Gettin' Old

s...l...o...w...l...y... but surely I'm crawling my way back up to a simple 15 miles per week. This summer has been so extremely hot and I found myself just laying in my lounge chair soaking in the rays much more often than my feet found their Asics.

Nevertheless, this September brings with it the familiar "Beat the Sheriff" 5k in Inverness. It's my favorite. I imagine that's because I seem to get my best time on that course. But alas, I don't think that will be the case this year, but I'm still gonna get out there.

This morning consisted of a struggling 3 mile run at an 8:15 per mile pace.

Gettin' old.

I See a Trend

Ok, I'm no genius. But, according to my calculations it's been a week since I've gone out for a decent run...and it's not really hard to see why.

I think it's because I stay up too late reading other blogs (but they're so good!), Pinning on Pinterest (which is a nasty trick of Satan's) and just plain wasting time on Facebook.

It's got to stop, because I can't win races without actually running. This past Saturday I did NOT race the Blessings in Backpack 5k. I'm going to stop posting about the runs I'm planning because when I do that...I don't run them!

I see a trend.

With that said. I will be getting up early in the morning and I will go for a run.

I'll keep you posted:)

6 miles

What a great 6 miler this morning! The weather is just perfect; it's hard to believe it's February! This is weird even for Florida!

I've got my eye on the Blessings in a Backpack 5k in 2 weeks. Last year was their first year and it was pretty small group. I'm sure it'll draw some more out this time around.

Thanking God this morning that my legs and knees are holding up for the long runs like today. So grateful!

Well, the Almighty allowed my legs to carry me better than I thought they would at the Jingle Bell! I haven't run that race for 3 years...ah, but the rolling hills greeted me with kind remembrance.

The thousands of on-lookers really didn't seem to bother me at all this time and I just ran my race. The race drew lots of new people this year, and from what I heard there were about 80 kids out there! So awesome to see them taking their feet to the streets in a good way...I just wish they would stay out from under mine at the start line! Only had one close call as Jr. dashed completely perpendicular to the path right in front of me.The finish line was somewhat as a disappointment, though. For some mysterious and bizarre reason, I came to a slow trot before the actual finish (I thought I had passed it) Because of that fatal mistake, the gal I was battling it out with for the last 1/4 mile passed me up right at the shoot and beat me by .4 of a second. Yes, of course she was in my age group and that placed me at 2nd.

The frustration... I can't even describe. Live and learn.

I had a nice run this morning. Coming into the beginning of mile 3, the rain started coming down. Not too bad...actually quite refreshing. The Jingle Bell 5k is just around the corner and I am not in race condition, but I'm going to run it anyway. Having it on my calendar is giving me the motivation I need to keep running.

For the past few months I've been running a measly twice a week. These running slumps have an interesting cycle. I haven't figured it out yet, but I guess it's ok; I'm sure my body needs the rest when the slump takes over.

Life goes on...I'm thankful that I can still run at all. I still have a strong desire to work up to the half again. I'm not too sure I'll get back to my PR 5k times. Just when I start getting to that point of weekly mileage when I start incorporating heavy speedwork into my schedule, the aches and pains start coming on again. I might have to hang up my 5k shoes...we'll see what happens December 10 at the Jingle Bell!

Future Races

Jingle Bell 5k
December 13
Inverness, FL

Ocala Half Marathon
January 2015
Ocala, FL

Yes! Finally!

Finally got that run this morning. It was everything I dreamed it would be. Would have been a perfect run, too, if it weren't for the left foot, left toe, left ankle and left knee pain. Have I been running lopsided all these years??

The running has come to a standstill...again. But in its place has emerged an extreme workout taking place at precisely 6:30 every evening in the Gandee household!

P90X...Ouch.

Move the couches, the coffee table, the rug. Pull out the weights that have made a home in the corner of my living room. The whole gang...all 5 of us...it's quite a sight.

We are into our third week and I have never been so exhausted from an exercise routine in my life. I've taken a break from the running due to a pain shooting through my foot. It has subsided somewhat, but I'm still feeling it linger.

I desperately want to run. Desperately. But this workout is incredible and it's keeping me in shape for when I do finally reach for Asics again. I'm praying for this toe pain to just go away for good.

Did I mention that I desperately need to go for a run? But I can't get out of bed in the morning, because this workout is kicking my behind.

Just thought I'd share.

Mitchell Invitational

We'll be getting up at 5:00am in the morning tomorrow for Daniel's first BIG meet in New Port Richey(Over an hour away...ugh) There will be 30 schools there and this is where Regionals is going to be when it's all said and done. The guys are going all out tomorrow to see what they're made of.

You can see Daniel's stats here

Prayer Run

Had a great run/walk with a good friend today. I have to say that ending a long sweaty work out with prayer is the only way to go.

I will not...

be running the Firecracker 5k! This heat is unbelievable and I am not a great fool!! Well, I have been foolish in the past...so I'm not going to do it again! I haven't run much in the past 2 weeks due to the 95-103 degree weather. Haven't been feeling too great overall so I'm taking it easy. I still want to do the half in the winter though!

Firecracker

Planning to run the Firecracker on July 3rd. Last year it was so hot and I pushed it way too hard. Took home the masters female but I regretted it. Couldn't stick around to enjoy it since I couldn't see straight. Hopefully I can pace myself a little better this time around and not drop of heat stroke.
Jaret's planning on running with me. He can't wait to run track for the middle school next year. I guess he won't be running cross country because it's during football, and football wins out.
I think I'll try a 5k schedule from runners world this time around and see what happens!

getting warmer...yippee!

Feeling good! Dan and I have been running together lately and that's been great. We were both down and out for a bit so we're building up slowly again. We had a nice 3.5 today. The weather is finally warming up and that is sooo wonderful.

Doesn't look like I'm going to make any of my races for the month of March and I'm disappointed, but I'm checking out all the races in the near future and putting them on the calendar. That helps...gives me something to shoot for!

Slow Going

Getting my endurance and speed back after being sick for a few weeks (and taking some weeks off before that) has really proven to be difficult. I've been through this before but this time it really seems to be just a little bit harder.

I guess it really is time to embrace the fact that I'm getting old....er. I'm not throwing in the towel or anything but I'm not killing myself to try to get back to my previous fitness level. It used to come back pretty quickly...not so this time around.

Oh, don't get me wrong! I'm going to get it back!!...but at a reasonable human pace and not at an obsessive, gotta be the best pace! I think I like the idea.

Let you know how it turns out.

Ink...Ha!

Big deal the half is in ink on the calendar! Tell that to my body who can't seem to manage a 2 miler in this cold! I thought about dragging in the treadmill from the garage, but that thought stopped pretty much...right there in my thoughts and never made it to action. I've been sick for a week so that doesn't help much.

This is my official cancelation of my half at the end of this month. Bummer. I'm so behind on the schedule it would be a difficult run. My knee is achy as well, so I'm just a mess all over.

So proud of you, Katy, for taking on the Disney half this morning in this freezing cold! Snow and everything!

Past Races and Times (place in age group)


'14 Beat the Sheriff 5k 23:31 1st place
'13 Beat the Sheriff 5k 23:21 1st place
'12 Beat the Sheriff 5k 23:23 1st place
'11 Jingle Bell 5k 23:47 2nd place (by 4 tenths of a second!!)
'11 Blessings in a Backpack 5k 24:11 1st place
'10 Beat the Sheriff 5k 22:26 1st place
'09 Jingle Bell 5k 22:56 1st Place
'09 Citrus Summer Showdown 5k 24:34 7th place Adult Female
'09 Firecracker 5k 23:04 Masters Female
'09 Shamrock Scamper 5k 22:31 Masters Female
'08 Jingle Bell 5k 22:32 Masters Female
'08 Tom Walker Half Marathon 1:57:30 3rd Place
'08 Beat the Sheriff 5k 21:35 1st Place and New PR!
'08 Scope it Out 5k 21:49 1st Place
'08 Shamrock Scamper 22:21 1st Place
'07 Mistletoe Trot 10k 50:46 1st Place
'07 Jingle Bell 5k 23:21 1st Place
'07 Beat the Sheriff 5k 22: 55 2nd place
'07 Ovarian Cancer 5k 24:14 3rd Place
'07 Citrus Summer Showdown 5k 24:06 (no age groups)
'07 Crystal River Mayor 5k 23:11 2nd Place
'06 Jingle Bell 5k 24:02 1st Place
'06 Key Biscayne Lighthouse 5k 25:19 1st Place
'06 Beat the Sheriff 24:53 2nd Place
'05 Beat the Sheriff 5k 25:06 4th place
'05 Cooter Triathlon(5k part) 24:02 2nd place

Half-Marathon in ink on the calendar!!

There's no turning back! January 31st in Ocala I will attempt to run another 13.1! I really enjoyed the last one I did in Gainseville last November. I finished that one feeling like I could have done a little better, so that's the goal. Do better!
Ocala Half Marathon

Jacqueline, Tina...I need you! You better be there! :)

I'm up to 9 miles for my long run. I have 9 weeks to go so that leaves me plenty of time to build up slowly.

Coming up on December 12th is the Jingle Bell 5k right here in Inverness. Love this one! Jaret ran it last year and did great and plans to run again this year. Daniel won't be able to make it, though, because he will be doing something with Civil Air Patrol.

Cross Country-Regionals

Another Cross Country season coming to an end. Today we went south to Dade City for the Regionals meet. Tim Wenger will go to State but the team as a whole didn't quite make the cut. They came in 12th overall as a team and gave their all. I'm so proud of all the guys.

Tim Wenger is in the middle. He's Citrus High's top runner and he qualified for state. Congrats!

Praying always gets 'em fired up.

Getting into the zone...wishing mom wasn't in his face with the camera.

Can't find Daniel in this shot, but I tried.

Mid-race

Hey Jacqueline! You know where these kids get their speed!! Congratulations to Chloe who was 3rd at Regionals and goes to State!

Can't live without the necklace.

Great 8-miler with Tina this afternoon! It was tough, though...I like the early morning runs much better. By the end of the day, I've got no umph left!

My 1 mile repeats this morning were tough!It was pretty hot, but all I did was 3 miles with 2 minute rests in between. I usually take at least 4 minute rest. 2 sure made a huge difference!

I'm hoping to get a good time out there at the Jingle Bell 5k in December and I'm working towards a half marathon in January. At the moment, I'm trying to find a good schedule to carry me through the next few months. Still searching for something different.

Congrats to Chloe for her top female finish at McKeethan...again!

Chloe with Mom Jacqueline(my running pal)