It's Been A Rough Winter

It was a long hard winter.  I had to struggle with motivation and depression.  It became a cycle that I had to break.  This week I broke it!

I spent this week trying to get back on track and start building my base back up.  I have my workout calendar hanging in the bathroom.  I ran or worked out every day.  I'm feeling really good this week. 

I'm running for time as opposed to mileage right now.  I started with just 15 minutes and have been adding time each day.  I did a day of cross training and two days of weights.  I'm also doing a fitness challenge this month.  By having the calendar hanging on the bathroom mirror, I see it several times a day and I have to be accountable to myself.

April and May will be used to build my base back up and on June 1st I start half marathon training again.

This week was tough, but I did it.  I ran two races this week.  On Friday I did the Good Friday Road Races.  James and I ran the 5k.  It wasn't his best race running wise, but he showed that he's really grown.  He knew it wasn't a going well, but he kept a great attitude and kept saying he just needs to finish.  He didn't complain and he kept moving.  I was so proud of him!

We also counted this race as two of the virtual races we are signed up for.  We did the Spaceballs Dark Helmut 5k and the Live Long and Prosper Leonard Nimoy Memorial Mile run.  The route had some hills, but they weren't too bad.  My legs were sore though from adding weights back and doing the fitness challenge exercises.

Saturday I ran the Harry's Spring Run Off 8k.  That one killed my legs.  They were complete toast by the end of the race.  It was hilly and ended with an uphill.  I was glad I did it though and I hope to get to do it again next year.

I had to change around some of my workouts for this week, but I have it all on my calendar.  It feels good to be back.  I'm feeling better as well.  I just needed to get up and get going.  I had to break the cycle.  It was hard, but I'm glad I forced myself to get back at it.

James is excited to start running with me this summer.  He loves running and I love having him run with me.  Tomorrow and Tuesday I'm in the gym, Wednesday is a partial rest day, Thursday and Friday I'm running, and Saturday I'm going to go the gym again.  I have the fitness challenge everyday this week as well.

Week 2 is going to be great!

Chilly Half Marathon Training: Day 24

I bet you thought I feel off my training.  Well, I did a bit, but it was because I got sick.  I caught a nasty cold that knocked me out.  It last about a week and half.  The other part of the two weeks I missed was because I let Swim Academy take over my life again.  I'm feeling better and Swim Academy is done until after the first of the year.

I went out for what was supposed to be 5 miles.  It ended up being under 2 miles.  The cold air and my lungs did not mix.  About 10 years ago I had whopping cough and it damaged my lungs.  While the running has really strengthened them quiet a bit, sometimes the cold causes bad coughing fits.  That's what happened this morning.  At least I got out and ran though.  I wasn't happy about the coughing though.

Tomorrow I'm in the gym.  Friday I have a run scheduled and Sunday it's a long run.  I am really enjoying running in the snow.  I just had to get over that cold.  88 days until my race!  Let's do this!

Chilly Half Marathon Training: Day 8 Rest Day

Today is my rest day.  I'm kind of glad as my legs need a day to recover some.  After dropping James off at school, River and I headed out for a walk.  It was snowing and I had to pry River off the couch.  She is not a fan of the snow.  She pouted almost the whole walk. 

I enjoyed the walk though.  The snow was the big fluffy kind.  It was cold, but it wasn't bitter cold.  I enjoyed walking through all the fluffy snow.  Now Wednesday when I go for my run I will be upset if people haven't shoveled. 

Here we are after our walk today.  River was ready to go inside and have her lunch.

River has been curled up on the couch ever since we got back.  Normally she wants to go out again, but she keeps burying her face every time I stand up.  She really hates winter.

Tomorrow I'm in the gym doing speed work and weights.  I'm looking forward to it.  I have enjoyed my rest day, but I'm ready to be back at it!

Chilly Half Marathon Training: Day 7 The Hanukkah Hustle

Today puts me at the end of the first week of training.  It's been a good week.  To end it, I ran the Hanukkah Hustle 5k.  I really enjoy this race as it's small and I love the course.  I like watching the residents of the assisted living facility get out and enjoy time with family and the volunteers.  Here we are before the race.

It was starting to snow as we headed to the start line.  It was a pretty fluffy snow too.  I reminded Mike that he should be thankful that I was only doing the 5k and not the 10k.  He didn't have to stand outside as long.  I know he went inside to stay warm.  He knows my times and knows when to be out at the finish line.  And he was!  Here I am crossing the finish line.

The race itself was okay.  My legs were really tired from my runs this past week.  I knew I would be slow, but I was fine with that.  It took me awhile to get my legs stretched out and feeling good.  By that point I was almost at the finish line.  The finish for this race is uphill.  I got to the hill and kept repeating, "Up the hill. Across the line."  It got me there.  It's not the hill was particularly big or steep, it was just my legs were that tired.  I got my finisher's medal and we headed inside for hot dogs, latkes, and to check results.

I didn't think I had gone fast enough to place, but I was surprised that I got 3rd in my age group!  We stayed for the awards.  The top 3 in each age group got Star of David pendants.  They were pretty cool!

Here's a picture of both my finisher's medal and my age group pendant.

Tomorrow is my rest day.  I will just take River for a long walk.  Tuesday I'm in the gym for speed work and weights, Wednesday it's a 4 mile run, Thursday cross training and weights, and Friday is my long run.  Saturday is my rest day and Sunday I have a swim meet so I can't run then.  I'm ready to tackle the 2nd week of training!

Chilly Half Marathon Training: Day 6

I have to say that I did beg off my workout today.  I know, the shame of it!  I had all my gym stuff with me and on my way home drove by the gym.  It was so busy I just didn't want to go in at all.  There are 2 reasons for this.  One, I hate crowds and two I still don't like people watching me workout.  I know they aren't looking at me, but I feel so uncomfortable that I just couldn't bring myself to go in and workout.  I feel like all those people that are in so much better shape than I am are judging what I'm doing.  I hate feeling like that, but I do.  Heck, it took me over a year to be able to run on main roads where lots of people would see me.  The whole day it was on my mind though.  I have to get over that and just go and do it.

Mike and I did go to St. Jacobs and had a good time shopping in all the little shops.  We got our Christmas shopping almost done.  It was so nice.  We ate at a cozy little restaurant and got to sit by the fire.

It was a nice afternoon and it's getting me in the Christmas spirit.  I still won't put up my decorations until after Thanksgiving (American Thanksgiving).  I'm looking forward to doing that in a few weeks.

Tomorrow I have my race so I will get a 5k run in and then I will walk River when we get home.  WEek one is almost done!  I have done okay up until today.  Back on track tomorrow!

Chilly Half Marathon Training: Day 5

Brrrrr.....I knew we were supposed to get flurries, but we woke up to some real snow this morning.  It wasn't a whole lot, but enough to cause over 100 accidents in our area before 10am.  The whole time I'm getting James ready for school I had to keep motivating myself to run.  I put on my sports bra and running shirt to take him to school.  That means I was halfway dressed when I got back.

Once I got back, I changed into my running tights and still had to talk myself into getting out the door.  River couldn't go with me so I was running solo today.  Plus the route I had to take was hilly and not the slow rolling kind.

I did get out the door.  The first 2 miles were on the shoulder of the road.  Luckily it's a wide shoulder or I would have planned a different route.  The little bit of snow we got made a huge difference in my running though.  My legs were tired by the time I got to the first steep hill.  I got about halfway up and had to walk.  I was upset, but I can't really beat myself up.  The other steep hills were like that too. 

My legs were really tired today.  The whole run they were just tired.  No soreness though so I was happy for that.  The last 2 miles felt really good.  I don't know if it was because it was either downhill or flat or because I knew I was close to home or because I finally hit my groove.  Whatever it was I felt great!

Since River couldn't go with me, I had to get her out for a walk when I got home.  I quickly changed my socks, shoes and coat and went out again with her.  It made for a nice 1.5 mile cool down.  I think it will help my legs recover better.

I did take this picture after my run and quick change as we were walking.  I was tired!

River didn't seem to keen on walking today.  I think she is still tired from her day at doggy daycare.  She also is not a huge fan of the snow.  She pouts the whole time.

Tomorrow I'm hitting the gym after swim practice for cross training and weights and Sunday I have my race.  So far my training is going well.  I feel good and I know I will get stronger everyday.

Chilly Half Marathon Training: Day 4

So today I was supposed to go to the gym for cross training and weights.  Mike had to go into work early and I had to be at the pool all day so I had to switch my rest day from Saturday to today.  I'm feeling a bit grumpy and sad about it too.

I can tell I need to do something active because I'm antsy and restless.  I can't even walk the dogs since I'm at the pool working on my computer.  I did get the work done so tomorrow when I'm out for my long run I won't have to feel guilty about not working at home.

Last night I had my first Mini Meet since taking over the Swim Academy.  It went well.  We had 97 swimmers last night which I think was a pretty good turn out.  We even had a lot of private lessons come to compete.  Tonight is our 2nd Mini Meet so I hope we have a great turn out for it!

It's snowing today.  Just flurries and it's dusting the ground, but it's snow.  Tomorrow will be a cold run, but once we get moving River and I are fine.  It will be cold on Sunday too for the race.  I just have to run harder so I won't freeze.

The rest of the training week looks like this: Friday 10k run, Saturday cross training and upper body weights, Sunday 5k race.  It's a good first week of training.  I'm feeling good and strong this week.  I know the next 15 weeks will be great!