16 posts tagged “running”
I purchased a disk of high resolution photos from the professional photographers at the Grand Rapids Marathon. I figured that was more cost effective than paying $18 for a print.
Friends and family log in to see a video I made featuring all of the photos. I can send the images via email to any of you who may want them. Or I can put them all on a disc for you if you want to make a full calendar featuring me. (Kidding!)
So I took the last two weeks off from running after doing the marathon. In part to rest and in part because I had been running non-stop since April and everyone needs a break now and then.
Today it was warm and sunny (60!), so I went out for a thirty minute run. Felt good. I wore my long sleeve tech Grand Rapids marathon shirt. It is really nice.
The picture above is from a neighbor's yard. I thought that the scarecrow looked so happy and friendly.
This is a shadow box that I made today. (Well, I put the stuff in it, I didn't actually make the box).
It is my bib, medal, and silver metallic warming blanket from the Grand Rapids Marathon. I also added part of a poster that they gave away free at the expo.
Tomorrow I am going to work on two collages: one for the Chicago Marathon and one for the Grand Rapids Marathon. I think that they will be very different in tone and colors.
I have been trying to figure out what my next goal should be running-wise.
Should I run another marathon? (Eugene and Anchorage are both intriguing for different reasons)
Should I train for a half marathon and try to set a new PR? (There is one in Springfield in the spring and I enjoyed the 5k I ran there in 2005).
Should I consider doing a triathlon? (I trained fairly seriously for one in 2006, but never got comfortable with the swimming).
I can't decide. What do you all think?
PS
Did you see how I did not mention the cats at all? It was difficult.
(Also posted at Princess Runner)
The official race report is now up over Princess Runner.
Friends and family should log in to see some additional pictures below.
For those of you who do not read my running blog, I have posted my full recap of Sunday's events.
Check it out at: http://princessrunner.com/?p=122
My mom and I ran a 10 mile race here in Illinois. I thought it was a lot of fun, but she did not seem to be enjoying herself all that much. I thought that she did great! If you are friends or family, be sure to log in to see some photos of the race. Thanks so much to Prince E who once again served as the excellent event photographer.
Prince E and I participated in our first running race together yesterday. My mom and sister also came to town to run with us. It is was also my first race under my new name, so technically I set a personal record because I (with the new name) never ran this race before.
The race was the 8k Shamrock Shuffle, which goes throughout downtown. This year they increased the number of runners to 30,000! It was unseasonably warm yesterday (at least 75 by race end, high of 80 at some point that day) and I really wish they would have added another water stop.
Since our training kind of fell off toward the end there, Prince E and I decided to run as much as we could and take long walking breaks. We just wanted to finish. We were quite discouraged by the Chicago Police Officer that came up behind those of near the back and kept repeating "if you are going to be walking and not running, you have to get on the sidewalk, because the course will be closed soon." She was mean and not friendly and not encouraging. In reality, the course was not being closed as she passed, she was just being pesky.
We really were going as fast as we could and we were by no means the last of the group, so I don't know why she kept yelling at all of us. Someone yelled "when was the last time you ran 5 miles!" Then another women went up to the car and was yelling and gesticulating, although I couldn't make out what she said. I did hear the woman yell out the police car number. I guess she threatened to report her for being a bully.
Despite the heat, our poor training, and Prince E's asthma acting up (thankfully he had brought his inhaler), we did manage to finish about 10 minutes faster that I had predicted. We were tired and crabby afterward, made more so by the fact that my mom and sister failed to stick to the AFTER RACE PLAN, we had so carefully devised, and we had to end up waiting for them to get to the parking garage. It would not have been such a big deal if we hadn't just run nearly five miles in the hot sun and were tired and crabby (did I say that already?)
After we got back to the burbs and went to lunch, we were all in much better spirits. I think the people coming in to the restaurant in their Sunday best got a kick out of the four of us still in our running clothes.
I was glad that my mom and sister came to town for the race. This was the longest race either of them had completed and I was proud of them both for beating me. Next year though, they better stick to the plan, or we might leave them in the city!
Prince E and I are in training for the Shamrock Shuffle. By "in training" I mean we ran once so far and have a schedule that indicates we shall be running more in the future. The schedule calls for cross-training twice a week. I gave Prince E a belated Christmas gift yesterday (I had to save my pennies and this is how long it took me).* Now I can guarantee you that we will have no problems completing the cross-training portion of our schedule.
Any guesses on what I got him?
(kiki: no fair guessing because you already know)
* I took one of the leftover Christmas gift bags and put a note on it that said "Sorry I forgot to deliver this one! Love, Santa." Inside the gift bag was a clue leading him to where the present was located. The gift bag sat on the coffee table for over an hour and he didn't even notice it. I had to put it on the couch for him to see it. Maybe that says something about the messy state of our apartment that he didn't even notice a Christmas gift bag sitting on the table?
I went for a short walk/run this afternoon, taking advantage of another day of springlike temperatures (40s; this time with SUN!). Along the way, I saw this leftover of someone's New Year's Eve celebration, which apparently took place in front of a church.
Since it was sunny, I decided to take a couple of new photos of our new (used) Toyota Matrix. We are still thinking of a name. I wanted it to be female, since Mr. Car (the Civic) is a mister. I thought of "Trixie," but that name is not strong enough sounding for the ruggedness that is the Matrix. We spent about 15 minutes trying to come up with something using the letters in "Toyota Matrix," but nothing really struck my fancy.
