Two weeks!

Hey girls! What's happening? Long time no blog! :) I know we're all super busy--especially Tessa! Good luck on Tuesday! You can do it!!

Just thought I'd update y'all on what I've been up to. I missed the 12-mile run with my group last Saturday because Rob and I went to Highlands, NC, for the weekend. It was a great trip, but I was sad to miss the long run with my group. I did manage to run six miles last Saturday morning, and five miles on Sunday. Plus a hike on Saturday afternoon. So I wasn't a complete bum!

My training group is tapering because their race is on Thanksgiving. (Can you believe how quickly it has approached??) I had originally thought about running 10-12 miles on my own today, but I really didn't run alone. So I ran 8.7 miles with the group. I figured that would be fine...right?? I kept my intensity up and finished at a 10:05 pace. How did I manage that? That's faster than my fastest 10K pace! So I'm thinking that I can run faster than I think I can. LOL. Moral of the story, if I'm holding you back during the race, just run faster and I will follow. :)

On another topic, I e-mailed the race coordinators about having one of you pick up my race packet on Friday. They said that's fine if you have a copy of my ID and my registration confirmation. So, if you don't mind, I'll let y'all pick up my stuff so that we can go straight to dinner when I get into town (should be 7-8 pm). I'll give Toni and Tessa copies of my stuff next weekend.

Sounds like a lot of us have gotten new shoes lately! I had been fitted for shoes a few years ago, but I wanted to try out the "scientific" looking system that they use at a different local running store. It was time for new shoes anyway, so I went by Big Peach Running Company and checked it out. First, they have you stand on a pad that analyzes your arches. Mine are medium to low. So the salesperson made sure that the shoes she recommended didn't have high arches. Then they videotape your feet while you run on a treadmill. I overpronate, so she recommended three different pairs of shoes for me to try. I ended up with a pair of Mizunos (except they were green and way uglier than the ones in the picture!) They felt super comfortable when I ran around the block outside the store. Unfortunately, when I got home and took them on a longer run, they made the muscles along the outsides of my feet hurt. It was weird. Luckily, the running store let me exchange the shoes even after I had run outside in them. So I'm back to a new pair of my old standbys, Brooks Adrenaline.

That's about it for me. Hope y'all are doing well! Can't wait to see Toni and Tessa next weekend, and all of you in two weeks! Hugs from Atlanta!

Stay warm this weekend!

I was feeling sorry for myself while watching the weather forecast this morning because tonight's low is 40 degrees...so tomorrow will be my first run of the year in winter clothes. Then I remembered the Nor'easter hitting the northeast this weekend. Stay warm and dry, girls!

I stopped by the running store last night to pick up some gear. I got some black cherry Shot Bloks for tomorrow's long run. Then I realized that I needed a place to put them. Since my training group puts out water during our long runs, I don't have a fuel belt. The idea of attaching something to me that will jiggle up and down for 9 or 13 miles sounds really awful, so the guy at the running store recommended a Spibelt. (I think the belt pictured in the link is the one I got, but I only paid $20.) It's really low-profile, and the pockets are expandable. He said it's one of their most popular packs. So, we'll see how it goes tomorrow!

Tessa, have you submitted your comps yet? Congratulations or good luck as the case may be! :) You are a superstar and are that much closer to a Ph.D.!!

Time for Tights?

Hi All!

Just wondering what your opinions are regarding running tights? The weather here has been pretty chilly (in the 50s), and I'm thinking that shorts aren't going to work for much longer. I have one pair of capri running pants, but they are starting to wear out. What do you all recommend for chilly weather?
I do think this new weather change does help me to run for a longer period of time.

Thanks for your input!

Favorite running gear

Toni's comment to my last post got me thinking...what is your favorite running gear? Do you love your watch/iPod/running skirt? (That last one's for Tessa!)

I had heard great things about Body Glide, so I tried it for the first time a couple months ago. I haven't run long enough distances lately for chafing to be much of an issue, but I think that when I do, the Body Glide will be indispensable. I was a little embarrassed to ask for it at the running store, like I must be fat if I needed Body Glide, right? But the guy who worked there (typical runner's build--tall and lanky) said "oh, I love this stuff!" So I didn't feel so bad :)

I also like my iPod Shuffle a lot. Rob gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago, and it is great to keep me motivated on my training runs. I lost the charger last week, so I've been running without music all week while I wait for my new one to come in, and it's been pretty boring! I'm always thinking "how much farther?" I wish I were one of the people who went into a meditative "zone" (without getting hit by a car, hehe) while running. But if I'm alone and without music, my thoughts don't seem to keep me occupied.

So what's your favorite running stuff?