Tombstones & Ducks (WW # 36)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

This linkup is hosted by yours truly and my good friend Tricia at MissSippiPiddlin.    The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women. You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!  {See rules}   

We are excited that we continue to have new linkers each week.  Please return later in the week and interact with more women.   It's a truly wonderful way to make new friends, gain invaluable support, and all while holding yourself accountable!  Don't forget to comment on each blog that you read and remember to support your hosts.  

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M -- Rest
T -- 4 Miles
W -- Rest (A Plank PR!)
T -- 5 Miles + Physical Therapy
F -- Rest
S -- 3 Miles (5k Race)
S -- 8 Miles

Total -- 20 Miles

My weekday runs were slow and easy.  It's all I could (and should) do after last weekend's half.  In keeping with my "run more 5ks to work on speed" plan, I ran the Resurrection Run on Saturday.  It was a beautiful and chilly morning, but warmed quickly.  My goal was to beat my previous 5k average pace.  I was pleased to run steady and clock all miles under 9.  My splits were 8:57 / 8:45 / 8:55.  My average pace squeaked in several seconds better than my last attempt.  It definitely wasn't a big improvement, but it's still in the right direction so I'll not complain.

A slight Cat in the Hat look...

I've noticed my new Garmin 225 is consistently recording race distances shorter than my old Garmin 110 -- same race, same start, same finish.  This drives my overall pace up so it's hard to make comparisons to the same race in previous years.  Anyway, my official time was 26:46 and it earned me a dual win: 1st in AG and Masters.  In full disclosure, this was a very small race!  Personally, I think they shouldn't give you two awards.  I should've been pulled out for winning Masters and the next in line should've won 1st in AG.   But, I'm not the race director.

I was awarded with a tombstone made of real granite weighing in at 5 pounds.  {What does one do with a tombstone?  Wait...no no...don't answer that!}  We watched our grandson play baseball and later PoPo worked his grilling magic on delicious bacon wrapped filets.  Our movie selection for the evening  was The Visit.  Do not bother!  It's a movie about crazy, disturbed elderly people.  Just, no.

Around bedtime -- in fact I'd already dozed off -- our middle son arrived home with ducks.  {Huh?  Peep, peep, peep.  Am I dreaming?}  Two baby ducks.  You know, the kid who is going off to college in a few months!   Which means I'm going to be a ... wait for it ... crazy mother ducker.  Bahaha -- I'm sorry I just couldn't leave than one alone!

I have to admit, they are very cute.

Sunday was another gorgeous day.  I opted for a medium distanced 8 mile run as I have another half this weekend.  Many of you asked if I have anything special planned for half # 40.  Well, I get to run across this beautiful bridge at the Kill Cliff Destin Half Marathon.  That looks pretty special to me.  MissSippiPiddlin with be there too.  Even more special!

Don't forget about the Incredible Virtual Run by Level Up.   {See that Incredible 4" medal featured at the top of my side bar?}  You can sign up until April 15th and then run the race distance of your choice from that day through April 30th.   Use code SAVE10 for 10% off the registration fee.  In addition, all participants will receive a SLS3 $25.00 gift certificate!   If you do the math, I think you'll see you come out ahead.  Please let me know if you run and I'll feature you in my post race report!

And that's a wrap!

What special pets have you mothered?

Did anyone race this weekend?  Tell me all about it!

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Marathon Week (WW # 23)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap! 


This linkup is hosted by yours truly and my good friend Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin.  The purpose is to connect with and support other active women.  We want to hear about your adventures. You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules}

 

Speaking of Tricia, look at the delightful gift she surprised me with.  We can now have our weekday morning virtual coffee dates while sipping out of our Weekly Wrap mugs.   Thank you, Tricia!

By the time this posts, I will have completed my first marathon -- hopefully upright and with my foot not scattered in pieces along Main Street, USA.   For those of you who've followed me for a while, you know I was supposed to run the Chicago Marathon in early October but developed a stress fracture in my foot just 2 weeks prior.  You graciously listened to me whine for a few weeks (make that months!) poured out an amazing amount of support, and followed as I went through some tedious alternative training to stay marathon ready.  {Pool running anyone?}

Monday I opted for my second alcohol injection to hopefully kill the nerves in my foot neuroma (the aftermath of the original injury).  Let me say...OUCH for those of you that have never had one.  My doc couldn't believe I didn't make a sound.  I prefer to suffer in silence, ma'am. 

My new Garmin 225 arrived Tuesday and I spent a few days trying to memorize the functions.  It is different from my old Garmin 110 which died after recording 666 activities.  When it kicked the bucket, the light was actually flashing and smoke filled the inside.  It was truly possessed, I think.



R.I.P. Garmin 110  --  You did an excellent job for 4 years!

I had already heard this, but now I know it's true -- Fitbit's service is second to none.  I reported my broken Fitbit on Tuesday.  They shipped me another with no questions asked, no receipt provided and no returning of the broken device.  You can't ask for anything more...except for it not to break this time.

This was an anxious week.  My left hip was cranky so I decided not to do much of anything but rest.  I did pedal on the bike trainer Thursday night for 30 minutes just to work up a sweat.  And, then I ran 2.5 miles Friday morning just to make sure I knew how to use my new Garmin.  Of course there was some walking Saturday at Disney.  From a stamina perspective, I felt ready after cycling and pool running for countless hours for weeks -- nay months -- on end.  But I also knew nothing replaces that time on your feet:  the conditioning of  those IT bands and those frustrating old lady hips.

I lined up exactly 15 weeks from the date of my injury with the goal to simply finish.  It was not the way I planned to run my first marathon.  Heck, it was supposed to be my second one.  I had no strategy, just to run slowly and take walk breaks if needed.  I wouldn't dwell on the circumstances leading up to this race.  I was confident there was nothing else I could have done to be any more ready.  I kicked alternate training's ass!  {Sorry kids.}   And hello...it's Disney for goodness sake.  How could I not have fun? 

I decided I would ENJOY,  I would FINISH, and I would CRY LIKE A BABY. 

UPDATE:  I finished!  I cried like a baby!  My official time was 5:07:12.  And I loved every single joyful, painful, blissful, excruciating, soul-searching, entertaining second.  More to come... 


And that's a wrap!

Does anyone else get emotional during a race?

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Happy New Year (WW # 22)

Welcome!  This linkup is hosted by yours truly and my good friend Tricia @ MissSippiPiddlin.  The purpose is to connect with and support other active women.  We want to hear about your adventures. You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules}

Don't forget to use this badge in your post.
 

I didn't post a 2015 recap so I thought I'd do a quick number summary:

Running:   151 times for 944 miles

Road Cycling:   30 times for 733 miles

Pool Running:   9 times for 15 hours and 41 minutes 

Water Skiing:   30 runs for roughly 15 hours

Dog Walks:   Not Counted

  

Half Fanatic:  Jupiter / 4 HMs in 21 days

# Half Marathons:   8
# Other Races:   10

# New States:   1 = Mississippi

I was surprised when I saw my mileage after being sidelined for 10 weeks out of the year.  And, holy cow -- I spent almost 16 hours pool running.  Pure insanity.

On to the Weekly Wrap.  Well, it was another rainy week.  And busy!  Work was crazy due to year end, holidays and traveling.  I'm so far behind on reading blogs too.  The rain followed me to the beach later in the week.  I think I need a little, no make that a lot, of sunshine.  

Tuesday I ran 6 early morning miles @ 10:03 pace.  I was pleased with this run after struggling with a 15 mile run 3 days earlier.  Wednesday morning I rode on my new bike trainer for 40 minutes.  

I've never been a fan of New Year's Eve.  I just don't like it.  But this year, I took a helicopter tour along Florida's panhandle coast.  I've been coming to this area since childhood and have watched this yellow helicopter fly overhead countless times.  I figured New Year's Eve was the perfect time to take the plunge.  It was awesome!  Even in the gloomy weather, the beautiful emerald green water color was still apparent.  You could see dolphins swimming below.

I have to say a big Roll Tide for Alabama's win over Michigan State on New Year's Eve.  Of course we will be glued to the TV next Monday night as they play for another National Championship title.  After the game, we attempted to shoot fireworks on the beach in the wind and rain.  That was not much fun. 

Friday I ran 9 miles @ 10:17 pace.  This was an early morning, rainy, cool and windy run along the beach front road.  I felt strong during this run and only stopped once for water and GU from the good old mailbox.

Sunday afternoon I ran 4 easy miles.  Being off my feet for 10 weeks and then quickly increasing miles has taken my old lady hips to the edge.  Let's hope they don't fall off the cliff.  Oh by the way, this run was Garminless.  My 110 died after 666 activities.  Hmm...possessed perhaps?  I have a new 225 en route.  I'm also wearing PoPo's Fitbit as mine conked out on Christmas Eve.  Aggravating!

I had a little time to catch up on blog reading Sunday afternoon and realized I can't comment on any Blogger blog using my laptop.  I think every electronic device I own is possessed.  I apologize!  I am reading.  Ugh...just don't let me touch anything else.

In summary, I ran three times for 19 miles and rode on the bike trainer for 40 minutes.  I also did a 20 minute yoga routine for hips probably 5 times this week.  I didn't count.  {I know!  Me!  Who am I?}  And yes, the Disney marathon is only a few days away.  EEK.  I'm both thrilled and admittedly anxious.  Come on foot, hips, IT band -- let's do this thing!

And that's a wrap!

Have you flown in a helicopter?  Did you like it?

What model of Garmin or other GPS device do you use?

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