I Can Do Hard Things

Honestly, I was not looking forward to getting up early this morning.  I felt like I had *just run* and my suitcase wasn't even unpacked with all my gear in it.  But it has to be done.  I knew I would totally regret not working out this morning.

3 miles on the stair mill - very slow and easy

1xB6

3x

10xglute on pulley machine

10xhip flexor on pulley machine

15xlateral leg left/toe pointed in/toe pointed up

60/60/60 planks

10 lunge matrix

20 donkey kicks

foam roll and stretch

SO darn tired!  But I feel excellent after the race.  My hips were ON FIRE on the way home on Saturday, but I felt nothing on Sunday.  Notta!  They are just a bit achy today (I'm hoping from all the hip/glute stuff I did this morning), but nothing like on Friday or Saturday.  One weird body :)

We've been watching my 2 nieces off and on for the past week while my SIL and BIL have been on a trip.  The 6 month old woke up this morning at 4:30am and I fed her a bottle.  I kept thinking to myself that I should just go to the gym, but I knew I wouldn't get my *power nap* in and wouldn't be able to function the rest of the day.

SO I ended up going tonight.  Late.  There are WAY TOO MANY people at the gym at night.  Too many dudes and dudettes.  But there are way better TV shows on (hooray for Paula Deen).  Also, I didn't wear a visor/hat...YUCK - what a sweaty mess.

6 easy miles - AP 9:12 - 55:13

I was extremely surprised at how great I felt.  Mild achiness in the hip - nothing major.  Legs felt good.  I kept it easy because I want to make sure I am recovered.  Awesomeness!

1 set of LLL - knee bent, toe out, toe up - 20/each

Off to bed to do it all over again in a few hours!

Instead of the "slow" box at the top of the screen where you put in your mileage, they need a "craptastic/ superslow/painful/put a gun to me now" box.  HOLY SMOKES....whatever greatness I had yesterday blew away with the snow storm.  

Granted it had only been 10 hours since I ran, but I felt horrible.  My legs felt like lead, I was breathing like I had just run a sprint and I had NO motivation.  I had to stop every mile and catch my breath (I was only running at a 6.4 mph....so sad).  Then when I did stop, I could feel the lactic acid slither down my legs.  I'm so darn glad this run is over because it was craptastic.  

Came home to find my 4 year old wide awake and wanting breakfast.  I did the *perfect mothering* thing...put her in front of the TV with a bowl of Life.  I took a fast shower and took a 30 minute nap.  I'm still dog tired though.  Glad this is all over.  Tomorrow is a rest day and a massage!

9.5 hours of sleep.  Massage (she didn't do it quite hard enough, but it was still good).  Relaxing day.  Feeling better about life

Hubby took the kids to an All Pro Dad's breakfast at the school, so I was able to workout later than usual.  

3x

10x adductor/abductor/hip flexor/glute on pulley machine

10xB6 on each leg

5xlunge matrix with weight

60 sec plank

25xLLL (bent knee/toe out/toe up)

My buns were burning today!

4 miles on TM.  After the first 1.25 miles, I decided to throw in a few surges to make sure my legs remembered how to move.  .25 cool down.

36:10 AP 9:02

2:31:00

AP 9:28

9:44, 9:35, 9:48, 9:59, 9:48, 9:45, 9:55, 10:28, (heading down) 9:15, 9:14, 8:59, 9:03, 8:49, 8:50, 9:04, 9:01

So I was stressing a bit about this run!  I was a bit nervous about running with a new group (I know I'm slow, but I didn't want to look like an idiot!!).  And it is 16 miles.  That is a long way for me! And my hiney was sore from yesterday's weights.

I woke up and asked my hubby if he wanted to run 16 miles for me....he just rolled over and went back to sleep!!  I got ready, ate, and headed out the door to pick up RAD and Chad.  We headed up to Highland HS to meet the group. 

The weather was beautiful!  Overcast and cold!  The fast group took off and the *rest* of us plodded up the canyon.  It was such a beautiful CLIMB!  We CLIMBED and CLIMBED and CLIMBED for 8 miles.  I really stink at CLIMBING!  I kept telling our group that I would talk on the way down. 

I stopped at mile 6 for a GU and water.  When Rachel and I got to the top, we stopped for a second to listen to the silence.  There truly is something magical about RUNNING up a mountain and basking in the beauty.  I feel like I EARNED that beauty (I did just run 8 miles up the mountain!!!).

RAD and I started down the mountain and basked in the downhill.  We still weren't going that fast, but it was definitely not as much effort and I could start talking!  Thanks for listening the last 8 miles Rachel!  Stopped at mile 12 for GU and water.

I was really starting to feel *creaky* the last few miles.  My feet and lower shins were hurting and I was getting sick of running!  We finally made it back to the parking lot.  What a beautiful sight!  I knew we would start to get cold, so I started the car immediately.  I stretched for a bit (buns were still very tight and sore) and downed my Gatoraide. 

I dropped off Rachel and Chad and quickly headed home.  I foam rolled and quickly showered.  We went to a baptism, grocery shopping, copies for primary and dinner at Chick Fila.  No nap for me today.  Ughhhh....I am going to bed at 8:00pm tonight.  I'm beat!

Rachel gave me some great advice about backing off my long runs and upping my weekday runs.  I need you to be my coach!  Thanks for a great run Rachel!

**As I was looking at the splits on my Garmin and let out an "ughhhh" and hubby asked what was wrong.  I told him my AP for the run.  He quickly responded, "Ummmm, you did run up Emigration Canyon.  You don't feel bad about that, do you?"  I'm so grateful he always knows the right thing to say.***