the squeak of spring...

Wichita ended up getting pelted with a mix of sleet and snow Friday and Saturday. We had seven inches total. It was a beautiful storm, as I watched it Friday night from my window, all warm and cozy inside with yummy corn chowder and wine!

I don't know if it was the snow, or the rest I took when I was sick a week and a half ago, or just the grace of God (i'm thinking it's the latter), but this weekend has been just what I have needed. I had a ton of rest, and although I was irrationally angry that I couldn't run eight miles on Saturday, I got over it. I think I was so angry because FINALLY, after nearly a month of struggling with being sore and exhausted ALL THE TIME, my body is feeling good... really good. I feel rested, relaxed and all the deep aches and pains of training are virtually gone (for now). I did end up getting to run 14 outside yesterday though, so that was fabulous.

Instead of sitting around fuming, after a morning of relaxing with a mocha and a book, I used my energy to accomplish quite a bit around the house. I did a lot of spring cleaning, finished all my mountains of laundry, cleaned out my closet, scrubbed every surface in this house, and finished off the day with my home weights routine (I use free weights, a exercise band and ball) and an hour of power yoga on video. It was a relaxing rejuvenating weekend overall.

These pictures below show the the teensy difference of my garden from last weekend, and my garden this weekend. A little squeak of spring.


Budding Peony last weekend, and snowy Peony this weekend. This plant is a transplant I took from my Grandma's garden about two years ago, I hope it survives!


My vibrant Hyacinth, now dead and gone just like T.I. and J.T. say in their new song...


The blossoms on a flowering tree in my front yard, and the frozen blossoms on my backyard cherry tree.


Luckily Tulips love snow.


Some tree blossoms on my street last week and my street around 10a Saturday morning.

four weeks to 'm' day...

Well here we are... the final countdown (i hope you sang that in your head). Four weeks from this moment I will have hopefully run my first marathon... I'm so dramatic. Feel free to roll your eyes here. I ran 14 miles today, and thankfully I did them outside. After seven inches of snow from Friday and Saturday, the sun came on strong to melt it all away today. I was actually planning to run inside, but while driving to the least offensive indoor Y running track in the city (only 9 laps a mile opposed to 11) to meet five other girls for our long run, I discovered an indoor OUT.

Katie called as I was leaving my house suggesting I grab some running tights and a long sleeve technical 'just in case' the roads were clear around the gym, she is brilliant! I headed to the gym earlier than the girls to get my extra three out of the way, (they are all doing the half marathon in OKC so had less mileage to do). But on the way I drove by our typical running spot and noticed people out on the paths, I looked closer and noticed that the paths were totally cleared! I picked up the phone and started making calls. The girls were going to meet me. So I sneakily changed clothes in my car and headed out for my three. I hadn't bothered with my Garmin since we planned on running inside, it was a little freeing to run those three Garmin free. It was surprisingly warm and sunny and the snow was melting like mad. I felt better on those three than I had in weeks. I made it around back to the parking lot to meet the girls and we were off for 11.

It was, per usual in Kansas, super windy. That is part of living in Kansas, we don't have hills, we have wind.... constantly, really it isn't even worth mentioning since it should always be a given I face strong winds on every run. We had to slush through quite a few puddles, which for me ended up being a little fun. We started the run trying to keep our feet dry, but really after I made a huge effort to avoid a gigantic puddle and instead landed smack in the middle of a mud hole, water up past my ankle in a sloshy gross mess, my foot soaking wet, I didn't care. From then on I ran head on into those puddles.

The best I can gauge, my time for 14 miles was around 2:08, we had a Garmin for the 11 and I just averaged our pace to guess a time for my first three which I tried to run fast in order to make it back in time to meet the girls so they wouldn't have to wait for me.

Overall I feel good, better than the other long runs over the past month, in body and mind. My legs and hip aren't hurting. Except muscle fatigue from doing power yoga and weights yesterday afternoon, I'm feeling good tonight. My confidence in being able to run the marathon is growing, and I'm at peace with the fact that I may not hit my goal time.

In addition, I realized I need to focus on really eating a lot more directly after my long runs thanks to Runners World. So I had an organic granola bar and some Gatorade on the 15 minute drive home. Then I got home and hit the ice bath, another thing I'm trying to be better with, and had a smoothie with some organic protein powder. I've decided 14 miles is a distance that deserves the attention of 'long' run leg and nutrition care, and hoping my legs and energy levels will feel better all week for it.

On another note, it looks like I might be running the Olathe Half Marathon next weekend. I had considered it before, but I have been so busy and exhausted lately, it seemed like more work than I could handle so I dropped the thought. However, I'm feeling like life is under control again, and an opportunity may have arose thanks to Run to the Finish, causing me to think about running the race next week after all. My dilemma is that next week would mark my 22 miler. I'm trying to figure that one out, but think I have a plan, again thanks to Runners World. We'll see.

This is a long post for a long run, so I'm off. Cheers to a happy running week my friends!

where did you go...

Spring? Are you hiding from me? Trying to be a sneaky snake? Because I'm pretty sure I saw you all of last week and weekend, however I'm a bit confused.

Because earlier this week you had my tulips looking like this:
and today you have them looking like this:Actually spring, I think what happened is that you have just been 'had' by winter. Winter, I take it you are pissed off it wasn't your time anymore, that spring had arrived to edge you out, and steal your glory. So in a petty jealous rage you decided to give one last evil blast. Well bring it. Because I'm at home now since my office shut down early, all warm and cozy, in sweats, with Milo snuggled up to me. I'm listening to you throw pellets of ice against my windows. What, you call this a storm? Is this all you have my friend? Oh I know you tried to piss me off when I left work with your 30 mph sleet was pelting my face and hitting my eyeballs, but it didn't really work.

I have groceries, wine and TiVo... could life get any better? I submit that it cannot! So you take your jealous rage winter. I'll embrace it, I'm smellin' what your steppin in, and am along for the ride. I'll even happily run my miles inside this weekend, you can't keep me down. Because not-so-secretly, I love a good snow storm.

"Ahhhhh-ahhhhhh-Kansas" (you have to be a Kansan to get that one...) I took some spring pictures yesterday and last week, I'm so thankful I did. Because although I love the snow, and a good snowstorm, I am sad all the beautiful budding trees and flowers will likely die off. I'm going to try and post those soon, as a promise to all of us mid-westerners being pelted by this storm, that it really is spring!

Below are a few more pictures I took of my garden when I got home today.

my friday photo...

This is for Nikemom's Friday Foto. This is a picture of Kristen the running lawyer and I after the River Run 10K last May. The River Run is the largest race in Wichita with about 7,000 participants (I think) .

This particular race holds a lot of sentimental value for me. The race takes place during Wichita's River Festival every May. There is a 2-miler and a 10K. I have been participating in this race since I was a kid. I don't remember at what age I first did the River Run, but I know it was with my Dad. My Dad is actually the one who got me started running! There are many years when he and I would get up early, hit up Quik Trip for some caffeine and breakfast and go and run the race.

One year I ran it with my sister after zero training, we followed one of the chanting Army Guard groups and they kept us on pace, it was a blast. Another year my entire family (I come from a big family of four kids), plus some cousins and my aunt and uncle did the race as well. I couldn't find the picture in time to post it this morning, maybe that will be fore next week!

I have done the 10K three times, and I PR every year. Last year I had a time of 50:01 (according to my watch, they don't have timing chips so my recorded time was a few seconds longer) after virtually no training. I ran maybe one 6 miler before the race, and had a very late night the night before, so that was encouraging. I look forward to doing this race this year, just a few weeks after the marathon, hoping for another PR!