Me Too – I’m Ready to Rock ‘n Roll!

I got caught up in the crazy weather and kept putting posting as a lower priority – never enough time in the day. Jeff gave a recap on the storm and it was one of those “I’m glad it’s over, I’ll never forget it” storms. I ran 10 last Saturday morning on the treadmill, thought I was going to take Sunday off – but super happy Jeff and I were able to get a 6 mile run in while investigating more hurricane damage. Thanks to Jeff’s Mom & Dad for entertaining Sam so we could run! 🙂 I took off Monday – rest day – but I was still beat, I think from the stress of the events from the hurri-quake week. I got in 5 miles yesterday and 6 miles this morning. I have some slight pain in my right knee, so looking forward to the rest of my easy week: tomorrow – 0 miles, Friday – 3 miles, Saturday – 0 miles…Sunday – ROCK ‘N ROLL! I’ve only run one 1/2 before and that was in 1998…did I mention this before…and I ran the Rock ‘n Roll Inaugral Marathon in San Diego in 1998. So I’m thrilled to be running 13 miles – that’s alot for me! I feel ready – I really want to break 2:00, which is a nice pace. Hoping tomorrow and Saturday flies by – I’m ready to Rock ‘n Roll…too!

Looking Back at August

I’m very happy with August and this is a quick recap.  I ran 28 times (9 outside runs – the rest on the treadmill) – 255 Miles – 32,309 Calories Burned – Longest Run of the month 16 miles.  On the three days I didn’t run I rode the bike 2 days and took 1 day off.  I ran 7 times when I was in Maine (72 miles).  Tamara and I got to run together 4 times – wish it was more!  The only race I had scheduled for August (Annapolis 10 Miler) was cancelled L due to Hurricane Irene.  In addition to surviving all of the running and Hurricane Irene, I also survived the East Coast Earthquake!  Happy to put August in the books – Bring on September I’m ready!

 

Jeff’s Daily Post – Ready to Rock and Roll!

T-minus 4 days until the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll ½ Marathon.  I’ve run this distance many times but this will be my first “official” ½, my first Rock and Roll and the last race before The Baltimore Marathon in October (my first marathon).  I’m really looking forward to the run, expo and all of the concerts around this event.  This is our first race since Jungle Jims in June and I’m ready to get racing again!  Tamara and I are driving down Saturday morning so it should be a fun weekend.  We will make sure we take and post many pictures.  I plan on ramping my mileage down a little this week in preparation for the race.  My plan for the rest of the week – Ran 6.5 miles this morning – Plan on 8 tomorrow – 6.5 on Friday – Take Saturday off and then we have the ½ on Sunday.

Bring on Sunday – I’m ready to Rock and Roll!  Have a great day – for a run if you get a chance!

Jeff’s Post – Challenges and Hurricane Pics!

Geez – we have had some challenges lately.  In the past week we have had an earthquake and a hurricane (The Annapolis 10 Miler I was supposed to run was cancelled due to the hurricane).  Thankfully we survived both with no damage.  We lost power for around 24 hours after Hurricane Irene but I have a generator so we were able to stay comfortable.  I still don’t have internet and have been working off my Verizon Wireless Mifi card, better than nothing but still not the same as my cable.  In the midst of all of this I’ve come down with some sort of cold/sore throat.  I’ve been doing everything I can to keep it in check (extra Vitamin C, cough drops, zink, extra sleep).  I just don’t get sick and I have my first “official” ½ marathon on Sunday (The Virginia Beach Rock and Roll) – I don’t want to be sick for this race.  I’m trying to run a normal week but will scale things back a bit if I’m not feeling any better.

More Pics Here

I haven’t posted for a few days so where is a quick running recap:

Saturday – I ran 12 miles on the treadmill.  I’m a geek so I live tweeted my run (follow me @werrunners) giving updates every two miles.  I also did my first livestream (www.livestream.com/werrunners).  I really would like to livestream a little more – maybe get some virtual group runs going.  Not sure what I ultimately want to do with that but it combines my love of running and technology so I would like to do something – we will see.

Sunday – This was the day after the hurricane and I really figured that I wouldn’t be able to run this day – thought I would be cleaning up.  Tamara and I were both very very fortunate – we had limited cleanup so we were able to sneak in a 6 mile run that afternoon.  It was an absolutely beautiful afternoon – such a difference from a few hours earlier.  We had a great run!

Monday – I didn’t get power until late Sunday night and I had already decided that if I didn’t have power Monday morning I was going to cut everything else off and run the treadmill off the generator.  Happy I I didn’t have to do that. I ran 6.5 miles on Monday – really a struggle as I was tired from all of the weekend activities and didn’t feel well.

Tuesday (today) – I really had a good run 8.5 miles.

Have a great day – for a run if you get a chance!

Stress and Not Enough Sleep…

I’ve been getting between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 hours of sleep each night – really think my body is better with a bit more, but seems like I have gotten adjusted to going to bed around 10 or 10:30pm and getting up at 4:30pm. I very seldom get to sleep straight through the night – most nights my 6 year old wakes me up around 12:30am (thristy, cold, hot, doesn’t want to sleep in her room) and my dogs wake me up around 2:30am (they are 12 and 8 – it’s the older dog that asks to go out). I’ve been working on a “hot” project at work recently and it’s a bit stressful at times – was about on the ledge the other night (and the night before that…and the week before that…kidding, it’s not that bad!). Stress and not enough sleep – I kept thinking about that as I started my run this morning and was so very tired- ok, no big deal – I’m alive, I have a good life, I can run…I have no complaints that are valid. I have run through some very crazy, difficult, emotional, up, down periods in my life – and I prevailed through each…I think the thing that kept me going  and not losing my mind through some tough times – was my running. As I ran this morning I kept telling myself the amount of sleep and the stress do not matter – I need the run to help me to wake up and I need the run to de-stress me…by the time I got 5 miles in it worked…I wasn’t tired and I wasn’t stressed! A great way to start a Friday!! Now let’s see about my 10 mile run tomorrow morning on the treadmill…

– Tamara

Jeff’s Daily Post – Preparing for the Hurricane!

We live in Southern Maryland and it really looks like we are going to get hit with our first big hurricane in years.  I think I have most of the basics to survive – protein shakes, bananas, G2, Garmin charged, iPods charged, all running clothes laundered, 4 pairs of new Brooks shoes in stock and I have gas in the generator to run the treadmill.  So in the event of a prolonged power outage I don’t expect my fitness level to slide!

Ok, seriously I’m a bit concerned about the size and strength of this hurricane but feel like I have done what I needed to be prepared.  The Annapolis 10 Miler I was supposed to (and very excited to btw) run on Sunday has been cancelled.  I feel for the race directors – not an easy call to make but I think they did what they had to do.  It is probably good that they cancelled as I would have drove myself to Annapolis and run through the wind and rain.  I’m scheduled to run the Rock and Roll ½ Marathon in Virginia Beach next week – I’m hoping everything is settled down both and home and the event by then – looking forward to that race too.

Last race note – Today I unboxed and began breaking in my “Marathon Shoes”.  I’m going with the Brooks Ghost 3.  I have always run in 3’s and have a couple of Ghost 4’s new in the box but wanted to stick with the shoe that has got me here.  I plan on mostly treadmill and a few outside runs and hope to get around 100 miles on the shoes before the race – Baltimore – October 15^th – My first marathon!

To those on the east cost stay safe this weekend!  Go for a run if you get a chance!

Breaking in my new Ghost 3’s Relying on them to carry me 26.2 Baltimore Miles in October

Jeff’s Daily Post – X Train Day

Decided to give my legs a break from the pounding this morning and hop on the bike trainer.  My foot was hurting a little when I woke up and although I really really really wanted to run I decided to play it safe.  I could run on the treadmill inside for days but for some reason I struggle riding the bike inside.   I’ve heard others mention they get bored on the treadmill – I’ve never been bored on the treadmill but I’ve experienced that on the bike trainer.  I rode the bike for an hour (12.3 miles).  I really like the way my legs feel when I get off the bike – a bit tired but they are pumped!  Riding the bike also gives me a little extra time for weights and I hit them hard this morning.  My arms are shaking as I type this (need bigger arms!)

Still not sure what I’m doing about the Annapolis 10 Miler on Sunday.  I want to run this race and wouldn’t mind running in the driving wind and rain but I’m about 1/1/2 hours away and I don’t want to risk life and limb trying to get up and back.  I will let the forecast play out a bit and decide over the weekend.

Have a great day and go for a run/walk or jump on your bike if you can!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane stay away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Trek 2.1 on the Trainer

Reality TV Distracts Me from Quake Fears!

After experiencing the quake yesterday I was still on edge this morning. I was worried we would have another quake while I was in the basement running and Sam was upstairs sleeping – would I be able to get upstairs in time to save her? My mind had been racing with “after quake fear” since yesterday afternoon and I went to bed last night with a killer stress headache – I blame on the quake too! I managed to make my way downstairs after an argument with myself about whether I should run or not. Lucky for me (yeah, lucky – that’s right!) I had a new episode of Bachelor Pad (yes, that is right again – reality TV at it’s finest!) on my DVR. I was amazed at how fast my mind got into the silly (yes, I call it silly – but it still keeps my attention) show. My legs had been a bit achy after my short 3 mile run yesterday, but this morning I felt good. I ran 6 miles and forgot about the quake for a bit! When my feet hit the floor after my run I had another headache instantly – ugh. For the record, I admit I was a wreck yesterday and felt a bit bad that I practically trampled my co-workers in the stairwell – but every man/woman for themselves in that situation – and I would do it again, but think I’ll try the emergency exit next time…and…I could care less that the people on the West coast are making fun of our 5.9 quake, they can keep ’em all out there and I’ll send them a Maine blizzard too – see how they like that! Ok, I’m over it…I hate earthquakes! -Tamara

Jeff’s Daily Post – Earthquake Training “Check” – Hurricane Training “Check”!

I run mostly because I just enjoy the whole experience.  I like to push myself both mentally and physically – running does that for me.  My competitive side is the side that pushes me to sign up for races with a goal of continuous improvement.  I have three races coming up so at the moment my competitive side is kicking in and I’m in training.  I didn’t expect my training to come in handy during the Earthquake that the East Coast experienced yesterday (a 5.8 or 5.9 depending on who you talk to J).  I’ve never been through an earthquake and it was a bit of an unsettling experience.  I work in a rather small three story building near a naval base so occasionally we will get a building shake from a plane flying over.  That is what I thought was happening yesterday but after the building kept moving I realized it was more than that.  My first instinct was definitely to get out of the building.  I started running towards the door yelling as I ran to “get out of the building”.  I thought last night that I wish I had my Garmin on because I’m sure I would have set a PR because I was moving quick.  I’m proud of my speed but not so proud that I beat so many out of the building – I need to “man up” next time and make sure I’m not so close to the front.  Interesting that my first instinct was to run.  I was also concerned about Tamara as she was in a building down the street I actually went the end of the road to make sure I could still see the building she was in (wanted to make sure it was still standing!)  I will leave out all of the boring details but thankfully no one was hurt – Guess I can cross “Earthquake” off my to-do list.

I mention I have a few races coming up and one is the Annapolis 10 miler this Sunday.  The same time they are predicting the arrival of Hurricane Irene on the East Coast.  It looks like I may also be able to cross “Running in a Hurricane” off my list too.  C’mon mother nature – give us a break!

A slightly off 7 miles this morning – Have a great day and go for a run if you get a chance!

Jeff’s Daily Post – A Run Day is a Good Day!

A Run Day is a Good Day – I kept telling myself that as I struggled on my treadmill run this morning.  I didn’t feel horrible but just didn’t have the energy.  A year ago I would have stopped my run and tried again the next day.  Maybe that is the right thing to do but I actually enjoy the runs that don’t come easy.  They are not fun while you are in the midst of the struggle but I love being able to overcome the mental and physical challenges you face on those days you just don’t feel the best.  My 8.5 miles today weren’t the easiest but the last 3 miles were easier than the first 5 and anytime that happens I’m happy.

Have a great day and remember “A Run Day is a Good Day!