Wanna run faster?

I think about losing weight all the time. I mean, after all, a lighter me means a faster me...right? Great idea, the only problem is, I can't seem to drop much weight. So much for that golden idea of getting faster by getting leaner. But, I've discovered there is another great way for me to run faster--take my dog. There's nothing quite like a young German Shepherd to pick up the pace. At eighteen months, Clancy is a fantastic running companion. He's awesome off leash and on. He doesn't drag me but lets me know we can pick up the pace. He doesn't mind the cold or rain or snow. He's always in a good mood.

If running alone with Clancy is good, throw in another hundred and fifty or so runners and dogs...voila, the pace gets even quicker! Clancy and I participated in the 3rd Annual Leashes & Laces 5k run on Sunday. A fundraiser for the Post Falls Police Dept. K9 unit, it's a wonderful event. While not wild about the starting gun, Clancy had no problem joining in the fun as the group headed out along the gorgeous Centennial Trail. If not for the fact I'd been at the Portland Swap Meet the three days before the run, we'd have done a PR. I tried to explain to him that I just couldn't keep up the pace he wanted to do. I'm pretty sure Clancy gave me the doggy eye roll! Even so, we had a super morning and look forward to next year. I promised him I wouldn't show up next year with tried legs!

Happy reading, writing & running.

New Shoes New Shoes New Shoes

So...did I mention I got new shoes? There's just something very exciting about new running shoes. Can't really explain it but when you find a pair that really, really fits, it's like heaven. For me, it's turned out to be Brooks Adrenaline. I went to Runners Soul, one of our fantastic local running stores, and I'm pretty sure I tried on every pair of shoes in the stores. The guy helping me was patient, helpful, and encouraging. He wasn't about to give up until we found just the right shoe. The one, as he told me, that felt like an extension of my leg. It was the Brooks. Now I was hoping for one of those flashy, awesomely bright new shoes you see so many of the runners wearing these days. I wanted a pair so badly! Fortunately, good sense and encouragement from a knowledgeable sales person, prevailed and I walked out of the store with the shoe that did, in fact, feel like an extension of my leg.

That was a year ago. Now, hundreds of miles later with many, many training runs, a half marathon, a full marathon, and a 25k event under the soles of those shoes, I am eternally grateful for that purchase. Yes, the shoes set me back $120 but they were worth every single dollar. Now that it's time to relegate that pair to walking status, I needed new shoes. I went right back to the Brooks. Why mess with a good thing? But the really cool part...I got Brooks Adrenaline in a sweet shade of aqua. Not quite the flashy oranges, reds, and neon blues on some of the other brands but I still feel bright and contemporary. Best of all, my feet are happy. I'll say it again, finding a shoe that really, really fits is like heaven and that ain't something to mess with!

Happy reading, writing & running.

Sometimes...

Yeah, sometimes I don't enjoy the journey. Case in point, the Snake River Canyon Half Marathon this last weekend. Truthfully, I enjoyed a lot of it. The ride down to the Pullman area with five of my running buddies was awesome. The weather was mild though cool and that was great. They had wonderful long-sleeved tech shirts. Also great. The first eight miles of the race, great. The last five...not so much. It was a push to finish those miles, my weak hip screaming the whole way. That's where it got to be not so enjoyable. What I really wanted to do was just lay down on the road and relax not keep pushing forward. Wasn't really the choice I wanted to make. After all, not only did I come with five of my friends, another fifteen or so from my Triathlon team were also there. I don't mind coming in last of the all the team members that participated but I do mind not coming in at all. So, I sucked it up, pushed on, screaming hip and all, and finished the race.

It was worth it even if there was a big chunk of it I didn't enjoy. I finished smiling with my friends encouraging me on, I was handed a great cookie as I crossed the finish line, and we stopped for the ever-so-healthy hamburger on the way home. All in all, not so bad - and despite the pain, it wasn't even my worst half-marathon time. A silver lining in every cloud!

Of course now I have no excuses left. I know what the problem is. I know why the hip screams. I know how to correct it. I have the tools...all I have to do is use them consistently. In a month and a half, I get to try again only a little longer this time. The 25K River Run (all trails) is in April and I plan to have that hip in much, much better shape. I want to enjoy the whole journey next time.

And now, with Scarlet Revenge ready for release next month, the RWA RITA entries all read & scores turned in, and my short story Wolf Night turned in, it's time to work on book No. 4, Vermilion Justice. Vlad Dracula here I come! Happy reading, writing & running.

Training Opportunities Everywhere

One thing that works well for me is cross-training. Not only does it help to work all the muscles but it sure keeps things from getting boring. Granted, running gets me out into the beautiful landscape of the area I live in and I love that. But, even the beauty of my world can get boring. Oh yeah, I said it...running can get boring!! Throw in a little cross-training though and things change. The sheer variety of the workout can erase boring.

Now usually when I say cross-training, I'm talking about swimming and biking Or, going to the fitness club and working out on the equipment. But over the last year, I've discovered a new kind of cross-training. It's called search and rescue. By it's very nature, SAR requires physical fitness. What you don't think about until you're actually doing it, is that it is much more than simple hiking and searching. For instances, last Saturday we had a mock search exercise with the County's entire SAR. What that meant for me is hiking a search area of 127 acres complete with river, steep hills and rough terrain. Couple all that with carrying a 30 pound pack and you've got some serious cross-training. A great day and a fantastic training opportunity.

Now, it's time to finish up reading those RITA entries and finish writing Vermillion Justice. Scarlet Revenge is done and ready for its April release. My short story Wolf Night has been turned in. Oh yeah, I'm on fire! Ha! Happy reading, writing & running.

Hills Baby Hills

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I HATE hills. Running is tough enough as it is for me without throwing in those blasted hills. Then again, when you live in this part of the country, it's a little difficult to find a run of any distance that doesn't include them. So, it really is a matter of sucking it up and learning to run the darned things. If only it didn't hurt! Still, the other day I went out for a mid-day run to get ready for the upcoming half marathon and I decided it was childish of me to make such a point of avoiding hills whenever possible. I took the bull--or rather the hill--by the horns and went for it. Oh yeah, it hurt. My calves burned, my lungs burned, and I'm pretty sure I looked like a deranged old lady. I fully expected to be crippled up the next day from my hill conquering run. Much to my surprise, I wasn't! I guess all these months of plugging away really are paying off. Don't get me wrong I still HATE hills but at least I don't suffer quite as much because of them.

Now, it's off to polish up a short story for an upcoming anthology, work on book 4 a little bit, & finish up those RITA award book entrys I'm on the line to judge. What I've read so far has been pretty good. Might be a tough year for the RITA competition this year. Happy reading, writing & running.

I'm running...I really really am

I know it might appear that I've been slacking. My posts haven't exactly been burning up the net the last few weeks. Just suffice it to say, it's been hectic. On the upside, things are calming down in the office, my book is turned in, my short story is done (first draft anyway), and I passed all my search & rescue exams. In between it all, I've gotten in a bit of swimming, bike training, and yes...running. It's been a touch cold in this part of the country and usually that's not a problem. Last week, it looked down at the hair poking out from beneath my cap and it was frozen solid! Yeah, it's been that cold. Still, it's been awesome running. I worry a lot that I can't make my goals. Let's face it, a natural runner I'm not. It's ALWAYS work for me. Even so, I find that I run easier and longer when I just keep plugging away. I'm still shooting for that improved time in the upcoming half marathon and I'm feeling fairly confident I can make the goal. Will I be fast? Not a chance! Will I be faster? Yeah, I think I will be and for me that's achieving the goal. I guess the bottom line is that we can't let ourselves get hung up on the idea that we have to be the fast, awesome atheletes we see in magazines and movies. It's awesome if we are but for most of us, we're just regular people getting up and off our asses to make our lives better. That's the real success and for me, it's enough. Achieving personal goals makes me smile.

Now off to read those RITA entries I have to finish up in the next month. I love being a judge in the annual Romance Writers of America contest. It's like the academy awards for romance writers and it's a great feeling to be part of it. And, I get to read a whole box full of books! Happy reading, writing & running.

Off & running...literally

So far, the week sucked in terms of getting running time. Or swimming time. Or trainer time. The first four days of the year were slammed and that's putting it mildly. Today I had options. Run with my Sunday morning group who changed it up and decided to run today, participate in the five mile Fat Ass Trail Run in Riverside State Park, or go the coached swim for my triathlon club. Difficult to decide which one to do but my regular running group took the edge and so I met up with them at Starbucks before heading out on a frosty Saturday morning for a five mile run. What I hadn't counted on was how long the run turned out to be. Instead of five I did seven miles. It was one of those mornings when it call came together. The route we picked gave us mostly clear roads, traffic was light and polite, and everything felt good. In other words, everything came together. Sometimes I get discouraged when it comes to running. I'm simply not a natural runner and I'm certainly not a fast runner. Still, I plug away at it week in and week out. I wonder again and again when it's going to get easier. When I'm going to get faster. Today gave me a glimmer of hope. Oh, don't get me wrong, it's still not easy and I'm still not fast. But, this morning it was easier and I was, for me, a little faster. I came away feeling that maybe I might make my goal of improving my time in the upcoming half marathon. It's morning's like today that keep me lacing up my shoes, pulling on a hat, and putting on a fuel belt. It was a very good day.

Now once more I'm off to sit beside the fire and finish up the read through of my upcoming book. One last chance to make any changes I want before it goes to proof. Happy reading, writing & running.