Practice Run with the kiddos

OKOK, this is a play on words.  Tomorrow is the start of IronHawks, a wellness competition of sorts at school.  I will be conducting 3 running workshops: 1-miler, 3-miler, and a 5-miler.  I will explain stretching routines, motivation techniques, hydration and nutrition, and injury prevention.  I thought I'd try out some different routes today for the workshops and thus did a "practice run".  I invited the kids to run with me today, but only Rachael and Noelle took me up on the offer.  I was surprised the babies didn't want to run.  I actually let them stay at home alone for the first time.  We did lots of talking before I left and they did a super job!

today's mileage: 3 miles running

weekly mileage: 8 miles running

monthly mileage: 37 miles running; 67 miles riding

annual mileage: 246 miles running; 79 miles riding

TOTAL mileage: 315

Negative splits

I knew I was on a recovery run, but this was started off as if I wasn't going to finish!  I've certainly had worse runs, and this was definitely headed in that direction.  Somewhere in the second mile I finally got things together and was able to move forward.

After the last 11-mile run a couple days ago that was so incredibly slow, I really just wanted to have anything less than a 10-min pace.  These were my splits:
mile 1 - 9:53
mile 2 - 9:50
mile 3 - 9:40
mile 4 - 9:24
mile 5 - 9:27
average: 9:39
While I had a rough start, Rachael had a rough ending.  She got a side ache that really pulled her down at the end so we slowed to let her work through that.  All in all, it was a good run.  Anytime you can do negative splits like this, it's a great run!

today's mileage: 5 miles running

weekly mileage: 5 miles running

monthly mileage: 34 miles running; 67 miles riding

annual mileage: 243 miles running; 79 miles riding

TOTAL mileage: 312

Reverse BRick

Today there was a threat of thunderstorms, 12mph winds gusting to 25+, but that didn't stop me!  I met a friend in Webster and we ran 11 miles.  It had been a couple months since I was in the double digits for running.  It was a very slow run, but the body was working today.  I feel like I could do Dam to Dam next weekend if I signed up.  That was good for my confidence.  I needed that.

Boy, the winds were crazy awful today.  On my way up to Webster to run the new bike trail I got a text from my bike partner asking if I still wanted to do the ride today.  Yep, I wasn't going to let a little "breeze" stop me!  She thought I was crazy.  About mile 4 on the run we were in the clear, away from trees, and I really thought I was crazy for wanting to bike in this wind.  I mentally needed to complete this, even if it went horrifically slow.

Got to Kamrar and Bill was waiting for me with the bikes.  We went to where my biking partner was and we took off from there.  WOW that was windy.  The first 10 miles into the wind we averaged about a 6 minute pace.  The last 10 miles with the wind we averaged about a 3:18 pace.  I am so pooped and ready for a nap!

today's mileage: 11 miles running; 20 miles biking

weekly mileage: 11 miles running; 20 miles biking

monthly mileage: 29 miles running; 67 miles riding

annual mileage: 238 miles running; 79 miles riding

TOTAL mileage: 307

Problem solved!

Had a rough week this week and one of my running friends did as well.  We hadn't run in quite awhile together so I invited her to go running with me this morning.  I was glad she came along because she hadn't run with anyone for awhile.  It was a slow run, but we finished about 6 miles.  I think that was the longest I've run since the accident so it felt good.  We were also able to vent to each other about a variety of issues so we got a lot of "world problems" solved in the process.  It was a good hour well-spent!  I felt so much better afterward and like there was a weight lifted from me.  Ahhhhhh.

today's mileage: 6 miles running

weekly mileage: 14 miles running

monthly mileage: 18 miles running; 47 miles riding

annual mileage: 227 miles running; 59 miles riding

TOTAL mileage: 286

Bypass

Today was a long day wearing heels!  I really just wanted to come home and crash, but as I entered the door at 7:00 tonight I decided to take Rachael out running.  Bill, Noelle, and the babies were out of town so ti was a perfect night.  The weather was great and I couldn't pass up this opportunity.

Last night I felt great and really wanted another night of good running.  I can do this!  Just a couple months ago I was running 16 miles.  That's almost the end of marathon training.  I'm strong.  I have the endurance.  I can do this.  Yes, I needed some self-talk tonight. Rachael was not very chatty.

It must be the end of the school year - I was fed twice today! While I'm trying to watch my calories and lose some inches, I did actually partake the in culinary enjoyment.  :)  First go-round was Pizza Ranch pizza. mmmm.  There was also apple dessert pizza.  That's right: only 2 pieces and dessert bypass #1.  Tonight was the senior's award's banquet, complete with a pasta bar.  Although I filled my plate with yummy pasta smothered with chicken alfredo sauce, I successfully managed dessert bypass #2: cheesecake buffet.  Two plates sat within arm's reach the entire meal!  Yep, it was a successful day.

today's mileage: 5 miles running

weekly mileage: 8 miles running

monthly mileage: 12 miles running; 47 miles riding

annual mileage: 221 miles running; 59 miles riding

TOTAL mileage: 281

The Lost Sheep

I am embarrassed to say that I'm a marathoner and I've only run 7 miles this month!  No one should be this busy!  I have no excuse.  I'm just in a slump, spiraling downward.

After I got home at 8:30 tonight I sat on the couch. looked at Bill and said, "Put your clothes on, we're going running!"  I wasn't going to go far, just to get out and say I've run sometime this month!  ack.  It felt great to be out on the pavement again.  It was like the start of a marathon after a taper - full of energy and feeling great!  Oh how I miss that feeling.

It seems like forever since I've run with Rachael.  She still wants to do another marathon with me, but will get more difficult now that she is in high school in the fall and things will be more difficult and strenuous. I'll look for a late fall marathon so as not to interrupt her cross country time.

Sometime this past winter I also lost the ANT to my Garmin and have been storing trainings in the Garmin itself.  I love being able to look at the stats on the computer so we just ordered another ANT.  I guess this means the lost will be found soon.  :)

today's mileage: 3 miles running

weekly mileage: 3 miles running

monthly mileage: 7 miles running; 47 miles riding

annual mileage: 217 miles running; 59 miles riding

TOTAL mileage: 276

What?! No running?

After my last post I realized I haven't run yet this week.  Wait a minute.....I haven't run yet this MONTH!  I need to get out there and pound some pavement, not just roll over it!

After supper I told Bill to get his shoes on because we were going running.  My goal was an Ethanol Loop - 5 miles - but when Bill came home he said the winds all of a sudden came up.  We have been having nightly storms roll through with nasty high winds so we decided to just run around town.  While running, we made some observations.
1. Running really takes more work.  It got my heart rate up so I was panting most of the way.  OKOK I really need that!
2. Biking you can coast and still get somewhere.  Yeah, you can "coast" while running, but it's just not the same; you stop.
3. According to Bill, you can take in the scenery more on a bike.  I think we're opposites with this.  I tend to look around more and enjoy my surrounds while running, which is probably why I don't like running in town all the time - I need a change of scenery!
4. The miles tick off more slowly while running.  Duh, you're moving so much slower.  I know it's obvious, but to knock off 20 miles riding is different than 4 miles running.  Bill says you are actually getting somewhere.

Early last week he really cautioned me about working up to a 20-mile ride.  He thought I was crazy for just going out and biking that much.  He mentioned tonight that it was great, other than a few hills, to ride like that.   Shhh, don't tell, but I might be able to talk him into some duathlons!

today's mileage: 4 miles running
weekly mileage: 4 miles running; 47 miles riding
monthly mileage: 4 miles running; 47 miles riding

annual mileage: 214 miles running; 59 miles riding
TOTAL mileage: 273

Great find!

It was sooo hot today!  It was mid 80s and 21mph winds from ESE.  Bill and I rode the Kamrar Loop.  It's a perfect 20 mile loop for us.  We averaged 12.8 mph.  Again with the wind it was 20+mph and into the wind about 12.  It seemed much slower than that, but it was all around a good ride.

About mile 7 I dropped my water bottle and had to turn around and pick it up.  About mile 8 Bill got a huge bug in his helmet so we stopped about mile 10 to be sure he didn't sting him or was still stuck in his helmet.  The headwind was quite strong today, or so it seemed.  Bill wanted to extend ride a bit more by going around the Ethanol Loop.  Once we got to the turn off I was so spent and "post-partum" set in that I just had to get home.  About mile 18 my numb toe(s) issue arose again.  I'm sure this will all correct itself someday with more miles.  Could have also been the heat or lack of sleep as well.

I think I got the gearing figured out.  However, sometimes I can't get the front gears to downshift.  They seem to go up ok, but not down.  I'll have to talk to the bike shop about this and see what they say.  I still really love this bike and am glad I took the plunge into the bike world.

We found a steal on a garage sale today!  It was a bike rack for the van. We can how haul them to a bike path and ride.

today's mileage: 20 miles riding
weekly mileage: 47 miles riding
monthly mileage: 0 miles running; 47 miles riding

annual mileage: 210 miles running; 59 miles riding
TOTAL mileage: 269

Post Partum

A colleague of mine who has been doing sprint tris invited me to a ride.  We have been trying to coordinate our schedules and we finally both were able to do a ride last night.  We met at school and then rode the Kamrar Loop.

There were a couple of big hills, but I did pretty well for my first big ride.  I think I want to take Bill on this route!  With the wind we were doing about 20-22mph.  Against the wind we were still able to maintain 15+mph.  We finished 21 miles in about 1 hr 15 min.  I took along some beverage and I was glad I did.  That was a good treat!

OK, I know this isn't a long ride in the big picture, but dang, I was going numb on the underside and felt like I just gave birth.  I hope this is just a side effect of being "green" on the bike.  By the end my right middle toes were going numb as well.  This happens on long runs so I think I need to exercise parts other than my legs!

today's mileage: 22 miles riding
weekly mileage: 27 miles riding
monthly mileage: 0 miles running; 27 miles riding

annual mileage: 210 miles running; 39 miles riding
TOTAL mileage: 249

Change of Garmin

Only had a short time to do anything tonight so I jumped on my bike and did an Ethanol Loop.   I was going to run immediately after, but things got kinda hairy so I just rode.  The winds felt crazy strong.  When I got home, the Internet was only report 16mph gusts, but it felt at least twice that.  I have no idea about my speed.  Am I going too fast?  to slow? about right?  I've been trying to gage this.  I figured out the bike mode in my watch so I can now log mph rather than pace, or so I thought.  Once I started riding it went back to pace so I still have to do some math.  It gives me something to think about on the ride, though; it's a good distraction.

today's mileage: 5 miles riding
weekly mileage: 5 miles riding
monthly mileage: 0 miles running; 5 miles riding

annual mileage: 210 miles running; 17 miles riding
TOTAL mileage: 227