my new husband

Miles today: 2.0

Miles this week: 17.5

Miles this year: ack!

I am lucky to have a super duper new husband. I call him that sometimes and he jokes with me about what happened to my "old" husband.

Reason being: I can pretty much call him any time, any day, and in any weather, and unless something big is happening, he'll probably agree to run with me if I really need him.

Now, don't get me wrong, I can't ask during work...but most any other time, Gregg always comes through.

One really big thing I've learned in the past year is that running alone isn't so bad, but running with someone is really very good. Prior to 3-6-5, I was always a loner-style runner. I preferred running alone because I hated having to think about running as I ran. If I ran with someone, I'd have to constantly think about lots of things: how fast or slow we ran, what to talk about, if I was breathing loud, if I needed to stop would they think I was a wuss, if I needed to fart would they think I was gross, etc. I also liked running alone because it was a good time for me to clear my head. I did have some running buddies who helped with my learning to run with a buddy style before I started 3-6-5 (thanks Stacey & Austin) but I still was kinda scared to run with a friend.

Project 3-6-5 has taught me lots of things, but one of my very favorite lessons in running everyday this year has been that I've become very comfortable with running with people. I still don't mind running alone, but if I do it too many days in a row, I start to get kind of depressed about the monotony. Now, I look forward to finding someone to run with without worrying about what they will think of me or how fast we will go. I don't mind if my partner wants to walk a bit, or if they're faster than me, or even if I have to fart. I just run and enjoy their company and the laughter. It's very freeing.

My favorite running buddy of all is my husband, Gregg. He always comes through. In 2010, there have been a number of days where I either waited until 9pm or later to run, I was scared of the big bad dogs in my neighborhood, or I just was lonely--and Gregg always came through.
Just tonight, I was heading out of work and it was after 6pm. I didn't want to run alone--it was dark, cold and windy. I called Gregg before I left work and without asking any questions, he was ready to meet me at Starbucks to run a few easy miles before the Christmas Classic tomorrow.

I love this man. He just always makes me happy.

Shelley Blades

Miles today: 3.0

Miles this week: 15.5

Miles in 2010: I really will figure this out...1000+?

My friend Shelley and I used to work together at Riverside Runnners. She has a different job now, at L'Arche, where she makes life fun for full-time residents in a home in Boonsboro. The best thing about Shelley and this job is that it has made her so happy. She loves it and she has the best stories about the people she works with. She also has a really rad blog over here. Funny thing is, she started her picture-a-day blog after my run everyday blog and of course she kept going and has done an awesome job, and I haven't.

However, she has been part of my year of running a few times (I wish more) and today we ran together at Percival's Island downtown. It was supa-cold this morning, but it was totally worth it because Shelley is fun to just listen to. She tells funny stories all the time. Sometimes I don't even want to talk because I'd rather hear about her adventures. I miss working with Shelley, but I'm really proud of her and her job at L'Arche.

We made plans to make cookies together with some of the people who live at L'Arche next week. I bet that will be another blog.

We ran 3 miles today because I was super late showing up (that's another trend of mine) and I had to be out of there by 9:00, but it was a great 3 miles and was super fun to run with my bud again.

Thanks Shelley!

Do You Really Need Snowshoes in Lynchburg?

Miles today: 4.8

Miles this week: 18.5

Miles in 2010: 137.3

I still can't believe that we've had 15 + 14 + 4 inches of snow in Lynchburg in the past two months!

Right now it's raining ice outside and I'm just glad that I had someone to run with this afternoon.

We closed the store a little early because of the roads, and just before Chris was getting ready to leave, I asked if he needed a ride home (he ran to work). He said no, that he was going to run back, and I suggested that I run with him, being that I hadn't run yet today. He was all for it...and initially we were just going to run a mile to his house and then I would have come back alone...but then we got to talking and decided to run all the way to the end of Peakland.

I was pumped. Why?

A. I never ran with Chris before.
B. It was snowing and I love running in the snow.
C. We closed the store early, so my run would be in daylight.

I kept warning Chris how slow I would be and that he needed to be ready for it, but he said he didn't mind, so we went on our way.

Basically, the roads were covered with slush and the sidewalks were covered with snow, so anywhere we tried to run was messy.

It was fun to run with Chris because we got to talk about things we don't normally...just about running in general.

I was hoping to stop by his house after the run to have some hot chocolate with Lori, his wife, and Noah, Kristen, and Ben, his three kids, but his road wasn't very plowed, so I dropped him at the corner and made my way home...

Thanks for running, Chris! It was splendid.

Captain (Snow) Crunch

Miles today: 4.9

Miles this week: 8.1

Miles in 2010: 126.9

I kind of think of Jeff, my boss, as the Captain of the ship at Riverside Runners. He's been at the helm since the store started nine years ago and he is so good at his job. He knows so much about running a business, selling shoes, and taking care of customers. He's really good with words and always explains himself really well. He spends lots of time meeting and talking with people who want to make a difference by putting on races in their communities. He works with lots of different venues in Lynchburg to help promote wellness and fitness in the community. He sponsors and puts on a bunch of different running events for many great causes. He's dedicated and confident. I really enjoy working for him...and even more than that, I love, love, LOVE that he supports my running project. It makes me feel like I actually have credibility. When he put the link to Project 365 on the Riverside Runners website, I was pumped.

Tonight, when I was getting ready to leave work to go for my run, Jeff got back to the store and was dressed in his running gear. That meant one thing: he was running with me!

We headed out into the blustery weather, which had picked up since earlier in the afternoon...and big huge wet snowflakes were falling down. The porch, stairs, and sidewalks were all covered and the roads were beginning to cover too...

I haven't run with Jeff since Monday, January 4...when I wrote about the Buddy System and my Cold Weather Gear Debut. Since then, we've been pretty busy at the store and then bombed with snow...so I've been getting my miles in and I haven't had a chance to run with him.

It was really fun to run with him tonight. There are several reasons:

A. Jeff is fun to talk to while running because he always has something interesting to say. (For instance, we talked about barefoot running, my recent falling history, reflective vests, etc...)

B. Jeff knows a lot about running and it makes it interesting.

C. Jeff hasn't been running a lot, so he's not going all out crazy and it feels pretty comfortable to run with him.

D. Jeff always makes me wear a reflective vest when I run with him...even though I oppose it. But then I'm always safe.

Those are just some of the reasons. Anyway, we ran down Rivermont to Oakwood Country Club, through the parking lot, and then decided to head down Peakland, too. I was suprised we would do the whole 5 miles, partially because of the weather and partially because I thought he'd want to go easy, but he pushed through and we made it all the way to the end of Peakland and then turned around and came back.

We talked a little about how some people aren't very good at shovelling their sidewalks, ran some on the road, and just kind of enjoyed the run.

It was fun to be out when the weather was kind of bad because it always feels good to hear fresh snow crunching beneath your sneakers and the feeling of snow flakes in your throat as you inhale them. Jeff's a great running partner. I'm glad I work for him.

The pictures are of us on the porch at Riverside Runners after our run. 

PS: I read somewhere that: "It is not legal for pedestrians to walk or jog in the street if a sidewalk is available." Interesting.

a love story

Miles today: 3.2

Miles in 2010: 66.1

I had to run after work today, so I was mentally preparing for the run while counting the cash drawer. While doing so, there was a knock on the front door of the store, and to my pleasant surprise, Gregg showed up. He just told me he figured I might enjoy a partner on my run.

He's the best.

And so I tell you...a love story ♥

Gregg, my fiancé and I, met while training on the Virginia 10-Miler course in September of 2007. Here's our little story (told in 3rd person...just because...):

Gregg and Heather couldn't have been any further from looking for the right girl/guy in the fall of 2007.

Heather was twenty-five and had pretty much given up on all the cowboys, bad guys, pharmacists, and muscleheads in Lynchburg.

Gregg was almost forty and hadn't found a girl who he wanted to hang out with all the time.

She was busy getting ready for her first half-marathon in August. He was busy helping his friend, Sarah, train for the same half-marathon.

She won a free pair of Mizunos at the race. He noticed Heather at that same race.

About a month later, Heather was out on Langhorne Road, training for the Virginia Ten Miler. Gregg ran up behind her on Farm Basket Hill heading back to E.C. Glass High school and passed her.

She was resting in the parking lot when he came up to her and introduced himself. She declined his offer to stop by the Corner Cafe.

In October, she went to the Corner Cafe for the first time with some friends and saw the owner of the running store, Jeff, there and said hi. Gregg was there with Jeff and noticed Heather again.

In November, Heather saw Gregg at the Lynchburg Road Runners monthly meeting where he asked again if she wanted to stop by the Corner Cafe. She was busy that night. It was less than a week later that Heather and Gregg finally started to talk.

She was out for a run, and stopped by the Corner Cafe. Gregg was there and the two of them started to talk for the first time. By the time they were done, it was getting dark and Gregg offered Heather a ride to her car in his new BMW Z4 convertible. She politely accepted and when he dropped her off, he asked for her number. Since it was almost Thanksgiving, and shre was replacing her broken phone when she got home to PA, she told him not to call her until after Thanksgiving, to which he complied.

It was the following week, on a Thursday, when she would hear from him again, and they got together to hang out. The following Saturday was the Annual Peaks of Otter Christmas Classic 5K and Gregg offered to pick Heather up and take her to the race in Bedford, Virginia. He surprised her with a vanilla latte, which she drank (even though at the time, she didn't like coffee at all) and they spent the morning hanging out at the race. It was after that race that Gregg and Heather couldn't stop hanging out with each other...and would soon be inseparable.

wedding galore!

Miles today: 1.1
Miles in 2010: 62.9

today is Sunday and it was a long day...barely time for a run again...but I got a 1-miler in. i know the pink flowers above don't really have anything to do with running...but they are rununculus and i have wanted those as wedding flowers for a long time.

woke up early for church...message was about Mary's last words, "Do whatever He tells you." thought that was humbling. I keep feeling like i should do something about the people in Haiti...like make them lots of pot roasts and invite them over...or knit some socks or something...

made pot roast in the crockpot when i got home from church and left it to cook while i drove out to Roanoke to see Stace's apartment and take her to David's with me to pick out bridesmaids' dresses. :) had fun in the dressing rooms deciding on colors and stopped by the mall to shop just a little...(clearance at the GAP and Victoria's Secret!)...and then dropped her off and came home around 6.

wanted so badly to get a pedicure today because my toes are looking horrible...but just didn't have the time. ate yummy pot roast during the Jets/Chargers game and then fell asleep in the 4th quarter...woke up to another tear-jerking report about Haiti on 60 Minutes. :( i couldn't get off the couch...but then...

********************finally was motivated to run*******************

"Heather, get your @$$ upstairs and put on a sports bra!" yelled my fiancé.

and I asked him, "Are you a part of this too? Have you run everyday?"

and he said, "No, but I am a part of this with you. Do you want to give up? I'm not letting you."

and so we ran.

Running is Personal

Miles today: 4

Miles in 2010: 49.4

don't think that spending time running with others isn't personal...cause it is.

 

I ran with a Lynchburg Road Runner friend, Nancy, for the first time today...it's  funny how much you learn about someone when you run just a few miles with them.

Nancy has been running for just two years and is a little older than me...but she definitely can maintain! she offered me a lovely peppermint during the run and we chatted about pace, breathing, family, and work.

it was refreshing and interesting to run with someone I don't really know and learn some things about them that i wouldn't normally know unless we ran together.

 I learned that Nancy:

• has a daughter who is 39 and a few grandkids.
• prefers not to wear a jacket when running.
• always carries some peppermints.
• wants to run a 26 minute 5k this year.
• used to be a bookkeeper.
• has a strong kick at the end.
• is fun to run with!

We had a great run and I am always looking for buddies to run with, so if you're reading this and you run an 8-9:30 mile, let me know. I'd love to run with you!

the Lynchburg Road Runners Club

Miles today: 4.4

Miles in 2010: 40.4

tonight was the first meeting of 2010 for the Lynchburg Road Runners Club.

I had to work until 6pm and needed to be at the meeting by 7pm, so I just decided to run to Monte Carlo's, where the meeting was held.

I had a great run, only about 4.4 miles, in the cool crisp air and I even enjoyed running Cranehill and Linkhorne hills.

Hadn't run on Langhorne Road since before Christmas and kinda missed it! Jeff at the store told me I should wear a reflective vest before I left, so I listened. Probably was a smart idea. A car almost didn't see me until the last minute...and maybe wouldn't have seen me at all if I didn't have that reflective vest on!

...and when I got to the meeting, I was met with some disapproval by a few friends who don't want me running at night alone...so I found a running partner for Thursday morning...yipee! Can't wait, Nancy!

Back to the LRR Meeting:

estimated attendance: 25 people
usual attendance in January: 4-6 people

what a great start!

the Lynchburg Road Runners have been around for a long time, and through the years, the club has ebbed and flowed in terms of number of members and involvement in activities.

as a club, we meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month from September through May (June, July, and August are our break months) to discuss club business. we have guest speakers visit to talk about runner's health in the heat, foot care, footwear, among other topics. we've had local runner Sam Chelanga from Liberty University speak about his experience at D1 Cross Country Nationals, and we've had Jeff Fedorko from Riverside Runners share his expertise on footwear and running. every month is different.

in November, the meeting is always centered around an awards ceremony for the Lynchburg Road Runners Race Series, free pizza is offered and awards are given for age groups and overall places in the LRR Race Series.

December finds the club eating pizza and electing officers.

this December, the club elected new officers. they are:

President: Jonathan Perrotto
Vice President: Sue Jones
Secretary: Mike Mitchell
Treasurer: Vic Galan
Membership: Heather Vozel
Newsletter: CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DO THIS!

so if you want to join, come by Riverside Runners and sign up! It's only $15 per person, $20 for a family, and $10 for college students.

See you out there!

+ (plus) one

Miles today: 5.2
Miles in 2010: 36

while running after work today, i had a significant moment of clarity while clearing my head of the days ups and downs.

and i just got to thinking that sometimes, there's just somebody in your life who just makes sense.

when I met Austin this summer, i didn't really think there'd be much more to our friendship than what we did when we worked together...she was 19, i was 27...just didn't think there'd be much between us.

but as i got to know her, i quickly learned that she was kind of like my "plus one" of running. (if you've never seen the "Plus One" episode of Sex and the City, i recommend it) Sometimes God just blesses you with someone you can just glide along with so easily...and that's her.

we started running together this summer and even though she's younger, faster, and way more in shape...we enjoyed our runs together...because it didn't mean we had to talk, it just meant that we could do it and understand each other.

she's a great girl and we logged a good many miles together before she went back to school at Wake Forest...and now when she's home, we always try to squeeze a run in. in fact, you'll remember that the crazy snow we had in lynchburg on December 18th...was just another reason for us to get out and run. here's a few photos we took during our adventures:

so what i was really just saying was that again, tonight, while alone on the Avenue, i just wished i had my plus one with me to enjoy the run. miss you!

Buddy System Proves Strong

I came back to work at Riverside Runners and felt excited to share my new goal with my boss, the store's owner, Jeff. He's a runner as well, and I knew he might be excited about my goal and about my blog. I shared my information with him and he said he might even link to my blog on the Riverside Runners webpage! I think that would be way cool.

Anyway, I didn't have time to run this morning, because of course, it was the first day back to work after three days off, and quite frankly, I enjoyed sleeping in...so that left post-7pm as my only option for running time.

In the middle of the afternoon, I was surprised when Jeff asked me to do a quick segment for WSET on what apparel is suggested for runners who run in below-freezing temperatures. I can't say that I wasn't nervous, but I loved the experience and love to share the link to the clip from tonight's news:

Fighting Cold Temperatures featuring Heather V.

Yes, that's me at the end there, showing apparel! What a great way to encourage myself in my own Three Six Five goal after being asked questions about things I myself should be doing!

Later tonight, Jeff asked me if I was running after work, to which I undeniably answered, "Yes!" He then asked if I brought running clothes with me (which of course even if I hadn't, I could always purchase something from the store...since there's running apparel all around me) and told me he had running clothes with him, and offered to run with me tonight.

SO, even thought it was horribly cold this evening (I believe a frigid, windy 25 degrees), I at the very least, had a buddy to run the cold 3 miles on Rivermont Avenue with...which I believe, always makes running a little bit better.

Miles today: 3.0
Miles in 2010: 8.47