Well my poor neglected blog.. I can’t believe it’s been a month since I last wrote. I need to get better about that.
So I had a pretty eventful July- filled with running, family vacation and a wedding. Here are the brief highlights:
The Month started out awesome as my friend Dana and I PRed (Personal Record) our 5K on July 4th. It was a hot day too, so proud of us! We rocked it! It was my first official run/walk race too, so that was especially great.
Then the next week it was off to Virginia for my family vacation to visit my sister, nephew and brother-in-law who moved there for my Brother-in-law’s job. It was so much fun! My brother and sister-in-law and other two nephews joined us as well. The boys enjoyed playing with each other, having two sleepovers at my sister’s apartment and seeing the ocean for the very first time. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience the first time at the ocean with all 3 of my nephews! Pretty special and they loved it!
The next big event was Amy (fellow MITers) and Scott’s wedding on July 23. It was a great time! I love anytime I get to hang out with my running friends outside of running. It was a full day since I had run 8 miles that morning, but I got a nap before the festivities began. I’m blessed with all the wonderful friends I have from running! They make my life rich and my heart full.
In other running news I have fallen back in love (or at least strong like) with morning running! I used to do it two summers ago and I liked it then. But I will say the only reason I love it so much is the group of ladies I get to share the early (5:30 am) morning runs with! Dana, Amy, Stacy and I meet Monday- Thursday in Dana and Amy’s neighborhood for a run! It’s always great conversation (well once we get woke up it is) and great running too. And we have a new friend who has joined in recently as well Colleen. It is so nice to have my run DONE for the day before I get to work, and then I have the whole evening to do what I want. (Which usually involves an early bed time), but hey meet someone for dinner- you bet, go to a friends, no problem, laundry or whatever seems so much easier at 5 pm when I arrive home than trying to fit in a run and then all that other stuff after work! Loving it! Thanks ladies for your awesome company run after run!
Looking forward to an awesome August- how about you?
Run on Friends,
Heather
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Happy 10 Year Anniversary MIT!
Tomorrow is the Ten year anniversary of MIT, my running group! I can't express the way that MIT helped me change my life. I had run two half marathons on my own, before joining MIT. And once I did there was no looking back. Group runs quickly became the highlight of my week, and the friends I have made through MIT, help put the living in my life!
I tell Jeff G and Tim F all the time, how incredibly blessed I feel that Jeff started MIT and that Tim bought his Fleet Feet franchise here in Columbus Ohio. There is no doubt in my mind that I never would have attempted, let alone finished my first marathon without the coaches and friends I had at MIT. As you all know I have since gone on to run 3 more and am currently training for my 4th.
People who are not with MIT ask me all the time, why I love it so much. The simple answer to that question is because of the support! It is second to none. If you never have experinced it you really can't describe the feeling. It's friends who drove over 150 miles to come suprise me at my second marathon. It's coaches who send out those weekly e-mails with hints and encouragements. It's the planning and care that goes into each and every Saturday or Wedensday workout. And this list could go on and on.
I am blessed to be a part of this incredible group of people, who come out each and every week! They motivate, inspire and encourage me!
So Happy Anniversary to the best running group I know! And thank you a million times thank you to our coaches and founders!
Run on Friends,
Heather
I tell Jeff G and Tim F all the time, how incredibly blessed I feel that Jeff started MIT and that Tim bought his Fleet Feet franchise here in Columbus Ohio. There is no doubt in my mind that I never would have attempted, let alone finished my first marathon without the coaches and friends I had at MIT. As you all know I have since gone on to run 3 more and am currently training for my 4th.
People who are not with MIT ask me all the time, why I love it so much. The simple answer to that question is because of the support! It is second to none. If you never have experinced it you really can't describe the feeling. It's friends who drove over 150 miles to come suprise me at my second marathon. It's coaches who send out those weekly e-mails with hints and encouragements. It's the planning and care that goes into each and every Saturday or Wedensday workout. And this list could go on and on.
I am blessed to be a part of this incredible group of people, who come out each and every week! They motivate, inspire and encourage me!
So Happy Anniversary to the best running group I know! And thank you a million times thank you to our coaches and founders!
Run on Friends,
Heather
Thursday, June 2, 2011
National Running Day and Speed work
Yesterday was National Running Day- a whole day devoted to one of the biggest passions in my life. I love running, for one beause it's so simply- a pair of shoes, clothes and the road is all you need. Of course sharing running with friends is great as well, both kinds of running- alone and with groups give me different perpectives and workouts. Running really has changed my life, in some awesome ways! I'm so blessed my our running group here in Columbus Marathoners in Training (MIT), I never, ever would have run a marathon without them.
So last night in celebration of National Running Day, it was the first speed workout of the season. Speed work is hard work, you always work a little (or a lot) harder than your Marathon pace. Each week is different and Jeff works so hard to mix up our workouts and give us great ones each week.
This week was mile repeats, our prescribed pace was 11:42 for the mile, but we did our first one at 10:42 (oops?) and the second one at 11:21, so faster than prescribed, maybe this means a faster marathon. We shall see! It was great to have company since some friends are trying speedwork and they run my pace! Yipee!
It was a great night for a run, much less humid.
I enjoyed my celebration of National Running Day! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!! Hope all my running friends had a great National Running Day as well! Looking forward to another celebration at MIT on Saturday!
Run on Friends,
Heather
So last night in celebration of National Running Day, it was the first speed workout of the season. Speed work is hard work, you always work a little (or a lot) harder than your Marathon pace. Each week is different and Jeff works so hard to mix up our workouts and give us great ones each week.
This week was mile repeats, our prescribed pace was 11:42 for the mile, but we did our first one at 10:42 (oops?) and the second one at 11:21, so faster than prescribed, maybe this means a faster marathon. We shall see! It was great to have company since some friends are trying speedwork and they run my pace! Yipee!
It was a great night for a run, much less humid.
I enjoyed my celebration of National Running Day! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!! Hope all my running friends had a great National Running Day as well! Looking forward to another celebration at MIT on Saturday!
Run on Friends,
Heather
Thursday, May 26, 2011
First Run of the Season and other randomness
On Saturday (May 21) we had our very first run of the MIT season! It was great! So many people (the spring/summer session is always huge), and so many new people too, which always makes me smile. We have an awesome running community here in Columbus Ohio.
I am training with a new group this season the run/walk group. This group is based upon the Jeff Galloway training method of taking short, brisk walk "breaks" throughout the mileage starting at the very beginning. The theory being it gives your muscles a short rest from constant running and allows them to work in a different way. I am excited to try it out- I have walked in every marathon I've ever done to some extent, so I figure why not get the benefit from the very beginning.
Also as an added bonus my good friend Dana is the coach and is training for her first marathon, Marine Corps so we are going to train together and run the race together. I am very much looking forward to sharing the miles with her this summer! Running has given me so many wonderful friends! I truly am blessed to have them in my life- more than I can say!
After the MIT run I came home and waited for my parents to arrive. They do not live far from me (about 2 hours), but this visit they decided to stay overnight on Saturday. We had a very nice weekend hanging out, going to church, and shopping. The largest purchase was I selected new carpet for my living/dinning area in my condo. I have needed new carpet for a while so I am excited to get it installed next week!! I will attempt to take and post pictures.
I am very much looking forward to a long weekend!
I am training with a new group this season the run/walk group. This group is based upon the Jeff Galloway training method of taking short, brisk walk "breaks" throughout the mileage starting at the very beginning. The theory being it gives your muscles a short rest from constant running and allows them to work in a different way. I am excited to try it out- I have walked in every marathon I've ever done to some extent, so I figure why not get the benefit from the very beginning.
Also as an added bonus my good friend Dana is the coach and is training for her first marathon, Marine Corps so we are going to train together and run the race together. I am very much looking forward to sharing the miles with her this summer! Running has given me so many wonderful friends! I truly am blessed to have them in my life- more than I can say!
After the MIT run I came home and waited for my parents to arrive. They do not live far from me (about 2 hours), but this visit they decided to stay overnight on Saturday. We had a very nice weekend hanging out, going to church, and shopping. The largest purchase was I selected new carpet for my living/dinning area in my condo. I have needed new carpet for a while so I am excited to get it installed next week!! I will attempt to take and post pictures.
I am very much looking forward to a long weekend!
Friday, May 13, 2011
New Training Session- New Blog Use
Holy Cow it's been forever since I've posted a blog entry! Almost a year.
Recently I have been inspired by my friend Sara and her blog (it really is great you should check it out!), to get my own blog more active. So here we go! I'm going to try to post something at least once per week about running mostly but probably with some other things thrown in there as well.
I recently completed my 6th half marathon, the Flying Pig in Cincinnati- what fun! It was a great race, well organized, tons of crowd support and you just can't beat the theme! Pigs and pink everywhere! In fact I wore a pink sparkle skirt for the race, along with several of my "sole sisters". The race was a little rainy and a LOT hilly, so it wasn't a personal best time, but I was proud of finishing strong and running the second half of the race faster than the first!
Then the following weekend (May 7th) I was privelaged to pace a group for the Cap City Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles). In 2006 I ran this half marathon as my very first half marathon and that was the race that started it all for me- so it seemed appropriate to go back and lead a pace group and give back just a little bit to the running community to has and continues to give so much to me.
I had fun and had many people come up and thank me aftewards and tell me they were watching my sign for pace. Many of my Marthoner in Training (MIT) friends ran the half, and for some of them it was their very first half! In additon many, many friends (far too many to name here less I leave anyone out) ran personal best times! In fact many ran what I call "Rock Star" times and paces! Go MIT!
So that concluded my winter season with MIT! This weekend Sara, Jessica, and Bill (all MIT friends) will be running their very first marathons in Pittsburg (Sara) and Cleveland ( Jessica and Bill). I know they are all going to do awesome, and I can't wait to welcome them into the marathon club!
Next week I will begin a brand new season with MIT and will train through the summer for the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30! Many MIT friends including some of my favorite sole sisters are going to run it as well! It's going to be a fun summer of training (well mostly fun), of course it will be hard work but in the words of my favorite running author Kristen Armstrong.. "We don't run because it's easy, we run because it's real."
Looking forward to posting more as the summer progresses, maybe I'll even get all fancy and post a picture from time to time too!
Run on friends,
Heather
Recently I have been inspired by my friend Sara and her blog (it really is great you should check it out!), to get my own blog more active. So here we go! I'm going to try to post something at least once per week about running mostly but probably with some other things thrown in there as well.
I recently completed my 6th half marathon, the Flying Pig in Cincinnati- what fun! It was a great race, well organized, tons of crowd support and you just can't beat the theme! Pigs and pink everywhere! In fact I wore a pink sparkle skirt for the race, along with several of my "sole sisters". The race was a little rainy and a LOT hilly, so it wasn't a personal best time, but I was proud of finishing strong and running the second half of the race faster than the first!
Then the following weekend (May 7th) I was privelaged to pace a group for the Cap City Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles). In 2006 I ran this half marathon as my very first half marathon and that was the race that started it all for me- so it seemed appropriate to go back and lead a pace group and give back just a little bit to the running community to has and continues to give so much to me.
I had fun and had many people come up and thank me aftewards and tell me they were watching my sign for pace. Many of my Marthoner in Training (MIT) friends ran the half, and for some of them it was their very first half! In additon many, many friends (far too many to name here less I leave anyone out) ran personal best times! In fact many ran what I call "Rock Star" times and paces! Go MIT!
So that concluded my winter season with MIT! This weekend Sara, Jessica, and Bill (all MIT friends) will be running their very first marathons in Pittsburg (Sara) and Cleveland ( Jessica and Bill). I know they are all going to do awesome, and I can't wait to welcome them into the marathon club!
Next week I will begin a brand new season with MIT and will train through the summer for the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30! Many MIT friends including some of my favorite sole sisters are going to run it as well! It's going to be a fun summer of training (well mostly fun), of course it will be hard work but in the words of my favorite running author Kristen Armstrong.. "We don't run because it's easy, we run because it's real."
Looking forward to posting more as the summer progresses, maybe I'll even get all fancy and post a picture from time to time too!
Run on friends,
Heather
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Week in Review or something like that!
I had a very good week- of course helped by the fact that it was a short one! :)
My Cousin's wedding was very fun and I enjoyed myself. The reception was a lot of fun and the food was good. Maggie made a beautiful bride, it's hard for me to believe she's married since I remember when she was born.
My three nephews had a lot of fun too and enjoyed going with Aunt Heather to get Green Pop (aka Sprite) many times. Braydan enjoyed that the bartender gave him cherries! :) The also enjoyed the dancing and since the bride and groom are both Ohio State Graduates they played Hang on Sloopy and I taught all three boys the fine art of the O-H-I-O. Hey what can I say have to train them young!!
The rest of the weekend was very relaxing a cookout on Sunday and then we just hung out on Monday. I took the dog for a couple of walks as well as getting in my run on Monday.
The rest of this weeks running has been good- although on Wedensday I got my run cut short by a thunderstorm, last time I believe a 10% chance of rain! :)
In WW news I lost 2lbs last week and 1 lb this week, which I will gladly take! I also tracked all my points for all 7 days, which is a big improvement over what I had been doing. Hey if I don't write it down it doesn't count right? Umm not so much.
This weekend I'm looking forward to a great run tomorrow with MIT in the morning! And then my parents are coming into town so we can go to Peyton's Tap and Tumble recital. He does this every Monday at Day Care and loves it so he's excited to show off what he's learned.
My Cousin's wedding was very fun and I enjoyed myself. The reception was a lot of fun and the food was good. Maggie made a beautiful bride, it's hard for me to believe she's married since I remember when she was born.
My three nephews had a lot of fun too and enjoyed going with Aunt Heather to get Green Pop (aka Sprite) many times. Braydan enjoyed that the bartender gave him cherries! :) The also enjoyed the dancing and since the bride and groom are both Ohio State Graduates they played Hang on Sloopy and I taught all three boys the fine art of the O-H-I-O. Hey what can I say have to train them young!!
The rest of the weekend was very relaxing a cookout on Sunday and then we just hung out on Monday. I took the dog for a couple of walks as well as getting in my run on Monday.
The rest of this weeks running has been good- although on Wedensday I got my run cut short by a thunderstorm, last time I believe a 10% chance of rain! :)
In WW news I lost 2lbs last week and 1 lb this week, which I will gladly take! I also tracked all my points for all 7 days, which is a big improvement over what I had been doing. Hey if I don't write it down it doesn't count right? Umm not so much.
This weekend I'm looking forward to a great run tomorrow with MIT in the morning! And then my parents are coming into town so we can go to Peyton's Tap and Tumble recital. He does this every Monday at Day Care and loves it so he's excited to show off what he's learned.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Weekend is here!! Very exciting no?
First a quick re-cap of last weeks MIT run- oh so much fun! (hey that rhymed!) J Anyway I ran with the 12/mile group and my friend Pru is coaching it this season- YEAH! That in itself is very exciting for me, I adore Pru, she’s one awesome lady! Anyway that’s my goal for long runs this season, nothing slower than a 12 (since I hope to run Chicago at an anything under 12 minute average this should work out well), I hope so anyway. I ran 5 miles with the group and stuck with them the whole time- yeah! And my friend Wendy is committed to 12s as well, Yippee!
So this weekend is a busy one- first up tonight I got my finger and toe nails painted.
First a quick re-cap of last weeks MIT run- oh so much fun! (hey that rhymed!) J Anyway I ran with the 12/mile group and my friend Pru is coaching it this season- YEAH! That in itself is very exciting for me, I adore Pru, she’s one awesome lady! Anyway that’s my goal for long runs this season, nothing slower than a 12 (since I hope to run Chicago at an anything under 12 minute average this should work out well), I hope so anyway. I ran 5 miles with the group and stuck with them the whole time- yeah! And my friend Wendy is committed to 12s as well, Yippee!
So this weekend is a busy one- first up tonight I got my finger and toe nails painted.
Then tomorrow is my run with MIT (7 miles planned) and after that home for a shower and then off to my parents house for the weekend. Tomorrow evening my cousin Maggie gets married. Should be fun! Cocktails and cake oh my! Hey at least I’m running 7 miles in the morning, bet no one else in my family will be able to say that!
And on that note I’m back on Weight Watchers (WW) full time hard core like I was when I first started. I have tracked every day this week. I’ve been trying for over a year now to get back on the WW wagon fully and completely and with full commitment, and I’d do fine for a few weeks or even a few months and then I’d fall off the wagon and be right back to eating unhealthy food. I know I run better when I fuel better and so for this whole summer I’m going to track, eat healthy, and exercise (that part should be no problem, what with the marathon training and all) We’ll see where I end up at the end of the training season. In any event I’ll be lighter than I am right now! I’m hoping for at least 20 lbs on Marathon Day- 20 weeks- 20 lbs.
In other news my nephew Braydan (pictured above) had his first stitches this week- he fell from a tree and a tree branch cut him right across his forehead (ouch!) he needed 19 stiches to close the gash! Poor guy! But thankfully no broken bones or concussion or anything.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend all and THANK YOU to Servicemen and Women, who have sacrificed and continue to do so, so I can enjoy the freedoms I am so richly blessed with!
Have great weekends all!
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