Space Coast and Beyond...

So the Space Coast Half Marathon was on Sunday....it was phenomenal!!  I PR'd by 10 minutes but took 20 minutes off my Wine and Dine time.  Everything from the expo to the race and water stations/volunteers to the food afterwards were amazing.  I do wish that I could have picked up my packet on race morning, I saw other people doing it, but I followed the rules and went to the expo with Addie in tow.  I can't complain because we got to see the rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center..again AMAZING!!  The expo was small so it was easy to navigate.  Didn't buy anything but I could have done serious damage :)
We left the house around 4:30 to make the drive to Cocoa for the race.  Much love to Ty and Addie for waking up and going to support me!  Plenty of parking.  We walked around the finish line briefly before making our way to the start line.  I was slightly concerned because the pace corrals went from 12 min/mile to walkers...does that mean I should be a walker??  Oh well.  I do wish the corrals had been a bit more organized...it was very crowded and I couldn't see the blast off for the start.  Off we went!
I saw Ty right after the start and tossed him my headband...I don't know why I try because it never stays on my head.  Maybe the one from 13.1 going on crazy will work better!
I felt a little sluggish at the start but not too bad...I really picked up speed around mile 4 and that lasted until about mile 6 when I started to slow down again while I anticipated the turnaround which seemed like it would never come.  Around mile 8 the heat started to get to me and I slowed a lot...but I saw Ty and Addie on the course and I was on pace to finish under 3 hours...but no longer on pace to finish under 2:45 (I knew that was a long shot).  I ran/walked for a few miles and really tried to pick it up mile 11 to the finish.  I should mention that around mile 9 I got passed by the marathon winner...some people just run too fast.  I saw Ty and Addie again as I approached the finish line..Addie snuck under the rope and chased me to the finish line.  I think I have a runner on my hands and that is ok with me :)  She was very excited to tell me about the 57 high fives she got while cheering.
The medal, towel, and patch are awesome!  I didn't feel much like eating...again the heat was getting to me but according to Ty and Addie the breakfast was very good.  I can attest that the oranges and juice were very good :)

I took the next two days off and went for a 5 miler today.  Between Sunday and yesterday..the weather has cooled off a ton!  However, it is too cold for a tank top but not cold enough for long sleeves...very hard to dress for.  But Harley and I did 5 miles in 1:05, my fastest to date I think and then I decided to torture myself further and do Jillian Michaels 30 day shred.  I have a feeling I will be sore tomorrow but it will be so worth it :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Although...in my house we will be celebrating tomorrow because Ty has to work today.  I did bake cookies with Addie yesterday and made the first apple cake of the season this morning for Ty to take to work.
Runner's World has challenged (and I have accepted) a sort of "seasonal resolution".  The challenge is to run everyday between now and New Year's...even it is only a mile.  I'm pretty regularly running about 4 times a week but have decided to take on the challenge :) Which means, I will be loading the munchkin into the stroller after nap time in between baking cookies, eating cookies, and watching Christmas to run at least a mile today.
Tomorrow will be an easy 5 miler and then a mile again on Saturday.....and then....
SPACE COAST HALF MARATHON on Sunday.  I am so excited about this race.  This is going to be the first "non-Disney" half marathon that I am attempting.  This is also the first race that I don't just want to finish but I want to PR.
I'm going to try and update every day of the run challenge :)

Check it out!

Check it out:  13.1 Going on Crazy Giveaway and amazing blog!  So inspiring...I want to do 13 half marathons also...but probably going to start with 12 in 2012 :)

http://13goingoncrazy.blogspot.com/2011/11/shopportunity-giveaway.html

Miles and Socks...the little things in life

So yesterday I ran the farthest I have ever run in my life..15 miles!  Woohoo!  I was feeling great for the first 8 and then it slowly started going down hill but alas I didn't quit and I didn't give up.  However, I really need to figure out how to keep my feet and calves from screaming!  I really want to cry the last 3 miles because I thought my legs were just going to give up on me.
That lead me to go to Fit2Run this afternoon.  After talking to a friend and my brother and my husband (who swears by Powersox) I decided I need to try some real "running socks".  Jason (the sales guy at Fit2Run) could not have been more helpful.  He listened to me about my feet, showed me a bunch of socks and answered my questions until I decided I would try the coolmax Experia socks.  They didn't have blue ones in my size so I'm styling a nice gray/black pair.  I can't wait to run in them tomorrow and see how my feet feel.
I almost bought some compression calves sleeves, but Jason suggested I try the socks first and then we can move on from there.  He also gave me a newspaper/magazine about all the races in Florida...this is not going to be good as there are sooooo many I want to do :)
For now...hoping to PR next Sunday at Space Coast Half Marathon!!!

Upcoming Races

Because I occupy myself by looking at races when I should be studying....
These are the races that I really want to do in the very near future (i.e. 2011-2012)
Disney Princess 5K and Half Marathon 2011 - completed
Disney Wine and Dine 5K and Half Marathon 2011 - completed
Space Coast Half Marathon - Nov 27, 2011
Disney Goofy Race and a Half Challenge - January 7-8, 2012 - registered
26.2 with Donna Half Marathon - Feb 12, 2012
Disney Princess 5K and Half Marahon - Feb 27-28
Gasparilla Half (or possible Mich Ultra challenge) - March 10

and the list just keeps growing...

Not about running but...

So this is post is not about running but more of a rant of PA school:
1) Why do people who preach tolerance judge the most?
2) You knew the price of school when you applied/interviewed/accepted...so stop complaining about it.
3) We are not at main campus so stop comparing our building to main campus
4) Professors are human also...they are trying to teach us the information as fast as we are trying to learn it...it is not a sin or sign of bad education to take information from a book/other reference
5) We are adults...let's all not talk at once please
6) We are adults...grow up and if you don't like and are constantly complaining about the flaws of a new program with no solution...leave and apply somewhere else.

Did 6 miles yesterday...walked more than I had anticipated but this by far has been my best training week since I was training for the Princess 2011.  I wish I had trained like this for Wine and Dine...would have made that a lot easier..haha.
Didn't run today but I did do Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred.  School and studying is really getting in the way of running...haha.  At least my three test week is almost over, but next week is 4 tests...but that is the last hellish week until Finals start in December.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I will get there eventually.

8 and feeling great

I know I have been saying for a while that I am going to run 8 miles....well today I set out to do a quick 4 miles and then pick up Addie and head home to study.  Well...I got to three miles and decided to go for 6 so I turned out of Downtown Disney and headed towards 535.  When I got to 535 I was 3.5...so let's make it 4 and turn around.  So I did.  PS...I had to run by a Mcdonalds, Burger King, Denny's, and IHOP, amongst other delicious smelling food establishments...good thing I don't run with any money.  So I turned around at 3.75 and headed back towards downtown...It was right around 5 miles when I passed World of Disney...I started thinking that I should make by the time I make it back to the car...maybe I'll do 7 or 8 miles.  I was parked by Cirque D'soleil.  I ran until the sidewalk ran out and then turned around...crossed the street to Downtown Disney West Side...6.5 miles.  It was started to get dark so I didn't want to run the nature trail to Old Key West again...I'll just run until 7 miles and head back and see where that gets me.  So after a few up and downs of the parking lot...I was at 8 miles!!!!
Now the question is....do I try and do another long run tomorrow or wait a day and try back to backs another day?  I guess it will depend on how well my cardiology test goes and if I need to blow off steam....School really gets in the way of running sometimes :)