Last Run of 2010

According to Dailymile I have run 688.76 miles in 2010 and I wanted to end the year with a 3 mile run.  Con and I headed out today--it was a beautiful December day--the sun was shinning and it was in the low 40s--perfect running weather.

Con started strong.  Our first mile was fast 9:15---Con was losing steam fast. Usually he can run faster and longer than I can without even blinking, but the last few runs have been very hard for him.  I think it is a mental thing--you know, he is psyching himself out--but that is a hard concept to explain to a 13 year old.

We made it to mile 2 and then he shut down--we walked a .5 mile and then ran home.  Of course, he smokes me on the last mile home--I thought he couldn't run anymore????

My goal for 2011 is 1000 miles---

Hold me accountable

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61311472

Split	Hour:Minute:SecondTime	MilesDistance	Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary	00:26:48	2.78	09:39
1	00:09:15	1.00	09:15
2	00:09:51	1.00	09:51
3	00:07:41	0.78	09:52

Blizzard Recovery Run

Well, I have been home bound for 6 days now--this last NE Blizzard really shut us down--still most of our major highways are reduced to one lane and several shore area towns remain unplowed.  You would think the NE has never seen snow in December before (sarcastic).

Conor and I knew we wanted to hit the roads in our neighborhood today--I wanted to get 5-6 in.  Our friend N decided to join us---yeah!

After the first mile Con was a little pale and sweaty (he normally is not too sweaty--he obviously does not take after me since I am normally a hot sweaty looking mess).  He decided to walk home and call it a day and N and I hit the HILLS.  Running in my neighborhood is great hill training--lets face it, running anywhere in Colts Neck is good HILL training.  I was spent.  Just goes to show you that a dozen cupcakes and tons of wine consumed over the holiday week will NOT help improve your running times:)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61159886
Here is a photo of the view out one of the second story bathrooms the day of the blizzard:

 And here is another 2nd story view out my bedroom window:

Human Guinnea Pig

This is my 3rd day house bound (5th if you include Christmas Eve and Christmas) and needless to say my whole family is a little stir-crazy.  I am thankful I have the treadmill but banging out the miles is HARD--I can not find my groove on this machine.  Nothing seems to work--2-5 miles is my tops--intervals, mentally imagining my running routes, bargaining, movies, music--not working.

What do you do to get through the long runs on a treadmill?

Today's song, Anything, Dramarama:

My Kick Ass Eclectic Running Playlist!

Raise Your Glass  P!nk   
The Time (Dirty Bit)  The Black Eyed Peas   
It's Tricky   Run-DMC   
Stereo Love    Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina   
Single Ladies Beyoncé   
1901    Phoenix   
Dog Days Are Over    Florence + The Machine   
Animal    Neon Trees   
Rock This Party Bob Sinclar & Cutee B  
Meet Me Halfway    Black Eyed Peas   
Uprising    5:05    Muse   
The Bottom Line    Big Audio Dynamite   
Girlfriend    Avril Lavigne   
Starry Eyed Surprise    Oakenfold   
Float On   Modest Mouse   
Cupid's Chokehold / Breakfast in America Gym Class Heroes
Mr. Brightside  The Killers   
That's Not My Name    The Ting Tings   
Say Hey (I Love You)  Michael Franti & Spearhead   
Get Me Bodied   Beyoncé   
Rudie Can't Fail    The Clash  
Anything, Anything   Dramarama   
Ignition (Remix)    R. Kelly  
Bulletproof     La Roux   
Maggie Mae    The Pietasters   
Jump Around     House Of Pain   
Hypnotize    The Notorious B.I.G.   
Lisztomania    Phoenix   
Jesus Walks    Kanye West   
Insane In the Brain (Explicit Album Version)    Cypress Hill   
The Choice Is Yours    Black Sheep   
La, La, La (feat. Iyaz)    Auburn   
Carry Out (feat. Justin Timberlake)   Timbaland   
Take It Off    Ke$ha   
Misery    Maroon 5   
King of Anything   Sara Bareilles  
If It's Love    Train   
Can You Tell    Ra Ra Riot   
OMG (feat. will.i.am)   Usher   
California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg)    Katy Perry   
Goody Two Shoes     Adam Ant   
Rosa Parks   OutKast  
Radio, Radio    Elvis Costello  
All the Small Things   blink-182   
Rock That Body    Black Eyed Peas
Ring-a-Ling    Black Eyed Peas 
Calabria 2007 (Club Mix)   Enur   
Love Vigilantes    New Order  
Don't Let's Start    They Might Be Giants   
Don't Trust Me    3OH!3  
Ana Ng    They Might Be Giants  
Where Is the Love?    Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake   
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) Pitbull   
Teenage Dirtbag    Wheatus  
Move Along    The All-American Rejects   
Swing, Swing    The All-American Rejects   
Radar Love   Golden Earring    
So What  P!nk   
Jai Ho    A. R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah & Mahalaxmi Iyer   
Are You Gonna Be My Girl    JET   
Lose Control (Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop)    Missy Elliot featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop    Hey Mama     Black Eyed Peas  
Save It For Later   The English Beat   
If U Seek Amy    Britney Spears   
Love Sex Magic (feat. Justin Timberlake)    Ciara  
American Girl    Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers    T
Last Cigarette (Dramarama  
Maggie Mae    The Pietasters   
Boom Boom Pow     Black Eyed Peas  
Smooth Criminal    Alien Ant Farm  
Sheena Is a Punk Rocker    The Ramones  
What I Got    Sublime  
Groove Is In the Heart    Deee-Lite   
Death or Glory    The Clash   
Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3)    Ke$ha  
Rudie Can't Fail    The Clash   
Stronger    Kanye West   
Imma Be    Black Eyed Peas  
Run This Town (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West)    Jay-Z   
Rush    Big Audio Dynamite   
New Soul    Yael Naïm   
Hey, Soul Sister     Train   
Jump, Jive an' Wail    The Brian Setzer Orchestra   
Love Drunk    Boys Like Girls   
Jump (feat. Nelly Furtado)    Flo Rida 
Just Dance    Lady GaGa & Colby O'Donis   
Blame It (feat. T-Pain)    Jamie Foxx  
Low     Flo Rida     
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)     C+C Music Factory   
Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)    Jay-Z   
Please Don't Leave Me   P!nk  
Wrong Way   Sublime   
Mo Money Mo Problems     The Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Mase & Puff Daddy   
Sexy Bitch (feat. Akon)   David Guetta  
21 Guns    Green Day   
Temperature   Sean Paul  
Rockstar   Nickelback   
Wannabe    Spice Girls   
Fireflies    Owl City   
Replay    Iyaz  
Just Got Paid     Johnny Kemp  
Word Up    Cameo   
Thank You   Dido   
Face Drop    Sean Kingston  
Feel Good Inc.    Gorillaz  
Funky Ceili (Bridie's Song)     Black 47   
Good Girls Go Bad (feat. Leighton Meester)   Cobra Starship  
Never Say Never   The Fray   
Fairytale of New York    The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl   
Santeria    Sublime   
Jane Says    Jane's Addiction   
Love Song    Sara Bareilles  
Sweet Dreams    Beyoncé   
Obsessed    Mariah Carey           
Dirrty (Featuring Redman)     Christina Aguilera featuring Redman   
Handlebars    Flobots   
Love You 'Till the End    The Pogues 
Proud Mary    Creedence Clearwater Revival   
Keep Your Hands To Yourself    The Georgia Satellites  
Fergalicious    Fergie    T
Fighter    Christina Aguilera  
Particle Man    They Might Be Giants  
London Bridge    Fergie  
Buddy Holly     Weezer   
Sex and Candy     Marcy Playground   
Clumsy    Fergie  
Breakfast at Tiffany's    Deep Blue Something   
Smooth (Feat. Rob Thomas)    Santana         
The Rockafeller Skank   Fatboy Slim   
Give It Away   Red Hot Chili Peppers  
Ironic    Alanis Morissette   
Ain't No Other Man    Christina Aguilera   
Been Caught Stealing     Jane's Addiction  
Semi-Charmed Life   Third Eye Blind   
Torn   Natalie Imbruglia   
Two Princes    Spin Doctors   
S**k My Kiss    Red Hot Chili Peppers  
Walkin' On the Sun    Smash Mouth   
Nothing Compares 2 U    Sinead O'Connor         
Blister in the Sun    Violent Femmes   
Dreams    The Cranberries   
You Get What You Give    New Radicals   
Cannonball    The Breeders  
Jump, Jive, An' Wail    Louis Prima         
Buona Sera   Louis Prima   
Oh Marie    Louis Prima   
I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)     Louis Prima & Phil Harris   
Papa Loves Mambo    Perry Como  
Here Comes the Hotstepper  Ini Kamoze  
Soul Bossa Nova   Quincy Jones & Quincy Jones & His Orchestra   
Upside Down     Jack Johnson   
Mambo Italiano    Rosemary Clooney   
Heartless    Kanye West   
Right Round     Flo Rida   
Milkshake    Kelis   
Family Affair   Mary J. Blige   
Dirty Little Secret    The All-American Rejects   
Stacy's Mom     Fountains of Wayne   
Out All Night    The Pietasters          
This Is Radio Clash    The Clash  
Lost In the Supermarket    The Clash  
Santeria   Sublime   
Too Young    Phoenix       
Train In Vain    The Clash        
Spice Up Your Life    Spice Girls          
The Middle    Jimmy Eat World   
This Is How We Do It    Montell Jordan   
Rehab    Amy Winehouse  
We Be Burnin' (Recognize It - Amended Version)    Sean Paul  
Sugar (feat. Wynter)    Flo Rida   
Gives You Hell    The All-American Rejects   
Gimme Some Rhythm Daddy   The Brian Setzer Orchestra    S
Fire Burning    Sean Kingston  
Day 'n' Nite    Kid Cudi   
Kiss Me Thru the Phone (feat. Sammie)    Soulja Boy Tell 'Em   
We Made You    Eminem   
Amazing (feat. Young Jeezy)    Kanye West   
Buttons    The Pussycat Dolls   
Do You Remember     Jay Sean   
Crank That (Soulja Boy)   Soulja Boy Tell 'Em    S
Summer Love     Justin Timberlake   
Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin'    The Brian Setzer Orchestra          
Knock You Down    Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo  
Push It     Salt-N-Pepa   
What I Like About You    The Romantics       
Jam     Michael Jackson          
Reelin' in the Years    Steely Dan        
Crazy On You    Heart   
River   Joni Mitchell     
Hit Me With Your Best Shot     Pat Benatar   
The Tide Is High     Blondie   
Heaven   The Psychedelic Furs       
Bring On the Dancing Horses  Echo & The Bunnymen       

Not Too Shabby Neighbor

Monday morning runs after tennis and a Venti Soy Latte = Fast & Strong

3 on the schedule and I decided to run outside because I knew I could work on speed--on the treadmill I struggle going over a 10 min/mile pace.  Hit the streets-hills and wind and I still did great.  I ran 3 miles in 26:38 min--forgot to turn off the Garmin (as always).  Dailymile computed the pace for me since I have my cool down on the watch--8:52---not too shabby neighbor.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/60206991

Split	Hour:Minute:SecondTime	MilesDistance	Minutes per MileAvg Pace
1	00:08:50	1.00	08:50
2	00:08:43	1.00	08:43
3	00:09:04	1.00	09:04

Not bad for a hangover run.

Run fast for your mother; run fast for your father /
Run for your children all your sisters and brothers /
Leave all your love and your longing behind.
You can't carry it with you / if you want to survive 

5 mile run today on the schedule--but after days of Holiday Celebrations and the consumption of too much wine--I was worried about how productive this run would be.  Dry heaving through a run is never fun.

The weather was perfect (well, perfect for this time of year in the NE)--mid 30s overcast--minimal wind.  No other ladies showed up????  I know that everyone is so busy this time of year. 

I got moving right away--first mile 8:51---finally a mile under 9 minutes--unfortunately, I could not sustain that pace--but I will get there.  I stayed fast though (well, fast for me).  First 2 miles was paved trail, then 1.5 trail (had to slow down so I didn't get all tripped up on roots), next 1 mile hill, and finished strong.  Not bad for a hangover run.

Split	Hour:Minute:SecondTime	MilesDistance	Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary	00:47:50	5.00	09:33
1	00:08:51	1.00	08:51
2	00:09:06	1.00	09:05
3	00:10:23	1.00	10:23
4	00:10:08	1.00	10:08
5	00:09:20	1.00	09:19

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/60108902

 Love this song--The Dog Days are over, by the Machine (I have posted the video in the past but here it is again)-----GREAT RUN SONG!

Happy Holidays!

Venti Soy Latte Pre Run = BEST TIME in a LONG time

This time of year is ALWAYS crazy.  Monday morning tennis was great (as always) 2 hours; one hour with instruction and 1 hour doubles.  After tennis I had a few errands to run which included mailing the x-mas cards (yes, they are off), gas, car wash, and Starbucks.  The car wash is a little far--but I always treat myself to a Starbucks when I go---unfortunately, I did not realize the car wash was closed on Mondays--but at least I had my coffee.

4 on the schedule today and the weather was perfect for a run --40s with sun out.  I was a little nervous running after 24 oz of coffee--but I felt GREAT--I could not believe the mile splits as I was running and could not wait to get home to plug the Garmin in.

Work is crazy this week so I will have to be creative with my runs.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/59628809

Split	Hour:Minute:SecondTime	MilesDistance	Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary	00:36:52	4.00	09:12
1	00:09:05	1.00	09:05
2	00:09:06	1.00	09:06
3	00:09:25	1.00	09:25
4	00:09:14	1.00	09:14
5	00:00:01	0.00	07:21

Group Runs for week of December 13th

Group runs for this week:

Tuesday, December 14^th         10:45 am                 Thompson, 3 miles trail run  HAVE TO CANCEL GROUP RUN -- WORK APPOINTMENT

Friday, December 17^th            9 am                        YMCA front entrance 3-4 miles

Sunday, December 19^th          11 am                      Cross Farms 5-6 (I LOVE running earlier—but we have a dinner the night before and I know I will be consuming more than my share of wineJ--I may dry heave throughout the run—so only the brave may want to join me)

Don't forget for those training for the 1/2--here are the runs I have planned for the week:

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday*	Sunday*	Total Weekly Mileage
1	4	3	4		3		5	16-19

Casi Can't Fail-2.5 TM-4.8 RAIN

Today we had a group run planned--6 miles at Cross Farms/Thompson. I was so excited it was the first time in a long time that we had a group going.  L & and; I have been on our own with the weekly runs; everyone's schedules are so different and difficult to coordinate.  So we were all set to brave the cold.

I woke up early to check the weather--the GOOD news was it was warm (crazy warm 50 degrees) the bad news was it was RAINING (not drizzle-real rain).  The group run was canceled and that meant I would have to bang out 6 on the dreadmill--so I had my coffee--procrastinated a little and finally got up the nerve to get on the darn thing.  2.5 miles into it--I decided the rain could not be that bad.  That is right--I choose downpour with warmish weather over the dreadmill.

I hopped on the TM--grabbed a jacket to put over my jog bra and shorts and off I went.  At first I thought the rain was stopping--it was only drizzling a little--but alas, I was wrong.  It rained right up until the last 3/4 of a mile--but it was GREAT.  I was lucky it was not too cold and the wind actually felt good.  My neighbors must think I am crazy--but I have a feeling they think I am an enigma anyway. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/59493340

Here I am post run (Ronan snapped my photo before I can into the house and stripped down):

Today's Song, Rudy Can't Fail, The Clash (one of my FAVORITE songs)

Where the magic happens (sarcastically stated)

6 miles on the calendar today.  Dressed in cold gear all set to go--put kids on bus--and talked myself into running on treadmill instead.  Why?  I don't know--I ALWAYS run farther and faster outside.  I am convinced my treadmill is calibrated at a slower rate.  I even had the run all mapped out.  Sitting here post run, I still don't know why I did it.  Oh well--at least I managed to eeek out 6 on the TM.  I know it will become my best friend when the snow moves into the NE.

Here is where the magic happens:

3 miles at slow pace followed by 3 miles of intervals (run, jog, walk then repeat with change of song).

Today's song, Maggie Mae, Pietasters

Here they are at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park 2009--I was there

Strength Training and Run

On Tuesday and Thursday I usually take an hour long strength training class at the Y.  I love the instructor and have always enjoyed the class, but lately I have been wondering if I am outgrowing it.

1) She ALWAYS starts the class AT LEAST 10 minutes late (this drives me crazy)

2) We NEVER get to AB work until after class has officially ended (sure I can opt to stay, but I usually always have work or a group run to get to)--so subsequently the area I need the most work AB/CORE is neglected---plus I need more than 5 minutes of AB work

3) I have not lost any weight or noticed a huge amount of change--I am unusually muscular and I need to trim more than bulk

Should I just work out at home--a P90X or Insanity may be better off for me or maybe hit the equipment at the gym (I must say--I prefer free weights over equipment and I can do that at home).

I met L for a 3 mile run at Thompson--I am always slow moving, but even more so after working out already.  It was COLD out there today --mid 30s with a wind chill making it feel like 20.  I am glad L came out today---she holds me accountable.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/59056079

Cheesequake Trails

Today it is 34 degrees but feels like 19 (according to weather online)--and I have to say I do not disagree.  I wanted to run 6 today and C wanted 4--we decided to see how we felt on the run.  He got ready in shorts and t-shirt---and pulled a massive "teen tude" when I made him change into sweat pants, sweat shirt, ear band, and gloves.  Even in the parking lot at Cheesequake he was making fun of the gloves---and then he got out of the car.  With the wind coming off the water, I think 19 degrees would have been warm.

Needless to say he was happy that I made him change.  The first mile felt great for me--for him, not so much--but then the tides turned.  He grazed through the trails--even uphill--while I meandered along at a much slower pace and any hill with greater than a 45 degree incline--I walked to catch my breath.  I really felt my age today.  

Here are some pictures from the trail--we choose the green trail because it looked the longest and hardest:

I can't wait to go back and try this again--I know I can master these trails--but I do have to say this is the first trail location where I can honestly say I am not sure how safe I would be going alone--bad vibes (NJ Parkway entrance right our of one of the parking lots).  I would not let C run out of my sight.

I must have turned the Garmin off when it should have been on--we ran at least 4.2 (if not more-).  I really wanted 2 more--so I hit the treadmill immediately when we got home to finish it off.

Group Runs for Week of Dec 6th

Group runs for week of Dec. 6^th:

Tuesday, Dec 7^th     10:30 am                 3 miles     Thompson

Friday, Dec 10^th       9 am                      4 miles     YMCA Freehold Parking lot

I'm Crafty

4 mile run and I feel GREAT!--Run through Clover Hill--Holy Hills! I felt strong--the third mile was my slowest--but that included the 3 steepest hills.  I waited for C to run--but he wanted to "rest" aka play Maplestory on the computer and run on the treadmill later--unfortunately for him dad came home early and when I ran up to the house he was leaf blowing with his dad --he did not look happy and I bet he wishes he had thrown his sneakers on instead.


Today's song, She's Crafty, Beastie Boys

Split	Hour:Minute:SecondTime	MilesDistance	Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary	00:39:20	4.00	09:49
1	00:09:22	1.00	09:22
2	00:09:33	1.00	09:33
3	00:10:38	1.00	10:38
4	00:09:44	1.00	09:44

I suck

No, I did not run 5 on the treadmill after spin yesterday--I know--surprise, surprise (said with sarcasm).  I tried--I really tried, I could have sworn I ran 5 and when I lifted up my towel (I have to cover up the monitor or it is like watching water boil)--I had only done 1 mile--ran a little bit longer and then I called it a day.  Of course, I bargained with myself--I will make it up on Friday.

Today was 3 miles with L--we picked up the Henry Hudson trail from the Y in Freehold--we both felt great.  We ran in sync--a nice easy cadence and we actually could talk the whole way (well almost--we are getting there).

I got my first x-mas card the other day--it made me nauseous.  I do not even have a picture of the boys for a card--yet alone, order said card. I started some gift ordering (online) of course----I rarely trek myself into the stores and I have not set foot in a mall in a few years now. I better get me *** in gear--this is supposed to be fun--right?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/58587890

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

It is unseasonable warm to day in the NE--mid 50s.  Today I had a 5 mile run planned at Manasquan Reservoir; I usually can't get a good run or good anything in on Wednesday's because of the Breastfeeding Support Group I moderate, but we have an offsite activity planned for today (the Community Center Meeting Room at the Library is being used for the town's annual Art Show the next 2 weeks). It is hard to plan work or personal activities on Wednesdays since the group is smack in the middle of the day--good for moms with newborns--not so good for lady who gets up at 6 am.  

5 miles is still a challenge for me, but this 5 mile trail always seems harder to me---so I went to bed early (OK--you got me--I ALWAYS go to bed early)---I skipped a glass of red wine (notice---I did not say you got me and that I always skip a glass of wine)---I had it all planned--itunes included.  I was going to OWN this trail today.

So I wake up early (as always)--C has to get up at 6:15 for school--but I am an early bird anyway.  I planned on putting the boys on the bus and heading to the trail at 9:30--so I dressed in the gear I had laid out (I checked the weather last night)---but alas, as I sat in the kitchen on the laptop enjoying my usually  coffee (I make the BEST coffee--OK, not Starbucks Venti Soy Latte great--but it is good), I could finally see out the window (the sun is not coming out--but it was light enough to see outside)--RAIN!

Now, it is warm enough to run in the ran, but a trail run in the rain for 5 miles does not seem appealing to me.  I should suck it up--but it is not a drizzle.  Instead I think I will head over to the Y for SPIN--the instructor I love is there today and I never get to go on Wed. (the only class she teaches)---the big question is "Can I run the scheduled 5 on the treadmill?"  I will try to muscle it out at the Y--using the other gym members to motivate me--but even a mile or two on the treadmill is tortuous--let's hope my itunes are particularly peppy.

Here are some photos from the Born to Run Race last week:

Getting started--we started LAST (really)--this is the first .25 mile--I am in the green--we are slowly creeping our way through the crowd

Here is C finishing (he does not even look winded)

Here I am just after I finished (I look winded)

Here I am finishing