Amy's "BUT I'M NOT A RUNNER" Journal

[kimwim8]

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

WOW, Amy, I love that quote!! I'd have to say I'm a gazelle, and my lion is the guilt that eats away at me when I don't run!!!

Thanks so much for sharing that!!

 

[ScoJo15]

Amy - Great quote! And it really looks like you 'get' this whole running thing. I love what you posted about the race...and I think it's the same everywhere across the country. Who knew this awesome society existed?? I should have started doing this years ago

and I think I'm the buzzard....just sits back, watches eveyone run their butts off....and comes in for sloppy seconds for dinner LOL

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy~

I love that quote! I've been thinking about starting to run/jog myself because you guys are doing a great job and your marathon victories are so motivating. I don't know if I can though because I'm not sure my knee will hold up. In any event, I think you are doing an amazing job! I am so proud of you for all that you have accomplished! And you know what, Amy? You ARE a runner!

Have a wonderful week!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Amy,

Wow...you are doing a great job!!!! Thanks for posting your pictures...you look great!!! You DD's very cute as well!!!

Good job on the race...you did a great job!

Keep up the good work! Try not to run in the middle of the day with all that heat!!!

Have a great Tuesday

 

[RunningLilo]

Hey Amy!
Just wondering how your workouts are going this week. I'm sure you are doing great, but I just wanted to give you some motivation.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hey guys!!! Thanks for all the wonderful motivation!

Jamie...nice to see you ! Thanks for stopping by!

Dena....thanks for the encouragement. And thank you for the motivation pixie dust...saving that up for tomorrow LOL.

Tracy...glad you liked the quote ! If you decide to start running we're all here to encourage and offer you any support and advice that you need!

Kim...soooo sweet of you to say what you did! And honestly...you are one of MY heros on here!!!!

Scott...you totally crack me...Has anyone ever told you how FUNNY you are???? LOL! And thanks for being so dependable on here...you never fail to keep me motivated and inspired!

So far this week has been pretty successful in terms of training.

Monday: I had a great KBX class and felt wonderful. I think having Sunday off as a break really helped me in class! I want to try to remain consistent with this class and get there at least twice a week! It's really great for both conditioning and strengthening my core.

Tuesday: I had a 4 mile run scheduled for today and the weather finally cooperated! I got out there in the lovely temps and had an excellent run...breaking the dreaded Tuesday Curse! I finished my 4 miles in 42:09 which is a decent training pace, the best part is my legs felt great and my HR remained pretty consistent. My garmin freaked out on me a bit tho....so I don't have accurate splits to record.

Wednesday: Today I took as a rest day....between the weather and other factors I just didn't have it in me. And that's ok...because tomorrow I'll be ou there running .

The rest of my week looks like this (at least this is the plan):

Thurs: Run 4 Miles
Fri: KBX
Sat: yoga or pilates
Sun: LR....currently thinking about 6 miles (btw..my daughter Jillian asked me to put the woo-hoo guy in there).

The 5 Mile Trail run is coming up...so this might be my last LR before I do the race. I think I'm going to save my legs and do a short run on the Sunday prior (race is on a Friday).

My quote for the day ...this one made me laugh!


"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner

 

[kimwim8]

LOVE that quote!!

I already beat myself up and call myself a wuss, wimp, whiner when I don't run. I am absolutely my toughest critic.

...but you......you are SO GOOD about sticking to your planned workouts. You constantly challenge yourself. YOU are AMAZING!!

I'd really love to run with you sometime, possibly before the race. Maybe we can come up with somewhere mid-way between our houses to meet up?

Keep up the GREAT work, girlie.

 

[ScoJo15]

server error....sorry it double posted...see below..

 

[ScoJo15]

Hi Amy!!

Where have you been? Yikes!...thought you were abducted in something remenicent of an X-Files episode for a minute...don't be a stranger!! (just kidding)

I have grown to admire your quotes...they are funny yet have a point. And congrats on the awesome run on Tuesday! Interesting that your Trail Run is on a Friday and I think you've got the right idea by tapering down your LR on the Sunday prior. I seem to do better in races when I've slowed down a bit the week before.

And right back at'cha about being dependable and inspiring. I'm a huge Amy fan and rely so much on your awesome attitude. Thanks for your support.

And this is for Jillian:

 

[toystoryduo]

You are doing a great job, Amy! Keep up the good work!

Have a great day today!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Got out there and ran today....it was rainy and grey and really quite chilly! Even had to drag the old tech. shirt out to keep me warm. Unfortunately time was not on my side today....as I ran my normal 4 mile route I pass the kids school. Seeing them loading on to the bus put me in the unique situation to race the bus home...with me going the long way LOL. Fortunately there are a few stops before the bus reaches my house. So I kicked it into gear and mananged to pull out 3.25 miles while racing the bus up the final hill to our house. I think you will all be pleased to know that I actually beat the bus by a split second.....and the girls were cheering for me as they hopped off the bus!

So....I managed to run 10:04 mpms but didn't hit my 4 miles....cut out the switchback knowing I couldn't run THAT far and still make it home for the kids. So....I put the steps in....and managed to run in this lovely NJ weather again .

Oh...and got a little XT in by way of housecleaning. Totally despise cleaning, it keeps me away from the things in life that are fun and make me happy . But I had procrastinated long enough.....so now it's done. It does count as XT right???? LOL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I will leave you with a different quote, it isn't about running, but definitely appropriate....

Good friends are like stars—you don't always see them, but you know they are always there. --Anonymous

Thanks for always being here!

 

[kimwim8]

Good friends are like stars—you don't always see them, but you know they are always there. --Anonymous

LOVE IT!!!

You are unbelievable...not only running in the crappy weather...but racing the bus home??

YOU GO GIRLIE!

 

[ScoJo15]

Hi Amy

First of all, great run!! I admire your desire and ability to get out there and run even when it's pouring rain outside. That shows a tremendous amount of dedication. I do now, however, have this great mental image of you haulin butt after the bus with kids screaming and yelling out of the windows!!! Way to beat the bus!! Added a little spice to the run, I'm sure. 10 mpm is incredible and you should be proud.

Second, yes housecleaning does count as XT!! Especially when it sounds like you waited until the last second to run around and get everything cleaned...I bet is was some serious negative housework splits!

Third, wow....what a quote!! You are such a star! I can tell you that I have some deep feelings about that quote and really appreciate you sharing it with us!

Keep up the great work Amy!! That WDW marathon weekend will be here before you know it!!

 

[AmyBeth68]

"The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

I always look forward to the long run. The weekday runs are more of a chore...something that needs to be squeezed into the day and run quickly as possible. Usually fighting that battle against time. But my weekend runs are the ones that really matter, they are the runs that test my endurance and mental fortitude. I always try to set myself out on a course that puts me in the position where I must continue in order that I get myself back where I began. There is no option of shortening or stopping if I wish to get home again. So many times I'm running on desolate dirt roads, out in the middle of nowhere, and winding my way back home through the woods. That is why the above quote is appropriate today. Sometimes it seems risky, my cell service is spotty at best and there are miles where I won't see a car, a house or another person. But that is what makes it exciting, adventurous and interesting. These are the runs that I dream of during the week. Today I ran just such a route, the 6 miler that leads me past streams and woods and lakes. It did require a short jaunt on a busy highway, and believe me I will take the lonely woods for the whizzing cars any day. As a matter of fact I was forced into the tall grass and off the shoulder due to the traffic this afternoon, which of course caused me to walk instead of run for a good distance.

Which brings me to the details of todays run (according to the Garmin):

Mile 1: 10:15, 161 bpm
Mile 2: 11:05, 172 bpm
Mile 3: 10:32, 174 bpm
Mile 4: 10:09, 168 bpm
Mile 5: 12:21, 171 bpm
Mile 6: 10:27, 179 bpm

Overall I'm happy with the consistency of this run both in terms of HR and pace. Aside from the mile 5 on the highway, which had its own set of factors including being forced to walk in the scrub and then ascend a steep hill headlong into the 20 mph wind gusts, my pace felt really great and I got into my rhythm early.

The overall run was exactly 6 miles and I finished in 64:53.

Thanks for stopping by guys .

 

[ScoJo15]

Amy - great to hear you had such an awesome run!! And I agree that the long runs are the best ones...those runs in the week are very training like with the hectic pace of normal day to day life. And leave it to your craziness to pick a highway to stick in the middle of your course Trash truck escape run, construction frogger run, heavy downpour run, highway run....what could possibly be next?? Please just follow the path out there and don't get yourself injured!

Have a GREAT day!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy~

You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work!

I tried running a bit yesterday myself to see how my knee would take it and it went well. I'm thinking about adding a walk/jog to my workouts once a week to see how it goes. Your running is inspiring me to give it a try! Thanks!

Have a wonderful day, Amy!

 

[ScoJo15]

Amy - Hi Just checking in....where the heck have you been?? Watching TV? Playing too much on the pc? Run dancing? Anyway...I hope you are having a great week and hope you post soon! I miss the daily inspiration!

 

[keenercam]

Wow, Amy, you are such an inspiration! Unfortunately, last year I had to face the fact that I am just not able to run for any extended period of time. At least not yet. After 10 years of being seriousy ill with a heart condition, I hav had to come to the realization that my lung capacity may just not be normal for a long time. So, I LOVE reading about your running! The story about racing the school bus made me LOL. You are really amazing, kiddo! Keep up the great work!

 

[keenercam]

Amy -- I have been meaning to post that the pictures from the wedding are so GORGEOUS! You look beautiful and your family is just lovely. The girls looked so pretty!

[I actually posted this before, but server problems wiped out my message before it posted! UGH!! ]

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Amy...how's it goin?? It's SO good to be home, and I can't wait to get back to running. I hope all is going well with you!!

Take care, and post soon! We miss ya!