Welcome, wildlife.

So living in Arizona I don't see too much wildlife on my runs. A few wild bunnies, birds....and people walking their dogs. That about covers it.

However this morning, I had my first encounter: two coyotes trotting along! I was running in my neighborhood (meh, let's not talk about the run - why is it I can knock out a decent 10 miler, but suffer on a 3 mile run? &@#$!), so it wasn't like I was out in the fields or anything. But these little guys were running along the drainage ditch by the side of the road. As I got to the end of it, I looked over the edge to see if I could see them down below. I didn't & started to wonder where they had gone...

And then I look to my right and there was one about 15 feet away from me looking at me. Ha! Luckily I think he was more scared of me than I was of him, because he turned around and kept on going.

They looked a little like this guy:

JK. More like this:

What's the craziest thing you've seen on a run??

How I almost lost my boyfriend to a 10-miler...

Ok, so that title is a tad bit dramatic.

But Tom decided to run with me, after not running in well over 6 months. And the run he chose to accompany me on? My 10 miler I had scheduled for Saturday.

Now usually when we've run together in the past, I end up getting frustrated with him because he likes to play to role of "Drill Sgt Tom" and pushes me to the point of where I want to strangle him. :)

However, this time was different. Because Tom was kinda ready to call it quits after 2 miles. Honestly - I can't believe he made it the full 10 miles...there is no way in HELL I would have been able to do that after not running for so long. But he -and I! - did it.

Since Tom was with me, I didn't run with music. I never, ever do this so I was a little nervous - but I really didn't miss it. We stuck to my intervals & keeping each mile under 14 minutes.Tom did great for someone who hadn't run in a while; it wasn't until mile 7 that he was really regretting his decision. (Ha.) Poor guy - even thought he was really struggling, it helped push me. I mean, I had no reason to stop if Tom was still able to go! He kept saying "I really think my pain is motivating you! You are much better than the last time we ran together."

Anyways, I was really proud of us. Timing was right where I wanted it to be:
Mile 1 - 13:11
Mile 2 - 12:45
Mile 3 - 13:22
Mile 4 - 13:12
Mile 5 - 13:14
Mile 6 - 13:24
Mile 7 - 13:42
Mile 8 - 12:59
Mile 9 - 13:54
Mile 10 - 13:32
Total Time: 2:14:47

His & hers. Mine are a little dirty.

Off topic, but does anyone watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Funniest show ever.

Three Things for Thursday

1. I skipped my run this morning. Sleep just sounded sooo much better. I feel guilty now, of course. If it's not too hot out, i will try to get a few miles in tonight. And i will get up tomorrow morning!

2. "You're training for a half marathon? You must be losing weight like crazy!" Um, no. No, I'm not. Thanks for reminding me. I know I'm not alone in this run-crazy-miles-yet-drop-zero-weight, but it's still frustrating! I re-signed up for WW online since i obviously have no self control. :P

3. One piece of good news: I'll be in West Palm Beach next week!! I've never been to that part of Florida, so I'm really excited. Not so much excited to get in a swimsuit in public, but c'est la vie. I'm meeting my friend/sorority sister from college & we plan to just sun & relax for 4 blissful days :)

Running makes my feet ugly.

So Saturday's 9 miler wasn't as blissful as last weekend's. I didn't feel as light & airy and was afraid to look at my time when i was done. However, I surprised myself - the pace was slower than i would have liked, but still on pace for me to get a sub3 come race time.

Turtle Times
Mile 1- 13:01
Mile 2- 13:15
Mile 3- 13:20
Mile 4- 13:19
Mile 5- 13:23
Mile 6- 14:10
Mile 7- 13:32
Mile 8- 13:21
Mile 9- 13:55
Total Time: 2:01:16; 13:28/avg

I tell you what - that last mile is a killer. I just felt completely out of steam and ready to throw in the towel. Anyone else feel like toast at the end of long runs?

Next Saturday is 10 miles - I'm hoping to be below a 13:28 avg pace, but we'll see what happens!

And as for the title of this post....well, i'll let the picture speak for itself:

ewwwwwww.

Now, before I get lectured on my running shoes - my feet get blisters regardless of the shoes. I've worn 4 or so different pairs of shoes over my running "career" and I always get blisters in the same spot. Must be in the way I run, I'm guessing. Some people lose toenails, I get blisters. Good thing is, they don't hurt! Just ugly.:P

Ghost Stories

So, taking a break from the running talk today. This morning I listened to the "Anything Ghost Show" podcast (Thanks Christy for the recommendation!) and it put me in the mood for Halloween. :)

I loooove scary movies and being creeped out - kinda. My imagination totally runs away and sometimes I totally end up scaring myself. After seeing Paranormal Activity, I made Tom stay at my apartment for a week straight (this was obv. before we moved in together.)

Here is my "sorta" ghost story...

So about four years ago I was going through a rough patch in life. I was very depressed and there were a lot of external factors stressing me out. Just not in a good place at all.

For a period of about a week or so, I had the craziest experience. It happened on three separate occasions. I would wake up in the middle of the night and see this mass/creature/outline of something standing by my bed. Still half asleep I would start to get really nervous/scared and blink my eyes a few times and it would disappear. And i would immediately fall back asleep.

The last time it happened, it was the worst. I woke up that morning and saw my pillow laying across the room. I was really confused at first and then it came rushing back to me: i saw the "thing" again by my bed, but this time it was much closer and I felt much more threatened. I screamed and threw my pillow at it and fell back asleep.

That was the last time and it hasn't happened since. Creepy, huh??

Any good ghost stories to share?

Simply Amazing.

Ya'll, this morning I felt like an honest to goodness runner.

And to think I almost shut off the alarm to sleep through the run.

Phoenix decided to step away from the center of the sun and grace us with cooler temperatures this morning. I think that made all the difference, really.

I stuck to my intervals like a bad habit and hit every mile under 14:00 min. And I felt great about it. Not once did I want to give up or feel like i was going to die. THIS is what I'm capable of.

I was starting to get worried that I just wasn't cut out for running the way I wanted to. But this run restored my faith. As i said on my twitter and facebook this morning: "Never, ever in my natural life did I think I'd say the following, but: I just had an *amazing* 8 mile run."

Mile 1 - 12:40
Mile 2 - 13:19
Mile 3 - 13:15
Mile 4 - 13:24
Mile 5- 13:25
Mile 6 - 13:12
Mile 7 - 13:07
Mile 8 - 13:36
Total Time: 1:45:59; 13:15 avg. pace

Great start to a Saturday! :)

The first mile.

Is it just me, or does the first mile just suck? More times than not, the first mile for me is uncomfortable and frustrating. My legs are just waking up, it's like my lungs are learning to breathe again and I just want to give up. But once I get into the second, third mile it gets better. I dunno, it's just frustrating. Especially when some days I run the first mile in 12:00 and others over 13:00.

However, I think I am getting a hang of this running in the morning thing! Honestly, never ever would I think that I would be a morning (before work) runner. But I find I prefer it sooo much more.

Less than two months to go until the Women's Half Marathon...

Geeking Out

Good news: I met my goal of waking up 3x this week to run before work!
Better news: It's getting easier & easier to wake up - never thought I'd see the day.
Bad news: Aside from Tuesday's run, the other two runs were....well, crappy. Heavy legs and humidity were the culprits.

Guess you can't win them all. :P

Yesterday two friends told me they are training for their first half marathon. I am SO excited for them!! I don't have any friends that run (besides Gerry!) and use this blog as a means of geeking out about all things running. I am so pumped to help them out on this quest and actually have someone in real life to rant and rave about running. :)

Plus, the tables will be turned as *I* cheer *them* on in January! They've cheered me on in every race & i can't wait to return the favor. :)

Showing support for my first half marathon. My two friends on the left are the ones taking on the challenge! 

What about you guys? Any of your friends run, or do you rely on us virtual friends to geek out with?