Week 2, Day 2 and Day 3

I missed posting yesterday because I didn't download my run onto the computer till this morning so I knew I did 3 miles but that's about it. I also knew that I was super tired and groggy yesterday morning so 3 miles was very brutal on the treadmill but I got it done.

Day 2 - 3.15 miles, 26:14, avg pace 8:19

Splits

MILE	TIME	AVG.PACE
1	8:29	8'29"/mi
2	16:48	8'19"/mi
3	25:00	8'12"/mi

Thanks to my husband's snoring I was able to get out of bed to hit the treadmill. See I had re-set my alarm twice and was seriously thinking of putting 5 miles off till tomorrow but he started snoring and that assisted in my inability to go back to sleep. That is the ONLY time his snoring is OK :)

Day 3 - 5.24 miles, 43:01, avg pace 8:12

Splits

MILE	TIME	AVG.PACE
1	8:19	8'19"/mi
2	16:34	8'15"/mi
3	24:56	8'22"/mi
4	33:07	8'11"/mi
5	41:04	7'57"/mi

As the month of August comes to a close I am so far happy with my training. Looking forward cooler weather so I can get outside more, but I don't think that will really happen until October. However this weekend is supposed to be in the lower 70's for a low so I'm looking forward to running my 9 miles outside!

Ready to tackle September!

In other news there is absolutely nothing exciting going on in the Bell home. Sophie continues to do well in her classroom the "Busy Bees." Next month we are going to pursue potty training a little more than we have been. We're going to have to take a weekend and just really have at it, on the potty every 30 minutes.

I'm hoping we can hit the beach this weekend and take the boat out one day too. Summer is coming to a close but luckily there's still a good 2 months of warm weather.

September is one of my favorite months, and not because this is my birthday month, but  Fall is my favorite season, which is why I want a Fall baby next time around, which means I have to get pregnant end of January or beginning of February. Yikes! That's really not that far away!

Marathon Training Week 1 Review

First week of training started out a little crazy. With the up and coming hurricane that never really did anything to our area, I was a little stressed about getting my 8 mile long run complete.

It all worked out and I panicked for no reason (I do that a lot).

Day 1
Rest day. Monday's will be rest days 98% of the time. This is perfect because I always have such a difficult time waking up on Mondays. In the event that I can't do one of my runs during the week, these will be re-arranged on an "as needed" basis (sounding rather corporate).

Day 2
3.26 miles, 26:56, avg pace 8:15
Treadmill run at the gym in the wee hours of the morning. Did some weights as well.

Day 3
5.4 miles, 43:25, avg pace 8:02
Treadmill run at the gym. Abs.

Day 4
This ended up being a rest day because my husband had to leave for work at 5 a.m. so there wasn't any time to make it to the gym to run. Where we live I would never run in the dark by myself. Not that we live in a bad area but I am of the firm belief that a woman should not be by herself, alone, in the dark, in the middle of the night. Call me paranoid, I don't care. You just never know what crazies or wild animals are lurking.

I did run 4 miles on that Sunday on the beach so I was fine with missing this day.

Day 5
Rest day. Friday's are supposed to be another rest but again, I might throw in an additional run here or there depending on what my long run is supposed to be. Plus the hurricane was coming so I slept in a little.

Day 6
Saturday was supposed to be my long run but since my husband was on call we had to postpone it till Sunday. Which was great because Sunday morning was a little cooler. On Saturday I ended up doing some cross training on the elliptical and some weights. I did do 2 miles in my new Brooks to break them in a little.

8.03 miles, 1:16:00, avg pace 9:31

Oh how I've missed running on the road! So much better than the treadmill, although I guess I'm slower on the road, which is fine. I'm following the rule of slower long runs but for some reason I feel like I'm going faster than what I really am. I guess that's the only good thing about the treadmill.

This was also the first time using my Garmin and I love it! I still have to read the manual and get it set up correctly, for example, it didn't show my splits and I later found out I have to have it on Auto Lap.


I wore my new Brooks Ravenna shoes on this long run and I really like them. They do run smaller so I'm really glad I ordered a half size up. The toe box is kind of narrow so when I ran with them on the treadmill my feet were numb and tingling. I made sure I did not tie them as tight for my long run and that really seemed to help.

So it'll be Saucony's for short runs and Brooks for long runs.


Today starts week 2 and since it's Monday it's a rest day. My legs feel pretty good overall, a little sore but that's to be expected.

I plan to register for the race this Thursday after payday. I still get very excited and then very nervous when I think about it.

Hurricane Irene, here and gone

I left work at noon yesterday becauase they were closing daycare due to the tropical storm conditions we were going to experience. Hurricane Irene brushed past Charleston.

Let me just say that as I understand it's better to be safe than sorry but I've driven in worse storms than what we had yesterday. In my opinion it was a lot of hype and not a whole lot from the Hurricance in our area.




Photo from the Charleston Post and Courier - and let me just point out the boaters in this picture are not smart.

So there goes a half day that I will have to make up, which really stinks but it is what it is I guess.

On the bright side, it was fun to spend an afternoon with my daughter. I was exhausted last night, she ran me ragged! It's times like those I wonder what two kids are going to be like....

I'm flip flopping training days. Today will be cross training and tomorrow will be my 8 mile run. My hubby is at work for a few hours this morning and it's still not 100% out there. It's 80 degrees at 7:00 so even if I wanted to, the humidity would have killed my motivation. Tomorrow is going to be better all around.

So once the hubster gets home I will head to the gym and probably so some eliptical, bike and weights. I am going to sneak in a 2 mile run to try out my new Brooks shoes even though they say not to run the day before your long run.

Hope everyone along the east coast is being safe as Irene heads your way!

Marathon Training Day 3

I did NOT want to get out of bed for the 2nd day in a row at 4 am. It was tough, I desperately wanted to turn off my alarm and go back to sleep. But I got up and dragged myself downstairs to get ready. And I went.

Honestly I would have gone back to sleep but my husband has to leave the house really early tomorrow so I knew I wouldn't be able to push it off.

This morning was a scheduled 5 miles. My legs were still a little sore from weights yesterday but I felt pretty good once I got going. I did a modified, shorter version of Ab Ripper X and then headed home to get ready for work.

I'm seriously sick of the treadmill and need a break. I'm desperate to run outside! So Saturday Irene is going to sweep by us and dump a crap load of rain. Sunday looks like I'm going to do my 8 miles. I was thinking about 8 on the treadmill Friday but I really don't want to do the treadmill again. Plus my Garmin arrived yesterday and I really want to try it out.

Today's run: 5.4 miles, 43:25, avg pace 8:02
Splits:

MILE	TIME	AVG.PACE
1	7:56	7'56"/mi
2	15:55	7'59"/mi
3	24:01	8'06"/mi
4	32:06	8'05"/mi
5	40:08	8'02"/mi

Tomorrow is supposed to be 3 miles (with hills and strength training) but I'll probably end up just doing some weights at home. I'm cool with that since Sunday I did 4 miles that were not on the schedule so it kind of makes up for what I'll miss tomorrow.

All is well with Sophie. She continues to sit on the potty but hasn't actually gone in the potty for us. I think we're going to take a weekend next month and just put her in underwear and do the potty like every 30 minutes or something. Need to get this kick started. Plus Labor Day weekend is going to be paci takeaway. She currently only gets it at night but we need to throw this thing away and just bite the bullet. She sleeps so well with it I'm terrified on what the nights might be like. But I know it's for the best and we will have to suck it up.

I'm looking to purchase another running shoe. I like my Saucony Pro Grid Ride 3's but I'm not sure if they are something I will be able to do my long runs in. I think these are a great short distance shoe but as I get tired I know my running form wavers and I want to avoid an injury.

I'm thinking of trying the Brooks Ravenna that's on sales at Running Warehouse. From what I read they have moderate support and just the right amount of cushion for mild pronaters. I feel good in my Saucony's but again, I feel I need a little something extra for my long runs.

Time to break out the row boat because it's going to be a wet one this weekend!

Marathon Training Day 2

It was really easy to wake up this morning...why? Because my eyes popped open at 3:30 am. So I snoozed until 4:00 and then got ready and headed to the gym for my 3 mile run. I wanted to do more but I know that I need to follow my plan and be smart! I felt good this morning, makes me happy. 

So after my run I did a circuit train. I used to take Body Pump classes (actually they are called Group Power at my gym, but essentially it's the same thing) but I can't seem to fit a class into my schedule. I know the basic moves so it's my 30 minute weight train, little to no rest, I just move onto the next body part. 

We're still watching Hurricane Irene. She seems to be turning more and more east but we're not out of the woods yet. Charleston will more than likely start getting the wind and rain Friday though Saturday evening. According to the Weather Channel, Sunday it shaping up to be a nice day. So I'm hoping I can still do my 8 miles like originally planned.  

3.26 miles, 26:56, avg pace 8:15

Splits:

SPLITS

MILE	TI	AVG.PACE
1	8:10	8'10"/mi
2	16:27	8'17"/mi
3	24:41	8'14"/mi

Figures

So this week I officially begin my marathon training! You'd think I'd be so excited rather than the lame post title above right?

Well, it would figure that my first long run scheduled for the weekend would have to get "rearranged" yet again. Why you ask? Hurricane Irene is currently forecasted to head to the GA/SC coast (if it stays on it's current track).

And the day that they're saying it could hit the east coast? None other than late Friday or early Saturday. Isn't that nice? 

Granted there's nothing I can do about the weather other then adapt and shift things around. So I can either do my 8 miles Thursday (possibly Friday morning) at the gym, on the treadmill (yuck). Or wait till Sunday and hope that the bad weather moves on.

I'm thinking the earlier the better, just in case. 

Of course there's another matter of work, child and household to take care of. They're saying it could reach Cat. 2 status, which makes me wonder if we should pack up and head to Charlotte. Yes I'm paranoid, but you do not mess around with mother nature.

Just not the week for all this to happen but it is what it is. Of course all the people here say "still too early to tell." Whatever, it's never to early to start planning! Why wait till the last minute people? What, so everyone can start to panic at the same time? No thanks. I know how crazy people get around here, it's pandemonium at the first drop of rain.

Yesterday I ran on the beach with my friend Pam. It was hot, it was windy, and it was slow. 4.05 miles, avg pace 9:41, time 39:12. SLOW!

SPLITS

MILE	TIME	AVG.PACE
1	9:39	9'39"/mi
2	18:54	9'15"/mi
3	28:48	9'54"/mi
4	38:43	9'55"/mi

  

Not quite the way I wanted to start my running week but it's ok. I got to run on the beach and that was a nice change from the old treadmill. 

Today is a rest day and tomorrow I have 3 miles on the schedule.

I supposed to sign up for the marathon this week but I think I'll put it off till next week because this is just not the way I wanted to start things and I'm bummed. Not doing well for my confidence.

The Icky Sticky Run

As I'm sitting here typing this post, my daughter is reading a book called "The Icky Sticky Frog." She's too cute trying to read it, however she does know a few of the parts. She's getting really into it and it's making me laugh.

This morning I headed out to do a short run around my neighborhood because it's still so humid out. Thick air just really makes it difficult to get moving, for me at least. I hate running in the summer time, just really zaps the energy from me. Not to mention my water went from cold to luke warm within the first mile and I was sweating like a pig. Blah.

So I managed 4.35 miles, avg. pace 9:09 (slow!) in 39:52. I felt ok but not spectacular. That makes 19.31 miles for the week.

Already I have to tweak my long run for next week. My husband is on call for his job so he has to go in his office for a few hours on Saturday. That means I'll either be running 8 miles on the treadmill at the gym or move my long run to Sunday morning. Not the way I wanted to stat my training but it is what it is and I will have to learn to adjust. This will happen once a month so I need to be able to be flexible.

Now it's off to clean! What a fun way to spend a Saturday! The good part is I'm with my daughter. If only she were old enough to help me clean!

Oh Dear...

So I was on Facebook and just read this article from active.com on 13.1 reasons to run a half marathon and let me just say I wish I would have ignored it.


My confidence started wavering after reading:


2. You're not ready for a full marathon. There could be a variety of reasons why this is the case. Maybe you didn't allow enough time to train. Maybe it seems too daunting. Perhaps a slight injury compromised your training. Your work schedule is too demanding. Whatever the reason, the half marathon is still a challenging distance and 13.1 miles is nothing to sneeze at.  


I then started thinking: Am I ready? Will I get injured? Can I handle the training, the working full time, the being a mommy? Will I burn out and quit? Oh jeez!!!!!!!!!!!


and then there was number 7:


7. There is less injury risk with a half marathon versus a full marathon. Injuries are the bane of any runner's existence. One of the big factors that contribute to running related injuries is training. To be more specific, overtraining increases the risk of running related aggravations and injuries. The higher the weekly mileage generally the higher the risk of running related. Needless to say, you're not going to log nearly as many miles gearing up for a half marathon versus a full marathon.


I have never been injured. Sure I've had the occasional shin splints, pain in my glute, pain in my ankle, but a few rest days and I was good to go. What if I sign up for this, get injured, and then can't run the race? Will I feel like failure? All this time I'm investing, all the plans that I've said "no" to because I want to focus on my training. 


Am I thinking too much? Where are these self doubts coming from?


Sure I know that I'm not going to run it as fast as some people, I know I'm going to be slow and I'm ok with that. 


I just want to finish, that is my goal. I want to be able to say "I did this." I want to tell my daughter and future 2nd child that you can do anything you put your mind to. I want fitness to be a part of their lives as they get older. I'm a big advocate for that.


I want them to be proud of their momma when I show them my marathon medal (I hope to still be running when my children are older).


Anyway, those are just a few of my self doubts and it scares me slightly. I just need to stop being a "Negative Nancy."


But in the back of my mind I'm asking myself am I going to be able to do this? Should I just concentrate on my half marathon time? I don't know the answer but I'm pushing forward with my goal.


Worst case I drop down to the half marathon. Sure I'll be out of the money but I'll still cross the finish line and get a darn medal. 

TGIF

I had planned on waking up and going to the gym this morning but when my alarm went off I debated for a minute, then decided to go back to sleep. Next week starts training and I told myself I was going to take it easy so I'm happy that I did just that.

Of course tomorrow and Sunday I plan on running outside.

I finally purchased my Garmin today!! I decided on the Forerunner 205, mainly because it was the cheaper one but you know, I don't need anything high tech and fancy. I'm just starting out and really just need something to track mileage, pace, etc. accurately. If and when I run more marathons then we can think about getting something more expensive but as of now this will be just fine. Plus baby needs fall clothes so I gotta go with what my budget can handle ya know?

This bad boy is what I will soon be wearing, so excited!!

Now I just need to register for the race. I get little butterflies in my stomach when I think of it!!

Ready for the weekend, it's been a long week. First week of school just adds extra stress of making sure I'm out of the house in time to get Sophie to daycare and me to work, without sitting in a whole bunch of traffic.

Sunday I'm meeting a friend at the beach for a few hours. I hope to do a short run on the beach and then layout and catch up. Then at some point this weekend I need to clean!!

Today's Workout: 3.51 Miles with Hills

This morning's run consisted of a 3.5 mile hill run (on the treadmill) with a short arm and leg workout.

Time 28:12, avg pace 8:01

Splits:

SPLITS

MILE	TIME	AVG.PACE
1	7:55	7'55"/mi
2	16:00	8'05"/mi
3	24:02	8'02"/mi

I wonder what the .5 was, Nike+ does not tell me that.

It's all good, tomorrow I will be purchasing my Garmin! I'm torn between the Forerunner 205 and 305. Really the only difference is the 305 has a hear rate monitor, which I don't really care one way or the other. I will probably only use the Nike+ for the treadmill runs and Garmin for when I run outside and obviously on my long runs.

Ricky has purchased a bike so we are all set to start next week. I will be registering for the race next Wednesday after I get paid. And then it's for real!!

I had about 30 minutes after my run so I decided to do a short arm and leg circuit which consisted of:

Walking lunges (3 sets)
Bicep curls with dumbbells (2 sets of 15)
Triceps extensions (1 set)
Squats (1 set)
More bicep curls with Troy Bar (18 lbs)
Triceps dips (1 set)
Elevated lunges (1 set)
Shoulder sequence (8 exercises, 8-10 reps with no rest - killer burn!)

I was going to do abs but honestly I drank so much water that it started to slosh around, so I did the elliptical for my remaining 10 minutes.

Then it was home to hurry and get ready for work.

On the home front, Sophie sat on the potty last night, the big potty! She didn't do anything but the fact that she asked to and was interested in it is a big step!