Looooooong Draining (in a good way) Run

I have really been looking forward to this day believe it or not. Long Run Day! I have had the most stressful week, starting last Tuesday, my first day of classes. I have had intensive classes, clinicals, studying and then I was volunteered all weekend. Yes, you read that right, I was volunteered, I did not voluntarily volunteer to burn my whole weekend away. All of our nursing classes were signed up to work at a health fair, and while it was interesting, it was overkill and it was exhausting! I did get Friday off, which was my long run last week. At this point, I needed my long run. I just needed to pour out all of the week's stresses and empty my brain.

Style/Workout: 75 minute long run (I shortened it by 5 minutes)
Setting/Route: A sunny tour of the city of Seaside
Mileage: 7.81 miles
Progress: (running mileage): 7.81 today/41.56 this month/ 41.56 year-to-date

I <3 Nike + GPS

Let's see if I can give a run-down on the run today...the first mile I really wanted to fly. My legs felt light and fast and I ended up pulling an 8:55. So it was tough to pace myself and took a mile or two to find a cadence and breathing rhythm. I am so glad I did though, I would have really hit a wall early on. The following miles varied +/- 15-45 seconds. I did end the last mile with a negative split so that's good.  

Since it was a long run, I reversed my typical route and took a few side streets and such that were new to me. The roads were still icy in places even though I waited a while after the sun rose to see if they would melt. My legs felt good, my left ankle started to ache toward the end, but it feels pretty good now. Otherwise, I just had a few air bubbles that showed up in my GI system around miles 5-6 but they weren't side aches so I'm happy.


I have not really been happy with my app. It is so bland and boring. It doesn't give me hardly any feedback or personal information about each run. So today I sidestepped it. I opened up what my workout was for today, then used that info and plugged it into my Nike + GPS app and used that instead. I'm so glad I did. I love the little personal touches the Nike + GPS app has...from the mapping of my route and my pace splits (including whether they were negative or positive) to the weather and my own judgements about how it all felt. Then there is always the big-name athletes who cheer you on...you can't beat that! Sonja Richards Ross thought I did awesome today :)

Gives me route, pacing, mileage, weather (with a sunshine), and the time my run began.

The last thing I will admit is that this run rocked my body. I feel like I ran a half marathon today I am so exhausted! The good thing is that I have a few hours that I can just rest and I'm planning on taking a much-needed nap as soon as I press Publish for this Post

Intervals!

Style/Workout: 33 minute intervals
Setting/Route: Treadmill-5:45am!
Mileage: 3.48 miles
Progress: (running mileage): 3.48 today/33.75 this month/ 33.75 year-to-date

Today was a new workout! I got up early again 5:30 am, and kind of did my own version of a warm-up. The app allots 5 minutes, but I don't think that is enough. So I just get going, then when I'm just about warmed up, I start the app and do their warm-up and complete my work-out. It's important to listen to your body! It started with 6 minutes easy pace (10:00) then 3 sections of 3 minutes "pushing it" pace (8:30, 8:15, 8:00 respectively). I cooled down with 5 minutes walking then did some stretching and yoga poses.

Speaking of my body, I have been noticing a a very slight, hardly noticeable tweak in my left side, kind a combo of sciatic nerve pain and IT band. I have been doing lots of rolling and that has really helped!

I'm so whooped from school I am sorry my post is so dry, I really don't have the energy to be clever or creative!

Quickie Post

I have all of 15 minutes to log my run from yesterday. I love logging my runs, so it's weird when I don't get to it. When I log it, it's like proof that it happened! Credit where credit is due! But I have swim team practice to get to so here goes:

Style/Workout: 40 minute easy run
Setting/Route: Treadmill-5:45am!
Mileage: 4.2 miles, 9:30 pace
Progress: (running mileage): 4.2 today/30.27 this month/ 30.27 year-to-date

I love watching those numbers (mileage) climb! Sunday I was still on the list to volunteer but instead of having to be at the health fair at 7am, I had to be there at 8:30, which means I had some time to squeeze in an early morning run! Good thing I did too, I was so tired after my long weekend and would not have gotten it in later in the day. That is one thing I love about early morning runs...you get it out of the way...you start your day right. I can start my day with a run, but I cannot end it with one. I'd be too wired and have to go to bed with a wet head :-(

 On a side-note, I have lost 2 pounds in the 9 days since I weighed myself last!

And lastly, I followed along with a few folks who ran the Walt Disney World Marathon last weekend. Man, I am jealous! I love those runDisney races! Since 2011, I have ran one every year but I'm not sure if I will be able to squeeze one in this year. I kind of like to try a new one each year too. There is the Tinkerbell Half Marathon next month at Disneyland (no-go, too last minute) and at Disneyworld there is the Tower of Terror 10-Miler in Oct, then the Wine and Dine Half Marathon night race in November. I honestly don't think I'll make it down there to run it, especially with school keeping me so uber-busy. However, it is always nice to dream :)

Longest Yet...with Sunsplashed Goodness

Obligatory "Great Weather" photo...the ocean was roaring!

Frosty Beach!

Today was my first "long run" so far this year/training plan. It felt great! I kept it smooth and relaxed, with a great rhythm and I didn't go too fast. The first mile felt-dare I say it-effortless. I really enjoy a chilly run as it turns out. My body stays cool and it just feels so refreshing. I used to hate any runs under 50 degrees because the cold would feel like it was burning my throat. Somewhere in there, that stopped happening to me. Perhaps it is being acclimatized to regular, colder weather.

The danger with an icy run is of course, the ice! I am sure I slowed my pace often in an effort to be super vigilant of the slippery ground. And there were a few times that I had no choice but to slip my way up a hill or whatnot, which is like taking two steps forward, one step back. LOL!

Style/Workout: ~60 minute long run/5.66 miles
Setting/Route: Prom/Cove Neighborhoods and Downtown
Mileage: 5.66 miles
Progress: (running mileage): 5.66 today/26.07 this month/ 26.07 year-to-date

Today has just been a great day. I woke up early because I had a clinical scheduled that I needed to drive to once I got everyone ready for the day and out of the house. At 7am I got a text from my concerned instructor that there was a lot of ice on the roads and today's clinical was to be rescheduled for Monday. At first I was exasperated because I had got up early and I was all ready to go. I even packed a "running bag" today just in case we got out early and I could sneak my run in on the way home. But then I stopped and noticed the horizon of the mountains out my front window and I smiled. It's going to be sunny and I'm going for a run... :)

I have just been working so insanely hard this week. I found out yesterday that I lost who has essentially become my nursing school partner...my friend who I carpool and do projects with, text random stuff to and who I have gotten to know quite well since school started. I'm sad about it. Today was going to be our first clinical day without her. This impromptu day off instead was exactly what I needed.

A good morning to myself has been so refreshing! I went for this long run, made my favorite chocolate protein smoothie, took a nice hot shower, did some stretching and rolling and now I'm dressed and fully  ready to study (can't take the whole day off!). If I had my way, I would head to the chiropractor, then go get a pedicure. But alas, there will be other days. I am just thankful for what I have been able to do today!

Yoga on my mind

Today is an "off" day for me, but in the best interest of marathon training, I need to do a bit more than just running. Yoga has always been a good cross-training exercise for me (as has spinning and swimming). I have really been craving some good yoga so I went into the podcast app I have and downloaded a few sessions. They are mostly 20 minutes so I can totally do that, right?

I didn't get up early this morning like I wanted to. I was wiped out! So I slept up until my alarm went off then got the kids up and the day began. I really want to get some yoga in. I would also love to grab a kickboard and swim some laps while my son has swim team, but open swim is not the same time and I always have our youngest son with me.

I'm sure I'll figure it out, I'm just going to have to get creative...as usual. :)

Dark O'Clock Run

Yesterday I discovered two things:

First, Tuesday runs are pretty much out of the question. With lectures from 9am-4pm, I am just wiped. It won't work to run after school because it is just too late. I will either be racing home to savor the last few hours of the day with my family, or I will be heading over to the library for study time til it closes at 8 o'clock.

Second, if I want to keep my motivation high and if I want to achieve my goals, I will have days where I'm just going to have to get up early. I guess Tuesday could be one of those days as well, but I'm letting myself off the hook that day just because I know what it entails.

So because last night was Tuesday and I didn't get home until way past my run time, I promised myself I would make up for it by getting up early and running on the treadmill this morning. So I set my alarm for 5:54 (something about setting the alarm a handful of minutes before the time I need to get up "tricks" my brain and I feel better about it for some reason).  Well at 5:15 I woke up! My body was up and ready! So I took advantage and got up, made some coffee and ate a few bites of something before I started my run. I want to say I started around 5:45 but I'm not sure. Either way, I was done and upstairs by 6:30 which is not bad at all! It was right on time to start waking the kids up for school.

Style/Workout: 35 minute tempo run (started at 6mph, adding .2 mph every 5 minutes. Last 5 minutes was about 8mph I believe).
Setting/Route: Treadmill
Mileage: 4.3 miles
My thoughts: This run was great. I just loaded some more music on my iPod which was awesome. Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" was quite approriate! Accelerating felt good, but the last 10 minutes was really hard. I had to catch my breath twice and it really made me focus and work hard. I also took a bathroom break at 10 minutes.

Progress: (running mileage this month/year total): 4.3 today/20.41 year-to-date

Today I felt great after starting my day running. I stayed alert during my lectures when usually I'm getting drowsy. I just felt "on" today after such a great start.

It makes me feel good that so far I am keeping my life in balance. It's a challenge! Without my husband I don't think it would be possible either. He really lends a hand and gets involved wherever is needed.

Ok off to pick up one son from swim team and bring the other his basketball shoes for his practice! Then AWANA tonight (and study time for me)!

Personal Running Trainer App

Here is what my training plan app looks like:

I like its simplicity. It is easy to use. I know there are fancier apps out there and lots of training plans you can choose from. This one doesn't change much from workout to workout. So far you get the prompt to start a warm-up walk, a prompt when it's time to run, then a halfway mark, then the voice telling you you have completed your run, and then a 5 minute cool down. Then you see this:

I'm curious if as the runs get longer, there might be a few more prompts than simply being halfway. I would really appreciate if I heard quarters or something when I am running for hours on end.

You are also given a brief description of how you are supposed to run your workout (tempo= start slow and gradually increase your pace up til the end). The app does not track your pace or your route via GPS or anything like that :( I miss that from my Nike+GPS app.

That being said, the app isn't super exciting. But I'm going to stick it out because I purchased it, already know the schedule and have it all mapped out. I will just have to keep things fresh with my music playlist. Next time I can try a different one.