Four Mile Success (Win)

This morning was my first long run of half marathon training.  I set out for four miles and went just a bit over!  I was determined this this morning was going to be the morning I earned my new Birkenstock sandals for getting my 5k time under 40 minutes. But I was just over by 25 seconds. Another run, my next run, will be the time that I earn my sandals!  I can't wait--now that school is starting I'll love having a second pair of Birkenstocks to wear to work.  They are so great on my feet.

I ran a new route, or mostly new route this morning for my four miles. It was nice. I only had a short stretch of road that I have never run on, but I was familiar with the area from driving that road many, many times.  I ran past my old apartment complex and was reminded of when I first started running and spent a few times just doing laps around the complex instead of getting out on the real roads. I've come along way since then for sure. 

Today I had an easy time running the first three miles, but had a tough time with the last mile (which includes an uphill climb). I survived and made him home still not needing sunglasses. Tomorrow is a run of 3 miles. I will have to decide  what route I will take. I will push to get my time under 40 minutes so I can earn my sandals.  Next, I'll have to decide what I am goal I am going to set for a reward of a new hat!

Where is "The Zone"? (Loss)

This morning was a tough run.  But, I don't know why...

I went to bed at 20:30 last night and fell asleep right away.  Then I was up only a few minutes before my alarm sounded this morning.  I got very close to a full eight hours of sleep.  I checked my email and Facebook and the weather before getting up from bed. I ate my cheese stick and had a few sips of Vitamin Water before getting dressed like I always do.  But somehow by this time it was already 05:00 and I was just putting my running clothes on.  I have been trying to make it out the door by this time so that I won't need sunglasses and I will have more time to get things done before going to work.  Now that I am back on contract I have to get to work on time and not take a morning nap for two hours after my run.

Once I was out on the road I turned on Endomondo and Pandora on my phone. Last night I downloaded 10k Trainer to my phone which is the next step after the C25K app.  I decided to use this today and it would help me push through to fewer walking breaks on my run.  I turned this on last.  I set out walking and walking and walking... wait--shouldn't my 10k Trainer app have told me it was time to start running by now?  Usually I am running by this point on the road.  I checked my phone and BLURG! (thanks Liz Lemon) the app restarted and wasn't timing anything. So I walked to the next streetlight and then starting running.

Yeah, that didn't work out well either, by the time I reached the corner I was pooped.  I pushed on a little further and then just walked.  I tried a few more times to run, but it just wasn't happening this morning.  I walked the rest of the way and went the full distance. I did not take the shortcut home, but I didn't go an extra lap around my complex which would have surely put me over 3.0 miles. 

But, this is kind of how my whole morning went. I forgot to wash my hair in the shower this morning, didn't make coffee last night so I had to make it after I got home from my "run" walk. Then, when I left for work I forgot my phone at home. I realized this only about 4 miles away from home, and then proceeded to check if I had my FitBit. Check--I had my FitBit, so I decided it wasn't worth going home to get my phone. 

Tomorrow is a rest day for running, but I might try to go out for a short run and try to set the tone for my long run on Saturday. Maybe I'll try a new route just to change things up a little bit. 

Let The Training OFFICIALLY Begin (Win)

Training began this morning.  Actually the calendar for training started yesterday, but it was a rest day--a much needed [second] rest day after six straight days of "killer week" running.

This morning started with a three-mile run.  I used a route that I have run before. It went well over all. I really tried to reach my 40 minute goal for my three miles--but was just one minute over! I might have done better if I wasn't running into the wind, but that is only an excuse--it was nice to have a breeze for a while.

I need to work on pushing myself back up to a full 30 minutes of running on the road.  I reached the 30 minutes (plus two minutes) on the treadmill, but haven't yet made it out on the road.  About 15 minutes straight is all that I can do, but I'm working on boosting that up.

Tomorrow is another rest day, and Thursday another three mile run. I am looking forward to it (and kind of wishing that I could run tomorrow). Gym after a day at work tomorrow.  But the best news of all, I don't have to go to the all day training on Thursday for a math curriculum that I won't be using, so I'll have an extra day to work in my classroom (but there will not be any other teachers there to talk to when I need a break).

There Is No Walking In Running (Win)

I probably haven't seen the movie "A League Of Their Own" which the quote, "there is no crying in baseball" comes from (gasp--I know!  A Tom Hanks movie nonetheless...) But this morning I kept reminding myself "there is no walking in running."  I had been doing great running on the treadmills at the gym in the air conditioning during the afternoons; but I am finding it much harder to do those same runs on the road.  It feels different and it is much, much more disgusting. I am sweatier, and my body hurts in different ways. But, I am getting better!  Today I had a three second improvement on my 3 mile time! Still working on getting it under 40 minutes but I am getting there.  I feel like I am starting over a little bit after spending so much time on the treadmills during a really lazy running period. 

I LOVE my new headphones. The orange Yurbuds that arrived yesterday are great.  The sound is amazing and they are super comfortable and soft in my ears.  While in Flagstaff I bought a pair at Best Buy--the kind with the over-the-ear hook. But I ended up returning them because it was the hook part that really hurt my ear.  Plus, the new ones are the women's size, where the other ones were not.  They did not budge one bit during my run this morning. Love them! 

Two more days of left of Killer Week remain. Tomorrow is two 2 1/2 mile runs (a.m. and p.m.) and Sunday one last 4+ mile run. My shins are really going to be glad when it is over and I can take a rest day (or two). Once I am back to my regular routine, I might keep the two canal routes as my regular weekday routes. But, I'll have to wait to see what this school year brings...

Hell Is Interval Training (Win)

This morning, as part of Killer Week, I went for a long run in intervals.  I set out for a 4 1/2 mile run and was really close to going the full distance. I could have walked a lap around my complex but I was on a time crunch to get home to register for a big race. 

I used a program on my iPod called "Seconds" which has templates for different kinds of timers.  I used the one called "HIIT" and set it for a five minute warm up, running segments of one minute and walking segments of one minute ten seconds.  The warm up was nice, but after a few of the running segments my legs really began to hurt. It wasn't a sustained pain during the running, but the first two or three steps when I started running were really painful each time.  I haven't had a rest day this week, and I am sure that's part of it. But I pushed through it and took one unplanned walk break. I was glad to finally make it home.

Once I got home I quickly changed in to my post-run PJs and grabbed my computer so that I could register for The Zion Half Marathon.  The race is in March of next year, about a month after I plan to do my first half marathon in Pasadena. Race registration began at 08:00 in MDT this morning, and the first 500 people to register get an "in training" t-shirt for free!  I was able to get registered for the race, but I don't know if I was early enough to get the t-shirt. I guess I'll find out soon.

It is almost too bad that today wasn't a bad day because I came home to find everything that I've ordered recently had been delivered! My Road ID bracelet came one day early, my insulated water bottles arrived on time, and my Yurbuds headphones (in orange) finally arrived after a mishap with the shipping address.  Yay! Tomorrow is going to be an awesome run: new water bottle to help keep my Vitamin Water cold, my awesome Yurbuds to listen to some great music with quality sound, and my Road ID which would speak for me if I couldn't speak for myself after an accident. Hopefully the 3 1/2 miles goes well and the weather is cool, and there is a slight breeze..