A "She's Been MIA All Weekend" Monday Run

Run: 7.24 miles
Location: Astoria Riverwalk out-and-back
Run Time (if applicable): 58:39, 8:05 splits
Run Start: 9:05 am
Temperature: 50-ish degrees
Weather: some clouds, but mostly bright and sunny!

Notes:

I have been MIA all weekend, I know. In fact I could say I have flaked out completely for the last 72 hours. My husband and I have been planning for some time to head north for the Seattle RV show this past weekend. Our original plan was that we would stop in Longview, WA on the way up on Saturday so I could run the Heart and Sole 5k, then we'd hit the RV show with the kids the rest of the day. Then we'd stay in Seattle and hit the show some more Sunday before heading home...but my sweet husband surprised me instead! He told me that he had made some arrangements with his parents to watch the kids so he and I could spend the whole weekend together in Seattle sans kids. He was very understanding about my 5K and offered to work around it or to even forget his idea so I could run...but honestly I did not hesitate to scrap my 5K for a kid-less weekend away with my dearest love, no regrets. We don't get these opportunities often! So do not have a race report for you all on the Heart and Sole 5K, but it was worth it!

The weekend went amazing!! We purchased a travel trailer that I am beyond stoked about, had a great crab feast at The Crab Pot in Seattle (crab is my FAVORITE food!) Saturday night, then had brunch on top of the Space Needle Sunday morning! Magic! Honestly, I have always wanted to have a meal at the top of the Space Needle...and my hubby made that dream come true. So while I did not get any runs in from Fri-Sun, I'm so glad for our weekend.

So the moral of the story is...sometimes life has twists and turns that are not running friendly...do you let guilt of choosing not to run get you down? Heck no! I believe you must allow yourself to have a myriad of interests, hopes and dreams...including NON-RUNNING ones. If foregoing a run means realizing a different dream...go for it! Just get right back to running ASAP once you get back to reality ;)

Alright, so back to the run!! This morning was awesome, a far cry from my soggy last run. The sun popped out of the clouds and shined down bright. When that happens I like to believe it is just for me :)

Like many runners, I write down my scheduled runs a week in advance so I can be sure not to miss one. If I don't schedule it, it is way too easy to find excuses not to do one at all.  Based on how I was feeling, having fully indulged in food and festivities all weekend, and not run a single mile, I figured maybe a 3-miler would be sufficient. You know, an ease-you-back-in run. Nope. I flip open my planner, and 7-miler is staring me in the face. A long run, and the longest I have run in my training thus far.

So I packed my gym bag (including my big girl panties) and went for it. Seven miles felt so great. My pace was good and I felt smooth. Nothing ached substantially except my left ankle from 5-1/2 miles on. What kept going through my mind at that point was the custom-fit orthopedic inserts you can get at Road Runner Sports. I know they will help because I pronate, and the aching always happens in my medial ankle. I started out slower and managed to gradually increase my pace. I really worked hard at keeping my chin up since I tend to stare at the ground in front of me. And I really worked on keeping my shoulders square, my arms at 90 degrees and pumping my arms (keeping them an active part of my run).

I reached 7 miles before the out-and-back was complete, but instead of pushing it, I stopped and did a nice complete warm-down. It is good to know though, that there is more path for my even longer runs that will be coming up in the following weeks. Two weeks until I start official marathon training!

I've Picked My Marathon!!

Woohoo! I have finally picked my marathon! I have decided on the Newport Marathon in June, just two weeks after I run the Portland Rock n Roll Half Marathon in May. I've been told that from a training standpoint it is a good plan. The Newport Marathon is a smaller event and costs a whole heck of a lot less than the larger ones. I'm so excited!

http://www.newportmarathon.org/

A Soggy Almost-Six

Run: 5.96 miles
Location: Astoria Riverwalk, West end
Run Time (if applicable): 50:25, 8:27 splits
Run Start: 8:05 am
Temperature: 50-ish degrees
Weather: cloudy, then dumping rain...

Notes:

Coming off today's run was tough. I made the mistake of assuming my run would turn out like my others have. Although the forecast called for rain, often when this is the case, I can get out and get my run in before the rains come. Today was not that sort of day...

The run started off pretty good though. I warmed up prior like I always do. In fact I really enjoy my warm-ups, and the gentle "waking up" my joints receive from it. I was warm and the temperature wasn't freezing so I left my Eddie Bauer shell behind. Big mistake. The first 2 miles were relatively easy. My shins and calves felt great, no burning. I didn't necessarily feel strong and I noticed that maybe my breakfast had not been enough fuel (coffee, toast w/butter, egg and 1/2 banana-should have been enough!)

 Then around mile 2.5 it started pouring down rain. I kept telling myself I was tough and that not everyone would get out there and run in the rain. I thought about my upcoming 5K on Saturday and tried to "feel out" the 5K of it and see how I might feel on Saturday when I run that distance full-out.  My soaked shirt stuck to me and my hat dripped as Rhianna's "We Found a Love" blasted in my earphones. Around mile 4 I started to feel colder, and miserable. Thankfully a really sweet homeless guy raised his beer to me and yelled something along the lines of "Good job!!" That was actually a highlight believe it or not.

I started to get where I wanted to quit because I was cold, wet and miserable...and mad at myself for not bringing my coat, which would have been a huge help. But when I start to feel like it is hard and I want to quit, I always tell myself, "Just keep running and get it over quicker." I also thought about the physiological danger of walking the remaining miles in the cold and wet. I needed to get to a warm shower a.s.a.p.!

After what was about Mile 5, the rain let up and I ran up 16th street and finished. By then my arms were starting to feel pseudo-numb. I grabbed my stuff out of my car and headed straight for the locker room and a hot shower. I started to worry that my temperature may have been a little dangerously low...but thanks to taking A&P, I worry about these things more often than I used to...

I drank my chocolate protein shake, guzzled 23 fl oz of water, showered and started to feel a bit more normal. I should have done a couple of cool-down laps and I know that. I was feeling urgent about the shower today though.  It's 4 hours later and I'm feeling it a bit. I'm more tired than I usually am after this sort of run. My neck is killing me because 3 nights ago I slept on it wrong and it still doesn't feel better. We really need a new bed.

The rain really took a toll. I am so mad at myself that I left my coat behind...I know better.

Last but not least, and on a positive note...I underestimated the mileage of this run like the others! Instead of being a 5.3-miler, it was a 5.96-miler.

4.52 Miles Monday

Run: 4.52 miles
Location: Irving Street, rolling hills route
Time (if applicable): 37.24, 8:15 splits
Time: 8:30 am
Temperature: 54 degrees
Weather: Absolutely gorgeous weather!

Notes:

One of the things I love about the Nike + app is that it gives me a more exact measurement of how long/far I am running. Apparently my route that I had drawn out as 4 miles is actually 4.5 miles. I also understand that the Nike + tracks all of your run, so even the times you switch from one side of the road to the other, or your turn-around points. It's cool! It will make adding up mileage a bit of a pain, because I wanted to avoid decimals originally! But let's not be lazy...

Run went great! I feel so awesome, like I've reached that point of being a confident runner again. Six weeks is how long it has taken me, six consistent weeks. I have only missed 2 planned runs on the weekends. I have come to realize that weekends probably won't be running times for me regularly. I have too many family events going on. It's funny though, I really miss it on the weekend! Sunday it took everything in me not to lace up and head out for an "easy 3". But instead I spent hours washing and vacuuming my car out. A different form of exercise.

I'm loving my LunarGlides, they are turning out to be a great purchase. My calves and shins take turns burning pretty good for the first 20 minutes. I swear it is like clockwork...as soon as I feel the burning subside, I check my phone and yep, 20 minutes has gone by. So I have been considering trying out some compression socks if it doesn't get better soon. Those first 20 minutes sure are mental!

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today. I ran in capris and a t-shirt! At first I was a bit chilly, especially since the route was pretty shaded. But as the sun bathed more and more of the roads and hillsides, and my body worked, I warmed up and all was well. I enjoyed the freedom to wear a little less. Coats and longer pants do start to feel a bit heavy.

Dear Brain, Thanks

I have been studying the anatomy and physiology of the brain which is so incredible. So for fun, let me just thank my brain for it's involvement in my running lifestyle.

Dear brain,

I am thankful for the motor functioning of my frontal lobe, the cardiovascular, respiratory and vasomotor functions of my reticular formation in the medulla oblongata (as well as the pain modulation), the motor coordination and balance functions of my cerebellum, the thermoregulation, BP and heart rate homeostasis functions of my hypothalamus, and the function of coordinating motor movements of the basal nuclei deep in my cerebrum. Thanks, you rock.

Love, Melanee

My Best Run Yet...and the Sun is Shining!

Woohoo!! I had the best run today, and the sun is out, it's a beautiful day! You really can't get much better, except the kids are out of school (although I am not), and my wonderful hubby took them all on a Guys Day of Fun! Can you tell through the computer that I am smiling? :-)


Run: 6.67 miles
Location: The Prom Out-and-Back plus "lollipop" on each end
Time: 8:30 am
Temperature: 54 degrees
Weather: Absolutely gorgeous weather!

Notes:

The weather was absolutely perfect today. Temperature was great, there was a light gust every now and then, and Mr. Sun was shining in all his glory!! It was the first day in a long time that I was sure to slather on sunblock, and I got to leave behind my gloves and headband. I probably should have worn a hat but I didn't. I wanted to feel the sun on my face. I have missed it so much!

Today I synced up my Nike +  to give it a whirl. I love it! I love how during the run, all you have to do is push a button and you get your progress (time, mileage, splits). I also love that it ties in your own playlist right into your run. It's great!

Nike + stats:
6.67 miles, 52:23, 7:51 splits

One thing I have meant to mention is that I'm still in the training zone where my runs pretty much suck for the first 2 miles/give or take 20 minutes. I think physiologically it is because at first your body wants to work anaerobically and then your aerobic respiration system kicks in. Whatever the reason, it stinks, and I really have to push through. For about the same amount of time, my shins were pretty hot but they also chilled out into the run. I have been thinking about buying compression socks/sleeves for my lower legs to see if I like them, to see if it helps. I'm loving my new shoes though, they are great! My left lower leg tends to be problematic, whether my calf is tight, shins keep burning or my ankle is twinging. I don't know what it is, because last year my left IT Band was a disaster too. My poor left leg. I baby it as much as I can though, because I don't want to find myself in an official injury.

That last paragraph was really just details, because as you can see by my stats, I did not let it slow me down! I totally amazed myself today! 6.67 is the longest I have run thus far, and further than I had planned. Mapmyrun had my route at barely 6 miles, where the actual route was quite longer. Today I finally hit my "sweet spot" and my pace was awesome! I settled in and just kept going. I felt strong, fast and confident! It was so great! I was really surprised. I felt like I was going much slower, but when I checked my progress, it said my pace was 8:15-ish and it really gave me the confidence that I needed to keep pushing. By the last mile or so, I just left it all out there and even sprinted toward the (invisible) finish line. 7:51 minute-mile splits! Nike + even had my fastest mile at 7:28. Wow!  I am so pleased because honestly I'm not sure I believed I could really accomplish that!

It just goes to show you...don't short-change yourself on your goals! Reach for the stars, at at the very least, you will find yourself on top of the world ;)

Happy February! Five-Point-Three in New Sneaks!

Happy February Everyone! Already one month down this year!
January Total Mileage: 56.8

Run: 5.3 miles
Location: Astoria Riverwalk West End + 16th Street
Time: 9:00 am
Temperature: 42 degrees
Weather: Cloudy and Mild, but then the sun came out!

Notes:

If this post looks identical to my last one, that's because it was pretty darn close! Today was another run day and I decided I'm liking my route so much, I'd run it again. Sixteenth street felt much better today too. Man, that's a killer hill!  The best part of a run is always when the sun comes out. It peps me up and gives me a little bit of a kick in the pants. I'm friends with Mr. Sun. I miss him when he's gone for a long time.

On a great note, I got some new gear! Yay!! I bought a new pair of running shoes, some new Nike headbands and I snagged a pair of slim-fit workout pants in short, which hardly ever happens! I am loving them all!

I love my new sneaks. They are so comfy!.

So on a not-so-great note, someone stole my sweet water bottle and one of my Nike headbands! I had filled my water bottle up and set it in the grass by the building at the top of the hill. I ended up not wearing the headband, so I wrapped it around the bottle. I figured it would be great to have that water right when I conquered the hill, and never thought in a million years someone would touch it. Well when I got there, it was gone! Major bummer!! It totally stinks to lose both. I've got my eye out around campus to possibly find the culprit...but lesson learned. Always lock everything up! I think I was getting a little lax, but not now!