I don't think the heavy stuff is coming down for a while yet.
This was a challenging week for me with regards to training. Though I was able squeek in three miles before work one day, after work board meetings, networking events, or cherished family time kept me back from any other runs.
Friday night was our Automation Alley gala awards, a black tie affair. It was an amazing event as always, and provided a first for me as I was able to experience it for the first time as an Alley employee, and not simply as a member. I stayed until the very end to help clean everything up, and that made for a late night.
Saturday morning, I woke up at 6:30 to rain, and realized that I wouldn't make practice in Royal Oak (a scheduled 18 mile run at 7:30). My decided to get some miles in later. I went back to sleep until 11am (which probably is the first time in this millenium that I've slept in that late, and I'm not exagerating).
Saturday night, I had another black tie affair I had to attend. I went with my prior boss, Scott, who chose to be the designated driver. Let's just say I took advantage of that and had myself a couple cocktails. (Don't worry, I didn't do any dancing on the tables.) Being that the event was an hour away, it made for another late night.
It is now Sunday. I woke up late (8am this time). I was pretty tired from the night before, and just hung around the house with the family. In the mid afternoon, I got an email from my friend Alex (the guy who I did the Florida Half Ironman with). He emailed that he had just finished the Tawas Half Ironman, and WON THE WHOLE THING by 11 minutes, all while racing in that rain. I am just so proud of him, he has worked very hard to get where he is at.
After that inspiring note, I looked outside at the downpour (there was now a flood warning for our county), and realized that I have to get off my tail and run...rain or shine.
Left: My good friend and great motivatorAlex Gonzalez, 30, of Ortonville was the overall winner of the Half Ironman distance during the inaugural Tawas Bay Triathlon Festival Saturday in East Tawas. Rock on, Alex!!! (Photo credit: John Morris)
I got my gear on, looked outside at the sideways rain, and changed my mind (and then changed my clothes). I got mad at myself for wussing out, and got geared up again. I went through this three times until I finally kept my running gear on and walked outside. My rationale was that it's likely that Ireland will be raining when I race, so I'd better get used to it.
I finished my short little 4 mile run in the downpour. I kept a keen eye out for electrical wires or falling branches, but the worst thing that happened was small twigs falling on my head.
Running in the rain actually felt really good. I enjoyed not having to navigate around the puddles and just running right through them. I enjoyed the refreshing stiff wind blowing in my face, though it made me feel like I was running up a big hill when it was against me. I enjoyed having the sidewalks all to myself. And I chuckled at the faces looking at me through the car windows. I can only imagine what they were thinking. Probably something like "that girl is nuts". Maybe so, but I'm feeling better for having fulfilled my crazy idea of the day.
If you would like to support my fundraising efforts and donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma society, please visit my fundraising page http://pages.teamintraining.org/mi/dublin08/aduncan. Every little bit helps, and every penny is GREATLY appreciated. I need to reach this goal by the end of Sepember. Thank you!!
Friday night was our Automation Alley gala awards, a black tie affair. It was an amazing event as always, and provided a first for me as I was able to experience it for the first time as an Alley employee, and not simply as a member. I stayed until the very end to help clean everything up, and that made for a late night.
Saturday morning, I woke up at 6:30 to rain, and realized that I wouldn't make practice in Royal Oak (a scheduled 18 mile run at 7:30). My decided to get some miles in later. I went back to sleep until 11am (which probably is the first time in this millenium that I've slept in that late, and I'm not exagerating).
Saturday night, I had another black tie affair I had to attend. I went with my prior boss, Scott, who chose to be the designated driver. Let's just say I took advantage of that and had myself a couple cocktails. (Don't worry, I didn't do any dancing on the tables.) Being that the event was an hour away, it made for another late night.
It is now Sunday. I woke up late (8am this time). I was pretty tired from the night before, and just hung around the house with the family. In the mid afternoon, I got an email from my friend Alex (the guy who I did the Florida Half Ironman with). He emailed that he had just finished the Tawas Half Ironman, and WON THE WHOLE THING by 11 minutes, all while racing in that rain. I am just so proud of him, he has worked very hard to get where he is at.
After that inspiring note, I looked outside at the downpour (there was now a flood warning for our county), and realized that I have to get off my tail and run...rain or shine.
Left: My good friend and great motivatorAlex Gonzalez, 30, of Ortonville was the overall winner of the Half Ironman distance during the inaugural Tawas Bay Triathlon Festival Saturday in East Tawas. Rock on, Alex!!! (Photo credit: John Morris)I got my gear on, looked outside at the sideways rain, and changed my mind (and then changed my clothes). I got mad at myself for wussing out, and got geared up again. I went through this three times until I finally kept my running gear on and walked outside. My rationale was that it's likely that Ireland will be raining when I race, so I'd better get used to it.
I finished my short little 4 mile run in the downpour. I kept a keen eye out for electrical wires or falling branches, but the worst thing that happened was small twigs falling on my head.
Running in the rain actually felt really good. I enjoyed not having to navigate around the puddles and just running right through them. I enjoyed the refreshing stiff wind blowing in my face, though it made me feel like I was running up a big hill when it was against me. I enjoyed having the sidewalks all to myself. And I chuckled at the faces looking at me through the car windows. I can only imagine what they were thinking. Probably something like "that girl is nuts". Maybe so, but I'm feeling better for having fulfilled my crazy idea of the day.
If you would like to support my fundraising efforts and donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma society, please visit my fundraising page http://pages.teamintraining.org/mi/dublin08/aduncan. Every little bit helps, and every penny is GREATLY appreciated. I need to reach this goal by the end of Sepember. Thank you!!
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