Runner's Commandments:

A fellow blogging/runner had this posted on her blog. I thought I would steal it and share it as well. I love them all, but I think I need to print it out and post it on my fridge.

1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.
2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.
3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.
4. During group training runs, don’t let anyone run alone.
5. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.
6. When doing group runs, start on time no matter who’s missing.
7. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.
8. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.
9. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.
10. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.
11. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.
12. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.
13. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.
14. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.
15. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.
16. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.
17. Talk like a runner. “Singlets” are worn on warm days. “Tank tops” are worn to the beach.
18. Don’t talk about your running injuries. People don’t want to hear about your sore knee or black toe.
19. Don’t always run alone.
20. Don’t always run with people.
21. Approach running as if the quality of your life depended on it.
22. No matter how slow you run it is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.
23. Keep in mind that the harder you run during training, the luckier you’ll get during racing.
24. Races aren’t just for those who can run fast.
25. There are no shortcuts to running excellence.
26. The best runs sometimes come on days when you didn’t feel like running.
27. Be modest after a race, especially if you have reason to brag.
28. If you say, “Let’s run this race together,” then you must stay with that person no matter how slow.
29. Think twice before agreeing to run with someone during a race.
30. There is nothing boring about running. There are, however, boring people who run.
31. Look at hills as opportunities to pass people
32. Distance running is like cod liver oil. At first it makes you feel awful, then it makes you feel better.
33. Never throw away the instructions to your running watch.
34. Don’t try to outrun dogs.
35. Don’t trust runners who show up at races claiming to be tired, out of shape, or not feeling well.
36. Don’t wait for perfect weather. If you do, you won’t run very often.
37. When tempted to stop being a runner, make a list of the reasons you started.
38. Never run alongside very old or very young racers. They get all of the applause.
39. Without goals, training has no purpose.
40. During training runs, let the slowest runner in the group set the pace.
41. The first year in a new age group offers the best opportunity for trophies.
42. Go for broke, but be prepared to be broken.
43. Spend more time running on the roads than sitting on the couch.
44. Make progress in your training, but progress at your own rate.
45. “Winning” means different things to different people.
46. Unless you make your living as a runner, don’t take running too seriously.
47. Runners who never fail are runners who never try anything great.
48. Never tell a runner that he or she doesn't look good in tights.
49. Never confuse the Ben-Gay tube with the toothpaste tube.
50. Never apologize for doing the best you can.
51. Preventing running injuries is easier than curing them.
52. Running is simple. Don’t make it complicated.
53. Running is always enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the joy doesn’t come until the end of the run.

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow I am going to register for my sixth marathon! Wahoo! I can't believe this will be the sixth one, something's really wrong with my brain. This one will certainly be challenging with going back to work in the fall, trying to be a good wife, and now keeping up with two babies. It'll work out, though. I plan on using the same training program, Hal Higdon's Novice marathon program. It's doable, and the long runs are not too freakishly long. A bunch of friends are signing up, too, so running this summer will be lots of fun!

It's been ages since I updated this blog. Over the course of the past month I've run a half, taken a week off due to a sinus infection, and started running longer runs during the week. It's been a great month and I'm so thankful to have an outlet during tax season. The runs with my friends help my spirit tremendously, and the runs by myself are just as important. It's valuable to have some quiet time, as well as friend time.

Now that I'm thinking ahead to this marathon, I'll try to start updating the blog more frequently...

The easy way out..

Sometimes I enjoy taking the easy way out by running on the treadmill.  Last week I ran four days in a row.  This rarely happens anymore.  I get tired or I'm busy and up late with the babies, there are so many excuses.  So, last week I was so proud of myself for fitting in running for four days straight.  Thursday was a treadmill run, while I ran with friends early in the morning on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  It was great!  Yesterday I decided to take the day off of running.  It was heavenly!  I slept in until around seven, or so.  As much as I enjoy sleeping in, I don't enjoy waking up with the boys.  I don't enjoy the whining and the demanding as soon as I wake.  That is selfish, I know.  This morning, I woke again with the boys, but I did fit in an hour of running on the treadmill.  The treadmill has become so much fun for me!  It's a good change of pace and I enjoy the extra TV time to myself.  The temperature is also always great.  Instead of counting down the minutes, I usually add more when I am on the treadmill.  Tomorrow was supposed to be an outside run with the group, but I just might have to declare it as another treadmill day!  : ) Time will tell...

Beating me to the punch

The two rascals have been beating me to the punch lately with running, so it's been really hard to get out the door.  Josh is working so much now that he really needs to get going in the mornings, even on the weekends, so I've got to do a better job of getting out the door before the boys wake.  It sounds so much easier than it actually is, doesn't it?  I wanted to do a long run on Saturday, which then turned into Sunday, because M got up so early on Saturday morning.  Which also meant that Josh got up and out the door quickly, so that he could get work done at the office.  It turns out that I didn't run on Sunday either! Grrr.... Sunday I had the time to go in the morning, but spent it with Josh watching the Australian Open.  It's important for us to fit time in together, even if it's six am on a Sunday morning watching tennis.

So, yesterday I got up and out.  I ended up running about 4.5 miles, which was decent since I ran by myself.  Today, since I'm up incredibly early, I hope to fit in at least four or five miles.  It was a long night with the baby and I desperately need the reprieve, even if it's only forty-five minutes of alone time!  

The half marathon is just like two and a half weeks away, and I have not even gotten close to running the ten miles plus miles that I wanted to do beforehand.  Oh well.  My time is not important, this time around, anyway.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to gut my way through it, though...

Lots of Running

Even though the weather has not been great for running this week, I have managed to get in some miles. Monday and Tuesday I ran with a girlfriend, which was helpful and motivating. Tuesday morning we were able to run in the snow. The snow was really wet, though, almost more like rain than snow. Nevertheless, it was still a great run and it was wonderful to have company on the run, especially I was "snowed in" with the babies for two days straight. (That's enough to make you go crazy, or want to run really, really FAR.) : )

Wednesday I took the day off, we all slept in really late and since I woke with the kiddos the treadmill was not an option. Thursday and Friday were treadmill days. It was great to have a change in pace, and to run in the warmth of our basement. The treadmill is so incredibly helpful when I need (or, want) to fit in a quick run. When we first bought it I really didn't enjoy running on it, but now that we have two children? I LOVE it! The past two days I have caught up on Golden Girl re-runs and the news. When the news gets too depressing, I flip over to the Golden Girls! I'm really not sure what I going to do with myself when I go back to work next year. It's rather nice being able to run at 8:00 in the morning, rather than 5 or 5:30 everyday.

Tomorrow will be a long run, hopefully nine miles, or so...Long run days are so much fun...once the run is over, of course!

Long Run for the week!

Today I ran about nine miles with the girls. I felt great and enjoyed every minute. My legs started to stiffen a bit towards the end, but I think a lot of that was due to the temperature drop. I'm not too concerned about getting up to 13 before the half marathon, though it would be great to get in at least ten for the next couple of weekends. Tomorrow I'd like to get out for a slow, short run... We'll see how tired I am tomorrow morning. It's less than a MONTH before the half marathon, now! Wahoo!! : ) (I guess?)

A slow week.

This has not been the best running week, I've been a bit lazy.  Tuesday the weather was bad and I knew that I was going to run Wednesday, so I just took the day off.  Wednesday morning quickly came around and neither boy slept well on Tuesday night, which meant that I only got a couple of hours of sleep.  Instead of making it to the running party, I slept in, which made me feel really guilty.  Yesterday, though, I did manage to get in three miles on the treadmill.  The pace was about ten minutes  per mile, which felt really good.  I wasn't tired at all from the run, it was refreshing to feel so good. 

Today I got back on track with running outside and met a running friend.  We did about 4.5 miles, which was great.  I'm hoping to run both Saturday and Sunday, we'll see if I'm able to fit a run in both days.  Tax season is cramping my style!  I've GOT to get up if I want to run in the mornings on the weekend.  It's worth the loss of sleep, though...