Dining Like a Glutton

We took my son out for dinner last night to the Fort Restaurant. I ordered the Game Plate, which had (from left to right) buffalo, elk, and quail. EEEK! That quail freaked me out and I quickly scooped it off my plate and gave it to my daughter. Imagine their surprise when I pulled a camera out of my purse and took a picture of my entree!

I also got someone to take our picture sitting by the fire in the plaza area after dinner.
My military son has decided to grow his hair and beard while he doesn't have to be anywhere.

I have been running in accordance with one of my training plans. I am feeling good. I am not pushing it like I did for the last half-marathon. I really injured myself training too hard - now I feel good and do not care to repeat the injury experience.

I have noticed that my resting heart rate probably needs to be recalculated. I did it a couple years ago - it was 58. Yesterday and today while I was lacing up my shoes, I noticed that my heart rate was fluctuating between 53 and 54. So I guess my RHR is not 58. I will figger this out real soon!

Sorry I have been such a crappy blogger. I have been spending so much time with my family - and that is wonderful! I also started Biblical School - which is also wonderful.

Debbi - I am going to go start knitting a hat now - Christmas gift knitting starts today!

Seven Weeks

Until the Denver Marathon. I ran 7 miles this morning. Probably as slow as I have ever run, but it was nice. It was a beautiful morning and I took a beautiful route, even if it was WAY too hilly. I really love slow long distance running. This is a picture I took in April of the route I ran this morning. I love it there. There is a two mile climb to get to that road, then the road undulates for a couple miles before it starts heading into the mountains. I turned around at 3.5 miles and headed home.

After about 3 miles, I realized that I felt good and nothing hurt. That is the most amazing feeling for me. I bought a water bottle to carry with me, it has a strap and a pocket and I really like it. It really helps to have water on a run that takes longer than an hour.. I am not going to tell you how much longer than an hour - I have my pride!

Yesterday I missed my run because I had an all day prayer day to attend. It was the beginning of the Biblical School I am beginning. It was wonderful and my head feels so full, but my heart does too!

This afternoon I am making barbequed ribs, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. The family is coming over and it will be very nice. My son requested ribs. His wish is my command for now. I am so very thrilled to have him back from Iraq... safe and sound, healthy and happy.

New Shoes

Yes, I did purchase the Brooks Trance 7s. I was hoping they would work for me because I think they look so dang cute. I went to Boulder Running Company and got on the dreadmill and indeed, they do work for me. I have taken several runs this week with them, and not only do they feel good, but I love to look at my feet because I just LOVE the way these things look! I couldn't find any cute socks locally, so I ordered a bunch online from DeFeet.

I have been a bad blogger this week because my son is home and I have just enjoyed spending time with him... as has the rest of the family. Suddenly my house is full and it is wonderful!

I haven't stopped running though. I am so enjoying the training for the half-marathon. I love slow, long-distance running. I feel like I leave the house full of tension and worries, and come back full of energy and peace. It is great.

189 runs; 743.52 miles

Since I got my nike + iPod approximately a year ago. Of course, I later discovered that these data are not exactly accurate - however, it is kinda close.

Last night, while driving to and fro Colorado Springs with my son (who is home!!!) we talked a great deal about running. He had a knee injury while in Iraq, but hopes to be able to run again soon. He ran his first race when he was 12 years old. It was the Bolder Boulder. After about a mile, he kept saying "come on Mom!" and I finally told him to go on without me, and I would find him (in a race of about 30,000 at that time) at the finish line. Amazingly enough, I did find him. We ran a few more races together over the years. I am glad he likes to run... I am glad we share this thing. Right now I can't imagine getting your 12 year old to compete in a kind of hard 10K race, but I did and I guess I am glad I did!

Today is a rest day and I am glad. I think doing 6 miles on Saturday and 5 on Sunday was kind of a bit much... I have not been doing any long distances at all since the half-marathon in May. I will work back up to them and I am greatly looking forward to it. I really love slow long distance running.

Heart Rate Hyroglyphics

I had a great 5 mile run this morning while my son was sleeping. (Sorry, one of these days I will skip mentioning that he is home, but not quite yet.) As I am beginning my training for the Denver (half) Marathon on October 14, I am trying to be a little bit more methodic about it than I was for the Colfax Marathon in May.

I have got articles and books everywhere in my house. I have got "Marathoning for Mortals," "The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer," "No Need for Speed," and 2 copies of the August Runners' World with the training plan for running a half marathon. My latest thing is trying to figure out where my heart rate should be. I have had a heart rate monitor since I started training for my first triathlon in 2004 - maybe it is time I learned how to use all that data?

Today's run was deliberately slow. I wanted to just enjoy the morning and my new shoes!!! (yes, I got the Brooks Trace 7s and they rock!) I was talked out of purchasing a fuel belt by the wonderful salesman at the Boulder Running Company and instead got a little water bottle with a handle and pocket - and liked that a lot... anyway, I digress. So, my slow run - I logged 42:02 mins. @ 70-80% of max, and 32:02 mins. @ 80-90% of max heart rate. That doesn't sound like a slow run to me, but I did enjoy it, and I was indeed going S-L-O-W. Now I have to figure out what I should be doing...

Have a great Sunday everyone. Oh - and I am probably going to change my name on here again. Mary Gee is too generic for me. Mary Christine is too associated to my other blog, so I don't want to use it, although it IS my name and I like it. However, I am trying to think of a name that will be for this blog - and I am considering "Contrary Mary" - how bad is that?

My son is home!!!

He walked in the door last night... what a sight for a mother's eyes - to see her son walking through the front door. He looks so handsome in his uniform. And what a treat to make a meal for my kids and have a full table again. I told him that every time my granddaughters have been here for the last year, they have pointed out Kenny's chair at the dining room table and said "That's Uncle Kenny's Chair!" And I would try to smile and say "yes it is," when I felt like crying.... Last night he was sitting in that chair again and it was wonderful!

This morning I went out and ran 6 miles. I chose a new route, that I likely won't run again. It was a slight downhill grade for 3 miles, and then I turned around and had a slight uphill grade when it was getting hot, I was tired, and had NO water. What was I thinking? I passed a walker in a cute grey skirt... and then I stopped for a minute to mop the sweat off my face and neck (I felt like I had a beard of sweat on my chin and neck!) I was SO regretting not having something to drink, when the grey skirted walker, came and passed me - and took a big sip of her water from her fuel belt as she passed. And, I hate to admit it, but I called her a bad name under my breath.

So today I am going to go purchase a dang fuel belt and a new pair of shoes!I intend to purchase the shoes in the above picture, but we shall see what I end up with.

It is such a happy day in my world! I hope you all have a great day!

Friday Fun

I am still utterly exhausted, but I am trying not to complain so much. I will get over it, I am sure I will. I went out to run this morning and decided to follow Chad's advice and try to run as fast as I could. ... well, after the first mile and a half I decided to run as fast as I could.

So, I ran 1.5 miles at a 13+ minute mile pace.
And One mile at 11:23. Yes, Eleven minutes and twenty-three seconds. That, my friends, is lightening fast for this woman. I think I might be able to work on speed after all. Well, relatively speaking.

My daughter and I drove down to Colorado Springs to have dinner with my son last night. It is so wonderful to be able to pick up the phone and call him, and hop in the car and go see him. He may be home today. Or maybe Monday. I hope it is today. I would love to have a weekend with my son in the house.

Have a great weekend everyone.