Thanksgiving

Since next Thursday is Chanukah, and my nephew doesn't like to travel for Thanksgiving weekend, we are having Turkey today, and Thursday will be leftovers and latkes.  Seems like a good way to do it!  I made apple pie (as always) and ginger bread men because I am bribing students who have to come to a stupid meeting into thinking it's a good meeting.  I figure if I give them cookies they won't notice how lame it is.

So anyway, I've been eating a lot of cookies (lots of bribery going on) and I'm shopping for a new car because after trip #9 to the garage, and more $ out than the thing is worth, it still almost overheated on the way home from work!  Granted I was sitting in traffic for about 20 min, but I drive in the city, that happens.  I can't plan every trip around traffic...

Which is all to say that I haven't been exercising enough, and I've been eating too much.  It's so cold and windy out today, there was just no way to run outside.  But, I decided last minute to hit the gym.  I did 30 min on the treadmill, with a 5 min cool down.  5.7 mph for most of the run.  3.1 miles total.  It was really boring.  And then I didn't even lift weights because I have to go eat.

Cramps

I seem to have a lot of posts with this title. Anyhow, was dreading my run today, so I decided to just get it over with, even though it was really too soon after eating. I also decided to go the reverse of my usual route, just for a change. I realized as I was slow jogging back that I do seem to get cramps more often going the reverse route. Another reason to not do it (reason number 1 being that I think it's all uphill.) Anyhow, cramps really hit at about minute 20, so I took a short cut back. Total running time 30 min 20+ sec, so I did get a full half hour in, total distance 2.7 miles. Speed, 10 min 40+ sec mile. OK, not super fast, but at least I ran over 2.7 miles.

I figured it out, and run #100 could be the Jingle Bell Run, if I time it right. That would be a pretty good way to celebrate!

Winter's Coming

Getting cold out. I had to take my poor car in again (to a new place) and T in to work again on Tuesday. It was sooo cold out, I wore my winter jacket. Today was warmer, so I decided I should get my run in. I really was not in a running mood, had to make myself go. I went on the Charles, but a little way up from the last couple times. I went over the Longfellow Bridge - they removed all the little towers for construction! Weird. I really wanted to turn left and go the shorter route, up to the Museum of Science. But I didn't. It felt like a pretty slow run while I was doing it, and it turned out that in fact it felt slow because it was slow. 3.9 miles in 42 minutes: a 10 min 40 sec mile pace.  But, at least I did it.

This was run #92. Eight more until 100. After spending all that money on the runaversary, I can't buy new tights. Wonder how I'll celebrate?

Lazy Day Run

It's Veteran's Day weekend and I have been a total lazy slug!  I went food shopping, I went out for pizza and beer (because I forgot about the frozen pizza at Market Basket until I was in line, and then I had too much line time invested to go to the freezer section), and I did 5 loads of laundry and cleaned the bathroom.  I was going to go to yoga, but then instead I made an apple crisp, and ate most of it.  So, I decided spur of the moment to go for a run.  Wore the new Athleta tights, which I have to say would fit better if I stopped eating entire apple crisps in one sitting.

Ran the usual 5K and I did it in 31 minutes and 47 seconds, but I had to stop at the light for 10 sec (totally legit), so it was 31 37 sec, which is a 10 min 12 sec mile.  This route is waaay hillier than the one by the Charles, so I feel like I get some points for that.  For part of it I really felt like I was running, not just jogging.

There's a running group here in Somerville that I'm thinking about joining.  They go for runs three days a week, right in the neighborhood.  Maybe I would learn something about running - there must be things to learn...

For some reason, I kept smelling steak today.

One Year Runaversary

So exciting, I actually made it to my one year runaversary, still running!  Yes, I did get new, incredibly expensive, running tights at Athleta to celebrate.  They're a microfleece with wind breaking material on the front of the legs for cold days.  And a cute new top that's warm and reversible, and also embarrassingly expensive.  Reversible though, so I can wear it twice, right?  With all that, I still wasn't too psyched to go for a run because it was cold and rainy out, not perfect running weather (actually, now that I think about it, the first day I ran it was cold and rainy out too, and I wound up going to the gym.)  I decided to go the same route on the Charles, from the free parking area, over the Elliot Bridge, to the Western Ave Bridge, and back.  I did it a whole minute faster today than last time! Though I didn't have to stop for traffic at the bridges, so it was actually only 30 secs faster.  I actually felt like I was running pretty fast while I was going, though of course two guys did pass me like I was standing still.

Anyhow, I did 3.64 miles in 35 min and 34 sec, which is a 9 min 46 sec mile, which is just crazy good for me!  I felt pretty good for most of the run.  When I got back to my car I did the same little extra bit that I had done last time.  Not that I thought I needed to because I knew I had run 5K, but just because I could.  And a year ago for sure I could not have.

I was thinking about my first year running accomplishments:

• Going from running 2 minutes at a stretch to running for a full hour.
• Improving my pace, though only sometimes.
• Lots of new pairs of tights and cute running tops.
• Three 5K races, two of which I ran without stopping to walk, and one I ran despite having a miserable cold.

I've resisted goal setting with this running because I think it might turn me off.  But, now that I've made it through a year, maybe it's time to set a couple goals.  For this year I would like to:

• Run at least a couple 5K races (first one already scheduled for December.)
• Run a 10K (gasp)
• Not go broke on additional cute running clothes.

Fresh Pond

I went back to Fresh Pond and this time was more successful on the run.  I ran the whole way around - a couple times people passed me like I was standing still.  It's quite the runner's place.  Anyhow, I ran from the Trader Joes parking lot, around the pond, and then back to Trader Joes, about 5K total and it took 32.27 min, which is about 10 min 32 sec mile, which is respectable.  It was a little bit painful run, but I ran the entire time.  When I started it was freezing, but by the time I was finished the sun had come out a little.

It's been a beautiful fall weekend, and Trader Joes had all kinds of delicious fall foods.  Yum (thank heaven, wouldn't want this running to affect the size of my thighs.)

One year Runaversery on Thursday.  And this was run number 90.  December I should reach 100!  Yes, I am looking online at Athleta :)