Moraine State Park

I've been working up in New Castle this week, so I thought on a gorgeous spring Friday afternoon, I'd hit up the trails after work. It was beautiful! I picked a spot to park along the bike trail and wandered through some swampy forest and eventually came out to the lakefront.

Spring Showers Lead to Downpours

Headed out the door this morning on a misty spring morning and just as I was marveling about how absolutely perfect the temperature and amount of precipitation was, it started to downpour! Oh well, I like the rain, it just made it a bit chillier than I expected. Its turned out to be an absolutely dismal grey day!

You Tube - Treadmill video - MUST SEE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

Next time we coreograph a dance at the Y, we should consider using the treadmills!

Sunday morning run in the snow

Since I can't honestly remember the last time I went for a run, I consider it a big accomplishment to get out of bed this morning and head out into the cold. I do love running in the snow, so it was enticing to get out there admist the fresh dusting. Nathan joined me and we did a pretty short run, but if felt so good!

Small Success...

So - after MANY weeks of not running I got pretty sick of the switch back and forth between the eliptical and spinning and decided to go for a run. How could I not? The warm air was calling my name yesterday so I braved the slushy track by my house and knocked out 3 miles. Not fast, but hey, I've got an extra 12 or so pounds strapped around the middle. Boy did that feel good!
Plus, I'm sick of listening to all the people who say you can't do anything tooo vigorous when you're pregnant. PSHAW.

Ultra Sahara Marathon

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2772368&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

[seriously, never in our lifetime...]

[Snowy/Icy] Hill Training

Alright - my running the past week has purely been comprised of running (normally in full work garb, though I change into hiking boots) between my house and wherever my car might happen to be parked. I've been experimenting with some different routes. One up on St. Leo, just a short run to Gregory, or the long haul out to 18th!

Geriatric Gym

I am not going to stop until I come back home....

So I got to the gym this morning at six, right as it opened. It is relatively nice for a hotel gym - as in the equipment is actually NOT broken. Within ten minutes, all six machines were being used and there was a line. The best part was that everyone else was at least 50 years older than me! It was funny. So I did some biking and then left to let the old folks have a seat...
Miss you guys!

Fabulous Find (Yes, I am a Nerd)

So I went for my six mile jog this morning in the constant but relatively light rain while it was just 55 degrees. ( I know that I am not getting ANY sympathy from you guys.) I had misestimated how long my loop was and instead of five miles I ended up with six and a half! And of course I had to use the facilities so I tried to go into another section of the resort to no avail. And last night at dinner we had a long conversation about alligators and how they are everywhere and jump out of the canals and lakes. So there was no way I was going to find a secluded bush....BUT I did find a middle school that had a lovely rubberized track for the speed work on thursday. It was kinda dark but there were several other runners so I'm totally down!

Frost Bite

Well, so I decided to go for a run this morning, even though it was -2. But I figured that Lisa and I did it a few years ago, I have a balaklava, it's for extreme temperatures! So, I whipped it all out, put on my running tights, layered on my shirts and a jacket, put on my coat and mittens, and even a hat on top of the balaklava. AND goggles (like cool looking ski ones). So, I was bundled. I hustled out there and started moving. Then I remembered why we hated he balaklavas, you feel like you're going to die because you can't breathe out of your mouth and whenever you do it's a constant freeze/burning feeling with each inhalation and exhalation. I was out for about 30 minutes. When I came back in, I stretched did my usual crunches/pushups then jumped in the shower. I noticed that my legs were kind of tingly, but figured it was a-ok. I got out of the shower and my legs were all itchy. I started scratching to realize that there were huge rashes all over my calves and thighs. Very gross and puffy red. I put on some lotion and they just kept itching, which I refrained from scratching. I don't know if it was heat/cold rash or frost bite (probably not), but it was horrible. It is gone now, but still. I thought I would share with you my running horrors. I miss running with you all!! Take care.

Rainy Run

Wow. Look at the alliteration....Two blogs in a row...
So this morning, I drove to Ft. Lauderdale Beach for my now annual Sunday morning run. It was cloudy and raining but 65 degrees. After dashing a half mile down the beach to the bathhouse for a pit stop, I was warm enough to actually enjoy the rest of the 8 mile run. Aside from the strong wind gusts and the lack of being able to lay in the sun afterwards, the run was nice (slow but nice) and gave me hope that I could actually run long distances again...Since I had extra time in the day, I went to the pool/jacuzzi. It was incredible. No one was there due to the rain and it was really warm. I swear the pool was at least 90 degrees, if not 95. (The Y's pool is about 84 as a frame of reference). The length of the pool was probably about 40 meters so I did at least a quarter mile if not a half. To top off my overly productive day I spent the next two hours getting my facial and massage. I think we all need to pamper ourselves more often. Miss you guys!

Muggy Morning

So I did my 4 miles a couple days ago...and I guess based on my extreme out of shape-ness my HM goal time should be about 2 hours. So I get up at five this morning to do my 800s and it is already 72 degrees. Once I leave the building, I get slammed by a wall of humidity...yuck...yesterday was perfect and it wasn't a running day (65 degrees at wake up time). So my 800 splits: 3:51, 3:52, 3:58, 3:55....The last two everyone decided to leave for work so I was totally dodging cars. I felt like a slug even with being somewhat consistent. I can't wait to be in shape again...and more excitingly - have people to run with.

Sneaker Revelation

Alright - I swore I would never do it, but I wore sneakers from the Y to the office today. I always made fun of those people (sorry, Lisa, I think you do it sometimes), but once you do it...geez...I don't know if I can ever go back. It was so glorious and so quick of a walk without clomping in heels amidst the salt & ice and under the heavy load of gym gear, computer, massive purse, lunch, breakfast...you get the point.

Thanks to the Y again for providing a hot shower when our pipes are frozen!

Jessie Akpan - Miami Marathon

http://ing.activeresult.com/miami/?event=&posted_p=t&refresh=300&bib_list=&bib=&last_name=akpan&first_names=j&x=19&y=6
Congrats to Jessie! [I'm 99% sure its her first marathon.]

Snowy Sunday

So fortunately, Megan and I actually got out of bed to meet each other, otherwise neither of us w0uld have run. The schedule called for a six mile run this morning - and we were close at 5 1/2...but might I add that we did about four hills on Beechwood and then went up Murray...so the extra hill work makes up for the shorter distance....Very excited to get back into running!

Fresh Snow in East Stroudsburg

Amber and I had a fresh snowfall to make tracks in on Thursday morning. Friday morning was single digits and no run for us...

Happy [belated] Anniversary

We forgot to celebrate the one year anniversary of Crazy Daisies on January 12th! We're back to a cycle of running we've already done - Hermitage, East Stroudsburg...and the much warmer - Florida - for Lisa! I have to say Hermitage was comprised more of a week straight of desserts after every dinner and no running at all. I took running attire to run on the treadmill, but somehow debits and credits enticed me away from the Comfort Inn exercise room. East Stroudsburg has already been more productive than that, though not up to our previous year's standards. Amber and I are looking at a low of eight degrees tomorrow morning for our scheduled 5:30 a.m. run.

Half Marathon Training

Alright, Lisa and I have it scheduled in - "Just a Short Run" 1/2 marathon on March 31. We're just in time to start a 10 week program. Technically we should have started Tuesday this week, but we'll just have to work extra hard. Here is the schedule I'd like to follow:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,sss6-238-244--9369-7-1X2X3X4X5X6X7-8,00.html

This is the 3 day a week schedule we used similar to the marathon plan for Nashville.

What do you say?

Oh The Hills

Amber and I set out this fine chilly morning (19 degrees-ouch) in matching red shirts and black tights....cute...we did the traditional Beechwood loop (mini-version - only going to Murray) and actually did it in 40 minutes...I'm somewhat impressed due to our lack of consistent running and our fear of the Beechwood hill....but we survived and were actually smiling when we finished - or was that just our faces frozen in place!?!?!

Did you actually run?

Yes, everyone, that is the question that Geoff asked me as I walked in the door at 9:05 this morning. Megan and I met for a cold and rainy run through our old stomping grounds of Shadyside. We did seem to cut it short but we were both satisfied to have gotten out of bed to face the inclement weather!