Track Workout Pick-Me-Up!

Huh.  I really enjoyed going to the track today.  I'm still baffled by that.  (My first track workout since high school was earlier this month: here)  Turns out I like the track when I'm armed with an actual work out plan. 

Today's run was an 8x400 @ 5K pace.  I'm not going to lie...I never did my mile timed run in the beginning.  I never calculated my 'optimal 5k pace, 10k pace, etc.  that's just too much math for my language teacher brain.  (Not dissing math by any means.  It's super important and I wish I had realized as much when I was in school...I can just see my teacher:  Jessica, one day you will need algebra skills to calculate your split times and goals...nah...that still wouldn't have worked...I never considered myself a true runner until now...ah well.) 

Anyway, I figured, 8 minute miles would be my total dream 5k pace, so I'd aim for that with recovery in between each lap.  There were more directions with the plan, I think but I just don't remember what I was supposed to do.  And the kids were ready to go and I wasn't going to fart around on the internet trying to figure out which plan this was from (I'm kind of doing a mish-mash of Hal Higdon and Train Like a Mother Finish It plan for the half marathon).  I had to take my opportunity to get out of the house before something prevented it.  So we just went.

I did a 2 lap warm up, nice and easy and hit my first 400.  I finished in 2 minutes, 5 seconds.  Well, I can do better than that.   So I aimed for negative splits for the rest.  I took about 2-3 minutes recovery in between, and now I get why I had to do 8 of them.  Even though I was getting tired by the end, I realized that early laps, I was conservative with my pushing, even though I felt like I was going rather quickly.  My final 400 was 1:56, so after running more than 2 miles, if I had that much to show for it even though I felt like I was lumbering along and hardly the gazelle I felt I was the first lap...but I was definitely holding back in the beginning.  So while track work may train my legs to go faster, it obviously will help my mental game too, knowing that I CAN push a little more and not die.   I finished with a 2 lap cool-down and gathered the kids' toys.  They didn't play with anything we brought.  Instead, A ran a couple of laps, informed me we had to leave because he had to use the bathroom (no way kiddo, I told you there was no where to go.  I think he gets the 'I gotta go' feeling when he's running, since he forgot about having to go later when we found an awesome playground...)  T ran 4 laps!  I kept asking him if he wanted to go sit in the shade tree, or play jump rope or soccer or anything, and he was hell-bent on running a whole mile first.  He had his own track work out planned!  So cute!  I didn't bring my phone to the track or I would have snapped a picture of him.  Adorable!

On the way home, we got stuck behind either a very new driver or a very old driver.  The blinker was on the entire time I was behind the car...they slammed on brakes for NOTHING every couple of driveways.  Then they turned where I needed to turn.  Instead of going straight next intersection when they did (even though the blinker was STILL on!) I took a quick left and suddenly we were in front of the most awesome playground we have seen in a long time.  Mere blocks from the track!  I thought we had found all the great playgrounds in the city!  This one had a wading pool that was all closed up and empty, as were the bathrooms (sadly, I might add...as I actually did need one and considered squatting in my running skirt behind a bush...but we were right in the middle of the city...so I figured it wasn't THAT bad of an emergency...).

Is this not kid Nirvana or what?

 



The kids played for a good 40 minutes or so, while I sat in the covered pavilion and started working on my homework that's due on Tuesday. So lovely!  Then a very nice girl about my age (ok, so not a girl, but indulge me) with her son showed up, and she asked me if I was a distance runner.  I started to resort to my, "oh not really" but then I corrected myself and said, "Yes, yes I am." and we had a nice talk about her running route and how she went to the local running club (the one I can't go to on Tuesdays anymore...boo) for the first time this week.  Awesome!  I assumed she thought I looked like a runner due to my outfit (my running skirt, purple compression socks, crazy bondiband and neon pink bia shirt) but....I've gotten a couple of "do you run?" comments while I've been dressed in regular shorts and sandals too.  I love to look the part!

So we're home now and I'm still on my Awesome Work Out/You Look Like A Runner high.  Aaaahh.  Great way to end August!

Today: 4
This week: 18.9 (Awww, Maaaan!  Why didn't I check the decimal places before I went!)
August: 70.7  (Well, over 70, not too shabby!)

Dreadmill Runs

Oh my.  My training this week is giving me a glimpse into the bleak winter months.  I have been on the treadmill the last two runs (and Tuesday's was not pretty.  I figured it wasn't worth it so much that I just wouldn't count it until I wrote up a better run and I'd squeeze the (small) mileage in then.)

I go back to school next week, and both kids are home all day with me.  So despite the beautiful weather (sun! blue skies! mid 70's!) I headed to the basement on Tuesday.  I was supposed to run 4 miles, and I just didn't want to do it down there.  It's gross.  It smells.  I'm pretty sure the mold killing that went down there last summer when we had it waterproofed didn't hold.  And I park in front of the house, so if I pull too far forward, I'm stuck looking out the window at my car tire instead of the horses across the street.  Oh, and I can't find the portable DVD player that works so I can't watch anything interesting while I'm down there.  Also, even though it's cooler than the rest of the house, it's HOT to run with no air flow.  There's a little fan, but it does nothing but make the air smell a little like plastic. 

Note the sunshine I couldn't be out in.  Insult to injury.

 

So I'm trying to be grateful I have the treadmill.  I'm trying to be grateful that I can run.  I'm trying to be grateful I have children who still need me at home.  I'm trying.

 

 

I took my phone down with me yesterday and hooked it up to the speakers on the treadmill.  There are some pretty great speakers down there.  I turned on Stitcher so I could listen to the Another Mother Runner podcast.  I tried once doing books on tape, but I enjoy reading so much that I just don't enjoy listening to someone read a book.  My playlists are old and tired and I don't have the internet capacity right now to download new music.  And I have found that podcasts help distract me when I'm on my long runs, so maybe a short treadmill run too?  The AMR podcasts are 30 minutes.  I gave myself permission to bail at the end if I didn't walk at all until it was over.  Also, I had an extra shirt hanging off the handles, so I used it to cover the display before I started.  Just a little experiment to see if I could run faster with less perceived exertion if I just settled into the pace with out knowing the numbers. 

 

I actually made it through the whole podcast.  Dimity and Sarah make me laugh so much that I did slow it down and hold on for a second, but I didn't slow to a walk.  And one point, when I felt like I just couldn't keep going (hello!  I've been doing 9 and 10 milers!  I can do a measly 30 minutes!) I turned on the incline and pumped up the speed and counted my foot steps.  I count outside sometimes when I need to get through the wall, so I gave it a try inside, and it helped too.

 

All factors combined, when the podcast was over (and I let it keep going in my favorites station, so it picked up in the middle of my Jillian Michaels podcast from the other day) before I dared to look at the display.  Turns out 'comfortably fast' was 6.7 with an incline of 2.  Huh.  When I was setting it before, to comfort, I would hover around 5.5 with a 1 incline, wishing I could push it down to 0, but not, knowing I had to at least keep it at a 1 to help it be more like running outside.  I also saw that I was pretty close to 3.5 miles, so I decided to suck it up and get to 4.  I did the run faster, count to 60, slow it down, then run faster again, then slow it and vary the incline to get me through it. 

 

In the end:  I made it.  I didn't enjoy it a whole lot, looking at the tire on my car, with the sunlight glinting off my treadmill display, breathing plasticy-dusty-musty smelling air.  I've also made it my mission to locate the dvd player and visit redbox before my next treadmill work out (that may be today...I'm not sure yet).  And, although the winter indoors looks bleak, maybe it won't be so bad.  It's easier to run down there when the weather is bad and I'm not wanting to be out there.  And once school starts next week, I'll be able to squeeze in 20-30 minutes between release time and leaving to pick up my kids, until the weather turns and I'll need the extra drive time to get them.  I can do this.  I have to, at any rate, so I have confidence going into the half marathon.  (actually, the two.  I'm registering for the local one today.  AAAHHHH!)  Then I'll pick out my October race (probably my school's homecoming weekend 5k).  I would love to do the Thanksgiving prediction run this year.  And then a Jingle Bell run in December (how much fun would that be!?)  I will need to go two more months of races to fulfill my New Year's resolution of running an event at least once a month since I didn't start until March last year.  So, the Hangover run January first looks promising.  And finally I'll just need to find a February race...then it starts all over. 

 

See....I'm getting excited already! 

 

Tuesday: 1.5 miles

Wednesday: 0

Thursday:  4.2

 

This week:  14.9

August: 66.7

 

I WILL be getting some mileage in today no matter what...I would like to bump that over 70.  My 'menu training plan' indicates I should be doing 3.5 plus strength or 8x400 repeats after a warm up and then a cool down...both will get me there.  I just have to decide if I'm dragging the kids to the track this morning before we hit 90 degrees, or if I'm doing the treadmill, or if I am going to run in the heat after the husband gets home from work.  



Back to Life, Back to Reality (Sort of)

 Okay, so it's not REALLY back to life...as I still have one blessed week of summer vacation left....but after spending a few days TRULY on vacation, where I didn't need to cook anything, clean anything or fight with my kids about anything...it was such a nice break.  I spent 3 days with my best friends in the entire world, catching up on our lives, and enjoying each others' company feeling like we haven't had months and months (and years in some cases) apart.  I miss them so much, but it's awesome have friendships that just kind of pick up where they left off a million years ago as soon as the miles are bridged.

I returned home on Thursday, and true to my suspicions, I didn't do any running.  I did scope out a couple possibilities while we were there, one of which included running laps like a crazy woman around the playground while my kids played, but it didn't happen.  I didn't want to sacrifice a single second of time with my friends.  So I let it go, and it felt good!  Thursday evening I didn't do anything either, but Friday morning I hit the treadmill for 3.5 miles.  I had Jillian Michael's pod cast on and I covered the display.  I had a rough go making it that long on the treadmill...I need some advice on how to spend more time on there, but after 40 minutes (man, I was going slooow) I threw in the towel.

Saturday morning we took the boys to the State Fair.  Bridget Mendler was singing, and A loves her on Good Luck Charlie.  Since the concert was free, we went and had a great time, even though it was scorching hot.  We wandered around for a bit afterwards. and the husband ate (and I sampled) alligator, kangaroo and an awful burger made with a glazed donut for the bun (it was tasty, but I felt my arteries clogging with just one bite!).  We will probably go back one more time, since we didn't see everything we wanted to and word has it there's a monster truck show the boys will love.  I walked a ton, and figure that counts as some kind of cross training, right?

This morning I hit the road for my planned 9 miler, and it wasn't too bad.  There were a couple hills I forgot about that I just ended up walking (they were long and super steep.  I'm not sorry I walked at all).  I also panicked somewhere around mile 6 because I saw a dog poised to chase.  I was on a new road for me and I like to know ahead of time where the dogs may come out so I'm prepared.  I walked and tried not to make eye contact....boy did I feel stupid when I got closer and realized it was just a lawn chair!

 

 Tell me that looks like a white dog to you too?? 

 I DO wish I had eaten better yesterday (sausage sandwich for lunch and then after the samples I had fried fish dinner..uch.  I know better than that, but I did it anyway) because I fought all kinds of tummy issues on the run.  (Successfully though, as I didn't have to stop in the bushes, but it was partially because I couldn't as I forgot my emergency tissues!)  All in all though, I had a lovely long, slow run, averaging a 12 mile an hour pace.  I'm super tired and haven't felt like doing much all day, but I did it, and it's in the books and it's right on track for where I need to be for this half marathon.  Yeay!

Last week:  6.7
This week: 9.2
August: 60 even (oooh...I love when that happens!)

Rest week?

I have quite a lot on my training plan for the week.  Errr....I think I do...I accidentally left it tacked up to the side of my refrigerator when I left for the beautiful (chilly!?!) Adirondacks yesterday morning.  After the 10K on Friday night (of which I have found my husband actually BRAGGED about me to his mom--she's an amazing runner and has never ever ever finished behind me--and to people at the golf course!  Awesome, since he hardly ever expresses anything about my running to me) I knew I would take Saturday off.  I counted Friday's run as both a tempo and a hill work out.  Necessary, since it was definitely both!  I didn't mean to take Sunday off too, but I had visions of the house I wanted to come home to after leaving for vacation...and I always bring a bunch of cooked dishes to just heat up so we don't eat out or impose on my friends' parents.  I spent the day making meatballs, mac and cheese and getting cucumbers ready to pickle (if I didn't they would go bad while I was gone) and planning out what the husband would eat while we were gone (he reverts back to bachelor days and gets take out every night if I don't leave him food.  Seriously, the man KNOWS how to cook, but just doesn't) 

Before I knew it, it was time for Sunday dinner at my in-law's house.  I made a ton of mac and cheese so we took that over with us, as well as swiss chard done up as Utica greens so THAT wouldn't get wasted while I was out of town.  Fabulous dinner and not a run in sight. 

I spent Monday morning cleaning, packing and making those pickles (what a lot of work for just three jars of pickles...but what else was I going to do with them?!) and packing some more.  Oh.  And yelling at the kids for messing up the clean house and their clean rooms.  I needed to get them out of the house before they destroyed anything else!  The car was ready to be loaded when one of the cats (I WISH I knew which one...I would have thrown him if I could find him.  Well, not really.  But I would like to imagine throwing the right cat) puked on A's bed AND on the living room floor.  I cleaned it up the best I could, took a deep breath and told the boys mama had to go for a run or she would be a mess the entire drive to the Adirondacks.  I hooked them up to video games (don't judge) and went to the basement for a treadmill workout.  I did a little over 3 miles, and towards the end I just had to vary it a little bit...it was soooo boring.  So not looking forward to winter training.  :(

I pumped up the speed for one minute intervals, then back down to 5.5.  Then when I felt recovered pumped it up to 8, then back down, then 9 then down then 10.  I held 10 for 30 seconds and I was both terrified and exhilarated.  I had visions of being thrown off the back of the treadmill and smashing into the wall behind me and no one finding me because the boys are always afraid to speak up while playing video games for fear of me realizing I am STILL letting them play and then I tell them to turn them off.  I sometimes hear them shushing each other, knowing that I will realize I have let them play far too long!  The intervals helped pass the last 10 minutes of the run (yes, it took me a while to recover in between!) and I felt SO much better.  I realized I didn't need to have the house perfect when I left, it was good enough. I threw clean sheets on the bed, took a quick shower and went out the door. 

Unfortunately I was in such a hurry I forgot to pack pajamas.  Or my compression socks (I'm addicted  sleeping in them).  Oh well.  I will have to buy a cute pair of souvenir pajamas while up here!  It sure was cold in just a tshirt last night!  BFF #2 arrives today with her cute little 3 month old, and then tomorrow BFF #4 will be coming out with her son.  It's the first time all four of us girls have been together in the same place since my wedding 9 years ago!  So excited! 

So if the rest of my training this week flops...well...I just don't care!!!  I am so happy to be with my ladies again!

I might do some planks or wall sits or something so I don't feel totally guilty! 

Monday:  3.2
Week: 3.2
August: 47.3  (ooooh.....those miles could use some help this week though....is this what addiction feels like?)

Not the PR I was hoping for, but a great run nonetheless

I ran in the Woodsmen's 10K in Boonville, NY last night.  When I signed up for it earlier this week, everyone I mentioned it to said, "Oh, that's a challenging course."  Hrumph.  I wasn't worried.  I train in hills even when I don't intend to (there's really no flat place to run around here besides a track) and I've actually been incorporating hills on purpose. 

Somehow, my husband and children drove up there with me.  Hubs is not known for going to my races.  As a matter of fact, before this one, he's been to one.  And that's because his best friend also ran it and it was St. Patty's race and we were going out afterwards.  So beer and his best friend get him to races, not his wife.  After last night, I'm not sure I want him at my races anyway.  He was miserable when he realized we were early.  (This from the man who complains I'm always late)  Also, he was pissed I had mentioned a kids' run to my kids.  They have been pestering me for ever to do a kids run, and usually I can't bring them since I don't have anyone to watch them.  So I figured it was a win win here.  Not so much.  Hubs had been planning on going to the Woodsmen's field days while I ran and checking out chain saws and other manly back-woods things.  The kids run put a damper on that...and he didn't realize I WANTED my boys to cheer for me at the finish and see me cross the line.  Since I don't normally have a cheering section, I was psyched for this part.  He didn't get it.  Sigh.  All in all he was just a crab-ass.  The kids watched me take off.  They did the kids run (success!  They each got a ribbon, a water bottle and a sticker.  T ran the track an extra loop and a half just for fun.  That's my boy!)  They saw me finish.  And Hubs was cranky that I didn't want to go change right away when finished.  He was cranky that it would be almost 40$ to get us all in the field days (say what?  I figured it would be free...but some how it was my fault for not knowing this.  He's the one who wanted to go IN to the field days) Probably he was just hungry.  He gets super cranky when he's hungry.  A lot like that snicker's commercial.  Finally we ended up eating dinner the next town over, but at after 8.  Then we drove home an hour.  I need to recruit a new pit crew I guess.

Anyway, I had a great run. The course was....well....challenging.  Even though I expressly told Hubs that if one more person said that to me I would scream.  There's not really another way to explain it.  There are lots of long low hills...then a lot of short steep hills...and not too many downhills.  Which is weird if you ask me...how do you go up and up and up and hardly go down?  Anyway, I even had the wherewithall to hit the split button on my watch so here goes:

Mile 1:  Around the field days, lots of people out and clapping, small up hills and some down through town.  I noticed there were a lot more people running than I had thought in the beginning. I had to remind myself to run my own race, as I noticed how many people were ahead of me.  9:16

Mile 2:  Heading out of town, nice breeze, cool temps, I got this! Walk the water station (plastic cups...I suck at running and drinking out of plastic.  Paper, I can do.)  9:39 

Mile 3:  Oh my hill.  The whole mile.  and then some.  Oh look here's the turn!  Wrong!  Keep running to the cone, then around THEN around the corner.  Walk the water station.  10:23

Mile 4:  Farm land...little hills here and there, breeze across the road instead of in my face...small improvement.  Picking of people ahead of me one by one (that's kind of fun.  I'm hardly ever the passer!)  9:44

Mile 5:  Um...I zoned out here.  I can't remember mile 5 very well.  There were some cheering folk set up here and there.  I ran past a house where the kids had side-walk chalked the entire road.  That was cool!  Oh yeah, and this is where I had to start chanting something in my head to get through it.  I believe it was "I eat hills for breakfast, Oh I eat hills for breakfast, chomp chomp chomp" to the tune of Little Boy Blue.  Weirdo.  9:40

Mile 6:  Holy hell.  The hills here!  And the short steep ones.  At one point I imagined I would run faster if I put my hands down and took it on all fours.  I had a girl in a pink shirt in my sights ahead of me.  I vowed I would do everything I could to pass her.  She did not walk the hill.  I did not get water at any other stations.  A guy at the top of the worst hill offered me a beer out of his cooler.  The guy ahead of me took him up on the offer.  I passed him.  The football team lined up on both sides of the road, offered to spray me with a hose (it's 65 degrees dude...no thanks) I was too winded to request they cheer me instead of handing me water.  Oh well.  9:25

The last .2:  I passed the girl in pink only to realize that she was not in my age group (I had imagined how pissed I'd be if she placed and I didn't and I didn't try my damndest to smoke her).  I gave it all I had to the finish.  A mega-phone guy yelled "Looking good Jessica!"  Great boost!  I didn't know him, but they were reading names from the list according to bib number.  Nice touch!  Totally appreciated. 

I finished in 1 hour and 14 seconds.  14 freaking seconds.  I should not have walked those two water stations!!!  I had hopes of breaking an hour.  My previous 10K time (on decidedly flatter terrain) was 1:01 and some change so it's a new PR for me, but secretly my gaol was to break an hour.  Also, I had checked last years' times and I thought if I broke an hour I might even get the podium.  I got 6th in my age group (the girl I passed finished 30 seconds behind me and was in the 20 year age group.  That felt kind of good!) but I don't know how many other runners were in my group.  I don't care though.  I ran my absolute best, and knowing how, well, CHALLENGING the course was, I am super pleased with my time.  Also, my boys running to me at the end and hugging me and telling me " Great Race Mama!  You did a great job!" Was so worth it!  They have never been to one of my races.  I love that they were there.  The Hubs even commented, "Wow, you did great!" since I told him to expect to see me cross the line after an hour.  I think he was thinking 1:15 or something. 

All in all, a success.  I don't know if I will run that one again next year.  I sort of want to.  We'll see.  It would be tougher to run those hills knowing what was in store for me.  A mental game for sure. 

Friday:  6.2 PR baby!
Week: 22.1
August:  44.1

Winding down the summer...anxious about fitting in training

Yesterday was the last day T will go to summer rec.  It ends this week, and we have golf camp again this morning.  Tomorrow A will have his final day of Horse Camp, and T and I will be heading to a mom and child yoga class. After this week, I'm not sure how I will fit in my training these final weeks of summer, not to mention once I head back to work.  I am grateful to my friend for choosing this fall half marathon, as I am not sure how I could do this any other time of the year.  I am pretty sure that most of the rest of my short training runs will be on the treadmill.

Yesterday I went to morning yoga for the last time this summer (unless I find a sitter....darn those girls!  Why do they get old enough for real jobs so fast?!).  I also had to get my car inspected, so by the time I got home I was starving.  Unfortunately, while I was waiting for my car, I realized that today (Thursday) I should definitely rest before my 10K on Friday night.  Especially considering that my Monday rest day consisted of yoga and zumba.  I got home and ate lunch (probably an entire eggplant... I couldn't help myself!) and somehow zoned out on TLC programming, which turned into E! programming (Sex and the City!  Can't change the channel!)  Around 2:00 I realized I had entered a time warp and I only had an hour before the end of A's horse camp.  I was still full from lunch, and I had all kinds of house work to do, but I just decided it was then or never, so I threw on a running skirt, changed my shirt, added shoes and headed out the door. 

Ugh.  The road crews oiled and stoned the road I run on.  (So that's what that awful noise was while I was watching Carrie reunite with Aidan!)  It was super smelly and I kept kicking little stones into my shoes...and then a car would zoom by, not giving me any space and spray me with teeny tiny rocks.  I turned down the side road about half a mile in to get away from the oil and stone combo.  It's a dead end, so I don't usually go that way, and I'm not sure how long it is, but I went to the end, turned around and, after checking my watch, realized I had few more minutes to run so I kept going down the smelly stone road, turned around at about my usual mile mark and ran home.  I am super glad I went, which is how I knew I would feel once I was out there.  I didn't take my phone with me, so I don't know the mileage.  I am assuming it was around 2.5, but will check shortly.  Today's plan is to not run, and then take it easy, while wearing compression socks all day tomorrow before the 10K.  My shin, from my ankle to almost my knee were not happy with me yesterday, and I blame my running to the car to get the kids to their events on time in my flip flops.  I slept in my compression socks again and I feel all better today.  I really wish I had just spent a couple hundred dollars and gotten a pair in every color so I could just wear them all the time.  (I wish I had a couple hundred dollars.  It's August.  I'm a teacher.  Nuff said.)

Wish me luck on the 10K that people keep saying "that's a challenging course" when I say that's the race I picked for this month.  I'm trying to not think too hard about it.  argh!

Wednesday: 2.5
Week: 15.9
August: 37.9

Hope I'm wrong...

I ran with the club for the last time this summer/fall last night.  I had a great run, and I really hope I'm wrong in my suspicions that the 5K course is a tad short of 5K because I had my best time ever last night!  I ran it in 26:48!  My best 5K time previous to that was last October's local homecoming 5K at just under 29 minutes.  I hope hope hope that the course is mapped correctly, and that all this training is paying off.  I mean, it IS paying off, since I am confident I will be able to handle the half marathon that's in a month, but I am happy to see gains in other distances as well.  I did do things a little differently last night.  Mainly, I didn't carry water with me this week.  I also didn't stop for water this week.  I made sure to hydrate before I went (I typically have forgotten the past few times, to make sure I used my nuun hours before heading to the run.)  Also, I started the run with a girl I know has been faster than me, and did my best to hang right with her, right ahead of her or right behind her the whole time.  I wasn't able to talk during the run's second half, I was sucking wind pretty hard, but it wasn't awful.  The humidity was right up there though (it started to rain about 10 minutes after I got home) and I was still able to hang in.  I think (if the course truly is correct) that I have increased confidence from my 10 miler this weekend, and all my humid training runs, and also, I'm starting to believe that I can push myself harder each time I go out.  I didn't die at the end, I didn't even heave.  I still feel amazing this morning!  I am thinking about running the same route by myself, using my runkeeper (disappointed now, that I didn't use it last night) to measure the course, but it won't happen today.  I'm heading to yoga this morning after dropping the kids at their various activities, then to get my car inspected.  If I have time after that, I may run this afternoon before picking up the boys.  I probably should, since I should rest tomorrow.  I signed up for a 10K on Friday night (phew!  I had difficulties picking a race for this month, with my focus being on the (possibly two) half marathons next month.  This 10K though, I've heard is a challenging course.  10K is not my favorite distance I don't think, but I've only raced it once, and ran it once with the running club.  I probably haven't given it enough of a chance yet, and this is a race I can make it to (Husband is going to meet me at the race on his way home from work, where he will assuming kidlet duties and I will run, then we are going to walk around the field days and eat and such before heading home) which, with this being golf season is tough to do since the husband is always gone! 

Tuesday: 3.1 (oh, I hope I hope!)
This week:  13.4
August: 35.4

(Not So Much of a) Rest Day

Yesterday was supposed to be my rest day, after running over 10 miles on Sunday.  I couldn't resist going to yoga in the morning though, since both kidlets are in their final week of summer drop-em-off-and-run activities.  A only pretended to not want to stay at horse lessons, and T, although a little apprehensive about going to rec with out his big brother, elected to stay since it was his second to last chance to go swimming at the YMCA this summer.  I hopped in the car and took off only to be held up by construction.  No matter, I made it to the yoga studio before the doors were shut, only to realize that my husband had helpfully taken my yoga mat out of the car.  Good thing they have extras at the studio...I just had to think not too hard about other people sweating on them and hoping they used the mat wipes when they were finished like I do!

It was a relaxing, but challenging work out.  This instructor really likes to do all kinds of staff pose variations, most of them inverted...which really works my lower tummy (yeay! and Boo! at the same time!) and my hip flexors.  My hips could stand to be stretched out always, but especially after my long run.  I left slightly more limber than when I came in and ready to face the day of chores at home...after I made a stop to shop for school clothes (why not?).  I left Marshall's with 2 tshirts, a running tank and two drapey sweaters for my super chilly classroom.  Not quite the kids school shopping I went in for, but whatever.  I deserve back to school clothes too (not that the first 3 items will be seen in my classroom...oops)

I invited my neighbor to Monday night zumba when I realized my next chance to make it to that class wouldn't be until the last week this month, and likely by then I will be too busy (my Tuesday night Spanish class starts, and I know (hope!) I will start thinking about getting school stuff done so I'm ready to go after Labor day).  If I drop a work out it can't be a running one yet!  It seemed a little reckless when I invited her, and I was relieved when she declined (obviously my invite was another occasion of me running my mouth...or fingers as I was texting her on facebook messenger.  Same difference) but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to go.  I started to cook dinner right after I picked up the kids, so the husband would have little to grumble about when I told him I wanted to go (besides when I had to ask him for $5 to pay for the class.  I am generally cash-less).  I went, had a great time, sweated about 5 lbs off and then went home only to realize aforementioned limber hips were not pleased with my stint in the car or my stunts at zumba. 

When I headed to bed I made sure to drink plenty of water, take my fish oils (my chiropractor got me to start taking them to combat my creaky neck and knees...and I definitely feel the difference when I forget to take them) and put my super-sexy compression socks on.  I'm in decent shape this morning for the kids' golf camp.  I'm hoping to make the 5K tonight with the run club since next week I will not be here and then my Tuesday night Spanish class starts, so this is the last time I will be able to make it.  I totally should have found a sitter last week.  Oh well.

Breaking Dougle Digits

Make my Morning Link Up!

I did it!  I ran more than 10 miles yesterday.  I planned on it (sort of.  I WANTED to do it, but wasn't sure I could, so I planned my route in a way that would give me a couple chances to head home early.)  My training plan called for 8 miles...but last week my long run was over 8 miles, and I know that I could have done the 9 from this week, but 9.3 is the longest I've ever run, the Boilermaker.  I had my best recovery this year from the race.  I was back out and running the same week, which was a first since I ran my first one three years ago.  I have been scared though that that was it.  That was as far as I could go.  I knew once I broke ten miles in a training run, it would seem so much more likely that I could actually make it to 13.1, and the weather was relatively cool and humidity was low-ish (not low like I hope it will be on race day, but I could breathe), so I set my RunKeeper to a 5 minute warm up, five 2 mile segments and a cool down.  I did pretty much the same out and back I usually do, but tacked on an out and back side road I usually just turn around at, I ran the whole road (well, I did walk on of the hills.  Funny how big they are when you are running and I never notice them when driving it!).  I have RunKeeper turned to announce my time, but not my mileage, as I found that kind of makes me feel tired to think about how much I've already done, or to think about how far I have to go.  Boilermaker time has always been around 1:45, so I figured I would be running at least 2 hours, so I checked the display as I got closer to the time, and to my surprise, when I finally checked I was more than a mile away from home but had less than a mile to run!  I ran all the way to the driveway and hit stop.  Final total:  10.3  Awesome!  I really, honestly feel like I can do the half now.  This morning I feel fine...a little stiff in my knees and hips, but no head aches yesterday and I even went grocery shopping and to dinner at my in laws house.  I did sleep in my compression socks last night, and I think it helped with those lower leg/calf cramps I get sometimes after a long run once I'm sleeping, since I don't think I woke up at all last night.  I'm so relieved!

I also recorded the distance as my final marathon run on Run With Jess's track meet.  It was so much fun to do something I knew other runners were doing during the Olympics, and also it added variety to my work outs, and in Friday's case, got me on the treadmill because I thought I needed the mileage (after yesterday though, I didn't).  I won't be increasing my long run this week.  I'm running a 10K this Friday night.  I've heard it's pretty hilly, and I'm sure it will not be cool weather, but I'm excited to see if I can break an hour. 

Sunday: 10.3
Week: 10.3
August 32.3 (look at that total shoot up!)

Hello, Treadmill

I've got to learn to like my treadmill a little bit more.  Summer activities for the boys are winding down.  This week will be busy, and it's the last week the boys will be in a "drop and leave" location which allows me to take my time getting my runs in.  It's been a great summer for me in this regard, running wise.  I've been able to go to yoga and get runs in and still have time to clean and get groceries and eat lunch and....and...well, basically have a summer.  It's been great for the boys as well, especially A.  He's a bit of an introvert, and always thinks people don't like him if they don't talk to him right away (not really understanding that he's not talking to them either.)  So having the whole summer pretty much, hanging out with the same kids at summer rec, has allowed him to make some new friends, and he's more willing to go do something with out me.  This week he will h,ave Horse Camp 3 of the days (that's a drop-off thing) and Golf Camp (not a drop off thing) so I will have some days where I have the day to myself, and some not. (T is still going to Summer Rec on Horse days)

Today is the last day for Run With Jess' virtual track meet.  I have just over 4 miles left to complete, and I'm sitting her with my coffee, trying to remember my last run and getting motivated to get out the door...I also need to plan what kind of a run I'm doing today.  I could do my long run for the week tomorrow, but I also know that Sundays will have to be the day from now on, since the boys will be home the rest of the summer, and I don't really want to do long runs on the treadmill.  If it's a long run, technically I need to do 9 today on my training plan, but I was close to that last week, and part of me wants to do 10, so I will finally hit double digits for the first time.  I feel like once I break through that I will truly feel like I CAN do the half marathon...and maybe even the local one (which I believe is in four weeks). 

Thursday I didn't run.  The boys had golf camp, then we had a 'trade play date' where A stayed with his friend and I took the friends sister home with me.  We traded back in time for me to drive to my friend's house where we shared a babysitter and I went to my first Zumba class in 4 years.  It was a blast, but if I am going to continue to go (I DO need a good cross-training workout!) I need some better shoes.  My running shoes are too 'grippy' on the floor, but my every day sneakers (just cute, fashion shoes, not for athletics of any kind) just don't have the support I need.  I might hit up payless today when I get groceries for a cheapo pair of dance/jazz shoes? 

Friday was raining, the kids were home with me so we could go visit my grandmother before she heads out of state for the fall/winter season.  I hemmed and hawed all morning and finally just got up and hit the treadmill.  I still had the 5K to run for the track meet, and I wasn't sure I was going to make it to one of the races I was eyeing on Saturday (I didn't) so I knew it was that or definitely have to run a long run today.  I turned on my Another Mother Runner Pod Cast and used the treadmill for the first time since...probably March?  The weather was so mild this winter that I ran outside quite early and often.  It was not easy.  I definitely rely on my surroundings as distraction when I'm outside.  I sometimes I do my shorter runs with out music or podcasts, and I have no problems.  I completed my 5K in just over 30 minutes, which is disappointing, because I really felt like I was running faster on the mill than I run on the road, and the past few times I've done my club run I've been under 30 minutes for the 5K.  I also had my doubts about if it's measured correctly out there as well, so....  When I get my bia (in April I hope) I'll know for sure, but for now I'll just assume that I could have pushed harder on the treadmill.  The last half mile I did up the speed, gradually so by the end I was running at an 8.  I'm just not used to it, so that could me it too.  Either way, I got my run in, even though the boys were home and that's what counts at this point.

Ok, enough procrastinating.  It's time for me to hit the road!

Friday: 3.1
Week:  14.9
August: 22

Fun on the Track! No, really!

I headed to yoga yesterday morning.  It may be the last day I make it, because A went to summer recreation for the last day this summer.  He and T have Junior Golf camp today, and next week for two days as well) and then A will also be doing 3 days of Horse camp at the stable he rides at once a week.  I have mixed feelings about that, mostly from the cost, but he really wanted to do it, and horses are the one thing that he has participated in and not wanted to quit.  He's been riding for a year, and I think the interaction with the horses as the confidence he's getting from doing something none of his friends are doing have done wonders for him.  My father says I need to find some activities for the boys that aren't 'rich kid' activities.  That cracks me up!  A is definitely more of an individual athlete-type...like me.  I never really liked team sports (My mom likes to remind me of playing youth soccer and singing under my breath 'don't kick the ball to me, don't kick the ball to meeee').  I did play softball for many years, but I wasn't very good and I quit playing when I got to late middle school and most of the girls I played with tried out for the school team, thus leaving community softball behind.  I was too terrified to try out and be cut from the team, so I didn't play anymore.  I didn't really miss it.

ANYWAY, I have to get A to Horse camp around the same time summer rec starts, so I'm hoping that I can still get T to go to rec right after that, and if I'm lucky with traffic I will still be able to make it to yoga...there's a little hope there, because T is definitely my more social child.  He's gone to rec a couple of times even when A didn't, but I don't know if I will be able to really get him there or not.  Just in case, I'm trying to get my idea of what I'm doing next week to be flexible so I'm not disappointed if I don't get to go. 

After yoga yesterday I headed to a local track that's always open.  Most of the schools are using the tracks for summer sports or pre-season conditioning.  Although I could still go and run (I should, because I really really like the track at the high school in the district where I teach...it's what we called a 'bubble gum' track in high school.  Nice and bouncy)  I just don't want to run while the track is filled with kids.  Anyway, I was pleased to find the track I had selected free of people.  I started with a mile warm up then started in on my virtual track meet (courtesy of Run With Jess).  I did the 100m (wow, that was a lot more fun that I thought it would be, I felt like I was flying!  I wasn't, obviously, but I ran it in 19.9 seconds...which is a hellova lot faster than my 'fast' 10 minute mile pace I try to keep during a 5K)  I jogged the rest of the lap after I walked to catch my breath so I could count the distance as mileage (part of the meet is to complete a marathon, and we can double up the mileage for that part) then decided to give the 400 a try.  The 400 used to be my event.  I ran track for 3 years in high school, (I was working my senior year, I had to save some money for college, and I had had a disappointing year the year before and I have a history of quitting something I feel I'm not good at.  I've been working on this my whole life!)  I had an awesome year my sophomore year (probably because I was cross training-not on purpose, but my family had gotten into karate, so I was at the karate studio evenings a week the whole year before track started.  I was super strong, flexible and felt amazing) and earned my varsity letter in the first few meets.  Unless my memory is faulty, I believe my best 400 time was 61 seconds.  That could be wrong.  I have an awful head for numbers.  If that's not plausible, then just let me say that I placed in every meet that year, and they were mostly first places.  That I DO remember.  The 400 is the only event I ran, and the 4x400.  Once in a while I would fill in in the 800 or a longer race if we didn't have enough girls running it.  Anyway, I should have saved the 400 for last, since the time was soooo much longer than in high school, and it kind of bummed me out a little bit to think about what my body used to be able to do, even though logically, I would be slower now anyway, since that was almost 20 years ago!  (wow.)

I ran the 200 after that, then the 800, then the mile.  All in all, I was pleased with my ability to go do it.  It was more fun than running the repeats I had been doing on my road.  And now that I know the track is open all the time, I can go and bring my kids with me, give them a soccer ball or something and run while they hang out in the infield, or they can run with me. 

So, Wednesday: 3.5
This week: 11.8
August: 18.9

Make My Monday Link Up (actually it's Tuesday, but whatever!)

I don't have any followers yet, I'm so new! (But I would love to have some so I am not just talking to myself.  Athough I'm pretty good at that.  I will definitely keep blogging about my training for my first half marathon, but it's been so motivating to look back and relive my runs that I will definitely keep blogging after it's over.  Actually, I've been contemplating taking swimming lessons and giving a tri a try.  Although I have to buy a bike first.  I have been longingly looking at people out training on bicycles lately, much in the same way I wish I were running whenever I see someone out for a run (even if I've already gotten my work out in!)  I've never felt the desire to bicycle train, but my dad used to race bicycles when I was a kid, so it was probably bound to happen.  So many people I know have become "Iron Girls" lately that it makes me think I might want to too.  But I don't SWIM!  I have mad treading water skills.  I can do a mean side stroke.  I can sort of free style with my head out of the water...the only stroke I really enjoyed when I took swim lessons was the breast stroke.  But I don't swim in a straight line.  So...after this half marathon, it's possible, maybe I will take some adult swim lessons.  Anyway, the blog is bound to continue!

Here's the link up to the other blogs :)  Hope this is how I'm supposed to do it!



Nope, that didn't work. If anyonee wants to help me figure it out, it would be much appreciated!!  Try this:

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My Weirdest Long Run Yet

I almost didn't run today.  It's beautiful out.  I had another kick-ass yoga session this morning.  I was hungry.  I drove with around a loop I thought was 8 miles (my goal today) but it was only 6...and I saw a LOT of dog houses.  I love my dog, but I am not crazy about other peoples' dogs...especially when they are not chained up.  I drove around to drop off water bottles like I did last week, since it worked so well and gave me something to look forward to on my run.  But I didn't drop them off because I was fixated on the odometer and the number of dogs that looked like they might not be tied up.  I got back home and got a phone call from summer rec saying that A didn't want to go to the YMCA to go swimming, was complaining of a stomach ache but she thought he was faking so I could pretend she didn't call.  (wha?  I didn't go get him...he's been wanting to just come home and hang with mama)  Then I was even hungrier.  Then I decided I just needed to get out the door and I gave myself permission to turn around if I had to.

I dropped a bottle of water and a bottle of nuun at the stop sign on the corner, so in case I decided to do the end of the road and back twice I would have hydration at my half point, or in case my calculations came up short and I had to tack on a mini out and back...or mostly since I went on that 7 miler with my friend a few weeks ago and was dizzy with dehydration I just like knowing I have something to drink out there. 

I ran to the corner and felt surprisingly good, so I kept going.  There's a house with a big dig (maybe a lab mix) and a chihuahua that I go past all the time...the chihuahua hates me and the last time I went out he crossed the street to chase me until I turned and yelled at him.  I had always thought they must have some sort of invisible fencing because they always barked and growled but never came to the road.  So I'm a bit wary of them now.  I made it past them and came to the intersection I normally turn around at for a 5 miler (or last week when I tacked on a bit more in the opposite direction) and I kept going...but then I came across a couple more dogs (these, I'm pretty sure have an invisible fence) but then a couple houses later two bigger dogs came tearing out and came right to the road.  I stopped, walked and tried to stay calm.  I turned around, sadly actually, since I had an intersection in my mind that I'd like to make it to.  Oh well.  I got back to my road, thought about heading towards my bottle of nuun and then going out again, but realized once I was in sight of my house my body would say "nope, all done".  It's happened before.  I kept going when I got to my road down to the next one, did a little loop there and came back.  I was long out of water, and though fine, really really wanted my nuun!  I got back to the stop sign and my nuun was gone!!  Gone!!!  And by gone, I don't mean someone picked up the bottles thinking they were litter, I mean the bottle was completely empty and next to my full bottle of water!  What?!  There was a really hot town worker(not hot as in attractive, hot as in I thought as I ran by him that he looked sweaty and uncomfortable) mowing the sides of the road. I think he stole my nuun!  Who drinks things they find on the side of the road?!  Ack!  I almost chased after him waving the empty bottle, but I resisted.  That would be more crazy, right?

Needless to say, even though I had been feeling good at that point, I saw the house, didn't have my nuun and headed home.  I thought maybe for a minute I would go back for half a mile and then to the house to add another mile, but I didn't. 

So weird.  But a great run otherwise.  Beautiful, much cooler weather.  I also went to yoga this morning, so I was good and stretched before I started, and I could feel the difference in my posture almost the whole run (we worked on posture poses the whole class..I'm sure my core will be cranky tomorrow!).  Lovely day, and I'm off to prepare dinner.

Today: 8.3
This week: 8.3 (oh, yeah, I didn't run yesterday)
August: 15.4

A backwards recap of the past few days' workouts! I've been so busy/tired that I keep putting off posting, and now I realize if I wait much longer I will forget what I did and when. Good thing I've got a training plan to follow: it's helping to jog my memory. that and my runkeeper app (thank goodness!)

So today the forecast says 99-100 degrees. I HAD to get a workout in today, considering the few days before this one, so I had not choice but to get up early on a Saturday and get it done before it started to heat up. The husband golfs around 7, so I had my alarm set for 5:30. Not super early (it usually goes off around 4:30 so I can be up when the husband leave for work) but not too late either. Despite a cat, a dog and a child all waking me up in the middle of the night (wants to go out, wants to eat hours before it's time, had a nightmare and climbed in bed with me, respectively) I still got up with only one snooze punch. Usually for an early morning run I still coffee up and eat, but this morning I took a page from someone (eeks! I will check my blogroll and tell you who!) and chugged some water, threw a Thieves in my mouth (not at the recommendation of anyone, but my throat was a little scratchy and there's nothing like mouth breathing to make it worse!) and headed out the door.

It was rough going for sure, but better than the last run I took so I was OK with walking a bit. Also, even though it was really early, it was already close to 75 and humid out, and if I have learned anything this summer is that it's okay to dial it back a bit when it's hot and humid. The effort is still there.

Today: 3.6

Friday (yesterday): Rest day. I spent the day with my kiddos at a water park as a chaperon for the summer rec program. Technically I did not work out, but climbing those super high stairs and climbing all over the hills in the park (it's in the Adirondacks, so big elevation changes even within the park) that's got to count for something. Especially when 45lb T is too tired to walk and I have to carry him. Across the scorching blacktop. Barefoot. Endurance training for sure!

Yesterday: 0.0

Thursday: Was supposed to be a 35 minute tempo run. I was super sore from Wednesday's workout, so while I started out with good intentions, it turned into a plain old 3.5 mile run to the end of the road and back. I had no get up and go. My pod cast were not doing it for me...and I got really down on myself every time I stopped to walk, since it seemed to directly coincide with my 'coaching' from runkeeper that would tell me I was doing 11 minute miles, then 11:40 minute miles, then 12 minute miles, then 13...then 14. You get the picture. I finally gave up, turned the volume down and enjoyed my walk breaks and scenery. There's always another day for speed work. And since I haven't incorporated more than the occasional fartlek in my work outs since high school (and unintentional at that...usually there's a dog involved, or boredom and I decide to kick it up for a telephone pole or two) I figure getting mileage in is better than throwing in the towel completely.

Thursday: 3.5

Wednesday I hit the yoga studio again, knowing it was my only chance to get yogified this week since I was planning to go to the water park on my rest day Friday with the kiddos. it was such an easy work out, we didn't even stand up at all in the entire class, unless you count the 5 downward facing dogs we did. I was so relaxed and stretched out I even had a little panic at the very end of meditation when I was convinced that everyone had already got up and left while I was floating away somewhere. I left thinking I needed to go for a run too, since it was such a gentle work out and so relaxing, but then I headed down to summer rec to give T some Tylenol for his fever from the immunizations the day before and he said he really just wanted to come home and rest, so running was out. Oh well. Well, let me tell you...that was the most deceiving workout at the yoga studio yet. I was so sore in my arms, especially my triceps and my stomach (my obliques! screaming!) the next day that it was all I could do to force myself to wiggle into my sports bra and out the door to run (jog...walk...whatever) That said...my hammies were happy with me (for once) we did lots of gentle forward folds while seated and they were just what the doctor ordered I think!

Wednesday 0.0 but a secret killer workout!

This week's total: 18 even (yeay! I didn't even plan that!)

August total: 7.1

Also, I've gotten my email from Run With Jess for the Virtual Games, so I'm going to start on that for tomorrow morning (well, I've already started since I logged a little mileage for the marathon portion)

A day of fun

Both boys had to have their annual school physical yesterday morning, and it was a short day at rec..and T had to get shots, so I was pretty sure that I wasn't going to get a run in in the morning. I decided to not even think about it and to make a fun-filled day with the boys and with any luck I'd try to make it to the local running club's run. T perked up immediately after his shots when I told him I would let him pick any treat he wanted at Walgreen's (I usually put a lollipop or something in my purse for immunisations, but I forgot...i also usually give them Tylenol before we get there, and that didn't happen either. Poor kid! I ALSO always carry essential oils with me, and lavender on the site of injection helps a lot with bruising and pain, and I dropped the ball on that too.) While I picked up some children's Tylenol before our outing the boys picked out their favorite m&m's. They were 3 for $3 so of course I had to pick out some too. (So much for all the inspiring reading I've been doing in Scott Jureck's Eat and Run.) After that we headed for a surprise visit to Chuck E Cheese. Both boys had free token coupons (I love that they send birthday tokens AND half-birthday tokens...it works out perfectly since their birthdays are 6 months apart) and I printed out some good deal coupons as well. It was nice, the entire place was empty and they had free run of the place. It totally made Thomas forget about his shots.

I also visited the Vitamin store...I was excited to find that they sell nuun...unfortunately, they only sell 3 flavors, two of which I already have had. I picked up a tube of fruit punch for something different, but I guess I will be placing an order soon. I really wanted to try something new with out having to commit to 4 tubes of something I might not like. Oh well.

We also finished back to school supply shopping at Target, and some grocery shopping and a visit to Barnes and Noble. A got a 'free cupcake' coupon for his birthday in my email last week, so we took advantage of that even though the boys were stuffed with pizza (I was stuffed with salad..3 trips to the salad bar, veggies and beans only! Had to make up for the almond m&m's) they talked me into loaning them money for purchases (free cupcake my ass!). A left with 3 Captain Underpants books. I love that he wanted books, I'm not loving that he got a kindle touch for his birthday and actually has 35$ to spend on amazon books, but used the other birthday money on actual books at the store...but again, it was on books so I guess I should not be annoyed. T, on the other hand, desperately wanted an angry bird stuffed animal. Sigh. Why do they sell toys at B&N? I really really really miss book stores that sell just books. On the plus side, I sat and read a couple Elephant and Piggie books (Mo Willems, if you are not familiar with them they are so stinking cute!) and he actually pointed at some words he recognized. We didn't buy any, since we can take them out of the library....and he really wanted an angry bird. They both paid me back when we got home, so at least I didn't forget like I normally do. (we went to giving them an allowance to help them manage money, so they buy their own wants now, but that only works when they bring their money...and if they bring it, they will always find something to spend it on. So hard to teach respect of money!)

A also had horseback riding lessons last night, so when that was done I came home, started dinner and changed for running club. I was out the door and made it in time to the start line. I was happy to see several friends there I haven't seen since school got out in June. I finished under 30 minutes again, and could have probably finished faster, but there was a girl who was working so hard to make it to the end, and I made the decision to finish at the pace I was on and not kick in another gear (who knew I had gears?! They didn't exist a month ago!). I really didn't want to pass her on the last road, I would have been pissed to be working that hard and get caught at the end.

At the end I also found that the friends I saw are running the marathon of the half I am doing in September. Fun that I will know more people there than just my friend from High School! Plus we can all suffer together at work the next morning. :)

Tuesday: 3.2

This week: 10.9 (argh! There's that .9 again!)

July total: 72.0 (whoo hooo! A nice even number!)

I've never kept track of my mileage before. This is a nice surprise to find that I'm running a lot more than I thought I was . I would have guessed I was doing about 15 miles a week, so about 60 a month. nice!