Pacing, Schmacing

I haven't written much about running lately, but in a word, it's been GREAT lately. It really is amazing how much easier it is now that I've lost weight and have improved both my health and fitness in general. I'm currently in the early weeks of training for the Medoc Trail Races 10 miler in October. I created a moderate intensity plan using the online SmartCoach tool at Runners World. It's only included short runs of two and three miles so far. I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to increasing the distance next week to 4 miles. 


But, even though, the effort associated with running has improved so much I've discovered that my pacing still completely sucks. I feel like I'm running at generally the same (although slow) pace most of the time, but my runkeeper app shows some strange peaks and valleys still.


Maybe it's just the GPS/app software? Yeah, that's what I'll blame it on.

But the most important part is that I'm using words like GREAT in the same sentence as running. There was definitely a time when that was not the case ...

Wordless Wednesday: Running on the Farm

Me Likey

I had to take a picture last night for a Body by Vi ad that will be running soon in our local newspaper. Luckily, I had my hair cut earlier in the evening and was thrilled with my new 'do. I kept looking at the camera after my husband took each picture and thinking to myself "that's really me!"


A lot has changed since September. I'm still kind of in shock.

The pictures that started it all (don't look at the hair, it was very hot) - late July 2010

Yikes!

My "official" Body by Vi "before" picture September 2010 - so bad that I rarely show it to anybody

The most current "after" picture - completed by the huge smile

Even the cross on my necklace hangs lower now. This is a complete pat-myself-on-the-back post but I am just so FREAKIN' excited that I had to share.

Giveaway winner!

It's so fun going through the process of picking a giveaway winner! Here is the result ...

There were 26 total comments

I plugged those numbers into random.org

I counted to 10 (I'm talented that way)

And the winner is Kittee at Running Half Crazy. Send me a message at gisrunner (at) gmail (dot) com, Kittee, so I can send your prize to you.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my giveaway and are now following my blog. I sincerely appreciate it. If you want another chance to win a Body by Vi Balance Kit, be sure to enter Teamarcia's giveaway before June 3.

Now for a little running update since I'm only doing a little running now. As always, I'm not making running a priority in my schedule. When am I going to change that?

I did run a little under 2 miles last night. I waited until 8:20 as it was another day in the mid-90s here in NC. It was slow and tough due to the heat and humidity. I was so hot when I finished I jumped in the pool to cool off in my running clothes. Heck, my clothes were soaked with sweat anyway so the pro's definitely outweighed the con's. It felt so good and is a wonderful way to recover!

I'm also registered for the Medoc Trail Races 10 miler again this year. This will be my third year running it and it's my favorite event by far. Apparently it's a favorite event for a lot of runners as it's completely sold out with the the 10 miler filling in 62 hours! Medoc is a small event and they definitely take care of the runners. They give a finishers prize each year (last year was a running vest). I would love it if this year's prize are compression socks but no one knows what the prize is until the day of the event. 

Someday I would love to run this event's marathon, but my lack of commitment/discipline makes that impossible at this point. But the 10 miler is very doable and is so much fun. There will be a lot of hot and sweaty training runs to report here between now and October!