This Week's Workout (7/18/05 - 7/24/05)

I'm finally getting around to posting my weekly update. Overall, it was a pretty good week. I managed to get in two short runs this week, both of which were outside. And the long run (10 miles) wasn't so bad either. So here are the gory details.

Monday, July 18th, 2005
Workout - None

I can't actually remember why I didn't workout or even what I did instead of working out. It was soooooo long ago. Maybe I went shopping or ran errands. I apologize if I actually spent time with someone after work on Monday and I forgot. But either way it was a rest day.

Tuesday, July 19th, 2005
Workout - Really Good

I went for a run around my neighborhood. I decided to take a different route that included more hills. On the way out it was mostly down hill with a few short up hill sections. This is good since I didn't want to start off too hard. But oddly enough I didn't struggle as much as I thought I would on the way back. In fact, I decided to continue running even after I made it back to my place. So, I ran my usual route to finish up. Overall a really good run. If the sun hadn't already set I would have continued running, but it was like 8:45 already so I called it quits. I saw my neighbor, Allison, while I was outside stretching and she said that she wanted to run w/ me. I said sure and we made plans to run together on Wednesday.

Wednesday, July 20th, 2005
Workout - Really Good

Normally I don't do back to back runs, but Allison wanted to run with me this evening and I figured I wouldn't be running at my regular pace anyway. Unfortunately when I got home 30 minutes late her car wasn't there. I must have missed her. So, I ran the hills again. My pace was a little slower than yesterday, but I added the longest steepest hill I could find to my route. I managed to run the entire hill and kept my pace after I reached the top. Overall another good run. I caught up w/ Allison in the parking lot and found out that she was late coming home. She was really sorry and really wanted to run w/ me. Oh well, I had a better workout without her. So, I wasn't mad at all.

Thursday, July 21st, 2005
Workout - None

Can you believe it? I actually went on a date! Wow, two dates in the same year? I'm a roll. Anyway, I met this one online. He read my profile and still decided to ask me out. I figured he must be really brave or psycho. Either way I was desperate to go out. So, we saw "Ray" staring Jamie Foxx at GMU's "Movies Under the Moon" showcase. I had a nice time. He seemed really nervous and tense around me. I guess I have that affect on people. Who knows? But he was brave enough to ask me out again. So, I'll keep you posted.

Friday, July 22nd, 2005
Workout - None

Rest day. Tomorrow is an easy 10, which means easy 10 mile run. Since when is a 10 mile run easy? Anyway, I went shopping on Friday night. I was bargain hunting, which means I don't really want or need anything, but if it's 40% off I must have it!

Saturday, July 23rd, 2005
Workout - Better Than Expected

So I'm up at 4:15am and I'm really looking forward to this run. When I arrived no one in my group was there. Laura, Amy, Bobby, Michelle, Ellen were all MIA. I was worried that I would have to run alone. As we were finishing warm-ups Michelle finally shows up, but wasn't feeling well. Fortunately she got better the further we ran. Today's route started at the Pentagon - -down GW Parkway - across the Memorial Bridge - down Rock Creek Parkway along the waterfront - past the Kennedy Center and Watergate - continue along the RC Parkway to the RC Trail - follow the RC Trail all the way to the National Zoo and then come back. See, an easy 10.

I actually ran pretty well for the first 8 miles. I was feeling really good. I kept pace. No aches, pains or fatigue. For 8 miles I figured I was on my way to a PR (Personal Record), but then somewhere around mile 8 Michelle and Julie started to slow down and I slowed down too, but I wanted to keep running. We both ran out of water, but despite that it wasn't anything like last week when I totally ran out of gas. I was able the keep running in shorter intervals and ended by running across the finish line. Total time 2:30, 10 minutes slower than the last 10 mile run.

Later that afternoon I went to my friend Roxane's son's Birthday Party. He is turning 6. After the party I still had the urge to do more bargain hunting. Despite the fact that I was exhausted, I managed to pull together enough strength to do the other thing that I love, which is shop. I bought a pair of jeans from Old Navy. This is my very first pair of Old Navy jeans!! I could never fit in Old Navy jeans before. And now I actually own a pair and I look pretty cute in them. Running is awesome!!

Sunday, July 24th, 2005
Workout - None

If you're a blog regular then you can guess what I did on Sunday. Yep, I studied and did my homework. I'm really not focused on school this semester. Even as I type this I should be working on my mid-term project, but I haven't even started it yet. Ugh!!

What's happened to me?
Well, that's it for this week. As you can see I missed another weight-in. I had planned to go on Thursday night but went on the date instead. In hindsight, considering he was late, I could have made it to the weigh-in which was on the way to GMU and still arrive before he did. I don't even know if I'll be able to do it next week. My schedule is pretty packed. And don't even ask me about journaling. The sad thing is I use to be so on top of everything. Things like studying, journaling, reading my mail, doing my finances, even recycling always got done. Now it's like everything is piling up. My dining room table is covered in unread mail and the recycling has taken over the kitchen. Even if I had a day off to do stuff I'd somehow find a way to waste it. I don't know what's happening. Did I lose my anal retentive focus on taking care of the little things? Well, at least the blog gets updated on time.

For next week....
7/25/05 - Tempo run 45-60 minutes
7/26/05 - Rest
7/27/05 - Run 4-5 miles
7/28/05 - Happy Hour/ Weigh-in (Maybe)
7/29/05 - Rest
7/30/05 - Long Run - Easy 10
8/01/05 - Rest finish Mid-Terms

Races I'm Registered (or Planning to Register) for...
9/11 - Fairlakes 8K (Registered.)
9/24 - Quantico Half (Maybe. The group run was cancelled so that everyone who wants to can participate in this half. If Michelle keeps nagging me about it, I might give in.)
10/2 - Army 10 Miler (aka ATM. Registered. My chance to redeem myself with the Vagas.)
10/30 - Marine Corps 8K (I'm not registered, yet. I'm deciding between running and volunteering.)
11/6 - Veteran's Day 10K (I'm not registered yet. But it's a definite. I need to keep up with my training until the Disney Half.)

And the big one...
1/7 - Walt Disney World Half Marathon (Registered.)

Enough blathering already!
- Gotta Run