Days 76-78: Kind of a mixed bag weekend

I think I finally have a handle on this new school schedule.  At least I hope I do.  The past 2 weeks my training has been crap. 

This weekend was pretty good though.  Saturday, James ran his first obstacle race.  He ran the Badass Dash.  He had a great time!  It was a nice race for kids.  Mike and I couldn't run the adult race for several reasons.  For me it was too close to the half marathon.  For Mike, the only times open were early in the morning and I had swim practice.  He couldn't leave James alone while he ran.  Maybe next year.

Anyway, James had a good time and loved the obstacle race!  He said his favorite obstacle was the Water Web.  He got soaked, but he loved it!  He also love that he had to climb over a bus.  Here are a few pictures from the race.

Sunday, I got up and did the Terry Fox Run with the swim team.  My groups had to run a 5k and the older kids had to do 10k.  I did 20k because I had to get my long run in sometime.  It was a beautiful day to run and it was a loop course.  I did 8 loops.  I thought I would get bored with that, but I really didn't.  It was a pretty course and it kind of made it feel faster.  I may try to do that with my next long run here.

The run itself felt really good.  I did break down and get new shoes and that has made a huge difference.  I had no pain at all in my Achilles or hamstring.  I ran an hour and a half before I did my 5 minute walk to get my honey stingers and Gatorade.  Then I did a 2 minute walk at the 2:15 mark.  This run really made me feel like I can do this half marathon.  I should be under my goal time, but we'll see.

This morning I got up and did a 2 mile recovery run with River.  It is so nice to run in cool weather.  I love running in the fall and in the spring because the weather is so awesome! 

Tomorrow I'm supposed to do a tempo run that is in total 7 miles with warm-up/cool down and the tempo part.  I think I'll take River with me as there will be times for breaks and her to get water.  I'm feeling really good about this race.  Only 34 more days!

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 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.

Days 26-28: Track Meets, Cross Training and Long Run

Wow it's been a busy 3 days!  I moved my rest day from Saturday to Friday as James had a mini meet to end his week at track and field camp.  I went to watch him compete.  He chose to do the long jump, high jump, 100 meter dash and he was on a relay.  He did well in all those events for doing them for the first time.

Here he is long jumping.

His 100 meter dash was next.  He came in 4th.  Here he is crossing the finish  line.

He did high jump, but his form still isn't quite there.  They did teach them the flop, but most of the younger kids just ran at the bar and jumped.  He was taking off of one foot though.  He said he really likes high jump.

The relay was at the end and everyone ran it.  They had divided the kids up into 4 countries and they were competing for their assigned countries all meet.  James was on the Russian team.  They ended up coming in 2nd in the relay.  Here he is passing the baton to the next runner.

He had a great time and says he wants to go back again next year.  The camp staff did a wonderful job teaching them about track and field.  We'll be signing him up for a week next summer!

Yesterday was my cross training day.  I got up early and took River for a 3.5 mile walk before I went to the gym.  It was a gorgeous morning and we really enjoyed our walk. 

Once I got to the gym, I got on the recumbent bike and did that for 35 minutes.  It didn't feel super good and it was a "just get through it" workout.  I didn't feel horrible, but I just wasn't that into it yesterday.  Then I did upper body weights.  Next week I'll be increasing the weight on a few exercises and I'm very close to increasing on a few more.  The weights felt good.

Today was my long run.  When the dogs got me up to feed them, I got ready to head out for an 8 mile run.  8 miles is the longest I've run ever.  When I was doing some training last spring, I went for an 8 mile run and twisted my knee.  That was on trails and I don't know how I did it.  So it's been awhile since I've run this far.

The route I take is very hilly which I need to do.  It's a beautiful route through the country.  There is no one out on the roads yet.  It is always peaceful.  I love running by farmer's fields and watching the cows as I run by.  I also run by River's daycare and I can hear all the dogs barking at me as I go by as the doors to the runs were open.

Today was the day I tried the Honey Stingers as I ran.  I know I have to keep my energy up and I have to have fuel for my body to draw on when I run these longer runs.  I can't do the gels because the texture makes me gag.  Someone told me to try these.  They are like fruit snacks so I can chew them.  I ate 6 of them every 40 minutes on the run.  I really liked them and I did notice a difference after eating them.  I just need to keep using them to find what will work for my on race day and what flavors I like. 

So today, I ran for 40 minutes then walked a few minutes to get the stingers and some Gatorade in me.  Then I ran for another 40 minutes and did the same thing.  I felt really good on my run and only had to walk the 2 times so eat and drink.  I just can't do that while running.  I've tried and it is never successful.  I'll keep trying though.

Like I said before this route is really hilly.  There are low rolling his and long steep ones.  I ran up every one of them!  There is even an intersection that no matter what direction you are going, you will be going up hill both ways.  That was towards the end of my run and it was not fun.  I was cursing it in my head as I was running.  But once I got up both of those hills, it was downhill and flat the rest of the way home.

I love running in the early mornings and in this cooler weather.  I just wish I could have taken River with me.  She's a great running partner and she just loves to run.  8 miles is just too long for her.  The most I'll let her run with me is a 10k.  That's pretty much her limit.

Tomorrow I'm switching things around.  I'm doing speed work and weights and Wednesday, James and I are running a virtual 5k race.  He's excited to see how his running has improved and the fact that the race is Harry Potter themed.  Our race bibs were emailed to us last week and they look cool.  It will be a good time.

Now I'm off to cross stitch the rest of the day.  Enjoy your Sunday!