Whew – what a weekend! Friday night, we went to hang out with my moms family for a pre-reunion get together. It was at a huge park where the kids could run around and act like…kids! Carlos and I left early because he had a poker game. For a late dinner, I had Subway and made googly eyes at Iggy– ah, he is so adorable!
Saturday
Saturday…my goal was to wake up at 5:30am and go for my first ever 7 mile run. When my alarm went off at 5:30am I looked outside and it was pitch black! I didn’t even think about the fact that the days are getting shorter and the sun isn’t coming up as early as it has been. I wasn’t too excited about going running by myself in the pitch black so I laid down for 30 minutes. At 6am I got up and looked outside — still dark. I contemplated going running but fear got the best of me so I decided not to run. By the time the sun started to come out, I wouldn’t have had enough time to get my run in so I showered and just got ready for the day. Carlos and I volunteered at Feed My Starving Children from 9am-11am. Such a great organization!
After volunteering we ran home to grab Iggy and our potluck food items and headed out again. We got to the park and was surrounded by all my moms family. Cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, everything. HOW FUN! We all ate and then, my cuz Kirsten got us all ready for some games!
Among the games was one game where you had to, without your hands, cover your nose in Vaseline and stick a cotton ball to it. Then, you run to the other side and again, without hands, put the cotton ball on the plate.
Getting in on the action.
Carlos, is that a cotton ball or are you blowing your nose?
Another game was a relay. On the third station of the relay, we had to fill a 20 oz cup full of water using a 3 oz cup – you had to go back and forth between two tables as fast as you could.
Fillin' up their cups.
The faster you went, the more water seemed to spill out of the 3 oz cup. At one point, it was so slippery, Carlos slid into the table and spilled the everyone’s water. HILARIOUS!
Action shot!
I ended up eating my way through the day and am pretty sure I ate a dozen cookies all by myself. We didn’t leave the park until 7:30pm — we were both tired but Carlos and I ended up going over to my cuz, Kirsten’s house for an hour. We didn’t get home until 9:15pm which meant there was no way I got my 7 mile run in.
Sunday = Run Day
Since I ended up not getting my run in on Saturday, I was determined to wake up and run on Sunday (which meant no bootcamp for me, sorry Mary!) I woke up and had some pre-run fuel:
Some bread & 1/2 Justin's Nut Butter.
I ate and then waited about 20 minutes to make sure I had a chance to at least start digesting the PB. I had some water, went to the bathroom one more time, and then headed out for my run!
Many people I’ve talked with have advised me that after 50 minutes of consistent running, I should have some calories. Calories (including CARBS for immediate energy.) For my run, I brought some Power Bar Energy Gel Blasts that I found at the grocery store a couple days ago.
Running fuel.
After 60 minutes, I ate a little more than 1/2 the packet.
These were so yummy! They tasted exactly like fruit chews but were a little sweeter – and I’m all about sweet! Although I walked for a total of about 2 minutes, I was so excited to finish the entire thing! It was all about mind over matter. There were a couple times when I wanted to walk more but I just kept pushing myself. For me, it isn’t about time — just that I finish.
AND I FINISHED!
Post-run = all smiles!
I ate the rest of the fruit gels when I got home and sat on the couch staring off into space…in awe for about 5 minutes. Carlos finally told me to get in the shower while he made breakfast. Bacon & eggs. YUM!
7 miles in 1 hour, 25 minutes.
EEEKKKK – I cannot believe I ran for that long! Amazing, simply amazing!
The rest of my Sunday was pretty laid back – laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning and 2 episodes of Hells Kitchen on Hulu. As busy as a weekend can get for us around here, I am all about the no plans on Sunday to catch up and have at least one day of just whatever happens!
I thought I would be hungrier than I was but maybe it was all the cookies I had on Saturday? Or, maybe I’ll be super hungry Monday? We’ll see!
How was your weekend?
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree running in the dark is very intimidating… even in a safe town that I live in. I always wear lots of reflectors and a head lamp. Great job on the long run! You’ve got this
I have to agree w/Nicole. I wear reflector bands around my arms and a headlamp. Don’t let the dark stop ya from running in the morning. It’s the best time to look at the stars.
Great job on the run!! Can’t wait to read more about your future runs- you can do it!
I have to say i’m not one for going out in the dark!
Looks like y ou had a fun weekend and those pictures of Carlos are hilarious
Good for you on still getting that run in and what a run at that.
Hope you have a great week.
Way to go on finishing the run!
I’ve been unpacking and organizing for two weeks, so I’ve been lazy and haven’t gotten to the gym. That’ll change this week, I swear.
Awesome job on the run! I am dreaming of a day when I can accomplish that myself. This week I am starting C25K. I am not so nervous about running in the dark as I am about running in the heat. I have to do any sort of run/walk/jog activity in the morning before the sun comes up, otherwise its blazing hot. If I attempt to go at night, I just get eaten alive my mosquitos.
Again, congrats on your run and the training you have been doing. Our bodies rally do amazing things if we just push them in the right direction!
Awesome job on that run!!! I LOVE those PowerBar gels.
You are such an inspiration to me! Way to go!
You are soooo set for this 10 mile! I’m jealous! My training has been, well, not that great. Time to kick it into high gear, right?? And those energy things look good. I’ll have to look for them!
YAY Jen! Way to go on that run. Be very proud. I’ll have to try out those gels. I’m going to need them when I get to running longer distances. Right now I’m pretty comfortable up to about 8-9 miles.
Your reunion sounds like a ton of fun with all those games.
Hooray, Jen!! You did such a great job, and kudos to you for fitting it into your schedule. You are going to be MORE than ready for that 10 miler. Maybe you could even do a half marathon.
I would have been scared to run in the dark too – especially where we live there are deer and cayotes!
AWESOME job on the run!!!
What a great run, Jen!!! Congratulations – you are really coming along with your training!
I ran in the dark for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I was scared. I’ll do it again, but will stick to a main street that has a lot of streetlights. Still, it’s a bit unnerving.
Good job on the run!! It’s great you can eat before and during your run. I can’t eat prior but take GU or some other power gel after 1hour of running. You seem like a natural runner… a half marathon should be your next goal. This weekend I ran 18K in the pouring rain and actually like it.
I am so proud of you! Running for 1 hr and 25 minutes? That is awesome!
I am so inspired by your determination! I live in Alaska, so for a good portion of the year it is DARKand COLD. The first two years I used it as an excuse not to jog (I3 miles at about 5:30 in the morning). This last year, I realized that I could do it. I took my yellow lab and put on some spikes for the snow/ice and got outside. The dark isn’t so bad when the reward is having the run complete before you start your day. I stick to main roads and wear reflective tape on my beanie and jacket. I don’t run when the temp is less than 10 degrees, so there are still a couple of months that I have to jog on the treadmill indoors at the gym. I would encourage you not to let the dark slow you down! I’ll send you some free reflective tape from the Alaska Injury Prevention Center!
Sorry, correction, I only jog 3 miles, not 13!
I am so proud of you Jen! 7 miles, you’re my hero! I ran a 10k this weekend and felt quite proud of myself as well.
When’s your next race?
Congrats on the 7 miler Jen!!! Awesome!!! And just think, last year you didn’t think you could be a runner!!!!
During the week I have to get up at 5 to get my runs in. I use a reflector vest and a headlamp. If I didn’t there is no way I would get any running done, especially in this heat.