Run Buddy Run!

Death to the Treadmill!

2010-01-08T09:54:00.001-08:00

Ugh, another day, another workout on an effing treadmill. It is just so impossible to get motivated when I just want to kill myself staring at the little board of numbers oh-so-slowly climbing upwards. The tv does not help either. When I run outside, I do so without music. I completely zone out so I dont have to think about what mile I'm on. Instead, I let my mind wonder and wonder and wonder until I finally remind myself to look down at my nike+ device and go, holy shit its almost been 7 miles...almost done. But the treadmill is a constant reminder of suckiness. You're toes going numb from the track vibrating, your joints starting to ache from landing on a moving surface over and over and over and over. Dont get me wrong, treadmill are fine when you are just running 1-2 miles or for 20 minutes, but anything over 3 miles, especially 7-9 miles, makes me want to have a treadmill burning party!

This week so far:
01.04 - XT 30 min bike
01.05 - 4 miles
01.06 - 2 miles
01.07 - SNOWED IN (Jillian Michaels 30 day shred)
01.08 - 3 miles

Hopefully it starts to get warmer by the time I get up to the higher mileage of my training. Here's to a 35 degree February!
::Fingers Crossed::

New Year, New Goals

2010-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

In 2009, I ran 3 marathons, one 10k, and two 5ks. Not too shabby. This year, my goals are about to get geared up a bit. Not only do I plan to update this thing a lot more, but I really really want to beat my PR for the marathon. But I don't just want to beat it, I want to crush it! By 10 minutes! thats right, 10 minutes! Today starts day one of my training for the Kentucky Marathon in April. But I plan on adding hill repeats and speed work to my training, hopefully propelling me to succeed in this endeavor.

Hopefully I can shed this holiday weight that I may have collected and get going with this right away. One thing that was most helpful was that a lot of my gifts were running and fitness inspired. I have run holes into all my ankle socks and finally had the chance to throw them away when christmas came around. Thanks to my sock suppliers!

My biggest complaint of 2009 was moving to Wentzville and losing my close access to Forest Park for training for my long runs. Sure the Katy trail is closer to me, but I would find myself driving the extra distance for the simple fact of water fountains. My lovely companion completely solved this problem with the Camelbak fanny pack (rhyme delightfully unintended).

The gift to myself, however, was the shape up walking shoes. I'm sure you've seen the advertisements. The Sketcher version was $100 big-ones! But I found these lovlies at Payless. They are Champion and only $30. I noticed a difference right away. With the addition to ankle weights, they make a pretty good resistance that will be sure to give me an edge on my goals. I wore ankle weights everyday under my pants to work while training for Denver (my current PR) and I saw that when I took them off to train after work, I felt lighter and faster. Hopefully this will help me towards my 10 min summit.

Hope everyone set some pretty steep fitness goals this year. I know some marathon virgins that are tackling the big one this year so here are some goals from active.com and GOOD LUCK!

If anyone needs a beginning marathon training guide just let me know!
And Run, damnit, RUN!

UPDATE: Day one of training - finally went and checked out the YMCA by my house. Everytime I pass it, I think "I really need to go check that place out." Did 30 minutes of XT. Marathon Training 2010 has commenced...

Marine Corps Marathon

2009-12-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

Pic: Me and John post race at the Beer tent

Things have been so busy as of late that I am finally getting around to updating everything. The Scrogginsdesign Website, facebook, flickr, and these here blogs. Back in October, I took a week to discover the wonder of Washington DC and also to run the Marine Corps Marathon. This race was:
my 6th marathon all together
my 3rd one in 2009
the first one I've ran with friends since my first one (st louis with Casper)
the hardest I've ever run (the course was outrageous)
and the most amazing!

my time was 5'34 (my 4 best time) and it was just so amazing. You dont know how incredible it is to have a Marine put a medal around YOUR neck and tell you he's proud of YOU. Just so special to me being a Marine Corps Brat, being surrouned by Marines again (only this time they were all so young looking!) and run with them. Just amazing, and to finish at Arlington Cemetary and see that statue of Iwo Jima after finishing something like 26.2 miles...
you dont even fell the pain anymore.

truly inspiring. I have posted all the pictures from my trip on facebook.
Click here to view my adventure!

Running Recession Proof!

2009-07-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

HAHA!
Click here to read the article to the title.

All Star Game 5K

2009-07-12T17:31:00.001-07:00

Starting time 7:30am July 12
The day after my 25th birthday. Goo.
This was fun but it got kind of how there for a sec. It is july in st louis, afterall. Got a pretty cool medal to add to the collection. But as Pallardy says...I only do these things for the medals anyway. :)

Wounded vet Runs 100 Mile Marathon in Honor of Soldiers

2009-07-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

This story is just amazing - and just in time for the Fourth of July Weekend.
Hope it motivates everyone to run in between the hot dogs, beer and fireworks.
Dont forget to give it up to those who fought so you could be free!

Have a good weekend!

Oh Glorious Rest

2009-07-03T09:31:00.001-07:00

So you know that last post where I was supposed to run 20 miles...I didn't.
I had actually been avoiding this blog for quite some time cause the training for Seattle just wasn't going the way I had wanted it to. I could blame the extreme heat that had been going on in Missouri which was a contributing factor. I could barely breathe just walking out the door, but in short I just didn't even try to push myself into it either. I had gotten one long run of 17 miles between Cincinnati and Seattle and just didn't even run the last 3 weeks before the race - heat index did get up to 110 :(

So on to Seattle. The Thursday before the race we had a softball game for our drinking league and needless to say with my lack of activity the past couple weeks took a toll on my quads. To be frank, they were burning. When entering Seattle, I realized how hilly the city was and proceeded to have a panic attack Friday night before the race.
Had I prepared enough?
Will the course be a hilly bitch?
Should I have opted out of softball this week?
Is this just going to be a repeat of Memphis? (I got really hurt and had to walk the last 6 miles)
Should I have just sucked it up and trained in the heat?

All of this was plaguing me throughout the night. Race day was saturday. Starting time was 7am, but out of the 25,000 runners didn't actually pass through the starting line until 7:40. My quads still burned from softball, but it was a good sore and I just thought we'd see how I felt towards the halfway mark cause I can always just go with the halfers if I'm not up to it - but I didn't come to Seattle to do go halfsies :)

The course was not as hilly as the city makes up think it would be and it definitely wasn't as hilly as Cincinnati. The race was quick, when it was over it didn't even feel like I had been out there for 5 hours. I raced my second best time 5 hours and 24 minites - beating my st louis time by one minute. It is such a relief to know that my body is used to this by now and that the 3 weeks off didn't hender my performance at all and in the end probably actually helped me cause it gave me a much needed rest between the 2 marathons.

To me though, the best part of running was that I added an interactive element to my race and allowed people from home to follow me on twitter throughout the race. I updated every so often and tweeted pictures and whatnot - which was nice to have something to take my mind of running. But the feedback from people was so encouraging. I'm so glad that people got into that. It felt like they were right along with me on my 26.2 mile adventure. So thanks to everyone who got involved and lets look forward to the Marine Corps Marathon in October!

Click here to follow me on twitter!

UPDATE: Pictures from Seattle

one week from today

2009-06-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

it has been way too hot to be running lately.
the heat index and humidity is excruciating.
i can barely breathe when i walk out the door.
i know its not a great idea, but i think i have decided to
wing it till the marathon.
i'm going to try to get in a 8-9 miles tomorrow.
but i cant promise anything.
i think it will be good to give my body rest.
plus the build up and anticipation of not running all week
will only make me crave it more on race day.

leaving on friday for Seattle!

nightmare

2009-06-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning at 4:30am
to run my 20 miler (eek)
before I go into work today.
About to embark on this journey.
I'll let you know how it goes...

:\

8 reasons to run with a partner

2009-06-02T13:12:00.001-07:00

Found this article outlining 8 reasons to run with a partner
and number 8 rings so true today: partners make great alarm clocks.

With summer heat index sweeping in, they predicted it would get up to 90 today with evening scattered t-storms. Me and Pallardy have the day off to work on the house (we've gone painting crazy) so I had him wake me up early so I could finally get this weeks long run in (17-18 miles). I'm not very good with morning runs. The night before, I can talk up big game about how I'm going to get up early in the morning and knock it out...but then the morning comes and I just continually hot snooze until I finally get up, then I just mope around trying to talk myself into getting it done. I usually do, but then I've wasted the whole day just thinking about it.

poop.

Today was different. I had Pallardy to push me...literally. He pushed me until I rolled out of bed. We went to Quail Ridge trails which is fast becoming my new fave running place and knocked out todays run before the heat set in.

Perfection.

Seattle in 24 days!

Memorial day weekend BBQ Coma

2009-05-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

Didn't get to run all weekend due to a wedding and bbqs. Just didn't have enough time in the day and it was a 3 day weekend! It seemed to work in my favor though, since my hip had been bothering me. I did my long run of 15 miles today at some new trails I discovered in the Dub-ville. Quail Ridge Park. It started out nice. The park is pretty hilly which will be perfect for my training. I can add those hill workouts that were much needed for Cincinnati. The elevation chart was finally posted for seattle not too long ago and its incline is very similar. This time, I will not be surprised by the hills! I can promise to that!

"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts."
- Steve Prefontaine

Caffeine and Taurine Enhance Endurance Performance

2009-05-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Interesting Article

Go out and stock up on Sugar Free Rockstars!
You are what you drink ;)

Pics from Cincinnati are up!

2009-05-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

click here

Pics include:
day before race - cincinnati art museum, marathon expo
race day - running, post running, blah
days after - ceasar creek lake dam, fossil hunting, hanging with my grandparents and cousin in Dayton, OH

It was such a great trip and I cant wait to back out there this summer.

As for now, I've regained momentum and am looking forward to Seattle this summer. Ran 10 miles on friday. It was my first long run since the race and took it out of me a bit. Today I plan on getting back into place with a mere 7 miler so I'll let you know how it goes.

Run on...

Bred For Distance - Born To Run

2009-05-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article about how slow sprinters humans are compared to the rest of the species on earth, but how we can train our bodies to run farther than ANY of them. I cant even imagine running an ultra marathon...yet...but I have felt that I could keep going after just 26.2 miles so I can just imagine. There are 100 mile races out there. Maybe we are just that superior in distance.

I can believe it.

Bred For Distance

2009-05-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Started Training for the Seattle Marathon on Tuesday (8 days after Cincinnati)
with 3.7 miles and then yesterday with almost 5 miles.

Feeling a little weak at first, but I plan to pick up the tempo
this weekend with my first long run - I have a feeling this might hurt a bit.
But hey, its only 10 miles right ;)

I haven't decided if I'm going to run today or rest since I have softball tonight.
I might just take Malady for a walk in the dog park. We'll see.

I registered for the All Star game 5k yesterday
I'm pretty excited about that one but thats only because the Cardinals are my life and the all star game is in st louis this year. The race is July 12th...the day after my 25th birthday. I will be so hung over, it will be fantastic! haha.

Cincinnati Marathon

2009-05-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

One Word Review: Hilly!

The course was definitely one of the most difficult I've faced yet. My own description would be comparing it San Fransisco. My hip started bothering me from mile 3 on and I even considered just doing the half at mile 10...but that would be silly ;)

I met a girl name sarah around mile 16 from Kentucky. It was her first marathon and we ran a good 7 miles together before separating. Maybe we can get together again and run the Kentucky Derby marathon next April.

Right now I am recovering and I start back up my training tomorrow and pick up right where I left off for Seattle in June. The elevation chart for that doesn't look the most promising, but after Cincinnati, I feel up for about anything.

UPDATE: PICS FROM THE RACE and the rest of my trip to OHIO

Its Official!

2009-04-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Last year, I had my vacation planned out for the marine corps marathon. I had taken the week off from work and planned every day down to the tee and everything I wanted to see. Then when I went to register for the race, I was disappointed to find out that it had filled up with its 30,000 runners in 5 DAYS!!! So I settled for the race in Denver which turned out being a pretty great experience after all and I had the time of my life.

This year, I didn't leave anything to chance and registered at noon, the exact date and time registration became open to the public. I'M IN! WOOHOO!

Marine Corps Marathon

I'm pumped! I'm a currently at the moment, registered for 3 marathons this year. I feel the pressure. Cincinnati is only a month away. And I need to do my long run of 17 miles hard core.

I'm getting really excited...

and i'm off again

2009-02-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

the weather this week has been less than favorable. I ran my long run of 8/8 miles last saturday.
took off sun.
ran 3/2 on mon.
ran 2.5/6 - disappointing, but it was on a treadmill and it just didn't feel right. excuses. excuses.
i was going to try to make it up thurs and then didn't run at all.
and today my goal is to do my long run of 10 miles since tomorrow is mardi gras and i will be in soulard all day getting drunk instead of running :)

so todays goal: Run 10 miles. i'm bout to leave work early for daylight right after I get these ads to deadline. woop woop.

I'll let you know how it goes.

So Far So Good

2009-02-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

So i'm over my cold and back to the grind. I'm back on schedule and have run everyday this week. today will be my rest day while I drive to Columbia and i'll pick it back up again tomorrow, with saturday being my long day of 8-9 miles.

I registered for the Seattle marathon today! I'm pumped. I've never been before, and I cant wait!
to check out the website for the marathon, check it out here.

Happy running!

Training Whoas

2009-02-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

I have had the worst time trying to get into this one. The weather, day light savings, being sick, my knee. The excuses are building. I was sick all last week and didn't run at all. In fact I got as far as 16 days behind schedule. Poop.

Well I'm trying to get back into the swing of things no matter how bad I feel. I ran 4 miles on sunday and ran 2/walked 3 yesterday (my lungs were killing me and i didn't want to get any sicker).

Its still nice out today so I'd like to get in 4-5 miles after work here at the office. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Happy Running...

2009 Race Scehdule

2009-01-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

I am going to start updating this more now that things are more organized in my running life. 2009 is going to look a little something life this:

(4) Cincinnati Marathon - May 3rd
(5) Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon - June 27th
(6) USMC Marathon in DC - October 25th

its going to be a crazy busy year. I started training for cincinnati 2 weeks ago and am already off target with the snow and weather of late. But i just counted sledding down Art Hill as my workouts :)

There are a couple mini races I'm interested in doing. St patty's again for sure, the 3rd annual child abuse protection 5k through UMSL - April and others that will filter the year.

I've heard scary things about Cincinnati and the hills, but thats just something I'll have to prepare for. I think I'm going to wear a tutu this time...

Hopefully the weather gets better cause I sure hate the treadmill and I'm looking to catch up with my schdule for a 7 miler tomorrow.

I'm just excited that at the end of 2009, I will be able to say that I've run 7 marathons! Its crazy but when I was training for my first race in '07, I had no idea that I would even dare to continue this crazy adventure and say I've run 2 let alone 7.

47 more to go...

Denver Marathon

2008-10-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

State number 3 down.

Completed: October 19, 2008

People warned me that this would be a tough one because of the altitude. I was worried but trucked on to the mile high city. I actually took the week before the marathon off from running. I was beginning to feel the wear of running everyday and was getting quite burnt out. I think that this totally worked to my advantage. Also with the help of the Nike + invention, which completely revolutionized my training, I was well prepared for this race.

It was so amazing. I completely recommend this race to anyone. It was beautiful, clean, and the course was almost flat with at most a couple of hills. The only complaint that i have is that, and this only happened once, runners were stopped by cops to let traffic go by with much dismay by runners trying to make time. I myself had a goal of 5 hours. I had signed up for the pace group and actually stayed almost 10 minutes ahead of them for most of the race. I was so pissed when they passed me at mile 24. But was very happy with my time of 5 hours and 3 minutes which is 22 minutes faster than my personal best for the marathon! How exciting right?

Seriously though, this marathon was perfect. The course, the recovery time, the freebees. I loved every aspect of this place. I even want to move denver now. Ugh it was everything. I cant stop talking about how fabulous the past four days have been. So I'll just leave you with the links to my pictures...

Pre race day/Race day

Recovery Time/Amazing Denver

I actually had so much fun training for and running this marathon that I'm already researching my next couple marathons. I think that since I only did one this year, that I'm going to do 3 next year. Cincinnati on May 3, Seattle on June 27, and the USMC in DC in October.

St Louis Half Marathon

2008-10-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

No pics :(

Completed April 19, 2008

This is a tricky one. I had 2 marathons under my belt and thought "hey i can run a half in my sleep" well I learned very quickly that not training fully and running a half marathon is pretty much just as painful as completely training and running the full. Ran it in 2'19 so thats something to be proud of. The race was followed by a Cardinals game and a free hot dog at Busch Stadium. Yum.

St. Patty's 5 Mile Run

2008-10-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Completed March 17, 2008

Race in downtown St Louis with my friends Brittany and Sarah. 5 Miles. A little chilly, but the cause was worth it...beer.

Memphis, TN Marathon

2008-10-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

Completed December 1, 2007

Ran half of the marathon with my friend Sarah Wilson then she was done and had to run the second half by myself. Started having hip troubles at around 17-19. My hip started really bothering me around 21 and thats when I started walking. Met up with my boyfriend Dan at mile 23 and he walked with me for 3 miles to keep me motivated. Ran that last mile and was taken away in a wheelchair. Memphis was kind of dirty and the stations ran out of stuff before people could get to them. The sights were pretty cool though. Ran past the zoo, the pyramid, the famous elvis statue, and more. The race ended in the Cardinals triple A team's stadium. It was a sight to be held. I ran the race in a Mizzou jersey because they were playing Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship that night. Unfortunately they lost, but the day lives on...

For Pictures, Click here.

St Louis Marathon

2008-10-09T12:36:00.001-07:00

Completed April 12, 2007

Ran with Katie Casper. Pretty much the most amazing and painful experience I've ever felt. First 20 were a breeze, hit the wall at 23, runner's high at 25. Amazing. and Beautiful. I've seen a side of St. Louis that I've never seen before. Ran through the Brewery, Forest Park, Delmar, Clayton, by WashU. Post Race, went to the Cardinals game. Got drunk off of one beer ;)

For pictures, click here.

A Little Background Information

2008-10-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

My name is Ashley Scroggins and I'm a pretty all or nothing type of person. I started getting into running when I was younger growing up on military bases and observing the Marines PT. It became an after school ritual to go on little runs with my pop when he got off duty. He then started signing me up for 5k's (Keiki run in Hawaii, and the Medal of Honor runs in TN) starting at 9 years old. In high school, I was in sports like softball and basketball till I was recruited by a good friend to join in on all the Cross country action for the couple of weeks left in between my seasons to give our girls team a chance at state. A chance that never happened due to a tie and a boring story that I'd rather not go into. I'll admit that I'm not very fast or amazing at what I do, but I do have drive and determination and I usually wont stop something until I've completed it.

My first goal started out with just completing "a" marathon. It was a lifelong goal that seemed less and less attainable the less athletic my physique became in college. Until I met Tom Mohr, my manager at Old Chicago. As negative as the story is behind his words toward me, it was the most motivating experience and the full reason I attribute completing the St. Louis marathon to him. "I told you I could do it."

After Completing my first marathon, finding out that its not impossible, and how it was a great way to explore the city youre running in, I quickly evolved my goal into running a marathon in every state. It truly is an amazing tour of the world that you have to work for and you feel completely accomplished at the end.

See you at the finish line.

Smash