Run FastLane Run!

What Else?

2011-05-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I realized that as much as I loved to run, running on the treadmill for 4 dreary cold months, or outside in the dark coldness, did not do as much for my soul as I had come to expect from my runs. And so, I started adding in a few other activities.

I started and completed P90x three times. I still ran on top of the P90x and I found that this combination was an incredible full body workout. I had toned arms for the first time in my entire life. Even when I ran in college, the weight training we did was light and was mainly targeted to help us get stronger and faster for running. P90x gave me a little bit of everything and I liked it.

But, the P90x program AND running was very time consuming. Plus, I had to be up and ready to workout by 4am. Plus, I started to have knee and leg pain that culminated in me having surgery on my knee a few months ago.

In the intermediate time period, before my knee diagnosis, I began backing off the running and backing off any P90x that worked my lower body and I started just doing the upper body strength workouts and yoga. A yoga day is a part of the P90x program, but it is the same yoga workout every time. To add some variety, and with the knowledge that I would never have the time to go to an actual yoga class, I started downloading yoga practice sessions from the Yoga Today website. I love that they have weekly free classes. I love that they are always adding new classes. And I love the variety of practice types and levels. My favorite instructor is Adi because her practices tend to be more athletic and strength based and less of me trying to twist myself into impossible poses. She has a lot of practices that include core strength and specific practices for runners, or climbers or hikers.

And I found out that yoga did LOTS for my soul. I also believe that it has helped lower my blood pressure and increased my flexibility and arm strength. Last night, I did a yoga practice after a particularly stressful day and I could really feel the tension leaving my back and shoulders. And my upward dog stretched out the stress in my chest and back and the twisting poses tightened my abs. Now I can feel myself craving more.

I am slowly increasing my running times and distances. I am probably taking it easier than I need to, but I am cautious and I want to make my sure that I respect my knees and and help them to give me many more years of running. And what I have discovered over the last few years is that just as I enjoy running on different terrain and different trails and different routes, my body likes the variety of different workouts and different muscle use.

I am always looking for the time and opportunity to throw in an active adventure or two. But, since my time seems to be limited, my current fitness goals are:

1. to continue increasing my running, three times a week still, for now. My thought, is that when I reach 30 minutes of running and my knee is not sore on my off days, I can start adding in short runs on those in between days.

2. to do upper body strength work twice a week

3. to do abdominal workouts 3 to 4 times a week.

4. to do at least one yoga practice a week. Even though I prefer working out in the morning, my evening yoga last night was so very therapeutic, I may try to do a second yoga practice a week, in the evening, on a regular basis.

This still seems like a lot. But, all these things are usually done by 5:45 am. So, my final goal is to get enough sleep so that my 4am alarm makes me actually get out of bed. Because, on the days that I do, my days start off on the right foot, and I feel centered and ready to begin the day.

Starting Again....

2011-05-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

I started this blog quite a while ago, while training for a marathon. I quit posting here when I quit training for marathons. But, I haven't really quit running. I haven't quit trying to be active. I haven't quit craving that post-run endorphin high.

About 7 weeks ago I had surgery on my knee to remove some torn cartilage (It had been torn before, probably from playing soccer, and it had been repaired before). I also had some cracks and fissures inside my knee cap that were causing pain and some arthritis. I also have a partially torn ligament that is hopefully going to just stay partially torn and still allow me to do what I want to do.

And so, I took some time off from running and I am starting again.

I am up to 15 minutes of running, three times a week. That is not quite a marathon. But, it is running.

It is not where I was. But it is good.

I don't think I am going to use this blog to track my runs. But, I think I will use it, on occasion, just to remind myself how much I like to run. Or I might not say anything at all and just direct you over to that widget over there that takes you to the Daily Mile, where I have been logging a few of my runs. Or I might forget to log them over there also, and I might just be enjoying running and being outside.

Where I Am Right Now

2008-10-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

I started running again yesterday. I have run two days in a row. Just 4 miles each day. Running makes me feel better. It even helps me deal with my kids more productively. I will continue to run, even after the bitter disappointment of the marathon. I don't exactly have a plan right now. But, I know that I am going to run in a Thanksgiving Day 6 mile race. I know that I want to spend some time on the weekends running on the trails during this, my favorite time of the year. And so I begin again.

A week out now from the marathon, I am able to have a better perspective on the experience. Especially, after talking to others and reading some race reports, I realized that it was just another bad day. And in some ways, my body shutting down like that was a blessing, because it did for me, what I probably would not have done on my own; stop. On my own I probably would have carried on torturing myself and still not getting the goal I wanted.

So, yeah, I am still disappointed, but it is a whole lot easier to get a handle on now. I would love to say that I would just jump into another one in the next month or two and get that Boston time. I am still in good enough shape, physically. But, as much as my perspective has changed, mentally, I don't think I can right now. My heart and my head are just not into the distance right now.

Running has given me so much through the years. And I have been at this a long time. Really, I already have two Boston qualifying times from my first two marathons 10 and 8 years ago. Plus, I have all the other accolades and positive experiences from years of cross country and track. A trip to Boston to run the famed marathon would have been awesome and maybe one day I still will. I still have time. But, for right now, I gave it my all two years in a row and it is time for other goals.

One of the cool things we are doing this summer is taking our two older kids on a 4 day backpacking trip in the sierras. I haven't backpacked since I was a teen and I can't wait. I would also love to introduce Dash and maybe even Jack Jack to running in some local road races. And there are a lot of local road races I can jump into and maybe work on some of my long lost speed again.

Never say, never on the marathon. But, this is just where I am right now.

Just What I Needed

2008-09-20T07:47:00.001-07:00

I ran 20 miles today. It was great. Really. Who needs to do the actual marathon when you feel that good running 20 miles? The weather was perfect. I started out before dark and the Mr. and Jack Jack met me at mile 10 with Gatorade and energy gel. I was determined to run the first part not too fast and I accomplished that. Without really even trying, I ran the 2nd half, almost a minute per mile faster, finishing about 10 minutes earlier than I thought I would. I had been feeling terrible for a few weeks. Not sick, but not right. And then Dash was in the hospital. But, finally, this week, I felt like I got back on track. So, in three week, comes marathon day. Unfortunately the marathon does not start at my favorite time to begin my runs (5 am), so I am hoping that the weather will be much better than last year, because I am ready to go.

cross posted at That's Life v 2.0

So Not Good at This

2008-09-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to post on here regularly. Which, I suppose is fine, since who really wants to hear that I felt like crap all last week and did the same run over and over again trying to feel better? Or that one morning I had to spend so much time in the bathroom that I actually ran out of time to run?

So, I am back to hitting the highlights. Over a week ago, I ran 21 miles. The first 15 felt great. The last 5 were terrible. I hate the heat and humidity. I am seriously not running the marathon, if I wake up and that is the weather we've got. I did that once already. I do not feel the need to punish myself again. The last 5 miles of this long run were too hot and too humid. And I felt like poop.

I spent all of last week trying to recover from the 21 miler. I think I might had a bit of a virus or something. Because I had a massive sinus headache all week. I never did get sick, but I felt overwhelming fatigue. So, either I over did it the week before, or I was slightly sick. But, either way, I took it way easy and tried to recover. I am finally feeling better this week. But, the goal was a 20 miler this weekend, and I am still going to play that by ear. If I am not ready, I am not going to push it. The 20 miler can wait until next weekend. Because I won't be any less prepared if I only run 2 20 milers instead of 3 in preparation for the big day.

End of Last Week, Beginning of This One

2008-08-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have given up keeping track of days and weeks left until the Chicago Marathon. But if you look right, into my side bar, you can see a handy dandy little gadget that counts down the days for me. Also, if you are so inclined, you too can join the dailymile and become one of my friends (so far I have 2, that's it...) and log your miles and workouts over there. It is even easier than blogging!

So, last week:
Friday: 9 miles. I got to start after the sun came up. That was nice. I ran slow and easy, more than just a little afraid of the fact I was running 9 and then needed to run 19 the very next day.

Saturday: 19 miles. I did two 9.6 mile loops, so my total was actually 19.2 miles, but I tend to be an overachiever. I started at 4:30 and the sun did not come up until well into my first loop. The advantage to this, was that even though I hate doing loops, the second loop, actually looked much different than the first loop, mainly because I could see. I had a nasty powershot at the half way point (Razz is not so good, I ordered a whole box of vanilla, it tastes like cake batter, much better, because I can't seem to find it in any stores around here.) I ran pretty slow the first half, but the second half I started to roll, and I ended up running 8 minutes faster for the 2nd loop.

Sunday: Resting

Monday: 8 miles. Ouch....probably should have run easy yesterday to work some of that out. Today was painful. It was supposed to be 10. I cut it short, there was no point in going on any more. Oh well, the good and the not so good.

Gearing up

2008-08-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

Last Sat: easy 11
Sun: off
Monday: 9
Tuesday: easy 4
Wednesday: 40 min. tempo
Thurs: off

Coming up....Fri: 9, Sat: 19.

Sat. is my last long run before I top out at 20 each time. Just under two months to go. So, one more month of build up and then some time to cut back before the big day. I am still healthy and just a few aches and pains. This is the month that could do me in, so I will keep my fingers crossed for a healthy month.

In Passing...Updated

2008-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am going to be more regular in updating this blog now that I am home. It was hard enough to keep up with one blog while I was gone. But, here I am. Oh, and even if I don't manage to blog about every run, you can also find me logging my runs over here. You can join too and be my friend, if you want. Right now, I have no friends.

It has been tough running since we arrived home at 3 am Tuesday morning. I decided to make that my day off since I could barely get out of bed and I had lots to do around the house. So, yesterday was an easy 3 (it was supposed to be 4, but I got out of bed late and had people coming to the house at 9:30) and today I did some 800 repeats.

I would usually do these repeats on a track, but again, I could not get out of bed. This Jet Lag is totally kicking my butt right now. So, I ran from home onto a trail that has each 1/2 mile marked. I knew I wasn't going to get the 6 in that I was supposed to, but this is one of those weeks that I just need to go with the flow and realize that it will still work out in the end. I did 4 800 repeats at around 3:30 pace for each. I jogged in between and had a warm up and cool down.

Right before one of my hard 800s, I could tell that I was catching another woman on the trail. I wasn't running hard, but I was catching her. I really hate passing people. I don't want to act like I am showing off when these people are working just as hard as I am. They are out there, they are running and sweating and pushing their bodies. I respect each and everyone that gets out of bed in the morning or laces up their shoes in the evening. Sometimes I have even cut a run short rather than pass someone and then just have to turn around and go by them again.

But, today, I was catching this runner and I was about to start running my hard 800. That meant that I would either be running past her fast, or I could hold off and go past her slowly and then pick up the pace. Either way, I had to pass her. So, i just started my 800 and went by. Later in my run, I had turned around to head back for home and the same runner was going the opposite way. As we met, I opened my mouth to tell her that she was doing great, when she beat me to it and said "I so much wish I had your body!"

I knew what she meant, because I am positive that she did not mean that she wished she had my belly that sags a little with stretch marks from three kids. I wished I had been able to tell her that I really did think she was doing great. Because, even though it might have looked like it was easy for me, nothing is ever that easy. And I have been doing this for so many years now, and still, I feel the pain, I feel the ache in my legs, I feel the burn in my lungs. Does it get easier? Yes, it does, but every one who is out there pushing their bodies is doing something great for themselves, whether they run a 7 minute mile or a 12 minute mile or any other variety in there, they are doing it and it is in the doing that comes the rewards.

Just Keep Running, Running, Running (think Dorie from Nemo)

2008-07-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have been running. I have been running a lot. But, I have also been busy. So I am just going to touch on the highlights of the last few weeks and move on.

Two weeks ago, I ran an awesome 13 mile run from home. I felt great. I even found myself picking up the pace in the last 5 miles. I felt like I could keep going on like that, running faster and faster, for a long time.

One week ago, I travelled to California, adjusted my running schedule a little bit and ran a 14 mile run from my parent's house to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I used to run part of this route all the time when I lived here, but I had forgotten that the whole way home is basically uphill, except for one steep down hill. The hills did not bother me as much as the lack of water/gatorade. I didn't need any on my 13 miler, but I was so desperate for some on this run that I stopped at a couple houses and drank out of their sprinklers that were running. This didn't work very well, but it was something. This was a 2 hour run and I think I need to plan on finding a way to have gatorade on any run over and hour and a half. That would be smart.

I skipped a few days in the middle of this week for Disneyland and a recovery day after Disneyland. My legs were tired enough from walking/standing all day. And then I ran straight through today with a 7 mile run yesterday on a STEEP hill, so steep that you can't run down it unless you are into kamakazing it, and an 11 mile run today that was supposed to be 10. My knees are sore from all the hills. I am not used to the hills, obviously.

I also ran into my high school coach on an easy day. I had not talked with him in years and it was great to see him. I wish I had more time to catch up with him, because he really was one of the biggest reasons why I learned to love working hard and running.

Today I am heading up into the mountains so I will take a few days of easy running to adjust to the altitude and hopefully when we come back down I will be all ready for my 16 miler next Sunday.

Bug Off!

2008-07-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

I am double posting this fun post on here and my Other Blog. I don't know if there is anyone that only reads my running blog, or if there are even more than three people that read it altogether, but since it is a piece of my running week, it deserve a special place on both blogs.

The training plan called for a 6 mile run. Six miles is just a medium day at this point since looking ahead at the training calendar showed a 13 mile day scheduled for the very next day. But, it was six miles that I was tired of running near my house. The roads within six mile radius of my house have gotten stale and monotonous, and so I took a short drive over to some trails to mix things up a bit.

One of my least favorite parts of summer in Indiana is the bugs. We sometimes wear bug spray just to play in our own yard. When going to a park or a hike in the woods, the bugs can, on occasion, be unbearable. So, I packed my bug spray into the car with me, and in the parking lot, before I began I doused my whole body with a layer or two of the bug spray that was rated by Backpacker Magazine as a top 10 bug spray. It uses all natural elements rather than DEET, so I had no qualms using lots and lots. I can't get it in stores around here, so I order it in bulk from my favorite store, REI. I especially concentrated on spraying my hair, since for some disgusting reason, the bugs around here really like sweat and when my hair gets sweaty they like to land and try to make a nest in my head. Nothing says summer like finding buzzing insects in your hair while repositioning a drooping ponytail.

And so, I felt very protected as I set off on my run. It was like I had some sort of invisible shield surrounding me as I ran through the woods on packed trails, past streams, over boardwalks and up and down short hills. It was like my "Magic Spray" really was magic. There were bugs, I could hear them buzz by. I could see them fly up to me and then veer away, probably from the intense smell of an entire bottle of bug spray running by. I was debating in my head as to whether the bugs really were repelled by my smell or if it was just not a very buggy section of woods, when I started to notice quite a few more bugs taking a chance and diving through my bug shield. It was 4 miles into the run, so, I thought it could be quite likely that I had sweated some of the spray off.

I sweat a lot. This is something I know. I inherited my sweat glands from my father who has to wear a sweatband to keep sweat out of his eyes while he works in the yard. One time, when it was particularly hot, even by Southern California Standards, my Dad came in the house and wrung out his sweatband into a measuring cup. I don't remember the exact measurements. But, I do remember that we were all amazed in a really disgusted, yet awed way, that anyway could have collected that much sweat in one sweatband. I don't think I sweat that much. But, I do sweat, and I do stink by the time I am done running. Jack Jack won't let me touch him until after I shower when I return from my runs. In fact, I tried to steal a quick kiss from him the other day and he told me "Mommy, your kisses STINK! Go take your shower!"

And so, by mile 4 of a humid Indiana day, I am sure that the bugs were just dying to get a piece of me. Maybe even so much so that they were willing to take a chance, plug their little buggy noses and bust through that bug spray barrier to nest in my hair, or on my back. But, I had only a couple more miles to go and the bugs were not all that bad. I finished a shaded section of the trail and entered a patch of sun. I thought maybe the sun would make the bugs a little less interested in me and after I had run for a minute or two in the sunshine I turned slightly to see a river I was passing. When I turned my head, I caught a glance of my shadow on the road. I also caught a glance of another shadow directly behind my running form, it was a shadow of a giant swarm of bugs! I turned my head a little further and I was in shock and awe to see that it looked like every bug in the entire wooded area seemed to be following just a little ways behind my stinky self. I juked left, the swarm went left. I juked right, the swarm went right. I picked up the pace, and so did the swarm. It was no wonder that the occasional bug tried to land on me, they were probably behind me plotting and encouraging each other and then sending one out of the mob to try to get me.

I was almost done with my run, but this really creeped me out. It was really bugging me, you might say. So, my pace quickened. I figured that if the swarm was going to keep up, they were going to have to be quick about it. And then, I had to pass some other runners. I went by them fast, with my enounterage following close behind. I can only imagine what in they world they were thinking as a lightning fast, yet stinky runner streaked past them with a swarm of bugs behind her. I ran straight to my car and got in before the bugs could come home with me. Yuck!

But, on the positive side, the bug spray really did keep the bugs from actually getting to me. I did not get a single bite or bug nesting in my hair. I also, may have made it possible for every other runner and hiker to have a bug free journey through the trails that morning.

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Miles Today: 6
Miles So Far This Week: 21
Weeks Until Marathon: 14.1

Week Four...Here We Go!

2008-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday: ummm...I was just supposed to do an easy 3, but i didn't. Can you spell LAZY? Actually, part of this was because I didn't take my usual Thursday off and so, by Sunday, I was tired. Of course this means that I will make the run up this Thursday, putting me in the exact same situation come 'round next Sunday.

Monday: 6 miles with an emphasis on enjoying the run and just running slow. I ran on some cool trails, and just ran. I Loved It.

Tuesday: easy 3.

Wednesday: I didn't run until almost 11 am. It was HOT. I thought the breeze would keep me cool. It didn't. 38 minutes total running time. 15 min. easy/ 15 min. temp/ 8 min. cool down. Well the cool down was relative, because it was soo hot. I decided to start back lifting again. I could feel that my arms and pecs were getting tired on my last long run and it had been a while since I lifted so, it was time. Biceps, triceps, ab crunches, push ups, planks.

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Miles So Far This Week: 15
Weeks Until Marathon: 14.3

The End of Week Three

2008-07-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

Friday: I think I ran too fast. But it felt good at the time. Supposed to be just a 6 miler, nothing special. might have been more than six because I ran by time and I was super speedy. I could check it with Google Earth, but I am too lazy.

Saturday: Since this was a back down week, my long run was only 8 miles. 8 miles it was.

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Total Miles This Week: 25
Weeks Until Marathon: 15

Week Three

2008-06-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

This week was a little tricky. We had a two night camping trip planned and I brought my running clothes with me. But, there was never a good time to get a run in. It would have been a great place to run too. So, I ended up taking Monday and Tuesday off and changing my schedule around so really, I am only missing one easy run. It is a recovery week anyway, so missing 6 miles shouldn't matter too much in the end.

Sunday: 3 miles easy in the morning

Monday: Camping

Tuesday: Camping

Wednesday: I was going to do the 6 miler I missed from Monday, but I have been having stomach issues and decided that an 3 miles was a whole lot safer.

Thursday: Mile warm up, 4 X 800 on the middle school track. I was aiming for 3:30's. I ran: 3:23, 3:25, 3:28, 3:25. Pretty close, considering I have no idea of pace anymore. Jogged a 400 in between the 800's. Mile Cool down - 5 miles total.

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Miles So Far This Week: 11
Weeks until Marathon: 15.2

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In other news...I seem to have finally lost a few pounds. I don't know where I lost them, and if anyone finds them, please keep them, I don't want them back. Really. I only need to get rid of about 5 to 8 more. Free to a good home...You would think that would be easy, but they seem to like me and have been around as long as my youngest son has.

Still Going...A Week Two Update

2008-06-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

There seems to be no possible way for me to update this blog daily. So, I think I will just be satisfied by getting the info up in as timely a manner as possible, keeping the weeks separate. So, this post will be for last week.

Monday: 5 miles easy. I timed a few of the miles, just to see where I was at. I was a little surprised I was running as fast as I was (7:50, 7:45...). I think this is a good sign, since I was just running comfortable.

Tuesday: 3 miles easy from home

Wednesday: Drove to some hills. 2 mile warm up, 4 hill repeats, jogging back down, 1 mile cool down. Lets guess that this was 5 miles of running, just for fun.

Thursday: Rest day...if you count going to the water park for four hours as restful.

Friday: 5 mile pace run. supposed to be at 8 min. pace. I have no way of knowing that it was so, lets just pretend that 8 min pace was run.

Saturday: Long Run - 11 miles. Ended up doing an out an back (45 minutes and then turned around). I had hoped I would be able to do a loop, but the timing didn't work out. I checked the route on google earth afterward and it was exactly 11 miles.

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Miles This Week: 32
Weeks until Marathon: 16

Week Two

2008-06-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

I have my days straight now. Started off the week with an easy three in the afternoon. Hot, humid, but only three miles. It was good for me.

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Miles Today: 3
Miles This Week: 3
Weeks Until Marathon: 16.6

Week One...Til the End

2008-06-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

Because I screwed up and started Monday instead of Sunday, I had to decided whether to skip my day off, or miss a run. I should have planned to miss an easy day, but didn',t and so it came down to a pace run and a long run, both important. So, I decided to skip the day off and do the pace run. Until...my usually quiet neighbors (the single guy and his roommates) decided to have a party. The party wasn't a problem, until about 1 in the morning when they were really, really drunk and they kept getting louder and louder and louder. I was hoping the forecast storm would roll in and shove them in the house. But, at 3 am, they were still going strong and then "somebody" called the cops. And when the cops just gave them a warning, I went to sleep in the basement. When my alarm went off an hour later, I sure did not feel like getting up for a run. The massive Thunderstorm finally rolled in about that time too, and I went back to sleep and got my day off after all. Not, that I felt well rested or anything, though.

Week One Day Five: sleeping in the basement....
Week One Day Six: 10 miles...early for a Saturday. But, got it done. Mostly roads and paved trails. Felt decent.

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Miles This Week: 25.5
Weeks Until Marathon: 17

Week One Part II

2008-06-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Ooops, I made my first mistake already. I forgot that this plan is a 6 day a week plan and I was supposed to start on Sunday instead of Monday. So, I am a day off and I am trying to decided if that means I give up my off day? Or skip a different day. I am also trying to figure out how to get in a 10 mile run on Sat. before picking up Violet from camp. How early is that going to have to be....no rest for the weary.

Week One Day Three: easy 3, gosh am I tired.
Week One Day Four: 30 minute run w/ tempo. 10 minutes of warm-up, 15 minutes of tempo, 5 minutes of cool down. Pushed it, felt decent. Actually, felt like I was flying for about five minutes. That was the five minutes that made the whole run worth it.

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Miles This Week: 15.5
Weeks until Marathon: 17. 3

Marathon Training - Week One

2008-06-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

And they're off! The official 18 week training plan started yesterday. I am mostly following this plan, by marathon training guru Hal Higdon. Last year I followed his Intermediate II plan and this year, I decided I wanted to try to add a little more "speed" type work, since speed seems to be the first thing to go for me. So, I am working off of the Advanced I program, which adds some interval work and hill repeats. It is not about getting faster as much as it is just being able to handle a little faster pace for a longer time period.

Last week I did a little speed test (my own, that I made up because I wanted to see just how slow I am). Part of my route had half miles measured, so I ran about three miles as hard as I could, timing my miles. I ran about 7 minute mile pace for those three miles. That was not bad, but that was as fast as I could go. I can remember not, that many years ago, when 7 minute miles were my training pace. But, when I was done, I recovered from those three miles, within a minute. This tells me that I am fit, but not fast. Some "speed" work might be just the ticket.

Week one Day one: 3 miles easy. Felt lousy. I don't know why.
Week one Day two: 5 miles @ around 8 min/ mile pace. Felt better today.

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Miles This week: 8
Weeks until Marathon: 17.5

Woops!

2008-05-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy at work and the Mr. keeps hogging the computer at home, that it looks like I have been falling down on the job of keeping this blog up to date. So, I will post the last two weeks of runs in one post and roll into next week. So, yes dad, I have been running.

Monday 5/19 : 40 minutes
Tuesday 5/20: 30 minutes and weights and abs
Wednesday 5/21: 40 minutes
Thursday 5/22: 40 minutes
Friday 5/23: Didn't run...Thought about running... and then thought about sleeping
Saturday 5/24: 8 miles, road & trail...awesome

Monday 5/26: 45 minutes
Tuesday 5/27: 30 minutes easy & weights & abs
Wednesday 5/28: 40 minutes - 10 min. easy, 20 min. of 50 sec. hard/ 70 sec. easy, 10 min. easy
Thursday 5/29: 30 minutes & Weights/ ab work
Today: 30 minutes

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Total Miles Last Week: 27
Miles so far this week: 23
Weeks until marathon: 19??? I am not sure this is correct and don't have time to count right now.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday 5/11

2008-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

Thursday and Friday just were. I got out the door, I got the run done, and that is about all there is to know. Thursday I did to strength work (abs, arms...).

Saturday.....I waited until the afternoon to run. This is usually a bad plan in my busy life. So, often when I put the run off, it doesn't happen. But, I was determined today. Plus, it was warm(er) and sunny and I was excited to get out and run in the sunshine. One of the things I learned from a very hot Chicago Marathon last year, was that because all my runs were done early, I was not at all ready to run in the heat.

The heat was so bad, that almost everyone ran slower than they were capable of, but those that could adjust to the heat were less slow (if that makes sense). A teacher friend of mine runs marathons all year long and ended up being only 30 minutes off of her goal time, unlike my hour off. But, she is a gym teacher, in an un-airconditioned school and tends to do a lot of her runs in the late afternoons and early evenings when it is still plenty hot and humid.

So, I decided that this year, I should do at least one of my training runs per week, later in the day, when it is hotter out, just in case marathon day dawns hot again. Today was only relatively warm. But, it was warmer than it has been and I might as well start gradual. Plus the sunshine was wonderful. I ran on the beach for several miles and on trails. It felt good to be on some different surfaces and running near the water was very soothing. I could have done that all day. I got my long run in. I ran 6 days this week. And we are getting close to marathon training!

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Miles Thursday: 4
Miles Friday: 4
Miles Saturday: 9
Total Miles This Week: 33.5
Weeks Until Marathon: 21

Tuesday 5.13...Wednesday 5.14

2008-05-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Tues: The opposite of yesterday. Made me remember why running hurts. Everything hurt. Felt like i was running in tar. Barely made it to 30 min.

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Wed: Better...getting out of the subdivision helps. I do wish that this leg thing would just go away.

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Miles Tues: 4
Miles Wed: 5.5
Miles this week: 16.5

Monday

2008-05-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

I will back post about my weekend, it wasn't that great and I was really tired, so lets move onto today, shall we?

Since yesterday was supposed to be an hour long run, but the needle like rain drops that were being whipped into my face by the 40 mile per hour wind gusts, caused me to make it a 30 minute run with some strength training in the comfort of my basement, I moved the hour run to this morning (was that a run-on? Because I seem to be into run-ons lately. Maybe it has to do with the way my life feels that it has no time to pause, so why should my sentence structure?) It is not easy for me to do longer runs during the week, because of how early I have to get up. But, by 5 am, it is getting light out and this makes a huge difference. So, I only had about 15 minutes of semi-darkness. It was pretty cool out and my leg was feeling good. And I ran. And it was one of those runs that just feels right and is the reason that I keep on running, no matter how early I have to get up to get it done.

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Miles Today: 7
Miles This week: 7

Tuesday, Wednesday

2008-05-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

I seem to be on a roll this week. As busy and late as my evenings have been, I have been getting it done in the morning. I have started taking some ibuprofen and it seems to be helping my leg quite a bit. I am still contemplating taking a week off before the marathon plan starts, just to see if a week of rest would get the rest of the kinks out. But, for right now, I will just keep plugging away.

Tuesday: 30 minutes of lifting (abs, arms), 4 miles of easy running.

Wednesday: 5.5 miles. I still felt a little tight, but I picked up the pace in a few spots. Not for any particular purpose, but because I felt like it.

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Miles Tuesday: 4
Miles Wednesday: 5.5
Miles This Week: 14.5

Monday, Monday, Monday

2008-05-05T05:49:00.000-07:00

A decent start to the week. My legs are pretty stiff today. I think it might be from playing soccer in the yard with Violet last night. The beginning of the run was slow, but it felt good to stretch out my legs and get them going faster so after twenty minutes I turned the run into a fartlek of 50 seconds hard/ 70 seconds easy. I did this for fifteen minutes, ending my forty minute run with 5 easy minutes and lots of stretching.

I don't know how many miles, so we will guesstimate it to be around 5. It might be more, and I don't want to know if it was less, so 5 sounds good to me.

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Miles Today: 5
Miles This Week: 5

Sunday 5/05/08

2008-05-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

I took Saturday off, deciding to give myself that extra few hours of sleep before the soccer games and baseball practices began. Wonderful.

I get up early on Sunday's anyway, so I just made it a little bit earlier to get some lifting and a run in. I might have run longer, if the wine I had drunk the night before with several of my friends hadn't caused me to spend extra time in the bathroom. But, all in all it was a pretty decent week.

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Lifting: abs, bicep curls, triceps extensions, push ups and planks with feet on the exercise ball.

Miles Today: 4
Miles This Week: 28
Weeks Until Marathon: 23

Thursday & Friday

2008-05-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a throw away day that almost didn't happen. I really could use more sleep and I almost slept instead.

Miles Today: 4
Miles This Week: 17

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Today I managed to drag myself away from the computer plenty early and got in some extra miles. I don't know if I will get to do my long run tomorrow because of an extra busy Saturday schedule, so I started my run in the dark and ended in the cloudy dawn.

Miles Today: 7
Miles This Week: 24

Global Warming? Psssha!

2008-04-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

It was back to winter running gear this morning. It was 29 degrees and clear skies. At least it wasn't windy. Shorts, pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, gloves...I probably could have used a hat, but I refused to wear a winter hat at the end of April. Let my ears burn and sting, but I was not wearing a hat. I am enjoying the lightness of the morning and even went wild and crazy and left my subdivision. Yowza!

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Miles Today: 5
Miles This week: 13

The Beginning of the Week

2008-04-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

A slow start to the week due to a slight accident early Monday morning. But, I have put in two slow 4 mile runs. Today's was a lot less painful that yesterday's. Although, my body stiffened up last night, it felt good to get moving and stretching today. I have another fitness goal and that is to finally lose those last 10 pounds from baby #3 that seem to want to stick around. Since little Jack Jack will be three in June, I have set a goal of a pound a week for ten weeks. It sounds reasonable enough. I really think that I just need to make little changes and watch the amount and types of snacks that I have. I have started bringing a stash of cereal to eat at work for those mid morning hunger pains. Right now I am enjoying a steaming mug of Kashi oatmeal and taking a quick break from dealing with students. Hopefully I will be ready for a little longer run tomorrow.

Monday: total miles -4
Tuesday: total miles - 4
Miles this Week: 8

Friday Blahs and Saturday Rahs.

2008-04-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

I almost didn't run on Friday. My bed was feeling too warm and my eyelids too heavy. I stopped my alarm, and my back up alarm and accidentally fell back asleep. I did manage to drag myself out of bed for a quick 20 minute run, which barely counts. (2.5 miles)

Today was much better. Our weather has gone from 80 degrees yesterday down to 40 degrees today. Bye Bye Spring...But, it is great running weather. I spent 51 minutes running over some of my favorite trail. I ran some hilly parts today and, although I can still feel the tightness, I think it is time to just get over it and keep running. I picked up the pace for the last 11 minutes of the run. I was motivated by there being three runners on the trail in front of me. I was going to have to pass them anyway, although I don't really like doing that (it makes me feel a little like I am showing off) I decided if i was going to pass them, that I might as well do it quickly. it felt great to not only be moving, but passing people as well. Maybe it is time for me to jump in a race or two.

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Miles Today: 7
Miles This Week: 26.5
Weeks until Marathon: 24

Thursday 4/24

2008-04-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I wrote down my entire 18 week training plan. It does not "officially" start until the second week of June, but, I am getting pumped. I am so much hoping that the Mr. will stay healthy this year and join me on my long runs. As much as I am able to get through 20 miles on my own, and did almost all my training last year on my own, it is so much nicer to be able to share that with someone, especially my husband. As soon as my hamstring feels tension free, I will start create a mini-training plan for the next month and a half before the actual plan begins.

Today my leg was ok. There were no twinges, but it did feel a little tight. Maybe I should make an appointment for a massage, even if it doesn't help my leg...

40 minutes around the subdivision. Boring...but, it is getting light for the last 20 minutes or so of my runs, now. So, soon I will feel comfortable running on some of the other roads around here.

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Miles Today: 5
Miles This week: 17

Tuesday....Wednesday

2008-04-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

Tuesday:
Was going to run 40 minutes. Couldn't drag myself away from the computer. I really need to not get on the computer until AFTER I run. Ran 32 minutes and then stretched really well. My hamstring feels like it is getting better, but stretching feels awesome. Note to self: make more time for stretching. Maybe if I use the computer after my run I can stretch while blog reading. Hum....

Miles Today: 4.5
Miles This week: 8.5

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Wednesday:
Abs - 150 straight/ 70 each oblique
Biceps - 2x15 @ 20 lbs.
Triceps - 2x15 @ 20 lbs
pushups (feet on ab. ball) - 3 x 10 plus 3x30 second planks

Run... 30 minutes. Hamstring felt GREAT for 15 minutes. It made me want to pick up the pace. And I think I did. Felt a few twinges after a while. I think my hamstring tightened up when I started running too fast. I will need to control myself for a while. But I am ready to start busting it. Let's go!

Miles today: 4
Miles this week: 12

Monday Morning

2008-04-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

Up and at 'em

Crunches on the ab ball - 120 straight, 60 each oblique
Bicep curls - 2 x 20 @ 15lbs
Tricep extentions - 2 x 20 @ 15lbs

(that is all I had time for, but it was better than nothing)

30 minute subdivision run. Hammy was a little better. It made me want to run faster, but faster made it tighten up. Progress anyway. Wish I was running the Boston Marathon today. But, I sure don't feel like a marathoner.

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Miles Today: 4
Miles This Week: 4
Weeks until Marathon: 25

Wrapping up the week

2008-04-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Certain people have been conspiring to keep me from keep this up to date. Between the work filters and the obvious need for a third computer in our house, I will be posting Thursday through Saturday in one post.

Thursday:
SO tired. Barely made it out of bed in time. I really need a back up alarm because I have been falling asleep after turning my watch alarm off.

30 minutes easy around subdivisions.
I am really tired of my hamstring. It is not bad enough to keep me from running, but it is annoying and doesn't make me feel like upping my mileage.

Miles Today: 4
Miles This Week: 13

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Friday:
Blah. Put in the time. I hate mornings.

Miles Today: 4
Miles This Week: 17

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Saturday:

Trails, sand dunes, beach, road. Enjoyed the run, but didn't run as far as I wanted to.
Saturday is the end of my week. I will usually take Sundays off, if my life schedule permits. I might do abs and lifting tomorrow morning, though.

Miles Today: 7
Miles This Week: 24

New Shoes!

2008-04-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

I love new running shoes. I was way overdue for new shoes, but kept putting them off for other purchases like shoes for my kids, who seem to outgrow shoes while they sleep. The shoes arrived at my door last night and the new shoes and the 50 degree weather combined to get me out the door this morning for 42 minutes around my neighborhood. It is nice to see that it is actually mostly light out by the time I am done.

The run itself was just so so. My hamstring is still bothering me and I felt a little like I was running through quicksand. It always takes a little while to get used to new shoes and since my old ones had taken me all the way through my marathon training, the marathon and the last 6 months since the marathon, it was sure different to have shoes on that actually supported my feet.

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Adidas Supernova Control
Miles Today: 5
Miles This Week: 9
Weeks Until Marathon: 26 weeks, 4 days.

Nope

2008-04-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was up, I was awake, but the thought of going out in the cold (28 degrees) was too painful. And the thought of yet another run on the treadmill made my brain hurt. So, I lifted and I did ab stuff and I called it a day. Doesn't help the old PMS bloating feeling. But, whatever.

Back on The Treadmill

2008-04-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

Spring break is over (sob) and I was back to waking up at 4:15 am today.
30 minutes easy on the treadmill. I hate the treadmill, but it was below freezing again this morning I was feeling very wimpy. At least I have learned a lot more about politics on CNN than I ever wanted to know this year.
My Hamstring is better, but not great, maybe time for some ibuprofen?
30 minutes of ab crunches on the ball and arm free weights.

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Today's total: 4 miles
Weekly total: 4 miles
Weeks until marathon: 26 weeks/ 6 days.

4/12/08

2008-04-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

One hour run on some of my favorite trails. It wasn't the best running weather, but the rain stayed pretty light. A few degrees colder and it would have been snow instead of rain. Some of the trails were completely underwater so I had to make a couple detours. My left hamstring is still really tight. I stopped and stretched here at the half way point:

Ahhh...spring...can you feel it?
OK, if you look real hard you might see green in there.

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Today's Total: 8 Miles
Weekly Total: 28 miles
Weeks until marathon: 27 (corrected from yesterday)

In The Beginning

2008-04-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

As I was running in the beautiful spring sunshine this morning, I decided that it was about time for me to start blogging about my running. Since my other blog is mainly about my family I thought I would create this separate blog to record my training, my thoughts on running and my journey toward this year's Chicago marathon.

I have been a runner for a long time. Running is almost as much a part of me as eating and sleeping. But, it stopped defining me as a person, several kids ago. Now running fits into my day, if at all possible, in those "extra" minutes of the day, usually early in the morning when everyone is sleeping and it is still dark out. Running is a part of my life that keeps me sane and keeps me in touch with my body. It is a way that I feel strong and in control, if only for the time that is takes me to complete my run. Maybe one day I will be able to expend more energy on this part of me, but for now, it is what it is.

I started running way back in my freshman year of high school as a way to get into shape for spring softball. I also played lots of soccer and that was where I wanted to focus my time. But, it turned out I was decent at running. I wasn't great, but on a not very good team, I was in the top three my freshman year. It turned out that my talent didn't really lie in my amazing speed (didn't have that), or my perfect runner's body (definitely didn't have that), but in my ability to keep going when it hurt and the ability to outwork the next guy.

By the end of High School I had amassed league championships in cross country, and the mile and two mile on the track. I qualified for the California State meet as an individual and was recruited by smaller division one colleges. I walked onto one, and earned a full tuition scholarship by my junior year. I graduated from college, with some bumps in the road, but as a pretty decent collegiate runner that was this close to qualifying for the NCAA national meet.

After college I got married, moved to Indiana and kept running. I ran my first Chicago marathon the year I moved here in 3:20 without any real training, other that the base I still had from college track. I coached middle school cross country and track, had a baby, coached high school boys cross country and track, got my masters degree, started working full time, had another baby, stopped coaching to focus on my own kids and whew...here we are.

During all of this time, running has been a constant, but often without direction or purpose. I stayed in shape while coaching, but it had been a few years and a baby since then. So, I decided to up the ante and the Mr. and I signed up for the Chicago Marathon. Although the Mr. got injured and was unable to finish the training, I was on track to meet my goal of a 3:30 marathon which would also qualify me to run the Boston Marathon. My last long run before Chicago was a 22 miler that was right on pace.

Unfortunately, marathon day was one of the hottest and most humid October days on record. I am not a great heat runner and almost all of my runs were done early before the heat became an issue. Within the first 10 miles, I knew I was done for. But, I was determined to finish. It felt like a death march, but I did finish just a little while after they closed the course with a time that was over an hour slower than I wanted/ than I knew I could run. But, as I lay near Buckingham fountain trying to get my muscles to get moving towards our car, I told my husband, "I am just like the Cubs, wait until next year."

So, here we are. It is next year. My official training plan starts at the beginning of June. But, I am going to start recording my journey here, in hopes of keeping me honest. Thanks for stopping by.

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26 weeks and 1 day until Marathon