Back in the saddle?

I didn't run the half marathon today, and I'm glad.  My body and my mind were telling me all last night that my body just can't handle it yet.  I know I would have pushed myself too hard and delayed my marathon recovery even more.  The only thing I'm bummed about is the $28.00 and the shirt.  My rule is to never wear the shirt if I don't finish the race (which has never happened), but what if I never ran the race at all?  Hmmmm......

I ran a little farther than last time and felt good.  I'm still not back to normal yet, but I'm getting closer.  Our thermometer said it was 40 degrees when I left the house, but it felt warmer.

Total time: 1:22:38, average pace: 9:57.  I slowed down a little too much in the middle and had to book it at the end.  I like finishing strong, because it helps me late in a race.

4 months until my next marathon!

It rained all day, so I ran in an obstacle course of puddles tonight.  It was chilly for Phoenix, and I lost feeling in my legs at about 5 miles.  I was running pretty slowly at first and feeling discouraged that I can't get my "speed" back yet.  So I decided to mix in some strides on the way back, which turned into more of a fartlek workout.  The second half was 65 seconds faster than the first half.

1:09:05/average 9:52 pace

I have a killer week at work, including some out-of-town travel, so I hope I can squeeze in some runs on the busy days.

Disaster!  I had to go to Prescott, AZ for work last night, so I knew I wouldn't be able to run yesterday.  The plan was to drive home today and run then.  Well, my car broke down on a state highway in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, and in the cold last night (25 degrees-SUPER COLD for a Phoenix desert rat)!  And, my AAA membership had been cancelled!!  Luckily, my dad lives in Prescott and came to get me.  Long story short, between the towing, rental car, and repairs, it will cost $1800 to get my car fixed!  The kicker: I was planning to get a new car this year anyway, and my current car is worth about $5500!  But I need transportation in the meantime, so I have to get the car fixed...So I was up LATE last night, working today, and frazzled about my car.

Sometimes life just gets in the way...Barring another disaster, I should be able to run tomorrow...

Good run tonight.  I am sick of being slow, so I picked up the pace.  I was pushing it a little, but it felt good.  The only problem is that my blisters are coming back, and I don't know why.  It is time for me to buy new shoes, but I don't know if the fact that my shoes are old is causing the blisters.

Total time was 1:05:54, average 9:25 pace.  I am still having car woes, and I am very stressed about it.  The mechanic did the $1500 repair today, but the car still is not running well.  There are a lot of logistical problems too, because my car is 100 miles away.  Then, an opposing party filed a motion today and referred to me as a "young girl" (rather than opposing counsel).  He is representing himself, but that is no excuse!  And I'm not even that young-I'm 30!  I'm sure I'll wish someone would call me that in 10 years...  Anyway, I guess all the pent-up stress and annoyance was channeled into something positive: a great run!

I only had time (and energy) for 5 miles today, but the run went well.  It is a beautiful day and unseasonably warm.  It got up to the mid-70s and was probably in the low to mid 60s during the run.

As most of you can probably tell, I am experiencing a little sag in motivation!  Something always seems to come up!  And, of course, we are going on vacation this weekend, so I won't be able to run (which is OK, because we will be SKIING!).

Total time: 47:28, average pace: 9:30.  My pace stayed pretty constant throughout.

I don't know if I could characterize these as easy miles, but they weren't any of the other categories either.  Is there an in-between category?

Work is crazy, CRAZY!  It's taking over my body, too.  I started feeling some lower back pain about halfway through the run, but I pushed through it.  I picked up a race t-shirt from a girl tonight who is about to run a marathon and is at about the same level as me.  She lives near me too, so I mentioned training together once she recovers from her marathon, and she was interested.  So I might have a running partner!  That would definitely get me up in the mornings.

Total time 47:07, average 9:25 pace.

Well, I didn't get in any running, but I got one heck of a workout: 16 ski runs!  (I'm writing this after my return to AZ).  We went to Telluride and skied in some of the best conditions I have ever experienced.  We tore up the whole mountain, including several LONG, steep, and very bumpy runs.  This is my 8th trip to Telluride, and I skied a lot of new runs that I have never done before.  GREAT day!

More skiing, no running.  It was a FREEZING day, so we went inside and bought goggles and serial-killer-looking face masks, which really helped.  We had to go inside a second time to warm up our fingers and toes, so we didn't get to do as many runs.  BUT, I did two things I had never done before: first, I skied some terrain that is only accessible by hiking to it.  It looked very scary before we started, as we watched other hiking skiers disappear into the blizzard, but we didn't go that far.  And it was a great run!  Then, I skied my first double-black diamond!!!!!  And lived to tell about it!  It was SO scary for the first half, but then I looked up the mountain to see what I had just done (VERY steep, narrow, and HUGE bumps), and I was pretty proud.  Not that I looked like I belonged up there by any means (lots of ungraceful turns and falls), but that was the biggest accomplishment of the weekend (and of skiing, ever)!

Crazy thing: I have lost 3 pounds since the marathon.  And, as most of you can tell from the blog, I haven't run much at all.  Hey, I'll take it!  I have another crazy week at work, and our master bath remodel begins this week, so I'll do my best to get a few runs in....

I just typed a whole entry and it got erased!  Oh well, I'm glad to finally be running again, after an excuse-filled week and a half with no running.  The run felt surprisingly easy after many days off, and it was a beautiful evening (shorts and a tank top).  I didn't wear a watch.

Thanks to those of you who checked in with me while I was being lazy!

True to my profile, I have let life get in the way of my running for three reasons.  1.  I still have some lingering discouragement from the marathon.  2.  We are remodeling our master bath, so it throws a little kink into our routine, and we are always having to go pick out tile, lights, etc.  3.  (main reason) I tend to let stress consume me.  I know a lot of people have jobs that are just as stressful as mine (or even more so), but I just have not learned yet how to shut it off when I leave the office.  I have one case in particular right now that keeps me up at night.  Even on our ski vacation last week, and at a Suns game before that, my mind was consumed with this case.  I couldn't even sleep on the ski trip!  It has gotten a little better lately, hence the running today.  I am hoping with time I will get better at dissociating myself from work when I leave, except when absolutely necessary.  This is something I need to work through for many reasons, not just the running.

In any event, I am SO glad I ran tonight.  One day at a time...

Good run, another beautiful, shorts and tank top evening.  Total time was 46:55, a 9:23 average pace.  I tried to concentrate on my form during certain segments of the run.  The pace felt a little more difficult than it should have, but I guess that's what I get when I'm lazy and slack off on the running!