X-Training!

This week has been full of awesome cross-training! I have been biking, swimming, lifting, lunges, doing shallow and deep water aerobics, and Ab Ripper P90x! I hadn’t done the Ab Ripper in months. The first time I gave it a go back in the fall I could barely do any of it. I was sore for about a week afterwards. This time around I was able to do almost all of the exercises with only a few breaks! It still burned like the dickens but I was able to complete the workout! I even did it twice this week!

I hope to get a nice treadmill run in later today.

And now a few poeple have soem giveaways going on...

Jamoosh over at Last Mile Lounge is giving away a lot of cool stuff this week!

For a chance to win a 24 .oz stainless steel Last Mile Brewing Water Bottle click HERE

To win a RoadID click HERE

Um, Thorlos Socks could be yours!! Click HERE

H. Love at Keep on Keeping On is giving away a super cute Running Chics shirt for her 100th post! Check it out HERE

Kerrie over at Mom vs. Marathon is giving away some sweet Orthaheel Tide Flip Flops!! They are pretty awesome, so check it out HERE!

So there you have it!

I'm still deciding on the Green River Free Marathon next weekend. As of now I am think I am going to give it a go...I may only do 15 to 18 miles of it, maybe 20. We will see. I am itching for a good, long run!!


Off to enjoy my Saturday!!

Circle Yes or No…

I have been busy.

No really.

Seriously, busy.

Since my recent Unslumping I have been so busy I don’t even know what I have been doing. 

I have been swimming and biking more than usual this week.  I just wanted a change for a minute.  This morning as I was swimming my half mile I realized that I was totally spaced out.  I have no idea how long I had been out of it but I am sure it was at least a lap and a half.  It was so weird for me, a runner. You know how when you run sometimes you find yourself so far in your own head you are on auto pilot, just trucking along the same ole path?  I can run for miles that way sometimes.  It is like I am seeing but not really paying attention, almost like sleep walking.  Well that is exactly what happened this morning while swimming. I was sleep swimming.  I was talking to my Official Race Crew (Jessica) who is a swimmer.  She said that is what she does when she swims but has not experienced that as a runner.  I took this to mean that I am now a runner AND a swimmer!  I can sleep swim!  Score!

And now, for advice from my fellow running peeps…there is a free marathon next weekend.  I kinda want to do it.  No pressure, no time limits…just me and G. Money (and Mel-Tall Mom and others) and my iPod and Gu Chomps and a SERIOUS mental health issue, out for a nice Saturday jog.  I haven't really been putting in enough miles for a full marathon…my farthest run since April 26 has been 13.1 so I could very possibly die.  But really, when is death not a chance one takes while running a marathon?

Sometimes when I am having a hard time making a decision about doing a race I make my Official Running Crew decide for me. It usually goes something like this, “Jess, there is a race I kinda want to do.  But I guess is is up to you, do you want to hang with my Little Buddy Saturday?”   If she doesn’t have plans then I run a race…if she is bored, I run a race…if she is working or busy I don’t run a race.

Today I am grateful for:

An awesome mention on David’s blog HERE saying that I am one of 15 Runners to Check out!! AWESEOME!!

A sweet giveaway over at Tall Mom HERE!  Let her know I sent you, would ya?  Head over there for your chance to win some sweet compression socks so that you can GIVE YOUR LEGS a HUG!

A long weekend!

Back in the Saddle

I feel myself unslumping, a little bit.

This morning I hit the gym and rode the recumbent bike for 1 hour and made it 13 miles.  I kept my heart rate around 130 for the entire time and felt my bootie starting to burn. I kept wanting to quit and just about the time I was going to  call it good AN the RB came up and talked to me through the last few miles.  I even ended up going 13 miles instead of 12!  When I got up I could NOT believe the amount of sweat.  My back was SOAKED.  It could have something to do with me sitting and my back against a back rest but I tried to lean forward for much of the time.  I was soaked.  Yay me,  I headed over to do some weights in my drenched shirt.  I can feel this mornings workout in my whole body. 

I headed home to get some work done and write some reports for work before heading out for a short run with AN the RB!!  Yay!!  It is always a pleasure to run with her.  She had just returned from an awesome vacation and there was no lack of conversation. It took the entire run to catch up and we ended with plans to run again on Wednesday!  This is just what I need to unslump.  4.44 miles done in 41:07 at a 9:15 pace.  It was a good day for a run and it was a good run.

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you who gave me encouragement on my Slumpy Post.  It truly did help and one in particular sticks out: Ruthie.  Ruthie said, “The thing i LOVE about running is its has sooo many things that parallel with life. In life we have ups and downs... so it is with running.”  And she could not be more right.  I think often my life and running are like wavelengths.

Life, running and motivation.  Sometimes when life is down and motivation is down my running should be up…like in the sunlight below.  The lower diagram of the Laser is the worst case scenario for me.  When I’m up, I’m up (which is awesome)…but when I’m down, I’m down. And I think I have been in a complete, all around Laser slump.  I need something to be up, whether it be running, life or motivation. I need my three things to look more like the Sunlight or the LED wavelengths.

Luckily my motivation, among other things, is looking up!  I’m not worried, I feel myself unslumping…

Today I am grateful for:

A run with AN the RB and no rain!!!

My Little Buddy going to swimming lessons with only a small bribe, and he had fun!!

A surprise in the mail from Shelly at It’s Just one Foot in Front of the Other!!  She sent me the 30 Day Shred and Ab Ripper since my hubby took it with him when he left.  She included the nicest note that made me a little teary…I’m pretty emo these days, whatchagonnado? So THANK YOU Shelly! You made my day! so be looking out for a 30 Day Shred challenge.

7 Things About Moi

Mel-Tall Mom on the Run tagged me!!  So now I have an excuse to tell you 7 things about me that are totally awesome, or not.  Whatever…I find it really hard to write things about myself. The rules are to tell you all 7 things about me then tag 15 more peeps! 

7 things about 5 Miles Past Empty 

1. I ran my first road race (outside of cross country in high school) barely a month after moving to our current home three years ago.  It was a 10K on Mother’s Day and I pushed my Little Buddy in my crummy running stroller. I burned the breaks out on it during that race because it was so dad-gummed hilly.  I never replaced them.  When I crossed the finish line they said, “Here comes a mommy! AMANDA of Tacoma!” And the spectators cheered me on!  I could not have been more proud.  I ran that race the following year too.  I had wanted to do the half marathon but did the 10K instead.  This was also on Mother’s Day and the day before my Hubs left for Iraq.  I ran this race last year and finally completed the Half Marathon!  And this year I ran the Half too…one week after finishing my first Full Marathon. 

2. When I was a sophomore in college my brother let me take over his cell phone.  I don’t really remember why.  But I still have the same phone number, 12 years later. About 3 months ago an old friend from college called me up and said, “Amanda?”  I said “Yes?”  And he laughed so hard.  He said the number popped into his head and he could not remember who’s number it was…so he randomly dialed it.  He knew it was me as soon as I answered.  It was so funny…He definitely used my number A LOT in college.

3.  I was born and raised on a farm in Oklahoma but I think I was meant to live near water, salty or fresh it doesn’t matter.  I love the water and all things related.  Give me warmth, sun and a pool, lake, ocean, river or creek and I am the happiest girl around. 

4.  I used to want to be in the FBI. I even joined the Air Force as a stepping stone to that dream.  I’m not sure what happened.  I still would love to do it but it seems like life has gotten in the way and it may be out of reach. 

5.  I went to the largest and most elite language school to learn Korean (through the Air Force).  I spent 18 months in near full- submersion.  My Korean name was Na Su Me, my teachers called me Su Me.  I love to surprise the Korean people by having random conversations with them.  When I worked full-time at the YMCA I always got called down to the lobby to help the Welcome Center staff sign up the Korean people or deal with whatever it was they needed help with. I would occasionally get random phone calls forwarded to my desk.  One time in the locker room a Korean woman had a medical emergency and I was translating for her to the EMT.  On my way out I heard a young Korean American telling her friend, “White girl speaks Korean!”   Always a fun time but these days I don’t use it as much and I am forgetting a lot of it.

6.  I take about 50 jillion pictures each month.  I have taken so many that my computer is nearly full, like there is not any space left on the hard drive or where ever it is that pictures are saved.

7.  I have a really good memory.  I almost wonder if it is abnormal.  I remember big events and all the tiny details surrounding them.  Occasionally I remember every single word spoken and even the intonation used. 

Well that is about it, now that you all are bored to tears…

Let’s see, 15 people!  some of you have already been tagged so I apologize in advance:

Jamoosh at Last Mile Lounge

Tobi at Busy Running Moma

Erin at La Sandora

Veronica at Navy Wife & A Running Fool

H Love at Keep on Keeping On…

AJH at Age Groups Rock

Linda at Mom Running From Cancer

Ruthie at Fantastically Fit 40’s

Janet at All Things Inspirational

Felice at The Happy Runner

Randi at S Club 4

Shelly at It’s Just One Foot in Front of the Other

Lorian at Running Guarantees Sanity

The Rad Runner

And my sister, Amber at the Davis Kids

I look forward to reading 7 things about all of you!

Slump. I’m in one.

…And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

But, Somehow you’ll escape

And once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.

(-Excerpt from Dr. Seuss Oh, The Places You’ll Go!)

I’m not sure why but I have found myself in a slump. And un-slumping is hard. Most things worthwhile in life are hard, I’m learning. And sitting around waiting to un-slump simply wont work. Un-slumping takes work. Takes effort. Takes motivation, dedication, and will power. So I will find my way out. Then my slump will be done. I am ready to ride high and to run far. I’m not sure why I am having a hard time getting out there to run. Maybe it is the stupid weather here. It is raining. I look outside and it could be November with flowers. It was 48 degrees today and I need to run my heater. I am wearing my winter fleece pants. I am ready for sun, fun, warmth and backyard water fights. I am in a slump.

I hereby pronounce myself SLUMPED.

My name is Amanda. I trained hard for a marathon, completed it, felt amazing. And now I am in a slump.

….Ah. I feel a little bit better.

Today I went to the Y to run on the treadmill. After 1 mile, ONE mile, I started to bargain with myself, “I don’t really need to run three.” I hit 2 miles and convinced myself to just do 3. Three. That’s it. And at 3.25 I was done.

I wasn’t tired. Not at all. I was bored. My head phones were driving me crazy. I had a tiny pebble in my shoe. My bangs kept slipping out of my pony tail and poking my eyes out. My skin felt slimy and itchy at the same time. The dude next to me was kind of smelly and thought I was Stacey (sorry buddy, not Stacey. Poor Stacey). I wanted to lift weights and do lunges. I was cranky. I was thirsty. So I only did 3.25 miles.

Hopefully things turn around and I can un-slump. Have any of you been in a deep running slump? How did you find your way out so that your slump was done?

Today I am grateful for:

Tickets to go see my brother, his wife, my nephew and my NEW nephew!! Yay!!

“Enjoy!”

Who says that as you are running up a hill?

I feel like I am kind of floundering.  I haven’t really chosen a plan to get me prepared for the Rock n Roll Half coming up shortly.  I think I am going to go with Kerrie’s idea and just kind of wing it for the next few weeks.  I throw in a few longer runs and some hill intervals and speed work as I desire.  I wonder if that will get me a sub 1:50 half?  No?  Hmmm…..

Saturday I headed to the track with my Little Buddy in tow so I could do some quarter sprints.  We were both excited until I pulled up to see the field all decked out for the University’s graduation ceremony.  Crud.  But being the calm, cool, collected and quick mommy-thinker that I am I remembered a tiny track at a local elementary school.  It is fenced it, has a sweet play ground AND is dog friendly!  I could kill three birds with one stone (run, dog, park!)!  We swung by the house to grab Lazy Dog and hit the park!  The track is a small cinder track and it takes about a lap and a half to get a quarter of a mile.  I decided to do one fast lap then one slow lap and repeat for three miles.  By the end I was tired and felt I had gotten a good workout.

Saturday’s stats: 3 miles- 25:59

Average pace: 8:38

Fastest pace: 6:18

I even did some plyometrics and lunges after I was done running.

Today I decided to run 5 miles and found myself running down the big, ridiculous hill to Old Town.  Oops.  Here is the elevation for today’s run:

I guess it doesn’t really look all that bad, but trust me…it is.  At one point I was standing at a street catching my breath when a nice man pulled up and started talking about the hill.  I told him I needed a ride to the top and he laughed and said he was heading down and he should take me down as a punishment for trying to cheat.  Silly man in your comfortable car…as he drove off he yelled, “Enjoy!!”  He had a 26.2 sticker on his bumper.  I am sure he has run this hill a few times….I finished this hill and headed for home.

Today's stats:  5 miles-41.59

Fastest mile:   7:57

Slowest mile:   8:58  on the hill!

Pace: 8:22

And to make today’s run ever better I got the stuff that I ordered from Amazon with my Mother’s Day gift certificate!!  Here is my new running hat by Outdoor Research! It’s not black. It’s not a men’s hat… LOVE IT!!!

And check out this awesome pocket on the top!  I ran with my key on my head! 

And here is the bib belt. I’m still undecided about this one but I think it could be nice.  I hate putting holes in my nice running shirts. I pay too much money for those shirts to put stupid pin holes in them!  So I will give this belt a try and see how it goes!

This is my Little Buddy’s bib from his OKC 1.2 mile run!

Today I am grateful for:

My new hat! 

Lunch with Red!

Swim Lessons with my Little Buddy! I better get going!!

My back yard with newly planted flowers and grass!!!  Back yard season is upon us!!!!!

 

And for fun, today I am trying not to be too jealous that Jessica is in Hawaii and she didn’t even take me… =)

 

Sweaty!

Today I got to run.

I didn’t run far.  I guess I should have.  It was a beautiful day.  One of those days perfect for a 6 or 8 mile run, but I decided to run to my gym and do some serious weights.  I just needed to get out a weeks worth of pent up energy.  The gym is 1.44 miles from my house so I decided to see how fast I could actually run there. 

1 mile- 7:24.38

.44 mile 3:38.19

Total: 1.44 miles-11:02.57

Once I got there I hit the weights.  I don’t usually punish every muscle group in my body but today I did.  Legs, back, shoulders, chest, biceps, and triceps. In an hour I was sufficiently sweaty and smoked.  It was time to run home.  I ran home by way of Jessica’s house, no actually I just ran to Jessica’s house and she gave me a ride home the last little bit.

1 Mile-8:46.54

I could barely move my legs.  I knew I was tired from my fast mile to the gym and the weights but I couldn’t help but feel like I had taken too much time off.  Like I am starting at square ONE. GASP! Like I can’t run far anymore.  I was tired. My legs did not want to move.  I had to will one foot in front of the other.  In the last 3 weeks I have run a total of 20 miles.  Yes, pathetic.  I know I have not lost my entire base but I feel stiff and heavy.  And to make matters worse I have a half marathon coming up in 6 weeks!  I have some serious catching up to do.

I am happy to say that  starting today I am back in the swing of things.  Tomorrow is supposed to be another beautiful day so on the agenda is track work with my Little Buddy, who is feeling like his normal silly self, and maybe a hike with Lazy Dog. 

Thanks to all of your who gave me input on the 30 Day Shred! I think I am going to give it a try!

Today I am grateful for:

My Little Buddy feeling better!!!

Pizza with friends!

Getting to the gym!!

And for your viewing enjoyment:

Me and my Little Buddy getting ready to race at the park!

This is your brain off running…

This morning I received a text at 7:18 AM.

“I want to race a 5k this weekend know of any?”

I love Tall Mom.

This text got me to thinking how my life has changed in the last few years. In college I didn’t really text but if I did I know the texts I would receive at 7:18 AM: “I can’t remember where I left my car last night…” or “Ugh, SO not gonna make it to my 8 AM class.” But instead, I was awake, had been for 2 hours already (and did you know that this time of year in the PNW at 5 AM it looks like 9 AM outside?), and I got a text about running and racing. I love it! My first thought was I want to do a race this weekend! Second thought was my poor Little Buddy who was still sick and lying on the couch. A run today was out of the question, much less a race this weekend.

Thankfully Jessica came over to sit with my Little Buddy so that I could go teach my water aerobics class and buy some groceries. I needed to get out of the house.

So for now still no running to report but I am considering purchasing the 30 Day Shred. There has been quite a buzz about it in the blog world and to be honest I was wishing for something of the sort the last week. Something. Anything to get my heart rate up and to get a sweat going…I’m starting to feel sedentary, gross, lazy, out of shape, NOT MYSELF.

And did I mention that I love Tall Mom? Oh yeah, I did. Well here is one more reason (as if I needed more):

This my friends is an autographed copy of Run Like A Mother! It says, “Amanda-Run Like a Mother in your first marathon-SBS”. And I am so proud to say that I did run like a mother, I ran my heart out and I still smile when I think of my first marathon experience. So Mel, thank you! Thank you for this awesome birthday present!

Today I am grateful for:

Tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil (reminds me of Italy…I need a vacation, like a grown up vacation).

A call back about a job I applied for yesterday…on the other side of the country (more about that in the months ahead, for now no definite plans are in place).

While Visions of Running Danced through My Head…

Ugh. 

I guess I am supposed to be resting because I’m certainly not running.  I ran Monday night and that feels like forever ago!  Yesterday I thought my Little Buddy was all better and ready to get back to preschool.  At least I thought so until about 1 AM when it became painfully obvious that he was not better.  Another day at home.  My poor Little Buddy has had a rough week and I certainly hope I don’t follow.

So I have no running to report but man are my legs sore from the lunges.  I look forward to the soreness subsiding so I can do it all over again.

Sorry for the boring post about not running. 

Today I am grateful for:

A beautiful day and the windows open all day to get some fresh air in my stagnant house.

A productive day, overall. 

What Now?

Ok, I have found my self to be in quite a conundrum. How do I best train during the next 7 weeks for my Rock n Roll Half that will also benefit me in my Portland Marathon training?

Keep in mind Rock n Roll half is June 26th  and Portland full is Oct 10 (oh yea and I am registered for Danskin Sprint Tri in August, but that will be a fun cross training twist to all this).

Here are some options I have considered:

Jump in to Hal Higdon’s Advanced Half training plan now at week 6 of 12 and train for the half?  Begin full marathon training right after.

Work on Hal’s Advanced Half training plan for the next 4 weeks then roll into an 18 week marathon training plan on the 6th of June?

Begin Full Marathon training now and repeat the first  two weeks of the plan twice, so it would be Week 1/repeat, Week 2/repeat , or even repeat weeks later in the training like week 8 twice week 10 twice.  What the benefit of this is I haven’t a clue…

Um, that’s all I got.  Suggestions from the running gurus out there are more than welcome.

I do have some new reading material that I will begin reading that will hopefully give me some guidance.  I just feel like I need to get a plan ironed out ASAP!  I also hope to meet with my Running Consultant this week to get some direction.

I was itching get a run in today.  My Little Buddy has been sick since Friday and thus I have been unable to work out. Period.  Tonight I texted Jessica and told her I was about to do some On Demand Exercise…and for her to NOT come window peep (not that this is a problem, I was just trying to be funny) that was her first clue.  I don’t Jazzercise.  Period.  She knows me well enough to know I was “antsy” and all day seemed like I needed to get out.  She came over to hang with My Little Buddy so I could hit up the YMCA!  I got in a three miler on the mill at 8:16 pace.  I felt good and could tell my body was ready to get back to business.  Something about taking a couple weeks rest is like give me a license to kill…taking a rest somehow equaled eat crap.  Ugh. 

After my run I hit a few weights to include lunges with two 5lb weights.  I am now committed to doing lunges at least 3x’s/week.  Please remind me of this…they are SO good for your legs and bum but I am going to be S.O.R.E.  I am happy to be back into some cross training and running!  I feel like me again!!!

Today I am grateful for:

Jessica, who knows me so well and helped me out so I could go workout.  THANK YOU x 1,000,000,000,000,000.

A fun day spent with Jessica and my Little Buddy despite him not feeling 100%

Longer days!! 

And for your viewing enjoyment:

What a day.

Only a little bit about running. Consider yourself warned.

Happy Mother’s Day to all my mommy readers out there!!  What a day!  I really held no expectations for the day today.  My Little Buddy is sick (fever, sore throat, headache, and other things that you non-parents should not have to read about on a running blog) so I knew we would be hanging around the house today.  So once I realized church was out I went back to sleep.  I ended up getting out of bed at 9:18 AM. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to me!

I got out of bed and got dressed.  I put on a sun dress to hang around the house, something I never do…BUT lately I kind of enjoy catching a glimpse of my calves in the full length mirror (insert Carly Simon’s Your So Vain song here).

Second thing, my mom called this morning.  Strange because she is 2 time zones away and should have been in church.  My dad is sick.  Oh boy…I hate being so far from home. 

Later in the day I saw a flower delivery van pull up.  Oooo!  I love getting surprises!!  The kind lady asked me twice if I was me, then she said, “You’re a young mom.  So young!"   Made my day!  She said I was “a sweet mom” , rubbed my arm and handed the the beautiful bouquet. My Aunt Margie sent me these beautiful flowers!!

I also got the second part to my Mother’s Day present from the Hubs…

 

He ordered these three running books by Hal Higdon from Amazon and had them shipped to me.  I got one book on Friday  then the other two on Saturday.  I am excited to read them and RUN FAST and IMPROVE MY TIME!!! Very exciting!!

 

I also got a gift card from my Mother –in-law and another gift card to Amazon.com from my Father-in-law!  So awesome!!  i have already started shopping on Amazon and have my wish list full and the tally is WAY over the value of the gift card, oops! 

A few things on my wish list:

A bib belt so that I don’t have to use the stupid safety pins on my sweet running shirts AND i can take off layers and still have my bib on! AND I can use it in my upcoming triathlons!

A new running hat since I always wear my black Nike one.

some new compression socks, which i don’t really need but they were cool.

Some running tights.

Now, for the running part of today’s post.  I need to run.  My foot feels ok aside from feeling like I have a flat river rock under my foot at all times. I think I am ready to run.  My rest has been nice but I feel like I have ants in my pants AND I am pretty grumpy and short lately (some of that could be that my Little Buddy is sick and I have been attached to him since Friday without a break). I have decided to cut my 2 weeks of recovery short.  I will still take it slow but I will hit my running again, hopefully tomorrow but most likely Tuesday.  I have a half marathon to train for and a PR to break people!!!

And finally….

In case you can’t tell, this is the confirmation of registration for the Portland Marathon!!!!!  10/10/10!!!  Yipeeee!!!  Let the madness begin, AGAIN!

Today I am grateful for:

So many wonderful gifts, messages, and phone calls from people who think I am a special mom!

Marathon #2 in the books!!

Will I Ever Run Again?

Good thing I have one more week of resting to do…

I was running through my living room to answer the phone when I stepped down and felt immediate, sharp, shooting pain.  Now every mom knows that there is a certain amount of risk involved in running full speed through the living room .  But this, this was beyond the small Lego or the dreaded match box car. 

I stepped down with all 146 pounds of my body onto this:

My son has a small collections of these stupid pins.  He often wears them around and puts them on random toys.  Apparently it fell off of Yellow Puppy’s ear and landed on my floor, smack dab in the middle of the rug where I like to put my foot.

Warning, the following pictures are graphic and could be disturbing to some viewers:

 

So here you have it. My newest injury.  It hurts and I am slightly worried about infection.  I think there is a muscle in there that I straight up punctured because my toes have been curled up and tight since the incident. 

 

 

I am ready to run.  My shoes are feeling neglected.  I think I caught them trying to sneak out yesterday!  So a few more days of rest and I’ll be back to normal…

Today I am grateful for:

The yummy seasonal fruit that I can get nowadays!

A fun Mother’s Day picnic lunch at my Little Buddy’s preschool today!

Part I of a three part Mother’s Day present that arrived in the mail today, sent from the other side of the world.

Here it goes…

I may regret this post later.

I have decided to take 2 weeks to recover.  I know I could probably do ok with one week and pick back up slowly but I stumbled across this article at Runner’s World .com: Second Chances (HERE).  The article is helpful for those of us who want to roll into a second or third (or fourth….) marathon (or race) pretty soon after completing one.   What I took away from the article is that that recovery is important, especially for me because I just did my first marathon and my body is kind of in shock mode.  Doing the half marathon last weekend was not the best idea, a bit too ambitious perhaps?  Either way, it did not kill me, injure me, break me, beat me or otherwise have any negative affect other than I can seriously tell I need some recovery time. 

With my next half marathon 7 weeks away I have time to really let my body bounce back (unless I do something completely stupid like run the local 50K that I REALLY want to do on June 5).  I have been thinking a lot about my next marathon and where I really want to go with my running.  With a lot of consideration I have decided that I am going to hit the training, speed work and hills, hard leading up to the Rock n Roll half in June.  I am going to shoot for a new PR, under 1:56 and significantly under that would be best (keep reading…). 

This will only build confidence in my newest plan:

 Run and PR in Portland Marathon on 10/10/10!

Now I am putting this here for you all to see, that makes it both serious and real.  My fingers want to type that I will be shooting for a BQ at Portland but I am just a little bit nervous to put that out there just yet.  A BQ would mean TWO half marathon PR’s in a row. And I am not just talking little half marathon PRs.  I am talking two half marathons at 1:49.30 to put me at the finish at exactly the cut off: 3:40.59. Now I am not saying it is impossible because I believe in hard work and training(just ask Miss Tall Mom Boston) .  I am saying it will take tremendous hard work and training to hold an 8:26 pace for 26.2 miles.  So for now I am throwing it out there with no pressure.  I will work on holding my pace at 8:23.  I am so close to that now. 

This past week I have been enjoying some cross training.  I swam 3/4 of a mile yesterday and again today (I do have a couple of sprint tri’s coming up here soon!). I lifted weights yesterday and did a serious core workout.  I am making a commitment to focus on my core more because (aside from the obvious summer/swimsuit season) core strength is important for running (and it is my goal to run in a speedo swim suit at my upcoming tri if I so desire).

Today I am grateful for:

Two weeks of rest!

The amazing transformation I have seen in my body over the last couple of months!  Pretty sure that is like #1 on the list as to WHY I do this to myself and am considering doing another!

Concealer because I have a huge bug bite (yeah, that is what it is) on my nose. Ugh, what am I? 16?  Sheesh………….

Not the best plan…

But I just HAD to do it. 

I ran the Tacoma City Half marathon and it was, well…painful.

I tried to DNF the whole time.  My brain was having a battle with my body.  My body wanted to quit. It was screaming at me.  My calves were on FIRE.  My quads and hams were tight.  My feet were even like, "Seriously?  What are you doing to us?”  But my brain?  It was like, “Come on, you can do 13.1.  You just did 26.2, 13.1 is like nothing.”  Then my body was like, “EXACTLY,  you just did 26.2 dummy.  THAT is why you should DNF.” Then my brain was like, “It’s not that bad or your pace wouldn’t be what it is.” Then my body was like, “Well, brain, YOU are in charge of that.” and then my brain was like “Fine.  We’ll slow down (see mile 10-12) but you will not quit.”  And my body was like, “Ah.  Thank you.” And thus, today I finished a half marathon.

I think I could have used a bit more recovery, to include some sort of jogging since last Sunday.  Lesson learned: recovery jogs must be good for something.  Oh well, I finished AND I got the other half to my medal!

How do you like that?  Totally worth it.

AN the RB and I ran this race last year together, it was my reigning PR until Mercer Island came along.  Today we ran together for about 6.5 miles.  I could tell she was doing amazing and having a great running day (and she finished with 1:54!!  Should have stuck with her for another PR!).  I on the other hand, had  WW III going on inside my head.  AN the RB left me reluctantly and I watched her newly cut pony tail swish away in front of me.  I had my eye on her for about a mile then she slipped away.

Me and AN the RB 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me and AN the RB 2010

 

 

 

 

I was curious to see how I felt running a half after running a full.  I was quickly reminded that the half is no small feat.  It is a respectable distance.  I drank and ate my GU chomps, it didn’t seem to help.  My muscles were just straight up toast.  At mile 8 I saw my Little Buddy and Jessica (my official Race Crew).  They cheered me on and as always I was pumped to see them! 

Since it was an out an back for a few miles I got to High 5 AN the RB as she headed the other way and I caught my Official Race Crew again around mile 10 or so.  My Little Buddy is getting the hang of this cheering business! “Go mommy! Go!” was his chant this time.

Once I gave in and finally slowed down I felt ok but wouldn’t you know it, mile 11-12 is pretty much straight up. Check out this elevation:

Thank you for the flat miles 6.5 to 11. 

The finish is downhill, which is awesome.  When I neared the finish line I could see the HUGE finish clock and saw it said 2:00.13 and I thought, “Oh snap!  I could maybe get a sub 2 depending on how long it took me to cross the start.  But I am NOT about to get over 2!” so i started booking it and I crossed the line at 2:00.33 G. Money time (official results aren’t in yet).  We will see if I got a 1:59.59 or something like that.

And here are few more pics for your viewing enjoyment:

This was a rough and tough run but I think it was also a confidence booster.  I am happy with my time given how miserable , sluggish and tired I felt.  I could feel my inner competitive side coming through today.  I have been noticing her lately and she is becoming more and more persistent.  This could be trouble!

So I think it is time for a couple of weeks of easy jogging and cross training.  Then I will  hit the speed work hard with my Running Consultant!  More on that to come!

Today I am grateful for:

My Official Race Crew, Jessica.  Without her I am pretty sure I would not be able to run hardly any of these races.  So thank you…two breakfasts  two days in a row hardly repays you for your help!

Am I Crazy?

I don’t think so. 

I haven’t really done anything since last Sunday’s marathon, other than teach my water aerobics class on Thursday.  There is something about knowing there is a race happening literally outside my front door…I can’t say no.  Is it peer pressure?  What is it? Why do I feel an incredible urge to run in tomorrow’s 1/2 marathon? I know good and well that I may not do so great and I more than likely wont PR (if I did that would be awesome though).  I can feel my muscles recovering. I think it may be that last year they gave us HALF a medal….yes, half a medal.  Don’t believe me? That’s ok, I happen to be wearing it right now, see?

Now isn’t this a genius plan to get people to run the race again?  Give them half a medal and make them earn the other half next year.  Now I will be ticked off if this the other half of 2008’s medal…I didn’t consider that until just now.  Needless to say, their ploy worked and I will be running the Tacoma City Half marathon in the morning. 

So tomorrow I will see what my body can do one week after completing 26.2 miles!  I am just excited to see if I feel different about the distance now that I am a marathoner.  Oh, and thanks to my friend RED I have the car tag frame to prove it: Isn’t this awesome?

 

 

Thanks RED! I love it!!!!

 

 

 

 

And I just want to leave you with this gem:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(insert Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely)

 

Happy running friends!  I can’t wait to hear how all of your races and long training runs went this weekend!!!