Just Some Randomness

• I did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred for the first time yesterday. I am going to try to work in some of her workouts...you know, as both strength and cross training, a couple times a week. Level 1 was doable...I could do the ab work and the cardio (although I will admit I've never been able to kick my own butt...so that part was more challenging...and why does high-impact aerobics seem so much more high-impact than running?), but anything that deals with weights and my upper body strength? fuhgettaboutit...So I feel it in my shoulders and upper arms today. I used some 4lb hand weights. I'm thinking that I'll have two sets of weights sitting around next time I do the workout--the 4lb ones for some of the floor work and the bicep curls, and a set of 2lb weights (I'm such a wuss) for anything where I have to lift weights over my head or to my shoulders. GAH!
  

• On Monday, Steve, from Steve in a Speedo? Gross! told his story about how, even though he is a speedy-speedster now, and I couldn't even keep up with him for one lap around the track, he didn't start off that way and he posted some blog-worthy photos of himself from his early running days from high school. (NICE!). He says he's going to have a whole "best newbie story and embarrassing photo" contest later this month. I don't know if I have an embarrassing newbie story, but I've got a good photo from my first 5K (about three years ago).
  

• This is me...taking a little break and WALKING during my first Carlsbad 5000 in April 2006 because running an entire 3.1 miles was entirely out of the question. There are several embarrassing elements to this photo. 1) the size of my thighs; 2) the fact that I'm running in some crappy New Balance cross-trainers. I'm pretty sure that it took this one race for me to realize that actual running shoes would be a GOOD IDEA! and; 3) that I decided "down the sports bra" was the best place to keep my iPod during a run. I swear, I was just adjusting the volume on my iPod when the really clever photographer took this shot; I am NOT checking out my boob. I do love that the Britegroom Photography guy decided to take this shot. I'm sure those race photographers LIVE for moments like this (some woman checking out her own boob and the guy who's picking out his shorts from his ass). Click!

• OK...so speaking of shoes, I'm off to RoadRunner Sports this morning to get some new running shoes. I'm just tired of the random achilles and foot pain that has become increasingly worse after long runs over the last few weeks. After Sunday's 10 miler, the bottom of my feet were just KILLING me and my achilles tendon is still pretty tender. I'm pretty sure I just need new shoes. I got this current pair about a week before the AFC 1/2 marathon in August. I've run two half-marathons in them and trained, 400+ miles in them, so I'm due.  They look OK, but I have just been feeling the road in them. I do need that cushion-y support.

• I'm going to my first Tuesday Night Track workout with the track club tonight. I both dread and enjoy these workouts. I dread them a little because it's a hard workout. We'll be doing 8x100 strides tonight. And, since it's early in the track-club season, the track will be really crowded. But they're enjoyable too because it's a nice 1-hour workout and the speed work does really help me increase my speed and form. It's also another chance to get together with the herd, so funny stuff is bound to happen.