{Barely} Faster than a snail

Back in action

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

I took about ten days off from running right at the beginning of the year to deal with a foot injury, but I am super excited to say that I am back at it and boy did I miss it! I did a 3.75 miler on Tuesday night and then a 4.6 miler last night. The Tuesday night run was with the hubs so it was a little slower than I wanted to go, but I made up for it on Thursday. It was also about 29 degrees on Thursday night, so I felt like hard core runner girl for getting out there and sticking to my schedule!

Post first run of the new year. Big thumbs up!!

Speaking of schedules, I went and added another half marathon to my 2012 racing schedule. Yes, I registered for it before I even did the first one! I am that confident that I am going to love it and it happened to be the Schwaggle deal of the day. I am currently trying to collect medals. I want to be super cool and have tons. : ) (That's a good reason to run, right?)

I think that the foot problem was plantar fasciitis. I don't know for sure though since I never visited the doctor, but I did everything that it says to do when you have it, including taping my foot. And now I feel better, so I am pretty sure that I am right and that I should've gone to medical school. : )

And to leave you with one last picture from last night's run. That cute hat my mother-in-law got me and yes, I ran with it because it was so darn cold!

2012 New Years Resolutions

2011-12-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

I am starting this post with plenty of time to get it posted before the new year. Fingers crossed that I finish it in time!

OK, this year I am making one big new year's ~~resolution~~ goal. And that goal is:

Make 3 goals for each quarter. That's 12 big picture goals
Make 5 goals for each week. That's 260 smaller picture goals

So, yeah, instead of one or two goals that I might not keep, I am going to make a goal to keep making goals! The driving force behind this is to make myself take small reminders each quarter and week to reassess where I am and where I want to be. I am not saying that all of the goals will be unique. I may end up using the same three quarterly goals all year. I may use one weekly goal that will repeat for 52 weeks. There are no limits on how many time a goal can be used, just that I have some. I want to focus on where I want to be and weekly refocusing I think will be the best way to achieve these goals.

I am not 100% sure that I will post all of the weekly goals on here because let's face it. I am not the most reliable at even posting on here, so posting my weekly goals would have to be a weekly goal and I think that is one that I might never do. So I won't set my self up for that kind of failure. I will try to post my quarterly goals as well as a review of the previous quarters goals and whether they were achieved or not.

So without further ado, I will share my first quarter 2012 goals!

1. Run 200 Miles. I signed up again for the Get Moving Fitness Challenge. They've changed it this time around to allow everyone to pick their own goals. I actually added up every run I have scheduled between now and March 31 and came up with 210. That allows me to basically blow off 10 miles. I really don't think that I will have a problem with this goal unless I get injured or just really decide that running is not for me, but since I have stuck with it this long, I figure I am in it for the long haul.

2. No buying candy for home. If it's in my house, I will eat it. That's not to say that I won't eat candy because I honestly know that is not happening. It just means that I will not buy candy for myself or the hubs to take home. He's an adult and can go to the store or order off the internet if he wants candy at home. Or he can go to his mom's. She has plenty of candy at her house. If either of us is gifted candy, which I know we will be at Christmas, we will make a conscious decision about what goes home with us and what stays behind elsewhere. Unwanted candy will be brought to my office or given to him to take to his. I'm not putting the stops on the eating of candy, just the mindless eating of it at home.

3. Lose 10 Pounds. To be honest this is the one that I think that I will have the most trouble with. The scale has been moving down. S.l.o.w.l.y. I just know that I have more weight to lose and 10 pounds seems to be a good starting point. That basically works out to less than a pound a week. It seems like something I should be able to accomplish, but not going to lie. It is the one I am worried about.

Those are the quarterly goals. Something to focus on to be a better me.

Since, I have them ready already (ha-ha) I am going to go ahead and include my first weeks five goals. For the record, my first week will start on 01.02.12. That way my goal week and my work out week are the same. I am totally smart like that.

1. Eat my lunch when I have it. Basically, I bring my lunch and then someone offers a better lunch idea, such as Natalie wanting to go to Pot Belly. I almost always go get whatever is offered to me regardless of if I have lunch or not. A lot of times this leads to food being thrown away. So for one week, if I brought my lunch that day, I eat it. No matter where anyone else is going.

2. Only eat breakfast out one day. That would be my Friday breakfast with Tina. This may mean that I need to have some just in case grits or oatmeal at the office for weeks when I don't get to the grocery store on Sunday.

3. Stay out of the candy dish at work. I don't need it. I really don't. I'll bring some gum or something with me and limit myself to two pieces a day.I go there far to often right now. I am getting better, but if I can go five entire days without touching the candy dish, I think I will be on top of the world.

4. Get in two yoga sessions. I just got the APY60 DVD's in the mail and I really want to commit to doing at least two sessions a week for a few months. Two sessions shouldn't be that hard to fit in. I think.

5. Housework. Actually finish whatever I start before going to bed. If I start a load of laundry, I won't go to bed until it's put up. If I make dinner, I won't go to bed until the dishes are done and the dishwasher is loaded. This may mean that I won't do any cooking or cleaning for this particular week. Ha-ha. We'll see how that goes!

So anyway, there you go. If anyone out there in blog-o-land has any resolutions for next year, I'd love to hear them!

Jog'r Egg Nog'r 15K Recap

2011-12-19T13:37:00.000-08:00

A little note before I start. I didn't bring my cell phone with me to take pictures, so all of these were taken after the race while waiting for my car to warm up. : ) I also apologize for the weird boxes of color in the word portions. Can't figure out how to fix it and I am not retyping it.

I might've bitten off a little more than I could chew with this race. I had a nine mile run on the training schedule for the week and thought, why not. Well, I did it. I finished, but it was so far from pretty it wasn't even funny. Next time I get a wild idea like this, someone please shoot me. Also, it probably didn't help that I didn't run a single other day last week. I could list the excuses for each day, but they'd just get tired and lame. : )

I went into knowing I wanted to treat it as a training run and not a race. My goal was to keep my pace right around a 12 minute mile (don't laugh, that's my normal training run pace). Which would have put me finishing right around 1 hour 48 minutes. I also planned to walk up all hills as I don't have many hills on my training runs, which is something I really need to rectify. So those were the plans - here's the reality.

Parking was horrible at the race site. I left with plenty of time to chill for an hour, but as it turned out it took me a really long time to find a place to park. And the place I did eventually just park in wasn't actually meant for parking. Oh well. I got out of the car gathered most of my things and started to snack on my PBJ sandwich that I brought with me. I got all the way over to the port-a-potties when I realized that I left me iPod in the car. I had my headphones, just nothing to actually listen to. I thought long and hard about going the quarter mile back to the car. I did end up going back, but looking back, I probably should have just left it. By the time I made it back to the port-a-potties, I had just enough time to use the bathroom and get to the start which was another quarter of a mile away. I guess I got in a half mile warm-up. I noticed at the time that the finish line was in a parking lot where people were parking for the run. At the time, I didn't think anything of it...... I should have. There was a 5K and a 15K run and several announcements were made that the 5K people were to start on the left side of the street and the 15K people were to start on the right and we were supposed to stay that way. That never happened either. The first mile I was dodging 5K walkers, which was cool because it made me feel like I was flying! Then it got annoying. I managed the first two miles at a 10 minute mile pace and then I realized I really needed to back off. Miles 3 & 4 were right at 12 minute miles and then I crashed hard.

I had thought my runny nose was just a side effect of running, but I found out later that it was actually a full blown cold (which I still have). So by mile five I was literally dragging myself. I had also read that this course had a lot of downhill in it, but really whoever wrote that should be shot in the head. Technically, there were a lot of down hills, but to get to those you had to go uphill a lot. There were so many hills the second half that I felt like I was just basically walking the entire thing since my race plan was to walk the hills. I chatted up a couple of girls as they passed me. I even tried to stay with them, but that wasn't happening at that point. I was mentally shot by mile seven (when I ran into the girls) so I don't think I had it in me mentally to stay with them. Physically, I might could have done it, if I were in a better place mentally. It didn't help that I also knew that I was at the very back of the pack. I actually apologized to the police officers having to wait on me. When I saw the 3 mile sign (for the 5Ker's) I literally almost started crying. That's when I realized that I was going to have to dodge cars trying to leave to get to the finish line. I almost got hit three or four times and I actually had to stop to let someone back out since they were going to back out regardless of whether or not I stopped.

The neat thing was that at the end, I actually had a little cheering section of the girls that I talked to on the way. The ones who finished a few minutes before me and that I couldn't keep up with. They even remembered my name, which I am not going to lie, was pretty awesome. Overall, I was OK with my time (2:04:12). I'm not going to lie. I think it was my brain that fazed out on me rather than my body. I am hoping it was the cold and not just my brain, but at the end of the day it could've just been my head. Around mile three I yanked out my head phones and ran the rest of the way without music. I don't know if that helped or hurt. I just know that at the time that I yanked out the headphones the thought of listening to music made me want to jab something into my eye. I really need to figure out something about the mental side of racing. I am planning on doing another 15K in January and for that race, I hope to hit the 1:48 that was planned for this race. I won't know for sure if I can sign up for it or not until closer to the day since I will be traveling a lot after the first of the year and I don't want to pay money and then be out of town and miss it. (I am planning on running the course at some point between now and then to check out the hills and what not.... no more listening to other people). The good news about this being my first race at this distance - automatic PR!!

The shirt. Since I am very superstitious about wearing them before the race. Sorry for the deer in the headlights look.

8 Mile Long Run

2011-12-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I ran 8 miles. It was seriously crazy and I am surprised that I made it out!

Saturday night was my companies Christmas party and there might have been lots of beers imbibed. This might be a picture after four beers. You might can see it in my eyes if you looked close.

This is after six beers and when I finally decided I needed to cut myself off. I did, after all, know that I had to complete an 8 mile run. No matter how bad I felt.

I was lucky that the weather worked in my favor and allowed me to sleep in until 10:30 am and it still be cold enough to not die when I started my run at 11:15. First order of business - shot blocks.

I needed the boost so I had three before I started and then three at mile 2.75 and three at mile 6.25, I needed all the help I could get because it was a pretty crappy run. I was cold and achy and it was just blah.

I did opt to go on the back trails of the Trinity instead of the ones directly next to the river. I thought it would be a different view and be really fun. Which it was until I saw the coyote. And I was all alone. Yikes. This is about where I saw it, which is funny because I took this picture on my way out and I saw it on the way back in. I was kind of terrified. Might not go that way again, although the scenery was much prettier, so who knows.

I had to get the 8 miler in because next Saturday I am running a 15K. I figured I at least needed to get in the 8 miler on the schedule before Saturday. I'm not going to lie. I am really nervous about that race. Here's hoping that I don't kill myself. : )

Anyway. 8 Miles. Done and done. Longest run to date. I was proud so it got it's on post!!

The post that technically has nothing to do with running....

2011-12-09T18:18:00.001-08:00

I guess it sort of has something to do with running, or more accurately my trying to get healthy life style which incorporates running. This week the girls and I went to see Twilight. We ordered matching shirts. We had drinks and food and had a great time. At the end we took a group picture.

And for once, I don't look like the fat friend. I just look like the normal size friend. And that honestly makes me very happy. I am no where near where I want to be weight / size wise, but I'm getting closer every day. And this picture (red eyes and all) is now my new favorite picture because I look normal. Just thought I'd share.

PS: there were three team Edwards and one team Jacob. Each had a funny saying. Mine said Mutts howl, men growl. J's said Team Edward: except when Jacob is shirtless. L's said team Jacob because real men don't sparkle. N's said Team Edward because he sparkles (and her writing was in pink). We were probably the biggest nerds there three weeks after the movie opened, but I am guessing there were bigger nerds opening night.

Thanksgiving Day 5K Recap

2011-12-03T19:36:00.001-08:00

I know, I know. I said during the last race recap that the only thing that I seem to be updating quickly are my race recaps. And then the one from Thanksgiving goes unwritten for over a week. Well, here it is. I know you guys have been waited with baited breath.

First, I ran this race with my dad. If by ran it with him, I mean that he smoked my butt. I guess that’s neither here nor there. : ) My mom and the hubby got up super early to come with us and my mom played personal photographer and got lots of great shots!

Great shots like this one.

And this one.

And this one by Mr. J.

Yeah, my dad doesn’t smile in photos. What’s a girl to do. We arrived in time to watch the half marathoners start, which was pretty cool. There were maybe 200 half marathoners, give or take. It was really cold and they were all dressed like it was 65 degrees out. I should have taken a cure from them. I was cold waiting for the race to start. Not just a little cold, but C.O.L.D. It was a chilly 38 degrees. I had just bought that nifty little running jacket and had only run in it one time before. I think that my arms aren’t used to have things on them when I run because they tingle a little.

(Yes, this is super flattering photo of me). We were off! I think that this is the only picture of us running together because I think about three seconds later my dad took off. I might have mentioned to him that he could get an age group win and boy that was all he really talked about the day before so it really didn’t surprise that he took off like a banshee.

I really didn’t have a goal in mind for this race. I really wanted to add another PR. I kind of think that it sucks to run a race and not better than you were before, even though I know that at some point I will have a bad race. About a mile in, I was burning up. And by burning up, I mean that I was H.O.T. So I lost some time. Probably a minute or so trying to take of my jacket. Pinning the number to the outside was a pretty bad idea.

I ran everything except maybe a quarter of a mile which was a big plus for me. I did run the first mile super fast. I really need to work on that in the future. I actually convinced a guy to keep running when we were a quarter of mile for the finish. Now here’s where you would thought that having three people cheering me on at the finish would be awesome. But here’s the thing. Remember how I took off my jacket? Well, turns out that they were looking for someone in all grey and not my pink shirt. So it wasn’t until I crossed the finish line that they even noticed me. Wah-wah.

First post race photo. I was pretty happy with my performance. It’s not awesome by any standards, but for me it was kind of a new PR. I say kind of because the last 5K I ran, my watch and the official time were quite different. I split the difference on my race page, so I am going to continue to call the other one 40 minutes. This one I ran it in 36:56. Victory is mine by three minutes and four seconds. Awesome sauce.

(Source) The professional pictures. That’s me trying to figure out why they weren’t looking at me. That’s my dad around mile one. So how’d I feel about this race? It was really cool to get up and run on Thanksgiving. Made me feel less guilty about all the crap that I ate later in the day. It was really freaking awesome to semi-run with my dad. Even if he beat me. Oh, yeah – he finished around the 27 minute mark and came in third in his age group and 50th overall. I managed 9th in my age group and 150th-ish overall. Not a bad days work!!

Anyway, I am going to be updating this blog more regularly. Expect another post soon!!

Inaugural Veteran's Day 11K on 11.11.11

2011-11-14T08:48:00.001-08:00

Another race recap! Seems like I am better at getting these things posted than I am about getting weekly reports done. Lol. Anyway, on Friday, 11.11.11 I ran an 11K. Here's the thing that you should know about me. I love numbers. Not as, I am good at math kind of love numbers, but more of I think numbers are cool. I got married on 08.08.08 because I thought that it would be super cool. Originally in my great training schedule plans I was going to run a 5K this past weekend. (I even think it's still up on my race calendar). At some point about 30 days ago I saw an advertisement for an 11K on 11.11.11 and thought I just couldn't pass it up. It was further than I think I was really ready to race, but I signed up anyway. (I've done a few 6 - 7 mile training runs so I figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal).

The race was at Fair Park in Dallas and I have only ever been to fair park to go to the fair and usually we ride the train so I had never actually driven there. The parking directions that were given said to enter at gate five which I did and to park either in front of the Natural Science Museum or in front of some restaurant. Well, I saw the museum first and opted to park there. It seemed that there were a lot of cars, but in hindsight I am pretty sure that was people at the museum, not the race. Then I wandered around for twenty minutes trying to find the race start. There were no signs so I just kept walking and walking. I think I ended up parking about a mile from the start because I am dumb. I also didn't go back and move my car once I figured out my error. That was kind of a big mistake. While waiting, alone - ugh, I tried to entertain myself with my iPhone. But grew bored of that easily and basically just people watched for about an hour. (I am always early). I used portapotties for the first time in probably ten years. And I never realized that there were girl ones and boy ones. I guess you learn something new everyday.

I hurt my ankle at some point in the last few weeks, so I was really worried about this run and me not even finishing. I attempted to run with this ankle brace and that didn't go very well.

The 11K was an evening race that was supposed to start at 5:11 pm. There were still a lot of people registering at five, so I think it got pushed back to around 5:20 pm. Since it was Veteran's Day and the run was benefiting veterans they had a really cool color guard type ceremony as well as someone singing the National Anthem and a moment of silence. It was pretty neat. There were a lot of veterans running and that was also pretty cool. After one last picture of myself (because I am a big time nerd), it was time to run.

The start of the race was pretty neat, we were running through fair park, right past the cotton bowl (see really crappy picture below). The ankle brace was already hurting my arch by the half mile mark, but I left it alone think my foot would get used to it. I ran the first mile in about ten minutes which is ridiculously fast for me. Right before the second mile there was water and I was so thirsty I thought I was going to die! I drank a lot and then continued on my way. Right at the two mile sign I couldn't take anymore of the ankle brace and took off my sock and shoe and ripped it off. Then tried to get a sweaty sock back on and then my shoe. That's not easy with people running by you. I got that done and started again, but something about the starting and stopping, I just didn't feel like I could run anymore. So I walked about a tenth of a mile and started running again. A few minutes later I ran into a pack of three runners (Janet, Rick & Alexis) and opted to run right behind them. And then I was running with them. I asked if I could join their group and they said sure. I am honestly not sure if I would have been able to run as much as I did without them. They had a goal of finishing in 1:30 minutes which was ironically my goal considering my bum ankle. We laughed and talked the entire way through. I was so excited to have found them and been welcomed into their little group. We were running through a sketchy part of town and by that time it was dark. Not getting dark, but actually dark. We made it back to the finish at 1:24 according to my iPhone. Still waiting on the official results.

The only complaint that I had about this race is that we crossed a lot of streets which meant a lot of police officers directing traffic. At rush hour. On a Friday. That meant lots of honks from PO'd drivers. I really can't blame them, they were just trying to get home. It was also the inaugural event so I feel like it could have been a tad bit more organized. I would have loved better signage so that I wouldn't have parked a mile away. I mean after running 11K (6.835 miles for those curious), I then had to walk a mile back to the car. Alone. In the dark. In a sketchy part of town. Luckily no one got me. If they would have, they probably would have sent me back anyway. In the end this was totally worth it since I got my first ever medal. And yes, I know it's an "also participated" medal, but it's still a medal and for someone totally un-athletic that's kind of awesome. They are going to do the event again next year and I am kind of on the fence about doing it. One thing that I am not on the fence about? I love racing. Slow as I may be, I think I finally found something that I enjoy doing that is actually healthy! I've even already signed up for another November race. Crazy, right?

Week 10 & 11 Recap

2011-10-31T12:07:00.000-07:00

So as it turns out, I missed updating week 10. So you are getting a double whammy! Weeks 10 & 11 coming at you!!

Me, bundled up at 7:30 in the am, ready for a run!

Week 10's Schedule
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 3 Mile Run - Done and done. Ditz went with me which was really nice. I really like having a running partner!
Wednesday - 30 minute cross training - Skipped. I can't remember why now, but I am certain that I had a good reason. Or maybe I didn't, who knows. I just know that I didn't go and my brain must be Swiss cheese since I really can't remember why.
Thursday - 2 Mile + Strength - Done and done. Another one with Ditz.
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 5K Race - See race recap!
Sunday - 30 minute cross - So Ditz wanted to run again and I am trying not to bike due to the shoulder injury (see race recap if you have no earthly idea what I am talking about). I was a quick and easy three miler.

Week 11's Schedule

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 3 Mile Run - Easy peasy. Ditz went with me yet again. Maybe I can get him into this whole running thing. That'd be really cool. However, if he ever gets good at it he'll be faster than me. : (

Wednesday - 30 minute cross training - I was at home dying. I think I had food poisoning. Or something really didn't agree with my stomach.
Thursday - 2 Mile + Strength - It was raining and really cold (45 degrees) but I put my big girl panties on and ran. And it was a great run. I was fast. Of course, I was also freezing cold, so that is probably why I was going so fast. Ran my fastest ever training mile. Avoiding the freezing rain will do that for you!

Friday - Rest
Saturday - 30 Min cross - Ditz and I took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood with the dogs. We went a little under two miles in about 35 minutes.

Sunday - The day forever known as the day I became a rock star runner. Got up bright and early on Sunday morning and was at the Trinity by 7:30 am. (I actually left around 6:45 am, but had to stop at kroger for shot blocks and that took longer than anticipated). I was actually doing pretty well for the first six miles of a seven mile run. The first six miles, I averaged a 13:50 min mile, which is doggone fast for me. The last mile I walked. I rolled my ankle and I thought better than running on it. I walked slowly back to my car. That in and of itself would put me in the rock star category, but I also ran another three miles later in the evening. I am trying to be super supportive of the hubby and he wanted to go for a run. So I sucked it up and went with him. The only problem? I was tired. As in beat down and I had a hard time making it through the running sections, but I managed it. And I got my first ever double digit run!!

Next Week's Schedule
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 3 Mile Run

Wednesday - 3 Mile Run

Thursday - Yoga Class

Friday - Rest or 2 Mile run
Saturday - 3 Mile Run

Sunday - 6 Mile Run

Goals for next week
15 Miles Running

Yoga

Race Recap: Double Trouble 5K

2011-10-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

First, let me start by talking about something that happened on Friday night. Imagine this - a girl pulls up to the grocery store to pick up some fuel for the next days race. Her purse just so happens to be in the back seat (where it is 95% of the time). The girl decides not to open the back door and instead leans back to grab her purse. And then there is a noise that sort of sounds like a snap. Or a pop (but certainly not a crackle, lol). And my shoulder H.U.R.T. All capital letters. I managed to make it through my quick shopping trip in tons of pain in my shoulder. I got home and iced it and took about a million Aleve's. I repeated that just about every hour (except I did take the Aleve as directed, don't worry about my liver, it's fine). It hurt to walk around so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about running on Saturday morning. I hoped that I'd sleep it off.....

Me in the shirt after packet pick up. I actually really like this shirt. I've heard bad things about the technical shirts that races give out, but this one seems to be nice.

And that brings me to race morning. I woke up and got dressed and low and behold my shoulder was most certainly not better. I took another Aleve and left the house alone. (Ditz didn't want to get up and go with me, something about it being really early and him being a jerk...). The entire forty-five minute car ride I thought about turning around. Driving hurt. Walking hurt. I knew that running would be pure torture. They had warned us in about 90 e-mails that parking was going to be a nightmare and to arrive early. I always do as instructed and arrived at 6:30 am for an 8:00 am start time. An hour and a half, wandering around not knowing anyone. It was good times. I even looked for someone who looked a little lonely like me, but alas all of those people brought someone with them. Boooo, Ditz.

After the last 5K, I figured that I really needed a new fueling strategy. I was so hungry I almost threw up several times during the first 5K. That wasn't going to happen this time. In a few practice runs, I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich about two hours pre-run and ten minutes pre-run I had three shot blocks. That seemed to work well in training. But, I realized at the race that those were all afternoon runs so I still had lunch in my belly. I think next time, I'll eat an hour pre-run and then still do the shot blocks. I think those helped big time. The only weird thing is that I felt weird eating my shot blocks before running since they are generally a during-run fuel. But, that's how I'd been training the last little bit and that's how I was going to do this one.

The mass throng of people walking to the start. Yeah, I said it was a small race. (Sorry that one guy is picking at his butt).

It's time to run. I line up towards the back knowing that I am going to be super slow. My shoulder still hurt something fierce. More than once while waiting I had to talk myself out of leaving. There were these three girls that had been doing "warm up laps" for about twenty minutes before the race started. They were making a really big deal about warming up. Sort of obnoxious, in my opinion. Anyway, when they lined up behind me, I wanted to say just get in front of me. I figured they were way faster than me. We all took off and just like I expected the pink threesome passed me after the first half mile. They weren't going as fast as all their warm up talk would've indicated, but still they were beating me. After the first mile, I had officially run my fastest mile to date, 10 minutes 53 seconds. Um, hello that was awesome. At that point, I caught back up to the pink three and passed them. Then they passed me and then I passed them. I was among the twenty-five or so in the very back of the field (it was a small race, so that's really not as bad as it sounds). At the point that I passed them at mile two, I decided they weren't getting in front of me again. No how, no way. Even if it killed me. They probably thought I was really weird because I kept turning around to see where they were. I inched further and further away from them until finally I couldn't see them any more. I have no idea why I made that my goal - just beat those ladies - but it kept me focused on the race instead of my shoulder. As I neared the end, I attempted to kick it up a notch, but royally failed. I couldn't go any faster. I think I basically wanted to die at that point.

When I got to the finish line, the guy asked me if I planned on running the 10K as well. I must've looked at him like he was a moron because he just cut my chip thingy off my shoe. (These were not the disposable kind). Then after about thirty seconds I remembered to stop my watch. Here's the thing. My watch time and my "chip" time don't match at all. Even not turning it off right as I crossed the finish line I was still a full three mniutes faster than my chip time. Anyone ever had that happen before? I really don't know what to do about that. Do I record my time as my watch said or by what the chip timer thingy said. (For those interested, I started the watch before I crossed the pad, so if anything the time on my watch should have been long - an extra ten seconds at the beginning and about 30 seconds at the end). I think I am going to use my watch time. I never stopped it durung the race - I checked my moving time and it was the same as the watch time. So now I am in a cunnumdrum. Plus the three chicks who I couldn't even see as I neared the finish, they show to have been literally right behind me. Yeah, I don't think so.

So that was my race. With either time I got a new PR. It's just how much of a PR at this point. And that's important to me. With each race, I feel like I learn a little bit more. So these are the things that I learned during this race:

Fueling - this still isn't perfected. On my Sunday morning long runs, eat an hour before and try that on an empty stomach and see where that gets me.
Shot blocks before the race definitely help.
Pull my bangs back. This may seem like a no brainer, but apparently due to some success on a few long runs with them being down, I thought I might could pull it off. Yeah, not so much.
Be willing to change clothes the morning of. I had everything laid out but it turned out to be a little warmer than it was supposed to be. I really should've changed shirts.
Don't run when something hurts. Running does not make it feel any better.
Compression sleeves make you feel oh so good!

Me after the race. Notice the crappy looking bangs. I can only imagine what the official race pictures look like.

When I got home, I told Ditz that I wanted a burger and that I deserved it!! Luckily, I convince him and we went to Twisted Root to celebrate which is by far the best burger around. Next time, he can't go to the celebration unless he goes to the race. That's my new deal.

Twisted Root Buffison Burger with Fried Pickles.

Anyway, it's Monday now that I am writing this and my shoulder still hurts. I was planning my triumphant return to yoga tomorrow night, but I am thinking that might not happen this week. : (

Also. this race was my official entry into the Sister Hood of the Shrinking Jeans virtual 5K. I knew I wouldn't be able to run it by myself, so I luckily located a 5K near me and signed up for that one. So, yeah. I've been telling everyone that I ran two 5K's. It's kind of true, right?

Week 9 Recap

2011-10-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

So yeah, it was a taper week. (Julie - I couldn't ever get my reply to your question to go through, quite special. Anyway, a taper is cutting your mileage before race week. Marathons usually taper for about three weeks, half marathons 2 weeks and so on down the line.) Anyway, back to this being a taper week. I looked at this as an accidental taper week. See I just strung together three training plans so inevitably there was a big build up and then that plan ends. Then the next plan starts, but they don't know you just finished a different plan so they kind of start you back at the beginning and build again. Anyway, when I started this, I had tentative races in mind, but I decided to wait until the month before each race to register. That way I wasn't wasting money on race fees if I either gave up or got injured. So I didn't actually "plan" my tapers. They just hit where they hit. When last week started, the thought of cutting back my long run seemed really unappealing to me. It was like a step back. I didn't want to take a step back, I wanted to keep going forward. In my infinite wisdom I decided that I was going to skip the taper. I apparently know better than everyone else in the whole wide world of running. So my taper week included the MOST mileage that I have done since early June. Yeah, the week I should be doing the least, I do the most. WTF? My mind is kind of special like that I guess. I really truthfully hope this doesn't effect my 5K on Saturday. I am going to stick to the plan for this week and not over do it between now and then! (I should mention that I feel fine, great even. So it's not like I pushed myself so hard I can't recover, I just did the opposite of what conventional wisdom says).

This is me being tough. : )

This Week's Schedule
Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run - This was the night it happened. I got bitten by a dog. I kind of feel like it's a rite of passage to becoming a runner. I guess I have now been initiated. Other than that, the positive note from this run is that it didn't stop me from finishing. That makes me a bad ass. : )

Wednesday - 30 Minute Cross. Had to skip it to go to the store with the hubby for him to buy a baby shower present for a girl at work. Maybe my office is different, but we never ask the guys to contribute. Weird. And then stupid for the hubby waiting until the day before to even tell me about it forcing me to change up all of my plans for the week.
Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength - Actually did - 30 Minute Cross - 9 miles on the bike. Nothing spectacular.

Friday - Rest - Actually did - 2 Mile Run + Strength - I ended up only doing 1.75 miles because I neglected to charge my Garmin and I am bad at estimation. I should have gone my normal two mile route, but the thought didn't appeal to me so I went a different way. Lesson learned. Plus I did something different this week Instead of doing my strength training on one night, I spread it out over several nights. It's probably not the same benefit as doing it all in one fail swoop, but I did do it all and even hit a couple of things twice.

Saturday - 30 Minute Cross - I might have done a 15 mile bike ride. That might have taken and hour and a half. My legs felt like lead the entire time, but I really wanted to bike the 15 miles. Back in May and June I was biking 20 - 25 mile long rides on the weekends. And then I kind of stopped because it got too hot and I was going super early or super late so I couldn't put the mileage in. Why I chose this weekend to put big numbers up? I have no idea except the hubby was originally going to go with me and I threw out the number 15 and he said cool. And then he got sick and didn't go, but instead of backing off, I still went for 15. That makes me a nerd.
Sunday - 4 Mile Run - Turned it into the six miler that I said I might in last weeks post. I slept an extra three hours on Sunday and skipped starting before dawn. By the time I got down to the Trinity the sun was blazing, but it wasn't too hot. I got to the two mile part (where I would normally turn around) and thought another mile wouldn't kill me. But my legs were still kind of dead weight and I ended up struggling more than I should have the fourth and the last mile. (Mile 4 took 18 minutes, yeah, it was rough). By the time I got home I had a major sunburn. New rule. Make sure that if I am starting late, I bring something with super high SPF. Please don't ask me why this did not occur to me before I set off.

Goals for this week
Five workouts, 3 running, 2 cycling - done and done
25 Miles - 9 running / 16 cycling - did 11 running / 24 cycling - I kicked this goals butt
Yoga - I think I am giving this goal up until the week of the 24th when I am going to start back taking a yoga class. Me deciding to do this on my own is clearly not working.

Next Week's Schedule
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 3 Mile Run
Wednesday - 30 minute cross training
Thursday - 2 Mile + Strength
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 5K Race
Sunday - 30 minute cross

Goals for next week
Beat last months 5K time
24 Miles - 8 Running / 16 cycling

Week 8 Recap

2011-10-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

For the first time I felt like I kicked this weeks azz! Well, let's be honest. It's been almost a month since I got in all five workouts and this week I got in six (according to dailymile). That is freaking rock solid. Now I just I wish I didn't fell like absolute death today. I seriously think that my legs hate me right now.

So, let's recap!

This Week
Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run - Nothing spectacular. Just a run. I think I was a little faster than normal and for sure felt better than the previous weeks three miler.

Wednesday - 30 Minute Cross - Got in 8 miles on the bike. I've upped my average speed by one full mile per hour. I'm pretty proud of that. I think the new shifters that the hubster bought me help.

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength - I had to drag myself out for this run. My legs were still kind of sore, but I made it. I actually ended up making this a Fartlek (or speed play) workout. Basically, what you do is change it up at not so regular intervals. It's kind of fun. You run really fast for 30 seconds and then slow down. and then go normal for a while and then speed up again. It really is kind of like playing, except that your neighbors think that you are weird and can't hold a pace. (Also, this is the day that I got in two workouts, since I walked the dogs about a mile as a warm-up for my run).

Friday - Rest - Supposed to be a rest day, but there was rain in the weekend forecast ~~and I will mel~~t. So, I opted to do my long run directly after work on the Katy Trail in Dallas. Let me just start by saying this run was awful. As in, I should have stopped a mile in and turned around and gone on home. They say the point of your long run is more of endurance than speed and I really hope this is true this week. I really don't even know what was wrong. It just wasn't my day. My pace was less than stellar. People could walk faster than I ran, but I put in six long, grueling, awful miles. And I didn't die.

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross - Too rainy/ too much to do. Just didn't get out and do anything.

Sunday - 6 Mile Run - Decided this was the say to do my cross training. I rained most of the morning, so I headed out in the early evening. I decided that since I had a miserable run on Friday that this weeks cross training activity would be another run. I know, that's not what the workout called for, but the plan did say that I could use one of my rest days for a run, so I figured it was ok to sub it in. I went a little over four miles. It was nice. I ran until I didn't want to run anymore since I had no distance goal. It was kind of nice. I've determined that my calves don't "wake up" until about a mile and a half in, so that is helpful information to keep in my arsenal. Overall, I was pretty darn pleased with this run.

Goals for this week:
Five workouts, 3 running, 2 cycling, missed it, but I am ok with it.
20 Miles - 10 running / 10 cycling, again, I missed it but barely.
Yoga - Still haven't found the time for this

Next Week's Schedule
Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run

Wednesday - 30 Minute Cross

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength

Friday - Rest

Saturday - 30 Minute Cross

Sunday - 4 Mile Run

* It's a taper week. I may still do six miles, if I feel like it.

Goals for next week
Five workouts, 3 running, 2 cycling
25 Miles - 9 running / 16 cycling
Yoga

Running Music

2011-10-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Running off the Reese’s posed a question the other day about the best music to run to. She was needing some new music for the Chicago marathon that she’s running this weekend, which is totally awesome. So, not one for having my own original content, I thought I’d share my top 10 running songs.
1. She Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd
2.Bad Enough for You by All Time Low
3. Uprising by Muse
4. & 5. Bad Girlfriend and Lowlife by Theory of a Deadman
6. Riptide by Sick Puppies
7. Biggest Mistake by Melee
8. Figured You Out by Nickelback
9. Just Tonight by the Pretty Reckless
10. Country Song by Seether
Anyone have a favorite that they would like to share?

Week 7 Recap

2011-10-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

I am going to give this week a thumbs up! Yay!!!

PS: Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of yourself giving a thumbs up?

Even though I missed a workout. I'll live. My parents were in town and really, I had the opportunity to miss three workouts and I'll take the fact that I only missed one as a positive step. Plus, I didn't miss any runs. To me that is more important than the cross training, since, aferall I am only two weeks and four days away from my next race. And I have a big goal time in mind for that race. We'll see how that goes. Anyway, here's a look at how last week went!

Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run - In the neighborhood. Run went well, fast even.

Wednesday - 30 Minute Cross - Bike. I made it 8 miles. I really wanted to stop after 3, but I carried on. I've discovered that I am better on the bike when I just randomly go places versus plan exactly where I am going. I intended to do all of the miles in my neighborhood but after the second loop, I wanted to quit because I was bored. Then I went across the street and explored and made it all miles.

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength - Had to run at 5:15 pm since my parents were arriving around 7:00. It was hot, like 105 hot and my pace was slow. And by slow, I mean s.l.o.w. I had kind of gotten used to not running in the heat.

Friday - Rest

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross - Fail.

Sunday - 5 Mile Run - My dad and I went for our first ever run together. Five whole miles. It was a good run on a cool morning. It was ok.

Goals from last week

Five workouts, 3 running, 2 cycling - Got in the running, missed one of the cycling.
20 Miles - 10 running / 10 cycling - Ended up with 10 miles running / 8 miles biking. Not bad considering I missed a cross training day.
Yoga - Fail. Fail. Fail. : )

Next Week's Schedule
Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run

Wednesday - 30 Minute Cross

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength

Friday - Rest

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross

Sunday - 6 Mile Run

Goals for next week

Six workouts, 3 running, 2 cycling, 1 yoga
26 Miles - 11 running / 15 cycling
Yoga, just one measly 20 minute workout

Week 6 Recap

2011-09-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, little blog of mine. Let's talk about how awful this week was:

Yeah, it was a lot like that. I've had worse weeks (*ahem* week five), but this week I knew I could have done better, but didn't. I was still a little sick in the first half of the week, leading me to do nothing and then try to make up five workouts in four days. Not the brightest thing that I have ever done. I almost don't even want to go day by day, but we will.

Monday - rest - technically I got this day correct. I did rest. I was feeling a little sore from the cold still plus new pains from the 5K the day before.

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run - Hey, look, my first day of not doing anything when I am supposed to be doing something. I was still a little sick, which I probably could have run through, but the aches and pain from the 5K were just too great. I am a wuss and opted not to injure myself. Or at least that is the lie that I tell myself for not getting off my azz on this day to go for a run.

Wednesday - 40 Minute Cross - Second day of lounging around. In my defense, on this day, I was really icky and didn't even bother going to work. I actually thought even though I didn't go to work that I would feel well enough later in the day to make up my run. I was very wrong and when D came home early not feeling well, that motivated me even further to sit on the couch and watch TV.

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength - Ok. I got out and moved. One would have thought that I would actually do the assigned days workout, but not this girl. I opted to do my missed Tuesday 3 mile run instead. It was good. Fast even (for me, let's be realistic here). I felt way better and I made it the entire three miles with out dying and I ran the majority of it. Go me. My small walk breaks are almost a thing of the past.

Friday - Rest - Here is where I squeezed in my 40 minute cross training from Wednesday. D and I took our bikes on a little adventure into the neighborhood across the street. Apparently those people have a life because their neighborhood was full of cars and people out and about. We cut that ride short and went back to our neighborhood where no one has a life and the streets are empty. Not dying while riding a bike is on my priority list

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross - Up semi-bright and early (7:15ish) for my 2 mile run from Thursday. It was chilly. I realized that I pretty much only own hot weather gear. Guess I need to pony up for a few pieces of cold weather stuff. Not that I would have worn it on Saturday, it wasn't that cold, but it would be nice to have since we are technically coming up on winter. My secondary goal for Saturday was to still get in Saturday's hour long cross training. But instead we went to the Botanic Garden (can I call that cross training??) and walked around for about an hour or so, then went to have dinner with the in-laws. Meaning we didn't get home in time to do anything.

Sunday - 5 Mile Run - So, if you've stayed with me so far, you'll know I am only two exercises short for the week. Saturday's cross training and Sunday's 5 miler.....Guess which one I did. The five miler. I amaze myself sometimes. I was so nervous about this all week. Five miles would be my longest run to date. When I went to bed on Saturday night, I set my alarm for 6:30 and had all of my gear laid out. I got up (shockingly) at 6:45, got dressed and headed to my long run spot. I've been working on negative splits. I haven't loaded my Garmin data yet, but I am pretty sure I accomplished that, mostly because at the turn around there was this big guy about a quarter of a mile in front of me and I wanted to pass him. I almost did when he turned and took another path. I am pretty sure I would have won our "race." Oh, and I did 5.4 miles due to my Garmin and I having an argument. : )

So all in all, I had five workouts planned and accomplished four. I feel like that is ok since I was sick at the beginning of the week. I did all of the runs, which to me right now is the most important thing. I have a pretty lofty time goal for my 5K in October that I want to hit, so the runs are what's important right this very minute.

Next Week's Schedule
It's pretty much a carbon copy of last week.

Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run

Wednesday - 45 Minute Cross

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength

Friday - Rest

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross

Sunday - 5 Mile Run

Goals for next week
Five workouts, 3 running, 2 cycling
20 Miles - 10 running / 10 cycling
Yoga

See you next week!

Plano Balloon Festival Race Recap

2011-09-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

I know you guys have been anxiously awaiting my race recap and here it is. We had to wake up super early on a Sunday morning to make the drive over to Plano. I was still getting over the yuckiness of a cold and really wanted to sleep. My pretend goal for the day?

Just don't be last. Because really how embarrassing is that? The drive there was really long and the hubby even made me drive. Boo on him.

Um, yeah the sun was barely up when we got there. Then we had to kill about an hour and the balloons weren't even out due to the storms in the west. So we basically just sat next to the starting line for awhile. We watched the fun run and discussed who we thought I would beat and who we thought would beat me. Because we are nerds and there was nothing more exciting to do.

Here I am patiently waiting at the start. Aren't I cute with my little braids? Ok, no, but it's the most comfortable way for me to run since my hair is so thick.

I snapped this one about a minute before the start. See that guy in the white shirt in front of me? He took off like he stole something. Seriously, I looked up and he was around the corner (which was a mile away), but clearly he's only a sprinter since I caught up with him at mile two and actually finished ahead of him. I'd say it's because I am awesome, but the truth is that it is because he sucked and ran too fast too quickly.Speaking of running too fast too quickly. That was me. See this girl left her Garmin at home and had no idea how fast or slow she was going. I didn't do as bad as the guy in the white shirt, but I kept having to force myself to slow down or I would have burned out like him.

Mile two was both my worst nightmare and my best friend all rolled into one. See that hill I pointed at (ok, attempted to point at on the map)? No one mentioned there would be a big axx hill. It was huge. Bad news for when I ran up it, slightly better news for when I got to run down it. The last mile seemed to go faster than the second, but I couldn't promise you that was true since I didn't have my stupid watch.When I passed the three mile mark, I did kick it into high gear for the final 10th of a mile. As I rounded the corner, I saw D and waved. Then I heard the announcer say my name (embarrassing) and tell everyone it was my first 5K (doubly embarrassing), but it was probably one of the sweetest things that Ditz has done. I mean who doesn't want to be called out by name as they finish a race? It was seriously cool. And creepy, but more cool, so it's ok.

This is how I looked after. Not terribly awful. Not a beauty for sure, but I had more in me and I guess that's what counts. So how did I do? My time I wanted to beat was 45 minutes. Don't laugh. I am a SUPER slow runner and will probably never get super fast. I think the best pace I can image getting down to is an eleven minute mile. But I digress. My official time was 42:35. So I did it! And since it's my first one, that makes it an automatic PR!! That is until October 22nd which is my next 5K where I hope to kill it. I am so very much looking forward to it and hoping that I don't have a cold weighing me down!

My post race meal! Gyros from a little place in Plano. I think I want to go there a lot. It was so good!

Week 5 Recap

2011-09-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

Another week down! And this week was a super special race week!! (Race recap coming soon).

Don't ask. It was kind of a bad week, but I thought this still summed it up pretty good.

Monday - Rest. I seem to do this pretty well each week.

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run. We're about to enter the land of TMI. I was running along at a very crisp pace. In fact that time that I wanted to beat on my 5K, was in my sights and I wasn't even running at race speed. And then my stomach started hurting. And then I was just trying to get home as quickly as possible. I was still within three minutes of my goal, which is pretty freaking awesome.

Wednesday - 40 Minute Cross - My bike was out of commission, so I did a walk instead with the hubby. I was starting to not fee good at this point in the week, so it really was slow and just kind of blah.

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength - Epic Fail. Didn't do it. Didn't make it up. Have no intention of making it up. : ) I was sick, as in really sick with a cold / cough / sore throat thing. Boo on being sick.

Friday - Rest - Again, I am good at the resting. I would have actually stayed home from work and rested even more, but we're still dealing with car issues and we were meeting the car guy at my office. : (

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross - Fail. Didn't do it. Won't make it up. I slept most of the day. It was really quite lovely.

Sunday - Race!!! - I'll be posting a race recap shortly! (In other words, I made it and did it).

So, here's what's in the cards for this week.

Monday - rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run

Wednesday - 40 Minute Cross

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength

Friday - Rest

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross

Sunday - 5 Mile Run - Are you bleeping kidding me?

See you soon for a race recap!

Week 4: Recap

2011-09-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yay, I made it through week four. Not going to lie, I was a lot nervous since it involved five straight days of excercise. Never again will I do my long run on a rest day. I'll have to do two a day to make it up or something like that. Anyway, over all how did the week go?

That's a smiley face in case you can't tell and chicken grilling on the barbecue. What don't act like you don't take random pictures like that.

Week Four Recap (adjusted for Monday to be a long run for the previous week)

Tuesday - Rest - Good thing. I really couldn't move from Monday's hills!!

Wednesday - 3 Mile run - I was still a lot sore from Monday, but I put my big girl panties on and went for it. It was slow and if I consider something slow you know it was s l o w. I felt like it dragged on forever and a day, but I finished it and didn't quit. I actually ended up doing 3.25 miles.

Thursday - 35 Minute Cross Taining - Well, this was an epic fail. I did do 35 minutes, but I ended up having to call Mr. J to pick me up a few miles from home. I was having major bike issues, but once he got there they just disappeared. How rude. I only got in four miles during that time, that's how slow I was going and how many issues I was having!

Friday - 2 Mile Run + Strength - Done and done. I was really fast on my run. It's because I am awesome in case you didn't know (that or I had finally worked out all the aches from Monday!)

Saturday - 45 Minute Cross Training - Did this one with Mr. J. We went really late at night and he could barely see where he was going. Basically, I knew where I was going so it didn't bother me, but I've biked that course a hundred times and him not so much. Probably should have slowed down or something. When we finished however he implied that other than not being able to see, the ride was pretty easy, so maybe next time I don't slow down. : )

Sunday - 4 Mile run - So here's the deal. I think I have said this before. I really need to pay better attention to my training plan. After the last time that I did the wrong total, I set it up on my work calendar to send me an e-mail on Friday to remind me what I am supposed to be doing. I think I am going to have to go a step further and print it out every week since I did way more that I was supposed to - again. The plan called for four miles, but in my head I was supposed to do 4.5 miles. Since I am always nervous when I do out and backs that the Garmin gave me the wrong amount of distance one way, I always go a little extra. So I did 4.6 miles total. Yeah, it's only a little over a half of a mile further, but after five straight days of excercise I so woould have enjoyed stopping at four. The good news was that I felt really good the whole time and I did 4.6 miles faster than I did 4.1 miles a few weeks ago. i think that's progress. Or something like that.

From Sunday's long run. It's a shoe. : )

Week Five Plan

Monday - Rest

Tuesday - 3 Mile Run

Wednesday - 40 Minute Cross Training

Thursday - 2 Mile Run + Strength

Friday - Rest

Saturday - 60 Minute Cross Training

Sunday - RACE DAY - Plano Balloon Fest 5K - I actually have a goal for this thing, but I'm not going to post it. I don't want to feel dumb if I can't do it in that time. Plus this way, whatever I run it in I can say was my goal to begin with. : ) See how smart I am?

Se you guys next week!

Recap: Week Three

2011-09-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

Ah, week three. I think you'll be better than week four. How'd this week go?

Yes, I am a nerd.

So, let's check out the week!

Monday: Rest - Yes, I did. Call me lazy.

Tuesday: 2.5 Mile Run - Yes, I did this too. Nothing super awesome to report. I didn't die and I did it at a decent for me pace. I feel like I should push myself a little harder, but then I don't. Maybe next week.

Wednesday: 30 Min Cross - Bicycle. I went really late, as in dark when I left the house. I still thought I'd be a big girl and ride on the big road, but ended up really freaking myself out. I only did six miles in the the 30 minutes and my goal was seven. Maybe next week.

Thursday: 2 Mile Run + Strength - Got my two miles in at a minute faster pace per mile than my 2.5 mile run on Tuesday. That felt nice. Strength is getting kinda boring since I basically do the same ten moves. I need to get a new routine. Maybe next week (notice a pattern).

Friday: Rest - Yep. I can rest with the best of them.

Saturday: 40 Min Cross. I made a decision about my Saturday cross training sessions. I am going to go as long as I feel like it. I was previously doing a few hours on the bike on Saturday's and I loved it. Cutting back to the 30 - 60 minutes that are on my training schedule feel so short, so my new goal is that I'll do at least the minimum that is required, but leave myself the option of going longer if I feel like it. This Saturday I did 15 miles. It felt really good and I could have done more if I would have planned a better route, but once you are back in your neighborhood and look like death, I feel it's best to go ahead and call it done and done. : ) Next week I am going to try for 20. I am wild and crazy like that.

Sunday: 4 Mile Long Run. Well, I didn't do this. Just wait one second before you freak out. I am counting Monday of this week as my long run day (I'm adding that below). The problem with the Sunday long run was that Saturday night I thought I'd be one of the cool kids and have the table side smores at Tillman's. I can't really handle wheat and sometimes dairy backfires as well, but I really wanted it. Big mistake. Epic. I'll never eat that again. Needless to say (or maybe not), I was ill most of Saturday evening into Sunday morning and could not go on an early morning run. At the time, I thought no big deal, I'll go later that night. Fast forward to driving home at ten from D's mom's house. We stayed way later than I thought we would and I was so tired that I couldn't force myself to go out for the run. I know that sounds like a bunch of excuses, but it was just not my day to run and I've made changes to week four to be able to incorporate that long run into week four.

Monday: My four mile long run turned into a nearly eight mile trail run (equal parts walking and running, but my pace was only slightly slower than if I had been running the entire time and I doubled my distance). D and I packed a lunch to eat on the trail, which was really nice. The last time we hiked this trail we carried a bottle of water a piece and nearly died after three miles. (It was a hundred and ten that day). This time we seemed to be the only people overly prepared with each of us with a CamelBak filled with ice water (the temperature was seventy degrees, very nice). I think people looked at us like we were crazy. Especially those people who we passed multiple times (we did each inner loop twice). All and all it was a good hike/run. We passed a lot of people and that made me feel super cool!

I just said I felt super cool. I never said I looked super cool. And PS, yes, I was wearing a JACKET in this photo. Can you believe it??

Week Four Plans: (adjusted to allow Monday to be a long run)

Tuesday - Rest

Wednesday - 3 Mile Run

Thursday - 35 Minute Cross Training

Friday - 2 Mile Run + Strength

Saturday - 45 Minute Cross Training

Sunday - 4 Mile Run

Recap Week 2

2011-08-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I never got around to telling you what my plan was for this past week. So we'll just do a recap and you'll pretend that you knew what the plan was all along. How did the week go? Here's a hint.

It was a good week. Planned the work and worked the plan to an extent. That'll be explained on my long run.

Monday: Rest Day. Yeah, this went well. I'm good at resting.

Tuesday: 2.5 Mile Run. This went well. I actually was a little faster than normal, so that was good.

Wednesday: 30 Minute cross training. I did the bike and made it 7 miles in 30 minutes. That's not super awesome, but it's not bad either.

Thursday: Supposed to be a 2 mile run and strength training but I wasn't feeling 100% so I decided to switch my Friday rest day and the Thursday workout day.

Friday: 2 Miles + Strength. I went pretty late and I think I was still a little icky feeling from the day before so I was very slow. I actually did the strength training and got in my upper body work out, so that was good.

Saturday: 40 Minute cross training was on the schedule but instead I did an hour. I really felt fine so I went with it. At some point that might kill me when I am doing longer long runs, but right now it was good.

Sunday: Long run. See here's my problem. I get it in my head that I am supposed to do something and instead of looking I just do what I think that I am supposed to do. I was supposed to do 3.5 miles. I thought I was supposed to do 4 miles. I actually ended up doing 4.2 miles. I was slow, more of a slogger than a runner. But the point of long runs is to build endurance and I am pretty sure I accomplished that.

I'll go ahead and lay out next weeks plan while I have you guys here. : )

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 2.5 Mile Run

Wednesday: 30 Min Cross

Thursday: 2 Mile Run + Strength

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 40 Min Cross

Sunday: 4 Mile Long Run

I totally am

2011-08-25T05:56:00.001-07:00

My new mantra.

Recap Week 1

2011-08-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

So it's time to recap week one of my massively long training plan! How do I think last week went..... Here's a clue:

That's me making a "yeah, it was not super awesome, but I did it" face. : )

Here's how the week broke down:

Monday - A rest day because I feel that everyone should start their training plan with rest day.

Tuesday - You read about Tuesday already. I did it. Put in the effort, did the miles.

Wednesday - And here's where things started happening that kind of ruined it all. I was supposed to do 30 minutes of cross training which I had determined would be the bike. Short story, I finished 30 minutes. Long story, I really wanted to do seven miles in that amount of time and I probably would have had I not had super sudden stomach cramps pop up around mile 2.5. I barely made it back to the car, but then after I sat down for a while, I was able to mow so I am wondering if I should have pushed through it.

Thursday - Fail. I was supposed to do two miles, plus strength training. Instead I went a saw Crazy, Stupid Love with Laura and Natalie. I rarely ever go out with anyone other than the hubby so i wasn't going to let the opportunity pass. Figured I mae it up on Friday.

Friday - Rest day - Pass. Make-up day - Fail. Dinner and a movie with the mother-in-law. Movie was awful. I had intended on getting my missed run in after the movies but due to poor planning we went to a later movie that I would have liked leaving no time for running after.

Saturday - Cross Training - Fail. Make-up day - Pass. I made up my missed Thursday run and planned on getting in my long run on Sunday and my missed cross training on Monday (my off day for next week).

Sunday - Cross training - Pass. Long Run - Pass. That's right, I did both so that I could still have two rest days this week. Does that make me lame? I did about 7 miles on the bike and it was really tough. Not really sure why, but that kind of blew. Then I did my long run starting at about 8:30. I walked more than I really should have, but Ditz was with me for a good portion of it and I wanted to walk / run with him.

So, the plan this week was 5 workouts and I managed to get all 5 in. I think this week I will be more regimented in my training schedule. I made a plan for a reason and at this point I really shouldn't deviate from it too much. But also, I really need to look to see what exactly it is that I am supposed to be doing that day. A few days I may or may not have done the wrong thing (ie, Saturday, I really did not intend to make up my Thursday run, I thought that was my long run day). So, I will focus more on paying attention!

I'll post this weeks schedule soon!

She F'ng Hates Me

2011-08-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

That post title is funny, just wait until I explain it at the bottom. I promise that I will not post about every single run especially because they will not be that impressive to most people. BUT....today is the official first training run that will lead up to my half marathon next year. So yeah, I felt it deserved a little blog post all of it's own. First, want to know what I looked like after this terrible experience?

Yeah, I'm smiling. Only because when I wasn't smiling I looked miserable. Like how I matched? Pink hat, pink shirt? I dressed up for the occasion. Just kidding. I was way more sweaty than this picture would lead you to believe. I waited until 8:00 pm to head out and even then it was 98 degrees out. So yeah, still hot and miserable. I am glad when I have to go longer distances it will be cooler and therefor I can go earlier.

You'll need to click to make that bigger if you actually have any interest in what it says. I need to get better about my "laps." I just hit the button every time I came to our mail box, but clearly the distance changes every time around. My half marathon goal pace is 10 minutes. Right now I am a 14:15 minutes so I have a lot of shaving to do, but when I am running the entire time I hover in the 10 minute pace, I just really have to get better at the whole running thing.

So, I am starting with the exact same distance that I was doing last week when I wasn't in "training." So what's different this week? Well, last week when I got to the end of mile one and wanted to quit, I probably would have. Seriously, I was still feeling the hike from Sunday in my thighs, but instead of giving up - I kept going. I made it my measly two miles. Patted myself on the back and came in to check my stats because I am a super nerd. (I was faster last week by the way).

Anyway, I'll leave you with my gem of a blog post title. See, I have a running play list on my iPhone. It's full of super upbeat songs that I love. The last song that came on was She F'ng Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd. (A song I love). Anyway, the way my legs felt it mad me laugh to imagine that my legs were singing that to me or somehow made it play on my phone.

She f'ng hates me

trust

she f'ng hates me

la la la love

I tried too hard

and she tore my feelings like I had none

and ripped them away

Start - Training Day 1

2011-08-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Who starts their training with a rest day? This girl! To be fair, D and I did hike five miles yesterday and I still feel that this morning. We ended up at our favorite hiking spot and did three laps of the smaller interior loop in order to get all the miles in.

Anywho, today is the day that I start officially training for my half marathon in March of 2012. Now, I know some of you might be able to do that math in your head. Yes, that is seven months away and no, I'm not hopping in to the half marathon training right now. I am going to start with a 10K training plan, followed by a 15K training plan and then finally the half marathon training plan. All three of those training plans done back to back end the week of my half marathon (awesome how it works out that way). So here we go. I think day one will go well. You know with the whole rest day and all.

Here's this weeks schedule:
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 2.5 miles
Wednesday - Cross Training (probably bike)
Thursday - 2 miles + strength
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Cross Training (probably bike)
Sunday - 3 miles

The only day that might be a little iffy on this is Thursday since I have plans with the girls and Friday night I am going out with my mother-in-law. Not sure yet how I'll do that, but check in on Sunday and we'll see how I did.