M.I.A. Much?

I've been amazingly mia and will eventually update why but the long and short of it is ...

a) I've almost definitely found the law school I'm attending! Yay!
b) I'm the least consistent runner ever.
c) It's very hot in NYC right now.

Tried to do 6 miles this morning, managed to eke out 3. I should have picked a spring marathon ...

Oh, that's right, I'm running a marathon ...

Am I the Goldilocks of shoes?

Ran 5 miles in 58:49 which is HUGE for me. Very, very exciting. However, itty bitty problem. I get the absolute worst blisters on my feet when i run inside. Like, can't take another step kind of blisters. I hate thinking that it's my shoes because I just got them for Christmas, but i think they're too big. I'm heading to a running store tomorrow (um, am i hardcore enough for a running store? I think not) to see what they say. Also I signed up for the Scotland 10k in Central Park next weekend. Eeep!

Beware the Ides of March!

Things I need to learn not to forget when I run includes a watch. Did 3 miles on the treadmill on Wednesday and it was PHENOMENAL. I usually don't like running on the treadmill, because I tend to get bored so I start playing with the speed which inevitably means I go to fast and have to stop. But this time, when I started getting winded, I just kept going. Ended up doing my first mile at 5, my second mile at 5.7 and my last mile at 6.2 Go me!

Yesterday, decided to skip yoga in exchange for a quick run. Did 2.5 miles outside, but have absolutely no idea how fast it was, because, regrettably I left the fancy digital watch that I begged for from everyone I knew for Christmas. Nice one, Kat, nice one. I think it was about 30 minutes, judging by what went on on my iPod, so that's what my story and I'm sticking too it. I'd like to get some sort of long run in today (5 or 6 miles, let's not kid ourselves), but I have a gazillion real life things to do, so we'll see how that turns out.

Blustery Days

O wind, how I loathe you. It was windy today but I was not relishing the thought of waiting a gagillion hours for a treadmill, so I set off for an outside run. I'm just going to go ahead and say now that I HATE running when it's windy. I have a really hard time catching my breath and my heart races and it's just generally yucky (I know, most people get like this when it's windy, but let me complain). So I decided, since I was going to be out of breath anyway, I might as well go as fast as I could. Well, I started that way, but quickly settled into a nice comfortable pace. I actually felt a little slow towards the middle, definitely just trudging along. Well, turns out I was about 2 minutes slower than my usual pace for this loop. Meaning, I think I'm officially faster than I used to be. Yay me!

Two interesting things that happened on this run:
1) I tested out my "Book on Tape" outside running theory. Basically, I'd like running to a book on tape outside (I do not on the treadmill) because there'd be lots of things to keep my attention if the book became a little boring and I don't usually have a hard time finishing runs outside (whereas I find it pretty easy to give up on the treadmill). It worked pretty well actually, although I think that if I were a smidglet less motivated, I might have been in trouble. I'm listening to Rhett Butler's People, pretty good up to chapter 2, I'll keep you posted.

2) The top of the toes on my right foot started hurting yesterday morning before my run but I was able to run through it (it basically stopped hurting after about 3 minutes). Today, kind of bothered me, but chalked it up to my big girl heels. But, it started hurting again today and this time it was harder to shake. I get that it probably had something to do with running on the concrete (I was hit by a car a couple of years ago so I don't run in the street) but I'm wondering if there's any way of making it not hurt so much (maybe a cushion or something). Thoughts? Suggestions? Bueller? Bueller?

Back in the Saddle Again

So, I've been pretty bad. Between the flu and a mid week hangover (really? who am I?) I skipped an entire week running. Not cool. But yesterday I was determined to get back out there. It's been rainy and windy here the last few days, so it was off to the gym. I did 3.25 miles, very, very fast for me, including .5 miles at 6mph. Slow for most, I know, but huge for me. Today, I went out again, slower, but still fast, 2.25. I'm liking speed =).

Here's my issue though. Because I go to a public gym, the lines for the treadmills are unbelievable. I waited almost 2 hours for a treadmill today and the 3o minute limit means I can't get my distance in at all. It's expected to be cold and windy again this week and I have a hard time running in the wind. Now, I'm kind of too poor to join a gym with more treadmill/less wait but this is kind of killing me. Any suggestions?

Bad News Bears

Sidelined by the flu. Hopefully back at it tomorrow.

Singular Impression Things Are Moving Too Fast

Did my full 4 miles today. Yay! Ended up going way too fast on mile 3, making mile 4 super difficult, but still managed to finished with a semi decent time.

Also, had a bit of an epiphany today re: why I run. I ahd a fight with my gentleman friend about something silly and pointless but which turned into a legitimate argument when he inadvertantly hurt my feelings. In addition, I had a bit of a crappy day at work and was just not looking forward to anything. Then I started to run. And run. And run. By the time I finished, I'd let the fight slip off my shoulders, I'd forgotten the looming project deadlines. I was happy leaving the gym, content that I had pushed myself, set a goal and met it. I felt accomplished and calm.

Of course, a waiting text message reminded me of the fight and that gnawing feeling in my stomach indicated that the project hadn't quite been forgotten, but its nice to know that, at least for an hour every day, I can let it all go and just run.