So that's what a rest day is?!

Monday 3-5-12

Yesterday was supposed to be my long run day, well 12 miles anyway. it was flurrying all day and the wind was wicked. it was about 25 degrees, but looked nasty. I was going in the afternoon to get a sport massage to help alleviate my sore calves. i wasn't feeling like running yesterday and I knew that today being my day off from work and my "rest day" i would have the time to get the mileage in. So I got up at 5:45 am so i could eat an hour before leaving and be out the door at 7. Sun shining and literally no wind with the temp at 10 degrees, sounds pretty much perfect. Got the kids snack packed and fed them breakfast leaving it to Rog to get them off to school as i headed out at 7:05. I took a new route that took me the back way to Marshall. It was a nice change of scenery. The way back seemed to take a lot less longer than the way there.
i get about 2 miles from home and i see a car driving fast coming from the left to the intersection. i know he isn't going to stop and clearly doesn't see me. i kept a safe distance but stopped right in front of his car, hands up. the slamming of the brakes and the "oh shit" look on his face was priceless. i came to the window and he says "i didn't see you, I'm a runner too, i know you are running on this side of the road, blah, blah, blah". Not an I'm sorry, or I'll pay more attention: nothing. I just shook my head, gave him the look and started on my way.

I know that since i am a runner I pay extra close attention at intersections to make sure I am not on the other side of that situation.

Sporting brooks colder weather tights, smartwool socks, nf sports bra, red craft base layer, ice breaker base layer and alo outer. I am wearing the craft balaclava, bula neck gator and smartwool hat. both pairs of gloves got used today. i took one gel with me and both water bottles but with only one filled. i had the sun glasses but never used them, I always forget that with the balaclava they are useless because they fog up and i can't see a thing.

12 miles in 1:46:10, not too bad. i guess taking a real day off helps!

hot yoga immediately followed this run and an hour spin class tonight!

the snow is falling, the snow is falling

Saturday 3-3-12

happy Birthday to Roger! Today is my day to workout second in the scheme of things. he does double spin classes on Saturday mornings and i run when he gets home. someone has to keep the children in line! I got up early before he left and made his favorite bfast: blueberry pancakes and bacon, there was scrambled eggs, toast and i made myself(after the kids and roger ate and the dishes were cleaned and everything put away) an egg white omelet with toast topped with red raspberry jam and chopped almonds. yum!
My run today was a bit unusual due to the fact that we got about 6 inches of snow yesterday. i got to use my snow shoes here in WI for the first time all winter! i knew the trail would be open and that the roads would not be fully plowed yet so I went for it.

i forgot that the effort used to run with snow shoes is much greater and since the path was not groomed, it is also like running in sand. I was definitely up in the high heart rate zone. i did 6 miles with the wind in my face going about 10 mph on the way back. That run made me think about something while fighting the wind. It is so easy to give up and feel sorry for yourself for doing so, but it is hard to keep going but yet feel proud. Which of those do you feel yourself doing more? People ask me all the time how I run like i do, how to i have the motivation to run "that far". My most common answer is i don't know, I just run. i make that decision to myself everyday when I head out, that the miles that i have in my head to do, I simply do. It's that simple. If you cheat on your run, you are only cheating yourself and pushing yourself a little further from that goal you have set within yourself.

I bundled up a bit extra for this run since the wind was a bit strong. The snow shoes are connected to the running shoes with screws, so making sure i had warm socks was key! I had the smartwool socks on, the colder temp brooks tights with nf wind pant shell over top in case I fell. I had the nf sports bra tank and the Bjorn Daehlie long sleeve top with my craft jacket to hold all the heat in. the Bula and nf knitted hat completed the ensemble with a last minute add with the glasses.

6.01 miles in 1:07:56. when I look at that time i think it must be wrong, then I remember the snow shoes :)

Birthday Weekend

Friday 3-2-12

Tomorrow is Roger's birthday! I felt good today, the weather wasn't that bad. mostly cloudy with a sneak peak on sunshine coming through every now and then. The temp was about 30ish and not much wind. My left leg is still pretty tight and I am working on trying to loosen it up with different things.

Wearing today: Brooks colder weather tights, ice breaker long sleeve base, nf long sleeve outer. nf gloves and berkeley hat. 

8.01 miles in 1:10:13.

Day Off?

Thursday 3-1

On the schedule was 6 miles. i did 4 :( i was a bit sore this morning and I was strapped for time. Even though it was my day off, I had alot of errands to run. Time kinda stresses me out, therefore i shortened the run and I will run longer tomorrow.
i wore the colder weather brooks tights, nf sports bra, ice breaker base, white ski outer.
4:01 miles in 34:32.

Spring in my step

Wednesday 2-29

It is Leap Day!! It seems fitting that the day started out in the mid 40's and sunny to cold and sleeting within a couple hours. I thought i would have more time on my hands this morning due to going into work later. i picked up a different shift so going in at 10 instead of 1130. needless to say i only got in 8 miles instead of the 10 i wanted to. it was very warm out, i took my gloves off before i hit the 1 mile mark. i actually took off my outer layer as well on the way back!
Forgot the picture again, but.....8:01 miles in 1:10:49

Work Week

Tuesday 2-28

Very excited to run this morning and I really do like running before work. I feel when I have to be at work after I run I go faster or push myself a bit harder. Today was 8 miles with 10x100m, my plan said to do 8x100m, but what is 2 more? i felt good after a rest day yesterday. I had hot yoga which is really helping my legs out. My overall feeling so far in the program is good, there was only once where I felt exhausted, but I think that was my own doing with little sleep. My weeks have been about 47mpw for the past 3 weeks. this week should end up being around 50, which I am looking forward to.
I am looking to get new shoes also, they came out with the newer model of my shoe so the older model is on sale!!!
i wore today colder weather brooks pants, rei socks, nf sports bra, ice breaker base, and nf long sleeve outer. nf gloves, bula, and berkely hat completed the outfit!

8.02 miles in 1:09:55

Wind is not so friendly

Sunday 2-26

Just got back from up north and had to rush out the door to get the run in before I had to get mimi. The wind was very strong today 23 mph! But the temp was 42 degrees, surprisingly the wind wasn't that cold just a pain to run against. I was feeling good, anxious to get out of the car and run. Yesterday was a rest day due to Rogers race so I was well rested. I ran almost the same route as the 15 I did last week, but just lengthened it by 2 miles. i ate both gels one at 1:09 the same spot as last week and at about the 2 hour mark.
Wearing the Sporthill tights i was a bit warm, I had the nf sports bra tank on and the nf white long sleeve base. I am wearing a new color for the outer(shocking I know). The bula was a bit overkill as well, but with the wind you never know and I hate my neck cold. I also wore the smartwool hat with the castelli headband on top. I changed that at the last minute before I left. Fuel belt with both bottles filled with water, I only drank one though.

17 miles in 2:37:43