it was the best of times, it was the worst of times

I cant believe that summer is over and its already September! This past month has been both the best and worst for me. Lets start with the best aspect. This summer I got to go on a wonderful family vacation and work on a killer base tan. I really felt like summer went fast, but it was amazing. I am moving into a new apartment, starting a new school year and I am truly thankful. In the worse department, my training has been what my aunt Gail refers to as a rest. period. All good things must come to an end however, and tomorrow its back on the horse. Since I am lacking motivation and super stressed starting a new school year and setting up my classroom I decided I needed a short term goal. Sparked by my wonderful cousin Amanda's blog, I signed up for the AC half marathon and I am looking forward to it. Training is a go go. Break out the ice packs. 

Fanny Pack Love Affair

When I love something, I really, really love it. I have an undying love for many things including, ice cream, Lady Gaga, dance parties and of course sparkles. What does all this have to do with running you ask? Let me elaborate. The weather today in Hatfield was beautiful and perfect for running. I will be the first to admit that lately I have been lazy with running so today I needed something special to help me get out there. ( aside from my cousin Amanda who told me to get off my butt and do it. Love you) Even though it hasn't been super hot, I still decided that today, I needed my water bottle fanny pack. I mean, its stylish practical and even a great conversation piece! After work, I filled that bad boy with ice cold water and took to the mean streets of the borough. ( the only really mean thing about it was the two nasty cats I caught staring at me through a house window I ran by) I got a lot of waves tonight from friendly people loving the fanny pack and one woman who I am pretty sure was laughing so hard she almost drove into a telephone pole. I am a runner and I LOVE my fanny pack water bottle. For the record, I also put a granola bar in the zipper pouch in case I needed a snack. (sick) If you don't have one, you should get one. It makes a world of difference and brings a smile to your face when you want to rip your legs off and crawl home and also to people passing by who have never witnessed something so ridiculous and sick in their lives. 

Get On Off Of That Thing!

I am sure by this point my sneakers are wondering if I have betrayed them. Its been a whole week since I've run. Its been a tumultuous week to say the least filled with a lot of fun, a lot of drama and a lot of life changing decisions. Anyway, its time to re focus and get serious. Tomorrow, 6 am going 5 miles. keep you posted. Shout out to my amazing cousin, who is lapping me in mileage and ran 7 miles today. Go Amanda!! 

Zombie Jac Runs These Streets

Last night I was chatting with a friend that I've known since elementary school. He told me he saw me running. I asked him how I looked pointing out that I most likely looked like a miserable zombie corpse running the streets. Never one to lie, he of course, said " Ya, you looked like you were dying". CLASSIC. When you are following a training schedule its best to not procrastinate. If you think you cant roll out of bed at 6am try running in 90 degree heat after dinner. NOT FOR ME. I am longing for the base phase of marathon training to be over so I can move forward and only run 4 days a week.  This everyday at 6 am is a killer. Until tomorrow. 

Heatwave Oi

Today I am slated to run 5 miles. I didn't quite get there this morning. Allow me to explain... I went out and its no shock that even at 6:30 it was a scorcher! I ran for a while then stopped because my calves were bothering me and I had to stretch them. I walked and tried to remember that in time if I kept going they would loosen up. I was back running, feeling better sweating like a wildebeest. I stopped to walk and give my pores which were doing double time in the sweat department a break. The humidity was killer. Just then, while plotting which mailbox I would start running again at, a girl passed me. She wasn't jogging, oh no she was running. FAST. She wasn't sweating like me, she didn't even look to be in any discomfort. I was pissed. Of course, I looked better then her. My hot pink compression socks and matching tank top were no match for her over sized old t shirt and shorts. But I lacked one key element that she had down, SHE WAS RUNNING!~ haha. So, in a rage I sprinted as far and as fast as I could all the way home. I made it home, because there was no way in hell that I was going to die on the streets of Hatfield. At least not today anyway. There is plenty more time for that. I am hitting the gym tonight to run in the ac so I can make it to my 5 miles. Its a shame too, its pretzel day at work and I really wanted to have one. I think I will just eat it for good measure, and make it happen tonight at the gym. Stay cool friends.

Baby Bunnies and Sore Legs The Saga Continues

To be completely honest, I have been very sore lately. So sore in fact that it hurts to move my ragged body up and down the steps. Lets get real, 26 weeks of training for a marathon, is a loooong time. Well, technically its 25 weeks now. This morning marked day 2. The goal was to run 4 miles and the mission was completed with my cousin. We went to our local park at 5:45 this morning and there was one other brave soul walking their dog when we arrived. We warmed up, had time to catch up and then began our run. It was great running with her and having someone to talk to, and of course complain to that I was too sore to continue. But, we didn't stop we kept going amidst the baby rabbits that were at every turn. When I slowed down, she told me to hurry up and all in all we ended up running 4 miles. I have to give a shout out for her sprinting skills, cause she killed it from the playground to the car. You go girl. Until tomorrow.

I've got 99 problems, but 5 miles aint one

This morning I woke up knowing full well I had to run 5 miles. Now, when it comes to sleep its easy to hit snooze when its Summer and you aren't in the mood to workout. After hitting snooze, three times (yes, it was three) I got up and fell into my running gear. It was about 6:30am and if you run, you know that you cant start much later then that or you will be scorching in the sun towards the end of your run. When I hit the streets, I knew that It wasn't going to be pretty. I haven't run since Saturday at midnight, and my muscles were still screaming. Its been a while since I did a 5 miler around home. I decided to go a new route and it seemed like I had gone further then I actually had. I was outraged when I checked my Nike + and it said I had only gone 2 miles!!! I kept going and eventually made it to my favorite part, the down hill on Fairgrounds road. I passed a man at the bottom who motioned for me to take off my headphones. Not to be rude, I slowed down. He asked me what I did to my knee pointing to my offensive brace in horror. Now, to be clear, it was early, he could have been a killer or a creepster trying to lure me into a van with candy ( which at that point I would have taken and accepted the ride). But chances are I was just creeping myself out and he was a nice walker out for a morning stroll. I answered him with my lame knee ailment and he seemed confused. I didn't want to prolong the creepy interaction and at that very moment I remembered Katherine Switzer. When running coordinators were chasing her for running in a marathon for men only, she just ran like hell and ended up outrunning the people trying to stop her. So, I did the same. I smiled and then I ran as fast as I could. It was a close one. Thank goodness he didn't have candy.