The next level

So I have mentioned running with a group. It's been a few weeks (3 weeks?) and it's been awesome. The people there are all very friendly and welcoming. I tried out a different group before finding them and I didn't quite feel it, but with this group has been a different story. I guess it also helped that I already knew someone and didn't just show up  by myself. Come to think about it, I haven't ran with my friend during our group runs, we run different paces, and that is what is so great about a group, you have all sorts of runners going at different paces you will never be left to run alone. I have run with a different person every weekend ever since starting with the group, which is good, different stories and conversation makes the miles go by a lot faster. I am running with Boston qualifiers, college runners, veteran runners, running moms, etc, etc. It definitely has "forced" me to step it up. There's just something about running with other people, kind of like a race, you feed off of their energy. It's not even competitive, you just go with it and before you know you settle into a good rhythm, 16 miles have gone by, and you finish strong.

This week I also joined a few from the group for a couple of morning runs. I make quite a drive just to meet them, but I so much rather do that than running alone. Like I said, running with them has forced me to step it up to the next level, even getting up earlier. Their during the week runs start at 4:30 am! Who am I, and what has become of me? A running junkie? Ha! But they have been great runs, filled with speed and hills! The girl I ran with this morning decided to let me know towards the end of our 7 miler that she was only 24 yrs old and used to run in college, her specialty : the 800 mts. Uh...thanks for telling me that towards the end of our run. She was lucky I didn't pass out, then she'd have to stop to do CPR on me and that would have ruined her time.

But, really I am glad to have found this people and excited to be learning new things about what my body can do. Kind of like when I first started running after my first baby. Finding out that I could run a little faster and further than a 5 K, I just didn't know it. I'm kind of getting that same sense of satisfaction and accomplishments all over again, and it feels good.

The quest for this weekend: 18 miles. My furthest run yet.

What I did this week:

Sat: 16 miles (not 17 as planned)
Monday: 4 miles, recovery run
Tuesday: 9 miles of rolling never ending hills
Wednesday: rested (should have run 4-5 easy miles)
Thursday 7 miles at 8'30 pace

Happy running to all of you out there! May you conquer all your running quests!

Not sure I'll do this again

 Cool picture I took after being done with my run. That little white dot behind that cloud is the moon.

 

I went out on my 8 mile tempo run, all alone this morning. It was very scary to be running alone in the dark at 5:30 am. My heart was beating fast and my breathing was very heavy, and it wasn't because of how fast I was running just to get out of that little 2 mile canyon stretch, I was really scared and nervous, I was even shaking a little bit, all the while thinking "What in the heck am I doing!?" and battling in my head whether I should turn around and go home and trying to gather the courage to keep going and just get it over with. My heart almost stopped when I saw and heard something moving behind the trees; two deer! I could picture in my head someone jumping from behind a bush. I was sure I would not make it out of there alive. Where were all the other runners we always come accross (Mrs J's been injured and could not make it ) That was the one thing that got me out there, thinking that there is always so many people on that route. Not today! Well, as you can see I did make it out alive, and I'm glad no one had to find the note I left in my car with my whereabouts, you know, in case I went missing.  I do think is amazing how you can get away from busy downtown Salt Lake City and back to the peace and quite of nature in just a couple of minutes though.

On a bright note. One of the things I love about this route is the view of the city below. Before the sun comes up you can see the city lights just as bright as you would at night, it all changes within minutes right before your eyes. The lights begin to disappear and the sky becomes alive with shades of blue, and pink. A good way to start the day., scare and all.

 

The capitol at 7 am. Wondering what all those people in suits do in there. It sure looks like a fun place to work at.

 

**Note to self: "Do not go up the scary trail alone at 5:30 am again!**

week 10

 The plan

Monday:  5 slow recovery run
Tuesday: Zumba aerobics
Wednesday: 8 mile tempo
Thursday: 5x800 Yasso
Friday: upper body and abs
Saturday: 17 miles

Only 6 weeks til Marathon!

My four year old keeps telling people "I'm running a Marathon with my mom" I'm so glad to see her taking notice and hoping this will help her be active and healthy as she grows up. I'm also looking forward to one day crossing the finish line with my little girls, and later, much later even running a Marathon by their side. That would be awesome!

Week 9 and part of 10

Last week I had an interesting week getting all my miles in. Mondays easy recovery run started not so good. We weren't even into a mile in when I could feel like a little pinch in achilles tendon, that and  and my calves felt as if they were on fire. I had to stop and take a walking break for a few minutes, then went really slow from there. We got our 4 miles in, but I could feel every minute of them, my calves were really, really tight. I sat down on my couch that night and tried to massage them, but felt that it was making it worse, they kept getting tighter and tighter. I put some ice on them, but couldn't really feel any relief. I rested the next morning and felt better by Wednesday. My running buddy couldn't come that morning so I thought I'd wait until a little later when there would be a little bit more light and I could feel comfortable going alone. I think I waited too long. I got up there at about 6:30 am. I started out slow and then realized I was going to be really late going back home and had to pick it up if I wanted to make it on time to get my little ones and myself ready for school. So what was supposed to be a 7 mile tempo run, turned into a 7 mile speedwork run. My calves where killing. I was sure I would be sorry later and that this run would result in an injury. I did some more icing that night and tried to massage it. I went on a slow 4 miler the next morning, could not finish the 4th mile and decided to go home before it turned worse. I walked the next day, applied some more ice and yes, I ventured out into my first 16 mile run the next day. I thought I would get out there and play it by ear. I would run slow and if I felt like I just could not do it, I would just turn around and come home. The first 3 or 4 miles where a bit uncomfortable, but not as bad as I'd imagined. I went past a certain point and to my surprise I started feeling  really, really good. I kept it slow to be on the safe side and was able to run 16.5 miles in 2 hrs and 50 min. I felt really good all day long and was again surprised the next morning when I wasn't super sore and could walk up and down stairs and get on the floor, and back up, to  play with my little girl in nursery at church. I think there is a benefit on going slow come recovery time. I like it!

This week I decided that I am going to go solo for the rest of my marathon training. So to be able to run alone in the mornings I decided to run a combination of treadmill and street running. Monday I got up early and went to the gym at the same time I would normally be outside. I did three miles on the treadmill and then came home when there was a little more light and run outside another 2 miles. This way I won't be tortured running on the treadmill for the whole 5 miles. Three miles on the treadmill is really just all I can take. This week my tempo runs go up to 8 miles and I am planing on running those with Jessica from church, and going to the park for speedwork on Thursdays. I feel the park is a safe place because there is other runners there before 6 am, even thought we shouldn't be there. I hope I don't get a ticket or something. Anyway, I'll see how this goes.

This weekend long run calls for another 16 miles, but since I did a little more this past weekend I'm shooting for 17. I think I will be OK.  After this week there is only 6 weeks til crunch time, EEK! and exciting!

Moral of the week: "Slow is good"

Happy running!

Week 8

Last week's long run didn't go as planned. First I set my alarm but forgot to actually turn it on. So I woke up to two little monkeys jumping on my bed telling me it was time to "wakie-wakie!" And missed the first group run I was planning on doing. I was determined to make it happen anyway, so I got on my computer to map a route. City Creek sounded like a good idea. New scenery, gradual elevation. Going up= fun coming down in my book. So I maped my 11 mile run and zoomed in on google maps to find my marker, a water reservoir right at mile 5.5, perfect!  or so I thought. So I ran, no running buddy, Mrs. B. has had a situation come up and unfortunately she is postponing her Marathon training to give priority to other things going on in her life right now.  Someone in my ward told me about a running group she is actually part of and I will start training with her and the group on the weekends, support van and all, YAY!

It was so nice to be able to go on a run by myself. It is true you shouldn't always run alone, but also that you should not always run with company. Being aware of yourself, listening your own thoughts and breathing as your feet pound the road, it's kind of spiritual. A very powerful thing. Add being wrapped by falling snow as you cruise down the Canyon and it can not get any better than that. I needed this run. Now for the bad news. What I thought would be 11 miles, turned out to be 11 km= 9 miles. Duh! I didn't change the little option to read distance in km to ml! I was so surprised with my time, I knew there had to be something off. I had to recheck my map when I got home and sure enough. I'm not as fast as I thought that day. Such a dummy! Anyway, this will not happen again, I hope.

The plan for this weekend will be to turn my alarm on to wake up on time to go on a 14 mile run with the group.

On another note. I was able to read about the Yasso speed training technique and tried it out for the first time today. I am a little challenged when it comes to all the gibberish often used when talking about running and found that this actually made sense. It was simple and easy to remember, so I tried it and loved it. I specially like the part where it says that my projected time for the marathon can be foretold with this simple technique. So I will be making it part of my training once a week until tapering week.  Thanks for the plug Jen!

Week 8 training schedule.

Monday: 4 miles easy recovery run
Tuesday:  Crosstrain. 1 hr Zumba aerobics.
Wednesday: 6 mile pace run
Thursday:  2 mile warm up. 4 x Yasso 800s
Friday:  Stretch, abs and upper body.
Saturday: 14 miles long run.

Hope you are having a great time running too!

Week 7

 The plan for this week

 Monday: 4 mile recovery run
Wednesday: 7 mile pace run
Thursday: 4 miles fartlek (that word makes me giggle)
Saturday: 11 miles long run

Learning new things

It's been a week since I completed my 30 days without sugar challenge, and even though I did not loose all the weight that I wanted, I do feel it benefited me tons. So much that I'm doing it again this month, starting yesterday. It took me a few days to finally kick my butt in gear and get going once again, after 3 or 4 days of bad eating my body was not feeling 100%. Not only would I get a headache after eating but I  felt bloated and gassy (yes I just said that) all the time as if I had been eating non stop, which wasn't the case, but I wasn't eating the best foods, instead I was reaching for sugary stuff and breads, both my weakness. So I have a new motive this time, not only challenging my self and loosing weight, but being healthy and feeling good. It's only being a couple of days, but It has not been hard at all and I'm not having cravings, I feel at ease, even peaceful. I'm adding a little twist to it this time and allowing myself a treat once a week, so it will be more like 1 week without sugar at the time. This will be my experiment to see if I can find the balance that I need to have this be more of a lifestyle than a diet.

On another note, my marathon training is going good. I have mentioned finding a running buddy and training together for what will be both our first marathon. It has been and interesting experience and I'm learning more than I expected, but I guess that is the journey. right? My running buddy and I started at two very different places and condition, and I have been stressed about our pace and time. If you are familiar with my training style you would know that time  is very important for me and I always want to improve that. Time is pretty much what drives me and I become pretty competitive with myself at beating previous PRs. Well, training at someone else's pace has been frustrating, so much that my running buddy has taken notice. I'm not very proud of myself for letting that side of me show. I was bringing in a lot of negativity and unwanted tension that I knew a decision needed to be made where either two people would be left without a running partner and support system or I would just have to humble myself and cool it in order to help both my running buddy and myself reach our marathon goal. So I decided to go with the second one. Mrs B. has not only been patient with me but has push herself beyond her comfort zone. She is always ready with a mapped route and learns every single mile marker, she is full of tips, and stretches and knows every single bone and muscle name in the body. She's my little encyclopedia. I think I'll keep her.
Also anyone agrees that it is a lot safer being with someone out there in the wee hours of the day when it is still as dark as night, and I have to admit having someone whom I know will be waiting for me at 5:30 am makes it easier to leave the comfort and warm of my bed when I'd rather be sleeping and  don't forget those long runs ahead will be easier to bear with some to chat, the things we talk about! Another thing I have been able to notice is that so far recovering after runs has been very minimal and quick. I haven't been tired during or after our runs,  and  have been able to keep my energy up during the day. I also think that my risk for injuries will be lower and there's even a chance that I won't have to deal with that.

So I'm trying to stay focus on the positive side of things and reminding myself of the advice often read and given that as a first time marathoner I should not be concerned about my time, but the experience and being able to cross the finish line and that is what I will do.