Slow & Steady Wins the Race :-)

PM - 65 minutes on the elliptical.  Just call me the Cardio Queen this week.  

PM - Ran 1 mile (probably a little more than that) to and from my office to the post office and back.  Yes I was wearing my work clothes, including a sweater dress, jeans, and a winter coat.  Yes I was hot and sweat through my sweater dress!  And yes it was unplanned, I started walking there and then just started running.  And YES it felt glorious! 

Later PM - Met Jordanne for a lovely 7.55 mile run around the community center / BPA.  Chilly, around 39, I could feel the cold through my tights, and was never warm despite wearing gloves and a long-sleeve.  Got a slow start because we ran to the bathrooms and they were LOCKED!  What? Why FW Parks why?!  Then we had to run back to the community center and sneak Jordanne in.  I felt pretty good the whole time, though tired and ready to be done by the end.  I'm so glad she could come (so I could run in the dark without being scared!) and she was willing to go so far (unplanned).  

Feels great to have my longer run done before the weekend even starts!  It's funny how I love running so much but always seem to dread the long run.  I look forward to 5-6 miles but anything over 7 is something to dread.  My mind is an idiot.  

TT: 1:14:00  AP: 9:53

Splits:  10:07, 10:39, 9:12, 9:46, 9:59, 9:28, 9:47, 

Didn't go to the gym but I think raking leaves, cleaning, and putting up Christmas lights works as a cross-training workout today!  So productive today and got so much done!

9AM - Met Jordanne and Lisa for a lovely crisp (37 degrees) but sunny trail run at Philip Arnold Park.  Their bathrooms were locked too!  What?!  So like the classy ladies we are we peed in the forest.  Ran 4 miles on the trails, then ran Lisa back to her car and she left, then ran Jordanne to the edge of the park where she left to go home.  The last two miles (miles 6 & 7) I ran on the streets and did speed-work pick-ups.  My heart rate was freaking near max at the end of the last mile, I felt like throwing up a little after.  So that means it was a success!  :-)  Great morning for a fabulous run (still feeling great, my new plan is working!) with wonderful company. 

TT: 1:13:26   AP: 10:21

Splits: 12:03, 10:27, 11:09, 12:03, 10:18, 8:44, 7:49 (going to die!)

Oh, what's my new plan you ask?  Only 3 days a week running (technically could be 3.5, every other day only allows for 7 runs in a 14 day period), plus 2 days cross-training, plus at least a little yoga (whoops, I skipped today because I was too cold) and a little strength-training every week.  Add icing and compression.  Quality runs over quantity (i.e., focusing on speedwork, hills, long runs) but still trying to maximize quantity in just 3 runs (i.e., no more 3 milers).  Please let me stay healthy, new plan?!

AM - 35 minutes on the bike trainer

PM - 2 miles walking on the TM

AM - Had a random meeting this morning so I got out for a run before work.  It reminded me why I don't run in the mornings.  So cold (30 degrees) and so sluggish.  I'm worthless before I've been up for a few hours, had some breakfast, and had a few cups of coffee.  

6 miles around the neighborhood with 7 hard-effort-hills thrown in.  4 hill-repeats up the big hill and 3 smaller hills as I came to them. I'm really impressed I actually did 6 miles because I wanted to quit after 1 and told myself I could quit after 3. 

TT: 56:39   AP: 9:26

Splits: 10:07, 9:47, 9:15, 9:22, 9:00, 9:06

Then I was going to go to Centergy but I ate nachos and drank the most delicious beer in the world (Blue Moon Spiced Amber Ale, it tastes like cinnamon and nutmeg and is SO good).  I make good choices.  What was I talking about the new plan's yoga requirements again?!

AM - 50 minutes on the bike trainer

PM - 65 minutes on the elliptical followed by 20 minutes or so of weights (including 80 lunges, which I will certainly pay for).  I was so tired by the end!  

PM - 6 lovely miles around the community center with Jordanne and Lisa.  So cold (37 degrees), why is it so cold all the time this winter?  We ran up behind two kids walking in the darker section of 320th and I called, "on your left" to keep from scaring them half to death but apparently calling this DID scare them half to death and they both SCREAMED!  Hilarious.  I forgot my shoes (I always forget SOMETHING when I pack in the morning, usual suspects include my shoes, socks, sports bra, and garmin) but luckily had my nike frees in the trunk. 

TT: 1:00:31   AP: 10:05

Splits: 11:31, 10:20, 9:59, 9:40, 9:55, 8:42

Afterwards I wanted to do a bit more and read some running blogs so I did 35 easy minutes on the elliptical. 

I need to run 55 more miles in December to reach 1,000.  Will I make it?

So it appears I can't edit this blog with my phone, that's weird.  Went swimming for the first time in months, Justin came too and it was really fun, although my shoulders are so weak and were tired after just one lap!  I want to start swimming at least once a week.  Did 21 laps (longest without stopping was 3), or 1,050 yards, or around 0.60 miles.  It took about 25-30 minutes.  Afterwards sat in the lovely hot tub.  

5k RACE tomorrow (PR attempt!).  5k for fun on Sunday.  Costumes for both.  :-) 

5K PR in the books!

So one of my 2011 Resolutions was to make 2011 the year of the 5k PR.  Well between Singapore and numerous mini-injuries I severely failed on that front, so I set all of my eggs in today's basket (thinking maybe I could sign up for one more 5k before the end of the year if I don't make it!).  This race reminded me why I hate 5ks and never want to do one again!  It sounds so crazy but doing a half marathon is way easier than running a 5k!  I wanted to die the entire time, but especially the last mile, just so much suffering going on.

Got all decked out for this race with my sparkle skirt, sweet socks and leg warmers, I heart Santa shirt, etc.!  Met Jordanne and did a 1.3 mile warm-up, it was about 32 degrees (brrr!). 

My strategy was to go out as hard as I could and try to maintain it.  I don't think this is how you're supposed to run a 5k, some major positive splitting going on!  In my splits' defence there was some slight downhill in the 1st mile and it was an out and back so therefore slight uphill in the 3rd mile.  Not much kick to give at the end.  

TT:  23:21   AP: 7:30 (the Garmin says 7:26 and 3.14 miles)

Splits:  7:12, 7:26, 7:39, 7:30 (.14, see, no kick)

My age group must have been severely underrepresented since I got 2nd but was the 21st female and 118th person overall.  Not bad for a race with 1,810 people!  I hope they send me a ribbon like in the past! :-)  My calves are already so sore, not a good sign!

(ignore how messy that room is!) 

Ran the Seattle Jingle Bell 5k again this year as part of book club - was feeling rather stiff from yesterday's 5k (PR baby!  That race report is way better!), and seriously struggled to keep up with Jordanne today, even with our slow pace.  I would slowly fall farther and farther behind and then have to sprint to catch up, especially on the last big hill.  This is definitely the race to run for fun, there is no way you could run fast with the other 20,000 people, but it sure is fun to see all their costumes (gingerbread men, trees, elves, santas, reindeers, snowflakes, etc.!) and get decked out ourselves.  Afterwards enjoyed my free Top Pot doughnut (last year's peppermint chocolate was better than this year's glazed) and Widmer Winter Ale (eh, not my favorite, and I was a little too cold to really enjoy it, hot chocolate would have been more welcome!).  

Then went to a delicious Broadway Grill breakfast with Jordanne, Katie, Katie's boyfriend Jeremy, Beth, Kevin, and their two kids.  Their bacon is the bomb.  Lovely weekend of holiday running!

TT: 31:43   AP: 9:51

Splits: 9:51, 9:56, 10:07, 8:18 (.22) 

PM - 60 minutes on the elliptical, some weight stuff after. 

PM - 6 miles walking on the TM, the first 4 alternating every .25 between 4% and 10% incline.  

PM - Met Jordanne and Lisa for a lovely run around the community center.  In anticipating future workouts (I think we have convinced Jordanne to sign up for the RnR Marathon!) we ran to the FW track to see how far away it was, a nice little experiment!  I was feeling rather cold (37 degrees) and tired most of the time, but especially at the end I was ready to be done.  

TT: 1:12:48   AP: 10:11

Splits: 10:06, 9:51, 10:30, 10:29, 10:09, 10:12, 9:55 

PM - 60 minutes on the elliptical, did 2 minutes hard, 2 minutes recovery for the first 50 minutes (then just did easy for the last 10).  I was dripping in sweat!  I need to do this every time, I think sometimes I don't work hard enough on the elliptical or the bike.  After did some lunges, push-ups, etc.  So tired.  

Finished We Need to Talk About Kevin today - it's the ultimate birth control (told from the point of view of a mother of a sociopath).  Terrifying, but in a good way!  READ IT! 

Is it the weekend yet? 

PM - Left work a little early so that I could get out in the lovely warmer weather (45 degrees!) in the daylight.  I was so excited to run but once I was out there my legs felt so heavy and blah and it was really discouraging.  Decided I only had to do 3 miles so I did the 3rd mile hard, after that I came home and was going to get Cooper to walk, had some gatorade and some grapes and I actually felt way better, which was a little weird because I had eaten plenty all day.  Guess I just needed a little sugar pick-me-up.  So I am truly amazed a run that felt terrible from the beginning turned into 7 miles!

TT: 1:06:50   AP: 9:21

Splits:  9:54, 9:47, 8:47, 9:50, 9:25, 8:59, 8:43

Later I made Justin and Cooper walk probably 2 miles or so around the neighborhood looking at all the Christmas lights!  I brought hot chocolate. :-)

AM - 30 measley half-effort minutes on the elliptical at the gym.  

AM - Met Jordanne and Lisa at Lake Youngs for a lovely morning rainy muddy run.  Lots of hills.  Legs felt fairly heavy again, my shoes are so disgustingly muddy now!  Is it weird I'm sad about that?  I made Jordanne run 2 more miles after Lisa left and I think she was going to murder me.  

TT: 1:36:20   AP: 10:29 

Splits: 10:53, 9:46, 10:21, 10:18, 10:11, 10:46, 11:04, 10:13, 10:41 

Time to make more tutus?  At the Christmas races last weekend I decided I really wanted a tutu (after seeing some fabulous ones!), so last night I made a little one for Denali.  Keep in mind I have tons of chores (including wrapping presents) and data entry I should have been doing instead!   

PM - 60 minutes on the elliptical, some weights after.  Did 2 minutes hard, 2 minutes recovery, and was sweating profusely by the end!

Hurried home to go to Zoolights with Lisa and Denali!

AM - 3 miles around the neighborhood.  So sluggish and horrible, why can I not be a morning runner?  Did 1 minute really hard, 2 minutes recovery, repeated 4 times, then I was beat so I stopped way early and decided to finish later.   

PM -  Felt so much better in the afternoon!  4 miles around the neighborhood with Cooper.  Ran 2 hills hard and then did 2 800's hard (is it bad to have your dog do speedwork?!).  We were both so tired by the end.

Don't have the Garmin so no splits but I know the 800's were: 3:49, 3:48

Afterwards had a fabulous date in Seattle - delicious dinner at Red Lantern, beautiful Christmas lights at Candy Cane Lane, and some Yogurtland dessert.  Pistachio Yogurtland is the most delicious thing ever made. 

PM - 30 minutes on the elliptical, some weight stuff after. 

AM - A lovely 6.2 miles in the sunshiney weather, wonderful!  Was dragging this morning though, it was cold out and I wasn't in any hurry to get out there.  But then I was shocked by the pace - I haven't run a mile that started with an 8 by accident since probably April, if not since 2010!

TT: 54:25   AP: 8:50

Splits: 9:38, 8:46, 8:40, 8:44, 8:21, 8:38 

AM - Everyone was still sleeping so headed out for a 60 minute + walk with Cooper on the beach, very calm and quiet and nice.  

PM - Took Cooper on another 45 minute-ish walk on the beach, again loveliness.   

AM - 10 miles that took me everywhere - the outlets, the new Bi-Mart, the beach, past 2 deers, the casino, the richey neighborhood, etc.  Felt great until mile 10, almost quit after 9 because I was so tired and sluggish, that was rough to keep going.

TT messed up because I accidentally continued on Thursday's workout, but it was around 1:33:29

Splits: 9:58, 9:24, 9:23, 9:11, 8:52, 9:24, 9:05, 9:29, 9:32, 9:03 

1 mile to go to get to 1,000! 

After met Sarah for coffee to catch up.  Now for holiday fun!  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVERYONE!   

Merry Christmas!  A TOTAL rest day, my first in approximately 77 days!

1,000 miles run in 2011 as of this run!!!!!!!!!!

AM - Ran 3 miles down to the dog park, one lap, and part way back.  Walked the rest of the way back, about 1 mile.  This is going to be a major cut-back week, after a couple of hard high-mileage (for me anyway!) weeks.  

PM - A lazy 30 minutes on the elliptical.  This barely counts as a workout, it was so slow and I was so not feeling it!

AM - 45 minutes on the bike trainer before work

PM - 1 mile (that's right!) swimming!  I did 6 laps without stopping (300 yards) then 2 laps (100 yards) of kicking only, repeated 5 times plus 4 extra laps without stopping to hit 36 laps and 1 mile.  This was a really hard workout and perfect because 6 laps it about all I can do without stopping (and I'm taking a breath on every stroke by the end!) and the kicking lets my breathing recover but 2 laps is about all I can do before my legs want to die (kicking is way harder than you'd think!).  Anyway, a really great workout, felt shaky at the end.  Whole thing took about 40 minutes.  

PM - 6 lovely miles with Lisa.  At least until she rolled her ankle.  :-(  Think good healing thoughts!

AM - 17 minutes on the elliptical and then 60 minutes of Centergy.  It was HARD!  Off to Sunriver, my favorite place on earth!

AM - 6 glorious miles in my favorite place on earth - Sunriver.  My very first snowy run!  The sun was shining, the snow was fresh, the river was flowing, Sunriver has 30 miles of trails so you never have to do out and backs, and it was just plain fabulous.  It seriously doesn't get much better than this.  Only if Cooper could have been there too!

Running in the snow made my ankles really sore though!

2011 is done!  1,014.6 miles run.  :-)