Chug-along-chica!

I started out on the treadmill this morning because James was running outside. The stupid thing is that I can't remember how far I ran! It was either 1.35 or 2.35 miles. I don't know--I was just watching "The Count of Monte Cristo" until James got back. I'll assume the lower number just to make sure I don't short-change my training. Anyway, then I kicked off my shoes and ran 2.6 outside. It is a little bit strange to run on the ground after running on the treadmill. It almost feels like the ground is still moving. It's odd. My pace for the barefoot section was 8:59 on average, which is faster than usual. I think it is just because I was warmed up. It didn't seem like it was faster than I normally go. I hope that means I am getting faster! We'll see.

I still haven't decided which half marathon to try for 1:50 this fall. "When the runner is ready, the half marathon will appear" is kind of what I am thinking. I wish I could stay local, and yet avoid the crushing heat of the valley. Maybe there is some little half in Tuscon or Payson or something.

1.65 miles in the PM barefoot, with my little kids.  James kicked off his shoes for the run, too.  Then, of course, my kids BEGGED us to let them run without shoes, too.  So our whole family went running through the neighborhood barefooted.   We got lots of looks, and even some comments from people in cars.  "Doesn't that hurt?"  and so forth.  It was a fun run.  My kids did really well barefooted.  Zero complaints from my 5 year-old.  And my little squeaky wheel 7 year-old only whimpered twice when he stepped on a rock.

4.2 outside with the dog this morning. Around 9:44 pace, I think. (It got messed up with doggy stops.) Looking forward to playing with my kids and swimming today.

I am considering dropping my Saturday long runs. It is just too disruptive to my...I dunno, EVERYHING. These last 2 weeks I have not been functional all day on Saturday after my run. Will it give me the same benefit to run 6 days of 6 miles each as 5 miles on 5 days and then a 10 miler? Keep in mind that my goal race is a half marathon & that I usually break up my daily mileage into 2 runs. Any input?

1.45 on the treadmill at about 11 pace, then 3 more miles outside at 9:09 pace on average. Not sure why the treadmill seems harder at a slower pace. I do have it set to a slight incline (1), maybe that's the culprit.

1.75 barefoot with my family in the PM. 

4.35 Outside with the pooch. If I run with the boys this evening (which is my plan) I should come out at exactly 6 for the day. I have so little free time these days--I feel a little like a sponge that is being wrung out. It really makes the days fly by. Can it really be Thursday already? I must be getting old. Pretty soon I'll be saying that the last 20 years flew by in the blink of an eye.

1.65 this evening  at 9:17 pace on ave.  Most of it was at about 9:33 pace, but I did a fartlek at the end at about 7:00 pace.

1.7 miles on the treadmill around 9:45 pace, followed immediately by 2.85 outside at 9:07 pace on average.

I couldn't find any clean shorts today, so I snuck one of James' pairs and headed out. Add that the list of humiliations I am willing to suffer for consistent training (along with underarm chaffage) because they are so big on me I look ridiculously like a mushroom.

1 mile barefooted with my 7 year-old.  I had to run on the asphalt because the trash cans were all out on the sidewalk and I was pushing the double jogging stroller.   Running barefoot on asphalt in Mesa in the summer is...well, let's just call it uncomfortable.  So I put my shoes on to finish up with .65 with my 5 year-old. 

This morning our church group (ward) had a great activity. They had laid down all these humongous tarps overlapping each other to make a GIGANTIC slip'n'slide that went down a huge hill. They had a fire hose blasting water down it. It was SOOOOO much fun! 5 people could go down at once. James & the kids had a major blast, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more...unless possibly I could have done it without hurting myself. :)

I am all messed up! I was running and jumping all sprawled out in the air on each run, then, well, who knows what happened on the way down. I would turn and twist and scream. It was so great. But I did something to my left hip and now I'm limping. Dang it! My intuition is telling me to ice it. I may try shuffling (running) later. It is my left leg (for once!) and it feels weak. Every once in a while my knee buckles when I am limping around. What really hurts is to bring my leg forward. No can do. A lot of the discomfort (pain) seems more like referred pain than real pain. Probably this will go away really soon and everything will be peachy...I hope!