A few new non-running goals to improve some areas that have gotten sloppy:
No sugar in my coffee (working great!)
Drink lots and lots of water
No coffee in the afternoon, switch to tea (loving trying different kinds...my favorites are minty, herbal teas)
Eat a salad every day with either lunch or dinner
Try some juicing to add some fruits and veggies (my husband has been all over this so I have been spoiled)
Portion Control: Use a medium plate and eat slowly
Walk on the treadmill or outdoors for about 45 minutes just 2 evenings a week
I'm using MyFitnessPal again which is helping a lot!
*I'm about 143 lbs again (I feel like such a flip-flopper!), so I'm hoping to lose a few. It makes running feel a lot better. And I thought it was ironic that this time of year last year, I was struggling with some of the same things. Maybe it is the time of year?
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Race for the Roses Eve!
Tomorrow is the Race for the Roses Half Marathon (Portland, OR)! I'll be up bright and early around 4:15 am to shove out around 4:30. Race-day packet pick-up starts at 5:45 and lasts until 6:45. The half marathon starts at 7am. I wish the half marathon started at 8am, but oh well.
I am so excited for this race for so many reasons!
1) I'm excited to see where I am fitness-wise.
2) I'm excited to challenge myself outside of school, husband, kids, housework, etc.
3) I'm excited to get out of town, even if just for the day.
4) I'm excited to do something completely unrelated to any other area of my life. I feel like it could be a nice little refresher that I need. (Again...this goes along with the concept that so many other things are falling by the wayside during school that it's nice to have goals to work toward and actually meet/complete!)
5) Race Day is just fun. I don't have anyone else to go with me, but that means I also don't have any other distractions. I just get there, get my packet, get ready to go, run, do whatever I want after the race then head home whenever I'm ready. Races with friends are super fun, but at the same time races solo can be a cool experience too.
That all being said, I'm not feeling the best today. I stayed up too late last night then my kids thought it would be a good idea to wake me up before 6am on a Saturday because they wanted to add a new app on my phone and eat cake for breakfast. To say I was grumpy is a huge understatement. So I'm up. Checking things off my list of things to accomplish today and preparing for the race tomorrow. I just think tomorrow is the start of a great season of running. Sometimes all I need is a fresh race to renew my passion for running.
I am so excited for this race for so many reasons!
1) I'm excited to see where I am fitness-wise.
2) I'm excited to challenge myself outside of school, husband, kids, housework, etc.
3) I'm excited to get out of town, even if just for the day.
4) I'm excited to do something completely unrelated to any other area of my life. I feel like it could be a nice little refresher that I need. (Again...this goes along with the concept that so many other things are falling by the wayside during school that it's nice to have goals to work toward and actually meet/complete!)
5) Race Day is just fun. I don't have anyone else to go with me, but that means I also don't have any other distractions. I just get there, get my packet, get ready to go, run, do whatever I want after the race then head home whenever I'm ready. Races with friends are super fun, but at the same time races solo can be a cool experience too.
That all being said, I'm not feeling the best today. I stayed up too late last night then my kids thought it would be a good idea to wake me up before 6am on a Saturday because they wanted to add a new app on my phone and eat cake for breakfast. To say I was grumpy is a huge understatement. So I'm up. Checking things off my list of things to accomplish today and preparing for the race tomorrow. I just think tomorrow is the start of a great season of running. Sometimes all I need is a fresh race to renew my passion for running.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Finally a Fast Four!
Style/Workout: No-Goal Run, Last run before the half marathon Sunday
Setting/Route: The Prom
Mileage: 4 miles/
Progress: (running mileage): 4 today/13.76 this month/ 208.67 year-to-date
(For April I'm aiming for...80 miles)
Today I finished my 7 miles that I wanted to do before this half marathon on Sunday. This way I got a little mileage in, worked my legs just enough to wake them up after being sick and out of the game, and I still have Friday and Saturday to rest, fuel and hydrate to prepare. It's a bit nerve-wrecking to be out of the game like I was...I hope I can hang on race day! I've decided my goal is to finish stronger than I started. That means starting out with easy, relaxed miles then picking up the pace gradually once I hit the halfway point.
Today was also the fastest I have held for over 3 miles. Marathon training has slowed my pace a bit while running more mileage. Today I held a solid 8:41 per mile which felt awesome! It was pretty hard though, especially the last mile when I had a serious headwind! But the sun was shining and I got a run in so I'm happy :)
Today was also the fastest I have held for over 3 miles. Marathon training has slowed my pace a bit while running more mileage. Today I held a solid 8:41 per mile which felt awesome! It was pretty hard though, especially the last mile when I had a serious headwind! But the sun was shining and I got a run in so I'm happy :)
The Great Marathon Taper
I found a great article on tapering when your marathon is 3 weeks out...like mine is
http://running.competitor.com/2012/09/training/the-three-most-common-tapering-mistakes_58795/2
http://running.competitor.com/2012/09/training/the-three-most-common-tapering-mistakes_58795/2
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
When All Else Fails, Go Run
Style/Workout: No-Goal Run
Setting/Route: The Prom
Mileage: 3.76 miles
Progress: (running mileage): 3.76 today/9.76 this month/ 204.67 year-to-date
(For April I'm aiming for...80 miles)
 |
| The Prom-where I run most |
 |
| Not where I ran today, but representative of the rain involved! |
Thankfully I've got running. It is one thing I can feel sort of in control of that cancels everything out, if only for a little while. Today I warmed up then headed out fearless into the weather. It was my way of telling the weather it couldn't keep me trapped inside. My husband and I have both been making a lot of healthy changes to our diets, and are both using MyFitnessPal. It has been great to have a partner this time around.
I'm just ready for this phase of our life to be over. I am ready to be done with school, done with the weather, done with no shopping options, done. I'm ready to move somewhere warm and sunny with a Target for crying out loud. I'm just done. But alas, I don't get to move for a while so I guess I'll be doing lots of running :)
Sunday I get to run the Race For the Roses Half Marathon in Portland. Each day that passes I am getting more excited! I haven't decided what my goals are for this race, but I am going to run a little bit this week and then rest/eat/hydrate Friday and Saturday in preparation. I just think it is going to be a really, REALLY good thing for me right now!
Also...still in marathon training. I haven't made any great feats since my 16-miler, and now it is a little too late for any super-crazy-long runs. But this weekend I will run a hard half marathon, then next week I'll plan on for a good 10-miler along with other workouts and that will be my taper. Then I'll play the race by ear, and mostly just try hard to enjoy every moment of the experience that I can. You only get ONE first marathon!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
MIA-SIQ
Sooo wish I was literally SiQ(sick in quarters), but my life does not afford me that luxury. I have this weird cough that just kills my head and throat by the end of the day. I have been sucking cough drops until my tongue has no taste and muddling through each day on Robitussin (which does a decent job of keeping the cough at bay). While my body doesn't feel overly wrecked I am not sleeping very well since I wake up in coughing fits.
Today on my way home from school I was bumming out thinking my last run was Monday and that I should sneak one in...then it dawned on me...I'm sick! Hello! Give yourself a break Melanee!
So that is where I am right now. One more day of school and hopefully I can beat this miserable bug. I won't be running until I feel better. All I need is for it to get worse or migrate south from my upper airway to my lower airway and end up as pneumonia.
So here it is...my PASS to get out of running to get my health back. (Sometimes we have to give ourselves that)
Today on my way home from school I was bumming out thinking my last run was Monday and that I should sneak one in...then it dawned on me...I'm sick! Hello! Give yourself a break Melanee!
So that is where I am right now. One more day of school and hopefully I can beat this miserable bug. I won't be running until I feel better. All I need is for it to get worse or migrate south from my upper airway to my lower airway and end up as pneumonia.
So here it is...my PASS to get out of running to get my health back. (Sometimes we have to give ourselves that)
Monday, April 1, 2013
Happy April!
Style/Workout: Intervals
Setting/Route: Downing and The Cove, then The Prom
Mileage: 6 miles
Progress: (running mileage): 6 today/6 this month/ 200.91 year-to-date
(For April I'm aiming for...80 miles)
Yay, I broke 200 miles! I averaged it out and at the finish of March, I am averaging 64 miles a month so far this year. That puts me on track to finish at about 775 miles this year. I'm not gonna lie, I really want to break 1,000 miles (especially since I didn't even come close last year). So far this year I am 24 miles ahead of last year. All of these major long runs are helping a ton. I might have to pull the trigger and register for the Portland Marathon in October to keep up my high-mileage motivation.
So today's run goal: Intervals. And I met my goal! At this stage of the game intervals gets more challenging. Instead of the 3/6 run/jog ratio, it's flipped to a 6/3 run/jog instead. It was challenging but I conquered it! Here are my notes:
Why am I NOT a fan of intervals? Simple answer: Because they are hard, which makes them intimidating. I think they would be better with a running partner to cheer you on. You definitely can't think too much about it, you just have to get a rundown of your workout and go. That was me today. I started out on the treadmill then halfway through my warm-up I was over running on the treadmill and took it outside.
The first interval I felt fast. I mean here I was finally, with permission to go fast. It felt really good! The intervals went really well today and I felt strong.
Today was also a test-run on my ankle. I wore my ACE wrap which helped immensely. Too bad it puts a lot of pressure on my arch, which was aching by the end. I really need to get some K-Tape and learn to wrap it that way. I've heard it works wonders.
The other bummer today was that I forgot sunblock which for me is a major broken rule. Thankfully it was cloudy.
I ended up with sweat in my eyes which is no fun, and since the weather has warmed up a few degrees I was running without gloves or extra fabric to wipe them with. Bummer.
Speaking of running outfits, I actually felt pretty cute in mine today. It wasn't anything spectacular; I wore my flared capris and my Princess Half Marathon tech shirt (which I usually hate because it is v-neck and cap-sleeved) and I wore my pink sparkly Sweaty Bands headband. I usually don't wear anything sparkly or girly on runs but it felt really good. I might have to place an order for some new headbands for a little added flare on my runs. :)
Setting/Route: Downing and The Cove, then The Prom
Mileage: 6 miles
Progress: (running mileage): 6 today/6 this month/ 200.91 year-to-date
(For April I'm aiming for...80 miles)
Yay, I broke 200 miles! I averaged it out and at the finish of March, I am averaging 64 miles a month so far this year. That puts me on track to finish at about 775 miles this year. I'm not gonna lie, I really want to break 1,000 miles (especially since I didn't even come close last year). So far this year I am 24 miles ahead of last year. All of these major long runs are helping a ton. I might have to pull the trigger and register for the Portland Marathon in October to keep up my high-mileage motivation.
So today's run goal: Intervals. And I met my goal! At this stage of the game intervals gets more challenging. Instead of the 3/6 run/jog ratio, it's flipped to a 6/3 run/jog instead. It was challenging but I conquered it! Here are my notes:
Why am I NOT a fan of intervals? Simple answer: Because they are hard, which makes them intimidating. I think they would be better with a running partner to cheer you on. You definitely can't think too much about it, you just have to get a rundown of your workout and go. That was me today. I started out on the treadmill then halfway through my warm-up I was over running on the treadmill and took it outside.
The first interval I felt fast. I mean here I was finally, with permission to go fast. It felt really good! The intervals went really well today and I felt strong.
Today was also a test-run on my ankle. I wore my ACE wrap which helped immensely. Too bad it puts a lot of pressure on my arch, which was aching by the end. I really need to get some K-Tape and learn to wrap it that way. I've heard it works wonders.
The other bummer today was that I forgot sunblock which for me is a major broken rule. Thankfully it was cloudy.
I ended up with sweat in my eyes which is no fun, and since the weather has warmed up a few degrees I was running without gloves or extra fabric to wipe them with. Bummer.
Speaking of running outfits, I actually felt pretty cute in mine today. It wasn't anything spectacular; I wore my flared capris and my Princess Half Marathon tech shirt (which I usually hate because it is v-neck and cap-sleeved) and I wore my pink sparkly Sweaty Bands headband. I usually don't wear anything sparkly or girly on runs but it felt really good. I might have to place an order for some new headbands for a little added flare on my runs. :)
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