Dreadmill Diaries

I have definitely been neglecting my blog. I apologize to all of you readers that wake up and rush to your computers every morning to see if I have posted anything. I simply have nothing to post about…sad but true. Yes, I have been keeping on my schedule and completing all of my runs…but it has literally been raining for two weeks in Fort Lauderdale, so I have been forced to run on the treadmill.

I loved the option of running on the treadmill when we lived in our condo. It was so convenient! Now I have to go home from work, eat, change, drive to the gym, and wait for an available treadmill. My gym is very over crowded, probably because it only costs $10 a month. I get really frustrated when people are on the treadmill and are barley walking or breaking a sweat. Come on…get your $10 worth!  And most of all when people are talking on their cell phones. Yes, I can hear your entire conversation, even with my music or TV on and yes you are annoying. I find myself giving people the evil eye until they either get off the treadmill or end their conversation. On a good note…all of the treadmills have TV’s. So I have been able to catch up on all of my favorite real housewives.

Official marathon training begins on Monday! I happen to be off from work…so I have big plans. New running shoes, maybe a trip to Lululemon to get some new gear, and maybe, just maybe a haircut. I am thinking of making a drastic change. Someone please stop me before we have a repeat of the haircut saga of 2007.

Playlist and Week Recap

Nothing too exciting to report....the heat is pretty much killing me, as expected this time of year.

Monday- 5 Miles - (Tree Tops Park)
Tuesday- 7 Miles
Wednesday- 4 Miles (Vista View Park- old landfill, very hilly)
Thursday- 3.5 Miles (4 Yasso 800's, plus cool down between)
Sunday- 10 Miles

Since I don't have much else going on I thought I would share the playlist I made for my run this morning. I typically make a new playlist for all of my long runs. Here is a sampling of what I enjoyed this morning. ( I am sure not what you would expect)

• Anything But Mine- Kenny Chesney
• Breakdown- Jack Johnson
• Come Sail Away- Styx
• Dog Days are Over- Florence + The Machine
• Down the Road- Kenny Chesney
• Flake- Jack Johnson
• Home- Phillip Phillps (Dad and Brayden got me hooked on this one)
• If it Kills Me- Jason Mraz
• Jail Break- Thin Lizzy
• Living on a Prayer- Bon Jovi (Brayden calls it "Take My Hand", what 3 year old loves 80's music and plays air guitar? He is the best!)
• Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard- Paul Simon
• Never Going Back Again- Fleetwood Mac
• New York Groove- Kiss
• Powe-r Kayne West
• Say it Ain't So- Weezer
• Shake it Out- Florence + The Machine (We saw this live when we went to SNL, AWESOME)
• Small Town USA- Justin Moore
• So Much for the Afterglow- Everclear
• Springsteen- Eric Church
• We are Young- Fun.
• You and I Both- Jason Mraz
• You're So Cool- From the movie "True Romance"

 Good music keeps me going!

Child Please

What is going on? I might have to stop running at Central Park...not a fan of the banners all over the place. Although I am excited for Hard Knocks. Ochocinco should be quite entertaining.

Did 7 miles tonight in the heat. Why does it seem like every summer is getting hotter and hotter?  It is only June and running outside is already unbearable.  I have been trying to come up with running locations with some shade. I went to Tree Tops park in Davie last night and did 5 miles. The shaded part of the trail is limited, but actually really pretty.  It reminded me of Tallahassee. (Is it college football season yet?)

Training schedule for the rest of the month is pretty low key. I am trying not to burn myself out. July is when I start putting in some serious miles. Looks like I will be spending more time on the treadmill at my ghetto gym since it is so hot!!!!!

More Annapolis Half Marathon Pics



Hotel lobby, bright and early!

Brayden looking on....with his cyappers (he can't say his L's) on the bridge.



Running....obviously



I like this one, you can barley see us...but running together over the bridge.

Yasso 800's

First attempt at Yasso 800’s. WOW….super tough. What is a Yasso 800? Check out a full description at Runners World.  Simply put…it is a speed work out…helping you to get to your goal marathon time. My goal time for the Marine Corps Marathon is 3:35, so I need to train running half mile (800 meter) intervals in 3 minutes and 35 seconds. To be very basic, run two laps around the track in 3 minutes and 35 seconds. The end goal is to be able to run 10 Yasso 800’s (or half miles) without dying. Claims are that if you can do this, you can complete your marathon in your goal time.

I headed to the track to give it a shot. (I still need a training class for my new watch…I couldn’t figure out how to use a simple stop watch feature!!!) Anyway I found a very complicated way to set my watch up for 3 minutes and 35 seconds and got started. YIKES….I didn’t make it; I was close but couldn’t make it around the track twice in less than 3 minutes and 35 seconds. I ran a cool down lap between Yasso’s, and tried again 3 times. Of course I was getting more and more winded as I continued to run, but I managed to finish 4 Yasso’s, none in 3 minutes and 35 seconds or less, but all press close. I was finishing about 700-750 meters within the allotted time.

I am going to continue to give Yasso's a shot once a week and see if the pace on my longer runs improves. Next week I need to do 5, which is only 2.5 miles….but you can't imagine how sweaty and worn out I was from doing 4. (or maybe you can)

This is me before my run at 8pm, after sitting in the Sears waiting area for 2 HOURS to get a new battery installed in my car. Nothing like getting off work early and your car not starting! I was VERY tempted to skip my run, very, very tempted.

I can hardly wait for the Heat vs. Celtics game 6. It is tough rooting for both teams though. I mean who am I supposed to be a fan of The Wizards?  (Although I still think of them at the Bullets, much cooler name even if it is a little violent. I mean they have been known to have guns in the locker room so it seems appropriate right) I love me some Rondo and Ray Allen, but how do I root against the Heat, even though I think Mike Miller is the worst, he is made of glass and brings in 5 million a year, you have got to be kidding me. And to top it all off he played at Florida. What a douche bag! Sorry to rant, but he is as unlikeable as Tim Tebow.

One more random thought. At the Hard Rock music is always playing throughout the hotel and casino. I think it is really funny when they play David Allan Coe's "Take this job and shove it" ....it is impossible not to sing along!

Race Report with Pics

Annapolis Half Marathon

A simple race report with pictures...



Chrissy and Terri Pre-Race

• We bought matching shirts the day before the race, there were probably 20 other runners in the same shirts!
• Traffic was horrible...it took us 3 hours to get to Annapolis when it should have taken 1 hour and 15 minutes. The ride home was even worse, let's just say we took a 3 hour tour of Maryland, DC and Virginia.
• We ate a huge BBQ dinner when we arrived, not a wise decision the night before a race.
• The weather was perfect, mid 60's to low 70's.
• The course was really scenic with a lot of hills and a few bridges to cross. We went through "downtown" Annapolis, the Naval Academy Campus and a few miles on Baltimore & Annapolis Trail.



View from the Naval Academy Bridge



• We stopped for 2 bathroom breaks (again BBQ is not a good pre-race meal) and for a minute to see Mom, Dad and Brady.
• There were not too many spectators, but one of the highlights was an elderly couple waving a big flag cheering for the runners. They were literally shouting at the top of their lungs. As we turned the corner we realized that they lived in the retirement home on the hill...too cute.
• Brayden loved his little clappers and cowbell necklace. He had a great time cheering the runners on.

Mom and Brady cheering everyone on



• Chrissy kicked butt....no walking (or even mention of walking). She powered through the entire 13.1.
• Our official time was 2:35:39, not bad for Chrissy's first half. My garmin time that does not include the bathroom breaks was 2:28:22.
• The announcer called out each runners name and where they were from as they crossed the finish line...pretty cool.
• Instead of a medal they gave each runner a necklace. (It was a women's half marathon...although there were a few male participants)
• After the race we headed out for lunch and beers at the Boathouse Grill.



Outside the restaurant


Overall a great race. I would definitely do it again!