Are you a runner or a jogger? That is the question.

I’ve heard a few times, “hey I saw you out jogging”. Incidentally one person in particular had seen me during a workout when I was “jogging” six-one mile repeats at 5:45 pace. Sure Mister, I was jogging. REALLY!?!

My cousin who has recently taken up road racing actually posed this as a subject for one of my blogs. I'm guessing since her training began she has been getting this question? Perhaps right after a tough run, thinking of a finger as she smiles and answers how many miles she "jogged"? 

It is interesting to hear people use the term jogging to describe what I affectionately refer to as running. I will admit I have jogged. I consider my pre-race warm-ups more of a jog as I am not doing anything too strenuous to warm up my muscles; just enough so that I am feeling fresh from the sound of the gun. I also consider it jogging when I am trying to keep the legs warm during a stop light in the Iowa winters. (By the way haven't these 90 degree plus temps been great?)

So what makes you a runner or a jogger? Perhaps it’s a personal judgment call? Whatever it is, I have to say I have lots of flutters in my heart for all of the people I see at road races. You are ALL winners and as far as I am concerned NO ONE comes in last! Even the last place person who may appear to the couch potatoes to be a jogger, still BEAT the couch potato. 

Feel free to honk or wave if you see me on the street. Please don’t ask me how my jogging is going or that you saw me jogging. Trust me, come along for a “jog” with me and I will set the record straight. Get your gait on and run or jog if you wish, I will be running. Will you be running or jogging that is the question…and how do you determine who is a runner and who is a jogger?

Altitude Running...Is it really advantageous?

A sorry sight to see right now would be me at my computer typing this blog. I have "nose tampons" in my nostrils due to allergies and the fact that my nose is so raw from wiping it. My eyes are swollen and red as though I have just sobbing hysterically. I am sporting my not so matchy-matchy running attire, which is in NO WAY close to glamorous, as anyone who has run with me before can attest. I would be the poster child for Nike "Just DON'T do it"...

Checking my iPhone weather before my run is a habit and it said 78 degrees. An upgrade that would be advantageous with this feature here in the Midwest would be to list the wind gusts in mph. Perhaps the humidity? Anyway, 2:30pm seemed as good of a time as any to take a two year old out in the stroller so he could sleep and I could get my twelve 30 second hill repeats done. I put about a liter of Opcon-A in my eyes, used the restroom, and gathered my running gear (iPod, Garmin, and Nike shades). My shades use to look fairly nice until my two year thought they'd look better with little bits chewed off the nose piece. (Darn kids, can't have anything nice...) I laced up my shoes one foot at a time just like Paula Radcliffe does and strapped the semi-tired, 30 pound two year old into the running stroller.

Once my Garmin synced to the satellites we were off...and every direction I ran was literally into the wind-HARD WIND. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? I have to do hill repeats with a stroller in THIS? Sparing you the details of a wind blown two mile warmup and cool down, once I got to the hill to do repeats, I made note of the wind direction. YES-right directly into it for the repeats! Of course! Newton's 15th Law...the one they don't teach in school or science class. "An object that runs into high wind gusts will do so in every direction regardless of how slow or fast they are going or how much they weigh in grams".

Needless to say the repeats weren't easy and at about number seven, as the thought of quitting was heavy on the skull, I had a scientific idea pop into my brain. ("LIGHT BULB" said Gru from Despicable Me) Truthfully I can't believe someone hasn't researched this conclusion before. Does altitude running truly have an advantage over running in 20-30 mph wind gusts in the Midwest while pushing a 30 pound child in a running stroller? I think more research needs to be done with regards to this hypothesis.

I can assure you I was puffing harder during my warm up and cool down dealing with the wind than many of my six mile repeat workouts run at 5:40 pace. Seriously, I think elite athletes need to be open to considering this type of training. Especially the sprinters who use those parachute contraptions to work on their speed-NO NEED HERE! Just grab a stroller with a 30 pound child in the Midwest and head on out. It will give you the workout of your life!

So when I got back I was curious as to what the wind gusts were measuring since inside, before I started my run, the trees didn't look like they were blowing too hard. Below was the measurement from the KCCI website:

I can assure those of you who have never been to this part of the country, it is a rarity not to have wind gusts of some amount to measure. I truly feel like I am onto something here with this potential training plan. Question is, when will it catch on? And after thinking about it for a bit while typing this blog, maybe its better that it doesn't catch on? Then I can have the advantage?

World Record or World Best?

So between 2006-2008, I spent more time running than I have in the last few years. I am currently building up again to my 100-110 mile days so I can get back to racing competitively. During the span of my running career, which began when I was 13, I have followed many women who are currently 15-30 minutes faster than my marathon PR. After reading many of their training plans, I realize we aren't too different. Many of them run in excess of 100 miles a week, collected prize money, have children, and they also lace up their shoes one at a time like I do. One woman in particular does have something I am roughly 30 minutes off pace to claim; a World Record! Can you name her?

If you said Paula Radcliffe, you are correct. So perhaps her 100 mile week is more like 130 miles, her race checks total more like $150,000 not $5000, she has two children versus four, BUT the lacing up one shoe at a time is still exactly the SAME as yours truly! BUT I admire her and all she has accomplished and will tell you, though I have not walked much less run a mile in her shoes, I want to fight for her.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/8778319/Paula-Radcliffes-world-record-set-at-2003-London-Marathon-no-longer-valid.html


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/olympics/3864177/Paula-Radcliffe-bids-to-keep-marathon-world-record.html

After reading the above articles, I too am on board with the marathon majors! "Race directors from the events that make up the World Marathon Majors, including Boston, London and New York, and the Association of International Marathons, which represents more than 300 races across the world, have warned that they will refuse to accept the IAAF decision." (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/olympics/3864177/Paula-Radcliffe-bids-to-keep-marathon-world-record.html) This decision is to only allow women to claim a World Record if done in a women's only race NOT a mixed race with men.

WHAT??? In the probability lessons I learned in Mr. Luke's math class back in ninth grade, the IAAF ruling this past January would seem to indicate that women have far less of a probability of setting WR than men, due to the fact that most road races are mixed! So to me this means that now ALL road racing events, when a woman could potentially set a World Record, would need to have a separate start for women. This ends up being extra work for racing organizers of all race sizes.

So if Paula can run with the men setting a blistering pace of 2:15 end time result, she can't keep her World Record but can have the "World Best" title instead according to the IAAF. Clearly she has the ability to race that pace if her body can run that fast! Even with a mountain lion chasing her, if she can not keep a 2:15 pace, she won't run a 2:15 marathon and inevitably be taken down.

I would think with this ruling, the use of pacers for major events needs to be eliminated. "Rabbits", as they call them in the track races, would no longer be permitted to participate and this will cause such a mess in going back now to determine WR etc. Come on IAAF... I hope you do the right thing and reinstate Paula's 2:15 WR for the marathon, she ran it and quite frankly DESERVES every bit of each nanosecond even IF she was able to keep pace with two men!

She is planning to meet in Monaco soon for talks to plead her case. GO PAULA!  My opinion is of the point; regardless of gender, if capable of running a particular pace during a race, does it matter who you are running with or against or rather who/what may be chasing you? Seriously IAAF...curious as to how you'd feel if your World Record especially in the marathon that you worked so hard for was taken away and replaced with "World Best"? Is it me or is that still almost saying the same thing? World Best/World Record...potato/potato?

I have to go for a run to hammer out my disgust for this ruling and the length of time its taking them to allow this to go on!

I LOVE My Vacuum!

Well after a week of house drama, we FINALLY closed on our new home a week after scheduled. I still have some sanity, fingernails, and stomach rugae left to show for it and I figured it was time to update my blog.

My vacuum...my closest family and friends know that I truly have an addiction to vacuuming along with vacuums themselves since before the age of eight. I have yet to find a recovery group for this strange addition-perhaps that TLC special could feature me; but really its not that exciting and viewers may use that as a time to refill their drinks and empty their bladders. I have used ALL kinds of vacuums in my mid-range (its not long but not really too short either) life span. I also have received vacuum cleaners for two major holidays-Christmas 2011 and Mother's Day 1999. Truly, I am fine with this and I know it goes against the rules for men as to giving women appliances for major holidays. While waiting to close on this home I am now in, I was also waiting for major appliances to arrive as they were on order to be delivered. This gave us time to "camp" in our new house. We had to refill coolers with ice daily and use a toaster as well as the Cuisinart Electric Skillet for four and a half days. My one "old reliable" appliance was my vacuum!

I have owned four vacuums myself but have used countless others. For Mother's Day 1999 I received a Tri-Star. This is the door-to-door salesman vacuum which comes complete with a four figure price-tag and five attachments. I still have it which I now use it for car clean up and until last Christmas, it was my main squeeze of a vacuum. It will be hard to part with this gem someday. This past Christmas, I received the Shark Navigator with the Lift-Away. I have used the Lift Away option but prefer to keep it all attached and use the main suction brush on the stairs as it has better suction in my opinion. I have tried the coveted Dyson. Just was not as impressed with it as I hoped I would be, though it is still a good machine. I have read reviews and then of course with the machines I have used lately including a Eureka upright, the Shark has been most impressive to me.

Now I could go ON and ON about my preference with vacuums and how well they clean etc. Ultimately it is up to the end user. I will leave you with this, my favorite tool attachment for the vacuum of any type is the crevice tool. It just does my OCD good to know I was able to get into the tiniest of spaces and suck out the dirt. After a good vacuuming, which I like to do once a day, it feels good to get in a run! YEA!!! I was able to get in a run after a two week hiatus. It was an easy three miler but it felt good to get out and stretch out the legs with my iPod and Garmin giving me my mile splits. I probably ran a pace that was too fast but I didn't care, I was glad to be moved, finally closed, and have my major appliances finally arrive. Life is good and I am getting my gait on for a BIG half marathon this fall!

Moves, Migraines, and Mid-American

Well my family is in the middle of the BIG move. Today I have my migraine and FINALLY Mid-American came through with the gas meter being turned on and ready for use. (Trust me serious stress last week and also from past experience with home just sold) We are living out of a hotel so “homeless” in a sense but not really. We have all of our belongings in a 24 foot Budget truck in the hotel parking lot and a place to sleep at night. This time being in the hotel has gotten me thinking even more about those who are truly homeless. 

My husband and I have a condo in Oregon, a duplex in Utah, and hopefully tomorrow our newest town-home in Iowa. I know we are absolutely BLESSED! When “living” (and I use this term loosely as with the many frequent flyer miles I have accumulated over the almost four years of our married life) half of my year spent in various locations, I have been able to see different areas with more homeless populations than others. I realize we all have our opinions about this subject and as do I; but I feel the need with this topic fresh on my mind to expose myself more and my children to this reality in getting them to help me donate to a food pantry and maybe more. I have also thought that perhaps our next Thanksgiving should be spent helping at a soup kitchen.

Though this also is NOT a running topic, it is a topic that this marathoning mom thinks about at times while logging miles and many of those being run in some bigger cities during my various travels. My questions: How can I personally help? Who can I contact? How can my kids help? What should my family do that would be the most helpful? Perhaps I can look into a race supporting this particular societal issue?

Get your “GOOGLE GAME FACES ON” and start your searches to see what maybe you can do to help where you are located…keep checking back for what happened with my search and/or let me know how your search goes.

Now time to “get my gait on” and find my kicks for my run. Any idea where they may be hiding in the 24 foot Budget truck?

I-80, VNV Nation, 3/4, and a Sorento...

What do these things have in common? A solo road trip of course!

This past week I traveled on I-80 to get to my 3/4 College Bestie Reunion while listening at times to VNV Nation, driving my Sorento. To spare you all of the crazy stories, which lets face it, aren't as funny to those who did not live them, I figured I would let you know what has been keeping me from my serious training yet again.

I drove five hours to and from the reunion (which is ten hours for the math challenged) having many conversations with myself and switching positions in my seat to avoid "bleacher butt" as much as possible. I sang CAR-eoke while doing my part to help keep the bug population down and to give my car a temporary new look from the front with the colorful array of bugs plastered all over. For me it is fun traveling to another state, since I had foreign state plates, I had a "license" to drive a little oddly or make ridiculous decisions. Like on my way back, I had to backtrack twice while getting the same directions from the toll booth guy five times. Forgive me sir, I am not a dumb strawberry blonde, just really tired from my last minute drive and coming off my laughing highs with my girls. I am sure after seeing my plates he was thinking what I have been told IOWA stands for..."Idiots Out Wandering Around". Just doing my part to keep the stereotype alive.

(Can you spot the treadmill? And yes I am OCD and pack with bins labeled with crayon to be removed with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser when unpacked. Do they have group for this?)

Still adding excuses to my list of top ten list of excuses (maybe I should change it to Top Twenty?)...my treadmill is seriously stuck behind my wall of bins that are packed and ready for relocation with a few more being added each day. (see pic above) Plus the weather hasn't been very nice when I am ready to think about getting out to run. So I am spending my days washing sheets and towels to pack, cleaning various surfaces, chasing kids to and from school and activities, and shredding unneeded paperwork that I was keeping "just in case". So I promise to send you some inspirational tips and workouts here soon! For now, hopefully you can forgive me while I pack for a move, close on current place Tuesday, close on new place on Friday, all while getting kids too and from school and being homeless (notice the difference in closing dates) for a few days this coming week. My goal (and confession) is to have some truly amazing run to tell you about when I feel like a FREE woman next Saturday (barring NO issues with the gas company---spare you those details). It will be on the top of the To-Do list just above unpacking!

Three weeks ago I pulled out a 16 miler on a Saturday for a 50 mile week. Curious though as to who may have the best excuse not to run? Maybe we can kick one another into gear? Pinterest! I'm sure I can find a quote or a fun picture of a quote on Pinterest...which is another way to kill time NOT getting a good run in for the day...how did I get this far off track? 100 plus miles a week a few years ago to zero or barely 20? Inquiring minds want to know, namely mine.

A New Beginning...

Wow I'm officially entered into the world of blogging! And I'm officially insane as the title of this blog may have insinuated. Trying to come back from a three year running hiatus after a fourth bambino and gearing up for my fourth move at the end of the month. Yes it is true that I have lost brain cells with each child and also each run I log over 20 miles. Luckily for me, I've had no more children lately and also no 20 plus milers either. So with the brain cells that I had three years ago still in tact, I make yet another attempt at a running comeback. Planning for a half marathon this coming October. Hoping to keep you updated throughout this feat... With my garage half full of literally half of the belongings of a family of six, a treadmill, a gym membership, and a running stroller one might say why are you not training in full force by now? So I start this blog with my "Top Ten Excuses for Not Running Everyday". 10. Can't I just live through my daughter who is in junior high track like many parents? 9. What-like mile long treks through the home improvement stores aren't enough when I have close to four each day as of late for the new house we are building? 8. I need new songs for my iPod... 7. Stalking my elite friends isn't giving me the mojo I hoped for.   6. My brain only knows a few key phrases: "be friends" "simmer down" "talk nice" "play nice" "use an inside voice" "please act socially appropriate" NONE of which help when you need your running mantra. 5. My daughter left all my running clothes in her school locker. 4. So chasing a two year old around the triangle sidewalk in our town home complex doesn't add up to a mile with four laps? 3. Does vacuuming count for cardio? Perhaps a mile or two? 2. Stairs...maybe if I keep Popsicle sticks at the bottom, I can take one up each time and figure that as hill repeats? 1. I can't find a bobby pin to keep my hair out of my face. Okay so they are lame but pretty good I think. Off the get my four kids prepared for another evening of sleep. Maybe I could add that as an excuse too-I am not getting enough sleep...ah as one of my Rock and Roll Marathon Phoenix buddy would say, "you can sleep when you're dead". So tomorrow NO more excuses!!!