This morning was long run #2 of the Rocket City Marathon training. And I was really eager for this one! Not only because it meant I got to use my new toy again, but I was just excited to be able to run some distance at an easy pace. Not to mention it was, once again, the longest distance I’ve run in a long, long time.
The alarm was set for 6 AM..but I somehow didn’t get out the door until 7:20. That was all thanks to me and my lack of preparation the night before.
Instead of gearing up and heading out right away, there were a few tasks to be taken care of…
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Clean & fill the Camelbak.
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Charge the Ipod.
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Steal Michael’s headphones with the hope of them actually staying in my ear.
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Map a run. (Failed to follow, anyway.)
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Pack knee straps & shin wraps just in case they started hurting halfway through.
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Get dressed. (Always good to do.)
Finally. Geared and ready.
Oh, can’t forget a snack!
Time. to. gooo!
Yayy, traffic. 
The goal was today was 10 miles at a 9:59 pace. In the end, I managed 10.33 miles at a 10:08 min/mile + 1 extra, unplanned, cool-down mile. ((That’s what I get for not following the planned route.))
Obviously, it ended up being a little slower than the goal, but that’s 204% okay with me considering the entire thing was hills. No exaggeration, there wasn’t a single flat throughout the run. Over one hill, up another.
Here are the splits:
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Mile 1- 8:25
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Mile 2- 9:36
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Mile 3- 9:34
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Mile 4- 9:47
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Mile 5- 10:16 <–started walking
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Mile 6- 10:10
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Mile 7- 9:15 <–2nd wind
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Mile 8- 11:14 <–wind died. legs sick of hills.
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Mile 9- 9:27 <–screw these hills.
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Mile 10- 8:21 <– …just.get.home.
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Mile 11 (extra, cool-down)- 15:34
Woohoo!! Done and done.
I took my sweet, precious time on that extra 11th mile and walked extra slow. Giving myself plenty of time to stop, breath, and smell the roses.
Or rather, pick up trash.
Anybody else get really annoyed by litter? I can’t help but pick it up whenever possible..so not being able to during runs drives me nuts.
Seriously, peoplewhodon’tcareabouttheenvironment. Don’t be a quitter, pick up your litter! 
Or, you know…just don’t throw it out in the first place!!
Ugh.
Anyway! One long, cold shower and a nice stretch session later…
Breakfast!
Kind of uglyish, but my body just wanted food. Not attractive food, just food.
I microwaved an extra-loaded Protein Cake made with:
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3/4 scoop Chocolate PB protein powder
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2 T soy flour, buckwheat flour, wheat bran
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1 egg
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1/4 cup milk
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1 T cottage cheese & Carrot Cake yogurt
Topped with PB and more yogurt.
Downed in 60 seconds. 
I’m off to be a lazy bum the rest of the day. Talk to you later!
**What’s one of your pet peeves? Besides littering, I’d say having feet stuck in my face. Does that count?
**What do you do to get yourself out the door for an early morning workout?
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Ugh…litter is a major pet peeve of mine, too! I’m also always wanting to pick stuff up along the sides of the road. I ought to start taking long walks with a bag to collect some stuff!
Congrats on your run – you rocked it! Hills are hard!
Whohoo! Good for you and that long run!
My pet peeve is people not putting stuff back where it goes. In the grocery store with shopping carts, or dishes at my own home – it drives me bonkers.
I feel you on the dishes at home! I wonder how Justin still doesn’t know where some things go. Seriously??
I was at the grocery store earlier and thought of you after seeing a squeeze jelly with the toilet paper. :)
Awesome job on the long run!! Especially on a hilly one! I am no stranger to hills.. so when I travel to flat places… I totally take advantage of that terrain!!
To get out the door within 15 minutes of waking up – I always have my clothes layed out. I am sure my ipod and Garmin are always charged. If they are getting low on a run – I plug them in as soon as I get home so I don’t have to worry about remembering it!
I also clean and air dry my camelback as soon as I am done running. Another thing to check off the list :)
Wow, you’re on top of things!! I tend to put that stuff off to the last minute..hence the lateness!
haha what a good way to wind down a work out – litter collection
Littering drives my nuts. I saw a guy thrown a fast food wrapper out of his car window that other day and I almost ran off the road I was so shocked and annoyed!
Carrot cake yogurt?! YUM.
Having a breakfast in mind gets my butt out the door to do an early morning workout, knowing I get to come home to it!
NOTHING! but, I want to get into the habit anymore advice? haha Also, I hate when people litter too!!
Besides getting everything done the night before, not really. But I’m thinking setting the alarm even earlier might be the way to go. Everything will end up getting out off to the last second anyway! haha
Awesome run, girl! Ooooh and I remember you mentioning your headphone problem. I heard that Skullcandy has some good and inexpensive earbuds that stay put. A lot of people seem to recommend them :) And I hear ya on the litter. I just don’t get it. I also can’t stand slow drivers, slow walkers, people who chew/swallow loudly, and people who swear too much when they talk.
I have heard a lot of good things about Skullcandy. Plus they’re pretty stylish. Win-win! And amen to your pet peeves! I get a little crazy at all of those, too!
Ugh I really hate when people try to whistle but can’t….I don’t know why haha but it really tics me off!
haha, I love your pet peeve- it’s just so random! But I can definitely see why it’d be annoying.
Awesome run girl! Someday I will be able to run that far!
Don’t even get me started on all my pet peeves, I have too many :P
Good job on the run! I absolutely loathe hills :P To get myself up for a workout I have everything sitting out. I always need to have my Ipod by my bed so I can start playing it the second I wake up just in case I get tempted to go back to sleep. My biggest pet peeve? People who drive 47mph on a 50mph. :P
One of my pet-peeves are when people chomp really loudly while chewing! I can totally understand the littering thing being annoying too!
Oh I know! I’ve had to go to another room to get away from loud chewing before!
I hate it when people litter too! It’s just not good for the environment and they should be responsible enough to clean up for themselves!
Excellent on the 10 miles :) Brilliant! And that pace is still pretty good for what is meant to be a slow run.
I hate people dropping litter- I saw someone chuck a plastic bottle out of their car the other day and just think why can’t they take it home with them?
No kidding! Guess their trash can is just too good to actually be used.
Congrats on the awesome run! People walking sooooo slowwww in front of me and not letting me get around them is definitely one of my biggest pet peeves. What can I say, I’m a fast walker! ;)
I hear you! I can’t deny accidentally running into people from behind at the grocery store a few times because of that. Whoops!
ughhh i hate littering!! that is so annoying. GREAT job on that run- wow! my pet peeve is prob when people always always have to be the center of attention , its too much to handle!
Great run! You did awesome.. I can’t imagine 10 miles of hills!
That’s awesome you picked up that littler. People are so lame sometimes. :[ Why not just wait until you get to a trash can, ya know?
One of my pet peeves is headphones that don’t stay in your ear while running (lookin’ at you Apple..). I picked up a pair of SkullCandy ones at Target for ten bucks and they don’t budge at all when I’m running.
Ahh I hate litter too! It’s so annoying, I can’t help but pick it up and put it in the bin for other people! Another pet peeve? Well this is completely irrational but I can’t stand the sight of too-short trousers. I just think they look ridiculous!
Looks like you had a fantastic run :-)
LOL at the feet in your face pet peeve! That happen often? :-P
Good for you for picking up the trash. I hate litter-ers too.
Nice job on the run – WOW on mile 10!
GREAT run! And yes, I hate litter. I often wonder what goes through people’s minds when they carelessly chuck stuff on the ground….Grr!
Seriously…can you just be my breakfast chef?
Awesome run. I hate when people litter, and I also hate it when they can’t do other simple tasks they should be doing. Grr.
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