4 + 3 = I LOVE Running

Today was National Go Hug a Runner Day - aka Go HARD!!!!!  SO, I did.

Last night I went out for a 4 mile training run with fellow Team In Training members and even got to meet a fellow Marathon de Paris runner - we ran 4 miles and we pushed each other which felt great.  I realized how much I love training and running with other and not just by myself.  I still don't like to run on a Treadmill aka Dreadmill next to someone but will run training runs and races with people on either side - LOL tooo funny.  I haven't run with training partners since High School and have done all of my current training for the past 10 months by myself.  WOW what a difference it makes when you train with someone.

The 4 mile run was followed by a Kick Off Conference Call and I learned a lot of things I needed to know and will learn many more - Note to self - renew my passport!!!!

Tonight I went out with some fellow Mama's from my Moms RUN This Town Running Group and we met up and ran a 3 mile fun run for G.O. H.A.R.D.  Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day!  I gave and took hugs from fellow runners and loved every one of them!  I love sharing my passion with others that love it as much as I do.

Tonight my CRAZY Awesome Friend Trisha pushed me and she didn't even realize it at first.  When we started out - she was a bit ahead of me and I kept her in my sights and kept the pace with her.  It was what I needed again tonight.  I love running with her and to be able to keep pace with her makes me realize that I am improving.  I am by no means a Kenyan nor will I ever be one but to run with my friends that push me and will support me - that is better than winning a prize purse.  Like I have said before - my prize is my health.  YAY!

Tomorrow will be another training run - how far?  I don't know but I do know I will enjoy it.  It is going to be a Fun Run with Fit2Run at the Orlando Florida Mall.  Saucony will be there and we will get to run in THEIR Shoes.  I currently DO run in Saucony Kinvara's and really do like them.  I am interested to see what they are bringing for us to run in tomorrow.  When Nike did this - I really liked their Lunar's but my toes don't - LOL Another good thing about running in their shoes - if it rains again like it did tonight - I don't have to get MY shoes wet or dirty!!!

And with that - I am out!  To quote Trisha - I hope you all have a Crazy Awesome day and with that, Runner Babe is out!

Tomorrow we will see what we run - and what shoes we run in.  It is like Christmas or your birthday -

I hope that you are enjoying my posts, and I hope that you will follow me at the following as well:

pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/paris14/lsouthard

Happy Running!
Linda

Back to Back - AGAIN!

Finished the back to back weekend and had a BLAST!!!!  I was able to spend time with my fellow Mama's, my daughter Shannon and get in some amazing runs.

Like mentioned before - I ran the Peace Love Cure 5k on Saturday with my Moms RUN This Town Mama's.  I had a great time and won my prize - HEALTH!!!!!

Saturday I spent it with Shannon and Derek and then took Shannon with me to the Sunday Orlando Runner's Classic.  I couldn't justify spending $8.00 for just myself to park so I brought Shannon along because she was off from work - SO she thought - LOL

We get to the race and Shannon is showing me the Bear from Build A Bear and she ends up getting to work a few hours with her co-workers because they ended up needing her!  Go Linda, Go Linda!  LOL

The race started and I had an amazing time.  I ended up cutting off 6 minutes from my personal best to make a new PR at 59:30.  I went in with the hopes of getting in at an hour and when I saw the clock, I KICKED IT IN!  I ran it like I owned it and wasn't going to share it!

I then grabbed me some chocolate milk which is amazing after a race and went for a hug - Bearmey didn't mind that I stunk even! 

Then - off to the Expo!  

For a race that was benefiting a food bank - let me tell you, they really know how to feed you and take care of you.  I really did enjoy all of this and the weekend as well.  

I was telling Shannon that when I do these back to back races within a 24 hour period, I use them as training runs.  I have the Goofy Challenge coming up in January so doing this is GREAT practice and training. 

I'm thinking that today I may just have been the most fashion fauxpau runner of the day!  LOL I love my loud shoes and my skirt - thank god I washed clothes at Shannon's and my bright colors.  

Well - tomorrow will be a rest day - because I have a 12 hour shift to work and didn't get my Ibuprofen in before 7 p.m.

Tuesday we are back to running and will be trying to talk Angi in to the weekday runs as well.

Till then - Night all and as Mama T would say - Have a Crazy Awesome Day!

Crazy Awesome Running everyone!

Another weekend of back to backs

Well, here we are, another weekend off so what is a girl to do????

Why RUN Of course.  And those of you who know me know that I can't be happy with just ONE race so I scheduled back to backs again.  I kind of like doing them too - because it is getting me ready for the Goofy Challenge that I will be doing in January.

Today was the Peace Love Cure 5k which was done at a not so well pace however, it was done.  I wasn't feeling well this morning so I took it slow and stayed with another Mama that I run with and we had fun.  This was more like a recovery run for her and a lets push her run from me to her!  I wouldn't let her finish last and I was determined to have her finish strong and hard.  She did!!!!

While we were running - we joked, we laughed, we cheered other runners on and I even got permission from the Sanford Police Department to "Run a Red Light", So, I did!  We also realized a few things and one was that we aren't in it for the prize purse, our prize is in our health and our heart.  Knowing we can go out there and make a difference even if for just one person, we can say we made that difference.

When people ask me WHY do you do this Linda?  I have nothing else to say other than, Because I can and I am able to.  God blessed me with two good legs, two good lungs and the slight misfire in my brain that I have now realized is a part of alllllll runners.

I Run 4 Ben.  Ben is 2 and is just learning to walk and is using a wheelchair and walker.  Ben has a smile that will melt your heart and a Mama that is stronger than any woman I have ever met.  I run for Tyler, he is a patient of mine that I just met.  I feel honored to run for him and blessed that he and his family are allowing me to run for him this weekend.  ( By the way, Tyler picked the 8k for himself - so Sunday is for him)  I run for Bubba.  This adorable little man whom has an amazing mother and a former co-worker of mine.  I run for Tim Boyle and his buddy Michael.  For without them, I wouldn't have met some wonderful people who helped to open my heart and my eyes.  I run for Thomas.  The father to some dear friends who are like family to me.  They lost their father three years ago this month, just like I did my father - but mine, 30 years ago.  I run for my own father Glen.  Without my father's love and affection while I was growing up, I wouldn't be here doing ANY running.  He supported me while I was growing up and running in school.  I run for so many people and I LOVE IT!  I don't have a lot of time to run for myself though.  Maybe one day I will run for Linda but for now, I run for others.  THAT is why I do this, THAT is why I schedule so many races in such a short period of time.

SO, tonight, I will sign off and say Good Night from Florida.  It is a full Moon out there so I am hoping for a PR tomorrow - oh wait, I will have one - because THIS is my FIRST 8k.  LOL PR For Linda - woot woot!
I am going to leave you with a picture or two - LOL - from today's run

Peace, Love, CURE and Out

We are Training for Paris!!!

Well, we are off and running and so far - so good.

Did get in to the gym the other day to get some Dreadmill time in as well as work on my legs and hips. I remember why I hate the legs and hips workouts - UGH! I also remember why I prefer to run on the roads vs. running on the Dreadmill.  Why is it I can run in a race with THOUSANDS of other people but I can't stand to run in the gym on a treadmill with someone on each side of me?  It doesn't make any sense but I guess it does!  It kind of is like when I go bowling - I can't bowl when I see the person next to me so I guess when I am on a treadmill/dreadmill, I can't run when I see someone next to me.  I either need to go when there is NO ONE in the gym, run only on the roads or wear blinders like horses do!  THAT would be a site!

This week we have on tap three planned training runs and hope for a fourth. We also have two races this week as well. We have a 5k on Saturday and an 8k on Sunday.

Here's to a great week - Let's get it started.