Just Plodding Along

 Pictures from Lost Dutchman Half : Me and this guy look like we are going to die. And that form......ugh am I running or power walking. Coming through the wall (this was really for the marathoners but we got to run through too). I look like I am about to get run over by the guy in yellow behind me. Check out those mountains. So pretty! Hardest effort to date. (2 hour finish you will be mine.....if I do speed work and learn to be less of a baby.) Me and A and our awesome medals. You know someone is a true friend if they will stand this close to you after you have run hard for 13.1 miles. Pictures from Arizona Half This thumbs up is a total lie. Nice race, bad attitude. Probably never been so happy to be done with a race in my life. Once again these are the 'good' photos. I have decided running is not a very pretty sport. But looking at these makes me excited for my next half! A week and a half off of running and I kind of miss it. I m...

February was kind of a bust mileage wise. Only ran 57.3 miles in February. Of course even with leap day this is a shorter month, yes...yes that is the reason. Have run 138.1 miles this year. That is pretty good. Kind of want to see if I can pick it up and hit 1000 miles this year. A goal to consider. Pounds lost in Feb.  = 4 = solid effort (I don't even want the  glitter shoes anymore, but still think I deserve a prize if I ever actually hit my goal weight). Half marathons run in Feb.= 3 Sedona 1/2 Lost Dutchman 1/2 Arizona 1/ 2 Medals obtained in February = 3 Half marathons where I acted like a punk butt: 1 Goals for March: Figure out what the pain in my calf is about and fix it. Work on stretching and balancing my hips. I need to get better about stretching. If I don't bad things happen. Take another week off of running and spend it swimming and pool running to let my calf/hip feel better Continue working on gaining...

This morning I woke up at 5:45 to drive over to Goodyear for the inaugural  Arizona Half Marathon . Some friends of mine that live in Tempe let me crash in their guestroom. It was fun to be able to hang out with them. The race was located in Estrella . I woke up with a bad attitude and did not want to go run. I briefly thought about just staying in bed, making breakfast for my friends and driving home but I managed to get myself out the door. On the way I dropped by Circle K to get some beverage. I love gas station coffee. So many choices, tons of creamer all for around $1. Can't go wrong. Since the race was kind of in the middle of nowhere I just picked up my number this morning at the Starpointe Residents Club. The club area was located across the street from a Safeway so there was plenty of parking for everyone. This was also the start and finish area.  Because I had registered way back in October I also got a bag and a hat along with the race t-shirt....

On Saturday I am running the Arizona Half in Goodyear. (back to back races-I know I am a bad-ass....or crazy). There have been some difficulties getting this race together. First it was supposed to be in Scottsdale. And then there was no course for awhile. And now it is in Estrella (community, neighborhood, I don't know). But the course is flat and looks pretty on their Facebook page so we shall see how it goes. I am not sure what goals to set for this race. On one hand it is supposed to be flat and fast which means I could push it again and see if I can finish in 2:07 or 2:06. On the other hand I am tired, my leg is still wonky and sore, this week is stressful and next week I have my PhD exams (ahhhh panic attack). So part of me just wants to run the thing at whatever pace I feel like get my medal, free bagel and take a nap and continue trying to not freak out about my exams. I am also planning to take a week or two off of running to let my leg recover after t...