Dentalwork induced rest day. Ecch.

WOOHOO! ChipmunkHeart is going to come do the Quantico run with me!

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Couldn't figure out why the first mile on this route always kinda sucked (other than the hill that starts it) - pulled up the *satellite* view of the route map - turns out mile 1 is *not* the elementary school driveway, but 6 houses closer. Sure, it's only about 1/10th of a mile, but at least I know now that I really haven't been so bad on that first mile afterall.

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OK, I've got to do these throwaway runs more often. The main goal was just get out and move for 5 miles, very secondary was to break 11m35s miles, because that's my average of all my runs that have been under 12m miles. So, I walked when I felt like it, played with my stride, threw in some sprints, and managed to come in my best 5 mile time so far. Also helped A LOT that I didn't overdress today - by mile 3 I was down to shorts & my sports bra and generally scandalizing the neighborhood. "Look kids, that's what a hooker looks like!"

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Run again today, with ZERO expectations - I may have gone out and abused my body just a little bit yesterday evening...

Two weeks from now I will be done with my first timed race in 20+ years, and the first race of this distance in oh, forever. I'll admit I'm starting to get a little freaked out, and I know part of it is from yesterdays semi-crappy run, and I just need to shake that. My past 4 runs have all been under 12m miles, which is good (for me) and I've hit the 5 mile mark for distance twice without wanting to throw myself under a car at the end, so I know I CAN finish. The "plan" is to get in a run every 2-3 days, resist the temptation to try longer runs and focus on "knowing" what 5 miles feels like so I can pace it. Nothing the last couple days beforehand except panic, but try to look really cool about it. Advice from a friend: "Find a good looking Marine and follow him" :) Finding a looker should be easy, finding a SLOW one may be a little tougher. I'm thinking that realistically with focusing more on my run over the next two weeks and some race day adrenaline, I should be able to come really, really close to an 11m mile, maybe even under. The last (and only) time I broke 11m I near hurled at the end of it, but I'm feeling much better now... My competitive streak has kicked back in big time over the past couple months and I really want to see what I can pull out on this, but I'm still nervous. Just gotta get through this first race so I will KNOW I can do this stuff.

Gear review: REI Double Shot Waistpack I like it!!! Needed to get something that would take care of all the crap I need when I run, and this seemed to fit the bill. It's great - comes w/2 20oz water bottles, but the half liter water bottles I get from the store fit with no problem. There is an elastic at the top of each bottle holder that seems pretty pointless to me since the bottles are quite secure w/out it, guess it's for transporting it so if you pick it up upside down you don't have the bottles flying all over the place. It's well padded and comfy, and very little bouncing around when I ran - only downside is that it's a one size fits all, so I'm probably going to cut down the belt webbing a bit since I've got at least a foot of excess. Zipper compartment is big enough to hold wallet, keys & cell, could probably cram a little more in if you needed. Overall quite pleased, it was nice to not have to carry my water bottle, though it will take a little practice to be able to grab a bottle on the fly. (I can't drink & run at the same time anyway.)

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Day off work in theory, but sitting here helping a coworker...grrr...run in a little bit.

Note to self: when basking in the glow of an 5 mile run with an 11m18s pace, don't go talking to the Marine who finished his last marathon in 3:30...*headdesk* (It's a good thing I like him.) On the "ooh, new gear" front, the idiot bag arrived, I now have a place for my keys, cell, 2 water bottles (I am getting sick of having to carry my water bottle) and all that good stuff when I run, since I don't have pockets in my leggings... Downside, this thing is going to make my ass look huge.

Was still feeling kind of crappy this morning, but really wanted to get out and at least move around for a while, figured if nothing, if I felt like crap after a mile I could always go back home. Instead, I pulled the whole five miles and apparently just sweated out whatever was making me feel crappy.

Oof, maybe not so much on the run tomorrow, feeling like total crap, going to go get friendly with some cough syrup... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Too much going on this week, shooting for 5 mile runs tomorrow, Friday & Sunday. Quick month in review for Oct: Distance covered: 66.7 miles, more than twice what I did in Sep. 2,145 crunches for the abs challenge. Goal for November is to keep my run paces under 12 minutes. Other goals for Nov: Get to eye doc for contacts so I can swim again...Finish the 5 miler in under an hour...Get to dentist to replace filling that came out while flossing...Do another 1K in the pool once I can see again...More weight training...Get old place ready to rent...