Lather, Rinse, REPEAT

So I'm re-reading the post from last week and just laughing. I didn't do ANYTHING I said I would do. Not worry about speed? Ha. Focus and stay positive? Yeah, whatever. THIS past week has been the worst so far- and I'll tell you why right after we look at the stats:

Miles:	15.37	Comments:	5
Time:	05:51	Motivations:	3
Calories:	2970	Among Friends:	6
Workouts:	8

Had a total break down Tuesday. I was all ready off my game Monday when I did my cross-training. I just didn't feel right. So we get to Tuesday, and it's busy at the gym and it's difficult to get my weight training complete because I have to keep finding alternatives to my normal routine. Which throws me off. Then I find a treadmill, but now it's late and I have to leave early because of half-days at school.

Screw up number 1: Only warm up for 3 minutes.

The lady on the treadmill next to me is strolling (I'm serious- I looked at her speed and it was a 3.0. ) while chatting on her cell phone. Loudly. And for some reason her head is turned in my direction, so it's like she's talking to me. I have the iPod at full blast, and am really trying to focus, but this laugh- this CACKLE- was driving me bananas. It was one of those moments I wish I could be rude and say "DO YOU MIND?" So I try to tune her out and start running.

Screw up number 2: Trying to run an entire mile at my fastest speed- the whole mile.

After a half mile I was spent. From there it all went downhill, and at around a mile and a quarter I quit. Gave a final glare to Chatty Kathy, and walked away. Sat down at the tables, and started crying. I must have looked completely crazy to the employees at the gym. I just lost it. Then I gained a little composure, walked to the van, and broke down one more time, feeling like a complete failure.

I really have no clue what I'm doing. I'm just thankful I have a network of people who DO know what they are doing, so I can get back on track. Kimber and others have been telling me for weeks that the important thing is to run and not stop, not run as fast as I can. But I hear "sprint" and I automatically think "run as fast as you can". So, I'm done with the term "sprint". I'm calling them repeats, because that is what I need to do. Repeat the interval, at a pace where I'm working hard, but not killing myself. Funny how it sounds, I need to slow down in order to run faster.

So the rest of the week was mediocre. I went back the next day and did repeats but took it slower, and felt better about it. Got back on the saddle, so to speak. My Thursday run went well, but I stopped a couple of miles short due to a pulling up my thigh.

Sunday was the long run, and it was my best run this week. Upped it to 7 miles, and it hurt, but it was still a good run. I'm proud of how I did. The weather also cooperated, so I enjoyed it immensely. It reminded me that this is exactly why I run.

This week I'm centered and ready to have a whole new attitude towards my training. Here's the plan:

Key Run #1: 2- 1200m REPEATS; 4- 800m REPEATS; 2 min rest intervals
Key Run #2: 1 mile easy, 2 miles Medium Tempo; repeat; then 1 mile easy
Key Run #3: 8 miles half-marathon pace + 20 seconds/mile.

Keep moving forward. Repeat.

Get 'cha head in the game!

The beginning of last week was really hard mentally. I like being a loner when it comes to training, but only in the work. I like the motivation of having someone around to help me push myself. This is why I don't really like exercise classes. Everyone prancing around, doing the same thing, that annoys me. You don't have to do that with running and weight training, and I like that better. You can be individual even if you're doing the same thing.

Well, it makes sense in my head, anyway.

Last week recap:

Miles:	15.39	Comments:	0
Time:	05:22	Motivations:	0
Calories:	2709	Among Friends:	5
Workouts:	7

Sprints felt pretty good this week. The idea of not worrying so much about my sprint speed really helps. The second Key run this week however- ug. Since I'm now incorporating outside runs into the training, I'm doing the second run on the treadmill but at an incline for a more realistic feel. It hurt so much, and I kept stopping. Which would annoy me, so I'd get frustrated and stop more. And it all went downhill from there. I'm not very good at self-motivating.

The weekend long run was very nice however. I focused more on my strides and making them longer, and if I had to walk that was fine. I also made sure I kept my walk at a good pace versus strolling. My time was faster because of it. Now, I'm not too concerned about time, but I do want to be faster than 14:30! A speed-walker would pass me at that pace. It still got really hot by the end of the run, but I felt good and not as wasted as the week before. I'm looking forward to the long runs now, this week I'm adding a mile. I want to explore a little more of the canal trail!

So, the plan for this week is:

Key Run #1: 3 ONE MILE SPRINTS! I've all ready been told I won't be able to do them. Yeah, well watch me.
Key Run #2: 6 miles at long tempo pace (12:15 or so)
Key Run #3: 7 miles half-marathon pace + 30 seconds/mile

I'm just taking it all in stride, focusing on getting used to running. The rest will take care of itself. My goal is finish the course, and I think if I hit 10 miles, I will pretty much have that in the bag. Mentally I'm my own worst enemy, so I just have to stay focused and positive.

Month One Of Training In The Can!

First month of half-marathon training is complete! I can't believe it's been a month- it ran right by me (yuk yuk yuk). This week was rather interesting, as I threw in an outside run to see how it felt.

Miles:	15.10	Comments:	1
Time:	06:46	Motivations:	0
Calories:	3363	Among Friends:	5
Workouts:	9

I have certainly felt progress the entire month. Stronger, though not necessarily faster. Sprints have really been good for increasing my cardio, and I've noticed that I can run further without stopping or walking.

Tuesday's sprints were the most difficult yet. Starting at 3/4 mile then working my way down was definitely a challenge, but I tried to go into it with a different mental attitude. I let myself go under 6mph instead of thinking it was total failure, and that helped. Plus, going down in distance each sprint also helped mentally. By the time I got to 600m it felt like the home stretch, and the final 200m sprint I pushed at a 6.3 because it was simply a dash to the finish line.

Thursday was another good run at a straight 5 miles. My mid-tempo is around an 11:45 to 12 min. mile, so though it was definitely work, I felt good. It was so good in fact I decided with this good morning weather we've been having to do the long run this week outside. I would like to start incorporating more of the long runs outdoors, especially since well, that's how I'm running the marathon. Might as well start getting used to it sooner rather than later.

And wow, it is a BIG difference. Since it was the long run I knew I could take it really slow, because it's all about distance and not time. My body was like "whaaaaa???" First mile and a half was really good. I was really enjoying the change in scenery as well, and had the tunes loud enough to hear but soft enough to hear the world around me. I might have been along the canal, but still wanted to hear what's happening.

At about 2 miles was when my knee started to hurt. So I walked. That was pretty much the rest of the run for me, walking and jogging. The path is not concrete, but whenever I could I ran in the dirt or gravel just to take as much pressure off as possible. I also noticed I take shorter strides vs. on the treadmill, thought that was interesting. My back also became really stiff which added to the pain down my right leg, and then even my toes started to cramp up. I didn't enjoy the second half of my run because of all the pain. Oh, and by then it was hot, so that added to my frustration. Didn't have enough water.

However, what it also told me is I should run outside more, so that's what I'm going to try and do on the long run days. That way I can at least walk and feel fairly guilt free, since I'm supposed to keep it slow anyway. I also think that after the marathon in January I might give those Vibrams a try. I'll get the marathon out of the way, and then I might have some Christmas money to spend too. ;-)

OK, the plan for this week (Week 5 holy cow!) is:

Key Run #1: 5- 1k sprints with 400m rest intervals
Key Run #2: 1 mile easy, 3 miles short tempo (11:15-11:30 mile), 1 mile easy
Key Run #3: 6 miles HMP + 20seconds. Or whatever it ends up being. No rush!

Last thought- I really miss Kimber. She's off cruising and vacationing and my motivation is shot. Last week was ok, but this week without her plus MY kids on fall break, will be more difficult. I all ready skipped my workout today because it was way too easy to shrug it off.

Send me motivation!!!!!

I Love To Hate Sprinting!

Week three of training is eating my dust!

Miles:	22.54	Comments:	9
Time:	06:15	Motivations:	1
Calories:	2804	Among Friends:	2
Workouts:	7	Overall Position:	5424

Sprints last week were still pretty difficult. I'm getting a better understanding of why this program plans them the way they do. It's more mental training than anything. Knowing I had 6 sprints each a half mile- that is hard on the brain. Kimber will tell you I'm all ready really hard on myself- harder than I should be. Slowing down feels like failure, stopping mid-sprint feels like failure. I had to do both during these sprints. Longer rests in-between helped, and I was able to finish strong, but I wasn't happy. And I should be!

The second run of the week showed me that these sprints are really helping increase my cardio, because running longer distances is definitely getting easier to do. Short tempo pace still is a workout (around 11:30 for me), but I still feel really good running.

Same with the third run on Sunday. That is also a mental game. Slow and relaxed is the pace. To me that's even more difficult than the sprints. Sure, it's easy to run as fast as you can for a short period of time, but maintaining a slow pace for 5 or 6 miles? It's pretty boring. On the treadmill at least I have music and the occasional eye candy walking by to keep me entertained. I think running outside will prove to be more difficult because I'm not sure if I'll want the iPod or not while running. Arizona drivers are pretty inconsiderate, but in Gilbert? The WORST.

If this cooler weather sticks I will definitely want to start doing some the longer runs outside. The body should get used to it before it has to run 13.1 miles outside. The treadmill is awesome for pace-training however.

So, on to this week!

Key Run #1: Sprints starting at 1200m and down to 200m, with 200m rest intervals.
Key Run #2: 5 miles at mid-tempo
Key Run #3 (my new long run schedule): 6 miles half-marathon pace +20 sec.

I am also not pushing the long run. Sunday when I wanted to do 7 miles, I made it to just under 6 and decided to stop. I really have no reason to push it this early in the game.

Happy Running!