Monday, May 26, 2008

BolderBOULDER 10K












Today we ran the BolderBOULDER 10K up in, yup you guessed it, Boulder. It was a rough race, considering we've only been up in this elevation for a week now.

My official time was 44:45.08 and my pace was 7:13 minute miles. It was my first 10K, so no matter what, I can say it was a personal best :) even though I ran 20 seconds per mile SLOWER than my half marathon personal best! I have no idea how long it will take to get used to this elevation, but I plan on researching it soon!
My overall place was 230 out of 16,849, which means I was in the top one percent for women, not counting pros. I also placed ninth in my age division out of 404, which was also surprising. My goal was to run 40 minutes, so I missed it by about five minutes, but hey I can always to better next time.... which I will! It was a cold and rainy day, much better than a hot Phoenix day, but it was uncomfortable walking three miles back to the car after the race!
Last week I went to Runner's Roost, a shoe store here in Lakewood, and bought some new Asics DS Trainers. I need to start training in heavier shoes instead of racing flats, that way racing will seem easier! I still raced in my old Newtons, which are really old, so I can put a little blame on my bad finishing time on my old shoes that give no support... :)
Tomorrow my training plan says to bike and run... we'll see what happens! I have a lot on my mind, and I just want to find a good job and settle into a routine... after that I know I will feel better! Today I'll probably just lounge with Brian in our cozy little apartment. Wednesday I have an interview, and I might go check out a school in north Denver this week as well.
That's all for now.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

New Home

The move has been hectic, and we are still settling into our new apartment. Colorado is beautiful, and I am thrilled I don't have to try and survive in 110 degree weather anymore! We have spent the past two days working out in the morning, then Brian works from home during the day and I am still unpacking! Not having a job is strange, and I get bored real easily. Hopefully I find something good soon because I will go crazy without something other than working out and cleaning! How do homemakers do it??!?!

Yesterday we biked up Jewell Ave from our house. There is a huge hill right away and then... many many more hills!!! Then we ran for one hour around the three lakes by our apartment. It was such a nice day! Today we got up and ran up to the Green Mountain Recreation Center and swam. The run was ridiculously uphill the way there (2.2 miles) and, as you could guess, ridiculously downhill on the way back. I honestly didn't know if I was going to make it on the way there. I haven't swam in a week either, so it felt good to get back in the water... even though I'm still slow and Brian laps me all the time :)
We are going to do the Rocky Mountain half marathon in three weeks. I am excited but nervous... I haven't raced since Lake Havasu, which was horrendous, so we will see what happens. I know I wont PR, because the likelyhood of me running 6:50's after just moving up to this elevation is very low, but it will be fun nonetheless.

I am also excited because we are getting our mini Aussie, Hannah, in two weeks from today! She is so adorable and I CANNOT WAIT to meet her! I stopped by the vet today to learn more about what I have to do when we get her. It will be awesome because Brian and I took a walk after dinner tonight and all I could think about is how excited I am to have the dog to walk with us in two weeks!!
I also want to say thanks to Brian's uncle Brenden, his brother Eric and our old roommate Keith for helping us move out here. It was an eventful trip, to say the least, but good memories I will keep forever! Spending the day in Golden, which is about 7 miles from our apartment, on Sunday was awesome. Keith took this photo when we went exploring that afternoon. It was so windy I was scared I was going to get blown off the mountain and I couldn't believe people were actually biking up it still!! The wind is definitely something I will have to get used to!
Tomorrow we plan to stop by a bike shop in Morrison and ask about group rides... we really need some friends and hopefully we can find people to bike and run with! All we hear is that Boulder is the place for triathletes to be, so maybe we will ultimately end up there!
Brian is sleeping on the couch now, so I think it's time for me to go to bed and get up to go swim tomorrow morning, then bike in the afternoon after the cable guy comes! So much to do still!!
:)

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Graduation!! :)

On Friday Brian graduated from ASU with his degree in Computer Science. Now we are both ASU graduates! I am so proud of his hard work, and even more proud that he wont be so cranky since he will just have work and no school and he can pay more attention to ME!! hehe! So, YAY, congrats babe!
Ironman base training starts in one week, so I'm taking this week EASY and fun, considering I will also be moving this week! Saturday we did a 20 mile bike and a 1500 meter swim and today we ran 10 miles. I felt pretty good, so I was happy. We started packing this weekend and oh my gosh is it work. I forgot how much I HATE moving! We are leaving Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. I am driving my car, Brian is driving the 16 foot long Budget truck, and his uncle is driving the minivan. It should be interesting. I believe Brian's younger brother Eric is coming as well. At least if something goes wrong we will all be driving together!
Last week I also applied to grad school at Northern Colorado University for a teaching liscensure. I'm crossing my fingers that I get in. The program starts next summer if I do get in!
Well, it's off to bed soon since I'm getting up early to get a run in before work tomorrow so I can spend the evening PACKING. Oh how exciting this week will be!!
Bye for now!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Gearing up to move

Eleven days until the big move to Colorado. I'm getting ansy and am ready to just GO! The weather has been heating up and lately I've been reminded of when I first moved to Phoenix from my little town of Sleepy Hollow, Ill. and started school. I always said I would never live here permanently and that I would never raise my kids here. Well, a month and a half before graduation last May I met Brian, and moving back to the Midwest became a thought of the past. So, I spent another summer here, complaining every day when it was time to run, bike, swim or walk to work. It is just too hot! When Brian told me he wanted to move to Colorado my heart was lifted! I am so thankful that we are getting the heck out of here just a week after he graduates! It is a little scary though, thinking I'm leaving my job and heading to Colorado without one, but things happened so fast I don't really have another choice. I've been job searching online, since that's pretty much all I can do from Phoenix at the moment, but I'm just not sure if I want to continue doing journalism. I really want to be involved in something fitness or education related... I guess the search will continue until I find my niche in Colorado!
Another exciting thing is that we are getting a puppy on June 3. She is a mini Austrailian shepherd that is currently just four weeks old! I am so luck to have found her while doing my daily internet searching (I'm obsessed with googling random things and learning about random things I find on the internet.) I found a Colorado Springs-based breeder, www.fuzbutts.com, and fell in love with her. I can't wait to have a running/hiking/walking buddy. :)~

This weekend I got to meet one of my best friends' (since I was 8) baby, Dylan. He is 2 1/2 months old. I cannot believe we are getting to the age where everyone starts having babies. I don't think I'm quite ready for that, and her visit was a good reminder of that! I'll be happy with Brian and our dog, and concentrating on establishing a career before I start a family! But don't get me wrong, I definately want at least two kids... someday!!

I am also excited because I revieved an e-mail last week from a girl who said she found my blog randomly. She said she is moving to the Denver area this summer and is also doing Ironman Arizona in November! How cool! I already have a friend and I haven't even moved yet. Serious training starts later this month, so I'm enjoying my time off before I dive in! I did a hike with my dad on Saturday and an hour run on Sunday... how nice it is to relax.

OK, it's back to work and getting ready to move!

<3