Finally!

I finally had a good long run today. Long as in 12 miles, which is the most distance I've done since our half. And not were I should be. But where I am, and that is life. I told Angie yesterday that maybe we need to change our attitude. Because we both sound pretty defeatist when we were talking about the marathon. So I said, "We should change our attitude from 'no way can I get ready' to 'this is an epic challenge to get prepared, but we can do it!'" So I tried to keep that in mind. And it was actually a really good run. Slow, but better than I have been doing. The cool day probably helped a lot. Today I went to a new lake! Lake Murray over in La Mesa. I liked it a lot. It was a lot cooler due to area but it also has a lot more tree cover than Miramar. Ample parking, too. The dam is blocked so it is an "in/out" run. 6 miles round trip. So I did the in/out twice. And I realize I'm all kinds of behind on my posts! I did run Friday and Saturday, 7 miles each day. Today was the best run I've had in a while. I feel a lot better about my running now. I also switched to an old pair of shoes the other day and I'm noticing that my right hamstring is a lot less tight and painful.

Gym

It finally did rain last night. Not a lot but enough to wreak havoc in San Diego. So that's approximately a tablespoon. I went to the gym today and it was pretty good. I'm really worn out and I think a lot of that is just that I'm emotionally drained. So I really didn't push too hard today. I walked at a 15% incline for 5 minutes and then "ran" at that same incline for 5. Then TSWTH. Then the usual weights and such. I can tell I haven't been for a few days. That happens quick. Running tomorrow though.

Back on Track

I got up and ran 4 on the TM this morning in my new shoes.  Seemed fine but need to be broken in so I'm reserving judgment for now but my feet certainly felt better this morning than they have recently so I'm encouraged.

Short Run

I did run today, but it was under 5 miles. It was in the afternoon and it's just so hot and humid right now. It's trying really hard to rain, which is why it's so humid I imagine. It will rain tonight. So they say. It was supposed to rain Monday, then Tuesday, then.....well, you get the picture! More tomorrow. It's supposed to rain (!) so probably gym times.

10 Miler

I did a 10 miler this morning but my feet are still bothering me.  Ran in my old shoes today.  I'm going to a running store in St. Paul tomorrow or Wednesday and see what they can tell me.  If my feet felt ok I could run a lot farther I think.  Legs and lungs feel good and strong.  So, it's just the feet.

The bib number mystery for Grandma's Marathon is resolved!  Men's numbers start at 100 and women's numbers start at 6100 so we both have very low numbers.  They are assigned according to registration order.

Healthy Heart 5K

Mike, Angie and I ran the Healthy Heart 5K in Osceola this morning.  Only 37 degrees and a slight wind so it was plenty cool.  But we got it done.  My time was 29.54 so not a PR but ok with me.  Mike was a little over 31 and Angie was about 34 I think.  So we all did pretty well.  I think they had about 200 people running and/or walking so a good turn out.  I'm planning a 10 miler for Monday.

Running

I feel so behind in my distance skills right now. I tried to run 12 miles today but I only ran 11.23. I just could do more because I felt sick. So I really need to focus and buckle down. I'm pretty sore because I've been so behind. But I am going to run tomorrow and then gym Saturday and then long run Sunday.

Gym Day

Today was a gym day and I did the usual things. I ran 5 minutes, I ran at a 15% incline for 5 minutes. Still hard. I did TSWTH for 10 minutes. Then I did weights. I am pretty tired, though. I didn't sleep well last night and I'm starting to think that all of these late nights for work are screwing with my sleep patterns. I went to bed at 10 and just laid there till 1. Another long day today but I've decided I'm going into work late. I'll sleep in a bit and still run and just work from home. And go in when I go it.

I did something!

Although it's not that impressive because today was quieter. So it's not like I just said, "Dang it, I'm doing it!" Although in a way I did. This entire thing is emotionally exhausting me. So there is that, plus I'm getting home late, going to bed late. Drinking too much coffee. So I'm already tired when I wake up! Today I turned off my alarm and slept till 6. The I did as I planned. I worked in the morning from home and went for a run at 9 am. Then I went into the office. And I did run 10 miles today! So I was pretty happy about that after all this downtime. I would have gone more but it was too hot. The heat was starting to get to me. But 10 is great. I'm already getting ready for the gym tomorrow. It's time to get back on schedule. One good thing through all of this is that I have continued eating healthfully. I have very often thought, "I really really want a cupcake." but I have not done that.

It's snowing!

Yes, it was!!  We have a good inch on everything and it's as white as it can be out there!  Unreal.  Although, a year ago today Angie, Megan, Josh and I ran the Healthy Heart 5K (which is coming up again this Saturday) in Osceola and we had some snow that morning, too.  Not like this though.  So it was inside on the TM this morning for a 4 miler.

I wore those short blue socks again and my feet were getting hot by the time I was done.  So, time to try some different socks.  Then I will start thinking it's these new shoes.  I wonder if there's a running store in the Twin Cities where I can go and be evaluated like I did that time in SD at RRS.  I'm going to find out.  Maybe my feet have changed and I need a different kind or style of shoe.  I don't know.  I just know I'll never run 26 miles if my feet feel like they did on Saturday.

14 miles

But it was hard today.  Seemed much harder than the 12 miles last Saturday.  Gorgeous morning and perfect running weather so that was great.  But my feet were really bothering me today.  I wore a pair of those short blue socks I bought at RRS a couple years ago and I've worn them many times but never for this long a run and I wonder if they were the problem.  My feet just felt hot and cramped so I ended up walking more than I have ever walked in a half marathon except for that one in Red Wing when it was 500 degrees.  But I did 14.1 miles.  Pace was terrible so we won't talk about that!

More of the same

Yes, same old, same old from here.  Tomorrow is a day off because Saturday I go outside and run 14 no matter what the weather.  Although it's supposed to be pretty nice by Saturday morning and I won't be going out until 8:30 or so.

Gym!

I had a really good day at the gym but, I tell you, this running at 15%? Or jogging I should probably say. It's HARD. Really challenging. So I ran for 5 minutes at a 1% incline (.5 mile) and then I bumped the incline to 15% and dropped the pace to 3.8. Then 3.6. Then 3.4.....but it was hard! Then I did TSWTH for 10 minutes. Then all kinds of weights. I did this ab thing where I took one of those bouncy balls (like you have) and passed it from my hands to my feet. Really difficult! I sure can feel it today! Not sure what tomorrow will bring. I was supposed to run but Mother Nature is supposed to rain! So we shall see.

Good report!

I ran 10 miles this morning! Such a relief, actually. I was worried I would get to 7 or 8 and have to stop. But, nope, I did it and it was good. Slow though. But that's the way it is now. I also ran hills at lunch. I've been not doing that so I need to get on track with that again. Gym tomorrow! And, as you know, I'm all registered for the Nike Women's Marathon!

12 mile run!

I ran 12.06 this morning!!  Ran around both 6 mile blocks.  It was 47 when I left but a pretty strong wind from the south so about 3 miles of the run was very challenging into that wind.  Otherwise, piece of cake!  Well, not exactly but I did it.  Pace overall was 11.11 so pretty slow BUT I didn't have to walk any until 10.1 miles!!  A new record for me.  It must be that Grandma's t shirt!  I wore a short sleeve tech shirt under that and long pants but no sweatshirt today.  I'm feeling good about this.  Wasn't at all sure I could do it.  But I did!

Back to the gym

I went to the gym today for a few reasons. It's been a long time since I've been, I'm doing a long run tomorrow and so I wanted to save my running skills, and I ended up working at 6 until 8 am. So I was late and the gym worked better. Anyway! I ran for 5 minutes then put the treadmill at 15% incline and "ran" that for 5 minutes. So hard! Did 4.0 today. Then I did TSWTH for 10 minutes. Lifting weights was really challenging today. But I'll get it back!

Back on track

You know, when I take time off of running because of work, I really feel at loose ends. So now I've had runs the last two days and it makes me happy. And my run today was a lot better than yesterday. Not faster, but I felt lest stiff and slow. Yesterday I could tell it had been a few days, know what I mean? Little bit cooler today but still beautiful. Gym tomorrow! Oh, by the way, I lost my run from yesterday! I must have accidentally selected to not save it. Whoops!

I did something!

My alarm went off this morning and my first instinct was to turn the darn thing off and go back to sleep! But I promptly remembered that I have not been running or gymming so I got up. And I ran 7 miles this morning! It was a totally beautiful morning. Not cold not hot. I saw a couple of other runners out there, too. Even crabby guy! I was going to go to the gym at lunch but I totally forgot my gym bag! But I don't want to get out of the gym habit. I'm seeing results from going and lifting weights!

Outside Today

It was only 38 but no wind.  Just as calm as it could be so I put on my hoodie and headed out.  Ran around the 4 mile block.  Didn't really get warm until almost mile 2 but it was very nice out there except for that.  Forgot my water bottle so ran dry this morning and that seemed to be ok, too.  I drank when I got home though!

Inside Again

Just too dark, cold (43) and windy.  So I did 4 on the TM and it really seemed like work today because I didn't want to be there.  I don't like this time change so early because it makes the mornings so dark again until way into April.

Outside

But, oh, my but the wind was terrible!  I did run 4.25 miles out there this morning.  It was 45 when I left the house so I had my big hoodie on and long pants, gloves, cap...not SD running that's for sure!  And the wind.  Wow.  I turned the corner onto 150th Ave. and thought I had run into a wall.  But I did it.  Ran the big hill 1 and 1/2 times.  Now we're going to Sam' and Cub for some more exercise!