A Run and a Plunge for the New Year

What a great way to start the new year! I started my morning off with a nice, easy 6-mile run through the Metroparks with the temps in the high 40s followed by the Polar Bear Plunge sponsored by the Cleveland Triathlon Club with my daughter, Megan. While I enjoyed running in 40 degree temps, let me tell you that swimming in that kind of weather is a whole other kind of torture. It was so cold that the shock just made you laugh out loud. In true polar bear style, both my daughter and I made sure our whole body was submerged and then we ran back to our warm clothes with incredible speed.

Happy New Year and may you have a happy and healthy 2012!

Can I Seriously Be Tired?

Running is becoming more regular again. You would think this would be good news, but I have turned into THAT runner who is training for their very first 5k. You know the runner - the one who thinks a long run is the race distance. The runner who has tight quads from a 3-miler. The runner who returns to the house wanting a rubdown like an underperforming boxer! Jeez, can this have happened to me? I have a 4-miler on tap this weekend - let the whining begin! Now where did I put my icy hot?!

Today's guilty pleasure: Pitbull. Great music for running. Best of all, the librarian asked me, "Is Pitbull one word or two?" Yes, I get my music from the library. I'm THAT runner, too.

Getting Back My Mojo

At the risk of sounding very Austin Powers-ish (yeah, Baby), I am getting my mojo back...my running mojo, that is. I have now run (or is it ran) three times and everything just feels right. I've been following the schedule outlined by my physical therapist, which requires only 24 minutes of running for the first two weeks on alternating days using a run/walk formula, which changes with each run. I started out walking 4 minutes, running 2 minutes 4 times. I'm now at 2 minutes walking, 4 minutes running and should be hitting one minute walking with 10 minutes running by the weekend. I find that I'm running comfortably, with no knee pain. My legs feel more engaged so I'm guessing that means less stress on the knees. Love love love getting back to what I know and enjoy!

So, really, Boston Athletic Association? You have to break my spirit by making the qualifying times THAT MUCH HARDER. And, even if the sun shines just right and the rainbows come out with their pot of gold, and I actually qualify...I will be one of the slower finishers. Based upon the graduated scale, I don't have a shot in hell of acceptance. But that's ok. I'll knock off the State of Massachusetts by running the Cape Cod Dunkin Donuts marathon. I'm sure the post-race food will be amazing!

A Run and a Ride

I felt my "old self" this weekend. Saturday I worked in a 30 minute ride on the trainer. Sunday, I ran. Yep, a short one - 3 miles. Snow and ice be damned, but I managed to enjoy myself. Even with the 20 degree weather, I still love to run this time of the year. There's a section of my run where I get to look down and see the frozen river that leads into Lake Erie. Only a northern girl could find that such a great sight to see. I also ran past my favorite running store and saw their store window. Santa, I've been a very good girl and I would like the gray zip-up jacket on the right :)

I Heart You, Miami!

Wednesday was my birthday. Since I am over 21 (and can drink legally) and over 25 (and can rent a car), birthdays are just another day, but with red velvet cupcakes (my ABSOLUTE favorite). But this one is different - THIS one was wayyyy different. THIS one included a trip to Miami with just the husband. The short story: I got in a nice run along the Miami shoreline, a deep tissue massage, a good meal, great drinks, met a fantastic bartender and had shots with some interesting characters, a missed early AM yoga class (damn you, Patron XO), a nice walk on South Beach, a tattoo, and topped off the evening with 10pm room service for dinner we almost missed. A mere 48 hours in Miami and a lifetime of giggles and memories with the husband! As if 60 degree weather wasn't absofuckinglutely wonderful enough, both Greg and I scored upgrades to first class on Continental! Now back to mountains of snow ... blech!