Change in plans

My issues with procrastination have caused problems once again. I didn't book the flight to Maryland in time so the price just got outrageous. I've now decided to run in Delaware next week - and drive the 6.5 hours to get there. I'm not a big driving fan but I think this will be a pretty drive once I get north of Norfolk and along the Delaware coastline. Flying into Delaware proved to be a challenge as I don't think there is an airport in the entire state, so just decided I'd road trip this one. Wish Rachel D. were feeling better as it would be nice to have a co-pilot for the drive.

I've finally gotten back into training and have to say it feels good to hit the streets again. I just wish I were a more disciplined person. I'm thinking of joining a new gym this coming year when my Y membership expires. There is a place called Crossfit Durham that will really help you personalize your training for specific needs. Maybe I'll check them out on my run today.

I've started serious planning for Camille's DFL Run on September 24, 2011. Made an unbelievable score from Liz F. and Dalton L. on the "trophy drive." I've also contacted a band about performing at the after party, waiting for their response. I'll keep you posted as plans come together - have to build the buzz!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone! Don't get caught up in the Christmas spending madness. Take the time you would spend shopping in the malls and and instead spend it with your friends and family hanging out together or hey, how about going on a run??

The birth of final race plans

Getting ready to leave for Indianapolis for race #30. I have to laugh as I haven't run for weeks and really don't even care! Expect a slow time. I'm trying to decide whether to try and run the whole thing or to do an interval run. The course is flat so maybe I should at least try to not embarrass myself!

Last weekend was LLP 2010. Of course I had a great time in Minnesota (which I can't share with you the gentle reader). The ladies did however gave me a great idea for my last race. I'm going to "sponsor" my own race in St. Cloud, Minnesota on September 24, 2011 - "Camille's Dead Freakin' Last Race." Both a play on my T-shirt quote and the fact that the route is going to go through a couple cemeteries! I'll post more information as it develops but there will be water stops, prizes, food, beverages and entertainment at the finish line. Oh yes, and there will be a race T-Shirt.

5 mile run but where is Suzanne Somers when you need her?

I completed a slow five mile run Sunday, half way to ten! Sundays are slow runs so the pace was just under 12 minutes per mile but after the first mile and a half it felt pretty good. This morning I did a four mile run at an 11 minute pace and know I had enough in the tank for a few more miles. This is encouraging from the distance perspective but will it take that minute off my race time? I may find out Friday night in North Dakota.

Also during my Sunday run I feared setting the whole town on fire from the friction of my thighs rubbing together! All winter long I've been running in either tights or compression type shorts. Now that the summer is here my chubby white thighs are in running shorts and all the cookies and candy I've been eating appear to have taken up residence in one or both of the thighs! I started contemplating the purchase of a Thigh Master www.thighmaster.net - probably have to go to ebay - then couldn't figure out who the blonde pitch woman was. Spent almost the entire hour trying to come up with the name Suzanne Somers! Had to call Andre A. to get the answer after the run was over.

Yet another unofficial run

I got back into running mode this week and it didn't look pretty. Tuesday was a good four mile neighborhood run but it was all downhill from there. Hill day found me walking up the last few yards of the second Knox hill, Friday's beauty shop run was my slowest ever and today I ran a race in Wake County at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic school and barely finish under 32:00. I actually was doing well the first two miles, 19:15 at the end of mile two, but I just couldn't keep going for that last mile. I confess, I walked for a minute during the last mile.

For a relatively small race, maybe 250 runners, I must say that this was one of the best organized races I've been in so far. They had three water spots, volunteers strategically placed along the route, timers at mile one and mile two and even though it was an open course very few issues with cars. This was also the very first race that started with a prayer, "The Prayer of St. Francis" which is one of my favorites.

I did have to scold a woman standing behind me at the starting line who made a crack along the lines that it was a "good thing we weren't running in Durham and dodging bullets." With humor, I let her know I lived in downtown Durham and took exception to that comment! She then admitted that her daughter was at the NC School of Math and Science and when the Durham police came to give a talk to the students he told them that Durham didn't have a crime problem any worse than the other triangle cities, we are just willing to talk about it. Amen! What is it with runners in the Triangle? This is the second race in this area where I've overheard derogatory comments about Durham.

Tomorrow I'm scheduled to try for 5 miles in my plan to work up to 10 miles. I know already the heat is going to get me as it was definitely a problem today and today I was able to get started at 8:00am. Tomorrow I won't be able to hit the streets until 9. Hopefully I'll have good runs next week so I don't embarrass myself in front of my "coach" in North Dakota.

Another unofficial race

I just got back from the Angels of Hope run at Duke University. This isn't an official run but since I had to run anyway today decided it would be more fun to run with a bunch of other people than by myself. I had a solid 10 mile pace with my time somewhere between 31:05 (my watch) and 31:42 (clock time). Based on last years results this might get me in the top ten of my division, but it will be close. Unfortunately, I didn't feel good during the run and I'm not sure why. There was a good variety of hills and flats, I did all three runs I was scheduled to do this week, I had a bowl of cereal about 2 hours before the race but for some reason I felt like I dragged the entire way. I've got to get a slow hour long run in tomorrow right after church and before I head to Florida for an overnight. I'll be curious to see how that feels.

I booked my first triple crown, trifecta, hat trick - whatever you want to call it - last night. Three races in three weeks. North Dakota May 21st, Ohio May 31st and Wisconsin June 5th. What makes this tolerable is that I should have family and/or friends at each of the races. I may do this again in June/July in ensure that I don't get jammed up next summer trying to get all my races in before the September 25th deadline. My drive to finish this quest kicked into overdrive this past week so I've been plotting out races like a crazy woman!

Kentucky update

They finally posted the times for the Kentucky race. Once again I'm shocked by the time, 29:42.3 or a 9:34.9 per mile pace. I love Kentucky!!!

The heat is back. I ran today just after noon and boy was that a mistake. The temperatures are now up in the 80's and I tried a new route that had almost no shade. Add in the high pollen count and I was pretty miserable by the time I got home. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and start running first thing in the morning.

I checked out the extended weather forecast for Portland, Maine and I think I'm going to be running in mud! They are calling for rain Tuesday through Friday which certainly doesn't leave time for things to dry out before my trail run on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to this run as I've not done a trail run before so it should be fun - slower but fun!!

Happy Birthday Camille

Sharing my birthday with some of the Bunco Babes - Grace, me, Carol and Krista

Tick tock the clock is really ticking now. In twenty-four months this will all be over! Friday was my birthday, 48th (or as Mr. Poole would say "Well, you're in your 49th year now"), and I spent it with the bunco babes in Florida. They didn't realize when they arrived at Lynn D.'s house that they were going to be celebrating my birthday, but they rose to the occassion and helped me have a great time.

I didn't do a birthday run, but the next day when I got back to NC I did some good hill work. I actually made it up the Jackie Robinson hill three times and worked on sprinting up the hill instead of just dragging up as I've done in the past. It has turned hot in NC again so last week I had to workout inside. I'm trying to mix up hill work, sprints and runs longer than 3.1 miles. I did a 4.5 mile treadmill run one day and it felt pretty good. The pace wasn't very fast but I want to get up to six miles before the summer.

As you can see I've registered for a number of races for the winter months. I'm still looking for races in Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico during the months of November through March. If you see anything that looks like fun, drop me a line and let me know. Also, I've decided that my final race in September 2011 will be in Minnesota, probably in the Minneapolis area. Put it on your calendar and plan on joining me for the final run and big celebration.