Running again!

I went to my sister's Monday, my beautiful niece Marlee was born late Monday night. She is so cute! I didn't stay at the hospital because my kids NEEDED sleep. So as I was pacing and texting family I decided to try out my sis and brother-in-law's treadmill. It is an old one, made more for walking. It is lightweight and the track is only about a foot wide. It hadn't been used in months so it took awhile to warm up. I cranked it as high as it would go, I started off at 13 minute miles. It gradually moved faster, I finished my first mile in 10:42. The second mile I went about 8:30, much faster then I intended but I couldn't keep it steady. So I did 2 miles on Mon and 2.4 on Tuesday. When I came home last night I did 4 on my treadmill. The treadmill is very boring but it is nice to be able to control your pace. When I am outside I try to but sometimes my mile pace jumps quite a bit.

Overall it went fairly well. The first 2 days I wore tight shorts and last night I wrapped my leg. I started off with just shorts and that hurt, once I wrapped it I was fine. I felt mild discomfort instead of shooting pain so I must be on the mend. The hard part is taking it slow and not jumping back into my training!

Snowmobiling

We had a lot of fun snowmobiling this weekend. We rode over the mountain on Friday and came back on Sunday afternoon. In between that time we ate a lot and drank A LOT! I have not drank that much in probably 5 years. Surprisingly I felt pretty good though, just a little sleep deprived. When we rode back over on Sunday it was snowing so it was hard to see with the flat light. But it was fun, like floating on a big marshmallow.

I did not exercise at all, today I am feeling like a slug. I am determined to go for a run today. I am going to try to tape my leg/glute area and hope it doesn't mess it up.

I am going over the other mountains today to see my little sister. She is being induced this morning with her first baby. The roads are slick and snowing but not closed yet so I should be able to make it. My son threw up this morning at about 5 so I am hoping he makes it there without getting sick again. The thought of cleaning up my car does not appeal to me. I can't wait to meet my little niece!

Feeling Better

My leg is on the mend, yay! I have not been able to run on in, but I did the elliptical on Tuesday without a lot of pain. It really is boring and I was very envious of everyone running the track, at least I broke a sweat though. Yesterday I jumped in the pool. That felt really good, I love to swim. I only swim 3-4 times a year lately. While I have been using the childcare at the PAC lately I don't usually go in the summer. Last night I walked a mile on the treadmill, a really slow mile, but I didn't have any sharp pain. As long as I'm careful about how I step I seem to be ok. I am planning on hitting the elliptical again today, hopefully a friend will join me so the time will go faster.

Tomorrow JR and I are going snowmobiling with a group of friends. We'll ride over the mountains and stay 2 nights, then come home Sunday. The kids are going to family for the weekend. They are excited and will have lots of fun I'm sure but I am nervous because we have never left them for this long before. It will be good for us to go have some fun though. I only rode 2 times last year because Brooklyn was too little to leave with most people.

I am hoping not to hurt my leg anymore this weekend. I want to be able to run next week, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Rest Day(s)

Well I tried running yesterday, I managed a 1/2mile before I couldn't take the pain anymore. So I am not running today and maybe tomorrow. I know I need to rest or it won't heal. It is really hard, especially when I just started this new training plan and am excited to run a faster half marathon. So for today I am going to work my upper body and core. I am starting week 3 on the 100 pushup challenge. This week is a tough one!

Weekend Recap

I have a friend who wants to start running so on Friday night we planned on meeting at PAC after work. My kids were going to the basketball game so I went early and ran 4 miles and walked another. After she arrived we did a 1 minute run 2 minute walk 10x, or at least that was the plan. We were talking so much I know I messed the timing up a little, but it went so fast! In the past I have gone walking with friends and I forgot how much fun it is. We always seem to have the best conversations, especially when I walk with my sisters. I hope my friend sticks with it. We are planning on meeting about 3 times a week so that helps, she is busy with 3 kids and a full time job.

Yesterday I tried to go for an easy 3 mile run. The day was perfect, high 20's and sunny I couldn't wait to get out there. When the kids took their nap I was ready, and so was my dog! I managed a half a mile before I couldn't take the pain anymore(still in my upper thigh). I came home and took some motrin and decided to at least walk, I wanted to be outside and Buddy would have gone crazy if that's all we did. I ended up walking almost 2 miles, in pain the whole time. I came home and the motrin finally kicked in about 10 minutes later and I felt great, figures! Today I am suppose to do a 45 minute tempo run. I might try taking some motrin and going for it. I am still sore today but it is a little better, I guess I'll just see how the day goes. If I don't run today I'll do my tempo tomorrow.

Great Long Run

I went for my long run this morning at about 8:30. It was beautiful outside, the sun was shining, it was about 25 degrees, and there was only a slight wind. I love being outside on days like today, with the snow on the mountains. The first half of my run was slow, although it was mostly uphill. I ended up doing negative splits, yeah! I ended up doing 9.5 miles and I felt like I could keep going at the end which is always great especially when the first few miles hurt. I pulled a muscle or something in my upper thigh this past weekend so I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it. By the end I felt great, I think running helped because I am not as sore now.

McDonalds Hangover

My Mom wanted to keep the kids for the night, so I decided it would be a good time to make a Walmart trip. We live about 100 miles from Walmart and fast food. After I dropped the kids off I went for a 3 mile run and then took off. I finished shopping and was starving so I went through McDonalds drive thru. I ordered a Quarter Pounder meal and started my trip home. By the time I arrived I felt like crap, I was tired and still felt full. Now I remember why I don't eat that way anymore. I try to eat healthier and I hardly ever eat until I am stuffed, although that was the norm a few years ago. Nights like tonight remind me why I choose to eat healthier and to exercise regulary, I feel soooo much better.

birthday party

This weekend I did not run at all. I did strength training on Sat and cardio with some plyometrics. Saturday night we went to some friends house and played poker. We stayed until 2 am(what were we thinking?), so between the lack of sleep and a few too many beers I was not feeling my best Sunday morning. We had Brooklyn's birthday party so the morning was spent getting ready for that. It was fun, she loved blowing out her candles and opening her presents. By the time everyone left the kids were done so I put them down for a nap and took one of my own.

Yesterday I ran a tempo run. I went to PAC to run on the track. I ended up doing 5 miles. I started easy on the first mile, then the second and third I pushed it. I think I went a little too fast so the fourth and fifth were slower. I walked afterwards and my stomach was bothering me. I have not ran that fast for that long before. Today I have hill work, I should be tired tonight!

Pirate Ship

I ended up taking yesterday off, I was just tired all day. This morning I woke up feeling great. I have been busy doing laundry, playing with the kids, and I managed to lift weights. I did push/pull with Cathe Friedrich. My kids love to exercise with me, I just have to sidestep them a lot. It works out fine until I have to lay on the floor, then they think they need to be jumping on me. Today as I was doing chest press I had one on my stomach and the other on my legs and I was their pirate ship. It does make it harder, which is good right? I didn't do my pushups though because it is hard enough without 2 little ones jumping on my back!

I'm planning on a 5 mile run today. Hopefully I'll be able to run outside. It is sunny and calm outside right now, hopefully it stays that way. My hubby had to go to work this morning so I won't be able to run until later.

My daughter turns 2 tomorrow, I can't believe it. I have to bake her cake today, and then try to decorate it. I'm not the best at decorating so wish me luck!

Long Run on the Treadmill

Yesterday was suppose to be my long day and I had planned on running 10 miles. My mom usually watches the kids for me but she wasn't able to so I had to jump on the treadmill during nap time. I managed 60 minutes and 6.75 miles before I couldn't take it anymore, that is the longest I've ever run on the treadmill. I did run faster than I usually do on long runs at around 8:52 avg instead of 9:10-9:20avg. I did day 4 of the 100 pushup challenge last night and core work. Today I am tired and sore. It is my scheduled rest day, so I might stretch or do yoga later if I have time.

My plan for the day is cleaning, grocery shopping (done!), and Gavin has ice skating lessons today. He had his first one one Tuesday. He did great, only falling a few times. The class was full of 3 and 4 year olds, they were sooo cute! Brooklyn's demanding my attention, I'm off!

Nike workouts

Sunday was beautiful, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was cold, somewhere between 0-10degrees, but there wasn't any wind. I was able to go out for a 4 mile run. I stayed warm, I found my face mask so I didn't have any problems. I listened to Joan Benoit Samuelson's Nike marathon mix. I liked her tips and having her tell you to relax or what your stride should be every few minutes but I wasn't a big fan of the music. I might listen to this again but I think I prefer my own music. Yesterday I was back to the treadmill so I tried Lance Armstrong's interval mix. The music was better and I liked having a set workout, I have been running some intervals but I don't last as long as this. It was nice not having to pay attention to the time, I just had to run until he told me to stop. Overall both were a nice break and I would listen to both again, especially the intervals.

Today I am going to do some strength work and hopefully an easy run later. I was going to workout with my friend but the PAC is closed because of the cold weather. Hopefully it will be open tomorrow.

Cold and Windy!

Yesterday JR and I played racquetball, it was a lot of fun and I hope we can do more things like that. Unfortunely JR hurt his knee(an old football injury) otherwise I think he would have gone again today. After that I went out fo a 4 mile run. It wasn't to cold but the wind was blowing, by the time I turned around to head home it started to snow. The wind was blowing into my face and it felt like rocks hitting my forehead.

I woke up today to the sun shining. It was beautiful on the snow and I couldn't wait to get out there. I had 6 miles planned for today and didn't want to run on the treadmill. It was only 11 degrees outside but the wind was not blowing so I thought I would be fine. However by the time I put all my layers on and got the kids settled with JR the wind started. I still thought I would be ok so I started out facing the wind decided I wasn't warm enough for that. I turned the other way and was feeling good, I just couldn't keep my scarf tied around my face. I knew it would be worse when I was facing the wind again so I decided to run inside. I frostbit my face when I was in high school so I really have to be careful now. I still didn't want to run on the treadmill so I went to PAC and ran on the track.

Tomorrow is suppose to be cold and windy so I guess I'll be on the treadmill for hill work. I am going to start the Hal Higdon advanced marathon plan tomorrow. I will probably modify it a little with more cross training and less running on some days. I am going to keep the tempo, speed, hill, and distance runs each week. We'll see how it goes, I've never followed a plan before.

I am also trying to get back on track with my nutrition. I have been eating way too much sugar and not enough fruits and vegetables. So I am not baking anything for awhile and am going back to my goal of at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day. I have done ok today, so far 3 servings of veggies and 1 fruit. And only a little bit of chocolate!

Happy New Year

We went to our neighbor's party last night and stayed until 2. I don't remember the last time I stayed up that late. I woke up at 6 , went back to sleep, woke at 7, back to sleep until 7:30, realized I may as well get up. I was still tired but couldn't sleep. I drank a lot of coffee and did a little cleaning before my hubby's brother and wife came over. After they left I took a nap while JR cooked dinner. I put the kids to bed and decided to lift weights. I was only going to do 20 minutes but once I started I kept going for 45 minutes. I feel much better now.

Now for my goals this year.
A spring half marathon and 10k.
Strength training 2-3 times a week
Complete the 100 pushup challenge
To plan and organize more so I can be fully engaged in my day and not waste so much time.
To develop closer relationships with family and friends
To take time daily to read the bible and pray
Remodel our house.