Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

With my beginners

3.38 - beginners

2.56 - 9:07

Beginners

3.26 Beginners

3.5 - 8:35

Beginners

1.31 - 8.33

2.75 - Beginners

3.32 - 9:04

With Erica - half mile repeats w/ walking recovery- she is coming along

Avg Pace: 12.22

Yoga

.87 to the meeting spot

2.25 with Saskia

The rest on my own. Probably one of the best runs I have had in a very long time.

Yoga in the hotel

1 mile to meet Saskia and Erica

Hilly run with walking breaks

4 .1 mile hill repeats

add on to get to six on the way home

Yoga

Avg Pace: 10.48

1.89 on the way to meet Saskia (avg pace 9:02)

6.00 with Saskia, her longest run and she did great. (avg pace 9:54)

2.11 on the way home (avg pace 8:27)

Great "long" run and I felt really good the last 2.11. Finally starting to feel like a runner - maybe.

5:00 am; 69 Degrees, 19mph winds, 76% humidity

1.1 mile to meet Erica and Saskia (avg pace 8:26)

3.5 miles with the girls (run/walk)

1.1 mile back home (ave pace 8:29)

Good running day, but my legs felt tired and heavy because they have had way to much time off.

5:20 am 77 degrees, 78% humidity 15 mph winds (again grateful for the wind)

I went with on of my new running partners and ran Dutch Branch and Bryant Irvin, both very hilly and we had about 2 miles into the wind. She did awesome and I am excited to have someone to run with.

Ave Pace: 10:33

5:00 am, 67 degrees, 67% humidity, 5 mph winds

Met the ladies for beginner run and love these days. 4 miles of lots of fun!

5:00 am     73 degrees,   73% humidity,   16 mph winds

Ran 1.61 to meet the ladies

3.56 with the ladies

Ran 1.46 home

Had planned for 10 miles today but also needed to go to the temple, had soccer, volleyball and Easter errands.   I thought I could get it all in if I planned on running tonight but it didn't happen - we are having thunder and lightening storm.   I headed out at 8 pm and my girls wanted to tag along.  They ran 1.5 with a few walking breaks but did great.   While we were out the lightening started picking up.  Dropped them back home and did 2 more on my own until I started getting nervous and called it a night.   I did have a quick pace on those last two miles but I had turned off my auto lap yesterday and forgot to turn it back on.   So I just have the average of 9:08....

I am not normally a Sunday runner but couldn't pass up the opportunity when Saskia mentioned she would be willing to go tonight.   We did 4 miles as lightening was rolling in and finished up just as the storm hit. 

1 to meet the ladies and 3.3 with ladies on the 5k route.    Got a ride home = pretty lazy.

6 miles this morning with Saskia.   Had a pretty flat route until the last 2 miles and the hills kicked in.

Saskia canceled this morning and I chose to sleep in - never a good choice. Guilt overcame me and I asked my husband to bring my running clothes up to my office and I would run home. This will motivate me to never do this EVER again.

At 5:30 I headed out in 77 degree weather with the sun beating down and my legs felt like lead and jello, if that is possible ... and it was today... in my legs.

I started feeling better about 3 miles in but it was not great. The traffic was not nearly as bad as I expected and the drivers were very accommodating but the heat was miserable - mostly the sun, because at 5 am there is no sun.

Bottom line, glad I ran.....won't run in the afternoon again.

Ave Pace: 8:28

Ran with Erica and Saskia to try the route for tomorrow.

Today was the 5K race for our Elementary School and a good chance to see where I am at.  My goal going into today was to be under 25 min.  I ran over to the school and then cheered my girls in the 1 mile and the ran back home afterwards.   The weather was perfect minus the 15 mph wind. 

The Good:  I finished as the first overall female finisher which has never happened before and if the course had been accurate, I would have been under 25 min.  I stayed strong and felt good most of the race.  Even though the course was short, it is challenging and I like that.

The Bad:  The course was short.  They have a certified course and what we ran today was different from the course map I received from the race director.  The certified course is accurate and more difficult than what we ran today but 25 min would have been doable.  I am bummed that it was short but it was a small race and these things happen.  

The Fun:  Saskia and Erica both ran their first races ever and did great!  I am so excited for them!   Izzie and Libby ran the 1 mile fun run and did great!

It was nice to get back out and "race" again but I also remembered why I do not like it.   My nerves still get the best of me.

Back out for some easy miles with Delaney & Saskia - very nice night.

Missed Monday due to storm.  Missed Tuesday due to travel.

Back at it today.   Met the ladies and we did some hill repeats and then I ran back home.   I tried to push it on the way home and was it was extremely hard today to get down into the 7's and stay there.   

Interesting issue:  I woke up yesterday morning and felt fine, 10 minutes later my knee started bugging me and bothered me all day yesterday and a little this morning.   It is right around the knee cap so I am not overly concerned but a little irritated.

On the way: 1.09 -  avg pace 9:13

With the ladies: 3.5 - avg pace 11:48

On the way home: 3.41 - avg pace 8:09 (mile 2: 7:50, mile 3: 7:31)

6 miles this morning with Saskia. Perfect weather, in the 50's, no wind and low humidity.

Ran 1.36 to meet the ladies

4 with the ladies

1.5 home

We did the repeats Kelli talked about earlier in the week after 3 miles and then cooled down for .5 mile.  I was excited to try them and they were extremely challenging but good - almost pukage.   All day I have felt like I had a really hard work out, so it must have had some benefit.  

 Absolutely beautiful morning, wish they would stick around for a while.

1.66 to the meeting spot - Avg Pace 9:25

8 with Saskia - Avg Pace 9:46

1.6 home - Avg Pace  8:51

It is extremely windy today and it really took it out of us heading south.   Nice to get in some good mileage but my legs are tired.   Most likely carry over from yesterdays sprints and my son trying to be my personal trainer last night.

Fun Saturday filled with volleyball, hair appointments, cello audition, Costco run, house work and real work.

Hills in my neighborhood with Saskia and Erica.

6 progressive miles with Saskia.   

6 miles of hills on Dutch Branch with Saskia

1 mile warm up

out 1: 9:17

back 1: 8:39

out 2: 8:27

back 2:8:03

 Each measured 1.1 miles and reminded me alot of Parkway Pallisades in South Jordan.

.75 mile cool down

Ave Pace 8:43

Nice easy recovery miles with Saskia.

Avg Pace 9:17

8 miles at night with Saskia.   It was nice to have my morning to get things done but running at night is harder and I am mad because I forgot to turn the auto lap back on on my watch until the very end.  We did however have a perfect night for running and that does not happen often this time of year in Texas.

Avg Pace 8:53

8 on the Trinity Trails with Saskia

.7 to meet

4 with Erica and Saskia

2.15 with Saskia afterwards

6 miles with Saskia.   Two mile warm up and then 1 minute on 1 minute off.  The wind was absolutely terrible.

Avg Pace 8:35

4 recovery miles with Erica and Carrie.   Super nice and easy with .5 mile of 20 sec on/10 sec off at the end. 

1 mile to the meeting spot

3 miles with Carrie and Saskia

2.5 with Saskia

1+ a little on the way back home.

Just over 1.5 to the meeting spot

8 with Saskia for a progressive run  

Just over 1.5 home

Feel pretty good about today.  I have a hard time with pacing by feel but I am working on it.  We had some miles that were all over the place but over all met our goals.

Avg. Pace 8:49

In California for work and enjoyed "cool" morning.   I never felt like I could get my rhythm and the entire run felt harder then it should.

Avg Pace 8:59

Today was our first attempt at Yasso 800's and it did not go well.   We warmed up for two miles and then started and the first one was 3:36 which was right were we need to be in Janaury but too hard for right now.  Second was 3:37 and felt better but by the third, I was done and legs were jello.   We ran back 3 miles and they were way too hard for what we were doing.   A sign of how much we need to accomplish but at least we have a baseline :)

Avg Pace 8:47

7 miles of hills on Bryant Irvin/Dutch Branch.  Again this did not go well - this entire week has been rough.    I felt horrible and really had debated even running but went and regretted it the entire time.  The run got done, was not pretty and probably not even productive.

Avg Pace 9:05

Funny day of running:

AM:  10 miles with Saskia as we ran up Hulen, which is actually a net downhill.    We were set to stay at 9:00 minute miles but we picked it up over the course.   We had a pit stop for a bathroom and one for water.   Overall not to bad and we had some good climbs along the way.  A .25 mile add on as we looked for my husband who was going to drive us back.

Avg Pace: 8:49

PM:  1 mile with Libby who did great - 10:30.  Then the fun began.  Jake wanted to run and said let's see how it goes.  About .5 mile in to the run he picked it up and I could not keep up.  I ended up chasing him for the rest of the time - nice speed work but not was I was expecting.   When did my son get faster than me?   He kicked my butt, but when we were done, he was trashed and I was tired but could have kept going if we had slowed down a bit.  Avg Pace:  8:04

1 mile to meet the girls, 4 miles and then another mile back home.

Meet and ran down around Oakmont park.   Warmed up for 2 miles and then did  1 mile of 1 min  on/off; 1 mile 2 min on/1 min off and then 3 mile of 3 min on/1 min off and then back down for the final mile of the work out and then cooled down for a half mile.  I felt good but ran totally by feel and effort and it was hard but better than crashing.

Avg Pace 8:45

Splits 9:36, 9:07, 8:32, 8:13, 8:02, 8:40, 4:44

Ran the big hill down at Oakmont Park and Bryant Irvin.   

2 mile warm up

2 x 1.15 mile up hill and .5 mile down hill

Recovery and cool down

Overall not as fast as I would like but done and a good base to start from.   Probably one of the best hills I have found here in Texas.

Ave Page 9:08

PM - 1 mile with Libby

Met Carrie for 1/2 mile repeats, nice and easy recovery for me.

Woke up sick and bailed on a morning run.  Saskia and I head out late Saturday night to see what we could do.  Total run was a disaster, I brought my phone which I will never do again.  It was 95 degrees and toasty with a storm rolling in and she was having stomach issues and I was tired.   Not good at all but done.

Bad, bad week and bad run......Should have taken whole week off.

Back at it and this week can only be an improvement over last in so many ways...

.75 to the meeting spot

2.7 with Erica, Jenny and Saskia

3.25 with Saskia

.75 home

Felt good and the best part of the Monday:

WE GOT INTO HOUSTON!!!!!  Not sure if I am excited or scared - it will be a lot of fun and I am excited to have a goal again.

30 min of yoga in my hotel room before an early flight - I forgot how much I miss it and boy am I tight.

Another really long week with lots of travel and long days at work.  This upcoming week is more promising - that is a good thing.

12.10 miles with Saskia.  We started early and it got hot fast but I was very happy with today.  Our splits were very even and I felt strong at the end.   We stopped and bought a bottle of water at 3 miles, GU and bathroom break at 7.3 and then a quick stretching break at 10.    

Splits:   

9:59,  9:11, 8:54, 9:09, 8:48, 8:49, 8:49, 8:47, 8:49, 8:56, 8:57, 8:25

Avg Pace: 8:58

Met the ladies for some easy miles and then added on three more.   Sleeping in and not starting until 6 was nice, but gets hotter more quickly :)

First official workout in a very, very long time.   The plan for today was 3 hill repeats of approx .25 long.   I warmed up for two miles and then hit the repeats at: 1:48, 2:00, 1:50.   The first one was a little lower on the hill and the grade wasn't steep enough so I moved up for the other two, but a little dissapointed over the second.   I then recovered for 1.5 and then did 2 MP pace miles, not really part of the plan but decided to see what I could get done.   They did not feel great but got to practice relaxing and reminding my self to work with it instead of against and it work well -  8:02 & 7:48.

Avg Pace 8:37

Very easy recovery miles with the gals this morning.  1 mile on the way 5+ together and then another mile back home.   Legs were tired......

Workout was 2 MP miles.

 We went out and back and used the three out as warm up.  The 2 marathon pace turned out to be 2 faster than MP, more like 10K/ Half Marathon pace.   They both felt better than Tuesday but I hadn't run hills before either.   Splits were 7:46, 7:36

Avg Pace: 8:38

Everyone bailed this morning, but I had told the my two older girls they could run the first mile with us and we could drop them by the house during the run.   They were too excited.   So at 4:30 this morning everyone at our house was up because these two do not know quiet or to leave the lights off.   We went to the meeting spot only to find out everyone bailed but the girls still wanted to do their mile...... So I have one measly mile for today.  I would have added on more but I had only gotten 4 hours of sleep and still had time to go back to bed before work.  In hindsight, I should have run.  

We had planned on running two loops of 5.5 each so that we could stop by the car and get water instead of carrying it.   

Let's just say, it didn't go as planned.  Nothing over exciting except it is HOT!   Last night at 9 pm it was still 99 degrees and I knew we were in trouble and at 5:15 this morning it was 82 degrees, 58% humidity and  the dew point was at 61.  It was oppressive.   We could not find a groove or rhythm and it just became a struggle.  Saskia was having issues with her foot and so the weather only made the entire process worse.   So we made it one loop and added on to give us 6 miles with an avg pace of 9:18 and I took her home.

Once I got home I headed back out and got another 4 totaling 10.   I felt much, much better and the only pro to living on a hill is that you do get wind and it helped cool things off.   I actually felt really good the entire time and ended with an avg pace of 8:18.

Now I have sat down all I want to do is sleep...... Too much to do!

Quite the day that ended with a good run.   

I had a flight at 5:45 from Dallas to Syracuse via Chicago and 14 hours later I arrived.   We were diverted in Chicago do to winds and spent three and half hours on the tarmack in Indianapolis and then another 1.5 in the terminal.   Back to Chicago another delay and finally into Syracuse last night.   I ate way to much junk food, took too many naps and sat way, way too much - so as soon as I checked in I hit the treadmill.

I warmed up for 2 miles and then did the following and I also learned I cannot count:

One minute on/One minute off 

4 x 8.0/6.5

16 x 8.5/6.5

4 x 8.0/6.5

Finished off to hit 7 miles just under 60 min.   It actually ended up being a pretty good run, especially considering how much I love the treadmill.

Absolutely beautiful morning from Vivian Park down to BYU.   I forgot how nice it was to run in cooler temps and the canyon was amazing.   I used to hate that trail and today it was great.  Lots of runners, bikers and walkers out.   I warmed up and then hit MP + for four miles and then tried to cool down but still kept a pretty good pace. 

Splits:

8:54, 8:36, 8:20, 8:18, 8:01, 7:43, 7:29, 7:21, 8:04, 8:27

Avg Pace 8:07

Back to the oven of Texas - 6 miles - 3 on my own and 3 with Carrie and Erica 

Today's plan was a 30 min temp run, but turned into a survival run.   At 5 am the temp was 85 degrees, 80% humidity and dew point was 65 - I love heat but this went beyond my ability to deal with it - so we survived.

We did two 3.5 mile loops and the plan was easy and then tempo but we finished with several runs through sprinklers to cool off.  

Glad it is done and only 60 more days of this heat, but who's counting.

Ave Pace 9:36

Had an early flight and this was all I could squeeze in.

Oh the heat!!  Another bad run on a heat filled morning, but the heat is not the only thing to blame.  I only had 3.5 hours of sleep last night and was going to bail but woke up and couldn't go back to sleep.    That combined with poor eating yesterday and the heat made for a bad combination.    I could never get into a rhythm and pushed through 3+ miles and then took two short walking breaks through mile 4.  At that point when I would start to run, nausea and stomach cramping set in and so I only ran 1/2 a mile in what was 2 miles home.  Crappy, crappy and no end to the heat or stress in sight.

One mile to meet the ladies, 3 together and 2.5 back home.    

We met 30 min later than usual and it was a little bit cooler than the normal 5 am.   Nice to get out and hopefully this week brings more success than the past few.

Met Saskia and Jenny for some hills.  We warmed up for 2 miles and then did a 1.15 mile climb and then a .5 mile down hill back to the start.  Originally we planned 3, but I ended up backtracking a few times on the up hill portion to check on Jenny so we only had time for 2 and a nice cool down.

Avg Pace 8:55

Work has been less than kind this week and I have not been getting a lot of sleep.  I ended up taking 2 Dramamine and 2 Advil before I went to bed - Good news - I slept like a rock, Bad news - I was in a fog for most the morning.  

I ran 1 to meet the ladies and then 3.8 with them.  I should have run home, but took a ride instead.  LAZY

No sleep = No Run

Oh another hot morning!  86 degrees!  

2 miles to meet Saskia

6 miles together

2 miles back home

Glad to get 10 under my belt this week but the heat is killing the running.   I was so thirsty the entire time and it just is oppressive.

Avg Pace 9:05

On my own today and boy are the legs fatigued.   I didn't really have a plan and would have probably liked more miles than what I ended up with but this week has taken it's toll on me and 5 it is.   

I have not gotten nauseated much before now, but this is twice in the last week that I have felt horrible on a run - easy runs.   I am hoping it is the heat and not lack of fitness ( and no, I am not pregnant)

6 miles with the ladies.   Nice and hot and we are now 38 days in to the triple digit heat streak, I am thinking it will never end.

In other news, I got new running shoes and my husband ordered me a different style than I had worn before.   I liked them but they came up high around my ankle/heel and now I have a blister......

Warmed up for 2 miles and then we did 800's on the track.  I HATE the track and I almost cry every time it comes around.    I made it through all 4 repeats and my times were not good at all and my time keeping abilities are even worse.  The girls bailed after three and I was close but stuck it out and then added on to get 7 in for the day.  

Everyone bailed and I am starting to be okay with that because I get a better workout on my own.   Just an out and back at a moderate pace.   8:55

TODAY IT RAINED!   I woke up at 5 and heard the rain and was so happy - it has been so long since we have had rain - and went back to bed.   After sleeping in, Jay and I ran some errands and then I headed out around noon.  The rain was just stopping and the humidity was high - 80%+, but it was also only 77 degrees.  I cannot remember the last time I ran in temps less than 80 degrees (except Utah).  

The first 6 miles felt absolutely great and then the wheels fell off.   The next 4 were very difficult and I walked a couple of times.   The legs felt dead and my knees started bothering me and this is when I need to run with someone to help me not get lost in the mess and push through.  This has become a huge frustration of mine lately.   The ladies I have been running with have been bailing quite a bit and I am not getting in the training that I need to be ready for Houston in January.   All of this brings me back to my frustrations from last fall.......... There are two great running stores here in FW and they both have good training programs/groups but the charge to run with them.     I am getting desperate and will probably cave at some point but I hate paying to run.  

Enough whining.... next week is completely crazy and stressful at work but I need to be consistent so we will see what happens.  

Forgot one postive note:  The nausea that has been plaguing my runs the past few weeks hit right around mile 10 and I wanted to stop, but pushed through and after about .5 mile felt fine - This is good - I will not die.

5:15 am; 86 degrees, Humidity 58%, dew point 64 degrees

I am going back to adding the weather to my log.  Last summer I had mentioned it almost everyday and it has been helpful in looking back and comparing workouts.   I am almost to the point I am going to add the sleep tracker to my log as well.   I am not getting much on some nights and between that and work related stress, there is impact to running.   

Enough of the housekeeping items.  Again everyone bailed but I told my husband last night to kick me out of bed even if I didn't want to go.  He didn't have to kick me out, but he did encourage a little.  

I warmed up for 2 miles and then did 4 repeats on the hilly Summer Creek road -  1.13 miles   I have done this work out a few times over the past year and we have a love/hate relationship with each other.   It isn't horrible but it is by no means fun.  I also messed up my garmin and thought I had turned off the auto lap but did not.   This actually was probably a good thing because I didn't have a time to measure against and be discouraged when I was done.  I was also very dissociative today which is nice because you just get it done but if I was truly focused I am sure the times would have been better.

The mile splits:  8:20, 8:29, 8:28, 8:16 & 3:57 for the last .5

Avg Pace 8:45

Exact duplication of yesterday's weather - 84 degrees, 51% humidity, 64 degree dew point and winds at 8mph.  We are nothing if not consistent.

On my own again today and 6.6 easy miles.   Nothing overly monumental other than I did a better job managing the pace and staying around 9 min miles.   With a mile left I had a nice little jaunt through some sprinklers and on days like this, it is a pretty sweet treat!

Ave pace 9:07

Weather pretty much the same and I forgot to check before I left.

Jenny and I rant 3.25 as my warm up and her run and then a quick pit stop for me and out for the work out portion.   I could not remember if today was MP or tempo so I opted for a little of both.   I had 3 miles  - 8:18, 7:47 & 7:30, with a mile cool down.   The first mile has a good uphill stretch so 8:18 is not to bad.  The avg pace for these three miles was 7:52 and avg pace with the cool down was 8:04.  

Trying to figure out a plan for Saturday, I need 10-12. 

PM 1.5 miles shagging balls for my son as he took BP..........I am a glutton

6:00 am, 86 degrees, 44% humidity, dew poing 62 and wind at 5 mph.

Nice morning out on the trail.   I headed out for 3.5 miles and this was the worst part of the entire run - the bugs were horrible.   Little gnats all over the place and in some places very thick, in my eyes, hair, sweat and mouth.    About the point I turned around they had thinned out and were barely noticeable.   A pit stop at a port a poty at 5.25 and then a GU at 7.   From here I did 2.5 out and back the other direction.    It was starting to warm up but I felt pretty good.  There was some sort of cross country thing taking place at Trinity Park and saw one of the girls from my ward running.  

The trail was extremely crowded today, cyclists, runners, walkers but it all made for lots of people to wave at.   I did a much better job pacing today and ended up with a nice progressive run.

Splits:  9:36, 9:30, 9:15, 9:09, 8:56, 8:56, 8:49, 8:45, 8:39, 8:24, 8:18, 8:24

Avg Pace - 8:53

PM 1.25 Shagging balls for my son in 107 degree temps.....I told him and my husband I don't know if I would do this again.  It seems to bother my knee and it is just plain hot!

1.5 miles to meet the ladies, 3 with them another 1.5 back home.   I drank way to much Diet Coke this weekend because I was very dehydrated the whole run.   Legs were tired from Saturday but it didn't seem to linger too long.  Not nearly enough sleep last night, Sunday nights are rough.    Also, the kids go back to school today and I cannot decide if I am happy about that or not.   We have 4 kids in 4 different schools this year and my son who is a Junior has a schedule that makes me want to cry.....

Complete train wreck of a morning. I woke up feeling okay but about 1.5 miles in  my stomach started giving me trouble.   A long pit stop at a 7-11 at 3.5 and another pit stop at the Quick Trip at 4.8 and I made to the end.   I was pretty frustrated with the stomach issues because we were running a hilly run on Dutch Branch/Bryant Irvin and this is one of my favorite hard runs and it turned into survival.  

An absolutely horrible night - 4 hours of sleep and woken up at 2 am.   Still up at 4 am and decided to call the run and try to sleep.   Not really ever sure what to do but error on the side of sleep.    

Had to give myself a pep talk to get out of bed.   My husband is out of town for two weeks and he is very good at helping (kicking) me out the door some days.   I unnecessarly worry about leaving my kids - they sleep the entire time.  

Ran 1.5 to the meeting spot, to meet no one.   No text, no notice - just no shows.   Ran another 1.5 and then did 2 MP miles and then cooled down back home and ran through my favorite row of sprinklers - little rewards like these are the best!

MP miles where 7:56 & 7:39.  I have a hard time maintaining the 8 pace and try to slow down but it doesn't happen.

 Avg pace: 8:34

Yesterday was an exercise in frustration.  I had to go to McAllen for work and our flight was rerouted to Harlingen (45 min away) due to an electrical storm.  I missed my meeting but had to still fly to McAllen and then back to Dallas.   Nothing like an entire afternoon flying around Texas for no good reason!   I ate horribly and got home around 9:30 exhausted and cranky.   

When my alarm went off at 5 it took 30 min to talk myself into getting up and running.  Arrived at the trail at 6 am and had my run broken into 3 segments.   The first was 2 miles out and an another 2 back heading north on the trail.   All the group runners where heading in the opposite direction so it was a little crazy but the bugs were not near as bad this way. After these 4 miles did the same thing heading south on the trail and watched the sun rise.  GU'd at mile 8 and then decided to follow where the Lukc's Locker and Amercian Cancer society groups run.   Headed down around the Colonial and into Tangelwood.   Passed lots of people both ways and really enjoyed this part of the run.   

I started out faster today then normal and had a very hard time sticking around a 9 min pace but did pretty good.   I let myself pick it up and run by feel the last two miles - 8:12 & 7:49.  

After I stretched and got in my car, I realized I probably should have cooled down for a mile and was mad I didn't even think of that.   Overall felt better than last week and was 70 seconds faster than last weeks run which was a little easier because I stayed on the trail the entire time.   

Splits:  9:09, 9:12, 9:06, 8:56, 9:00, 9:00, 8:52, 8:49, 8:44, 8:36, 8:12, 7:49.

Avg Pace: 8:47

5:00 am, 88 degrees, 29% humidity and dewpoint at 52 - not getting any better.

Went to head out the door and couldn't get my garmin to turn on.  The mode button has been acting up and now the thing is just dead!  Just what I need.   I have tried resetting now that I am home  - no luck, so today at lunch I am going to buy a new one - 305 again or 405?  Any suggestions?

Today was supposed to be a recovery day but I am not a good judge of pace so who knows.

1.04 to meet Saskia

4.02 with her, I drank way too much diet coke, becuase I was dying of thirst...this has become a bad Sunday habit.

1.64 afterwards, with a very nice run through some sprinklers - this makes it all worth it these days.

Kind of crazy day and frustrated with the garmin thing but the week is off to a good start.

Met Saskia for some hills and easy miles early this morning.   88 degrees, which is completely ridiculous.   The new garmin arrived tonight, but the run was sans watch.

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

Met the FWRC group this morning.    Perfect weather 55 degrees.   Started out with quite a bit of a larger group but quickly whittled down to Lindsay, Melissa, Emily, Ashley, Elise and myself.   Emily dropped off early on and then Ashley turned around at mile 6.    

 This week has taken its toll and I was tired and up and down during the run.   I used the POP just before mile 6 and had to run on my own for the next two miles and really struggled getting back in gear.   Once we hit the water stop at 9.5 we decided to run hard for the next two miles and recover easy until the end.   Everyone took off and after about .25 I looked down and we were doing 6:45 and for me that is not sustainable, so I dropped back quickly.   We tried to recover and that was short lived for about 1.5 and then we picked it back up until the last mile that was spent, winding and looping to get to 15.   

Splits:   8:43, 7:49, 7:49, 7:41, 7:41, 7:57, 8:03, 7:40,  7:30, 7:24, 7:21, 7:32, 7:52, 7:56, 8:27

Avg Pace: 7:50

Compared to last week, the effort felt much harder and was less consistent but based on this week, probably reasonable.     We spent a lot of time discussing long runs and that for runs longer than 15, we need to be slowing down.......We all agreed, but I am not sure it will actually happen.   For most of us, this is the highlight of our running week.   It will be interesting to see how the mileage compares, they are all running White Rock and I am running Houston.   Also, different philosophies on how long & how many long runs to do. 

Lots of thoughts of everyone running St. George today and I am anxious to read race reports!

CONGRATS to Marcie and a 2:52!!   So excited for her!

2.1 to meet the group

3.75 with the group

2.65 home

Felt off all day, slow and completely annoyed with everything - my shirt, my left knee was achy, needed to use the bathroom.....

Glad it is done and hopefully all the annoying stuff is done as well.

I had a hard time gearing up for this workout and it is usually one I like.  It is normally 4x1.15 mile repeats on a hilly road outside my neighborhood.  It is very similar to the BBK workout at Parkway Palisades.   Anyways, I was on my own and struggling.   I have also become far to aware of my time/pace and not focusing on the run.   Did the first repeat and was dissapointed with my time and did the second and was frustrated.  I should have made myself do the next two but decided I would do hill sprints - this is what the plan I am following called for but I normally like the long hilly repeats and in marathon training, they serve there purpose.  Ran and lectured myself for .75 to the bottom of the hill I was going to sprint and did the 4 repeats without timing them.   I ran them hard and have no idea pace or time but I did run each hard.   This is a valuable lesson for me to learn at this point in the training cycle....work out by feel and get it done, quit looking at the watch.   I never paid attention when I ran with the BBKs, it was fun and some days we pushed more than others, but lately I have become way to focused on the time, not what I am trying to accomplish.   

Avg Pace 8:37 - 3 warm up, 5 hilly & sprints, 2 recovery/cool down.

Nice recovery morning with the group - Avg Pace 9:09

I have been sick the past few days.   I woke up Thursday expecting to run but ended up right back in bed and fought a fever most the day.   I ended up taking Friday off but I was starting to feel better until I was driving back from Dallas during the peak traffic that afternoon.    About half way home I started to really not feel good and barely made it home  - I will spare the details from here, but I was not feeling well all evening.  Went to bed early and woke up to met the group and it only took about five minutes before I realized I would be in trouble if I ran.   Back to bed until 8:45 -  I haven't sleep in that late in years.   

I have felt pretty good most the day so I decided to get out this afternoon which was a mistake.   I head out at 4 pm with a temp of 83 and wind of 15-20 mph.     I headed into the wind for the first 3.25 and then turned around.   I pushed way to hard on the way out and when I hit the turn around it was rough.   I never could get in to a rhythm and I finally stopped and walked for a minute at the 5 mile mark and told myself pace didn't matter, just find a pace that works and try to enjoy the rest of the run.   It was rough!   I pushed way more than I should have, especially early on; my legs were extremely crampy the entire time.    All a combination of not feeling well this week, stress from work, weather and poor decision making.    Goal for next week is to get it done.   Next week was to be my recovery week, but that is now this week and next week is back to full mileage.

Splits: 9:02, 8:37, 7:59, 7:53, 7:58, 8:39, 8:27, 8;07

Avg Pace 8:21

Extremely humid this morning, but I am not complaining.   It rained Saturday night in to Sunday and I wish we had a few more days of it.    Slept in 30 min and ran 1.8 to meet the group, 3.5 with the group and another 3 home.   My calves are extremely tight as well as my hips, so lots of stretching today.  

I am taking the day off of work to hang out with my kids, we will see how it goes.   We are doing nothing fun.... grocery shopping, cleaning the house, homework.....

Avg Pace 9:11

AM:  Easy run with Saskia this morning.   We did a repeat of Saturday's mess and I felt much better, though I do think it is down hill heading out and up hill heading back.  Avg Pace 8:51.

PM:  Met the group at the store for some tempo miles.....not sure we did a true tempo but we did  some fast paced miles.   We did a 3 mile warm up - 8:20, 8:00, 7:55 and then did the same loop as the fast paced miles - 7:22, 7:30, 7:33.  Pretty disappointed with the fast paced miles, the effort was hard and I never felt like I was in a rhythm, just pushing.   I am going to have to figure out how to run in the evening, it is a little different the early morning runs.   I was pretty miserable the second loop, but if I want to run faster, I have to run faster.  The key will be sticking with these workouts and then trying to pick up the Thursday workout as well.   Avg Pace 7:47.

Missed Wednesday due to thunder storms, but back at it today.  I was on my own for what was to be marathon pace miles.    I did a 3 mile warm up and then 4 MP and 3 mile cool down.   I am horrible with pacing and the MP miles ended up being more 10K miles but that is okay.   

MP splits:  7:37, 7:36, 7:22, 7:23

Avg Pace 8:11

Got up and going and felt horrible, I have a toothache and did not sleep well but it was too late to cancel.   Took it super easy and enjoyed the run.  Now I am going to the dentist......I hate the dentist and I put it off far to long.

This will be long, but I need to document and maybe somebody has some insight.

Yesterday after the dentist I didn't feel well but headed into work.  Tried to eat a granola crisp and then some chex mix.  Still not feeling well, one of my employees had Chineese and it looked really good.   Ordered Pei Wei and went to eat and one bite and I knew I was in trouble.   I left early and went home.   Slept for 2 hours and then spent the next 2 laying on the floor wishing I would just throw up and feel better.  Took a while, but done and over the course of the evening, I started feeling pretty good and had some dinner around 8:30.  At this point I was still not sure what my plan was for in the morning but decided I would see how the night went.   I chalked the nausea up to too much tylenol.

Woke up this morning, tired but feeling okay.   Got dressed and headed to the race.   I decided to run the first half at 8 min pace and then pick it up at the turn around.  Warmed up for a mile with Lindsey and felt good.   Lined up and the lead group took off.   I am usually pretty comfortable running my own race but today I was on my own the entire time and there was no one even close until the last mile.   Had water at mile 2 and then NUUN at 3.5 (my one complaint about the race is the water stops - none at the turn around!).   Was feeling okay but not great but this is normal for me, I usually feel better the second half.  Avoided getting sprayed by a skunk at 2.5.   Got to the turn around and  no water - took the GU with out water and was surprisingly okay.  I started to pick it up a little, but never really got to where I wanted to be.  I was not feeling good at all, the breathing was off, the legs were tired and I was on count down to the end.   GU & Water at 9.5 and the water again at 11.   I actually started to feel somewhat better the last two and ended up picking off a guy.   Finished with  1:43:14 which is a honest course PR, the only faster half's I have are at Hobble Creek.    Hung out with everyone for a while and then went to head home.  My stomach started feeling a little rumbly the last 15 min I was there.  

Got in the car and went to call my husband who is on a college visit with my son and he couldn't believe I ran after yesterday's mess.   I told him I missed last week's long run and I needed to get it done.  Started not feeling well here, and it was down hill home.  The 30 min drive was horrible.   The nausuea was back and my stomach was a mess and all I wanted to do was get home.   I made it within 10 min of my house and had to pull over and throw up.   10 min later I pulled in and still do not feel good at all.  Fever, nausea and an entire day that I get to spend chasing my girls to volleyball.

After the race I was convince that I am not in the shape I thought I was and that I really need to get my act together.  Now I am not so sure.... My Saturday runs have been at a faster pace over a longer distance but today was hard.  So the question is how much of today's race was off due to being sick or out of shape?

Splits: 7:48, 7:58, 7:46, 8:06 - water, 7:59, 8:00, 7:52, 7:53, 7:48, 8:04 - water and almost hit by a car crossing a street, 8:03 -water, 7:56, 7:49, 6:28 for the last .1

Easy miles while my daughter was at cello - post root canal.

What a week!   I ended up with a root canal on Monday, swelling & complications Tuesday & Wednesday, traveled on Thursday and tried to recover a bit on Friday.   It has been a long, long week.  I am on IB as needed - finally, but still on antibiotics.  I tried really hard to give my body the opportunity to deal with this and get well, but between not running and side effects of the meds, I have gained 10 lbs this week - not good.

I met the group at the store for our Saturday run and other than taking it easy, I was hoping for 16 but if I didn't feel well, I told myself I could turn around anytime.    Melissa, Elise and I started and I said from the beginning I wanted to stick to 8:30 or slower and they agreed as well.    About 2 miles in I knew I was going to be in need of a bathroom but there was one at mile 4 so I should be okay.   We reached mile 4 and it was gone - I was devastated!  For the next 4.5 miles I was looking everywhere for a bathroom and spotted a 7-11 on the other side of the river.   Luckily there was a crossing right there and I hiked up through the trees, but was so completely happy.   Met back up with Melissa and we headed back.   I was good to go for 2 miles and needed a bathroom again.   I took a couple detours without any luck and at mile 13 it was time to close with MP miles.   I made it a mile but, if I had done anymore, I would have been in trouble.   I detoured off the trail here and found another 7-11 and then headed back to the store via the road.  

The run felt good and I was please I had done as well as I had.  I only GU'd once and during the run felt fine.    Unfortunately now, I have a massive headache and have been in and out of the bathroom all morning......

The next few weeks will be challenging, I have a lot of work travel and good intentions.

Avg Pace 8:39

Early morning flight, I missed out on running in the fog - bummer!

Up early and it was hard!  Amazing what a few days of sleeping in will do to a person.  Hills were on the plan for today and I was planning on running the same route as before - my Parkway Palasades simulation but with a different approach.   I was going for an even effort of moderate pace.   

I warmed up for 2 miles and then started for my 5 repeats (funny thing is, I had to come back so it ended up being 6).  I felt good the entire time but on the last out I could tell I was getting tired and the legs were fatigued.   On the last trip back, I had to stop at 3 different times because I was in desperate need of a POP.   Drives me craizy!! Ended up not cooling down for a mile and went home to take care of my issue.  This was much better than two weeks ago and my pace was about the same.  Avg Pace 8:39

On the very first out I saw three deer in the field...Crazy!  They stood and stared at me while I did the same right back.    I started thinking about all the live wildlife I have encountered in the past 18 mos.....

1 snake

multiple frogs

bunnies daily

lizards daily

2 opossums

3 armadillos

3 deer

1 coyote

I live in the city but on the edge and to the west are open fields for a couple of miles to the lake and I amazed at what we have seen.

Another 9 miles and another day with bathroom issues. Made it three miles and then tried to fight the urge for another 4. Not the best idea. Finished up and lesson learned.

Avg Pace 8:42

Traveling today and tried to run on the hotel treadmill and it was by far the worst I have ever run on.  Made it maybe .25 and said no way, not worth it.  

Met the group at the store for the Saturday run.   Goal was to stick to 8:30 - 9:00 min pace, goal not achieved.   It was the coldest morning so by far, 35 degrees - CRAZY!  I originally thought I over dressed, but it got cooler before it got warmer, so I ended up okay.   It was the normally easy week for the rest of the group so they were just doing 10, but I am traveling next weekend and so I needed to change my schedule.   

I started with the normal group and 2 miles in knew I was going to fast and needed to drop back.  Laura was wanting to slow down as well and so we thought we would be right around 8:30, which I thought we were doing or at least close.  At the turn around we picked up Ashley and Tim and it felt like we picked up the pace but in reviewing the splits, they were almost dead even at 8:05......not good.   Dropped everyone at the store and headed back out for what I thought would be 6 more.  I slowed down here, but not as much as I should have or intended to.   Got caught in a local 1/2 marathon taking place on the trails and interesting running in a race but not racing.   Hit the 3 mile turn around and started deciding the best way back and realized if I went out 1 more, I would have water on the way back.  I opted for the water but it made the run a little longer.  

I felt great today and the effort never felt pushed after the first 2 miles, but I still need to slow it down.  

Avg Pace 8:13

Another chilly morning, but I love layering up a little - not a lot.   1.5 to meet the girls, 3 with them - very, very slow, 20 min with Saskia and then a mile back home.   Right IT band is starting to be a little irritated, so I have a date with my foam roller tonight.  

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.

Everyone had bailed, but I was determined to get out on my own.   Started out and within a mile could feel a UTI coming on strong.   Not good, not good.  Finished lapping the block and called it done, it was miserable.   Off to the doc for antibiotics.

Oh the past few weeks have not been fun......Marathon training has take a nose dive.   I have run sparingly and will go back an add but today the impact of lack of running was realized.   Work has been extremely demanding and work stress is not always helped with marathon training.   I have been sick (due to work stress) and completely drained.   Right now I am unsure of what I will end up doing with Houston - full, half or spectator..... I am going to give it a few weeks to decide but know that if I end up with the full, it will be a slug fest.  

Met the group at the store and ended up running with Ross for 2 and then Monte for the next 5.   Two people I wish I would have met sooner.  Both are running Houston and have goals of 3:30......Bummer.  It would not have changed much, but would have helped to know there were people there with similar goals.   Monte was heading on for more at the 7 mile mark but I was sucking wind way to hard so turned around and headed back.   Took it easier on the way back and felt okay.  Lots of twinges from lack of running but all things that can be dealt with.   Next week with not be good.  I am traveling again M, TH, F and will not return until Saturday and not be able to get in a long run.  Will need to see how I can fix this.   

Avg Pace: 8:31

Yucky travel week again.....

7 easy miles - Avg Pace 9:28

Super windy this morning so I did mile hill repeats and just dealt with the cross wind the entire time.   Avg pace 8:59.

8 miles,   2 mile warm up, 4 miles 1 min on, 1 min off. 2 miles cool down.  Tried to keep the on minutes at a moderate pace. Avg Pace 8:25

This should have been the last off three 20 milers prior to Houston and instead it was the first.   With work and family demands, plus the fact that I have been sick off and on.....the training hasn't been there.  I have gone back and forth as to whether or not I run it at all, run and pace the two other girls I am going with or run it as a long training run somewhere in the 3:45 - 4:00 range.   A lot of how this run would go would make that decision.   

Met the group at the store and ended up on my own for 20 miles.....not really what I was hoping for when I paid my $100 to run with a group....I had decided to start near a 9 min mile and then pick up slowly through out and I actually did a pretty good job sticking to the plan.   The route was for 14 miles and I felt great the entire 14.   Started back out to pick up six more and the next loop ended up being 4 and I was back at the store for water.  The last two miles were long and ugly.   I was trying to loop the trails in the park but did not want to get too far out.  It was ugly and I was tired.   

I was actually really pleased with how the run went.   I felt great up through 17 and then it progressively got worse, but if you consider my training, it isn't too bad.   I am in no shape to run a 3:25 but I could eek out a 3:45 - 4:00 time.   Going to do another 20 this Saturday and a little speedwork between now and the 15th.    No real taper, maybe just a little the week of, but that is okay.  

Avg Pace 8:39

Slept in and ran at 8:00 am.....so, so nice.    It was very misty out, no real rain just a mist.   Today was recovery from Saturday and the legs were tired but started to feel better by mile 5.   My cold is making the lungs burn and lots of coughing, but I have been sick off an on for two months and it is never going to get better, just one thing after another.   Stopped at the CVS during the run and bought a new toothbrush, hoping that might help....I read somewhere it might and I am desperate.    Felt fine, just completely bored out of my mind.   I think Saturday's 20 on my own left me nothing for today.....

Avg Pace: 8:53

Slept in - I am going to pay for all the sleeping in the past couple of weeks.   8 beautiful miles in the sunrise on a crisp morning, couldn't get any better.   Wore my new shoes and I could feel the pull on my calves, they will take some time to break in.

Avg Pace 8:29

20 miles this morning - Yahoo!  Met the group for 16 and then the plan was to add on 4 more, but didn't quite end up that way.   I had Costa Vida yesterday and I paid for it today.  There is only one in Texas about an hour away and I have been wanting to go for weeks and yesterday was the day.   I should have worked perfectly between volleyball practice and violin fitting for my kids which are both up in that area.....Volleyball went long and we missed the violin fitting but made time for lunch/dinner.   

Headed out with 9 min group which pretty much dissolved quickly, caught the slower 8's but they ended up slowing way down, so another solo run.   At about mile 6 new I was in need of a pit stop and thought if I ran past the turn around I could hit the 7-11.   Ran past, crossed the river, climb the embankment, avoided a skunk all for an "out of order" sign.   Turned around and headed back and since I was all alone, it was all I could do not to focus on my discomfort.   Spotted a POP at about mile 10 - again across the river and  this time up the embankment, crossed the freeway and this was much more successful.   I was okay for the next 5 and then searched out another 7-11 and hoped to survive the remaining five.  

This week was much better than last week but at mile 14 I started thinking about running 12 more and I was a little frightened.  I felt good the last three and actually picked up the pace to pick off a group of ladies.....surprised myself a little there.  

No taper for me, just training up through the marathon. 

Avg Pace 8:35

Happy New Year!