Friday Fun Day

So....I may have suffered a set back, but we'll get to that later.

Wednesday night was the all feared Chester Bowl run. Actually, I don't fear it at all, but NP dreads it. I showed up hoping to do well and as a result was a bundle of nerves, once again. It was a bit chilly and I didn't feel warmed up or really in any sort of running form, but I did it. I took off ahead of NP and never saw him again. This was the first race that I started to catch him at last year, but he sprinted to the end to beat me by a second. I didn't know how it would shake out this year, but he had an awful week so I assumed he would be a bit slower. The course was a lot hillier than I remembered from last year. Lots of long up hills and steep down hills. It was short enough that I didn't want to die though. I actually ended up beating a few people that I can never catch so I was pleased. And I took about 4 minutes off my time from last year. NP took two minutes off our time. It was a good race for both of us and the best part were the bags of Positively Third Street cookies waiting for us at the finish line!!! They were SO good, as always.

Thursday I went to boot camp again. It was HOT out. We ran down to Leif Ericson park in the little military/catch-up line. That sucked because there were some pretty quick runners in that group. And to top it off (here's where the set back comes in) I had given blood that morning. I felt a lot more tired than normal. The nurses had told me that I shouldn't work out at all. I decided to risk it, but made a point to stop and rest when I started feeling really tired. It worked out fine. Except the run back I guess. I was pretty much toast by that point.

This morning I went to Pilates and it felt AWESOME. She even changed up the routine a bit and incorporated some weight training!!!! And the best part, I think she even played the Beatles instead of Elton John!!!! Amazing.

So I was feeling pretty good until NP told me that my half marathon training was going to go out the window since I donated blood. I won't recoup all those red blood cells for another two months which is WAY past Grandma's on June 20th. I've talked to other people that say I'll be fine, but I don't know what to believe now. I'm bummed. Just when I thought I had a chance to PR, the wind has left my sails.

Magney to Munger and Back Again

I took advantage of the warm weather on Saturday to do my long run for the week. It was actually an interesting lay out for me since I'm normally a morning running. I had to work at a local flower/plant sale early Saturday morning, but was home by around 10:30. I decided to wait a bit to go running since I felt a bit sluggish. I laid down on the couch only to wake up at almost 1:00. OMG! I couldn't believe how long I had slept! I guess I was tired from a long work week and a few sleepless nights. Either way, I got up, ate some PB toast and headed out. NP brought the burglar along for a hike while I was running. We started out at the Magney Snively parking lot and ran the Superior Hiking Trail for about 3.25 miles. That took me across Skyline and through the woods to Ely's Peak and then down to the Munger trail. It was intense. The footing was tricky and I had to be super careful. Once I got down to the Munger I ran out another 2.25 miles and back to Ely's. Then up the trail again. The way back was even more intense because I was that much more tired out. I was really paranoid of rolling and ankle or falling. The last thing I need is to get hurt at this point!! It was crazy. The worst part was that, for the very first time, my watch seemed to have failed me. Having run out exactly 5.5 miles (according to the watch), I fully expected to be arriving safely at my car when my watch read 11 miles. However, I was smack dab in the middle of the woods when that happened! I was ready to cry. I so wanted my little adventure to be over!!!! I just had to keep running though. Luckily I dumped out on Skyline shortly after and just took the road back to the car. NP was just getting ready to go out and look for me when I got back...phew.

After the run we went out and I drank a LOT of water to go along with my beers. I wasn't sore or hung over the next day, yay!!

Monday I got out and did a good 5 mile run on the roads- down Grand to 40th and up to Skyline. It was nice to be out for just an hour and be done compared the the three hours I spent in the woods on Saturday. I made okay time. Then I came back, did some gardening and headed off to NP's mom's for a BBQ. I ate way too much and have continued that trend today. Everything feels tight- oh no!

I know it's shallow, but it matters. I want to look better than certain other females counterparts in my life. Right now....not doing such a good job of that. Time to regroup. I'm actually thinking of investing in some personal training sessions. Maybe that will help!!

Warm Weather...Cool Running

The weather has been all over the place lately, but I've still managed to get some pretty good runs in. I did about 4.5 miles up to Enger Tower and back on Monday night. It was hot, but I needed to get out there. My neighbors had also invited me to a BBQ right after I was done so I had extra motivation to pick up the pace. I finished my run, ran into the house to shower and was sipping margaritas in no time (not the best idea after a run, but I survived).

Tuesday I was bit hung over as I dipped into the 12 pack of Miller Lites in our fridge after the margaritas ran dry. So....I stayed in bed in the morning and opted for a trip to Petco that evening instead of a trip to the gym. oops.

Wednesday was the Western Waterfront Trail run. Again....SUPER HOT. I couldn't believe it. Almost 85 degrees or something crazy like that. I tried to keep a faster pace just because I'm so sick of being pokey all the time. I think I did okay. I fell off my pace quite a bit at the end, but I think the heat and dehydration got the best of me. I still managed to shave almost 4 minutes off my time from last year. Okay...so should I really be saying "shave"? Isn't 4 minutes more like hacking or gauging? Either way...I was almost a minute per mile faster. Not bad!!

Thursday I've been going to the evening boot camp class so I don't have to double up on Wednesdays. Normally this works out fine, but yesterday I showed up and the instructor said that we would be trail running in Chester Bowl. Um, what? Luckily a friend of mine showed up for the first time and he wasn't much of a runner. We walked a lot of the way. I was fine with that.

Today I am on a mission to find new running shoes. After my jaunt on the WWT, I actually ended up with a bruise on the ball of my foot. My shoes must just be too broken down. Probably doesn't help that I use them for step classes and all sorts of things that they aren't really meant for. I'm not excited about spending the money, but it will be worth it to save my feet a bit of suffering.

Tomorrow.....11 miles. I'm debating on doing it on the SHT trail just to be a bit easier to my feet. I'm concerned about water since I'll be out there a bit longer with the rough terrain. Do I just take my camelback? Or do I buy one of those fancy hand held water bottles? I think both options will annoy me, but which one will be less annoying? i'm guessing it's going to depend on how much those fancy water bottles cost....

10 down....11 and 12 to go!

So I did my first 10 mile run this weekend. I was tired so I took it pretty easy. I wasn't going for pace, just trying to get through it and I did. I learned some valuable lessons though! Always make sure your electronics are fully charged so you're not watching a ticking clock waiting for battery indicators to inch over to full. And always make sure to allow adequate time for breakfast and a full bathroom break. Man...that was a first.

So I limped along. I think I was some where around 11 minute miles. Not at all where I want to be, but at least I wasn't sitting at home on the couch. I think next week, for my 11 mile run I'll do some alternating. Maybe run an 8:30 mile next to a 10:30 mile or something like that. I have to figure out some way to convince my body to pick up the pace a bit.

Tonight I'm going to run up the hill by my house and over to Munger tower. I gained back three of the pounds that I lost last week and I'm pissed. So I will punish myself tonight. Two trips up the tower and two trips up the hill. That should be sufficient.

Wednesday is the Western Waterfront Trail. I'm sure I'll get my ass kicked there. Nice flat course...I'm doomed. NP will for sure smoke me. Excellent...should be a real confidence booster.

On a positive note, I did an insane amount of walking lunges last Thursday evening and only felt the threat of soreness. I was a bit stiff and achy, but not the mobility altering pain that I was expecting. Finally....I think I might be getting some where. Now I just have to get back on my bike!!

Discouraged

So, I've got a ways to go. I did the 15k spirit mountain run yesterday. I struggled a lot more than I was expecting too. I think it's a combination of taking last weekend off and this cold hanging on a LOT longer than it should. I guess I did okay. I hung in there for an under 10 min/mile pace, but it was hard. I didn't feel the wind beneath my wings. I think my hopes for a sub 2 hour grandma's just went out the window. I'm thinking this means that I'm going to have to do Whistlestop again just to see how well I can do there.

The other thing I realized yesterday is that I think I need new shoes. I'm having the same pain in the bottom of my foot that I experienced at whistlestop. It is way too early in the year to be feeling that. Maybe I did wear the shoes out in a year, I don't know. I don't have any sort of a mileage log so I have no idea how many miles I've put on them. I don't exactly have the cash to buy new shoes right now, but I think I might have to suck it up and do it anyway.

On another note....I saw some pics of me running the other day....yikes! I had no idea I had gotten so big. It's actually pretty depressing. I've been trying to lose weight for a while, and I've managed to drop a few pounds but I've now realized that I have so much further to go that I thought I did. Great.

So, the plan for this week is to run some hills tonight, spin tomorrow, goat run on Wednesday, boot camp on Thursday, and pilates on Friday. That's a moderate week that will take me into a ten mile run on Saturday. Being that I have to work Saturday as well, I'm going to have to get up early to squeeze it in. I hope I don't lose my motivation!!!

On Empty...no running

So I've been working too much and the illness finally got the best of me. I just haven't had time or felt like doing anything. I debated going on my long run Saturday morning, but knowing that I had to work all day and was going out afterwards....I didn't think it would be the best idea. That would be a tough day if I were feeling healthy, but with a cold I think it would have been impossible!

I ended up having a great time out on the town Saturday night. I started out the night with my two neighbors. They are great women...sisters who have little in common and look nothing a like. It's kind of crazy. We went out for Thai food and then hit up the local brewery. It was great. I found out a lot about them, and shared a few skeletons of my own. People always love hearing about the divorce. I'm so glad I've finally got enough distance between me and my life with the fat man that I can laugh about it.

We talked a lot about weight and weight loss. It's definitely planted a seed with me. I've been struggling with a pesky ten pounds since I moved out here and I'm ready for it to be gone. I had initially set a goal for June 10th when I go home to see my family. I think I kind of got off track the last few weeks, but I'm going to refocus and try to get this goal accomplished! I'm telling you....I'm striving for the trifecta!!! Degree, debt free, and hot!!! Then I'll be untouchable. If I could add a PR at Grandma's to that list.....that will be the ultimate! I think it's amazing that this is all coming together in my 29th year. I'm setting myself up to feel pretty darn good when I'm staring the big 3-0 in the face. I won't be married or have children yet, but I think that's okay. I've still got some time to get that figured out....hopefully.

So....the goal for tonight is a 9 mile run. Hopefully lots of stretching and warming up will keep me from having such bad knee pain like last time. And then no more 2 day a week running. That's terrible. I need to gear up!!