11.5 miles into the week

quick update for my 4 readers ;)

For Sunday my long run goal was 7 miles. I took it easy Saturday night, ate real healthy, pounded the water, stretched and got decent sleep. I was running by 8am hoping to escape some heat. I completed my out and back loop along Hines and 6 mile and felt decent.

Unfortunately, I looked at my route at map my run on Monday and I think it was actually only 6.5 miles. Kind of a let down. I mean, sure, sure, I am still pleased that I did more than the previous week but 7 sounded more powerful. I also did some upper body weights and my abs. Still trying for 1,000 crunches but I have a l-o-o-o-o-ng way to go.

Today I hit snooze for a pathetic while, but still managed to haul myself out of bed and into my running gear. I completed 5 miles, but at 8am it's still hot as the dog days. Yeow!

that's it.

Then there are the 3 mile slug runs

I know that I need to be adding in another day of running to get up to necessary mileage of real training. I think I will add in another day next week and see how that goes. Right now it's about taking it easy. So, since I'm trying to stay in shape without over doing it, I decided that my Thursday run would be 3.5 miles. After all I had the great 5 on Tuesday.

I went to work a bit early to get out to have quality time with my friend Rachel. This schedule pushed me to about an 830 pm run. Not so bad considering the temps cool down in the evening. Well, some how the systems were out of whack. My head wasn't in it and neither was my body. I'll spare you the details but a run after two bean tacos just doesn't bode well with the gut :) It was an ok run. Not great. Not memorable. Not a total waste of time. Just so so.

I think part of it was not realizing how sore my legs still were from weights on Tuesday. I am going to have a hearty stretching session tonight and work out the kinks.

This weekend's long run: 7 miles.

Soaring 5 miles on an eagle's back

What really is a performance-enhancing drug anyway?

I mean why is a steroid a bad drug but caffeine isn't? Don't we all somehow modify our habits, foods, sleep patterns, vitamins to maximize our level of effort?

For instance, yesterday, I slept in too long and missed my chance to get to the gym in the morning. This means I had to go after work which I dreaded, especially because I would be there a long time with the run and a PT-like session of weights. I staggered my snacks and meals so that I'd be adequately full (but not too full) when I entered the gym. I had a latte about 2 hours before because I was feeling sluggish and looking to perk up. I also downloaded a few new songs for my i-pod and changed up my playlist. However, I was so tired on my 30 minute drive to the gym that I didn't think anything would power me through 4 miles. I actually pulled into the parking lot, leaned back my driver's seat and snoozed for ten minutes before getting out of my car. I felt beat. I felt this would be one pathetic run.

I lazily stepped on the elliptical for a ten-minute warm up. I slowly went through the motions of a few stretches. Gosh, I even contemplated running a mile and then just leaving the gym. But somehow as I upped the pace on the treadmill, my legs began to rhythmically keep up. I was pumped for the new "Stand Back" Stevie Nicks remix. Those electronic dance beats are like a metronome for my stride. I was rockin to the Coconut Records' "Nighttiming." I wasn't churning out the boring minutes of lackluster songs that I heard 20 gazillion times previously. I felt so energized that I actually ran 5 miles (instead of the planned 4) in about 55 minutes. Holy Honkin' Hallelujah! I think I actually heard birds singing.

So, back to my original thought. Did I owe my success to performance-enhancing drugs? Was it the latte? What about the new songs---could I have been so enthusiastic without my i-pod? Or, really, what about that power nap?

I don't know what the secret yesterday was. I mean I ran for nearly an hour and then did another hour of weights. It was just one of those times when everything seems to fall into place, when my attitude and my body's willingness are connected in a euphoric sense. One thing is certain---with results like these, I'll be duplicating some of these things in the future.

6 miles

Not feeling very loquacious for this post.
I did run my 6 miles on Saturday. I decided to run about 6pm in the evening. Still very warm outside. Walked during a few uphills but felt pretty darn good about the whole thing.

So, last week
6 Saturday
3 Thursday
4 Tuesday
5 Sunday
---------
= 18 miles. That's great but I'm also cheating by including two long runs in my tally.

late night workout

On Thursday a couple of things came up that really threw off my usual routine. Nothing bad to speak of, just not a usual day. This means I didn't get home until after 8:00 and I still had to get a run in. I had lofty exercise goals but by the time evening rolled around, I was just hoping to do something decent. I did my boring 3 mile run to CVS and back. It's not an exciting or challenging route but I know the distance, so it's a good fall back for when I am not feeling too adventurous or energetic.

I'm also done with PT but I know I still need to work on leg strength. I did Chapter 1 of IWTB-buns. It's incredibly challenging but only 15 minutes. Anyone can endure bloody thigh screaming pain for 15 minutes. After that I topped off my day with more crunches. I'm still a long way from doing 1,000 but I'm determined to stick to the plan.

This weekend's long run: 6 miles.

sticking to the plan

Yesterday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill at the gym. I'm still at the 11-something minute mile pace. That's okay for now. I know that upping distance and speed at the same time is a recipe for disaster. I'll chip at it slowly.

So, after running 5 on Sunday, a grueling PT on Monday and 4 last night, well today I am taking a day of rest.

new article

This one appears at Her Active Life.

Children seem to grow taller overnight. Pants that fit well a month ago suddenly look like waders. Do they really grow that fast? During childhood (generally defined as the period of life from age 1 until puberty begins), a typical child will gain about 5lbs. and grow 2 to 3 inches in an average year. . .

Read the rest of the article here.