Runners are the coolest

Runners are the coolest people out there. Seriously, thank you SO VERY MUCH for being awesome and supportive, and leaving really thoughtful comments on my last post. Your words are wise, encouraging, and really means a lot to me. It did feel good to write it all out and get it out of my system. And I am taking steps to improve my situation; this weekend I found the new place I will be moving to, I've sent a few resumes out, I tackled 11 miles (longest training distance yet), and just thought my priorities over. I still have no idea what on earth I am going to do, but reading your comments really cheered me up. So thank you SO much for being fantastic. :)

What I am feeling right now is like the song WIDE OPEN SPACES by Dixie Chicks. Good song.

Since I was MIA all weekend lets rewind to Friday evening. I was gonna do a 5 mile recovery, but James decided to come with me at the last minute (yay) but he ran it so fast it became a tempo run for me (boo). But I made it through, and I figured it would be good practice; running faster on tired legs. Total was 5.1 miles. We even got chased down by a car full of drunk college kids who kept screaming "Yoggers! Yoggers! You guys are jogging! Woo! Yogging!" I think the booze made him think it was really cool to pronouce jogging as yogging. Wow. This is why I don't like to drink anymore, haha.

Saturday was swimming. I COULD not get myself up to swim in the morning, so it got postponed till noon, while I ran some errands in the morning. I scored a trial size of Creme de la mer, and I am telling you, this stuff is the MOST AMAZING face cream ever. It makes my skin so smooth, but I could never afford it myself.
Anyways, the pool was so refreshing, and I ended up swimming for an hour instead of the planned 45 min. My strokes are starting to feel a tad bit more natural, and I was able to swim more laps without having to rest. Yay. But still needs work, and am excited to get better.

Sunday: New training distance record for me and a PDR for James! We set out on a 11 mile adventure. We decided to run a leg of the marathoun course instead of driving 15 miles downtown and back. The marathon course is really nice; there's a lot of downhill with only about 2 small/short uphills. I have no idea how we managed to go downhill for so many miles, but I'd rather run downhill than uphill if I'm gonna be running a marathon!

It was a really great run; the sun was perfect, heart rate was right on target, the conversation was flowing, the scenery was new, and the legs were feeling strong. It seriously felt like a 6 mile run, not an 11.3 mile run! We thought we were keeping the pace slow, but looking at my splits, we were running between 9:30 - 9:45 minute miles the entire time. And the last mile was the fastest, at a 9 min mile pace! I can't believe we kicked so much booty at the last mile. Way to finish strong!

One notable experience from this run was I tried an apple cinnamon flavored Hammer Gel. Let's just say it made me yak this neon yellow alien looking slime thing. Will NOT be eating that again!
I am going to be sticking with the Shot Blocks and the Sports Beans. I still have not found a way to effectively carry the shot blocks. I am thinking of sewing a little pocket onto my tank top to carry some with me. It might look silly, but oh well, I'm not entering into a fashion show, so it's all good.

And lastly, I would like to thank the Chic Runner and Tall Mom on the Run for hosting terrific giveaways!
And since I need to spread the good luck, running love, and karma around, I will be hosting a little giveway of my own sometime real soon. (Sometime this week I hope) :) So keep an eye out for the giveaway!

And again, thank you for being the awesome and supportive runners that you are. You make blogging and running much more fun for me :)

~one love~

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Week two recap
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 4.47 miles, 4X1200 at 7:55 pace. Some abs and lates. 600 calories
Wednesday: Bike to Fairview, 16.41 miles. 657 calories
Thursday: Lunch walk + weights. 5oo calories
Friday: 5.1 mile tempo, lunch walk. 825 calories
Saturday: 1 hour swim. About 420 calories
Sunday: 11.3 miles. 1239 Calories
Total mile run: 20.95
Total Calories: 4,241
Observations: Good long run. Hammer Gel=bad for tummy. Swimming getting better. Only .5 miles more than week 1. 200 calories more than week one, yet weight gain. Crap.