Rainy Rainy and a little Rainy

It was a clear beautiful morning at 5am today...ran 5 miles in 54 degree temps with a little pep in my step. However, by 8am the sky was getting dark and it has been a messy day of spring showers and all out thunder storms here. Glad I got the run in early.

Looking forward to a long weekend. Probably going to run 8 on Friday and then light on Sunday b/c Monday (Memorial Day) is a race on Grosse Ile that Wendy and Amy are doing with me. Lots to look forward too. Hope the rain is gone by Friday.

weekend runs...

Friday was a great run with Wendy and Will. We did 6 through the neighboring subs. The weather was ideal - a bit warm but not too humid. We cut through Central Park and found a walk through tunnel across Beck road, had no idea it was there.

Yesterday I ran by myself. 7 miles that would have been a lot easier had I remembered my water and GU. I ran 10:50 miles, which is pretty good for me on a long run. I am hoping to run the half in 12 min miles. I am not so speedy, but have decided not to pressure myself too much - it is my first half. I ran a giant squae yesterday - down Ridge, across geddes and up Denton into Cherry Hill Village and back via Ridge. Ridge is an awesome coountry road, a little curvy but super peaceful. There were a lot of dead frogs along the road, but lots of birds and ducks to check out as well.

Amy came by yesterday and we were talking about doing the Detroit Freep half marathon in October. Most of me wants to see how this August race goes - but then i think it would be awesome to run with Amy. She is really getting into running and I am so excited about for her.

Heading to Total Runner on my lunch to pick up my stuff for the grosse Ile run on Memorial day. Hope it is a good run.

Wednesday morning run

Wendy and I run (or attempt to run) every Wednesday morning. A standard 5 mile route, starting at 5am - this morning was no different.

It was warmer than I expected and not raining. It was my first morning of showering and not washing my hair - worked out pretty well. I had to RUSH into Dearborn for training this morning. My legs were ok - no aches, but my energy was zapped (not sure why). I was falling asleep driving in and coffee was of no help.

Sitting in class wondering what I need to do to jazz things up.

Sunday - great running day

This is the day for my long run - 6 miles this morning at 6am with Wendy. I text her before we left, it was a light rain and wanted to confirm he willingness to go. She left it to me, so since I was already dresses, we went. Good run despite the harsh wind and rain that picked up mid-run. We ran down Cherry Hill and through the country to Gotfredson and Geddes, back up Ridge. Wendy had her garden clippers and we took out a substainal amount of Lilacs at the end of the run. They grow like weeds out here and smell so good. Of course it reminds me of my Grandma Collins. She had a few large old lilac bushes at her house.

So, i thought I had started this blog last week, but couldn't find ti - so apparently it never saved. Hope it does this time. Long story short - i will expand later, this blog is to track my training for the Aug 14th half marathon I am running in Chicago on the American Cancer Society's Determination team. I am running in honor of Linda Rice, my Mom's best friend who dies 10 years ago this fall. She was a wonderful person and a really important person for my Mom (and ourfamily). As I get older, the value of a true friend has become priceless.

So, stay tuned. I will post more as the weeks between now and August pass. My official training starts June 6th. Until then, I will be running and running and ....

Julie