Slacker

It's been almost 3 months since my last post. Apparently I'm a slacker blogger and somewhat of a slacker runner this year. Last year I followed the rules line by line because it was the unknown, however now that I know I can run a half marathon I've somehow relaxed a bit. I haven't been super at getting in my maintenence runs (ok so I've only done a handful of them all season) and I've even missed some saturday runs. My first half marathon of the season is only one month away and there are no more travel plans for the summer so I have no reason to miss anymore runs.

On a fundraising note - I have some of the best family and friends ever - I've already raised about $650 and only have $100 left to reach my goal! In these tough economic times it amazes me that people are still willing to donate. I've also been a slacker on thank you notes - I promise they are coming!!

I recently bought new running sneakers so I'm in the process of breaking them in on my short runs (which I'm now forcing myself to do) so that they'll be ready for the 14 miler in 2 1/2 weeks. This saturday is the 2nd 12 miler - desperately hoping the humidity is lower by Saturday!!

The schedule for the rest of the running season:
This Satuday - 12 miles
8/15 - 7 miler (I think)
8/22 - the BIG RUN - 14 miles (I missed this run and celebration last year for my Adams family reunion - I am SO looking forward to it this year)
8/29 - 6 or 7 miler
9/4 - I leave for Virginia Beach, VA to spend Labor Day weekend getting ready to RUN!
9/6 - VA Beach Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon - My personal goal is finishing in 2:45 (last year's time was 3:09)
9/13 - 6 mile run on my own
9/20 - Philly Distance Run - my 2nd half of the year! I can't wait to do this on my own - I'm excited to run something different but am slightly intimidated that there will be hills - especially since I run in FLAT Easton!

After my 2nd half I plan on being lazy for a bit them getting back into a serious routine at the Y - lifting and doing cardio that does not involve running for a while!

I am SO SO SO thankful for NO injuries and relatively little pain after long runs. I love being able to encourage our newer runners. It's so nice knowing that I can do this!!

one step at a time...

Am I really doing this? Am I really going to train for 2 1/2 marathons? Am I really going to do 2 maintenence runs during the week, forgo eating out on Friday nights, go to bed early, forgo sleeping in on Saturday mornings to run? Yep! I did my first maintenence run today and it left me wondering why it was so hard. The last few runs I've done- I've done continuous without a walk/run ratio. This time I ran a 4:1 but I may have sped up my run quite a bit. My body felt great but boy was I winded...ugh! It could have also been because I already weight lifted at 5 this morning and ran after a 45 min. pilates class. I also was not truly hydrated and I hadn't eaten anything in a while. So...here's to hoping my next run is a bit easier (these are suppose to be the easy ones!).

Overall I'm super excited to be running again - and starting training 30 pounds lighter than last year - that's got to help my training and race time for sure!

Loving this weather

So I agreed to go running this morning but that was before I realized just how sore I was from my workouts on Friday. I did eventually roll out of bed and met M & I at the park at 7. We ran 5 1/4 miles and enjoyed the company, conversation & weather. After getting a large skim, sugar free almond latte, we strolled back to the park and off the the Y I went. :o) Great start to a Saturday morning. I am SO looking forward to training starting up again - good Saturday morning runs followed by the bagel bakery. :o)

feelin good...

The YMCA is closed today due to it being Good Friday so I couldn't depend on the Y for my workout. Since it was suppose to rain all day, when I woke up and saw the sun peeking through the clouds I decided this was the time to get up and run...kind of a now or never feeling. I wanted to run/walk a total of 5 miles and once I got started I decided I would change to running 4 miles continuous and walk the rest. I ended up challenging myself and ran 5 miles in 59 minutes - which included a 5 min walk to warm up and five 1 minute walk breaks...so the run time was pretty good, especially for me! I walked the last 1.15 mile loop. It was beautiful and I feel great.

It's been a long year baby...

A year ago I decided to run my fat butt across a 1/2 marathon finish line in Virginia Beach and run across it I did. This March my fat butt is a bit smaller - and is again making the decision to run across that 1/2 marathon finish line in Virginia Beach (and Philly 2 weeks later). I cannot wait to begin running more and training because I am in such better shape than this time last year. An exciting part of this process will be competing in the Reclaim program at the YMCA(formerly known as Biggest Loser). I am 1 week in and loving the strength training built especially for me - keeping in mind that I wanted a program to help make me a better runner! Over the next 11 weeks I am hoping to see a mind and body transformation and then be running my not fat butt across 2 1/2 marathon finish lines in September.

And a side note for those that know me really well... During the Reclaim program we have these optional group challenges - Kayaking, Rock Climbing & a Run, Hike, Crawl. What did I sign up for.... you guess wrong I'm sure - ROCK CLIMBING! The guy sold the rock climbing experience so well (and after reading about Heather's love of rock climbing) I've decided to give it a try. Never would I have found myself in a rock climbing gym without a program like this, so I shall attempt it in May. Let's just hope I drop a bunch mroe weight before I try to hoist my body up on a wall in front of other people. Yikes!

Only 5 miles

Today I ran a recovery run of 5 miles. Only 5 miles - never thought I'd hear myself say that. I didn't do any maintenance runs this week since I was away but figured it wouldn't kill me since it was only 5 miles. Ha :) I love saying that. The run was fine - HUMID and I was a bit tight since I hadn't run in a week but I finished just fine - only 30 seconds over pace time. I kept with my new group 3:1 ratio and a 13:30 mile. It's certainly not breaking any records but it'll get me to finish the 1/2 marathon without dying.
After the run several of us went for our weekly Bagel Bakery run and then Tracy, Jen and I decided get pedicures. It was such a nice treat even though I stank a bit after sweating so much. Next week is 11 miles - woah! I know I need to get good runs in this week and maybe a trip or two to the Y for some cross training. Slow and steady finishes (but does not win) the race. That'll be me in a few more weeks!

I'm done with running

Well, not really but the novelty of it has worn off. I went on a maintenance run this afternoon - 3:1 pace for 36 mins - faster pace than normal - and I did not enjoy myself. Nothing hurt, although I was huffin and puffin, sweatin and super thirsty (note to self - take water bottle on run when it is over 80 degrees.) And to be perfectly honest I don't feel like running anymore. I only ran for 36 minutes - Saturday's run will be slightly less than 4 times that. YUCK! I don't know - maybe I should drop back a pace group and do it a little slower - or maybe I should just suck it up and do it without complaining. Regardless I am feeling less than motivated to run, but go figure I am motivated to eat well and exercise. Ha. I've already dropped 4 of the pounds gained during fried food and sweet tea extravaganza. I am enjoying eating healthy and going to the Y. I guess I am just in some need of running motivation. This is where it's getting hard for me - mentally and physically.

Wasting Money

So my theme for today was stop wasting money. I pay $38 a month to be a member of the YMCA. Several months ago (maybe February) I stopped going to the Y because the parking was ridiculous. OK so that was an OK excuse for a while but then I just got lazy. When running started I enjoyed doing so outside and continued to donate $38 to the YMCA every month without using their services. So today I went - for the first time in a LONG time. So long that I hadn't seen the renovations. After being slightly intimidated by the new machines and layout I had a great workout. I only did 15 minutes on the elliptical because my main purpose was to weight train. I sucked up the embarrassment and read the instructions on most machines because they are so different from the old ones. I lifted for about a half hour - I have a feeling I'm going to be quite sore tomorrow. I've certainly missed working out and will continue. When I did the hip abductor and adductor machine I could feel I was working the area that has been bothering me during my run. I am going to faithfully do that machine and hopefully strengthen so that the hip pain does not continue. The stretching I did yesterday and today has certainly helped with any post run soreness. I can barely tell I ran 9 miles yesterday. Apparently I was not stretching well enough before!
My other wasting money realization was my weight watchers online donation. I pay to use their services online to track my points, find recipes etc. and lately because I've been eating so poorly I haven't tracked my weight or points. I did so today - I logged my weight in and cringed when I saw my pounds lost go down with my weight gain. I restarted my week today and ate wonderfully! I did well on fruits and veggies and ate balanced meals. I ate totally on points today and even had ice cream without going into any flex points. I even earned 3 points in activity at the Y.
So...no more wasting money - I WILL go to the Y more faithfully and use my weight watchers online subscription. I am actually going to a gentle yoga class tomorrow morning that says it focuses mainly on flexibility. I'm hoping I don't look like a fool and that I enjoy it. While tomorrow morning is suppose to be HUMID, tomorrow evening shouldn't be bad so I'll do my maintenance run then. Two workouts in one day?? Who is this person? :)