I'm Hungry

I was tagged by Sunflower Kisses to share seven random things about myself. You should know I am really bad at thinking of things for these, but here goes:

1. I had shingles in 2006 and sometimes still experience pain in one spot on my back. Probably always will.
2. I lived in Mexico City for 4th grade and three years of high school.
3. I don't really like dogs in general, but I love my dog like crazy.
4. I won't eat yogurt in a tube or drink it. In a cup with a spoon only please.
5. I don't like heights. Or scary movies. Or hearing people chew their food.
6. I hate touching or even seeing raw chicken. It makes me gag and lose my appetite.
7. I love chocolate covered raisins, but I don't love raisins, especially in things like cinnamon rolls.

Can you tell I'm hungry? I'm supposed to tag seven people, but this thing is really making the rounds so consider yourself tagged if you are one of the few that hasn't done it yet.

Now enough about me. Before you start enjoying your long weekend, be sure to enter my giveaway. Or you can head over to the Last Mile Lounge and enter one of Jamoosh's. He's had a different giveaway every day this week!


RUN: Hey, Soul Sister (Train) and Telephone (Lady Gaga/Beyonce) are the latest additions to my running playlist.

ONE

While my post title is also the name of unquestionably one of the greatest songs of all time by one of the best bands of all time, it is also the number of years my blog has been part of the blogosphere. Today marks my blog's one year anniversary or birthday or whatever it is blogs celebrate.

For the past year, I have been sharing my ups and downs of running (and life in general), "meeting" amazing runners and people, learning the ins and outs of running from some of the best runners around, and establishing lasting friendships. Thank you for being a part of that.

And what better way to mark the occasion and say thanks than a giveaway?

Gone for a RUN has generously provided this BibFOLIO for one of my lucky readers to win:

Since I first discovered Gone for a RUN, I have wanted a BibFOLIO. I didn't know what to do with my bibs but knew I wanted to keep them. The BibFOLIO was my answer. It is perfect!! I know because I am the proud owner of my very own BibFOLIO. In an upcoming post, I'll tell you more about my BibFOLIO and why I love it. In the meantime, get to entering to win your own!

Here is how you can enter the BibFOLIO giveaway:

• Follow my blog. If you were a follower before today, be sure to mention that too. Since this giveaway is to celebrate one year of I Have Run, you get an extra entry for spending any part of that year with me (I know who you are, so be honest). Leave me a comment. (One or two entries)
• Visit the Gone for a RUN website and tell me about your visit: what you like, what you want, what you wish they had, your favorite BibFOLIO, etc. Leave me a comment. (One entry)
• LIKE the Gone for a RUN Facebook page . Leave me a comment. (One entry)
• Post a link to this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Leave a comment letting me know where you posted a link. (Up to three entries)

This giveaway will end next Wednesday, June 2nd. The winner will be announced on June 3rd.

RUN: You know you are a runner when you recognize a Boston Marathon jacket on someone while you are picking up take-out and you have to resist the temptation to sit down at his table and ask him about his race.

Rockin' My Socks and Shoes

Saturday I ran the Rock Your Socks (Virtual) 10K. I ran my "race" on the treadmill while my girls cheered me on. It wasn't a typical run for me because I was testing out new shoes. I tried three different pairs, two miles in each. Also, because this was my "long" run, I wanted to keep my pace a little slower and went with how my legs felt. I also found that when I went faster, I paid less attention to how the shoes felt.

My midge had a definite shoe favorite, insisting these make me "speedy":

She was also a fan of the (Brooks Launch's) bright yellow with purple laces. The color scheme took some getting used to on my part, but they were my favorite on my feet so they are keepers. I am also keeping the Mizuno Wave Rider 13s. It was tough deciding between the Mizunos and the Asics, but the girl at the store suggested I keep the Mizunos if I couldn't decide because the Asics and Brooks are very similar and the Mizunos would be a good change for my feet and legs since I would be alternating between the pairs.

I ran my Rock Your Socks 10K/Shoe Test in 58:20 (9:24 pace). I told you I wasn't there to set any records, but it was fun to run "with" the other racers this weekend!

While I was tearing it up on the treadmill, my cousin ran her first 5K on Saturday. She rocked it in 30:31. She was shooting for under 45 minutes and just killed it. This is the cousin that watched my girls during my last few races. I'm hoping we can run something together soon! I thought about stealing her post-race photo off Facebook, but I'm not sure she would appreciate that. However she looked like she didn't even break a sweat in all the photos. I'm thinking she might be the new Runner Barbie.

In non-running news, my little Rowdy boy walked up to me yesterday morning looking like this:

Because he has cataracts in both eyes and is high-risk for glaucoma, I was pretty concerned. We spent the afternoon (and $600) at his eye doctor's office. After an ultrasound and several other tests, we went home with a detached retina diagnosis and five prescriptions. His vision was already somewhat limited in that eye, but now it's completely gone. The retina may reattach by itself, but there are no guarantees. Either way, we'll just keep doing whatever it takes to keep the little guy happy and healthy.

Now I'm off to get my girls geared up to play in the snow. Last night we talked about going swimming today, but the plan changed when we woke to over an inch of snow on the ground.

Wednesday is a big day 'round here so be sure to check back!

RUN: Put together my marathon training plan over the weekend. Training officially starts June 14th, the week after my half marathon.

Shoe Test

I had a whole post thought out this morning on a somewhat serious topic, but then the morning went to heck. (We don't say "hell," just ask my midge.) I am no longer motivated to write anything with substance that takes any amount of real thought, so instead I am going to give you a shoe update. After trying the Nike Vomero Zoom+ 5s on two short (treadmill) runs, I returned them. They felt too heavy and hot, although they were nice and cushiony. Yesterday I bought three other pairs that felt great in the store and am taking each pair on a 1-2 mile (each) treadmill test run either today or tomorrow and hopefully narrow it down to two. The candidates are:

• Mizuno Wave Rider 13
• Brooks Launch
• Asics Speedstar 4

Do you have any of these shoes? If so, what do you think?


RUN: Ran seven miles with my littlest midge in the single jogger yesterday. We took it slow and easy because my legs still felt tired. I'm hoping a day off today (other than the possible shoe test) will be what they need to get back to feeling happy.

No Regrets

No matter who you are, when or where you run, how much you plan, sometimes things just don't work out. Sometimes you miss a run (gasp).

Last night I missed my run. I had a lot to do while my girls took naps, so I was planning to run as soon as they went to bed. Earlier in the day, I attended my biggest midge's preschool "graduation." I have mixed feeling about graduations that don't come at the end of high school (this one isn't even at the end of preschool; she will be going another year before kindergarten), but that isn't the point. The point is that my husband wasn't able to attend the event, so when he got home from work he wanted to do something to celebrate her big day. After much deliberation, we settled on renting a movie of her choice (a pretty big deal since we don't watch a lot of TV/movies at our house), order pizza and get a treat to snack on during the movie. At 7:00 pm, the usual bedtime for little people at our house, I found myself stuffed full of pizza, watching Strawberry Shortcake's Berryfest Princess Movie. The biggest midge finally headed to bed an hour later, and I decided to call it a rest day.

With a rest day under my belt, you would think today's run would have been fabulous. Not so much. I did speedwork, and it kicked my butt. I was tired and hungry and my calves hurt, but I powered through and now I feel great. My calves don't hurt, my tummy is full, and I keep thinking how true it is that you never regret the runs you do (don't quote me on that since I stole it from someone else, I just don't know who).

Here's a summary of today's speedwork:

1600 @ 9:05 pace
1200 @ 8:34 pace (6:25)
800 @ 8:06 pace (4:03)
800 @ 8:06 pace (4:03)
400 @ 7:30 pace (1:51)

Total with warm & cool: 5 miles


RUN: I love the new running mantra tees from Gone For a RUN. I am a big fan of running themed clothes that are SUBTLE, so these are perfect. Now I just need to pick my favorite and find an excuse to order it for myself. Maybe if I get it in red I can call it a 4th of July present.

Ogden Half Marathon Race Report

Friday
Because packet pick-up was only held the day before the race, my girls and I drove the hour to Ogden and picked up my number. I quickly made my way around the expo, but didn't see anything I couldn't live without. I read Bart Yasso would be there to speak at different times throughout the day and was actually surprised he would be at such a small expo/race. However, the race was voted the ninth best marathon by Runner's World, so maybe that had something to do with it. Because I knew he would be there, I took my copy of My Life on the Run and had him sign it. He was just sitting on a table, hanging out by himself when I found him. He signed my book and chatted with my biggest midge, asking if she is fast and if she is going to be a runner like mommy. For the record, it was a "yes" response to both questions.

Friday night, my cousin came over for our weekly girl's TV night. She was also spending the night because my hubby had to work Saturday. Yes, this is the same amazing (and beautiful and funny) cousin that went to St. George with me. She rocks!!

We headed to bed a little after 10 pm. I set my phone to wake me and tried to fall asleep. The last time I looked at the clock, it was a little after 11 pm. The next time I looked at the clock, it was 11:45 pm. My biggest midge was complaining that her nose was stuffed up. She got in bed with me and complained every 15 minutes or so until almost 2 am. I tried to sleep, but I was SO hot with her glued to my side that I moved to the floor where I told myself over and over that I needed to get some sleep until I finally dozed off about 2:45 am. Fifteen minutes later, my phone went off. I figure I got a total of about 2 hours of sleep. Woo-hoo. Ready to run!!

Saturday
I got dressed, kissed my sleeping girls and hubby and headed out the door. Another hour drive to Ogden, boarded the bus, then waited. Since we had over an hour between the last bus drop-off and the start, I spent some time in the port-a-potty line (three times), chatted with an 80-something gentleman about the 28 members of his family running that day (marathon, half and 5K), stretched, gazed longingly at the people close to the fire pits, and finally stripped down to my race clothes and headed to the start. I started between the 9:00 and 10:00 pace signs. I was shooting for around 2:10. I figured that would keep me around a minute slower than my goal pace for next month's half. Then we were off.

I don't really have a mile by mile recap because it seemed to go pretty quickly. Here are some of the highlights though:

The only real uphill was just after the start and it was a pretty long one. I really think adding hill intervals to my training lately helped. My pace slowed a little but not enough that it is noticeable looking back at my stats.

This race really is amazingly beautiful! All but the last three miles or so are over a dam and through a beautiful canyon. Even the last three miles were on a parkway surrounded by shady trees. Only the last little bit to the finish was through the city. I had my phone and took a few pictures, but they don't do it justice.

Between the time I woke up and started the race, all I could force myself to eat was half a banana so I was getting hungry a few miles in. I downed a grape pomegranate CarbBOOM gel at mile 4. I didn't have another one because the (lemon, uggh) Powerade I drank around mile 7 made me want to puke.

My shorts drove me crazy. I almost think it was the Glide that did it. I haven't used Glide with these shorts before, and they haven't ever ridden up (between my legs) but this time I was constantly tugging down the one side. It's like my shorts got stuck to the Glide.

I LOVE my arm warmers. However, the only place I chafed was where my armband for my iPod sat on my arm. I think it was too close to the arm warmer's seam and caused it to rub.

(I know you've always wanted to see a picture of my armpit!)

I have got to get this shoe thing figured out. I got blisters in the usual spot on both feet, including this baby:

At mile 7, I was still feeling good but noticed I was going faster than planned, so I tried to focus on slowing down. I think I could have gotten a PR because I felt great all the way to the end, good enough that I pushed it on mile 13. Here are my splits:
Mile 1 9:29
Mile 2 9:33
Mile 3 9:09
Mile 4 9:25
Mile 5 9:13
Mile 6 9:23
Mile 7 9:40 (forced myself to slow down)
Mile 8 9:31
Mile 9 9:23
Mile 10 9:41
Mile 11 9:36
Mile 12 9:46
Mile 13 8:57 (let myself speed up)
.1 Mile 1:45 (9:06)

Total distance: 13.19 miles
Total time (Garmin): 2:04:38
Official Time: 2:04:34
I forgot to take a post-run photo, so this will have to do. I had to show off my medal though, especially since it is my first half marathon medal. At my other half marathon, all I got was a carnation.

RUN: My legs are a little sore but nothing crazy. I am going to ride the bike today to give them one more day "off."

Training Run Race (and giveaway winner)

Happy Friday y'all. I'm sure you are all dying to know my weekend race plans (and some of you are dying to know the giveaway winner). Well, most important things first. Me. This is my blog after all. As many of you know, May 15 was once the date that would mark my second marathon. Yes, the Ogden Marathon is tomorrow. No, I haven't decided to run it.

After deciding to change to the half marathon several months ago, my registration status never reflected the change and I couldn't get a response from anyone by phone or email about it, so I resigned myself to trying to run the full and then finally decided to not run it at all. Then a few weeks ago, I decided I would go pick up my race packet and get my t-shirt anyway and pulled up the web site to get details about the expo. On a whim, I checked my registration status again, and it showed me running the half. Finally. So tomorrow I am running the Ogden Half Marathon.

This will be my second half marathon. My third, the Utah Valley Half Marathon, is on June 12 and I really want to train well over the next four weeks so I can PR, so I am treating tomorrow's like a training run. I don't have a time goal and even considered taking my camera but decided it would probably be annoying to carry for two hours. For the record, my half marathon PR is 2:00:42.

Now enough about me. It's time for the giveaway winner. After consulting Random.org, the UPrinting.com winner is:

Barefoot AngieB

Just send me (ihaverun[at]hotmail[dot]com) your name and email address and you will get an email about how to claim your prize!

RUN: I'm on the fence about the new shoes. I gave them a two mile test run yesterday and will give them another go next week. I'm almost wondering if they are too cushiony (not sure that's a word, but you know what I mean).

Three Things Thursday

It's hard to believe it is already Thursday. But it is, so let's get to it.

1. While running errands, I ended up driving part of the route for the Utah Valley Half Marathon. It will be a beautiful run that covers several miles that I travel on a pretty regular basis and then passes by my Alma mater. There is just something a little extra exciting about running "at home."
2. I have been pretty tired, both sleepy tired and just plain worn out, this week. It hasn't stopped me from running though. Monday I did six hill intervals, two minutes each, on the treadmill. Total run = 4 miles. Yesterday I ran 5 miles in 47:17, with three miles @ 9:05.
3. A while ago, I read in Runner's World that you can shave 5:27 off your marathon time by losing five pounds, so I have a goal to weigh five pounds less by marathon day, which is October 2. I'm not going to wait until August to start trying though. Trying starts NOW!

RUN: I have an easy four miles on the schedule tonight. I'm going to try out my new shoes. I'll let you know what I think tomorrow. (I'll also be announcing the giveaway winner and talking about my weekend racing plans!)

How 10 miles become 11 (and a giveaway)

In my fancy list on Friday, I mentioned I had a 10-mile run planned for Saturday. I also said it would probably be interesting. And it was.

I did an out and back on a paved trail with my girls in the double jogger. It was sunny and cool, perfect for a run. The girls were loaded up with books and snacks. And we were off. A few miles in, a guy on a bike yelled: "That's impressive." That kept me going until a male runner gave me another boost with the following exchange as he passed:

Him: That doesn't look easy.
Me: It's not, but it's worth it.
Him: Hmmm...
Me: It's better than not running.
Him: True.

After five miles, we turned and started back down. I knew I had been pushing up a gradual incline but really noticed the difference going down when I averaged a minute per mile faster pace on the way back. At mile six, I stopped and shared a watermelon Carb BOOM! gel with my girls. They are becoming big fans of my energy gels. My oldest asked several times when we were going to "eat that stuff."

The girls were little rock stars, never complaining. We made a few quick stops to get out suckers and fruit snacks, took a little break to watch a rabbit eating grass, and stopped once when the littlest midge kicked off her shoe. We also had a few photo op stops. My biggest midge brought her camera and asked me to stop once to take a picture of a tree she liked and later of the powerlines. Other than that, we were having a great run.

About 1/4 mile from the car, the littlest midge started whining. I stopped to see what she needed and noticed something was missing. This:

I checked and double checked under the stroller, under my girls, in every pocket and corner. I literally wanted to cry. No blanket. When it comes to my girls and their blankies, there is NO messing around. All it takes is one touch when they are upset and they stop crying or pressing it against their cheek when tired and they go almost limp with relaxtion.

So we turned around and slowly began retracing our steps. I distinctly remembered seeing the midge with it about two miles back, so I figured that was as far as we would go. Almost 1/2 mile later, a man on a bike was about to pass us when he stopped, "Did you lose a pink blanket?" (I think it helped that my other midge was holding a nearly identical blanket.)

I wanted to hug him. But I didn't. He said it was about a block away, so we ran the block and found the blanket sitting on a bench. Someone had been nice enough to move it off the ground but smart enough to leave it there. We had a very happy reunion with the blankie and then headed back to the car.

So, that's how ten miles becomes 11 miles on a Saturday.

Now for the other thing I mentioned on Friday: a GIVEAWAY. UPrinting.com has kindly offered to give one of my readers a 16 x 20 rolled canvas. If you have been wanting a great way to display that picture of you crossing the finish of your first marathon, your favorite family photo or any other picture you LOVE, now is your chance.

Here's what you get:

• 16 x 20 Rolled Canvas for One (1) Winner
• Specifications: 1 Business Day Turnaround
• Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
• Eligibility: Limited to U.S. Residents only

Here's how you get it:

• Required: Visit UPrinting.com and let me know what other items peak your interest. Leave a comment. (1 entry)
• Optional: Tell me about the picture you will get printed if you win. (1 entry)
• Optional: Link back to this post from your blog. Leave a comment. (1 entry)
• Optional: Tell your friend about the giveway on Facebook or Twitter. Leave a comment each time you do. (1 entry for each time you post it)

The giveaway ends this Friday, May 14th at noon. I will announce the winner Friday afternoon.

RUN: Got exactly what I wanted for Mother's Day: new running shoes and RoadID.

I'm too tired to think of a title for this post

It's Friday and the start of Mother's Day weekend. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better than that, here's a bulleted list of the latest from moi:

• It was great to see my name on the list of St. George Marathon runners today (even though I knew it would be there) after being so disappointed when I didn't get in last year.
• I haven't been sleeping well lately. I am fine once I fall asleep, but it takes forever, some nights even a few hours, to actually fall asleep. Can't figure it out.
• Did six miles on the mill yesterday: 2 easy, 2 @ 9:05, 2 easy. Total time: 57:10.
• I was gonna post a giveaway today but the aforementioned lack of sleep is making me tired (lazy), so be sure to come back Monday for that. It is not a runner specific or gender specific giveaway so it is for anyone and everyone.
• I have 10 miles on the schedule for tomorrow, and I am going to attempt the run with my girls in the double jogger. Pretty sure it will be interesting, but at least that will give me something to write about.
• Check out Gone for a RUN on Facebook! They just put up their page today, so you can be cool like me and be one of the first to LIKE their page.

RUN: Until recently, I thought it was best to leave my (foot) calluses alone. Found out (in last month's Runner's World) they can actually lead to blisters. I'll be getting rid of my calluses this weekend in the form of a Mother's Day pedicure!

Kids and Sugar Cookies

I finally tore myself away from searching for cheap flights (there aren't any) to New York so I could write this. Apparently this is not the time to book a flight to the Big Apple, but I'm not sure how much longer to hold out for a good deal before I just give in and pay a ridiculous amount. So if you hear of any amazing deals to any New York City area airport, let me know.

I didn't make my way over to Blogger to talk about my flight search woes though. Today I am going to (finally) answer one of the questions I didn't include in my 100th post because I thought it needed a little extra attention.

Jesse asked... I know everyone seems to say that having kids was one of their best decisions, makes them so happy..., but if you are completely honest with yourself, do you miss having a traditional career? How hard is it for you to have an identity outside of being a "mom"?

If I am completely honest, I can say I don't miss having a traditional career. I admit I miss things about it, things like the daily adult interactions and conversations and business trips to new places. But I wouldn't trade it for what I have now, and having kids was one of the best decisions I've ever made, as cliché as that sounds.

I am, however, lucky to be able to continue my career at home, on my terms and on my time. I think that has been important in allowing me to have an identity outside of being a mom. And even if I didn't work, I think the key to maintaining an identity as a person and not just a parent is allowing yourself to have interests and passions that are your own. Running is a perfect example of this in my life. I can't let myself feel guilty about it or it wouldn't ever happen.

Like everything in life, being a mom is about finding the balance. I know mothers who are mothers and that is it. Their marriages have suffered or dissolved and they have no identity beyond who and what they are to their children. I know other women who openly resent or neglect their children, and you can tell they had kids because they thought they should or because they didn't think at all.

I have said before that I didn't make the decision to become a parent lightly, even the second time around. I will also say this again: it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I guess that wasn't as hard or as lengthy as I expected, but I hope I answered the question.


RUN: Sugar cookies, just one of the reasons I run.

(This was one of my 4-year-old's creations yesterday. Mine had a little less frosting and sprinkles.)

Manpris and more

Thanks for all your nice comments about my blog's new look. And thanks even more for not pointing out that I don't look exactly like the Runner Barbie in my header. I'm working on it.

I have a lot to say and little time to get it all down, so I'm going to dive right in. After a pathetic week of running (two days) with a little cross training thrown in (two other days) last week, I am recommitted and back on track. The Utah Valley Half Marathon is six weeks away and I am going to buckle down, log the miles and kick some booty on June 12.

Next: manpris. You know, capri pants, but for a man. I know I don't have a lot of male readers, but I know all you females have men in your life and can share the following wisdom with them: manpris = no. Please no. There was a guy at my last race in a pair of black Adidas manpris. I don't know if they are sold specifically to men or if he wandered into the women's section, but there was nothing manly about them. Then last week I took my girls to the park and there was this big Samoan guy, pushing his little girl on the swing, wearing denim manpris! I understand he is surrounded by mostly women at 10 am on a weekday morning at the park, but that doesn't mean he has to dress like a woman. I'm sorry, I just can't get on board with men in capris.

Now that I'm finished handing out fashion advice, I figure I should make my way back to running. Saturday morning I signed up for the Hobble Creek Half Marathon on August 21. Hobble Creek was my first half (last year), and I really enjoyed it so I had it on my calendar to register the day registration opened. Registration for the race always opens May 1, and last year it filled up in the first two days. I figured it would fill up faster this time and even debated waiting up to register at midnight. I was too tired though and went to bed instead. The hubby got up at 4:30 for work, and when I was still awake at 5:30 I decided to get on the computer and register. When I checked the race web site later that morning, it said registration was closed and had reached its cap by 10 am!! Craziness.

Last but not least, I finished watching Spirit of the Marathon. The hubby asked jokingly at one point (from the other room) if I was crying. I answered no, but was glad he didn't walk in a few minutes later when I was starting to get choked up as the runners crossed the finish line. If you haven't watched it, you should.


RUN: I wore my race shirt from the Hurricane Half 5K last week during a treadmill run, and it is the first race shirt I actually like. It doesn’t have anything on the back and just has the race logo on the front. And it fits just right.