On the Run with Bawdenmom

Well, today's run went pretty well considering I was jolted out of bed at 4:15 a.m. by a phone call because I was suppose to be to work at 4 a.m.!  Oops!  I did a 5 mile Fartlek run after work on the treadmill.  I tried to up my speeds and vary them with different distances.  I even ran the last 1/2 mile at 8 mph.  Seriously people- that's like sprinting for me!  But I felt good- really good.  I love the new year and the feeling of starting anew.  I know I have been running for a while, but I just feel even more motivated now!  It's great! 

Today was just a recovery run for me.  My problem- trying to run at a slower pace.  I know I'm suppose to be running at 60-120 seconds slower than marathon pace but I have a hard time doing that.  Does that mean I am underestimating my marathon pace or that I am going to injure myself running too fast too much?  It's really hard to determine because it has been 3 years since I have run a full marathon and I am in much better running shape this time.  I felt good this morning.  I have decided that I have to run first thing in the morning when I can.  It requires a little sacrifice of sleep and not seeing my kiddos first thing in the morning, but hopefully I will get more time with them at night and I won't be so grumpy that I have to run at night!  I did have some stomach issues again today but I didn't even eat before.  Frustrating!  I'll keep working on that!  Tomorrow- 8 miles!  It's going to be an early one!

Woke up about 2:30 this morning to a poor sick little girl in my bed.  Had to get up and clean up the mess so I figured I might as well just go run at the gym since I was awake.  8 miles today.  First mile at 6.4 then bumped it up to 6.7 for 2 miles.  Back down to 6.4 for 2 miles then another 2 at 6.7.  Last mile 6.4 then a cool down and stretching.  I also bumped up the incline to 1% for the last half.  My hamstrings really felt that one!  I felt really good except for some stomach issues half way through.  But I wasn't really tired.  I am, however, totally exhausted now and I have to go work for 7 hours.  Uuugh.  Hopefully I can get someone to come cover for part of my shift!  Feeling pretty good about the run though.  Feeling strong today.

Didn't get to run this morning because I got called into work early.  This weird pain on top of my knee cap started last night and it didn't go away.  It's one that I have never had before.  I decided I would try to run at least 3 miles after work and see how I did.  After about a mile it felt ok.  I got to 3 miles and decided I would go 4.  Once I got to 4 I decided I might as well just do the 5 miles I was suppose to do.  Some weird little pains besides the knee but I guess that's all part of the process.  Very seriously considering scheduling a massage to see if some of these pains will go away.  Maybe IT band?  Only 2 weeks and 3 days till the Carlsbad Half Marathon!  I can't wait for warm weather!

Didn't run yesterday because of a little runner's knee.  Went and got a massage and she worked my IT Bands pretty much the entire time.  Ouch!  But it certainly helped!  Felt much better this morning.  Ran with my friend today (one of the ladies going to Carlsbad in a couple weeks with me.)  She is just getting back into running after some foot surgeries and some other major surgeries!  She is doing great.  She isn't as fast as me at this point but it was nice to not worry about time and just run with her.  I'm not use to running with someone else!  So we ran the first 10 miles and change together.  That was 2 miles further than she has gone in her training!  Plus she was having some hip issues so she did great.  I felt pretty good besides a little inner thigh pain but not too bad.  I think it was just because I was running longer than I am use to because it was a slower pace.  When we got to our cars I went another loop around the greenbelt so I could get in 13 miles.  Did that 2.7 miles in about 20 minutes.  Not too bad.  I'm glad my knee didn't give me trouble today.  I've been stressing about that!  Pretty good run!

Down in Bountiful this morning for a funeral.  Had to run outside but it wasn't too bad considering it's about 5 times as warm down there.  It was snowing the whole time but no big deal.  Only problem was that for the first 2.3 miles I had my rubber spike things in backwards so they kept coming off.  It was very irritating.  Then I was more irritated at myself for being so dumb.  Once I got them fixed they didn't give me problems.  I was suppose to do a fartlek run but didn't really get to do it- at least not consciously.  I figured with a combination of the snow, ice and hills, it was kind of a forced interval run!  I felt pretty good though.  It reminded me of how much I love running outside!  Also reminded me that in a week and a half I will be running in southern California!!  I can't wait for warm!!

Today was an EARLY 8 mile fartlek run.  Had to get up at 4 a.m. to get my run in and be ready for work in time!  Felt good running.  All the not great food choices I made this weekend caught up with me a little in the middle of the run but not too bad!  Saw all the regular runners there!  It's always fun to see others there in the morning and talking to them about there goals and accomplishments!  Varied my speeds between 6.3-6.5 for recovery and 6.8-7.1 for intervals.

Just a six mile recovery run today.  Kept it around 6.5-6.7 mph on the TM.  Felt pretty good but my legs are starting to feel all these miles!  Just little tweeks here and there.  I got a foam roller so I hope that can help work out some of the knots! 

Did a 6 mile hill run today.  Ok it was on the treadmill so it wasn't real hills but it was still pretty challenging.  Challenging because I usually run with no incline or very sall.  The good thing about a treadmill is that you can keep your speed constant.  I stayed at 6.3 through the whole workout.  Went from 0% incline to 4.5%.  Flt good the whole run.  I sure did sweat a lot!  In one week I'm headig to Sunny Southern California for a half in Carlsbad!  I can't wait to see the sun!  Woo hoo!

5 mile recovery run today.  It sure is hard for me to go as slow as I should.  But I felt pretty good.  Couldn't believe tha all but one treadmil was taken!  I liked the treadmill I was on but it sure was hot without a fan!  In one week I will be in Sunny Southern California!  I can't wait for the Carlsbad Half!  Woo hoo!!!!

Long Progression Run today.  13 miles!  I started at 6.2 and bumped it up .1 mph every 2 miles.  By the end I was running 6.8 mph.  I finished in 2:00:33.  Not bad for a training run!  Hoping to get under 2 hours next week at the Carlsbad half.  I'm thiking I might be able to do that!  I'll be at sea level so that should help.  My hamstrings ar a little fatigued right now and my shoulders are tight because I'm still working on relaxing my arms like I should.  But other than that I feel great!

6 mile Tempo Run. 

6 mile Recovery Run

9 miles with 2X3 mile MP intervals.  Started at 6.3 then bumped up to 6.6 for the first 2 mile interval, the 2nd one was at 6.7, then the last one was 6.9.  Felt great this morning.  Excited to leave tomorrow for Southern California in preparation for the Carlsbad Half Marathon.  It should be fun!  Very excited for the warm weather! 

Just a nice slow run in beautiful Oceanside, CA.  Getting the kinks out of my legs from the 15 hour drive!  Loving the sun!

This was an amazing race!  My goal was to get under 2 hours.  Started with the 2:00 pace group just to make sure I was close.  Started pulling away from them about mile 4.  There were a few hills but I kicked butt on those because I am at sea level.  I was passing people like crazy!  I kept waiting to feel like I was going to crash because I was maintaing a much faster pace than normal (about 8:35-8:50) but I felt great the entire race.  My overall pace was 8:42 min/mile.  I'm pretty sure my last half was faster than the first but I'm not positive about that.  It was a great race with beautiful scenery, great support, and awesome energy!  I loved it!  1:54:03 is a 6 minute pr for me!

Long progression run on the treadmill.  I'm getting really sick of the cold because those long runs are getting harder on the TM.  The back of my right knee started to ache about mile 5 or so.  Then the ache moved to my right knee also by the end of the run.  I finished but in a little bit of pain.  Stretched in hopes to make it feel better.

Interval run today.  Ran 200 meter intervals at 7.5 with 400 meter rest in between.  Sure does make for a fast 7 miles when I do that!  My knees did hurt either!  That was nice.