First Long Run

This morning we parked beachside and planned to run our 7 miles over the causeway, around downtown, and then back to the car where we would buy a delish frappe for all our hard work. We got started late, because I chose to stay up until the WVU/LSU game ended which was after midnight. I think it was around 8:30 when we got there and already hot - around 80 degrees, but felt like 88. Felt like more than that going up the bridge, just ask Boy. It took him out. After we got over the first side of the bridge, which we both ran up, but only I ran down, I realized the GPS was off. Dang it! I waited at the bottom of the hill for boy, we walked/ran the rest of the route (the other 6 miles) and Boy does not walk fast. At all.

Here's a picture of him before we even got to the hill. I think he had a groove going on and I asked him to stop for a picture so he wasn't happy with me. Now that I see he actually lost the groove, I will not be stopping him for any more great photo opportiunities, sorry :( When he stopped to walk, he mostly complained that his stomach was cramping. He had a full bottle of gatorade at mile 2.5 and it was gone by mile 3.5, so he has to learn rationing like the rest of us have. Rookie trial and error. He will find what works for him. He refused my chocolate power gel.

I ran the bridge on the way back, Boy told me to go ahead. I stopped at the top and waited to get a picture. He didn't appreciate that either. I was saying, come on run for just a minute so I can get this picture, but...no... he said he head was too hot! By this time he had drank from a fountain. I had him wet his hair in it, and he drank the better part of my drink bottle that we had filled up there. Another park with water fountain was waiting at the end of the bridge, so I got him to run *part* of the way down the bridge. That was a tough run. Next time we definitely need to get out earlier. Wondering if we should change the day to Saturday. 1 hr, 45 minutes later, When we got back to the car, I think I have a ticket because there is not money in the meter - but it turned out, its just an envelop for a ticket. I don't know what that means?!

Week 1 (so far)

Boy had wrestling practice on Monday. He said they ran sprints and practiced technique - and he ripped skin off 3 of his fingers trying to get his locker open. He was SORE from those sprints. I ran the 2 mi on Tuesday (9/21) solo. I tried to through in some farklets on the streets here in the hood. I felt like I did very well. The cardioTrainer didnt reflect the same, but that's ok, it felt great!!

Boy had wrestling practice again on Wednesday, this time running the stadium stairs. He was pretty whipped, then had to turn around and go to soccer practice this evening - So I let him off the long tempo run today. It really wasnt a tempo run for me though. it was more like a "try-to-survive 5 miles with no food or coffee when it feels like 87 degrees outside". I got to 4.4, not at tempo pace, but close'nuff.

I think we have an easy run scheduled for tomorrow, and our first official long run is Sunday!

Beachside Run

While Matt is out of town, we took advantage of GRANDPARENTS ;) It was fun to head beachside for our run this morning! The plan was to get there for sunrise, but the sun rising is what woke me up. I realized later, I was depending on my weekday alarm on SUNDAY!

We set off around 8am and zig-zagged our way up from 5th ave to first. Boy had taken off when we started, and by the time he got to first, I was almost a whole street behind him! Boy had to wait on me to catch up. I just could not get it together! It was warm, humid and really windy! For a little while it drizzled on us which felt fantastic while it lasted. After I caught up with him, he just couldn't get it back. We started run/walking for about a mile until we hit the beach, and then we walked/ran back to the beach house on the sand. The gps tracker on the Droid auto-paused, I'm not sure why, so I don't know our exact distance. And my music player kept flaking out, so I kept dinking with the music player. I need to figure that out before next weekend!


I offered to run a little more on the beach, but Boy said he didn't want to, but he would if I wanted to. Well, we had just been walking too long. We decided we should just walk the rest of the way back! Then we sprayed off the sand, jumped in the pool to cool off, changed, and headed to breakfast. I don't even know the name of the place. It was yummy though! More than 5.32 (probably 5.75?) Time: 01:14:58

**Next run is the very first official training run!! **

Random PreTraining Run

My view during our run tonight. He is soooo going to kick my butt!! :)

I used the gps on the phone tonight to map our run, except I didnt realize when you lock the phone, you essentially pause the application. So, we are missing almost half a mile on our totals - and it was a pretty fast, kick butt half mile too. However, I knew there would be a learning curve. Also, I'm a bit spoiled with the garmin - this thing doesn't give me splits or anything! Just total distance, total time, and a very nice map of our route. The website leaves much to be desired, do I have any room to complain? I mean, it is a free app and I dont have to take additional gadgets with me on the run. Decisions decisions. My garmin only works part of the time. So, its really not a lot better. Magda has me wanting an upgrade now because her 405 is super cool and garmin's web interface that connects with it is NICE.

So here I am, rambling on about gadgets when Boy cares nothing about them and this is essentially his training journal. So, here goes.

We took off right before dark, before dinnertime. Boy got a new pair of headphones today - that SUCK. sigh. He left me in the dust for the first 1.5 mi or so (picture above) but once we got off the dirt he slowed down to a walk until I caught up with him. He stretched his calves and said he had cramps and for me to go ahead. I got another mile out of him before we called it quits.

It was a nice run, the temp is lower at 82 degrees and the humidity is low - feels like 85. The winds were kickin though! 14mph East winds - and you could definitely *feel* when you were heading east! Whew! Love that feeling (for short periods of time, of course!).

We ended up walking on the path behind the house for a cooldown and chatted about the his crappy head phones, the state of the Amenity center, and a country who's total land area is 1 sq. mile. :)

He's Out of Excuses

We went to the clinic today to get the paperwork done for the Boy to start sports at school and begin formal HM Training!

He is VERY healthy so there is nothing else to wait on! He is cleared for all sports activities! He has agreed to get up 30 minutes earlier during the week for his short runs. Wow, giving up his mornings... the boy amazes me! (I don't even really want to do that, but shhh! don't tell him.)

On your marks....Get Set.....

This weekend, Matt and I went to Disney World while Grandma & Grandpa C sat with the kids and animals. We left on Friday morning and came home Saturday afternoon. While we were there, I got a little carried away in the 'Disney Spirit' - I guess that is the point, huh? Anyway..now the Half Marathon with Boy is ON! And I am finally over the TOP about it! Here is the map to our Donald medal:


We checked out the Polynesian resort since that is where the crew came to cheer me on last year. Nice place...NICE PLACE...right there between mile 4 and mile 8. Oh YES! Then we went to Downtown Disney and I bought Boyce and myself matching personalize Family Team shirts -- in bright orange! :D We are going to get everyone else one when we know who all will be there... right now we will get Matt, Hannah, g'ma & g'pa C one :)

Ok, so after forking out the dough for matching team shirts - I figured we are in now! When we got home I signed us up and reserved our room - wow - expensive race and expensive rooms!! But after doing the full last year, I know that everything is done with the Magic of Disney - and it will be soooo worth it for my boy's first half marathon!!!

I worked on our new training program last night and printed it out. We begin next Monday! WHOOT!!! I added grid to it in highlighters so its fun and colorful - every week has its own color (that's, uh, 16 colors!). Its hung up on the fridge and all ready to go! I put 2 hours on the calculator so that hopefully if we train right, Boy can beat 2:00. I would love to beat 2:00 as well, but its going to take a little work - see below!

My goals for a sub 2:00!

1. I have to lose 10 lbs. Fat slows me down. I need to be a lean & mean running machine ;)
2. Never skip a long distance, and don't take the "SLOW" part of LSD (Long Slow Distance) more seriously than the rest of it!
3. DO the interval speed and hill workouts. On weeks of the hill workouts, we will do the LSD on Friday p.m. and take a Sunday morning run on the causeway.

I'm thinking about mapping a run from the dance place so that me and the boy can do our run while she is in her classes. Something to ponder...

Stay tuned for updates. I am going to journal his first marathon experience, since I know he wont. I hope he enjoys mommy's perspective one day ;)