HM Week 5 Recap

Workout:  8.9 mile run in 1 hr 15 min

Oh boy my training and my summer vacation is just zooming by.  Can't believe I've finished Week 5 of training.  Overall I am really happy with the way training is going.  I was a little concerned two weeks ago, but I think I got over the road bumps and am on track now.  Here's a look at planned and actual training for week 5:

I didn't get my long run last week in until Monday.  That long run I think was a turning point for me, because it made me realize that I could hold a good pace for a long distance if I wasn't faced with crazy hills.  I stuck to the plan for the rest of the week and had some good runs early in the morning.  On Saturday, I had one of best times in the past few years in a 5k race.  I did not get myself motivated to do my long run yesterday so I rested up and did my long run today.

I had Cowboy drop me off again on this way to work about 9 miles out.  It was the same route as last Monday which I like because it is mostly flat or downhill.  I didn't feel as good as I did last week, but it was still a good training run.  It helped me work on those mental issue that I struggle with when I am on a long run by myself.

So here's the plan for the rest of this week:

I might shuffle around tomorrow's run to Wednesday but everything else should be on target.  It will be nice to not have a race this weekend, so that I can just focus on doing my  long run.

K, enough about training and running for now.  Yesterday I had date night with my husband.  Date night doesn't happen very often in our house so when they do I really look forward to them.  This date night is a reoccuring annual date and one I look forward to.  We headed out to the Rodeo and Bull-a-Rama for fabulous corn-dogs on a stick and some bullride watching.  Cowboy rode bulls for 10 years but misses riding quite a bit during the summer time.  He did say last night that he isn't sure he wants to come next year because it depresses him.   I like watching the bullriding with him and having him explain things.  He only rode for the first two years we started dating.  I always enjoyed watching him ride.  I know he misses it but I am glad I don't have to worry about him getting injured on the back of those crazy animals.

Here's a few more pictures from last week that I never got off my cell phone to share:

This is my cutie-pa-tootie- niece tickling me from a distance.

Such a doll!  Glad I get to spend some time with her this week while she is at Gmom and GrandBob's house.

Someone has been having trouble getting out of bed lately.  I end up making the bed with her in it.

New hair-do all nice and straightened from the hairdresser.  Lately I've been too lazy to straighten it and end up with a crazy curl mess.  Plus it's so humid it was just end up all crazy anyhow.

And last but not least a little wildflower bouquet to brighten the day.

QOTD:  Did you do any training runs or races this weekend?  How are you dealing with your runs in this crazy summer hot weather?

HM Week 3 Recap

Week three is done!  I made it through pretty close to the planned miles but once again a little light in running miles.  I am guessing that between Sunday through Wednesday I walked around 20 or more miles at the Convention Center in Philly.  Which I think falls into the good cross training category, doesn't it??

On Sunday morning I met up with my Dad and Sister for a morning run in town.  I wanted to take a break from all the hills out here and have a chance to run a relatively flat course.  We planned to meet down at the River park area and then run the River Walk loop.  With the loop and the extra mile from the Park area we would have had right around 7 miles. 

We got the first mile in and then ran into another runner who told us that they closed a big portion of the river walk due to setting up for the 4th of July Fireworks show.  So we had to modify the loop and ended up running through town but still meeting up with the official HM training water boy (ie...Adam - Amanda's Fiance).

 We talked, caught up and kept a comfortable pace on the way out.  When we finally met up with Adam we had in 4.5 miles.   There really wasn't a "shorter" way to get back to where we started so we turned around and headed back.  Adam met us in our second water stop area at mile 7.  Amanda decided to stop there and ride back with Adam, but Dad and I decided to run the rest of the way.  I felt pretty good the rest of the way back.  It started to get a little tougher around mile 8.5.  I fought a good fight with my legs....they were screaming to stop but I wouldn't let them until my Garmin beeped 9.0 miles.  My dad was a running machine this weekend....he ran 21 miles in two days.  A 12 mile run with SB and the 9 mile run with us.  Go Daddy!!

It was two extra miles but I think I was ready for it.  Overall on that run my pace was 9:36 min mile which I was happy with.  Now I know I will be good to go the next four weeks since my plan has me doing 8 and 9 mile long runs until July 24th.  On those long runs, I am going to try to work on my pacing and get that back down.

So here's a quick recap of my week 3 half marathon training plan:

This week my goal is to FOLLOW my training plan.  Hoping to stick to what I have laid out for once..

I am shooting for the Tuesday run out here with Copper and working in some yoga on Wednesday.  Thursday, I will try to plan a run with my dad and SB in town.  Saturday is the Wildlife for Everyone 5 miler which we are all looking forward to.  Sunday I hope to try for maybe a hilly 8 miles since my second half marathon is going to be ALL HILLS I better continue working on those hills.

QOTD #1: Do you follow your training plan pretty closely or are you all over the place - moving things around like I do? 

QOTD #2:  What do you eat as your recovery foods right after you run?  I am trying to gather some ideas so I can do better at getting in some protein within that two hour window after training when my muscles need it the most.

A little behind...a look at Saturday.

Summer is just flying by.  I can't believe it is July 4th already!  Happy Fourth of July!

I've been really busy around the house since I got back from my trip and haven't had a chance to post my updates on my training runs.  I will get caught up eventually.  First, recap on Saturday's run....I had a little catching up to do since I didn't run while I was in Philly so on Saturday I got up bright and early and took Copper for a 4 mile run.  I've been frustrated that my overall pace for many of my runs has been in the 9:30's or so.  Part of that is due to the fact that I don't have a flat course around here.  If I want to run from home I have to face at least two or more hills.  That slows me down.  The other part of my slow pace is just the fact that I haven't been pushing myself.  I've just be out for a run. 

So on Saturday I decided to push.  I went out and back the main road by my house.  The way out is mostly uphill so I again was pokey.  BUT...I made it up another section that I rarely make it up without stopping.  I know I am getting better at those hills, just not faster yet.  On the way back though I kicked it into gear.  For about a mile I just pushed it and every time I looked at my watch my pace was right around 6:45. Granted that was a downhill run too.  I felt good - wasn't too out of breathe and my legs were keeping up.  Overall on that run I got my pace down to 8:40 pace.

More on Sunday's long run and my week 3 training recap in the next post!

Already off schedule

I haven't even left yet for my conference and my running and training plan is all off schedule.  I didn't get my 3 mile run in today.   It was one of those sunny-one-moment-pouring-the-next kindaof days.  So that put me off from running.  Cowboy's parents also came to visit and we went out to lunch with them so that took up some time.  We also took the Beagle girls over to the club to chase rabbits.  So my Friday was a little busy and I just didn't make time for running.

So before I meet up with my colleague to travel to Philly for the conference I am going to try to get in at least 5 or more miles.  I won't have the total miles I was looking for this week but it will have to do.  Luckily it is still early in the training plan and I can catch up later.   My week 3 plan is going to be goofy too.  It looks like I will be working 10 hour days at this conference so I'm not so sure if I will even get time to work out at the gym plus I HATE running on threadmill and don't really see myself running in Center City Philly so those runs might just end up getting skipped.  I am sure I will be doing tons of walking during the conference so I will just have to count those miles. 

I may be absent from the blog world for a few days but once I get back I will try to get back into the groove. Until then have a great weekend and week bloggies.

Week1 Recap and Start of Week2

Workout:  6 mile run with Copper in 58:10

Week 1 of my Half Marathon training started out better than I expected.  I didn't go into the week with quite the base miles that I wanted beforehand.  I really slacked off on the running the last two weeks of school and it was rough to motivate myself to run when vacation started. But I finally got into the grove on Wednesday.

I like having a training plan, but I by no means follow it word for word.  I tend to move the miles around according to what I have planned for the day.  As long as I get a long run in and end up with close to the same total miles for the week I am happy.

As you can see below in green is my planned miles and in my blue is my actual.  Because my base miles were minimum, I didn't push for the full 5 miles on both Tuesday and Thursday.  On Friday I ran with Anda for 3.6 so I decided that I needed to give myself that rest day on Sunday and did an extra 2.5 miles after my race on Saturday. 

I haven't been doing the Cross Training (XT) that I had planned on doing (Yoga, Pilates, Abs, etc).  Instead I have been busy cross training by doing manual "farm girl" work around the house and several hikes/walks with the dogs.  This week I plan on trying to get some Yoga worked in somewhere.

Here's Week 2's Training Plan"

Already the plans have changed.  Since I "rested" yesterday I decided to run Tuesday's 6 miles today.  Copper and I headed out at 7 am for our loop.  It was a cool 65 degrees which felt really nice.  Wasn't too muggy and there was a lite breezy.  When I run out here by my house I really don't have any flat routes so today was more hills.  I surprisingly didn't walk much , I just kindaof found my pace and kept moving.  I did stop a few times while Copper found a creek to take a quick swim in.

When we made it back I gupled down some Gatorade and tried to find something to eat with some protein.  I settled on a Banana smothered in Peanut Butter.  It was DELICIOUS!  Now onto the "farm girl" work for the day!

The Training Begins

Well tomorrow is Week 1, Day 1 of my 15 week Half Marathon training plan.  Here's the snapshot:

Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day, but I think on those rest days I will be focusing on Yoga, Pilates and of course stretching.  I also am starting out my first weekday of summer vacation with a glorious and oh so fun root canal!  I won't even be able to sleep in.  Up at normal time and in town for the root canal fun before running a gazillion errrands and then home.  I am hoping to be home by lunch time, get in my 30 mins of Yoga and then do some outside work. I am looking forward to running with Copper on Tuesday.  I've missed running with my four legged running buddy.  I have to get him in shape for his 2nd 5k race in August.

Now that I will be home a lot more than usual, I am setting a goal of posting on the blog at least 5 days a week.  I really want to keep track of my training and some of my summer accomplishments.  I am also going to strive to do better at taking pictures throughout my day as well.  So tomorrow I am planning on working on my little herb garden and will hopefully have some pictures to share.  Ok....onto the next random thought poppin up in my head....

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have been really struggling at fueling properly before and have races.  I have heard quite a few good things about Hammer Nutrition and have begun to look into their products.  Has anyone tried any Hammer Nurtrition products?  Any recommendations?  I can't decide on what to try first.  One of my friends suggested I call and see if they will ship some samples before I buy, so I think I might see if they are able to do that.  I want to focus on fuel before and during the run as well as some recovery products to help rebuild my muscles, especially after those longs runs.

Well this post took longer than expected due to technical difficulties, so I am calling it a night. 

QOTD:  What products do you use to fuel before or during a run and for recovery after a run?

Summer Training/Race Schedule

WOW!!!  I took some time last night and today putting together my summer training and race schedule.  YIKES!!  I didn't realize it has so quickly filled up.  But before I get to that a little look back...

I've done a few half marathons over the last 6 years, I think ten or more, but I can't remember.  Up until last year I always came in right around the 2 hour mark. Last summer I found a training plan on LogYourRun and used that to try to beat my time and come in under 1:50 mins.  The plan I randomly picked was intense, had lots of long runs and lots of miles but it was good for me.  I didn't follow it exactly but I did try to stick to it as much as possible.  I hadn't realized how helpful a training plan was until I was almost done with the plan.  I found that it was pushing me and definintely was helping my speed and conditioning.  The day of the half marathon it was a complete downpour but we decided to run it anyway since we trained so hard for it.  I beat my goal and came in at 1:48 which confirmed to me that training plans do work. 

Last night I did some searching for a training plan that might help me get in the 1:40-1:45 range for the half marathons I have scheduled this summer. I tried to find the one I used last summer but wasn't able to pull it up.  So I spent quite a bit of time pulling up plans in LogYourRun and through internet searches.  I came across this one and decided to go with that as my base plan and adjust to fit my schedule and summer races.  The little description for the plan stated: 

Short Training Schedules for Runners experienced in the Half, 10k & 5k

17-week Half Marathon Schedule for a 1:45 - 2-hour finish time. Use this schedule if running 22-30km (13-18 miles) per week by week 1. Includes a speed workout each week.

So once I got the information plugged into an excel spreadsheet I started adding some of the races I knew where in the area and that we've done in the past.  Once I added the races I adjusted my cross training, rest days and long runs to fit.  Here's what I came up with:

YIKES!!!  I don't know if I will do all those 5k's but I pencilled them in for now.  For some of those races, I will probably do the race and then go back and do more miles to make it my long run.  One nice thing about plans is that they are just that plans and plans can change.  This just helps me keep focused on what I can do to reach the goal I have set for myself.  

So what do you think?   Overzealous?  Do's /don'ts from your own experience?  What kind of training plans have you used for half marathons?  I'd love some feedback.