Giveaway!

Oh hi!  I'm back.  Not really, actually.  Giveaway happening over on this AWESOME blog.  Check it outtt....  http://catiepat.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/first-ever-giveaway/#comment-376

I'm still running!

This is for the people who have been constantly asking me about my neglected blog and when I'll start updating again.  And when I write 'people' I really mean 'person.' One person, to be exact.  So....

Hi Catie, 

I'm amazed at how well your training is going and you continue to inspire me to run more and more and more.  I haven't been blogging lately because I've been spending most of my free time in other ways...

1.  Home-cooked dinners in historical East Nashville cabins.

2.  Impromptu weeknight jam sessions & the discovery of my talent on the tambourine.

3.  Pancake breakfasts (jealous much?)

4.  Coffee dates.

5. Lots of live country music in which my attendance was mandatory (thanks CRS).

6.  Surprise lunch performances by R&B legends (thanks Lionel Richie).

7.  And lots of other activities in which I was too lazy to take out my camera for (including entertaining guests from NY, flea market visits, and boxed-wine tasting parties).

Not to worry, I have been doing lots of running as well.  I haven't had much time for long distance runs, but I have maintained running 4+ miles a day, about 3 days a week.  With that said, I don't have much to update on.  I'm hoping to get back on a steady schedule and continue to increase my mileage on the weekends.  Eight miles is the new goal.

Talk to you Monday on gchat.

With sincerity and running-admiration,
Kristen

6 Miles with East Nasty

I've been meaning to join a running club in Nashville, as I know it's going to be really hard to get through a longer run by myself.  So today I joined the East Nasties for their Sunday morning long run.  Our intern, Chad, ran it with me too.  And when I say he 'ran it with me,' I really mean he ran one mile ahead of me the whole time and finished 9 minutes before me.  He has long legs.

Turns out there are mountains in Nashville.  If you didn't know, they're hidden in Percy Warner Park - and they're a bitch to run.  This 6 mile 'novice' run was basically a twisting, winding run to the top of a mountain and back down.  If you haven't guessed it yet... the first half of the run was super fun!  I love running 3+ miles consistently uphill.  ....And that's my sarcasm showing through.

But I actually really did have a great time.  Everyone's super nice and supportive.  And they give you free Gatorade at the end of the run.  Most are training for the Music City 1/2 Marathon.  I'm definitely running with the East Nasty group every Sunday from now on.  They also do a shorter run at 6pm on Wednesdays, which I heard is a lot more fun because they all go out for a drink afterwards.  Remember when I wrote of carbo-loading?  Beer gets an A+ in that class.

Day 61: Five Miles

Last Sunday I ran 5 MILES.  I told ya I would.  And I did.  I really did.  I'd like to thank Catie for posting that she ran 8 miles the other day.  I realize I ran 5 miles out of jealousy (last time I checked I was only one mile behind Catie in training - when did she start running more mileage?!) - which shouldn't be a motivator - but hey, I'm taking whatever works here.

I tried my hardest to find a different route than my usual Vanderbilt loop, just for a change of scenery.  I wanted to run around the Belmont/12South area, but after driving the route I found it wayyyyy too hilly.  Nashville needs to relax with the hills - seriously.  But I couldn't find any alternative route that I felt comfortable with, so I just expanded my four mile route (below) to include one extra mile.  Despite getting a bit bored with the scene, this is a great route - sidewalks the whole way, safe, relatively flat with one big hill at the end.  It's perfect.

I've had a terrible cold for the past week and I haven't run at all since my triumphant Sunday.  But I feel much better today and I plan on getting back out there on Saturday.  Still avoiding treadmills at all costs.

Bumping it up.

This week I ran eight miles in total so far.  I was planning on running four tomorrow.  I'm getting way too comfortable at four, but lack the motivation to bump it up.

Catie just posted that she ran eight miles for the first time today.

Annnnd... that was the motivation I needed.  Five miles tomorrow.

The sun is here!

Yesterday's run was amazing for two reasons.
Reason #1 - it was 60 degrees & sunny!  No more treadmill!  (at least until it starts to get cold again)
Reason #2 - NEW RUNNING SHOES!

So I ran four miles around the Vanderbilt University campus.  I had to write the route on my hand so I didn't get lost.  I think that's kinda funny since it's really so hard to get lost in Nashville.  Cautious Kristen at her best.  At the end of the run, I was still so energized which means it's almost time to bump it up to five miles.  Yay, that's almost a 1/5 of a marathon!

Today is just as nice as yesterday, if not better.  It's already 60 degrees outside.  I'm such a happy runner right now.

Day 53.

Didn't get much done this week due to a pretty crazy workweek.  But I still have two more days to complete my goal of 12 miles this week.  Right now I'm up to five which means if I run four today and four tomorrow, I'll exceed my goal.  I know, I'm a mathematical genius.  What started as a slow and unmotivated week might actually turn out a-o-k.


Today I'm going to Team Nashville on West End to get fitted for new running shoes.  Highly overdue.  Right now I'm wearing New Balance MR993.  Yes, me and all the other 50+ year old men in this world.  I still think they're cute, no matter what other people say (cough, Catie and Kaitlyn).  But they may not be the greatest marathon training sneakers, which is why they might see the darkness of my closet more than they'd like to after today.


Anyways, I gotta go.  I'm sitting in the coffee shop and the old guy next to me is wearing some crazy strong Old Spice.  I usually like that smell, but he's just ruining it.

Quick Update.

Today I'm taking some running-buddy-advice... and ironically it's not actually about running.


When Catie was visiting Nashville, I took her to Bongo Java for what I think is the best coffee ever.  It's a cute, indie, artsy coffee shop in the Belmont area of Nashville.  I used to come here every morning before work and ordered the same exact thing each time.  It got to the point that each time I visited, one of the guys behind the counter knew what I was going to order and had it ready for me as soon as I walked in the door.  Celebrity status.  Then sadly, I was cut off from Bongo Java coffee due to personal budget cuts.


Anyways while Catie was here, she suggested I get out of the house more often and blog from Bongo Java instead of home.  I like where her head's at.  So here I am.  Drinking coffee, blogging, and people watching in Bongo Java.  I'm actually having a hard time focusing on blogging because the people watching is goooood here.


So this week I didn't run as much as I wanted to.  Like I wrote in the previous post, on Monday I ran almost 3 miles with Catie.  Tuesday I took the day off to recover and relax (having visitors for one whole week is exhausting!).  Wednesday I ran four miles on the treadmill at the YMCA.  I'm starting to despise the whole treadmill thing, so yesterday (regardless of the fact that it was 20 degrees) I decided to run outside.  I also just bought a hot pink long-sleeve Nike Pro running top that I couldn't wait to wear.  Don't judge, at least it's getting me out and running!


So I was planning on running 3 miles but had to stop and turn around early because I was so damn cold. And it was icy so I was scared for my safety (that's what I'm telling myself).  So I ended up running like one mile.  Sad story.


This week I plan on running a total of 12 miles.  Three days, four miles.  I'm writing that here so I actually do it.


Side note:  Catie emailed me this picture with the subject "This photo reminds me of you..."

I need to get out more often.  At least she's pretty.

Weekend of Friends

Okay so... I had three (yes, THREE) visitors in town for the weekend - my sister, her friend Sarah, and my running buddy Catie.  What did we do, you ask?  We ate.  We shopped.  We listened to live music. We ate. Oh, and then we ate more.  This is totally fine though, because now that I've found my inner runner it's called "carbo-loading" and it makes life so much sweeter.  Run a ton & eat more... it's just a package deal.


We had so much fun this weekend and I already want them all to come back!  Especially Catie because training is so much more fun in groups!

Oh and how could I forget.  We did this...

We started at Bongo Java, ran down Belmont Blvd, turned around at Belmont Blvd. & Woodmont and ran back to Bongo Java for a grand total of roughly 2.6 miles.  It was the first time I ran without listening to music and I wasn't a fan.  It was also the first time I ran before enjoying a cup of morning coffee so by the time we were finished I thought "to hell with stretching" and bee-lined it straight into Bongo Java for my usual drug of choice, a Medium Double Mocha.

Above: 1. Brunch at the Loveless Cafe  2. Matthew Mayfield at Third & Lindsley  3. Shopping on Broadway  4. Pancakes at the Pfunky Griddle

Breakthrough

I'm sitting here at my desk, waiting for my sister to pick me up from work (she's visiting for the week and we have one car), and my mind started to wander.  I just caught myself thinking, "Man, I wish I had more time this week so I can get a least one run in."  This is worthy of a blog post.  Two months ago I dreaded the one-miler... now I'm looking forward to running?!  This is what we call a breakthrough, people.

Too Cold

Being a native New Yorker, I shouldn't be complaining.  But it is getting wayyy too cold.  On the upside, I'm working from home today in my pajamas and it looks like a winter wonderland outside (see above).  But on the downside, I'm a baby and can't get myself to run outside in this weather... and to top it all off, the treadmill is getting really boring.  I've planned so many road routes that I'm really excited to try but I've just decided to place them on the back burner until springtime.  Okay end rant.

I plan on running 3 miles at the gym today.  My little legs are getting sore and they need a break.

It's going to be a great week!

New print that I can't wait to frame and hang up in my house.  My bank account hates Etsy.

Saturday morning I ran 4 miles and finished in 39:35.  That's pretty darn good for me, I must say.  In total, I ran 11 miles this week.  Again, pretty darn good.


It's going to be a challenge getting a run in this week because my sister and her friend are coming to town for the week!  I'll try but I'll be lucky if I run 3 miles in total.  But that'll be fine because I'll surely get at least one run in when my running buddy comes to visit on Saturday!  It's going to be such an amazing week!!

New Years Resolutions

• Run the Portland Marathon. Also run as many 5Ks as I can, starting with the Nashville Zoo Zoo Run.
• Remove the word "no" from my vocabulary.  It's a stupid word.  And in almost every instance that it's used, I end up regretting saying it afterwards.
• Create more often.
• Explore.
• Fold my laundry the very minute it comes out of the dryer so it's not laying around for 3 extra days (okay that's a conservative number).

So the entire night after my four mile run on Monday, I felt really sick to my stomach.  It's probably because I ate a big bowl of pasta about a half hour before I ran.  I do know better than to do that but I was really really hungry when I got home from work AND I wasn't planning on running.  But I did, and I don't regret it because it was a great lesson learned.

I ran 3 miles on Wednesday and felt really good.  I didn't run yesterday (I needed a tiny break from my crazy schedule) but I'm planning on running four miles tonight.

Day 27, you are great because...

Catie told me today that she booked a flight to come visit me in 2 weeks!

Oh, and...

I ran 4 miles!

2011 - Year of the Marathon!

It's 2011, which means this year I'm running a marathon.  Wow.


Alright let us recap the last 3 days...

On Wednesday I ran a fast 2 miles and strength trained.  I was weight lifting next to a guy and when I looked at him in the mirror, he was looking and pointing at my reflection.  I then turned to him and smiled because I was wearing my Marist College t-shirt and he was wearing a Vassar College sweatshirt.  In his words, "we just had a weird Poughkeepsie moment."

I rested on Thursday.

Yesterday (Friday) was the first time I ran 3 miles outside.  I ran from Belmont (starting right across the street from PM) then down Music Row to Demonbreum and back up Music Row.  It was 3.2 miles exactly.  I definitely could have pushed for 4 miles.  But I didn't.  Next time.  After the run, I looked at my cool free pedometer I got from work and it read 1.5 miles... which was obviously wrong.  This means either it's broken (a good chance since it was a free pedometer) or that I accidentally reset it halfway through the run.  Which also means that there's a 50/50 chance that when I ran with my sister in Florida we ran much farther than she bargained for (this would explain the excessive complaints).