The Gusher Half Marathon - Week 6 Training

Well, obviously I am still not the best at remembering to update my blog!  Oh well....

I just completed week 5 of my half marathon training schedule and I feel amazing.  I am in the middle of the high mileage part of the plan and so far haven't had any issues.  I am pretty sure it's because of having the right shoes for my feet and having a few pairs to rotate between.  Thank goodness there are specialty running stores & thank God we finally have one here in Beaumont!!  As far as training this past week, this is what my schedule looked like:

Monday - 3 mi
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - 5 mi
Thursday - 3 mi
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 10 mi (long run)

Week 6 will be a little more challenging with this mileage:

Monday - 4 mi
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - 5 mi
Thursday - 4 mi
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 11 mi (long run)

Once I get through week 6, week 7 is the highest mileage training week for me and then it starts to taper off the last 2 weeks before the race.  Which sort of makes me nervous.  I'm hoping my body doesn't get used to not going long before the race.... But they say a good and solid plan does taper and gives your legs a chance to rest and conserve more energy.  So, here's hoping it's true! :)

I never in a million years thought that I would be at the point of running 10 miles or more in a row, no stopping.  Especially coming from last year being overweight and miserable and barely able to run a 1 minute interval without feeling like I was going to die!  Now I can run long distances and yea I am tired and sometimes want to quit, but I never feel like I just can't do it like I used to.  The human body is an amazing thing!  You can push it and push it and it just adapts and says "What you got next?!?!?"  I am definitely loving pushing my limits and reaching new goals.  I see a marathon in my future eventually :)

I also believe the friends I have that support me, make this journey even more fun and memorable and real.  I have a really wonderful support system.  It's amazing how in the running world, people don't judge you on how fast or slow you are, how much you weigh, what you wear, how you run.... they just wave or smile or nod their head and keep running.  I see a fellow runner and all I think is "Good for them!!"  I love the fact that my friends my live out of state and I hardly ever get to see them, but we can still connect over this and use Nike as a way to compete and challenge each other...challenge to be better people, better runners.

It also really helps to have a husband that is totally supportive of my running habits & will tell me... hey you haven't ran in like 2 days... go do it.  haha  Sometimes you just need that extra push and I am thankful I have it!

All runners are a little crazy.  We know this.  We love this.  Come be a little crazy too.  It's hard, challenging, fun, and totally worth it to take that journey and go from couch potato to runner. :)

Happy Running Ya'll!

New 1/2 Marathon Training Program.

Ok, so I forgot to blog about my run on Monday.... woops.  I didn't follow the B210K training program.  I am wanting to run the Gusher 1/2 marathon, so I am switching to a different training program soon that is more focused on endurance and training for longer races.  Monday's run was fabulous, and felt amazing....especially since I took off Friday, Saturday & Sunday after the Turkey Trot and all of the Thanksgiving holiday hoopla!  My run was 3 miles on the treadmill at home since it was sooo feakin' cold! BRRRR  I am also thinking about trying out the Nike + GPS app on my iPhone...  I just don't want it to put me over my 2GB a month data limit...anyone had that problem or is it good??  Thanks for any help!

Happy Running Ya'll!

B210K Week 2 Day 3

First things first... I signed up for my very first race today and am so excited and a little bit nervous because I have no idea what to expect and I am running it alone!!  Yikes!  It's the Sea Rim Striders 21st annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day morning!  Here's my 1st racing bib and technical t-shirt :)

Today I completed B210K week 2 day 3 after a total downpour and cool front came through.  The rain was finally over when I ventured out around 4:00, and it was cool and breezy... a nice day for a run in the park.  I am definitely addicted to the runner's high.  I am getting a little nervous about next week with the time/distance increase, but I'm sure I'll handle it better than I think.

I finally was able to get into the doctor yesterday to have my wrist looked at.  It has been bothering me for a week.  Really sore and achy and then after I weight lifted last Thursday it was sharp pains all through my thumb and wrist.  My dr was closed Friday so I just sucked it up and toughed it out through the weekend with the help of an ace bandage, extra strength bengay and a big bottle of Advil.  Found out it's tendonitis + a torn ligament... OUCH!  But it should start getting better now that I have this beautiful contraption.....  I miss weight lifting already.

Happy running ya'll!!

B210K Week 2 Day 2

Quick update.... apparently I was too lazy to blog yesterday when I actually completed my B210K week 2 day 2 run so here it is now.  My husband and I went to my aunt and uncle's for a day of wedding crafts, and grilling, but my arm is really messed up and I'm in quite a bit of pain.  I am not sure if I tore something, sprained or pulled something or if I have a hairline fracture in my right wrist.  I am going to the dr. tomorrow to get it checked out.  As of now, I'm just wearing and arm brace, using Bengay, and eating advil like candy.  Hopefully they can get me all fixed up tomorrow.

Anyway, needless to say, I wasn't much help on the craft front this weekend so I decided to go for a run in their neighborhood while everybody else glued, spray painted and glittered up everything for my sister's wedding.  I do have to say I felt better afterwards and had less pain.  In total I ran 45 minutes with a warm up and cool down walk and 1 minute walk intervals thrown in every 15 minutes.  So the total workout was 57 minutes.... not bad.

Hopefully my arm isn't hurt too badly, I miss weight training my upper body already.  Gotta finish up day 3 ASAP so I can start on week 3!!  Happy running everybody :)

I want this cute pink running hat...it has a zipper on the side to store your car key or gels when you run!  Plus it's made with a sweat wicking band on the inside!  Genius

B210K Week 1 Day 3

Today I finished week 1 day 3 of B210K and I feel so energized!!  I did my run inside on the treadmill because we went to pick up my mom in law to stay the night and visit so I didn't want to be outside and miss out on time with the family.  So I ran on the treadmill and visited with my family instead.  Anyway, it was a good run but I missed being outside.  I would much rather workout outside any day of the week.  I am running a little behind on my 10K training because I got sidetracked with my sister's bridal shower this past weekend.  So, tomorrow I will run week 2 day 1 of the program and then do days 2 & 3 sometime through the weekend so I can be back on track Monday for week 3.  I must stick with the schedule!  Well, I hope everyone has a great rest of the week.... Happy Hump Day people.

Happy Running Ya'll!! :)

B210K Week 1 Day 2

I completed week 1 day 2 of B210K yesterday but apparently I was too lazy to write the blog for it until today...  The workout consisted of a 5 minute warm up walk, 10 minute run with a 1 minute walk interval (repeat 4 more times) and finished up with a 5 minute cool down.  So it was another workout with a lot of runs!  I am really enjoying pushing my limit and pushing past the pain.  As soon as it's over, I know it was totally worth it.  I feel energized and happy.  The aches and pains are just part of running but it's never a let down... it's always worth it in the end.

Today, Tuesday, was just a weight training day for me because the weather was so bad.  I went to the gym to train and I just can't bring myself to run for a solid hour on a treadmill now that I am used to running outside in parks.  It's just too boring and I get way too stir crazy.  If it was only a 30 minute run, I could grit and bear the treadmill, but not a whole hour.  The weight training went well.  I have increased my weights for upper body by 10 pounds and my legs are insanely strong as always.  I love how weight training is helping prevent normal running injuries that happen.  I'm hoping to prevent as many as possible for as long as possible.  

This is a new product I have started using and LOVE!  I am not a huge fan of butter to start with, but I do like it on fresh baked rolls every once in awhile.  For the most part, I skip it though.  It's too greasy... it is right up there with fried food for me... just not a fan, never have been.  Always have and will order grilled chicken over fried.  But whenever I want a little butter... this is what I will use now!  It's made with olive oil and has way less saturated fat than the other real stuff lol.  Just wanted to pass it along!