Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Ran from my parents out to the Snow Canyon ranger station.  I left my garmin in Salt Lake so mileage and pace is approx.  It all felt harder than it should have..............

Ave Pace 8:50

Happy Running! 

Back home and in the cold.   Paula was speedy today and I was trying to stick to my plan of MWF easy days.    Felt okay - right IT is still bothering me but other than that pretty good.

This is going to be an interesting week trying to get all my running in.  My husband is out of town until Wednesday and I leave for Dallas on Wednesday (we meet at the airport - literally).   We will see what happens.

Ave Pace 9:20

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's.   We had a big group today and lots of good conversation.  I had to leave a few minutes early to get home since my husband is out of town.   Felt pretty good though the entire time.

 Had my massage appt today and got completely killed.   Glutes and legs are very sore!  It will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes.

Ave Pace 8:53

Happy Running!

Met Paula this morning and warned her that I was not sure what to expect after my massage yesterday.   I actually felt really good.   We ended up with 3.5 miles up hill and then returned back.   The down hill bothered my IT a little but nothing horrible, however I did take the downhill very easy.    Pace was perfect for a recovery day.

Ave Pace 9:34

Happy Running!

Met a large group of BBK's and friends for a run on the Riverton 10K route.   We did the first 10 as a progressive run - starting at 9:30 for the first mile and then finishing around 7:50-8:00.   Needless to say, I was very tired at the end - It is a hilly run and we really did not hold back.   The next 3 were as we were regrouping and cooling down.   I did not have GU today and very little water after the first 10 and I could really feel the effects on the last few miles.   

Ave Pace 8:53

Happy Running!

Less that 3 hrs sleep, sick child, sinus infection for the mom......no running today - yet anyways.

10 miles with the BBK's.   I would start out okay and then get really tired during each of our 3 mile segments.   I think it has something to do with my dinner or lack there of last night. 

Ave Pace 8:46

Happy Running!

Met Paula this morning and I was in true recovery day mode and she ...was not.    I pushed a tiny bit up the hill but other than that took it very, very easy.  I am trying to be better about this.

Ave Pace 9:46

Happy Running!

So glad the snow held off!  Met the BBK's for a run around the hills of Daybreak.   I have been getting extremely nervous and worried about each hill workout we have and I start rationalizing taking it easy - I am trying to stop this.   I felt good on the temple hill, but the long  114th hill about did me in.   I was very grateful for Jerry who talked to me the entire time - It helped make it more bearable.  As always - glad it is over for the week.

Ave Pace 9:00

Happy Running!

Ran with Paula and my legs were tired, very tired.  Pace ended up being faster than it should have and I really tried to keep it slow.

Ave Pace 9:20

Happy Runnin!

sick, sick, sick........I have been fighting a cold for about a week and last night I got the worst sore throat and it is worse this morning.  UGH!  I have to get better quickly because I have a crazy travel schedule the next two weeks and no time to be sick and I do not want to be sick for Painters so I am resting.   If I start to feel better, I might try to get out later.  

Six snowy miles with Paula.   I was pretty much covered by the time we were done.  The good thing about the snow is it helped me keep the pace where it should be on an easy day.

Now if tomorrow's snow can wait until after 7 and no wind, tomorrow will be perfect as well.

Ave Pace 10:04

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's out by Daybreak to run in the sleety weather and on the icy streets.   It ended up being a great run with lots of fun chatter.

Ave Pace 9:02

Happy Running!

In San Diego and the weather was perfect!   Ran to a co-workers hotel and then 2.75 with him and then back to my hotel. Pace was in the high 8's on my own and 10's with Trent.   It was great to run in sun and the rain held off until the afternoon.

Ave pace: 9:43

Happy Running!

Today was a disaster of a workout.  The rain/monsoon came to San Diego and running outside was pretty much impossible.  So I went to the fitness center.   The treadmill blew a fuse about every1/2 mile and then any time I tried to pick up speed.   It took me 30 min to run just over 2 miles  - pretty much worthless.   I then tried the eliptical  and it was better but I just hate that thing.  I had run out of time after 20 min.

Happy Running!

mmmmmmm............Not sure what to say about today.   I have dreaded signing up for this race because I knew I was not in good shape but kept telling myself it was a long Saturday run.   It was a very good thing my brother picked up my packet or I would have switched to the 5k.   

Road over with my BBK group and waited for the start.   I was hot right from the start and ended up taking off my base layer at the 1 mile mark - quite a humiliating process.  I stayed with the group until the 4 mile mark and the zoomed up the hill and I did not zoom up the hill but still passed people on the way up and did not get passed.  

I saw Michelle Lowery on the trail around mile 6 and ran with her for a while.  Thank you Michelle for chatting with me and being so sweet! 

I really do not mind the country club loop but today was tough.  I really did not feel good from miles 8-10 and pretty much wanted to quit - the race and running both.  

I took another GU at the 10.9 water stop and it really helped me with the last two miles.  They were tough but not like miles 8-10.    Finished in 1:49:08 - 1 minute slower than last year.    Interesting.  I feel much more out of shape then I did last year but the race felt very similar.   Most the others finished about 5 minutes minutes ahead of me and that is probably the true assessment of how much I have lost  since the marathon.  I have a lot of work ahead of me this year and the balance between how much training is too much or not enough is going to be difficult to measure but I am determined to do better at this in 2010 so that I can avoid burnout.  

Ave Pace 8:22

Happy Running!

Six very slow miles with Paula this morning.   My legs felt like lead!  This means I must have worked hard on Saturday which is a good thing (mostly).   

Interesting and challenging week ahead.   I travel, my husband travels - will do my best!

 20 - 25 min of yoga; to many interuptions helping my son with his homework.

Ave Pace 9:54

Happy Running!

Missed yesterday due to a day trip to Pasadena and had to be at the airport early.    Not sure if yesterday wore me out, the weekend trip to St. George, the trip last week to San Diego  or all three.  Probably all three plus I have not been sleeping well this week.  I woke up just fine but once I started to run, I was completely exhausted.  Took it extra easy but not sure if I will bounce back for tomorrow.    

Ave Pace 9:54

Happy Running!

No run today :(   I was up most the night due to IT issues with my work that affects our India office (my responsibility) so the run was lost.  Not going to get it back.  

Six miles with Paula.  Tried to push a little but it didn't really happen.  Felt good though.

Ave Pace 9:25

45 min yoga/pilates

Happy Running!

Missed the BBK's again this week.  My husband is still out of town and my kids had stuff going on this morning, so no run for me.  I finally was able to get down on my treadmill about 7:30 tonight and ran while I watched the Miss America pagent with my girls.  They were very entertained - I was not.   This was also my first attempt at any speedwork since last September.   I warmed up for 3 miles and then did  1/2 mile repeats for 6 miles and then cooled down.  I ended up on 1/2 mile, off 1/2 mile.  The recovery was too long but I wanted to be conservative because this is my first speedwork  in forever and I was on a treadmill and my mechanics change.

1 - 8:34

2 - 8:00

3 - 7:30

4 - 7:30

5 - 8:00

6 - 8:34

 I was tired at the end and just wanted to be done but made myself cool down.  I remember why I hate the treadmill - too hard to run and make my kids mind ( they seem to think all rules and logic are out the window) and too many interuptions.  My mom called, my brother called....glad it is over. 

 25 min yoga afterwards

Ave Pace 9:23 including warmup/ cool down

Met Paula this morning for what was supposed to be an easy run.  The pace was easy but the effort felt hard.  My legs were tired from Saturday's run and all the yoga (which is good) has made my hips tight - glad I am getting worked over tomorrow.   On the bright side, we could see stars this morning - that doesn't happen very often.

Ave Pace 9:34

25 min yoga, pm

Happy Running!

Early morning with the BBK's.  I love this group!  We warmed up for three miles and then met the others for 6 more around Daybreak.   I wimped out and convinced them to avoid the the temple hill into the wind.   They obliged, but I know feel very guilty.  

Ave Pace - workout:  8:35

Ave Pace - entire run: 8:48

25 min yoga, pm - It was supposed to 45 but it was way above my level so I bailed.

Happy Running!

Easy miles with Paula.  Wednesdays we run the "big block".  Took the hill nice and easy and my goal was to maintain even effort the entire way - DONE!  Easy when the pace is easy.   Right hip is tight and not sure if it is residual effects from the massage yesterday or the yoga last night.   Tonight will be stretching only.

Ave Pace 9:28

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's down by the JRP at 123th south.   We had planned on running on the trail but it was torn up in every direction.  We ended up winding through neighborhoods but it wasn't too bad.

Ave Pace 8:51 w/ warm up

Ave Pace 8:45 - work out

Happy Running!

Nice 13 miles in the early, warm morning.   Nice to not wear a fleece, just a long sleeve over a base layer.   I struggled keeping up on the hills a little bit during the second half but overall felt really good.

Ave Pace 8:41- interesting, my longest run of the week was also my fastest.

Happy Running!

In San Diego for work.  So nice to be in shorts and a tshirt.   Pace was too fast for an easy day but felt good.

Ave Pace 8:57

Happy Running!

Still in San Diego and warmer than yesterday.  I did a repeat of a workout I did last fall - I need to go back and compare.   4.5 miles out and downhill.  3.5 miles backup hill at 7:53, 7:57 & 7:35 - not sure on the .5 lost in the other miles.   Legs were on fire!  Had a few lights to stop at on the last mile but nice to get it in.

Ave Pace 8:31

Happy Running!

Checked out my previous workout last August and the ave pace was 8:54 and I did not hit 7's on any of the miles back up.  Now, I know that I did not run it as a work out like I did here but still this is some encouragement!

The usual Wednesday route with Paula.  Legs were very tired and I took it very easy.

Ave Pace 9:56

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's for hill repeats up the Lampton side of Tithing Hill.  I was really scared when Peggy mentioned that we would be doing 8 repeats - OUCH!  I did them all - not great but I did not chicken out.  I ended up with short walking breaks on 3 of them but ran the last two hard.   I wanted to really take the last two miles easy but pushed myself to catch up with the group.   Glad it is done and glad I have a starting point for the rest of the year.   

Ave Pace  9:13

Happy Running!

Completely exhausted and a crazy day.  45 min of yoga.

Down in St. George for the weekend and on my own for a Saturday run.   I decided to do another speed workout instead of 13 miles.  Not sure if that was the smart choice but I had a good run.  I warmed up for 3 miles and then did 2 fast miles, 1 mile recovery and then 2 more fast miles and then a 2 mile cool down.  

mile 1:  8:01 - oops missed this one

mile 2: 7:48 - better

recovery mile:  8:26 - recovery, also stopped to give somebody directions.

mile 1: 7:58 - should have been faster because there was some slight downhill

mile 2: 7:33 - much better

Glad it was done and probably could have added another set at that pace. 

Ave pace 8:23 - same as my painters pace 3 weeks ago.  Improvement is coming.

Happy Running!

Went with my mom, her friend Marilyn and Marilyn's son Travis (Vis).  We started out in Kayenta and then ran through Ivins and home.   Travis and I were together through 3 and then he split off and I headed to my parents.  It was a great recovery run.

Ave Pace 8:48 ( mostly downhill so the pace is okay)

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's for a warm workout.   We warmed up for 3 miles and then broke into two groups.  The group I was with did 8x400 meter repeats with equal recovery.   I was the slowest of those in this group but I ran hard and finished the work out - an improvement from last year when I would take any chance / reason to wimp out.

Ave Pace - 8:49

Ave Pace workout - 8:35 - approx.

Happy Running!

The usual Wednesday run around the big block.   Legs were extremely tired and this run dragged on for-ev-er!  Glad it is done hopefully tomorrow is better.

Happy Running!

Missed my BBK run because my husband is out of town.  40  min of yoga.

Met Paula this morning for what was supposed to be 8 miles.  By the time we hit the turn around at 3.5 my stomach was killing me.  I barely made it home.

Ave Pace 9:34

Happy Running!

I met Cheris, Julie, Michelle N and CJ this morning.  We did a 6 mile loop CJ had us laughing the entire time - 6 miles has never felt so short!  Julie, Cheris and I then finished with the other loop which has lots of hills.  It was the same route as two weeks ago and I think this pace was slower and I still struggled.   This week I know it was because of my horrible diet, need to work on this.

Ave Pace 8:56

Happy Running!

Ave Pace  9:36

Ave Pace 8:43

Ave Pace 9:45

rest for the ankle

rest for the ankle

Very windy miles with the BBK's.  Plan was for 15 but the wind and sore ankle won.

Ave Pace 8:38

Found a great hilly route in Fort Worth.  It was rainy and windy but not that bad after a very, very long day in the office.

Ave Pace 8:47

Happy Running!

Out of town + too much work + horibble nights sleep = no run

Nice easy run with Paula.

Ave pace 9:24 

Met the BBK's to run out in Herriman.   It wasn't as bad as I remember - all the hills.  Ended up with a couple of quick miles trying to get back in time.

Ave Pace 8:38

Nice easy snowy run on my own.

Ave Pace 9:09

Nice miles this morning with some of the BBK's.  It was a true progressive run and felt great at the end.  Ankle is still sore, but other than that not too bad.

Ave Pace 9:07

Happy Running!

Nice easy miles with Paula.   

Ave Pace 9:30 - perfect!

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's over near Daybreak to run the nasty hill on 10200 S.  It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I ran the first .6 repeat hard and then the next .9 repeat  I took a little easier.   We did the same routes again and I really picked it up on the last .9 trying to catch Julie.  Cooled down for 1.25 and then off to work.  My ankle suddenly started feeling better, wish my foot would do the same.

Ave Pace 8:33

Happy Running!

Easy miles with Paula.  Had to cut it short because we started late and I had a parent teacher conference.

Ave Pace 9:42

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's at the JRP at 9800 S.   We did the usual warm up and then the work out was a 4 mile tempo.   I was fatigued from the hills on Tuesday, so Julie, Kelli and I decided to take it pretty easy......lasted about a second until Julie took off.  We ended up with 8:06, 8:04, 7:40, 7:29 and then recovered/cooled down for about 1.5 miles.   This is when I am so grateful for them because I could not have done this on my own - Thanks girls!

Ave Pace:  8:04 - work out w/ cool down;  8:33 entire run

Happy Running!

On the treadmill in India - absolutely horrible

on the treadmill again - feeling horrible so quit early

not sure what has happened but violently ill.......no running for a while.

feeling a little better but lost 5 pounds in the last couple of days.  taking it easy and no running until I am back in the US.

Starting to feel better and get a little bit of strength back.  Walked 10 min and ran  1 10 min mile.

20 min yoga.

Tried for 2 miles today, still 10 min pace and felt pretty good.  Glad to be running just a little.  One  more day of the treadmill in a sauna and then back home.

six easy miles with Paula.  It was nice to be in shorts and a tshirt, even though it will be short lived.   I can the last 10 days have taken a toll because I was really tired in the last mile.  Glad to be home, glad to be running.

Ave Pace 9:29

Nice easy miles with Paula.  The miles felt better than Monday so that is a good thing and I wasn't as tired. 

Ave Pace 9:06

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's for my first run with them in a long time.  Not as bad as I was expecting but I was pretty tired at mile 7.  Great to be back with the group.

Big announcement for my family over on our regular blog.    Go check it out.

Ave Pace 8:32 - not to bad.  Next week mileage should be better.

Happy Running!

Six miles in Texas.  Lots of hills and I could feel it.  

Ave Pace 9:21

Six more miles in the same area as the day before but a different route.  Still hilly but much easier.  No speed work for a while and going to build my miles up slowly.  It definitely takes 3-4 miles to start feeling good and then it is over.  Will bump my Tues/Thurs miles up to 7 next week.

Ave Pace 9:23

Tried to find some flat road and what I thought was flat was gentle rolling out and back.   Tried to take it easy and rest the legs from two days of hills.

Ave Pace 9:26

Ran pretty much the same route as Monday and tried to push it a little more.   The last 1.3 miles were up hill in the wind....didn't like that so much but felt good.

Ave Pace 9:20

Nice miles in Texas.  Thought I knew were I was going and got stuck in a private school campus (size of a small university) and couldn't find my way out, worried about time so the pace picked up - a little.

Ave Pace 8:58

Went to run on the treadmill because I did not pack warm enough clothes and it was occupied so I spent 30 on the eliptical and 25 doing yoga.

Nice winding miles......must be uneventful, because I can't remember.

Ave Pace 9:03

Nice miles.  Probably the flatest miles I have run since being here.   

Ave Pace 8:42

My first planned workout in a long time.  I was heading over to the hills and did a 3 mile warm up.   4 repeats up a .3 mile good incline hill and then 4 sprints up the steepest section and then back to the hotel.  Back home had some good gradual up hill as well.

Ave Pace 9:18

Happy Running!

Met the BBK's for one very last run.   Dean was back from the Ironman and had done fantastic so it was fun to hear about his experience.  It was great to see everyone and I didn't cry there, just once I was in the car on my way home.

Ave Pace 8:50

Ran from the church to where our new house will be while Jake was at early morning seminary.   Pretty hilly route and tried to pick it up a little.

Ave Pace:8:26

4.5 miles while Jake was at early morning seminary.

Ave Pace 9:12

4.1 miles while Jake was at YM's

Ave Pace 9:04

I have been wanting to run Bryant Irvin road for the past few weeks and tonight I got the chance while Jake was at baseball practice.  The run did not start out so well because I was afraid of all the traffic on the road I had to run on to get to Bryant Irvin.  I tried to run somewhere else but there really wasn't a lot to pick from, so I head down the .7 miles to get to Bryant Irvin.  I had to stop and move into the weeds everytime a car came because it was a tiny two lane road without a shoulder - will not do this again.  Once I hit Bryant Irvin I had some flat until I ran down the long hill and was ready to go up the steep hill.   The steep hill is .35 long and was not as bad as I thought.  I then continued with rollers  until I hit the point I needed to turn around.  Once I turned around and a about 1/2 way back I got to run up the long hill - measuring at about .75 mile.   I was tired at the turn around but it wasn't too bad.  Another trip down the two lane road and I mad it back safely.  Will run Bryant Irvin again, won't run the two lane road again.  I kept a pretty even pace and effort the entire time and that was my goal.  

Ave Pace 8:56

moving week, only run 

ave pace8:50

ave pace 8:56

Ave pace 9:01 

Ave Pace 9:19

I ran Bryant Irvin again and had a little better start this time.  Ran it with an ave pace of 8:37 - 20 seconds faster than last time and I added another hill.  Pretty happy.

Ave pace 8:58

Today I ran 1.13 mile repeats on the hilly road outside our subdivision.  

Out splits (1&3)  8:45, 8:21

Back splits (2&4) 8:34, 8:01

Ave pace 8:45

Today was one of the hardest runs I have had since moving here.  It was hot and very humid and I felt tired and lethargic.  My feet got hot and I hate that.   Nothing really good except that it is done.

Ave pace:8:56

40 min yoga - very lovely

2 mile warm up

4 miles - 1 min on/1 min off

splits were:  8:33, 8:09, 8:16, 7:59

2 mile cool down

I fee quite good about this.  The last mile was hard, especially the last on segment but hard things are good.

Ave pace 8:35

87 degrees; lots of humidity; kiddos making me crazy after 1.5 hrs in the car- so I ran.

I hadn't planned on running today but it had been rough so I escaped for a few minutes tonight.  My first mile was 8:48 - obviously I had some steam to to burn off.  The first 5K was 26:30 and I was starting to get tired so tried to back off a little but not much.   Felt much better when I was done.

BTW - I had Chick-fil-a (#1 meal with a shake) and Whataburger for dinner - I am not feeling well at all.

Ave pace 8:21

This past summer has been a struggle, just as I would adjust to one change another would happen.  With two major changes at work and a church calling that takes up the rest of my time, along with temps in the high 70's and low 80's and humidity around 80%, running has taken a back seat.  But in the past few weeks I seemed to have begun to enjoy running again and the mileage is starting to pick back up, maybe it is because I know fall is around the corner and at some point I won't be praying for wind to cool me down.  

Today's run was 4 miles of small rolling hills and the 4 miles of more intense hills (there is no flat where we live).   I had worried about the last 1.5 miles because it was the same hill that kicked my but last Friday so I paced myself well the entire time and the last 2 hills were not that bad - good sign that things are getting back into shape.  (Grandbury/Bryant Irvin/Dutch Branch).

Then another .73 while I waited for my husband to pick me up.

Ave Pace 8:56

Happy Running!

lightening = no running

We are experiencing heavy rains and tornado warnings - yoga for 40 min.

5:15 am   78 degrees   87% humidity   - YUCK!

I knew today was going to be rough when I saw the weather and my pace was slow and sluggish, blaming it on the humidity :)

Roadkill for the day - 1 frog, 1 armadillo

Live animals - 1 frog, 2 rabbits

You would think I live out in the country, but no - in the city.

(2.5 regular start/Riesinger/Summer Creek)

Ave. Pace 9:04

I wasn't sure if I was going to make it out today.  My hip started bothering me around midnight and I took some advil and went back to bed, so the debating had already started.  I do not want to deal with any of the issues I have had all last year and I am being very cautious.   When my alarm went off the internal debate raged for about 20 min and I decided I would head out for 4 easy miles.  At 2.5 I decided to pick it up a little and ended up running mile 4 at 7:40 and then cooled down for 2 miles.   Hip was okay, a little tight at 2 miles and so I stretched and it did okay for the rest.   Except for the fast mile the rest was slow and sluggish.  I have noticed that as I am picking back up miles, I am having to work a little more diligently about picking up the pace as well.   

Ave Pace 9:00

Happy Running!

I had to go to San Antonio for work and spent all last night at a trade show and cocktail party.  I ended up wearing my very cute and normally very comfortable black strappy heels for 16 hrs  - my feet were killing me by the end.   Up early to run and the resort is on top of a hill and  I tried to see if I could find a route up top but it was too dark so I ran down the hill and up and down the street for another 2 miles and then back up to the resort.  The overall route was extremely hilly, Temp was 78, Humidity 92% and it was muggy and slow and sluggish - I need to get out of this funk.   Four miles done and with my tender hip, I called it good.

Ave Pace 9:44

Happy Running!

Plan for the week:

Monday:  4 + Weights

Tuesday:  6

Wednesday:  Yoga

Thursday:  6

Friday:  4-6

Saturday:  10

Total Mileage:  30

Mileage might be a little high and we will see how the hip feels.  I am hoping writing down the plan will help with follow through when the week gets crazy. 

5:15 am 75 degrees  94% humidity - it has got to stop!

I did my normal 2 mile warm up and then some hills at a picked up pace.  Nothing really spectacular.   I ended up getting home later than I had planned and Monday's are crazy.  My husband drives the early morning seminary carpool and I have to take my daughter to volleyball practice so I missed the weights - will try to get them in tonight.

Ave Pace 9:08

Happy Running!

Warmed up with my regular warm up  for 2 miles and then did the same work out the BBK's did last week.   1 mile of 1 min on/off; mile 2 - 2 min on /off  mile 3 - 3 min on/off.  They had two more miles to the work out but I am not there yet, so I finished off with a 1 mile cool down.  It wasn't as bad as I made it out to be in my mind and it made the time go fast.   Splits for the work out portion:  8:23, 8:09, 7:49.

Ave Pace 8:42.

Happy Running!

I had originally planned for a tempo workout today but woke up not feeling well at all and convinced myself that I could take it easy if I still felt bad after 2 miles.   Warmed up for 2 miles and then ran hills (there are lots where I live) for the rest of the mileage.  I ended up feeling pretty good and pushed,  not quite to tempo pace, but not to bad with the hills.  

Workout splits:  8:39, 8:51, 8:46, 8:45

Ave Pace:  8:55

Happy Running!

6:15 am   71 degrees   94% humidity

Best run in a very long time and I felt great the entire time and could have run longer.   This was my longest run since May and I am happy it went well.   My route was flatter than what my normal routes are but I did have 5 miles (1 mile segments each) throughout that had rolling hills.   The only negatives where that my knees started bothering me a little in the last mile, most likely due to shoes with to many miles and increasing mileage, and that  that I experienced the worst chaffing - EVER!  I could feel my shorts rubbing but had no idea how bad until I got home - OUCH!

Splits:  9:52, 9:07, 8:55, 8:52, 8:51, 8:26, 8:32, 8:30, 8:11, 8:11 (last mile up hill home - hoorray!)

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE RUNNING TOU!

Off to a busy day of soccer, volleyball and baseball.   I will be glad when it is done and I am in bed.

Avg Pace:  8:45

Happy Running!

Review of last week:  Overall not too bad.  I missed running on Friday but I wanted to do a 10 miler and my mileage was high so I am comfortable with missing.  I also did not ever get in any weights or yoga which is not good, but 4 days of good running workouts is better.

Goals for this week:

Mon: 4 miles + weights

Tues:  7 miles - hills

Wed:  Yoga

Thurs: 6 miles

Fri:  10 miles ( this is the plan - we will see how it goes)

Sat:  no run - traveling for work

Total miles: 27

No real change in mileage for this week but I am ramping up cautiously.  The end of the week could get messy because I am traveling on Friday and Saturday.

5:00 am  68 degrees  94% humidity  -- it was lovely today!

Ran the "Big Block"  - very similar to the big block back in Utah but the hill comes a little sooner and is not quite as intense.   Didn't look at my pace once and that rarely happens.   As usual Monday fashion I made it back too late to do weights and got home from work at 7:30 (12 hours after I left).  So homework, kids in bed and now more work - no weights today.

Splits:  9:44, 9:00, 8:42, 8:52, 9:02

 Avg Pace 9:04

Happy Running!

5:00 am   72 degrees   91% humidity - another nice morning!

I have been wanting to repeat a workout I did early this summer for a while and this was the week.  We have a road outside our subdivision that measures 1.13 miles and is pretty hilly.  On the out direction you have a .15 steep climb then a gradual down hill for another .2.  Then it is up hill until the last .2 which is a pretty steep down hill  - and then you can return and it is just about as difficult both ways. 

One of my goals outside of the work out was to see how I compared to June's work out.  I did not look at the splits before, I wanted to just run hard and see what the out come was.

I warmed up for 2 miles and then stretched good.  On the first out mile, I started out faster than I should have and I knew it right away.  I tried to pace myself better but was not overly successful.   On the repeat I felt good until the last climb - about .35 left and I almost puked, no good reason why.   Headed back out and I was getting tired but it wasn't as bad as I had expected and then on the way back in for the last time my legs were on fire and I lost some focus.  I felt like I was running in slow motion and I had a difficult time staying in the zone until the last .4 and was able to kick it back in. 

In no way will I look forward to this anytime soon, but it will be worth repeating.  So here are the splits from June:

Out splits (1&3)  8:45, 8:21

Back splits (2&4) 8:34, 8:01

and here are the splits from today:

 Out Splits (1 & 3) 8:18, 7:59

Back Splits ( 2 & 4) 8:13, 8:05 - pretty disappointed by this - should be faster than #3

The good thing is I have picked up some speed since June or pushed quite a bit harder - possibly a combination of both. 

Ave Pace 8:34

Happy Running!

Last week was not good - at all.   Work has been crazy and with family and church, I have to balance it all with out having a meltdown due to exhaustion, so I missed most of last week, which is a bummer because I was off to such a good start!

Good things are this week involves no travel, no work visitors and no more early morning volleyball!  Thank you SCMS for moving 7th A team practice to after school.  So I have more time on Mondays and Wednesdays and I am looking forward to it. 

The plan for this week is the same as last couple of weeks:

Monday: 4-6 miles + weights

Tuesday: 7 miles - speed workout

Wednesday:  Yoga

Thursday:  7 miles - tempo?

Friday: 4 - 6 miles

Saturday: 10 miles

Total mileage: 32 - 36

5:15 am  51 degrees 88% humidity - nothing like a 20 degree drop in a week :)

Very sluggish miles, but I felt good.

Ave Pace 9:24

Happy Running!

5;15 am   50 degrees    91% humidity - still cold and I am not quite ready for it

Today was speed work and after yesterday's sluggish run I was not sure what to expect.   I warmed up for 2 miles and then stretched.    I then did 6 - 1/2 mile repeats with a .25 mile rest on the flattest ground I could find.    Apparently I  was garmin challenged as well because I messed it up a couple of times

1 - missed the lap button; 2:30 recovery

2 - 3:52; 2:28 recovery

3 - 3:56; 2:25 recovery

4 - 3:47; 2:33 recovery

5 - messed this one up terribly but best guess is 3:57; 2:28

6 - 3:47; recovery home

I felt pretty good the entire time and I now have a pretty good base line for future workouts.   I had a difficult time staying focused and thought it was time to recover during the middle of number 5 and this was the same problem with the last hill repeat last week, so focus is something I need to work on.

Ave Pace: 8:43

Happy Running!

Yoga - very lovely!

5:15 am   61 degrees 71% humidity - perfect!

Today was a tempo run and I am not good at them at all.  I have such a difficult time with pace and that line between pushing a little and pushing a lot.   I failed in making it a true tempo run because it really turned into more of a race pace for 5K/10K.   The first 2 miles had quite a bit of up hill and the last 2 had some gradual incline/decline and some flat.

2 mile warm up

mile 1 - 8:16

mile 2 - 8:04

mile 3 - 7:44

mile 4 - 7:33

1 mile cool down

Ave Pace:  8:33

Happy Running!

Weather was an exact duplicate of yesterday - double nice!

Four easy miles around the big block to shake out the legs from yesterday.   They were fatigued and sore from yesterday, a testament to how out of shape I am.  I debated taking the day off but decided I would keep it very slow and felt better once it was done.  

Ave Pace 9:44

Happy Running!

Another perfect morning and it looks like the whole next week is the same - yahoo!

 Thought lots about SG and everyone running today and extremely sad I was missing it this year even though training was not an option.  Also decided I am going to sign up for Boston and commit to training - this means I need to find a training group.  Very Excited!

I had to run extra early today because we had soccer, volleyball and baseball.   Headed out at 5 and the plan was to warm up, big block and figure out a way to get in 4 more miles around my home.   Pace plans were 3 warm up @ 9:30, 3 @ 9:00, 3 @ 8:30 and then 2 @ 8:00 and 1 moderately easy cool down.  Reality - pace problems again but I was ahead most the time and probably to fast at the end considering I am just building base.

First 3 (9:30):  9:42, 9:16, 9:01

Second 3 (9:00): 9:08, 8:58, 8:38

Third 3 (8:30): 8:38, 8:19, water stop, 8:18

Last 3 (2 8:00, 1 cool down): 7:51, 7:38 (I knew I pushing to hard), 8:23

Ave Pace: 8:39

Happy Running!

Last week was a good week.  I got in all my workouts along with yoga and weights.   I ended up with probably too much "speed work" for where I am in building my base, so I am going to back off this week and only do one speed work out and my hills in my long run on Saturday.   This is also a challenging week with everything going on at work so I am going to rest if I need it.

Monday:  7 easy

Tuesday:  4-6 ( we will see, I have a late meeting and will not get home until midnight on Monday)

Wednsday:  Yoga ( have to be at the office at 6 am, so again - we will see)

Thursday:  7 moderate speed work out

Friday:  4-6

Saturday:  10 - 12 w/ hills

Total milage:  32 - 38

I have been feeling sick for the past week but kept telling myself it was allergies - it is not.  Most likely a sinus infection, but I am still in denial because then it will go away, right?

I had planned on taking the entire run easy and I did but I added lots of hills in as well, just took them nice and slow.   My hip really bothered me through out and I started having some pulling in my right achilles.  They could be related, not sure yet.  

Happy Running!

Yoga and stretching.  I focused on my hips and then stretched my hip flexors and the pulling on the piriformus and insertion of the IT has seemed to die down - Yeah!  Will test it on the road on Thursday.    

Had to be at the office by 6 am and felt horrible all day yesterday so took the day off and I am feeling better.

Rough night and still not feeling well, so one more day.   I am in no mood to push and still be sick in a week.  Too much to do.

Felt great and got out and took it easy.  Unfortunately it did not last.

Woke up feeling sick again - I am getting frustrated but given the current state of my life, it is to be expected.   I started on vitamins despite the side effects and I am going to try to eat 3 meals a day and  work on the content.   I never thought I could miss meals and not notice, but I have found out I can  and the quality of what I have been eating is horrible.   

Took the day off and hopefully by Monday I can be back at it, at least even for easy miles.

Happy Running!

Starting to feel better and happy to be back out and running.

Ave Pace 9:08

Happy Running!

Today was speed work.  Last week I had found a neighborhood with a 1 mile loop that has some good up hill and some downhill.  Plan was to warm up for 2 miles and then 4 loops with a 1 -2 min recovery between each loop and then back home.

1 - 7:56 - not too bad, but legs felt tired from the beginning

2 - 7:36 - better than I expected

3 - 7:33 - About 1/3 the way into the loop I got extremely hot and dizzy, slowed down for a second but then felt fine and finished.  I almost debated doing another rep but new I would be disapointed in not following the plan.

4 - 7:24 - Yeah last loop.  At about the half way point the same thing that happened in loop 3 happened again, this time with a headache, but once I finished the hill, I was fine.

I had one mile recovery back home and I was exhausted.  Sometimes when I do a speedwork out, I know that I have not pushed hard enough because after 2-3 mins of cool down, I can pick it back up again.  Not so today.

Ave Pace:  8:40

Happy Running!

Very nice miles on a brisk morning.  Hill sprints at the end.

Ave Pace 8:54

Happy Running!

So sick.   Started feeling yucky last night and today has been horrible.   The last three weeks have been up and down.  I keep thinking it is allergies but they normally do not make me this ill, so then I think it is a sinus infection.  Fever, congestion, itchy/sore throat -  who knows.   Not sure I am running tomorrow either.

Still sick.  The weekend was horrible and my parents were in town and all I did was cough, take tylenol and go through kleenex like a mad man.   If I have a good night I am going to try to get some easy miles in tomorrow - but only if there is no coughing in the night.     I have to speak at a management retreat in Vegas on Thursday so I have to be healthy by then.

 Bad news:  Boston is full.  I didn't get registered.  Spent my day with work problems, hopefully I will have new problems by the time Boston rolls around.  I do now need to find a local marathon that I can qualify for 2012 on.  Bummer!!

Six in Vegas.  Nice easy miles up and down the strip at 5:00 am.  Saw lots of runners and a crew filming cops.  Finally starting to feel a little better.

Yesterday was the first time in a couple of weeks that I actually felt decent.    Back on track with the normal schedule this week, but I can tell I have eaten way to much.  

Four easy miles to be back before my son goes to early morning seminary.   Nice and windy this morning, which I keep trying to embrace.

Ave Pace 9:08

Happy Running!

Ave Pace 9:03

Nice easy miles to work back into things.  I am finally feeling better and after being out of town at the end of last week, ready to get back on track.

Ave Pace9:05

Happy Running!

No workouts yet, but I ran all the hills around my home and never ran on a flat surface, just up and down.  Actually felt pretty good, just some twinges in my hip.

Ave Pace 9:05

Happy Running!

Avg Pace 9:02

Avg Pace 8:54

Ave Pace: 9:12

Nice morning, still in shorts and Tshirt!   Felt great until the last mile and my hip started hurting.

Ave Pace 8:48

Happy Running! 

I had a really difficult time getting up this morning and finally got out at the last minute possible.   Nice and chilly and I overdressed -- yesterday was 68 when I headed out and today was 42.    It is nice to run in the light and when I am actually awake.

Ave Pace 8:35.

Happy Running! 

Nice Monday morning miles.  I am having a hard time trying to figure out what to wear - I either over dress or underdress.   I also finally went and got new shoes - only has taken 6 months.   I am trying out the Brooks Ghost.

 Yoga when I got home 

Ave Pace 8:53 

Happy Running! 

Very warm morning and I can tell my running has been bad.  I was sick most of last week and traveling with early flights the last two days, so today is time to get serious again.

Ave Pace 9:01

Happy Running! 

I slept in which was wonderful and head out around 7:15.   When I left it was 55 degrees and winds of 17 mph.  When I finished it was 43 degrees, winds of 21 mph and a "feels like" temp of 32.  OUCH!  I dressed for 55 and was okay most the time but when I was running into the wind it was a little cold.

 My garmin was dead so the entire run was by feel and I have no sense of pace so I will not even try to guess my pace.  I estimated mileage based on what I thought it would be and I was close - but not close enough for 7.   

Today felt better than yesterday but that could be because I was slower - don't know.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

Nice easy 4 miles around the big block.   

25 min of Yoga

Ave Pace 8:48

pm:

25 min of Yoga with my girls - quite the experience.

Happy Running!

Today I went and met with the running group at Fort Worth Running Co.  I have debated going and running with them because if you want to join, it costs money, but I am tired of running on my own and I am missing the camaradie of a group.     I went with the 9 min pace group and it felt a little slow but was the right group for where I am at currently.   They are training for the marathon in February and are very good at keeping people where they need to be pace wise, which was good for me because I would have pushed more than I should have and it was nice to feel good when I was done.  

Ave Pace 8:57.

Happy Running!

Nice humid morning at 62 degrees.  35 degree increase from Saturday.   I felt really good until the last mile and it was rough - my breathing was off and I seemed unusually tired.  I am traveling the rest of the week with crazy flights so expectations are low.

Ave Pace 8:54

Happy Running!

Pace 9:03

Pace 9:11