10 Miles, Unplugged

Last night I ran home from work.

The back-roads route from my office to my house is about 10 miles. This was mostly on-road running, so I turned my iPod off for my own safety. BB unplugged!

10 miles...no music...massive hills...I was just waiting for the bonk.

But the bonk NEVER CAME! Dare I say, the run was easier without music?!

Maybe it was because I could focus completely on my stride and breathing rather than imagining I'm on American Idol and Beyonce is my star mentor (my rendition of "Deja Vu" gets rave reviews from the judges...even Simon!).

Here's where things get weird...When I'd start to get a little bored, I'd just YELL something (there was no one on these roads but little-crazy-old me)...

Here's a sampling of what I can remember yelling to the open road:

- "Who hits a GOOSE?" (road kill comment)

- "Hill...HILL!"

- "And I...was...RUNNIN'!" (Forrest Gump quote)

- "Don't wanna pull a HAMMY!" (Cable Guy quote)

- "LOUD NOISES!" (40 Year Old Virgin quote)

- "Six triple eight seven four five...uh uh uh..." (Incorrect song lyric)

- "AAAAAALL MY SINGLE LADIES!" (Correct song lyric)

So. Very. Weird...I know. So weird.

But it worked! This kept me really entertained...every time I would start to think about how much further I had to go or how tough a hill was, I'd yell something random and make myself laugh.

Hey, even us slow-runners have some tricks up our sleeves.

Weekend Notes

- This weekend was a huge bust...6 miles on Saturday, and nada Sunday...The weather was nasty and I just couldn't get myself going

- I struggled with the infamous "all or nothing" mentality that so many runners encounter, and ultimately decided that a couple days of rest was completely normal and acceptable

- Actually went to the gym...and I still hate that place. The lady on the machine next to me was decked out in head-to-toe Under Armour cold gear-- in a sweltering gym. It just boggles my mind

- My mom got some new shoes (a pair of Brooks, whoop whoop!) and she will soon be on the path to 5k greatness

- I hate that March Madness gives non-sports fans an excuse to try to talk basketball. Just...don't. It's ok. Fill out a bracket-- the less you know about basketball, the better chance you will have in winning the office pool. But please don't try to talk to me about how you are really rooting for Gonzaga this year. My head will explode.


Ok, brand new week...LET'S DO THIS!

Saturday Forecast:

IT GON RAIN!


Thanks, Ollie.

Looks like the Trash Bag rides again!

Running Playlists and Why I'm Gross

*** A note of clarification about my previous post ***

I hope you all will still want to be my interweb friends after I admit this but...that moisture on my t-shirt after the run was 100% sweat, not rain.

It had stopped raining well before I started my run.

GROSS, I KNOW!

*** Back to the regularly scheduled (totally hygienic) post ***

Happy Friday!

I'd like to get in 12-13 miles tomorrow and maybe try a new route...

That means a good majority of my day will be spent cross-referencing Map-My-Run and Google Street View, trying to determine roads where I will be least likely to get run down by a van. Hooray!

I was perusing(creeping on) forum posts on Run the Ville about running playlists and I got to thinking about my sad little iPod.

During my last 4-5 long runs, I've listened to Kelly Clarkson or Lady Gaga. Exclusively.

Their new CDs were all I needed to get me through a run. Seriously-- they are that good.

But, I'm open to some new music...hook a sister up!

What's on your running playlist right now?

Rocking the Trash Bag

It rained all day yesterday. I planned on running after work if the rain wasn't too heavy, so I packed a poncho/rain jacket thingy just in case.

By the time I hit the road the rain had subsided.

5.5 miles later and a tropical habitat had formed in my poncho. I think a toucan fluttered out of the hood at one point.

I looked like a trash-bag with legs. Hubs new truck looks slick!

Seriously?


Seriously.

Hubs asked me why I'd want a picture of my drenched t-shirt...because it makes me look hardcore!

Now that I've sufficiently grossed you out, have a GREAT Thursday!

Chasing the "Tomb Raider" Dream

I was an anthropology major for, like, a nano-second in undergrad.

Why? Because I thought I could be "Tomb Raider," that's why.

You know-- traveling the world and collecting artifacts, swinging on vines to avoid explosions, shooting 9mms with surprising accuracy...fighting grizzly bears. Basically, stuff like that.

When I couldn't find Tactical Bear Combat 101 in UK's course catalog, I ditched that plan and switched my major to English. File that one under "Gross Misunderstanding of Anthropology."

Six years later and I find this: Adventure Racing at Red River Gorge.

Wait...What is that sound? It sounds like all my wildest dreams COMING TRUE!

Cycling, trekking, rappelling, paddling...this is as close to "Tomb Raider" as it's gonna get!

There are only a few things that stand in my way: I can't mountain bike, can't rappel, can't read a compass...haven't tried, but probably can't paddle too well.

Hmmm...looks like fun...or not.

Looks like I'm putting my Tomb Raider dream on ice once again.

I do, however, want to give trail running a try. There are some amazing state parks in Kentucky, and it's always good to mix it up in training.

My quads burn just thinking about it.

Anyway, I ran 8.5 miles last night and felt alright. Running uphill with the wind in your face is pretty demoralizing, but I kept pushing. My legs were numb for the first 3 miles, which is never fun.

When I found myself in doubt, I'd think "BB...I can't believe you are actually even considering a marathon if you can't man-up and do this run RIGHT NOW."

It's a very effective mantra, to say the least. I broke through the mental barrier and felt really fresh. Miles 6-8 were the easiest miles I've run in a long time.

Running is so weird sometimes.

These are a few of my fav-o-rite things...

Recently, my obsession with purses has been replaced by my obsession with running gear. Now instead of splurging on a Coach bag at the outlet mall, I buy running gear en masse!

Poor Hubs. I literally apologize to him for spending all of his hard-earned money every couple of days.

Here's what I can't run without:

I run in Brooks Defyance 2 and I love them...It was the first time I picked out a pair of running shoes for reasons outside of how they looked! They "corrected" my natural pronation that was aggravating my knee and hip, so basically they saved my running-life.

Nike Tempo shorts are my current item-obsession. Built-in liner, key pocket, perfect length = a great pair of running shorts. I never really paid much attention to my shorts until I started to run 4+ miles. Heck, after 1 mile Soffe shorts feel like sand-paper underpants.

Target's C9 Champion Sport Bras are the stuff. I know lots of women struggle with finding the perfect sports bra, but I have had no problems with this brand. Sure, I could spend $40 and get a Nike bra that is moisture wicking AND can brew me coffee, but for the money C9 is in a league of it's own.

Goody No-Slide Headbands are essential pieces in my running arsenal. I have a lot of hair...and it's very curly. XTREME curls. And nothing keeps the frizz at bay like these headbands, which were are available at drug-stores are Targets and Walmarts (oh my).

The Camelbak Charm says: Welcome to the Upper-Echelon of Runner Nerd-dom. I tried a hydration belt at first and it just flat annoyed me to death. I was wary about the Camelbak, but once I tried it out I was hooked. I think this model is 4 lbs. at it's heaviest, but I totally forgot it was there. The pocket it just big enough for a cell phone, car key and some Shot Blox. A must have for long runs.

So...what else is out there?

Specifically, has anyone found a brand/style of shirt or singlet for the upcoming summer months?