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.