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By kilax, October 30, 2011 7:57 pm

I am training for the NYC Marathon on November 6th.

Day 736 | October 24, 2011: rest

Day 737 | October 25, 2011: 5 m run

I was worried I would feel like crapola (due to eating junk all day) during this run, but it was awesome! I felt speedy and even ran negative splits by feel, without trying (I couldn’t see my watch in the dark). It would be nice if all my runs before the marathon felt this easy! Maybe I just felt so great because I had a day of rest.

Distance: 5.0 | Start Temp: 66° | End Temp: 61° |  Time: 47:37 | Avg Pace: 9:31

Day 738 | October 26, 2011: strength class

More whole body strength moves, using the plyo box, dumbbells and medicine balls. I think I am getting better – we do a lot of core moves on the plyo box, sitting on it and holding our knees up and doing moves with our arms (using the medicine balls or dumbbells). I am getting a lot better at that!

Day 739 | October 27, 2011: strength + 6 m run

Brian came over for a strength workout during my lunch break. We used a weight bench, resistance bands and dumbbells. I was a bit tired from the strength class the night before, but this session went well… but I think Brian was taking it easy on me! He did say I do really well and he is always telling people how strong I am. Aww. That’s nice!

After work I ran 6 miles on the trail by my house. It was a great run. Not a “I can run forever” run, but an “I love to run!” run. It must be the weather! And the beautiful fall leaves. 

Sadly, there has already been vandalism on the new trail by our home. There was graffiti up right away, and now someone has removed some signs (the signs identify the name of the creek) and thrown them in the creek.

Distance: 6.0 | Start Temp: 44° | End Temp: 41° |  Time: 58:16 | Avg Pace: 9:42

Day 740 | October 28, 2011:  8 m run

This run was a bit meh, especially compared to the last two! I was low on energy (for multiple reasons) and overdressed. At least the run had a purpose! I picked up my train ticket and two avocados for my mom. 

Distance: 8.0 | Start Temp: 35° | End Temp: 48° |  Time: 1:25:01 | Avg Pace: 10:37

Day 741 | October 29, 2011: Run Walk and Roll for a Drug Free Community 5K

I ran this 5K with my older brother for the second year in a row! 

Day 742 | October 30, 2011: 8 m run

I drug my butt out of bed as early as I could (after a night of partying), then sat on the couch for awhile contemplating whether or not I would run. I finally made it out after 8:00, and my aunt Sue rode her bike with me! It was rainy and in the 40s, but I had a lot of fun since I had her company! And my run felt pretty decent considering I went to bed so late and had a few drinks. 

Distance: 8.0 |  Time: 1:24:58 | Avg Pace: 10:37

Week Summary: 30.1 miles

One more week until the marathon!

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By kilax, October 29, 2011 11:59 pm

My older brother Nick and I ran the Run Rock and Roll for a Drug Free Community 5K last year (in 28:34). I happened to be in Cedar Falls, IA the same day it was being held this year, so we decided to run it together again. 

And again – no training for Nick. I even sent him a little training plan, but he wasn’t interested. That’s okay with me! 

It was in the mid 30s and sunny – a perfect day for a run! The course starts in front of the Behavioral Services Clinic that hosts the event. Then you run through a parking lot, down a grass hill, and on some streets until you get to a paved trail. Then it’s an out and back on the trail, then back the way you came, with a few hills thrown in. 

I told Nick I thought it would be a good plan to stick to average 9:00 minute miles, and pace ourselves. Well, we averaged 9:00 minute miles, but with positive splits. That works too! Nick did really well. We came in at 27:21 (Garmin stats here), which was good enough for 1st place for me in my age group, and 3rd place for Nick (we had small age groups*). And more than a minute off of our time last year!

Nick did really well this year. Much less overall walking than last year, and a more steady pace! We ran all the way to mile 2, then Nick took a few walk breaks in the last mile (during which I harassed him to start running). Nick said he felt like he had to throw up in the last mile, which I told him meant he was running the 5K “right.” I told him if he did throw up I would pay for his entry fee, but he never did. 

Since it’s so close to Halloween, I wore my funny Stitch hat, which got a few funny comments. And my Team Kimbot Cheer Crew was out there! I love how the shirts turned out that my sister designed! There is a pattern on the back, but I will have to show you that after the NYC Marathon. 

L to R: Sue, Mom, Me, Christina, Dad, and Nick

This race is pretty awesome. It’s $15 in advance or $18 on-site. You get a long sleeved tee, a ton of yummy treats after the race, and a chance to win door prizes. This year I won a UNI t-shirt and Nick won a case of soda. The race is put on by a group of fun, passionate people. I am surprised more people don’t run it! My aunt Sue mentioned she may want to run a 5K next year. Hmm, maybe this one?! I have a lot of fun running with Nick. It would be great to get even more people out there!

*And I would like to note the woman winner won in 25:40 so I may have a chance of winning next year, if I want to go for that. 

Comments (26)

By kilax, October 27, 2011 4:43 pm

I know I am going to wear orange for the NYC Marathon, because it’s my favorite color and that is what my spectators are going to be wearing. And maybe it will make it easier to find me in the crowds? Probably not.

Anyway, I am not sure if I am wearing a tank or a tee yet (with arm warmers, I am not crazy). So, please help me. Which tank should I wear if I wear a tank? Which tee should I wear if I wear a tee? Vote below.

And yeah… I didn’t suck it in for these photos. This is what I look like, right now. I am going to focus on dropping weight after the marathon. (for realz)

Tanks

*Tank #3 has not arrived in the mail yet to try on.

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Tees
  

*Note, tee #3 is my NYC training shirt, which would probably be REALLY WEIRD to wear on race day. But I like its shade of orange the most, which is a bummer.

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Jen, this picture is for you!

Comments (16)

By kilax, October 25, 2011 6:23 am

When Erin and I were at the jewelry show on Saturday we noticed a booth that had a lot of decorative pins, and she told me how her mom used to wear holiday pins (instead of tacky holiday sweaters). I told Erin that I have somehow amassed a large collection of pins, mostly cats, of course.

(Oops – these photos aren’t really the same scale)

Do people still wear pins and buttons? Despite having so many, I have no clue what to do with them, except stick them on my winter coat, or on a sweater.

Do you know any fashionable way to wear pins/buttons? Do you have any?

Comments (14)

By kilax, October 24, 2011 6:30 am

The example in number 4 above describes my feelings perfectly. And that’s all I will get in to about that.

I really hope my new work detail (whenever it starts) will be a refresher for me. And the vacation to New York City should help too. And maybe the excitement of the upcoming holiday season.

In other news, Erin and I went to a fun jewelry and accesories show on Saturday. I got this necklace and earrings set for $6!

I also got two new scarves, two hats, and a few holiday gifts for people. I know a few people think I am overdoing it with the scarves, but look – I don’t have one on today!

Comments (6)

By kilax, October 23, 2011 6:28 pm

I am training for the NYC Marathon on November 6th.

Day 729 | October 17, 2011: rest

Day 730 | October 18, 2011: 7.5 m run (.9 +6.6)

Although I’ve mentioned on here once running “cross country style” back to my house that is NOT what I did for this run. The Garmin thought so though:

Isn’t that weird? I knew something was up with the pace/distance right away, but when I got to my normal one mile mark and was at .9 miles, I restarted the watch and ran the same route again. The watch got it right the second time (running on sidewalks, not in the grass)!

This run was cool and easy. But it was all in the dark. The sun is setting close to 6:00 pm now! Ugh!

I should note that I was a baby about the cooler temps and wore a shirt with arm warmers. I didn’t get too warm though. And I am really starting to love those arm warmers. So maybe that is just what I needed to be wearing. 

Distance: 7.5 | Start Temp: 51° | End Temp: 47° |  Avg Pace: 9:39

Day 731 | October 19, 2011: 4.5 m run (.5 + 4)

I went out in the crazy windstorm with Tracy‘s sister, and two of her friends. I think it was fun running with them, but I am not sure – it was so windy I could barely hear them most of the time! Ha ha. Just kidding (about the not sure part). It’s true that I could barely hear them but we did have a good time. It was quite the adventure running in the wind/rain. I think that’s the first time I’ve been the only one on the Lakefront path (although I did see another runner I know closer to downtown).

The Garmin was being a little turd again and only included the last 4 miles of my run. Sigh. Silly downtown satellite reception! I ran .5 miles and kept restarting it until it held and calculated the last 4 miles.

I was so cold after this run that I shivered at my desk for quite some time. Until I went to Starbuck’s and got a soy chai latte to warm me up. The temp was 48, but “felt like 41” according to weather.com and the wind and rain did not help!

In the evening I went to strength class. We used the plyo box, handweights and medicine balls. The workout was arms focused and I was feeling pretty tired but the end, but really strong throughout the class.

Day 732 | October 20, 2011: 3.5 m run

This run was really slow… because I ran home from the train station with this backpack on.

The backpack weighs 26 pounds. Yikes!

It was a nice run though. Very cool, misty, and I saw 11 deer!

Distance: 3.5 | Temp: 40s | Time: 41:09 |  Avg Pace: 11:44

Day 733 | October 21, 2011: strength + 16 m run

During lunch, Brian came over for a strength session. We did lower and upper body work with me balancing on a foam pad. There was also something he called the centipede, or slugworm… or something, that involved me laying flat with the foam pad under my arms, walking my butt up in the air, the wiggling the pad forward until I was flat again. Yeah. That was tiring. 

In the afternoon, Bobbi came over to my house to run most of my long run with me. Yay! I was really happy she was able to come over – we haven’t been able to run together lately! We just chatted the first 13 miles away and they felt super easy! It was also a beautiful day for a run – cool but sunny.

What are we, FILA and One More Mile models?

We decided to run to the Millennium Trail from my house, something I’d never done before. It required running on streets without shoulders for about 1.5 miles, then on to part of the Millennium Trail that I didn’t even know existed! That was exciting. I love running new places. Unfortunately, on the way back, a few cars drove really close to us (despite there being room for them to get over) and one car even threw something out their window at me. But, another car earlier in the day honked and waved (and maybe gave us thumbs up?) so I guess that makes up for it. 

New part of the trail.

It was a bit hilly… see the hills in the background?  That shirt makes me look all crooked!

After we got back to the house and Bobbi left, I ran the last few miles on my own in the dark. It got cooler so I put my arm warmers on and felt great. 

Distance: 16.0 | Start Temp: 54° | End Temp: 46° |  Time: 2:56:45 | Avg Pace: 11:02

Day 734 | October 22, 2011: 3 m run

I ran three miles first thing in the morning and could not seem to wake up! I used to be a morning runner… maybe not anymore?

Distance: 3.0 | Start Temp: 38° | End Temp: 44° |  Time: 31:42 | Avg Pace: 10:33

Day 735 | October 23, 2011: 7 m run

I was pretty excited about this run, but by the time I got to it, we had been running errands all day and I was exhausted. I think I should have taken a nap instead!

Distance: 7.0 | Start Temp: 66° | End Temp: 62° |  Time: 1:11:00 | Avg Pace: 10:08

Week Summary: 41.5 miles

I am happy the marathon is only two weeks away. I am starting to feel lazy!

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By kilax, October 21, 2011 3:19 pm

This afternoon’s entertainment – Data going crazy for this butterfly outside the window:

Get it, Data!

So close!

Aww, bye bye Butterfly!

Don’t worry Data. I am sure you totally would have gotten it, had it been inside the house. Good eye though!

Comments (17)

By kilax, October 20, 2011 6:14 am

• The Official Handbook came in the mail!

• I found out in the Handbook I am in orange start group. I love orange! This must be a sign! (Okay, maybe not). It looks like the Handbook has good tips for which side of the road spectators need to be on to see the orange group. I am still not sure if I am running on the top or bottom of the Verrazano Bridge.
• I saw this funny little note about baby aspirin in the medical section of the Handbook. I’ve never heard this before. Have you? (click to see larger)

• Awhile ago, Races2Remember contacted me about reviewing their pace bands and eventually doing a giveaway. I am really excited about this because their pace bands are custom per course and your strategy. The bands came in the mail this week as well! Of course, they’re all for goals faster than Milwaukee. Because I am somewhat extremely delusional. 

• Last week I found this totally schweet interactive map of the NYC Marathon on the Asics site. Check it out! There are different notes/tips at the miles markers. A note I found very interesting: In the wee hours of the Friday morning before the marathon, there’s an NYC department of transportation team hard at work doing marathon runners a solid favor. Solid blue, that is. They’re out painting the iconic, dashed blue line that highlights the most direct marathon route. 35 miles and 75 gallons of paint later, the “Marathon Blue” line is ready to help you shave valuable minutes off your time. You mean there is an actual line painted on the course to help me run the tangents? SCHWEET!
• Another cool link – the Runner’s World NY Minute photo project from last year’s marathon. Check it out here – they stationed 6 runners on the course to take pictures at select timing intervals and have a gallery of 5000 shots.  
• The Team Kimbot shirts have been ordered! We made some fun last minute modifications. I cannot wait to see them and am so thankful that my sister designed them! I really doubt anyone here would be interested, but let me know if you want the link to order one. 
• I am more worried about the steep downhills on this course than running the uphills.
• Tara blogged about how reading A Race Like No Other, about the 2007 NYC Marathon, got her totally excited for running it this year. I decided to see if the book would have the same effect on me. It should arrive today! (And was $5 on Amazon Prime, boo yah!)
• Gina knew I was (unsuccessfully) looking for a new visor and picked this one up for me at the Asics store in NYC. I love it! Thanks Gina!

• Speaking of Gina and the Asics store – she was there to get fitted for new running shoes! She ended up with the same ones as me (since she supinates too) – the Asics Gel Cumulus. We are shoe twins!

• Gina has been kicking butt training for the Dash to the Finish Line 5K on November 5th. I am really proud of her for training so hard, and excited about running the 5K with her!
• My plantar fasciitis (PF) is so much better than when I blogged about it back in August. The night boot/sleep support thing has helped so much. Now, my PF only bugs me after I run fast, sit in a car, and sometimes sit on the couch. Interestingly, I was telling my dad about all of this back in August and he thought he had PF too (same typical PF symptoms). I sent him one of those sleep support things to try out this week. We talked last night about how the severity of our PF symptoms varies from day to day. 

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By kilax, October 19, 2011 11:33 am

On September 30th, Erin shared this crazy video of a runner on the Chicago Lakefront path getting hit by a HUGE wave on his run. Seriously, watch it.  

Today I saw this article warning runners of 22 foot waves on the Lakefront path. The article says this storm should be worse than the September one in the video above. And I am supposed to run during lunch. Hmm. Looking out my office window now I can already see the waves. This should be interesting!

If you got soaking wet during a run would you keep running or call it a day and go home?

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By kilax, October 19, 2011 6:17 am

I had a longer version of this story written out that wasn’t really appropriate so here is the abbreviated version.

A lot of times I write about reasons I would be a bad mother (impatient, easily irritated, like my free time, selfish) but today I have a reason Steven would be an awesome father. Some of our neighborhood kids have been having bike issues. A few weeks ago Steven helped them put air in their tires. They’ve been coming back to ask for air, and most recently, Steven made a special trip to the store to get a tool to fix one of their broken chains, and get a new inner tube (the air wouldn’t hold) and also put together a newish bike for one of the kids.

This boy was having issues with the chain on his bike and when we went to the store to get a new chain (and decided it was too expensive) they gave Steven this parts bike to use (it was in the shop’s recycle pile). The boy decided he liked the green bike better so Steven combined the two bikes to make one good one. The original one didn’t even have brakes!

Steven is so nice to be doing all of this. And he is really patient and good with the neighborhood kids.

And hey, the more he knows about bikes, the more likely he is to fix mine if I ever have issues! Ha ha.

Are you handy? Do you like to take things apart and put them back together?

Steven really does! I don’t. But I like that Steven does. So hey… we balance each other out.