Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Evening run on the hotel treadmill.  I had an early flight and meetings during the day, so the plan was to hit the treadmill and watch the Olympics.  Hotel treadmills are a gamble and this one was not the worst I have been on, but it wasn't to great either.   It was pretty shakey and they only had cable channels - so no Olympics - very unAmerican!    I warmed up for 2 miles and then did 5 miles @ MP with a quick drink break at 2.5 and 4 and then cooled down for 2 more.   MP is still harder than it should be, but I wonder how much of that was just the mental side and staring at a black screen.  

 MP @ 7:47 - a little faster than goal, but also the entire thing was at a 1% incline with no wind. 

Another week where my long run needed to be done before Saturday.  I must say that it is really nice to have it done early.   The past two long runs have been painful and unpleasant, so all I was hoping for today was to feel good, which I did.   We started an hour earlier than the two previous weeks, which meant it was cooler most the time.   I ran 2 miles to meet Annette and then did 4 more with her and dropped her back at her house and GU'd and grabbed a drink.  I did the next 6 meandering my way back to my house and these miles were right about 6 am - the coolest time of the day.  I had brought a water bottle from Annette's and dropped it two miles out from my house - incentive to go back.   I reached my house at mile 12 and GU'd again and grabbed another drink and then ran two more back to my stashed water bottle and then the last two back home.   I ended up with somewhat of a progressive run - super slow, between 8:50 down to 8:20 in the middle and then finished with the last three at marathon pace - 8:04, 8:02 and 7:44.

Lunch: 3 miles on the treadmill at the Y.  Between a couple of work issues and my kids calling left and right, I was pretty fired up and hoping the run would help.  Unfortunately, I had to wait for a treadmill and ended up on one that couldn't change channels, so I was stuck watching the news instead of the Olympics.  I left the gym just as frustrated as I went in........

Up early to get a few miles in before I had to go to a scout training.   My legs were very tired and fatigued along with some stomach issues.    Very easy and slow.

Now, watching the Olympics and so happy for Galen Rupp and Mo Farah!  Very exciting finish!

8 easy paced miles with Annette on some of the hilly streets in my neighborhood and the neighborhood to the west.   I think the heat and humidity is starting to wear me down, I almost threw up twice and dry heaved a bit all between miles 3 & 4.  I am feeling more hydrated than I have been but still not feeling great.   Nothing like working harder for worse results.   I keep hoping that once it cools off, it will be better.  

Lunch: 3 easy on the treadmill

Best run I have had in over a month.   I met Ashley, Tim and Lindsey for an early morning hill based run.  We warmed up for a mile and then did a 2.2 mile loop that climbs the big hill outside my office and a few little ones around the area and back down.   Completed the loop twice and then did 4x10 second sprints.  We tried to find the other road that had the steep hill and in the dark, we went past it.   I ran them back to the cars and then added on another 2.75 to get to 10 for the day.   This run felt a lot like the BBK runs, no watch glancing, just running hard and having a good time....hopefully, we can continue to meet.

Avg Pace 8:18

Right now Wednesday's are recovery days for me, nice slow and enjoyable.  I ran 1.5 to meet Jenny, 3 with her and then back home.  My legs felt yesterdays run, but nothing too bad.

1.5 to meet Annette, 6 with here and another mile home.   Only 45% humidity today - wow!  It made the 83 degrees bearable.    Nice moderate paced run and if I could quit messing up my garmin, I might have an avg pace.  Estimate is 8:40.

I met Ashley, Britt, Lindsey & Wendy at the store ( Tim said a quick hi and was gone) and the plan was to get in as many miles as I could before I had to leave to go to volleyball.   The weather this morning was spectacular!  70 degrees and low humidity.....I didn't think much of it, until we started looking at our pace a few miles in and it was much faster than we had been running and the effort was not nearly as hard - Yeah!   We did an 8 mile loop and then started out again and I turned back a early and added on around the store until my family came to pick me up.   Very happy with the avg pace - 8:02 -MP.   

Splits:  8:51, 8:11, 8:03, 7:58, 8:05, 8:07, 813, 8:03, 7:51, 7:50, 7:48, 7:25, 8:15, 7:37

We spent the morning watching my daughter play with her high school volleyball team.   There is nothing better than watching your kids excel at something the love and work so hard at.   As a freshman she made the JV team, but play 2.5 matches with varsity today.  Very, very proud mom!

We have since scrubbed the house and have 14 teammates here to spend the night.   So much for catching up on my sleep this weekend :)

Oh what a difference 10 degrees makes.  In the 80's, hot and humid.   In true Monday fashion, I about puked one mile in, so I scaled back a bit.  I met Annette and we did 6 together and I was dragging.  It was way to hard for the pace we were running, so we ended up with a couple of .05 walk breaks and a couple of water stops.   After dropping her off, I  headed home and actually started feeling better the 3 miles home.

Avg Pace 8:48

Lunch:  3 easy miles on the treadmill.  Started out slow and painful and ended up feeling pretty good.

Another good Tuesday workout.  Met Wendy & Lindsay to do a repeat of last weeks work out.   2x2.2 hilly miles on Arborlawn.   Tim and Ashley weren't there, so I was wondering how I would do with out Tim to pace with.   I actually did okay.   Tempo Splits:

7:56, 7:28, 7:42, 7:27

We then did some sprints, but I was having garmin issues at the same time.  Ran Wendy back to the cars and then added on 3 miles.

Avg Pace 8:14

I was in Houston for work and tried to get my MP miles early.  It was extremely hot and humid and a painful run.  There was a lot of traffic and stops at too many lights.

69 degrees this morning!  So great!

I was on my own and it was supposed to be a nice easy run.   I started out and did just under 4 right on target.   Grabbed a drink at my house and headed back out.   The next two miles were progressively picking up the pace but nothing serious.   Then a guy crossed the street ahead of me and was running at a pretty good pace.... I cannot hold back, so I pass him but then have to maintain my pace because I am on a mile long straightaway and I have know idea how far back he is.   I turned the corer, ran another mile and then turned another corner.  At this point I had .5 until I turned to go home and there was a girl at the top of the hill.... Again, I decide to pass her (this one was easier) and then turned to run the .3 up hill and home.   

A pretty good run with some tempo paced miles....I might regret those tomorrow.

Avg Pace 8:33

The plan was to meet the group and run 800's today but we had rain this morning, so we canceled.  This meant I ended up at the Y on the treadmill.   I warmed up for 2 miles and then did 6x800 Yasso style.   I had my recovery minutes slow and used the recovery pace given by the McMillan Calculator as my guide.   My goal was to run relaxed and I for the most part accomplished.  Numbers 4 & 6 were tense for no real reason.   I then cooled down for 2 miles and headed home.  

We are only going to be 78 here today...It is winter.  Nothing like a 20-25 degree temp swing.

Avg Pace 8:15

Six easy miles with Jenny - the best of the week.

6 miles with Annette and a pretty good pace.

I had a church commitment for most the day and then had to take my two younger girls shopping for school supplies - probably in my top 5 worst things to do as a parent.  It was horrible, traffic was horrible and my girls are going to school without Manila paper.  This will be a bigger deal than it should be.  Most the day was on my feet, despite my best effort to sit as much as possible.   

After spending a few hours resting and trying take it easy, I headed out at 8:30.  It was hot - mid 80's humid and windy.  I broke the run into 3 sections, each passing back by my house for water and gu.  The first was 6 miles (aiming for 7, but my need for the bathroom prevented that from happening) and mostly flat.  I felt pretty good that this point and my pace was picking up earlier than I wanted.   The second was 7 miles and hilly.  I was either running up or down and I felt pretty good until 11.75 when I had to turn around and run in the headwind.  This section had a good up hill, some down hill and then the steep uphill to my house.  This last mile was tough, very tough.  Got home and the legs were fatigued, gu'd and headed back out for the last 4.   These were flat and I was tired and mentally done.  I was hanging on by a thread and barely holding it together.   I decided when I hit 16 I was going to walk the mile home.  I took 10-15 steps and then made myself walk back to where the 1 mile mark was and run home.  

Avg Pace 8:41

I got home and laid on the floor for a while trying not to throw up and cool off.   Lesson learned....hopefully!   I was going to do my long run in Omaha on Thursday, but I have developed this fear - sometimes when I travel, sometimes at home about running outside alone.   It comes and goes, but I have got to get over it.   Home should never be an issue, I live in a very safe area that is well lit and traveled.   On the road it is somewhat understandable, but I usually enjoy running in Omaha and the hotel had a gym. 

I am starting to panic about my training and running a marathon.   Every time I get into a pretty decent training cycle, all heck breaks loose.   This time they have added quite a bit to my plate at work and I found out Friday I am heading back to India in the next couple of weeks - horrible timing.   I have traveled to India in marathon cycles before but never this close to the date.   The kids are heading back to school and we have volleyball and baseball every weekend and I feel so selfish taking chunks out of Saturdays to run and miss there activities.   I am starting to wondering if maybe this isn't my season for marathon's and to change my goals.   

2.3 easy miles to meet Annette and say hi to Jenny

6 miles with Annette

1 mile home

Not to bad of a run but I expected our pace to be faster based on effort, but then again it was 73 degrees and 95% humidity - YUCK!  

Avg Pace 8:40

Tempo run on tap today and I opted for the Y .... I regretted it as soon as I stepped on the treadmill, but got it done.  Today was a 40 min tempo run and I did 800 at 7:20 pace and 800 at MP for the  40 min and then cooled down quickly.  Now that school is back in, I have to be back on time.  I have enjoyed a very lazy summer.    I felt really good during the run and the MP felt easy.  

Met Annette at 4:30 in the morning for 3 miles.   I was going to add on but felt horrible and called it a day. 

In OKC for work and was going to run on the treadmill at the hotel.. it lasted .01 of a mile.  The thing shook and made horrible noises, so I headed out.   I was staying out by the airport, not the best area, but figured I could find a place to run.  After wandering around for a while, I found  part of their trail system and did the MP mile on the trail.   They were harder than they should have been and I felt horrible - dehydrated and hot.  I am on the verge of a mental breakdown.