Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Met Saskia for 6 miles and then grabbed a drink and went out for 2 MP - 8:02 and 7:41.   I was very shocked that the first mile was 8:02, everytime I looked down it seemed in the high eights and the effort was hard.   I was feeling so confident on Saturday and after today I am very worried....

Due to this ridiculous heat (normally I am a fan but this is out of control) we are water rationing.  This means my favorite end of run sprinklers are now turned off - AAHH!   I miss them already!  They were such a sweet little treat at the end of a run.

Ave Pace 8:48

Up extra early to be done to take my daughter to volleyball.   Glad I had planned well because when I returned home at 6 am she hadn't woken up yet and we needed to leave in 15 min.    I have cut it close too many times, and I am finally learning.....baby steps.

Nice morning, love easy days.

Today was the first sub 80 degree morning in FOREVER....not really forever, but at least a couple of months.   75 is a beautiful temperature to run in compared to what we have been dealing.  

I went to run with the FWRCO group today.....I hate being the new girl, but the good news, after today, I am no longer the new girl.   I knew there were pace groups and saw the first group take off and then I started hearing about  the 9:30 group,  10:00 group and I asked some girls were the 8:30 group was and they said they just left.     I ran to catch up with them and after a couple of miles found out they were the 8:00 min group that some speed up from and some drop back ( not really, I found out ).    I debated what to  - drop back and follow my plan, hang in and see what I can do.   I chose the latter and worried about hanging in most the time but I was right about 8's until the last two miles.   The group does pick up though in the second half.  I am extremely pleased with this run.   I have struggled with pace and what I can do vs what I will do for a very long time and have been very fearful of pushing the pace beyond what I think I can do.   Today was a very good challenge and something I can build off of going forward.  

Splits:   8:43, 8:24, 7:53, 8:02, 8:01, 8:06, 7:56, 7:53, 7:58, 8:04, 8:09, 8:15, 8:18

Avg Pace 8:08

Met Lindsay from the blog and was great to chat with her for a few minutes at the afterwards.  I have missed the comraderie that comes with running groups and this group will help fill that void  in many ways. 

My first 40+ mileage week since March 2010 when I was still running with the BBKs.  Nice to be back in this range, I used to love 40's.

30 min of yoga this morning outside - very nice morning.   I am not nearly as sore as I expected to be from yesterday, which means I am not in as bad of shape as I previously thought, but it also means I have not been pushing myself the way I should be.....no real surprise there.   I need a way to get over the mental hump.

I am running a 15K tomorrow that I had planned running at the pace I ran yesterday, but unsure how fatigued I will be tomorrow morning.   The good news is that we will be in the low 60's (we all might die of shock) but it comes with wind and I do not know the 2/3 of the course at all, so we will see how it goes.

My original goal for this race was to match or better my previous 15K time from 2008 to benchmark my fitness against that year.   After Saturday's harder than planned run, I had decided to run for fun and see how I would do hoping for around 8's but know that my legs would be tired.   When I woke up this morning and it was 67 degrees I was very excited, it was short lived though because it was super windy.

I got up and ready and felt good and headed down to the race site.   I was nervous about parking, so I arrived in plenty of time and then spent the next 15 min in the car where it was warm.   Finally got out and worked my way over to the staging area and warmed up for a mile and then went to line up.   I lined up with Cai from our congregation and her dad and wished them luck and we were off.   

I started to far back so I spent a lot of time weaving through and around people for the first mile and this along with the last mile were the only two miles with out wind.   After mile 2 I could tell my legs were tired but that I could push through.   From mile 3 - 8.75 there are 6 short but steep climbs and all but one go right back down.   The first two were fine, but after the water stop at 4.5 I really struggled getting my legs to move .  Started seeing the leaders at this point and they were booking it - the leader won in 52:58 (This race is also the RRCA Southern Region 15K Championship - so it is speedy).   Hit the turn around at 5.5 and GU'd along with a super cold washcloth to cool off with.   Started feeling really good until I just about 7 when we had the climb that does not go right back down.   This was the hardest part of the race for me, my legs were tired and the wind was picking up.  We were up on this plateau and I was seriously thinking  I was going to loose my balance and fall.   Hit the water stop at mile 8 and could not drink, so went on my way.  The last .5 for me always drags and this was no exception.  I felt like I was running slow and the finish was not getting any closer.  Crossed the finish at 1:15:32 - PR.

 Met up with Lindsay and her friends and chatted with them for a while and cheered Cai in on her finish.   I did not stick around to long but they had a pretty good after party going on and if I could eat after I run, I could have had a feast.   I miss the post SG Ice Cream  - that is the best. 

I feel really good about this run.  I ended up accomplishing what I had originally planned on  and finishing strong.   I walked through all the water stations, which is something I need to work on changing - maybe start with walking one, running one.   This only confirms what I learned on Saturday, I have not been pushing myself enough and I can do much more than I think, it all comes down to the mental battle.   Overall, this is a tougher course than my previous 15K and the winded definitely added to the battle.  I would suspect that on a good day, I would be closer to 1:13 - 1:14. 

  Splits: 8:10, 8:06, 8:16, 8:01, 8:17, 8:11, 8;01, 7:56, 7:54, 2:36

58 degrees this morning - I was completely worried my body would die from shock!  80's on Friday, 75 on Saturday, 67 yesterday and today 50's - CRAZY!

Ran 8 nice easy miles on my own this morning.   A little sore from yesterday, which speaks to the fact that it was a harder effort than reflected by the pace.   I was not sore at all from Saturdays run which was longer and same pace.   Glad to know it was well earned.

Quite the run this morning.  I went to go meet the girls 20 min early so that I could get in 2 more miles before they showed up.  Ran my two miles and then went back to the park and waited, no one showed up.   While waiting there was some guy on a bike was just hanging out about .2 down the road.   Headed out in the other direction and he passed me up and then turned around and road passed me again.  At this point I was completely freaked out and decided to change my plans.  Headed out on on Bryant Irvin and ran up the hills for about 1.5 miles debating whether or not to stop at the Quick Trip and call my husband or just head back.   I decided to go back to the car, had my key out and my mace ready.....for nothing.   I have an overactive imagination......Back to my house for another 1.5 to get me to my 8.   The work out I planned, did not happen but I got in some good hills and a couple of quick miles at the very end.

Avg Pace 8:37

I am in San Antonio for work and head out to get as many miles in as I could.  Warmed up for two and then 3 fast - 8:02, 7:43, 7:34 and then cooled down for a mile.   Beautiful cool morning and lots of hills.   I am pretty pleased with the times considering the number of hills.

Avg Pace 8:14

Drove up to Austin after the conference and went to the BYU vs. UT game.   Wore burnt orange but did feel a little allegiance to BYU.   BYU looked absolutely terrible and UT started to figure things out during the second half.   Nice to go to a game and be happy with whatever the outcome is.   LOOONGG drive home afterwards and the lack of sleep since Thursday has taken it's toll. 

Beautiful morning in the 60's, I am absolutely loving this weather.   Pieced together run this morning.  1.7 to meet the ladies, 3 with them, 2 with Saskia and then another 2.3 to give me 9 for the day.  Total avg pace was around 8:50.   

This week is a little crazy, I am traveling Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will have very little if any time to run.   Therefore, I am trying to get as much as a can crammed into Mon - Wed.

Oh what a difference a day makes!  80 degrees this morning - what happened to the 60's?

I contemplated bailing, I did not get home last night until 9:30 and was completely exhausted when I woke up.   Guilt got me out the door but I opted for an easy day.   I probably would have benefited more by taking the day off - lots of little pulling and nagging.   Another easy day tomorrow and then I am unable to run for a few days, which is probably a good thing.

Avg Pace 9:07

Glad to be back home .....  last week was long and rough.   Every time I start to get in a really good training groove, all heck breaks loose at work and running takes a back seat.   I am trying hard not to let that happen this time.

8 easy miles this morning at 4:45 am.   2.6 on my own, 3 with the group and another 2.6 afterwards.  

Beautiful starry morning and 60 degrees!   Again everyone bailed and I started out very annoyed, but I also know that I would not have gotten as good of a work out with them - so I am letting it go.  

Today was one of my favorite workouts: 

2 mile warm up

mile 1: 1 min on/off

mile 2: 2 min on/off

mile 3: 3 min on/off

mile 4: 2 min on/off

mile 5: 1 min on/off

2 mile cool down

Kept the on segments right around 7:00 min pace and splits are:

9:10, 9:01, 7:48, 7:51, 7:52, 7:50, 7:36, 8:46, 8:57 - avg pace 8:17

Hot and humid this morning, but I am not complaining - I hope we get some rain out of all this.   The wind was minimal when I started but picked up through out the run.   

I warmed up for 2 and then met Saskia and we did 1 more warm up mile together.  The plan was MP for 4-5 miles, but I knew that it was not likely unless I was running on my own.... the problems I have created for myself and I sound really finicky, I am just frustrated by the whole situation.

We hit the first two at MP 8:04, 7:44 and at that point Saskia was pretty far behind so I circled back to get her and said let's recover  and then start again.   We recovered for a little over a mile, up the big hill and then I said let's pick it up.  We stayed about 8:20 - 8:30 for about .6 of a mile and I had enough and took off trying to see if I could get it down to MP - ended up at 8:07, just off.  Recovered and headed back home.   

Avg Pace 8:48

Another beautiful starry morning and 55 degrees!  Haven't seen that forever, I broke out my long sleeve Boston shirt from a couple of years ago to celebrate.

1 mile to meet Erica, 3 with her and then 2 back home.    Nice, easy relaxing pace.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Meet the group at the running store this morning for a long run.    I started out with Lindsay and Melissa with the intention of repeating the same as my 13 miler with them a few weeks ago - Start out with the fast group and hang on.   Today was much better once we got to the 3 mile mark.   The first few miles were tough and I felt like I was having to work much harder than I should have been for the pace we had, but once I was warmed up the run started to click.  I was feeling good but expecting water at the 6 mile mark and there was none, so I had to wait.  Finally took the gel at 7.5 and started feeling better.   Melissa was running with us off and on and at this point Lindsay was ready to kick it in gear, so my plan was to hang on.....didn't do too terribly bad, but knew that pushing too much would not be overly beneficial.  Sticking to the mid 7's and cruising along.    I knew once we left the trail I would be in trouble if I could see Lindsay, so there was added incentive.   Of the last 3 miles, mile 12 & 13 are a pretty good gradual incline and I was able to stay on target, but very grateful for mile 14 which was downhill.  I am very pleased with how this turned out and I felt much better than I did on the 13 miler.  

Splits:  8:40, 7:57, 7:58, 7:55, 7:59, 7:51, 7:47, 7:45, 7:34, 7:28, 7:49, 7:54, 7:54, 7:43, 7:28

Avg. 7:51

I had an early flight yesterday and did not get home until late, so the entire day was a loss  and  then received texts last night with everyone canceling.   So it was up to myself to get through the 4x800's.   I hate the track and since I do not have access to a lighted track at 5 am, I opted for the road.  The main streets where I live are lighted extremely well there is a flat section that would be good to complete these on with very little traffic.    I had a well laid out plan that of course, did not happen.   I warmed up for three miles but two miles into the warm up, I knew I was going to need a bathroom.   I decided to see how it would go and the first went okay, but I was going to need a pit stop before it was over.   I started heading home on the second one at the end I had to stop for a few minutes.   With just under a mile from my house, it was going to take me a little while to get there.   I started looking around to see if I had other options and remembered that there was one at a house under construction around the corner - SAVED!   Used  the POP and then ran about .25 warming back up and started the third, this was the least eventful of the four.   Recovered for the time it took to run the third and headed in to the fourth.   At this point my plan of using the flat road wasn't happening and  this one had a little incline and a U turn.   At the turn, I had to deal with a car and between the two I really started to struggle.   My split for the first was off because I am garmin challenged, but close to 3:30-3:35, the others were 3:34, 3:34 & 3:40.   Bummed about the last one, but this was SOOO much better than the other two attempts at this work out - one being about 6 wks ago and the other earlier this summer.  These are the fastest I have ever run the 800s and in the last time in preperation for my last marathon the fastest I had run them was 3:45.   So despite the stomach issues, it ended up being a pretty good run.  Cooled down for 3 miles back home.

 Avg Pace 8:28

I had seriously thought I had blogged this run already....but no.... 

3 miles to meet Carrie and Mike

3 easy with them

3 back home

My legs are tired from yesterday and I am in desperate need of a good massage.  I had a great guy in Utah and miss him!   My husband actually isn't too bad,  but he is gone tonight and I have a late flight tomorrow, so it will be a few days.  

On another note, I have eaten terrible and I am showing no signs of stopping!   Last week I was craving sugar and it is completely out of control right now.   I have got to get it together and stop the madness.   I wasn't even hungry either last night or tonight but ate too much dinner and too much sugar afterwards.    I will be the size of a house if I do not get my act together!  Another day of travel tomorrow, so I will start friday......excuses, excuses ..... you can now see why I have a problem.

Long two days.   I ended up not running yesterday morning because Wednesday night my legs were feeling the last two days and my knee was achy.  Even better, my husband woke up early and worked over my legs before I had to leave for Houston.    Should have been done right there.    Due to the storm last night, I got to wait an extra two hours at the airport in Houston, circle Love Field for an hour, go to Oklahoma City for fuel and then fly back and drive the hour to my home......crawled into bed at 2:30 am and did not set an alarm.    My kids started getting up at 6, so I got 1.5 more hours of sleep than if I ran, but not a lot.  I had a few meetings this morning and went in but was home by noon for a quick nap.   I ended up heading out at 2:00 pm - peak heat and sun of the day - 81 degrees and very little shade.   I told myself pace didn't matter, it was about getting the run in.   I ended up keeping it at an easy effort but I was surprised at how fast the easy effort was, especially in the heat.  It wasn't as horrible as I was expecting but by mile 4 my core body temp had increased quite a bit and I was in count down.   I finished at Walgreens and bought a gatorade and water, ran to the school and then walked home with my 2nd grader and picked up my 5th grader from her school.   Our walking took as long as my run.....

Looking forward to a long run tomorrow.

 GOOD LUCK TO ALL RUNNING ST. GEORGE!!!

Avg Pace 8:31