So. I just re-read my 2012 goals, and I think they are slack goals. I may actually have to re-write them. I mean really? I realize it's only February, but number 1 is run 1000 miles, and I'll be damn near done with that by July if I keep this up. And the pace goals are equally lame.
Did you ever re-do your goals a couple months in because you realized you were sand-bagging yourself? A goal is supposed to be a challenge, and at this rate, I don't feel like mine are.
So even if I don't officially fix them, know that I'll be thinking about them as "not enough."
***
February miles rounded out at 110.04, which is more than twice last year's February mileage. Which kicks ass.
***
I've been single parenting for the past couple days, which I suck at, mostly because I hate it. And I like my husband. He's funny and cool and as big a dork as I am. I kinda like having him back again. In the meantime, I've been trying to get ready for a big birthday party. You see, my baby turns 5 tomorrow. HOW ON EARTH DID THAT HAPPEN???? And he wants monkey cupcakes. Have I mentioned before that I am the antithesis of crafty? But I love that kid, and monkey cupcakes he will have. Hopefully someone besides James will actually know they're monkeys. :)
Gotta go clean some more. You know, so they can all undo it when they get home from school...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Grandma's Marathon Training: Week 2
This was another really solid week of training.
Monday: 3 easy scheduled. Did 3.7 @ 11:08 pace with Riyanti and Chris. Super nice run.
Tuesday: 6 tempo scheduled. Did 6 @ 9:48 pace. Who is this girl?
Wednesday: 3 easy scheduled. Did 3.25 @ 10:35 pace with Sarah, who wanted to see if she remembered how to run faster than 11s. She rocked it. Wednesday night strength was a lot of dumbbell and bodybar work for shoulders. Also some push ups and plank/rows.
Thursday: Rest on the schedule but James was off school on Friday, so I knew that I had to get it done. I was so freaking tired. Did NOT want to run. I told myself that I would only go as fast as MY plan said to go (which was 10:30 pace). Well.
That was the day that inspired my last post. I ran 6 @ 9:33, with splits of 10:14, 10:05, 9:48, 9:30, 9:07, 8:40. You see, I'd been scoping McMillan, who says I should be able to run a mile at 8:10. I was talking to John about it, again denying that I was capable of that. He, of course, rolled his eyes at me and told me I could SO do that. So at the end of this great run, I figured what the hell? Let's see what I can do. It's still insanity to me to SEE that I can do that.
Friday: Well deserved snowy rest. Thursday night I was really really sore. Not sure if it was the run or the strength (more dead lifts than I'd remembered) but my hammy's were not happy with me. I was a bit nervous going into Saturday's long run.
Saturday: 12 on the schedule. I ran the first 8 with some club people and finished the last 4 on my own. Splits were 10:14, 10:30, 10:34, 10:18, 10:29, 10:07, 10:03, 9:58, 10:27, 10:33, 10:31, 10:13 for an average pace of 10:19. Those speedy middle miles were running with Amanda who's easy pace is quicker than mine, but I felt good so I went with it. I seriously couldn't have been more pleased with this one, and I felt great afterwards.
Saturday night we went out with our oldest friends and had a lovely child-free dinner at Wildfire. So freaking good. And then John got up at 3 in the morning for his flight to Virginia. He'll be home late Tuesday night, so I'll be whining until then. Sunday was spent laying around with my kids, playing games and watching movies. It was a nice day...
Week total: 30.95 miles.
Monday: 3 easy scheduled. Did 3.7 @ 11:08 pace with Riyanti and Chris. Super nice run.
Tuesday: 6 tempo scheduled. Did 6 @ 9:48 pace. Who is this girl?
Wednesday: 3 easy scheduled. Did 3.25 @ 10:35 pace with Sarah, who wanted to see if she remembered how to run faster than 11s. She rocked it. Wednesday night strength was a lot of dumbbell and bodybar work for shoulders. Also some push ups and plank/rows.
Thursday: Rest on the schedule but James was off school on Friday, so I knew that I had to get it done. I was so freaking tired. Did NOT want to run. I told myself that I would only go as fast as MY plan said to go (which was 10:30 pace). Well.
That was the day that inspired my last post. I ran 6 @ 9:33, with splits of 10:14, 10:05, 9:48, 9:30, 9:07, 8:40. You see, I'd been scoping McMillan, who says I should be able to run a mile at 8:10. I was talking to John about it, again denying that I was capable of that. He, of course, rolled his eyes at me and told me I could SO do that. So at the end of this great run, I figured what the hell? Let's see what I can do. It's still insanity to me to SEE that I can do that.
Friday: Well deserved snowy rest. Thursday night I was really really sore. Not sure if it was the run or the strength (more dead lifts than I'd remembered) but my hammy's were not happy with me. I was a bit nervous going into Saturday's long run.
Saturday: 12 on the schedule. I ran the first 8 with some club people and finished the last 4 on my own. Splits were 10:14, 10:30, 10:34, 10:18, 10:29, 10:07, 10:03, 9:58, 10:27, 10:33, 10:31, 10:13 for an average pace of 10:19. Those speedy middle miles were running with Amanda who's easy pace is quicker than mine, but I felt good so I went with it. I seriously couldn't have been more pleased with this one, and I felt great afterwards.
Saturday night we went out with our oldest friends and had a lovely child-free dinner at Wildfire. So freaking good. And then John got up at 3 in the morning for his flight to Virginia. He'll be home late Tuesday night, so I'll be whining until then. Sunday was spent laying around with my kids, playing games and watching movies. It was a nice day...
Week total: 30.95 miles.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Getting Comfortable With "Comfortably Hard" (TWSS)
So. Once upon a time there was a girl who started running. Almost exactly 2 years ago. And for nearly 2 years, she ran whatever pace she felt like running. Whether it be a race or a long run or a training run. It was all pretty much the same. She ran easy, all the time.
After a pretty successful second running season, she began to wonder what she could do to improve her pace a little. It HAD improved, just due to lots of miles, but not as much as she'd like it to improve. She added a couple of speedwork sessions in that year, and liked them, but her schedule prevented her from running speedwork with the club much, and she was too lazy to do it on her own.
She added in a weekly strength class, and that helped more than she ever dreamed it would. She FELT stronger. She walked less. And as a bonus, winter wasn't really winter 'round here, so she kept running and running, putting good miles in all winter long.
Beginning a new training season for her next marathon, she sought a different training plan. The new plan had more miles. The new plan had 2 pace specific runs per week. Her friend had entered the paces she believed were appropriate. This runner immediately balked, thinking, "That's WAY too fast for me. There's no WAY I can do that." She amended the plan and started to execute it.
BUT. She DID run as fast as the plan originally called for. She COULD match those paces she'd never dreamed of running. She PR'd the 10k on a training run. She repeated that pace again and again. She ran her fastest ever timed mile (since beginning 2 years ago) AT THE END of a 6 mile training run.
SHE CAN.
(not sure where the hell that leaves my original goals for the year, but WHAT A GREAT problem to have!)
After a pretty successful second running season, she began to wonder what she could do to improve her pace a little. It HAD improved, just due to lots of miles, but not as much as she'd like it to improve. She added a couple of speedwork sessions in that year, and liked them, but her schedule prevented her from running speedwork with the club much, and she was too lazy to do it on her own.
She added in a weekly strength class, and that helped more than she ever dreamed it would. She FELT stronger. She walked less. And as a bonus, winter wasn't really winter 'round here, so she kept running and running, putting good miles in all winter long.
Beginning a new training season for her next marathon, she sought a different training plan. The new plan had more miles. The new plan had 2 pace specific runs per week. Her friend had entered the paces she believed were appropriate. This runner immediately balked, thinking, "That's WAY too fast for me. There's no WAY I can do that." She amended the plan and started to execute it.
BUT. She DID run as fast as the plan originally called for. She COULD match those paces she'd never dreamed of running. She PR'd the 10k on a training run. She repeated that pace again and again. She ran her fastest ever timed mile (since beginning 2 years ago) AT THE END of a 6 mile training run.
SHE CAN.
(not sure where the hell that leaves my original goals for the year, but WHAT A GREAT problem to have!)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Back At It: Grandma's Marathon Training Week 1
So, as I said, I got a brand new training plan in my grubby paws late on Tuesday. That set my week behind a little bit, but I recovered nicely. Overall? This week of training was so so perfect.
Monday: 3 easy on the schedule, but James was off school, so rest it was.
Tuesday: 6 @ MRP - 30 seconds on the schedule, but James had his Valentine's Day party, and I couldn't say no. Rest again.
Wednesday: 3 easy on the schedule, but I decided to do my Tuesday run. 6 @ 10:23 pace ended up 6@ 10:21 pace, progressive. (10:53, 10:47, 10:28, 10:07, 10:04, 9:53) I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be striving for a more consistent pace, but this felt really good.
That night, I had strength class. We did a lot of work with plyoboxes, and a lot of jumping. We planked off the boxes and used weights too. It kicked my butt after that run, and I was a sweaty mess by the time we finished.
Thursday: Rest on the schedule, but I made up my easy miles instead. I did 6 @ 10:49, which is a little faster than I meant to run.
Friday: So I thought I had it all figured out - my older kids were off school, but Jenna was going to sit for me while James napped in the afternoon. Until Julia hurled her breakfast everywhere. *sigh* Nothing like a Lucky Charms puke clown face to start your day. (WHY do they insist on trying to somehow hold it in their mouths? It never works!)
BUT. Lucky for me, she never puked again, AND John came home from work early. Hurray! Run saved! I headed out for 6 @ 10:30 pace. This got thrown a little when I started right when all the neighborhood high school kids were getting off the bus. So there were kids and construction workers everywhere (they are still building in my 'hood). I'm not sure why, but I always run unintentionally faster around people. So when I clocked the first mile at under 10, I started thinking. Hmmm. Weather? Beautiful! Legs? Feel great. I went for it.
LESS THAN AN HOUR later, I was done. With 10k. In 58:47. Yes, I ran a PR training run. (9:57, 9:40, 9:28, 9:21, 9:20, 9:11, 9:02 for the last 0.2) I was BEAMING.
Saturday: After the Friday evening speed fest, I was a little nervous about my long run legs. My friends Sarah wanted to start with me though, which was just what I needed. I ran slow and steady, and felt great when I was done. Again, the weather was perfect. (11:16, 11:14, 11:07, 11:21, 11:13, 11:05, 11:05, 11:23, 10:54, 10:49, 10:00) 11 miles done at 11:02 average pace.
Since I started late, the next couple hours were a whirlwind of smashing in work under the wire. But I got everything accomplished I needed to, and then I headed into the city. Because one of my favorite bloggy friends was there!
After I finally made it (seriously, Chicago traffic SUCKS) I spent the next few hours hanging out with Kate, who is absolutely as warm and real and funny in person as she is on her blog. We cheered for her son (who was playing in a volleyball tournament) and gabbed a LOT. I seriously love meeting bloggers, and it's always crazy to me just how accurate the picture in my head is. I had a great time, and hopefully we can do it again soon!
Sunday: I'm still in my jammies. I'm going shopping soon - does that count for cross training?
Week total: 29.2 miles
Monday: 3 easy on the schedule, but James was off school, so rest it was.
Tuesday: 6 @ MRP - 30 seconds on the schedule, but James had his Valentine's Day party, and I couldn't say no. Rest again.
Wednesday: 3 easy on the schedule, but I decided to do my Tuesday run. 6 @ 10:23 pace ended up 6@ 10:21 pace, progressive. (10:53, 10:47, 10:28, 10:07, 10:04, 9:53) I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be striving for a more consistent pace, but this felt really good.
That night, I had strength class. We did a lot of work with plyoboxes, and a lot of jumping. We planked off the boxes and used weights too. It kicked my butt after that run, and I was a sweaty mess by the time we finished.
Thursday: Rest on the schedule, but I made up my easy miles instead. I did 6 @ 10:49, which is a little faster than I meant to run.
Friday: So I thought I had it all figured out - my older kids were off school, but Jenna was going to sit for me while James napped in the afternoon. Until Julia hurled her breakfast everywhere. *sigh* Nothing like a Lucky Charms puke clown face to start your day. (WHY do they insist on trying to somehow hold it in their mouths? It never works!)
BUT. Lucky for me, she never puked again, AND John came home from work early. Hurray! Run saved! I headed out for 6 @ 10:30 pace. This got thrown a little when I started right when all the neighborhood high school kids were getting off the bus. So there were kids and construction workers everywhere (they are still building in my 'hood). I'm not sure why, but I always run unintentionally faster around people. So when I clocked the first mile at under 10, I started thinking. Hmmm. Weather? Beautiful! Legs? Feel great. I went for it.
LESS THAN AN HOUR later, I was done. With 10k. In 58:47. Yes, I ran a PR training run. (9:57, 9:40, 9:28, 9:21, 9:20, 9:11, 9:02 for the last 0.2) I was BEAMING.
Saturday: After the Friday evening speed fest, I was a little nervous about my long run legs. My friends Sarah wanted to start with me though, which was just what I needed. I ran slow and steady, and felt great when I was done. Again, the weather was perfect. (11:16, 11:14, 11:07, 11:21, 11:13, 11:05, 11:05, 11:23, 10:54, 10:49, 10:00) 11 miles done at 11:02 average pace.
Since I started late, the next couple hours were a whirlwind of smashing in work under the wire. But I got everything accomplished I needed to, and then I headed into the city. Because one of my favorite bloggy friends was there!
After I finally made it (seriously, Chicago traffic SUCKS) I spent the next few hours hanging out with Kate, who is absolutely as warm and real and funny in person as she is on her blog. We cheered for her son (who was playing in a volleyball tournament) and gabbed a LOT. I seriously love meeting bloggers, and it's always crazy to me just how accurate the picture in my head is. I had a great time, and hopefully we can do it again soon!
Sunday: I'm still in my jammies. I'm going shopping soon - does that count for cross training?
Week total: 29.2 miles
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Happiness Is? A New Training Plan
I completely adore how blogging has made me so many friends who get what I do. Who love what I love. Enough so that when I'm struggling with what EXACTLY I want in a training plan this go 'round, one takes pity on me and dumps exactly what I need in my lap.
I heart runners.
You see, I'd used the same training plan for all 3 of my previous marathons. And while I did adjust a little for the last (failed) attempt, I felt like it was no longer enough.
So after staring at it and getting scared of it and scooching things around to better accommodate my actual life (yes, really, I do have one) I have declared it perfect.
It is just scary enough to give me that oogy gut feeling without being completely overwhelming. Well, not yet anyway. Ask me again in one of those 50 mile weeks.
It's moved me up to a 5 day a week runner.
It has 2 pace-specific runs per week.
It's gonna be epic. I seriously CANNOT WAIT for Grandma's this year.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm already behind on my shiny new training plan (darn kids and their days off of school and Valentine's Day parties). Gotta run! :)
I heart runners.
You see, I'd used the same training plan for all 3 of my previous marathons. And while I did adjust a little for the last (failed) attempt, I felt like it was no longer enough.
So after staring at it and getting scared of it and scooching things around to better accommodate my actual life (yes, really, I do have one) I have declared it perfect.
It is just scary enough to give me that oogy gut feeling without being completely overwhelming. Well, not yet anyway. Ask me again in one of those 50 mile weeks.
It's moved me up to a 5 day a week runner.
It has 2 pace-specific runs per week.
It's gonna be epic. I seriously CANNOT WAIT for Grandma's this year.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm already behind on my shiny new training plan (darn kids and their days off of school and Valentine's Day parties). Gotta run! :)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Weekend Goodness
Well, the weekend turned out to be not so insane as I feared, which I was enormously thankful for...
Friday night, Jenna's team lost their first tournament game. It was a close one, but I was secretly a little glad, because it made my Saturday schedule so much easier - and Jenna's too, for that matter. We were up ridiculously early, and I had her dropped off at the local community college for her testing by 7:30. Gross.
Now, originally I had planned to join the running club for a group run in Sherry's honor. But Friday night, everyone who was my pace dropped out because it was supposed to be super windy and cold Saturday morning. *sigh* I THOUGHT that I could smash it in a bit later, but truthfully, that just never worked out. I was really really bummed, but life happens. Jenna's team ended up losing their afternoon game (my husband called it "street ball with horrible reffing") so we all went out to dinner at Red Robin.
Yes, for those paying attention I ate one of my favorite POST long run meals the night BEFORE my long run. *cue ominous foreshadowing music here*
Sunday morning, bright and early (again) I met up with Marcia for a long run on the March Madness Half Marathon course in Cary, IL.
It was pretty effing cold to start out. But we also started with the wind at our backs, and we warmed up quickly. The sun was bright, and we both remarked that this winter (this AMAZINGLY MILD winter) has made us soft. The early miles ticked off easily, mostly because they were pretty downhill.
It was really nice chatting about all things running and blogging, and I thoroughly enjoyed her company. We made a SUAR stop, we saw a bunch of deer that just stared at us. We ran some hills.
And the first of the hills I handled pretty well. As a matter of fact, I was feeling pretty good as we passed a couple runners who stopped to walk it. But soon, they sucked the life out of me. I'm not used to hills like that (guess that means I should head over there more often, huh?) and my unfortunate dinner choice decided to mock me for my complacence between miles 8 and 9. Oh well. As I said then, at least I GET to run. It seemed rather fitting that it was a tough one during Sherry's run. I was due for one like that, if for nothing else than to remind me that I NEED to pay attention to my diet more than I have lately.
It's been wonderful and overwhelming reading everyone's Sherry tributes. I feel honored to be a small part of something so huge even if the reason is so tragic. I wish us all her courage and strength and grace.
Friday night, Jenna's team lost their first tournament game. It was a close one, but I was secretly a little glad, because it made my Saturday schedule so much easier - and Jenna's too, for that matter. We were up ridiculously early, and I had her dropped off at the local community college for her testing by 7:30. Gross.
Now, originally I had planned to join the running club for a group run in Sherry's honor. But Friday night, everyone who was my pace dropped out because it was supposed to be super windy and cold Saturday morning. *sigh* I THOUGHT that I could smash it in a bit later, but truthfully, that just never worked out. I was really really bummed, but life happens. Jenna's team ended up losing their afternoon game (my husband called it "street ball with horrible reffing") so we all went out to dinner at Red Robin.
Yes, for those paying attention I ate one of my favorite POST long run meals the night BEFORE my long run. *cue ominous foreshadowing music here*
Sunday morning, bright and early (again) I met up with Marcia for a long run on the March Madness Half Marathon course in Cary, IL.
 |
| stolen shamelessly from Marcia! |
 |
| this course is no joke, and we missed a chunk of it... |
It was really nice chatting about all things running and blogging, and I thoroughly enjoyed her company. We made a SUAR stop, we saw a bunch of deer that just stared at us. We ran some hills.
And the first of the hills I handled pretty well. As a matter of fact, I was feeling pretty good as we passed a couple runners who stopped to walk it. But soon, they sucked the life out of me. I'm not used to hills like that (guess that means I should head over there more often, huh?) and my unfortunate dinner choice decided to mock me for my complacence between miles 8 and 9. Oh well. As I said then, at least I GET to run. It seemed rather fitting that it was a tough one during Sherry's run. I was due for one like that, if for nothing else than to remind me that I NEED to pay attention to my diet more than I have lately.
It's been wonderful and overwhelming reading everyone's Sherry tributes. I feel honored to be a small part of something so huge even if the reason is so tragic. I wish us all her courage and strength and grace.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Look, It Really IS Winter!
It's snowing.
Now don't get me wrong - I LOVE snow, but by mid-February, I'm done with it. And even this year, where we've hardly gotten any snow, I guess my mind is STILL done with it.
I think it's more because James didn't have school today so I couldn't get out there and run in it (seriously, it was that puffy, not windy, BIG FAT FLAKE kind of snow. *sigh* John says it looks like volcanic ash, hehe).
***
I've been having one of those never ending weeks, with extra stuff happening both during the day and in the evenings too. Some normal stuff, some "putting fires out" kind of stuff, some random EXTRA stuff. And not just evenings - my normal mornings have been jacked up too, so no running makes Bobbi something something...
I hate being THAT busy.
This weekend, Jenna has a basketball tournament. Now, I'm all for sports, but I have to say: I LOATH tournaments. Why? Because what time the next thing happens depends solely on the outcome of the thing that hasn't happened yet. Meaning, I CAN'T PLAN.
***
I'm still running for Sherry tomorrow morning. There have been tentative plans for GREAT Sunday running, but it'll all depend on how basketball falls. I don't consider myself ridiculously type A controlling, but not being able to plan makes me nuts.
Are you running for Sherry? Does last minute scheduling make you crazy?
***
My blog broke a little - I can't get my blog list back. Any ideas as to wtf I'm doing wrong?
Now don't get me wrong - I LOVE snow, but by mid-February, I'm done with it. And even this year, where we've hardly gotten any snow, I guess my mind is STILL done with it.
I think it's more because James didn't have school today so I couldn't get out there and run in it (seriously, it was that puffy, not windy, BIG FAT FLAKE kind of snow. *sigh* John says it looks like volcanic ash, hehe).
***
I've been having one of those never ending weeks, with extra stuff happening both during the day and in the evenings too. Some normal stuff, some "putting fires out" kind of stuff, some random EXTRA stuff. And not just evenings - my normal mornings have been jacked up too, so no running makes Bobbi something something...
I hate being THAT busy.
This weekend, Jenna has a basketball tournament. Now, I'm all for sports, but I have to say: I LOATH tournaments. Why? Because what time the next thing happens depends solely on the outcome of the thing that hasn't happened yet. Meaning, I CAN'T PLAN.
***
I'm still running for Sherry tomorrow morning. There have been tentative plans for GREAT Sunday running, but it'll all depend on how basketball falls. I don't consider myself ridiculously type A controlling, but not being able to plan makes me nuts.
Are you running for Sherry? Does last minute scheduling make you crazy?
***
My blog broke a little - I can't get my blog list back. Any ideas as to wtf I'm doing wrong?
Monday, February 6, 2012
Perfection
Sometimes, everything just comes together in that perfect storm of RIGHT.
I've been fighting this niggling cold for a week now. On Saturday, I decided to just REST. I hung out with my family. I played the memory game. I talked about accomplishing something, but really, I didn't accomplish anything. Saturday night, we brought James' old race car bed over to some friends who have 2 younger boys, and then had a nice quiet dinner.
After dinner, I drug john to Dick's to spend a gift card I had won (I've been pretty lucky with the winning lately). I ended up with a new (1 size SMALLER) pair of capris and a long sleeved blaze orange top (that I LOVE).
So on Sunday, I was pretty excited to try out my new outfit. But not enough to get up early to do it. By the time I actually MADE it outside, it was 1:30. No worries - still plenty of time for 10 miles before the Super Bowl.
The weather was STUNNING. Sunny skies, 40 degrees, light breeze, awesome. I took off with the thought that MAYBE I could run this run. As in, no walk breaks. I've done a couple 8 milers without walking, so it was a reasonable goal.
I put on some music, and just got lost in the run. I FELT AMAZING.
Somewhere around mile 5 I thought, "maybe I could negative split this run." Maybe.
I ran to a little subdivision I'd never run before, just to check it out. I've never been barked at so much in all my life. After 2 loose dogs tried to maul me, I got the hell out and swore I'd never run there again. Ack.
I tried to take a gu at about mile 8 (it was starting to feel hard) but I had a tough time with the whole eating and running at the same time thing. Need to work on that.
And then I was done! I was done, with the silliest, goofiest, can't-wipe-it-off grin EVER. HOLY CRAP!
It looked like this:
And I looked like this:
Of note? (I mean, besides the whole damn thing!!!):
Half marathon PR? I'm comin' for you....
I've been fighting this niggling cold for a week now. On Saturday, I decided to just REST. I hung out with my family. I played the memory game. I talked about accomplishing something, but really, I didn't accomplish anything. Saturday night, we brought James' old race car bed over to some friends who have 2 younger boys, and then had a nice quiet dinner.
After dinner, I drug john to Dick's to spend a gift card I had won (I've been pretty lucky with the winning lately). I ended up with a new (1 size SMALLER) pair of capris and a long sleeved blaze orange top (that I LOVE).
So on Sunday, I was pretty excited to try out my new outfit. But not enough to get up early to do it. By the time I actually MADE it outside, it was 1:30. No worries - still plenty of time for 10 miles before the Super Bowl.
The weather was STUNNING. Sunny skies, 40 degrees, light breeze, awesome. I took off with the thought that MAYBE I could run this run. As in, no walk breaks. I've done a couple 8 milers without walking, so it was a reasonable goal.
I put on some music, and just got lost in the run. I FELT AMAZING.
Somewhere around mile 5 I thought, "maybe I could negative split this run." Maybe.
I ran to a little subdivision I'd never run before, just to check it out. I've never been barked at so much in all my life. After 2 loose dogs tried to maul me, I got the hell out and swore I'd never run there again. Ack.
I tried to take a gu at about mile 8 (it was starting to feel hard) but I had a tough time with the whole eating and running at the same time thing. Need to work on that.
And then I was done! I was done, with the silliest, goofiest, can't-wipe-it-off grin EVER. HOLY CRAP!
It looked like this:
 |
| unexpected runner - this is my walkman :) |
- I had never in my life run 10 miles in a row with no walking
- I had never in my life run 5 sub-10 minute miles in a row
- Average pace was 10:02, average moving pace was 9:59!!!!!
- The last 5k? A measly 42 seconds off my 5k PR!
Half marathon PR? I'm comin' for you....
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Quiet
When you have a head cold, don't you feel like you are swimming through life underwater, in a weird sort of fog? That's how I've felt all week...and consequently, I haven't had much to say.
***
Tuesday was the last day of January. That in itself is sort of surreal to me (where the hell did this month go??) but adding to the weirdness is the weather. It was 50 freaking degrees. Seriously. It felt like the end of March, and it smelled like Spring. I had a really nice run with Sarah, where we chatted about her husband's cancer treatment and bone marrow transplant. Everything has been going really well for them up til now. I hope that streak continues - it just HAS to.
***
Wednesday was strength class. I am so in love with this class that even when I feel like ass, I refuse to skip. And, as usual, when I was done I was glad that I'd gone. If you are even thinking a LITTLE about adding strength into your routine, I highly recommend it. It rules.
***
Thursday I woke up feeling probably the worst I'd felt all week. Just snotty and headachy and blah. I wanted badly to run, but was having real trouble getting motivated enough to get out the door. My facebook peeps helped me commit to at least a couple miles.
So I put on my Walkman and headed out. I hadn't run with music in MONTHS so that right away was kind of novel. I started out slow. But as the run progressed, I felt stronger and stronger and got faster and faster (relatively faster - my fast is still pretty pokey). But by the end I felt phenomenal! I so love those runs - I felt like I could fly. Hello runners high!
I ended up busting out 6 progressive miles at an average pace of 10:19. (splits were 10:55, 10:42, 10:25, 10:15, 10:06, 9:37)
But more importantly I remembered that I ALWAYS feel better after a run. Especially when I don't feel like running in the first place.
***
Friday I had a running date with Kim! It was so nice to catch up with her - it'd been too long since we got to run together. Truthfully, I was a little worried that since my run went so well the day before that this run was going to feel hard, but aside from the fact that Kim is way faster than me, and we were clipping along pretty good, I only had to stop to gasp for air a couple times. We managed a 10:07 pace for over 5 miles.
AND we managed a good vent session.
And after it all? Hot chocolate for me and hot tea for her. Yum!
***
I'm sure I'll run tomorrow too, rounding out a pretty good running week, despite STILL feeling gross. Training for Grandma's started mid-February last year, but as yet, I still haven't figured out my training plan. Guess I need to work on that, huh? I can't wait to see where training takes me this time, and I can't believe I'm training for my FOURTH marathon. Craziness!
***
Tuesday was the last day of January. That in itself is sort of surreal to me (where the hell did this month go??) but adding to the weirdness is the weather. It was 50 freaking degrees. Seriously. It felt like the end of March, and it smelled like Spring. I had a really nice run with Sarah, where we chatted about her husband's cancer treatment and bone marrow transplant. Everything has been going really well for them up til now. I hope that streak continues - it just HAS to.
***
Wednesday was strength class. I am so in love with this class that even when I feel like ass, I refuse to skip. And, as usual, when I was done I was glad that I'd gone. If you are even thinking a LITTLE about adding strength into your routine, I highly recommend it. It rules.
***
Thursday I woke up feeling probably the worst I'd felt all week. Just snotty and headachy and blah. I wanted badly to run, but was having real trouble getting motivated enough to get out the door. My facebook peeps helped me commit to at least a couple miles.
So I put on my Walkman and headed out. I hadn't run with music in MONTHS so that right away was kind of novel. I started out slow. But as the run progressed, I felt stronger and stronger and got faster and faster (relatively faster - my fast is still pretty pokey). But by the end I felt phenomenal! I so love those runs - I felt like I could fly. Hello runners high!
I ended up busting out 6 progressive miles at an average pace of 10:19. (splits were 10:55, 10:42, 10:25, 10:15, 10:06, 9:37)
But more importantly I remembered that I ALWAYS feel better after a run. Especially when I don't feel like running in the first place.
***
Friday I had a running date with Kim! It was so nice to catch up with her - it'd been too long since we got to run together. Truthfully, I was a little worried that since my run went so well the day before that this run was going to feel hard, but aside from the fact that Kim is way faster than me, and we were clipping along pretty good, I only had to stop to gasp for air a couple times. We managed a 10:07 pace for over 5 miles.
AND we managed a good vent session.
And after it all? Hot chocolate for me and hot tea for her. Yum!
***
I'm sure I'll run tomorrow too, rounding out a pretty good running week, despite STILL feeling gross. Training for Grandma's started mid-February last year, but as yet, I still haven't figured out my training plan. Guess I need to work on that, huh? I can't wait to see where training takes me this time, and I can't believe I'm training for my FOURTH marathon. Craziness!
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