I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Step class - tried to keep up and going the entire time, VERY good x-training workout!

had about 10 minutes left before I had to get home to work, so I decided to run a fast mile on the TM (need to get used to this torture device again...it's getting cold). Finished 1 mile in 7:20 then pushed at 9mph for an additional 40 seconds to total 8 min of running. 2 cool down walking minutes, now I'm working all day...again....

BBK day, but most of them are taking the week off for recovery from SGM, so I met the 3 others at the soccer fields and did 2 5K's. I thought we'd go nice and slow...but when I glanced at the garmin at mile 2 and saw we were hitting 7:30's I figured we'd work on a little tempo :)

After those I drove home, but I was feeling good and at that point my AP was 8:14...so I decided it was early and I could push another 5K on our stake's route that goes just in front of my house. TONS more elevation gain on this course, but I still managed to knock the AP down to 8:06 (thanks to the decrease :) ). Splits were:  8:49, 7:49, 8:00, 8:14, 8:12, 8:22, 7:14, 8:07, 8:16, 7:08 for the last .25...all downhill to home.

showered to get warm...its TOO cold :( ear band, tights and running jacket this morning! Then went to the gym for the twice weekly beat down session...45 minutes resistance 90% legs today - hope I can walk tomorrow! Then I did 5 fast miles (15 min) on the recumbent bike to spin out some of the lactic acid.

Went to lunch with the BBK crowd, had a wonderful time discussing running and the great marathon they'd all just run! Everyone did so well and this group really deserves a pat on the back for all the hard work and inspiration! Seriously, I would probably still be running just 3 miles a day and NO hope for a marathon if it wasn't for these dedicated, humble, wonderful, amazing people. I truly owe SO SO SO much to them!!!

Tonight I'm going to a yoga class when hubby gets home...I need some 'unwind' time!

Slept in, then went to the gym for kick-boxing which was a GREAT workout today.

Then hit the TM for 3.4 miles (we'd run three .2 repeats outside in kick-boxing). I put the incline up and set it at 8:30 pace. I've decided (hold your breath and sit down to take this!) that the TM may be VERY beneficial to me this winter. It will hold my pace on days like today when I want to slow down from sheer laziness, but know I can do it. I kept the pace and am no worse for the wear now! I need someone to 'force' me to hit those MP miles when my legs are tired. Plus, I think I struggle with uphills (surprise, surprise) and putting the incline up, even to just a 1 or 2% grade will help my legs learn to deal with a little hill in the midst of it all as well. Okay, that may be the only time you will hear me sing the praises of the machine I HATE....we'll see :)

Stretched well and even dropped in for some 'assisted' stretching at a chiropractor's office...this is SO SO nice, especially on the ITB!! I got this special treatment, because my hubby got stuck in like 3 different accident's traffic and didn't get home in time for me to hit their yoga class last night :( I really needed it today!

Mixed up day for me. They're starting zumba at the gym and I really wanted to try the class, so I had to change it up. I knew the BBK's would only be doing 6 this morning due to recovery so I did my own 6 on the TM at the gym - that way I could do my personal training beat down session early in the morning AND get the run in AND go to yoga AND try zumba. whew! What a mouth full.

So...45 min of training, mostly arms and core

6 miles on Milley -my new best friend :) She was nice this morning. Kept the pace at 8:30 with the incline at 1%. I really want 8:30 to become my new 'easy' average pace for long runs, I think not letting myself fall into the 9's when I'm lazy will help with overall speed and endurance, so I'm using Milley to help with this!

Home now to get kiddos off, then I'll do yoga and try zumba. YEA! I've wanted to try it for a while, hope it's not so  crowded you can't move!

*update* Zumba was SO fun! It's like dancing for 45 minutes...the only down side is that you need to know how to move your hips FAST! I'm not quite that coordinated; however, it worked the crud out of my hips. The best x-training for my ITB's I think I've ever found! This will surely strengthen my hip stability.

Nice easy day at the gym, before trying a 'long' run tomorrow.

22 miles in an hour on the bike while reading some GREAT articles in Runner's World.

Then did a 5K at my new easy pace with Milley: 8:30mm at 1% incline...next week I'm going to try to increase to 1.5. I'd really like to get to the same point as the majority of the rest of you - the TM always is set on 2% incline when you run. I WILL get there!!

Had a great run on the JRP in Lehi with Becca this morning...nice and early. YUCK! I knew she'd do a good job of keeping the pace fast for me. I would like to say it was easy, but it wasn't - okay, well honestly it wasn't that bad. I did talk while running, but I could definitely tell I was pushing myself a bit (which was what I was aiming for - THANKS Becca!)

After Becca left at mile 11, my goal was simply to not let my AP fall. Same effort, stay strong! I was actually able to pull it down 2 sec/mile from that point which made me even more happy. I could do it by myself too, I can push myself and not just 'la-la-la' through a long run. I want to be able to keep up more tempo miles during long runs and this one was a perfect start.

AP: 8:15 splits: 8:20, 8:09, 8:10, 8:41, 8:43 (those last 2 are nasty uphills!), 8:12, 8:05, 8:09, 8:14, 8:17, 8:22, 8:01, 8:01, 8:01 (wow...the three by myself were all the same? strange..)

I feel good this run, and didn't have any complaints from the ITB's. I could feel some tightening at mile 10-11 after we stopped for a second to grab a drink, but that was it. Maybe they are getting better?