of the week killed me though because I was stuck at work for about 11- 12 hours a day all that week. I couldn't get up to run because I was exhausted from working so much. I would get up at about 6:30 A.M., leave the house around 7:30 A.M., and get to work around 8:30 A.M. Then somehow I 'd get stuck there with a bunch of things to work on, and before I realize it, it' s 8:00 P.M. I drive home and get there a little before 9:00 P.M. but then I have to eat dinner, and then I have to go to bed so that I could start another day of being exhausted from working. I figured I 'd have time to do some training over the weekend, but again, I was at work. I was there for about 6 hours on Saturday and another 8 hours on Sunday and then went to my softball game right after...I haven't had a day off since the Bon Jovi concert.
This morning I did a little work out of 20 mins on the elliptical. got home a little before 9:00 P.M. and decided to do a little more training...I did a run/walk of 2.36 miles in 40 mins on the treadmill...ideally I wanted to see how I'd do in an hour...but it's so hot! Damn the heat wave! But at least I did some training...my game plan now is to try to do my training at night and shower, so I can just get up and go the next day for work...hopefully I won't be too tired out.

The voices! The voices!

2006-07-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yup! I've been hearing those voices in my head that prevent me from reaching my full potential in training. This week has been long and hard. For the most part I've been stuck at work for practically 12 hours a day. That was because I went to go see Bon Jovi in concert! I tried to get as much work done as I could, but I kept getting bombarded with samples at work to take care of and I'd be getting home pretty late and had a difficult time getting up in the morning to run. Yesterday I attempted at running outside...that didn't quite pan out. It feels so different compared to the treadmill. I only lasted about a mile...most of which I walked. This morning however, I went outside again to run, and I did a little better. I did probably 3 miles in like under 50 mins. I really don't know because I wasn't really keeping track of time or distance. I wonder if I should go high tech and get one of those devices that tell you your distance and pace, etc. But anyways...I'm thinking maybe Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" should be my mantra or something to get me to really work at it and run. I finally burned songs from a few of my CD's and put it onto my IPod. I'm hoping that Bon Jovi will be the voice in my head instead of the other ones...lord only know I need a "prayer" to get me through the 5 mile race.

A hellish day!

2006-07-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

So the past 2 weeks have been crazy because I've been working nonstop pretty much. The last day off I had was 4th of July. Finally...I didn't have to go to work yesterday. So I got up at 10:00 A.M. and worked out on the elliptical machine for like 20 mins. I wasn't much in the mood for running, but I felt like I should do some exercise. Then later in the day I headed to a picnic on the southside. Some people I hadn't seen in a while were going to be there. I got there and couldn't find anyone I knew for the life of me. I didn't have any current phone numbers, so I didn't have anyone to call. Plus I wasn't too sure who was showing up. I looked around for like 20 mins and gave up because it was hot as hell yesterday. I hopped back into my car and drove home. While I was driving home, my car got hit while on the expressway. I was driving along the middle lane on the expressway and then two cars to my right were being idiots. One car was along the right lane and the other car was trying to merge on. The car on the right wasn't letting the other car merge onto the expressway. So they were pretty much neck in neck with each other, finally the car to my right was letting the merging car on the expressway and moved left. I guess he failed to notice, I was driving in that lane, and he hit me. The car realizes he hit me and moved right and ended up hitting another car. We all pulled off to the right on the expressway and tried to figure out what was going on. All of us were told to move our cars off the expressway by a city worker driving those yellow tow trucks. The tow truck guys were there and saw the accident, so we headed to the Burger King parking lot to wait for a cop to come and take a police report. It felt like forever before the cop got there. He took our stories and then filled out a report and stuff. Everyone is alright, it's just that our cars probably need some autobody work done.
I've been in no mood to run...more like kicking ass...maybe I should pop in a Tae Bo video.

Work!!! Ahhhh!!!!

2006-07-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest update with what's going on with me....I went running on Tuesday and did 2.27 miles in 37 mins. That wasn't too bad for me, I suppose...but I really wanna kick it up a step if I wanna live through the Nike Run Hit Wonder race. I took a break from running on Wednesday and ran on the treadmill this morning. I did 2.5 miles in 40 mins. I could barely run. Yesterday was a brutal day for me. So I requested to take August 17th & 18th off for the race. However, I was denied those days off because my boss will be on vacation and no one else can take my spot as an analyst. That stinks...however they're letting me leave work early the day of the race and go into work late the next day. On top of that...I worked like a 12 hour shift yesterday. I started at 8 am...and didn't leave until 9 pm. I got home around 9:30 pm and had chinese food for dinner. That made it soooo much harder to run this morning because of my late dinner. At least I pushed it through to go 2.5 miles.
I think I'm having one of those mental blocks about running for more than a mile. I'm fine the first mile. The next mile, I feel myself get so tired, or I start to feel sick, so I walk the rest of the way. I'm to get through to 3 miles next Wednesday. It stinks to train during the week, especially when I've been working all these hours....take a wild guess where I'm at right now...yup, I'm at work. In order for me to train for the 5 mile run...I think I need to start waking up earlier in the morning like at 4:30 am (I'm getting up to run at 5:00 am right now) but, it's hard for me to get out of bed so early, especially if I don't get home until 9:00 pm or so. It just makes me wonder how I'm gonna be able to train. I'm having such a hard time concentrating at work. I always find myself going on quick breaks to Starbucks and Jamba Juice. I have about a month until the race. I hope things will work out by then. Wish me luck!

Busy! Busy!! Busy!!!

2006-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

So I haven't really been pushing myself the way I should be in order to really be training. I went "running" on Thursday, I did 1.5 miles in about 23 mins. I so could have done it in under 20 mins if I actually did run the last half mile. I didn't really feel like it cuz I've been working crazy hours since Wednesday. In fact, I'm at work right now...I've been in for the past 5 hrs.
Anyways...I did something very silly last night...I signed up for the Nike Run Hit Wonder race in August. It's a 5 mile run....have I gone insane or what? I've barely made it to 2 miles in training. Well, since I signed up for the race last night I "ran" 2 miles this morning in about 34 mins. I was really slacking and ended up walking majority of it. I think I'm going to join the people training for the Run Hit Wonder race. I figure it will be something to really push me. The training starts tomorrow, but I have a feeling I have to go to work...if i do the training with them...I'll probably have to go to work early in the morning, then drive to Old Orchard and train with the Nike people at 9:30 A.M., drive back to work and finish up some stuff, then head out to my softball game tomorrow night...it's gonna be such a busy night...I guess I'll just have to wait and see how all this goes.

Gotta Keep Going!!!

2006-07-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I did some running...only a mile...this morning I only did a mile as well...I'm starting to slack off. Yesterday was just one of those days that I felt like being a total bum. Then this morning when I tried to run...I didn't feel so well. Do you ever get that phlemy feeling while you're in the middle of a run? It's like that feeling you get when you stop smoking or something, like you're lungs are trying to get fresh air again. I can't remember the last time I had a cigarette (it's probably been over a year).
I ended up walking most of the mile I "ran" this morning. Normally I take a days off from running on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but I think I need to push myself a little more to make up for my slacker ways this week. I'm hoping to run more than a mile tomorrow.

Going for my goal!

2006-07-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

I came pretty close last Wednesday to reaching my goal of running 1.5 miles in 20 mins. I did it in 21:36. Not too bad for me :) However I haven't had time to go running over the weekend because my nephew had his Christening. I was helping out with stuff for that. Over all it was a fun time :) I couldn't run this morning cuz my feet and knees were killing me because of the high heels I was wearing all day yesterday. I plan to go for a run on Tuesday and Wednesday...we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

A little behind....

2006-06-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Yup! It has come to my attention that I've been neglecting to blog about all my efforts at training. So here's the update, last Thursday I ran for 1.5 miles. I was able to shave off about a minute from my last time. Hooray for improvement! Thursday night I had gone out pretty late to the batting cages with people from my softball team. I was pretty exhausted Friday morning, so I took a break from exercising. My wrist was killing me from trying to bat inside a medium pitch softball cage. Those suckers were flying fast, and even when I did hit the ball, my arm felt so much pain. This weekend I didn't get much training in, unless shopping at Woodfield Mall counts for my hour walk. I stayed the weekend over at my sister's house. We needed to shop for outfits for my nephew's Christening next weekend. Unfortunately I didn't see anything I liked (however I did buy a dress....but as soon as I tried it on at my house I didn't like it anymore), and going shopping with a baby can be difficult. Can carrying the baby around be considered lifting weights? Anyways shopping on Saturday was so exhausting that all of us took a nap as soon as we got back to my sister's home. I ended up crashing the night there again. Sunday morning I attempted to look for an outfit one more time...still nothing. Plus I had to leave because Sunday was my day for softball. I did pretty good at the game.
This morning I ran 1.5 miles, with a time of 22:18 mins. I'm hoping to get through 1.75 miles on Wednesday in 25 mins. We'll just have to wait and see how this one will go.

So close!!!

2006-06-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I didn't quite reach the goal I set for myself. I did run 1.5 miles, but it took me about 23:40. I was doing alright the first mile running and walking. The extra half mile kinda threw me off, so I walked majority of it. I don't usually push myself to run over a mile...but now I have to. I took a breather from running this morning...I hope I can get some strength training or something like that done after work....assuming I ever leave work.

Taking a test drive

2006-06-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

I got most of the gear to help me run (the only thing left on my list of stuff to get are knee braces)...I went to Fleet Feet on Saturday and got my pretty new running shoes and a new dry fit shirt (Yes! That is a picture of me test running shoes). I'm attempting to do my training in the morning so I know I get it done. Unfortunately it requires me to wake up at 5:00 A.M. because of work and stuff. Blah! I moved so slowly this morning because I got up so early. I stretched out for a couple mins and then tested out my running shoes. I love them :) I ran/walked for about 17 mins, I went a little over a mile. I got off the treadmill and stretched a little more and then got ready for work. During my lunch break today I went to DSW with the girls from work...I was going to buy a new pair of flip flops but I opted to buy more dry fit socks instead. My goal for tomorrow is to run/walk 1.5 miles in 20 mins.

What have I gotten myself into?

2006-06-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

So evidently...I promised to run the Bucktown race...and here I am...I'm trading in my boots for running shoes, courtesy of Mike and Barb. It's only a 5k race and I have until October to be ready for it so I figure that gives me plenty of time to train for then :) . I'm in the process of getting the gear to help me get started...and hopefully keep up with it. I have a tendency to go exercise happy for a week and then completely stop for the next several weeks. But since I've signed up for the race and already bought an Ipod , that should keep my motivation up. Now all I need are new running shoes and I will have no excuse to start my training.