8-minute mile!

Guess what?! I can officially run an 8-minute mile! Granted, I can only run one and when I did it for the first time yesterday, I got light-headed but I did it again today and felt better, so now I'm officially announcing that I can run an 8-minute mile. Demi has me run at least a mile almost every workout and when she doesn't have me at an incline, I've been running it in about 8:30-8:35. Welp, we (and by we, I mean she) decided to up the ante yesterday and told me to run at a speed of 7.5 on the treadmill, which apparently equals an 8-minute mile. I'm glad I've finally pushed myself, or have been pushed, to run faster. It's so easy to do what you've always done but that won't make you any better. That's why I personally need a trainer beacuse I wouldn't push myself past my comfort zone. I feel so accomplished too! Now, I realize I probably can't keep that pace for longer than a mile, but I'm so glad I'm able to do at least one mile. Baby steps :)

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Yesterday, I spent some time looking for a medal display for all of my race medals. Right now, they are lamely hanging on my mirror and I'd like to have them proudly displayed for all the world to see. I first saw one on a blog and I googled to see where I can get one and after much research, the best place is a website called Allied Medal Displays. They have different designs based on the medals you've earned or you can make a custom display. My favorite design is the cityscape; I wish they had one with the City of Columbus skyline since all my races so far have been here but alas, no love for the 'bus.

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I kind of like this one for the attitude but I would feel too cheesy actually hanging it in my house. Plus, I could buy new shoes with the money I would spend on it!:

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While researching, I came across another runner's blog (from Cincinnati, whatup Ohio!) who made her own display using a curtain rod from Wal-mart. That would work for short-term, if I'm looking to display my medals today, but I'd eventually like to get a legit display. I mean, the medals are pretty much the only reason I keep doing races. Gotta show off my babies!

Another race...

I think I'm addicted to races. Every time I finish a race, I think about the next one I want to do. But then I complain about having to train during the months leading up to the race. However, I've never regretted doing a race...just regretted committing to the race a few times before the event. Regret isn't the right word but you know what I mean...

I think a lot of people have this "problem." I love the races because I like having a goal in mind and having to work hard to achieve it. I also like having a challenge and being able to overcome that challenge. However, sometimes I resent running because I feel like I "have" to do it. Don't get me wrong, I loooove running. I love how strong I feel, I love when my mind wanders and I forget how long I've been out there, I love the feeling of accomplishing a great workout, and I love the muscle soreness you can only get from running. However, when I have to go run 8 miles when I only feel like running 3, it kind of takes the pleasure away from the run. But, I must admit, it is a fantastic feeling getting more miles in than you felt like doing.

Maybe I worry that if I don't have a race to train for, I won't run as much and I will lose my running mojo, which is what happened a few years ago when the shit hit the fan for me physically. Maybe I need the races to keep me in check and remind me how much I love the sport. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I consider myself a "good" runner. I don't know what that means exactly, but once I got back in to the groove of running, it's like I never stopped. My body just knows how to run. Other people say they just aren't runners. Well, I just am a runner and I never want to forget that again.


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All of this explains why I just registered for my next race: Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure Columbus Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I ran it last year when I was in horrible shape. I hardly trained for it but I still ran the whole thing and I felt awesome accomplishing that goal. I want to run it again this year and see how fast I can do it. It's 5 miles, which is the distance I already run three-four times a week anyway, and if I can work on speed from now until Thanksgiving, I should be able to get it done in enough time to win a pumpkin pie! The first 1,000 male finishers and the first 1,000 female finishers get pumpkin pies and last year I (obviously) didn't make the cut. I'm interested to see how much faster I can run it this year, although I don't remember last year's time and I didn't have a timing chip so I can't go back and look for it. Either way, it's a nice, small goal I have set for myself, to keep running as part of my workouts but not so much that I resent having to go out and run a long distance. Can't wait to eat mah pie!



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