Thursday, July 30, 2015

treadmill, rail trail and no hills.

I had lofting goals this morning. This was all after realizing I am not really pushing myself lately with running. Since I am not currently training I am not following a plan, so the night before I conjure up a plan in my head and try my best to execute it the next day.

It's kinda funny how I make these major plans on my rest days. Usually sitting cozy in a chair, not sore, not tired and fully hydrated. I really set myself up, LOL.

But seriously I need to make bigger goals for my daily runs, because well...I am capable!

This morning I thought 8 miles sounded pretty doable!

We are still sleeping out in the living room (the heat wave will be lifting my tomorrow) and I have the hardest time getting up when I sleep out there. I got up to the gym and began running by 5:20. (It's not as light out as it use to be. It looks light out more around 5:45 or so). So I began at the gym with the thought I would do 5 miles then hop off, drive to the day park and run the additional 3 miles (well 3.4 because of the route I had in my head).


I got into my car, ate (drank) and applesauce and arrived at the day park at 6:20.  But my knee really hurt! I decided I didn't want to get stranded so I modified my run to only an additional 2 miles post TM run. And if my knee was feeling okay, I could do 1 mile of hills. I'd be near my car too so I could get home for the hubs to get to work.: (love my sunrises!)


I didn't end up doing the hills, because my knee was barking!! My stride was off because of the pain. But I still am pretty proud of myself and my 7 miles:


Proof of additional mileage! : 7.12 miles, I averaged 11:45 on TM and 11:43 on the RT, total cals 975. (The hubs and I have a dinner date tonight, don't think I wasn't imagining Uno's GF pizza as I was running..because I was! LOL hey whatever motivation works, right!?


My weekend plan is as follows:
  • Friday-strength and cross training with cycling
  • Saturday- early morning walk, no running, I'd like to walk 5-6 miles
  • Sunday- long run on the RT (like I mentioned because I think I've been on the TM a little too much lately) 7-8 miles would be fabulous! 
Week round-up so far:
  • Monday- 3.5 miles
  • Tuesday strength w/ 5 miles
  • Wednesday- REST
  • Thursday- 7 miles
  • Tentative: Friday: strength/cross train
  • Tentative: Saturday walk 5-6 miles
  • Tentative: Sunday 8 miles
  • Tentative total w/o walk : 23.5 miles...not bad!
*What are some plans you have this weekend? Long runs/any races?! Do tell!! 







Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Wednesday whatnot's #5

 If someone asked me, what is your most favorite shirt, I wouldn't hesitate to say my Boston Strong shirt!! I wear it pretty much once a week. :) :



Blueberry is P's fish. And this might sound odd but he is such a social fish! Whenever anyone goes in to her room, he gets all excited. I'm sure it's just because he thinks he'll be fed, but I find it adorable!:


She bought this Elas doll with her own money! She was so proud of herself. She's been helping around the house and doing chores to earn money. I love that she is getting the concept of money/earning :) :


Second time around reading it, and it's even more inspiring, if that's even possible! :) :


These flowers are outside my mom's cabin, beautiful! :


Just lovin' herself some cabin life!:) :


I forgot to pack a breakfast for myself, and when you are GF most people can't really help you out. So I got creative this morning with cut up apples/bananas and peanut butter :) :


This little kitty was very excited her people were home, couldn't even get a good picture because she was rubbing and meowing so much :) love a charlie cat!


*What are your Wednesday whatnot's? (ie randoms from your day)








Tuesday, July 28, 2015

5 miles on the TM and strengthening

4:40 my alarm went off and I didn't hear it. The hubs had to wake me up so the alarm didn't wake P up. (Remember we are currently living in a make shift loft by having everything in our living room). I must have been sleeping pretty hard. Then I dozed back off for about 12 more minutes. I finally got out of bed (ie the sofa) at 4:52. Which got me to the gym at 5:10. I started with strength training. Today was going to be a day I did strength and a mid length run plus hills.

Strengths:

  • crunches on the yoga ball. (200)
  • arm curls 3 x 12 w 5# weight
  • arm extensions 3 x 12 w 5# weight
  • Squats with overhead weights 50 total w 5# weight
  • arm swings (I don't know what these are called. I went back onto the site I originally saw them on and the video was not working.) 3 x 50 w 10# weight
  • Leg press 3 x 12 @ 180#
  • donkey kicks 3 x 10 @ 70#
By this time it was 5:45 so I needed to get running because it takes me about 1 hour to run 5 miles. Easy pace of 12 min/mile. I walked for about 6 minutes before I started to run just because I had just done all the leg exercises. (and I was adding more songs to my current playlist...multitasking at its best.)

I ran 1.3 miles then got off the TM to grab the fan, it was like the air was standing still up there this morning! I thought about just leaving and finishing on the RT but knew it was just as stagnant outside as it was in the gym. Then I did another 3.7 miles making my 5 miles total. I walked for about 4-5 minutes after to cool down, I tend to not do that. So it was about 6:50 or so when I got done and I decided to cut out the hills at the day park. For one main (and good) reason my knee started to hurt at mile 1 !! WTF?! I honestly think it might be from too much TM running. Last week 3 days and then today. I think that's what getting me, pounding on the belt. 

Post run trying to get a little sunrise in the background (nailed it):



Second attempt:


I came home and did a longer version of my foam rolling and stretching hoping to loosen up the tightened ITB. I am going to bring my foam roller up north with us and roll again tonight and tomorrow. 

*Have you have any old injuries pop up lately?! 

Monday, July 27, 2015

I have my reasons...they are mama legit

I would like to point out that I had high hopes for my weekend running...but it just didn't pan out. I didn't run at all. I worked over both Saturday and Sunday but to be totally honest that wasn't the reason. So since we only have a window AC unit, pretty much just the living room stays cool. We've had a mattress on the floor since Friday night. (classy I know) Everyone is sleeping so well though and well I guess that's all that really matters right? But I can't drag myself out of bed because I've been sleeping next to this sweet thing: (it's a mama thing)!!



This morning I did however get up and ran. I ran about 3.5 miles it felt good! :


I came home and had some tart cherry juice:


And rolled (yep I'm wearing my socks to protect my compression socks from the cat hair!):


Then I showered, much needed and deserved I'd say:


Then it was breakfast time, Chex GF oatmeal and blackberries (plus my water w NUUN tabs, I drank water while I ran, because the heat/humidity is for real) :


Then my big plan for the morning was to cook all the weeks meals today so I don't have to 1) later in the week when it gets even more hot 2) because P and I are heading up to the cabin for a night or two so the hubs will be set.


I was suppose to go to the doctors today but it was cancelled (by them, the Dr was out sick). So instead we met the hubs for lunch at a great little Mexican restaurant. P ate 2 taco's and beans!! I think someone is growing! :)

My plan tomorrow is to do strength and running plus hills. I am trying to mentally earn my day off Wednesday!! I think it will work.

*Anyone have a long run or race this weekend? Tell me about it?!









Friday, July 24, 2015

goals...what are they good for?

I have been reading a lot of other runners blogs lately and it seems like they all have goals. Which is awesome and inspiring, but I don't have any goals right now.

Well I guess my goal is to get back to the original enjoyment I once had with running.

I think I am getting there. Things are so much more laid back with my running and I'm finding I set mental goals for myself for every run. The 10 weeks that I trained for the Ultra were good and I'm super proud of myself but it was getting less and less enjoyable.

I'm currently running 4-5 days/week. Which is what I was running before too, but it's...different.

I am also trying to get my speed up. In ultra running they talk about running a slower more steady pace, do to the distance. So I averaged 11:30-12:00 min miles. Which believe me I was happy about. But now I am trying to push it more to 10:30-11:00 min miles. This week (since I've been more on the TM) I was running at 10:30 and then the last 0.5 miles I'd push it to 10:00 min miles. It was fun to increase the speed like that. And it was even cooler to see I could do it after 5+ miles, still having that little bit left.

I've noticed a difference hydration wise after adding (the appropriate amount, if I'd just read the bottle) of NUUN tablets. I am not feeling do dehydrated/or stricken by dehydration headaches.

I'm sure I'll figure out a goal soon. I'm just not sure what it will be...to be continued I suppose. :)






Thursday, July 23, 2015

black is my workout color this week

Wednesday was a strength training kinda morning. I went to the gym and luckily was not a creeper this time. I got there right at 5:00 am, worked out for 45 mins then headed home to get ready for work: (this is me not sporting a running skirt! LOL I kinda wear them a lot but I wasn't running so the morning didn't call for it)



I ran outside (not literally) to get this picture of the sunrise from our back porch. I don't know why but I just love them!


Workout round up:
  • over head weighted squats x 50
  • crunches x 200
  • free weights: arm extensions, curls, and press 3 x 12
  • leg press 2 x 180# and 1 x 200#
  • donkey kicks 3 x 12 @ 70#
  • leg extensions 3 x 12 @ 75#
  • leg curls 3 x 12 @ 75#
Thursday..I almost talked myself out of going to the gym, but I wanted to get my run in before work: (running shirt in FULL force!)


I ran 3 miles at a 10:35 mile/hr pace. It was a nice easy run. It was appreciated:


This was the sunrise from the gym parking lot:


I went to work and did not forget my compression socks, which I am happy about. I do wish, however, I would have worn compression shorts under my scrubs because my hips are been sore. I think it's because of all the treadmill pounding. 

Running round up:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 4 miles
Wednesday: strength
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: (my plan) 4-6 miles
Saturday rest
Sunday: 5-7 miles 
Total (once all said): 18 :)

*What are your plans this weekend?!
-I am working all weekend at UC.


  



Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Wednesday's whatnot's #4

The heat has been bearing down on us lately.

We have been spending a lot of time outside.

This is what I look like: ( thought I'd catch up on some reading)


This is our lunch spread. This doesn't include my sisters lunch (I made her) when she arrived about 3 minutes after this picture:


I also started a new book (juries still out):


We tried some new foods: These tortillas chips are awesome with hummus! They are a thicker chips too:


And these were an impulse buy...but delicious!:


The heat and humidity gives my wavy hair these fun little "handles.":


And I've posted this sunrise picture before, but I just love it, I wanna post it again!:




Happy Wednesday!! 

*What are you reading right now?





Tuesday, July 21, 2015

early bird gets...their sweat on!

This morning my alarm was set for 4:30 am. When I woke by our box fan in the living room falling over at 4:28 am. I figured I better just stay up. I tried to look at the silver lining which was...I didn't hear my alarm!

I wanted to get a run in this morning before work. I figured I could manage 4 miles which would still give me time to roll/stretch.

I was a total creepster in the gym parking lot. No one else there, just me and my lonesome for a good 10 minutes. Then like 4 cars pulled in:



My 4 miles went very well. There were people there to watch which makes my attention span a little bit longer:


I am really enjoying this running to run thing. I don't feel overwhelmed. I am making new plans for each of my workouts. I am also trying to do different things. I run when I want to, but I am trying to get 2 days of strength and only 1 rest day. 2 rest days might have been a little too much. I think I'd need it more if I was heavy into my training. But since things have changed I don't need to. 

I realized today (and I get disappointed when I have to realize something because someone else can't do it). I have a doctor I work for who was an advocate triathlete. Since having her son 8 months ago, her back has been giving her such trouble. All she wants is to swim or bike or even run again (running is her least favorite, swimming is her favorite, boggles my mind, but to each is own). She is going to have an MRI Thursday for them to see if she has narrowing in her lower disc spaces.  

I need to feel and be more grateful for what I have. I have a wonderful family, a very very special little girl and I am healthy. 

*Has anyone had a really bad injury it's taken months to work through?
-My ITBS last year was about an 8 months struggle. 



Sunday, July 19, 2015

Sunday funday, funday runday & pizza!

This morning I slept in. It was amazing!

I had my alarm set for 5:30 am and when it went off I turned it off and rolled over. I had a good reason, there is always a good reason at 5:30 am not to do something right?!

My reason was family time. Yep family time. We live in a house without an air conditioner. So as the temperatures soared to 92* F our house was hot! We put in our window unit but anyone that knows window units know it get mainly the room its in. We hauled our mattress from our bedroom and P and I slept on it while the hubs slept on the sofa. It was nice, and super comfortable!! I like sleeping next to my little girl. What can I say... it's a mama thing :)

After getting an extra 1.5 hours of sleep I made breakfast and then I felt antsy. Like I should get my butt a movin'!! I went to the gym by 9 am. I did some core work and 6 miles on the TM (in the air!!) On a side note I straightened my hair Saturday, so I wore it in a ponytail while I ran, by mile 4 it was drenched. If I hadn't been alone in the gym anyone in a few feet distance would have gotten a sprinkler effect from my ponytail!! So Gross. But I couldn't stop because stopping meant maybe not finishing. So when I was done it went into a sweaty bun:


Does anyone else think about things they will immediately take off once done working out? Or is it just me...? I think about taking my ipod off my arm the second I am done running. Today it was ipod off and getting my hair up! :)

Charlie cat can not get enough of her people when they return home: (I know it looks silly to have socks on over my compression socks but that's only because said cat's white hair is all over my house and I don't like the thought of walking around and it getting into the fibers of my very expensive socks!)



I then really wanted pizza, because the time I got home, rolled, showered had a snack, I was ready for lunch. But first I had to attend a birthday party for P's stuffed dog "Twinkle." Then I requested pizza.. in my life. We went to Uno's. They have a GF menu and they take GF items very seriously. I ordered the thin crust GF cheese pizza and a GF Cesar salad. (ie no croutons, and all the dressings there are GF). It's refreshing to eat out at a restaurant you know wont make you feel like crud!! 

P likes how kids can make their own pizza's: ("Twinkle" is out with us for a birthday lunch)


I then spent the rest of my afternoon like this & this:



I hope everyone had a really great and relaxing weekend! 

*What were your runs like? Any races/long runs?








Saturday, July 18, 2015

running to run...who knew?

I got up before the heat/humidity fell over Mi and boy I was glad I did!!

It was super foggy out and my eyelashes were heavy with the condensation. When I headed out at 6:00 am I was passed by another runner who looked like she was just getting done. We did a polite runners hello and laughed about getting our run done before the heat.

I had 5 miles in my head, not because of a training schedule or anything but I thought it would be a good solid number. I finished with 5.12 miles. I was a good run. I was hot/sweaty/sticky/drenched/thirsty/and hungry when I was done, but over all it was a good run.

I ran because well, I wanted to run. It felt nice to be out and not worrying about getting an amount in. When I needed to walk, I walked. When I needed a drink, I drank. (Okay I did that before too). But I realized I am not currently training for anything. I don't think I am going to run the half marathon I was thinking about running in September. I think right now, the best for me and my running sanity (is that a thing?) Is to just be a runner. Become stronger, fitter and overall excited again.

I am thinking..maybe the 10 km that September day. But I am not registering for it anytime soon.

I got the latest issue of "Women's Running" magazine and it was like they had read my mind. I am totally and completely the person in my head all the time when I am running or even telling people I run, I wonder what they are thinking? I wonder when people pass me when I run on the road and they see me, do they think "oh look at her, good for her." Not that I've been doing this for a few years. But maybe to them I don't look like it. Well maybe to me I don't either.

I wont lie when I saw the pictures from the 20 km race a few weeks ago I was embarrassed. How could I possibly think I look good. I love wearing "work-out clothes" weather I am working out or not, but when I saw myself...I thought "I look awful."

After reading the magazine cover to cover in one day. I realized I need to cut myself some slack. I am trying and I am doing my best (most days, LOL). I have a little girl who looks up to me and thinks I hung the moon and couldn't be prouder of me. I need to be proud of myself. I will never be skinny. I will however, be healthy.

**disclaimer I have never once in the 5 years P has been alive talked about "fat" or "skinny" I tell her all people are different and that's what makes us special. I never look in the mirror and say what I am thinking because I want her to be a confident and self loving human being. I don't look through magazines and say "I wish I looked like them." I just do my best. I show her a healthy lifestyle (at least I try) and we talk nutrition and not eating a lot of treats and so on. I just didn't want anyone to read this and think I bash myself in front of people, especially my daughter. I am a women and I mostly do it in my head. But I am getting better about it. But it will always be a struggle.**

I might not look like a runner, but I am a runner honey. A runner currently not training for anything but to be a better runner. And maybe one day some big goals. (below is me and my biggest fan).


Friday, July 17, 2015

me and my girl and some hill work too

The 3 days I spent with just P were fabulous! I haven't had that kinda one on one time in awhile. (well besides when the hubs goes hunting, but I usually have to work which is a whole mess in itself).



I did add a Thursday morning workout in too. P and I went down to the lake to feed the fish, which you have to venture down a big hill. I ran up and down the hill for 40 mins while she fed the bluegill and made sandcastles. :)


The hill I dominated (which if you are counting is 2 hill days in one week!!)


We went on a lot of mama and baby girl walks : (wolfy always accompanied us)


She took a picture of these flowers because they were pretty, I agreed!


My mornings were very relaxing, there is something about Lake Life that makes things just...better. My morning breakfasts:


And green tea


I relaxed a lot on the shore while P played. She plays very close to shore and listens very well when I ask her to come closer. I didn't bring a single magazine down there, so I was sure to focus:


The ride home was rainy, which is why we left about a half day early. The forecast called for rain all day. By day 3, you kinda just wanna get home :) I was ready with snacks!


It was especially nice to get away during the week, because the lake was quiet. None of the weekend goers were there, so it was very peaceful. 

I hope everyone enjoys their weekends coming up. It's gunna be a HOT one here in MI!!

Weekend wrap up:
Monday: 3 miles w an am strength workout and 1 mile of hills
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: am strength w 2 mile easy TM
Thursday: 40 mins of hills with some major stretching after!!
Friday: rest
Saturday's plans: 5 mile easy run (before heat/humidity hits)
Sunday's plans: 6 mile easy run (before heat/humidity hits)

Total-16