Just Me...

A blog I follow - 4th Frog  posted a link to a challenge that she is thinking about doing for Lent.  I am thinking about doing it too...the challenge is "40 Bags in 40 Days" .  It sounds doable, I definitely have plenty of stuff to bag up.  The bags will fill the following purposes: 1.  Trash 2.  Storage of Baby Wear for my Sister 3.  Goodwill/Charity Donations Unfortunately, there is more than enough stuff to fill a bag each day in my house.  I am going to choose the Tall Kitchen Size bags.  I am excited about this, but a little nervous.  I have watched the "piles" get just a little more overwhelming each week and I am ready to make this change, but this is something that will also take dedication to be sure that I am sticking with it.  I haven't really ever been much of a finisher.  I am pumped to start things (I have started a LOT of things, but I just get blah after a while and find something else new to do...) ...

The one thing that I am really missing in doing these pre-race training runs is my buddies in my book club.  We meet on the first Saturday of every month which is also the days for the Mini Marathon Training Series Runs.  The irony is that the book they read for today was "The Art of Racing in the Rain"  while I did not read it and it has nothing to do with running, the title was a perfect fit for what I was doing today. It rained...a lot.  I ran at least a few miles in my $1.99 poncho from Dick's (thank you to my friend Liz at Eternal Lizdom ) and was so glad that my husband suggested a change of clothes for after the race.  It wasn't freezing, but I definitely got a chill post-run with the wet clothes and all. As a treadmill trainer, I never know what to expect on the outdoor runs.  I am pleased to say that I enjoyed this run.  I had a great mix on the iPod and the route was pretty varied.  We went over the bridge to the White River a few ti...

Last Saturday I participated in the Mini Marathon Training Series 5k .  I was nervous to run outside mostly because I hadn't since last fall and because I usually get some inner ankle pain when I run outside due to uneven pavement.  I was also nervous since it was 30 degrees outside and I was taking a total gamble on what to wear... Well I am glad to say that I was nervous for no reason at all!  I wore exactly the right amount of layers and since I had gotten new shoes since my last outdoor run, I realized that it might have been my shoes last time.  These didn't hurt at all.  Sure I had a few walk breaks where I lengthened my stride to stretch out the legs, but overall, the run felt great.  I finished at 36:53 which is right in line with all of the other 5k's that I have done in the past.  I wasn't trying to break any records as I saw this run as step further in the training process.  This was also the first time that I had run a...

Daily Mile has me clocked at 99 miles...almost 1/5 of the way to my goal.  I am so glad that I have this goal to keep in mind.  Also, I have some races coming up Mini Marathon Training Series 5k in February Mini Marathon Training Series 10k in March Mini Marathon Training Series 15k and 5k Komen Walk in April Mini Marathon (Half-Marathon) and  Geist Half Marathon  5k in May Fishers Freedom Festival  5k in June Indy Women's Half Marathon in September Whew...I can't beleive that a year ago I wasn't even running AT ALL...like I was still telling myself "I will just walk on this treadmill, there is no running in sight for me"...oh how blind I can be sometimes :) I know I don't post much, but it is so encouraging to see many of you posting your updates on Daily Mile and Facebook.  I love that I don't feel alone in this quest...it keeps me hanging on. BTW...Daily Mile Challenge is planning a Virtual 5k again on the 4-6 of F...

Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year, but it sure makes you prioritize what is important when everything is trying to get a bite of your schedule.  Last week I felt it important to spend some time with family from out of town and be with the kids and my husband in getting ready for Christmas.  It was so much fun...but...by Friday afternoon, I could so tell I didn't work out for the whole week.  My hormones were out of whack, I didn't eat breakfast or have any coffee, I was going out of control.  I had to move forward so I had a coffee and a diet coke (yes, in one sitting) and got on with the day wishing so much I had made working out a prioirty at least once or twice that week.  Anyway...that is in the past, but is dutifly being recorded so that when I review for next year, I don't repeat!!! I am really grooving on my training plan and even though the runs are shorter than what I was doing before I started on it, I love having a plan to follow. ...

I am so excited to have a training plan.  Earlier this year, I signed up for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (held in May 2011).  I walked it (ran part of each mile, but mostly walked) last year and I am determined to actually train and do it for real this year.  Last year I only had 2 days notice before I actually did the event.  Not much of a "plan".  This year, the event sent a link to a free email subscription to a training blog/event info thing and I signed up.  When I went out to the link there was a training plan that started this past Monday (Dec 6) and since it was only the 7th, I thought I would start it off and give it a go.  I have my printout downstairs by my treadmill and am working through it day by day.  I am so excited when I get to check off a run.  I can't believe how motiviating this is.  I am really looking forward to this event.  (Note:  I am also posting this on my blog so that when, in March, I am ready t...

Yay!  We did it!  Congratulations to all who participated in the Virtual 5k this weekend.  Some of you even went the extra mile (or 13.1 :)) and did it twice!  I am so happy to see the results and can't wait to try for another event (anyone want to think about at 10K in March?).  When I started this 500 Mile challenge and we determined we would do a virtual 5k, I will admit I was nervous of actually running a 5k.  Why, I don't really know, I had run 2 races before.  However, I think it was the fact that it meant that I would have to keep up the running to be able to do the Virtual 5k as planned.  I am happy to say that the experience was exciting to have so many people involved, but somewhat of a non-event since I have been able to run 3.1 miles for a while now.  I am happy that it gave us a motiviating event to do together, but I am ready to go the extra mile (pun intended :)). Also, congrats to Beth for finishing her first "half-mary"!...