Days 69-71: Kind of a mix bag

This weekend had some ups and down with my running.  Last week I was hit and miss with my training because we were getting used to the new schedule with school starting.  I think I have it under control now so hopefully that's all settled.

Saturday I ran two races.  In the morning, Mike and I drove to Niagara Falls for the Run or Dye race.  This is a color run and we had fun doing it.  I know Mike was really tired, but he was a good sport about it.  We had lots of dye packs that we were throwing in the starting chute.  On the course, every kilometer they threw a different color on you.  We had a good time and I'm looking for one to do with James next spring or summer.

Here are a few pictures from the run.

After the race we drove home in pouring rain.  Luckily is started after we were on our way home.  I ate some lunch and took a nap because I still had another race to run that night. 

Saturday night we drove to Toronto for the Night Race.  I really enjoyed this race.  It was a nice flat course and they had great pre- and post-race activities.  It was fun to run in the dark too.

Here are a few pictures from that race.

Yesterday, I had a long run scheduled.  I started out and got about 5k into it and I had some pain in my hamstring.  I went a little further and had to turn back.  I just couldn't do it.  I ended up doing just under 10k.  The pain was because I didn't use my foam roller Saturday after my races.  It was my own fault.

This morning a ran a 5k with River.  It felt really good.  I had some tightness, but not pain.  I'm going to use the foam roller a few times today and hopefully tomorrow I'll be good as new.

I'm having a good start to a busy week, but I'm ready to go!

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!