Sunday, May 31, 2015

runners high with week 5 complete

Week 5 of training for my ultra is done!! Today I ran 6 mile!! This is a huge feet for me because I have never ran over 5 or 5.5 miles! Last year I had major plans to run a 10k and a half. But was sidelined do to my ITBS. So I was never able to really get mileage under my belt.

I was really worried about completing the 6 miles. I know that some runners eat 6 miles for breakfast, I on the other hand, can't say I do. I got an okay nights sleep. I slept in P's room because she wanted to sleep in my bed with the hubs. (She's going through an attachment phase and seems to attach herself with whichever parent she spends more time with that day, so since I worked, that parent was the hubs).

I got out for my run my 6:15. My plan was to run for 3 miles, walk and snack on some dried mango. Then finish the last 3 miles. I did just that. I sipped on my water the whole way but because it was a bit chilly (45*) and breezy I didn't feeling overwhelmed to drink a ton. I also picked this particular route because it has bathrooms and a drinking fountain where I planned on turning around in case I needed a refill.

I honestly felt pretty great the whole time. My breathing was great! I did start out a bit quicker but that was only do to a creepy looking guy that was also out walking (pepper spray in toe). My stomach seemed to handle to mango's just fine. This is where I am going to experiment with foods and such, gotta get the whole nutrition and functionality thing working for me.

This is my pre-run readiness:
  • Nathan's hand water bottle with 1/2 tablet NUUN in it.
  • Bottle of water with 1 tablet of NUUN in it for post-run drive home.
  • Garmin watch
  • Faux fanny pack with ipod and mango's and pepper spray
  • On running shoes w CEP hot pink compression socks
  • Wallet for the drive in case I drive too fast because I'm so excited to run and I need my license
  • Luna protein bar pre-run
  • Apple sauce post-run on drive home
  • Towel to sit on (ewh I know but true)
I was completely and totally proud of myself when I was done and so excited to see my accomplishments!

1:09 for 6 miles. I was pretty impressed because that's 3 minutes quicker than I planned and that's with walking a few minutes at the turn around to eat my mango's. :)

Runner's high is in full effect!!

I wore compression socks to work which most definitely helped with recovery and then being on my feet all day. I think my food choices were on point as well as my water intake. 

Week 5 break down:
Monday: 4 mile (road and RT) my worst run to date
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 4 miles (RT) 
Thursday: strength and cross training
Friday: 3 miles (RT)
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 6 miles (RT) longest mileage so far!!
Total 17 miles :)  

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

-What do you use as an energy booster on runs? 

Friday, May 29, 2015

new routes and a (big) hill

Thursday I made it up to the gym for some strength and cross training. Last week I missed do to feeling under the weather. Which I am always glad when I listen to my body and rest instead of pushing it.

Thursday gym adventure included:
200 crunches
50 squats
some arm free weights
leg pressing
donkey kicking ( not literally)
and the two other leg machines for your quads and hammies
Then 15 minutes on the elliptical backwards on 8% incline

*Side note* I've been a morning gym rat for 3 years now. It's always been me and two older guys at the gym those early mornings. New people would come and go but we always seemed to stay until I started this training and I only make it up there once a week (maybe twice if I'm in need of a TM ). I had some explaining to do in why I haven't been seen more. They understood and wished me well. LOL **

Friday was a schedules 3 mile run. I had it all figured out in my head about which route I would take. Until I got in my car to get there. I noticed the route I wanted was on a semi busy road ,even for 6 am, with barely any shoulder. Um No Thank you!

Plan B was going to a different RT entrance and kinda winging it. I also wanted to include hills. Or in my case with what I was working with on my route a hill. (I will tell you though this hill is huge, it's the local sledding hill in the winter). It's practically Mt. Everest.

My morning view:

Can you tell I can't get enough sunrise pictures. I just love them. 

The hill: 

Might not look like much, know that it is.

And I'm tossing this one in because I couldn't get over how nice my hair looked. This was actually Thursday before the gym. Why can't my hair look this nice when I have to go somewhere? Instead I'm going to sweat all in it. Waste.

Ps. sorry about the major bags I've got going on. 

All in all a good run. It was a total of 3.51 miles which is pretty cool in my book. I kinda just set out to run this morning which was incredibly nice and refreshing. The heat was manageable but I did wear shorts and a tank again. :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

I have a 6 mile run planned for Sunday and I am working all weekend at our Urgent Care. 

Any fun plans?! 






Thursday, May 28, 2015

The extreme show I watch

There are a few shows I watch every season. I make time to watch them or DVR them. They include (in no order)

  • Survivor
  • Extreme Weight loss with Chris Powell
  • Grey's Anatomy
  • Bloodlines on Netflix ( this is a new show the hubs and I are into and have to wait til 2016 for the next season) 
Every summer is kicked off with Extreme weight loss. I have watched this show since the beginning. It is a favorite of mine for many many reasons:

  1. It's positive. 
  2. Chris Powell is awesome at his job.
  3. People are inspirational
  4. I cry at the end of every single episode
  5. It makes me wanna work harder in my own workouts.
Chris Powell is one of those people that are truly good at what they do. He was meant to be a trainer and a life coach. He is so positive with all his clients and it is so heart warming to watch and see. There are so many negative shows out there. You know the ones you feel kinda worse after you watch? I don't feel that way with EWL. I feel uplifted and good after watching it. Even though I cry after each episode. But they are good tears. Like "wow people are amazing" tears.

The whole premises of the show is weight loss, obviously. But Chris gets to the root of why people do what they do when it comes to food/lifestyle.  He figures people out and helps them grow and rebuild.

Truly amazing.

I've tried to watch other weight loss shows but they come across, to me, as negative and not the healthiest of ways to lose weight.

Now that I've made a public announcement for EWL :) LOL

What are some of your go to shows?
Do you like one's that make you feel good inside?

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

you know it's humid/hot when I bust out the shorts

I did not want a repeat of Monday's awful and humidly torturous run. I actually contemplated just going to the gym and running the TM in the air. But I decided against it, because like I always say I don't know what September will bring and I need to prepare instead of just looking for an easy way out. I gotta figure out my body and what makes it feel the best.

I actually wore shorts! Ok so this is a big deal, because I don't sport shorts because I was blessed with very muscular thighs and my shorts ride up and make me feel self conscious. But I wore bike shorts and then running shorts over them and a tank top. I did my best, as you can see, to keep cool!

85% humidity makes me do crazy things :)

I felt pretty cute, and the hubs told me I did which made me smile. :)

The sunrise was gorgeous per usual:


And no tomato face :

Just a slight bright pink hugh.

Half of week 5 is done:
Monday: 4 miles (RT)
Tuesday: Rest aaawwwhhh!
Wednesday: 4 miles (RT)

I ran with my water bottle and a 1/2 NUUN tablet on it. I drank that while I ran my 4 and then drank a liter with a whole tablet in it. Can you tell I was doing everything to stay hydrated?! I think it worked, besides my legs being super heavy it was all and all a good run with a good mix of figure out some running issues.

Has anyone else every got over heated on a run? 
What do you do to prevent it from happening in the future?



Monday, May 25, 2015

when running doesn't agree with my body

I've decided that Monday's are my days to branch out and try new routes. This morning I went to a local park that has recently done some up grading and added some trails. It was another hot and humid morning and I woke up feeling about 40% well. I should have stayed in bed to be totally honest. My cold moved to my sinuses, I had a terrible sinus headache plus I was hot all night and I don't know about you but being hot all night and then getting hotter during a run may be the worst thing. Ever. (in my opinion)

This was the new route. I took 2 additional pictures that didn't even show up on my phone because a) I have a very old smart phone b) my very old smart phone does not like when you quickly take pictures and then stuff it away in a pocket and c) its very old and angry. LOL

New route, pretty cute huh? Can trails be cute? I'll tell you what wasn't cute was stepping into very fresh goose poop! I saw it mid stride and totally stepped in it, and I then had to stop immediately to get it off my still semi new shoes, well even if they weren't I would have still stopped.

So my 4 miles was awful. I was struggling to say the least and to be totally honest for my health I should have called it a day. I was beyond over heated at the end, my face was the color of a tomato, no joke! If I was in my right mind I would have remembered to take a pic of that! I went home took off my shoes (just in case I missed some goose poop) told P to crank on the box fan in the living room, and proceeded to lay in front of it for 15 minutes. I was hot and SO nauseous! P brought me 3 glasses of water (I had drank a liter of water with a NUUN in it on the way home) that she got all by herself, she was beyond proud which made me smile. (She's the best!) Once I could function I did my foam rolling, and other stretched and then took a cold shower. 

It was a culmination of cold/sinus issues, heat/humidity (even though it was only 6:30 am) and already starting out being over heated from the night before. It was.....the perfect storm!

I've never been more excited for a rest day like I am for tomorrow's. :) I do love my 2 rest days during this training cycle! 

On a happier note, I've decided to run a 20 km on my week 10 (July 4th). On that week I am scheduled to run 12 miles so a 12.4 mile will do just fine :) LOL I say now sitting on my comfortable sofa with the windows open and the breeze blowing. Sure run 20 km that will be great....! It will be good training nutrition /water wise. We shall see!! (To Be Continued...)

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all our present and past service men/women! 

Sunday, May 24, 2015

training week 4 in the books with a gorgeous ending

Today the only thing I had on my to-do-list was a 4 mile run that would wrap up week 4. :)

This morning was beautiful! Check it out. (I wore my faux fanny pack so I could bring my phone with me)
The faux fanny pack was a little difficult to get use to. I'm not sure if I would have splurged for a flipbelt it would be more snug on my hips. This definitely road up, but then once I was use to it, I didn't really notice it. Plus it has a pocket to hold your ipod, which was nice to not have my arm band on holding my ipod. All in all I think it will work!

This was my view when I turned down another rail trail path
How does anyone wake up any differently. :) 

My 4 miles went well. I felt like I was moving slowly and noticed my figures were very much swollen which a attribute to the tortilla chips and salsa I had with dinner, with a ham sandwich. lol SALTY! :) I need to remember those things when I choose dinner before a run. I did have a salad as well.  (my garmin said I was actually moving quicker than I thought..bonus!)

This is my most favorite path on the rail trail. I find myself always trying to get it into my runs some how.
I know I've posted many pictures of this same path, but it's really a favorite. It's got a beautiful fence along the whole mile and it runs through a pine tree farm. And it's wide open on the right so the sun pops through. Totally awesome.
My week 4 training schedule:
Monday 3 miles (road and RT)
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 3 miles (RT)
Thursday: rest (when the sickness/cold started)
Friday: 2 miles easy (RT)
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 4 miles (RT)
Total: 12 miles

Week 5 started tomorrow and I am ready!! :) 




Friday, May 22, 2015

Favorite foods

This morning I ran my 2 miles. 2 miles was so little, I mean it's a lot and I know I will be wanting 2 miles when I'm knee deep in 22 miles. But it seemed like I was cheating today. I ran at sun rise, which was a pretty great one. No camera/phone accompanied me this morning, although I think I should have had my jacket on because it was frigid this morning. I went with a pull over (no pockets) long tights, compression socks and a t-shirt under my pull over. I decided on music because I needed an extra boost. I have picked up the cold that's been circulating my house now for weeks. I've tried my best to clean and to avoid it. It was inevitable. I got over 8 hours of sleep but still dozed off after getting P from school. So I know I'm fighting something.

Like I've spoke about many times, because I might be boarder line obsessed: FOOD.

I've been trying different things to figure what is best for my body as I train and what to keep in the future for my Ultra.
-Runs with 3 miles or less I have an apple sauce:
This is my go to flavor, apple and pear...Yum!

-For runs 3 miles and over ( i.e. 5 so far ) I eat a Luna protein bar: 
They are delicious, chocolate chip cookie dough. And a total added bonus, GF!

I eat these on longer runs because it takes longer to digest. So anytime I'm running over 30 mins, or have an hour to eat before a run (which I will not wake up any earlier to eat a protein bar I just eat them knowing they'll kick in eventually) I grab one of these. I've also ate these on long surgery days at work and they keep my hunger at bay like crazy, which is so huge!

I'll be figuring out what I like to eat during longer runs here in the next couple weeks. Gels and GU worry me because my body is uber sensitive. I might try dried fruit, more apple sauce, bananas, ext.

-Post runs 2 miles, 3 miles or 5 I eat a GF bagel. Either plain or everything ( pretty much whatever the GF sections has in stock). One side with PB and the other with AB. And usually a piece of fruit, banana's are my go to. 

-Daily I try to eat one - two spinach salads a day. I've noticed if I get in a salad at lunch I usually stay pretty full, even at work. I eat 2 types of salads 
1) spinach with tomato slices and light italian dressing
2) mixed green salads (spinach/mixed greens) with strawberries/raspberries +/- blueberries and FF raspberry vinaigrette.
I don't stray too far from these 2 because I know I like them and I know they taste good. 

- Water! I drink a TON of water. Like 4-5 L of water/ day. (I drink about 4 oz of coffee in the morning but I am trying to get away from that.)

-Nuun tablets in my water for sure! And speaking of water I will carry my Nathan's water bottle on runs 5 mile and over with 1/2 Nuun tablet in it, 1/2 because it's only 22oz and 1 tablet is a little over powering. 

-More veggies. More veggies for sure. Sweet potatoes are definitely becoming a close friend of mine. I take them to work and cook them in the microwave :) LOL yesterday I put mine in there cook it and left it for 3 hours, needless to say it was hard as a rock!! I did not eat it. :( (luckily I had a luna bar)

This is all a work in progress, My eating has always been a work in progress, but now I can say I'm seeing progress. I am seeing benefits and changes and a much healthier approach.    

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy Memorial Day weekend! 

Get some running in :) 




Tuesday, May 19, 2015

when things come back around

I am slowly beginning to "gear up" for my ultra. I am thinking about how demanding my body is, which I think is a lot more than it for normal people. I am not normal. My body is not normal and it's taken me 32 years to figure that out. I think its best described as special. My body needs a lot of TLC and understanding and I am slowly figuring out what it's saying.

That being said I am doing a good job of eating what I need to eat to feel great. I am also listening to my schedule when it says rest. I am resting. I always have those, oh boy I wish I would have ran this morning/worked out or did something. But then I realize my body is working so hard! And recovery makes running better. I know it's what's the best, especially during training.

I picked this little gem up at TJ MAXX I need to be able to put my things somewhere when I don't have my jacket on. I looked at the flip belt, but kinda didn't want to spend $30.00. I hope I don't regret that. This was $10.00. (it's hind)


Never though I'd see myself sporting a faux fanny pack. LOL

But I think it will hold my belongings just fine. :) Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted. 

Monday, May 18, 2015

week 4 begins in a hot fashion

So excited and proud to be beginning week 4 of my training!! Whoot Whoot :) Look at this mama go :)

Okay I'll calm down.

Saturday was a rest day and consisted of me working all day. Sunday I finished week 3 with a 5 mile run! It felt really good, body wise, but the weather was kinda terrible. It's been super hot in MI the last few days like 84 and 99% humidity. Ugh, so gross, so sticky.

I went for my run at 6:30 and it was SO foggy out. I was drenched in a combo or sweat and fog and misty rain. I was a mess! My eyelashes had  water droplets on them. Which was sorta bizarre to look through.  But on the plus side I go myself a new running partner...


This is a Nathan water bottle with hand strap. I put a half NUUN tablet in the bottle. It was a bit awkward at first. I had to really figure out how it was best for me to hold. But eventually I got it figured out and I was so glad I had it. Besides the humidity, I am usually a fish by nature. I drink liter upon liters of water daily. 

I didn't feel great after my run though. My body and legs felt wonderful, but my head. I could not get my head right and feeling good. I had a thumper of a head ache most of the day. This was after drinking 3 liters of water, and one of those had a whole NUUN tablet in it. I honestly didn't feel relief until after I drank a juice mixture I made earlier that morning of spinach and mango. 

I was worried that today was going to be the same because the weather has not budged.  I was out and about by 6:00 am. I had a 3 mile run scheduled. I took a different route which was 2 miles of sidewalk and 1 mile rail trail. It was nice to do something different. The route was very convenient. I've felt great though, nothing like yesterday, thank goodness!!

SMILE!! Much better :)

Week 3 training:
Monday 4 miles RT
Tuesday rest
Wednesday 4 miles TM
Thursday strength/cross training
Friday 3 miles TM
Saturday rest
Sunday 5 miles RT

As for week 4 I am hoping to get on the trails Friday for my scheduled 2 mile run. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!! 

Friday, May 15, 2015

stretching and rolling

With the training I have really been making sure I am stretching and foam rolling post runs. I think I am feeling a major difference. I also notice my legs are not as fatigued as they once where. I attribute that to my compression socks. I'd never worn them, but I am now truly grateful they are in my life and on my legs. I also wear them if I've run and then have to work that day. I am on my feet the entire time I am at work, so Wednesday after my 4 mile run, I popped my compression socks on and headed to work for a 9 hour day. Two of those hours I was standing pretty still in an orthopedic surgery. Not to mention the 70 min commute round trip. My legs felt great!

I apologize about the fuzzy pictures. I had P helping me. :)


I lean forward over my foam roller. Feels nice to stretch my quads.


Another view by P 


Foam rolling. Doesn't hurt like it use to, makes it nicer to do.


This I hold for 15 seconds each side.


And finally. This stretch for 15 seconds each leg. 

Stretching has made a world of difference. After this I do the resistance training.  I am still using phase 2. 

Training so far week 3 almost complete
Monday: 4 miles (RT)
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 4 miles (TM)
Thursday: cross training/ strength training
Friday: 3 miles (TM)
Saturday: rest (pending)
Sunday: 5 miles (RT pending)

Enjoy the weekend!! 







Thursday, May 14, 2015

my first treadmill run during training

Yesterday I had to work but also had to get in my scheduled 4 miles, it was a must. I am really proud of how I am sticking with this. So with work looming I chose a treadmill run. Which turned out to be a great choice! I worked 3 extra hours yesterday so I was not going to be in the mood to run anyway.

It went pretty well at the gym I must say. I was able to switch up my form on the treadmill too so NO knee pain!!! Hooray! That was my BIGGEST fear about TM running was messing up my knee and getting it painful. But it was all good!

4.0 miles complete and in the books.

Tomorrow is a 3 mile run. I am still trying to figure out when I should go. The weather is not suppose to be too pleasant, raining most of the day. But I know I can handle it if I need too. Or I can just wimp out and go to the gym.

I guess we will see. :) I am off to enjoy an hour by myself while P and the hubs go to a "daddy evening" at pre-school.

Enjoy your day!

Monday, May 11, 2015

second week of training complete

The second week of training is in the books! Hooray! I am feeling really good and proud and overall wonderful about this whole process. Last week consisted of the following:

Monday: 4 miles
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: cross training and strength
Friday: 3 miles
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 4 miles
Total: 15 miles

I'm getting there!!

It's interesting to be in the beginning stages of training. I've never done a training schedule but I am very grateful for it. I was getting to a point where working out was getting boring and I was skipping a lot of them. I can talk myself out of a lot at 4:45 in morning. With the training I am getting an hour more of sleep which is a HUGE help! 5:45 doesn't seem as bearish by any means.

I am also seeing how training for anything whether it's a half, full or ultra you need a lot of help from a lot of people. I have plans to talk to my mother in law this week about watching P a little extra when I leave work so I can hit up the rail trail on the way home. I'm sure she'll be completely fine but I always like to explain myself.

It's hard as it is to be a mom, but a mom in training for an ultra, whew! ridiculous! ( the guilt alone is enough to make you wanna quit)

But it will be okay. The hubs and I were talking yesterday that this isn't how it's always going to be "this too shall pass." And we wont always be in training, and "we" means me and my family. Because well, they are my team, my support system, my all!

Good luck to all that are in training too!! :)

Sunday, May 10, 2015

I was completely wrong.

I posted on May 4th that I ran in the rain and survived. I was completely wrong! That day was nothing compared to today's storm I was in! NOT even close!! That day it was sprinkling, drizzling even. Today it was sprinkling and then turned into a down pour by mile 2 ( I had 4 miles scheduled). I was like, oh this is running in the rain. On my turn around there was a head wind and still down pouring!


Post run pic, haha I look like a dear in the headlights! Like what the heck just happened :) I'm sopping wet! This was one for the books. I did declare, however, ( to myself while stretching at the car in an empty parkinglot) I ran that run LIKE A BOSS!! :) LOL

I was going over my training schedule and was trying to figure out how in the world I am going to pull this off. I mean once P is out of school (at the end of this month) I lose my morning running opportunity. Because once my mileage increase I don't think I'll be able to do more than 4 miles in the morning before I need to get back home so the hubs can get to work. 

I think I'll need to split my longer runs during the week into some at the gym (because I can get there and start by 5 am) then finish on the rail trail when the sunrises at 6:00 ish. The long runs on the weekends seem to be a bit of an issue. I'm just not sure how to handle it with my current work schedule. I work every other weekend, but don't have to leave home until 9:45 on Sunday's. So that gives me 3:00 hours ( 6-9) before I need to get ready for work. I'm going to have to get creative. But I'll figure it out :) Because like I said, I am in for this journey! All the way in. 

* anyone done marathon or distance training with suggestions to my up coming weekend long runs?

Friday, May 8, 2015

week 2 of training almost complete

Almost done with week two of training. I was looking forward to my 3.0 mile run this morning but unfortunately I had super low energy. I was dragging. My legs felt good the new form still feeling amazing, but I could tell I should have ate a bit more last night for dinner. I remember feeling hungry when I went to bed and should have got a handle on that.

 Just a little pink peeking through this morning. The last few days in Michigan feel like late August! The weather here is so random and you need to be ready for anything. It was 86* yesterday. I'm sorry that is TOO hot for spring, in my opinion. I like 60-70*.

This is me post workout, you can tell me energy is just lacking, this was 3 miles it looks like 30!! LOL


I am drenched in sweat do to the fact it was already 70* at the end of my run...which was 6:45!

I have tomorrow off as a rest day,( and P's 5th birthday!!!)  then a 4 mile run Sunday( what a great way to spend mother's day!). This will complete the second week of training!! I am so excited to be doing this journey. (I say that now sitting comfortably in my lazy boy). I still haven't figured out how I am going to do long runs or pretty much any run over 4 miles with the times I am allotted. I think in my future I will need to get more creative.  

The hubs has been sweet an told me the 4 days/ week of running is totally showing...I look amazing! :) which I kinda have been thinking how I feel pretty awesome, so I'll take those benefits and the compliments!! :)

Happy weekend to all! Happy Mother's Day to all the hard working running mama's out there! :)

Thursday, May 7, 2015

cross training day

Thursdays are now my cross training days and Tuesdays will be my rest days (at least this week, haha I guess it not written in stone, every week might be different). So today I went to the gym after being absent for a week. But it was good, I think I was getting a little annoyed with the gym setting and needed a break. So this training has come at a good time :)

Cross training/strength

  • 200 crunches
  • 100 squats
  • 3 x 12 arm curls w 5# weights ( remember my shoulder is still not great so I went lighter on the weights)
  • 3 x 12 shoulder extensions w 5# weights
  • leg press 3 x 12 @ 180#
  • donkey kicks 3 x 12 @ 60#
  • leg extensions 3 x 12 @ 75#
  • hamstring extensions 3 x 12 @ 60#
  • Elliptical 20 minutes 10 forward and 10 backwards with 5% incline.
Total- 60 mins workout

I'm pretty happy with today's workout! Hope everyone enjoy's their day!!

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

hands down, literally.

So my form experiment continued this morning. Which ps was one of the most beautiful sunrises yet and I didn't have my phone with me. So it will only be remembered in my mind. Totally gorgeous and also quit funny I was dressed in hot pink much like the sunrise. We totally coordinated this morning, I couldn't have planned that! LOL

Anyway, I went for my 4 mile run this morning and tried to keep my arms down. Down but still moving. ( not like that one Seinfeld episode ). I was very conscious of that. I lowered my arms so my hands were at hip level but still moving back and forth. I noticed my head stayed up and looking forward. I have a tendency to look down when I run. Which is another form issue.

So arms down which made my hips feel more parallel to the ground ( if that even makes the slightest sense). My core tightened (like someones going to punch you, thanks Meb for that tip in Runner's World!) and head up.

IT FELT LIKE THE BEST RUN YET!! :)

There was zero knee pain, zero!

I told the hubs when I got home this new form was a "game changer" and I believe that. I really am feeling good about my future with running and my ultra training. :) When I told my hubs the other night about my arms, he said "oh yeah when I ran track and sprinted, I would lower my arms too my coach told me that. I never put two and two together that it would work for distance running." He too has known about this secret and was holding out! haha well I figured it out myself :)

This week training so far:
Monday 4 miles
Tues rest
Wednesday 4 mile
Pending:
Thursday strength/ cross training
Friday 3 miles
Saturday rest ( aka P's 5th birthday!!)
Sunday 4 miles ( Mother's day)

Enjoy the rest of your day, Happy Running!!

Monday, May 4, 2015

running in the rain

I have never run in the rain until this morning. I really didn't want to, to be totally honest. But I have to remind myself that the ultra weather could literally be anything...I mean anything. Sweltering, cold, rainy, snowy. Who knows! It's Michigan in September!!

It was interesting to say the least and not as bad as I was anticipating. The weather held off pretty well for the most part I only got rained on a bit. I'm on day 5 which was a schedules 4.0 mile run I ran 4.18 miles. The first mile felt good but miles 2-3 felt pushed/uncomfortable. Once I turned around and started my second half I started to doubt myself again. I was actually thinking about ways I could tell the hubs how I kinda just threw away $90.00 on my ultra entry fee. I was thinking about how I could work an extra day to make it up. Then something odd happened. I put my arms down because on the way back there was a breeze and it was humid and sticky out from the rain and the crooks of my elbows were sweaty.

When I put my arms down and out a bit I noticed my gait felt better. I went with it for a little bit and tried to figure this new approach out. I usually have my arms up at my sides swinging. As I lowered them just a bit my gait changed and I noticed I wasn't swinging my hips as much. Which hips and ITBS go hand in hand. The rest of my run felt really good. Could it be a new form or a fluke?!

I'm curious what this will entail for future running. My next scheduled is Wednesday, so I'm definitely trying the form again and I guess we'll see. :)

Pre run/ pre rain :

Post run/ post rain:

I think my smile and laughter is do to the new form :) !! 

Week 1 training: 
Monday: 5 miles 
Tuesday: strength 
Wednesday: 3 miles ( both monday and wednesday were suppose to be 4 miles each so it evened out)
Thursday: rest
Friday: 3 miles
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 3 miles 
Total 14 miles. I am also always doing my foam rolling and resistance training. I do 150-200 squats on strength days and rest days as well. 



Sunday, May 3, 2015

wake up and go

I seriously can not get enough of sunrise running. Today was my 4th day of my training, it was an easy 3.0 mile run. When I got home, I did my stretching and foam rolling. The foam rolling has stopped being so painful, which is a good thing I would imagine.

What a sight..huh?!


I didn't feel the greatest today after my run. Not because I had a bad run, because in all reality it was a great run. I woke up not feeling well and figured I just had a bad nights sleep. I went out for my run with too many layers on, it was in the 60's when I walked outside but I really wasn't expecting that. I mean its Michigan for goodness sack!

Once I got home I did my post run stuff and took a shower and used everything I had to eat a bagel. I was nauseous which I thought was from being over heated. I started to get a migraine pretty quickly. And of course I had to work! Ugh. No!!

My sweet hubs went and got my tropical smoothie (mango magic: I've never had it and it was tasty)

I took some Excedrin and headed to work. It was working until I got there. Then my head wanted to explode! I took some Benadryl because I knew....I knew it was something I ate!!!! I was so mad!!

I made the mistake on Friday while buying groceries and got myself something I don't usually eat which were chocolate peanut clusters. They had no artificial ingredients but there was a warning it is made at a factory that deals with wheat. It was a stupid mistake and I paid for it.

I need to make better choices!! Because I got the brunt of a bad decision today :(

I had to leave work early but I am now much better after sleeping and drinking a ton of water.

So officially heading into my 2 week of ultra training. I got to remove my first tab!! ( yeah I'm a nerd and had to put tabs on it so I could take them off, makes it feel completed!
1 week down!! :)

Friday, May 1, 2015

sunny day

I made my way to the rail trail again for a sunrise run. Beautiful. 
I had a rough time getting motivated and staying in a good groove which was stressful. I'm sure this happened because I had a slip in my diet (ie ate wheat) I pay for it about 36 hrs later. It was right on cue. Sluggish, bloated, angry belly and bad mood. These are all the symptoms I get after eating what I shouldn't eat. It really is a set back too.

I did, however,  fulfill my 3.0 miles today. I am one day closer to my goal. I am doing well on my modified ultra training schedule. Which is a plus. I am glad to stay on track. My next goal is getting a run in Sunday before work. Another sunrise run!! I think I found a sweet spot and if I can stay on track with my food it will continue to be a joy!!


Post run :) Happiness!

Happy Running everyone!!