Monday, January 31, 2011

Manic Monday

Run: 4 miles
Time: 48? Give or take some seconds?
Mood: Determined
Training Goal: Inadvertently met.

Yesterday was supposed to be my long run, but I wasn't feeling up to it. I decided to swap whatever today's run was supposed to be, with my long run yesterday. Lucky me, my training email this morning said today is supposed to be a rest day. No harm, no foul.

It was definitely a mind-over-matter run. I haven't been doing distance all winter, mostly just three mile maintenance runs. Breaking out of the box was a little difficult. Apparently next week I'm supposed to tack on another mile to my long runs, so I'll be back up to 10K training distances. My training guide says these long runs are supposed to be at an "easy, conversational pace." I had no problem running a 11:30-11:45 pace.

In other news, my oldest brother ran his first marathon. In the rain. His text said he did well until "mile 24, when I hit a wall and lost my pace." I was thinking: well duh you hit a wall. The kid still finished in a little over three hours. Congrats, Bobby.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

FML

Run: 3 miles
Time: 34?
Mood: Meh
Training Goal: met

We're broadcasting live from the Starbucks by my house. Mother nature saw fit to take away my power, so I'm relegated to Starbucks. Eating Chipotle. Keeping it hidden behind my purse. So the barristas don't see.

Today was an easy training day to build stamina. Three miles on the treadmill, followed by a shower (finally) in the locker room. I believe tomorrow is another rest day, then a loooooooong run this weekend.

Now we kill time until Starbucks closes and we have to go back to the icebox that is my house. Anyone want to snuggle?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Ow.

Run: 3 miles
Time: 33
Mood: Owie
Training Goal: Met-ish

I woke up this morning to an email that said my workout today was: 3-5 miles, include 1-3 miles of aerobic intervals. I shut off my alarm and went back to sleep.

So after work I went to the gym. With the intention of doing a total of four miles.

I only made it through 3. First mile went ok, then a mile of intervals. 15 seconds fast, 45 seconds normal. Then I pulled back for a quarter mile, did a half of 1:1 intervals, and finished the last quarter strong.

I am...so sore. Thank god tomorrow is a rest day.

Monday, January 24, 2011

It begins.

Run: 3 miles
Time: 34:30
Mood: Overestimated
Training goal: MET! "2-4 miles, easy pace"

I started day 1 of Cherry Blossom 10 Miler training today. It was one of those wake-up-five-minutes-before-the-alarm-refreshed mornings. I will note: it was 14 degrees when I got in my car. 14 degrees. Insanity.

Woke up, checked my phone and my training schedule was in my inbox. I signed up for the online training course as intermediate (even though my running for the past two months has been anything but) and they email you the week's workouts on Monday and then every day you get a detailed explanation of what kind of workout it should be. This morning's run was at a "conversational" pace. I didn't have anyone to talk to, so I just set my speed a little lower than normal.

I felt great. So great, in fact, that I told myself:  "hm, probably shouldn't overdo it...let me make sure I'm not running over three miles, I've got to be close already." So I lifted up the cloth covering the mileage display thinking I was about to go over three miles...

I was at a mile and a half. Nice one, Steph.

Here's the week's breakdown:

Mon. - Distance: 2-4 miles

Tues. - Distance: 3-5 miles

Wed. - Rest Day

Thu. - Distance: 2-4 miles

Fri. - Rest Day

Sat. - Distance: 2-4 miles

Sun. - Distance: 4-7 miles

It's calling for two days of rest, but I'll be doing workouts on these days, probably strength training. There's a body pump class that I want to take on Wednesday, so hopefully Thursday's run isn't a speed workout.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Oy.

Run: 2.5
Time: 45 min total
Mood: Not so hot

I'm in the beginnings of what looks like the flu. Sore throat and bad stomach. And yet, I went to the gym. Probably because I didn't run for almost 6 straight days last week. I know, I know.

Got in a 2-miler yesterday at the gym with Trin-tastic. Today I did a mile and a half at an 11 pace and then did some speed intervals for the last mile, alternating a 12 min. pace with a 9 min. pace - one minute on, one minute off.

After that, I rounded out 45 minutes on two ellipticals.

And now I want to die, really not feeling too hot.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Early Bird Gets the Treadmill

Run: 3 miles
Time: 34 + 10
Mood: Yawning

I woke up a half hour before my get-up-early-for-gym alarm this morning, probably because I was dead to the world by 10 last night. Got three miles done while watching Full House and then hiked for another 10. Got home and even managed to stretch (you're welcome Allie) AND make breakfast. Egg beaters + ham + broccoli + cheddar = a very happy Stephanie.

I took yesterday off because my right shin was killing me down near my ankle. But I got up this morning and it felt totally fine - still feels back to normal - maybe just needed a rest after Monday's four-miler.

I was thinking to myself how when I started running again over the summer, a mile and a half was a decent run for a normal day. And then 2 miles was a normal day. And now three miles is a normal day. I'm getting to the point where I'm disgusted with myself for not running over three miles - like I consider it a lazy day.

Guess I'm officially a runner.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Afternoon Delight

Run: 4 miles
Time: total of 60
Mood: Stella!

I have to day off of work so I went to the gym around noon. An Officer and a Gentleman was on and I totally knocked out four miles at about an 11:30 split drooling over Richard Gere. After that, I hiked on an incline to round out my total time to an hour. It was a great workout overall, and I was insanely productive afterwards.

I even stretched a little bit when I got home. That's right.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

A Much Needed Boost

Run: 3 miles
Time: ~34?
Mood: Grrrreat!

I was laying around after we finished 906 Christmas generally feeling crappy and moody. So I decided to kick myself in the rear and go to the gym. Best idea I've had in awhile. I ended up watching the last part of the Ravens/Bengals game and actually got into it. Threw my hands up in the air during the Bengal's last drive (Insert Emily's "Who are you?!" comment here).

Polished off three miles and then hopped on the elliptical for ten minutes to stretch out my legs. Got some great endorphins surging right now.

Surprisingly, the gym was unpacked today, which was good. I have tomorrow off so I will most likely get to the gym during the day - we will wait to see what it's like after work on Tuesday.