Marathon Dreamer

UGH. Done. Blah.  Took in 60 oz of sports drink on the run this morning.  Used my water belt which was nice to have on this warm morning.  I had a few stops to drink and stretch.  Saw a desert bunny this morning... he had the hugest ears!!!  My hamstrings were tight of and on... not sure what's up with that!!  Overall pace 9:23 min/mile.  Ran the last 1.5 miles fast in the low 8's (which is fast for me especially when I was spent at this point).  Ran down Val Vista Road past Pecos Road and then decided to scoot in and run around the Auto sales zone loop.  I think I will be making this week a recovery week.  This run today was hard although the humidity was up there this morning which usually makes things tougher for me.  To play it safe... I will not run intervals on Tuesday... I think that I may do some marathon pace running this week instead.  I will see how things go by Thursday.

I was hoping to do a tempo run faster that 8:13 pace and 6-8 miles in length.  I may need to let my body do a bit more recovery.  When I got home this morning, I whipped up my famous meatballs and sausage in sauce... my in-laws are coming for dinner around 3pm and I always enjoy their company.  As soon as I walked through the apartment door, I saw the 18 pack of Miller Lite that I bought for today... gee... kinda wished they were cold!!  I would have drank one for sure!!  LOL!!! 

Much deserved rest... ouch.

WTH!!!  What a morning.... ran the first 3.25 miles at 8:20 min/mile pace.... ouch!!  GEEZ!!  I guess that I am not recovered from sunday's run yet.  I actually felt it even on the first few minutes of running up the road.  Ran with my husband initially.  Of course, the run seemed easy for him as he doesn't run the mileage that I typically do.... I did pass him though at the mile 2 marker and finished a ways ahead of him.  After I rested for a bit, he caught up and I said my goodbyes as I continued on.  It hurt and I was not happy.  I stopped to run through sprinklers and take in drink.  It was warm and it felt humid to me.  I am frustrated with my training and wondering if this program that I am following is really good.  I have been doing lots of slow running.... I am worried that all this slower running may be a bad thing.  UGH. Trying to trust the training and Runner's World..... hmmm......

Met Burt at Pei Wei and off we went for our morning scoot down Baseline Road and up the canal....  Burt and I needed a nice recovery run as he "brought it" last night in his P90X workout and I was still feeling the fatigue from the long run on sunday.  We took a little breather at the 3 mile mark then we turned around to head back down the canal.  Nice morning for a run.  It really helps me clear my head.  Not only that, but I had a lot of bodily function issues this morning.... frequent need to blow snot rockets, burping, and gagging.  Poor Burt.... he has to endure all this and still my rattling trap of a mouth along with my need to insistently make bizarre noises.  The man is a saint.  

Workout #1 - 3 miles this morning down Val Vista Drive.  A little humid, but ok.  I tied my hair back this morning like I usually do....but left it in a pony tail instead of forming a little bun with it.  The bouncing of the pony tail was distracting enough to where I was able to zone out for part of the run.  It's funny how little things like this can help sometimes.  Went out last night with some friends for a few beers.  I took it easy on my intake though.  Still sore and fatigued from sunday.  It's just taking me long to recover and I'm sure it's because of the increasing mileage.  With my last training cycle, I typically would beat myself up when I wasn't performing to my own expectations.  This time around, I am being kinder to myself and to my body.  I am determined to make this next marathon a great experience and I don't want to overtrain like I believe I did last go around.  Average pace 8:42 min/mile for this run.  It felt a little hard, but again... I am just having an off week.

My husband was supposed to join me on this run.  Loser!  He got up... had a drink and went back to bed!!  My further attempts to get his rear up were futile.  I had just as many beers as him and I'm up!!  What a whimp.  The difference is.... I drank lots of fluids last night and ate a full dinner.  Anyway... I am splitting this workout today into 2 separate ones.  I need to do a very fast run on the mill later at my mother-in-laws.

 Workout #2 - 1/4 mile warm up.... 1 mile at 7:41 pace, 1/4 mile recovery jog, 1 mile at 7:41 and 1/2 mile cool down on the treadmill at 2% incline.  Ran on fatigued legs and I was able to get in a little speed work.

6 miler this morning at 9:41 min/mile pace.... kept it as relaxed as I could.  I am sore.  My upper body is feeling the effects of my upper body work yesterday which not only included my usual weight routine, but also 30 push ups and 2 guy pull ups.  Every swing of each arm was an achey one.  It was a gorgeous morning.  Found some sprinklers to keep me cool.  I have been waking up at 3am lately and having a hard time falling back to sleep!!  My alarm went off at 4:50am but I didn't start my run until 6am.  I was feeling a bit pokey this morning.... but I did it!!  Nice run for me... no pressure....

Well how about that!!!  We had a little running group this morning!!  Burt and I were joined by cool running and peds endo doc today!!  Even my husband stepped out to join us this morning for our run!!  We all decided on 5 miles so we left Pei Wei, started down Baseline Road and up the canal... average pace 9:05 min/mile according to my watch.  For the most part we ran together, but each of us picked up the pace the last mile or so.  Great to be meeting some people from this blog.  I am bummed that no sooner I start making running friends here, that I will be leaving Arizona behind for San Diego in about 2 weeks.  I do plan to travel back and forth to AZ since I have family here.  I will be sure to hook up with the running crew when I come back into town.  Felt warm and a bit humid this morning, but the time flew by as we chatted.... love that!!!

When I left my apartment this morning... I really had no idea how far I was going.  It was supposed to be a week where I cut back on my mileage but I decided I would see how I felt as the run progressed.  As I made my way along Baseline Rd. to Higley Rd., the sky was just starting to break its darkness.  I turned on Higley and decided that I would break the run into 6 mile segments and see if I could be consistent with my pace and I wanted to try to keep it close to marathon pace.  I wanted to minimize slowing as the miles wore on.  I was thinking originally maybe 14-16 miles today.  The first 6... I did at 9:10 min/mile average pace.  I stopped at circle K.... needed the rest room (GI issues) and picked up another Gatorade.  Before I knew it, I had completed another 6 miles at 9:20 min/mile pace.  Yet, had to purchase another gatorade at another convenience store.  I stopped twice to briefly stretch.  I was getting tired and it was hot.  The next 6 miles, I broke into two 3 mile segments as I was mentally loosing it and my calfs were tight.  The first 3 miles averaged at 8:55 min/mile pace.... I pushed 1 mile to an 8-8:10 pace.  The last 3 miles....ugh.... wasn't happy.... had 2 stops.... but mustered a 9:35 min/mile pace.  My right foot was screaming at me after the run along with both of my calfs.  I think I should have drank more fluids today.... I took in 60 fluid oz and 2 gels... but I don't think I drank enough enough to counter act what I was losing with the heat.  The whole run, I was wishing to find a sprinkler going off... but not one was going off!!  Just as I made my way to the front of my apartment complex, the watering system went off as I hit my Garmin at mile 18.  Finally.... a little frollicking for me in the cool water was just what I needed.....

AHH.... Rest....

When I went out the door this morning, I questioned if I was going to be able to run 3 miles because of how my legs have felt since Sunday.  8 miles later.... I'm home.  First 4 miles at 9:20/min/mile pace average.  The next 4 miles I did somewhat of an interval/fartlek .... average pace 8:33/min/mile, but the intervals were in the low 7's.  I ran through the sprinklers this morning on the way home... it was awesome!!!

Nice little scoot up the canal and back with Burt this morning... total of 3.25 miles.  Today was his day to talk my ear off.  It was nice just listening to talk about work and stuff.  It was just as well since I was huffing and puffing.  We had to cut the run short this morning due to the first day of school for Burt's kids.  Mine won't start until the 23rd in San Diego.  I continued on and finished up the mileage.  Very tired and a bit sore today.  Last night, I did arms, back, legs and abs.  That probably explains why I'm pooped today.  I am really trying to eat more healthy this week.  Since I've been back in AZ, I am having a hard time controlling my eating habits!!  The food is so sooo good here, especially since I am often not the one cooking it which is probably half the trouble right there.  Hoping for a 5 lbs. weight loss for marathon day.  I am sure it will happen... I just don't like not eating everything that I want!!  LOL!!!

Didn't know if I was gonna be able to do this mileage this morning....but it's done.  I had a few stops, but very brief ones to drink water and stretch... average pace 8:55 min/mile.  Little cramping in the left calf at mile 6.5, but after a little bit of rubbing it out....I was good to finish the run.  I am starting to feel the fatigue of the week.  I got some new running shoes yesterday.... my Asics are fabulous!!  It's funny.... but it feels like Christmas to me when I get new running shoes!!  Something about slipping my foot into clean and freshly padded shoes....there's nothing like it, except for the actual run of course!!  Did this run today in them and had no major issues other than a blister that formed later in the day on the tip of one of my toes on my left foot.  These will be my marathon shoes.  Time is going quickly!!  I can't believe that August is almost half over.  Soon I will be living in California and not long after that, running Top of Utah!!

Burt and I met outside my apartment gait.  It amazes me how Burt can workout at midnight and then run with me 5 1/2 hours later!  I only have about a week left here in AZ.  I am gonna miss running with Burt.  It has been so nice having a regular running partner!!  Burt is just a genuine nice guy and I hope all my fellow bloggers will try to meet up regularly to run with him!!  I told Burt that he could call the running group "The Sesame Street Runners" him being named Burt and all - it's a cute name and appropriate or it could be called "Burt's Groupies"- which is not quite as appropriate... but still cute.....what do you all think?  I think last Saturdays' run was awesome running with some of the bloggers on here.... keep it going everyone!!

Burt told me "stories" this morning as we made our way along the path through Freestone Park.  I really needed to hear him talk... my legs were not happy and when Burt and I weren't talking, all I could think about was my legs and that gross feeling of fatigue.  Right around mile 4.5 or so... I just had to stop.  Even though we were talking... it just got to be too much.   That breather helped me finish up the mileage for today and with a kick at the end!!  If I don't feel better tomorrow morning... then I will have to take an extra rest day.  I will see how I feel in the morning.  Was hoping to hit that 50 mile goal this week.  I am getting nervous about the marathon.  Not sure if this training plan is gonna make a huge difference in my performance.  I guess we will see soon enough.

Slow and easy....

Well.... this was a tough run.  I am gearing up for next sunday's 20 miler.  Scaled back this weekends long run so that I will be ready for next weekend.  Bonked at mile 12 and had to walk 3/4 mile home.  Just wasn't my morning.  I did put in 6 marathon pace miles though which is what I wanted to do today.  By the time I got home, I was beat.  Went to bed and slept for 2 hours.  By the way, my Nike Pegasus 26 shoes have now graduated to short runs and the canal trail.... they killed me today!!

REST.... much needed after yesterdays' disaster....

9:19 min/mile pace average.... a few stops at stop lights for Burt and I this morning... it was warm and muggy.  Felt hard and I am tired.

Met Burt outside my apartment gait this morning.  Our last run together before I head out to San Diego tomorrow.  I will miss my running partner!!  It has been great knowing Burt... I will be back and forth from CA to AZ so it is not goodbye... it's see ya' again soon!  Nice temps for us this morning - 77 degrees.  Can't complain although my body was not liking the run at all.  I decided that I would end my run at 3 miles today.  I was supposed to do speed work, but I am too fatigued.  Average pace for this run 9:38 min/mile.  Last night, I couldn't even lift my legs off the floor to do my core/abs workout... they felt like they weighed 50 lbs. each.  Not much of a difference this morning when I rolled out of bed for the run.  A sure sign that an easy day with a lot less mileage is probably what I am needing at this point.  I am in the middle of packing our apartment to make things easier for my husband when we finally move all of our stuff out to California.  I no sooner will move in on Sept. 10th... then I will fly to Utah to run my marathon on the 18th... I have no idea how I am gonna make all this happen....

Overall average pace 9:00 min/mile.... Very humid this morning which made it challenging with my intervals... (7:40 pace - 3/4 mile repeats x 2 with 1/4 recovery jogs).

Could not sleep last night... we are now in Carlsbad, CA.  Took this run down along the ocean just over the bridge from our hotel.  It is gorgeous here... temps have been in the 70's.  Early morning 50's-60's.  Overall pace 8:44/min/mile... this run was essentially a fartlek.

Slept great!!  Felt good... off for a run this morning with my husband Dave.  He ran ahead of me and we went at a comfortable pace.  I have my 20 miler tomorrow so I didn't want to push it.  There are quite a few hills here in Carlsbad... a lot more than I am used to!  I hope that it won't beat me up tomorrow on my 20 miler.  Just a short scoot along the ocean today here in Carlsbad... I am getting used to my surroundings and loving it!  Can't wait to get into our house!  Until then, we are in a hotel but can't complain.  I don't have to clean... or cook!!  As you can see, I cut my mileage this week.  I was really sore and fatigued.  Next week will be another high mileage week.

Average pace 9:06 min/mile.  Lots of hills here in Carlsbad.  I may not walk well tomorrow.  My foot with the plantar fasciitis is very unhappy.  I ran from Carlsbad North to Oceanside then back.  Continued along Carlsbad Blvd. south for a bit, turned around and headed back to the hotel.  I am amazed at how well I did today actually with all things considered, especially having all those darn hills... I was pleased with the pace.  I did take about 3-4 stops (mostly short ones).  I needed the rest room at mile 7.5 and bought fluids, then stopped again around mile 12 for more fluids, then again at the top of Carlsbad's version of heartbreak hill (at least that's what I'll call it) at mile 16.  The last 4 miles were all hills... up and down and up and down!! EEK!  I am afraid to stay off my right foot for any extended period of time because I know how it's gonna feel once I get back up and stand on it!!!

Resting today...not as sore as I thought I would be.

Sorry all... I put in my mileage yesterday but forgot to put in what I did for a run!!  LOL!!  Well.... it was a fartlek/interval run, but at one point I hit a 4:30 min/mile pace on my watch (very briefly)... I have never seen that speed on mile watch nor do I think that I have ever been able to hit that speed in my entire life!!  Very exciting for me.... that pace certainly isn't sustainable for me, but still... it was cool!!

My workout today went like this: 1.25 mile warm up at 10 min/mile pace, 1 mile at 8 min/mile pace, 2 miles at 10 min/mile pace, 1 mile at 8 min/mile pace, 1 mile at 10 min/mile pace, 1 mile at 8 min/mile pace, 3/4 mile cool down all on the treadmill.   I wish I could have mustered a bit more on speed for those repeats, but my legs said no!! 

workout #1: 6 sole searching miles...very heavy legs today.  Did this outdoors with lots of hills!

workout #2: 4 miles on the treadmill in attempts to be kind to my legs and knees. 

Not a great night sleeping.  My youngest son slept with me last night and was all over the bed!!  Living in a hotel is not easy... Sept 10th is moving day... and I cannot wait.  Cloudy and a bit chilly this morning.  I really just wanted to go back to bed after dropping the boys at school.  Decided to go run on the treadmill since my legs were still sore and my plantar fasciitis was bugging me.  Took it nice and easy.  Watched a few TV shows during my workout which at least made it tolerable.  It was a nice change from my typical routine.  Aiming for 60 miles this week... I am gonna hit it!!

Terrible night sleeping.  My legs were restless almost like they were ready to run in the middle of the night!  So weird!  Got up this morning and since my boys could not seem to get along this morning, I had no choice but to take Evan with me over to the gym so that I could run.  Treadmill run with varying incline... nice and easy pace, but felt hard as my legs are still spent from the mileage this week.

Another poor night's sleep!!  I went out the door and was hoping for 10-12 miles this morning, but I could feel that I didn't have it in me today.  Ran 3... went back to the hotel and decided to use this as a rest day.

Slept better last night.  Decided that I would mix mileage with speed work today.  My workout went like this on the treadmill:

2 mile warm up at 10:00/mile pace

2 miles at 8:13/mile

1 mile recovery jog

2 miles at 7:47/mile

2 miles at 9:20/mile with half mile at 3.5% incline

1 mile cool down 

I think that the dude that was in the gym with me must have been thinking that I was gonna collapse on that last 1/4 mile of my second interval.  Dug a little deep to get it done, but I know that another mile was definitely in me.  I am kicking myself for not going for it.  Planning to go back to the gym later to do arms and abs. 

Slept better last night.  My 7 yr. old slept with my oldest son and it was nice!!  I had the whole bed to myself!  Woke up at midnight for about an hour, but when the alarm went off at 6am, I was definitely in a deep sleep... that noise scared the crap out of me!  Had planned an easy day and I don't know what happened because my average pace this morning was 8:34 min/mile.  I stopped at mile 3.25 for a few minutes to watch some surfers.  I love running here!  On my way back, I tackled a hill and kept a nice pace going up... I'm sure I will pay for this tomorrow.  Hey... need to pick your brains!!  I've got a real stinky problem!!  I cannot get the B.O. stink out of my athletic clothes!!  Any suggestions?  I have used Tide with fabreze (the athletic one).  The clothes smell fresh once washed, but if they get damp with sweat... boy they stink!!  I may have to start tossing some of these shorts again!!

 Missed working with weights last night.  I was just too tired.  Decided to hit it today and completed upper body and abs routines.