Great start to my day!

I was a little worried about how today would go after yesterdays fun. I tried and failed to run on a treadmill, then tried and succeeded to run on the road.
This morning was great! Got started right at 4:15 am. That picture doesn't show average pace, but that turns out to be 8:22 per mile on this 4-miler. I love that pace! Someday it shall be my half marathon pace :-)
9 is good for now though!
~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~

Skipped 9 and went 10

I was planning on going 9 miles on Saturday, but my son's track meet got cancelled and I was able to run with HRRWC. They had a 10 mile route planned and that is what my friend Trista planned to run. I said, "Why not?"

The run itself was pretty great actually. I ate a piece of bread with a little peanut butter before leaving. Chased it with a little water. I packed my GU belt and headed to meet everyone. I am still testing GU flavors and brought more than needed. It looked silly, I am sure, to have 4 GUs for a 10 mile run. I managed to NOT grab the right water bottle, so had an annoying tall bottle instead of my normal fuel belt handheld. Stupid crinkly sloshy bottle. Yes, it was water, so it was helpful, but STILL! I learned to check my gear better!

Oh yeah! We managed to hit our goal! It was just about perfect! 10 miles in 1 hour 29 minutes (and 12 seconds)! That's an 8:56 average pace. If I can keep that up for the full 13.1 miles, I will hit my goal! Right now I fell like that is a strong possibility.

However, I can tell by that one run that I have been eating like crap and it HAS to change. After the run I was completely drained. This is even after refueling with carbs and protein (pancakes and eggs). I took a 2 hour nap. I felt the need to go for a walk all day long, but never did. I went to the grocery store with my hubby, then came back home for a bit to take care of things. I headed to church later too, where the kneeler just about made me want to cry! That was weird too, because I am usually OK. I also yawned my way through the service. I felt awful about that. So, after church I went and got coffee. Shawn and I were heading out to eat, then for drinks and a late movie. Somehow I managed to make it through all of that.

I woke today, Sunday, after about 9 hours of sleep. We had a good breakfast, including coffee. After crafting some palm leaves, I crashed hard again! 2 hour nap hard! I have been struggling all day. My legs are sore and feel like lead. My feet feel OK, as well as my Achilles.

I gave myself today as an extra rest day. I know I should have done something, and may still lift weights. I have learned though, that it is important to listen to your body. Mine must have needed a serious break. I will be back at it tomorrow! I may be in on a treadmill since the college kids in the run club at JWCC don't like the snow and cold, but I will get my 5k done.

~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~

2 years!

I just passed my 2nd Run-iversary! 

Yup, It all started with Kelly's fun Run/Walk 2 years ago! I was asked by my friend Jeannie to go run/walk it with her. She said it would be fun to try. Boy was she right!!! That very day, in the short few blocks we ran, I was hooked. I signed up to run the Bridge the Gap 5k race within the week after Kelly's.

I was hooked. What can I say? I got a high from that first short spurt. I get that same high almost every time I go out for a run. I get it just thinking about a good run! I AM A RUNNER. That is all.

It really is true what "they" say: If you want to change your body, exercise. If you want to change your life, RUN.

Oh, and that first 5k? Yeah, I took 3rd in my age group!

It has changed mine in more ways than I can count. I could sit here and try to work up a list, but that would take days and days. The quick summary is that I am an overall happier person who has a great circle of friends who all feel the same way I do about life in general. It is an amazing thing. I love the feeling of camaraderie there is among the group. For the most part, they are all your friends, you just may have not met them yet. ;)

Now about my training ...

I snuck in an extra run on Friday because the weather was absolutely GORGEOUS! That had me on day 3 of running. Then there was the 8 miler. It was chilly when we started. I got hot though after a few miles. Of course, after I slipped my jacket off, we turned into some wind. Then it was time for a walk break to GU. I never did put my jacket back on though... I really had a rough time on that one. We ended up with a 9:20 average pace, so it wasn't all bad. That was day 4... THEN there was Sunday. The day of the Race! What a mess... Let's just say I was happy when the call to the starting line came. Then the cannon! Oh, how I needed to run at that point! My watch wasn't working for me, so I was basically running naked. Not bad since I had on a timing chip ;) I stuck with Trista. She accused me of getting back at her for the long run. LOL I was the rabbit this time, she had to work to keep up with me! I backed off when she needed to slow down though, just as she did for me the day before. We finished in 25:17. It was a PR for her! I am so happy to have been able to share that with her.

I took the next day off and just walked. It sure has been fun.

The best part of all of this is that I STILL have no pain! Wes did a great job rehabbing my Achilles. ART therapy worked for me and I tell people about it when I get the chance.

I can't wait to finish up this week with 9 miles. It looks like I will be flying solo. But hey, we runners are tough in mind as well as body, right?

Some day it is still hard to believe I have been running for 2 years. I see no end in sight.

~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~

Prepare yourself!

I completed my 8 mile training run, and celebrated my 2-yr Runniversary.

Big Blog Coming in the next few days!!!

7 rainy miles!

Oh what a glorious run that was!!! 7 miles in the rain! Oh, how I do love the rain!

Ok, it was just a bit short, but close enough for me :)

I am extremely happy with how my legs feel now. Running is joy again, not pain. I am sure my partner wasn't as happy as I was about the rain, but she was out there and we got it done! Our pace was just about perfect too. Almost a 9 which is what we were both aiming for. The last mile was at an 8:30. It always makes me happy to run a fast last mile!

Swimming is still a struggle though. I need to get nose plugs. I really hate the feeling of water coming in my nose and going to my throat! Maybe once I get that, I will be better withe getting my head in. I have been practicing putting my head in and breathing out, then bringing my head up to the side. It is all well and good when I am holding on the side, but as soon as I get moving, there it goes, up my nose again.

I get so darn frustrated. I am thankful for the friends I have with me at the pool. They encourage me, and reassure me that even though I only went 200m Sunday, I was indeed improving because I was working on a skill. This is the most difficult thing I have done in a long time... 

Spinning is great too! I got up to 132 rpm for the last sprint of class. So much fun! I can't wait to get my bike back out on the road again. It would be nice to get an upgrade, but I will work with what I have for now.

oh, yeah, I almost forgot (but how could I?) I did some weight work I don't usually do. Bench press. I did 8 reps at 55, 8 at 65 and 12 at 75. it was 8 then 4 more. I could not go more. That was yesterday. Today I am sore. woohoo! I need to change up my routine a bit, I am sure. It is getting stale. That happens to me after a month or so. Time to research some more and get another program worked up. Leave me some suggestions in the comments if you have any!

~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~

Just call me "Crash"

OUCH!

The road does not give when you go down. I went down pretty hard.

This may put a crimp in my planned 3-miler tomorrow. Perfect time to take it easy? Or just walk? I will know by 3:15! HA!

Also, this does NOTHING for my confidence of making it to 7 miles on Saturday. Anyone reading this want to join me? I will probably try to meet up with the Jog n Java crew at 6:05 at Washington Park.

oh the nerves...

wait, that's just bruising! HAHAHA! I'm glad no one saw me, though I am not keeping it a secret. ;)

I thought the extra sleep I got last night would have helped... OH! I hope I can swim in the morning. It's supposed to be leg day, too. This is going to be fun...

~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~

Things are going Swimmingly!

:)

I made a great deal of progress with my swimming! Yes! I managed to put my face in the water for 3 strokes, and bring my head up for an inhale, then back down for another 3-count! OK, so I wasn't the most graceful yet, and I could not keep it up for the whole length of the pool, I at least got started! I am working on it! I made myself put my face in 3 times each time I was heading to a wall. I am trying to get my breathing regulated. It is a long road I am on, but I am making progress! I am so happy!!! I even did a warm up lap before I started "counting" my laps, then did a cool down lap afterward! Making my 500m swim 600 actual meters covered. That is a record for me! I can finally see myself getting better at this! Swimming has been the sticking point in my training.

Oh the running! I ran a wonderful 10k Saturday morning. I hit an 8:50 average pace. Which, by the way, is faster than the 5.6 mile training run the week before! That one was a 9:08 average. Totally not far off each other, but still! There is also the road condition to consider. The roads were I was just telling my hubby today, that I am purposely trying to train at the 9min mile range to avoid injury.

This, however, is pulling down my 5k times. I went for a run today with my JWCC Club, and did manage to average an 8:27, but it was a killer. OK, the wind on the way back was bad too, but that's not an all-out excuse. My times were 8:42, 8:05,8:30. I was loving that middle mile. It is also where the wind was on the side and not behind or in my face. I wanted to keep that pace. I didn't know what it was until I got done. I only knew that it felt great. I'm hoping the wind and weather cooperates with me Wednesday on my next run. I have 4 miles to go, and it would be GREAT to average an 8:15. I have gone 4 miles at an average of 8 two times in the past. Oh wouldn't THAT be wonderful to do again... 

OK, so really, this has been a great few days since the last post. I am feeling VERY good about this weekend's 7-miler. A little scared, too, but still good. I will NOT forget to stretch afterward. I GOT THIS!


~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~

78 days!

78 days!

That's how much time is left before I run my first 1/2 Marathon!!!

Oh Wow!

When you put it that way...

YIKES!

 ok, breathe. you got this! 10k Saturday. Almost half was there distance-wise. This is totally do-able!




 I can do this, I really can!






~Happy Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Lifting~