HM Week 9 Recap

I can't believe my half marathon is next week already.  Where did the summer go!  Time just flies by anymore.   

I've been very blessed during this training.  I've been able to get in my miles and have avoided any major sidelining injuries.  I haven't been pushing myself as hard as I did last year, but I still feel prepared for next week.  This week, I backed off a little bit since I had two long runs.  Here is what I had plan and what I actually accomplished:

I felt good after Saturday's long run.  My legs, feet and IT band haven't complained too much.  However, my head and belly have been grumbling.  I did not get enough fluids in after Saturdays run and definitely haven't been eating that well either.  I have been extremely hungry yesterday and this morning.  The head has been aching a little too.  So today's focus is making sure I get in plenty of fluids and calories.  My plan for this week is to continue to take it easy and just keep things stretched out and ready to go for Sunday.

I find that when I increase my miles I really struggle with balancing the calories in/calories out.  How do you guys do it?  Do you have any magic solutions for keeping your tummy happy?  I haven't been "hungry" for much.  I'm hungry but I don't really crave anything so I end up not eating because I don't know what to eat.  Does that make sense?   I guess I better think up some of my favorites so that I can be sure to eat properly this week.

HM Week 8 Recap

Workout:  11.75 mile run in 1:48:22

What a great weekend!  I was having so much fun this weekend keeping busy with the husband.   I was thankful for the rain on Saturday because that made my husband, the energizer bunny, slow down a bit.   Cowboy melts in the rain (because he is made up of sugar and chocolate which is all he eats) so he tends to stay in the house or the garage and even takes time for afternoon naps.  He still kept me busy with three trips to town and work on the fence.

I tried to motivate myself to do my long run on Sunday but if I don't have plans with my running crew I am not so successful at getting out the door.  I talked myself into saving my long run for today.  That left me plenty of time to bake some zucchinni bread Sunday morning and work on the fence and garden with Cowboy. 

This morning I did get myself out the door for a steamy, foggy 11.75 mile run.  I was glad that I gave myself two rest days.  I felt really good.  I was worried about my foot but it didn't start acting up until late in the run.  Today's route was out here in the sticks and was quite hilly as usual.  I did quite a few walking breaks to help get up some of these hillls...

Because I did my long run today, my week 8 total miles are a little low but I'll bounce back up next week.  Here's my recap from week 8

And a look at Week 9:

I am liking that my mid week runs are going back down to the 5 and 6 range instead of the 6, 7, and 8 range.  That will be much easier to keep up with as I start to gear back up for school. 

Got lots to do today here at the house so I better get moving.  Those green beans aren't going to can themselves unfortuantely. 

HM Week 7 Recap

This past week was a very good week for my training.  I got in all my runs and got in all my miles, plus some.  I struggled during the week with the runs for various issues, but regardless I pushed myself and got out the door.

This is when the training seems to always get tough for me for some reason.  My motivation starts to dwindle and I start to put other things first since I am gearing back up for school.  I am really trying to work on staying positive and focusing on the goal I have set for the half marathon in August. 

Here's a look at Week 7:

A little high in total miles since I did a long run on Monday and a long run on Saturday.  Now however I am back on schedule for Sat/Sun long runs - hopefully.

Week 8 Plan is as follows:

My Tuesday and Thursday miles might get moved around a bit since I have to be in town to conduct two trainings on those days.  But otherwise I should be all set. 

I am looking forward to my second rest day in a row and have been focusing on eating properly to refuel my lil muscles.  I did have some calf cramps last night so when I get my groceries today I am going to be sure to stock up on some bananas.  They always seem to help prevent those crazy cramps.

QOTD:  What do you do to help with the occassional and sneak attack calf or leg cramps?   

One Month Away

I've been a little MIA lately.  It always seems that towards the end of the month I slack off on my blog posting.  Things have been busy this weekend.  Friday was filled with an early morning run, working in the heat, cleaning the clubhouse and a family picnic in the park.  Saturday was my rest day from running which was good.  That left me plenty of time to hang out with my sisters and TinTin as we tried on bridesmaid dresses and planned Amanda's bridal shower.  After girl time the boss, aka. Cowboy, put me to work at home.  At 11 pm, when I am usually an hour into my dreamland we headed out with Charisma to get her started chasin racoon.  The big dogs went for a little chase then afterwards so this girl didn't get into bed until after 1 am. 

When I don't stick to my sleep routine my next day is all goofed up.  I was so exhausted this morning and had no energy to tackle my long run of the day.  It was still muggy, sticky hot and my legs/feet were just tuckered out.  So I postponed my long run to Monday once again.

My first half marathon of the summer is just one month away!!  I still got lots of work to do but am on the right track.  Here's a recap from this week:

I had a long run on Monday and nice 6 mile on Wednesday with Dad, SB, Rob and Ella.  On Thursday, I toughed out a run with Copper.  Friday was a quick 3 miler with Copper out here on the hills.  Today was supposed to be 9 but I just didn't get out there.  I really didn't think it would be a good one if I had managed to get out.  Between exhaustion, hunger and the heat it would have been rough.  So tomorrow when it is suppose to be a refreshing 65 degrees I am going to get in my 9 miles.  I think I might work on them in town where it is a little flater and more opportunities to stop and get a drink if needed.

I have a busy week with dr appts and my first professional development training for teachers at my school.  I am a little nervous, but I've been working on my presentation and all the resources for a week now.  I think it will go pretty good.  Once I get that training done on Wednesday, I will need to get busy on the remaining three trainings I have the first two weeks of August.  I got some work to do on prepping training for using Moodle and developing an online course for 4th graders. 

I suppose I need to get working on developing my own 8th grade online course too.  Lots to do and time is slipping away.  The new school year is going to be here before I know it.

QOTD:  Have any of you taken an online course?  What do you like or dislike about online courses?
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HM Week 4 Recacp

Workout:  NONE - failed at getting out for the long run

It was a really relaxing and quiet Sunday.  We got a lot done but not my long run.  I was out "hunting" with Cowboy and the coon dogs until 2:30 am.  It isn't hunting season but we still take the dogs out to train them and "practice" chasin' raccoons and treein' them of course..  It wasn't probably my best idea to go out tromping in the woods in heavy knee high swamp boots after running a trail run earlier in the day.  My feet and ankles were screaming at me:  "You stupid girl".  I had terrible restless legs last night and boy were they achey. 

I woke up this morning hoping to get in an 8 mile long run but as soon as I put my little feet on the floor I knew it would be a better idea to wait until tomorrow.  I wasn't in pain but I can tell that I used little muscles in my feet, ankles and calves that I don't usually use as much as I did yesterday. 

So I spent at least 40 mins today stretching out my legs.  I drew the alphabet in the air with both feet at least twice.  I am clearly right footed. :) My letters were much better with my right foot.  My letters with my left foot were tiny and it was tough to do all the letters.  Maybe that foot was tighter than the other foot. 

So although I was shooting to follow my training plan exactly for the first time, it didn't happen.  I was right on track until today but I figured it was just better to give my muscles that extra time.  Here's my recap for Week 4 of my Half Marathon training:

Here's the plan for week 5:

Tomorrow I will get in my 8 miles from today.  I will hitch a ride with Cowboy on his way into work and have him drop me off 8 miles from home.  This week will be a little heavy in miles but that will be good for me.  We have another race on Saturday which I am looking forward to since it will be on an all flat easy course. 

So far the half marathon training is going pretty well.  I am excited to continue to kick things into gear and work on picking up some speed.  I still want to shoot for my goal of finishing the first half marathon of the summer in under 1:45.  I think it might be iffy but I still got lots of time to work on it. I just need to take one day at a time.

QOTD:  How do you keep yourself encouraged to accomplish your goals when you see yourself struggling everyday? 



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.

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!