663.11 - Run it Thursday

My total mileage for 2014 was 663.11. I set my running goals in this post here. My goals were to run a half and run a full marathon.

I accomplished the half, but the full is for this year!

I have this awesome friend who inspires me with her running. She sent me her plans for racing this year. I just have to say that she is a beautiful beast... because there's no other description appropriate for what she is planning to accomplish. Several full marathons, several half marathons, and a few relays here and there.

The marathon distance scares me just a little. Okay, a lot. So there's that that keeps getting in my way. But when I'm afraid of something, I should tackle it head on, right?

This year. This will be my year. And now for my goals...

1. FULL MARATHON
2. 1,000 miles or more

I'm a simple girl with many commitments. So, for me, I know this is going to push me as far as I can go right now. I may do a few small races here and there as part of training, but have nothing nailed down for sure.

Overall, 663.11 miles is good. That includes several months of complete rest from my hip injury. I took another month off with the MC. Overall, I'm pretty pleased. If the hip hadn't bothered me I would have easily surpassed 1,000 miles, and that was the idea in my mind.

I'm looking at marathons in the fall/winter because I live in Texas. And, well, it's hot here in the spring/summer.

These are still my favorite shoes. Asics Gel Cumulus all the way. For me, anyway. Time for a new pair. Man, I wish they had better colors for this shoe right now. These just aren't my fave. But I like them better than the other options. Sigh...

What are your running goals this year?

5 things about running...lately

It's been a while since we talked about running, so I thought an update would be a good thing.
So without further introduction, here's 5 things going on with my running lately.


1. My mileage ranges between 15-30 miles per week. I think I'm kind of burned out on the treadmill, and in Texas it's getting hot...so there's that.

Since the race in March I have continued to run and maintain my miles for the most part. I run a long run every week which right now is about 10 miles. Sometimes a little less and sometimes a little more.
I think the long runs are important for my mind even more than my legs. Why? Because for me, I think the long runs are more mental than anything. Yes, it's hard physically. But staying with it for 10+ miles is much more difficult for me mentally. I can talk myself out of that 10th mile every time if I'm not careful.

Right now, I have a pretty good plan for getting it in each week. I have two chances to do the long run each week. If I make one, I don't need the other as a backup, but if I do miss the first, then I have the second option to get it done. For example, every Wednesday I try to get in a track workout extra early at the track near our house. It's dark. And the air conditioner at the school is noisy. And I get scared. Even though I run with friends. We usually end up with about 7 miles including warm up and cool down, so what I like to do is finish off with 3 more for an even 10. It's a beautiful thing being done with 10 miles long before 7 a.m.

The second option is on Fridays when I get up and run 5 miles solo and swing by the house to pick up my friend/neighbor and pick up 5 more. Can I just tell you how much faster 5 miles goes with a friend to talk to?

I do feel like I am starting to nurse an injury though. My knee has been hurting me more lately. It started about 4 weeks ago. I'm trying to take care of it and roll as much as I remember to. :)  Remember. That's a good word. Most of the time my knee remembers and screams in pain.

2. I did end up getting a new pair of running shoes. After the race I got a pair of New Balance. I strayed from the Asics thinking the NB would work. That's when my knee started hurting. I just need more cushion. So I went back and got the Asics. And I love them. So much better. But I think the damage had already been done on my knee, and now I need to fix it.

The rest of the days I do mostly short, treadmill runs full of intervals and then hit the weights.

3. I love weight-lifting more and more. I would love to be seeing results faster, but I'm not. I am trying to read more to figure out what I'm doing wrong. And yes, I'm lifting the heaviest weights I can lift. No light weights, high reps for me. When I'm done at the gym, I'm exhausted in a good way. And my muscles are like gelatin.

4. I am wishing for a race to train for. I love to run. I do. I think I am burned out on the treadmill, and now it's hot season in Texas. So that means either very, very early runs with still high humidity or it means shorter runs on the treadmill at the gym. And I'm caught up on all my shows, so I need a new one.

5. Track workouts happen weekly now.  This means that once a week we head to the track at early o'clock and do something fun that my running friend comes up with. Usually it's something torturous like a 1600, 1200, 800, 400 with 2 minute rests in between or the dreaded 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1600. Yuck. That one just about killed me. My running friend circles that track (and laps me) like nobody's business. I'm just there to get a C for completion.

Happy running!

Are you a runner?

If so, what shoes do you love?

Do you prefer the treadmill or outdoors?

Training recap: week 8

It feels great to be so close to the end of my training journey for this particular race. Let's be honest...we are always training for something. It might be running, parenthood, life, school, work...you name it. We are all, always training. 

Earlier this week it was almost all filled in. YEA!

This week was particularly hard for me. I just didn't want to do it. More days than not, I found myself saying, "Just go...you'll be glad when you're done."

So, I went. I got in every run on the schedule plus one extra. I didn't keep up with my strength training as well, but I got in every run. And I'm tired. I'm ready for a break, and I'm ready for a different training plan. 

Half of my long run at the gym. 5.53 miles

Here's what my runs looked like this week:

Sunday: 3 easy with a friend

Monday: 4 easy solo

Tuesday: 5 easy with a friend

Wednesday: 3 hills on the treadmill at race pace

Thursday: 3 at race pace

Friday: 9.5 with 5.5 on treadmill and 4 with a friend

Saturday: 3 easy

And in a strange turn of events, I ran one day this week and the GPS on my phone was off because it said I ran one my miles in 4:52. I wish...

See that green spot on there...that's my 4:52 mile. Hmmmm.

Running recap: week 7

I'm just two weeks away from my race! In exactly 14 days I will be getting ready to race on Saturday and probably nervous as can be!

This week's runs looked like this:

Sunday: rest
Monday: 3 miles; legs
Tuesday: 5 miles; back/bi
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 3 miles; legs
Friday: 11 miles!! My longest run ever! I did 8 miles on the treadmill at the gym because it was dark. I finished with 3 miles in the neighborhood. It was a great way to start the day. Something about running those longer runs makes me feel so strong...and so tired. My joints have been pretty vocal today.

Here's a tiny frustration I have with running long distances on a treadmill. You can only set the treadmill to 60 minutes. At 60 minutes you have to start over if you want to continue. It's not a big deal. And probably, most people don't stay on a treadmill for that long anyway.

I certainly wouldn't if I had a running buddy to brave the dark with me at 5 a.m. on long run days.

Really terrible problems, I tell ya!

Training recap: week 6

I feel like I'm in the home stretch, almost. This week was a good running week. I wouldn't say great, but I would say good. Good as in, I got it done. Great would mean that I rocked it, ran hard, ran well, ran every day, blew my normal pace away.

So, we will call it a good week.

Here's what my week looked like:

Sunday: 3 easy miles
Monday: complete rest day (I needed it, and I took it!)
Tuesday: 5 miles rolling hills, legs
Wednesday: 3.35 miles, chest/tri
Thursday: 3 miles, back/bi
Friday: 7 miles rolling hills, legs
Saturday: 3 easy miles

Weekly total: 24.35

Since I took Monday as a rest day I had to rearrange my runs a bit, and I decided to do my 5 miler on Tuesday since that would give my legs more rest for the long run on Friday.

On long runs that I complete on the treadmill, I have to run for 60 minutes maximum and then start over. It's kind of annoying, but if that's the most annoying thing I have in life, I'm doing okay.

This was my post-long run meal that I thought would be delicious. It was mediocre. Black beans, shredded chicken, jalapenos, greek yogurt avocado dressing, a little cheese, and salsa. I used some corn chips to make a semi-healthy nacho. I love nachos. They're comfort food to me. But these were not good. Or maybe they were good, but not great. Oh well. I am grateful for food. Grateful for clean water. Grateful for life and breath and legs that are strong.

I am starting to wonder a lot about race day. I'm trying to plan my outfit...to be cool, but not cold. Warm, but not hot. I need to get a water bottle, because the Bearathon is a cup-free race. Yikes! I wouldn't know the difference since this is my first one. 

If you have raced before, I'd love any pointers, tips and tricks! Share away in the comments. 

Happy Saturday!  

Check back tomorrow for  a special post. 

Training recap: week 5

I can't believe I only have four weeks left. From today, I have exactly 30 days until the race. I'm getting really excited!

Friday was my long run because I knew the weekend wouldn't allow me to get it in. I also had to run alone, so I ended up on the treadmill at the gym for 9 miles of rolling hills. It's a love-hate relationship with the treadmill. It was so awesome to finish (and do really well for me) that I had to take photos of both screens once I finished 9 miles.

It was terrible when I started, but once I finished I was thrilled. Rocket science, I tell you.

The week's runs looked like this:

Sunday - 3 easy

Monday - 4 easy and legs

Tuesday -  2 easy 

Wednesday - 5 and arms

Thursday - 2 easy

Friday - 9 rolling hills

Saturday - 3 easy and arms

I am barely able to squeeze in 4 solid weight workouts per week. It's just hard to get to the gym once the husband leaves for work. Since we homeschool (which I love), the kids don't like going to the gym childcare. It's just not geared toward kids their age. But at least two days a week I try to get there with a friend and do weights. It's my girl time.

First half.

Second half.

Easy run. Intended to be a rest day, but I decided to rest with only 2 miles. 

Pretty weather to run in makes for crazy hair. 

Training recap: week 4

Woohoo! I can't believe I only have five weeks to go!

This was a pretty good week for training. I only missed one scheduled run, but I did walk two miles that day. I also plan to do a short run tomorrow just to make up for the miles.

I don't really like (or feel the need for) rest days. Honestly rest days don't help me. When I really feel like I need it is when I take one. Otherwise, fresh air or time on the treadmill is like honey for my soul. Good stuff.

Here's my schedule just to refresh your memory. I just finished week 4.

Sunday: rest
Monday: 4 miles on treadmill
Tuesday: 3 miles on treadmill
Wednesday: 5 miles on treadmill
Thursday: missed workout/walk on treadmill 2 miles
Friday: LONG RUN 8 miles in the neighborhood; basically I ran in circles
Saturday: 3 miles in the neighborhood; different circles

I'm maintaining my weight routine and got in 4 solid weight days this week. My long run was technically supposed to be 9 miles, but I got off schedule a bit with the long runs, so I have bumped them up. Next week will be 9, then 10, then 7 and so on.

I'm beginning to realize that training is all about making the schedule work for you. Saturday long runs aren't going to work for me much longer because we now have soccer, and my husband works on Saturday. So, I think I will permanently move my long runs to Friday.

I'm so excited for the race! I can't wait. It's fun having a goal to work towards.

Tell me... why do you run?

And...what shoes do you wear? I need some new ones. :)

Training recap: week 3

It was a good week...and perhaps even a small improvement on last week.

It's no secret that I love running. Running gives me endorphins. Endorphins make me feel good. When I feel good, I don't cry. When I don't cry, it's a good day.

The truth is, even on days that I run, I still cry. That's okay, though. Crying means I'm alive, right? Or something like that.

Training schedule for the week:
Sunday: rest
Monday: 3
Tuesday: 4
Wednesday: 5
Thursday: 3
Friday: 3
Saturday: 7 (scheduled)

Now, I did have a few changes to the schedule this week. I thought Monday was 3, so I ran 3. But really, Monday was 4. So I switched Monday and Tuesday because it was too late. I think that made my legs tired for Wednesday, but not terribly so.

Also, I have opted not to cross train on Fridays, other than walking on incline. So, my exercise today was just that...and tomorrow is 7 miles. But knowing the schedule I have and that husband leaves for work early, I will have to make those 7 miles count on the treadmill at the gym.

Care to join me at the gym and keep me company for part of it?

Now, can anyone please tell me how to keep from getting this terrible burn from my HR monitor every single day? Anyone?

Tell me...do you run? Do you run and love to run?Do you run and just tolerate it?Do you wear an HR monitor?

Training recap: Week 2

Much better week than last. Yes, it was. Only seven weeks until my first half-marathon. I'm excited. And nervous.

This week's workouts were scheduled as follows:
Sunday: rest
Monday: 3
Tuesday: 4
Wednesday: 3
Thursday: 4
Friday:3
Saturday: 7  (6)

And I'm happy to report that I got in almost every workout.  I also ran last Sunday for 3.4 miles to make up for the two days I missed last week. They were nice, easy miles. My Saturday run (today) I decided to do on the treadmill because really it was my only option. And seven miles on the treadmill would have been doable. I watched two episodes of a show I like on Netflix; however,  I had to pick up my kiddos so I had to cut it back to only six.

Since I'm also doing HR training right now and trying to keep my HR around 145, my pace is slow. Think turtle slow. And I knew with the length of the run I would have to keep the pace the same so my HR didn't go up (it did anyway). So it took me 72 minutes to run 6 miles. Can I just tell you I used to be able to run 6 miles in less than an hour?

Why is getting older necessary? Why? Because I fully blame the changes in my body, running pace, and overall fatigue on age. Don't get me wrong. I don't feel old one bit. But the way my body has responded to birthdays since 2012, I'm certain that my body knows it's aging. :)

Since this is my first, big race, I am not paying close attention to run specifics like tempo runs or negative splits; however, when I'm on the treadmill, I do try to increase my speed a little with each mile.  I'm just trying to get my legs solid underneath me.

I may begin to incorporate speedwork and hills into my runs in the next four weeks and then taper as the schedule dictates.

It was a better week for running, and I paid closer attention to my fuel as well. Putting good stuff in helps my runs be more productive, less painful and more enjoyable. :)

Everyone loves an enjoyable run.

Now, what I don't understand is this...there is no way I ran a 5'23" mile. If you were chasing me with a knife I probably couldn't run that fast. So I feel certain that my GPS was off a little this am. But, I had to post it anyway - because you know, I probably won't ever have a mile time that fast ever.

Training recap: week 1

This marks my first full week of half-marathon training. Woohoo! Well, despite by terrific enthusiasm to start this training off strong, I missed two workouts this week. I suppose, the workout I had on Sunday could count for the workout I missed on Friday, but there's no making up for the seven miles I missed today. I simply was exhausted.

Aren't we all? Please tell me we are all exhausted. Please.

The schedule called for:

Sunday - rest

Monday - 4 miles, legs

Tuesday - 3 miles, chest/tri

Wednesday - 4 miles, back/bi

Thursday - 3 miles, legs

Friday - cross, chest/tri

Saturday - long run of 7 miles

But I ended up with this:

Sunday - 3.39 miles with 4x100 speed work

Monday - 1 mile solo, 3 miles with a friend and chest/tri workout at home

Tuesday - 2 miles solo, 1 mile jog with friend, 1 mile walk with friend and legs

Wednesday - 4 miles, back/bi at home

Thursday - 3 miles, negative splits at gym, mini leg workout at home

Friday - couldn't drag myself out of bed; rest day

Saturday - couldn't drag myself out of bed...early; the day is still young. 

On Tuesday, I took Lego Man with me for mile 1. He's about to start soccer, and I'm afraid soccer will eat his lunch the first few practices. So, we've been trying to get him out running and walking once or twice a week. As you can see, my mile pace was slow, but our goal was just to get in a full mile. We jogged 15 houses and walked 10. 

The second mile I did solo and went somewhat quicker. My pace is still slow from the fall and the time I took off.

I loved running with him this day. I wish my kids would love running the way I do, just so I can spend that time with them. And maybe even race with them one day.

While the week didn't go as planned, I feel a little better prepared for next week. I didn't fuel up properly this week overall. My hormones got the best of me, and I know that played into my end of week slump. 

So, what do you do when things don't go as planned? I guess I will just lace up my shoes tomorrow and try again. While this throws off my schedule a bit, I can always adjust and make the best of it. I've got eight more weeks to go! 

Happy weekend!

First day of half-marathon training accomplished!

Today was my first official day of half-marathon training. One day down, 62 to go. I ran with a friend for part of the run today, so I broke my whopping four miles into two runs. Since I'm also doing heart rate training, these were four fairly slow miles. My mile by myself was about at 12:30 pace. It was painfully slow. In fact, I think at the crack of dawn 5:40 a.m. I was talking out loud saying "this is painfully slow."

Our three miles together were quicker...9:38, 9:53, and10:32. Much better. And much closer to my normal pace. These were probably painfully slow for my running partner. She is one fast mama. 

I'm continuing my strength training, and today was chest, triceps and abs.

Workouts were done by 8:30 a.m. I love being done with workouts early. Love, love, love.

Let the training begin...

I will run a half-marathon, and hopefully finish the year with a full marathon.

While both of them make me nervous, the latter positively terrifies me. My first race is coming up in March - the Bearathon. Go Baylor! It's full of hills, so I don't know how well I will be prepared for the hills. For now, though, I'm focusing on running, resting and strength training.

I decided to use Hal Higdon's Novice 2 Half-Marathon training schedule, and tweak it just a bit for my own needs. I decided on this for several reasons.

1. The novice 2 most closely resembles what I'm already doing on my runs throughout the week.
I chose not to do the intermediate because I took quite a long break from running throughout my miscarriage, and I'm just not back to where I was. Although the intermediate looks like the way I used to run, it's not how I'm running right now. And I want to avoid injury.

2. I only have 9 weeks to get ready, so I thought it best to go the safer route with novice 2 instead of the intermediate.

3. I tweaked the HHN2 program, because I needed to rearrange a few days to match my schedule and because I like to be more active throughout the week. I normally run this much, so I didn't want to back up and run less.

I took his training plan and made a nifty plan just for me to put on my mirror each morning and cross off as I follow the plan. While I didn't create this plan, I prettied it up for me. Yea!

I was researching running plans and reading through Runner's World magazine while sitting at gymnastics today, and you know what? I got absolutely excited about running this upcoming race. I got excited about training. I got excited about the work.

You know what, though? It's been super hard to get out of bed lately. So hopefully that will improve or my resolve will strengthen, and I will push through to do it anyway.

Happy running!

Running: Charting the Course for 2014

I've been running for years, although I wouldn't have labeled myself a runner until the last two years. I think that's mostly because the reasons I used to run weren't healthy or good for me, and in the last two years that's all changed.

I decided shortly after my MC in October that I would make 2014 my year of firsts - first half-marathon and first marathon. The former thrills me; the latter terrifies me.

I have said for years that I simply have no desire to run 26.2 miles. I guess this running thing grows on you, because I finally have the desire to at least train for it and see where that leads.

My first race will be the Bearathon in Waco, Texas. Sic 'em bears! According to the Bearathon website, it's been called the "toughest half-marathon in Texas" because of all the hills in Cameron Park. I probably should be worried, but I can't wait to run through the beautiful scenery that is Cameron Park. One of my favorite places in Waco is Cameron Park, and of course, the CP Zoo. Gorgeous.

I haven't decided yet on my marathon. Since I will be half-way there with my training for the Bearathon, it might make sense to go ahead and do a spring marathon. I always think of the Dallas Marathon, but inevitably the weather is either questionable or horrible for this race in December each year.

Once I settle on a full marathon, I will be sure to post about that along with my training schedule.

I have also begun HR (heart rate) training using my fantastic Polar FT7 HR monitor. Thank you, awesome husband, for this birthday gift!

My target HR right now is 145, so I have to keep my mile pace slow enough so that my HR does not exceed 145. I'm certainly not a fast runner, but running this slow is even hard for me. What's supposed to happen is that this will help me get faster eventually.

I will be posting my half training schedule soon along with more detail about HR training.

Until then...run on.

Tuesday...

I went running with a friend...and I remember why I love running early in the morning. Because it's over, done and I get on with my day.

I also remembered why I dislike running early in the morning, in the winter. It was cold. Really, really cold for Texas.

And it was not cute. Or, perhaps, I was not cute. Hat and headband to keep the heat in. Multiple layers. 

It still wasn't enough.

Four miles. Done. 

Photo of the day...December 5

Last week while I was running...there was the most beautiful sky. What a good morning gift to enjoy while running 5 miles.

Running lately...

I'm still running...some days it feels like running on empty, both literally and figuratively. And then some days, I feel like I could run for days. Days, I tell you.

Three separate miles. Two slow.
One at my current fastest pace.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday is bootcamp day, and on those days I go to boot camp early...early, early. And then I usually run two miles or less after. Why? I just love to run. And I need it. So I go. Today, my sweet son...the LegoMaster (yes, that will be his new name), asked me to take him fishing after my workout, so I decided that I would finish my run at the pond where he would fish.

Beautiful setting. Absolutely beautiful. Not a super long loop, though, so I had to go several times around. The local cross country team was also running at this park. And it made me think back to high school.

How many times since high school I have said to myself, "Self...you should have run cross country in high school...why did you not run in high school?" The answer is simple...and not so simple. I was painfully insecure in high school. You would never have known it to look at or talk to me, but I was...so...insecure.

And not one of my mentors was telling me or teaching me to find my identity in Christ. Instead I think the youth theology of the 90s was more about abstinence (also a good lesson) and staying away from parties. Oh how I wish someone would have told me to really read the words in the Bible where God tells me what He thinks about me. To soak it in. To memorize it and repeat it until you believe it. To speak it out loud in moments when I would doubt.

Beautiful morning for a run...

I never chose team sports other than tennis and cheerleading. Tennis because if I lost, it was on me. Cheerleading because I was good enough to not lose and usually losing didn't depend solely on one person. I hated PE and organized activities of any kind because I feared looking foolish and people laughing at me.

So, why wouldn't cross country have made sense? I guess because I doubted my ability back then. Because I only ran four miles a day and often had to stop for breath in between mile two and three. I don't know. I didn't need many excuses to not participate. One would do when it came to sports.

But I watched these girls run, so fast and so strong around and around, up and down, cutting a path in the grass. Their legs were strong. And of course, my mind wandered to "If I had been running more back then, I wouldn't have needed my eating disorder quite so much..."

A lie. Because I needed it long before high school. I needed it to survive at the time. And running would have just accelerated the problem earlier than my college years.

If I'm honest, it matters very little if I had chosen to run in high school, or jump or skip or leap. The issue wasn't my choice of activities. The issue was my heart...and my lack of understanding about who I am created to be...and whose image in which I was created.

I wish, not so much that I had run or even made different choices. I wish that I had known what I know now...that God made me to be amazing. Not because of me or anything that I am on my own. But because I am made in His image...and He is amazing...and that makes me amazing. I am nothing on my own. I have everything because of Him.

Oh, if I had known these things, the different choices would have come naturally. They would have been easy choices because I would have known who I was and what I was created for...His glory.

So, today I ran. And I watched those precious children of God run ahead of me and alongside of me. And I pray that they know how precious they are. That they are His. They are fearfully and wonderfully made. And no number on the scale will ever make them more worthy, no amount of miles run will ever make them more worth saving in His eyes. No relationship with a boy or attendance at parties or participation on a team will ever make them enough.  It is Him who makes us all enough. Only by His grace...only by His blood. Nothing on our own. Nothing apart from Him.