Today's Forecast: Muggy with a chance of Ketchup

I ask you, what are the chances of me, minding my own business, pedaling along like a bat out of hell on my xtrain ride this morning, somehow driving over a lone packet of ketchup along the side of the road and then having it somehow only spray across my white tech shirt and all up and down one leg so that it looks rather like I had a little accident of the womanly sort...

Only me...

SEE, I told you random, unfortunate things happen to me!!!

I MOVE TODAY! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15 more weeks til Chicago Marathon

Week 16 Recap:

• Monday - Xtrain 45 min. - Check! Bootcamp
• Tuesday - Speedwork - Negatory - Stupid Quasimodo Eye!
• Wednesday - Easy 5 Miles - Check! Hold the easy... I was feeling too good!
• Thursday - 6.5 Miles (Tempo) - Check!
• Friday - Rest - Check!
• Saturday - 14 Miles Pace - CHECK! I'm still excited about the 9 minute miles!
• Sunday - Xtrain and/or Easy 5 miles - Check! Gotta luv using your xtraining to get you to brunch and back! :)

Besides the unexpected Tuesday failure I stuck to the plan and finished out week 16 as scheduled. I thought about making up the speedwork on Friday but remembered what happens to me when I do speedwork the day before a long run and thought better of it. Probably a good idea too, considering I've had this nagging knee-ish pain going on. I'm fairly certain it's my IT Band being tight from overcomposating my left leg for so long. I've been doing lots of stretches and hope to be feeling good enough to do my speedwork tonight after work.

Speaking of which I gotta tell you... I'm not so excited about it. I don't know why I loathe speedwork so much, I just do. I HATE it. And that is how I really feel. Hills, bring them on! Long runs, LUV them! But speedwork... it's my nemisis. I know how great they are for you, hello if anyone wants to get faster it's me, I want to do a 5k sub 20 for goodness sakes, but I just hate speedwork. End of subject.

What I am excited about though is the fact that I move into my new digs tomorrow!!! YAY!

Found this gem today... can't get it to embed for the life of me so just click on the link. How many times have you felt like this? Reincarnate

15 MORE WEEKS TIL CHICAGO!!!

*insert witty blog title here

WARNING: The blog post you are about to read may contain overly-random ramblings and mild A.D.D./dyslexia.

This here is the story of my 14 miler today... I keep going round and round in circles trying to figure out where I should start this but I'm so frigging out of it. Enjoy the result... ask questions at the end. Here's a few cliff notes for those that can't keep up/give up on this post.

• Deputy S went all MIA on me so I had to make back up plans for this mornings run.
• Introduce Back-up Plan: Lazy Runner*
• Attempt to sleep produces negative results
• 14 miler hilarity ensues
• Breakfast dilemma
• Pedicure bliss (despite 1,2,3 yes 3 toenails on the way out...)
• Attempt nap... produces negative results
• Write blog post.

Begin story.

Last night after enjoying a great dinner in honor of my overly pregnant - about to pop best friend Beaker Luv, I headed home at a respectable hour (read: lame) to hit the hay for my 14 miler this morning. After making my rounds with the goodbye's and picking up as much sh*t as they could throw at me (Beaker Luv's Husband: "Morgan you're lamer than me and I'm married with a kid due at any moment" - This is also from the guy who asked me what I wanted to drink when I got there and after requesting water, brought me a Bud Light. This is what I deal with.) before finally making my exit.

Deputy S had called during dinner but alas after not hearing from him about the running proposition I gave up and made a running date with my friend the Lazy Runner.* (Back story on him at the end) I made it home around 10, laid out my gear for the morning (is anyone else as O.C.D. as I am about this kind of thing?) and nestled into my glorious bed for all the glorious sleep I was sure to get... NOT! Oh yes I did! I just said NOT!

Insomnia has struck again. I tossed and turned, and turned and tossed. Stomach, back, fetal position... you name it, I tried it... it was all in vain. Sleep escaped me. So as I lay there begging the sleep fairies to come sprinkle their magical sleep dust on me, imagine my surprise when I get a text at 2:34 am... from the Lazy Runner.

"Call me twice if I don't wake up."

You have got to be kidding me. His wake up call from me is set for 4:45 am!!!

Cue 4:45 am... Ring, ring...

Lazy Runner: GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alright let's DO THIS! Meet you at the trail head!
Me: Speechless.

Sure enough, 5:20 am there he is at the trail head... stretching out... drinking a large coffee. Call me crazy but normal "runner's" don't do this. But then again, Lazy Runner, is not your average runner. So we stretch, he finishes his coffee and away we go!

The miles flew by, the sun came up, the conversation touched on everything from growing up, being single, running, boys vs girls, etc... before I knew it we had gone from Baldwin Park to Oviedo and were headed back! And get this... at a 9 minute pace!!! We're talking absolutely even 9 minute splits! We were having so much fun, we were being waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy to overly chipper to everyone we passed and are guilty of singing aloud and randomly shouting at one another. Yup we were those runners. Don't judge.

As we hit the Cady Way bridge that goes over Semoran Blvd however, I was really starting to feel the run, my aching knee and the incline... Lazy Runner starts razzing me telling me we have to sprint up... so we sprint up. Then he tries convincing me to go down some random @ss trail off the running path... I. Don't. Think. So. I am O.C.D. I map out my runs, know where all my bathroom and water stops are and always have a set time in mind. Not Mr. Spontaneous over here. He likes to go "exploring" when he runs. I should've seen this coming after several failed attempts at luring me down some... he suddenly grabs my arm and drags me into Baldwin Park.

Me: W.T.F?
Lazy Runner: Come on, it'll be fun!

Cue Beastie Boys "Sabotage" music. Now imagine you're a nice middle class couple happily enjoying your breakfast on your lanai when suddenly two crazy @ss runners come barreling through your back yard, into the sprinklers and then continue on through your neighbors. You have just pictured how the next 2 miles of my run went like. I chased his crazy @ss through so many back yards and alleyways and grassy knolls... it was nuts... but it was so much fun!

... well that is until I couldn't deny the knee pain any longer and with 1/2 mile to go admitted defeat and walked it in. Lazy Runner yelled at me for not telling him sooner but also knows I'm stubborn so said it didn't surprise him. And what do you know, he was a little tired too... after all, as he admits to me, he hasn't run more than 10 miles in a few months. I hate him.

After finding our way back to the cars I headed home, ice bathed it up, elevated and went to make one of my patented glorious breakfast's when I open the fridge and find it bare. Running Roomie has friends in town and they ate all my frigging food. This did not make me very happy. I was hungry enough to eat a small child for goodness sakes! I considered running to the store to grab stuff to make and then realized if I did this I would wake them all up to the smell of my glorious breakfast and they would want some. I was done "sharing" with them so I begrudgedly went to Panera Bread instead. Cue mediocre breakfast....

With "breakfast" ate I headed over to the nail salon to join Beaker Luv for a pedicure, she was hoping to induce labor and I was hesitate to expose my busted up feet to the nail tech... I have not 1 but 3 toenails on the way out and she just looked at me with this puzzled look on her face and asked, "what you do yourself?" I run. I earned these black nasty toes and I'm proud of them!!! (Ok I really didn't say that last part)

Pedicure = GLORIOUS!!!! My feet look almost pretty again and the massage was euphoria. I left the salon and promptly headed for my bed for a much needed nap.

FAIL.

*I met Lazy Runner through a mutual friend at a race awhile back. He used to run track and cross country in high school and college but not since. He's FAST. As in 15 minute 5k's fast. He is doing the Marine Corp Marathon in November and hasn't even begun or thought about training. He runs whenever he feels like it and then just decides to do a race and finishes in the top of his age group. Every single time. I hate him. (Not really.)

Friday Funnies

I don't have anything of particular significance to expand upon today so here's a few cheap laughs at my expense for you to enjoy... :)

• Thursday's Facebook Status: "When did a 10k become my daily run?"
  A friends response: I think you need an intervention. I am calling one next time I am in Florida. You need to be stopped.
  

  
  

• Actual IM conversation between myself and Crazy B:
  Me: I think I love running.
  B: Why don't you marry it
  Me: Maybe I will!!!!!!!!
  We are sooooooooo mature.
  

  
  
  

• This week I upgraded from my usual smartwater (left) to the jurassic size (middle).
  

  
  After drinking the initial water, I usually just fill up at the breakroom cooler the rest of the day. I graduated to the mack daddy size to make sure I'm hydrated enough for tomorrow's run. After filling up said water bottle and taking a drink, one coworker had this to say:
  Coworker: "Morgan... don't you think that if a bottled water requires two hands to lift and drink it's a bit excessive?! My god it's bigger than your head for crying out loud!"
  

  
  
  

• I literally L.M.A.O when I read this blog posting: The Shirtless Coalition
  

  
  

• And if that one weren't hilarious enough, check this one out: Thoughts on Marathon Runners
  

  
  
  

I hope you enjoyed the entertainment portion of this post. :)

Alright, that's it for me, I've got to get back to it, but wanted to wish you all a FANTABULOUS FRIDAY! 14 miler tomorrow! WOOOOOOOOO

When did a 10k* become my daily run?

First things first, the Quasimodo eye is all healed and I look like normal(?) again! Yay! Thanks to everyone for all the well wishing and eye cringing for me! :)

Actually while I'm on the subject of Thank you's, I also want to say "THANK YOU!!!" to everyone that has stopped by my digs recently and gave me some luv, became my stalkers and were actually entertained by my random running ramblings. I've been enjoying reading all of your blogs as well!

Alright now on to the regularly schedule post... When did a 10k* become my daily run?!

As of yesterday, gone are the carefree days of my 5 milers. Today, BEFORE the buttcrack of dawn I awoke and ventured out** for my first of many more to come 6.5 milers. As I mentioned earlier this week, my training has launched into "hardcore" mode and my mileage has started increasing, creeping ever so slowly towards that elusive 20 miler you all speak of and then some. Today marked another right of passage in my marathon training quest.

I started off slow and steady, woke up a bit more and was in the game by the end of the first mile. It was dark, the weather was muggy but dang it all I was up running well before dawn and I was going to make the most of it. Right around the 5.5 mile mark I had a random blonde moment and blew past the road I was supposed to turn on... that was pretty humorous. I seriously couldn't figure out where the heck I was. LOL! I ended up bringing it in at the one hour mark, which isn't too shabby I'd like to think and had enough time to elevate The Girls*** for a few minutes before starting my morning routine. It's funny because I remember not so long ago when a 10k was a challenge to me.

My how I've grown in my running shoes...

*6.5 Miles Actually

**I slept in my running clothes... don't judge me.

*** I always refer to my legs as "The Girls"

Before I sign off I'd like to start a new little tradition "3 Things Thursday" where I will throw out three things I'm thinking. Drum roll please.....

1. This time next week I will officially be into my new, real life digs downtown O-town! YAY!!
2. I'm still awaiting a response to my proposition to Deputy S for this weekend, keep your fingers crossed. (And get your minds out of the gutters while you're at it! The proposition is I'll make him breakfast if he'll meet me at the trail head Saturday super, duper early and ride a bike along side me for my 14 miler... otherwise I'm S.O.L. and going to have to run loops around my neighborhood. I HATE running loops... but that's an entirely different post for another day...)
3. One more "Thank you" shout out to Maddy for sending me this link... I can't stop watching it and getting butterflies!

Happy Thirsty Thursday ya'll!!!

Quasimodo...

I am accident prone. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this or not but let it be stated that I am accident prone. Not your average run of the mill accident prone either. We're talking random, unfortunate accident prone.

Case in point: Last night after another butt whooping at Boot Camp I took a shower. Harmless enough right? Mere mortals take showers all the time unscathed... not so for me. I get done with said shower and towel off my face, as is standard, and somehow wipe St. Ives Face Wash (the kind with the gritty particles) into my eye. My eye hasn't stopped watering since 8pm last night, it's basically swollen shut and I look rather reminiscent to this guy:



Because my eye is swollen and watering all over the place my sinuses are draining like the holy flood. I look oh so pretty today. (And I wonder why I'm single?)

I swear I did not do this on purpose to avoid doing speed work today, I SWEAR! I actually think I'd rather have done speed work than deal with this shenanigans. (And that's saying A LOT because I HATE speed work.)

So now I'm off to the Optometrist to get it flushed out and hope that I look normal by the end of the day. Joy.

In other news, Boot Camp wasn't nearly as brutal as it was last week. I'm not even really sore today. Hmmm... do I just rock like that or does the new instructor suck? Hmmm indeed.

UPDATE: The eye is flushed and whilst I still look like Quasimodo, I no longer have granuales scraping my eye everytime I blink. Yay! FML

16 more weeks til Chicago Marathon!

Before I begin this post I would like to give ya'll a little "Chatty McGee" update... since we ran together on Saturday morning I have already received not one but two messages from her on the group site. Two. What have I gotten myself into?!?

Now back to our regularly scheduled post...

16 MORE WEEKS TIL CHICAGO MARATHON!!!

IT IS GO TIME PEOPLE! HARDCORE BEGINS NOW!!!

Ok let me clarify, I have been training all along but in my head, maybe because most marathon training programs are 16 weeks long, I have been thinking that this is "go time." My training definitely escalates into a more intense program from here, the mileage starts racking up, after this coming Saturday's 14 miler; I will officially start running further than I've ever run before. 16, 18, 20, 22 milers are all headed my way! Oh my! Am I ready for this? Do I have what it takes to do this?

You bet your @$$ I do! Chicago... I got my eye on you!

Ok, now that, that little pep talk is over, everyone needs to go congratulate B.o.B for PR'ing on her 5k this weekend in honor of her Dad. GOOD JOB B!

Second session of Boot Camp tonight, let's see how much I get my butt kicked tonight! LOL!

16 MORE WEEKS!!!

12 Miles

This morning I ran my first 12 miler. But wait, if I ran a Half Marathon how have I never run a 12 miler before you ask? Well see while I was training for Gasparilla Half, the week I was supposed to have done my 12 miler I did the Jacksonville Winter Beach 10 Miler instead. Maybe not the brightest idea I ever had, especially considering I did a 14 miler the very next weekend but you live and you learn.

So this morning I met up with the new running group over at Cady Way just shy of 6:30 am. It was already pretty hot and humid, the temp was 77 degrees already and I was thinking to myself, "I really should've gotten here earlier and ran before the meet up to get some miles in... this is going to be killer." But I didn't, so over to the trail head I went and met 2 of the runners already there, who coincidentally ran my pace and were headed out for an 8 miler and a 12 miler respectively. Score!

I don't know what time we actually took off but it was after 6:30 am when we finally started, none the worse for the wear, we started out easy and did the introductions and small talk that is standard when running with new people. The 8 miler was like myself, rather quiet and reserved and had her iPod on... the 12 miler was all Chatty McGee on us. *Sigh* It was just my luck. Now don't get me wrong, I love to chat when I run, but there comes a point, especially in a 12 miler in near 90 degree heat where you don't want to chat anymore. You want to just finish the effing run and be done with it. Chatty McGee didn't get that memo. Not only did she not get that memo but I think that in an effort to prove herself the far superior runner of the three of us, she made sure to stay just a few strides ahead of us at all times and shout back at us. 8 miler and I kept giving each other "the look"... and at the mile 4 marker when 8 miler took her leave of us she cast me the most pathetic look of pity ever. I genuinely accepted this look as I knew I deserved it.

The rest of the run was a full detailed account of Chatty McGee's relationship gone awry with her old training partner who left her to run with a younger, faster runner. Not only that but she kept talking about running and racing and salt and Gu's and quite frankly... I actually got sick of listening to her talk about running. Yes, I just said that. I can't believe it either. Cuz ya'll know I love to talk about running... but this was too much.

Around mile 8 aka runtard mode mile, I no longer computed anything she said and she just sounded like the teacher on the Peanuts; "mah-mah-mah mah, mah mah" You know the tone deaf one that you can't understand. By this point the temp had already exceed up near 90 and I was seeing stars. By mile 10 I had to stop and walk it out for a minute lest I stumble/pass out/etc.. Chatty McGee stopped too. I could tell she was spent AND yet she still made sure that she was ahead of me at all times. I truly think she had it in her head that she had to be faster than me... there's no other explanation for it. I would stop to walk and she'd stop, I'd start up running again, and she'd start sprinting to get ahead of me. I told her a million times if she needed to get ahead of me to just go on, that I was struggling with this heat but she just kept repeating, "No this is a good pace, you have a good pace, I need to ease up." *Shakes head and rolls eyes*

We finally made it back to the trail head in just under 2 hours, 1:58 to be exact and the rest of the running group cheered us in. Most of the other runners did shorter distances and started at 7am and a few of them had hung around to make sure we got in OK. I thought that was great and they had water. Cold refreshing, glorious water... 8 miler had hung around too and she asked me how the rest of the run went... I think my look said it all because she just gave me a knowing nod when I didn't answer. LOL!

After I collected myself a bit, 8 miler and I secretly swapped numbers so we could run together. Yup that's right, we went all stealth mode and swapped numbers before Chatty McGee could see. It's sad really. She was a nice enough lady, just not my cup of tea.

So now here I sit, showered, nursing a huge arch blister, having just finished a glorious breakfast and headed for a little nappy-poo before I hit the pool. Needless to say I will definitely be starting my 14 miler next weekend MUCH earlier... that 12 miler was Hell... and I will NOT be running with any more Chatty McGee's... LOL! Time to go enjoy the rest of this beautiful weekend...

Have a FANTABULOUS weekend ya'll!!!

You know you're a runner when...

Welcome to my second edition of you know you're a runner when...

• when "Retail Therapy" takes you over to Track Shack instead of the mall
• when you don't move into your new place for 2 more weeks but you've already mapped out your neighborhood runs
• when you have a serious discussion about the pro's & con's of being hardcore vs having a social life
• when instead of throwing away the pair of running shorts you ripped at Muddy Buddy, you mend them because they're such good shorts
• when whereas you mended above mentioned shorts, while packing you find old shorts you used to run in before you became a "runner" and you throw them away because they are cotton
• when you map out and seriously consider running to, in and then home from the 5k that falls on your 16 miler long run day (you later decide this is not a good idea)
• when you tell your boss you can't make the Saturday morning meetings because you'll still be running when they start and after a sigh and a roll of the eyes, he pardons you for the rest of the summer
• when all the blogs you follow are running blogs except one... and that's only because he is your friend
• when you tape the Chicago Marathon Race Route above your computer at work so that all day long whenever you stare off into space you are forced into thoughts of running (as if I need any excuse to do that)

and finally...

• when you check the meetup.com site all week long to see who is going to be at the group run this weekend at Cady Way and assess which of them you think you can make running friends with

Yup... I am a running nerd.

12 Miler tomorrow!!! TGIF!!!

C is for Cookie...

"C is for cookie that's good enough for me...

Ohh cookie cookie cookie starts with C!"

I have an admission to make: I am a Cookie Monster.

Particularly a .50 7-11 M&M Cookie Monster/Addict.



Everyday after lunch I head down to my local 7-11 and get one of these deliciously delectable morsels. When I say everyday, I mean everyday... as in the 7-11 people know me by name and item and wave me through the line to just drop off my .50. When they don't have them, they warn me at the door and give me looks of pity. When I don't buy one they gasp in disbelief. They tell the new staff members when I come in what I buy so they know for next time.
To say the least, I am a known cookie monster.

But seriously, I need to stop doing this. Not because I think I'm fat or anything crazy like that but because here I am having problems intaking enough good calories and yet I intake these bad empty calories and loads of sugar when I should be focusing on healthier options, ones that don't leave me full of regret. They're like one night stands everyday! Sure they're yummy at the time but then I'm instantly ashamed after I've had my way with them. No more one night stands with 7-11 cookies.

There it's out. I feel better already. Now I need to stick to the plan.

NO MORE COOKIES!

By the way... Boot Camp Monday + 5 Miles Tuesday + Hills Today = Jello Legs Morgan! SO SORE!

Thank you. That is all.

Boot Camp Recap

So last night after work I headed over to Winter Park to participate in my very first session of Boot Camp...

Holy Kick my @$$ Batman!!!

Lunges, planks, sit-ups, push-ups, resistance bands, butterflies, yoga balls, circuit runs and all other forms of torture where prescribed and I gotta tell you I was sweating like a refugee!

First off, W.T.F. are planks? Why have I never seen nor experienced these??? I am convinced these are in fact actual torture techniques once used in the dark ages.

When it was all said and done my arms where burning, my core was shaking and my legs felt like jello. In short, I already couldn't wait for next week! Yes, I truly think I have a problem. I was loving, feeling the burn.

This morning I woke up to pound out my first of many 5 milers and despite feeling like I got my @$$ kicked I still managed to finish it up in my normal tempo time with little to no pain. I can even raise my arms above my waist, which last night I was convinced I would not be able to. I guess I'm a little better off than I thought I was and I absolutely can't wait for next week's class. In the meantime... I'll be working some planks into my after morning run routines because as we've all figured out... I like to torture myself.

Hills tomorrow! AND... a date with pool guy. ;)

Here comes the Hotstepper...

Hit it! Nah, na na na nah, na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah, na na na nah...

I heard that song this weekend and I gotta say... it was quite appropriate. What a blazing hot weekend we had here in O-town! (I also think I might add that song to my running playlist... just for sh*ts & giggles... is it stuck in your head yet???)

Saturday morning Deputy S and I hit the Cady Way for a 10 miler and I am proud to say that no ambulances nor medical professionals were needed in the completion of this run. Deputy S paced with me the entire run with little to no trouble and actually ended the run a little ahead of me. (I think he was just trying to show off) We started at 6:30 am and finished up in 1:40:10. Steady 10 - 10:30 minute miles excluding miles 9 that we finished in 8:45 and wrapped up mile 10 in 9:30! (It was getting hot and we just wanted to finish up!)

We had a great time catching up (despite the heat) and after the run we walked around, stretched a bit and sipped on some H2O & G2. We're going to shoot for running together again sometime soon... schedules providing of course.

After the run I whipped up a much needed breakfast and took a quick nap before hitting the pool with Ebs. We had some fun in the sun, her complex was throwing a pool party, and enjoyed some adult beverages pool side with some choice hotties... one of whom snagged my number. (Score!)

The rest of the weekend was a blur... dinner party, birthday party, etc... Fun times!

So let me say that I'm super stoked for this week... First up I have a "Boot Camp" session tonight after work with a coworker. She went last week and said it kicked her butt so I'm excited to see what it's all about and how I'll do. I'd like to think myself pretty work-out savy these days but we'll find out what I'm made of tonight!

Also happening this week, is that my tempo runs are upped to 5 miles a piece... let the mileage begin! Saturday is a 12-miler with my new running group at Cady Way, so far only 7 people have RSVP'd for the run but I'm hoping more sign up before then. I really want to make new running friends! Running with other people on my long runs really helps make the time go by faster and more enjoyable.

The Brunette and I swung by the new digs yesterday to measure windows and space plan. Yes, we're both freaks and over plan everything... match made in heaven much??? They let us check out our actual apartment and not just the model, you should've seen us; we were measuring this and that, jumping up and down like excited little kids...neither of us can wait to move in! 2 more weeks! I also found out from the rep that there are a lot of runners in the complex, and I quote "We have a very active lifestyle around here, over half the residents run, so next time you're over here or once you move in just stop people in the hall and find out where they run" YAY!!! I love my new digs more and more everytime I go there!

I have officially signed up for the Watermelon 5k in Mead Gardens on July 4th - My official one year anniversary of running races. It absolutely amazes me that it's only been a year and here I am... training for a marathon! Who knew?

Before I sign off and get some work done, let's have a moment of silence for the disappointment this weekend for the Magic and the Wings. *Sigh*

17 more weeks til Chicago Marathon!!!

"Most Peculiar"

If I were to create a nail polish color the exact shade of two of my toe nails at the moment I think I would name the shade "Most Peculiar" as it is the most peculiar shade and unattractive of colors. I can just see Wednesday Adams thinking herself having found the most particularly flattering color ever. That being said, I do believe my two toe nails are in fact a lost cause and it is time to paint them some bright happy shade of pink to deflect the fact that they are on the way out.

No pretty pedicured toenails for you, Ms. Dedicated Runner. No indeed.

Well, here we are at the end of another week and ready to embark on another weekend and another long run! This week I'm back up to double digit running... 10 miles to be exact. Deputy S in a rather shocking turn of events, has not canceled on me as it was assumed he would, and will be joining me bright and early tomorrow morning at the Cady Way. I'm excited to finally get a run in with him, it's been in the works for a couple weeks now... although I worry when his response to my email starts, "Well, I'm always up for a challenge and would like to see how far I can actually go. I just might have more of a scenic walk back OR need an ambulance ride. You might have to come rescue me when you get done."

LMAO! I have to give him props for being up for the challenge though. He actually got in a few longer runs this week so I think he'll be just fine... the only real problem is going to be getting up so early. He works third shift and is usually going to bed about the time I'm getting up for my runs... not to mention he is definitely not Susy Sunshine like I am in the morning!

In other news, Rixy and I had to reschedule the Islands Of Adventures trip (BOO!!!) because her car, Betsy the Mountaineer, has lost her will to live. Let us all have a moment of silence for Betsy. God rest her soul.

TGIF!

Hills, Hills...

First things first: Hell's to the YEAH for the Orlando Magic last night!!! GO MAGIC!!!



As for my Wings... not so much... but don't worry, we'll get 'em in Game 7! COME ON RED WINGS!




Now on to our regularly scheduled program:

*Insert Kazoo Noise Here*

Hills, Hills, the training key,
the more you repeat, the more they burn,
the more they burn, the faster you get,
so don't forget your weekly sets!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

• I joined the Orlando Runner's Group and my first run with them will be next Saturday at Cady Way! YAY for running long runs with other people!
• I just sent Deputy S an email regarding running together on Saturday, I completely forgot we agreed to run this week and I think I'm going to give him a heart attack when he reads that I'm doing 10 miles starting at 6 am. As you learned the last time we tried to run together, Deputy S doesn't really have the same kind of schedule as I do. Me thinks he will cancel on me.
• I'm SUPER STOKED about Islands of Adventure Saturday with Rixy!!! IOA is our "special place." :)
• My leg is still sore and bothering me from the Friday/Saturday Speedwork/Long Run combo so instead of doing Turbo Jam AND running a easy 2 miler, I just did Turbo Jam. I too can acheive Responsible Running.
• No matter what I do and how much I eat I can't figure out how to intake enough frigging calories!?!? HELP!
• I'm EXCITED about Hills tomorrow. Yes I really just said that.
• Glorious Sleep is mine once more. Life is good.
• GO MAGIC!
• That is all. I say good day!

I'm so excited... and I just can't hide it!

Let me start out by saying that I had a FANTABULOUS weekend!

First things first, Crazy B made it into town Friday night and after a short lived attempt to watch "He's just not that into you" we called it a night in preparation for the 8 miler the next morning.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to Cady Way. After a muggy start it ended up being a rather pleasant run, minus my leg killing me. (Mental Note: No more running sprints the night before a long run.) While my run was a little less uneventful compared to the poop and dash Crazy B had (read about that here), all in all it was a successful 8 miler and I'm ready to tackle the double digits again this coming Saturday.

Side note: We passed a running group hosting a 5k at the Cady Way Park (aka the bathrooms around Mile 4) and Crazy B made me walk over and chat them up. Good call on her part because I now have a new running group to join over the summer and it's Coed! YAY! More to come on that...

After the run we headed back to the casa for some glorious BREAKFAST!!! MMMMM!!! Scrambled eggs and my infamous french toast with fresh fruit. So yummy!

After breakfast Crazy B popped in the movie to finish as I had seen it in the theatre's and I hit the showers to get ready to head to West Palm to visit my friend and her new baby. Before I hit the turnpike however I had a pit stop over at SoDo to check out a new place. Ladies and Gentleman this Redhead Running is about to embark in downtown life! Or rather South Downtown (SoDo) life! YAY!!! I'm so excited! The girls and I loved the campus which has a Super Target & a TJ Maxx on site. (Can we say trouble?!?!) And I was especially pleased with the brand spanking new 24 hour fitness facility and resort style pool. Once we move in I will have absolutely no excuse for skipping training days or not knowing how to swim. (This is a whole other issue to be discussed another day) So needless to say we signed the lease and we move in July 1st. The blonde, the Redhead and the Brunette are ready to be SoDo girls.

Beaming from the new digs I hit the turnpike and began the gruesome journey down to West Palm... which thankfully ended promptly enough and to the reward of getting to see Miss Maya:

Isn't she absolutely adorable?!?!?!

So that's that, an absolutely perfect weekend: New digs, Baby Maya and great friends!

Before I wrap this up, I do want to share one more thing... today as I input my 3 mile morning run I was very pleased to see this:

This is my training log for last week and as you can see I was a very productive redhead running.

18 MORE WEEKS TIL CHICAGO MARATHON!!!

For the record...

I STILL HATE SPEED WORK. SPRINTS CAN KISS MY @SS.

That is all.

Everybody's working for the weekend...

...and it's finally here! Hallelujah!

After having a short week the last two weeks in a row (first cruise week, then Memorial Day weekend) this week DRAGGED! But no worries cuz TGIF!!!

The plan for the weekend is as follows:

Friday (Starting at 5pm)

• Speed work at the Track (sure to be either extremely hot or extremely wet... why do I do this to myself again?)
• Crazy B and her fabulous new do gets in town!!! YAY!!! ( I feel spoiled, two Crazy B sightings in one week!)
• Watch "He's just not that into you"
• Co-miserate over being single
• Go to bed at some ridiculously lame hour because we have forgone a social life to become running nerds

Saturday

• Up at 6am to tackle and 8 miler at Cady Way
• Commence (interesting/disgusting/inappropriate) conversation
• BREAKFAST!!!
• Head to West Palm to visit with my friend and her beautiful new baby girl!

Sunday

• Up at the @ss crack of dawn (since I'm surely to get no sleep), leave for O-town
• Soak up some sun, relax and unwind
• Try out new Yoga DVD
• Work - BLAH!
• Recap the weekend on blog. :)

Recap - No Doubt, Hills and too much Redbull

No Doubt was ABSOLUTELY FRIGGING AMAZING last night in Tampa! I totally relived my glory days rocking out with Rixy & Crazy B! I have only been to one other show, back in '03, but I gotta tell you... I thought this was a far better show... and that's saying a lot because that show, was in the Arena (Orlando) and I was directly center stage on the floor and it was my first show! Because of the rain, there were so many seats available that after we snuck Crazy B into the seats with us (tsk tsk for getting lawn seats aka the Squishy Zone) we made our way further down our designated section and actually ended up snagging some killer visibility! The show rocked, the set rocked, the funktacular retro throw back look rocked and Gwen's body rocked! Seriously jealous! I wish we could do it all over again!!!

(Well minus the disgustingly drunk and smelly guys that appeared next to us for about two songs and the random Indian (Feather not Dot) guy to the right of Crazy B.)

After the concert we floated on out of there and I headed back to O-town all hopped up on too much Red Bull. (Little disclaimer here: I am extremely caffeine sensitive and therefore do not generally consume ANY caffeine whatsoever. Seriously I'm a menace to society when I do... think 5 year old on pixie sticks.) Anywho... so I get home around 1am and after I wash my disgustingly dirty feet, thanks rain for all the mud, I climbed into bed and prepared for sleep...that never came. This wasn't ordinary no sleep though, this was Sugar Free Red Bull induced no sleep. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned and well... you get the picture. I checked my phone like 5,000,000 times and FINALLY it was time to get up so I popped out of bed (literally) threw on my gear and away I went!

Once I got started I decided I was going to tackle some hills. Yup Motivated-Mo-Mo-tivated Morgan here, who didn't sleep a wink last night, decides to tackle hills at 6am. Determination ensued and after I did a few repeats I rounded out a 5k and called it a morning. Went back to the house, did my big girl push ups (threw a few extra in to get killer arms like Gwen), 200 sit ups and hopped in the shower.

It's noonish and I'm STILL bouncing off the walls. I guess it's true what they say... Red Bull gives you Wings!

(Or at least caffeine sensitive freaks like me) :)

HAPPY NATIONAL RUNNING DAY YA'LL... GO GET YOUR RUN ON!

Wake up and smell the... garbage. No Diggity... NO DOUBT!

This morning as I set out on my morning run I took in the beautifully breaking dawn, the birds chirping and the sweet smell of... garbage. Today is garbage day in my neighborhood, and that garbage has been marinating in the heat since yesterday... some of it maybe even since Sunday. Mmmmmm there's just nothing like waking up to that refreshing smell of rotting food and who knows what else. Yes I tell you... now that Summer is here I just can't wait for my Tuesday and Friday morning runs. Makes me throw up a little just thinking about them. BLAH!

In other news... Tonight I'm going to see NO DOUBT with Rixy & Crazy B at the Tampa Amphitheatre! I am so excited I can't wait!!! I have been in love with No Doubt since I was a preteen on a farm in Michigan. I have been obsessed with Gwen since the first bars of "I'm just a girl." *Sigh*

And one final note... you must read this:

http://www.runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=15707

READ IT, LOVE IT, SHARE WITH YOUR OTHER RUNNING FRIENDS.

:)