winter woes

Winter is here in full swing. Running now sucks because the sidewalks are not cleaned well in Rochester. Seriously, I'm running slower than 10 min/mile in this crap because it's soggy, slippery and really deep in some parts. Andy and I drove out to Mendon Ponds Park yesterday to snowshoe and the roads are clean to run out there, so maybe I will take some of my runs out that way just to feel like I am actually running and not struggling. I have now learned that snowshoeing in MPP is fantastic! The trails are pretty wide and they are groomed so well! We did 6 miles yesterday (I went over my 45 min run by 30 mins or so - oops) and I am getting more and more used to my snowshoes every time I go. The first time I went I was done after 4 miles. Yesterday I went 6 and felt awesome. It was also pretty warm out - I think it was 30 or close to 30 so that made things good. Running in the bitter cold is just awful and I try to subject myself to the least amount of below 10 degree running as possible!

I start my new job on Monday. As much as the time off has been relaxing, I have been BORED out of my freaking mind. I do my training, and that's it. And mostly I wind up putting it off because I have all day when I should just go in the morning and do it. I am not looking forward to the hours of the new job, but I'm getting paid more than my last job, so the money will be nice. I have an expensive race season ahead of me! Yay!

late!

I actually went out for New Year's Eve. I did not drink. I have no desire to drink at all anymore. I never really have felt that way but I used to drink socially a little bit. Now I could just care less! But I am very very very tired because it is WAY past my bedtime!

goodbye 2009

I am officially unemployed.. yikes! I have been doing lots of job searching and I filed for unemployment on Monday. It sucks that I've only had 3 days off and I'm already bored!

Today I finally got to use my new snowshoes! Andy had the day off so we drove down to Harriet-Hollister park (because there is actually snow there) and we ran on snowshoes for 5 miles. It's fun but hard and I have some blisters! Andy got me these neoprene booties from Fleet Feet which were a huge help and I did not get any snow down my socks. He did, and now he wants some of the booties also!

My brother is here for New Years for a wedding and he's supposed to be staying with me but I don't know how it's going to work, because he likes to go out and party and I do not. He's supposed to stay here tonight but I have to go to bed early so I can go to an appointment at a temp agency at 8:30 am tomorrow morning, and he's going out tonight and probably won't be done with that until 2 am or something. There is no way I'm waiting up for him. And then the wedding is New Years Eve. I had plans but now Andy has to work New Years Day, so I don't think that's happening anymore, and I really don't care at all if I have plans because I don't really care about drinking, but again, my brother is supposed to be staying here so I don't know how that is going to happen.. This is why I dislike having houseguests.

Maybe I will write a New Years resolutions entry soon!

lazy girl

Alright, so I still have not posted about the Philly Marathon, I know. I will get to it.

The marathon was 2 weeks ago yesterday, and today I FINALLY get to run! I have not taken 2 weeks off from running in several years (other than when I sprained my ankle).. ever since I got back into running after my hiatus during college. It's only a 30 minute run, but there is something about winter running that I love. I dread it all day because it sucks to run when it's dark out and it's soo cold when you first get going, but I love the feeling once I'm warmed up and breathing in the cold air feels so refreshing! I also got my Dions yesterday (early xmas present from Mom and Dad) and I'm hoping for some snow so I can try them out!! I have the Snow Cheap series lined up for this winter hopefully.. maybe some other snowshoe races as well.

Otherwise, I'm taking it pretty easy for December.. doing 30 min sessions of each sport 3x this week. I had been out of the pool and off the bike for almost 2 months until last week.

Getting back in the pool was rough. I'm a big slacker when it comes to swimming because I just get so bored. And I'm already an ok swimmer so I just assume that my fitness level will pull me through. Not going to work for IMLP!!!! When I was training for Musselman I was doing 20 mins in the pool maybe 2 times per week. Not great. So doing 30 after no swimming since Finger Lakes was not fun. And flip turns are not my greatest strength. I only learned how to do them last year when I was masters swimming with Dan Dubois. So they make me really tired towards the end of my set and I can really feel it! But it's good. I feel good when I get out of the pool!

I'm rambling. My job's end date is creeping closer (I have 3 weeks left) and I continue to get more and more nervous. The guys in charge of me at Kelly are working on finding me another position but I have heard nothing yet.

almost time!

I have a 2 mile run today and that's IT before Philly! I just got done printing out driving directions, a map of the part of the city where we're staying, and the course map. I have to wash a huge pile of running clothes tonight so that they're ready to pack up tomorrow. Unfortunately I don't have a suitcase in Rochester for some reason, so I'm not sure what I'm going to use.. I think Andy and I are going to bring some food with us (if he ever tells me what he wants!) so that we can try to save some money. I have my ipod full of ridiculous songs to listen to on the long drive. I have to make sure I have gels and if not, I have to stop at Fleet Feet. Because I have no idea what the weather is going to be like, I'm bringing an enormous assortment of running clothes just to be safe. I will be able to dress myself for temperatures ranging from below freezing to 80+. Andy thinks that I'm ridiculous, but I'm just being thorough! I'm hoping to see my best friend, Jessie, from college because I haven't seen her in a few years and I really miss her! Andy's family is going down to watch so that's exciting. I'm just really getting excited! I never get to go anywhere, and I never get to stay in a nice hotel, so this should be lots of fun! Plus, I LOVE Philadelphia!

oopsie

Seriously, I suck at updating this. I've raced a bunch of times since FLT. I did the Fall Classic F1 duathlon where I raced like shit. I did the Black Diamond Off-Road du where I raced great and dropped 4 mins off my time from last year. I did Johnny's Run Like Hell 5K where I PRed by almost 20 seconds (ran a 21:43). Tomorrow I am doing the Mendon Trail Runs 20K. And that is IT before Philly.. seriously this is my last race (I have said that after the past 2 races).

I am getting PSYCHED for Philly. I have marathon fever! I am dying to do NYC.. and Boston.. and other destination races! I wish I had money so that I could do triathlons in cool places. All these people from Train-This are going to Texas for a 70.3 in the spring and I would kill to go but I just don't have the money to be flying and shipping my bike, etc. It  really sucks. Plus I have never really been out there (I've been to Vegas but I'm not into that scene so I don't really count it). I mean my contract ends (AKA I get laid off) on Dec. 25th so this really isn't the time to be planning crazy races. I already blew all of my money this year on Lake Placid registration and a condo, and my Zipps, and coaching. And I don't regret it at all, I just don't have any extra money. I have to be prepared in case I lose my job which terrifies me.

I just want to be rich so I can train and race and buy cool gear!

That would be the best life ever!

lazy girl

I have done nothing significant since FLT. I took a week and a half off with the bike. The weather has been really shitty but I got a break on Wed. and went for a short ride. It was a little chilly but I lived. I do need to get toe covers. I'm doing an F1 duathlon on Sunday which I feel very unprepared for, but oh well! I was going to ride today but the weather is nasty, AGAIN. I always say I'll ride on my trainer.. but it never happens. Yes, I am lazy.

Last weekend (on Saturday) Andy and I went to Mendon Ponds Park and did a long run there. I did 14 and he did 15. I mapped out a big loop. It rained almost the entire way. We ran together for about 5 miles and then he left me in the dust. I managed to twist my left ankle 3 times during the run. I think it's very mildy sprained but it's not really bothering me at all to run. I will probably tape it for the duathlon because the 6 miles of running are all on trails in Mendon Ponds Park. We ended up completely soaked and miserable, but other than that the run went pretty well. I held a 9 min pace pretty easily and it's not real flat down there. I felt great above the waist, and my legs were just dead from the pounding. Not necessarily tired, just my knees were killing me. I guess that's the whole purpose of the long run - to get your legs used to hours and hours of the same motion and the feeling of pounding on the pavement for so long.

I'm irritated at my ankle. I had tendonitis in it in high school. I can't wear spikes anymore (not that I have a need to these days). I have to wear heavy stability shoes and I have custom orthodics. I've sprained it 3 times in the past few years. It's just annoying to have to deal with.