Oh my Shoe!

My current running shoes just crossed a major milestone - 500 miles!  Its nice to see these shoes lasting longer and longer - in the past I have ditched my shoes around 400 miles because my knees would start to hurt. 

I think I have been able to run more miles in each of my shoes because
1) I have been training more and my body is stronger and
2) I use two pairs - one for easy runs and one for my tempo, interval and long runs

My Brooks Ghost 3s are used for all tempo, interval and long runs.  I love how light they are and I think having a less clunky shoe has helped my feet and legs to get stronger.

My asics 2150s have been with me for a long time and I only use them on easy runs.  Often they feel bulky and big but the extra cushioning helps on my easy runs.

Since I started recording my mileage and tracking my shoes in May 2009 I have gone through 6 pairs - my current two pairs I use are both above 500 miles.  Guess it is time to go shopping.  I think I want to pick up another pair of Brooks Ghosts!  Sorry Asics.

Also since I started recording miles, I have run 1,987.8 miles.  Wow.  That is a lot.  And 823.3 has been just in 2011.  It is amazing to see the improvement in the past 2 years and to see that I can run more miles!

Whats the highest mileage you have put on a pair of running shoes??  Happy Tuesday!

More Questions and Answers

Thanks again to everyone who asked questions!!  Here is round 2 -

Amber asked -
How did you become such a fast runner - have you always been fast?
I started running originally because I played basketball and soccer.  In middle school I went out for the track team and started running the 800m - which I hated.  Later in college I played basketball and ran track.  I think playing sports since I was 10 helped to make me a fast runner and also a little natural talent. 

What do you do for a living?

I am an electrical engineer.

Elizabeth asked -
Do you feel that you are at a disadvantage at evening races?

I definitely feel at a disadvantage at evening races in the summer.  I get so used to running in the morning in the cooler temps that running in the evening is tough.  I know that my body also gets into a rhythm of running in the morning and breaking that habit is tough but I find that running a few days in the evening helps me to get accustomed.

Nicole asked -
Do you eat meat?
Yes - I love meat! 

Whats your favorite color?
My favorite color is RED which is also the main color in my wedding!

Whats your most liked feature?

That's a tough one because I feel like I only see the features I don't like.  I would have to say I like my eyelashes - they are long and thick and just putting on a bit of mascara really perks up my eyes!

Kim asked -
What is your dream race that you have yet to run?

I would have to say I have two dream races - one would be the Lake Placid Ironman.  I just wish I could do that race - it looks like such a challenge and I am in awe of all the people who complete it.  The second one would have to be the Marine Corp Marathon.

Fair Weather Runner asked -
What's your guilty pleasure?

That is a tough one - Allowing my self to watch silly tv shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians or The Bachelor - I hate how I just get sucked into those shows!

Kim from Ilaxstudio asked -
What style do you want to decorate the new home?
Good question - I am still working on it...for now just a miss mash of things that have been passed down from family.

What is your favorite place you have visited?
I loved California when I went my second year of college for a basketball tournament and I also loved Charleston, SC.  I haven't really done a lot of traveling...hopefully Brian and I can do that after we are married!

When are you coming to Chicago? :)
Hopefully sooner rather than later!

Suzy asked - 

Does skipping washing your hair at night really give you enough motivation to get up the next morning for a run and shampoo?
For me yes - I try not to shampoo my hair too much so showering after my Tuesday night run is a must but I avoid the shampoo if I am going to run Wednesday morning. For me its all about little tricks to get me out of bed!

What is your favorite distance to run?
I love the 15k distance for races but 10 milers for just run distances.  Now if we are talking about track running, its 400m!  It all just depends!

Do you have any interest in doing a tri?
I did an indoor triathlon about 2 years ago and after that I knew I never would have desire to do another.  I would love to do an ironman but just don't think I could ever train for it.

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns asked - 

Have you always been fast???
I don't know if I was fast when I first started playing sports when I was 10, but I know in middle school I was decent because I ran track and then made the varsity team in 8th grade.  I think I was very lucky to have a lot of great coaches in my athletic career who saw some potential in me and helped me to become a fast runner.

Do you think you will ever do a full marathon?
I think eventually I will run a marathon, I just don't really see it happening in the next few years, but you never know!

Marlene asked - 

Favorite post-run indulgence?
Depends on the season - Winter it is always something hot like hot chocolate or tomato soup.  In the summer its watermelon.  Usually I have to stay away from dairy after I run.  I also could go for something sweet like cake or candy!

What's a race on your bucket list?

Don't really have a race bucket list but I think it would be nice to run a race outside of my home state.

E asked -
How do you prepare for a long run?
For me I keep it simple - Get up and get dressed in my running clothes then I eat cinnamon oatmeal with a glass of water and possibly a little coffee.  I always carry a GU with me just is case and sometimes I even carry turn by turn directions of my run if I am going someplace new.

Wedding Talk: Jewelry

I am not a jewelry person - my mom often joked when I was in high school that I would get engaged and never wear my ring because I never ever wore jewelry.

I got my ears pierced a month before my senior prom so that I could actually wear real earrings.  After that I only wore earrings for special occasions or when I happen to remember to put them in.

Well now that I am engaged, I do wear my engagement ring every day but that is the only jewelry I wear consistently.  Sometimes I will remember to put in earrings or wear my watch but usually I don't.

With my wedding approaching quickly I have been on the search for the "perfect" jewelry for me.  Something that is slightly flashy but not over the top - something that is me.  A few weeks ago I finally found the perfect bracelet and earrings. 

Wedding earrings

I wanted a cuff bracelet because I have such small wrists and I needed a bracelet I could fit to my wrist.

Wedding bracelet

A few days after I found my wedding jewelry, I got a call that our wedding bands were in too!!  It had been such a long time since I had seen mine so I was excited to try it on again with my ring.

And Brian got one too

For one day I think I can handle all this jewelry and then go back to just wearing my rings.  Except when I run - I never run in my rings. 

Do you like jewelry? Do you run in your jewelry??

Happy Friday!

Super Soggy

After many, many days of scorching heat, yesterday's full day of rain was a welcomed change.

I headed out after work for an easy recovery run.  I didn't realize how much Tuesday night's running club track workout had taken out of me until I started running.  My legs felt heavy and didn't loosen up for over a mile but finally I settled into a relaxing pace. 

This was only my second run from my new house and I enjoyed exploring some of the nearby neighborhoods.  Thankfully I did not get lost and made it home but by the end of the run I was soaked from the rain.  It wasn't really pouring rain just a light drizzle but I still looked like a wet dog when I arrived back home.

Yay Rain - Green grass again!

This morning (Thursday) I did NOT want to get up and run but I knew I needed to because I have plans for tonight.  My legs were still feeling Tuesday's 800s and I barely was able to hit my half marathon tempo. Thankfully it is done and I can enjoy the rest of my (busy) day.

Tuesday's killer track workout:
2 mi warm up
8x800m (Yasso's) at 3:25-3:30/800m
2 mi cool down

Wednesday's easy relazing run:
4.5 miles at 8:40 pace

Thursday's "I wish I was still sleeping" tempo run:
5.5 miles with 3 miles at HMP (~7:40ish)


As I was running this morning I was seriously lacking motivation and I was trying to figure out why.  It has to be the fact that I am following a full blown half marathon schedule with no Half marathon race in sight.  Two of my running buddies from running club are running a half on September 17th but I will be on my honeymoon so I can't run it.  But I am still training with them.  I am finding it harder and harder to dig up the motivation to run when I have no goal race!  I guess that means that I need to find on ASAP!

How do you stay motivated with no training plan??  Happy Thursday!

Wedding Questions Answered

Thanks to everyone who asked a question...I am going to start with answering some of the questions about the wedding.

Amber asked -
How did you and Brian meet?
Brian and I met in our second year of college.  It was the first week of school and we had a class together.  I saw him sitting outside our professors office and I went up to him and asked for help on the homework.  From then on we spent a lot of time together doing homework and just hanging out but sadly we were both seeing other people at the time.  Through the next few years we stayed in touch but didn't really hang out as much.  Then in our fourth year we had class together again.  I was going through a messy breakup and he was there for me.  Soon after we started dating and have been together for 3 and 1/2 years.

Elizabeth asked -
What's been your favorite part about planning a wedding?
I love the details - picking out the perfect invitations, designing the guest book, planning the candy buffet!  There is just so many little things that go into a wedding and I love how everything is finally coming together!  I promise to do posts soon to show you what I have done!

Suzy asked -
What are you looking forward to most about your wedding?
I am looking forward to the cake! I can't wait to have a huge piece - it is going to be delicious! I am also looking forward to walking down the aisle and seeing Brian - I have been keeping my dress a total secret from him and I can't wait for him to see it!

Marlene asked -
Will you go for a run on your wedding day?
That is a tough one - right now the schedule is pretty tight and I would rather not get up before dawn to get a run in but I may depending on how stressed I feel.  What do you think? Should I get up and run the day of my wedding??