Run a little Talk a little, Cheat Cheat Cheat!

ok, now it's a 12 day recap....  I have felt so busy for the last week, but not sure what I've gotten done.  

Before we left, Thursday I did 5, and then Friday an easy 3.

Last weekend we went to Midway for the holiday weekend and had a BLAST!!  We go every year (usually on MLK weekend, but this year it's Presidents day)  The whole fam goes.  Both of my brothers, as many of their kids as can and sometimes we get lucky and some of my sister's kids can come.  

This year was kind of special to me.  My nephew just got home from his mission in Ireland and Scotland, and this summer, my son will leave for two years for his.  And no, we don't know where yet....  Papers should be submitted soon.  So, this is the last year all my kids will be there for a while.  

It's very sobering to face the reality that your babies won't be babies forever and they do move on.  We've had a taste of that with college and him moving out for the school year.  But this feels different.  When he comes home, he won't ever really live at home again.  He'll just visit.  It makes me sad, glad, and a little resentful all at the same time.  


We go up on Friday afternoon and stay through Monday.  Lots of games, tv, talking, tubing, horse drawn sleigh ride, swimming and relaxing....  Which also means, despite good intentions, I ate more than I should.  My oldest bro is an amazing and creative chef... he always makes a fantastic dinner and follows it up by incredible desserts..... Friday was his version of bananas foster.  Oh YUMMMM!  


Then there was the general snacking waaaayyy to much, followed by chocolate dipped strawberries and caramel corn on Sunday.  Meals weren't bad, just all the extra goodies.

So....Saturday had 9 on the plan, but since I missed last weeks long run, I wanted to do 10, and make up a little of the mileage.  Didn't think it would be a problem, there's a treadmill at the clubhouse and I can get it in before everyone comes for breakfast.  But all the sugar the day before plus staying up late left me feeling sluggish and I slept in a little and didn't have the energy to run.  So I did 6 and then went back to make breakfast for everyone and after it was all done and cleaned up, I went back for another slow 4.  I felt like crap!

Monday is normally a weight training day, but since the little gym at the clubhouse is junk, literally, I did all body weight stuff and ran my 3 miles.  Didn't feel much better than Saturday, but I got it done.

I have to say though, Midway was more beautiful this time than any other.  It snowed constantly while we were there.  Sometimes huge, thick, wet flakes and you could barely see the road.  Others, just tiny little wispy flakes.  But it was constant till we were on the road home.  Everything was pristine and white.  We had fresh snow for our horse drawn sleigh ride and the valley was a shimmering wonderland!

When we got home, we ate pizza for dinner.  I did get veggie delite, so it was a little better.  

Tuesday, I decided to start fresh.  I want to get serious about my eating.  I picked up Tosca Reno's book, Eat Clean Diet Recharged.  I'm really liking it.  I'll tell you more about it in a future post.

Spin class was awesome of course!  I left completely spent, seriously, if you have any energy left after a spin class, you don't have your resistance up high enough!

After that.... off for my weekly massage!  It's a new thing and I love it.  My muscles are recovering fast and getting stronger.  Tily works out all my kinks and pays special attention to my hot spots, I don't know how I lived without this before!  Thank you Tily!!!

Wed, strength again.  Killer Workout!!!!  Started off with a timed circuit.  After a 1/4 mile sprint, I had drop sets of thrusters (squat-had to have my butt touch down on a 12" step--followed by a shoulder press with a 40 lb bar)  and pull ups.  21 of each, then 15 of each and last 9 of each.  All three sets under 4 min total or I had to do it again.  Let me tell you!  I'm glad I made it, cause I could barely move after that!  Then I did the rest of the workout, which seemed super easy after that circuit.

Today, 5 mile pace run, ave pace 8:58.  My goal pace for the marathon is 9:09, which is a 4 hr marathon.  So I feel like my actual pace has to be a little faster to account for potty breaks and aid stations.  I'd like to get my actual down to 8:45.  So, it's coming. 

The best surprise of all is that my weight didn't go all psycho on my because of the weekend.  Today I weighed in .5 lb less than last week!  YAY!!  

I promise to talk more about Tosca and her book next time!  See you soon!

A little behind

So last Friday, I was scheduled for 3 and then 8 on Saturday.  But Friday was super busy, and I kept saying.... it's just 3, I'll get it in.  Before I knew it, it was time to shower and get ready for our dinner party.  So then I thought I'll just do two runs tomorrow.  No biggie.

The dinner party was awesome!  We have a fun group that gets together on holidays. We hosted the dinner at our house, and my sweet hubby sent me  a DOZEN ROSES!!!    He sent them on Thursday so I'd have them when everyone came over for the dinner.  After dinner we were off to the dance the city youth council put on.  Soooo fun and yummy treats too!  Chocolate dipped strawberries and pretzel rods.  Homemade peanut butter truffles and oreo cheesecake!  Good thing we danced the whole night!

Next morning.....felt like I'd been run over by a truck.  The flu my kids and husband have been fighting hit me full force.  Plus the plantaar faciitis kicked in from dancing barefoot for 2 hours.  

Cancel both runs, get through what I have to and then crash!  Well kind of.  It was the youth church dance, and I was on pick up.  Didn't get home till midnight.  Missed part of church the next morning.  I play the piano for the primary (childrens meeting)  and we are short on pianists in our ward.  Since I'm begging for subs for our vacations, it's hard to not go other times.  

But, with my essential oils, the extra sleep and honey and lemon for the cough.  I felt pretty good.  Good enough to go to the cousins birthday party and an enrichment committee meeting.  

Monday was also a 3 mile run.  It went super slick.  I was at work, so I just did a tread run.  But it was so beautiful, I was wishing I was outside.  

My trainer completely trashed me and my partner in our workout.  (I'd like to think I was still weak from the flu, maybe, but it was a really hard workout)  

So today, still feeling pretty good, but still weak.  thinking about making up some of last weeks missed mileage.  But I'll probably take a nap first.  Tonight is Biggest Loser spin class, sold out once again!  Why do people want to spin for 2 hours?????  Can hardly get a 1 hour class 1/2 full, 2 hours?  Sure enough it's packed!  The other most popular class each week is 3 hours!!!!  Crazy bikers!


So anyway.  This was a a pretty whiny post about how little I've done and weak I am.  But I am actually doing well.  In the past, a flu like this would take me down for a couple weeks.  But the essential oils are miraculous.  Saturday, I would have sworn I was getting a sinus infection.  Used to do 2-3 a year.  Today, barely even congested.  I haven't taken a bit of medication, usually I would have run straight out for antibiotics.  Thank you Annette!!!! 

Three Day Recap

The training plan has me resting on Monday and Friday, running Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with longs on Saturday and cross training on Sunday.....


So some revamping was necessary.  
I've decided to run Monday, cross train on Tuesday (Biggest Loser 2 hour Spin class fits the bill), strength on Monday and Wednesday, run Thursday, Friday and long runs on Saturday.  Hopefully that way I don't get too trashed and do the crash and burn.


So far it seems to be working out.  The only bump this week was covering for my friends Spin class on Wednesday, at 5:30 am.  (Which meant I had to get up at 4:30 after going to bed at 11pm.)  That is a mere 8 hours after my last class ended.  Not a great plan.  I was a wussy teacher and had my class do as I say, not as I do....  I was just beat and didn't have it in me. 


After a nap I was able to do my strength training and it felt great!


Today I did a 5 mile pace run.  Meaning I ran at my goal pace for 5 miles after a 5 minute walk/jog warmup.  It felt great, and I didn't end exhausted, so this gives me a lot of hope that I can learn to sustain that pace for the 26.2.  


At our race committee meeting today, we discussed the "dreadmill" vs outside and the overall consensus was that I am crazy and how can I stand to be on a tread for 5-10 miles?  


Well, I don't love it.  It's certainly more boring, but I do get to watch a good movie, today was Mama Mia!   I love Abba music!  But I can't stand to run outside when it is so bitter cold.  I have to do my runs in the am, usually before 10 and it's still 8-10 degrees.  The afternoons are getting nice, but no bueno for the time.  My lungs get so cold and I cough for hours, sometime days.  But when it's a little warmer, nothing at all.  


The first 2 miles are the worst.  After I take the obligatory bathroom break around mile one, grab the phone and water bottle I forgot, and relax a little, I can settle in and let my mind start to wander away from the display.  


What about all of you?  What is too cold? or is there a too cold?  How do you get through the cold winters, slick roads and unshoveled sidewalks?  Do you hate the tread too?  Is it a necessary evil?  


All I know is I'm ready for some 50 deg days!  Bring on the spring!

1st day of marathon training

So I was asked if I was going to blog about the marathon training.... Well if you're going to ask... How can I refuse?

I'm following Hal Higdons novice 2 plan.  It doesn't focus a lot on what kind of runs you do, mostly just distance.  So I'll be throwing in some speed work, tempo runs and strides in there from time to time.  I know I'm not supposed to set a time goal for my first marathon, but I can't resist.  So far I've hit every goal I set for a first time at the distance.  

Goal is 4:15, dream is 4:00 or less.

So today's run said 3 miles.  That's it.  I decided to do a speed run.  I did a fast 5k,  24:41 with a brisk walk before and after.
 

Super simple.

I also did 45 minutes of strength training.  I believe increasing overall body strength leads to a happier, healthier runner.   

See you in a couple days....