Slow & Steady Wins the Race :-)

Suuuuuck.  Long run yesterday leaving legs so tired plus 3 hours of sleep after jeff's birthday party plus probably a little bit of dehydration ;-) , so no run today, which is heartbreaking on a weekend day when I can actually run outside!  Boooo, at least next weekend is DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!!  My favorite holiday.

So, 90 mins of hot yoga instead.  Was horribly hard though, I thought I was suffocating.  Probably partially because it was the hottest I've ever felt in there, partially because of the reasons listed above.

Slept so well last night, fell asleep at 9, and was still tired at 630 when I woke up to debate about running, was too tired.  Soooo, it became the usual dilemma, not wanting to workout when I get home. Just realized again how great it was last week working out in the morning.  Despite my non-morning-person-ness, working out in the morning is just the best thing for me.  Plus then I can go to hot yoga at night! :-)

So, finally dragged myself to the TM, and my left shin was immediately just searing with pain. So ran 1.5 at 6.7, then had to stop and walk .5, then ran another 1 at 6.5, and then walked 2 more at 4.0.  Blahhhhh.  Tomorrow will be better.

Yay, I actually did it!  Was worried after yesterday.  Got up early and ran before work - 5 miels on the TM. 4 @ 6.7, 1 @ 7.0, last .25 @ 7.5. 

Hopefully going to do 90 mins of hot yoga after work. 

"Snoozed" a few times too many and didn't end up with enough time to do the full 5, so settled for 4. A little dissapointed about that. 3.75@ 6.7, .25 @ 7.0.  I NEED to do a speed workout. 

Also, I think it may be time for some new shoes, at least so I can break them in and wear them in the half-marathon.  

3.5 @ 6.7, .25 @ 7.0, .25 @ 7.5.

Went for a run OUTSIDE AFTER WORK!!! And didn't even wear my ear wrap thingamajig! Maybe spring IS on its way! Took Cooper too, man he was tired after only 1 mile, he is out of shape after the long winter.

Miles of 9:08, 8:36, 8:25. Average: 8:43

TM. 6.6 or something, crappy run. Was going to do the long run but was feeling unmotivated, squandered my time before "christmas make-up", and then went outside and it was freeeezing.

A million laps around the dog park, probably 6 laps? Pretty repetitive. Took a gu around 7 which seemed to help a lot. Also had a water/gatorade mix I took with me and planted, wearing that hydration belt when the bottle is full just feels SO uncomfortable.

Splits: 9:41, 9:26, 9:16, 9:10, 9:11, 9:20, 9:12, 9:13, 9:17, 9:09, 9:20, 9:11

Total Time: 1:51:32, Average: 9:17

To run the half marathon in less than 2 hours I need to run splits less than 9:10.

Looks a lot better than it really is.  Got up early to worked out - was feeling soooo stiff and exhausted, so walked the first mile and then only had time for 2 more running.  

Then got home from work, had a TON of homework to do (though I did finish my first final, yippeee!), when I was finally done it was almost 10pm so I walked 4 miles on the TM while I watched the end of Biggest Loser & Law & Order SVU.  Yup, productive tv watching.

Yep, only ran 2 of those miles today.  I suuuuckkk.

Have decided that I am a major slacker when it comes to revving up my workouts.  I do the same run, same speed, on every single run, no matter the mileage.  It is NOT good.  I've decided i MAJORLY need to focus on doing one speed workout a week, and ideally also either a tempo or hills workout a week.  But I'll focus on speed workouts for now, gotta work into this idea gradually.

So, today I did 3 miles on the treadmill at 6.5, then the next 2 miles I alternated 1 mile at 8.0 (7:30) and 1 mile at 6.7 (8:57).  I did this for 1.5 miles, or 6 reps of this, then on the 7th rep I ran the last half mile .5 at 8.0.  Felt good afterwards, and proud for actually doing something.

Then went and did 90 mins of hot power yoga.  Feeling gooooood today.  Will be SO sore tomorrow.

4 miles on the TM.  First one at 6.5 (9:13), next 3 at 6.8 (8:48).  Let's see if I can make 6.8 the new 6.7!

Then 60 minutes of hot power yoga.

Then some delicious Thai food. Yum.

Got up and ughhhh, rainy outside.  Why is it always nice on the weekdays and the weekends are crappy?  Seriously, yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day, with visions of long runs outside and golfing dancing in my head.  Then I wake to ugly blah rainyness.  So to the treadmill I went.

After 3 miles thought that it had stopped and I could head outside, I was wrong.  I'm so glad I didn't do it outside, I probably would have been freezing cold and sick.  

Soo, 13 whole miles on the TM, fuuuun.  At 6.5 (9:13), last .25 at 7.0 (8:34). Took 2 hours even (I think, the TM shut down randomly at 100 minutes, apparently its the max so I wasn't positive of my mileage at that point), then walked 5 minutes.  Watched Milk, pretty inspiring!

Sucked today again. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sick of the weather it is RIDICULOUS.  Today's weather was especially terrible - SNOW on the ground when I got up, pouring rain, amazing wind, hail, etc. etc. ETC. today.  First weekend in a LONG time that I haven't got in at least 1 run outside, which is really depressing because I am soooo tired of the treadmill and I swear its giving me shin splints.

So 3 miles walking earlier, then painted a room, then decided to try and run a little (though it was already 9:30pm), ran about 1.2 miles and shins were killing me so walked some at 8.5% incline and then rounded the walk out to 2.4.  Not a very productive day.

I decided today though that I need to plan out my workouts for the week (not just the mileage) so maybe I'll be more accountable.  We'll see how it works out.

Monday - 5 miles - speed workout

Tuesday - 4 miles - easy; 90 minute hot yoga

Wednesday - 4 miles - 1 tempo; 90 minute power yoga

Thursday - 3ish - whatever I can get in in the morning - then VEGAS

Friday - I'll probably do the long run on Friday this weekend since I'll be in VEGAS! 

Wow its been a long day.  But I'm done with my final!  yippee.  So had that, then a ridiculous amount of work that HAD to be done, and finished painting the room, and now its 11:15pm and I neeeeed to go to bed.  So sad, I ate Samoas instead of running. Suck!

I'll do better tomorrow. 

FINALLY got a workout in this week!  It has been ridiculous!  Ridiculously BAD!

This morning, did 6 miles on the TM. 5 @ 6.5 (9:13), last 1 alternated .25 miles at 8.0 (7:30) with .1 or so at 6.5.  Did 3 of those, so .75 at 8.0 (7:30).

Off to VEGAS!!!

3 quick miles on the treadmill before we left for the airport.  Probably 6.7?  I don't remember.

5 miles around Las Vegas.  If I remember later I'll look up the splits on the Garmin and add them, but it wasn't fast at all.  Most of the miles were around 9-9:30, except mile 4, which was on the strip and weaving around people and had to walk single file at one point (ughhhh) so it was 11:20 or something ridiculous.  Running on the strip, while lots of interesting things to look at, is NOT enjoyable.  Maybe if you got up earlier it would be less crowded.

Splits: 9:04, 10:19, 9:19, 11:21, 9:25

Avg Pace: 9:54, Total Ascent: interesting, this is definitely wrong.  Wonders if the satellite think I went up in the elevator or something? 

4 terrible, hungover miles around Las Vegas.  I'm an idiot!  Pina Coladas, while delicious, do not make a good runner.  Like 9:45 min/miles.  

Splits: 9:54, 9:45, 9:34, 10:13

Avg: 9:45, Total Ascent: 246

Only half of this, like 2.5 miles, were running.  I SUCK.  I am starting to be TERRIFIED that the last week, including the weekend in Vegas of too much bad food, pina coladas, not running my long run, and inhaling disgusting smoke in the casinos has ruined me for next weekend's half marathon.  I could barely run today.  I have to get in a bunch of miles this week and a semi-long-run this weekend.  HAVE TO.  I cant believe I ran less than 20 miles last week, what with finals and the trip and everything.  UGH, I'm disgusted in myself.

On the upside, Justin's sister had her baby today! A brand new baby boy nephew - 8 pounds, 6 ounces.  :-)

ALL of these miles are actually running, yippee.  Not a trick like usual. :-)  Feeling good today like maybe I didn't ruin myself over the weekend in Vegas.  

Ran first 5 miles at 6.5 (9:13), then started a mini speed workout, ran .1, .1, .2, .3 at 8.0 (7:30) with .1 miles at 6.8 in between.  Then took a .5 break at 7.0 , then started again with 3 more .1 at 8.0 with .1 in between at 7.0.  That was confusing, but mini speed workout.  My speed bursts probably need to be getting faster than 8.0 at this point.  Just happy to get some miles in.

Did it in about 63 minutes.  It'd be nice to do it in less than 60.  

Now wondering what my long run should be this weekend.  Had planned to do 14 last weekend and a shorter, taperer (word? ha) run this weekend of 8 or 10 before next weekend's half marathon.  Now I have skipped that 14er, and not sure what I should do this weekend to keep up the mileage for the marathon training but still be in more peak form for the half. 

Ran OUTSIDE!!!!!!  It is a miracle!  It WASN"T raining for the first day in FOREVER.  On top of that, I went out at 7:00.. .PM!  Can't believe it.  Was racing to get to 5 miles before it was dark though.  I tried to run pretty fast, tried to do a tempo run, and it felt a lot harder than it should have I think.  Not sure what the average is, will update after the Garmin, but did it in 43 minutes.  

Is it spring finally????

Splits: 9:10, 8:51, 8:51, 8:48, 8:34, 8:15

Avg: 8:44, Total Ascent: 746

Got in a quick 3 miles on the TM before taking off for Oregon. 6.5 mph pace.  

I might count this as a race report if I don't run next weekend's half marathon in less than 2 hours!  :-)  

Started out deciding to run between 12-14 miles, then about 3 miles in (after a weird sideache through mile 3) I decided to run a time trial of a half marathon and see if I could get under 2.  It felt HARD and its hard to believe I'll be able to do much faster next week, especially considering the course will likely be harder than this course (hard to not be harder, this was practically pancake flat).  But I DID IT!  It was hard, and I was really really tired afterwards, and my legs felt like lead.  But I wasn't nauseous like normal, so I guess I could have gone a little faster. :-)

Bad parts were that I had no water until mile 10, because the stupid park water fountains were still turned off, so I couldn't have the gu I brought either without any water. 

Started out at 35 degrees, ended about 40, but at least only a few drops of rain fell!  I tried to get the long run in yesterday but it was a hurricane and torrential downpour. I am so sick of this weather I can't take it anymore!

Splits: 9:25, 8:51, 9:06, 8:51, 8:36, 8:36, 8:22, 8:32, 8:43, 8:22, 8:35, 8:50, 8:26, (.1 - 7:37)

Total Time: 1:54:09,  Total Ascent: 1419

Weak sauce today.  Maybe ran 1 mile with cooper to/from/around the park.  Then came back and took the dogs on a walk with Justin around the neighborhood, then came back and walked another mile on the TM.  Left shin/side of calf is bothering me a little bit today after yesterday's run.  

Still taking it easy.  Too easy.  Making me worried.  Was starving when I got home and too tired to cook, so we went to get Panda Express, randomly when I was there I decided I woudl just run home while Justin ordered, thinking I probably wouldn't get any other run outside today!  Man was I right, the wind was AWFUL.  I wasn't prepared, so no watch, ipod, or ear wrap,and man my ears screammmeeed.  I dont know if they've gotten more sensitive because I wear that thing religiously, or what, but they did not enjoy the wind and were aching so bad.  That was probably 1.5 miles.  Maybe 2.  Then after dinner (during Biggest Loser - my favorite!) walked 3 more miles on the treadmill, then ran the last 1.