Improvement

In my head I had hoped for a good solid 10 minute per mile speed on my 1/2 marathon race. That race is only one month away and I hope that I am on track for that goal.

Overall this is how its broken down:
Last Tuesday I ran with group and we did one hour warm up at about 11 min/mile pace, then stretched and did two miles at pace speed (about 30seconds per mile faster than our estimated speed during the race), then did a cool down of about a mile back to the store. I did my pace time at 9min 40 sec which is better than I had hoped. This puts me right on where I want to be.

I ran intervals a little during the week but didn't push as hard as I wanted to. Its hard to keep the family home running and run. LOL.

Saturday I dragged my butt out of bed after having slept a blissful 9 hours and carried my butt back to our Saturday morning meeting place. Those of you who know me know that I do not follow directions well. I get lost after " turn left here then right here and when you get here... " all I hear is blah blah blah" so I went my own way and paced myself. I knew from the week prior where the 4 mile mark was. I kept my pace up and took it another mile +. Turned around and followed a fellow runner back the way we were supposed to come. Timing wise I did pretty good. for a 9 mile run I did about 1hour 31 minutes and 9 seconds. taking me to just over 10 minutes a mile. Now I just have to add 4 more miles to that. UGH.

I didn't run Sunday or Today, I really should have but didn't. Truth be told I would have loved to run today but one of the munchkins is sick so that went out the window. We will be at the BIL's wedding Saturday so I'm not sure how I'll get 10 miles in but I will be sure to run Wed and Friday and keep my miles up. So here it goes. I really have been better about eating though. I still can't say what I ate but my choices are more thought through and I'm eating good when I'm not hungry but know I need to eat. That's a start.

I ran 8 miles today

I really thought, "can I do this?" I was scared when I left the parking lot this morning, especially after listening to Coach Allen talking about where we would be going. I started off slow, maybe too slow but I didn't want to burn out you know. So the path was nice but my knee, even in my new shoes, was killing me. I wouldn't leave the house this morning without stretching out my muscles with trusty foam roller (that the children think is a wonderful toy). I made it about two miles and really started feeling better. By mile three I could hardly tell that my knee even hurt and I actually ended stronger on the last four miles than I thought I would. I finished 8 miles in 1 hour 28 minutes which is exactly 88 minutes and 11 minutes a mile. Although 11 minute miles aren't very good I am still proud of myself. I did it and I think I can do it at a bit faster pace next Saturday at our 9 mile run. We have speed work on Tuesday and I hopefully can kick it into high gear on Tuesday at the speed work out and maybe do some more interval training while running on Monday and Thursday this week to increase my speed and stamina.


I really didn't want too many people to know that I was doing this mostly because I'm scared to death of failing. But I really wanted FFP to be supportive and my closest friends. Everyone else is gravy. The more support I have the better right? I don't know. This is kinda scary and I'm not so afraid of not completing it as not finishing strong enough, or fast enough. Other people have expectations that are different than yours. My wish is to come in at 2 hours and 15 minutes. I shouldn't care that others don't think that's fast enough but I do. I care because that's how I'm made but if less people know the less are disappointed in me and that's how I work. Now I really need to work on positive self talk. I did it today while running, telling myself I'm strong and I can finish strong. I have found that running with a group is so much better than running by myself. I actually stay motivated. Those along runs are really hard. I'm not sure what to do about them.

Guilt

I stupidly wonder, still after 8 years of marriage and almost 12 years together, Am I worth it? I have guilt every time I spend money on me. I wanted to do this half marathon class and I've been working my buns off, literally, for the last two weeks and really in desperate need of new shoes. I told FFP that my knees hurt so bad I really think I need new shoes. He took me down there and bought me some and I greatly appreciate it but then he gives me a such a hard time about my Mizuno Wive inspire shoes that I love and all I feel like is "why am I spending money on me?" I feel guilt. Deep down, make my stomach turn, guilt. Although I ran 8 miles today and felt really good running for the first time since the training started. Why do we do that? Why do we rationalize away the things that we want or deserve? This class is more than just for me to prove I can do it, its for me to work out and exercise and enjoy exercising again. Its for me to get back into control of my health and life. I can't shake the guilt. I guess that's part of the mommy package. Thankfully the half marathon is before baseball season starts. I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to run after that. Then it will be the guilt about taking time away from the family, since our lives will be so full of taking them here then there then here then there all week.

I was pretty bad about food so far today. I ate oatmeal for breakfast, a chai tea latte and two fried (pan in a little olive oil) eggs. At Gail's I had the insides of spinach and sausage lasagna with cheese of course, salad made of romaine lettuce, a couple croutons and one tablespoon of really yummy creamy salad dressing. I had two small glasses of iced tea with a touch of splenda and one piece of Mimm's super chocolate cake. We will be leaving shortly for the IC a wonderful Italian restaurant where I will eat more food I am not supposed to consume. LOL I must say I had no guilt over the super chocolate cake. Some things I cannot avoid so therefore you need to give yourself a break for. It was cake at a party it must be free of calories.

Speed

Ran about 4 miles last night at the speed portion of the weeks training. Tuesdays kick butt... literally. I am absolutely no speed demon but let me tell you that 5 miles does not seem as far as it did two weeks ago. I am really trying hard to get all my miles in this week and up my speed for the next few weeks. My big problem is now to work running into being gone on vacation and to my BIL's wedding in a few weeks. Today's Kick in the Butt from Runners World made me think... besides the fact that I have to get new shoes so my back or knees don't hurt so bad, that setting goals and sticking to them sure boost your self esteem.

"We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an
awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort."

Jesse Owens

bad day

I didn't eat enough now I have to go run. Speed work today. Ouch especially since my knees still hurt. Ok gotta go. FFP works next two days so I'm not sure when I'll get to run but hopefully Thursday. Ran last night but still knees bothered me far more than being tired or anything else. promise myself I'll be better about eating for the rest of the week.

Inspire me

"You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

because the 5 I have couldn't be enough

I need a place to blog just about training for this 1/2 marathon, two AWBC walks (39.3 miles each) and a marathon at the end of the year. I also need a place to be held accountable for myself, my miles, my walks, my runs and my food journal. I'm not good at monitoring my food and I know for the most I don't eat enough and not enough good food so hopefully I can keep track of how its working here if not for anyone else than just for me. So here she goes. Do you like my blog name? Gotta Grub 'n' Run! both things that I'm working on for the next few months. I don't see this as a long term blog but we will see.

So tomorrow I'm running at From 1Mile at Bidwell for 7 miles but I'm a bit distressed that my knee has been bothering me all week. I'm going to go stretch and roll out my legs on my cool foam roller, eat some high carb snack and head to beddy by. I gotta remember to take thyroid meds at 0530 and eat at 0630 and drop kids off at Jenni's after 0700 and go run those fun 7 miles. I gotta remember to eat within the hour.

My main food goal is to hit 2000 calories and get 50% carbs, 25%protein and 25%fat food wise while I'm training. I at at Logan's today so who knows how much I actually ate today, a lot I'm sure but I really need more substantial food and should start going to Saturdays farmers market when FFP is home. OK so that's enough for my first blog on my new blog. LOL