Improvement

Short post on this Super bowl Sunday.

My fitness has improved in the last month. The tempo runs must be doing their magic. I am running 7:11 avgs and it feels easy! When this happens I know my my fitness is gaining. This makes me feel more confident.

This last week I finally hit over 50 miles for the week. I believe I ended with 53 miles. As I begin this next week I have 2 goals I have written down on paper. I am going to hit 55 miles for the week, and also try to hold a 6 mile tempo at a 6:30 or less pace. I know I can hit 55 miles this week, I am more worried about the 6 mile tempo. I think it's ok to pray for things that are out of the ordinary. To me, this is important. So I'm going to remember in my prayers this week to pray for strength to run a 6 mile tempo at that pace. I could use any help I can get. If that means asking God for a little help, then by all means I am going to ask.

We will see how this goes!

Getting behind on the blog already

It has been far to long since I updated this blog. FAR TO LONG. Sometimes as a Mother, it is easy to get caught up in the day to day and taking care of the kids and house. It's easy to let the other things go. And rightfully so, my family is number one always. So with that being said, I will continue to do my best in keeping this blog up. Its all for me. I want to remember this time in my life. The triumphant feeling of training for and running any marathon is a period in which to document and remember. It's a journey only a select few (compared to general Population) will ever get to have. However, I am sure this wont' the the only neglect in this blog. I know it's going to happen again and it's ok!

What I've been up to: I am slowly increasing my base mileage. Each week I am adding a few more miles. I do 2 shorter speedy type workouts, the other 3 are "happy jogs", and my long run . I push the pace in my long run. I think that's where it's at! This last month has been a little hard for me, trying to build back up.To understand you have to know that I was injured most of the summer. I had to stop running all together. Here I am trying to build back up. I need to give myself credit, I have a lot of 'aerobic base" already. I've been running consistently and uninjured since Sept. 16th. Intertwined my friends, with a lot of elliptical hell! I am re-finding speed. It's quite the process! Speed hurts! It burns! And dang, you have to dig deep to find it. It's been quite interesting re-learning to take a mileage 'brunt' again too. Thank heavens my thyroid is back online and up to full function again. I have the energy of a teenager once more.  :)

I can do this...

Knee still had some moments today. I don't get it. It started hurting Saturday when I ran outside in neg 4 degrees in STUPID ASS STABILITY TRAINERS! Never again!

Todays workout:
tempo run. Burned like heck!
2 mile warm up at an 8 min pace
4 mile tempo. Splits: 6:53 6:53 6:35 6:35
1 mile cool down.

I really had hoped to tempo for 5 miles but I let the pain and burn get to me. I let my mind tell me I couldn't go on. I know this will soon dissipate. When I hit higher mileages my mental toughness gets really sharp. So not to worried. I know I will still gain more speed and endurance before April is even here.

23 min elliptical hellishness. Ugh!

My knee is feeling kind of sore. Right knee towards the inner side. I hate these little running niggles that creep up suddenly. You're not sure how to proceed. Take a few days off? Cross train only? Not wory over it and keep running unless it continues? ugh.

Today's workout:

1 hour 20 minutes elliptical hell
ran 4 miles on the dreadmill  easy pace.

I was out way late last night. I knew I wouldn't be waking early to run.
Got out at 9:50. Ran the river trail twice plus some extension. Avg pace 7:38 8 miles total. Came home changed into less sweaty workout clothes. 35 minutes elliptical at the gym.
Glad I didn't try to force an early morning workout. I was way to tired.

This morning I just felt tired. I realize more and more that I need more sleep at night. I just can't start tonight because I am headed to a jazz game.

Workout:
25 minutes strength training in the weights with the meatheads. 25 minutes elliptical

7 mile run. First 4 miles in 28 minutes, then decided to do 8x200's at a 5:53 pace.
I wanted to die. But these are the workouts, when done consistently are where you find quickness that your legs don't forget.

That was cold!

10 outside by myself. It was -4 when I left. I had toe warmers inside my shoes. Double gloves. A ski mask (ha), 0 degree running tights, wool half zip, and my alpine down coat on. I headed out towards benjamin and hooked a left to horse corner. I almost turned around in the first mile because my fingers felt like they would snap off. But I shook my arms around. That helped. Then mile 2 a dog came tearing out of nowhere I had didn't have anything on to defend me. So I ran faster. (mental note: don't forget pepper spray ever). After the pick up pace running from the dog, somehow my hands stopped being cold, and even started sweating and feeling to hot?! weird.
My lungs didn't feel that great throughout, and correct me someone if I am wrong, I felt like it was affecting my performance negatively. I just had no pep or pick up. I think my avg was a 7:50. Not horrible but some of my miles were slower than that. I felt kind of lousy about my lack of pep. But then again, my breathing felt thick and weird.
I haven't tried to run in anything quite this cold since 2003 and 2004. no more excuses.

Sometimes you have to recover

Workout: 68 min elliptical hell
ran 4 miles easy in the freezing cold. Wore tracks on my shoes so I could run a little more confidently

Today I thought it smart to recover from my tempo run yesterday. I have had to many injuries the last 2 years to not play it any less safe. I am not 20 years old anymore, even though I still feel like I am!
I scoff inside on the days I use an elliptical. I grumble and complain in my head the whole way to the gym on these days. But once inside and I get going, it usually turns out ok. But it is really funny that I still, each time, have a mega attitude about the elliptical. But hey, it is a great tool when trying to do active recovery and keep aerobic fitness using that machine. I read this short paragraph in a book the other night, that threw me into a  fit of laughter.  I can totally relate!  (book is called "To Be a Runner")

"When an injury occurs, I do the only thing possible and get my runners on a bike and in the pool and even onto Satan's newest boring handmaiden, the elliptical machine."

I am now laughing typing this. If you know me, you know I refer to my time on the elliptical as "elliptical hell". And isn't it the truth when you have been running for over 10 years and enjoy the outside run, the runners high that happens after 30-40 minutes. I can't stand the elliptical. BUT, I will forever feel glad that it is there for recovery and in times of injury.

8 miles - 5 mile tempo

This morning I woke up groggy. To many late nights staying up over Christmas vacation, watching prison break. I love that show! It's hard to pull myself away from a TV with Wentworth Miller on it. That guy, is hotness. But I digress...

This workout:
8 miles total
2 mile warm up. Paces: 8:10 8:07 8:00 7:56
5 mile tempo at  6:48
1 mile cool down  7:46
8 miles under 60 minutes. not shabby for the screw around- first 2 warm up miles :)

25 min elliptical hell

I'm going to try and run everyday this year. Every. single. day. Even if some of those days it's only a mile. To do this, I have to not get myself injured.

First Day of Official Training

Look at that, I already have a training blister!
Today was my first official training, and it kind of coincided with the rest of the weeks training. I had a harder day on Saturday running 8 miles in under 60 minutes. And if you aren't world class, it is hard. Doable but hard.  Sunday was off. Monday was a 7 mile progression with pick up at the end. Felt sore -ish after. Also a tendon in my right lower leg (surprise!) felt sore. Today had to be an easy run. And it really was. It felt easy peasy!