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By kilax, February 20, 2012 4:56 am

After five days off from running I was itching to get out and get moving! And Sunday was the perfect day for the Cherry Tree 10 Miler 3-Person Relay in Prospect Park in Brooklyn – sunny skies and warm temps in the low 40s.

I was also in NYC for Presidents Day last year and thought about doing the Cherry Tree 10 Miler, but it didn’t work out with our schedule. This year it was perfect though! Gina just finished the Couch to 5K program and was our first leg, and her brother-in-law Greg was our second leg. I was the anchor!

Funny story – right before the start I was looking for someone to take our photo but felt like I couldn’t ask anyone because everyone I saw was a runner rushing to the start. I thought I heard someone saying “Kim” but I ignored it because I figured they were calling another Kim – I don’t know anyone in Brooklyn, right?

Turns out, it was Tracy and Tara! It’s too awesome that I ran in to them! I had not seen them both since last July when we all ran in Central Park together. So I asked them to take the picture above. Ha ha. Then we chatted for a short bit before the race start. 

Then Gina was off! Greg and I chatted while Gina was running and before we knew it, it was time for the first hand off.

Gina did an amazing job on the first leg (a PDR for her) but made sure to warn me about the monster hill! We chatted a bit, then I got in to the relay exchange line on a whim, and all of a sudden Greg was sprinting it to hand me the “baton” (slap bracelet) and I was off! 

The first part of the course was mostly downhill, then there was an uphill. But I was just SO HAPPY to be running, I did not notice it. I felt like I was on Cloud 9 thinking “I love races!” “I love running!” “I love NYC!”

I saw Steven and Steve along the course, then surged up the hill and caught up with Tracy and Tara (and a friend of theirs) and chatted with them for a bit. Then I went on for another mile, then sprinted out the last .38 miles. 

I ran 3.38 miles in 27:41 and our team time was 1:37:22 for an average pace of 9:45! I think we made an excellent team and we are already talking about doing it next year!

Have you ever run the relay version of a race? (this race was a 10 miler or 10 miler 3-person relay)

I was really giddy when we were done with the relay – that is what a few days off running does to me. Or maybe it’s just that I love running in NYC with my friends? That’s probably it!

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By kilax, February 19, 2012 5:03 am

This week ended up being mostly a rest week because of my weird swollen ankle. So let’s focus on something fun. Remember Olivier, the French man who helped me finish the NYC Marathon? I mentioned that I contacted him on Facebook in November… he just responded! How cool, since I am in NYC this week! He even said he often speaks of me! Aww. 

Day 848 | February 13, 2012: 7 m run (6×4 minutes with 2 minute recovery)

Ugh, crappy run! My head was not in the game, even though I tried to get it there (and… it was windy and I felt feverish). Meh. I did not hit my goal pace for each interval, and I think this is my last speed workout before the race on 2/26!

2 mile warm-up, 6 x 4 minutes between 7:30-7:35mm, 2 minute recovery, 1 mile cool-down. How did I do? 7:28, 7:43, 7:34, 7:24, 7:27, 7:42

Distance: 7.0 | Start Temp: 32° | End Temp: 33° | Time: 1:02:43 | Avg Pace: 8:58

Day 849 | February 14, 2012: strength

I went to the Tuesday Strength Class since I would be traveling Wednesday. It was nice to see my friends from the running club who take the Tuesday class! Not so nice – my swollen ankle. Ouch. We used boxes and did a lot of jumps, but I had to modify for my stupid foot. I even skipped my run this day, to let it rest. Wah. 

Day 850 | February 15, 2012: rest

My ankle was swollen enough to make me limp in to the office. Wah. 

Day 851 | February 16, 2012: rest

Another day off… although walking around NYC seemed to make my ankle feel better!

Day 852 | February 17, 2012: rest

Day 853 | February 18, 2012: rest

Day 854 | February 19, 2012: Cherry Tree 10-Miler Relay (3.35 miles)

Week Summary: 10.35 miles

Wow, what a fun week. My ankle was so swollen Tuesday-Friday that I did not run. I spent my nights like this:

It finally went down Saturday, just in time for my race with Gina on Sunday! Boo yah!

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By kilax, February 18, 2012 5:21 am

I feel so comfortable when we visit (and stay with) Gina and Steve in Queens. And it’s not just the awesome comfort of being around friends you totally love and feel you can be 100% yourself around… but also the comfort and familiarity of the city. I’ve only been to NYC five times in my life (four of those being in the last year staying at Gina and Steve’s house) but I really feel at ease when I visit. It feels counter intuitive to write that, since NYC is such an active city (how could one feel at ease?), but there is just this lack of worry when I am here. I feel confident, like I can figure out what I want to do, and how to get there, without much planning. I just feel comfortable. Part of that is being with friends, but I think part of that is my love for the city (and wayfinding). I don’t consider myself to know a lot about the city, but I just feel a lack of intimidation and a strange level of comfort – more than I feel in the actual city of Chicago.  The feeling is similar to how I feel at my home and surrounding areas in the Chicago suburbs.

Am I making sense to anyone?

I wonder if this is a connection people make with NYC (only) or if it’s just that visiting another city time and time again makes it have the comfort level of “home.”

Are there any cities you visit (besides your hometown) that you feel an extreme level of comfort in?

Maybe people who travel over and over to the same place for work?

Or maybe the friend connection is vital to this feeling?

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By kilax, February 17, 2012 5:00 am

Do you ever completely  “unplug” when you go on vacation? Why or why not?

When I was packing for my trip to NYC I realized I bring a lot of electronics and chargers with me.

Phones/WiFi:

Computers/Tablets:

Camera/Music/Watch:

(not pictured – blue tooth headset that I have not set up with my new phone yet)

So many people talk about their relaxing vacations where they completely unplug (no phone, internet, etc.) and I was thinking how that only happens when I am forced to unplug because of connectivity (when I am in Guttenberg, IA there is hardly any cell service). 

I really like it when it happens! I love being away from electronics all day, and not even having a watch on to know what time it is… but if I am vacationing in a  metropolitan city, I am going to at least have my netbook with me to check email!

(What I am bad at is staying caught up with Google Reader – I can really only read as many blogs as I do because of my long commute. No commute = no blog reading time. I will catch up with your blog though!)

So… I think I have a minor issue with being disconnected. Does anyone else?

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By kilax, February 16, 2012 4:35 am

• Even though that detail I thought I was going to get in DC never happened, I sure am happy I sat on another floor of my office for awhile. It got me a meeting with the head of our company, and since then, she has been passing my name along for a lot of opportunities. Even if they don’t turn in to anything, my name is still getting out. 
• I mentioned this before, but it really bugs me when I meet someone new, then am telling another person that I met that new person (are you following?) and they proceed to tell me all of their negative perceptions of new person I just met. Please, spare me. I can form my own opinion.
• I went from having no smart phone to two smart phones this week (personal phone and work phone). Feel free to welcome me to the 21st Century.

FaceTime!

• I met Kelly for lunch this week! It was our first time meeting and we chatted our short lunch break time away. She is a lot of fun, and so passionate about a variety of things. That was really refreshing. The only problem is that our offices are too far apart. But they are a lot closer than our homes – we live about 75 miles from one another. 

 

• I have been losing weight but you would never guess it if you saw my head shot (see photo above). I can’t wait to lose some weight in my face. 
• I had the whole row to myself on the airplane last night!

Link Love!

• Check out Run Gingerfoxxx’s very personal post about Huntington’s Disease and how you can help raise money for research on the disease by running the Chicago Half Marathon!

Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.

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By kilax, February 14, 2012 10:23 pm

Meet my new friend!

Even though we just met today, I have a feeling we are going to be close. 

Okay, that’s a lie. I met this guy the summer I did my homemade waterslide stunt and tore the ligaments in my wrist. He helped me out until I had a permanent wrist brace. Anyway…

The bruise I mentioned here has moved from the side of my foot up my ankle. Here is a really dramatic angled photo that makes my foot look really puffy (I blurred out my ugly toes):

Here is a less dramatic photo with the ouchy area circled in red. 

So this started hurting Sunday afternoon. I rested all day Monday (*cough, except speedwork, cough*). Then today I wore my cute boots at work and my feet killed me all day. I can’t turn my ankle without feeling like the muscles are tearing a bit. 

So… rest and ice until this bad boy feels better! I won’t be able to see the doctor until next week, if I decide to at all (hopefully it will heal itself and I won’t have to). 

I spent the day feeling sorry for myself, then snapped out of it. I realized:

1. If this is all that hurts, that is not much. 
2. I think I am freaking out since I have not had an “injury” in so long. I am a worrywart. 
3. This is obviously from rolling my ankle a week ago – it will heal soon.
4. I am only training for a 5K. It’s on 2/26, but I have a back-up 5K on 3/31 (and the back-up is FLAT!).
5. I can still strength train and cross train. 
6. I can still run…

Okay, the only problem would be if I have to take more than one day off of running. See, my eating habits depend on me burning muchos calories from running. I think I eat over 2000 calories a day, and still usually lose weight. So… this could be an issue. We’ll see…

Which would you rather do to lose weight – eat less or workout more?

Workout more for sure!!!

Data was running around in the bathroom while I was taking photos. Hi, Data.

He was also “assisting” with packing. Sigh. Look at that grumpy face!

Alright, thanks for reading my whiny post. Hopefully I will have something better for you tomorrow.

Comments (35)

By kilax, February 14, 2012 4:47 am

… through shoes*?

I wasn’t even going to mention Valentine’s Day, as it’s not particularly high on my holidays of importance radar, and because my husband is not even in the same state, but… my mom’s mom sent me this awesome homemade Valentine’s Day card, and I had to share it!

Grandma, you know me too well. Running shoes are the way to my heart. I am yours!

(Ahem, I am an Asics girl though)

Also, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I would like to share this story with you. Cute!

And, also in honor of Valentine’s Day (again), I would like to ask you:

What is your favorite kind of chocolate?

I am a dark chocolate girl, all the way. Lately, I have been loving dark chocolate with sea salt in it. Holy cow, that stuff is AMAZING! I also love dark chocolate with orange in it, and dark chocolate covered orange peels. 

*running shoes for this girl!

Comments (38)

By kilax, February 13, 2012 4:45 am

Awhile ago I saw this post on Losing Weight in the City, about how the blogger, Theodora, used a personal stylist to help her go through her closet and put some outfits together. I emailed the post to Erin and said “You could do this!” Then said, “Hey, you should help me go through my closet when you come over on the 12th!”

Pushy, much?

So, enter Erin the Stylist:

I went through my closet with Erin, pointing out the tops I never wear because I have no idea what to wear them with, and she put together some cute outfits for me. She even made a beige jacket and black skirt appear that I could not recall owning. Sweet! (Ignore my messy hair and my bad editing of these photos (body scale wise))

I also asked for help figuring out how to wear my summer dresses in the winter. Success!

After a few hours of going through my closet, we trekked over to Kohl’s where Erin found this jacket for me for $8.00! EIGHT DOLLARS!

I love Erin. Everyone needs a best friend like her. 

Would you like someone to go through your closet and help you put some outfits together?

I mentioned to Erin that she should just pack my suitcase for NYC since she was there, but she didn’t bite on that. Ha ha. I think I will be wearing a few of these casual outfits (the whole reason we took photos was so I could remember what we came up with!).

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By kilax, February 12, 2012 9:39 pm

Day 841 | February 6, 2012: 6.5 m run (5×4 minutes with 2 minute recovery)

Even the weather channel was mocking my canceled trip to NYC. 

Joke’s on YOU, Weather Channel! I prefer running in the 30s! I don’t need no stinkin’ 40s.

Shudder. Just writing that double negative… yuck. 

I was really surprised I was able to do this run. I had a crappy day and treated myself to a lot of sweets.  

So on on the workout. 2 mile warm-up, followed by 5×4 minutes between 7:30-7:40, and a 1 mile cool-down. How did I do? My 5 4-minute splits were: 7:35, 7:30, 7:34, 7:39 and 7:40. Right on target.

This workout made me feel like I could actually met my 5K goal. That doesn’t mean it was easy. I had to remind myself to pump my arms and work through it! But I didn’t wimp out, and that makes me happy.

Distance: 6.5 | Start Temp: 30° | End Temp: 29° | Time: 56:36 | Avg Pace: 8:42

Day 842 | February 7, 2012: rest

I loved having this Tuesday off. Steven surprised me by bringing home sandwiches and we ate them on the couch while watching a movie. Soooo relaxing.

Day 843 | February 8, 2012: 6 m run + strength class

Since it was light out when I was running I decided to run the hilly trail by my house. 

Yep. Hills still suck. Ha ha. I think this is the fastest I’ve ever run that route though. 

I had a nagging feeling on the right side of my right foot during the run. I hope that doesn’t turn in to anything. 

Distance: 6.0 | Start Temp: 35° | End Temp: 33° | Time: 56:32 | Avg Pace: 9:25

After my run I took a hot bath. Then went to strength class. I knew it was  bad idea but I did it anyway. I was wiped during class and my foot hurt too. I was not able to give class my all and had to modify some of the moves. 

Day 844 | February 9, 2012: cross

I used the recumbent bike in the gym – I am not even recall the last time I did that! It was a nice, relaxing ride (set on manual, 5.98 miles in 35 minutes). I read Getting a Grip while I was riding.

Day 845 | February 10, 2012: 6 m run (easy w/5×10-15 sec strides)

Yay, I actually got my butt out of bed to run before work! And my foot felt fine too! Double Yay!!!

I actually saw another runner during this run, all decked out in reflective gear and lights. We said good morning and waved. I think that was the highlight of this run!

I did 5 x 15 second strides from miles 2-4. Those are always a good pick-up!

Distance: 6.0 | Start Temp: 32° | End Temp: 32° | Time: 54:43 | Avg Pace: 9:07

Day 846 | February 11, 2012: 14 m run (easy)

I was nervous about this run because the forecast said cold and windy. But the sun was out so the 10°F temp didn’t seem so bad. And the wind was bearable (15mph dusting to 23mph). Plus, I ran ran 3 loops in my neighborhood so I didn’t have to carry water or GU (which would never work in the summer) and it was nice to have my hands free. 

What was challenging was the footing! We got a few inches of snow late Friday so I had to wear my Yak Trax. The left one started to feel funny around mile 3.5, so I stopped and one of the rubber pieces and coils had broken! I tried to loop it together, but it completely came off at mile 5.5 (the coil). So I took the left Yak Trax off and just ran with one on my right foot and none on my left. So I would slip with my left foot then regain stability on my right. That made the run… interesting. 

Has anyone else had their Yak Trax fall apart like that?

Overall though, it was a good pace for me, in the snow and cold – 10:18 mm.

Distance: 14.0 | Start Temp: 10° | End Temp: 15° | Time: 2:24:06 | Avg Pace: 10:18

Day 847 | February 12, 2012: 6 m run (easy)

My legs felt a bit tired during this run, but I felt okay overall.

Later on in the day, I noticed my weird-o bruise on my right foot moved to a pain in my ankle. Yay, fun times. I talked to my coach about it, and we are going to modify my schedule this week if necessary.

Distance: 6.0 | Start Temp: 20° | End Temp: 24° | Time: 56:04 | Avg Pace: 9:20

Week Summary: 38.5 miles

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By kilax, February 11, 2012 12:55 pm

Ugh, I can’t stand to have a whiny, revealing post like that last one up on it’s own. So here’s some fluff.

For how long have skinny jeans been trendy? Really…? I just now bought my first pair, last night, so that I would not have to fold my jeans to get my boots on. 

When we left the store, I said to Steven “Skinny jeans make me feel fat!” He humorously responded, “Isn’t that why they are called skinny jeans?” and made me laugh. 

Actually, what I meant was, when I picked up the jeans to try on, I grabbed a size 10 and 12, because I have been fitting in to size 10 lately. I even said “I am not going to buy these unless the size 10 fits!” So when I had to buy the size 12, I was annoyed. 

But oh my freakin’ gosh, who cares and what does it matter? They are jeans that fit my body! Stupid clothing size number. I am going to leave this sticker on all day and wear it proud.

Okay, not really. I am not sure if Steven would take me out in public with a sticker under my butt! Ha ha. 

Do you own skinny jeans? Do they serve any other purpose besides making it easier to wear boots over your jeans?