I Didn't Have a Camera By My Side

This morning I went for my first run since Wednesday. I met up with some girls from my running group at Percy Warner to run the nice and hilly 5.8 at 6 AM this morning. The sun wasn't up and the moon was shining bright. We were off and it was still dark. I remember coming to a break in the trees and it suddenly seemed light outside. After we turned a corner after the very last hill I suddenly struck with the sunrise. It was amazing and totally picture worthy.

A great run to start my Friday.

After work. I wanted to hit up the Lululemon showroom, before they closed before the new store opens. I treated myself to an early birthday present of running pants and yoga pants.

Also, I treated myself to the Williams-Sonoma donut cake pan and fall pumpkin bread pan. I can't wait to make some goodies using theses!

With A Little Help From My Friends

Let me first start out by saying I am independent to a serious fault and I hate asking for help.

So last night was run #12. "The Nasty". Just under 6 miles and a hilly 6 miles at that. It was warm, some would even say hot.

I finished in just under an hour.

I had a glass of gatorade and 2 ice pops.

I changed clothes and went to the bar. Instead of beer I decided to only drink water.

I had been there for almost an hour and I could tell something just wasn't right. I was ready to go, but I was waiting on a friend who said she would be there in 15 minutes.

And between the time she called and when she got there, I started feeling light headed and it was pretty obvious to myself and even to my friends that something was not right.

Things started to get blurry and I couldn't hear well. Before I fell, they made sure I sat down on the ground and put my head between my knees. Before I knew it, there was a small group around me. Someone had gone and gotten cold paper towels. Water was readily available. And chips and queso had been ordered, so I could eat something. Embarrassed would be an understatement. I just practically fainted in a bar.

While I absolutely hate asking for help, I am so, so thankful for my friends who where there to help with out even asking. And they made sure I got home ok, by following me home. Next time I am not going to let things get to this point, and I am going to ask for help in advance. I think I can apply this to other aspects of my life as well.

So, thank you Sara, Carmen, Dawn Joy, and Lindsey for all of your help last night!

And before you ask, I had eaten breakfast, lunch, and a small luna bar before the run. I also had been drinking plenty of water through out the day. I am not sure what caused it, but I made a doctors appointment today, to make sure everything is ok.

Ben Does Life

For all you runners, runners in training, and aspiring runners, watch this.

Ben sure does do life now.

There Are Bad Times, But That's Ok

So today marked week two of fall speed sessions. Some mornings I am awake before my alarm goes off because I am so ready to run. This morning was not one of those mornings. I wanted to be anywhere but running on a track at 5:45 AM. I knew the warm up and I knew my times, but that didn't keep me from doubting my abilities.

My two mile warm up went well. I averaged about 10 minute miles. But during the entire warm up, I kept questioning myself and my abilities to run a good race in December. That is 2+ months away folks. I wondered if I would be able to beat my first half marathon time from April (I'm competitive with myself, what can I say?). I also thought that my time from April had to be wrong because I feel like right now there is NO way I could sustain 9 minute miles for 13.1 miles right now, how could I have done it in April?

But I really need to accept that my race in April and my race in December are two entirely different races. In fact no two races will ever be the same. So my training methods for each race will be different as well. I didn't do any speed work in April, but I am working on that now.

So back to the work out. The actual speed session itself was 800 meters at a pace I used a chart to find based on my 1 mile time trial from the end of last speed sessions and my most recent 5k. There is a lot of science behind that pace that I am not even going to pretend to know about. All I know is that I needed to run 800 meters in 4:04 and follow it up at 400 meters taking 4:04 to complete the final lap. And then do it 5 times total. Easy enough?

YES! I was amazed how I was completely beat after running a half a mile and then 1/4 mile cool down. It was definitely easier than last weeks workout of mile repeats. So I probably should have done 6 total since I wasn't too exhausted, but I did have to go to work today too.

Overall, I was pretty please with my workout and my abilities. Looking forward to next weeks speed session!

LOVE! LOVE!

What more is there?

I know some pretty great people. I don't talk to them every day, but when I do see them, we start up just where we left off. It's my wish that everyone has some people like this in their life.

94 and 95 you made my heart happy.