Day 60: Long Run

This morning I got up and got ready for my long run.  10 miles was on the schedule.  This was run was taking place after over a week of not really running for various reasons.  I was nervous about this run.  I wasn't sure how it was going to go.

The first 2 miles were just getting into a rhythm.  It didn't hurt, but it was just getting my muscles relaxed and into the running groove.  There are some pretty big hills at the start of this route so that didn't help.  But to be honest, the only hill that really hurt was the second one on the route.  It was the biggest and just seemed to go on forever.  I got up it and then the run started to feel really good.

This route is through the city and into Waterloo so there are a lot of stop lights along the way.  I hit about 50% of them red and had to wait.  Towards the end of the run it hurt to get started again.  At the hour mark, which was about 5 miles in, I had to walk to eat some Honey Stingers and drink some Gatorade.  I only walked for 3 minutes though. 

The run had it moments.  There are some nice residential areas and some built up city areas.  I had to run through construction and almost got run over by someone on a bike.  They were riding on the sidewalk not paying attention. 

At the 2 hour mark, I had to walk again.  I had eaten the rest of my Honey Stingers at a stop light so I just needed to get some Gatorade in me.  It was only about a 2 minute walk.  Then I ran the last mile and half home.

When I got home and mapped out my route, it was actually 10.75 miles.  It really wasn't a bad run.  I kind of enjoy these long runs.

After the run I had to walk River.  She seemed to know that I was tired and didn't try to chase things like she normally does.  I really appreciated that.

Tomorrow I'll do a recovery run to shake out all the stiffness.  Only 52 more days until the race.  I'm starting feel like I can do this.  I hope that feeling lasts!

Day 50: Ack!!!!!! Starting To Get REALLY Nervous!

Only 62 days left until I run my first half marathon.  I'm starting to get really nervous.  I know I'm getting stronger and fitter, but I'm still starting to really get scared.  My long runs are getting longer.  My short runs are getting longer.  My recovery runs are getting easier.  I just hope mentally I'm there on race day.

Today was a recovery run after the race we ran yesterday.  River ran with me.  Today is probably the only day she will be able to run with me because it's supposed to get warmer in the mornings this week.  She enjoyed her run.  She loves being out and just being able to go.  We took a path that she just loves to take.  It's a gravel trail that goes behind 2 schools.  It runs through some open fields so she's always looking for rabbits when we take that way.  There weren't any today though.

The run felt nice and easy.  I haven't had a nice feeling training run in awhile so this was a good change.  I was nice and relaxed and just did a nice easy speed run.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to do a 10k run.  It's going to be a bit warmer than what it has been this summer.  I think I have been spoiled by the cooler mornings.  I won't take River with me so when I get home I will have to take her for a walk.  If by some chance it is cool tomorrow morning, I will take her with me.

Today James and I have a busy day of preparing for Fax Expo on Thursday.  We are both so excited!  I will be getting up early to get my runs in before heading to the Expo each day.  I should be exhausted by Sunday night.  Off to get ready for the day!

Day 49: Stryker Dundas Cactus 5k Race

Today we all ran a 5k race.  Mike ran with James so I could see where I was with my time since I have upped my training.  It was a great race!

The race was at a park in Dundas.   It was a nice little park and while this morning was warmer than it has been, it was still a nice morning to run.  Here are a few pictures of us before the run.

The 10k started off the morning.  Some of those runners were speedy.  They were finishing their first loop as we were starting our race.  The course was mostly flat.  I was happy about that.  I know I've been training hills, but I still like a flat course.  There was one hill towards the end of the race, but it wasn't so bad.

I ran a best time of 31:59.  I was really happy with that time.  It's a best time by about 30 seconds.  I thought that it would take James and Mike around 43 minutes, but I was wrong.  I crossed the finish line, got some water, looked up and they were coming into the park.  They crossed the finish line in 38:15.  It was a best time for James by at least 5 minutes.

James was so excited about his time and the fact that he ran almost the whole race.  He asked if he could get a massage and while we were waiting in line, I went to go check the official times.  I looked at his time and saw that he got 3rd in his age group.  Here he is after I told him.

He was so proud of himself as were we.  He got his massage and then we had to get some after race pictures.

VRPro always puts on great races and this one was no exception.  Looking forward to running my next race that they sponsor.

Day 44: Recovery Run Otherwise Known As Running With Lead Legs

My legs are feeling yesterday's run.  I don't think it was so much the distance as the hills.  I did get a foam roller and used it this morning.  What a huge difference!  My hamstring is feeling more stretched out.  I did use the one at the pool yesterday and it helped, but being able to use it right after a run feels really good!  I'm so glad I finally bought one.

I took River on the run this morning.  She's getting better at pacing off of me.  She still sets the pace, but she doesn't speed up and slow down as much.  It's more of a steady pace.  The only time she sprints is when she sees a rabbit, a motorcycle or a city bus.  Thank goodness early in the morning I only have to really worry about rabbits.

Tomorrow I'm going for another run, but I'm not really sure how far I'm going.  It might just be one of those days where I just run to run.  I'll take River with me and we'll just go.  She'll like that.

Off to start the rest of my day!

Day 43: Long Slow Distance Run

I haven't been feeling myself lately.  I just couldn't get to sleep and stay asleep.  I was restless and just not motivated like I have been.  It honestly was struggle to just get out of bed most days.  Today I forced myself up and out the door.  Well, it really wasn't forcing as I wanted to run today.

Once again, I postponed my long run until Monday this week.  Mike is out of town, so I had to run a route that was well populated.  I promised him I wouldn't run my country route if he wasn't here just in case something happened.  I planned an out and back route that took me a little bit into Waterloo.  I know the cities run into each other, but I can say that I ran from one city to the next and back again.  It's the little things.

I knew there were a few big hills and a lot of traffic lights on this route.  Due to the lights there was a possibility that I could have a lot of stop and start which is hard at times.  The run out wasn't so bad.  I was at  the beginning of rush hour so the lights were with me for the most part.  The route isn't really that bad.   Lot's of trees and places to stop and get help if need be.  When I got to the 4.5 mile
mark, I did walk for a bit so I could eat some of my Honey Stingers and drink.  I'm trying to teach myself to run and eat/drink and I'm getting better, but still not quite there.

I wouldn't let myself walk until the halfway point.  It took me 55 minutes to get there and that's the longest I've run at one stretch.  Even when I run with River we have to stop so she can get a drink.  It wasn't so bad.  Some of the hills were tough, but I ran up them.  Once I got about 10 minutes into the run I felt really good and loose.

After I ate and drank, I started running again.  I thought it would be tough to get started again, but it wasn't bad.  I felt really good.  The run back I hit more red lights though.  That was a bit of a hard thing at the end of the run.  I felt pretty good the entire run.  I had a few pains, but it wasn't injury pain. 

I am going to get a foam roller today so I can start using that.  I think that will help a lot with my recovery.  I do stretch after most of my runs.  Today I took River for a 45 minute walk instead of stretching.  That was hard.  I just wanted to shower and stretch, but she needed her walk.

Nine miles is the furthest I've ever run.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  I am starting to feel like I can really run this half marathon.  I feel like it's doable for me.  I just have to keep reminding myself of that when I start to lose my motivation.

This week my training is all wonky since Mike is out of town, but at least I got a long run in and tomorrow I'll take River on my recovery run.  I'm so glad I got out this morning.

Day 38: Speed Work and Weights

I had to get up really early this morning to hit the gym.  It was hard to get up for some reason.  Normally I'm pretty good about getting up, but today not so much.  It was tough.

I don't mind speed work on the treadmill as much.  My only complaint is the gym always seems really hot even when the air is on.  I just sweat so much.  So today I did a 5 minute warm-up at an easy pace.  After 5 minutes, I did 10 rounds of 45 seconds sprint and 1:15 recovery.  The I was going at a pretty good clip.  On the recovery, my goal was to get my breathing back to a slower rate.  That got tough at the end, but I did it.  After my sprint rounds, I did a 5 minute cool down at a comfortable pace.

Then it was weights.  Today was upper body and I increased weight on half the exercises.  Between the increased weight and the 2 rounds of 12 that I do on each machine, I was beat!  My body is tired today, but I still feel pretty good that I did it.

I was telling Mike afterwards that even though I really wanted to sleep, I knew I had to get up and go.  It's getting harder to talk myself out of my workouts.  And after the past 2 days, I need the stress release.  I'm having to rearrange some things I promised James we would do and possibly have to cancel them due to some coaching changes at work.  I don't really mind usually, but this time it bugs me.  I got the summer schedule out super early so people could make plans to take some time off, but there has been 2 monkey wrenches thrown into the works.  I'll pick up the practices and cancel on James, but I hate to do that to him.  It's really not fair to him.  I just hope he understands.

Tomorrow is a cross training and full body weights day.  I'll hit the gym after my morning practice and then come home to give River her long morning walk.  Then I have to finish the Cyberman costume.  I feel like I'm spinning my wheels.  I really need some time to just relax, but it looks like that might happen around Christmas now.  Oh well...that's the way it goes.  At least it's Wednesday!  We're on the downhill now!

Day 37: Recovery Run

I should have done 5 miles, but it was my own fault.  I couldn't sleep last night and so when my alarm went off, I reset it.  I just couldn't get myself out of bed in time to do 5 miles.  I did 3 instead.  River went with me and she seemed off this morning too.

I will say my legs felt better today than they did after my long run last week.  The run felt pretty good.  I was going at a fairly decent pace until the end when River needed to slow down and kept getting distracted.  I don't think she feels too good.  She has slept in the past few days and while she has eaten, it just hasn't been with the gusto she normally eats with.  I'll have her take it easy today.  Poor girl.

Today James starts Mad Science Camp.  He's really excited too.  He has been looking forward to this since it ended last summer.  He loves this camp and everything is right up his alley.  This year the camp he's doing has a different theme each day.  I hope he likes it as much as he did last year.

It's also the last day of swim school for this session.  I really need a break from kids for about a week.  I can tell because every little thing is starting to grate on me.  After a week I'll be fine.  I just need that week to reset.

Things are winding down for the summer.  Pretty soon school will be starting up and swim season will be in full swing again.  I can't believe how this summer has just flown by.  I just want time to slow down for a few days, but that isn't going to happen so I'll just make the most of it now.

Day 36: Long Slow Distance

Yesterday I was supposed to do this run, but I slept wrong and couldn't get my hip stretched out so I postponed it until today.

I wanted to be out by 6:30, but my 4-legged alarm didn't go off.  River is on a schedule; up at 5:30 for breakfast, back to be for 45 minutes and then up and ready for her run or walk.  She didn't get up at 5:30 or 6:30 or even 7:00.  She was still in bed when I woke up and started getting ready for my run.  At 7:15 she half-heartedly at her breakfast because she thought she was going with me on my run.  Unfortunately 8 miles is too long for her to run with me.

I really had to talk myself out the door for this run.  I just wasn't feeling it, but I knew I had to do it and once I got going it wouldn't be that bad.  Off I went.  It took 3 miles to really get a good feel for this run.  It didn't hurt, it just didn't feel  that good.  It was like I was going through the motions.  I think part of the problem is I didn't have my normal cranberry orange breakfast pita before running.  I had a quarter of a protein bar instead.  The store has been out of my pitas so I had to eat something else.  I'm stocking up next time I see them.

At 43 minutes, I did a bit of walking to drink and eat 5 of my Honey Stingers.  This took me to the start of the really hilly part of the run.  Honestly, the hills today didn't bother me.  In fact, the last steep hill I was halfway up it before it registered that I was running up the hill and feeling really good.  The worst hill was the last one.  It is a longer very low grade hill, but it just seemed to never end and I thought I my legs were just going to quit on me.  It's funny how that works.  The steep ones I had no problem with, but this very low grade one nearly killed my legs.  I got up it though and then is was downhill and flat the last mile and a half.

At the 1:20 I walked a few more minutes to drink and eat the rest of  my Honey Stingers.  That gave me the fuel I needed to get through the rest of the run.

After I got home, my legs didn't hurt near as bad as they did last week.  I thought that was a good sign.  I have a love/hate relationship with this route so if my legs are feeling stronger that's what I want.  I don't want to switch up my long route too much because I need to train the hills, but I HATE hills and would love a nice flat route.  I'll stick to this route and just keep adding on to the back end as increase my mileage.  I just keep reminding myself that I need the hill work.

I feel pretty good about this run.  My schedule is a bit off for this week, but that's okay.  Tomorrow I'm out for a 5 mile run with River.  We'll see how my legs feel after that run.  Wednesday is speed work.  Thursday is cross training.  Friday I'm up to a 6 mile run.  Sunday I increase my long run to 9 miles.  I'm usually feeling pretty good at the back half of my runs so hopefully 9 miles will feel okay.  That will be the furthest I've ever run in one stretch. 

Off to take a relaxing bath and to read for a bit.  Then I have to tackle a Cyberman costume.  Have a great day!

Day 34: Rest Day And It Is Needed

Today is my rest day.  I didn't realize how tired my body was until last night.  When I went to bed I, think I was asleep before I even laid down.  Mike came to bed about 5 minutes after me and I don't remember him coming to bed. 

The dogs got me up at the usual 5:30 this morning for breakfast.  By 6:45 I was out on a long walk with River.  We did about 3.5 miles this morning and it was a really nice walk.  There was a nice breeze and the temperature was about 54 degrees.  Just a beautiful morning.  River pouted for a bit when she realized that we weren't running, but she quickly got over that.

When we got home, I was still the only one up.  I put some cinnamon rolls in the oven and went to Starbuck's to get some coffee.  James got up just as the rolls were getting done.  Mike got to sleep in which he really needed.

As the neighborhood woke up, River became really nosey so I had to take her for another short walk.  Once she secured the neighborhood, she went back to bed.  It's now quiet and we have the windows open to let the nice breeze through the house.  It's been wonderful to not have the use the AC too much this summer.

Today I'm starting on James' Cyberman costume for FanExpo.  I will be doing the cutting and then running to Michel's to get the silver spray paint and odds and ends I will be needing.  Tomorrow morning is my long slow run.  I have 8 miles on the schedule and the weather is supposed to be perfect for a long run.  I'm looking forward to it.

Day 33: Yuck!

This morning I woke up with a  headache and just plain tired.  I got dressed and got River ready for our run.  I never really settled into this run.  It never felt good.  It didn't hurt, it just didn't feel good.  I think my body is just tired.  What should have been 5 miles turned into just under 2.5.  I just couldn't force myself to do more today.  I really wanted to, but my body just couldn't do it.  I don't want to get injured so I just cut it short.

Tomorrow is a rest day so that should help.  Hopefully my long run on Sunday will feel better.

Day 32: Sleepy Day of Cross Training and Weights

Thursdays are getting to be hard for me and I think it's because I know the end is near and my schedule will be changing again.  On Thursdays I get up between 3:30 and 3:45 in the morning
to coach an early morning Masters swim practice.  I get a bit discouraged as Thursday mornings is a light day and only about 3-4 swimmers show up.

I always have problems sleeping the night before an early morning practice as I'm afraid of oversleeping and missing the practice.  So I dragged myself out of bed and got everything ready to go.  Luckily I had all my workout clothes ready to be put in my bag.  All I had to do was throw them in the bag along with my shoes and water bottle and I was ready to go.  I grabbed a breakfast pita to eat in the care after swim practice. I had some Fruit-To-Go bars in my desk at the pool so I also had breakfast while coaching.

After swim practice I really didn't want to go to the gym.  I just wanted to sleep, but I knew I had to go to the gym.  I need to stay on track with this training.  Once I got doing on the bike it felt smooth and easy.  I read my book, but still kept the RPMs up above 95 most of the time.  I didn't even realize it had been 40 minutes until the machine beeped.

Today's weights were legs.  After Monday lifting on really tired legs, this felt really good.  In fact, I'm ready to increase weight next week on everything.  It felt so good.  Honestly, I was surprised at how good this workout felt considering I was so tired.

When I got home poor River had to get out for her long walk.  It was almost 10am by the time we got out for her walk.  That's a good 2-3 hours past when she normally goes.  She was more than ready for her walk.

After her long walk, I was finally able to get some more food in my stomach.  Leftover potato soup never tasted so good!  I'm still ready for a nap, but I feel like I have more energy since I got my exercise in and ate some food.

Tomorrow River and I have a 5 mile run and we will be doing it early so it will still be cool.  I'm really looking forward to it too.  On to the rest of my day!