Snooze Times Two

Hit the snooze twice this morning. Once at 7:50 and again at 8:50....while I was running I was surprised that I slept more than I anticipated because I have so much to do this week, but then I realized, it was much needed sleep. I probably only slept 12 hours total over the weekend, between parties, events and of course homework. But my run was so enjoyable because I woke up to the sun-shining! What a great way to start my week :) It's the small things in life!

I also realized that I can sleep a little later on Monday and Wednesday mornings and still get in longer runs because my first class is not until 12:45pm on those days. I bought a stop watch at Target this weekend which also has become extremely handy in keeping track of time. In all the years I have been a runner, I am not consistent about wearing a watch, but hopefully this will help :) Tomorrow I start with a fresh pair of kicks. Not only is the mileage up on mine but the salt has already torn through the mesh on the sides of my shoes. Goodbye January, hello February!

Weekend Warrior

Both Saturday and Sunday I did not run first thing in the morning. Saturday's run ended up turning into a longer adventure than I originally anticipated. It was probably about 8 miles. Sunday, I went to the gym with Jill for 45 mins and then ran for a 30mins before I had a group meeting and chapter.

Again...

Thursday was not much better than Wednesday in that I hit the snooze for a little too long. I still got in a decent 5-6 mile day and got to Econ on time :) Yay!

Jill had DSP people over last night, so I was up late and woke up early and didn't run until after eating breakfast...circa 11.15am but it was good because I got in a solid 12.5 mile day before a group meeting and a fun afternoon/evening with Jill which included a trip to Target(where I got a new watch:)) and the market, dinner and finally seeing "The Social Network" ...it was soo good! I recommend it. Most likely going to be an early night for me... exhausted!

Unexpectedly Slept In

Since I snoozed my alarm until 7:35am, my run was abbreviated, but super nice because the temperatures have returned to normal, which in Syracuse at this time of the year is around 20 degrees. Today marks to two month mark! This race will be here faster than I know it.

The girls I am running with and I are in an email thread together. It is so nice! We talk about our workouts, and what gets us through the monotonous times. There are four of us total. Jacquie, Maria, Catherine and I. Jacquie and I were friends before this; Maria, I met once, at Jacquie's house and so far, I know Catherine virtually lol.

Goodnight for now, so I don't snooze my alarm tomorrow :)

The forecaster was right..

Today, the temperatures returned to bearable...thank goodness...got in about an hour run this morning before class at 9:30. It snowed through the night so the roads were kind of slushy. I will have to clock how far I went. It was an out-and-back day :)

Consistent Sub-zero Temps

Today the high is a negative digit. With windchill-27 degrees. Therefore, harmful to my health to even think about running....which absolutely kills me. So the real test was whether or not to go to the gym this morning. I went, but I felt like it was unproductive. I can only be on any one machine for 10 minutes. Then proceeded to lift until I ran out of water....if you know me, you know that didn't take long. The NBC local Central New York meteorlogist assured its viewing capacity that tomorrow temperatures will be "bareable" and by bareable I mean zero or higher. Can't wait to run again!

First Weekend Back

Friday- It was snowy in the morning, so I decided it would be a good opportunity to start my gym routine. Went for about an hour when I realized it had stopped snowing, so I went home and went for a half hour run. Pretty lame, but I had to go to a meeting with our landlord for next year.

Saturday- I got up at 6:45am to run. Daylight savings hasn’t kicked in enough for it to be light enough to run at that hour. I got up so early because I had plans to meet to go to the basketball game at 9am. I decided I wasn’t going to have enough time for a decent run before the game. So I sucked it up and went to the game without running first. Anyone who knows my work/running ethic knows that until I run, the fact that I didn't run will eat at me…maybe that is why we lost to Villanova. If I were more mentally committed to the game it would have ended differently lol jk. After the game I came home for a quick lunch, digested a little and went out for 10 miles. It felt great, especially because it didn’t feel like 10 miles.

Sunday- After a fun abroad reunion/birthday party Saturday night. I snuck in a brief run before getting together with alumni that came to Syracuse for the game on Saturday.

I would consider week one of school-training a success, when you consider the frigid temperatures, moving in Monday as opposed to Sunday and the issues surrounding getting electricity switched over into our names.

Cold Air Ams

Started to get into my Euclid Avenue Routine...It is interesting the difference that running at 7.30 vs. 8am makes.

Flurries Falling

Went out for my run this morning with the flurries falling. Still trying to figure out why it is that the temperatures here do not feel as cold as they do at home, despite it actually being colder here. I think I ran about six miles today. I will have to try and track my course later. Getting ready for day two of classes!

Back to School

Monday, I ran my last five miles at home before returning to school.

Tuesday, I got up for my first run in Syracuse. Even though it was sleeting slightly, there is something about the crisp, cold air here that I love, despite being so close to the city. Did I mention my room looks over campus and the city! The best of both worlds....I love it :)

Looking at my Schedule

Did my regular five miles today. I looked at my schedule and started to plan out a good exercise routine once I get to school :)

Met Another Marathoner

After I posted yesterday, I met a sales associate while I was out that got me very pumped about running the marathon. She has ran the New Jersey and New York one and highly recommended both of them.
Since then I ran my normal five miles today...which was much needed to clear my head from all the back-to-school packing/to-do lists...and met another girl I am going to the marathon with, Maria. She is awesome and one of Jacquie's friends from Villanova who is running her 1st marathon with us as well :) Getting pumped already!

Trying not to give you the 2 for 1 Deal

I meant to blog yesterday night but then got sidetracked by FourSquare when I logged onto the computer. Yesterday was another short day. After the snow over night I was only able to do 4 miles. The Ely Farm development was not plowed :(

This morning I got up with the sun and ran 5 miles in Tyler Park before meeting for coffee to say goodbye to one of my best friends who leaves for Boston this afternoon. I love Tyler Park! It's so pretty all year round :)

Running (no pun intended) errands all day so it always feels good to get my day started right with a run :)

Lame Potato

Long story short I woke up at the crack of dawn to make awesome oatmeal, chocolate chip, and banana pancakes to start the morning off right for Constantine and I. Yum! Then I had to go get the car serviced before my doctor's appointment and errands. My car service appointment took longer than expected and I only got in a 3 mile run around my neighborhood.

Sometimes when I run that short of distance, I don't feel or even remember that I ran at all. That is how immune I am. Snowfall in the forecast overnight, so tomorrow's workout is up in the air.

The Good News is.....

Five miles seems easy?! Since there has been consistent snow it has been harder for me to do more than five miles: my neighborhood and the two on either sides of my neighborhood. However, this is the loop I have been consistently doing since I have been home from London, so I'm glad with a week left before I go back to school that it has become easy.

I think the trick is going to be changing up my routes on a regular basis, as not to get bored with my workouts. Tomorrow, I plan on gathering articles and workout plans from high school and magazines that will help me create some new workout plans.

Stay warm, it's blustery outside!

Day 1 of Mental Toughness....the treadmill

Woke up this morning and decided if I tried running around the neighborhood I might bust my butt on the black ice, so I decided to start testing my mental toughness...on the treadmill. Some might say running a marathon is mentally challenging enough. Not to me. Running on a treadmill is a difficult task for me. Today, I barely made it 40 minutes. It was better than doing nothing though. Then I did a quick ab set and was off to church to see my little diva Markella :)...I also prayed for more mental toughness ;)

One Week Since the New Year and I Decide a Marathon is a Good Idea :)

Since I became an avid runner, I have always aspired to run a marathon. I ran a half marathon in the fall of 2009 and have run other road races since my four year running career in high school. I originally thought the first marathon I would run would be in Disney World, but when the opportunity to run the Sun Trust Marathon in Washington D.C. was presented to me, I jumped on the opportunity; a week into the New Year, and have now decided to blog about my training adventure :)

This is the course map for the marathon:
http://www.nationalmarathon.com/SunTrust_National_Marathon/SunTrust_National_Marathon_Course.htm