Music and Gear For the Long Run

No frozen hams today. Today's long run was so much better than my last one. I learned from my mistakes and layered up today. An extra layer of skin underoos and extra pants over my tights. MUCH better. Much warmer. Although I think I look like a complete nerd in all my gear (hydration belt, little pack for a gel, big hat, there's a picture below) I had everything I needed for a fantastic nine miler.

Music is an essential part of my running regimen. Every once in a while I will go sans tunes because I think it's right to be one with where you are. There is something almost sacred about your feet hitting the earth while you hear the birds talk, see the leaves blow, smell the cows and notice the melting snow.

But today was a music run. Just for fun, here is a rundown of who kept me company during my one hour, forty one minute jog fest. Eclectic is the word of the day.

Sounds So Good - Ashton Shepherd
Coldplay - various, always from Viva la Vida!
Battle Hymn of the Republic - MoTab (you better believe it)
Rihanna - stood under her umbrella, ella, ella, ella
Forever - Chris Brown (WHY do I love this song so much?)
Alicia Keys - she's my girl
Shinedown - Second Chance
Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun
Nickleback - Chris and I share an ipod. Normally, not my thing. (I mean BLAH!) But for some reason on a run, they get me going.
Kings of Leon - DEFINITELY my thing. Love em.
Sting - All This Time Album
Popular from Wicked (...ler...lar!)
Justin Timberlake - at about mile 5 we BOTH brought sexy back.
Mos Def - Quiet Dog
Mana, Shakira and Locos por Jauna - My heart is 1/16 Latina. It's got to be fed.
Metallica - my running guilty pleasure band. Where is that crown King Nothing?
The Way I Are - Timbaland (Another favorite I don't know why I like so much.)
Counting Crows - 1995 called, they want their playlist back
Alien Ant Farm - Seriously, Annie, are you ok?

There is a sample of my playlist of songs whilst prancing through my back country valley looking like this:

(I had Chris snap this picture when I got back. What a nerd! Me, not Chris.)

9 miles. 1:41:39. 11:17 min/mile.

What is on your running playlist? What songs get you going mid run?

Do This 5K/10K

As promised, I have a worthwhile 5K to promote.

Dale Lawrence is a local high school student in Heber Valley. He was injured a few months ago during wrestling practice.

From the school's website:

On Tuesday, January 4, 2011, Wasatch High School senior Dale Lawrence suffered a serious neck injury in wrestling practice. "Super Dale", as he is known to Wasatch High School students, is currently rehabilitating at University of Utah Medical Center. While Dale is still unable to move his arms and legs, he has regained some sensation in his limbs. Dale is in the thoughts and prayers of the entire Wasatch community.

On Saturday, March 19, there will be a 5K/10K race with all proceeds going to his family. I'm all about running FOR something. It's super easy to sign up. Only a $10 minimum, but I'm sure we can all give a few extra bucks. Click here for the link.

Happy running! Spring is close. I can smell it. (Even though my phone says it is nine degrees outside right now, I'm looking at the sunshine and pretending it's 50.)

Addiction

Hi. My name is Kara and I'm addicted to running.

It's the only conclusion I could come to after rehashing my Saturday long run to my husband.

Him: How was your run?
Me: Miserable.

I then went on for minutes and minutes about how during the entire 7.5 miles, I never warmed up. How it suddenly started snowing, like, HARD at about mile 4. Have you ever seen an animal in the middle of a snow storm out in the middle of a field and thought, Oh, poor cow. I was the cow.

My rear end took days to finally get warm. I felt like I was hauling around two frozen hams.

Later that day, I had a text conversation with a friend and continued to rant to her how terrible it was. (She was the first to hear my cow analogy.) It was then I realized, yes, it is conclusive, I really must be addicted to this crazy activity. Or else, why? Why in the world?

I was actually giddy Friday night when I went to set my alarm because I needed to wake up and get running before the babies woke up. (Side note: I heart Saturdays. Daddy is so good at getting our munchkins breakfast and such on the weekends. Such a welcome break. LOVE it.) I was looking forward to plodding along at 5 miles per hour in 35 degree weather on the one day that I could actually sleep in if I really wanted to.

Before: excited.
During: miserable.
After: complained about it.

But will I do it again? Abso-friggin-lutely.

Because although I was a freezing cow, that familiar endorphin rush kicked in (during my complaint session) and my body and mind felt whole and good for a long time.

Because there are lots and lots of reasons why I run. Four of them happen to be the cute faces I left behind that morning. I'm such a better mom and wife when I get my running fix.

I could've slept in or steeped a herbal tea cup or two. (This was a thought I had around mile 5.) But I got up at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, in February, in the back of the Wasatch and ran.

I think I might need help. (Or just an extra layer or two.)

Run or Freeze aka SoJo 5K

I officially kicked of the 2011 racing season with a sweet little 5K in South Jordan.

Running with my friend Steph was a definite highlight. The cute Wickify shirts with a cupid on them in honor of Valentine's Day was another outstanding highlight. Not to mention the pink bag our swag stuff came in.

But the cold! Good gravy, the freezing wind. I checked the weather that morning and saw pleasant little numbers like 48. But the wind was making it closer to 12. Agghh!

Good thing we were there to run, otherwise, what a stupid day to go to the park! It was the least amount of time I've ever spent at a finish line.

After being shuttled through the line of ropes most races put you through, there was a table full of fruit and water. Then, at the very end of the table, there was a big bag full of medals. The girl in front of me got one, so silly me, I thought they were handing out participation medals. As I stood with a goofy grin on my face, hand outstretched, waiting for my medal, the guy asked to see my time card. After a quick glance at it, he reached in a bag that had no medals in it and handed me a $5 card to Village Inn. Yea. No participation medals after all. Age group winners got those. Oh well. My goal was not to win my age group.

Goals for most recent 5K: Have fun. Run with a friend.

Mission accomplished.

There is a whole lot of year left for time goals and the like.

Also, I am officially endorsing two great 5K races coming up soon. Both for meaningful causes. Stay tuned. (Because I'm such an important person, my endorsements really matter. Ha.)

The darling racers after the run, in a house, away from the cold. Sorry no pictures at the race. I couldn't think about much except for moving to keep my eyelids and lips from freezing together.

Also, PS - my ever supportive husband and three babies came! Of course they were in the car the entire time. (Did I mention it was soo cold?) But cute Chris got out of the van and cheered us on for the 10 seconds it took to run by his little parking space.

Last Saturday

Six point two miles: awesome

Snowy weather: awesome

Beautiful mountain landscape: awesome

Getting splashed with sludge from rude driver: not awesome

Lovely device that tells me my stats: awesome

Lack of traction from snowy roads in some places: not awesome

Endorphin high lasting ALL day: always awesome

Dad hanging back with kidlets so I don't have to rush: sweet

On a scale of not awesome to sweetness on a Saturday: Absolutely Outstanding.

Morning Date With Treadmill

I'm usually not a big fan of treadmills. But when it is negative seventeen degrees outside and the sun rises after your children do, I'm glad I have one around.

Did a lovely little interval workout this morning. Nothing crazy. Thirty minutes. Jogged for four, then a one minute sprint. Rinse and repeat.

Still Running

Six months since I last posted here? Sheesh. Good news, I'm still running. Bad news, I'm going to blog about it.

Summary of last six months:

August : Ran a sweet 5K with some neighbors and some church going peeps. Felt real good since it was still round the clock with the babies. Loved, loved getting out of the house by myself.

September: Ran a sweet 10K in Midway. So pretty. I had a great picture but lost it due to technical difficulties on my phone. The Galleys came to see their kin folk finish, but I pretended they came to see me.

October: No races. But plenty of 80's music montages going through my head as I hit the hills to take in the majesty that is fall in the mountains. (It's the eye of the tiger...)

November: Cold.

December: Still cold. BUT, my cute honey surprised me with a treadmill. What?!? Nice.

January: Found durn cool app to help me log my runs. Result? Total miles: 42.67. Total time: 6:48:31. Average pace: 10:10.

February: Hoping I don't get stuck in my day tomorrow and have to repeat it over and over and over and over until I learn some kind of lesson.