Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Finally back at it, too much time off, but stomach issues and work overload are making me crazy.    I met Jenny at Oakmont park and warmed up for 2 miles, then 1 loop on the QT hill and 2 miles flat.  

7 miles on my own.  2 mile warm up, 2 miles at marathon pace and 3 miles back home.   The pace was fine, but the endurance was  hard and I have some catching up to do.   

Avg Pace: 8:24

A full day: volleyball  - Tournament with 3 games for my 14 yr old and then my two younger daughters each had a match, a dress rehearsal for a cello concert and a ward dinner/youth fundraiser.   All this meant that I couldn't get out the door until 9 pm - 85 degrees, 65% humidity and windy ---- All my favorite things.  

I ran two miles to meet Jenny and then paced here through 5 miles and then did 3.5 more on my own.   

2 mile warm up - 9:29 pace

5 miles with Jenny - 10:00 min pace

3.5 miles - 8:25 pace

Not too bad of a run and good El Scorcho training.   I have a light travel week - I am only gone two days and my family commitments have tapered down significantly, so I am hoping the running consistency picks up. 

Jenny and I met to hold each other accountable, which is good because I felt horrible the first mile.  Very dehydrated and tired.   The plan was for a 24 min temp run doing the following:

1 min on/off

2 min on/off

3 min on/off

3 min on/off

2 min on/off

1 min on/off

Stolen straight from Kara Goucher.   I have run different variations of this many times, but I usually do 1 min on/off for a mile, 2 min on/off for a mile and so on... This was not too bad and very efficient.   After I finished I turned around to find Jenny, ran her home and then ran home.   I have decided that until MCM in October, I am going to try to go home the "hard way" and up the steep hill for the last .3 to prepare myself.   I hate it, but hopefully by October it will be easy. 

3 miles of Tempo:  7:52, 8:01, 8:00 - not as fast as I would like, but there is quite a bit of recovery in miles 2 and 3. 

Avg Pace 8:42

What a morning!   I ran 1.6 and met Annette to run 6.5 together and then another 2 home.  it was 65 degrees and 85% humidity - killer....   I know I have not been running enough to feel strong but the 6.5 miles with Annette kicked my butt.   She is running very strong and my inconsistency is hurting.    On the two miles back home, I ended up have the same pace we were running most the run but it was much easier....I had a little water when I dropped her off and I am sure that helped.  

Avg Pace 8:39

I am bound and determined to make this week better than the past few. I am traveling Tues - Thurs with obscenely early flights and late meetings, so I will do the best I can. I met Annette for early miles and as always had a great time and ran harder than I ever would have on my own. We both thought we would keep it about 8:30 but that didn't last too long and mile 6 was a prep for running fast for a 5K in less than two weeks. We are running it to see what kind of shape we are in...pretty dumb in my case because I know the answer to that, but I also need to start racing more than once or twice a year.   It should be interesting to say the least.     Last mile was 7:26...if only I could do that for 3.1...

Avg Pace 8:11

I had toyed with the idea of heading back out tonight for an easy run and my 14 year old daughter begged me to take her.  How could I turn her down?   She has historically not liked running at all, but I thought that after 6 months of highly competitive volleyball and plyo she might have changed.   I was so, so wrong.   She made it barely a mile and run/walked mile two and walked all of mile 3.   She didn't even try... and that is a direct quote from her.   My 11 year old wanted to tag along and she actually did great and ran all three with a few stops, but did amazing!     I added on some going back to get my 14 year old and then another lap around the little block to make just over 4.  Avg Pace 9:47

I am Syracuse for work and had to get up at some crazy hour that started with a 3.   No am run but I was able to get out tonight after two flights, conference calls, client business meeting and a compliance training.     When I arrived at the gym, all the treadmills where taken so I did the first 10 min (approx 1 mile) on the elliptical.  As soon as a treadmill opened up, I moved over and warmed up for one more mile.   I then did 3 miles of the 30-20-10 work out from Runners World's Peak Performance.   The first set was pretty easy, but the next two were a little tougher, but not crazy hard.   It was interesting trying to o it on the treadmill, but made the time fly by.  

30's = 6.6   20's = 7.5 10's = 10.00

I then did the last two miles from 7.0 - 7.6, trying not to get board. 

Avg pace for the all miles but the 2 warm up: 8:12

Tomorrow will not be as good - early meeting at the hospital, flights and late getting home - just to turn around and do it all again on Thursday. 

What a morning!  I ran to CVS to meet Annette who ended up oversleeping.  So 1 mile to the store and then another circling the parking lot.   At this point I knew I would need to make a pit stop at some point but thought I could run around the block and stop at my house.   The first two miles were fine, but the third was a mess  - I probably had to stop and collect myself  a half dozen times....  Pit stop at the house and then another 3 more miles to make 8 for the day.    

It was probably okay that I ended up on my own, because we had planned on doing some speed work, but my legs were tired....how they get tire from sitting on airplanes all day long is beyond me.   So I took it easy and ran by feel.

Avg Pace: 8:39

Nice solid run this morning.  I ran two miles to meet Annette and just as I was heading out of my neighborhood, I saw a guy running along.  He seemed kind of lurpy and slow so I thought I would try to pass him as I was warming up....He was going quite a bit faster than I thought an I had to work more than I probably should have to pass.   First mile was 8:18 - way to fast and I was so glad to turn the corner and run the next mile in the wind.  

I met Annette and we ran 6 more together before we ended up at my house to grab a drink and GU.   I asked her if she wanted to go the easier but longer way to her son's game or the shorter, hilly route....She picked shorter...I never should have given her a choice.   So we ran down the hill, up the hill, down hill and back up for 2 miles  and at that point I had to turn to go home.   I cut through a neighborhood to avoid 1 mile of hills but had it for the last mile and oh, it was slow and yucky!  Up hill in the wind is no way to finish.       

Avg Pace 8:27 - perfect but my splits were all over the place.

8:18, 8:39, 8:47, 8:43, 8:21, 8:31, 8:19, 8:18, 8:30, 8:28, 8:05, 8:30

BTW - 80% humidity every day I have run this week.  Completely ridiculous.

I ran a mile to meet Jenny and then stuck with her for the next 4.   I was tired and worn out and had some serious stomach issues due to an entire day filled with eating junk food.  I ate horribly yesterday.   I long day filled with church, another ward conference plus two other meetings afterwards lead me to eating Diet Coke, doritos, ice cream, ramen noodles and a cupcake.... the last two were eaten at 9:30 a night and I about puked....I wonder why.  Anyways it all lead to easy running - which was fun and Jenny was great to listen to my whining about Sunday.   

I finished up with 3 more on my own for a total of 8 and avg pace of 9:19.

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by a bus.   My legs ached and I was having some other odd pains so I opted out of an early morning run.   This meant I got to either run at lunch or not run at all.  I almost missed running at lunch until I saw some guy running down the huge hill outside my office and it spurred me on.   I ran part of the 5K course for the race I am running on Saturday (not as much downhill as I had led myself to believe) and then back up the big hill to make it 4 miles.   I felt much better than I did the last time I ran this and it was much hotter today - 87 degrees, but I made it up the hill feeling good.   Avg Pace 8:43.   Plan is for more miles tonight with my daughter.

I headed out with my 11 yr old to run and she had done great last week, but struggled tonight.  We did 2.53 running with a couple of stops and then .5 walking home.   

Easy miles with Annette.   Avg Pace 8:37

Super easy miles with Annette, 5K tomorrow.

I hate 5K's, really, really hate 5K's.   That being said, one of my goals for this year was to PR in a 5K.   Here it is May and I hadn't signed up for one yet, so I started looking for one a few weeks ago and found one that looked good and very close.  I made myself sign up right away, before I changed my mind.  We had anticipated this being a very small race, but it ended up being 700+ runners.  All week, I just kept telling myself just run as hard as you can and yes it will hurt....

I met Annette and Jay drove us, along with my daughter, down to the race.   We picked up our chips, warmed up for just under 2 miles and then used the POP.   We lined up close to the front but not too close.   They started and I took off...again as in most local 5K's, people cannot line up correctly, lots and lots of weaving.   Annette passed me right away and I just kept telling myself  (that I stole from Kelli) "Comparison is the thief of Joy" and  tried to just run.   The first mile had some up, down, up and down and I passed people on the hills and felt good when mile 1 came in at 7:04.  

Mile 2 has a big down hill and I ran past several people, just told myself to use the down hill as much as I could and then hold on through the flat.    We pulled out on the the flat section and it is protected from all the wind and the temps and humidity made it stifling and thick, thick air.   6:44 - thank you, down hill

Mile 3 started off good and I was holding on okay, but with .5 left, I was hanging on for dear life.   I wasn't sure where the finish was and there were a few turns and I  couldn't see the finish, but was hanging on....barely.  7:03

I am extremely pleased with the results, I was really just using this as a run to see what I could do and where I am in my training.    Yes, this is an aided course and yes, I will still claim my PR, but I do wonder what the impact of 80 degrees and 75% humidity have on the time.   

My daughter ran her first 5K with very, very little training and finished in 36 mins.  She is inspired to run another, which is great.  Annette finished in 22:51 which is a PR for her as well. 

We ran 1.3 miles back to the start for the awards and then added on miles back the Y.   This was brutal 90 degree temps and lots and lots of sun.   Annette talked me into staying for the Body Attack class which was a lot of fun, but I was wiped out and I have no upper body strength.

We decided to take advantage of the fact I do not have to work today and run later....not a good choice.  I headed out at 7:30 to run 2.5 to meet Annette at the Y and it was 75 degrees, 75% humidity and wind of 15 -20 mph...horrible because there was sun.   Yes, I do believe there is an advantage to running in the dark, dark hours of the morning.   

I was pretty sore from the Body Attack class on Saturday and took my time warming up but was feeling pretty good by the time I reached the Y.   Annette was going to drop her kids in child care but it was closed, so we packed them up and drove them back to my house and left them with my 4 kids who all want to be chiefs - they were in heaven.   We started back out and the break messed with me and I was tired and having a hard time finding a rhythm.   We ran 4 and then stopped back by my house for a pit stop and water and then headed back out to finish up.   

I think had we headed out earlier, it would have been better.  The effects of Saturday's run in the sun and heat carried over today and didn't help. 

Avg Pace 8:49. 

Today was hills...and lucky for us the winds have died down and it was only 68 degrees this morning...along with 86% humidity.   I ran a mile to CVS to meet Annette and then we warmed up for another mile together.   My legs are still sore and feeling the effects of Saturday, so I decided to push if I felt good.   We ran the Parkway Palisades simulation which is 1.13 miles of nothing but up and down.   It ends up being a really good work out and we need to get to the point we are adding repeats on, but for now we are doing 4 x 1.13 and by the last one, I was tired.   I was pleased with my pace on the two repeats heading out, but the 2 coming back were slower than I would have liked, but they also required the most focus ...  nothing unusual there.   Another mile back to CVS and then a mile + home to equal 9 for the day.   

A pleasant surprise when I got home - my son had left a 64oz. Fruit Punch G2 in the fridge from baseball yesterday....I downed that pretty fast, it didn't stand a chance. 

Avg Pace 8:26

I missed yesterday due to a huge storm and thinking I would get out in the evening..didn't happen.   So this morning when we had another huge storm and Annette offered to meet at the Y, I knew it was my only option.   

We did a 3 mile warm up and then 3 at MP - 7:53 and then cooled down for a mile.  Very uneventful, other than watching the doppler of the storm - red and yellow all over North Texas.  

Avg Pace: 8:21