Two New Marathons for Minn-eh-soh-tah!

Yesterday I FINALLY got a run in. I was kind of disappointed with it though. I only made it 3 miles and then had to hop on the eliptical. I can't explain why, but it was just really a struggle to keep running. I was hoping to get a 6 miler in. Maybe by the end of this week or next week when the holidays die down.

Oh...and it turns out that I missed some really big news. Minnesota is gaining 2 new marathons! For those of you who don't know--we currently host 2 major ones right now--Grandma's in Duluth and the Twin Cities Marathon. We will be adding on one more in Stillwater (a beautiful tourist city where I ran my half marathon in August) and another one in Minneapolis. Read here.

I think I still will be running only the Twin Cities Marathon but it might be nice to partake in the half marathon or 5k of one of these races.

2009 GOALS!

Okay so I still have little to report about on the running front. Before announcing my 2009 goals...I have to point out one strange thing that happened last week. I went for a run on the treadmill after doing a killer eliptical workout. I was expecting a bit of a struggle since I haven't gotten alot of running in lately. Instead...I found that I was going pretty steady at a 10 min/mile pace. Not a rocket or anything...but still alright...about the same pace I was at with knee pain. SWEET!

Anyways...here is my big goal for 2009:

To participate in the Twin Cities Marathon. Ideally...I will be running the full and not the 10 miler. But I'm going to test out the old knee in the next few weeks and attempt to predict the future before registration start in January!!!

I hope to see as many of you as I can for this one! Sue, I hope you will be running it?

Miss Busy Bee

That would be me. I have had little time to run and thus I've had absouletly nothing to blog about. And you could argue that today would be the same but I decided that perhaps blogging will somehow kickstart further motivation to run.

When most people say, "I don't have the time to run." Theoretically they do have the time somewhere- albeit getting rid of their favorite shows, they have time. But honestly, I have no time. I do watch one show on Tuesday nights yet I am always completing some sort of other task at the same time-homework and visiting with the boyfriend. For instance, look at one of my day's this week:

6 am- wake up
6:45 am- Leave for full time job
7:30 am-Arrive at full time job
4:00 pm-Leave full time job
4-5 pm- Eat, drive, prepare for 2nd job
5 pm-10 pm- work seasonal 2nd job
10 pm- Drive home
10:40 pm- Sleep

Theoretically, I could somehow wake up at 4 am and run. Or maybe run from 11 pm-12 midnight. But I assure you, I am not superwoman.

BUT...the good news. Class is done with, at least for a few weeks. And the seasonal job will be done when all of the jingle bells stop ringing.

So yay. I am now preparing for a "Get fit January". And this is not because it is January. I really do hate the popularness of getting fit in January. It creates an awfully stuff gym full of people with no commitment. I merely have no time until that point. And I will be mainly pre-training for the next marathon, if I decide to go that route. Which I no doubt probably will.

Anyways, I hope all of you are having a jolly holiday season.

Short run

Run Time: 30 minutes. Run Distance: 3 miles. Eliptical time :15 minutes. Weight Lifting to consist of abductors and adductors

Yes...I made it to the gym yesterday. I was quite jealous this morning though to read Chris's report on his half marathon. It is freeeeezing cold here today. In the teens this morning. Last night it was so cold I swear it was the middle of the winter. My hands are dried out and cracking. And somehow Chris ran a race down in his neck of the woods. So jealous! Although, I won't say we don't have maniacs who run races in the winter here...we do. I'm just not one of them. Check this one out...Frozen 5k and Half Marathon. Last year I walked by these crazy heads while I went inside for a car show. If you really want to be a tough runner...let's see you run in Minnesota's coldest month with negatives in the teens, twenties, and sometimes thirties. Yikes! No thanks! Actually one of my mom's friends was training for a marthon in this coldness and slipped on ice, broke her leg. Not worth it to me.

Anyways, I ran inside in my nice warm gym yesterday. I made it to 3 miles and was totally comfortable for once. The last few runs I've had have been nothing but a struggle. The side stitches were coming back with a vengeance again. Mainly because I wasn't able to get to the gym but 1-2 times a week. This time...I had less time between my "non-gym" time and the side stitches stayed away. My body seems to be coming back...finally. I think I should be able to manage to get a few more workouts in this week and next week due to the fact that I have fewer hours at the 2nd job. Working 60 hours on top of school....not suggested. Seriously. If you ever get the loony idea in your head...remember Rachel told you not to.

And now...I have a shameless plug. I started an additional blog for the deep writer in me. Actually, really I want to write a book someday and I figured I'd start with a place to write about stuff that isn't related to running. You can view Rose-Colored Crooked Toes. The few posts that are on there still need some editing but it is a start.

Enjoy!

I've been awarded

I recently acquired that second job that I was telling you about and so therefore I don't have a lot of time on my plate. I haven't really gotten much running in lately, really. I will hopefully be running tonight before I go in for training for Job 2.



Anyways, I wanted to say a big thanks to Jill for the "Kreativ Blogger Award". Her blog has really been a great resource throughout my training and her comments have provided great inspiration during hard times. I would pass this award back on to her if I could. Now I must write about 6 things that make me happy and pass this award on to 6 more people.


1. Sunny warm summer days. I will say that these days are long gone from Minnesota now for awhile, but I do love the summer.

2. When my boyfriend, Andy, tells me funny jokes. I love to laugh with him and see his dimples through his smile.

3. When Duke, Andy's dog, runs up to me full force when I get to their house.

4. Finishing a big task and knowing that it is completed.

5. Spending time with friends.

6. Spending time with my family, playing games, laughing, teasing each other.


And I am now passing the award on to the following people:


1) Chris- He has truly been there from the start of my blog. He has provided some great info and has maintained a great running blog through many struggles with injuries. He has made an amazing comeback from his knee injuries and is a great inspiration.

2) Alien- What an honor to be a fellow blogger! He has provided great feedback in all of my blogs and is really a team player. He has provided us with techno-savvy posts and tales of great races. He also has introduced cycling into his workouts and it is of great interest to those of us who would like to pick it up one day.

3) Jen- She had her doubts, and I think she even worried some bloggers during her training, but she finished her first marathon! It was great to read about how happy she was throughout her marathon and after (she got engaged!) She always makes me laugh and I love her blog.

4) Steve- Another great blog to make you laugh. Steve has many, many followers because of his totally crazy stunts at races. I have yet to go to a race where he is present, but the pictures are proof that he provides a good laugh.

5) Irish Cream- Her blog really is a great read. She has some amazing stories to tell about apartment fiascos with bird seed and still manages to get a good run in. She also donated to my cause, which gives her extra kudos from me.

6) Nic- He is a fellow NF runner who just finished the Fall 50. I could never imagine running that long and it amazes me that he has set goals that are higher than I could ever dream and accomplished them! His story is one that amazes me and I enjoy following it through his blog.


I know, there are a few more people that I would LOVE to give this award to...but I could only choose 6. I'll get you the next time around. Oh, and Jen, I will be filling my obligation with your tag soon as well...

Not enough time

So I did manage to get a workout in yesterday. I did 32 minutes on the eliptical and then hit the treadmill for a good 20 minutes. I managed to get 2 miles of running in. I know 2 miles seems so measly right now, but for some reason it is a battle to run lately. I have an interview for a 2nd job today. It is at a retail store kind of like a "Macy's" called Herbergers up here. I haven't really worked in such an environment since high school but the University isn't paying me enough to survive the holidays. So, not only will I be pursuing my Masters degree at night, I may also be working a 2nd job. YUCK! This is going to make my workout sessions even harder to fit in. Seriously...I wish I could just win the lottery and then I could run all day if I wanted...

Back to reality.

Lacking

So I don't have a lot of runs to report. I have found myself super busy since crossing that finish line. My classes are getting heavier and it seems that I never have time to actually get to the gym. I did, however, make it to the gym on Thursday. It turned out to be a very disappointing trip. I made it to about 1.5 miles when my feet (yea, feet?!) started hurting and my knees were crying. I cranked the speed down a bit and pushed through to 3 miles. I never thought I'd say "pushed through to 3 miles" again but that is what I did. I think that little break from running did more harm than good. Soooo...hopefully sometime this week I'll be trying to work in some extra mileage. It is 70 something degrees here today-shocking!! November in Minnesota and people are wearing shorts. I love it. However, I wish I were outdoors! Unfortunately I have a huge amount of homework to do when I get home so I don't know that I will be able to run. Yuck. We'll see what happens.

I was reading through my News Years Goals for 2008 and realized I surpassed my goal of running a half marathon by running my marathon! My next goal was to try a new sport. I have yet to do that...if any of you have some suggestions, let me know!