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In addition to the magic running tights (these ones), I now have the magic headlamp (this one) to thank for tonight’s kickass run!

This is definitely a PR for 9 miles, as well as the fastest I’ve ever run mile 5 of my Lake Union running route (it has a pretty decent hill). I’m really proud of 9:19 for an uphill mile!

Is it weird that I MUCH prefer running 8 or 9 miles to running 5 or 6? I just love this distance. It’s far enough that I’m not constantly checking my watch to see how close I am to being done, and for whatever reason the miles just seem to fly by!

And after I reach the top of the hill during mile 5, it’s just smooth sailing and negative splits all the way home, baby.

The headlamp was fantastic. I started this run at 7:00, when it was already completely dark out, but the headlamp kept my route well-lit even through the darkest areas. It also made me feel like a badass!

I don’t even mind the RAISED WELT I’m currently sporting on my forehead.

Oh yes, folks. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any sexier. CrossFitters, I see your palm tears and raise you a forehead welt.

The headlamp was at a weird angle since I wore it over a hat and not flat on my forehead, so I think user error is the cause of this, not the design of the headlamp itself. Courtney told me she usually layers a sweatband under her headlamp, which sounds like a good plan to me.

Again — I’m not even mad. Not even a little bit. Mr. Welt is a badge of honor from a fantastic run.

Oh God. Did I just name my welt?

Yesterday was a rest day because I spent all evening at a panel discussion thingy. Don’t I sound all intellectual?

Tonight, I went straight from work to home to pick up my car and gym bag, then to an American Cancer Society volunteer committee meeting. From there I went to the gym, where I lifted weights and ran 4 miles (36:47, 9:11 pace) on the treadmill after kindly asking an employee to change the TV to E! so I could watch Sex and the City. Made the run fly by!

Now I’m home and just making dinner at 10:00 p.m. I really don’t mind, though, because my night was packed with activities that I’ve chosen to include in my life because they make me happy.

I spent most of my life making excuses to avoid exercise, and a big one was, “I don’t have time.” There’s always time. We all have the same amount of it — sorry, no one gets more than 24 hours per day — so time is not the issue. It’s what we choose to do with our time.

If there is something you really want to do, you will find any way possible to do it.

If there is something you really don’t want to do, you will find any excuse to avoid it.

98% of the time, when it comes to sticking with my marathon training plan, I just don’t buy my own bullshit excuses anymore. (They’re a bad investment.)

I’ve known for a while now that I should get a RoadID wristband with my emergency contact info on it. I’ve read too many stories about people getting hit by cars while cycling, and I’ve had a few close calls while running across crosswalks. And then there’s the random danger of wiping out on a patch of gravel or falling victim to some other freak accident!

God forbid any of these things ever happen to me, but if they do, I want my parents to know as quickly as possible. Hence:

I recently did my first run in the dark and realized that I needed some important gear to stay safe as the days grow shorter. Henrik recommended a blinky light on the RoadID Web site, and I figured as long as I was ordering one, I’d stop being lazy and get the wristband, too.

I ordered the clear Firefly Supernova light, which I’ll clip to my fuel belt. Apparently people can see this light up to a mile away, so that gives them a mile’s worth of time to not kill me.

I also ordered this Energizer Trail Finder headlamp from Amazon on Courtney’s recommendation. I’m sorry, it just doesn’t get more badass than running with a headlamp.

This is all evidence of how much I hate the treadmill. I’d much rather cruise around in the dark with my incredibly attractive headlamp and blindingly bright light than pound out anything more than 4 miles at the gym.

On Monday night, I started my 5-mile run right after I got home from work, and it was dark by the time I got done — just before 7:00. Depressing! I ran at an 8:46 average pace, though, so that was good. : D

ANYWAY. If you want to grab a RoadID or a blinky light or some other piece of safety gear from the RoadID Web site, use the code ThanksDevon9091474 to get $1 off of your order. Up to 20 people can use the code. Wheee!

Note: I don’t work for RoadID or get any kickback from them if you place an order – they just send a $1 off code to every customer!

I just remembered that this video exists. I posted it right before launching a raffle to benefit the American Cancer Society back in May. That raffle raised nearly $1,000, thanks to many of you!

Now I’m doin’ work on the other side of the American Cancer Society DetermiNation team — I’m managing PR and social media as a volunteer for the Seattle chapter leading up to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon and Half-Marathon on June 23, 2012.

That means I’ll be tweeting @DetermiNationWA, blogging at DetermiNation Seattle and doing the Facebook thing at ACS DetermiNation Seattle. In addition to writing this here blog and Answering Oliver. And working at my job. And training for my first marathon.

But hey! I love running, and I love raising money for a good cause. If you ever have a question about the DetermiNation program, I’m your girl.

So anyway. That video. Feel free to watch it and find out what a huge dork I really am. I had a little trouble figuring out what was the seventh thing… and also just counting to ten…

REDEMPTION RUN!

Meg and I killed it this morning.

Isn’t her dog cute? I’m gonna steal her. Him? Her.

Anyway, I ran a mile to meet up with Meg in Fremont, and then we did two loops of Lake Union on this chilly Seattle morning. The miles flew by, as seems to always be the case when I run with a brand-new friend, because there was so much to talk about! And Meg was a champ and told me interesting stories when I got too tired to do much talking.

Just over 14 miles (for me) into the run, we met up with her husband and doggy at their Crossfit box for a quick photo, and then I continued on home to finish my 16. I felt great throughout the run and even busted out a 9:22 mile at the end! It was such a turnaround from that awful 15-miler.

I’m thrilled with that average pace!

I’m also eternally grateful to Meg for running so far with me. Originally she said she’d do 8-10 miles, but then I guess she was having soooo much fun that she wound up killing 13. I’m going to have to steal her for more of my long runs, which will be awkward when I also steal her dog. Ahh, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. : )

Also of note: I ran with a banana tucked into my fuel belt for all 16 miles. Because that’s not weird.

I ate a hasty breakfast before the run (apple with peanut butter and two scrambled eggs) and worried that I would get hungry, so I wanted to have something more than a Clif Shot to eat if needed.

It was really bruised by the end, and had even lost its top somewhere along the way. Ha!

But I ate it as soon as I finished the run, and the inside was fairly unscathed. Not to mention that it tasted like banana angels dancing on my tongue.

This was such a confidence-building run. 16 miles is the farthest I’ve ever run, and I felt like I could definitely run farther. Not that I wanted to… at all… but I could have. And I will, over the next several weekends.

Watch out, Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon. My banana sidekick and I are gonna kick the crap out of you.