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December 29, 2004

I Cannot Think of a Title

I cannot think of a title. It is pretty early in Chicago and my dog and I are watching the news. The disaster that his hit with this Tsunami is devastating and beyond words. It really makes me think twice about how I live my life. There are always little changes I can be making to really make a difference and really make life worth living. I guess I am slightly depressed given the current state of things in the world - the death tolls in both Iraq and Thailand, etc. continue to rise. It's so frightening and beyond explanation (well, Iraq has a certain explanation but I will not spill all of my anti-war sentiments on here - we are there now and we cannot simply desert the country).

I think I just needed to say something about all of this.

On to running - I took Monday off (WHY?), but I had a great run yesterday! I went to the gym with C. (who is 8 months pregnant...I am about to become a first-time Aunt!!!), and I ran 7 miles on the treadmill. Most of the miles were between 6:48-6:53 pace. I finished the run in 49:09. I also ran with A. last night - we ran for 23 minutes together, so I am calling it 3 miles :) She is such a FUN person to run with - I am hoping that we hit the roads for another 3-5 tonight. She is an accountant and her busy season seems to have struck early - she is currently working 14 hour days (how?).

Chicago is experiencing a really weird heat wave - which seems even stranger since we just had an artic blast with minus degree temps. One newscaster predicted a high of 50 for New Year's Eve!!!

I hope all are well and happy and healthy:)

Posted by bridget at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)

December 27, 2004

Rolling in at 30 . . .

Miles per week. A quick recap:

Wed: 5 miles @ 9PM. My dad and I spent 5 hours fighting the crowds and we managed to get all of his Christmas shopping done! It was a blast . . I contemplated NOT running, but then I thought long and hard about how upset I would be if succumbed to laziness for the second day in a row.

Alison has been talking about the difference in treadmills - I swear to my running gods and goddesses that the treadmills at my OLD (as in high school old) gym are off. I managed a 6:40 pace the entire way with only minimal discomfort. I think I was running more like 7 minute pace.

Thursday: Spent all day with my twin!!! We were supposed to go running, but she decided she did not want to - and I decided to watch movies with her instead of running in minus degree weather By the way, my twin sister and I are VERY different: she likes to stroll at 6.7 mph on the treadmill while I crash around 8.0 - 9.5. She likes salsa and chips for dinner and large mochas with extra whip cream! I like black coffee and pretzels. She likes to climb mountains and move vertically; I prefer to move horizontally on the roads. She is happy with running - jogging - 3 times/week or less while I am miserable with anything less than 6 days/week. She is also taller and skinnier. Go figure!

This was supposed to be a short update - oh well.

Friday: I dragged my twin sister to the gym and made her run on the treadmill next to me (I am so mean). I ran 7 miles in 50:25 with the final mile descending from 6:30 to 6:00. I felt pretty good, but I expected some pain on Saturday.

Saturday: I ran an EASY 5 miles around 37:30. I felt pretty good, but I think that I am pushing the pace a bit too much for my 6th week back of running. Maybe I am trying to compensate for the low mileage with a clippier pace?

Sunday: B. and I hit the gym and I rn 6 miles around 43-44 minutes. I felt like I could have gone 8-10 miles.

I ran 30 miles for the week.

So today is monday and I am planning to go 6-8 tonight! Probably 6 miles. B. and I are both trying to get back into shape after months of nothingness. It's so hard!

My goals this week: Run 6 days and try to hit 40 miles this week with a long run of 10 miles. I need to climb out of this hole :)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday Season so far. What are the New Year's Eve Plans???? :0

Posted by bridget at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)

December 21, 2004

Why is it SO EASY NOT to run these days?

I remember freaking out every time I used to take a day off from exercise - I once made it an entire summer without a day off; that was the end of my running streaks. Actually, since that summer - 7 years ago! - I have been chronically injured (one of my friends likes to joke that I peak in between injuries).

The past 3.5 months were really hard. I went from cross-training hard core to totally giving up on all training. I focused on school and diverted all of my energy into my final papers. Now I can run and work-out again, but I am finding it extremely difficult to get into a good routine and rhythm.

I had an amazing run yesterday - 7 miles steady. I averaged about 7:10 with a final mile in 6:30 - I felt GRRREAT (like Tony the Tiger!). BUT, today rolls around - I am overflowing with energy and I am ready to roll - but I DO NOTHING! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

I think part of me is suffering from the "american" mentality. I feel less motivated to hit the trails when I am carrying a few extra pounds and when I have gotten used to doing everything on my "list" before I get around to running. I used to jump out of bed and run . . . I need to rediscover that habit before I truly go nuts.

Tomorrow I am shopping with my old man (expect a funny post tomorrow night!!!) so I might run 2 miles in the morning before I drive 40 miles to meet him and then run another 3-5 tomorrow night - if I can get my out-of-shape bottom to the gym!

Ahhh, the love of running! The mental anguish is killing me right now!

Posted by bridget at 07:46 PM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2004

22 miles

That is what I ran this week: 22 miles! I used to cringe at the thought of only running 22 miles in a week, but I understand that this is a long process and that I am not going to be running 60 miles/week any time soon. Gerad commented on my last entry that I must be carful to contain my enthusiasm and urge to run, run, run. So my goal this week is to run 5-6 days and about 3-7 miles each day. I am anxious to get back to running 6-8 miles/day with a few doubles.

Anyway, this past weekend B. surprised me with a last minute trip to Boston! Some of you may know from my prior blogs how much I LOVE Boston; I only lived there for 3 years, but they were the best three years of my life. I dream of moving back and I think - 30 years from now - B. and I will head back that way. I know I romanticize and mythologize it a bit, but I cannot help it - I think we all have places in life that remind us of the first time we found ourselves, the first time we met love, the first time we fell in love with running and certain running routes - and the people that we met along the way. That is Boston to me :) And I miss it.

We had an amazing week and it was sort of a let down to fly back to our minus degree weather in Chicago, but I like Chicago too. That said, I am running indoors in a few minutes to avoid to freeze and burn from the wind chill. I will get outside and brave the cold for most of the winter, but I do find the treadmill surface most suitable to my fragile toes right now.

I'll let everyone know how the treadmill run goes! For those of you running in the cold: bundle up!!!

Posted by bridget at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

December 14, 2004

Sun and Snow

Before I even begin to write this entry - THANK YOU all for the comments!!!! I am way too lucky to have such awesome friends :)

California was amazing! My sister, K, and I arrived late on Thursday, but got up early for a run along the Pacific. K. has never run before, but she did her first mile over a week ago and I think she is addicted now! So we did a 1 mile run together and then I took off for another 5.5. I ran way too fast - to the point where I almost threw up water - you know you are out of shape when . . . .

My twin sister joined us on Friday night and we ran together - at a much more reasonable pace - on saturday and sunday. I think we put in about 5 miles each day. My feet were happy. The weather was amazing!

We returned super late on Sunday and I decided NOT to run on Monday. I did run today, but I am running on the treadmill for some more "give" in the surface; I dread the thought of cold concrete and healing feel connecting. Anyway, I ran 6 miles today at 7:18 pace, but I did mile 4 @ 6:30 going down to 6:10. I am not ready for that yet, but I just wanted to see if I still had some speed left. Taking it easy is killing me, but I do not plan to do anything remotely difficult for at least 8 weeks. I DO NOT want to be out another 3.5 months!

I am curled up on the couch with my dog - if I can figure out how to post pictures, I will send a link to my beautiful 1 year-old! He is so adorable!

Posted by bridget at 07:56 PM | Comments (0)

December 09, 2004

WOW - it's been a while

I am completely and totally exhausted at the moment so this will be a short entry - but sort of like a "coming attractions" for the weeks ahead. I just handed in 2 26-page papers back-to-back so I am a little burnt out on writing (not to mention the fact that I am totally sleep deprived - I made it almost 70 hours with no sleep before I crashed).

First things first, I have been running 3 times/week for the past 2 weeks and my feet are cooperating; I am anxious to start running more, but I want to gradually ease back into this.

I am on Christmas break officially so I will FINALLY be able to get myself back on track - I have neglected my running/working out/healthy habits for the past few weeks. No more excuses - it's time to get back in shape - and I have a LOOOOONG road ahead of me. My body is not exactly the "runner's body" that was there over 3 months ago - it's hibernating!

I will be away until Monday (my sister is taking me to California - my sisters take very good of me and totally pity my poverty!). I feel awful that I didn't update while I was sidelined, but it was getting emotionally exhausting and frustrating to read or hear about anything running-related. I had to cut myself off or I was going to check myself into rehab. I really missed running.

I miss you all! Hope everyone is happy and healthy!

Posted by bridget at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)