Training Recap: Week Seven: (July 27-August 2)

We had some really hot weather this week in California. I really struggle through my runs in the heat and wish that I could run in the mornings. Since I work full-time, I have to do most of my runs after work so I have to just suck it up and get it done. 

Things are moving right along with my training and my hip pain has stayed away for 7 weeks now! Getting rid of the hip pain is truly my focus this time around and I am hoping that if I stick to the strength training, I will continue to run pain free. July was a good month for me. My mileage is starting to get back up there so I am really happy to have hit over 100 miles this month.

Here is a recap of Week Seven:

Monday: 7 Miles at Marathon Goal Pace. I really had to push myself through this one in the heat. It is amazing how marathon goal pace feels so hard in 90 degree temps. I waited a little too long for things to cool down and ended up running the last two miles in the dark.

Tuesday: Strength Training

Wednesday: 6.65 Mile Speed Workout: I normally do my speed workout on Tuesdays but I had to move my schedule around this week. The track was pretty empty and I was the last one to leave. I pretty much got kicked out and ended up doing the last part of my cool down in the parking lot.

Thursday: REST DAY: I was really needing a day off. I really appreciate these days now that I have added strength training in.

Friday: 16.2 Miles: My long runs are so much slower now and I am struggling with this. I try to include hills on my long runs so that I am forced to slow things down. It actually works and is not so bad plus I can always use the hill workout.

Saturday: Strength Training: The gym was empty so it was nice to get in and out of there and not have to wait for any of the equipment.

Sunday: 30 Minute Workout: This was my choice day where I can do 30  minutes of cross training but no running. I wasn't in the mood to go to the gym so I used what I had at home.  I tried to target all of the major areas (legs, arms, glutes and core) for this one.

TOTAL MILES: 29.85

My long run this week is 13 Miles and my running club is doing 14 miles so I am going to run with them this weekend. Running in a group sure makes the miles fly by and makes it a lot easier to do. Enjoy your week everyone!

Goodbye June and Hello July!

I can't believe that we are half way through 2015. Before we know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will upon us. I love the holiday season and I cannot wait for it to arrive since I get to visit with a lot of my family.

Ever since I hired a running coach, my focus has not really been on the number of miles that run even though it is quite a change. June was a very low mileage month but what a blessing it was. I have not had any hip pain for almost 3 weeks and that is a wonderful thing!

Running lower mileage is a big change for me because I am used to running a lot more than I have been. The trade off is the strength training/cross training that I do three times a week. I have noticed that my body feels just as tired with the lower mileage combined with the strength training so I know that I am still putting in the work. I am starting to get a little more comfortable in the weight area of the gym with big boys but working out with my other half is kinda nice since he helps me out so I think we are going to stick with it.

I have to trust my the training, my coach and more than anything I have to believe in myself. I just keep telling this myself that so I don't get too worried about it. I am also slowing things down a lot. My runs are at much easier paces as well which is sometimes hard for me. I just like to get out there and get it done but not anymore. Sometimes I feel like I am hardly moving but after all of the time that I spend on my feet I still feel accomplished in the end. The trade off is the speedwork where I am hitting paces that I have never even attempted to hold before. There are days for easy running and then there are days where I really have to step out of my comfort zone and push myself.

I am looking forward to some time off from work next week which will allow me more flexibility with my training schedule. I haven't been to my running club in a while and really miss running with them. I am going to try to meet up with them on one of the days where my long run distance is the same as theirs.

Happy Canada Day to all of my Canadian friends!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Progress and How February Went Down

Let me start by saying that things were a lot better this month even though my mileage was really low. I have been diligent about doing my hip exercises so I am feeling a lot better. The hip is not 100% so I am still taking it day by day and not pushing the pace too much. I have been able to get back in the 8:45-9:00 range without too much discomfort. I have been wanting to sign up for more races but I have been good about talking myself out of it because running races in pain is not fun especially when you know you really don't belong there. I am hopeful that I will be able to sign up for the OC Half Marathon but it will probably be at the very last minute when the race is close to selling out. I know my time will come but for now the focus is on getting back on track and keeping the faith.

My mileage for February was low but some miles is always better than ZERO miles, right? Not being able to run at all is rough so I am feeling very thankful for what I accomplished this month. I have to remind myself to always see the good in every situation.

I also ran with my running club this past Saturday and it was a good run. I felt like I needed to run with a group to keep the pace where it should be and I can always use the company.

Not to mention that they spoil us with all of the treats while we are on our runs. I haven't had a Nutter Butter cookie in ages but I had one that day! If you are not a member of a running club, you have to give it a try. It really is an awesome thing and not just because of the Nutter Butters and M&M's!

Do you actually eat these kinds of goodies during your runs?

I normally do not but when I run with the club I just can't help myself!

Are you member of a running club?

July Miles and My Workouts for 7/28-8/3

July was a good month. My goal was to run 150 miles and I met my goal!

My legs feel great but I am being faithful about foam rolling and I am always open to skipping a run if my body is telling me to take a break. I don't want to get too focused on hitting a certain amount of mileage for the month but more on being able to make my runs count. August is going to be a big month since I am reaching long runs of 18 miles plus so I need to stay focused and plan carefully around the hot weather. I am also having to take my long runs a little slower than planned but heat is my worst enemy and in order to survive it is what I have to do. I am good with that or else I end up wimping out and cutting my long runs short and I can't do that.

Here is a recap of my week:

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday: 5.15 Miles @8:42 avg pace/I was supposed to run my tempo run but my son wanted to join me so we made it a family exercise day on the bike trail. My other half started his training for the Las Vegas R&R half marathon this week so we ran two miles together and then I ran three miles alone (8:35, 8:01, 7:47.) My son rode his bike along side us since we ran on the bike trail. It was 88 degrees but with no sun and a nice breeze so I guess I can handle that.

Wednesday: I skipped out on my run and I ended up calling it a date night with my other half. I planned to run after we had dinner but I had a super bad headache and just decided to call it a day. I have to give myself the freedom to skip a run when I feel like I need it or else I get burned out. I also know that when I skip a run, my next run will be a good one.

Thursday: 5 Miles@9:43 avg. pace/I ran in the 91 degree heat and it was pretty rough. I thought I was going to pass out it was so hot!

Friday: Rest Day. I took a vacation day from work and just kind of took it easy knowing that I had an 18 mile run the following day.

Saturday: 18 Miles@8:50 avg./I ran the first half easy and the last half a little faster. These long runs are getting harder and harder with the heat. They are a little frustrating because I feel more tired than I usually do and hitting my goal paces take so much more effort.

Sunday: 5 Mile Recovery Run@9:54 with my other half. It was pretty warm when we left the house at 7:00 am and the humidity level was at 84%. We are definitely not used to this kind of weather! It actually rained over night and I was happy about that since we really needed it.

Total Miles: 33 Miles

It looks like we are going to get a small break from the heat next week. Of course the break comes on a cut back week but I will take it. I am off work on Friday so it looks like I will try to plan my long run on Friday. I must say that 63 degrees never sounded so good!

What do you prefer? Heat or Humidity?
I say neither one..

Why January Was a Good Month

January was a pretty good month for me. Lots of good things happened and I am feeling ever so grateful to have had another good month of running as well.  So why was it a good month?

1) I ran a total of 150 miles! It was a record month for me. I did get some help from January since there are 31 days in the month but I will take it!

2) I won a ton of giveaways and I feel so lucky! I can't wait to run Zooma Napa Valley in June. I think it is going to be a lot of fun. You can read about all of the stuff that I won here.

Speaking of giveaways, you can win an Allied Medal Display from Marcia's Healthy Slice. Head on over and enter!

3)  I was told by two people on Instagram that I inspired them! Some people probably hear these words all of time but it means a lot of me when I hear these words! What a great feeling! I think this is one of the greatest compliments that you can receive as a runner or as a person for that matter. We all have goals that we are chasing but if I can be a part of someone else's success in meeting their goal, that is an even better feeling for me. I hope that these two ladies accomplish great things!

If someone inspires you to do something or to push yourself that extra mile when you feel like giving up, reach out to them today and tell them so! I am sure it will make their day!

Tell me how January went for you!

September Recap

I am starting to get excited as the months fly by because I love Christmas! I can't believe that Costco already has their Christmas stuff out. I usually like to take it easy at the end of the year approaches but I kind of have a feeling that is not going to go down like that. I have a marathon in less than two weeks and a half marathon with my other half a month after that. I usually run a race for fun in the month of December but I haven't registered for anything yet. Some of my friends are running the Divas Half Marathon which looks like a lot of fun so I might just allow them to talk me into it. 

So what went down in September? 

1. I had a birthday but we won't do any number analysis on that topic! 

2. I ran 127 miles in September which is about average for me. September mileage was much less than August but I am still going to call it a good month. It was solid and I had some great runs. I have been trying to keep my weekly mileage between 30-35 miles and I have been able to stick with it. I am always excited when my long runs go well and those have been pretty solid.

3. I also ran a half marathon in 80 degree heat but it was at the Happiest Place on Earth so I guess I can't complain!

 What are my plans for October?

 

I don't have any big plans for October except to survive the Long Beach Marathon on October 13th. I can't wait to start stalking the weather on Friday when the 10-Day Forecast will be available! I am hoping to be able to take it easy the week after this race. I think I owe it to my body to give it a break especially after 26.2 miles!

How was your September?

There are so many marathons coming up in October. Anybody running Chicago? BayState? MCM?

July Rewind

Another month has past and before we know it Thanksgiving will be here and then Christmas will sneak up us on too! July was a good month. I ran a decent amount of miles and I also started riding my bike trainer to get some cross training into my routine. I am actually really enjoying riding my bike and I am up to 45 minutes now! I bought a Garmin speed/cadence sensor so I can track my mileage on the bike and that makes it even more fun!

I had some great weeks and then I kind of fell of the wagon during Week Four after my ugly 5k. I skipped my long run and didn't make July record month as I had hoped for. There is always next month so I am hoping to reach a record month in August.

I ran a total of 127 miles in July and during my best week I ran 35 miles which is probably as good as it gets for me. I am not a high mileage runner and always try to stay under 40 miles a week since I am an injury prone runner! I also ran a 5K that I really don't want to think about anymore but you can read about it here.

So what does August have in store for me? The Disney Dumbo Double Dare starts on August 31st and I will be running the 10K followed by the Disneyland Half Marathon the next morning. I am kind of excited and nervous all at the same time for this one! I haven't set any goals for these races yet. I might just run them for fun since it will be a lot of miles for me!

I am still up in the air about my next marathon but I can tell you that registration for the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon opened today and I am definitely registering for this one! I love everything about this race and I think this is the race that I have a big chance to get that BQ!

How was your July? 

Did you reach any new goals or earn any PR's?

Hello June and what I am looking forward to this month..

May came and went so quickly! I think I kind of lost track of May since I had my big race at the end of the month and was really focused. I love the summer months because my son will be on summer vacation in a couple of weeks and we may take some fun trips but June is not a good month for running. That is the part that I do not like. The summer heat is brutal here in California and makes training and running races a pain in the butt!

May was a low mileage month for me since I was tapering for my marathon and for the last week of the month I did not run to allow my body to rest and recover. I know that recovery is an important part of the whole running a marathon process and I don't want to risk an injury either. 

So what else am I looking forward to in June? 

1. I am looking forward to my graduation ceremony on June 16th. Getting my Master's degree is quite an accomplishment for me since I never ever thought I would even go back to school let alone do it while working a full-time job. The graduation ceremony falls on Father's Day this year so I am also looking forward to seeing my Dad and spending the day with him.

2. My niece will be visiting from South Carolina and will be arriving in California on June 11th. We have some fun stuff planned for her. We really want to take her to Disneyland since she has not been to Cars Land yet. By the way, Disneyland is raising their prices again tomorrow!

3. I am also looking forward to getting back to running and maybe picking things up a little bit. As I have unexpectedly gotten closer to that BQ, it makes me want to work for it that much harder. I am also itching to run another marathon but I am not sure when or where. I want to keep my body and mind familiar with the distance and I might just run another as a training run. I have never done that before but I am glad that I am feeling more gutsy when it comes to 26.2 miles! Prior to this last one, I was scared to death to take it on again.

Tell me about your month of May? Any big plans for June?

Marathon Training: Week Four and March Numbers

I have been seeing so many pictures of Easter egg hunts, candy, yummy food and family gatherings so it looks like everyone had a great Easter. The weekend passed way to quickly for me since I had to work a full five day week. My Easter was great but I am saving that for another post. I am happy to add another week of training in the books and I survived my 2o miler run! I had a good week and I am looking forward to a little less miles next week to give my legs a little break.

 

Week 4 in Summary

Run #1: 6.50 Miles @9:26 (on the dreadmill). I decided to do this run onto the dreadmill just in case my back was not cooperating and I had to stop. The plan was to hop on the elliptical or do some other form of cardio if running was not in the cards. I started at a 10:00 pace and gradually took myself up to a 9:18 pace and kept it right there. I had no pain while running and no pain the following day. What a relief.

Run #2: 7.13 Miles @8:24 . I did push it a little here and wanted to get 7 miles in within a hour since I am usually limited to 60 minute workouts during the week. I started slow and then just kept picking it up until I was at an 8:00 pace. The last two miles were at an 8:00 pace and I did not die so that was encouraging !

Run #3: 20 Miles@ 9:15. Yes, it happened but it was not as great as I was hoping it would be. I am going to map out a flatter course for the next big run because I was really tired at the end. I had a couple of big hills in and when I hit the last hill at miles 16-18 I was pretty beat. It was a little windy for the first few miles so I think that had something to do with me feeling tired as well.

I think I forgot what 20 miles felt like and I really need to be able to run this distance feeling a little more confident in the end. I also started to feel a little discomfort in my back around mile 18 so instead of picking it up in the end, I had to slow it down. My back is feeling fine today but I am still icing and keeping a close eye on it.

My long run for next week is only 14 miles so the Hollywood Half Marathon will be substituted for this run. At least I will get a medal for my long run this week, right? This run should be long and steady with an easy pace so hopefully I can be obedient and not push myself too hard. I know it is going to be hard not to race it but I am going to try my best.

TOTAL MILES:33.50

March was the best month that I have had so far this year with 122 miles in the books! 

  

 Do you plan races into your training?  

 Do you race them or do you follow your training paces? 

 I usually run a half marathon a month or so before a marathon but I run them at race pace just to see where I am at.

Goodbye January and Hello February!

January came and left so quickly! I guess time flies when you are having fun but it also flies when you are busy and juggling a million little things. That is kind of how January went for me.  As I mentioned in a previous post,  my Grandma and I have been drowning in paperwork from banks and every other place you can think of since my Grandpa passed away. Our list is getting shorter so I am hoping to kind of get things back on track in February.

So what happened in January? I ran my first race of the year and logged about 64 miles for the month. The race was a good thing but not the low miles. I am going to have to work on that in February. I missed a few of my long runs and made the decision to run the Surf City Half Marathon instead of the full and I am kind of glad that I did at this point. I wish I was running the full but it would probably be ugly!

February also includes the Pasadena Rock and Roll Half Marathon on February 17th. I lived in Pasadena for quite some time and attended high school there so it will be nice to run a race in my hometown. I have nothing on the books for March which makes me sad that I will not be running the LA Marathon. I was planning on taking it easy in March to prepare myself for Ragnar in April which is probably a wise decision.

Have you noticed that there is something missing from my Race Schedule? Yes, a full marathon. I am looking around right now for one to add to my list for 2013. I am not sure which one I will pick but I want to add at least one to my schedule so I can get busy training for it.

How was your January?

Do you have a marathon (or two) on the books for 2013?

A Running Update and Piling on the Miles

I haven't said too much about my lack of running status lately because I don't want to sound like a "Negative Nellie" all of the time but I am going to give you a little update in the most positive way that I can. The last two months since the Disneyland Half Marathon have not been so great. I have been battling some serious issues with my right shin and it just won't seem to go away.  I have icing like crazy, foam rolling, using my stick, taking ibuprofen and doing all of the things that I should be to get rid of the problem. My mileage for the past couple of months kind of says it all and it makes me sad just to look at it so I am not going to look....

I pretty much took a whole three weeks off to give my shins some rest and I think it helped. I have gradually started to run here and there and have been doing lots of cross training like spinning, the elliptical plus other stuff at home like push ups, planks, my PT exercises and stretches. I think I can actually do 50 "real" push ups now and I could only do about 15-20 a couple of months ago. I was lucky enough to run 6.25 miles while on my trip to Santa Barbara and I am feeling really thankful for that. It was a pain free run and I had very little shin pain afterward. That is actually the longest run I have done in almost two months. How pitiful is that? I have really been trying to play it smart this time since I have no races on the books for the remainder of the year. I have high hopes of doing a Thanksgiving 5K and possibly a Christmas 5K with my daughter for fun. We will see what happens but no matter what I promised myself that I will not do anything that I am not fully capable of even though I am craving a run over 10 miles. I should be starting my training for my February marathon right about now but I am not so sure if that is going to happen quite yet so if I have to downgrade to the half marathon or run a slower paced marathon than I would like to, then I have accepted that. 

I have decided that I am going to keep busy whether I am running or walking so I signed up for Pile on the Miles 2012, which takes place from  November 1st through December 1st. Run Eat Repeat is inviting everyone to sign up and you have the chance to win some goodies too! You can read the rules and sign up here. 

Go Ahead and Challenge Yourself!  

I am challenging myself so I won't feel so bad about all of the cupcakes and goodies that I plan to consume during the holidays!

 
If you have ever been injured, what are your alternatives to running to keep yourself sane?

September was a Busy One!

September was a busy month for races but not for running in general. I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon and earned a PR!  I also did a family fun run, the Color Me Rad 5K and then I ran the Girls on the Go 10K. I am still dealing with the pain in my right shin and even though my x-rays came back clean, I am still determined to get to the root cause of this pain. I know myself and I know that it is not right. My doctor seems to think that it is just shin splints but I am not convinced of that so I am not ready to let this go yet. My mileage for September was horrible due to my shin issue so I am a little disappointed. I am considering an MRI at this point since the pain always subsides but returns the day after a run of any distance.

The Long Beach Half Marathon is coming up this Sunday and I am not sure if I am going to run it or not. I really need to get this shin issue under control and maybe take some time off.  I really want to run it to stay on track for my Beach Cities Challenge medal but at this point not irritating my shin any further is more important to me. I am feeling really bummed, I can't lie, since all of the big marathons are coming up and everyone seems to be tapering and preparing to run them. 

Other than running, I made the decision to refinance my house last week. I can save over $300.00 a month and there are no fees associated with the loan. I bought the house two years ago as a short sale and pretty much every room had to be redone/upgraded. The house was kind of a mess inside when I bought it but I loved the floor plan. Just to give you an idea of what it looked like then and what it looks like now, this is a before and after of my son's bathroom:

The loan company ordered a full appraisal before they can decide whether or not I have enough equity to proceed with the refinancing process.  The appraisal company called me on Friday evening and told me that they were coming on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  What?  I spent much of my Saturday cleaning and moving things around to make the house more presentable.  I did things like clear the counters and hid put things away that would make the house look neater. I felt like I was doing an "Open House." Most of the things we put away belong to my dogs like their beds, food bowls, and toys. I should know by Thursday if I have enough equity to proceed so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Worst case, I lose the appraisal fee but I will know the true value of my home.

 How was your September? Do you have any big races coming up?