This morning I met up with Kim for a long run on the Dora and New River Trails. We haven’t been able to meet up since an 8 mile jaunt on the Huckleberry at the end of June. It was great to catch up! It was raining when I got up, but the rain had stopped by the time we headed out and it was unbelievably cool outside- low 60’s! Then halfway through our run the rain started again and it made up for the first half of our run being rain-free. My hair always turns into a birds nest when I run in the rain.

Not looking forward to trying to get a comb through that… Speaking of birds, I have a baby bird update!

The last time I showed you pictures of the nests in our hanging flower baskets, the baby birds were either just hatching and not very baby bird-looking or they were still in their eggs. They’re a little more bird-like now!

So demanding.

The one below kind of looks like it’s one large baby bird with an afro, but it’s actually one on the left with it’s mouth open and two on the right asleep.

Last night I watched the movie ‘Pitch Perfect’. I loved this movie. Sometimes movies and TV shows like this are kind of hit or miss for me (for example, I do not like the show ‘Glee’). But this movie made me laugh and I enjoyed all the sporadic and non-sporadic singing.

And since this is a running blog, of course I have to include this:

Now I understand all those t-shirts I’ve seen floating around the internet. Finally back in the loop.

Update from the decision I was trying to make yesterday: Barry and I decided to forgo the lawnmower racing in favor of the bull riding. We will be headed to the fair this evening for a bull riding date night! Hopefully it won’t be rainy!

From our last bull riding date night in May

What was your workout today? Who’s off to the races??

Have you seen ‘Pitch Perfect’? What did you think?

If you’re attached what was your last date night? If you’re single what’s the most recent fun thing you did?

The August 2013 issue of Running Times has a feature article on Sabrina Little, who recently set an American record in 24-hour running by running over 150 miles! She is the first American woman to surpass the 150 mile mark. I can’t even fathom running that far. In the article they detail a typical week of training for her:

Her weekend really blows my mind. Seventeen miles on Saturday and a marathon by herself on Sunday. I am in awe. I wish I could eat miles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe someday…

I decided to do my 3 mile run in the morning before work today. Are you sensing a pattern? I chose to stay indoors and run on my new treadmill, mainly because I wanted to play with my new toy again. We’ll just ignore the fact that it’s only 60 degrees outside (but still 100% humidity).

Now I can take the traditional shoe picture on the treadmill, so that you will know my feet were there.

I also have another reason for doing my run in the morning. This week the New River Valley Fair is going on and Barry and I are planning a date night! We still haven’t decided whether to go tonight or tomorrow night, so I wanted to get my run done just in case.

Tonight’s attraction is the ARMA lawnmower racing. Now you may be picturing a bunch of guys on standard ride-on mowers racing around a track, but that’s not quite it. These guys go fast!

Tomorrow night’s attraction is bull riding. You know I love me some rodeo! Although it will be hard to go to a rodeo where I don’t get to hang out in the VIP.

Decisions, decisions….

Lawnmower racing or bull riding?

Have you ever gone to your local or state fair?

What do you think about Sabrina Little? Can you fathom running over 150 miles in one go? Or a 24-hour run?

As you already know, because I don’t talk about anything else (this is a running blog), I’m doing this marathon training thing. After debating between two training plans, I ended up going with one that was in the July 2013 issue of Runner’s World.

In the past I have always used the same format for my training plans which looked like this:

The training plan I’m currently following is different from anything I’ve ever done. It also changes a bit throughout the plan. The first four weeks are low mileage on four runs per week, the middle seven weeks build gradually with five runs per week, and the final 9 weeks are higher mileage on four runs per week. Here’s how the weeks break down:

Pretty snazzy illustrations, huh? So far the training has been going just fine. I’m currently in the midst of week 4. Some days it feels kind of weird to be running on a day I used to take a rest day or to cross train on a day that was usually a running day. But I think it’s good to mix things up.

Breaking out of your normal routine can spice things up, while helping you improve your fitness. I’ll be running more miles per week throughout training, which is also new to my usual running routine.

Varying your normal workout routine also keeps your body guessing. Our bodies like routine and like to adapt. By mixing up your normal routine you’re forcing your body to change. At least that’s what Jillian Michaels is always screaming about. I don’t want to plateau and have my workouts become ineffective. It’s also going to prevent boredom.

I have mentioned before that this 20 week training plan is the longest one I have ever followed. I think having a new pattern to follow, along with that pattern changing every few weeks, is going to help break up some of the monotony of training. I also threw in a few races along the way for fun and to help fight getting mentally burned out.

Hokie Half!!

How do you mix up your workout routine?

Do you have a standard format you always use when you’re training for a race?

Do you ever use races as training runs?

Look what arrived today! Can you hear the choir of angels singing? Oh just me? Okay, then.

Unfortunately, I could not get the truck driver to bring the 300 lb. box any further than our front walk. Apparently they are only responsible for unloading boxes from the truck itself, so he was being nice by bringing it down the walk. Luckily it did not rain during the day, which was my main concern since I definitely couldn’t move the box until Barry got home this evening.

Naturally I went for my 3 mile run on my brand new treadmill (after we got the thing put together). Never mind that it is only 79 degrees outside today and the fact that I usually dread having to run on a treadmill. How could I not try my new toy out? Side note: It’s funny how I can both dread and love this piece of equipment at the same time.

The run went pretty well… I mean, it’s still a treadmill. It did feel pretty cushiony, thanks to the four sets of cushioning along the bottom. Ultimately, that was the deciding factor. I watched Jeopardy while I ran, which was fun. I may not get all of the answers right, but I always have an answer for the question. Or a question for the answer, I guess.
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In typical fashion for me, I managed to burn the outside of my elbow on the toaster this morning. You may be wondering how one manages to burn ones elbow on a toaster. First, you have to be very klutzy talented. Secondly, you have to reach up in the cabinet above the still hot toaster and then somehow jam your elbow into the toaster slot as you lower your arm from reaching into said cabinet.

By the way, have you ever tried to take a picture of the outside of your own elbow? It’s no small task.
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Last week I mentioned the need for bathroom breaks while running and shared that I have needed a break on every run I’ve done since July 1 (except the 5K race on July 4). First of all, I can tell you that the streak is still alive (Is anyone else thinking of the song ‘The Streak’ by Ray Stevens? Just me again? Alright.). I came across this article about GI distress while running and 8 tips on how to deal with it. In the article, they mentioned that it is estimated that “60% of all runners experience bathroom issues while running.” I know a few of you mentioned you have also been dealing with “bathroom issues” since it has gotten hotter outside, so I thought this article might be useful!



Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who deals with these issues when they are actually happening to me (i.e. as I’m crouched behind a bush somewhere). So to make myself, and maybe some of you, feel better, here is a video of a lady getting caught on camera relieving herself in a yard next to some guy’s house. The part that cracks me up the most is when the guy who’s house she’s pooping next to calls it “malicious fecal distribution.”

For the record, I have never gone in someone’s yard or near someone’s house. Just felt the need to clarify that…

It’s really not funny, but did you laugh about that video? I couldn’t help but to laugh.

What klutzy move have you made recently that caused you injury?

Today was supposed to be a cross training day. Technically my training schedule calls for Tuesdays and Thursdays to be rest days throughout my training, but I decided to make one a rest day and one a XT day each week. I prefer Tuesdays, so that I can use Thursday as a rest day before long runs. However, today I was having one of those days where all you want to do is curl up on a ball on the couch. Since my dad reads my blog, I’ll leave it at that, but you know what I mean. So I opted for a rest day. Instead, I will tell you about the dinner I fixed this evening. Be forewarned, I am not very good at photographing food.

Oh and you remember all of the bird eggs I have in my hanging flower baskets right now? Well I happened to go out to water them last night right as some of the eggs in one of the baskets were hatching! Say hello to Spiky and Spiky #2.