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!