I Ran In Sub 50s Temps!

You will probably laugh when I tell you how victorious I felt running in 49 degrees today!

A very windy 49 degrees - so probably more like 39 with the wind chill.

You're still laughing, aren't you?

This is what I looked like:

Earmuffs, gloves and a jacket!

You people in Michigan would probably consider this shorts and a tank weather!!

Anyway, I wanted to quickly tell you about my favorite new winter running product:

The Saucony Transcendence Jacket that I am wearing above.

I love this thing!  It is the first jacket I have found that is perfect for running in 40-50 degree temps -  the lowest temps I run in.  Other jackets start off feeling great - but by mile 2 I'm usually tying them around my waist.
 
However - I ran 11.5 miles in this jacket Saturday and 5 miles today without ever overheating!  It's made with a stretchy mesh material which keeps you warm in mildly cold temps while allowing heat to escape and not build up.

It has 2 zippered pockets on the outside (perfect for storing gloves), and 2 interior pockets for ???  (MP3 players or GUs maybe)

One of my favorite features is the thumbholes.  These are great when the temps aren't low enough for gloves (or you - ahem - forget them.)

And the windblocker-material panel on the front of the jacket really does keep your core nice and cozy!

It looks like Saucony (and Amazon) have just about sold out of this year's model - but if they bring this back next year, you might want to pick one up.

I know I will!

What is your favorite newest piece of running gear?

I Am A Running Wimp!

I must officially apologize to all my more northern friends who complained this summer about running in 75 degree heat.
I admit it.
I laughed at you!
But today,
when it was time to head out for my afternoon run - and the thermometer read 34 degrees -
I 
could
not
do
it!

Now, I know that for many of you, 34 degrees is a heat wave this time of year.  But for this born and raised Florida Girl, it feels like hell - if hell were a frozen tundra and not a fiery inferno!

So, I skipped my Tuesday run - but I did get in a 11.5 mile run this weekend in preparation for the Celebration Half Marathon in
(insert freak-out voice)
less than 3 weeks!
I feel so unprepared, because by this time prior to my last (and only) half marathon, I had already completed a 14 mile run.  Of course, I also spent the 3 weeks prior to that half marathon, loopy on drugs, lying on the sofa with my broken hand in a splint.  So.... maybe I'm not so unprepared after all!

Meanwhile, I had a birthday!   I turned 47 on the 2nd, and my daughter, Gracie, hit the big SEVEN on the 6th!  So, we had a shared birthday party on the 4th!

I received this little baby just in time for the unseasonable cold weather.

*adorable grandson not included!

After all my raving about a Keurig during our stay at the Hotel Indigo, now I have one of my very own!

On her actual Birthday, I took my Gracie to Build-a-Bear.  We've been doing that since her first birthday.

Age 1 

Age 2

Age 3

Age 4

Age 5

Age 6

Age 7!

It is kind of sad to see my baby getting so big!

Oh, and we got to meet my son, Caleb's girlfriend:

This is his first serious gf - and we are pretty sure she's a keeper!  I really liked her... plus, she used to run in college, so WIN!

Question: Are you running in these freezing temps?

2013 - It Came, I Fell, I Conquered!

To my 5 (previously) loyal followers I must express my deepest apologies for not keeping you up to date on all the exciting developments in my incredibly exciting life!  Let's just say that with all the tasks needing to be done between Thanksgiving and Christmas, blogging began to look more like a chore than a recreation, so I had to let it slide.  However, since I don't want any of you to miss one second of the drama and adventure that is my life, I have prepared this highly ego-centric and photo heavy recap of the last 6 weeks.  Enjoy!

1) I began December with another hand surgery.  This one was to free up more ligaments and clear scar tissue from the palm side of my hand.  Knowing that I would be unable to run (or use my right hand) for a week or so after surgery, I tried to do as much Holiday stuff as I could before.  And, oh yeah, I thought the time between Thanksgiving and surgery would be a great time to redo the floor in my den.  Using this technique. 
I.
am.
an.
idiot.
But the floor got done, and my surgery got done, and I managed to bank enough miles in the weeks beforehand to keep me on track for my 1,000 miles in 2013 goal.
Here's a picture of my hand post surgery.  It's gross!

2) Because of the hand surgery (which I only found out about mid Nov.), I had to miss my first planned half marathon - the Starlight Half Marathon in Palm Coast, Florida.  Instead, my husband and I turned that weekend into an early 27th Anniversary trip.  We stayed at the Hotel Indigo in Jacksonville.  What an amazing hotel!  I can honestly say that I have never stayed in a sub-$100 hotel room that was this unique and luxurious!  If you ever get a chance to stay in one, I can highly recommend!  Here are a few pics of the room:

Entrance - that's a Keurig coffee maker!

Hardwood floors and little touches of home.

Huge bathroom!

Huge shower!

 We ate out a Lebanese restaurant.  That was definitely a first for me!  We chose the appetizer sampler, and this is what we got:

I have NO IDEA what most of this stuff is, but it was good!

3) Then we traveled home (Pensacola, Florida) to celebrate my Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Their anniversary is on the same day as my husband and mine - December 20th, which is why we celebrated ours the week before.

  

Mom, Dad, me and my two brothers.

 After their party, 8 adults and 7 children all traveled to see the lights at Bellingrath Gardens.  Impressive light display and also highly recommended!

Grandkids enjoying the lights.

4) Christmas happened!  Now that my children are all growing up and moving away I treasure any time we can all get together.  I was blessed to have all my children home for Christmas Eve dinner.  Here we are, ready to say Grace before the buffet style dinner:

My youngest daughter and grandson.  This is as close to snow as we get!

6) Are you ready for the most exciting thing that has happened in the last 6 weeks?

?

?

?

I finally finished my 1,000 mile goal!

Saturday night I ran 10.9 miles and this is the spot where I officially hit the 1,000 mile mark!  Even in the dark and the rain I stopped and did my Happy Dance!

When I got home, my children shocked me with an all out PARTY!

They put this all together during my 2 hour run!

Even though it's been a couple of days, I still grin when I think about this.  My big victory run could not have been any better!  I began and ended the run in the very spot where I fell and broke my hand on Jan. 1st.   I overcame... I persevered... and I am overjoyed!

So.... If you still read this blog (ha!) tell me about your Holidays!

And, I hope to be back to my regularly scheduled programming!

First Ever 30 Mile Week! And Georgia Coast Rail-Trail (Woodbine) Review

I've been a bad, bad blogger lately.  I haven't been keeping up with my regular blogs, or writing my own.  I think it is the time of year.  It's not that I'm actually busier than normal... but my brain is.

• What time should I serve Thanksgiving dinner?
• What should I serve?
• Can I get away with ham again this year?
• Maybe I should ask someone else to make the turkey.
• Oh my goodness!  Only ___ shopping days till Christmas???
• How do I fit all this in my budget?
• Should I shop the Black Friday sales or get everything online?
• What in the world do I get my dad this year?
• What in the world do I get my mom?
• Why don't we just have a gift-free Christmas?  We could sit around and sing, eat and play games!  Think the kids would go for that???
• OH NO!  I haven't even thought about cards!
• Should I get a family photo?  one of the kids? just a regular card with no photo?
• Why don't I just send everyone facebook greetings instead?
• If I serve ham for Thanksgiving can I serve it for Christmas too?
• Uh-oh!  I think the lights are out on some of that garland for the stairs.
• Oh, please, please PLEASE let all the lights still work on the Christmas tree!
• I've gotta lose 5 lbs... how am I gonna lose 5 lbs with all these parties and dinners?
• What are we going to do for our anniversary?
• Wait!  I have surgery on the 4th?  So, I won't be able to use my hand for a week?
• I wonder if everyone would think me rude if I just checked into a hotel for the month of December.
• How would I afford that with all these gifts I have to buy?
• Wait... When did we decide was a good time for Thanksgiving dinner?

Play that on repeat day and night and that is pretty much my state of mind.  Somewhere in there, though, I manage to run.  It's the only way I know to stay sane!  And this week I ran

30.2 miles!

That is the first time I have ever run 30+ miles in a week!

As I have mentioned, I am trying to run 1,000 miles in 2013.  Since that fateful fall on Jan. 1st, I have spent all year playing catch up.  Finally, I am where I should be (897 miles!!!), but I face a third surgery on my hand next week and am trying to bank some miles for that.

Last week I was feeling bored with my regular running routes and so I went in search of a new one.  I discovered the Georgia Coast Rail Trail:

"The Georgia Coast Rail-Trail will be a 68-mile trail stretching from Kingsland north to Riceboro. Winding through lush green marshes, longleaf pines, and saw grass…crossing 43 beautiful tidal rivers and creeks…no trail in the nation can match it.

Spring 2010 marked the opening of the first 3.5-mile segment of the trail, at White Oak in Camden County, and another 2.75 miles in Woodbine was officially added to the trail in June 2011. The goal of the non-profit Georgia Coast Rail-Trail Inc. is to transform the entire abandoned CSX rail corridor into a 10-foot wide trail for walkers, cyclists, joggers, equestrians, and nature lovers."

I ran an out and back along the 2.75 mile trail in Woodbine Georgia.  The first 1.5 miles or so is... well... as straight as a rail (ha!) but the last mile+ is part of the Woodbine City  Greenway and is a little more meandering and scenic with cute little benches, light posts and decorative paths

The trail ended at the Satilla Riverwalk:

Which leads to the Waterfront Park with bathrooms!!!

I actually started and ended  at the park (since there was parking).  Total miles was about 5.8.  This was a great little running route and well worth the 13 mile drive.  I even returned 3 days later and let the kids ride their bikes while Brian and I ran.  It was great for that, since there are only 3 roads that you have to cross and, in such a small town, there was little to no traffic.  I highly recommend this trail if you are in the SE Georgia area!

I had such a great time "discovering" a new route, and it reminded me of one of the things I like most about running - exploration!  Lately, I've felt bogged down in the whole training regimen - Long Run, Tempo Run, Speed Run, Repeat.  And I have missed the simplicity of just running for the fun... for the excitement of discovery!  

Have you run in any new or different places lately?

Week 10 Review and Happy Veteran's Day!

I know, I know.  It's been a while.
I've been playing hookie from the World Wide Web.  (But, not from running!)

So much has been going on in the last couple of weeks:

My 44 yo brother fell 25 feet from a deer stand and punctured his lung, crushed his clavicle and a bunch of ribs, and suffered a concussion.  Somehow he managed to drive himself 10 miles to my parent's house before collapsing!  We are so thankful to still have him with us!

My grandson turned 2!

I threw him a little birthday party and got to hear,
"Mimi, I love you!"
for the first time ever!
Be still my beating heart!

Then there has been the general hoopla that this time of year tends to create:  Decorating, cleaning, mending and home improvements in preparation for the holiday season.

Yeah - I'm full of excuses!

But the training goes on, and this was the breakdown of week # 10

Days running: 4

Total miles: 26

Long Run: 11 

Runs without music: 3

I learned a few things this week

1. It really does take 1 day per mile to recover from a race!  I was surprised by how sluggish I still felt a whole week after my last race.  My mid-week speed and tempo workouts were way off my normal pace, but by the weekend things were starting to fall back into place.
2. It can feel very freeing to run without music!  I'm not sure what happened this week, but I was just tired of listening to music while I ran - so I went cord free!  Well, not entirely cord free, since I ran with my earbuds stuffed in my bra for my entire 11 mile long run!  I just never felt the need for them - the thoughts in my head were loud enough!
3. Sometimes, the biggest battle is just getting dressed!  This was one of those weeks when I simply did not want to be a runner.  I wanted to be a couch potato.  I longed to be a couch potato!  But, somehow I tricked myself into running every time with these 6 simple words:
   
   "Just put on your running clothes!"
   
   I'd tell myself that I didn't have to actually run - just get dressed.  Of course, once the clothes were on I was going to run!

Happy Veteran's Day to all the wonderful men and women out there who have served!!!