Another Race Down...

Well it is the Monday after Thanksgiving which means:
1. I don't want to see turkey again until next year and 
2. I ran another half marathon whoohooo go me!
So yes I have another half under my belt, sad to say though I did not complete it in under 3 hours as I'd hoped I would...took me 3:09 GRRRRRRR so so so close. Jason said I just walked too much (um yeah) but I did do a little better than my first one, so I am going to take that as a positive take-a-way and use it to build on...the next half...I decided that I AM going to run another one (yes as a matter of fact I DO like punishing myself lol)

So today starts day one of training for the Jacksonville Bank Half...

I promised Jason (and myself) that I would do more training for this one that I did for the last one. I know it is going to kick my butt but hey I'll be able to say I did 3 half marathons in 3 months...not a lot of people can say that. 

The only thing I worry about is this one is on a Sunday so I won't have a day of rest before I come back to work. I'm sure that will be a joy - me hobbling around the office on that Monday...oh well, it will be a short week for me anyway I think I can make it 3 days

So the plan is to get in some shorter tempo and speedwork runs in on Monday and Wednesdays, still going to bootcamp on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and hopefully yoga on Tuesday and/or Saturday and long runs on the two Sundays I have before the run itself. Then really I am taking a break from running until the new year when I start training for the River Run

I'm tired just thinking about this plan! But once again I only have 20 days to train, not nearly enough to get bored with it LOL....

I pwnd that yoga pose!

Update!! I so totally mastered not one but TWO of those crazy yoga poses (ok sorta mastered the second one) 

Bound extended side angle - oh yeah, this move DONE..DID IT...KICKED ITS BUTT AND SENT IT CRYING HOME TO ITS MOMMA...ok maybe that is not the correct way to speak of such a difficult pose LOL...the important thing is that I no longer fear it, I can do it on both sides - one is a little less flexible but not for long!


AND.....

I KNOW!!!! I am amazed at my ability to do this one myself! Ok So I didn't hold it as long as I wanted to (yet) and I'm not as stable as I want to be (yet) but I got both of my feet off the ground and DIDN'T fall on my face that in itself is something to be proud of right? 










So yoga is going great and boot camp is still kicking my butt. I decided to get a little heavier weights so this past Tuesday I found a pair of 6lb dumbells that did a goo d job of tiring me out but not so much that I couldn't lift my arms. Last night though I couldn't find them and wanted more of a challenge than the 5lb ones so had to move up to the 7lb ones and that WAS a challenge. There were a few times I wasn't able to complete the 20 reps of an exercise because I couldn't lift my arms but I made it through and (right now at least) my arms aren't so sore that I can't move them...and for a plus I am seeing a little definition in them - whoohooo sexy Michelle Obama arms here I come!! 


So my running training - um yeah, about that...I did run on Sunday, got in 5 miles and felt really good. Have I put in as many miles as I should have for the half on Thanksgiving...um no, will I still do it, um yes, will I do it in under 3 hours..sure why not :) I know I should be able to average a 12 min/mile pace. I will be worn out and ready to tear up some food afterward but really isn't that the point of running that far on Thanksgiving morning? 


I have decided not to do the half marathon in December...for one it is on a Sunday so I wouldn't have a day off to recover because I don't have any other vacation days to use. I will keep up with boot camp and yoga though and I will start training for the River Run after Christmas. I think by then I will be able to balance running and the classes a little better.


One of these days I'm going to post some pictures of myself to track my progress....I want to be able to show off  my sexy sculpted arms -whenever I have them that is :) I'm not doing all these push ups and working with these heavier weights for nothing!

My New Running Partner....

Running has been a struggle for me, no question about that, but looking back at where I was one year ago and the progress I have made so far still really amazes me. More importantly though I now see that I have been a great role model for my 13 year old daughter who is planning on running the Thanksgiving half marathon with me. At first I was worried about her running that long, she's very active so that's not an issue, but still it is 13.1 miles. 

I've wanted her to do some training runs with me just so I could see how long she would last, so last night as I was heading out for a 5 mile run she decided to come along with me. So we set out down San Jose and start jogging along, I had been having knee problems so I was taking it even easier in my warm up trying to stay at about a 12 min/mile pace but when the legs want to go they want to go so we were quickly at an 11 min/mile pace. 

Taylor had no problems keeping up with me, we were even able to talk without much of a problem then it happened - she took off! I told her she didn't have to stay with me thinking that she would run get tired and stop and I'd catch her. Never happened LOL...that little stinker just kept on running, she says she wasn't even going fast but there were times I was pushing myself and she was still feet in front of me. She did stop eventually...not because she was tired, because she wasn't sure where we were going - and to wait for me and my little short legs to catch up. 

We had a lot of fun running, laughing and just talking. We didn't do the 5 miles, when we got to the turn around she just looked at me and was like 'now we have to RUN back??' I was like only if you are ready to, she decided we would be fine doing a power-walk back home - and honestly so was I. My legs are still tired from boot camp Tuesday night and that seriously took a toll on my ability to run. The difference between my stamina on Monday night's run and last night's run was really obvious and I know it was because of my sore hamstrings. 


I want to do a few long runs with her, I don't think she is going to be home on Sunday - she's a busy girl :) ...but that still gives us two Sundays before the race to do long runs. I'm excited about her wanting to do this and am hoping that I can keep up with her because with the way she was running if I was able to keep up or at least keep her in my sight we would have awesome finishing times. 

Kinda scary running moment...

I have never really been worried when I run, I mean sure there are the drivers that arent paying attention and even when I am in the bike lane get a little too close for my liking but for the most part even when I was running by myself at 5am I didn't really fear for myself. I paid attention to my surroundings and since I don't run with music I was always listening out for footsteps or a car slowing down behind me.

Yesterday though I had one of those - ok what will I do if this happens moments...running down San Jose and there were two work trucks turning down a street up ahead, the first one turned but the second one was still waiting by the time I passed the street, I didn't think anything of it until I could hear the truck slowing down behind me, then I saw it up ahead of me and it pulled over and stopped...at that moment I had a few options, I could have turned around and went back the other way, risked life and limb and tried to cross San Jose, or just waited for the truck to go..he'd stopped but the engine was still running.

While thinking about my options I carefully tried to remember everything I could about the truck, the company name and the phone number that was on the truck. A few things about the situation made me feel more at ease (but I always try to think of my options in case the situation is different) it was still daylight for one, we were on a very busy road for two, and this was a clearly marked work vehicle, and above all no one is going to just snatch me up without a fight!!!!

So after repeating the company name and phone number over and over as I was jogging closer to the truck I started looking at the rearview mirror to see how many people were in the cab, I only saw the driver and he was not looking in my direction and the door wasn't opening or anything. I still stayed as far away from the door as possible though just in case.

So it was nothing - the guy was waiting on the first truck to turn around - I think they were confused as to where they were supposed to be going. But I still look at it as a learning experience. I think I did the right thing, I knew I was taking a bit of a risk running past the truck, but I also had a plan - something that I think way too many women don't ever think about. It is not that I am constantly worried about something happening but I definitely do ask myself what are my options in this situation/what would I do if x happened? It doesn't make me a nervous nelly - it makes me prepared for what could happen.

All in all I had a really good run LOL...I think that was the first time I have run that far without stopping once in a while. My stamina has been really lagging and running just 3 miles had been a struggle but yesterday - maybe it was the adrenaline rush from the truck incident - even when I said to myself that I could stop I didn't and it felt good to be able to keep shuffling right along.

I'm going to switch my days up again and run on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday and go back to letting Friday be my off day. That way I get my runs done in between boot camp classes. My muscles are feeling really strong, I was a little worried about my glutes yesterday since they have been so sore sitting and getting up has been hard, but it was funny they didn't bother me at all while I was running.

Well today is yoga and boot camp - yes BOTH (!!)...and I have decided I am really going to give that crazy reach through the legs pose a try...the crane will take a little more practice but I will do it!

Training, running, boot camping....oh my!

I have officially completed one week of boot camp whoohooo! And I can say that yes I am sore - mostly tricepts and glutes - but that just tells me I am really pushing my muscles to fatigue and showing them who is boss (ha) ...and I have even managed to drop a few pounds!

Saturday was another really tough day, it was really hot again and there were several times that I thought I was going to pass out. Still trying to figure out exactly what I should eat before that class, I don't want anything heavy of course since we do quite a bit of running including sprints, but I don't feel like what I am eating is providing me with enough energy to make it through class without feeling lightheaded. I was also really dehydrated so I know I'm going to need to up my fluid intake before classes. I'll be doing some research and trying some new things out as far as the eating part goes. Thankfully the weather will be cooler for those classes in the future which will be nice...heatstroke = no fun

I did manage a run Sunday, according to my schedule it was supposed to be 4 miles but I am not exactly sure what my total miles ended up being because my watch and foot pod were not playing nice. I do know that it was a struggle, I need to take my orthotics out of those shoes when I run, it was not comfortable at all and I think I do better without them.

Today I will do an easy 3 miles while waiting for Tay to finish with volleyball practice. I have already mapped out a route so even if my foot pod isn't working to track my pace I'll be able to use my time to see how long it takes and I know where to run to.

Speaking of my little munchkin..she wants to run a half with me - she's so cute says she just wants to be able to say she did it - made me feel good to know that I am being a positive role model to her! The only thing is - instead of running with me on the weekend longer runs she wants to go to this friend or that friends house...kinda hard to prepare for a run like that. I'd really love for her to run it with me I think it would be a good way for both of us to keep each other going. Hopefully we will be able to do a few training runs and I just don't want to feel like I am pushing her to something she's not ready for.