Seriously. Baked goods are attacking me at every turn.
Healthy eating is hard enough, but trying to do so over the holiday season is next to impossible. During my blogging hiatus I also decided to participate in a "Biggest Loser Challenge" with some friends. $$$$$ is on the line and I am determined to win. Only problem is that the contest runs through December 31st. WHAAAATTT?!! At the time it sounded like a good idea... but now baked goods and Christmas candies are screaming at me- BEGGING me to eat them.
I successfully survived Thanksgiving, mostly because we have a teething 1 year old who was screaming (literally) for attention while we were eating Thanksgiving dinner...meaning I piled my turkey, corn, potatoes, and gravy into one heaping pile and ate it as fast as I could. No time for seconds or large portions when baby girl is tantruming at you.
I'm not really wanting to use "crabby child" as my food avoidance tool for the next month, so I will just have to exhibit ridiculous self-control. If you know me, self-control is not a strength I possess....
Luckily, I have decided to make weekly mileage goals for myself, just to give me something to work towards as I am not training for a specific race right now. Last week I set a goal of 10 miles for the week, and I am happy to say that I made my goal... only because of a tiny window of time in which I felt some motivation on Saturday night to squeeze in the last 4 miles. It was a good run- and my first run over 3.1 miles since mid-September!
This week's goal is 11 miles. I'm following the "10%" rule and not increasing my mileage each week by more than 10%. My goal for the next couple of months is to increase my base mileage slowly and hopefully improve my speed a bit as well.
So, that's the plan for the moment. I may not win the battle of baked goods, but hopefully some more consistent running this month will help my quest to win my Biggest Loser Contest :)
Till next time...
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Pre-Thanksgiving binge run
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Tonight I took in the BEAUTIFUL 40-something degree end of November weather for a quick 2 mile around the neighborhood. My leg felt great and in between the thoughts of "oof, running outside is way harder than the treadmill running I've been doing lately," I was thinking about how much I have to be grateful for. Last year at this time, I was just 2 weeks post c-section and had not yet begun this crazy running addiction of mine. In fact, there was no way I would have dreamed that I could run ONE mile, much less a half marathon. Crazy!!
Here is a list of some of the things I am thankful for this year:
1. My wonderful, patient, hilarious husband
2. my sometimes troublemaking, always beautiful children. Aka the "dynamic duo"
3. the best friends in the world
4. A job I absolutely love
5. my health
6. the ability to run :)
7. coffee :)
8. etc etc etc (this list could go on forever and ever. I love my life!!)
My running goal for the week was 10 miles. I've logged 4 thus far. Likely 0 tomorrow, so hopefully I can do 3 on Friday and another 3 on Saturday :)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Here is a list of some of the things I am thankful for this year:
1. My wonderful, patient, hilarious husband
2. my sometimes troublemaking, always beautiful children. Aka the "dynamic duo"
3. the best friends in the world
4. A job I absolutely love
5. my health
6. the ability to run :)
7. coffee :)
8. etc etc etc (this list could go on forever and ever. I love my life!!)
My running goal for the week was 10 miles. I've logged 4 thus far. Likely 0 tomorrow, so hopefully I can do 3 on Friday and another 3 on Saturday :)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Let's play catch up, mmmmkay?
Hello.
You TOTALLY thought I quit the blog, didn't you? You're just not that lucky though... I've just been lazy. I know, it's really hard to sit at a computer and type words, right? I've been busy occupyingwall street my recliner, so it doesn't require a whole lot of blogging. It would go a little something like this: "So...yeah...I'm sitting. And watching T.V. Expect the same blog entry tomorrow!"
Okay, I'm exaggerating. I've not been a total bum since my last blog post on Oct 5th, but I've not been piling on the miles either.
I'm in that weird "not really training for anything specific and still taking it a little easy on my leg that is still intermittently giving me trouble" place. Since the last blog post, I've been running anywhere between 0-3 times per week (see? not great). Most of my runs have been 2-3 miles, but I've at least tried to make the most of those shorter runs and amp up my speed a little bit. Since I've not been really consistent, it's not made a huge impact yet.
When I last wrote, I was all sad panda that I couldn't run the 1/2 marathon, or even the 10k. BUT, I have run several really fun 5k's since then. Super quick race recaps:
Filthy 5k- 10/15/11
So, this was my first "fun" 5k, and my first "muddy" 5k, and my very first trail run EVER.
Hey, guess what? Trail running is WAAAAYYY different from treadmill running and road running. Um, yeah, between the intentional mud and the random twigs and tree roots, and my still feeling like crap leg injury, this 5k was MUCH more difficult than I anticipated. Serves me right for saying to my friend Nicole: "psshh, we'll be FINE at the 5k! We can run a 5k in our sleep!!" It was surprisingly tough. The trail had a lot of switchbacks and loops, so it was hard to gauge where we were- it kind of felt like we were running in circles... which, I guess at times we kind of were.
Anyway, the point of the run was to have fun. I didn't get super muddy, but I did enjoy the atmosphere. The free t-shirt is one of my favorite race shirts in my ever growing collection.
Approximate finish time (waaay approximate- the clock at the end said 47:something, but I am not super sure about that. The race wasn't chip timed). If 47 min is true, then I ran it at a 15:10 pace (3.96 mph). This was just my second 5k ever, and my first was a walk/jog situation several years ago, so I suppose this was "technically" a PR. LOL.
Gray Ghost Run 10/29/11
Another "fun" 5k (aka, NOT chip timed). This was a Halloween 5k that I ran in my hometown of Anoka, MN (In case you didn't know, Anoka is the "Halloween Capital of the World"). Gray Ghost Run is what kicks off the big Halloween Parade, and LOTS of people show up to run it...in costume.
I'm NOT a big costume wearer, so I really phoned in the costume. Basically my costume was black running clothes and some pink butterfly wings that I bought at Target.
Did the run with my girlfriends Rachel and Amy. It was so great to see them and enjoy the beautiful weather with them!
Knowing that the run wasn't chip timed, I tried to be proactive and use the Runkeeper app on my phone, so I would have the specific data on the race. Unfortunately, since the start of the race was so crowded and we had to do a lot of weaving and winding through the crowd for the first quarter mile or so, it really screwed up the data.
The clock said 37:20 at the finish. Again, we started rather far back in the crowd, so I can't say whether this time is 100% accurate. If 37:20 is true, then I did this run at a 12:03 pace (4.98 mph). Another PR! :)
Full Moon 5k 11/8/11
Did this run with my husband and some friends. This race was a nighttime 5k and had a kind of "spooky" theme. Random Goblins and Clowns out on the course to scare us. Wish it would have scared a little more speed into my pace... my leg started being all wonky again in the middle of the run. I think we ran the first mile or so at a way faster pace than I usually run, and I think it was hard on my leg. Another problem that I noticed in all of the 5k's I've been running lately is that it takes me about 2.5 miles before I get in a good rhythm, so most of the run actually kind of sucks until my body warms up.
My leg just didn't allow me to keep up with my friends' pace that night. I ran probably the second half of it solo, and didn't have my iPod with me. By the end of the race, I was kind of cranky and frustrated that I wasn't able to keep up. I ended up finishing last of all of my friends, which was embarrassing to me...
BUT, even though I still felt slow, my time for this race was 36:49, which is a 11:53 pace (5.03 mph). PR.
This blog post is longer than I intended it to be. Guess I had more to say than I thought?
Next blog entry: GOALS GOALS GOALS!! (hopefully to be written before December) :)
You TOTALLY thought I quit the blog, didn't you? You're just not that lucky though... I've just been lazy. I know, it's really hard to sit at a computer and type words, right? I've been busy occupying
Okay, I'm exaggerating. I've not been a total bum since my last blog post on Oct 5th, but I've not been piling on the miles either.
I'm in that weird "not really training for anything specific and still taking it a little easy on my leg that is still intermittently giving me trouble" place. Since the last blog post, I've been running anywhere between 0-3 times per week (see? not great). Most of my runs have been 2-3 miles, but I've at least tried to make the most of those shorter runs and amp up my speed a little bit. Since I've not been really consistent, it's not made a huge impact yet.
When I last wrote, I was all sad panda that I couldn't run the 1/2 marathon, or even the 10k. BUT, I have run several really fun 5k's since then. Super quick race recaps:
Filthy 5k- 10/15/11
So, this was my first "fun" 5k, and my first "muddy" 5k, and my very first trail run EVER.
Hey, guess what? Trail running is WAAAAYYY different from treadmill running and road running. Um, yeah, between the intentional mud and the random twigs and tree roots, and my still feeling like crap leg injury, this 5k was MUCH more difficult than I anticipated. Serves me right for saying to my friend Nicole: "psshh, we'll be FINE at the 5k! We can run a 5k in our sleep!!" It was surprisingly tough. The trail had a lot of switchbacks and loops, so it was hard to gauge where we were- it kind of felt like we were running in circles... which, I guess at times we kind of were.
Anyway, the point of the run was to have fun. I didn't get super muddy, but I did enjoy the atmosphere. The free t-shirt is one of my favorite race shirts in my ever growing collection.
Approximate finish time (waaay approximate- the clock at the end said 47:something, but I am not super sure about that. The race wasn't chip timed). If 47 min is true, then I ran it at a 15:10 pace (3.96 mph). This was just my second 5k ever, and my first was a walk/jog situation several years ago, so I suppose this was "technically" a PR. LOL.
Gray Ghost Run 10/29/11
Another "fun" 5k (aka, NOT chip timed). This was a Halloween 5k that I ran in my hometown of Anoka, MN (In case you didn't know, Anoka is the "Halloween Capital of the World"). Gray Ghost Run is what kicks off the big Halloween Parade, and LOTS of people show up to run it...in costume.
I'm NOT a big costume wearer, so I really phoned in the costume. Basically my costume was black running clothes and some pink butterfly wings that I bought at Target.
Did the run with my girlfriends Rachel and Amy. It was so great to see them and enjoy the beautiful weather with them!
Knowing that the run wasn't chip timed, I tried to be proactive and use the Runkeeper app on my phone, so I would have the specific data on the race. Unfortunately, since the start of the race was so crowded and we had to do a lot of weaving and winding through the crowd for the first quarter mile or so, it really screwed up the data.
The clock said 37:20 at the finish. Again, we started rather far back in the crowd, so I can't say whether this time is 100% accurate. If 37:20 is true, then I did this run at a 12:03 pace (4.98 mph). Another PR! :)
Full Moon 5k 11/8/11
Did this run with my husband and some friends. This race was a nighttime 5k and had a kind of "spooky" theme. Random Goblins and Clowns out on the course to scare us. Wish it would have scared a little more speed into my pace... my leg started being all wonky again in the middle of the run. I think we ran the first mile or so at a way faster pace than I usually run, and I think it was hard on my leg. Another problem that I noticed in all of the 5k's I've been running lately is that it takes me about 2.5 miles before I get in a good rhythm, so most of the run actually kind of sucks until my body warms up.
My leg just didn't allow me to keep up with my friends' pace that night. I ran probably the second half of it solo, and didn't have my iPod with me. By the end of the race, I was kind of cranky and frustrated that I wasn't able to keep up. I ended up finishing last of all of my friends, which was embarrassing to me...
BUT, even though I still felt slow, my time for this race was 36:49, which is a 11:53 pace (5.03 mph). PR.
This blog post is longer than I intended it to be. Guess I had more to say than I thought?
Next blog entry: GOALS GOALS GOALS!! (hopefully to be written before December) :)
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Where have I been???
SIDELINED, YO.
Since my last blog post on September 18th, I have run exactly .93 miles. Impressed? I thought so.
What a crappy "1/2 marathon" training this has been. The last time I posted, I was planning on going to the orthopedic walk in to have my leg checked out. Here I was thinking it was something dramatic or serious wrong with my leg, based on the fact that I rated my pain an "8" on the oucher scale
Well, it turns out (after what I imagine will be an expensive x-ray) that I have....wait for it.... SHIN SPLINTS.
Seriously. That does not sound impressive at all. Nope... basically makes me feel like a pansy- going to the doctor for run of the mill shin splints (technical question: if I just have it in one leg, is it shin SPLINT or is it still shin SPLINTS?). At any rate- LAME. I mean, they are supposedly easier to heal from than if it were something more serious like a stress fracture, but it just seemed like the pain was much greater than shin splint(s).
Doctor's opinion? Rest. Ice. Aleve. Probably spent a few hundred dollars for that advice. You know when you go to the doctor because your head is going to explode and you're coughing and feverish and feel like you're going to die? and then they tell you "it's viral" and you just need to "rest and drink fluids" and then you're pissed that you wasted your precious time (and probably caught ebola or the plague while waiting half the day in the lobby)? Well, this was the sports medicine version of that scenario. Rest/Ice/Aleve is their way of saying "It's viral."
He did confirm my flat-footedness, however. And he did write me a prescription for orthotics (awesome. I'm 80). I am hopeful that getting some sweet inserts will lessen the frequency of shin splints.
So... At that time I made the decision that I would NOT run the half marathon, but would instead run the 10k. I figured that would not require any training and I would be able to rest my leg without worry. But now, here we are, just a few days away from the event, and I've now completely dropped out.
I have not run for 3 weeks, with the exception of the .93 miles I ran on Monday night that just confirmed that my stupid leg was STILL not ready. It seems like a ridiculous amount of time to heal shin splints, doesn't it? I wasn't even sidelined this long when I sprained my S/I joint in my hip last spring!
So here I sit...trying to go with the flow. I bought a really sexy shin splint compression wrap for my leg the other day, which does feel like it helps. At times I feel like the pain is gone, and other times it hurts. I am trying to be extra careful not to run before I'm ready, but I am feeling very impatient.
A couple of fun 5k's on the horizon and hopeful I'll be ready to run by then!
So, sorry for the long absence, but it's hard to blog about running when I haven't really been running!
If I wasn't feeling so lazy at the moment, I'd snap a photo of the sexy shin splint wrap for you to see. Take my word for it: SEX-Y. You're super jealous.
Since my last blog post on September 18th, I have run exactly .93 miles. Impressed? I thought so.
What a crappy "1/2 marathon" training this has been. The last time I posted, I was planning on going to the orthopedic walk in to have my leg checked out. Here I was thinking it was something dramatic or serious wrong with my leg, based on the fact that I rated my pain an "8" on the oucher scale
Well, it turns out (after what I imagine will be an expensive x-ray) that I have....wait for it.... SHIN SPLINTS.
Seriously. That does not sound impressive at all. Nope... basically makes me feel like a pansy- going to the doctor for run of the mill shin splints (technical question: if I just have it in one leg, is it shin SPLINT or is it still shin SPLINTS?). At any rate- LAME. I mean, they are supposedly easier to heal from than if it were something more serious like a stress fracture, but it just seemed like the pain was much greater than shin splint(s).
Doctor's opinion? Rest. Ice. Aleve. Probably spent a few hundred dollars for that advice. You know when you go to the doctor because your head is going to explode and you're coughing and feverish and feel like you're going to die? and then they tell you "it's viral" and you just need to "rest and drink fluids" and then you're pissed that you wasted your precious time (and probably caught ebola or the plague while waiting half the day in the lobby)? Well, this was the sports medicine version of that scenario. Rest/Ice/Aleve is their way of saying "It's viral."
He did confirm my flat-footedness, however. And he did write me a prescription for orthotics (awesome. I'm 80). I am hopeful that getting some sweet inserts will lessen the frequency of shin splints.
So... At that time I made the decision that I would NOT run the half marathon, but would instead run the 10k. I figured that would not require any training and I would be able to rest my leg without worry. But now, here we are, just a few days away from the event, and I've now completely dropped out.
I have not run for 3 weeks, with the exception of the .93 miles I ran on Monday night that just confirmed that my stupid leg was STILL not ready. It seems like a ridiculous amount of time to heal shin splints, doesn't it? I wasn't even sidelined this long when I sprained my S/I joint in my hip last spring!
So here I sit...trying to go with the flow. I bought a really sexy shin splint compression wrap for my leg the other day, which does feel like it helps. At times I feel like the pain is gone, and other times it hurts. I am trying to be extra careful not to run before I'm ready, but I am feeling very impatient.
A couple of fun 5k's on the horizon and hopeful I'll be ready to run by then!
So, sorry for the long absence, but it's hard to blog about running when I haven't really been running!
If I wasn't feeling so lazy at the moment, I'd snap a photo of the sexy shin splint wrap for you to see. Take my word for it: SEX-Y. You're super jealous.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
the funk.
Where have I been? I've been hangin in funkland as of the past week or two. And actually, I'm still there, but thought I'd pop out for a quick hello before retreating back to the funk.
While one is in a state of funkitude, one does not write lengthy blogs either. Funky Teresa apologizes.
Here's what is up:
1. Injury. The same one I've been dealing with for the past month or so. As soon as it starts to feel okay, I run on it and jack it up again. It's been 2 weeks since I've done a long run. My short runs have taken a major hit as well. Last run was a beautiful early morning 4 miler on Wednesday. The following morning I could hardly walk.
Solution: Going to go to the sports medicine walk-in clinic on Tuesday after work. It will be my first time actually getting medical attention for an injury... mostly because I'm desperate to get this fixed.
2. Because of injury, I'm seriously considering not running the half. Well, it may be that I really don't have a choice anyway (we'll see what doctor has to say about my leg). But even if I am cleared to do some running, I've not been able to do much training over the past few weeks and while I'm sure I could finish 13.1, I'm not entirely certain I could finish in the 3 hour time limit. This sucks. I'm really really disappointed... especially since there aren't any other half marathons locally until the Spring.
Solution: If I can do any running, I plan to run the 10k that day instead. Whatever.
3. Umm... I guess I can't think of a number 3.
Point being, I'm just mad. And I've also not been doing any other cross-training when I've not been able to run. So that just makes me feel lazy and like a pile of blecch. Hubby suggested I go for a bike ride tonight...but here I sit.
Solution: I know this is cliche, but seriously, beginning tomorrow I am getting back on track. PROMISE.
Since I have nothing positive to throw out to blogosphere tonight, I'm cutting this short. It's just a funk and will hopefully pass soon. I am interested to hear what the doctor has to say on Tuesday. At least if I am told I need to rest the leg, I will also hopefully learn some exercises to do to prevent this from happening again. There, that was a positive spin! Go me!
Let's hope tomorrow is slightly less funky!
While one is in a state of funkitude, one does not write lengthy blogs either. Funky Teresa apologizes.
Here's what is up:
1. Injury. The same one I've been dealing with for the past month or so. As soon as it starts to feel okay, I run on it and jack it up again. It's been 2 weeks since I've done a long run. My short runs have taken a major hit as well. Last run was a beautiful early morning 4 miler on Wednesday. The following morning I could hardly walk.
Solution: Going to go to the sports medicine walk-in clinic on Tuesday after work. It will be my first time actually getting medical attention for an injury... mostly because I'm desperate to get this fixed.
2. Because of injury, I'm seriously considering not running the half. Well, it may be that I really don't have a choice anyway (we'll see what doctor has to say about my leg). But even if I am cleared to do some running, I've not been able to do much training over the past few weeks and while I'm sure I could finish 13.1, I'm not entirely certain I could finish in the 3 hour time limit. This sucks. I'm really really disappointed... especially since there aren't any other half marathons locally until the Spring.
Solution: If I can do any running, I plan to run the 10k that day instead. Whatever.
3. Umm... I guess I can't think of a number 3.
Point being, I'm just mad. And I've also not been doing any other cross-training when I've not been able to run. So that just makes me feel lazy and like a pile of blecch. Hubby suggested I go for a bike ride tonight...but here I sit.
Solution: I know this is cliche, but seriously, beginning tomorrow I am getting back on track. PROMISE.
Since I have nothing positive to throw out to blogosphere tonight, I'm cutting this short. It's just a funk and will hopefully pass soon. I am interested to hear what the doctor has to say on Tuesday. At least if I am told I need to rest the leg, I will also hopefully learn some exercises to do to prevent this from happening again. There, that was a positive spin! Go me!
Let's hope tomorrow is slightly less funky!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
trying again
Morning workouts.... the bane of my existence.
For years and years since the beginning of time I have tried to turn myself into a morning worker-outer. For years and years I have failed. I have always been uber impressed with the people who drag themselves out of bed at the crack of dawn to tackle a workout.
Me? I can hardly tackle pouring a cup of coffee at the crack of dawn. I've just never been able to get myself out of the house at that time of day. Sometimes I am able to get out of bed at the appointed time, but somewhere between bed and door the motivation disappears... and I end up sitting or going back to bed.
And it's frustrating! It is frustrating to have SO much resolve and ambition as I lay in bed the night before. I lay there and carefully plot out the next morning's workout. It sounds so exciting and totally doable! I think to myself "FINALLY I am becoming an awesome morning exerciser!"
And then the alarm rings at 445am.... and then I hate the world. Why is it that my bed is SO comfortable in the morning? My pattern is that I'll try again for a few days and continue to fail at the morning workout, eventually resigning myself to the fact that I'm not a morning person and return to afternoon/ evening workouts.
But...here I am again. Trying AGAIN to do the morning workout thing. It just seems so appealing to have my run out of the way before anyone else is awake. Plus, it's wonderful running weather right now- no humidity and cool morning temps.
Last night I boldly declared that I would be getting up at the crack of dawn to do my 5 mile run. Last night I sounded very confident...but I was still 75% sure that I wouldn't follow through... because, hey, I know how I roll.
Today was different. I rolled alright... rolled my butt right out of bed. I'm not going to lie, there was some grumbling (quiet grumbles as I didn't want to wake the infant, the toddler, or the husband), but I dragged myself to the Keurig and slammed down a cup of coffee. Even as I stood there waiting the 3 minutes for my coffee to brew, I contemplated returning to bed for another 1.5 hours of sleep. But I just kept moving... and eventually made it out of the house.
And I was SO glad I ran. The weather was absolutely perfect. 53 degrees. No wind. No humidity. And at 5am it is totally dark outside. I've never done any running in the dark before... it was kind of scary, but awesome at the same time. The sky was clear and the stars were bright.
It was so peaceful. My hobbled leg felt good for most of the run too. I saw several deer, what I am pretty sure was a bunch of mice, and a shooting star. I was afraid of being hit by cars on only a couple of occasions. I had just a few irrational thoughts about creepers and murderers hiding behind trees.
I am proud of myself for actually getting up and running.
I am also completely exhausted! I was ready for a nap by noon. I was ready to go to bed by 7pm. It's 9pm right now and I'm hardly able to string a sentence together (which is why this is ending in just a moment). Morning workouts are totally against my nature. But I'm going to keep trying to force myself out of bed, because I also kind of loved my run this morning.
Don't hold me to this though... I might beg to differ tomorrow morning.
For years and years since the beginning of time I have tried to turn myself into a morning worker-outer. For years and years I have failed. I have always been uber impressed with the people who drag themselves out of bed at the crack of dawn to tackle a workout.
Me? I can hardly tackle pouring a cup of coffee at the crack of dawn. I've just never been able to get myself out of the house at that time of day. Sometimes I am able to get out of bed at the appointed time, but somewhere between bed and door the motivation disappears... and I end up sitting or going back to bed.
And it's frustrating! It is frustrating to have SO much resolve and ambition as I lay in bed the night before. I lay there and carefully plot out the next morning's workout. It sounds so exciting and totally doable! I think to myself "FINALLY I am becoming an awesome morning exerciser!"
And then the alarm rings at 445am.... and then I hate the world. Why is it that my bed is SO comfortable in the morning? My pattern is that I'll try again for a few days and continue to fail at the morning workout, eventually resigning myself to the fact that I'm not a morning person and return to afternoon/ evening workouts.
But...here I am again. Trying AGAIN to do the morning workout thing. It just seems so appealing to have my run out of the way before anyone else is awake. Plus, it's wonderful running weather right now- no humidity and cool morning temps.
Last night I boldly declared that I would be getting up at the crack of dawn to do my 5 mile run. Last night I sounded very confident...but I was still 75% sure that I wouldn't follow through... because, hey, I know how I roll.
Today was different. I rolled alright... rolled my butt right out of bed. I'm not going to lie, there was some grumbling (quiet grumbles as I didn't want to wake the infant, the toddler, or the husband), but I dragged myself to the Keurig and slammed down a cup of coffee. Even as I stood there waiting the 3 minutes for my coffee to brew, I contemplated returning to bed for another 1.5 hours of sleep. But I just kept moving... and eventually made it out of the house.
And I was SO glad I ran. The weather was absolutely perfect. 53 degrees. No wind. No humidity. And at 5am it is totally dark outside. I've never done any running in the dark before... it was kind of scary, but awesome at the same time. The sky was clear and the stars were bright.
It was so peaceful. My hobbled leg felt good for most of the run too. I saw several deer, what I am pretty sure was a bunch of mice, and a shooting star. I was afraid of being hit by cars on only a couple of occasions. I had just a few irrational thoughts about creepers and murderers hiding behind trees.
I am proud of myself for actually getting up and running.
I am also completely exhausted! I was ready for a nap by noon. I was ready to go to bed by 7pm. It's 9pm right now and I'm hardly able to string a sentence together (which is why this is ending in just a moment). Morning workouts are totally against my nature. But I'm going to keep trying to force myself out of bed, because I also kind of loved my run this morning.
Don't hold me to this though... I might beg to differ tomorrow morning.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Back to the great outdoors
Because of laziness, less than perfect weather, and just habit, I have been doing my training for the last month from the comfort (or discomfort) of my treadmill. Laziness because it takes a LOT of planning and whatnot to do long runs outside. Less than perfect weather- my body rejects August heat and humidity. Comfort- I stream Netflix to the TV while I run, so it was perfect for catching up on some shows. And discomfort because I'm pretty sure that treadmill running kills my poor legs.
After a week and a half off from running and worries creeping in about my ability to do the half marathon in October, I was ready to take this show outside and test out my legs again.
Self doubt always tries to sideline me, and there were more than a handful of times I considered skipping out on the run. Luckily I know this about myself and made sure that I had a running partner for the morning. It is much harder for me to flake out on something if there are other people involved.
I met up with my friend Nicole yesterday bright and early (7:30am on a Saturday is early for this girl). But before meeting up with her, I had to gather all of the "stuff" and pace around my house making sure I'd done everything I needed to do before setting out to run 10.
First (always always first): coffee. Some don't like to drink coffee before long runs (probably out of fear of a mid-run pants pooping extravaganza), but I MUST get in a cup or two of coffee.
Second: breakfast. I'm not much of a breakfast eater, so I almost forgot this step, but I figured I best eat a little something. Had a couple of mini muffins. I never know if I am under-eating or over-eating, but it seemed sufficient.
Third: water. I am a terrible terrible water drinker. Friday night around 10pm is when I realized I'd hardly consumed any water that day. So much for hydrating the day before a long run. I did my best to drink a ton of water before bed and then had a little more before my run.
Fourth: get dressed. It was partly cloudy and cool. Forecast called for rain, but it looked like the sun was coming out. Forecast also called for wind (which is one of the reasons I considered flaking out that morning. I HATE wind). I settled on shorts and a t-shirt even though it was cool and windy. I would only be cold for a minute and then knew I would heat right up as I started the run.
Fifth: gather my GU (jet blackberry is my favorite... it has 2x caffeiene and tastes okay...for GU anyway), electrolyte tablets for my water (we use NUUN tablets), and my water bottle. I don't carry my bottle with me when I run because it's too heavy, but I need it for my car ride home.
Sixth: Body Glide. I chafe on runs that are longer than 5 or 6 miles.
And then I gather all of the etcetera items: iPod, headphones, headband, iPod armband, Garmin, fanny pack thing that holds my GU and tablets and check card... blah blah blah.
Seriously, this is why I have been doing so many runs at home on my treadmill! It's like packing for a week long trip to leave the house to run.
Anyway, so I finally got out of the house and met up with Nicole. The sun was shining and no hint of rain and the wind was not terrible. Still a little windier than I would like, but not awful.
We chose to run some of the route for the half marathon. The route goes along the river (which is finally below flood stage for the first time since March pretty much). It was a really beautiful morning and we saw lots of other runners along the way. I think that's one of my favorite things about running outdoors is seeing other runners and feeling that sense of camaraderie.
I was really nervous about my ankle/shin crap that's been bugging me, so we took it pretty slow (13:30-14:00 miles). And my leg ended up feeling great! A few twinges here and there after about 7 miles, but still bearable. We picked up the pace at the halfway point though and continued to feel good.
One thing I never include in my overall time, but probably SHOULD, is the gas station pitstop. At 5 miles we stopped to use the restroom, have a GU, and buy a Gatorade. I always stop my watch during pitstops. Techinically I suppose I should keep it running. Oh well.
In the end we ended up with 9.25 miles because we didn't go exactly the same route on the way back and ended up short on mileage. I knew that was going to happen as we were coming up to the end, but I just didn't feel like doing a loop or two around the block to make up the mileage. It felt close enough to me at that point.
All in all, it was a wonderful run. No more treadmill for me if I can help it. It is beginning to feel like Fall and it is absolutely perfect for running.
One thing I WILL warn against, however..... after the run, I drove 5 hours to see Black Eyed Peas in concert. We had "Standing Room Only" tickets.... AND the walk from our car to the concert had to have been close to a mile.... my legs are WRECKED this morning. I can hardly walk, they are so stiff and sore. Not a great idea to put my legs through all of that in one day, but the concert was amazing and makes this terrible pain worth it. :)
Hope you're all having a great Labor Day weekend! I know I am!
After a week and a half off from running and worries creeping in about my ability to do the half marathon in October, I was ready to take this show outside and test out my legs again.
Self doubt always tries to sideline me, and there were more than a handful of times I considered skipping out on the run. Luckily I know this about myself and made sure that I had a running partner for the morning. It is much harder for me to flake out on something if there are other people involved.
I met up with my friend Nicole yesterday bright and early (7:30am on a Saturday is early for this girl). But before meeting up with her, I had to gather all of the "stuff" and pace around my house making sure I'd done everything I needed to do before setting out to run 10.
First (always always first): coffee. Some don't like to drink coffee before long runs (probably out of fear of a mid-run pants pooping extravaganza), but I MUST get in a cup or two of coffee.
Second: breakfast. I'm not much of a breakfast eater, so I almost forgot this step, but I figured I best eat a little something. Had a couple of mini muffins. I never know if I am under-eating or over-eating, but it seemed sufficient.
Third: water. I am a terrible terrible water drinker. Friday night around 10pm is when I realized I'd hardly consumed any water that day. So much for hydrating the day before a long run. I did my best to drink a ton of water before bed and then had a little more before my run.
Fourth: get dressed. It was partly cloudy and cool. Forecast called for rain, but it looked like the sun was coming out. Forecast also called for wind (which is one of the reasons I considered flaking out that morning. I HATE wind). I settled on shorts and a t-shirt even though it was cool and windy. I would only be cold for a minute and then knew I would heat right up as I started the run.
Fifth: gather my GU (jet blackberry is my favorite... it has 2x caffeiene and tastes okay...for GU anyway), electrolyte tablets for my water (we use NUUN tablets), and my water bottle. I don't carry my bottle with me when I run because it's too heavy, but I need it for my car ride home.
Sixth: Body Glide. I chafe on runs that are longer than 5 or 6 miles.
And then I gather all of the etcetera items: iPod, headphones, headband, iPod armband, Garmin, fanny pack thing that holds my GU and tablets and check card... blah blah blah.
Seriously, this is why I have been doing so many runs at home on my treadmill! It's like packing for a week long trip to leave the house to run.
Anyway, so I finally got out of the house and met up with Nicole. The sun was shining and no hint of rain and the wind was not terrible. Still a little windier than I would like, but not awful.
We chose to run some of the route for the half marathon. The route goes along the river (which is finally below flood stage for the first time since March pretty much). It was a really beautiful morning and we saw lots of other runners along the way. I think that's one of my favorite things about running outdoors is seeing other runners and feeling that sense of camaraderie.
I was really nervous about my ankle/shin crap that's been bugging me, so we took it pretty slow (13:30-14:00 miles). And my leg ended up feeling great! A few twinges here and there after about 7 miles, but still bearable. We picked up the pace at the halfway point though and continued to feel good.
One thing I never include in my overall time, but probably SHOULD, is the gas station pitstop. At 5 miles we stopped to use the restroom, have a GU, and buy a Gatorade. I always stop my watch during pitstops. Techinically I suppose I should keep it running. Oh well.
In the end we ended up with 9.25 miles because we didn't go exactly the same route on the way back and ended up short on mileage. I knew that was going to happen as we were coming up to the end, but I just didn't feel like doing a loop or two around the block to make up the mileage. It felt close enough to me at that point.
All in all, it was a wonderful run. No more treadmill for me if I can help it. It is beginning to feel like Fall and it is absolutely perfect for running.
One thing I WILL warn against, however..... after the run, I drove 5 hours to see Black Eyed Peas in concert. We had "Standing Room Only" tickets.... AND the walk from our car to the concert had to have been close to a mile.... my legs are WRECKED this morning. I can hardly walk, they are so stiff and sore. Not a great idea to put my legs through all of that in one day, but the concert was amazing and makes this terrible pain worth it. :)
Hope you're all having a great Labor Day weekend! I know I am!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Running is supposed to be fun!
As I sit here sulking about all the runs I had to sit out this last week, I am trying to convince myself not to take this so seriously. I mean, seriously, who would have thought that I would ever be sad about skipping a 10 mile run? Teresa one year ago certainly wouldn't have lost any sleep over it (though to be fair, Teresa one year ago was hugely pregnant and rockin some pretty sweet cankles).
Now, instead of resting my cankles, I've been busy this week resting regular sized ankles that hurt like crazy. Truly, I have a variety of aches and/or pains below my right knee. Some minor shin pain, some minor calf muscle pain, and some moderate ankle pain. I'm not really sure what is all going on down there, but I messed something up somehow. I tried to run twice earlier in the week and came away with about a mile from each run. I had hoped my ailments would be ailing me less this morning so I could do my long run, but to no avail.
At the suggestion of one of my friends, I am trying the homeopathic route to speed along the healing process. I am not typically a believer in homeopathic remedies, but at this point, I'm willing to give it a shot... it makes me feel like I am actively doing something rather than this very passive "resting." We picked up some Arnica Montana (not to be confused with Hannah Montana, which is what I keep thinking of when I say it). There are different types and strengths of this remedy. We got the "30C" pellets and the topical ointment. I've only used it once today, so I can't say whether or not it's helpful yet (will keep you posted!).
But, onto the FUN! In addition to the half marathon that I'm running in October (if my ankle doesn't explode in the meantime), there are a couple of really fun events I am planning on running in the month of October!
First up, on October 15, is the Filthy 5k. I've heard that this run is a blast! Beyond Running, a local running store, organizes this event. It is a muddy trail run, where the point is to run, get dirty, and have a great time! It seems like it's pretty non-competitive, though there are prizes I believe for those who finish in the top (I never have to concern myself with those details- lol). I'm talking a lot of my friends into doing this run!
The other run I plan on doing is the Grey Ghost Run, which is a 5k event held in conjunction with the Anoka Halloween events (Anoka, MN is my hometown and is also the Halloween Capital of the World...don't believe me? read HERE). The Grey Ghost is held just before the Grande Day Parade and is run along the parade route. Obviously, being this is a Halloween event, runners dress in costume! Usually I HATE costumes, but I will make an exception this time.
So as I am fretting about my injured ankle and whether or not I will be able to run the half marathon, I have a couple of easy fun runs to look forward to after the half. I didn't start running to add to my stress... I started tolose my fat pregnancy ass have fun!
I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend! Run a mile or two (or ten) on my behalf!
Now, instead of resting my cankles, I've been busy this week resting regular sized ankles that hurt like crazy. Truly, I have a variety of aches and/or pains below my right knee. Some minor shin pain, some minor calf muscle pain, and some moderate ankle pain. I'm not really sure what is all going on down there, but I messed something up somehow. I tried to run twice earlier in the week and came away with about a mile from each run. I had hoped my ailments would be ailing me less this morning so I could do my long run, but to no avail.
At the suggestion of one of my friends, I am trying the homeopathic route to speed along the healing process. I am not typically a believer in homeopathic remedies, but at this point, I'm willing to give it a shot... it makes me feel like I am actively doing something rather than this very passive "resting." We picked up some Arnica Montana (not to be confused with Hannah Montana, which is what I keep thinking of when I say it). There are different types and strengths of this remedy. We got the "30C" pellets and the topical ointment. I've only used it once today, so I can't say whether or not it's helpful yet (will keep you posted!).
But, onto the FUN! In addition to the half marathon that I'm running in October (if my ankle doesn't explode in the meantime), there are a couple of really fun events I am planning on running in the month of October!
First up, on October 15, is the Filthy 5k. I've heard that this run is a blast! Beyond Running, a local running store, organizes this event. It is a muddy trail run, where the point is to run, get dirty, and have a great time! It seems like it's pretty non-competitive, though there are prizes I believe for those who finish in the top (I never have to concern myself with those details- lol). I'm talking a lot of my friends into doing this run!
The other run I plan on doing is the Grey Ghost Run, which is a 5k event held in conjunction with the Anoka Halloween events (Anoka, MN is my hometown and is also the Halloween Capital of the World...don't believe me? read HERE). The Grey Ghost is held just before the Grande Day Parade and is run along the parade route. Obviously, being this is a Halloween event, runners dress in costume! Usually I HATE costumes, but I will make an exception this time.
So as I am fretting about my injured ankle and whether or not I will be able to run the half marathon, I have a couple of easy fun runs to look forward to after the half. I didn't start running to add to my stress... I started to
I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend! Run a mile or two (or ten) on my behalf!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Technology is craaaaaazy
If you were wondering what my 10 mile run is going to look like on Saturday, you can view it above... in super warp speed (if only I could run it that fast too!)
Monday, August 22, 2011
frick.
Now I am in definite pain!
Major shin splints, some knee soreness, and ankle pain.
I kept my oath to myself and knew when to call it quits tonight. Supposed to do an easy 3 miles, but ended up with 1.16.
I still hate cutting runs short. But I did it. Supposed to do 4 miles of speedwork on Wednesday, but I may have to make some adjustments on that run. We will see!
Monday was kind of a bust! Off to find some ibuprofen!
Major shin splints, some knee soreness, and ankle pain.
I kept my oath to myself and knew when to call it quits tonight. Supposed to do an easy 3 miles, but ended up with 1.16.
I still hate cutting runs short. But I did it. Supposed to do 4 miles of speedwork on Wednesday, but I may have to make some adjustments on that run. We will see!
Monday was kind of a bust! Off to find some ibuprofen!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
That not so fresh feeling
Woah woah WOAH- blog title is referring to my legs! My aching, stiff legs.
3 weeks of training behind me, 5 weeks in front of me.
12 training runs and 53 miles complete. And up until Friday I had run each training run as prescribed. This weekend had called for a 10 mile long run... and to be honest, I was not looking forward to it. I decided to get it out of the way on Friday afternoon because I knew I had a busy day ahead of me on Saturday. In retrospect, that probably wasn't the best idea. I was starting to have a little soreness after my 5 mile tempo run on Wednesday, then did my 2 mile "easy" run at a faster pace than the training plan called for... trying for 10 miles on Friday afternoon was too much.
Mentally I checked out of the run around mile 2 and couldn't get my head back in it. Shin and ankle pains started popping up somewhere around 5 miles, and I called it quits at 8.
It just ended up being one of those days where running was not fun. Oh, and I failed to mention that this attempted 10 mile was taking place on the treadmill, which didn't help my motivation. Time to move training outside, especially now that the weather is starting to feel a little more fall-like.
Today I feel a little hobbled. I'm having some high ankle pain in my right ankle and really need to make sure I give it the care and rest that it needs. I had plenty of severe pain during training for the last half marathon and want to avoid that this time (obviously).
If I am going to do this running thing for years to come, I have to put my ego aside (the voice in my head that tells me to ignore my pain just because I don't want to look like I'm slacking) and listen to my body. This will be tough. I have a LOOOONNNGG history of doing what my brain tells me to do, even if it means abusing my body. Sometimes I pretend like I'm a superhuman. Alright fine... here comes the confession: I'm just a regular old human being. Drat. I have learned that I DO need things like: sleep, water, vitamins, relaxation. Double drat.
I was able to get out of the house for some child-free, husband-free time on Friday night and spend some time at Barnes & Noble. Ahhh.... it was lovely! My favorite thing to do when I have alone time is hang out in the cafe, drinking coffee, eating some sort of pastry, and browsing through stacks of books and magazines! I happened to come across a copy of a book I had heard about a number of times but kept forgetting to look in to it. It's called "Chi Running" I'm really looking forward to learning about this. I'm only a few pages in, but it is supposed to help with improving running form in order to run more balanced, decrease injury, and hopefully run faster. I hope to actually finish this book (history also shows that I start a LOT of books, but don't tend to finish them. Once I finish I'll post some sort of review on it and let you all know if it is helpful!
Week 4 of training begins tomorrow.... 20 miles this week, which will be more than I've ever done in a week. hoping my tired legs will survive, but also hoping to remember to back off if I don't feel like my body can handle it!
Hope everybody has a great start to the week tomorrow!
3 weeks of training behind me, 5 weeks in front of me.
12 training runs and 53 miles complete. And up until Friday I had run each training run as prescribed. This weekend had called for a 10 mile long run... and to be honest, I was not looking forward to it. I decided to get it out of the way on Friday afternoon because I knew I had a busy day ahead of me on Saturday. In retrospect, that probably wasn't the best idea. I was starting to have a little soreness after my 5 mile tempo run on Wednesday, then did my 2 mile "easy" run at a faster pace than the training plan called for... trying for 10 miles on Friday afternoon was too much.
Mentally I checked out of the run around mile 2 and couldn't get my head back in it. Shin and ankle pains started popping up somewhere around 5 miles, and I called it quits at 8.
It just ended up being one of those days where running was not fun. Oh, and I failed to mention that this attempted 10 mile was taking place on the treadmill, which didn't help my motivation. Time to move training outside, especially now that the weather is starting to feel a little more fall-like.
Today I feel a little hobbled. I'm having some high ankle pain in my right ankle and really need to make sure I give it the care and rest that it needs. I had plenty of severe pain during training for the last half marathon and want to avoid that this time (obviously).
If I am going to do this running thing for years to come, I have to put my ego aside (the voice in my head that tells me to ignore my pain just because I don't want to look like I'm slacking) and listen to my body. This will be tough. I have a LOOOONNNGG history of doing what my brain tells me to do, even if it means abusing my body. Sometimes I pretend like I'm a superhuman. Alright fine... here comes the confession: I'm just a regular old human being. Drat. I have learned that I DO need things like: sleep, water, vitamins, relaxation. Double drat.
I was able to get out of the house for some child-free, husband-free time on Friday night and spend some time at Barnes & Noble. Ahhh.... it was lovely! My favorite thing to do when I have alone time is hang out in the cafe, drinking coffee, eating some sort of pastry, and browsing through stacks of books and magazines! I happened to come across a copy of a book I had heard about a number of times but kept forgetting to look in to it. It's called "Chi Running" I'm really looking forward to learning about this. I'm only a few pages in, but it is supposed to help with improving running form in order to run more balanced, decrease injury, and hopefully run faster. I hope to actually finish this book (history also shows that I start a LOT of books, but don't tend to finish them. Once I finish I'll post some sort of review on it and let you all know if it is helpful!
Week 4 of training begins tomorrow.... 20 miles this week, which will be more than I've ever done in a week. hoping my tired legs will survive, but also hoping to remember to back off if I don't feel like my body can handle it!
Hope everybody has a great start to the week tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
I run....because it makes late night pizza A-OK!
Holy cow! Where has time gone? Funny how going back to work full time puts a considerable dent in blog opportunities.
My last post was the first day of training for my next half marathon. Since August 1st I've run 24 miles. Last week I posted 17 miles, which surprisingly was the most miles I've ever done in one week. Even during my peak week of training for the last half I only put in 16. I think it's because I was so sore and injured by the end that I was forced to skip a couple of runs here and there.
It's amazing how great 17 miles can feel when my body is still fresh and un-injured!
Oh, scratch that.... I do have ONE injury of note.... a pretty tragic skinjury in the boob region. My own fault really as I was fully aware that my beloved Moving Comfort Juno sports bra had become too big (YAY!), but I'd put off buying a new one ($52 is a lot of $$$ for a bra). Anyway, after my 8 mile run rubbed off a considerable portion of my skin, I decided it was definitely time for a replacement.
and WOO HOO for me because I totally found my Moving Comfort Juno on Amazon for $31.00! I've NEVER seen them for less than retail, so this was very exciting for me. Gave it a test run tonight and it was perfect. *breathing a sigh of relief* :)
I'm having a lot of fun with training so far. I feel like I know what to expect this time around, and because of that I am able to play around with my pace a little more and go into my runs with the knowledge that I *can* indeed survive 8, 9, 10, 11 miles. And I know how to prepare myself before a long run. Getting motivation and time to put in the mileage still may be a struggle some days, but so far it's been good.
There was a brief moment tonight when I considered skipping my 4 mile speed run... but then my wonderful hubby offered to bring home some pizza for me.... and since there is no WAY I'd skip pizza, I figured I best not skip the run. Win/Win!
My last post was the first day of training for my next half marathon. Since August 1st I've run 24 miles. Last week I posted 17 miles, which surprisingly was the most miles I've ever done in one week. Even during my peak week of training for the last half I only put in 16. I think it's because I was so sore and injured by the end that I was forced to skip a couple of runs here and there.
It's amazing how great 17 miles can feel when my body is still fresh and un-injured!
Oh, scratch that.... I do have ONE injury of note.... a pretty tragic skinjury in the boob region. My own fault really as I was fully aware that my beloved Moving Comfort Juno sports bra had become too big (YAY!), but I'd put off buying a new one ($52 is a lot of $$$ for a bra). Anyway, after my 8 mile run rubbed off a considerable portion of my skin, I decided it was definitely time for a replacement.
and WOO HOO for me because I totally found my Moving Comfort Juno on Amazon for $31.00! I've NEVER seen them for less than retail, so this was very exciting for me. Gave it a test run tonight and it was perfect. *breathing a sigh of relief* :)
I'm having a lot of fun with training so far. I feel like I know what to expect this time around, and because of that I am able to play around with my pace a little more and go into my runs with the knowledge that I *can* indeed survive 8, 9, 10, 11 miles. And I know how to prepare myself before a long run. Getting motivation and time to put in the mileage still may be a struggle some days, but so far it's been good.
There was a brief moment tonight when I considered skipping my 4 mile speed run... but then my wonderful hubby offered to bring home some pizza for me.... and since there is no WAY I'd skip pizza, I figured I best not skip the run. Win/Win!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Back to training!!
Ahhh structure and routine, how I have missed you!
Today was my first day back at work AND my first day of my training schedule for my next half marathon. No better way to start an exciting day than be completely sleep deprived! My lack of routine this Summer totally whacked out my sleep schedule, so it was well after midnight when I finally fell asleep last night. That would have been okay I suppose, but I had set my alarm for 445am to get up and do my run before work. And THAT would have even been okay- I can function fairly well on 4 1/2 hours of sleep....
Cue obnoxious thunderstorm at 330am. Normally I am a huge fan of storms, but I was a little irritated when it woke me this morning. Though admittedly, it was a pretty fantastic storm- the sky was all strobe-lighty.
Anyway, after laying in bed reading Facebook and seeing that half of the city was awake, laying in bed, posting updates about how they couldn't sleep through the storm, I decided to give up on falling asleep around 4am.
Strong cup of coffee consumed and excitedly got ready for my run! I need to remind myself of this feeling of excitement when I am undoubtedly bitching about running about 8 weeks from now.
Training plan called for a 2 mile easy run at a 13:33 pace. I couldn't resist bumping my speed a little bit, so I did 2 miles at 12:47 pace.
I am working on tweaking my plan a little bit. My training plan for the last half marathon was pretty straightforward as I was only training to finish, not training for a specific time goal. My last training plan didn't tell me what pace to keep, it just dictated the number of miles. It was nice and simple.
This time around I am hopeful to finish the half in 2 hrs 35 min, which would mean I have to keep a 11:45 pace (5.1 mph). So now it gets all complicated... speedwork, tempo runs, running everything at a specific pace... it's all quite messy.
I made up a "personalized" training plan on runnersworld.com, but I'm kind of questioning the training they are having me do to reach my goal of 2:35. It has me running 4 days a week. 2 easy runs, one tempo or speed run, and one long run. The only time I am ever required to run the 11:45 pace is during the tempo and speed runs. It makes me nervous to have my long run pace be SO different from my race day goal. I know that that is how many training plans are, but it just makes me nervous to run the half marathon having never done a long run at my goal pace.
My first half marathon I completed in 3:05, which is a 14:12 pace (approx 4.2 mph). So I'm wondering if an 11:45 pace is too lofty a goal for this next half? My training is only 10 weeks long this time, so I don't know if I am aiming too high. Or maybe I could do even better than 11:45 if I tweaked my training runs.... Aaack- this is where it gets all complicated and overwhelming! AND it calls for me to run 8 miles already this weekend! This training schedule is very heavy on the long run mileage.
So for now I have a schedule, but I may adjust as the weeks go on depending on how my runs go. I am going to aim to do my runs at a slightly faster pace than the schedule requires because I want my long run pace to better match my race day pace.
I am going to attempt to attach my training schedule and if anyone wants to add their input, that would be great! Happy Monday everyone! :)
Today was my first day back at work AND my first day of my training schedule for my next half marathon. No better way to start an exciting day than be completely sleep deprived! My lack of routine this Summer totally whacked out my sleep schedule, so it was well after midnight when I finally fell asleep last night. That would have been okay I suppose, but I had set my alarm for 445am to get up and do my run before work. And THAT would have even been okay- I can function fairly well on 4 1/2 hours of sleep....
Cue obnoxious thunderstorm at 330am. Normally I am a huge fan of storms, but I was a little irritated when it woke me this morning. Though admittedly, it was a pretty fantastic storm- the sky was all strobe-lighty.
Anyway, after laying in bed reading Facebook and seeing that half of the city was awake, laying in bed, posting updates about how they couldn't sleep through the storm, I decided to give up on falling asleep around 4am.
Strong cup of coffee consumed and excitedly got ready for my run! I need to remind myself of this feeling of excitement when I am undoubtedly bitching about running about 8 weeks from now.
Training plan called for a 2 mile easy run at a 13:33 pace. I couldn't resist bumping my speed a little bit, so I did 2 miles at 12:47 pace.
I am working on tweaking my plan a little bit. My training plan for the last half marathon was pretty straightforward as I was only training to finish, not training for a specific time goal. My last training plan didn't tell me what pace to keep, it just dictated the number of miles. It was nice and simple.
This time around I am hopeful to finish the half in 2 hrs 35 min, which would mean I have to keep a 11:45 pace (5.1 mph). So now it gets all complicated... speedwork, tempo runs, running everything at a specific pace... it's all quite messy.
I made up a "personalized" training plan on runnersworld.com, but I'm kind of questioning the training they are having me do to reach my goal of 2:35. It has me running 4 days a week. 2 easy runs, one tempo or speed run, and one long run. The only time I am ever required to run the 11:45 pace is during the tempo and speed runs. It makes me nervous to have my long run pace be SO different from my race day goal. I know that that is how many training plans are, but it just makes me nervous to run the half marathon having never done a long run at my goal pace.
My first half marathon I completed in 3:05, which is a 14:12 pace (approx 4.2 mph). So I'm wondering if an 11:45 pace is too lofty a goal for this next half? My training is only 10 weeks long this time, so I don't know if I am aiming too high. Or maybe I could do even better than 11:45 if I tweaked my training runs.... Aaack- this is where it gets all complicated and overwhelming! AND it calls for me to run 8 miles already this weekend! This training schedule is very heavy on the long run mileage.
So for now I have a schedule, but I may adjust as the weeks go on depending on how my runs go. I am going to aim to do my runs at a slightly faster pace than the schedule requires because I want my long run pace to better match my race day pace.
I am going to attempt to attach my training schedule and if anyone wants to add their input, that would be great! Happy Monday everyone! :)
August 2011
| ◄ Jul 2011 | ~ August 2011 ~ | Sep 2011 ► | ||||
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| | 1 Easy 2 miles @ 13:33 | 2 | 3 Tempo 5 mi inc warm, 3 mi @ 11:54, cool | 4 Easy 2 mi @ 13:30 | 5 | 6 Long 8 mi @ 13:30 |
| 7 | 8 Easy 3 mi @ 13:30 | 9 | 10 Speedwork 4 mi. inc warm, 2x1600 in 11:11 w/ 800 jogs cool | 11 Easy 2 mi @ 13:27 | 12 | 13 Long 9 mi @ 13:27 |
| 14 | 15 Easy 2 mi @ 13:24 | 16 | 17 Tempo 5 mi. inc warm, 3 mi @ 11:45, cool | 18 Easy 2 mi @ 13:24 | 19 | 20 Long 10 mi @ 13:24 |
| 21 | 22 Easy 3 mi @ 13:21 | 23 | 24 Speedwork 4 mi inc warm, 2x1600 @ 11:02 w/ 800 jogs, cool | 25 Easy 3 mi @ 13:21 | 26 | 27 Long 10 mi @ 13:21 |
| 28 | 29 Easy 4 mi @13:18 | 30 | 31 Easy 4 mi @13:18 | Notes: | ||
September 2011
| ◄ Aug 2011 | ~ September 2011 ~ | Oct 2011 ► | ||||
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| | | | | 1 Easy 4 mi @13:18 | 2 | 3 Easy 4 mi @13:18 |
| 4 | 5 Easy 3 mi @ 13:18 | 6 | 7 Tempo 5 mi, inc warm, 3 mi @ 11:39, cool | 8 Easy 3 mi @ 13:18 | 9 | 10 Long 10 mi @ 13:18 |
| 11 | 12 Easy 3 mi @ 13:15 | 13 | 14 Tempo 6 mi inc warm, 4 mi @ 11:42, cool | 15 Easy 2 mi @ 13:15 | 16 | 17 Long 11 mi @ 13:15 |
| 18 | 19 Easy 3 mi @ 13:12 | 20 | 21 Speedwork 6 mi inc warm, 3x1600 in 10:54 w/ 800 jogs, cool | 22 Easy 3 mi @ 13:12 | 23 | 24 Long 11 mi @ 13:12 |
| 25 | 26 Easy 3 mi @ 13:09 | 27 | 28 Tempo 6 mi inc warm, 4 mi @ 11:36, cool | 29 Easy 3 mi @ 13:09 | 30 | Notes: |
October 2011
| ◄ Sep 2011 | ~ October 2011 ~ | Nov 2011 ► | ||||
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| | | | | | | 1 Long 12 mi @ 13:09 |
| 2 | 3 Easy 2 mi @ 13:06 | 4 | 5 Easy 2 mi @ 13:06 | 6 | 7 | 8 Race day! 13.1 mi @ 11:45 Time: 2:34 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | Notes: | ||||
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