Bass Pro Marathon

Sunday we were able to put another successful marathon under our running belts, the Bass Pro Shop Marathon. Unfortunately, neither of us met our goals but we are still pleased with the way we ran. The course kicked our butts! Dustin came in 45th overall and I came in the 9th female overall and took 2nd (print out said 2nd, online says 3rd...waiting for the award in the mail) place in my age category.
Before the race Dustin got me good luck balloons and a stuffed flamingo wearing a "26.2" t-shirt. It was really sweet!
Thanks to Ilene and Mike (Dustin's parents) for walking with us to the start line and cheering us on from our house which is one mile from the finish. Thanks to Kevin (Aimee's dad), Dan, and Joey (2 of Aimee's brothers) for surprising us at the finish. And thanks to the Pettit's (Parents of Allison, a former student of Aimee, who ran this weekend in her first marathon) for cheering me on at 5 different places throughout the race. I felt like I had my own cheering squad :)
It was really nice to be able to walk to the start from our house, be familiar with the course and not have to travel to the race. The weather was awesome and the course provided great scenery on the greenway trails. The worst part was the elevation change. We had trained on the same hills, but running uphill from mile 21 to 26 was rough. It was the most difficult marathon that both of us had ran so far. (not the most difficult race...cough, cough...Pike's Peak)
We are already planning our next run...we will keep you "posted" :)

48 Hours Left!

Here come the nerves! Tapering is so hard on the mind! I feel like I haven't ran in forever. Most marathon runners fear the two taper weeks but I told myself not to worry about it. Now that the marathon is almost here and peak week was a few weeks ago, I hope I have trained hard enough. I have, I know I have. I think I can, I think I can...

Only 3 Days til the Marathon!

ONLY 4 DAYS TIL THE BASS PRO SHOP MARATHON!!!

We are getting really excited. :)

Running in the Dark

This morning we had a 7 mile hill work out and ran it around Plainview road and the Rivercut area. Plainview was fine because it is along a busy road, lined with houses, and lit. I was scared, almost to tears, when we were running out by Rivercut. It was pitch dark so I couldn't see where I was going and I kept hearing noises. I would see bushes move as animals stirred, deer running in the fields, the weeds would brush by my legs and this would all freak me out! I was just waiting for a mountain lion to jump off the rocks and have me for an early morning snack. Plus I couldn't see the sidewalk where there could be dreaded wire rings that trip me (I still have flashbacks and nightmares). I was so tense it was ridiculous! Maybe I am a drama queen but we ended up cutting it short last hill of the Rivercut portion and added a bit to the end of the Plainview portion.
I do not see how people live out in the country. I am so scared to be in the woods in the dark. I feel much safer in my neighborhood (even though my neighbors "roll out" together in their pimped out SUVs and we have the occasional coked out hommie at our door). I just like all the lights and people around. That is comforting to me :)
~Aimee

Kickin Asphalt Takin Names

So we are officially two weeks away from the Bass Pro Marathon and we have begun "the taper". This is the time you take it easy, lower the mileage, and begin to worry you are not doing enough to complete a full marathon. Like most runners, I too struggle with this down time, so for our last long run (16 miles) on Sunday I decided I needed to run at pace to build my confidence. And run at pace I did, finishing the 16 miles in exactly 1:56:00 (Boston Pace)! Now, if I can only do this for 10 more miles. Man, after running 16 miles, 10 more always seems like so much more!

I am sure Aimee will blog about this, but she too ran her butt off. I am so proud of all the work she has put in and the improvements she has made in her running. A lot of times when people talk to Aimee and I about running they always ask me how running is going and not Aimee. After our next marathon, with the way Aimee is progressing, I doubt this will be the case.

AHH...I'm scared! And not of Ghosts and Goblins

Tomorrow we are running a 22 mile long run around town. Basically, we are running the marathon course minus the area that is shut down right now because of construction at James River and 65 hwy (will be opened with a temporary trail for race day only). I know I can make it, but I am scared that I won't be able to finish in a good time. There is no reason for me to think that I wouldn't do well, but it will be more hilly than the last course when we ran 20 a few weeks ago and the hills really scare me. AHHHH!
~Aimee

Stella got her groove back

Ok, maybe not quite like Stella, but...
Wednesday I woke up excited about running again because we were running Yasso 800's. I think it really helps to do a "tempo", "hill", "speedwork" run instead of just 6,7,8 miles easy because it gets so boring! I never thought I would say that I liked speed work more than an easy long run but right now it distracts my mind.
Yasso 800's are "marathon predictors". Whatever time you run your 800 in, you turn it into hours and minutes to predict your marathon time (of course when the yasso's are used as part of a whole marathon training schedule). I don't know if it is true, but I would like to think that it is going to work for me. My easy marathon goal is 4:00, main goal is 3:40, and ultimate goal is 3:34. I ran all 8 yasso's in the 3:20's (range from 3:22-3:29). And, I really enjoyed it. I almost puked after the last one which made me happy that I ran them hard. Yikes, that sounded a little sick/morbid/weird.
So, thanks for your thoughts and prayers for my inspiration. Please keep them coming because we have a 10K race tomorrow, 22 mile run Sunday, and then of course the marathon.
~Aimee

Eau de New Shoe

New running shoes were just dropped off on our doorstep. It's like Christmas! Even though we ordered seperately and didn't really talk about when we were ordering them, they showed up at the same time (weird!). I am a big fan of the new running shoe smell!
~Aimee

The big week

This is a big week for our marathon training. We are less than one month away from the big day and we have our longest weekend run yet. Tuesday we run 7 miles, Wednesday we have Yasso 800's (8 x 800 meter sprints with 400 meter recovery jog), Thursday is rest, Friday is 8 miles of hills, Saturday is 6 miles (supposed to be "easy" but we may run the Sunshine 10K instead), and Sunday morning 22 miles.
Two weeks ago I was excited and pumped for this week. Today, I'm not so much. I think I'm getting burned out. The spark is starting to die out and it scares me. I REALLY need all the excitment I can get to get me through the marathon. When I hit mile 18 or 22 and I hurt and I just want to stop running, I will need that mental motivation to keep me going (and at the pace that I am able to, and deserve to keep). I hope I get it back. I guess 10 weeks of getting up between 4 and 5 am to run as hard as I can for 1-3 hours at a time just started to wear on me. And the mental stress of making times and getting prepared for the long runs is just as bad as the physical stress. And I'm getting tired of being hungry all the time and gaining weight while I am working so hard (btw, lost a bit of weight recently and now I am back to only gaining 6.5 pounds since training started). Hopefully I will get re-energized tomorrow morning when we get up to run! Man, sounds kinda depressing...I hope I didn't ruin anyone's day :)
~Aimee

Washam 5K FUN!

The 2nd annual Washam 5K was a big success! Besides a few runners getting off course (sorry about that! just think of it as extra accomplishments) the race and post party went off without a hitch. Dustin and I feel so blessed to have such a great group of friends and family that are willing to take on the challenges of a 5K. It was such a great mix of people and we want you to know that we really appreciate you taking part in our 5K and for being a part of our lives. Thanks!

Some highlights:

More than one person commented on "that girl in orange" that was seriously fast. That's Cathy, our bootcamp instructor....she's freakin' awesome. I think I might start calling her Jimmy Johns cause she's freaky fast!

The weather ended up being perfect running weather and Amanda pointed out that it was nice to run as the sun was setting.

My parents commented on the fact that we have "a lot of fun friends"

Thanks to whoever was having the party with the loud live music that resonated all over the park. It provided entertainment and gave the run the feel of a "music marathon".

My dad ended up hanging out at the park with Max (feeding the ducks) and my camera so I was able to get more pictures this year than last year.

The sub sandwiches were a big hit and will be returning next year.

After the first turn of the race I looked back to see April eating a Kit Kat she pulled out of her hoodie and thought it was just hilarious! Only at the Washam 5K do you stock up on candy before heading to the start line. You need to stay nourished through the trip, right?

I loved the sea of blue...I'm glad you all seemed to like the shirts! We were really pleased. They almost seemed like a vintage tee that you pay big bucks for and wear with jeans :) The cool thing is that you actually participated in the event on the shirt.

Mom sure mixes a mean apple cider!

Both our moms ran the race - great job ladies! Way to show us how its done!

We had 24 runners/walkers complete the race this year! Last year we had 20.

Congrats to the 5K 1st timers! The Tylers, Joey, Ashley, Paige, Robyn, et. al. (let me know if the Washam 5k was your first race and I will add you to the list. We love our 1st timers!)

All in all it was a great time! I'm sorry some of you missed it because you were home sick (dang flu!) and we missed you!

See you next year for the 3rd annual Washam 5K!

I did it!

Thursday I decided to give my knee a try and attempt to run our marathon pace run. I ended up completing a 1-7-1 which is 1 mile warm up, 7 miles at race pace, and 1 mile cool down (The actual planned run was a 1-8-1, just one mile short) at an 8:15 pace! I was really excited but the next day I was sore like the first week of training! Then the next day I completed the 6 mile easy run. This morning I woke up really sore but I decided to give the scheduled 20 mile run a try and I DID IT! My pace was 8:18 which is 5 seconds faster than my marathon pace. And, on top of that, I felt great! Of course it hurt and I was sore before I even started but it was the first 20 mile run that I have ever run when I didn't have an injury bothering me (I consider my knee good as new since I didn't really have to "rehab an injury" I just had to let the swelling go down enough so I could bend it back). Now I know what it feels like to go on those long runs and just really enjoy it. I think God may have had a hand in slowing me down. I require more rest and recovery time than Dustin and this was break for me, both mentally and physically, for running. Now I am excited again and feel rejuvenated. One day when I write my book about marathon training (lol, I can dream) I am going to develop a system where you take a week off right in the middle of Monster Month and just cross train. Runners will have a difficult time doing this, but I really see the benefits of the running break, as long as you keep up your cardio. Experts will ponder the reasoning and do extensive research on the benefits....okay, I'm back to earth now.

Anyways, I think I deserve Andy's! They announced the new Boomer the Bear concrete and they are giving it away for free from 4-5 today. Too bad I'm leaving town at 3:00 :( It is vanilla custard, strawberries, almonds, and Heath pieces. mmmmm...you know you want some too.... so "Getja some!"

Eat Road!

Saturday the 12th Dustin and I were on an 18 mile run that took us downtown on commercial, around phelps grove park, and through the neighborhoods off of west Primrose street. Just past our commercial street venture we were picking up speed going downhill on National. The side of the road was filled with rocks and wires and junk but was better than going up and down on the sidewalks in this area. Within one stride my foot caught the edge of a small circular wire, which flipped up and tangled my other foot, hurling my body to the ground with all my weight on my left knee. I rolled and took a chunk out of my elbow (strangely the same exact spot on my elbow where I have a scar from tripping on the same type of wire on the south side of town 4 years ago...I just replaced the scar...weird) and was thankful that I didn't roll one more turn because there were cars speeding down the street. I tried to get up and my knee wasn't having it. We hobbled to a nearby Kum n Go. I was a sight-Dustin assisting me as blood ran down my arm and down my leg, soaking the top of my sock and shoes while trying to wipe the snot away from crying like a baby. None of the cars stopped to help, the customer inside the gas station just stared at me and the attendant looked over and said, "good morning!". Here's the best part- we were the farthest point away from our house on our run, go figure! So I hobbled and ran all the way home. I had a gash in my knee big enough for stiches but we had a cardinals game to get to in STL so I decided to suck it up.
I figured my knee would be sore for a few days- no biggy. I just hit it, right??? I won't have to miss any running, right??? Wrong. Apparently its worse than I thought. I have swelling and inflamation. Friday I was finally able to walk without limping. A week and a half later I still wasn't able to run on it. I've been doing the natural runner at the fitness center, but it's not the same. With only 5 weeks out from the marathon, I wonder if it will be worth my time since I have lost so much training.
Yesterday I tried to run and I was able to do a few laps around the indoor track. I was stoked!!! It wasn't the prettiest thing, and my knee locks up from time to time causing me to resemble forest gump, but I was able to run!!! Today was a rest day but I think I will try to run a few miles tomorrow. If I can get better by this weekend and get a long run in on Saturday (suppose to do 20 miles but I have only completed 17 since I went down on the 18 miler) I am going to stick with the Bass Pro Marathon. If not, I am just going to run the half marathon at Bass Pro as a tune up and run the Dallas White Rock Marathon in December. Even though the Dallas WR was my original choice for this fall marathon, I'm really not looking forward to an extra 6 weeks of training! Maybe it will be good for me. All I know is that I have been working really hard and my times have been really good but I don't want to waste my legs on Bass Pro if I'm not ready.
Hopefully I will be ready for the Washam 5k!
I'll let you know how it goes :)

Washam 5K Registration closed!

Last year we had 20 participants actually run the Washam 5K. We were hoping to increase in size by about 5 runners a year. This year we had 36 participants signed up!!! WOW! I can't wait...its gonna be fun! I think we are going to try and get a poker game going at the post party so if you are interested in playing, bring your poker face. The shirts are REALLY cool...we can't wait to show them to everyone on race day!
I am really excited about the post-party but I really hope that the Washam 5K keeps its original intent: to get friends together interested in running a 5K. I hope that the easy-going, fun spirit of the race will encourage people to run a 5K, whether it be their 1st or 31st. Of course, it's cool to walk it-we are just glad you are there! We simply enjoy sharing our love of running with others :)
See you on October 3rd! Be there by 5:15 and don't forget a lawn chair. Oh, and be ready to work up a thirst during the 5K ;)

Washam 5K Registration

Registration forms are now available for the Washam 5k Run and Post Party on October 3rd! Let us know if you have not received one yet. The deadline is September 18th and we must have the registration form and money in hand by then so we can order the t-shirts (and keg). No exceptions!
We hope you plan to join us!

Mizuno and me

I have a new brand of shoe. For the longest time I only ran in Saucony's. They were great, but Dustin turned me on to Mizuno's. I started with 2 consecutive pairs of Mizuno Wave Inspire 4 to help me get through 2 marathons. Then Dustin bought himself a pair of Asics Gel-Kayano and loved them. A few of the guys we run with on Sunday mornings also wear them and love them. They have good ratings and are expensive (so they must be good, right?) so I figured I would give them a try.
Whether it was the Kayanos or not, the first time I ran with them was the first time that I had pain and soreness in my upper calves. I figured it would all go away once I broke in the shoes, but it eventually turned into the (what I now know) cause of my knee pain. I wore them for about 3 months of easy running and decided I was going to eat the money and just get a new pair of the Mizunos that I know and love. I bought the Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 and immediately they felt like home. No waiting period and no need to break them in. I'm a happy girl again. Why didn't I just settle for what I knew worked for me? (because I'm a woman)

Don't get me wrong, I saw 2 women today wearing the same Kayano shoes that I have. And, they are popular. They just weren't right for me. Each runner had their own gate and way that they smack their foot to the pavement a million times, so they should also have a matching shoe. For now, mine is the Mizuno! And I don't plan to make any switches any time soon :)

By the way...if you are interested in running but need a pair of shoes I have a pair of gently used Kayanos that I will give you size 10.5 in women's. They would be great to help you train for the Washam 5K! We could barter like the old times...I could really use a bearskin rug, pelt thermos, or homemade canned salsa.

Happy Running.

~Aimee

Running with the Kiddos

This morning I went with Dustin to his JH cross country practice. Today they were doing a long run with a choice between a 2 or 3 mile course. Since a middle school XC race is only 1.5 miles long, I was really impressed to see so many kids decide, with their own free will, to do the 3 mile. It was a lot of fun! Some of the students had ran 5k races before but to most of them 3 miles is such an accomplishment at that age and I was so proud of them.
I remember when Dustin called me when I was in Quebec to tell me, "You will never believe this! Today in bootcamp we ran 5 miles! Without stopping!!". He was so proud and so was I! We talked about that story on the way home and how he was around 22 years old. These kids are in JH and I hope they brag like crazy to the other kids in school that were probably sitting at home watching TV or sleeping in while they ran 3 MILES! What a fun, healthy sport for those students. It makes me smile.
~Aimee

Diet Starts Monday

"Diet Starts Monday," have you ever heard or said that? I've never been much of a "diet" person. I will just decide to "eat healthier" or "cut back on sweets". But I am going to have to do something! I can't stop eating. I don't even know if I am hungry anymore or if I am just eating because I am so used to it. I will start off with a good, healthy meal. Then I will crave sugar like crazy. For example, tonight I had a big, hearty salad for dinner with all the fixins. That normally does me in for the evening. But then I had some cookies, then some cereal, then an ice cream sandwich...later a peanut butter sandwich. This was after a day of eggs with toast, donut holes, frosted animal crackers, chips, pizza, dessert pizza, and a granola bar (you would have thought I was done by noon). We finally finished off Dustin's birthday treats which makes it easier not to feel the obligation to "get rid" of what is left. I bought him cheesecake the morning of his birthday since I didn't have time to make anything "homemade", later made him a rainbow chip cake, and had mom's chocolate chip cookies. It's just so tempting sitting around!
I'm not quite sure what to do. All I know is that it will be much easier to race if I don't pack on extra pounds a few weeks before the race. I never thought I would say this but, "Slow Down Metabolism!"

Oh What A Beautiful Morning...

The weather has been so nice for our runs lately! When we started our marathon training it was in the 90’s during the day so even running before the sunset was warm (in the 70’s). I normally complain during hot runs, but I think running in Jamaica’s 90 degree weather really prepped me because even the warmest days so far haven’t really bothered me. But, this past week the highs have dropped and we have had awesome morning running weather. It has been cool, not rainy, and low humidity. Perfect! I couldn’t ask for anything more than a nice run in sweet weather! I hope it continues!

The Marathon Gain

I always gain a little weight when I train for a marathon. It is something that I just come to expect, but while it is happening it is a bit annoying. I checked my weight right before we left for Jamaica which was a month ago. Yesterday I checked my weight and I had gained 6 LBS!!!!! Let me say it again, 6 LBS!!! How is that possible??? Well, I did take FULL advantage of the "all inclusive" part of our trip to Jamaica, but still. I don't think I could do that if I tried. It certainly wouldn't be healthy for me to lose 6 lbs in a month, so it doesn't seem healthy to gain that much. Dustin thinks it is muscle from the increase in miles. I don't feel like I have gotten fatter or am unhealthy but my loose pants are now fitting quite well (a good thing, I guess) and the scale doesn't lie. 6 lbs, that's like the size of a small baby! (no, I am NOT pregnant. It was just a comparison). Good Grief.

Fun Half-Marathon Training Run

Today was one of those runs that remind you why you love it so much. We had to run 13 which is approx. the distance of a half-marathon. When we run this distance we always joke about the fact that we ONLY have to do our 13 mile "long run" two times in order to equal our race distance. Right now 13 seems like a big accomplishment because pre-training we hadn't ran over 10 miles. In a few weeks, we will be begging to go back to only having to run 13. :) It's weird how your perspective changes.
Last night I told Dustin that I might not even be able to run today because of my failed attempt to run 4 miles yesterday (my knee starting hurting after a few yards). After yesterday's attempt to run, I walked a few miles, stationary biked for 25 minutes, and iced my knee a few times throughout the day. Even though I was skeptical, this morning I filled my hydration belt with expectations of completing 13 miles. I spent extra time warming up my knee. We started slow. I shortened my stride on every incline. We walked up the Kansas Expy bridge instead of chancing it. To my surprise I didn't feel any pain from my knee until mile 5! It never got to the point of needing to stop and, thank God, after a few miles the pain went away. It doesn't even feel sore right now! Even though it felt like we were running slow, I still ran only 30 seconds per mile slower than race pace (on long runs you are allowed 1-2 minutes per mile slower than race pace). It felt great. I know Dustin wanted to race ahead because it was about 1:30 per mile slower than his race pace, but he stayed with me the whole way. We had a good time talking and I really appreciated his company and support. It was a fun run!! Now time for an ice bath to get ready for Tuesday's run :)

First week of marathon training...

...and I'm already injured :). I somehow hurt my knee running up a hill on our 10 mile run Sunday. Now any bit of incline bothers it. On our tuesday 8 mile hill run, I ended up turning around and walking shortly after the first 2 miles. I was fine until I hit a hill. It's actually not my knee but the muscle/tendon/ligament area around and behind my knee. I guess I should say that I'm not really "injured", more hurting. Wednesday I spoke with a trainer and she said that my calves and hamstrings are really tight and gave me some stretches. It's funny actually. In high school I could do the "sit and reach" and reach a foot PAST my toes. Now I have a difficult time reaching my toes. I definitely have tightened up and need to stretch more often, maybe even bring back Yoga night. It just seems to be one more thing on the list of things to do before I go to bed: brush, rinse, and floss teeth to prevent current cavities from getting too deep and needing fillings (yuck!), wash my face and moisturize to prevent aging, take my hair down to prevent breakage, read my Bible study to connect with God (really important), lay out running clothes, golf clothes, and work clothes because I don't have ANY time in the morning after a run and I don't come home before 6:30pm, pack a lunch to avoid grabbing crap at school, catch up Mary Kay business so my customers feel taken care of, and now...do my stretches. Does anyone else have an hour bedtime routine??? Goodness! Oh well...I want to get better soon because I have been running really well (minus knees) and feeling really good. As Dustin said, this morning I still ran the race pace 6-miler under race pace time with having to stop 4 times to stretch my knee. I just want a magic wand to make it all better quickly :0) I need to learn patience and I guess increase my evening prep time.

Shout out to Dustin - it's his birthday. He is the hottest guy ever and the best husband in the world! I love you so much and I hope you enjoy every last bit of your 20's this year! XOXOX!

My Birthday

Today is my 29th Birthday! It is officially the last year of my 20's, but next year I will be the youngest in my racing age category (sweet). Maybe of few more top 3 finishes will be in sight. Aimee and I had a great 8 mile run with 6 at marathon pace this morning as we go through our first official week of training. This afternoon I am looking forward to a good round of golf with my dad.

In the meantime check out this video from Nike.

Dog vs. Skunk

Over the past week Aimee and I have been completing some early morning runs to beat the heat and get back into running early before we leave for school. And by early I mean waking up at 4:30 in the morning and running by 5:00. So, as you can imagine it is still dark. As we do on most runs, we brought along Marlie. Today we did the standard 5 mile run from our house to the South Creek Trail, around the pond at Nathanial Greene Park and back to the house. We have done this run so many times we could probably do it with our eyes closed and Marlie could probably complete it on his own too (unless the ducks distracted him). Typical morning: streetlights, headlights, stars, moon, chirping birds, and dark shadows over the sidewalk. You know how you can pass by the same thing everyday and never notice something about it until one day you are like, "hey, when did they do that" and someone with you says "like a couple months ago"? Well, today was one of those days.

So there we are running on the trail, about 1.5 miles in when I see a dark spot on the trail. No big deal. Marlie (not on leash at the time) goes to check it out. Dark spot moves, dark spot has white stripe down back, dark spot hisses, dark spot gets into attack position, Marlie continues to investigate. Problem! Dark spot is Skunk! Me (yelling): Marlie! Marlie: "hey buddie want to be friends"? Aimee: Dustin! Me: more yelling. Skunk: appears to aim spraying device at Marlie and moves at him. Marlie: continued investigation. Me: more yelling. Skunk: more aiming. Marlie: finally realized this is not a friend and moves away.

As the skunk runs off into the weeds, I ran down to my dog and begin to smell him. Luckily there is no smell and the skunk is gone. Thank goodness the skunk can aim about as good as Marlie can when he tries to pee on a tree (always misses). We continued on to the turnaround point another mile away and in the process saw 3 more skunks along the trail for a total of 4! Which leads me to wonder if it is mating season or have they always been there and I have never noticed them before? As for Marlie he lives to run another day unaware of the potential tomato juice bath that awaited him upon our return home.

put some FUN in your 3.1

So, this was my idea for the Washam 5K t-shirt. In case you don't know, don't speak metric, or have ask Aimee in the past a 5K is 3.1 miles (Aimee swears it is 3.2). It did not go over that well; Aimee did not think it was creative as I did. Oh well, guess we will keep searching for the best slogan to slap on this years shirt.

Speaking of the 5k, have you started training yet? Yeah I know its hot, BUT not at 6am. Yeah I know that's early, but then you're done for the day! AND, FYI..... my sister (yes Robyn) has started running several days a week for the past couple weeks! Who knew she had it in her? The Washam 5K will be her first race ever and she is ready to kick some butt! and maybe drink a little beer, but hey that's what the race is all about.

The race will be in 8 weeks (October 3) from this Saturday (August 8), and the following weekend (October 10) will be the ST. John's Sunshine Run in Downtown Springfield. Most 5K plans for beginners last 5 weeks, which means you could start on Monday, August 31st. Here is a direct link to a training plan on RunnersWorld.com When you are looking at the training plan X/T means "cross train" which could be any non-running activity (weights, bike, swim, elliptical).

Happy training and we look forward to seeing you at the second annual Washam 5K!

Yes, I was this close at the All-Star Game!

Running Quotes

Here are a few of my favorite running (specifically long-distance running) quotes. Most are funny because I love to laugh. I have heard many of them throughout the years or have had them on t-shirts. I pulled these from a recent blog on runnersworld that I read and decided to share!

"Balls - what runners have and other athletes play with."
"People ask me why I run...What would YOU do if a gun went off?"
"Truth is, you can always run farther. Sometimes the truth hurts."
"Yeah, I run like a girl. Try to keep up."
~I have this shirt :)
"Running won't kill you, you'll pass out first!"
"When the going gets tough, the sprinters quit!"
"Ah running...the only sport where the participants pay and the spectators get in for free!"
"My sport is your sports punishment"
~This was on my XC (cross country) shirt in high school
"Who fartlek'd?"
~This one cracked me up and I hadn't heard it before. If you are a nonrunner, a fartlek is a type of run used in training
"Yes I am: 1. Crazy 2. In pain 3. Paying for this"
"Fast girls have better times"
~racey! tee-hee-hee :)
"I am not dead, I only smell that way"
~if you have ever (a) used a port-a-john at a marathon race, (b) rode a shuttle bus to the start line of a marathon, (c) rode a shuttle bus from a finish line, (like a one hour trip down Pike's Peak after a 1/2 marathon run - I feel bad for you Dustin), or (d) simply been around long-distance runners after a long workout, you will have great appreciation for this one! Eau de Long-Distance Runner...gag!
"I am with the bomb squad. If you see me running you better catch up!"
"You know you are a runner if you know exactly where one mile from your front door is (in any direction)."
~Dustin and I could probably tell you 6 or more miles (with sidewalks)

and finally...
A few "You know you're a runner when...":
1) you could watch a whole marathon and not be bored.
2) you get up earlier to run on the weekends than you do for school/work.
3) you wake up thinking about today's run and go to sleep thinking about tomorrow's run.
4) you run up to a red light and think "Man, I wish I didn't have to stop!" instead of "Good, I wanted a break!"
5) you spend your free time reading nutrition labels and race results.
6) you are running a race, your calves are cramping, your knees are aching, and your lungs are burning but you still find yourself thinking, "This is fun!"

I hope you have enjoyed! Find some fun quotes today about one of your hobbies or something that you love. And, post them if you want to share!

~Aimee

A Hunger to Run (not really, it's just a hunger for food)

We don't officially start training for our next marathon until August 10th but we are beginning to loosely follow a schedule. Nevertheless that means we are upping our mileage. The moment I run more, I get hungry more often. Literally I feel like my stomach is going to eat itself every time I'm a moment late for a mealtime. I want to eat bigger quantities too! It may be that my body is adjusting, but it may be just in my head. Who knows? All I know is that it is tougher to "watch what you eat" when you feel more hungry no matter what the reason is (shout out to all the girls on the week before their period!). And, the thought that you can eat whatever you want if you run is ludicrous! Many people actually GAIN weight training for a marathon (me included). Just because you burn a few extra calories does not mean that you can eat double the food at lunch or have an extra snicker's bar for a snack. Don't get me wrong, if you are looking to lose weight, running is a great way to speed up the process. BUT, you can't overlook the number of calories you take in just because you are running (or working out). Which goes back to my point that it is going to be difficult for a few weeks to resist extra food until my body adjusts to an extra 10 or so miles per week.
Anyway, I hear some ice cream calling my name....later
~Aimee

Crampin My Style and Jamaica'n Me Crazy

Last night about 4am I woke up with my left cramping like crazy. Marlie came to the rescue as Dustin tried to get me to breath while he worked it out. I have not had a cramp like that since I was in undergrad. I guess I'm not going to run today again! My immediate thought is that I need potassium to combat the cramp so I would eat a banana asap. Then I realized that there was a banana in most of the frozen drinks that I had in Jamica: both the "Jamaican Smile" and the "Banana Boat" had a whole fresh banana in it. I must have eaten 2-4 bananas a day! Maybe I'm just dehydrated...Speaking of Jamaica...
We had a blast. The gym at Sandals is an outdoor gym so no air conditioning!!! Last time we went to Jamaica (Honeymoon) we worked out one time for about 5 minutes and decided it was too dang hot and that we liked it better by the beach. This time we actually enjoyed our morning run and workout. We were sweating like crazy (75-100 degrees) but we kept a bath towel handy so we didn't soak the treadmill :). Plus, we would see our new friends that we had met sometime at the resort. You might think, "why would they work out on their vacation?" For us working out isn't a chore. It's something fun that we do together. Plus, we didn't just run. Every morning and afternoon we played beach volleyball and we got involved in many of the activities on the resort like snorkling and dancing. I want to go back....

Washam 5k

The second annual Washam 5k Run & Post Party will be held Saturday, October the 3rd. This is a perfect tune-up run for the Sunshine Run which is the 2nd weekend in October.
The Washam 5k Run & Post Party began last year as a way for all our friends to get together, go on a no pressure run, and party afterward. You can be at any running/jogging/walking level. There is no clock and no one wins. It's just fun! friends~tee shirt~fun~food~beer~run what else could you ask for???
More details to come (sorry we have been so busy)...I just wanted to get the date out so YOU can start training! I even hope to have info on training schedules. For now just google "novice 5k training schedule" and see what you come up with!
Leave a comment if you ran last year or plan to participate this year!
I can't wait to see you there :)

running around Michigan

My parents took Dustin and I on a quick weekend golfing trip to Michigan the weekend of the 9th. If you have ever been on a vacation with the Engler's you know that it isn't for a little R & R. The awesome part is that you see EVERYTHING you can at your target destination. The bad part is that you come home needing a vacation from your vacation :). But, I wouldn't have it any other way. Friday we drove up and played a twilight round of golf in the South Haven area. (twilight is a later tee time, generally after 3pm, when you can get a discounted rate and sometimes unlimited golf). When we were kicked off the course at 9:30 from darkness, we walked around the mainstreet area for dinner. Thankfully the Mermaid was still serving at 10:15 (awesome food!). The next morning we were up early (yes, we set our alarm clock on vacation) for a morning jog. Shortly after we rented bikes and went on a 20 mile bike ride along a nice trail in the area. By noon we were on the beach (yes, the beaches are nice in Michigan...I would have never guessed!). In the afternoon, we played on Arnold Palmer's course The Ravines. It was a super nice course but the mosqitos ate us alive. As it got darker out shots became one handed because we couldn't stop swatting mosquitos long enough to hit! At the turn I asked if a blood transfusion came with the twilight rate :) ! Sunday morning we got up early to play at another beachside course. It was an older course with huge trees that made some of the shots quite difficult. On this course we spotted deer, turkey, and geese. Once we got back we said good bye to the Spruce Cutter Cottage B & B, hopped in the car and headed home. Whew! That was alot for three days! Welcome to the Engler vacation

**I will be more detailed later...I really wanted to blog

Le Penseur: The Thinker

This morning I went for a run and I got to thinking. I always enjoy a run with my husband or running with my ipod, but a run in silence is what I love. One of my favorite things about running is that it gives me time to think about all the things that are going on. I am normally so busy that I never allow myself time to think. While running I come up with plans, works out ideas and emotions, pray, process my day/week/month/year, and clear my head so I can focus, without bias, what I want out of life (and how to get it). Today, I was just going to go for a quick 3 mile run. When I snapped out of my thoughts I realized that I had past the turn around point so I decided to make it a 4 mile run. A bit after the 4 mile turn around point I had done the same thing and decided 5 wouldn't hurt me. I ended up running 6. I guess I have a lot to think about :)
On long runs with D, he is easily able to get in a zone where randomly he "snaps to" and realizes that he is running. He tries to get me to do that, but on long, tempo, or fast runs I can never seem to just let my thoughts wonder and I ALWAYS know that I am struggling, I mean, running. Very rarely am I able to get in that zone. But when I do, I appreciate the time to think and enjoy the run so much more.
~Aimee

Buzz

Everyone likes a good buzz, right? Well, when Dustin told me last week that he was going to buzz his hair I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out. He was just about to spend 12 days in a fireworks tent and he thought it would be cooler. I helped him cut his hair off in the bathroom and was pleasantly surprised at the end result. He says it feels weird when he runs and was very thankful for the lack of hair at a 90 degree day at a Royals vs. Cardinals game. He thinks its funny when we are about to go somewhere as he says, "let me go fix my hair...done". It makes me think of the way my hair gets all balled-up in a "rat's nest" after a long run. It seems like it takes forever to get all the tangles out! That gave me an idea. Dustin likes short hair so I asked him if I could buzz mine too. What an idea- no time consumed to wash and dry my hair, no forgetting pony tail holders when I need them, and no tangles. His reply was a resounding, "NO!" I guess I will let Sinead O'Conner keep her own style and I will keep my long hair :)
~Aimee

Running and Golf

Over the past three years I have really come to love these two sports. However, three years ago I would have never dreamed that I would be content with running and golf instead of team sports. So why the change of heart? From a competitive standpoint I am still the same, I want to win. But with running and golf I don't have to rely on anyone else. I quickly learned through basketball, flag football, and softball that the commitment from others was not always there. Surprisingly, people do not show every week, do not find a replacement, and do not pay for league fees. In team sports you can improve individually, but it takes commitment from everyone to stay competitive and be successful. In running and golf the only person I have to blame is myself.

These thoughts come front and center due to two events that occurred yesterday, one in each sport. I went for a 7 mile run yesterday and completed it in just under 50 minutes or slightly over a 7:00 minute/mile pace. It has been a while since I ran this fast over that distance. Big deal? Maybe. Maybe not. I want to return to Boston, doing so will require qualifying again. Qualifying requires a 3:10 marathon or 7:15 minute/mile pace. Why not try to run a 3:00 marathon or 6:52 minute/mile pace? I also played golf with Aimee yesterday only to get abused by 14 strokes! Ouch. However, I set a goal to shoot under 110 (106 baby!). Now I will consistently try to shoot under 110 until I can consistently shoot under 100. No one to blame but me. ~Dustin

I hurt!

I hurt. It's mainly my left side (neck, upper back, shoulder, hip, HAMSTRING, knee) and I can't really say that I am injured, yet. If you run frequently, you know what I mean. It's that feeling when your body is starting to tell you, back off! So, I think I am going to take a few days off because resting now is better than being forced to rest later if one of these "aches" turn into a full blown injury. It's uber-annoying! For one thing, I have been working hard at getting faster so of course I am scared of losing everything. It seems like you lose it all so quick! And, I really enjoy running. Oh well. I think I might be paying a visit to my chiropractor tomorrow...maybe he will straighten me out.
I really feel the worst on the day after I play softball. I don't really do a whole lot in the game, so I'm not quite sure why. All I know is that I have never had knee pains and right now I can't even cross my left leg over my right. Dustin says that I am just getting old. I think maybe I just need to rest and get a new pair of shoes or something (lol). There is no way I'm getting old! (sigh)

Really, I'm fine. Just a bit irritated. :(

(We said we would share the good with the bad!)

peace out, Aimee

Andy's Run!

My favorite bootcamp workout is the Andy's run and it was Monday! The workout isn't the most intense of the year, but I will participate in anything with the word "Andy's" in it. I got the Straw-ana...and it was great! Everyone else either got the blackberry concrete or an orange freeze, both superb choices. Shout out to Rod - Andy's run might be your best idea ever!
P.S. If you don't know what Andy's is: First, crawl out from the rock that you are living under. Second, allow me to accompany you to see what Andy's is all about!
~Aimee

Hometown Nostalgia

Over the weekend I was able to go home and visit the fam and friends. It happen to be Country Days weekend (yee haw!) which is an annual festival in F-town. On the Saturday of Country Days weekend there is an "Invest in yourself" 1 mile and 5 mile run, along with a 2 mile walk, that my dad has helped stage for years. I can remember when I was a kid running the 1 mile race. In the morning, mom would swing by the house to run the last mile of her morning run with me to help me train. I don't think I was really all that excited about it then, but I appreciate it now! I can picture my "race outfit" in my head now: hot green and checkered flag spandex with a hot pink Body Glove shirt. Whew, hot stuff (hey, it was the late 80's, early 90's)!
When I was in high school, I moved up to the 5 mile race. One year my friend Tracy Boyd (Taylor) ran it with me. Another year, I got sick on the side of the road around mile 2 from a bad breakfast. Dustin and I ran it together as an engaged couple and finished together (that was back in the stone ages when Dustin didn't kick my ass everytime we ran). Ahh, memories. I haven't ran the 5 mile race in 4 years, but it was so fun to revisit the same course and see many familiar faces. It's not the flattest course, but the countryside provides ample shade, fresh air, and the occasional angry cow. This year when I finished 2 of my friends were at the finish line from completing the 2 mile (great job Hilary and Jamie!), my dad drove by around mile 2 in a golf cart, and my mom was at the finish line snapping pictures like the paparazzi. I love Springfield, but it was good to be home! ~Aimee

Smoothie Time

When we are training for a marathon and need to get longer runs in during the school week it really only leaves Aimee with 30 minutes to shower and get ready (45 minute commute and lots of hair to dry). So, often Dustin will mix up a smoothie that we can take with us so we can refuel on our way to work. Now during summer they are a fun after-run treat and refuel tool. This morning we found a recipe that we tweaked a bit and really enjoyed. If you like the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich then you will love this smoothie too!!! Caution: Even though it has many low sugar ingredients, this is not necessarily a low calorie smoothie. It is perfect for after a long run because it has a good amount of both carbs and proteins. Give it a try and leave us a comment about what you think!!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, I mean, Smoothie
1/2 cup of low sugar concord grape jelly (we used Smucker's, the recipe called for raspberry preserves)
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (Aimee prefers all natural and Dustin prefers Jiff, but just grab whats in your cupboard)
1 cup sugar-free vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
1/2 cup of skim milk
2/3 cup frozen mixed berries (we used strawberries)

Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth. (3 servings, but the two of us finished it off)

YUM YUM!

National Running Day

Today is national running day! Not quite sure what I am suppose to do different today than I normally would, but if there is going to be national talk like a pirate day (September 19) why not national running day?
http://www.runningday.org/
~Dustin

Cox Medical Mile

OMG! After much convincing from Dustin, I signed up to run the Cox Medical Mile race this past Saturday. I am NOT a sprinter so after much groaning, and assurance from others that there will be other "slow" runners competing (thanks for the encouragement Cathy!) I decided, why not???? It will be a good warm up for the 5K race that follows the 1 mile race. When the race began, I was feeling pretty good so I decided to run harder than I planned. 3/4 of a mile into the race I realized that my legs were feeling good and I was in 4th place! I sprinted the last bit and ended up taking 3rd (women's heat) with a 6:20 mile!!! Yes, a 6:20 mile...I was stoked! Granted, much of it was downhill, but I haven't ran that fast in a while. When the morning was over, I had taken 3rd overall and 1st in my age category for the mile and 2nd in my age category for the 5K. I'm not normally very proud of my running, but this day was so fun I just had to blog it! Yee haw!
~Aimee

Heat is On

The Missouri weather never fails to amaze me. Our last few days of highs in the 70's have quickly been replaced by the immediate arrival of a humid-filled, hot summer. The body however does not adapt so quickly, as Aimee and I soon found out.

The temperature was near 90 yesterday as Aimee and I got June off to a good start with a 6 mile run on the South Creek Trail. 4:00 pm may not be the most ideal time to run, but we wanted to add in the extra miles before attending bootcamp at the Fitness Center. Not in recent memory has this distance seemed so hard. I am thankful for the water fountain and the shade of the trees along the trail on days like today. I guess it will take some getting use to, but I know we will long for the warmer temperatures during the winter training months. After we put in a sweat drenched 10 miles for the day, the Papa John's pizza that followed was well deserved!