Tuesdays On The Run: My Running Uniform

This is my first time linking up with the girls from Tuesdays On The Run, Erika, Patty and Marcia. The topic is Running Uniforms, such as go-to pieces, etc.

This topic is perfect because very recently, I experienced the creme de la creme of first world problems when I thought my very favorite hoodie of all time was lost forever. Like, I legit was depressed over the situation. I bought that hoodie at least four years ago which is the first time I made a Facebook appearance in it- at the Inaugural Tinkerbell Half 2012.

Don't mind the laser beams from the reflectors!

This hoodie has zip pockets on each hip and is technical fabric, which makes it ideal for so many things. I bought it at Road Runner Sports, which I think is only in AZ and CA. At the time, I remember wincing at the price, which I think was around $60- $70. But man, this thing goes with me everywhere.

Ragnar Del Sol 2013

 

Whale Watching

 

It makes an excellent riding shirt

 

Louie loves it so much, he bit a hole in it. I was not pleased.

I feel like I need a teeny tiny patch for this. Like a lady bug.

 

 

Cruising in Alaska

 

I ran the NYC Marathon in it

I now consider this hoodie to be somewhat "lucky". Not to mention, it's super comfy and has a flattering cut. What more could a girl ask for?!

Playing giant Jenga

Basically, this is my very favorite article of clothing that I own. I wish I could find another like it, but so far, no such luck. It was missing for about two weeks and I walked around in utter dispair, mourning the loss of my beloved hoodie.

Anyone else have a treasured item of clothing that would bring on complete mourning if it was lost?

 

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Tempo Tuesday

Most people follow some sort of training plan when they are preparing for a distance race. This involves things like tempo runs, long runs, 400s, 800s, speed work, fartleks, 3542s. Okay, I made the last one up. But you get the point. This is complicated. I'm sure I could understand it if I tried, but I just file it away in the "things runners do that make other people think they are crazy" file.

 

I'm on a running roll and I'm pretty proud of that. Last night, I ran 9 miles. It's only February and I'm training for Tinkerbell Half in May, so I feel way ahead of myself. Yes, I'm aware that this is what normal dedicated runners do, so I've been pretty busy patting myself on the back, feeling all awesome for doing shit most runners do all the time. Baby steps, people.

Saw this on Instagram

 

I've developed my own kind of tempo/long run/speed work type of training plan that I've sort of become addicted to. I use a Garmin but I also use the Runkeeper app on my phone. I had taken most of 2015 off of running, so when I committed to run 1000 miles in 2016, I was basically starting over.

I started taking a screen shot on my phone at the one hour mark. Each week, I've tried to get a little farther in one hour. Then I keep a list on my phone to see how I've progressed. I have a file for 1:00, 1:30 and 2:00 hour runs. This includes my warm, walk breaks, water breaks, and freaking out over Darth Vader runners in my neighborhood.

Tracking myself this way forces me to be really aware of how long it really takes me to cover a certain distance. For example, if I can get to 5 miles in a hour and then be at 10 miles at two hours, I have a chance at getting a PR at Tinkerbell. I'm shooting for getting to 5.5 in an hour before May, which is totally doable. If I can get to 10.5 or 11 in two hours, I'll be golden for a PR.

These were my screen shots from last night. I didn't really intend to run on a Monday night for two hours, but I just kept pushing and I felt pretty good for most of it. Because I was only intending to run 5-6 miles total, I didn't have any fuel and I was really feeling it in miles 7-9. (I did finish 9 miles but only took a screen shot right a two hours.)

Yes, I know this is slow, but I'm getting faster!

 

 

 

This method seems to combine tempo, a bit of speed work to beat the clock, and distance running. I like watching myself improve, even if it's just in small increments. Instead of focusing on specific distances, I'm focusing on time and increasing the distance within a certain time.

So far, I'm really enjoying training in this manner. I definitely don't do this for every run. Some runs I just mosey along and get some miles in, however they come.

Last night's 9 miler leaves me with 910.44 miles left to run in 2016.

 

 

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I Can't Make This Stuff Up

It's amazing how much more I have to write about (on my running blog, no less) now that I'm doing actual running. Also, it's amazing how much weird shit happens right in my own neighborhood. Also, there's a lot of pot smoking apparently, because wow. The neighborhood had that particular "aroma" hanging about last night. (At least it's what I imagine pot smells like because, in case my boss or parents are reading, I certainly would not have any first hand knowledge of such things. Especially not back in college when I had a pot dealing roommate. No, sir.)

 

Anyhoo. When I run by myself, I run at a park that is about a mile in perimeter. I head to the park straight from work because if I dare set foot in my house, the couch emits laser precise tractor beams and holds me hostage against my will, forcing me to watch Netflix.

 

I had forgotten my iPod *gasp* and I'm seriously not capable of running alone without music and I've already addressed the danger of stopping by my house first. Well, I had my phone and some giant, clunky skull headphones in my desk. Off to the park I went, straight from work.

 

Now I should preface this tale by saying that it was really cold for Arizona last night. And windy. Brrrr. Instead of wearing normal running clothes, I wore a thick hooded sweatshirt. Basically, I just run laps around the park and I always run in the same direction. Now mind you, this park is pretty well lit, has houses on 3 sides and a police precinct in the middle. All in all, it's pretty safe. There's just one short side that's pretty dark.

 

Because I didn't have my iPod with my trusty playlist, I was forced to scramble through random shit on my phone, like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, specifically the last movement which is the choral section, better known as Ode To Joy. I'm telling you this because I like my life to have a soundtrack and Beethoven's Ninth is very dramatic and very German. I sang it in college several times and shockingly, still know ever last word of it in German. #lifesoundtrack

 

As I came to the dark side of the park, I see a man dressed entirely in black, with a black hat and what appears to be some sort of face warmer covering the bottom of his face. I don't pay too much attention but I notice that as he passes, I hear a weird sound that appears to be interfering with my music. Weird.

 

Well. I run into him again on the opposite side of the park where there is more light, but it's still dark. You know those moments you have where you see something but your brain can't process or comprehend what it's seeing, and you have a delayed reaction?

 

He gets close to me and all I can hear is insanely loud breathing that I'm totally not exaggerating here- sounds exactly like Darth fucking Vader. As he's passing me, he reaches up to his hat, and parts of it light up. It took a few more steps of running on my part before my brain caught up and said, "what the fuck did I just see?" And yes, all of these f bombs are necessary because 1) I really like saying it and 2) it really was fucking weird.

All that makes sense to my brain at this point is this:

This is a villain from Batman

 

This is what my brain interpreted. So I decide I'm totally going to be ready for this guy on the next lap. Ready to to fight crime? Ready to save the world? No, sillies. Ready with my camera to document this shit for my blog, because God knows I won't be able to tell this story well enough.

Obviously, I'm Batman in this scenario. Duh.

 

Sadly, he must have called it a day, because I didn't cross his path for a third time. It took me awhile, but I'm guessing he was wearing a elevation training mask. I've never seen one actually used, but I read about it when I considered hiking to Everest Basecamp. But seriously, dude, you look super fucking scary in that get up and my brain has no choice but to immediately see myself as Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman. And I left my cat ears at home. Sheesh.

Me or Anne? Can you tell us apart?

 

So here is a public service announcement for those of you deciding to wear all black at night with a breathing apparatus that makes you sound like Darth Vader: maybe you should consider wearing a shirt that says "Elevation Training" or "I'm Not Darth Vader" or "Sorry, Cat Woman, You Don't Rock That Suit As Well As Anne Hathaway". You know, something that makes you look a little less terrifying.

Side Note: I set out to run 4-5 miles and ended up running 8. I felt like Forrest Gump last night. I felt so good running that I just kept going. And that kind of shit never happens to me.

And with that, I have 935.56 miles left to run in 2016.

 

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One Month Down, Eleven To Go

As you all know, I signed up to run 1000 miles in 2016. It's definitely a daunting task, particularly when you consider that I'm not always a dedicated runner.

After running the NYC Marathon in 2014, I was pretty much over running, in general. I managed to ride that training cycle into January and complete the Star Wars Half, basically on residual training from NYC. After that, I half assed it for Wine & Dine (although "half assed" is reaching. Quarter assed would be more accurate) and called it a day for the rest of 2015.

It was enough of a break that I've rekindled my desire to do some actual running. (Also, this break has rekindled a love of buying all merch at races, which I thought that I had gotten over. *sigh*) I turn 40 in July, so I decided it would be a good idea to go into this year ready to tackle the last few months of my 30s.

Running 1000 miles in one year is somewhat of a numbers game, particularly if you are starting over. For example, 1000 miles breaks down in several ways. It's approximately 2.73 miles per day...or 20 miles per week...or 84 miles per month.

 

I ran 56.3 miles in January, which for me, is pretty good. Plus, having to basically rebuild my running base means that I had to be careful not to do too much too fast. Running 20 miles a week doesn't sound too bad, but that works out to be five 4 mile runs, or some similar variation. I couldn't really just start out having 8 mile long runs right off the bat if I wanted to keep myself from getting injured early in the year.

I'm behind, but honestly I'm not too worried about it at this point. Now instead of having to run 83.33 miles a month, I need to run 85.79 for the remaining 11 months.

My early Sunday run

In January, I was more consistent with running than I have been in a long time, so I feel like I'm off to a good start. I ran 5.22 miles yesterday morning and it's finally starting to feel easier. We walked much less than usual, so that's good.

I'm excited to go into Tinkerbell Half training with a good base so that I'm not scrambling to cram all of my training into the month before. I can pull it off, but it totally feels like shit when I do that.

 

Post race rehydrating like a champ at DCA

I ran the inaugural Tink in 2012 when it was still in January and had a great time. I'm looking forward to running it in an anniversary year. I know people were complaining that they should have changed the medal more, but I like it.

I took a screen shot of this awhile ago, so I don't know whom to credit. My bad.

 

As far as other resolutions, I have not had a single soda in 2016. I do drink club soda at restaurants or when I'm really craving a Coke, but I don't think that counts. There's no sugar or artificial sweetener, so I figure it's okay.

Also, I've ridden my horse without stirrups during my warm up every single ride this year. That's something I haven't done since I jumped as a teenager. In case anyone is wondering, riding without stirrups strengthens your legs and core and it helps me get my leg longer in the saddle.

Warm up day at last weekend's horse show. That tent is where the judge sits.

I'm planning to start February off right and run tonight. Sadly, IT IS X-FILES NIGHT. Serious sacrifices being made on my part. It's like I'm curing cancer or something.

I <3 them

 

So yeah.... I think 2016 is starting off nicely. Granted, I feel like I'm getting fatter, despite all of my changes, which is super annoying. I guess I'll tackle that next.

943.7 left to run in 2016.

 

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The Other Side Of The Tunnel

Well, I experienced something new last night.

I've been running with my trusty running partner, Lara, on Wednesday nights. I also call Lara "the billy goat" because she has no problem prancing up and down mountains in the dark and calls them, "trail runs". But whatever, the billy goat is currently 7 months pregnant and finally my speed. So rather than drag me along, kicking and screaming, at a pace that is a serious struggle for me, she now has been slowed down to something more reasonable: sedated snail speed. Perfect.

Anyhoo, Lara and I have been meeting at a running path called the greenbelt that runs through parts of Scottsdale and all the way into Tempe. Being that this is the desert and very little green grows here naturally, it's safe to assume that the greenbelt runs along heavily watered, higher end communities. And golf courses. Lots of golf here in the desert.

The start of the path is located next to a parking lot for shops and restaurants. When I was training for the NYC marathon, we ran here because there are a lot of trees on the path for shade and it's prettier than running in the desert. Plus, you can run for miles and miles. Ideal for marathon training.

We've been running just over 2 miles out and back, for a total of about 4.5 miles. Well, last night we got to about 1.9 miles and the sprinklers along the path were on. When it's hot out, this sounds ideal, but in reality, the water is reclaimed water, so not really good to be running through.

We decide to turn around and make up the difference on the way back by getting to the parking lot and running through the tunnel to get to the other side for a bit. Of all the times we've run the greenbelt, I've never gone through that tunnel to the other side. I assumed it was just a neighborhood.

We get through the tunnel and up to the sidewalk. It's really dark, so I can see some random lights up ahead off to the right. Because I'm a nosy, busy body, I suggest that we should check it out. Plus, I've watched enough X-files in my lifetime to know that this could be the work of aliens or a government conspiracy.

 

As we got closer, it became increasingly obvious that we were not dealing with alien aircraft lights, but in my vast experience ("vast experience" loosely translates as paranormal nerd) you can never be too careful.

Those are solar lights planted into the ground.

We get up close and find solar lights in the ground. Weird, right? It was a large grassy area. Being that is was really dark with no street lights, I couldn't quite figure out what we were looking at.

Yup. We were in a grave yard. That's certainly a first for me. This must be a smaller and newer cemetery because I didn't really see any upright head stones, but rather head stones on the ground.

 

So, of course, what's the first thing I do when I realize that I'm standing in a cemetery? Take a picture with the flash on to see if I spot any orbs. Disappointingly, I found none.

 

If you don't know what orbs are, you clearly have not watched as many episodes of My Ghost Story as I have. I do not recommend watching that show and running alone in the dark. Just sayin.

I was hoping for my very own X-file experience (I can't express my joy enough over the revival of my all time favorite show ever), but clearly this is not an overly haunted cemetery. Disappointing.

Sexiest TV duo in history

 

And that leaves me with 953.37 miles left to run in 2016.

 

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Throwback Thursday: A Tale Of Two Pins

This post is about as long as A Tale of Two Cities. I present you with an epic tale about the origin of Disney pin trading and even if you think an idea is stupid, Disney is an evil, mastermind genius, and they will prevail. (I'm sure this is how Darth Vader feels every time he sees a depiction of himself with Mickey ears on)

 

Since I've been doing so much running, I've been doing way too much thinking. Mark my words: it won't be long until you can have a Netflix chip implanted directly into your brain. Then I won't have to do any thinking at all. I will be able to just beam old episodes of Parks and Rec (someone help me out- should that be italicized? Underlined? Does anyone even care?) directly into my brain and trot happily along, not a real thought getting in the way of my Amy Poehler time. Or Ron Swanson time, whom I have a wee crush on, despite his being my polar opposite.

But I digress. I mentioned in my last post that I freaked out on a run because there was a possibly that I forgot to order the commemorative pin for Tinkerbell Half this year. Gasp! Mind you, I am not a crazy pin trader, and pretty much could not give two shits about the Disney pins. I don't collect them and I don't trade them. Since I started running, I've gone to both Disneyland and Disney World a bunch of times and never have I just bought a pin at one of the parks for a keepsake. Ever. Somehow, the race pins are different. I must have them. This is all part of Disney's master plan for world domination. They will get you, eventually.

I didn't decide to run Tinkerbell until Wine & Dine weekend. The night of the half, I met up with friends that I love to see at races and had a blast with them as I always do. They were all heading to Tink and Abby offered to let me bunk with her and her sister. All of the Tink races were sold out, including the Pixie Dust challenge, but the half itself was still open. The next morning, I signed up. Since I signed up from my phone during breakfast, I couldn't remember if I had ordered the pin. Well, you can all relax because *spoiler alert* I did, in fact, order the pin. I may or may not have actually checked my confirmation in the middle of my run. That information is classified, however, so I guess you'll never know the truth.

 

Disneyland Half 2010 was my very first race ever. Back then, the expo was a normal, semi quiet affair. People didn't mob the merchandise section like crazed Black Friday Shoppers at Best Buy. I was so scared I wouldn't finish that first half, that I refrained from buying any souvenirs. I was petrified that I would jinx myself and since I was a rookie, I assumed that I could just buy a souvenir after the race was over. So, so naive, I was.

My first race pin. Disneyland Half 2010.

Luckily, I had preordered that first race pin. I managed to find a really ugly men's half marathon jacket after the race in downtown Disney. I bought it, but I have never once worn it. I also found a key chain.

Most of my Disneyland race pins

 

Ever since then, I automatically have ordered the pin when I sign up of a runDisney race. If I signed up for the challenge, I get the pins for the individual races and the challenge pin. Even though I seriously cringe at the price, somehow I can't stop ordering them. I have a preordered pin (and sometimes an additional pin from the expo) for every Disney race that I've done. The only exception being the Marathon Relay in 2012 because there weren't any even produced.

Goofy Challenge 2013

 

It's like this love/hate/resentful thing I do during every registration. I can't break the chain but those pins are like $15 a pop. Damn you, Disney!! *shakes fist*

My favorite of all of my race pins

 

Anyway, as I was trotting around the park, secure in the knowledge that the coveted pin would be added to my collection, I was also grumbling about the amount of money of have invested in those stupid pins and I'm not even a pin collector. Don't judge, my dear readers, I have a sneaking suspicion that there are a few of you out there in the same boat as me.

 

And then, as I was finishing up the last mile of my run, I remembered the story of the origin of Disney pin trading.

Growing up in Arizona, I went on tons of road trips to Disneyland. Family trips, school trips, friend trips. Pretty much every year we ended up at Disneyland at some point. At no point, did I recall seeing a bunch of pins in the gift shops.

 

Spaceship Earth dressed up for the Millennium Celebration. That is a picture of a picture from our trip.

In 2000, my family took a vacation to the Disney World Resort. My dad and step mom must have booked through a Disney travel agent because when we met at their house in the wee hours of the morning to leave on our trip, my dad handed all of us the standard complimentary Disney luggage tag and keepsake pin from the Disney travel company. I didn't think much about it, but for some reason, I kept that pin.

My first Disney pin

 

Upon arrival at The Boardwalk (a hotel I adore but can only afford if I'm with a parental unit and not actually paying for it), we were greeted by a cast member. I believe we were staying on the concierge level (also something I can not afford on my own). When you stay at a nicer hotel, especially when you're on the concierge level, the cast members take their time explaining everything to you and giving you tips and pointers to ensure that you have the most magical time possible.

Part of this magical experience hinged on taking part in a new Disney past time ("Disney past time" loosely translates as "ways you can spend even more money at Disney, despite the second mortgage you have on your house just to afford this trip in the first place") of pin trading.

She then handed everyone a special pin to "start our very own collection". She explained that pin collecting and trading was new, but that if we saw a cast member with a pin on, we could trade our pin for one of the cast member's pins. If we bought a pin, we could trade that pin, too.

And so it begins

 

I remember her telling us that this was going to be a huge thing in the future. Everyone would be pin trading like trading baseball cards in the past.

You know what I remember the most clearly about all of this? All I could think is that pin trading is the dumbest thing ever and there's no way it was going to be successful. No one cares enough about pins for it to be traded on a mass scale.

Well, we all know how wrong I was about that. Never doubt the Mouse. Oh, the irony. I'm now almost 40 and I had a minor panic attack that I would be missing a pin from from collection, had I forgotten to order it.

A Tale Of Two Pins. The End.

Well played, Disney. Well played.

I decided to Google original Disney pin trading (after I wrote all of this because, of course, it didn't occur to me to check it our beforehand. D'oh.), just to make sure I didn't make all of this up in my own mind. I think it's entirely possible that Disney is capable of implanting false memories into our brains while on property, but my story checks out. Disney introduced pin trading as part of the Millennium Celebration.

I have to take a moment to thank my research assistant, Bruiser, because he was oh so helpful.

 

So helpful.

 

 

 

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Monday Musings- A thing called "Race Amnesia"

I gotta say, I've been running a lot. I'm basically starting from scratch since I only ran 2 races last year- Star Wars Half in January (which is pretty much the most fun half marathon, ever) and the inaugural Wine & Dine Half of a Half (I jest. The W&D course was shortened due to weather) in November.

I signed up for the Gold Challenge 2016, which is to basically run 1000 miles this year. For a lot of people, this is a piece of cake. Some of you like to run and run and run, Forrest Gump style. I am not typically one of those people.

I joke about being lazy, drinking too much wine and binge watching Netflix (okay, okay, yes, that's partially true) but in reality, I work really hard at the horse thing. I get to the barn before sunrise in the cold (and heat in the summer) 5 days a week and bust my ass. Sometimes I do get pretty lazy about the running thing because just with work and riding, I'm gone from my house, 12-13 hours every day.

But maybe I just needed a break from running and racing. Star Wars was my 20th half marathon and the NYC marathon was my second full. Since 2014 and 2015 were really light racing years, that means I crammed a shit ton of racing and running into 2010-2013.

Why am I sharing all of these? Well, as you know, unless I'm on a treadmill, I can't bring Netflix with me on a run. That means I have to actually think about things. Ridiculous things like why am I obsessed with runDisney pins when I couldn't give two shits about pin trading or collecting?

Also, social media is a very powerful thing. My poor impressionable brain was bombarded during WDW Marathon Weekend. And although running a marathon is a pretty horrible, yet wonderful, yet excruciating, yet magical, and bipolar experience, I have myself convinced I want to do WDW Marathon 2017.

Bring on the Race Amnesia

 

 

Thanks to the On This Day feature on Facebook, I was reminded that I supposedly am never doing this again. We shall see.

 

I also swore off race challenges...but gah. Effing Dopey Challenge pictures EVERYWHERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Seriously, everywhere. I couldn't escape it. I could feel the Race Amnesia taking hold and a peaceful feeling came over me as I dreamily reminisced in a haze of twinkling pixie dust about the incredible memories I have of Goofy Challenge 2013, which in reality was really fucking hard..and blisteringly hot.

So, my dear fellow bloggarinos, I pose this question (And please bear in mind that I will most likely choose to take whatever route is most stupid):

1) Should I train, train, train in 2016 and put my 1000 miles into having a really good time for the WDW Marathon 2017 and then consider Dopey for 2018, which is an anniversary year for the marathon and Dopey, or

2) Should I realize that accomplishing 1000 miles in one year is a big thing for me and just do Dopey in 2017 while I'm used to doing so much running?

I'm really torn. And all of this running is making me do more thinking, which leads me to second guessing whatever I most recently decided. I'm leaning toward the first option because I doubt I have several Dopeys in me, so why not pick the anniversary year?

Plus, you know the 25th Marathon will be awesome.

And with that, I have 969.48 miles left to run in 2016.

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