Just a normal week...

Wow! Totally failing on blogging this week. 

Buster & Cub snuggling @7am after stumbling out to say bye before I head to work.

 

 

Got to be like big brother!

A few days off of work is always nice.  Managed to get in my training with this awesome February weather here in Ohio.  I'm loving it! 40-50 degrees w/ NO snow! Awesome for running. I bet there will be a ton of PR's/fast early races here in Ohio since everyone has been able to get out and run.

I have 2 little races in my future.  I'm running "the Greene goes Red 2 mile race" this Saturday with Cub.  I've been waiting to run with him since this fall.  I was supposed to run a 5k at the end of October but I was injured so...now we get to!  2 miles is perfect too.  It's actually supposed to be chilly (35 degrees) on Sat so a short race with Cub will be perfect. 

I also went ahead and signed up for the Harrigan's 5k which is on March 10th.  It's were I PR'd last year beating my old high school PR from 18 years ago. (wow...I'm old!)  Anyways, it was a great run and I'm looking forward to see what I'll do this year.  I really think my spinning classes have really improved my running.  I feel stronger and faster so I can't wait to push myself in a race to see where I'm at.  Plus it's on the training plan for the PIG. 


This week/last week:
Friday: 3.5 miles
Saturday: Spinning (19 miles/600 calories)
Sunday: 4.6 miles
Monday: 3.5 miles
Tuesday: Spinning (20 miles/620 calories)
Wednesday: 4.6 miles w/hills
Tomorrow:  spinning?
Friday: off
Saturday: 2 miles

So I noticed I didn't actually take any day off last week. I did cardio everyday.  Is that ok? I figure I'm not doing high impact everyday...and I still need to work in weights.  I'm wondering, is it better to fit in lifting after spinning? or after running? 

What did I just get myself into?

I knew Cincinnati had hills...really I did, but I didn't think about looking at the elevation for the 1/2 marathon.  Until now...

I know you're all thinking "Is that a 3 mile downhill at the end of 13.1? Awesome!" but that first 3/4 looks a bit tough.  Is that a 6 mile hill? Darn it, the 10k wasn't bad last year, but this is way more of a hill than some bridges over the Ohio River. 


Here's my typical run elevation.

Looks like I'm going to have to find 6 mile hill to practice. Lol.  I'll just say sorry to Carrie now for convincing her to do the half. :-)

Meanwhile in week 1 of 1/2 marathon training this is what I did/will do:

Monday: Run 3 
Tuesday: Spin (20 miles)
Wednesday: 5x400 @5k pace Spin:  6x400 sprints on bike plus pyramids of seated/standing 20 miles 
Thursday: Spin run 3.2 miles at 8:15 pace
Friday: run 3?
Saturday: xt (TRX?/Spinning?)
Runday:  Long run (not so long run) of 4 miles (with a hill- big one at that)?


Looks like I'm going to have to incorporate some  hill training into the mix this Spring.  Any suggestions?

Marathon runner vs Fiat Panda

I've mentioned that my current favorite show is Top Gear on BBC America.  I'm not really into cars, but they make it interesting with different kinds of challenges and the hosts are really funny.  Last night my dh and I watched this one.    Enjoy!  (It's about 7 mins per part)

Happy 8th Birthday, Cub!

2 weeks old

1 year

18 months

2.5 years old, meeting Buster for the 1st time

4 years

5 years

6 years

7 years old

My big 8 year old (with friend's hands)

People always say that you will have a hard time remember what your life was like before children.  I can't imagine my life without my Cub.  Happy Birthday, sweetie! 

Better safe than sorry

I have been trying to be good with my mileage since I really haven't been running in awhile and I don't need to end up with shin splints, etc. from doing too much too fast.  Here's my training log from August 2011 til now.

My weekly mileage (week of 31 Jan)

I hadn't planned on running 5 miles on Wednesday but I had to find my house key.  Afterwards, I was feeling my IT band.  I've had twinges in the past with this so I knew what I was feeling.

On Friday, I'd planned on running before my last (hopefully ever) PT appt.  I only had time for 2 miles but I had to take advantage of such nice weather in Feb.  My IT bands protested the run.    I talked to my PT about what I could do to stretch them out better.  He suggested getting a foam roller and rolling out my leg with it.  I tried it there and ouch! that hurts but it felt better afterward.  So now, I'm a proud new owner of a foam roller.  (surprised I hadn't gotten one of these earlier!).  Here's a link to  how to foam roll from MichaelRunner.

I'd planned on running the Frostbite 5 miler this weekend in Centerville since the weather has been awesome, and today it was 48 degrees.  But I decided to be a responsible.  I can not get injured again, especially after forking over $80 for the Flying Pig Half Marathon.  So what did I do instead? Ran in the neighborhood- just 3 miles with plans on quitting as soon as I felt my IT bands. It actually was a great run no pain at all.  I made sure to foam roll after.   

I've been working on my training plan for the half and I think I've made a good compromise. I originally wanted to do the Hal Higdon's Novice B plan with low mileage then I looked at the intermediate plan and I felt that was more my speed. I love track workouts- my running partner not so much.  Plus we both have other classes/cross training that we want to keep doing this spring.  So here's my plan- basically a cross between the 2 plans.  I wanted to keep my spinning as part of cross training but by the end of March my son's soccer practice starts so I had to switch my days for spinning.  I'm planning on being "one of those moms" who workout while their kids are practicing.  I don't need to watch every soccer drill!  The nice thing is the park where he practices has a mile loop bike path (and an 400 m. path around a lake.   

So, on a completely funny note, here are some great videos that cracked me up.  Oh, silly runners!

 

I saw this one on the Boring Runner- loved this one.

It's Spring! no wait it's February

What month are we in?

The forecast has been a big talking point around here the last few days.  We've been having Spring-like weather which has been awesome! Yet, anyone who lives in Ohio knows that it probably will be snowing later this week.  BUT- it is great to get some great weather days for getting outside!

My HUGE Garmin

I got to bust out my new running skirt that I got from Christmas from dh and my favorite running shirt and my new Garmin.  That's it.  No extra layers, no jackets, gloves, long socks.  It actually felt weird to see my legs- I felt so exposed-and pale!  I set out for a 3 miler, since I'm trying to be good and build up my mileage slowly.  I was doing an out and back run today. 

I was about 2/3 of the way done, when I realized my house key was no longer in my running skirt pocket!  I had to back track through my route until I found it.  I'm just glad I'd stuck to sidewalks, because for awhile, I was thinking about running on the grass.  Needless to say, I won't do that again.  I had put my key my running skirt pocket that has a velcro closure but only on little part - I figured it was a deep pocket so it would be safe!  Normally,  I carry a water bottle-which I should have brought! (Can you tell I'm out of practice?) or I have my key in a zipped pocket or I tie it to my shoe.  I'll blame it on my excitement of running in 60 degrees again!  I ended up doing 5 miles in 43mins.  Not bad actually.  I'll take it.  Although, I'm feeling the impact of running since it's been awhile.  My legs are sore, a good sore, but sore none the less. 


Now for my big news...
for me anyways.  I went ahead and registered for the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati on May 6th.  I'm so happy my running partner said she'd do it!  We're going to have so much fun!

"Running Happy" I am!

I was on the fence about it but I looked into some training plans.  I originally decided to use Hal Higdon's Novice B plan since the mileage was low...then I started looking at the Intermediate plan- it has 2 more days of running but I'm thinking I might try to do a mix of plans, since I want to keep my spinning as part of my training.  And, I like track workouts- yes, I'm weird.  The Novice plan just has you running 3 to 5 miles 3x a week.  I'd like a bit more of a challenge.  Yet I know I can't do too much too soon or I'll be out again. 


Have you tried mixing up training plans to  have something work for you?  Have you done any of the Hal Higdon marathon training plans?