Last Long Run before GREEN BAY

Earlier this week I debated about switching my long run from Saturday to Friday.  This didn't really seem beneficial as far as my schedule was concerned (speed workout Wednesday, longer hilly run Thursday night, long run Friday afternoon), but given that Friday was the last day of the month, it didn't take much to twist my arm.  Also, the fact that the run was only 12 miles (you know you're in MARATHON TRAINING when 12 miles can be prefaced by "only" I swear my brain doesn't normally think this way) and I knew I could fit it in before dark.  Also, also! also, (I use also a lot, it's obnoxious, I'm sorry) it's my first long run since February 13th (yes I looked it up) that was less than a half marathon in distance.  Whooooooa.

When I got off work it was gorgeous out.  Sunny and cooler, breezy.  I threw a random mix of songs on my iPod and I was out the door.  I had planned to do the run at ~9:30 pace.  My right IT band always seems a bit sore after speed work and hilly runs (Wed and Thurs) so I tried to keep the pace easy.  Well we know how that goes for me.

The wind was pretty intense at my back for the first few miles, which means it was pretty intense to run into for the last few miles.  The good news was that I ran at an even effort throughout the whole 12 miles.  The miles that were lower than the average pace (with the exception of the final mile) were because of the wind at my back, the ones over are into the wind.  The miles that are exactly the same pace, were neutral miles.  Kind of interesting/entertaining.

1. 9:22
2. 8:55
3. 8:59
4. 9:05
5. 9:20
6. 9:20
7. 9:20
8. 9:26
9: 9:24
10. 9:29
11. 9:20
12. 8:59

I did 12 miles in 1:51:08 for a pace of 9:16.   1/3 of my splits were 9:20 pace.  Crazy.

My next double digit run will be my MARATHON!!!!!! 

After my run, I decided to see what my buddy BQ on his 1st try/Tri Guy (BQoh1t/TG) was up to, as we had been attempting to hang out to talk racing/training for a couple of weeks now.  He's notorious for going to bed at 10pm (even in college pre-endurance sport training, we'd always give him a hard time for) so I was surprised he was free and not snoozing already. :)  This guy is such an inspiration it's ridiculous.  He's doing his first full Ironman this summer, and it blows my mind.  Yes, I'm now intrigued by triathlons, which I knew would happen if we hung out, *AND* he's put the BQ bug in my brain.

I know I'm a fast enough runner to BQ, it's just a matter of when and putting in a ton of hard work to get my endurance there.  I previously had a goal of doing it by 30, but maybe we'll bump that up 1 to 2 years.  ;)  Maybe I should just get through marathon #1 first, huh?

ATTENTION:  Tracking is now up for the big day!!!!! http://www.cellcomgreenbaymarathon.com/race-day/track-your-runner Let me know if you want my bib number to track me.  Email me at jerbearshares at gmail dot com  Once I run you through the stalker/psycho/creeper detector, I will issue you the necessary information.  But seriously..... :)

Biking + Domino Table

This week I did some more biking.  Non-running makes me want to not blog on my running blog, so my apologies for my laziness.  After complaining to my co-worker about my boring bike workouts, he suggested I do some intense hill workouts.  I figured it was worth a shot.  Previously I had checked my heart rate while doing another bike session and it was hovering around 101.  Um, no, need to get that puppy up there!  The intense hill workout sure did it.  Wowsers.  I did 12.15 miles in one hour, and was covered in sweat.  That's more like it.  :)

Ok, so my last post may have conjured some questions among my readers.
John asked:  So, is there a date in the works with triathlon/college guy?! Your fans want to know!  :) 


Sorry guys.  There is no date in the works for me and the tri guy.  He's a super cute guy, and we had a thousand classes together in college (we had the same major), but I just don't think we have that spark that's necessary.  Plus I'm fairly certain the love of his life is his training.  ;)  Which there's nothing wrong with, but can you imagine trying to find time for each other if we were both in training?  Ay!  Plus, I won't compete with a bike for attention.  :p


Also, Slomohusky left me the best comment I've ever gotten, so I wanted to share it with you, because I think it's SO TRUE:   When you find that human version of the Asics Nimbus all will be right and very happy.


Who knows...maybe there is a boy out there who's interested in chasing down running Jerbear....we'll just have to wait and see..... :)


Outside of running, I really like to create things, sometimes that's baking or cooking, which I've shared with you on my lil ol' blog, but other times it's weird-o arts and crafts stuff.  I was looking at an arts and crafts book and found a table covered in dominoes.  My living room is black, white. and yellow so I thought it would go perfectly.  I already had a cheap-o fake wood looking end table, so I figured it was a go.  After searching high and low for dominoes (apparently they only sell colored ones at the store these days, go figure) my Grandma and Madre came through for me.  


This table was literally a 4-5 day project (strung out over 3 weeks or so, because I was so darn annoyed with it).  I had to paint it.

And then I had to put the dominoes down.  Since I would get them in bunches from my fam, I would work on it as I received them.  

After attempt #1 of covering the table, I realized that some of the dominoes were slightly different colors and different sizes=fail.



Attempt #2 I tried to get all geometric on the table.  Thinking I could outsmart the dominoes that way.  It started out as a great idea.

But that quickly became a fail as well.  For some reason I can't find the picture, but it ended up with random open spaces which I didn't like.

So I tried again.  Attempt #3.  Again thinking with a pattern mindset.

So far so good.  Solution to different colored dominoes:  striped pattern.

Trying to not get my hopes up at this point, as it usually takes you to the very end to realize that you've messed up BIG TIME.

YAY!  I still need to cut some dominoes in half to fill in the outside layer, but I LOVE the way it turned out.  Totally fits my somewhat funky/cool style and was el cheapo to do.  Just call me the edgy Martha Stewart.  :)