The Anti-Running Runner

So today was my 8-miler. Thanks to MapMyRun, I know I did the full distance. However, it didn't go so great. I should start out by saying, Praise Jesus, I made my goal this week and ran three times. Today was extremely rough, though. It was supposedly only 81 degrees, but it felt like 100 with the humidity. I had to walk about four times, which isn't bad, I know, but I wasn't expecting it. I was actually expecting, and hoping for rain because of this: Granted, it does say Saturday, but there was a 40% chance of rain today. I planned to run in it anyway and had dreams of cooler temps. Apparently it rained nearby, but not along my running route. So here I am walking on the vlog...okay, it's not like it's shameful, but I really wanted to run the whole time today. I'm just bummed that I didn't. I even stopped to sign a petition for 4 minutes because a lady bribed me with a cold water bottle. Sorry it's a little hard to hear. There we...

Last Friday, I ran my last long distance prior to the Miami Half, between 11-12 miles. It's a nice feeling to get a long distance run out of the way, and then focus on shorter runs and resting days and carbs. Two weeks ago, I ran the last 10 miles of Hea's 20-miler. She's doing her first full marathon in Miami. Team Hea & Bria get to start the race together, but she'll be doing twice my race distance. We had a really enjoyable run together. Her boyfriend rode a bike the whole 20 miles, and even carried things for me when I joined them. It was a huge blessing to have him along. I keep thinking about doing another marathon, but I'm so happy that I don't have one coming up. It takes so much time just to train for a half, and way more to train for a full. Alyssa and two of her friends, and a group of Hea's friends will all be doing the Miami Marathon. For many it will be their first. I think we'll all have a blast together. And I'll get to fi...

I'm singing it to the tune of "Cel-e-bra-tion!" Another benefit of the iTouch: it comes with a free Nike+ app. Today, I calibrated my new sensor (separate purchase from Best Buy) with the Nike+ app, which means I can track my distances and know for sure that I went ten miles in Georgia! Which I didn't....because I didn't have the iTouch or the sensor yet. But the next time I'm up there, I will know for sure. Or anywhere for that matter. It began with googling "how to put a Nike+ sensor in a non Nike shoe" and of course somebody had a solution for me. Items needed: one of my running shoes, the sensor (19.99 at Best Buy), unknown number of safety pins (I only ended up needing two smaller ones), fabric scissors. Begin with a small snip using the fabric scissors. Carefully, cut the hole wider, but not too wide. Open the box and take out the little sensor guy (read instructions later). See if your hole is big enough......

My first iTouch arrived this week, and I haven't spent a moment apart from it since. Of course, when the newness wears off, I'm sure I'll be able to leave it behind on a trip to the grocery store...maybe. Today, I ran 12 miles as per my training schedule, and it was tough! Probably because I chose to run 12 laps around the park (1 lap = 0.9 miles) and completed the mileage with the 1.2 miles that it takes to get to the park and back from my house. That's the benefit; I knew how far I was going for sure. Last week turned out to be 9.8 miles instead of 10 when we clocked it afterward with the car! Oh well. Close enough. That was almost easy compared to my run today. However, I made it so I really don't want to complain about it. Because my iTouch has now been loaded with all my favorite podcasts, of course I brought it along to listen to the usual ( Dunesteef ). Then I realized I wouldn't need to bring my camera separately. The iTouch is a camera and does vid...