Lincoln half marathon training. W17, D6 easy 8

It was very windy, cool, and drizzly. Basically, fairly crappy running weather. But this turned out to be a very good run. The rains waited until I was just about done. I ran most of it. (With my heart condition I can’t always run if my heart beat suddenly drops during a run. It’s weird) I ran most of it pretty fast too. I’m pleased.

I like to run through neighborhoods. Today I discovered a little forest within a neighborhood. It was lovely and calming. I’ll definitely run thru there again.

Now I shower and get ready for another date!

Have a fantastic weekend friends!

BREAKING NEWS!

It was the last SOS run of Hanson’s today! Halle-Freakin’-Lujah! 6 Tempo miles. LET THE TAPER BEGIN!
Of course, the day after I see my Cardiologist, my chest hurt during my run this morning. Oh, don’t worry, it wasn’t the whole time, and I don’t think it was my heart, but still. It always worries me.
My left hip has been hurting for the last few runs I’ve done. This concerns me. Keep it together body, we just need to keep it together.
My hair is kinda big today. I dig it.
I’m speaking at my University today. I’ll be talking to a bunch of Journalism students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and talking about working in the News Biz and now in the world of the Non-Profit.
I have a ginormous zit forming on my chin. Thanks a lot face! Grr.
I’ve had some excellent conversations with several of my favs in the past few days. Good stuff.
One of the guys I went out with this week texted me last night to tell me how much he likes me, how beautiful he thinks I am, and how I have a great butt. Well ok then. Just lay it all out there. I mean, we went out 1 time, for less than an hour. Oh Boy. I didn’t even realize he checked out my butt!
But, the thing is, I don’t think I like him as anything more than a friend. He’s completely overwhelmed me with pretty much constant communication (I know, I say I want this, but when I get it, I’m resistant) and near constant messages of how I’m wonderful, amazing, beautiful, hysterical, etc. It feels like he just likes the picture that I present…but I really don’t feel like he knows me well enough yet to say all these things. We’ve only been talking since Sunday! Ai-yi-yi. My life. Why am I always saying, “how do I get myself into these situations?”

Have a great day friends!

As the caption says today was the last long run of training! [insert praise hands emoji here] I still have to run 8 next Saturday and there’s still strength and tempo runs…but this is done and I’m happy.

I took a mid-run selfie a la runningforbiscuits. I don’t look as cute as she does, but I tried! It rained intermittently on me during this run…You can see the ominous skies in the selfie. But no thunder or lightning, so I kept going. Success!

Also, those steps are solid. I was pleased to see that high weekly number!

This mini vacation has been fabulous! Shopping with my mom, runs in the morning, and a fabulous, relaxing time. I needed this!

Have a great weekend friends!

It’s been a pretty great Saturday.

A good long run.

Gorgeous weather, beautiful trees, and flowers.

Conversations with some of my favorites both here and abroad.

A trip to the grocery store where I kept seeing the same cute guy throughout the store. Then he got in line behind me and was teasing me about the large amount of Quest bars I was buying…and the juice boxes I bought! I love those random moments!

And now dinner out with my favorite guy.

I think I kinda like you Saturday.

Everyone is a comedian…

runningshew is a great alarm clock and friend. She made me giggle at 4:30 in the morning…and then again around 7:30 with that gem of a photo. I know Maya isn’t a man in a dog suit, in fact, she looks like the sweetest, most gentle giant alive. But…
I think I’m having some anxiety dreams dealing with some things that I’m not addressing here. Suffice it to say that I’m involved in a couple of confusing situations and they appear to be manifesting in my dreams.
Last night I dreamed that my newlywed (about 6 months) friends had some young children they were either fostering or adopting. They told me that I had to babysit said children. I didn’t want to. In fact, I refused to go to the room the kids were in BY THEMSELVES! I wouldn’t look at them and ignored everyone who told me that I had to go watch these kids.
Then, Amy texted and I woke up…ending that dream.
I don’t know you guys…I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something about men and children. Or specifically…men WITH children.
Oy. My life.
In other news, the sun is FINALLY back today! It is supposed to be warmer and nice this weekend, just in time for my long run. There are only 3 weeks left of this Hanson’s Marathon Plan. I’m soooo ready for it to be over (the training, not getting to see my friends!) 6 days of running a week at this mileage is killing me.

Happy Friday Friends!!

Funk-y Town

The first photo shows my feelings about the fact that I snoozed my alarm so many times this morning that I couldn’t get up and run before work. Now I have 9.5 miles to do after work. Not a fan. Not a fan at all.
I never realized how much the weather affected my mood until I I realized that I haven’t seen the sun since Saturday. I’ve been a wee bit down and kind of ehhh because of that. I’m in a funk.
Despite the gray skies the world is exploding with color here in the Heartland. This pretty pink tree is on my morning commute. I like the bright yellow and pinks.
And I give you last night’s Easy run. I actually had a decent run. Negative splits (my last mile was 10:42! Whoops, not the 12:05 I was shooting for!)
After the marathon training is over, I’ve been contemplating what my next plan of attack is. And I want to branch out into more classes at my gym–including Spin and weight lifting classes! Although, Fun Fact: the guy I made out with a few New Year’s Eves ago is the instructor for the spin classes at my gym– File that under Reasons I DON’T want to take these classes! Oy! My Life.
In the past day I’ve been accused by TWO different men of not eating. Dudes. I eat. A lot. I promise.
I’ve gained some new followers lately. Hello friends! A quick intro: I’m Melissa. I’m 33. I used to be a TV News Producer, now I’m the Membership Director for an Educational Non-Profit. I’m training to run my 11th Half Marathon in May using the Hanson’s Half Marathon Method. I write about running, my life, and all the random things that happen to me along the way! Welcome aboard!

Lincoln Half Marathon training, long 10.

The winds are killing me. They need to stop. But I pushed through. Today is family Easter stuff so I’m excited to hang out with my nephews.

There’s a beautiful Magnolia tree blooming in my parent’s neighborhood. It smells amazing!

And, because it’s me. Something random always happens on my runs. Today, there was this woman sitting on her porch who started talking to me while I walked by, trying to open my fuel package. She told me how nice it was outside, then asked if I was “local”. (Umm, yes? Weird question) Asked if I was speedwalking…I told her I was running, but refueling. She then asked if I needed help opening it…even though I clearly had it. I told her no…and kept walking. She kept talking. Weird. So weird.

Happy Saturday and have a great Easter friends!

Wednesday Things

I am struggling this morning. Why is it that EVERY SINGLE TIME I run long I can’t sleep at night? You would think that it would have the opposite effect. But nope, not for me. The Struggle is REAL!
Rest days are the best days. I have a massage after work and I’m pumped. I believe we will focus on my legs this go-around.
Last night’s Strength workout was decent–it was warm, 77 degrees at 4pm, sunny without a cloud in the sky. I was hot. In other news, my shorts tan is coming along quite nicely.
So, yesterday was filled with a lot of adulting. I got both of my tax refunds on Monday and got paid on Tuesday…I have never seen my bank account look that healthy before!! With this influx of cash I paid off my Student Loans, made a sizable payment to my credit card (that should be paid off this summer!!) and transferred money into savings. I feel so fiscally responsible. 🙂
Last night was BIZ-EEE. I left work early to run, then ran home, changed quickly and went to see Insurgent with my friend. I then came home and promptly fell into bed. Living the dream.
I’m wearing a dress today. It is crazy windy. I discovered this was not the best possible choice when I walked out the door and my skirt nearly flew up! I live on a very busy street. Oy. I yelped, dropped my bag and grabbed my dress to hold it down. I caught it just before anyone saw anything, but still! The walk to the parking garage should be interesting this afternoon!

Happy Hump Day (really my Thursday!) Friends!

Running 40+ miles a week does interesting things to the body.

I’m retaining water because my body is like, “What is happening?! Why are we running so far so many days of the week?”
I’m seeing some sweet muscle definition in my quads.

Since it’s been so warm here and I’ve been running outside I’ve developed some sexy tan lines already. What? A shorts and sock tan ARE sexy! I also have a Garmin tan.

And that booty! BAM. 😉 I do not hate what’s happening there! 🙂
In other news, I am such an extroverted introvert that this Bachelorette Party weekend exhausted me. I felt like I was being held hostage and not allowed any “me” time. I hate feeling that way.
This week has gotten CRAZY busy: my 8-year-old nephew has his music program tonight so I’m going to that. My friend and I are going to the movies tomorrow (Insurgent, it’s $5 movies on Tuesdays here) and Wednesday I have a massage after work (I love Past Melissa for scheduling that!!) Thursday looks to be free (so far!), and I’m off for the first time EVER on Good Friday (I love this job!!)
Temperatures are supposed to be in the 70′s here for much of the week so there will be more chances to work on my runner’s tan as well. Spring makes me so happy!

Have a great one friends!

Come-To-Jesus Conversations

I am on board the Hanson’s Marathon Method Struggle Bus. It’s week 13 and I am fatigued. I am grouchy. And two-o-nine is getting the brunt of it. So we had some REAL TALK conversations about whether I could skip tonight’s Tempo 5 (answer: No. Don’t) and that I have essentially been grouchy for weeks now (true story). I don’t share that lovely piece of myself with all of you, just Brooke. Sorry friend! I’m dealing with it. I promise. #reasonswhyI’mSingle.

This is me, bucking up! It is amazing what a difference sunshine and blue skies makes to your psyche. I felt a billion times better this morning once I got some vitamin D.
I’ve over-booked myself tonight. I just managed to un-book one of those things, so I can get my run in. But, either way, I get grouchy when I don’t get enough Melissa time.

I saw this motorcycle in the parking lot of the dorm I work in this morning. It’s spring break here so it has been abandoned since last Friday. These signs appeared overnight. Made me giggle. Are they trying to tell them something about the dangers of riding a motorcycle??

We’ve got a playlist featuring 80′s hits going today. This gem came on. MADE MY DAY. It just makes you feel happy, ya know?
I’ve hit the point where I hate everything in my closet. I want a new wardrobe, stat.

Happy Friday Eve Friends! Thanks for listening!