Back on the Blog

So...not only am I signed up to do the same half marathon as last year (Vermont City - a great race), but in an insane moment, I thought it might be "fun" to participate in the 100 on 100 Relay. That's 100 miles on Vermont Route 100. It's a six-person relay, but still -- each person winds up running about 16 miles in three separate legs.

This motivated me enough to start speed training today - I did four quarter-mile repeats and it actually wasn't too bad, in spite of the fact that I've had a cough for the past six weeks.

one-mile warm-up: 11:32
2:31
2:27
2:28
2:18 (no idea why this one was so much faster)
and a half-mile cool down.

This is not significantly slower than March 2008 - plus, I have the treadmill at a 0.5 incline now, to try to better simulate "real" conditions. Even though it really doesn't. Still, it is encouraging to think I might not be starting over completely!

I have only 14 weeks until the half, so I'd better get a move on. Time to seek out a training program and try to stick with it!

Brrrrr.

Starting to get cold here. I think the treadmill and my DVD player will be my new mode of keeping active when it's freezing or rainy. I am trying to run >4 miles each time I go out.

Unscheduled Break

I haven't been running since Friday, when I hurt my hip. Hip feels better but I have some GI thing that's keeping me close to home. Yuck.

Things I Have Considered Purchasing With My Amazon.com Gift Certificate

- running shorts
- books
- Wii games
- a violin (no, I don't know how to play)
- crystallized xylitol
- mint shampoo
- rainboots
- earphones, because the ones that came with my iPod fall out all the time

Weight Weight, Don't Tell Me

After running all summer, I've lost zero pounds. NONE.

But my body fat has dropped by 5%.

So I must have lost fat and gained muscle...or water...or something other than fat.

I can't decide if I'm happy about this or not. It certainly could be worse.

Still Here!

Not that anyone is reading this but me....

I'm still running but pretty much have bagged the idea of doing the half marathon in two weeks. I ran 8 miles one weekend at the end of August, and 6 miles on Labor Day weekend. Since then, 4 or 5 miles (usually 4) about 4 times a week has been it. And I am okay with that. I just don't want to run 13.1 miles, or even 10. It may be time to find something else to keep my endorphins flowing, in addition to running.

Keeping on Track but not Keeping Track

I've lost track of my monthly mileage...oops. I can recreate it with the Garmin sometime. I did run 6 miles this past weekend, and it felt really good. I did 4 miles today and felt great - under 11-minute miles on average. It was cool today, only about 60, and that's my favorite running weather.

Still not motivated, but I'm faking it until I make it, as they say.