Wake up. Breathe. Run.

This morning I woke up in a panic!  I thought I overslept and jumped out of bed!  I looked at the clock again trying mentally go through my prerun routine and how to condense it into the shortened time I had.  I then realized our clock was set ahead and my alarm wasn't ready to go off yet.  PHEW!

It was close enough that I just stayed up.  I started my routine and within a couple minutes my alarm went off.  I was very concerned about the run today so I did a lot of stretching.  Oh my.  I can barely bend at 90 degrees!  I had to get out the foam roller and get loosened up.  That helped.
As I started out the run to my friend's house I felt as if I was really stomping on my heels.  ugh, this is going to be a long run!  Once I met up with her I seemed to calm down a bit and get into a good flow.

I finished w part of mile dangling again.  I finished the 8th mile at a 8:34 pace!  My ankle and knee starting hurting a bit towards the end of the run, but it was a great finish.
Tomorrow: 4 miles, then some rest!
Monday: sprint tri

Temperature: 68 degrees
Weather: clear, no winds; 91% humidity
Motivation level: 6
Energy level: 5
Today's Quote: "Wake up.  Breathe.  Run."

today's mileage: 8 miles running

weekly mileage:  13 miles running

monthly mileage: 19 miles running; 10 miles walking; 3 miles biking

annual mileage: 186 miles running; 270 miles walking; 61 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 479 miles

Dangling Mile

I was scheduled to run 4 miles with a friend this morning.  She usually comes to my house, but I decided to meet her at her house.  She is about .42 miles from me so I figured that would be a good warm up and I could get my fast start out of the way going over there.

What a great run!  I love the morning runs, waking up the sun, hearing the night time sounds, seeing a light fog form over the cornfields.  It was truly a beautiful morning.
I wasn't sure how it would go as I had had a few fast runs lately, which usually means my shins pay for it for days after.  I felt pretty good throughout, tired but good.  I'm hoping tomorrow's 7 miler will be equally good.

As we got back to town to the corner where she went left and I went straight, I found myself with a dangling mile.  Who stops a run with .63 left on the end?  Really?  I just had to finish off that mile so I actually complete 5 today rather than just 4.



Temperature: 62degrees
Weather: clear, no winds; 100% humidity
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 8
Today's Quote: "The  most beautiful makeup for a woman is passion."

today's mileage: 5 miles running

weekly mileage:  5 miles running

monthly mileage: 11 miles running; 8 miles walking; 3 miles biking

annual mileage: 178 miles running; 268 miles walking; 61 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 469 miles

2 x 2

Today was a double training day.  The first 2 miles was with a new trainee.  We finished in 34 minutes.  The second 2 miler was to help Noelle train for cross country.  I was so excited tor her because she ran the whole thing!  We finished in 18 minutes.  Yes we were twice as fast as the first 2 miles.

I loved going fast, but my shins might pay for it later this week.  This concerns me as I will be running with my favorite running partner (besides Bill) later this week.  She will be doing 4, 7, 4 milers this week early in the morning - my favorite time of the day to run.  I am so excited to get out with someone different again.


Temperature: 76 degrees
Weather: clear, no winds; 54% humidity
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 8
Today's Quote: "To know you are one with what you are doing, to know that you are a complete athlete, begins with believing you are  a runner."  --George Sheehan

today's mileage: 4 miles running; 4 miles walking; 1 mile biking

weekly mileage:  6 miles running; 8 miles walking

monthly mileage: 6 miles running; 8 miles walking; 3 miles biking

annual mileage: 173 miles running; 268 miles walking; 61 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 464 miles

XC Training

Today we decided to get Noelle training for Cross Country season.  She starts in 2 days!  I know I know, this is not ideal to start this late, but at least we are doing something.  She is a natural printer and loves to go out fast.  We had an 8:53 start mile and then about .7 she wanted to stop and walk.  Rachael and I got her to about 1.1 miles before she finally complained of a side ache and walked.  It was all we could do to keep her going and not stop.  She kept complaining that it hurt. a lot.  She was full of grumpiness.  With all her walking breaks she was 11:10 pace for the second mile, but she did finish the full 2 miles.

Not having ran since July 17 the first mile was a push for me, but it felt great.  I wish I could run all my miles at that pace.  I know if I worked at it I could, but I just don't.

Bill has had some knee pain and has been resting.  I think I'll continue to push forward.  :(  Rachael and I have been doing a gorilla workout program and it has really been great.  It builds strength and conditions the core.  I love it.  We are on level 3 of 5 and it is really pushing my strength, but I love it.  I know I will be stronger in the end.


Temperature: 70 degrees
Weather: clear, 3mph N winds; 68% humidity
Motivation level: 9
Energy level: 8
Today's Quote: "Well done is better than well said."

today's mileage: 2 miles running

weekly mileage:  2 miles running; 4 miles walking

monthly mileage: 2 miles running; 4 miles walking; 2 miles biking

annual mileage: 169 miles running; 264 miles walking; 60 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 455 miles

Beat the Stinky Heat

Another "mid" run with my new trainee today.  Rachael ran with me this morning to beat the heat and keep safety in numbers.  We left the house about 4:45 and it was beautiful morning to be running.  Again it was a tough 2-3 miles but then got better.  My goal was an easy 10 min pace and we were dead on with that all the way through.  If it weren't for her with me I know I would have stopped.  I just didn't have the motivation this morning to be out there.

I love early morning runs.  They are so peaceful and calming.  I have really missed her nonstop chattering next to me.  We haven't had a run together in a long time.  We were almost to the turn to get to the house and I saw something on the road.  I run without my glasses and it was still dark out so I asked Rachael if it was a bird along side the road.  She said no, thought for a bit, and said, it's a skunk!  It must have been a baby one because it was very little.  She said, its tail is up!!  Holy crap.  I kept trying to focus in on it to see what it was doing.  It was running long the road, on the other side, tail up. I think our pace increased a little and I must have been thinking of ducking into the ditch because said, "You're pushing me off the road!!"  After about 2 electrical poles of panicked running, he finally ran into the ditch.  Phew.  We almost stunk more than just sweat.  So much for peaceful morning runs.


Temperature: 70 degrees
Weather: clear, 3mph SSW winds; 93% humidity
Motivation level: 3
Energy level: 5
Today's Quote: "You don't have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great."

today's mileage: 6 miles running

weekly mileage:  11 miles running; 6 miles walking

monthly mileage: 24 miles running; 21 miles walking; 2 miles biking; 1.16667miles swimming

annual mileage: 167 miles running; 241 miles walking; 58 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 447 miles

Holy hot batman!

I started helping a friend meet some goals today.  I went out to her house in the country for a short workout and then ran home.  This gave me about 5 miles.  I thought I can't be a hypocrite so I have to run home.  Wow, was it h.o.t!  I left my comfort zone on this one.  I usually avoid heat all together, especially when it tops 90 degrees.  I was very thankful for the SSE wind - it really helped to cool me and dry some of the sweat.  I downed 20 oz of fluid in these few miles.  Good thing as I had about a 9:15 pace going.  It really felt great to let loose and run.  The heat did get to me, but I really think it was mental more than physical.  I'll keep working on my discomfort zone.


Temperature: 93 degrees
Weather: partly cloudy, 12mph SSE winds 
Motivation level: 7
Energy level: 8
Today's Quote: "Success in running means leaving your comfort zone.  Learn to love your discomfort zone."

today's mileage: 5 miles running; 6 miles walking

weekly mileage:  5 miles running; 6 miles walking

monthly mileage: 18 miles running; 21 miles walking; 2 miles biking; 1.16667miles swimming

annual mileage: 161 miles running; 241 miles walking; 58 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 441 miles

Brunch

We decided to go on a brunch ride and invited the TriHawk Group.  No one took us up on the offer.  We went anyway.  We were running about a 1/2 hour later than we scheduled due to crazy scheduling.

We decided to go to Story City for brunch, like a nice healthy cinnamon roll  :)  I had been dreading this for a long time as there are noticeable hills on the way back that suck all energy from me.  The trip down was good, but I was hoping I hadn't pushed it too much that I would bonk on the way home.  We stopped and had a yummy breakfast for much longer than I had anticipated we would, but it was a good break.  I had a veggie omelet - great protein!  I had felt dehydrated before I even started so I tried to drink plenty.  That didn't work so well, but I did drink quite a lot at the restaurant.  I think that helped me get home.

Interesting observation today: my knees hurt when I ride.  Bill thought maybe it was because I use a higher gear than he does going up hills.  I don't know if it really helped.  My knee was nasty when I got off and tried to run.  About 1/2 mi into the run it felt better.  I felt amazing!  Question for Vardotrichic: Is it better to have more rotations at a lower gear or fewer rotations at a higher gear?

Thought of a 1/2 Ironman entered my mind for most of this ride.  I think this is a possibility if there isn't a minimum time requirement for the swim.

Temperature: 77 degrees
Weather: mostly clear, 8mph SSE winds 
Motivation level: 10
Energy level: 6
Today's Quote: "Running shouldn't be dreaded; it should be time to let go of everything and start over."

today's mileage: 27 miles riding; 1 mile running; 1 mile walking

weekly mileage:  1400m swimming; 1 mile running; 1 mile walking; 27 miles riding

monthly mileage: 13 miles running; 15 mile walking; 2 miles biking; 1.16667miles swimming

annual mileage: 156 miles running; 235 miles walking; 58 miles riding; 2.19792 miles swimming

TOTAL mileage: 430 miles