It's Time To Get Serious!

We are less than 3 months away from traveling to Pennsylvania again and participating in the Runner's World Half & Festival...YIKES! It's crazy to think that fall is just around the corner - Summer has barely arrived and the weather still makes it feel like spring around here.

My running has been WAY off. Had some set-backs and all around disappointing results from my efforts to get out and run. I'm down miles and I am STILL running in the shoes that I got in January. With my mostly mediocre training I usually end up replacing my shoes after they reach around 300 miles maybe a little more. 

The last race was a partial disappointment in that I did not run as much as I wanted to, but at least I finished. Fortunately, See Jane Run was the last BIG event for me - so now we can focus on preparing for the Hat Trick in October.

That's right...we are both going to do the Hat Trick! I realized last year that there were plenty of other average runners who might have a little more training (not necessarily better) - that could be ME! I thought about it for a day or so and then made the decision to actually just do it. 

AAAAAHHHHH.....

Okay...back to work for the both of us! I took a week off...kind of. I got out when Tom wanted to go to the track on Monday. I walked all the way to the track walked a couple of laps and then tried to run one and then walked home. Probably not the best decision to get out the day after. THEN we got out again on Wednesday where I actually did a fair amount of running, just not pushing it so much. My Saturday run was pretty good. Only 3 walking breaks in 3 miles and a decent pace for having tiredness all over the place. This morning we got out on the bikes and tomorrow is another run day...

I know...boring, boring. 

I'm looking forward to getting into our routine and getting ready for this HUUUUGE challenge. 

Yes. I like a challenge. Because I know that I am capable of things that I put my mind to.

See Jane Run

Half Marathon Bling #8!

Man, Oh, Man...I knew that this race would be rough - I just didn't anticipate how much so. This race was my second half of the year - should have been my 3rd half, but the first one didn't happen and #2 was okay.

This one...oh man, I was so bummed that I couldn't get enough training in for the first one so that I could do some maintenance type miles for this one. Then I wasn't able to log many miles in the last 3 weeks mostly because I spent time recovering from Vancouver Half and then I spent most of the week before SJR suffering from headaches - boo hoo...NOT.

I know that my plans are not necessarily going to happen the way that I like, so I'm cool with that. What I don't like is when something comes up during a race and I know WHY it's happening, not so cool.

For the first 6 miles I was doing pretty good with running and walking - I felt fairly decent actually. Also, I had remembed to strap on my pouch that I had a stash of shot blocks in and was downing those during my walk breaks along with electrolytes from the aid stations. Yup...doing a decent job and enjoying the morning and then BAM...

Calf Muscle Spasm. NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

It's only mile six for cryin' out loud! So back to walking for this girl. For the next 4 miles I walked most of the time and tried to run now and then. It wasn't meant to be. I made my peace with what was happening and decided  that I would just try to save it all for the end and try to run the last mile in. That was a silly idea! Once I reached the 12 mile mark I was feeling fairly demoralized because I just couldn't get my body to go and just plain tired because I really tried to step lively and I pretty much am not a fan of walking. Walking a mile when the finish is "right around the corner" feels very, very long.

Once I made the turn to go to the path back to the finish I saw Tom was waiting for me. I tried to run a little more, but that was not really an option, my body was rebelling! However, with Tom giving me a little bit of a pep talk...I was able to run the last stretch through the finish. I was sure that it wasn't pretty, but the photos were just posted and I actually looked okay!

While I'm glad that I did this race, it is one that I will not do again. The course was fine, it went around Lake Union and there were some nice views. However, the first 4 miles were basically an out and back course and then went down and around the lake and the last 3 miles was the 5k course - again, out and back. I am not a fan of out and back courses except if it's just a 5k race...then no problem. I feel like on anything longer I'm back-tracking and that's not my favorite thing to do.

There were plenty of volunteers, but I was so far back that it was kind of hard to tell if the person was a volunteer or just another person hanging out. Special shirts would be good for those people...make them stand out a little more! The food was not that great and there were no electrolytes (that I could see) at the finish.

I guess I have been spoiled by Energy events and how they organize races. They are the BEST!

Now I'll have a few more days of rest and then we'll be getting back into training mode. This time for the BIG event this fall!! Runner's World Half & Festival here we come!

Hat Trick Baby!!!

2016 VUM

Yesterday was the big day! All the training - which wasn't that much...wasn't all  for nothing. We finished and I was able to finish fairly strong too.

My running mojo finally kicked in during May. Most of our training runs felt pretty good, but we didn't have enough time to log decent long runs like we should, but we did log more miles in May than in April and definitely more than March. So I'm  okay about that. I know that we'll have to get the longer runs on the weekends in, but fortunately we'll have lots of time to do that for Runner's World in the mean time.

For our first real big race of the year - one that we both are running I was pretty excited. Since this was the first one since the Hop Hop at the end of March I wasn't feeling terribly confident. I know that I should have a better attitude about my abilities, but sometimes I fall back into the old routine of feeling not so good about my running. In the end, I think I did alright - I paced myself quite a bit which in the end made for my slowest half marathon yet at 3:20:01. Now I know what to shoot for at See Jane Run. If I can take 10 minutes off this time I'll be happy. Then I can really focus on making RW my PR!

So Far...

This week has been pretty good. I've definitely gotten my mojo back and I'm tackling things with determination - and asking for help when I want to stop running, big thanks to my Coach/Hubby.

Our total for the week so far is just over 7 miles or 12 if you count Sunday. I'm going to include Sunday because that was the first of 3 consecutive days of running. This girl is tired! The speed work at the track was good. The prescribed workout was 6-9 x 400s I managed 5 at the track, but also counted the first two intervals on the road so that would put me at 7 total. That was a pretty good day! I was happy to have a rest day and an opportunity to sleep a little extra instead of getting out of bed at 4:15 to begin the process.

Today was a tempo run which I have never been very successful at, I like to stop and get a little rest now and then, don't you know. Nike training suggestion - 1.5 to 3 miles, so we went with 2 miles. That was doable in my brain so I woke up this morning not dreading it at least.

From the Nike training plan:

COACH’S INTRO: Tempo Runs are about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I’d love to define the purpose in a more cuddly bear way, but I can’t. Besides, you are way tougher than you think you are. Now prove me right on the Tempo Run.

There were definitely times of feelin uncomfortable, but I DID IT!! Didn't stop once...I wanted to, but I didn't! I WIN!! And to make things even better mile 2 was slightly faster than mile 1!!! Double Win!!! I don't think that I should let this get to be a big deal in my head otherwise I'll set myself up for a big let down. That's been known to happen. I don't like it.

Overall, I'm feeling SO much better about running. The slump that I was in has passed and I'm not giving myself a hard time for the runs that don't turn out the way I think they should. I am looking forward to the Vancouver USA Half on Father's Day and then doing the See Jane Run Half in Seattle in July. We don't have too many things on the calendar really. This year will be a "laid-back" year I guess. We will be heading to PA again though...so we'll be training, training, training!

BUT - until then...I look forward to sleeping a little extra tomorrow and just doing a light workout. If you want to call planks light that is.

I should do this to my shoes!

Nike+ Run Club

I run with a Nike+ and am a part of the Nike+ Run Club, who knew?!

Since I don't know when (probably since the beginning) I have been receiving emails that have weekly training plans and a spotify playlist. I haven't paid any attention to either one - I know, lame. Last night before I went to sleep I actually took a look at the plan and thought maybe it would be fun to mix things up a little and try this week's training.

Today being day one we went ahead and did a light workout as our recovery - two miles and we are good to go! Tomorrow is a speed day, ruh-roh...intervals at the track. We did our long run yesterday so tomorrow will be the 3rd run training day in a row. If I want to get into this Nike+ Run Club training then I should probably go ahead and follow the plan. We'll see how this week goes. This will definitely a part of my brain training as well. I need something to keep me on my toes and since I have to look at my google calendar to see what we are doing, I WILL be slightly uninformed.

The Vancouver USA Half will be here before we know it and I will be mostly under-trained for this one, but I always have to remember that I have done more on less. My first Duathlon was kinda sorta that event - I did the whole thing without stopping, but my training leading up to it was less than adequate.

As always I plow through the things I sign up for and always feel a sense of accomplishment at the end.

And The Winner Is...

Me and my brain!!!

Since I have been having such a time running recently today was all about brain training. I convinced myself that I would not let my tired and achy muscles win. Getting back into this routine this week has been rough. We ran Monday Wednesday & Thursday. I think right now I like running two then one day off.

On our no run day we did a 20-minute workout routine by Jay Cardiello which I found on the Runner's World website. I forgot that this workout consists of a lot of lunge work which is good, but getting back into it? Not so good the next morning when it's a run day.

Four walk breaks is perfectly okay

I know that the Vancouver Half will be a struggle, but I'm going to work hard to be half-way ready for 13 miles.

Because I know I can...

Ups and Downs

I am very well acquainted with Ups and Downs.
I have gotten to the point that now I have to NOT beat myself up when the bad days come...because then those days just get worse.
It's not pretty.

For now I'm feeling pretty good about running and life in general.

63 days until the RW Half Marathon.

Swagger

(pic pirated from the PDX Shamrock FB page)

Oh yeah...we got swagger!
However, in my case, I got bloody swagger...

BUT - the reward for blood and swagger...

Cool Bling!

This year's Shamrock was a wet one. It wasn't terrribly cold - while we were running, but hanging around waiting for the start was quite chilly. There was rain, there were puddles and there were small ponds on the streets of downtown PDX. Mostly on the way out to the industrial area where they pay a lot of attention to not much. Come on PBOT take care of the roads downtown!

Technology...BAH! My Nike Sport watch went on the fritz. That was fun. As I was heading up Terwilliger I looked and it said 6.71 miles. The next time I looked it was 6.71. Then I started to notice a trend...it only took two times checking my watch - yup, I'm pretty smart that way. After about the 5th or 6th time checking it, I quit looking at it. Then at some point heading down to the finish on the 3 mile downhill portion of  the course, I looked at it was back to the time. I guess that's better than nothing. At least with that I could see how close to 11 o'clock I would be. When I saw the clocks at the finish, I wasn't sure which one I should be looking at - aww, nuts!

Oh well.

I made it thru the finish arch and got myself my finisher medal and then started to look around for Tom. It wasn't too long before I saw him. He said that he was at the finish right by the arch waiting for me to come through. He said that he yelled, but I didn't hear anything. I was focused on getting to the timing mats. My official time was 3:00:03. I'll take it, first half of the year and all. Especially a wet one!

Since we didn't meet anyone or caravan with anyone else we went ahead and made our way back over to our car and went home.

The blood - well, that must have been what was happening slowly, mile by mile starting around mile 3. I didn't even know that I was bleeding - not until I got home and started to untie my shoes and take them off. Left shoe first then...what the heck?! I just sat in the kitchen looking at my shoe, all dumbfounded. Huh, so that's what was happening...weird. Off came my sock and I looked at my foot and really couldn't tell where the blood was coming from. Stealth bleeding! Today, 3 days later, my foot is still sore from running, but the spot that was irritated is much better.

A running friend of mine suggested that the next time we do a longer run to slather on some vaseline...okay...that makes sense! We'll see though. I did have wet, wool running socks on. The socks were fine during my last long run and even during the Fort Vancouver run.

So, now what? Our next event is the Vancouver USA Half Marathon, June 21. So we have some time - three months. Might need to take the next couple of weeks to fully recuperate and get back into the routine. This morning's easy two miles was better than I expected - I'll be ready to take on a mile or two more in the next few days!

This year is going to be Epic!

Week 3 and New Shoes!

We have started week 3 of training and we are a little off track. I think some of the problem might be from the fact that I got myself a new pair of shoes...

The fact that they are new shoes isn't the problem, the difference this time around is that I decided to have another gait analysis and the dude that I was working with decided that I didn't need a stability shoe and that I could get away with running in a neutral shoe. Huh...interesting. So, I went with his recommendation and starting wearing them this past weekend on our long run. Didn't feel bad, but I could tell there was a difference. Then on Monday I was still sore from running Saturday and ended up running less than the plan and then made up the difference on Tuesday. Yesterday I was feeling tired and sore so we took the day off - aaahhhh.

Now, we have been switching up our tempo runs for hills, which the next half will have plenty of and so that happened today. A day of rest really made all he difference and here I am a few hours later and still feel pretty good. Saturday will be another 5 mile run, no problem!

Tom and I were talking about how fast the next 9 weeks will go - REAL fast! I feel like we just started...which we did, but with the weeks being so busy and all our weekends filling up fast, we WILL be running Half Marathon #3 (for me) before we know it!

Weeeeee!!!! Get out and move!!!!

So I DID register

I was starting to wonder if I actually registered for this event, especially when I got an email right away when I registered for the Vancouver Half  - which was just at the end of August. I probably did get a receipt for the payment, but I forwarded that to Tom so he could record it in the check register. So two months later and I finally got a congratulations email :) Here it is...proof that I AM crazy!

CONGRATULATIONS on your 2013 registration! Congratulations on your registration for one of the most FESTIVE events in Portland! Holiday costume contest, caroling, Santa photos, exclusive quarter-zip, long-sleeved event shirts, custom/commemorative bibs, and much more await you!

Half Marathon Training Week #2

Now that I have signed up for my first Half Marathon...I had to get serious and come up with a training plan. Actually, I think I may have figured out a plan first and then registered for the run.

The first 5 runs are 2 miles each so, I haven't had much to write about. In the middle of July I did happen to tweak my back, just enough that walking was very uncomfortable and running not even an option. That won me a week of no activity. On top of no activity I had a couple of intense visits to the Chiropractor. So, I tweaked my back on a Friday and did nothing until the following Thursday. That morning I felt pretty good and decided that I would test out running and how my back felt. No PROBLEMS!

That was encouraging as I would be starting my training the following Monday..and here I am, Run #2 in Week 2. Tomorrow will be the fifth 2 mile run and Saturday I jump up to 3 miles. I'm excited...finally progressing upwards.

Week two will end and then I have 18 more weeks of training. The real challenge will be to keep myself as injury free as possible and to continue making better nutrition choices and try to figure out what to do for cross-training. We are going to try plyometrics later this week and see how that works out. I think it will be good - we'll do a couple of days a week to start.

The other thing that I have been doing is helping my friend Mary with beginning running. The point of her running originally was for her son (who needs to be able to run a mile in middle school), but she said that she would benefit too. We have gotten together a few times and it will be slow, but she is working at it and I'm proud of her. The last time we got together I gave her a choice of where we would meet and how much she would run and walk. I may go ahead and let her do that again this week, it's always nice to have some control over something that is very difficult.

So, I'm excited about training for my Half and helping a friend get into running. I am hoping that she will get to the point that it is enjoyable...and I'm going to cheer her on as long as she let's me.