Disturbing

If you've been to my house before, you know I kinda live in the boonies.  No neighbors in sight, quiet, peaceful, but also the perfect place for someone looking to get rid of something to dump it.  This is apparent from all the random things I have found while running over the years in the ditches along the side of the road. 

Beer cans, dirty magazines, empty prescription pill bottles from online pharmacies in Las Vegas, old couches, rusty appliances, unwanted puppies and kittens, a wide variety of roadkill...I've seen just about everything.  Or at least I thought I had.

Last Wednesday I was headed back from a Dr.'s appt. in Houston when I got a call from a restricted number.  'Mrs. Lampson?  This is so and so with the Texas Rangers.  We have some questions for you.  We've been told you frequently run down Pinedale Rd?  We've recovered a body, and we wanted to know if you had seen anything that could possibly help our investigation?'  I told him I was headed back from Houston, and would be home shortly.  I then pulled off the interstate to catch my breath.

I had planned on lunch and shopping in The Woodlands on my way home, but that all suddenly seemed very unimportant.  

The scene on my road looked like something straight from CSI.  The Texas Rangers, the FBI, the Walker Co. Sheriff's Dept., and Houston crime scene vans lined my normally quiet little road.  I stopped and had my interview with the man who had called me.  I had seen nothing.  He asked me if I had been running past the area recently, and I told him that I had.  He then asked me if I had noticed an odor.  I told him that I had, but that wasn't anything alarming to me because of the abundance of roadkill.

They let me through, and I went home and cried.  I cried for several reasons I think.  First for the tragic loss, obviously.  The complete disregard for a human life.  But, it was also disturbing for it to be so close to home.  Just a quarter mile down the road, most likely while I was home sleeping, some deranged lunatic was attempting to bury a body.  Then, there is also the fact that I have been running past this for what the coroner estimates to be 3-5 weeks, and didn't notice.

As of yesterday they have identified the victim (a pregnant female), and have a suspect, but they are not releasing any details yet.  They only said that neither were Walker County residents.  These are the stories from our local newspaper.  one, two

I pray that the family of the victim finds peace, and that whoever committed this heinous crime is brought to justice.

My road is forever changed.

New 10K PR!

I went to Tyler today for the Azalea 10K, and still pumped from my new 5K PR, I really wanted to set a new 10K one too.  

30 seconds into the race I would have told you a new PR was not going to be possible at this race.  We started on slippery (wet from rain) red brick paved roads that seemed to be endlessly uphill.  Having worked up a sweat from the very first hill, I realized I had forgotten to take my sweatshirt off. ugh!  Not wanting to ditch it (my favorite) I tied the bulky damn thing around my waist and plugged on.

The first couple of miles I just wasn't feeling it.  I don't know if any of you have days like this, but in my head I was actually trying to conjure up some kind of race escape scheme.  Cut through the neighborhood or something.  My iPod must have sensed this and decided to throw me Mr. Brightside.  The Killers saved the day.  It was a total turn around after that.

I was in the groove.  I still felt like I had a 10 pound weight tied around my waist, and the hills on this course made Huntsville look flat, but I felt really good.

New 10K PR in the bag!

Lots of Walking, Not Much Running

I spent the morning with Ken walking the trails at my house with an engineer's wheel measuring for the races out here this weekend.  This was during the time I normally get my run in on Tuesdays, so I just squeezed in a short 3 mile run in the evening.  

That's all I have to report - Lots of walking and very little running.  Tomorrow's a new day!

Playlist of Choice

Adrienne asked for it, so here goes:

1. Mr. Brightside - The Killers

2. Low - Flo Rida

3. Bleed It Out - Linkin Park

4. Hands Open - Snow Patrol

5. I'm a Flirt - R. Kelly

6. Ignition (Remix) - R. Kelly

7. Stronger - Kanye West

8. Vertigo - U2

9. Photograph - Nickelback

10. Buy U a Drank (shawty snappin') - T-Pain

11. Give a Little Bit - Goo Goo Dolls

12. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

13. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake (gay...i know, but being honest)

14. Flathead - The Fratellis

15. Not Ready to Make Nice - The Dixie Chicks (some special meaning here)

16. Kerosene - Miranda Lambert (...and here)

17. Irreplacable - Beyonce (...and here)

(repeat 15-17 as needed)

18. Kiss Kiss - Chris Brown

19. Crazy B---h - Buckcherry (not one for the kids)

20. 50 Dollars and Flask of Crown - Bleu Edmondson

21. Smack That - Akon

22. Rehab - Amy Winehouse

23. Lose Yourself - Eminem

24. Gin and Juice - The Gourds (makes me laugh)

25. Sorry - Buckcherry

26. Love in This Club - Usher

27. With You - Chris Brown

Well, that's it.  That's my favorite list. (today anyway)  No doubt sufficiently offensive.  I guess that's why the ipod comes with the little headphone thingies.

Oh, and I ran 6 miles easy on trails behind the house.  It would have made Bill proud.

Happy Easter

Today's Easter, and I'm taking the day off.  I had tons of family here to today, and I'm not sure how many times I was asked about my TIR experience.  Everyone wanted to know what it was like, how I liked it, are you going to do it again, etc...

As I tried my best to describe the event and explain to them that no matter how bizarre it may sound, it was one of the most fun things I've done in my life, I couldn't help but see the obviously puzzled looks on their faces.  'How could that possibly be fun'...I know that's what they were thinking, and I knew there was no way to tell the story to make them understand.  

So, I got out my laptop, opened up the comment section from my blog post yesterday, and told them 'look, these are the people I met on this excursion.  Top that!'  

You people are awesome!  Thanks so much for all your encouragement and support.  I am so lucky to have met you all!  

Happy Easter!   

New 5K PR!

So, I made it down to RTW this morning, and my goal for the race was to break 28 minutes.  I'm happy to say I did.  I'm not sure what my official time was, but by my watch I finished in 26:10.  I beat my PR by 2 whole minutes!  

I was so excited.  I think I told everyone there.  I guess all my efforts are paying off, and I've never been more motivated.  I've been stuck at around 28 minutes for about 2 years, so this is a really big deal for me!  WooHoo!!!

Afterwards I met up with some of the RTWers, some TWRCers and a group from Woodlands Fit at Skeeter's for breakfast.  I had already eaten, so I had three celebratory cups of coffee.

It Was a Good Friday

I ran trails behind the house this morning.  The first two miles slow with JP, and then he suggested that I take off on my own.  (whew!)  So I ran the last 5 really hard.  Hard for me anyway!

I really wanted to get more than 7 miles in today, so I decided to take one more quick run this evening before church.  I pushed myself hard the first mile, then walked the second mile while talking on the phone, and finished up the last two at a moderate pace.  I'll have to say, the phone conversation was much better than the run.

11 miles and pleasant conversation.  Good day.

New Trails

I ran at the park today with Ken, and we actually ran some trails that I have never been on before.  I'm not sure I could run the same route again by myself, but that shouldn't surprise anyone.  It kind of felt like we were just running around aimlessly, although I'm sure Ken knew where he was going.  I'd say the distance was somewhere around 5 miles.  Ken was still recovering from his marathon in Seabrook on Sun., so we took it pretty easy.

I plan on hitting it hard tomorrow.  I want to get in a long run before Hog's Hunt and Bear Chase.  Saturday I'm going to The Woodlands for RTW, and Sunday is Easter, so tomorrow's my best bet for a long run.

Something weird has happened this week.  JP started running.  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

Off to watch b-ball now!

A Quickie and Some Crosstraining

My legs felt heavy today.  Maybe from the long run yesterday.  I just ran to the interstate and back (3 miles).  Then hopped on the elliptical trainer for 45 minutes.  I might try to squeeze in another run this evening.

*I did get in another 2.5 mile run.  Short, but I ran really hard.

Recap

Sunday - Didn't Run

Sunday was one of those 'easily distracted' days I tend to have from time to time.  I'm full of good intentions, but for one reason or another, never get a single mile in.  I got dressed to run, went outside, saw some weeds in my flower bed, started pulling them, and it went downhill from there.  After the weeds, I decided to mow the yard.  Then I had to weed-eat.  You can't mow without that!  Then when I was just about to put the weed-eater up, my in-laws appeared in the driveway.  Can't run now - that would be rude.  I hung out with the family, and before I knew it, it was time for bed.  Bummer.

Monday - Ran 4 miles

That's pretty much it.  I ran 4 miles on my road.

Tuesday - Best Run In a Long Time

Today was one of those days I felt like I could have run forever.  The only reason I stopped was because I started feeling guilty that I was neglecting other aspects of my life.  It was just shy of 2 hours, and very therapeutic.  I'm convinced John Mayer has some sort of insight to my life, or at least he did this morning.  I ran the woods behind my house and played the same 10 songs over and over again.  Perfect morning!

Garmin Update:  still freakin' waiting!  Geez!  I feel like a kid waiting on Christmas!

The Outer-Outer and then some

I went back to the park this morning to meet up with some of my TIR team (plus a few).  We got off to a great start when I immediately took us on a wrong turn.  I went that-a-way when I should have been going this-a-way.  I am VERY directional challenged.  That's why I normally stay in the back.  Not because I'm slow or anything.

We ended up running the outer-outer loop (Huntsville State Park slang for '9 miles').  Towards the end of the loop we decided to add a little extra to the run, and took one additional 1.3 mile trail.  I have no idea what the name of it is.  I call it 'the one with the little purple duck on the sign'.  Works for me.

Anyway, Great run, great company, I hope they come back soon.

*See Karen's blog for group photo.

Met Hans, Chris, John and Adrienne at the park.  I ran the first 3 with Hans and John, then took random trails back to the car.  Not sure, but when figured on time, it was around 6.  Some wheezing and coughing, but nothing too terrible.  I'm going back for more in the a.m.

Watching the Rockets, so that's all I have to say right now.

On the Mend

Today seems to be the day everything starts getting back to normal.  JP and the kiddos are home, I'm feeling somewhat better, and I went running.  I finally broke down and went to the doctor today.  I left his office with a bronchitis diagnosis, 5 days worth of antibiotics, and some knock-you-out cough syrup.  Looking forward to some good sleep tonight courtesy of codeine.

Anyway, the run.  Can't say that I felt much like going, but thanks to all my very unsympathetic friends, I was encouraged to quit being a wuss and just go.  So I did.  I ran the 3 mile out and back from our house to the interstate, and then ran the 1 mile trail to the camphouse and back.  Lately I haven't been running our road very much.  In fact, our neighbor thought I must have quit running all together.  She stopped me on the road (which I hate) to ask me about it.  I explained to her that I hadn't quit, that I had just been running mostly at the park.  I'm the first person to tell ya, that after you've been running at the park it's really hard to run anywhere else.  

When I got back to our drive Hannah was waiting at the gate on her little pink 4-wheeler with a glass of water for me. "How was your run momma?"  I drank the water even though it was hot and had grass in it.

Maybe my road isn't so bad.  

Can't Stop Hacking

Nothing to report.  Been sick since Sundayish.  All I've done is some weight training and walked around in my weird mbt shoes.  I don't care what anybody says, those things do something.  The next day my butt and hamstrings are always sore.  Sore=Good...right?

Gonna meet some of the gang (Hans, Chris, John, Ken...?) at the park at 4 and try not to cough up a lung... 

And The Winner is

                                                    

7 Hills Running Club

That's right - We won.  Kicked butt.  Got the trophy.  Not sure what the official score was, but we managed to come out on top.  After my despicable run this morning, I knew there was no PR in the sites today, so I picked up a running buddy and just enjoyed it.  I teamed up with Deanna Langwell (daughter of Norman Langwell) a little after the first mile.  She was running her first 5K, and had never run more than a mile before today.  She looked like she could use a distraction, and I'll have to admit, I needed one myself.  We chatted and coasted in at just a little over 31 minutes.  Way to go Deanna!

Bad Morning...Really Bad

Side Note:  This has nothing to do with running.  I thought this was really weird and wanted to share.  I am supposed to be watching our cows while my husband is gone because they are all calving right now.  I go out twice a day and make sure none of them are down, count all the calves to make sure none are missing, and make record of any new ones.  Yesterday I found this...

What the heck?!?  All of our cows are black (Brangus).  Where in the world did this white calf come from?  We have raised Brangus cattle for 10 years and I've never seen this.  I'm very confused.

The spring forward time change has always been a source of trouble for me, and this morning was no exception.  I set the alarm on my phone for 6 a.m. so that I would have plenty of time to get dressed, have breakfast, enjoy some coffee, and meet Karen and Dave and some of their Woodlands group at the park for an 8 a.m. run.  Long story short:  the time didn't change on my phone, I got no breakfast, had little for dinner the night before, very little sleep, probably a little too much crown royal, and consequently a really bad run.  I was dizzy, had a side stitch, and felt like I was going to puke.  I made it around the 6.8 mile inner loop, Han's Course (Dave of course had a map), but it wasn't pretty.  Thank goodness my fellow runners were gracious enough to share their rations (accelerade and sport beans) or else I very well may have died.

I felt horrible for holding them up when they had driven all the up from The Woodlands to run.  I hope I get the chance to redeem myself.  I promise guys, next time I will be fresh and nourished.  

Now it's time to get ready for the big 2 o'clock 5K throw down between 7 Hills Running Club and The Woodlands Running Club.  I hope my time is better that yesterday at RTW.  I came in at 28:56.  I can do better.

No Pressure

I know I'm supposed to be concentrating on speed, but it sure is nice to just run.  The kind of mind clearing, tension freeing, enjoyable run that made me fall in love with this sport in the first place.  I set out this afternoon, got to the end of my drive, and realized I didn't have my watch.  I decided instead of going back for it, I'd just run.  There was no worrying about pace, the weather was perfect, my shuffle somehow seemed to pick all my favorite songs - pure utopia.  I have no idea has fast I went, or how far, for that matter.  Who cares.  That run was just what I needed today.  Sanity restored!

Tomorrow's a different story.  I'm venturing down to The Woodlands for their biweekly 5K (my favorite distance.  ha-ha)  I guess I better bring the watch.  Hope to see some of my new TIR friends there.

Let it Snow

Everything went fine at the doc's office yesterday.   Yay!  I guess she's got a hard head like her momma!

My family is leaving me today.  They are all headed to Colorado for a quick Spring Break ski trip, and to help my dad haul a bunch of stuff back from their house there.  I'm not up for a long road trip right now, so I am hanging back.  I've got lots of work I need to catch up on, and I'm not a huge fan of the cold.  I'm more of a beach gal than snow.  Speaking of snow, I woke up to it this morning.  That's right folks - it's snowing in Huntsvegas!

I think I am going to run here on my road today.  I'm bad about always running trails, and not getting any pavement training in.  I suffer in long races on paved surfaces.  I know where I'm not going, and that's the track.  I think I'm cursed when it comes to that place.  Once my Garmin comes in, I don't guess I'll need it anyway.

Ken and I ran our usual 6.7 mile loop again yesterday.  It was a great run.  We ran hard.

The Track Just Isn't Meant To Be

Once again, my speed work at the track was a no go.  I was just about to head that way when I got a call from the school telling me that my daughter had been knocked unconscious during PE.  When I got there she was awake, but very dizzy and listless.  After a thorough examination at the doctor's office, I was able to take her home, so long as a didn't let her sleep for more than two hours at a time.  From her symptoms the doc thinks she has a mild concussion, and since this is the second time this has happened (kind of clumsy) he has ordered a CT scan for later today.  Poor baby.  I pray everything is ok.  It breaks my heart to see her hurt.

Needless to say, I didn't run at all yesterday.  My mom is coming over in a little bit to visit Hannah (she stayed home from school today), and I am going running while she sits with her for a while.  The world needs more Nanas!

Starting Points

I realized that I hadn't put any of my PR's on here as a starting point in my quest for speed.  Here they are, and don't laugh - I'm working on it!

5K  28:07 (sad, I know.  I just wasn't made for the 5K)

10K 59:35

half marathon 2:10:07

full marathon 4:32:07

So there you go.  Lots of room for improvement.

I had a great run at the park yesterday.  Ken and I did one outer loop (6.7 miles).  We took it pretty easy - we were both recovering from heavy running weekends.  For some reason he ran 27 miles at the park over the weekend.  27 miles?  And he didn't even get a medal!  I filled him in on all the TIR craziness, and I think I've almost convinced him to start blogging.  We'll see...

Going to the track today for some interval training, and I am actually going to run this time.  I'm turning the phone OFF.  The Garmin Forerunner 405 is on the way - I can't freakin' wait!

Easily Distracted

Well, my training didn't go quite as planned yesterday.  I got all suited up, rain gear and all, headed to the track, then spent two hours on the phone.  Before I knew it, it was time to pick the kids up and begin my weekday after school chaos.  I did finally get a run in when I got home, but without the track it's hard to judge distance.  I just ran as fast as I could for as long as I could, then slowed it down, and then start over again for about 45 minutes.  I really need to ask Dave when he is working again, and go buy one of those Garmin thingies.

I'm hitting the trails at the park today with Ken.  I love the park - best part about living in Huntsvegas!

First Time For Everything

I'll have to say - I never thought I'd be blogging.  I had actually never really given the idea much thought at all.  I mean, the blogs I spend time reading are either full of important and useful information, or they are the window to the mind of  someone I find particularly fascinating.  Although I think I'm somewhat of an amusing person, I wouldn't claim that my existence is all that riveting, and unless you want to know how to fold a t-shirt in such a way that there are no creases or how to get everyone fed and to 47 extra curricular activities all at the same time, I wouldn't say I have anything all that important and useful to share.  So then, what would be the point of my blog?  That was my feeling until I met this really cool group of bloggers this past weekend.  I say 'met', but that is really an understatement considering I lived in a van with them while we traveled a 203 mile course which required one of the 12 of us to be running at all times.  Each step bringing us closer to a common goal - the finish line of the Texas Independence Relay!  

Wow!  What an experience.  I could go on an on about the many things I learned over the course of this race, like how to run to the best of my ability while surviving almost completely on sugar-free Red Bull and pretzels for 2 days with no sleep, or how to cohabit with 6 sweaty people in a mini-van and actually enjoy the company, or how to illuminate myself in such a way that a run down a highway at 3 a.m. is safe, or...I could go on and on, but I want do that.  I will tell you this, I made some great friends, had an excellent time, and I look forward to a hopeful second attempt in the future.  

I also decided to start this blog.  Not because everyone else had one, but because I finally understand it.  What I have to say may not be extremely significant, useful or compelling, but that's not the point.  I am going to use this blog to help me stay on track for succeeding in my most recent goal - to run faster.  I love to run.  I love to race.  I'm not very fast.  Training starts today, and so does my blog.  Right now we're in a tornado watch, and I'm sore as hell from the previous weekend's events, but I'm undeterred.