I Can Do Hard Things

I contemplated getting up at 4:15am to go to the gym to run 12 miles. But instead, I got up at 5:30am and ran at home. An hour and 15 minutes more of sleep. Yes, please!!!!

My longest run on my home TM has been 4 miles. So today was a mental struggle to add an additional 8 miles. Physically, I was fine. But I had no mental mojo.

I broke the run up into 2x6 mile runs. I would jump off every 2 miles to blow my nose, change the channel, open the window or get a drink. I needed something to look forward too. Anything....

My first 6 miles was 58 minutes (6.2 mph) and my second 6 was 57 minutes. Took a GU at mile 6 and seemed to feel a bit better mentally. I always do better after the halfway hump.

On a side note, all this strength training is kicking my trash. When I wake up, I feel like I am 80 years old. My body is SO sore. I can hardly move. I turned my light off last night at 9:01pm. I could have easily gone to bed at 8:30pm, but my kids were still up. I'm wiped out.

Tim and I are celebrating 14 years of marriage!! We always stay in a hotel in SL. Usually we go shopping since we don't have the kids! I scored some major finds at City Creek! Then we got a huge piece of chocolate cake with extra whip cream from Cheesecake Factory. We ate it in bed. I have not had to get anyone a drink, make toast, or wipe any bums tonight. Heavenly! Thanks for a great life together Tim!

Ohhhhh....the joys of sleeping in!  And then just laying in bed and being lazy without any little voices declaring, "I'm hungry" and "I want breakfast".  So darn nice!

Tim and I went to the fitness center at the hotel.  The moment I walked in, I could tell the room was extremely warm. I looked at the thermostat and it was set at 85 degrees.  I immediately turned in off and opened up the door.  But the damage had already been done.  I was sweating bullets.  AND I had torn one of my contacts, so I was only wearing one contact.  I had a headache because my vision was so funny.

3x

7 burpees

30 hip lifts

5/each arm - one arm pushups

20 dips

20 lying leg raises

20 squats with overhead press with weight

60 sec planks

20 fire hydrants

LLL

Tim was getting close to finishing his run, so I only had time to walk 1 mile.  That room was so HOT that I was glad to getting out of there!  We headed straight to the breakfast buffet.  Two bowls of oatmeal and a bowl of fruit.  Mmmmmm....

Then I took a nap.  Such a great way to end a spectacular date! It was awesome to see the kiddos when we got home.  And they were glad to see us!

I'm going to try to run an extra day this week for a total of 4 day of running.  But it's only going to be 2 miles.  We'll see how the ankle feels at the end of the week.

AM:  6.5 miles on the Stepmill PT 7000 (I was on the faster machine today and my ego soared when I hit 6 miles in 53 minutes.)

PM:

Before dinner, I ran 2 miles SLOW.  My ankle has been a bit achy today.  Weird...because I haven't run since Friday and today was only 2 miles.

2x (I would have liked to get 3 of each set, but my family was ready to eat dinner and I needed to be done.  So I was.)

30 speed skaters

15 squats on Bosu ball with weights

12 overhead press

10 butterflies

60/60 side planks

10/each single leg hamstring lift

10/each side to side lunge with over head press 

I was feeling a bit discouraged today.  I haven't lost as much weight as I was hoping.  It certainly doesn't get easier the older you get!!  These two/a day workouts aren't doing the magic that I had hoped.  

And I was hoping I would be further along in my running.  I've decided that the Ogden marathon is going to be a training run.  I truly believe you can learn from every race.  So even though I won't be tip top shape, I can certainly benefit from doing it.  Sigh.... 

The gym TM's are different than my home TM. It took me a few minutes to adjust. I actually felt good fitness-wise. But my lower leg and ankle totally bugged. With all the strength training I've been doing and every other day running, I'm thinking it has to do with my form/biomechanics. Maybe my stride was too long this morning hence the achy lower leg. I haven't had any achies for awhile....ughhhh....

I've really tired today, so I skipped my strength training tonight. REALLY TIRED!!! I went back through my training log and have been doing strength training at least 4/week since Thanksgiving. That is a new record for me. Boo-ya!

AM #1 (early morning):

1 mile walking while I waited for a step mill to open.

45 minutes on the step mill - slow machine -4.67 miles

AM #2 (after kids went to school):

3x

10 regular push-ups, 10 girly push ups (I'm getting so much better with these. I used thinly be able to do 2 regular push ups)

12 single leg hops

10/each leg step ups on bench

5 side plank with leg lift....ooooo those are hard

10x ab v-sit ups

20 kneeling leg circles

LLL

20 super mans on Bosu

20 B6 on Bosu

30 sec-2:30 min balance on flat side of Bosu

Shins feel a lot better today, but ankle is still very achy. Icing. Sigh.....

I didn't start my workout until 7:20pm. Ughhhhh....decorating those valentine's boxes took way too long.

I had an ankle adjustment and ART done on my lower leg. There was a lot of cracking and popping. Lots! The verdict is still out on how my ankle feels.

1 mile very slow run. Really focused on my step count.

Running low on time, I only did one measly set of:

10x star plank

20 x squat with a side kick

20 x side to side jumps over the foam roller

2 sets of

20 x B6 on rounded part of Bosu

2:00 min balance on flat part of Bosu

1 mile very slow run.

Since I survived last week's long run on the home TM, I decided I could do it again (and enjoy a few more minutes of sleep).

I watched a bunch of recorded shows, but saved Biggest Loser for the last 45 minutes of the run....when I needed the motivation.

I was nervous about how the ankle would do.  The shins aspect feels a lot better, but the actual ankle bone was still achy.  Again, I think it is a form issue.  I have HORRIBLE form.  HORRIBLE!!  I've been strength training like crazy and running every other day.  What else could it be?  I'm not sure what else to do....sigh.

The ankle held up okay on the run.  I felt a lot better than last week (mental wise).  I put my ipod on the last 3 miles and turned it up to fight the mental demons.  I won.

I broke the run into 2x5 mile runs and a 3 mile run and it worked out.  Took at GU at mile 7 and soon thereafter felt the rush of the double caffeine.  Yahooo......

Lots of stretching and foam rolling after.  And lots of ice.  I'm taking the next 2 days off from running (not strength training), so hopefully things will calm down.

All this snow is great for our trip to Brighton tomorrow!!! 

AM: 

1.5 easy miles at home

3x

10 star planks on Bosu (wowzer...those are hard)

20 lying leg raises

40 squats

10 ab cruncher on ball

20 dips

20 side to side jump over foam roller

10 regular push ups

10 girly push ups

20 russian twists with weight

20 donkey kick - last 10 had full circle

2:00 balance on flat side of Bosu

1.5 mile easy run

Ankle felt better than last week but not 100%.  These workouts aren't as hard and I'm not as sore.  I need to figure out how to up my game. 

I registered my baby for kindergarten.  Sigh....  Then I made sugar cookie dough and ate half of it.  Sigh....  Felt like a fatty.  Sigh....  

PM:  Walked 2 miles

Ankle felt even better after the walk.  Interesting. 

 AM #1:

5 easy miles at the gym.  My friend Kellie (she came with me to the SG Half) happened to walk in the same time I did.  I was SO very glad to see her.  We chatted our way through 5 miles and I was grateful for her company. 

AM #2:

I had a total mental breakdown in my basement gym. Tears were freely flowing and the running demons were charging full force.  "You can never be the runner you want to be" "You will never get there" "You don't have the mental toughness to get through it" "You are NOT good enough to make it to Boston".  I know...I know...silly.  I'm taking this all too serious.  

But I'm sick of these stupid injuries.  I'm tired taking one step forward and two steps back.  Why is this "amazing sport" such a challenge for me?  

I truly hope I can look back at this entry someday and laugh.  But not today. 

Sorry for the weepiness....no need for responses.  I write this madness for my own running journal.

2x (I ran out of time for the 3rd set...had to change the home reading books at the school)

15 squats on Bosu

12 overhead press

12 butterflies

12 reverse butterflies

15 wall squats with ball

60-90 sec plank on ball (fore-arms and feet)

LLL

B6 on Bosu

15 clamps

50 calf raises

12 supermans 

Achy ankle 

Designated mental and physical rest day.  I'm teaching my Beehives tonight how to embellish t-shirts.....its gonna be fun!

1 mile easy run

3 x

15 supermans on Bosu

10 star planks on Bosu

30 side to side lunges with weights

20 plank (with feet on stability ball) - shoulder taps

15 rollout on arms with stability ball

1 mile easy run

Deciding what to do about tomorrow's run.  BUT My decision right now is to finish eating truffles and chocolate dipped strawberries I purchased from my neighbor (YUM). 

Hubby tore into my ankle/calf last night and surprisingly didn't leave any bruises.  It did feel better after that, so I decided to proceed with the run.  If things started to get "messy", I could hop off and head upstairs back to bed:)

14 miles.  I broke it up into 2x7 mile runs (1:10 and 1:07).  Took a GU, blowing-nose, and adjust the window break at 7 miles.  Though I took some Chomps before the run, the GU is way for effective for me.  By mile 8, I was feeling much for peppy, the sun was starting to come up and I was watching Biggest Loser.

I picked up the pace a  bit on the second 7 miler and didn't die.  Nice.  Ankle started to get tired around mile 11/12.  But I really tried to stay focused on short steps, lean forward and no arms crossing body.  

LONG stretching session and foam rolling.  Ice, compression socks and old ankle brace for precaution.  The GU is wearing off and I'm getting sleepy..... 

I'm babysitting my 2 nieces this weekend while mom and dad are in Mexico (5 and 18 mo).  So I will have one set of triples, one set of twins and a baby.  Ummmm....that is a lot of kids :) 

I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time this morning since we were watching my nieces and my son had an early basketball game.  So fast and efficient was the name of the game this morning!

3 x

15 overhead press

15 butterflies

12 reverse butterflies on stability ball

5/side one arm pushups on Bosu (ooooo.....those are HARD)

30 donkey kicks

15 supermans on Bosu

40 Russian twists with weight

25 dips

30/30/20 LLL

20 rollout on stability ball

10 plank shoulder taps with feet on ball

20 fire hydrants

stability stuff

Quick stretch and off to Maceys with 6 kids.   I would have liked to get some cardio in, but it will have to wait until Monday :)

I was planning on running this morning, but when I walked into the gym and saw an open stairmill, I jumped at the opportunity!  It was nice and quiet at the gym this President's Day morning!

5 miles on the stair mill

Sledding with the YW/YM at Mutual Dell.  Skiing is so much easier than sledding :)  Quick lunch at In N Out with my cute kids.

PM:

3x

16 plank with a row

10 jump squats

10/side   side plank with lift

10 lunge matrix with weight

15 wall squats on ball with weights

15 skull crushers

1 mile walk on TM to loose the In N Out gut!  Cousins are leaving today and my house needs a good cleanin'!!! 

We got new health insurance at the beginning of the year.  It will pay $20/month toward a gym membership if you go 12 times/month.  Our current membership expired in January, so we decided to do a month-month contract for $25/month.  With our new insurance gym plan, it only costs us $5/month to go to the gym.  Did that make sense?  

Except I only went to the gym once last week (but I still worked out every day at home).  So to make up my "days", I have to go to the gym every day this week.  Which means early...early...early.....

It was a running day for me (recovery week!!!!!).  First I decided to hunt down a Smith Machine to get some hard-core squats in.  But they were all used, so I had to use this other machine that I didn't like as much.  Hard life I have :)

3x

10 squats

10 REAL push ups

50 calf raises

20 v ups

3 miles on the TM.  I've been wracking my brain for the past few weeks as to WHY  my ankle is still so achy.  It was fine up to the St George Half Marathon in January.  Which is when I bought my home TM.  I'm wondering if they might be a contributing factor???  Maybe one of many.  But I'm going to keep track of achiness and running at home.

Long foam rolling session and a set of LLL and roll outs on SB.

AM:

Early morning at the gym.  The only open stairmill was the slippery handle one...yuck.  I did 3 miles on it.  Then I went to refill my water and the guy next to me was getting off his machine.  I quickly claimed it and pounded out another quick 3 miles.  The last 1.5 miles, I did a minute hard, minute easy.  Total of 6 miles.

PM:

1 mile walk at home TM

3x

30/30/20 - LLL

20 B6 on the Bosu

60 sec plank with feet on ball

10/side - side planks with lift

30 scissor

15 roll out on stability ball

20 supermans on Bosu 

Hubby had stuff this morning, so I opted to go to the gym when he got home from work.

3x

10 x squats on the Smith machine

10 x real push ups

50 x calf raises

Various ab stuff

20 x B6

10 x roll out on stability ball

5 mile run. I really tried to focus on form and I really stink at it.

Long foam roll and stretch

I slept so horrible last night and had a hard time rolling out of bed at 5:00am.  But I did and got to the gym in one piece.

4 miles on the TM.  I wore my lighter weight shoes this morning to see if it would help my ankle.  I felt like it was easier to run shorter steps in them, but my ankle is still very achy.  

I was thinking last night of trying to get into my PT.  But then I thought maybe I need to see my sports medicine doctor.  Maybe I need another x-ray???

This achy ankle is driving me nutso.  I got my stress fracture in August, started run/walking again in October.  I only run 3 days/week and increase my mileage by 2 miles/week.  WHAT GIVES!!!! 

No running today...just high hopes of good snow with my daughter.  Family blog post: 

Annie and I headed up to the Brighton Ski Resort this morning with high hopes of good snow and lots of laughs.  We had lots of laughs on the way up, but were met by Mother Nature fiercest's snow storm.  "White Out" would be an understatement.

We did two very painful, cold runs and decided to eat lunch at 10:55am!  We layered on extra socks and layers.  Then headed out for another attempt.  One run later, we skied directly to the car despite the incredible snow.  Poor Annie was frozen to the bone.

The parking attendants at the resort did a VERY poor job of parking the skiers vehicles today.  I had about one inch of extra room to get my vehicle out of the parking lot.  It was a bit stressful with all the snow and wind.

After many prayers of safety, we headed down the mountain.  Unfortunately, our van is the WORST in the snow.  (and NO it is not the driver)!!!!  I happened to pull out first in a long line of cars.  My top speed was 15 mph and there were many times where we were at a complete stop because we couldn't see.  The wind was blowing SO violently and there was NO visibility.  I have never been that scared driving EVER.  

We finally reached the mouth of the canyon and were welcomed by blue skies.  I have NEVER been so grateful to see the plowed freeway.

Annie and I stopped at Cheesecake Factory and snarfed down a piece of chocolate cake.  It was definitely the highlight of our day.

Though we didn't ski a lot of slopes, we definitely had a lot of stories to tell!

AM:

5 slow miles at the gym.  Just after I started running, my pal Kellie walked into the gym and got onto a TM next to me.  I was SO very grateful for her company and she made the miles fly by.

I had to buy a new swim suit this morning for a trip hubby and I are going on with his co-workers.  Swim suit shopping can certainly hurt a girls body ego!!!

PM:

When my big girls went Activity Days, I headed downstairs for some strength training.

3 x

10 star plank on Bosu

16 plank rows

20 scissors

10 lying leg lift

12 overhead press

12 butterflies

20 skull crushers

15 supermans on Bosu

LLL

B6

Lots of foam rolling on ITB and inner shins. 

My arms were very sore from yesterday's arm workout.  Even though it makes me feel totally wiped out, I love that feeling.

Am #1:  7 miles on the stair mill.  After 3.5/4 miles, I would go hard for 2 minutes and easy for 1 minute.  Surprisingly, I felt very good.  I  was sweating like a pig, but my breathing was controlled.  I should probably do this more often.

AM#2:  I had a hard time getting moving for workout #2.  But I finally headed downstairs and just got it done!

3x

10/side - side to side lunges with overhead lift

10 hamstring lift

5/side - single arm push ups (though they are still very hard, I am getting so much better at these!!!!)

40 russian twists with weight

30/side - donkey kick (last 10 had a full circle)

Long foam rolling session on shins and calves. 

AM #1 at the gym:

6 miles on the TM.  I was VERY pleasantly surprised at how great this run was.  This is the fastest I've run in a long time and had NO achiness in my ankle or shins. I don't think I'm quite out of the woods yet and will probably have a few more step backs.  But today's run gave me great hope.  I still need to work on my form and step counts.  I felt like my legs were a little flappy today.  Hopefully, all the painful foam rolling is paying off. 

AM#2 at home:

3x

20 side to side step ups on bench

10/side lunges on bench

20 SB hamstring curl

8 SB V pass

LLL

Long foam rolling on shins and calfs and a B6 on the Bosu 

Official reast day. I loved every minute of sleeping in and deep cleaning my bathrooms (not so much the bathrooms).