Exercise High and Running for the Alma Mater

Hello folks who I've sorely neglected for about a month,

First off, please allow me to apologise for my lack of posts. I should really get more on top of that, but life happens. Also, summer is going to be nuts with running, horseshoes, softball and volleyball. Eek!

Second, I've started up training again with Milwaukee Adventure Boot Camp (LOVE) in Elm Grove. While my schedule and finances do not allow me this treat more than a few times a year, I'm so stoked to be back. I'm waking up at 4:30 a.m. (Crazy? Why, yes!) to drive over to Mary Knoll Park and get my butt kicked for an hour (5:30 - 6:30 a.m.). We literally don't stop moving the entire time. We do lunges, plank holds, sprints, squats, kicks, band exercises, weight exercises, stretching, running, hills, bear crawls and more. There are even a few exercises that we have renamed funny things like "the naughty housewife" and the "boob lifter".

While it is kind of ridiculous to get up so early and run around like a crazy person, it is a huge boost to my exercise routine. Plus, a ton of people that were in my classes back in fall are still there this spring and we're all just so happy to see each other! When I first signed up a lot of people lovingly asked, "are you nuts?" to which I replied, "apparently." Then they saw how fit and happy I was, so now I get lots of "babe, look at your calves!" which makes me extremely happy. (That and when I wore a skirt that made the BF say "whoa...") I know that your self worth is not in how you look, but based on your personality/soul instead. However, my soul is doing cartwheels with all this energy I have! Then again, that energy is gone and I'm snoozing by about 9 p.m. for the next 4 weeks. Ha!

Finally, I have some more happy news! I took off another 32 seconds from my 5k time! That's right! Running Gary's Gallop on April 17 was a lot of fun, although super windy. This event is to help the athletic programs at Wisconsin Lutheran College - my college, sweet college. I loved going and seeing all the smiling Warrior faces. Tons of students, alumni, alumni kiddos, and community members were there to run the very hilly course. Even my church's 5K Klub was out with a good showing.

I ran with my friend Tammy who was on the WLC Cross Country team. I kept up with her for about the first mile and a half, but she was still going strong when one of the hills took it's toll on me and my side. I had to slow down a bit, but was pretty excited about my mile times. My favorite part of this race is that you do your last 500 meters or so by running around the track and then a dash down the center of the field to the finish line. It's like running for a touchdown! At the finish line, my friend Brian who is also on the Alumni Committee with me gave me a high five... and then patted my head... silly man.

While the formal results aren't posted yet, I can tell you that my friend Angie won 2nd place for our age group and that my time for this run back in 2008 was 35:01. Man, that makes 31:29 feel even better!

Up next: No idea. Suggestions for May anyone?

58:02 Baby!

Hello all!
You'll be happy to know that not only did I find the race location, show up with ample time before the race, make a new friend, and create a make-shift ponytail hat, but I finished the race in under an hour! If you're a repeat reader, you'll know that I signed up for the Steve Cullen Health Heart Club Run awhile back and was thinking, "8K, pssssh, that's totally doable!" Then it got closer and closer and then it was today! Eeep.

I practiced my long distance running at my friendly YMCA and did some weight training because I knew there would be hills, but WHOA, this was harder than I thought.

First off, let me tell you that the ponytail hat rocked. It kept my head warm and my hair out of the way. I had a couple of other runners mention it. Whooot! I cheated a bit and instead of sewing around the edges like I mean to do, I just snipped a hole in the back about where my ponytail would be. Wearing it also helped keep my iPod earbud in place (I only race with one in so I can hear other runners). Like I said, it rocked!

Second, I didn't train for as long as I should have. While I'd like to blame the signs posted in the Y that say "Usage on all cardio machines is limited to 30 minutes!", I know that it's mostly me going to the Y late at night and saying "2+ miles is long enough." I took my average mile time, added a minute or so and then guessed that I would like to finish in about an hour since an 8K is about 5 miles. Then in a slight panic, I checked out last year's race times to make sure that they kept timing that long (5K events usually cut off between 45 minutes and a hour). Yay for me they time until 1 hour and 20 minutes!

Race day comes and I don my spiffy new hat, layers of shirts, running capri tights and then track pants because IT WAS COLD! The friendly weatherman said the high today was 25 degrees F, which means while I was running in the morning was probably around 20 degrees or less. *shiver*

So I drive over there with plenty of time and park in the WLC lot because it's close and free! This other lady, Suzette, climbs out of her car once she sees that she's not the only one to park there. We become fast friends (no pun intended), and walk to the race together to pick up our snazzy t-shirts, race numbers and assorted goodies from the sponsors and Badgerland Striders who were big supporters of this race.

While we're walking, she's telling me about how her sister-in-law keeps her signing up for races and then backs out so she's so glad to have met me. She's so nice! She's also paranoid that she won't finish the race. Suzette doesn't believe she's a good runner. She's wrong.

We get all settled and head out to the race start line with our music and timing apparatuses (apparati?) and she's freaking out a little. Suzette, if you ever read this, please know that you're awesome. I tried keeping her calm and saying that if we should get separated, she should just try her hardest. The horn goes off and after saying good luck to each other, the woman takes off! Like lightening!

The first mile is up hill (boo), and by the first turnaround on Swan Blvd., I say hi to Speedy Suzette and shout out a few encouragements to the really fast people, and then quickly realize that it's me and a bunch of people older than my parents. That's right, I'm running with the AARP crowd. First off, kudos to them because I'm sure when they were my age, they were super fast. Second, they have lots of good tips and aren't afraid to share them with a friendly 26-year-old woman who is trying to not slip on the snow. Gotta love people! Runners are generally a friendly bunch. I think it's the endorphins.

Miles 2-4 are pretty level (map of course), but slippery due to the snow and I only had to jump out of the way of one dude trying to pass another once. The sun was shining, the volunteers were cheerful, and the water stops were perfectly placed. It was a beautiful February morning. After cheering on Suzette as she whipped past me after the second turnaround, I knew I had to pick up the pace or the AARP crowd was really going to show me what for.

Suddenly, my old exercise Boot Camp instructor's voice came in my head. "When you think you can't do any more, do 5 more. When you think you can't hold on any longer, count to 30. When you think you can't go faster, pick up your feet and do it," Sandi said. I listened and soon I was passing people at the end of mile 3. Mile 4 looked easy-peasy until my side-ache hit. "Nooooo!" was my only thought. I hadn't had to slow down at all and I had just passed people. Darn it.

Fortunately, I kept ahead of my AARP crowd with only 1 of them passing me during the uphill mile 4. That last mile was a killer, but when I crossed the finish line and saw my official time overhead, I was such a happy camper! After getting through the alleys at the end of the race, I met up with one of my AARP crowd who told me that he's been running for over 40 years. AWESOME! He was so encouraging, I felt so good about my time. I met up with Suzette in Wil-O-Way building, grabbed some Cullen Family Chili and then we walked back to our cars.

Now, I sit here in bed writing this and waiting for some Advil to kick in. I love running, but perhaps the 5ks are the way to go. That or no more running in snow. We'll see. Either way, it was an exhilarating way to spend a chilly February morning!

Next up: The Blarney Run.

Found two new races!

Hello all!
I was reminded today at my Alumni Committee Meeting that Gary's Gallop Run/Walk is coming up in April. I love this race because a) it's for my alma mater Wisconsin Lutheran College, b) I think the race director does an awesome job, c) I get another WLC t-shirt, and d) the last 100 yards are a dash across the football field at the Krauss-Miller-Lutz Outdoor Athletic Complex!

There is a 5K run (first mile is down hill!), a 2-mile walk, and a kids' dash after the 5K. They are so cute! You can check out photos of last year's race here. The race attracts about 300 runners and walkers, families, Warriors (that's us WLC folk) and friends! All proceeds go toward WLC's athletic booster organization, the Warrior Club. So far, GG is the only race that I have planned that I've done before. Hopefully, this won't make me to sure of myself and that I can keep a good pace.

I knew I wanted to do Gary's Gallop, but I honestly couldn't remember whether it was in April or March, but now that I know, I was stumped about which race to run in March. Thanks to this handy-dandy site called Running in the USA, I found The Blarney Run.

The Blarney Run is held every spring in Wauwatosa on the weekend nearest to St. Patrick's Day. This 5K has a course for runners and a shorter course for those who want to walk. Like Gary's Gallop and the Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Club Run, parts of this race will be run on the Wil-O-Way Underwood Parkway. I think my favorite part of this race is that the kids' race is called the Twinkle Trot! All proceeds from this race go to helping the Wauwatosa Historical Society.

Anyone want to join me for the races? The more the merrier!