Sunday, Sept. 26
This run was harrrd. clearly my quads are not where they should be. My buddy John who I always see out walking, was near my house walking and I welcomed the excuse to stop 1/2 mile from my house and chat with him for a bit. I'm bothered by the fact that it's not just that these 12 miles were tough...it's that it was really tough after 6 miles which is normally easy for me. My knees were really bothering me today and they haven't bothered me in months! Why now?? I had a nagging sidesticker...not enough to stop me completely, just uncomfortable, and I was just counting dowwwwwn the time for it to end after 6-7 miles. Luckily, this is my last long run before next weekend...one more long run and then this is overrrr!! I've enjoyed the process, but i'm anxious to get back to strengthening and toning.


Miles Run today: 12
Total Miles Run for 2010: 588.5

Saturday, Sept. 25
Miles Run today: 6
Total Miles Run for 2010: 576.5

Saturday, September 18, 2010
Still Slacking...BUT I had a great 9 mile run on Saturday before getting ready for the wedding. I didn't run yesterday and I didn't run this morning because I'm still recuperating from my lack of sleep over the weekend and didn't go to bed until 12:30 last night! I plan on pushing through this week with some good long runs, closing out with a 12 miler on Saturday or Sunday and then tapering off before the race in 2 weekends!! It's getting close, and I do feel ready. I just need to keep my head in the game for this last hard-core week.

Miles Run today: 9
Total Miles Run for 2010: 570.47

I feel like this always happens to me in the last two weeks before a race. I get lazy. I think "well...I can't get much better by this point anyway..so what's the point? what's done is done!" Plus, it's sooo dark outside at 6:15 when I set my alarm..I think "I can't run in the dark!" But the race is 2 weeks away!! 2 weeks!! I HAVE to stay on target. I've done pretty well so far...just two more weeks of early morning runs and then I can switch over to some DVD's and get back to weight training.

I slept in this morning...again...and only had time for 3 miles, even though I was supposed to run for 55 minutes as my schedule told me. So I did 3 miles...I power-housed through the last half mile. It was HUMID this morning and I was dripping with sweat by the end of the run, which believe it or not, is pretty unusual for me. Anyway, tomorrow I am running for 2 hours, which should equal about 12 miles if I stay on pace. I need to do this by 10:00am because my friend is coming over at 11:00 to do my makeup for the wedding I'm going to and I'll need a good hour to shower and cool down before that. That means I have to be out the door by 8:00 tomorrow..can I do it?? The answer is: I have to.

Miles Run today: 3
Total Miles Run for 2010: 561.47

Today I did my interval speed training. The same routine I did last week. 
My times for each 1/2 mile fast run were as follows:

1. 3:33
2. 3:37
3. 3:39
4. 3:41
5. 4:11

so my first three were faster than ALL of my times last week, and my 4th one was exactly right where my first one was last week. I was surprised I knocked 8 seconds off my time for my first run! However, during the 4th run...my left hamstring was really bothering me. And, I could tell my legs were going to be reallly sore again, so I needed to take it easy for my last fast 1/2 mile. So...I just kind of jogged it out at my normal pace and came in at 4:11. All in all, I ran 3 miles this morning with warm up and cool down.

Miles Run today: 3
Total Miles Run for 2010: 558.47

My legs were reallly sore after last Friday's run. I'm supposed to run 4 fast miles with a break in between this week...but honestly, I think I'd rather do the same routine I did last Friday again. I think I need to do more shorter sprints on my own, instead of on a treadmill before I move ahead to fast miles on my own. It's amazine what different muscles you use sprinting than from regular jogging. So, I didn't run on Saturday...but I was also in Vermont and didn't know where to run.

But even worse than that....I didn't run on Sunday. My long run :( It was cold and dreary by the time we came home on Sunday and I used that as an excuse to not run. Just like I used the dark, dreariness as an excuse not to run yesterday, too. Boooo, I've been bad. And after my amazing 10 mile run last weekend, I really wanted to have a repeat run like that again!!

I'm going to attempt 10 miles before I leave for the wedding I'm going to on Saturday. I have to get up at 8 if I want to do it, because I have a friend come over to do makeup at 11, so that's a little ambitious but I can do it!! I will!!!

This morning, I felt realllly refreshed. I was in bed before 11 last night, which NEVER happens lately and got a full 7 1/2 hours of sleep. Glorious!! Got up a little later than usual, but still fit in my 4.86 mile run.

Miles Run today: 4.86
Total Miles Run for 2010: 555.47

Crazy hard run this morning. I realized yesterday that I didn't do my interval training this week..so I had to do it this morning. I mapped out a street in the neighborhood across the street from me that's exactly .5 miles from start to finish. I had to do 5 fast 1/2 mile runs with a cooldown in between each one. 

Here were my times for each 1/2 mile run. I realllly wanted my best one to be my last..but I couldn't do it. The first two were the fastest, for obvious reasons.

1. 3:41
2. 3:41
3. 3:46
4. 3:46
5. 3:51

This was HARD. It was the first time that I did an interval training on my own and NOT on a treadmill. Keeping up the pace was entirely up to me, and it is such a mind game to keep yourself going fast. I will def. be trying this one again next week to see if I can improve my time. It's also amazing the different muscles you use sprinting..my legs are extremely sore today!!


Miles Run today: 2.5
Total Miles Run for 2010: 550.61

So I thouuught I had been running 5 miles, but mapmyrun actually tells me it's 4.86 now. :(  Close enough..but I'm going to keep an accurate count of miles and so below I am actually putting 4.86 miles for today. Call me Crazy...it's ok. LOVING this cooler weather :)


Miles Run today: 4.86
Total Miles Run for 2010: 548.11

Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Ran to a faster podcast this morning that I couldn't keep up with a few months ago. Did 5 miles in 46 minutes which is faster than my usual 10 minute mile pace. Great way to start the week!
Miles Run today: 5
Total Miles Run for 2010: 543.25

Sunday, September  5, 2010
Had the freaking best run of my entire life today. Got up early (8:30) was extremelllly well rested. The weather was perfect. I stopped ONCE at 5 miles to drink and have my gel packet but that was the only time I felt the need to stop. My knee didn't hurt, I didn't have to stop 1200 times to stretch it out. I listened to two podcasts back to back, I thought about wedding planning the whole time, and I was more than in the zone. I actually loveeed this run and may remember it for the rest of my life.The last mile was the toughest, but that's what makes me think it's so much in my head. I knew it was the last mile..and so mentally I was thinking "ok..this is over" so I was psyching myself out. I want to do this exact run next weekend ...I'm loving this cooler weather!

Miles Run today: 10
Total Miles Run for 2010: 538.25

HOLY COW! We are one month out!! One month away from the big day!!

Me, Kate V, Mandy L., and Mal S. have been training hard for the half marathon on October 3rd. I will admit, I'm getting a little nervous, especially since I've missed TWO of my long runs now, but I'm so excited to run this particular race, and I'm very excited to share in the experience with three really awesome girlfriends.

I allllmost went back to bed this morning after getting up. Almost. But I knew that it was going to rain this afternoon and if I didn't do it now...it definitely wasn't going to happen. As usual, once I got out the door, I was grateful that I did. I had a good run...did some interval running with the help of my motiontaxx podcasts. I did the 3 miles that I was supposed to do on Wednesday.

I decided to do my long 1:45 run tomorrow morning (yikes! i'm nervous!!) and then 3 miles on Sunday and 5 miles on Monday. I hope with the wedding I'm going to this weekend I can fit this all in!

Miles Run today: 3
Total Miles Run for 2010: 528.25

Took yesterday off...I seem to be taking my break days on Wednesdays instead of Fridays lately. I enjoy Friday runs and it's nice to get a day off in the middle of the week.


But I was back to the pavement this morning! I ran around the neighborhood...the weather has been great in the mornings..I just hate how much darker it's getting early on now! It's depressing but I LOVE Fall, so I really can't complain.

Today I did 50 minutes as instructed by my trusting training schedule! I used a new MotionTrax podcast to run to which kept me at 175 bpm the entire way. I was surprised that it was an easy pace for me, and it kept me right on target. I think this weekend when I run my 1:45 long run, I'm going to use this one plus the :43 minute upshift podcast I usually listen to, and that should be exactly the length of time I need to run! I'm so hoping I can get in a 3 mile run in the morning before Hurricane Early greets us in the early afternoon!

Miles Run today: 5
Total Miles Run for 2010: 525.25