I Can Do Hard Things

If I hadn't taken an hour long nap yesterday, I could've slept better and woken up early. Plus the wind was insane last night which didn't help my cause. Monday mornings are always hard to get moving.

AM:

4 miles at home. Really focused on sticking my neck out 1 inch as per PT. Then I had to keep my thumbs tucked in the top/side of my running bra to help my trunk rotation.

Quick stretch and foam roll

PM:

3x

10 star planks

20 skull crushers

20 russian twists with weight

16 plank rows

20 dips

20 supermans on weight bench

60 sec plank with feet on ball

6/side one arm push ups on Bosu

30 scissors

One final round of 30 donkey kicks and a set of LLL 

I finally got my hiney up and out of bed at 4:40am and headed to the gym (I was too big of a wimp to run in the blizzard).

AM: 

8 easy miles on the TM  The last .25 of every mile, I would increase the speed.  I tapped my ankle and it made such a big difference.  I also had Amy massage the lower leg. 

PM:

We had a few spare minutes where all my children were playing with friends and dinner was cooking in the oven.  SO hubby ran on the TM and I lifted.  Working out with Tim is pretty darn awesome and I can't wait till the day when we can do it more often.

3x

walking lunges with weights

10 x overhead press 

10 x butterflies

20 x skull crushers

LLL

v-ups on ball

My son came into the workout room and I convinced him that he needed to run a few laps around the baseball field with me.  We picked up another daughter heading out into the garage.  I TRULY love running with my kids.  I took my shoes off when we got to the ball field.  My daughter decided to do sommer-saults while running and kicked me good a few times.   No way I could do sommer-saults while running!!!  2 laps barefoot around the ball field.

Early morning TM run at the gym.  I wasn't tough enough to run in the rain storm.

I ran next to the "fast girls" today and it was confirmed once again, I still have a long ways to go until I'm fast.  

BUT I felt like I had a good workout.  I ran the last .25 of every mile fast.

Quick stretch and back out into the rain.  I think the gym has lost all their foam rollers.  Bummer. 

I was extremely lazy this morning and didn't get out of bed. Even though it was a cross training day, I had no motivation. Well my laziness has been eating at me all morning. I felt yucky - mentally and physically. Uhhhhh....

When my 5 year old daughter and I got back from grocery shopping she asked if I would take her on a walk. I love that girl for so many reasons, but especially for the fact she loves to be outside (like her momma). That was just the motivation I needed. Even though I had already showered and gotten ready for the day, I put my workout clothes on, made her a quick lunch to eat on the way.

I pushed her in the jogging stroller for a mile and we ended at a park. While she played for a minute, I did a park's length of lunges (and back), a quick LLL and planks. Then we walked home. Even though it was only 2 walking miles, it made me ungrumpy and it got rid of my guilt for not getting up this morning. Exercise and fresh air is a miracle drug.

AP:  9:34      

TT:  2:32:16

10:43, 10:22, 9:57, 9:26, 9:44, 9:42, 9:43, 9:39, 9:24, 9:25, 9:36, 9:22, 9:14, 9:25, 9:18, 7:08

1816 calories burned - maybe that negated the cheese fries I had last night!

I was able to find a few friends (Callie - my cousin, Karen and RachelT) to meet me at 5:30am this morning.  I sure was glad to see their smiling faces in the dark!! 

We headed up the monster hill for the first mile...by the look at those first few miles, it took us awhile to get warmed up.  We decided to try the new Murdock Canal Trail.  It is every bit as wonderful as it seems.  We ran in the dark for the first hour, but had good conversation.  We saw lots of deer.

There was a bathroom/water fountain at mile 5.  We took a GU and refilled water bottles.  Callie decided to turn around and head home.  I was sad to see her go.

Karen, RachelT and I headed out for 3 more miles.  I remember doing these longish runs last year and how long they felt.  NOW, they are getting much easier and don't seem as hard.

Another water stop/GU at mile 11. 

We said goodbye to Karen at mile 14.  She needed 20 miles so she headed out for few more miles.  RachelT and I headed the short stretch back to my house.  The double caffeinated GU must have really started to kick in.  RachelT wanted to walk the last mile, so I left her and turned on the gas.  Granted I got to run down the mile 1 hill, but I felt incredible strong and in control.  That made me very excited especially since it was at the end of the run.  

It was harder to focus on my PT assignments during the run.  I was too busy talking and enjoying my friends.  But my  ankle did feel alright during the run (with tape).  Now (several hours later) it is tired, but feels good.  I did ice after.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Last night we had some major family drama that finally came to a head.  Sometimes it is very hard to stand for what is right even if it is not popular.   I hope that it will all calm down.  I was up very late dealing with the situation and am now totally tired.  Hopefully, I can get to bed early.  Ohhhhh.....families.