5/26/12

Ten hour work days for two weeks are not good for the training plan.  Catastrophic starts to school are not good either.  I might as well blame my birthday too.  Well, since my last post, I didn't get up at 4:30am.   I did get up at 5:15 though and ran at home.  That happened once.  I managed to make it to spin class as well.  CX Works has not worked out for me because there are two evening classes during the week.  The one at 5:30 is so over crowded and the other is at 6:30, which is so late.  Running, overall, has been sporadic.  I skipped my long run too last week.  Eek! 

I know what I should do, and I'm running out of time.  By late July, I need to be fit enough to start marathon training.  I'm a little worried, but overall, I'm not in such bad shape.  But I really don't have time to spare anymore.  I have to get my long runs in and keep my mileage up and  I have to watch my nutrition. 

 

Happy Mother's Day!! 5/11/12

Happy (early) Mother's Day!! 
First week of classes is almost down in the books.  It was a very crazy start to the quarter.   Apparently, Blackboard released an update and not everything was working properly.  Meetings for both of my classes did not happen and we had to form groups and get some homework done, so there was a lot of chaos this first week.  I always expect some bumps in the beginning, but this start was just stressful.
Ugh, and my running suffered this week.  I ran a measly two miles that was just awful.  Work was also exhausting, but I don't like using that as an excuse.  
So next week, to get myself back on track, my goal is to run just 3 days and work in a spin class and CXWorks.  This should be a goal I can easily meet. 
I'm spending too much time debating on whether or not to get up at 4:30am once a week to make it to the 5:15am spin class.  I am not a morning person.  There's nothing worse than being jolted awake by an alarm clock...  accept being jolted awake and have to stay awake to make a gym class.  But, I would rather attempt the 5:15am class, than rush to the 5:15pm class, miss it and then have to wait for the 6:15 class and get home late.  Yes, folks, that has happened and I think I'm a tad crankier when that happens than just getting up early once a week.   
So this week I will attempt  wake up at 4:30am (groan) on Monday to knock it out. 
Here's my workout schedule for the week:

Monday: Spin Class
Tuesday: Run 3 miles, CXWorks
Wednesday: Rest (Strength)
Thursday: Run 4 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 8 miles
Sunday: Rest


 

Impacts 5/8/12

A student came in to my office today to discuss his file.  He had been in my office before and had commented on the two half marathon medals I have in my office.  He told me that everything in my office was an inspiration!  I felt proud!  Today he told me that he is looking to do his first 5k!  I couldn't believe that I had made an impact on him in that way.  He said the last time he was in my office he decided that he would give running a try and has been training steadily for a 5k.  It was really great to hear that!   

Then I started to wonder why I run.  It can be boring sometimes.  It can be frustrating.  It can be torturous.... 
So why do I do it?

I do it because I love to explore.  I can run anywhere.  I love that runner's high... rhythmed breathing, feeling so light and having that ever so slight stitch in my side.  I love when people appreciate what it takes to run. Running makes me feel like a bad ass.  Why yes, I can run 13.1 miles.  :-)  Add all that to inspiring someone to run.... wow.  Now why would I not run?        

     

5/6/12

So I ran 8 miles yesterday.  It's been a couple weeks since I've had a long run.  I set out at about 7:15am and it was pretty nice & cool out.... 67degrees.  But by the time I got to mile 6, it was hot and shade was fading away.  I did get up earlier than normal, so that was good, but not early enough.  I debated in my head for about 15 minutes before I actually got up.  Really need to work on that.  But other than that, I am proud of myself.  I improved my time since the last 8 miler I ran by 7 minutes!  I downed a GU at mile 5, and even though mile 6 - 8 was almost unbearably hot, I was running quick spurts of about a 10:30 pace.

I also joined a challenge on dailymile.  I'm running 50 miles in May.  This should be attainable since I ran 49 miles in March.  I figured this will also keep me focused and motivated.  The next couple weeks will be rough at work and classes start again tomorrow, so it will be tough, but it is attainable.  I've logged 13 miles so far, so just 37 to go!



   

5/3/12

So I'm trying to think of something to blog about.  I have nothing.  Last week sucked for me as far as running went.  I guess I was just burnt out, exhausted, stressed, all of the above.  This week I'm back at it though, but nothing really extraordinary to write about.

Classes start again next week.  Looking forward to finishing this program!  I hear the last 2 quarters are pretty busy.  I'm really just ready to be done!

 

Mud Crusade! 4/22/12

Today I ran Mud Crusade with Lenny, and my friends Jenny, Jeremy and Terri.  We had a great time!  It rained just 10 minutes prior to our wave starting and it was a bit cold!  But once we started running, it was not bad.  It only rained maybe 10-15 mins, but it sure made for some mud fun!  The course was tough.  There were 20 obstacles, a lot of running up hill and jumping over walls.  Some of the wall were too tall to climb over by yourself, but I think the toughest (scariest) obstacle was this gem:

Going up was a bit wobbly, but getting over the top was S-C-A-R-Y!  I contemplated going back down the rope side and skipping it, but with the help of Lenny, I made it over.

The best obstacle was the huge water slide!  Lenny and I went down together and you end up in a pool of murky water.  I think I screamed the whole way down.  LOL

Lenny did help me a lot with some of these obstacles, because let's face it... Grace is not my middle name.  I probably would have broken my leg going down one of these things.  :-)

Check me out on the monkey bars!  I wasn't sure if I could do it.  I hadn't been on monkey bars since I was about 8 years old.  Nevermind how long ago that was.....

We did it! 

Overall, it was a good race, but I was disappointed that there was no (free) food- not even bananas.  They also handed you a drink ticket at the finish line for (one) bottled water, Gatorade or beer.  You then take the ticket to the drink line.  I can understand limiting beer, but most races have plenty of free bottled water.  Plus, the line for the drinks were way too long, so we skipped it.  Good thing we brought our own waters.  Lastly, our freebie was a plastic water bottle with the Mud Crusade logo.  It was nice, but personally, I'd rather have a t-shirt and I think many people would agree.  However, since we got a great discount on this race, I can't complain much.  If we had paid full price, I don't feel it would have been worth it.

My training sucked this week.  I felt like I was coming down with something, but I think it was mostly stress and exhaustion.  So I had a bit of a break besides my 5 miler earlier in the week.  Getting back in full swing this week!

Classes are over for the next two weeks, and then its back to madness!  So glad we get these little breaks in between.  They are definitely welcomed!

4/18/12

Last Saturday, I ran the Roar Thru Ybor 5k and had a great time!  It's a great race.  I ran it last year, so I knew it was a good one.... great food, great vendors and great music at the start and finish line.   My time this year was 34:02, and I ran the entire time!  No walk breaks!  I was really impressed with myself because I thought I would finish in about 36 minutes.  I also had negative mile splits.  The first mile was about 11:40, second mile about 10:40 and third mile about 10:30.  Everything was just perfect that morning. 

Well, I also have to admit that I haven't run since then.  :(  I was planning a long run the next day, but my legs were pretty sore.  Then it's been quite hectic this week with it being the last week of the school quarter and work being slammed.  Yesterday, I was so exhausted, I crashed for a couple hours when I got home.  With being so busy, I haven't had time to plan my workouts or even meals for that matter.  I really need to start getting into the habit of gettng up early at least a couple times during the week so I can knock out a run. 

So, on the news the other day I heard about the Boston marathon and temps being in the mid 80's.  Yeah, that's pretty warm for a marathon.  But the newscaster said something to make me chuckle.  He said, "But be careful what you wish for!  Next year, it could be snowing!"  So, I never ran in snow, but I have run in weather cold enough to snow, and it is so much better than heat.  Mid 80's isn't an extreme temperature (at least for a Florida girl like me), so I would equate that to running in 35 degrees in the cold.  For me, that is cold, but I would still take that any day over running a marathon in 80 degrees.