Thursday, March 22, 2012

Three Things Thursday.

1. I did the Running with Spatulas virtual 10k yesterday. I diligently took a picture of my Garmin at 6.2 miles and now I can't get the photo off my phone  I am gifted like that. I ran it in 54:19.  Not my fasted ever, BUT it was all part of a bigger run.

The weather was freaking gorgeous, a perfect spring morning, temps in the mid forties when I started and slightly breezy.  I was afraid it was going to be a muddy one, but most of the roads were dried out enough to avoid major slippage and I avoided the field roads.

Since there is also a photo contest for the virtual run I made a lame attempt at a Running with Spatulas photo.  I think I could have been a bit more creative but the kids were having trouble focusing and Cola would not stand in line with us and keep a spatula in his collar, also why is the cat mooning the camera?
Yep, this is how we spatulate!


2. I then went on to run another almost 7 miles to get in the Detroit Runners "I Just Felt Like Running" virtual half marathon.  At mile 10 I stopped back at my house to change out of my Pure Flows, they were still feeling great but since the longest run I have done in them so far is 8 miles I didn't want to overdo it.  Refilled my water bottles and headed back out.

Time was really flying by as I was listening to A Game of Thrones, which is the first book in the A Song of Fire and Ice series.  SO GOOD! I have read the whole series several times and just love it more and more every time.  I think this audio book will last through a lot of long runs, it is 33 hours long!  YAY

3. From there I went on to do another 6 miles to make 19 miles.  A new personal distance record!  YAY  Although I am not going to lie, those last two miles were really hurting!  I took a GU at miles 7 and 14.  I also ate some jelly beans at random points along the way.  I am supposed to be giving up candy for lent, but I don't think fueling for a run really counts.

My pace was 8:44, which is right in the range of where I want to be, for a total time of 2:46:12.  I am going to take on 20 miles in ten days next weekend.  Then I will cut back for a week or two, then take on a 22 at some point.   I hope to have at least 3 runs greater than 20 before the marathon.  I think it will boost me mentally.  I know they say all you really need is 20, but I think I need a little more.

Also on a not so happy note, they found Sherry Arnold's body yesterday, so at least now the family can have some closure and give her a proper burial. 

37 comments:

  1. Well, now that's the way to accomplish multiple tasks in a run!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Seriously you are amazing!!! I have no doubt that you are going to rock your marathon!! I love your picture!!! I've been trying to think of a good idea but I've got nothing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are amazing! Nice job! And I love the spatula picture :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the information on Ms. Arnold; I don't always watch the news - in fact, I first learned of the whole tragedy from your site. I think of her and her situation often and I'm in the Midwest! There's slimy weirdos everywhere I guess...sigh.

    On a great note, you are a running inspiration! Keep it up!!!! (I could do with some more horse pictures though....)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome job!!

    Do you have any other books you'd recommend listening to? I've read the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series and am waiting for Game of Thrones to become available...anything else that is good?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so happy to hear that Sherry's body can no rest in peace. What a relief for the family to have that closure. Thanks for updating.

    LOVE the picture. I thought the cat mooning the camera just added to the amazingness of it :) lol

    I think your time is great Christy!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the pic...so cute. Even the cat. My husband loves these books! Great job on your long runs...such a great feeling. And I am loving my pure flows.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love that picture, especially the cat! Great job on your run. So awesome! I didn't know about finding Sherry:( thanks for the update. So sad:(

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great job on the run, and that photo with the kiddos is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't think fueling during a long run counts either (as your fellow no-candy Lent person). I wonder if fueling a little earlier and a little more often might help your last miles feel less crappy--it helped me!

    I actually think that photo is really cool.

    ReplyDelete
  11. 19 freaking miles?! Whoa lady, you dominate. Adorable picture, I hope you win! Maybe I will give Game of Thrones on audio a try. I am way intimidated by books over 15 CD's long, and in fact, when I got Game of Thrones at the library I just left it there because it was so freaking long! But it's worth it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. worth every freaking minute...as you can tell I am a fan!

      Delete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Game of thrones! It is worth every minute spent reading it or listening...I am on the second book and can not get enough...and the show is spot on as well...I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yay for a new distance pr! And I love your spatula picture, I'm doing my run on Saturday and am wondering how to get creative with spatulas for the picture. :) Your marathon training plan sounds ideal... I only did one 20 for my first one (a year ago) and did okay, but was struggling those last couple of miles. I definitely want to do a 22 next time around.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love the picture! And, you're an inspiration - are all of those kids yours? ;-) You're my hero.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice run! I'm doing both those virtual races too and I've got a fun idea for our picture but I've been lazy and haven't worked on it yet.

    I'm glad that Sherry's family will have some peace now.

    ReplyDelete
  17. great run!

    yes, i read that about Sherry and hope and pray that the family will find closure very soon now that she is able to come home and be at peace...very tragic story.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 1: Awesome photo and cats moon everything!!!
    2: I tried reading Game of Thrones, but I just couldn't get into it- I was thinking of giving it another try, but my PT has me wanting to read some of the books from the Star Wars series (and there are, apparently, many...)
    3: Congrats on the distance PR! And the others that will be coming :) I think doing 3 20+ mile runs is an awesome idea! Something happens (well to me at least) around mile 20 and it's nice to be able to push through that in training and know you can in a race!! Awesome pace, too

    I was glad for Sherry's family that they found her body. It will definitely bring back feelings, but will help with the closure they so badly need.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Personal distance records are always a kick :)

    Love that Virtual Run pic of you and the kids...and the spatulas!... and the cat's butt! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love the pic! Congrats on the personal record. I love setting those! Mine is a 10k, so I will have many pr's on my half-mary training!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love that you love those books too! I can't wait to read them again :)

    Great job on the virtual races!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh I was just wondering about Game of Thrones, I may definitely be checking those books out!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Super big congrats on the distance PR. You are are going to kill Missoula! I have no doubt that you will be more than mentally prepared by July.

    Loved the picture- the cat totally cracked me up. I think that you should win the photo contest!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love reading your blog! I only hope that I can be half the runner that you are one day-I mean literally-just half! :)

    Love the "mooning" cat!

    Shannon
    http://www.everystepcounts365.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. That was about all I had planned for my spatula picture- Now I am just going to seem like a copycat ;).
    You are seriously going to kill the marathon!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love to picture!
    You are really killing your training. The marathon is gonna be a piece of cake!! Keep up the good work! Congrats on a new distance!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh My Gosh!! When I first looked at that pic I thought that was a raccoon running at the kids! I made myself laugh out loud that I could think that! HAHAHAHA!

    Sadly enough, I think the kids have misplaced my spatula or used it for a sword. I'm gonna have to figure this out!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I think you are doing some solid training runs! :)
    Love the picture. I like how everyone is in "action."

    ReplyDelete
  29. that picture is awesome! I love it!
    congrats on your mileage PR!!!
    clearly you are ready for marathon!

    I am looking at plans now to find something doable for me and that will take me to the finish!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Haha, love the "spatulate" photo - the kids are adorable! How do you like listening to audiobooks while running? Does it get boring? I've considered it as a way to fit in my reading while running since the babe doesn't let me read for hours at a time anymore!

    And congrats on your PDR!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sounds like your training is going great! I love following your progress!!! One amazing runner!
    I like listening to podcasts when I run. I have some suggestions on good ones if you are interested.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love how you got in all those virtual runs on your long run! I need to get some audiobooks for long runs, sounds like a great idea. Sometimes it's hard to get up speed without music pushing me though!

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a beautiful day! Love IT! I have tried to listen to an audio book once ... it was a romance one and I ended up crying hahaha! Maybe I need to look at other options ;) I do love me some podcasts tho!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Aww sounds like a great run! Love that!

    You sound like your marathon is going so well!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh my goodness, your photo just made. my. day.!!! The cat mooning the camera was hilarious hahaha.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Good job on your run! I didn't know they found Sherry. It's sad, but at least the family can have some closure.

    ReplyDelete

Because I love hearing from you all!