Marathon Dreamer

A little better.... but still not "quite right."  Cut the run just a little short... We got rain!!!!

Nice and easy along the malecon....no watch and I don't really care about pace right now... maybe I will care again next week...LOL!!!

Ran 2 miles with Abel... and then he was complaining of pain to his right quad which has been bothering him the last few days.... we walked the last 2 as I was concerned for him.  I liked the walk....when you run all the time, it is a nice change.

3.2 slow and easy miles on the malecon with the Mazatlan Running Group.... afterwards, they surprised me with a going away breakfast complete with a beautiful framed picture and nice necklace that has a hand carved runner in wood for a pendant.  I love my running friends here in Mazatlan.  I can't tell you how much I am going to miss all of them... afterall, they really have seen me at my best and at my worst through my training for the marathon.  They have been my fans and supporters... something very special to me.

REST....

Poor sleep last night....4.5 miles done this morning... very warm and humid!! Started at Las Gavias on the malecon and decided to run home from there after dropping our truck off at the body shop.  Oh .... by the way, forgot to mention that while we were in San Luis Potosi, my husband hit a flat bed tow truck which totally dented in our front driver's side front quarter panel... talk about stressful!!  Well, at least it's only gonna cost about $270 US dollars to repair here in Mexico vs. $3,000 that it would have been in the states!!!  Just crossing my fingers that we get the truck back in a timely fashion.... we leave on Wednesday for AZ and will say goodbye to Mazatlan.  I am really gonna miss it here.  I feel like I have finally come into my own here and found myself.  I have been so lucky to have met some great people here and I feel they will be lifelong friends.

Running still doesn't feel that great.... my legs are tired, heavy and fatigued.  Still waiting for my gusto... I can't seem to muster anything more than a 8:50 pace.... UGH. 

Here's a picture of me with my friends at the going away breakfast they had for me.... 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13261273&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=1031575042&id=833100074 

Ran up towards town to get my husband some meds at the pharmacy.  Ran mid to low 8's.  Starting to feel like I may be getting a little strength and speed back.  Our truck is in the shop.  He has been so sick the past 2 days!!!  Poor guy.  We are expecting a friend in town today and will be taking a taxi to the airport to get him later.  We are picking up a rental car for the next few days.  Crossing my fingers in hopes that our truck repairs look good....

Didn't sleep that great.... chugged 8 beers down yesterday and was feeling the effects of a small hangover this morning.  Whenever I do this, I actually make myself run - call it brutality of self... but I figure if I'm gonna play then I better be willing to pay!!  Met Abel early and hit the hills and lighthouse.... total of 5 butt kicker miles done and I was gasping for air at times.  I am thinking that I have Asthma or a touch of emphysema.  I really do struggle to breath more than most and I don't think that it is necessarily that they are in better shape than me.  The humidity really does a job on my breathing.  I faired pretty well and on the way back actually felt good!!  Planning to drink water today... and then, probably will be having a beer later.  Yeah... we have company, so beer, food and fun will ensue!!

Woke up at 5am and it was pouring out... I hate to run in the rain.... I know, I know... what a big baby... so, I did P90X cardio X then 20 mins of plyometrics... decided to cut that short because I was worried I wouldn't be able to walk tomorrow... never mind run!!!

First long run since the marathon.... thought I was gonna bonk at mile 7.... WTH!?  Pushed through that feeling and then ran with a random Mexican dude for 3 miles at a 7:40 pace or so.... nice guy but yow.  OUCH.  10 miles done and happy I did it.  Probably shouldn't have done all those squats and pushups yesterday cause I was sore today!!!  However, I think that P90X needs to be in my workout routine more regularly.  Although the cardio X really didn't feel that hard for my breathing, it really did somethin' big time to my butt!!  Holy goodness gracious!!!! 

I start back with my marathon training this week although it will be challenging as I will be moving back to the states too and then getting settled again....  

5 miles EZ at 9:21 per mile pace... felt harder because of the humidity... 

Starting to feel like my old self... getting a little speed back in these legs, but I really do need to do something about my foot.  This plantar fasciitis is starting to hurt if I stand on my feet too long.  That's gonna be an issue, especially if I go back to working as a nurse in a hospital setting... totally hurts!!!!

4 miler on the El Cid Golf course.... real pretty run and ran around an 8:20-8:30 pace.... then my garmin malfunctioned....WTH!! 

REST today... flying back to the states!!

4 treadmill miles... I am a bit sore today so kept the pace between a 9:05-9:13 min per mile.  I have started back with doing weighted squats while my mileage is still a bit on the low side.  Hoping to gain some strength in my quads to help prepare for the downhill of TOU. 

Well, had all the intentions of doing my long run this morning.  Went to bed early, got up early and felt ok.  Decided to hit the track.  No sooner did I start the run, my legs just felt heavy, tired and I had that burning sensation.  Decided to go home and rest for the day and try again tomorrow.  I am taking a different approach to this marathon in September.  Gonna listen to my body and not force myself to do the mileage.  I need quality... not necessarily quantity resulting in empty miles that really isn't gonna give me any improvements.  Improvement comes as we recover....I need to let my body do that.

Started my run around 6am.... ran down Baseline Rd. to Val Vista and then to Kohl's and back.  It was good for the first 8 miles and after that it was just getting too hot.  I had fun stopping and splashing through the sprinklers!  Probably should have drank more fluids as I could feel my hamstring cramping around mile 10.  Happy that I got the mileage done, but I did have a few short stops for fluids and stretching.

Recovery run felt good... very tight quads this morning.  Nice run and felt ok.  9:04 min/mile pace.... I guess it should have been slower for a recovery run, but I just ran according to how I felt.  Being back in Arizona, I have gotten to run in a new setting...  it is a nice change and I am enjoying the different scenery.

I swear I could dislocate my jaw trying to eat this protein bar.... 6 miles done this morning.... 3 miles worth of 3/4 mile intervals between 6:14-7:50 pace with 1/4 mile recovery jogs... the rest nice and easy at 9:15-9:40 pace. Good day for me!! Hot out there! They say it is humid, today but I didn't notice it.... my breathing is so much better here!!

I have changed my training routine.  I have decided to alternate between longer and shorter runs to give my body more time for recovery so that I will have the strength to run hard on those important days.  I am feeling better finally!!  I don't think that everyone can run 6 miles a day.  You have to adjust your training to fit what your body can do... I am listening to mine this time around and so far so good.  The PF in my right foot is still there, but tends to be the worst after my long run.  My body doesn't recover that quickly - afterall... I am pushing 40!!  I refuse to fall into that overtrained endless loop of fatigue which is what I think happened to me with my last training cycle.  I think I may be meeting up with Burt tomorrow morning for a run!!!  Looking forward to meeting him.... :-) 

Met Burt this morning at Pei Wei here in Gilbert!!  So cool to finally get to see someone face to face from this blog.  We chit chatted as we ran down Baseline and then entered the canal from there.   Stopped at his house for some water and I got to meet his sister. Great morning... not too hot and the time passed quickly as Burt and I talked about all kinds of stuff!!  Burt is a really sweet guy and I am looking forward to more runs with him and meeting more of his family.  We also talked about getting a running group together for all of us bloggers in the area.... I think it would be awesome!!!  Anyone interested... please let us know.  We are thinking of meeting up on Saturday mornings....

Wasn't in the mood to run today.  Sore but decided to just suck it up and get it done!!! Treadmill workout/tempo run with varying incline of 0-2%.  Started with 2.25 miles warm up at 10:00 min/mile pace, then 3 miles at 8:13 min/mile pace, then 1.25 miles at 8:00 min/mile pace.  After that, did my upper body routine, abs, then weighted squats!! 

Slept like crap... always seems to happen after a hard training run!!  Thankfully it is my rest day!!!!!

5 miler done this morning with my running buddy Burt... poor guy... he had to listen to me chat his ear off the whole time!! He was probably thinkin' to himself... doesn't this girl EVER shut up? Got to meet his daughter Abby.... what a cutie pie!!!!! We chatted about her stuffed animals... she has the sweetest little voice!!!  Average pace 9:09 min/mile.  Warm but not bad!!

Didn't sleep real well last night.  Tossed and turned a bit... just couldn't get comfortable!!  Poked around this morning... having issues trying to get myself out the door, but once I left, it all fell into place.  Average pace 9:12 (which was a little fast for my long run) but I did have a few stops to drink fluids where I paused my watch.  I have a few circle K's on this route that I like to stop at to get water/drinks vs. carrying them with me.  I may try my running belt next week.  I haven't been using it lately as it gives me a friction rash!!  The last mile wasn't a pleasant one.  I was tired and fatigued.  I am sure the heat here plays a role but I am just happy that there is no humidity!!  My breathing is much better here.  Along this route, there are lots of sprinklers going off... I love that!!  Running through them often gives me a second wind.  After I finished my run, I jumped in the pool at home.  It was refreshing!!

REST today.... however, did my upper body weight routine and ab ripper X.  I am sore today.  Tomorrow I plan to do some speed work!!

Workout #1 - 5:30am - Just ran with Dave!! What a nice morning! 3.5 miles and it was great to have his company... I did 3x1200 with 30 second recovery (pace between 5:18-7:00).... the rest at 8:40 min/mile. We ran over to Val Vista, to the canal entrance off of Guadalupe and back up to Baseline. Dave hasn't run in a while, but he did really good at around a 9 minute/mile average. Warm out there!! One thing about Dave, if he sticks with running... he generally improves very quickly.  I hope that he gets back into a routine like he was in before he got sick....

Workout #2 - Treadmill -  4.5 miles.... progressively harder... I started slow at 0% incline and increased speed and incline every four minute maxing at 7:30 min/mile pace at 2% incline.... was a great workout - nice and challenging!!

A bit humid this morning.   I could feel it in the air as soon as I went out the door to meet Burt for our run.  Burt was running late and then nature called - I had to hit up circle K for the bathroom so we started our run just a little later than we had planned.  Burt and I ran up the canal and then stopped at his house on the way back for some water.  As we were leaving, we saw Burt's dog Ginger at the gait.  She was whimpering there.  She was saying "Hey...please take me with you?"  I hadn't mentioned to Burt, but I speak fluent dog and cat. Burt decided to bring her along for the remainder of our run.  Ginger did great with the 2 mile distance!!  I told Burt that I think she may be a marathon running in the making.  As usual... I talked Burt's ear off.... nice morning!!  I was pretty tired today- Burt and I were both sore.... the run felt really hard, but we stuck with it!

I was tired today and debated about cutting my planned workout short, but decided I would just alter it a bit.  Headed over to my mother-in-laws house with my boys late this morning and hopped on the treadmill.  Did 2 miles nice and slow to warm up at 10:00 min/mile pace and then proceeded with my tempo run of 5 miles at 8:13 min/mile pace.  Kept the incline at 0.5% which is how I altered the workout so that I didn't feel totally beaten up.  It was challenging still and I felt great when it was over.... even got a little runner's high and I cracked a smile as I finished the run. ;-) My mother-in-law made some great food for me and the boys.... eggs, potatoes, and real bacon (I usually only make turkey bacon).  It was a tad greasy, but it was really good!!  Washed it down with some OJ.... awesome!!!  In the afternoon at the apartment, we hung out by the pool with my nephew, brother and my mom.... then the clouds came... thunder and lightning threatened so inside we went!!

5 miles in the rain.... 9:34 min/mile pace.  Felt hard for the first 2.5 miles and then it seemed like my body finally woke up!!  I haven't run in the rain in a long time... it was nice.  Did something different this morning.... listened to the radio instead of my usual programmed songs on my ipod.  Some of the talk shows this morning were cracking me up!!  If anyone drove down Val Vista Drive this morning and looked at me.... I must have looked like a lunatic smiling and laughing to myself!!  Oh well.... I will continue the happiness later when I reward myself with a nice tall beer and wings at Zipps!!!  It has been a great training week for me!!  I am very excited about the last 2 weeks of training that I have had!

Met Burt outside my apartment complex at 5:30 am.  Light sprinkling rain and humid air for our run this morning.  I was feeling the week today and new it would be a bit challenging for me - my legs were sore and burning.  The moist air effects my breathing significantly.  Burt was such a trooper dealing with my chatter and this morning, some complaining and whining as we made our way down the canal.  We did see a water bird, a few dogs, some noisy peacocks, some stinky oxen, and several runners.  Once runner tried to touch Burt.... I threatened to kick his rear!! Two boys around the age of 12 were up early to hit the canal for some fishing.  When we finished the run, Burt and I had planned to jump in the pool... major bummer that the gates were chained up.  I never thought to check the time that they open up the pools as I've been able to get in a lot earlier.... it must be different on the weekends and they chain the gates.  Burt came up to our apartment and got to meet my cat Meow-meow.  They immediately bonded.... Meow-meow looked at Burt saying to him "Don't you dare touch me" and Burt wisely kept his distance.  We are planning to get our kids together this week here at the pool here.... they will have a blast I'm sure!!  Average pace for our run....9:12 min/mile.  We took a little breather half way through the run so that I could frolick in the sprinklers....