Hunting for the Perfect Tree

Over the weekend, Jason & I went on a hunt. A hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. We went to a few places to find the perfect tree. The first place we went to because I had entered a raffle for a free tree. 90 people entered, but only 2 showed (you had to be present to win). We lost, but this place was the most fun. 

They had a petting zoo:

The third and final place was nothing special. Here is Charlie Brown's tree:

We found the perfect one and got it loaded up and ready to go home with us.

There was a big storm coming, so we managed to get home before it came. While it stormed outside, I decorated inside (in another post).

Did anyone run CIM this year? If you did, you know what storm I'm talking about. 

The Long Run that kept me Hungry

After work, on Thursday night, I headed out (to the gym) to run 7 miles (my long run for the week), on the treadmill. I knew not to use the one I broke the night before (it's still there). I settled ion one that was on the far right side, away from everyone. Soon, they were all filled and I got a lot of strange looks, as I normally do when I run for more than 45 minutes on the treadmill. See, my gym doesn't have many people training for running races here. They seem to be here for their own fitness goals, but I rarely ever see anyone running for more than 45 minutes.

The first handful of miles just flew by. I couldn't believe it. before I knew it, I was on mile 5. Only 2 more miles to go. Mile 6 came. Mile 6.25 came and stayed for a while (it seemed). It took forever to run the last mile. It felt like that mile took longer than the other 6 I had already ran. My legs were tired, my brain was tired and my body was tired. I just wanted to finish. So, the only other way to finish faster, was to run faster. That's what I did. For the last 3/4 mile, I ran at 7.5 (I usually run at 6-6.2). It did seem to take longer, but I know I finished faster than I would have running slower (I'm a smart person doing math here).

For the next day or so, my stomach gave me problems, as it normally does when I run further than 6 miles. I guess it really hates being jostled for so long. I've tried out different food methods and this is just how my stomach is. I've learned to deal with that. One thing I real hate about training, I'm always hungry. When I think I've had enough food, I'm just hungry in a few hours. No matter what I eat (peanut butter, or pasta, or veggies and fruit, yogurt, chicken, or anything else...I've tested that too). it's just a running thing. 

Do you get any GI issues while running? Who ran CIM this past weekend?

Sprints and and the Time I Broke the Treadmill

Look at these legs. They are so powerful! So powerful, they broke a treadmill.

It started with a mile warm up. I upped the speed, to start my 3 more miles of sprints. I turned the treadmill up to 8.5 and stepped off. I glanced up at the tv on the wall and when I looked back at the treadmill, it was going crazy. All the numbers were flashing 8 in everywhere possible (times, mileage, calories, ect) and the map showed a full graph and everything. It was crazy. Also, I couldn't get the treadmill to stop. It was going 8.5 and fast. 

The 2 older men on either side of me were starring at me and wondered why I was walking away from this crazy machine. I walked away to get someone to make the craziness stop. When the manager came over, the guys were telling him how fast I was going, while I was running on it. One of them said I was like "the energizer bunny. I just kept going and going". It was so cute. 

The managers just unplugged the treadmill and looked at it in a very confused way. I really did break it! I  moved to another treadmill and enjoyed a very speedy 3 miles in sprints. I loved that it only took me 22 minutes. Love it! I wasn't really feeling my spin class, so I came home and made potato and leek soup. It was so worth it!

Have you ever broken a treadmill or anything like that?  Anyone running CIM this weekend? I live very close to the course!