snow and ice

Miles today: 4.0

Miles this week: 27.6

Miles in 2010: brrrr!

Sundays are traditionally 7:30am runs from the parking lot next to Isabella's in Boonsboro Shopping Center. I've grown accustomed to getting up early on Sunday mornings with Gregg and heading down to Boonsboro for a run. Most of the time, I run alone. Gregg meets up with Jonathan, JC, and sometimes others and we all run the first mile together, and then they speed up and go on for another 7 (all the way down to Riverside Park) and I chug along at my slower pace.

Today, though, we ran into trouble from last night's grumpy snow storm. Although it was beautiful during the day and fun at night during the Lynchburg Christmas parade (that's my niece Ella and her buddy Lance at the parade), we ran into a little trouble when we arose this morning and found the roads to be quite slick from the thaw and re-freeze of the wet snow/ice. So, as we ran along in that first mile, we quickly found that running fast wouldn't be very smart (to the tune of Jonathan yelping everytime he got close to falling) and we just ran along at a much slower (and safer) pace.

We only ended up running 4 miles because our normal running stride turned into a slippery/icy shuffle and we all were complaining of tired stabilizing quads and ankles by the end.

Altogether, though, it was enjoyable to see the first snow run of the 2010 winter season. It may be chilly, but it's so fun to see the weather change!

Peaks of Otter Christmas Classic

Miles today: 3.1 + 2.97 = 6.1

Miles this week: 23.6

Miles this year: !)(@$*)!

Three years ago on the first Saturday in December, Gregg picked me up for our first date. He and I had finally crossed paths enough for him to ask me to go on a date and earlier that week we had talked on the phone. He asked if I was running the Bedford Christmas Classic, which I was, and then offered to pick me up the morning of the race. So that Saturday, promptly at 6:45am, Gregg showed up at my apartment in his silver BMW Z4 with a Starbucks vanilla latte in hand. I was pumped to be getting a ride in his fancy car, but felt bad telling him that I didn't drink coffee and didn't like lattes.

So, I tried to drink some of the latte on our drive to Bedford. For some reason, we had really connected over running (being that we did meet on the 10 Miler course and all) and going to this race together was kind of special. Gregg was running on a team with some pals from Brook Food Group, Jesse Pratt and a few others, so we met in a parking lot to get everyone together. Then we all went to the middle school and picked up our packets.

When the race was over, Gregg and I waited in the gym for the results, but funny thing--the results were messed up because the race director had accidentally used duplicate numbers. So it took what seemed like hours and hours for results to be processed. I wanted to wait because Gregg had won 4th place overall and I really wanted to know if I placed in my age group. While we waited, Gregg and I talked and talked while sitting on the floor of the Bedford Middle School gymnasium. We had so much to talk about that I think we both knew something was happening between us. When the results were finally finished, Gregg won 4th place and my name was never posted. To this day, my name still isn't in those results. Gregg sent me a picture the following week:

We still laugh about those darn results. I'm pretty sure my time in that race was somewhere around 26:30.

Three years later, Gregg and I have tied the knot and are still running the Christmas Classic every year. I kind of wanted to tell the race director my story and have him design the race t-shirt in honor of our 2010 marriage, but I was a wuss about it and thought it might be conceited to think that anyone would want us on their t-shirt.

In 2008, I ran 26:35 and last year my time was 26:06. My goal this year was to beat last year's time. I ran 24:40 at the race today! I was pretty psyched to have knocked almost 1:30 off my best time on that course. Gregg was pumped for me too. We had a team lined up this year for the race. Riverside Runners was made up of me, Gregg, Ricky Flynn, Darrell Wargo, and Jordan Whitlock. Unfortunately for us, our 1st, 2nd, 11th, and 20th places weren't enough for the win (my 98th place brought our team score down), but everyone on the team placed except for me. Ricky was 1st overall, breaking the course record, winning the "top of the hill" prize, and a turkey (he won $110!), Jordan was 2nd overall, winning some prize money as well. Gregg was first in his age group and Darrell was 2nd in his age group. Here are the guys with all their winnings:

And here's Ricky's turkey:

I was proud of everyone's efforts.

After the race, Gregg and I ran the course in reverse to get in a few extra miles. It felt good to go down the Bedford Hospital hill rather than up it.

To top it all off, Lynchburg's first snow of the winter came today as well. I was pretty psyched when I got home to see snow on the mailbox. I guess that means winter is officially here.

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!

its December?!?

well here's how I really feel...

asdflkjoiugl;jsaf1!()*#%(!

enough there.

miles today: 4.0
miles this week: 12.5
miles in 2010: errr...not sure.

So what I thought I'd do during "project threesixfive" was blog everyday and have an amazing journal of my journey of running everyday for a year.

What really happened was life got in the way, we were planning a wedding, Gregg and I got married, and somewhere in there I quit blogging.

UGH.

I hate those two words together...I quit.

I really did kind of give up on the blog thing.

However, I did do what I was supposed to on the other end of the goal, and that was to run everyday thus far. As of today, I only have 31 days left to run. How cool is that?

Makes me feel pretty good.
So, with my entry into the world of December 2010, I thought I'd re-enter the blog-o-sphere and try to write each day of December to get me back on my wagon...and excite you readers about what's to come in 2011!

So, without further ado...I'm back. And I'm stronger than ever! Go me!