Finish Lines & Starting Corrals

First off, the Finish Line

I finished law school!

Well, assuming that I passed all my classes (and Tax is really the only one I'm worried about) I am officially done with three years of higher education. In most states that means I get to add "esquire" to the end of my name, but in Kentucky we do it a bit differently: instead of Jennifer Siewertsen, esquire:

Boo-Yah

But just in case lets keep those fingers/toes/whatever crossed about the Tax final. I won't find out for sure whether or not I'm doomed to summer school until the 8th so for the next two weeks I'll bask in the blissful solitude of optimism and believe I'M DONE!

Perhaps sensing my blissful mood at the end of all formal education, the Bar Prep company delivered a most amazing package to me today

The enormity of the event hasn't really hit me yet. Unlike a race, law school is something you spend three years training for and then....you wait. When I left the exam there wasn't a finish line or a medal to wear, just some greasy a@$ wings and beer at Hooters (yes...Hooters). Maybe once I actually get to wear the floppy hat and hood (which I must return promptly after commencement is over) I'll realize that I'm in fact a Juris Doctor now. Wish there was a medal though.

Next up, the Starting Corrals


We're officially 2 days away from the start of the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon. There is just about one word that defines how I feel about this fact: panic.

Saturday's 8 miler was wonderful. It was a little rainy and cool, but a great last-minute confidence booster. Monday morning I went out for a really nice run around the block - as per the training plan - to just keep the legs loose. I'd been feeling a twinge in my right hip/glute which I chalked up to my hilly 8 miles Saturday & then sand vball Sunday. Monday's run seemed to help, so I wasn't too worried.

Monday night, though, the illusive and deadly grapefruit knee was back. Yesterday it was at it's prime. I couldn't really bend my knee past 90 degrees and squatting or kneeling was damn near impossible. Needless to say I skipped my last scheduled "workout" for ice and tennis ball treatment. Today it's better - not quite as swollen, more mobility - but I've developed a really tender bruised spot where the pain is from all the tennis ball rubbing and foam rolling. I'm pushing the Motrin and water and spending some quality time with the ice pack in hopes of getting back to 100% by race morning.

The worst part is that this feels like an excuse to be petrified. I've run hard during training, I won't deny that. I've put in my miles and done it mostly alone. Before the Flying Pig I was nervous that I couldn't finish just because it was new and hey,  I had no idea. Now that I know I can do it, it feels like anything less than a stellar finish is a failure. Obviously I know that's not true; every race is different, every road to the start line is a new one. The knee problem is just an excuse to embrace the fear, and to give myself an excuse to fail.

So courage it is then.

There are a couple things I'm wishing for this week:

• An awesome marathon experience! (duh)
• Catching up on all of YOUR awesome blogs! I love sharing in your journey and I'm so behind. Prepare for mass commenting by yours truly
• I'm really hoping for a blogger meet-up with the lovely Julia from over at Pain Pride & Perseverance. Did you know we went to College together? True story! 

In the meantime, I'm testing out some "healthy rice-krispes treats" (don't be skeptical!) while Josh is out running on his own in "our" park. I'm so proud I could burst! And then i'm super annoyed that I'm stuck inside with a swollen knee. Now I know how Ali Mc felt with her newly running hubby. Gotta take the good with the bad :)

Happy Running!!

Anybody ever had an "injury" or a flare up before a race? How did you handle it?
Anybody racing this weekend?? 

Final Countdown

Today is my last day of school - forever!

As excited as I am by this proposition (and i'm very excited) there's just too much to do right now. I'm going to be MIA until after my Federal Tax final (Monday) and then the big ramp up to the Derby Festival Marathon.  9 Days! All of these deadlines really got into my head last night on my run.  Nothing but negative thoughts for 45 straight minutes: My shorts are rubbing, my feet hurt, what's in my shoe? My shorts are really tight, did I gain weight? I feel so blobby, I'm hungry, I'm not going to want to eat when I get home @ 10..... and on and on and on. Not even thoughts of a cute, squirmy, loving pound puppy could turn it around. My legs and lungs were just fine, my heart and head failed the test.

This week's wish was an easy one: stop taking this time for granted. Now that we're down to the wire, I should be enjoying my accomplishments and savoring the journey. I've always believed that the hardest part about a race is making it to the starting line. No matter what, I'll be at the starting line next Saturday and I'll have overcome an ambitious training plan and busy spring to get there. It's time to stop worrying about all the details, all the extras, and all the numbers and start loving these moments.

This morning I'm going to head out to my favorite park and run just to run. No pace, no time, just run. Can't think of a better way to wash yesterday's blues out of my mind.

Well, after I finish a chapter of tax.

Happy Running!

Wednesday Wish List: Get it DONE!

Alright, so my 20 miler Sunday didn't happen. I know, I'm bummed too. What did happen is that Saturday was my big event for school and I knocked it out of the park. Then I slept for 3 hours, then watched Louisville lose in the Final Four and sleep some more. Sunday morning I woke up early and started laying out my running gear. I knew before I opened the blinds that I wasn't going to make it. Rain. Lots of rain. I waited 45 minutes, hoping that I could just wait it out. Then the lightning and thunder came. While I was prepared to do just about anything to get this run in, I just don't run in thunderstorms.

Determined to get something comparable in, I headed to the Y. I hadn't made it to Yoga in awhile and was really happy that I went. The class was challenging, fun, and of all things playful. I even managed my first inversion!

After Yoga I had almost 2 hours to kill until my first sand vball game of the season so I hit up the Elliptical & the treadmill. Overall, nothing hardcore but I was moving or working from 12 - 4:30, which is just about as long as my 20 miles.

So far this week has been about maintaining. Now that I'm officially in 'taper' (despite my little 20 mile blunder) I'm trying to reap the benefits: lots of water, lots of rest, lots of stretching, good miles.

There is only one thing on my wish list this week: 20 miles on Saturday! My hamstrings are still sore from Sunday's yoga, which totally surprises me, so I'm trying to take it easy a little bit. Getting my 20 in is a must for my confidence for the race. 

I looked at my training log for the 2009 Flying Pig and was surprised by a few things: one month before the race, i was only averaging 18.8 miles/week with a total of 224. This time I'm averaging closer to 21 miles/week with a total of 277. Prior to the flying pig, my log says my longest run was 14.5 miles. Already I've done 17.5. Knowing that I won't be as fast this time around, feeling confident in my training is going to be a big help come race day. 

I couldn't be happier with March. 

I feel horrible about not mentioning this, but I think I was worried about jinxing it: I won a sweet giveaway a month or two ago! I won the new C9 by Champion for Target line from Ashley @ HappyHealthierBear.  If you don't already read her blog, check it out. Her thoughts on moderation and her truly interesting approach to running make for a really great read. So after some haggling and some size exchanging I'm outfitted in the newest line of C9 clothing!

The lighting is horrible - the clothes are fantastic!

Is there anything better than new (free!) running stuff? 

Tonight Josh and I are going for a walk in our new neighborhood! We solved our housing problem and found the best rental house ever in a perfect neighborhood. Pictures to come :) 

Happy Running!

This & That

When I started blogging I'm not sure how often I anticipated updating, but I know once a week wasn't what I had in mind. That being said, once a week feels pretty damn current at this point. I've developed this thing during my runs, though, where I'll start plotting the blog I'll write about that run or workout as it's happening. Then I don't write it. C'est la vie. So rather than regurgitate a week's worth of mental blogs, I'll give it to you short and sweet.

• My life doesn't start before 9am these days. While I know I'll look back on this and say "wow, why didn't you enjoy that more?"for now I feel lazy and dumpy sleeping in so much and not doing anything productive. Example? I've slept through my alarm for my Saturday running group every week now. whoops...
• Despite sleeping through the alarm I managed to get in pretty awesome long run on Saturday! I was supposed to do 7 miles but the only route I knew was an 8 miler so....8 it was!

I wish the garmin elevation charts showed hills in
level of badassness          

So much for 12:40 pace...

• I have my first blister of the training season. I'm kind of glad to get it out of the way. 
• I want a dog so bad I physically can't stand it. I think this is the way girls my age are supposed to feel about babies. You can keep your baby, I just want a dog. The minute J and I start cohabitation there will be a dog. We're naming him Arthur. This is who I dream about on my long runs

• I'm starting to get a marathon appetite to go with marathon training. I could eat everything in sight if I let myself. Hopefully this week there will be pictures of all the awesome new recipes I'm trying!
• If it weren't for running (and school...and work...) I probably wouldn't leave my couch. Someone should have told me that starting Downton Abbey and The Wire at the same time wasn't a good idea. 
• This morning my good buddy Carter and I went for a run together. We haven't seen each other - let alone run together - in far too long so it was a great way to start an otherwise boring Wednesday!

• Wednesday Wish List - I really want to change up the blog a little bit so it looks more awesome like all of yours. Specifically, I want to add an awesome title Banner with pictures instead of just title but....I'm at a loss for the skill. Any suggestions?
• I'm loving Dailymile and the fact that I can keep up with everybody and get new workout ideas. If we're not already friends on dailymile, fix it! (Jenn S.) 

Happy Running!

So many of you have been sick! Are you feeling better? REST & eat your veggies/fruits!!

Do you have a 4 legged friend? Will you loan/him or her out so I can cuddle?

Back in action

I feel like a completely different person than I did this time last week. It's amazing what a difference 7 short days makes, but it's true. My efforts at rehabilitation paid off and Saturday morning I woke up feeling 100% again. I even slept until 9:30 - oops! - but managed to have a leisurely day with J and still get in my long run.

Checking off my long run

And yes, I proudly wore my Broncos gear all day Saturday. Football is such a cruel mistress, am I right?

I've pretty much resumed my normal activities this week. Last night I got in a great workout on the treadmill and trudged through three horrible games of volleyball. After we were finished I was oh so excited (read: not excited at all) to find a new achey spot in my knee. Good thing I've got my trusty ice pack to make it all better.....I hope. 

Today I decided to take my short, easy run outside to try out my new reebok wind jacket. It felt great to be off the treadmill, despite the chill in the air. I think I was going faster than my planned leisurely pace but lots of stops for traffic lights forced me to take lots of breaks.

On the bridge between KY & IN - failed attempt
to get the city in the background

An hour of yoga later and I'm whooped. Now for some quality time with Mr. Ice Pack & a bubble bath.

Wednesday Wish List

This week's wish centers around something I've ALWAYS wanted, but just didn't think I was built for: svelte, muscular arms. As a swimmer my upper body was always built a bit like a linebacker & being a bit chesty (Ok, more than a bit), I just didn't think It was possible. But in less than 9 months I will put on this:

So I'm adding strong sex arms to my wish list. Because when I slip on that wedding dress I want to look less like her

and more like her

Do you have any "trouble spots" that no amount of running seems to fix? 

How's the weather where you are?

A call for advice and other things

Back at work after almost a week of laziness. After two weeks of being out of the office (finals, etc) it's weird being back, especially since things are exactly where I left them. Outside of work I'm making cookies and buying christmas presents and spending lots of time in the gym. At my desk I'm watching a tape from a sentencing hearing where a kid about a year older than me is getting sentenced to life in prison. Reality, man.

Sad reality face (and sad, bare office - yikes!)

Anyway.... I have a dilemma and I think I need your help. As I noted a couple of weeks back, I signed up for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon. I'm ECSTATIC. 2012 is going to be an awesome year for me (25, graduating law school, taking/passing the bar, getting married) and I can't think of anything better to add than the KDF Mini. Or can I......

I kinda really wanna do the full marathon instead. I ran the Flying Pig in 2009 thinking it would be the only  time I'd ever run 26.2 and I was totally ok with that. Half of the time I didn't think I would even finish the training for the Marathon, let alone the Flying Pig. And then it was over. I finished, I was thrilled, I wore my medal everywhere and went happily back to Half Marathons (3 more) and smaller races. But now I feel like marathons are like potato chips - you can't do just one.

It's a nagging feeling - like I need to do something for me to put an exclamation point on 2012. J thinks that's kind of crazy, seeing as though I will become a Juris Doctor 2 weeks after the race, and maybe he's right. But there's still this pesky feeling....I blame all of you and your awesome stories about your recent races, training, and inspiration to be better runners and people. So lets break it down:

DO IT! Run the full 26.2 because

• It's easy to switch, won't be a hassle at all
• If I started now I'd have 22 to weeks to train and if I started Jan. 1st I'd still have 17 weeks to train
• Don't have to worry about being gone for a week for spring break since I have a class
• No high expectations - I'd be happy with just finishing. No pressure
• I really want to prove to myself I can do it again (and do it with J by my side)
• It would be my last big race with MY last name (don't know why that seems symbolic to me)

HOLD OFF! stick to the 13.1 because

• It's 5 days after your final exam and 2 weeks before graduation - I'll be a little busy
• Next semester I have the externship AND coordinating a HUGE project involving 140 people and 2 weeks that will eat up tons of time
• My grapefruit knee - will it hold up? 
• Paralyzing fear of failure - what if I can't do it? What if I can't train that hard, or miss workouts, or just can't do it? 

On this week's belated Wednesday Wish List: I wish I could make a decision!!

What factors do you consider when signing up for a race? What things make a race a definite YES or a definite NO for you?


Happy Running!

Updates & Wednesday Wish List

It definitely feels like a Thursday. Maybe it's because I went into work today, or because I'm just clueless. It's a toss up, really.

Managed to finally finish my foray into the Religion Clauses last night. After twelve long hours at school, I'm completely finished with my writing requirement for law school. A task that brings me ever closer to being completely done with the whole she-bang. Now, only wills, trusts, and legal/equitable remedies stand before me and a blissful Holiday Break. 

Yeah....so maybe I've got just a little bit more left. 

The worst thing about yesterday - aside from making tables of contents and having to type the words "ministerial exception" over and over again - was that I didn't get a chance to get a run in. I packed a bag and stuck it in the car just in case I had a few free minutes to sneak away. Unfortunately, the weather just wouldn't let me. It's one thing to go out and get soaked to the bone when you can go home and shower - quite another when you have to be in a little office for the rest of the night!

After yesterday's Write-a-thon I was relieved to get to the gym and put my body to its paces. I warmed up on the spin-cycle and then headed to Bodypump®. I really love Bodypump because it helps me do something I love (lifting) that I'm really not good at on my own. I don't have to worry about lifting too much/too little or not hitting the right muscle groups - I just follow along. Add in awesome music and the almost 'dance'-like quality of it, and I'm sold. I'm also sore - very sore.

Exciting Updates

Another weekend of ridiculousness - but I think it's slowing down now!

It has been a crazy combination of absolutely beautiful and absolutely gross here. Wednesday night definitely fell in the 'absolutely beautiful' category. I got home from my last class around 6 and it was almost 70 degrees. How can you not run?

I wanted to be pretty careful with this silly knee so I took some serious measures to avoid angering my IT Band. I did the Insanity® warmup (10 minutes of lighter cardio & stretching) and then foam rolled for a few minutes, focusing on the pressure points. I even wore my new IT Band strap the guys at the running store helped me pick out. I was ready. I picked up my Garmin to head out the door and...oops...dead battery.   I love seeing all of the metrics after a run and digitally see what I did. Oh well, I slapped on my dad's old Dakota digital watch so I'd know how long I ran, and headed out anyway.

I ran a route I'd never run before, on some streets I'd never run before. I ran on sidewalks, on running paths, and some sidewalks so covered with leaves and debris that they were basically trails. Did I mention that all of my law school research earned my a new Ipod shuffle? Boo-yah.

Simply put, it felt really really good. I also found out you can run from my house to either of the parks I love - they're both just a mile away. Got home and 'mapped my run' to discover I'd gone about 4.8 miles at an 11:22 pace. That was my pace for the Chicago Half! Pretty awesome news since I signed up for....

This will be my 3rd KDF Mini! SO EXCITED!

Thursday morning I got the reminder to register before the rates went up. I was whole-heartedly against running it since I'll have finals, then graduation etc. Randomly I checked the spring finals schedule to find out that my one final will be four solid days BEFORE the race. It was meant to be! I told J "I was thinking about maybe possibly running the Derby Mini" and I'll be damned - he got excited. I was fully prepared for him to be the voice of reason and talk me out of it, but pleasantly surprised he was on board.

So yeah, that's gonna happen.

Friday and Saturday I had to prove I'm ethically capable of sitting for the bar exam in the spring. It was about as exciting as it sounds (which isn't very exciting at all, if you're not into the whole sarcasm thing). The only workout I've managed to get in was a treadmill session involving ethics notecards. I may have only been pulling 16 min/miles, but with the incline on 4 and "talking" out notecards, I felt like I at least got something out of it.

Today has been all about catching up on work and lounging around. J's dad sent us a box of awesome German goodies and, though I'd resisted thus far, I've managed to put a sizable dent in that today. Oh well. Did I mention my Louisville Cardinals knocked off the #24 WVU Mountaineers?

Kisses!

Belated Wednesday Wish-list
J's mom asked for suggestions for Christmas this year. Since I'm apparently going to be doing some training this winter/spring, I'm adding this bad boy to the list.

Nike Women's Fanatic running jacket

I feel warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

Also - there's a pretty awesome giveaway over at Running Around My Kitchen. 3 days left to win a Tina Steinberg necklace - yes please!

Happy running!

Wednesday Wish List

Today was just plain good.

I've been trying to "plan ahead" as far as my workouts and eating goes, in an attempt to feel more secure about both. Sometimes the 'plan' part means simply knowing that I can't plan for it and that there's are both 'best' and 'worse' case scenarios. Last night I made the coffee, set out my morning work, and put the workout stuff in it's spot. I'd planned my morning around getting a gentle wake-up, getting good fuel and proper digestion time, and getting my workout in comfortably before leaving for class at 1.

I'm happy to report, it was a great success!

Today's workout was Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs. If this sounds like Dejavu, well, it's because you're paying attention. I slipped Pure Cardio in on Sunday (I think?) because I had skipped it. I'm glad I got a double dose. I love this work out. It makes me feel light and agile.  It makes me feel fast. These are both attributes nature simply forgot to give me. As both a swimmer and a volleyball player I never had either and coach after coach struggled to teach it. For today, at least, I had a little bit of 'fast' in me.

I love how Insanity® has made cross-training a realistic part of my workouts. I've cross-trained in the past, but it always seemed kind of mindless. I would go to spin class, or Body Pump, or just go through my weights circuit. There was no regularity to what I was doing. While my training had a point, my cross-training really didn't. I think my goal of working these exhausting workouts into my future training program is more than realistic - I also think it will help make me a better runner!

Wednesday Wish-List
This week is a two-parter, and the first one is totally a vanity thing. My "Wish" this week is for pushups. Real, manly, serious-style push-ups. I've gotten better, but this week I'm going for it.
Wish: Complete Level 1 Drills (i.e. at least 3 sets of 8 real pushups)

Second wish is one I need your help with! I'm in the market for a nice, light-weight, wind-rain jacket to train in. I'm in love with the Colombia Women's Peak Power jacket but I need YOUR suggestions for some other great wind/cold jackets!

This awesome jacket might even
put a dent in Santa's wallet

Also my Active Bands came today. I'm so excited to try them out but I can't decide which one to wear first!

I'm kind of partial to the pink giraffe one

What do you do for cross-training? How do you keep it interesting? Got any winter gear "must haves"?

Wednesday Wish List

Wednesdays are possibly my favorite days of the week this semester. My earliest class isn't until 1:00pm so I have all morning to do whatever I want. This worked out perfectly when I was training for the Chicago Half Marathon since I was able to get my runs in before the ungodly heat set in. Now that I'm not training for a race, it's still proving helpful. So what am I doing now that I'm not training for a race? 

Funny you should ask!

After Chicago I felt great! No knee pain, felt healthy and really enthusiastic about running. Then I got some weird virus/infection/nastiness that really put my on my butt for a week or two. Once I was feeling better, I needed something new to get me back into the routine. Enter INSANITY® For those of you who haven't been introduced to this ridiculous fitness program through the early morning infomercials: it's similar to the popular P90X in that it uses Max Interval Training to optimize cardio cross-training. Most of the moves are things I remember from Volleyball Conditioning - they're just seriously amped up. While I was skeptical at first, a friend of mine highly recommended it (she got amazing results, she was already athletic but it still allowed her to drop weight and get some definition) so I thought "Why not?"

This isn't an endorsement for the program, or a "pitch" to go out and buy it. I needed something to infuse my workouts with a new sense of purpose and I'm too poor/busy to sign up for another Half-Marathon anytime soon, so this was what worked for me. And boy, is it working. The first workout is a fitness test where you are given one minute to complete various drills. You keep track of how many you complete and every 2 weeks you repeat the test. Today was the start of week 2, so today's workout was the fitness test. I was shocked with how much easier it felt - and how much better I did in some areas!

Drill	Week 1	Week 3
Switch Kicks	88 (w 1 break)	103
Power Jacks	41	45
Power knee	61 (rt leg)	84
Power Jumps	24	27
Globe Jumps	7	8
Suicide Jumps	12	14
Pushup Jacks	11 (bad ones)	19
Oblique Plank	43	57

I can't wait until the next one - those globe jumps are mine.

Post-Workout Exhaustion (too bad you can't see my awesome Active Band!)

I'm encouraged by how into the workouts I am. There's something really exciting about being able to check the workout off the calendar. I'm also excited to see just how big of an impact it will have on my fitness in terms of running. I'm going to start slowly adding runs in to get used to running again. My goal is that once the 60 day program is over I can work the Insanity® workouts into my cross-training routine. 45 more days to go!

After my workout I fixed one of my favorite no-cook lunches, yogurt with granola and fruit. Today's fruit: 1/2 of a Honeycrisp Apple. Happy belly.

This picture doesn't capture the magic yummyness

Wednesday Wish List

One aspect of my old blog I really liked was my "Wednesday Wish List". It gave me a place to put my goals and aspirations and people to hold me to them. This week's wish:

• Short Term: no Skipping a workout this week
• Long Term: Find a new race to sign up for in December/January

What are your "wishes" today?