I Can Do Hard Things

Official rest day after the long run on Saturday.  I wanted to be smart about recovery.  I even got a massage.  I need one every week. 

I have ZERO soreness after the long run.  I'm very surprised at how good I feel.  

I was a bit weary about running outside this morning due to the crazy wind.  But it turned out okay and I'm glad I went to the track (versus doing them on the TM).

1.25 mile warm up to the track. 

9x400 (The wind got a bit CRAZY during the middle 200 of the track, but I guess it didn't effect my times too much!!).

1-1:44

2-1:38

3-1:36

4-1:36

5-1:34

6-1:33

7-1:33

So at this point in the workout, I thought I only had one more to go.  But the "laps" on my watch looked a bit off.  So I went under a light and figured out I had 2 more instead of one.  It kinda messed with my head.  Which makes me mad....what is the big deal about 1 more fast lap.

8-1:44

9-1:38

I was disappointed in the last 2 times.  I had to stop for probably 3 minutes to figure out how many laps I had done.  Oh well!  My times are still MUCH faster than last week (which averaged about a 1:38), so I am pleased!  I was at puke zone for several sets (maybe 4-9).  But I found the more I pump my arms, the easier it was to go faster.  

I remember doing an obscene about of 400's in high school while training for the 800M.  I was always up on my toes during the last 200-100m.  I need to get to that point of strength and speed.  I was also running those in the 1:20's too...guess I'm getting old!

A few cool down laps on the grass around the track.

1 mile home

4 houses of lunges

1 set of LLL

Stretch and foam roll

4:20am comes way tooooooo early!  I dressed too warm today and wish I had on a short sleeve shirt instead of my long sleeve.  

10 slow miles up the rec center loop.

I was taking my time today.  My calves were very tight today and I stopped a few times to stretch them out.  Ughhhh....

I stopped at mile 5, stretched by calves, took a GU and water then headed down those 3 miles I just climbed.  My breathing felt great, just tight calves.

Stretch and foam roll

Onto finish painting my kitchen/family room ceiling and the walls.  Painting ceilings are the worst. 

1:35:17

AP:  9:35

10:04, 9:55, 9:54, 9:34, 9:31, 9:20, 9:12, 9:05, 9:27, 9:00

AP 9:24

Catherine emailed me last night and asked if she could join me for a run.  Hooray for a running buddy during my "middle of the night" run!  She had mentioned that her ITB had been bugging.  So we met, but her ITB was not feeling any better.  So she ran home.  Bummer.

I ran 6 easy miles.  So with all the painting, my shins have been hitting the ladder right in "the spot" that always aches.  So they were aching this morning.  Calves are still a little tight.  I used the rolling pin on them last night.

My trainer came this morning.  I could wash my hair this morning...so my arms weren't that sore.  I need to be doing those exercises several times a week, but I have a hard time getting motivated.  I really think they would help my running.  I need to plant a motivation tree in my garden.

Got the kids off to school and took a nap.  But I'm still really tired.  Too many things going on!  I went to the doctor to get a cortisone shot in my hip and plantar.  Ouch!  My foot is totally numb.  But I'm taking tomorrow off.  Hooray for getting some sleep!

I totally felt like I had been hit by a truck.  My cortisone injection sites were sore.  My body was sore from the personal trainer.  I was beyond tired. 

I'm watching my two nieces this weekend.  I have a total of 6 kids - 7 years old and younger.  1 set of 7 year old triplets, 2 - 4 year olds (or another set of twins) and a 9 month old.  I definitely in MOM mode and feeling a bit grumpy.

We had various commitments this morning, so I needed to be done running by 7:00am.  Which meant I needed to be up before 5:00am.  I slept horrible last night.  Between the crazy wind and thinking I kept hearing the baby (which I didn't), I was up all night.  My alarm went off at 4:50am and I couldn't do it.  I couldn't get up and run in the dark and cold.  I just couldn't.   My MOJO went away with the wind. 

I got up and got everyone dressed, fed and lots of head of hair to do (5 girls).  My two nieces went to dance rehearsal and my kids went to soccer game with Dad.  I finally got out for my run.  

I was still feeling grumpy.  I felt very labored in my breathing and ended up taking the most hilly route in the area.   The wind was blowing hard...in some spots, I felt like I was running into a wall of wind. I kept shortening my run in my head justifying that it would be ok (but I didn't).  I was struggling mentally.  Ughhhh.....I was on empty physically and mentally.  I borrowed a few of Allie's "Mental Band-aids" from the the Salt Lake Marathon. 

I got the mouth of AF Canyon and headed toward the Highland trails at the golf course.  At the half way point, I had to fix my dumb socks and I took a GU/water.  I'm not sure if it was the 2xcaffeine in the GU or I was on my way home, but I the "Band-aids" started coming off and my MOJO was coming back. 

I only had one big climb and enjoyed the downhills that I had already climbed.  Mentally and physically I was getting stronger and stronger by the mile.  THAT is what I love about running.  I left all my "garbage" sprinkled along the streets today.  Running is so much more than physical exercise. 

I didn't even look at my watch except for the mileage.  When I looked at my splits after the run, I knew why I was breathing so hard.  I didn't even realize how hard I was pushing it up those climbs. 

I felt SO much better (physically and mentally) after my run today.  I love running and what it does for me :)

1:42:00

AP:  8:57

9:04, 9:06 ,9:26, 10:19, 9:19

8:59, 9:29, 8:33, 8:02, 8:11, 8:02, 3:34