I mean, I know that Chicken of the Sea is tuna and not chicken, but this whole "sexual napalm" thing has me confused.
Hmm. Anyway.
I did go get some new sneaks last night at Fit Right Northwest. After having such a great first fitting last year with them, last night was a letdown. Maybe he was ready to go home for the day, I don't know, but I had to prod him to sell me some new shoes. At first, he was all, "Well, the wear pattern on your current shoes is perfect, I don't think you need to switch." And I'm responding that my shoes don't feel supportive enough in long distances. Back and forth for about 15 minutes, he's telling me that aches are typical for runners (yeah, no shit, but shoes do help with that, genius), he finally checks out my gait and agrees that I do need a more supportive shoe.
So I ended up with a pair of Brooks something or rathers, which I'll try out tonight. Tonight, because I didn't get up for the gym AGAIN. Bah. I just don't have good reasoning skills at o'dark thirty. Here's what usually comes up:
It's early.
It's dark too.
I'm tired.
I'm really, really tired.
And my _______ hurts.
I need more sleep.
I can run after work.
I'm really, really, really tired.
And sore.
And then I go back to bed. When I get up later, I really wish I had gotten up to run because I really don't want to go after work. Like tonight. But I also don't want to go tomorrow morning, because that will have me running three mornings in a row.
Here's what I need to have set in my mind:
It's early.
Yes, it is. Your point? That's what I thought. Now it's later. GET UP AND GO RUN.
It's dark too.
Again with the not-so-pointy point. And look on the bright side (ha!) -- it is getting lighter earlier. You get to see the sunrise! GET UP AND GO RUN.
I'm tired.
You've been tired since you were seven. Running will leave you feeling energized, with more energy all day long. GET UP AND GO RUN.
I'm really, really tired.
You'll sleep when you're dead. Which will be in exactly two months if you don't keep up with your training. And you can sleep in on Saturday and maybe even Sunday too! If you make all your morning workouts this week, that is. GET UP AND GO RUN.
And my _______ hurts.
Again, what else is new? Tell me the last time something didn't hurt. Go ahead, I'll wait. Yeah, that's what I thought. Remember that once you're up for a few minutes it stops hurting as much as your muscles wake up for the day. And hey, if it starts to hurt worse, you can stop. GET UP AND GO RUN.
I need more sleep.
Probably. But you can go to bed early tonight. Yes, it is annoying to be in bed by 9:00 p.m. It's only for another eight weeks. And then you'll be dead. And well-rested. Looking. Well-rested looking. Remember how well-rested Uncle Bill looked? They even gave him a nice little flannel blankie to lie under. He looked well-rested. Although I bet he would've given anything to GET UP AND GO RUN. And not be dead and all.
I can run after work.
You can. But you know you don't want to. Won't want to. Plus there's a significant risk of a Burger King incident immediately thereafter. Your arteries are weeping at the very thought. And remember how much more enjoyable running is when you're still mostly asleep. It's like a dream. A torturous running dream. As opposed to being fully awake for it in the evening. And exhausted. Even more so than you are now. GET UP AND GO RUN.
I'm really, really, really tired.
Blah blah blah. I'm not even listening to you anymore. GET UP AND GO RUN.
And sore.
GET UP AND GO RUN.
Yes, the mind of a CilleyGirl is somewhat frightening at o'dark thirty. I need to get up and go run.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 50 and the Start of Week 8: Two months until Eugene!
And damn, am I tired!
Things are hopping at work, so this may be brief. Then again, I may get carpal diarrhea (I type really fast). You never know with the CilleyGirl.
Here's how I did for Week 7:
Mon/Day 43 - Rest. SUCCESS! I am talented at the resting, yes I am.
Tue/Day 44 - 4 miles. SUCCESS! I ran in the evening (boo), but I did run 4.02 miles (trying to sneak in those tenth miles where I can).
Wed/Day 45 - Rest. SUCCESS! A gold medal in resting for moi.
Thu/Day 46 - 6 miles. SUCCESS! Again, ran in the evening (double boo) but this was a great run. 6.01 miles in 1:15:00.
Fri/Day 47 - 4 miles. SORT OF! I was tired after running my six the evening before so I missed the morning workout, then went to a birthday party for the Gazelle that evening. Instead, I got up and ran on....
Sat/Day 48 - Rest. NOT REALLY! I got up early to get in the four (4.01, to be specific) I'd missed on Friday. Since Sunday would be my long run, I made this a slow and easy run.
Sun/Day 49 - 12 miles. SUCCESS! My longest run yet, one that made it oh so obvious that I need new shoes. 12.01 miles in 2:50:07. Slower than I wanted -- I did 11 miles last Sunday in 2:26:50, so thought I would be closer to 2:40 for the 12 miler. While it took me about three miles to really get into the rhythm of the run, that's when my feet started to feel every step. Tonight I'm making a run over to Fit Right Northwest to check into new shoes. I'm thinking I'd like to get something with more cush for the long runs, but stick with the New Balance 769s for the shorter runs. I can pick up a pair of those at New Balance's online store for fairly cheap.
Total mileage for the week: 26.05.
Get this -- Total mileage for February: 79.21!!!!
I can't believe this is Week 8 and that Eugene is two months away. Time to make sure those funeral plans are up to date!
Here's what's on the schedule for Week 8:
Mon/Day 50 - Rest.
Tue/Day 51 - 4 miles.
Wed/Day 52 - Rest.
Thu/Day 53 - 6 miles.
Fri/Day 54 - 4 miles.
Sat/Day 55 - Rest.
Sun/Day 56 - 14 miles.
Sunday will be a bit challenging since I am running the Red Lizard 5-Miler -- the race for which I won the entry -- and then will need to do nine more miles after that.
I also need to try to reschedule the ballet in there. Fun story: After running 12 miles I showered and dragged my aching body to the ballet. I might have skipped it in favor of resting, except that it was A Midsummer Night's Dream, the main reason I got season tickets to the ballet this season. I love Shakespeare. Anyhow, there was a short performance of another ballet (the Four Temperments), then intermission, then Midsummer. Midsummer is done in four acts. Right at the beginning of the third act (so, Quartersummer?), they stop the ballet. Seems the entire city block had lost power, so it wasn't safe for the dancers to continue. Now if I want to see the rest (and I do), I have to stuff it into my schedule between Thursday and Sunday. Just checked their schedule and they have a special Saturday matinee where you don't have to sit through the opening ballet.
And I'm back to work! I need a vacation day!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Things are hopping at work, so this may be brief. Then again, I may get carpal diarrhea (I type really fast). You never know with the CilleyGirl.
Here's how I did for Week 7:
Mon/Day 43 - Rest. SUCCESS! I am talented at the resting, yes I am.
Tue/Day 44 - 4 miles. SUCCESS! I ran in the evening (boo), but I did run 4.02 miles (trying to sneak in those tenth miles where I can).
Wed/Day 45 - Rest. SUCCESS! A gold medal in resting for moi.
Thu/Day 46 - 6 miles. SUCCESS! Again, ran in the evening (double boo) but this was a great run. 6.01 miles in 1:15:00.
Fri/Day 47 - 4 miles. SORT OF! I was tired after running my six the evening before so I missed the morning workout, then went to a birthday party for the Gazelle that evening. Instead, I got up and ran on....
Sat/Day 48 - Rest. NOT REALLY! I got up early to get in the four (4.01, to be specific) I'd missed on Friday. Since Sunday would be my long run, I made this a slow and easy run.
Sun/Day 49 - 12 miles. SUCCESS! My longest run yet, one that made it oh so obvious that I need new shoes. 12.01 miles in 2:50:07. Slower than I wanted -- I did 11 miles last Sunday in 2:26:50, so thought I would be closer to 2:40 for the 12 miler. While it took me about three miles to really get into the rhythm of the run, that's when my feet started to feel every step. Tonight I'm making a run over to Fit Right Northwest to check into new shoes. I'm thinking I'd like to get something with more cush for the long runs, but stick with the New Balance 769s for the shorter runs. I can pick up a pair of those at New Balance's online store for fairly cheap.
Total mileage for the week: 26.05.
Get this -- Total mileage for February: 79.21!!!!
I can't believe this is Week 8 and that Eugene is two months away. Time to make sure those funeral plans are up to date!
Here's what's on the schedule for Week 8:
Mon/Day 50 - Rest.
Tue/Day 51 - 4 miles.
Wed/Day 52 - Rest.
Thu/Day 53 - 6 miles.
Fri/Day 54 - 4 miles.
Sat/Day 55 - Rest.
Sun/Day 56 - 14 miles.
Sunday will be a bit challenging since I am running the Red Lizard 5-Miler -- the race for which I won the entry -- and then will need to do nine more miles after that.
I also need to try to reschedule the ballet in there. Fun story: After running 12 miles I showered and dragged my aching body to the ballet. I might have skipped it in favor of resting, except that it was A Midsummer Night's Dream, the main reason I got season tickets to the ballet this season. I love Shakespeare. Anyhow, there was a short performance of another ballet (the Four Temperments), then intermission, then Midsummer. Midsummer is done in four acts. Right at the beginning of the third act (so, Quartersummer?), they stop the ballet. Seems the entire city block had lost power, so it wasn't safe for the dancers to continue. Now if I want to see the rest (and I do), I have to stuff it into my schedule between Thursday and Sunday. Just checked their schedule and they have a special Saturday matinee where you don't have to sit through the opening ballet.
And I'm back to work! I need a vacation day!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Friday, February 26, 2010
Day 47: The continuing saga of a socky foot.
I did my six mile run after work last night. It went pretty well, particularly after I figured out that when your feet are larger in the evenings (as they are), you need to LOOSEN YOUR STUPID SHOELACES. Or your feet will go numb and your legs will cramp, yadda yadda yadda.
I really did not want to go run, so I decided I would set my iPod for three miles and see how it went from there. Funny that three miles now seems like such a breeze. At three miles, I decided I might as well run four. Somewhere between three and four miles, I hit the perfect stride. That stride where you can just keep going and going. And going.
Which is what I did, as at the end of mile four I figured I might as well run five, and by the end of mile five I only had one more mile to go and it would be silly to stop then. Plus I had that great stride going.
An interesting thing I learned about the great stride is that when your mind doesn't have to constantly coach or cheer your body along, that's when little tiny circles at the gym get really, really boring. I'm running along, thinking "I could do this forever!" And immediately another voice popped up in my head: "But we aren't going to do this forever, are we? Aren't we done yet? Please? Stop? Stop now? How about now? How about now?"
You get the picture.
In retrospect, I pretty much hit the same stride during last Sunday's long run, but since it was a beautiful day on a beautiful trail my brain had something else to occupy its time. Unlike last night, when I had to start thinking up things to distract myself: Hot guys, kissing, kissing hot guys, last time I'd kissed a guy, that guy down there is kinda cute, is he wearing a wedding ring, going out on Friday night, maybe I'd get to kiss a guy there..... Fairly random junk.
But on to the socky foot part of the story. It's not my dog's socky foot this time, although if you need a CBS update knock on her big, wooden head it seems that she's finally stopped licking it. And I still haven't found the scrunchie I was using to anchor her socky foot. It's a little disturbing, that. Anyhow, I crawled into bed shortly after getting home from the gym, and was just absolutely freezing. I had the heat cranked, I had a snuggly dog, nice down comforter, and still freezing. I finally got out the warm socks -- I hate to sleep in socks -- and that did the trick. I woke up at some point in the night, realizing that I was now only wearing one sock. Sleepily wondering where the other sock was, I drifted back off. CBS woke me up a little later to go outside, when I rediscovered I still had only one sock on. Which I again rediscovered five minutes later when I came back upstairs to get back into bed and realized I'm walking around with only one sock on and not noticing. It was a six mile run, you know? At the end of the saga, I pulled off the die hard sock, found its errant brother up near my pillow (?), and went back to sleep.
And did not make my four mile run this morning. I have a good case going of the sniffles :( Thankfully, alcohol kills germs, so I should be certain to drink plenty alcohol tonight at the birthday party to which I am going.
I got nothing more exciting than that (as exciting as all that was).
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
I really did not want to go run, so I decided I would set my iPod for three miles and see how it went from there. Funny that three miles now seems like such a breeze. At three miles, I decided I might as well run four. Somewhere between three and four miles, I hit the perfect stride. That stride where you can just keep going and going. And going.
Which is what I did, as at the end of mile four I figured I might as well run five, and by the end of mile five I only had one more mile to go and it would be silly to stop then. Plus I had that great stride going.
An interesting thing I learned about the great stride is that when your mind doesn't have to constantly coach or cheer your body along, that's when little tiny circles at the gym get really, really boring. I'm running along, thinking "I could do this forever!" And immediately another voice popped up in my head: "But we aren't going to do this forever, are we? Aren't we done yet? Please? Stop? Stop now? How about now? How about now?"
You get the picture.
In retrospect, I pretty much hit the same stride during last Sunday's long run, but since it was a beautiful day on a beautiful trail my brain had something else to occupy its time. Unlike last night, when I had to start thinking up things to distract myself: Hot guys, kissing, kissing hot guys, last time I'd kissed a guy, that guy down there is kinda cute, is he wearing a wedding ring, going out on Friday night, maybe I'd get to kiss a guy there..... Fairly random junk.
But on to the socky foot part of the story. It's not my dog's socky foot this time, although if you need a CBS update knock on her big, wooden head it seems that she's finally stopped licking it. And I still haven't found the scrunchie I was using to anchor her socky foot. It's a little disturbing, that. Anyhow, I crawled into bed shortly after getting home from the gym, and was just absolutely freezing. I had the heat cranked, I had a snuggly dog, nice down comforter, and still freezing. I finally got out the warm socks -- I hate to sleep in socks -- and that did the trick. I woke up at some point in the night, realizing that I was now only wearing one sock. Sleepily wondering where the other sock was, I drifted back off. CBS woke me up a little later to go outside, when I rediscovered I still had only one sock on. Which I again rediscovered five minutes later when I came back upstairs to get back into bed and realized I'm walking around with only one sock on and not noticing. It was a six mile run, you know? At the end of the saga, I pulled off the die hard sock, found its errant brother up near my pillow (?), and went back to sleep.
And did not make my four mile run this morning. I have a good case going of the sniffles :( Thankfully, alcohol kills germs, so I should be certain to drink plenty alcohol tonight at the birthday party to which I am going.
I got nothing more exciting than that (as exciting as all that was).
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Day 45: Plat maps are evil but eye candy is good.
I am so sick of plat maps. If you have never seen a plat map, count yourself lucky. If you have seen a plat map, well then you probably can't see this post because the plat map has driven you BLIND.
But thankfully I don't have to trace a legal description on a survey. That will seriously make your head explode.
Anyhow.
Today is a rest day, which I really need because last night's run was again ragged with a capital RUH. I'd been feeling like I had a slight strain in my left calf muscle, and apparently I actually did. Which translated during my run into some serious shin pain in that leg. I haven't had anything resembling shin splints in, gosh, close to six months? Since I got my latest pair of sneaks. Hmm, maybe it's time to consider a new pair.
Actually, my whole lower body was one big cramp for most of the run. I've realized that typically when I first start out I tend to run almost stiff legged. A lot of books say that your stride shouldn't be much more than an animated shuffle. Well, mine during those times is more like Frankenstein's animated shuffle. Another thing I've noticed and been playing with is that it is often easier for me to run with a more open stride. This is also faster for me. However, I can't sustain it for long until I'm warmed up and loose. I am trying to keep my stride open. It makes me feel like a real runner.
I've also realized (lots of realizations lately) that I'd rather work on being a runner than on losing weight. Does that make sense? Kind of a chicken and the egg thing, I think. If I focus on losing weight, then I have to restrict my calories *and* exercise. I wouldn't be able to keep up this training schedule on restricted calories, plus I've put on a ton of muscle since I've started running. But if I work on being a runner -- keep working on the stride thing, the improved cardio fitness, etc. -- then once I'm out of marathon training it should start to positively impact weight loss. Yes? No? Maybe? Just stuff I've been noodling on during my runs....
.... When there aren't HOT FIREFIGHTERS around to ogle. I was off work early yesterday for the dentist, and I went straight to the gym from there. Where I found a gym full of hot Portland firefighters. Sadly, not really playing basketball (as in, in the prime ogling area of the gym) but scattered throughout the gym. Still, it was nice. And many of them were in a much better vantage point to notice how fabulous my ass looks in spandex. Or how close I was to needing mouth to mouth resuscitation. Either one works for me.
Oh, and getting back to the actual running news, I logged my four miles. On massively cramping legs, but that's okay. There is some stretching and a hot bath in lavender bath salts (thanks Ms. Gazelle! Happy birthday!) in my near future. I'm guessing the aches are my body's way of pointing out how many miles I ran last week. Although, as I ran I was thinking about how if that is the highest level of pain I have during the marathon that that would be okay. And during the marathon, I probably won't be running four miles solid at any given time, what with water stations and so forth. Even walking for ten or fifteen seconds helped last night.
Break time over. Back to plat maps!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
But thankfully I don't have to trace a legal description on a survey. That will seriously make your head explode.
Anyhow.
Today is a rest day, which I really need because last night's run was again ragged with a capital RUH. I'd been feeling like I had a slight strain in my left calf muscle, and apparently I actually did. Which translated during my run into some serious shin pain in that leg. I haven't had anything resembling shin splints in, gosh, close to six months? Since I got my latest pair of sneaks. Hmm, maybe it's time to consider a new pair.
Actually, my whole lower body was one big cramp for most of the run. I've realized that typically when I first start out I tend to run almost stiff legged. A lot of books say that your stride shouldn't be much more than an animated shuffle. Well, mine during those times is more like Frankenstein's animated shuffle. Another thing I've noticed and been playing with is that it is often easier for me to run with a more open stride. This is also faster for me. However, I can't sustain it for long until I'm warmed up and loose. I am trying to keep my stride open. It makes me feel like a real runner.
I've also realized (lots of realizations lately) that I'd rather work on being a runner than on losing weight. Does that make sense? Kind of a chicken and the egg thing, I think. If I focus on losing weight, then I have to restrict my calories *and* exercise. I wouldn't be able to keep up this training schedule on restricted calories, plus I've put on a ton of muscle since I've started running. But if I work on being a runner -- keep working on the stride thing, the improved cardio fitness, etc. -- then once I'm out of marathon training it should start to positively impact weight loss. Yes? No? Maybe? Just stuff I've been noodling on during my runs....
.... When there aren't HOT FIREFIGHTERS around to ogle. I was off work early yesterday for the dentist, and I went straight to the gym from there. Where I found a gym full of hot Portland firefighters. Sadly, not really playing basketball (as in, in the prime ogling area of the gym) but scattered throughout the gym. Still, it was nice. And many of them were in a much better vantage point to notice how fabulous my ass looks in spandex. Or how close I was to needing mouth to mouth resuscitation. Either one works for me.
Oh, and getting back to the actual running news, I logged my four miles. On massively cramping legs, but that's okay. There is some stretching and a hot bath in lavender bath salts (thanks Ms. Gazelle! Happy birthday!) in my near future. I'm guessing the aches are my body's way of pointing out how many miles I ran last week. Although, as I ran I was thinking about how if that is the highest level of pain I have during the marathon that that would be okay. And during the marathon, I probably won't be running four miles solid at any given time, what with water stations and so forth. Even walking for ten or fifteen seconds helped last night.
Break time over. Back to plat maps!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 44 and figuring out which week this is
Today is definitely Day 44 in my training. I also learned last night that this is Week 7, not Week 8, and I edited the last post accordingly. Yes, the days to start to blur together after a while, particularly when I am busy busy at work. Like now. My affinity for the human race is at an all-time low right now. I feel like one of those wind-up toys. Wind me up, stand me up, point me in the right direction and off I run. Wind me up, sit me down, put papers in front of me and off I um, produce. It's extra special fun when my boss is losing his mind. Like now.*
As an example of how mixed up I am right now -- other than confusing my weeks, that is -- last night I was checking my training schedule, checking a few things in the Whitsett book, reading Runner's World, getting out my running gear for this morning, and going to bed early since I was running this morning. And then I forgot to set my alarm back for a gym day. So I'll be going this evening, after a trip to the dentist. Hopefully I'll have some hot firefighter eye candy again.
I did get some fabulous news last night, which I just confirmed this morning:
Gotta get back to the daily grind! Happy Tuesday!!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
* Don't worry. I never say anything here about my boss that I wouldn't say to him directly. Or already have said. I'm a stream of consciousness kind of gal.
As an example of how mixed up I am right now -- other than confusing my weeks, that is -- last night I was checking my training schedule, checking a few things in the Whitsett book, reading Runner's World, getting out my running gear for this morning, and going to bed early since I was running this morning. And then I forgot to set my alarm back for a gym day. So I'll be going this evening, after a trip to the dentist. Hopefully I'll have some hot firefighter eye candy again.
I did get some fabulous news last night, which I just confirmed this morning:
Congratulations! You were chosen as the winner in the Red Lizard Five Miler entry contest. Hooray!How cool is that? This is from the RunOregon blog, which I read faithfully. Funny thing, I've always wondered if anyone actually won these contests, because while I see (and enter) the contests all the time I've never seen the winners' names posted. They must post them in the actual newspaper, I guess. But now I know! Doubly cool because I ran it last year and liked it (except for the pouring rain), but wasn't going to do it this year because I'm saving all my extra cash (such that it is) for the marathon weekend. Now I'll be running this race on March 7. Yay me!
Gotta get back to the daily grind! Happy Tuesday!!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
* Don't worry. I never say anything here about my boss that I wouldn't say to him directly. Or already have said. I'm a stream of consciousness kind of gal.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Week 6 recap; setting up for Week 7 and being almost halfway there!
I was sore from yesterday's long run so I didn't get a chance to post my weekly recap. Let's see now how I did for Week 6, shall we?
Mon/Day 36 - Rest. SUCCESS! As always, a rest day is a tough challenge but one I keep managing to meet. And does that sentence even make any sense?
Tue/Day 37 - 4 miles. SUCCESS! Logged 4.01 miles. Had the extra-added bonus of watching hot firefighters play basketball while I did it too.
Wed/Day 38 - Weights. NOPE! As I've mentioned before, I'm going to have to cut the cross-training day from my schedule. I just can not do four mornings at the gym in a row. I could probably do three, but not four. I need the extra sleep too much.
Thu/Day 39 - 5 miles. SUCCESS! I logged 5.01 miles and did it in just under an hour too.
Fri/Day 40 - 4 miles. SUCCESS! Logged 4 miles even and had the hot firefighter eye candy again. Yummy!
Sat/Day 41 - Rest. SUCCESS! I had to work so it wasn't as resty as I would have liked, but there was no running or other exercise involved. Except for full-contact dog bathing.
Sun/Day 42 - 11 miles. SUCCESS! I originally posted this would be 12 miles, but it was only 11 per the training schedule. I logged 11 miles and it took me only five minutes longer to run it than the 10 miles I did last week.
Total miles for the week: 24.03. Holy crap!!
It was a challenge to get the runs in this week; I ended up running in the evenings two out of three of the week days. While I'm glad I did the runs, the problem is that my carrot to get myself into the gym in the evenings to make up a run involves big, greasy hamburgers and french fries. It is healthier for me to lose out on a little bit of sleep and go run in the mornings. I'm definitely feeling the bad burger decisions in my tummy. Saturday, just the idea of Burger King made me a little nauseous. I'm going to keep that in mind this week.
Speaking of the tummy, kind of a challenging long run yesterday. The first mile was all about whether there was sufficient ground cover on either side of the trail in case my tummy did reach critical mass. Thankfully it dialed back for the next couple of miles, but running a short steep downhill set everything off again and it was a close call getting to the facilities at the next trail head. I'm so happy there were facilities though -- I was definitely eyeing every tree, shrub, and stand of tall grass by that point. The run got much better after that. I'm working on being mindful of hydration and fuel and I did pretty good yesterday. I was dragging through the last mile, however; if I had been going farther it would have been time to Gu. Since it was the last mile, I didn't but I was definitely feeling it.
The Whitsett book said I should be feeling a lot fewer aches and pains by now as my body has become more acclimated to this running thing, and in fact it has. I'm still a little stiff and sore today but nothing like in weeks past. And I am very happy about that. In the past, when I had that horrible hip pain I would have dialed things back or quit running all together until it felt better. This time, I kept going right on through it -- although by now I need stock in Advil -- and it has finally worked itself out. I feel a long stronger, both mentally and physically, as a consequence.
So, this week is Week 7. That means after this week I will be nearly halfway through my training! It also means that the marathon will be only a couple of months away. Yikes!
Mon/Day 43 - Rest.
Tue/Day 44 - 4 miles.
Wed/Day 45 - Rest.
Thu/Day 46 - 6 miles.
Fri/Day 47 - 4 miles.
Sat/Day 48 - Rest.
Sun/Day 49 - 12 miles.
The six miles on Thursday should be interesting. I'll have to get up so early it won't even be o'dark thirty. It will just be o'dark.
Here's hoping we all have a wonderful week!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Mon/Day 36 - Rest. SUCCESS! As always, a rest day is a tough challenge but one I keep managing to meet. And does that sentence even make any sense?
Tue/Day 37 - 4 miles. SUCCESS! Logged 4.01 miles. Had the extra-added bonus of watching hot firefighters play basketball while I did it too.
Wed/Day 38 - Weights. NOPE! As I've mentioned before, I'm going to have to cut the cross-training day from my schedule. I just can not do four mornings at the gym in a row. I could probably do three, but not four. I need the extra sleep too much.
Thu/Day 39 - 5 miles. SUCCESS! I logged 5.01 miles and did it in just under an hour too.
Fri/Day 40 - 4 miles. SUCCESS! Logged 4 miles even and had the hot firefighter eye candy again. Yummy!
Sat/Day 41 - Rest. SUCCESS! I had to work so it wasn't as resty as I would have liked, but there was no running or other exercise involved. Except for full-contact dog bathing.
Sun/Day 42 - 11 miles. SUCCESS! I originally posted this would be 12 miles, but it was only 11 per the training schedule. I logged 11 miles and it took me only five minutes longer to run it than the 10 miles I did last week.
Total miles for the week: 24.03. Holy crap!!
It was a challenge to get the runs in this week; I ended up running in the evenings two out of three of the week days. While I'm glad I did the runs, the problem is that my carrot to get myself into the gym in the evenings to make up a run involves big, greasy hamburgers and french fries. It is healthier for me to lose out on a little bit of sleep and go run in the mornings. I'm definitely feeling the bad burger decisions in my tummy. Saturday, just the idea of Burger King made me a little nauseous. I'm going to keep that in mind this week.
Speaking of the tummy, kind of a challenging long run yesterday. The first mile was all about whether there was sufficient ground cover on either side of the trail in case my tummy did reach critical mass. Thankfully it dialed back for the next couple of miles, but running a short steep downhill set everything off again and it was a close call getting to the facilities at the next trail head. I'm so happy there were facilities though -- I was definitely eyeing every tree, shrub, and stand of tall grass by that point. The run got much better after that. I'm working on being mindful of hydration and fuel and I did pretty good yesterday. I was dragging through the last mile, however; if I had been going farther it would have been time to Gu. Since it was the last mile, I didn't but I was definitely feeling it.
The Whitsett book said I should be feeling a lot fewer aches and pains by now as my body has become more acclimated to this running thing, and in fact it has. I'm still a little stiff and sore today but nothing like in weeks past. And I am very happy about that. In the past, when I had that horrible hip pain I would have dialed things back or quit running all together until it felt better. This time, I kept going right on through it -- although by now I need stock in Advil -- and it has finally worked itself out. I feel a long stronger, both mentally and physically, as a consequence.
So, this week is Week 7. That means after this week I will be nearly halfway through my training! It also means that the marathon will be only a couple of months away. Yikes!
Mon/Day 43 - Rest.
Tue/Day 44 - 4 miles.
Wed/Day 45 - Rest.
Thu/Day 46 - 6 miles.
Fri/Day 47 - 4 miles.
Sat/Day 48 - Rest.
Sun/Day 49 - 12 miles.
The six miles on Thursday should be interesting. I'll have to get up so early it won't even be o'dark thirty. It will just be o'dark.
Here's hoping we all have a wonderful week!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Friday, February 19, 2010
I think it's Day 40... I do know it's Friday!!
Swamped beyond belief at work right now, so just a quick check in. I ran my five miles yesterday morning, only took about three minutes at o'dark thirty to convince myself to go. Yay me! The run was a little ragged again and I think it is an issue with my pre-run fueling. My usual is a 100-calorie granola bar. In the past, that's been good for me but I think as my "short" runs are no longer so short and the weekly mileage is adding up that that is no longer adequate fuel for me. So now I need to figure out an alternative that works both in terms of fuel and tummy. I'm going to try Gu or Clif Shot Bloks for a few days, then try a Clif bar for a few days as well. The main issue with pre-run fuel is that for almost all runs we're talking a pre-run time of 30 minutes max. On average, it is about 15 minutes before I run. I've also been extra thirsty on runs the past couple of weeks as well. Again, ideally I'd hydrate an hour or so before as the experts suggest, but I just don't have that kind of lead time.
The hip is slowly getting better. I'm hoping that means it is getting stronger and that that was the problem all along, rather than I'm getting a stress fracture in my hip or some such nightmare.
Okay, back to work. Almost forgot -- I goofed on what I thought my training plan was for the week, my Sunday long run is only (ha! "only"!!) 11 miles rather than the 12 I thought it was. So now I'm all mentally prepared for next week as well, yes?
Have a wonderful weekend, my cilley fwends. I'm doing full contact dog bathing tomorrow and maybe putting in some hours at work so I may not be around until late Sunday. Then again, if I'm at work then I should have plenty of time for blogging!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
The hip is slowly getting better. I'm hoping that means it is getting stronger and that that was the problem all along, rather than I'm getting a stress fracture in my hip or some such nightmare.
Okay, back to work. Almost forgot -- I goofed on what I thought my training plan was for the week, my Sunday long run is only (ha! "only"!!) 11 miles rather than the 12 I thought it was. So now I'm all mentally prepared for next week as well, yes?
Have a wonderful weekend, my cilley fwends. I'm doing full contact dog bathing tomorrow and maybe putting in some hours at work so I may not be around until late Sunday. Then again, if I'm at work then I should have plenty of time for blogging!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
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