Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Warmed up for 2 miles on my own and then met Saskia.   We did 2 miles together and then the plan was for a moderate tempo.   We started dropping the pace and that lasted for 2 miles but not really ever getting where we needed to be.   She started slowing down, so I suggested 1 min on/off and for a mile.   I was in need of a bathroom break and luckily the part of the trail at Oakmont park has bathrooms and then a mile cool down.   This bathroom stuff has got to stop, I am losing patience.   

Not the working I was hoping for, but the legs were tired still from Saturday and Saskia is not running enough to be where we should be at this point, but it was done and there was some quality to it. 

Laid in bed for 45minutes deciding what I was going to do.... I hate wind and it was windy and cold - I have become a total wimp.  Finally talked myself into getting out at least to get easy miles but quickly stuck to the plan of 5 MP miles.   Warmed up for two miles and then started the MP.   The first three were a little hilly and the last two were flat.  As usual it turned int a MP/tempo run  - interestingly, I never actually saw my pace at the auto lap on my garmin and every time I looked down, I was going slower than what my mile paces ended up being.  Cool down for two miles.

MP 8:02, 7:42, 7:47, 7:39, 7:36

Avg Pace 8:18

AM: 2 miles to meet Carrie & Mike, 3 with them and .5 back home to use the restroom - Seriously!  I am about done with this and would like to get back to running.  It was warm and humid today.

PM:  To finish what I started this morning.  I dropped my daughter off at orchestra and waited out a down pour for 10 min and headed out in a light drizzle....Love running in the drizzily rain.   It was dark and I was in unfamiliar territory so it glad that my only objective was to take it easy.   Finished up and went in to listen to the last 10 min of orchestra and came out to a huge down pour.  

Hoping the weather is drier in the morning.

What a morning.  I spent 30 min in bed trying to convince myself to go out and face the wind.  I hate wind and it was blowing this morning.   I met Saskia and we  ran 2 together and she left to go nurse a sore IT Band.   The plan was for hills on Dutch branch and Bryant Irvin - with this you are UP or DOWN and nothing in between.  We always end up with this run when it is hilly and the biggest hill ends up being directly into the wind.   I ran the out and felt okay, but I can tell I have not run enough hills.  Hit the turn around and felt like I hit a brick wall.   I ended up with two short walk breaks on the big hill into the wind and another on the last hill.....I was a wimp!  The wind was tough, I missed dinner last night....excuses, excuses..... but I was a wimp.   This route needs to be in the rotation every two - three weeks.

Avg pace 8:53 - actually better than I expected.  

Took yesterday off as a rest day.  I was completely wiped out after yesterdays run and one thing I have learned is that I have to approach this training cycle differently than I have in the past.   With the changes in work, family and the stress associated with both, sometimes rest is better than recovery miles.   

Out this morning with chilly temps, but so, so nice.   2 mile warm up and then 6 MP miles and 1.5 cool down.   I avoided the traditional move MP to tempo for 3 miles but the average was closer to MP then tempo.  Also found 3 new POPs - so excited and such a sad statement of my life.  Too bad the are all right next to each other, but on the good side I did not need them today.   Felt good through the MP/tempo but glad it was done.

Avg Pace 8:16  (splits later, travel day)

I am in Omaha today for work and so I took the opportunity to run in both Nebraska and Iowa.  How often do you get to say your run took you into two states??  This was a first for me.   It was chilly but saw two other runners and spent mile 4 running around the new CWS ballpark.  What a great place.  Took in the baseball and as much as I could see of the field and then back to the hotel.   

Avg Pace 9:07

Wind, wind, wind - I hate wind!   This is just the start, the next 6 months all it does here is blow.   I was hoping we would head south and into the wind to start, but no....

Headed out with the group and knew right away I did not want to run 18 at an 8/sub 8 pace so at the first water stop  I fell back.   I really should have waited for Clint and his group at this point but decided to plug away on my own.   Hit the 6.5 mile turn around and ran back with Lindsay and Ashley.  We picked it up a little but the effort was much harder than what is reflected in the pace.   The last two back were pretty much miserable.   Grabbed water at the store and then headed back out for another 5.   This time I headed south but in the trees and path in the park.   This was much more sheltered and at 15.5 I turned back around.   I ran into Melissa and she finished with me and then she had 3 more to do.

I am tired this afternoon and I am now finally sitting down and I might not move ever again.   We had wind both today and last Tuesday and I have been pretty tired after both workouts.

I also realized that my calculations for 20 milers are off and I am a week ahead in training.   So another couple weeks of 15-18 milers and then the 20's will start Dec 3 not Thanksgiving weekend.   Both relieved and bummed.

Avg Pace: 8:20

A disaster of a day to end a very, very long week.    I had a crazy travel schedule this week with early/late flights Monday, Tuesday & Thursday.  I was in Syracuse and Houston plus a 15 hour day on Wednesday in the office and an emotionally draining day I have dreaded on Friday.  Needless to say, I warned my husband on Sunday that this would be hell, he wouldn't see me at all and it lived up to everything I had predicted.   

I woke up to run and did not feel well (my 10 year old had been sick since last Saturday on top of everything else) but figured once I got going I would be okay.   As I drove to running group, my head hurt and I would get extremely warm but kept going.    I started out and felt okay the first mile but by mile 2 my breathing was off, I felt faint and called it a day - but had to run back.  Ran 1 mile and then alternated running with a little walking.....extremely frustrating but I should have just listened to my body.   Such a fine line between to much and not enough.

 It worked out so I could meet my family to help clean the church and all I did was vacuum for the next hour.  Went to a baby dedication for a friend, date with my husband, volleyball banquet for my daughter and grocery shopping for Thanksgiving.   I did manage to sneak in a 45 minute nap and felt amazingly better afterwards.  

One of the cute YW from our ward was looking for a partner for the relay, she usually runs this with her dad, but he is injured.   I offered to run with her and the plan was to take it easy.   We met up and drove down to the park together and I opted to take the first leg.  It was nice to start out with a group and it helped push but I started out to fast and I knew it but kept pushing.   It was 70 degrees and 93% humidity....not ideal conditions.  I hit the turn around and I was alone from that point on, most the runners where doing the 1/2 marathon.   I was tired but pushing and with about 1.5 miles left my garmin quit working - it was still keeping lap paces but all I could see was the clock time and I could not get it off that screen.  Figured it was probably better and just to run and finish strong.    Right at the 5.5 mile mark I started feeling horrible faint, chilled and exhausted.   For the first time ever, I walked in a race.  I walked three times actually.   Short breaks but I was a mess.  I was also alone and I had expected to see the leaders from the other relay teams at this point and nothing.   I really started to wonder if I had taken a wrong turn.   The park is a maze of trails and I am not overly familiar with all of them...no did not take a wrong turn, I was just not as far back as I thought.  Picked it up as much as I could to the end.   Cai did great and I have know idea where we placed.    We booked it out as soon as she was done to get to stake conference.   We were late, but it is also the fastest I have ever gotten ready for church - my husband about died.   

Easy miles with the group, not much accomplished.