Onto the Next Run

Another 5k today at the gym. This run was easier than the last one and I kept a steadier, faster pace. I ran on a treadmill close to the window so I could look out on this little lagoon in the river. I also had the TV attached to my treadmill tuned to soccer and the iPod running full volume. I had a lot going on but it really helped keep me from getting bored. Often I feel like I need a distraction from the running itself or I just think about all the effort it takes to move one foot infront of the other. I liked being able to alternate from focusing on the music, to the TV, to the lagoon, to the stats on the treadmill screen. The run definitely went easier will all that stuff going on!

Favorite new running song: Supermassive Black Hole, Muse.

This song just PUMPED me up around 2.5 miles in.

Another Favorite is Follow Me Down (remix), by 3OH!3. Both good songs that just put some pep in my step!

After Running I went and worked out. I haven't worked out other than running in a while and it felt good. I did ab work, leg work and arm work. I think I'll be sore tomorrow!

I liked Mir's idea of all of us running 5k on June 2nd for National Running Day. What do ya'll think?

How Did I Ever Run Two 10ks?

Well I ran 2.5 miles on Friday and 5k today. It feels good to have more time to run now that the semester is over. The running has been hard though! I feel like I'm dragging in the middle and regain some energy at the very end. I have no idea how I ever managed to do the two 10ks a couple weeks ago. I think it was sheer stubbornness and will power. I've decided to go back to the basics. I'm gonna keep running 5k for a while until it gets easier, then I'll gradually increase.

I sent some mixes to ya'll that I hope will inspire some good running. I ran to many of the songs on your mixes the last two runs. My favorites are Bullet Proof by La Roux and I Made It by Kevin Rudolf. The one that always helps me pull through at the end of a hard run is Shake It by Metro Station.

Hope you all are having good runs! I will keep, keepin' on.

Pump it up!

Hi running partners :)

I am SO happy to say that I have been running running running :) When I went home last week I knew I would have tons more free time than I do at school - and Vero Beach is my favorite place to run - so I went for it and ran 7 out of the 10 days I was home. I mostly just ran 2 miles and on my last run I ran 3. I now have two miles under my belt and can just go out and run it - without a worry - and I don't have to feel my best mentally or physically - my body just kicks in. So I am trying to master that with 3 now as well.

My runs at home were so beautiful. I ran the bridge over our river several times - and then for a flat run I ran near the water at a park - all the old people walk there in the mornings so it was nice to work out with them. I tried to run early morning or late evening since it is already so hot and humid. I find it amazing how some runs can feel so fluid and easy - others I felt overheated and like I was really having to work. It felt it good to have the time to run each day.

Now I am back at Auburn - and I find it harder to run here because my schedule is busy - but I also love to run near water - and we don't have that here :) Plus it is a lot more hilly here! So far so good - I ran yesterday at 2:30 (terrible time but the only one I had) - I went out to the dog park which is a bit flatter - but boy was it hot! I knew time would be tight today - so I decided to go right when I woke up. I was at the running trail (very very hilly) near my house by 8. It was sooo much cooler - and it felt so nice to start my day that way. Sometimes as I go through the day I get so drained and so running at the end seems more difficult - I enjoyed feeling fresh and mentally strong that early - I really talk to myself while running lately - I tell myself "you're strong" over and over - I also tell myself "just settle in" - I also like to run with the sun at my back so I can watch my shadow as I go.

Anyway - I am enjoying the running - Does anyone else run first thing in the morning? Can you suggest any good pre-run food? I know I need to eat and drink since I haven't had anything in 8 hours or more - but cramping is always an issue. Today I had some juice and half a banana before running and it seemed to be okay - I used to eat a lot of power bars so I may try those again.

I almost forgot! The Auburn 2010 Bike Bash about 2 weeks ago went wonderfully - I biked 20 miles all over Auburn and met some leaders of Auburn's Bike Club. They have rides here everyday of the week - and about 5 that I'd be able to do (the 2 others are a too fast for me) - so I am looking forward to getting involved with that - running in the morning and biking in the afternoon.

I guess that is it :) oh and if anyone has a fun summer pump up mix - send it my way :) I need some new music!

Happy running,
Larissa

new hopes.new dreams.new ways...

Pre-Race group shot: Me, Uncle Johnny, Amy & Mimi!rounding the bend to the Finish Line!!!

Post Race Photo with Team JAMM - you can see how hot i was...

so after 5 long months...I'm officially claiming the title "RUNNER"! I completed my 1st 10k (6.2miles) this past Sunday morning and it was such a thrill!!!!! I've been in training mode since January and I think my body is really getting into the groove of my running exercise - and it has definitely gotten easier and more enjoyable! I love it :)
I ran in the Inside Out Sports Classic 10k with Uncle Johnny, Amy and Mimi bright and early on Sunday. It was a nice morning - sun was out, but extremely humid. I was wiping the sweat from my forehead around the first 1/4 mile! Drew, Had, and Mal came to show their support for us all that morning - and it meant the world to me! I have really enjoyed how much my family & friends have been apart of my running journey. Your love & support I could not do without!!! UJ, Amy and Mimi... or Team JAMM as we are now called all ran at my pace and stuck with me through the whole race! I loved running with a group. The conversation keep me going and most importantly we had FUN! We ran through Umstead which is my favorite, and then back through the Greenway on a path that Mims and I had never taken before - it was beautiful! On the last little hill though, my legs were just having so much trouble leaving the ground... and Mimi literally had to pull me for a second! After I made it up that hill we were in the home stretch and rounded the bend to the Finish. The other half of our team was there cheering us on as we came down to the home stretch. We all got to cross the finish line together with me leading the way which was so much fun :) Our official time was 1 hour & 10 min. I met my goal of not walking again which I was excited about! After the race, UJ treated us all to breakfast at the Farmer's Market - and boy was it good! We all got huge delicious butter biscuits and a smorgasbord of other breakfast items. Much needed after running in the heat!
Now I am looking forward to finding another race to run in this summer. I know that I want to do one of the beach runs this summer, because I think that would be a fun challenge... but other than that I don't have anything planned! Don't think this is the end my friends... 'cause it's only the beginning !!!!!!!!!! Thank you for all your love and encouragement - keep it coming!

Human Race 10k

On Saturday morning, Emily (my friend from grad school) and I got up bright and early for the Human Race. We ran the 10k. We started the morning with bagels and cream cheese and bananas (good race day breakfast) two hours before the start of the race (to give enough time for digestion... and poops! haha). Here are some picture I took while we waited in the sea of people for the start. Keep in mind 10,000 people participates 5,000 runners and 5,000 walkers, so it was pretty crazy!

This is a picture of all the people infront of us and the big balloon thing is where the starting line is.

This is a picture of all the people behind us. We were in between the 7 minute milers and the 11 minute milers. Somewhere around nine minute milers.
Emily and I waiting. Anna notice the head gear. It was in the mid sixties and my ears still needed warming! :)

The race started right at 8AM with Beautiful Day by U2 on the pod. In the beginning it was pretty clogged up. The 3k and 10k runners started together with the walkers in the back and then everybody split up at mile 1. After the split it was easier to run without feeling so crowded in. I just got into my own groove.

Side Note: I don't think you all know, but on Thursday I was rear ended in my car. I'd been having some problems with whiplash in my neck but decided to run anyways.

Well, at mile three all of a sudden I experience this very sharp and VERY intense pain shooting from the base of my skull, down my neck and into my shoulder blades. I had to stop and walk to calm the shooting pain. I walked a short distance and mustered up my strength determined to continue running and finish the race.

I kept running but each time I swung my left arm shooting pain would go from my neck into my shoulders. I was in tears most of the run. I hadn't properly trained (or trained at all!) and the course was ALL hills. I was totally struggling. I finished and I actually finished with a pretty good time given everything.

It was a beautiful morning and an absolutely beautiful course (actually somewhere I often took the dogs to walk/run when I lived in Santa Rosa). It was actually more enjoyable than it sounds. Sure my neck was killing me and I was gasping for air, but I finished and finished with a decent time: an hour and six minutes - faster than my time when I ran my trial 10k last Monday (an hour and nine minutes).

I kept thinking of you girls the entire time. Mr. Brightside made me think of Anna and for some reason of all of us together in Italy and in Chicago. It really pumped me up at mile 4. I finished the race sprinting the last 1/2k which was lined with people cheering me on. As I turned onto the straight away leading up to the finish I listened to Viva La Vida. I thought of Mir. I thought of how inspired I am by her dedication to running and that helped me muster up my last bits of strength and just GO FOR IT. Several people (strangers) remarked to me after the race about how impressed they were that I was able to sprint so fast down the straight away.

I've got terrible shin splints and my neck is still really messed up, but I completed the race and had a great time raising money for CCI. I raised $575! The whole CCI team raised over $15,000! Incredible. It felt so amazing to be doing something that would benefit an organization that I am so passionate about and involved in. I know I've done a lot of volunteering for CCI, but raising money for them was a very different sort of volunteer work and something that I feel very accomplished about.

Next time I run a race, I'll hopefully decide to run it with more than a week to go before race day so that I can properly train. With school coming to a close in the next six days I'm looking forward to having more time to run again. I plan to do some races with classmates over the summer :)

"Gonna Fly Now"

Today after work, I met Matt at the metroparks for a run. The course was downhill for the first 1.5 miles and gradually went uphill for the last mile or so. In total, we ran 3 miles and even squeezed in a couple of pullups too :) which were a lot more difficult than I had anticipated! Matt was great - we started the run off humming the theme song from Rocky, and talked and laughed the whole time! It was a beautiful day out and we had a ton of fun :) we documented the run for you with some photos...which I hope you enjoy!

As you can see we did some serious stretching before the run...always important! (This is a Matthew Welch classic stretch. "good for the glutes" I hear...)

We did have to make one pit stop....we'll try to avoid that next time...

We did it!!! :)

one more phot.

Running for a Cause

Hey Girls,

So I signed up today to run a 10k race, to benefit Canine Companions for Independence! It is the biggest non-profit race in the nation btw. I'm doing really well on fundraising and I'm hoping to double my goal. I've got to be honest, I've been a little MIA from the running craze. I haven't been on a run since I ran with Mir. OVER a month ago. I know it's bad, but school has just been so insane and I was sick, etc etc... no more excuses!

So I went out running today to see if I could force myself to get 10k done (6.2 miles). I did it! I totally though I was going to die about halfway through all the way till the end. it was sooooo hot today and I felt like such a slug. I ran in the most beautiful place though which is definitely what kept me going- and thinking about running for CCI, and in Jessica's honor. I have all the donations being done in her memory.

At one point I was running so slow I looked like one of those middle aged women who run so slowly with weights attached to their ankles, and barely pick their feet up off the ground. You know how the look like they are running in slow motion?? Well that is what I looked like! I probably could have power walked faster than I was running!

The point is though that I did it, and I can do it, and I WILL do it on SATURDAY! WOOP WOOP.

Here is a photographic journey of my run, Enjoy!

"Happy Running to You..."

Happy Running my friends! It sounds like we are all doing well on our respective journeys! I'm so thrilled that everyone has been active - Larissa I'm glad you got started again today :) Do y'all remember this photo? When Princie & Doug sent me the amazing birthday cake that we all devoured! Y'all made my 21st so special - we sure did have fun! I miss 27 via del cortone!

So here are some developments: I've continued running since the 4mile race. I've been consistently running the 4 miles since the race, so on Wednesday Mimi is pushing me up to 5! It's Cinco de Mayo, so it's only fitting... :) On May 16th I will run the 10k race in Cary. Mimi and I are running it together, and I couldn't be more excited! I am a little nervous, but I know that it will be a fun challenge. I feel that if I can run the 6 miles confidently, then training for the Half Marathon this summer will go a little easier.

keep posting girls! I want to hear all the details! Anna - so excited that you are running with Matt & Amanda! Ferretti - did you bike Auburn last week? What was that status I saw on FB?

miss you & love you all. xoxo. Mir.