Don't Sacrifice the Gift.

So I signed up for the marathon yesterday and thought that I should probably get a little more serious about logging my runs.  Hopefully this will help me recognize more of what I can do to prepare better than I did last year.  At the moment, I plan on just trying to be consistant with my milage.  Lately I have been a little on and off with running everyday.  So for the first few weeks or so I want to be having lower milage but making sure I get the consistancy down.  After that I would like to up the miles as October gets closer. 

Today, while running with the team I wasn't feeling the greatest.  I think that I need to be drinking more water.  I was feeling a little light-headed and my stomach was a little queezy.  But aside from that, it was a great workout.  I worked with a few different groups running either 1000's or 800's.  I am really impressed with a lot of the girls this year.  They are running great, both individually as well as a team.  

3.5 - washington-- Today was a nice easy day, felt really good and relaxed. 

6.5 - Artic Circle W/ extention -- I felt really good this morning.  I ran over to the high school so I could run with the team.  And did an extention with Roberts.  And finished by running back home.  Had a nice discussion about Chemistry...  Toward the end of the run, my legs were starting to feel a little tired.

3 - Sandbergs -- Another easy day today.  Pre-race workout for the team.  My legs were feeling a little tender today, as well as my left arch.  But while running they felt a lot better.  I am thinking this is a sign that I need to be stretching a lot more and making sure that I am taking more care of my body, even when I am only doing low milage.  

5- Foremaster-- With it being memorial day today, I didn't have to go to work which means I was able to sleep in a bit as well as go for a run while it's still moderately cool.  Andrew came with, which was nice, running with someone is always better than running alone.  Especially since I will be running solo for the majority of the summer due to my schedule.  

We went a nice easy pace.  Not too fast but not too slow.  Legs felt pretty fresh, but still kinda had that ''haven't ran in a while a little out of shape'' feel to them.  Overall a nice chill run.

5-To work--  Once again a nice easy run.  Not too fast but not too slow.  It's starting to feel warmer now, so I can expect that running home from work some days this summer is going to be Hot!!

8- Middleton Trail-- I decided that I was going to do my long run for this week today instead of Saturday like I had originally planned.  I figured that I am not really going to want to do a longer run while up north with family on the day of my mom's wedding.  So, hence I'm doing it today.  I felt pretty good today, Andrew gave me some shoes that he had that he can't run in without hurting himself ... I'm glad that I don't pronate.  At first I wasn't sure how I liked them.  They felt a lot different than other shoes I've had, but as I continued, the more I liked them.  

Toward the end of my run, I did 3 x 1:00 fartleks with 2:00 rec.  Those felt really good.  But I felt a little tired at the end of the run.  

5- S. Jordan-- Went on a run with Andrew and Jarron this morning,  Nice easy pace up by a golf course.  It was a little harder to breathe with the higher elevation.  Overall a really nice run.  Good to run with the Bros!

5- S. Jordan-- Went out by myself today.  I wanted to find a lot of grass to do some barefoot in, and found one by a church building a mile away from my mom's house.  So I did 3 miles barefoot around the field and then back.  I think it may have been a little to much barefoot, since it's been awhile since running barefoot.  My feet were pretty tired.  But for the most part it felt really great.  I have always loved running barefoot.

5- S. Jordan-- So today was an interesting run... I went out a little early, so I would still have time to get ready for my Mom's wedding.  The run started out fairly well, but then about half way through I got a terrible dose of... the runs...  I had to take a few breaks so nothing would... sneak out.  I made it back safely!  So that was a great bonus.  But besides all that, my legs feel pretty good.

6.5- Home from work--  So if I could descripe this run in one word, that word would definetly be HOT!  Holy Moly!  So far, today has been the hottest day of the year.  I took about four stops along the way to get some water and try to cool off.  Because of the stops, this had to be the longest 6.5 miles I have ever run!

6.5- To work-- This morning I ran to XC practice before I had to leave to get to work.  I was a pretty good run for the most part.  I somehow hurt my back this last weekend, slept on it wrong or something, but yesterday running helped it feel a little better.  I was hopefull that that would be the case again today.  It helped for a little bit but about 30 minutes after I finished the pain came back with a vengance.  I guess we will see how I feel tomorrow and see if I would still like to run.

AM: 5, to Work--  Felt really good today, was able to try out the new shoes that I got for my birthday and I loved them! I always like to run in a good pair of new shoes!  Tempuratures felt great this morning. 

PM: 5, Home from Work--  I started off great but then about halfway home, I could tell that I was chaffing pretty bad.  Never a great feeling.  But other than that it was a good run!  I can feel my pace getting stronger and faster.  I finally feel like I am getting close to what I should be at, which is encouraging.  

7- Dog Pound--  Very warm today.  I wasn't able to make it this morning but I was glad that I was able to make time today.  I find that when I have to run on my own, it is a lot harder to find the motivation.  But I have found that the more I push myself to get out there and run when I have to go by myself, the easier it gets.  I felt pretty good today, at the beginning I felt a little tired, but moreso the "after weekend gunk" kind of tired.  Once I got a little more warmed up I felt better.

4.75-  DI x2--  Went to morning practice a little early in order to get a little more milage in.  Unfortunately, I didn't get there quite as early as I had hoped.  Still felt pretty good to have a little chill day though.  Legs are feeling pretty great lately.  I have been stretching and taking better care of myself lately and it is definetly paying off.  

Also did some weights with the team this morning!

7.5- Riverside loop/AC-- Once again came to practice early in order to get some extra milage in.  Ran down to riverside dr. after doing DI loop then back up to the school.  Then ran Artic Circle with the team.  Afterwards did some Plyos.

4- BHills North Park--  Was able to get up to the park today after class for practice.  Wasn't able to do the entire workout with them but was able to get a few good 1000m repeats in.  My legs (specifically my shins) were feeling a litte tender this afternoon.  With the speed and added milage for this week I am not really surprised.  So after getting back home, I made sure that I gave them a little extra TLC. 

5.5- Dirt Mile--  Missed running yesterday and I am super bummed about it.  For some reason I thought that I was going to have some time in the afternoon but then got busy with class and homework and the such.  Next week I need to make sure that I get up and run in the morning on Thursday!  Anyway, after class today I was able to make it to the last bit of practice with the team.  I was able to make it for the last couple of Striders and for the 20min tempo.  It has been a long time since I have done a tempo for that long and I had forgotten how long and hard it can be.  But I also had forgotted how great I felt during and especially after.  The girls did really well today.  I was really impressed with a lot of the girls, there were many instances where they regrouped with the pack they needed to be with and I was very proud.  

15- Reverse Marathon--  Today I had planned on doing the longest run I have done in awhile!  I was a little worried at first but my confidence grew as I continued to run.  I started from home and ran down to Vernon Worthen Park then followed the course in reverse up to just before where the 21 mile aid station would be then turned around and came back home the way I came.  I felt pretty good for the first five miles or so then started to feel a little tired in the legs as the run started to get a little more hilly.  After the turn around I felt revuvinated and put in a extra burst of speed for the next few miles.  I made sure to stop at a few parks for a short water break.  At about a mile and a half left my legs really started to feel tired.  Energy wise, I felt great, but my legs were pretty drained.  But even with tired legs, I finished strong.  I doubly made sure to stretch and ice afterwards to make sure I didn't get to tight.  Overall, a great run that I am very pleased with!