Saturday, April 30, 2011

This week's wrap-up and the Saturday sound-off

Ok, I had this all planned out in my head during this morning's long run, but one t-ball game, one McDonald's lunch and two baths has zapped it right out of my brain. So...let's see where the rambles take us. Kind of like my run this morning. We'll start there.

I had planned on getting up at 6:30 for a run this morning, but my son woke me up at 6 instead. I got him all set up with Sprout on TV, cereal, and backup snacks so he wouldn't wake Daddy (a poptart, fruit snacks, and a box of raisins, all pre-opened so he wouldn't need any help). I got going before 7. It was beautiful outside! There was very little breeze, and after yesterday's wind, that was a nice surprise. The temp was perfect (although I have no idea what it actually was...but shorts and a tank felt great). I had 5 in mind. However, my course kept changing as I'd run into loose dogs, which I've only done one other time at all. The first pair come up just 1/3 of a mile in. I turned up a corner and heard a dog and quickly realized he wasn't fenced in but was under a carport instead...and was quickly joined by his big brown friend at the end of their driveway. I did an about-face and changed my course. I kind of looped around to where I normally end my run and headed at my route backwards. That worked out pretty well because it met up with where I normally head over to a different neighborhood. At one of my turns, though, there was another dog...what looked like a German Shepherd. I didn't stick around to find out if he was friendly, so I backtracked around the block and kept at my course. The last dog came up toward the end of my run...and he was what we'd call an ankle-biter. I didn't feel like finding out if he was going to bite my ankles though, so I turned right before his driveway.

The only problem with these course changes was that I ended up finishing 5 miles farther from home than I thought I would. That left me with two choices: 1. walk back home, or 2. run back home. I figured I had to get home somehow and running would actually make it faster. It ended up being right at a 10K with just a little to walk home for a cooldown. I ran it in 1:06:43. At first I was upset with my pace, but then I realized that it was still faster than my fastest 10K race. I'm getting there. I just don't know if I'll be able to break that one-hour mark at my 10K at the end of the month, which I finally signed up for yesterday.

While I was running, I was thinking about the book Born to Run that I read this week. While the narrative is full of flashbacks and back stories (and somewhat hard to follow at times), it is full of tidbits about running that I wish I'd kept track of better. There needs to be some sort of guidebook or workbook to fill in as you read this book. The most memorable things I got out of it?
1. Eat like you are poor.
2. Try salad for breakfast.
3. Cheaper shoes are ok.
4. Our feet are amazing.
5. Easy, light, smooth

It really was an amazing story of how we are made to run if we let our bodies do it. It's also an incredible tale of runners and a race. It left me feeling encouraged in my running...and a little curious as to how far I could really run.

I also thought about some runners I know running in tomorrow's OKC Memorial Run, both in the half and the full. I said a little prayer that their runs would be blessed and can't wait to hear how it goes.

Once I got back from my run, I had to replace batteries in cars, rebuild tracks, find breakfast, dress kids and get to a t-ball game, so a lot of my thoughts have disappeared into mommy-land. I'm sure there were more. However, when I finally got the kids bathed and down for some much-needed naps, I logged onto my computer...and lo and behold! I won something off of Running Diva Mom's blog...some Wright socks! And what's funny is that I really need these since I had to scrounge this morning to find some socks decent enough to run in because my Wright socks were all in the wash. I needed that...just a little sign that said to me "Keep it up!"

And now, here is the weekly mileage report:
Weekly: 17.5 miles
YTD: 264.8 miles

That puts me at just over 60 miles for April. Pretty cool!

Post your miles here!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Finally!

I finally feel like I'm getting faster. Yesterday, I was actually scheduled for an easy 3 on my training plan for a 10K at the end of May. But since I haven't actually signed up for that 10K, I went ahead and stuck with my weekly pattern of easy/fast/short/long that seems to be working for me. I thought I'd try a 5K and see how fast I could go. I warmed up with a quarter mile, and my left knee felt wonky, so I figured I'd better take it easy. I cranked the ol' treadmill to my normal 6 mph (or 10:00/mile). Much to my amazement, after a quarter-mile, my knee felt fine and I bumped it to 7 mph (8:34/mile) and took off. I started bumping it up a little more after a mile and a half and finished the 5K in 26:05! Someday, I WILL break 25!

And my dear friend Chandra has challenged me to do 50 crunches and 25 back extensions a day. Apparently, I'm a sucker for a challenge because I'm finally adding in this core work. I've made 3 days so far...I know, I know...it doesn't sound like much, but it's progress.

I did have to forego the back extensions yesterday. After this crazy long week of TAKS tests at school, my back isn't feeling so hot. And this week is why I run. I know I'm going to need that run tonight (and maybe a beer when I finish...lol)!

I'd like to get this habit down for a couple of weeks and start adding some push-ups and squats. There's this cool challenge site for doing different amounts of different core exercises. One of them is here: Two Hundred Situps. The others are linked from there. You take an initial test and follow a plan to get you to that goal. Eventually, I think I'm going to do that...maybe this summer?

I'm interested to see how finally getting some core work in will affect my running. Hopefully it will help me build strength and speed.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Late again...

With all of the Easter hoopla, I forgot to post the weekly mileage report. Don't get me wrong...we had a great (albeit busy) weekend. Which led to me not running my long run as planned. But it's ok. It's the only long run I've missed since Christmas. Amazing, actually.

So here's last week's miles:
Weekly: 11 miles
YTD: 247.3 miles

How about your miles?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Giveaway at Running Diva Mom

Check out the BondiBand Giveaway over at Running Diva Mom! Running Diva Mom BondiBand Giveaway

If you haven't tried a BondiBand, you really should. And I love my wicking ponytail hat from them. It's my go-to on cold days...holds my hair down, keeps my head warm, and I can pull it over my ears while I'm cold and shove it behind them as I warm up.

Three Thing Thursday

1. Why does it always seem like I'm behind? We've got two Easter meals at our house this weekend, so I've been in frantic cleaning mode. I even took a personal day to try and get caught up. And here it is after 10, and I'm still going. But a clean floor makes up for it all!

2. I got to get in a run while SB was in dance and my little guy was in childcare. Yes, I had to cut it a little short due to a change in plan for afterwards, but it was still good.

3. I found a lunch that actually left me feeling full longer than, oh, 15 minutes. And it was so random...basically grabbing what I could find this morning. A boiled egg that got cracked before it even made it into the dye. A string cheese. An apple. A clementine. And a granola bar.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Sunday schedule

Sundays are always my day to look at the week and figure out the logistics, and not just for running...I make sure the meals are planned, ball games noted, meetings scheduled, etc. This week is a little crazy (as they all have been lately), so it's even more important for me to plan out my runs.

Monday-4 miles
          -t-ball practice in the evening
Tuesday-cross train/strength train (I always write this, but we all know it's not going to happen)
          -my parents will pick up the kids after school and my husband is umpiring a game, so I'll be grocery 
          shopping and getting ready for Easter
Wednesday-2 mile tempo run with a total of 4 miles
          -seriously considering taking this day off or maybe Thursday so I can clean house
          -Hang Time at church
Thursday-cross train/strength train or a couple of easy miles at the Y
          -dance at the Y; husband umpiring a game
Friday-rest
          -Easter at my house (hence the day off for cleaning); husband umpiring after dinner
Saturday-long run of 5 miles...trying to break the 50-minute mark
          -Egg Drop at church at 10; Easter services at church in the evening
Sunday-rest
          -Easter!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

100th post!

Isn't that cool? I've had something to say 100 times. Now, nothing says that what I had to say was of any consequence or importance, but it's a neat milestone.

I was able to head outside early this morning for a five-miler. It was definitely chilly, but a light jacket, arm warmers and my bondiband hat kept me warm. It was so calm, clear and cool. It was hard to believe that yesterday our area was being windblown like crazy and there were fires all around us. So many areas were in danger...people being evacuated, firefighters and police working nonstop, volunteers manning evacuation shelters. The sky was so hazy yesterday from the dust and smoke. And then this morning. The lingering smoke smell was the only reminder here. I thought about all those involved in yesterday's situations and prayed for them as I ran. It was peaceful, and I pray that the workers and families feel some of that peace today.

I did manage 5 miles in 50:49. I wanted to come in under 50, but I'm getting better at pacing.

So, here's the weekly mileage.
Weekly: 13 miles
YTD: 236.3 miles

Post your miles here!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Speedwork

I'm getting faster! I really am! I did speedwork this morning...3x800 at 7mph (with the last one increasing to 8mph) with 400 recoveries at 6mph. On my treadmill, the mph is all I have to go by. However, I found this: Treadmill Pace Conversions. I'm going to post this in front of my treadmill! Since my training plan from SmartCoach tells me how fast in minutes/mile to go, it's kind of necessary to have some clue.

That means I ran 2 4:16 half-miles followed by one in 4:06. Not bad. Especially since I kept my recovery at a 10:00 mile (or 2:30 quarter mile).

I've got a five-miler coming up this weekend, and I'm hoping I can get outside to run it.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sound-Off

So I'm still feeling a little lost after my half, but I am planning on running the Rock N Roll Half in Vegas in December. And the best part is I'm planning on running it with my best friend Chandra! I love that I may get to run with her even though we're miles and miles apart on a regular basis. It's not so close that I need to start training yet, but it's nice to have plans. And I'm not sure about running that 10K yet. We'll see. I'm training like I am though.

I ran to work yesterday. I had to teach a TAKS prep session. It's about 2.5 to school and then I ran another 1.5 around the stadium parking lot. I kept seeing the same chick running...kind of funny. But it made me feel good that I wasn't the only other runner out there. I had wanted to get in at least 5 or 6, but I waited too long for the sky to lighten up before I started running.

So, my weekly mileage report:
Weekly: 11.5 miles
YTD: 223.3 miles

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Feeling Lost

While it wouldn't be unusual for me to feel a little lost on a long run since I get myself turned around pretty easily, it's not that kind of lost I'm feeling. I trained since Christmas for my half and had a definite plan for running. Now that my half is over, I'm not quite sure what to do. I know I want to keep running. And I like my easy/fast/long plan in running. But without a goal, I just don't know what to do with those runs.

There are quite a few 5K's locally coming up. The problem is it seems we have other busy-ness going on every weekend. I want to break 28:00 (that was originally 30:00, but it seems I'm getting faster) in a 5K but didn't think I could do it so soon after a half.

There is a 10K May 21 in a nearby town. The travel would be minimal and the cost goes toward a good cause. I'd love to try and break 60 in that one. I made a training plan with SmartCoach on Runner's World for this one. The problem is that it doesn't account for the fact that I can already run more than 6 on my long runs and can run faster than what it says for my tempo runs. I know I can just adjust it, but I'm not quite sure how to do that.

Then, as much as I kept saying I was done training for anything longer than a 10K during my half training, I loved running the half. Absolutely loved it. So, obviously, I'd like to run another. And if I run another Rock N Roll race, I get an additional medal. There's one in San Antonio in November and one in Vegas in December...down the Strip...at night. Wouldn't that rock?

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Saturday Sound-Off

Ok, so I really didn't expect to add any miles to my challenge this week...but I did. I woke up at 2 a.m. Thursday morning and couldn't sleep. Finally, around 3:15 I had talked myself into a little run on the treadmill. I figured I could jog an easy mile or so, shower and get back to bed and actually be able to get back to sleep for an hour and a half before school. I ended up walking a quarter-mile warmup, running (easy) 2.5 miles and finishing with a quarter-mile cooldown. Not bad for the first run post-half marathon.

And then last night, I was invited by a colleague to join her and another girl on a run early this morning. I wasn't too sure about it...first, it was at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and while I'm all for early monring running, it's been a long week. Second, they were going 6 miles, and I wasn't sure if I could do it this soon after last weekend's race. Third, she mentioned that they'd run about a 9:30 pace, which is a hair faster than I normally run. I'm hoping I didn't slow them down because I ended up convincing myself that running before the day got started would be a lot easier than fitting it in somehwere. I did want to take advantage of having someone to run with and enjoying an outdoor run.

The run went well. I felt pretty darn good up to 4 miles. At 4.75, I decided I'd stop at 5, but when 5 got there, I convinced myself I could do one more...besides, I had to get back to my car :) I did, however, stop at 6.25 and walked the last quarter-mile to my car. And the good news? I ran it in 1:03:49...beating my 10K PR by another 4 minutes!

I may be a little sore tomorrow, but I think the muscles will be fine. My stomach, on the other hand, is another issue. It hasn't been happy since I got back. I'm thinking I may have been a little dehydrated to start with. After the half last weekend, I had a crampy stomach, and today was similar to that...where my stomach just hurts. It's doing better now though. But now I have a headache. However, we have a sitter tonight and nothing's going to keep me from enjoying a double date with our friends!

So, here's my mileage:
Weekly: 9.25
Yearly: 211.85

Post your totals!