Day 52

I did 40:11 for 2.50:

1 @ 2.5
3 @ 3
1 @ 3.5
30 @ 4
3 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

I am getting frustrated as I feel like I am losing all the endurance I had gained a couple of weeks ago. Heat, dentist visits and other things have made it increasingly difficult to keep up with my runs. I was easily able to run 45 minutes now I can barely do 30! Yesterday morning I had a dentist appt which caused me major mouth pain so I was down for the count and did not do my long run. Too bad as it was very cool outside, today not so much and of course I attempted a long run. I will try again tomorrow.

I am also upset with myself as I was working out 6 days a week and now I am lucky if I do 4! Sigh...

Tomorrow, a long run and early!

Day 51 -- 100 degrees!

I did 55:06 for 3.46:

1 @ 2.5
3 @ 3
1 @ 3.5
30 @ 4
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 4
2 @ 3.5
10 @ 40
3 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

This was a tough one and it is really, really hot! My son and I worked out in the office here with a fan blowing on us because it is 100 degrees outside. We both did waaaayyyyy too much. My son is throwing up so I am making him take a cold shower than drink lots of fluids. I started shivering which I know is not good. My husband doesn't understand why I worked out but the race is still on August 8th. It is not rescheduling itself because of the weather so I have to keep training.

I may jump on the recumbent bike tonight after it cools down so I am get more cardio in. If it keeps up with the heat, then I may have to start working out very early or late.

Tomorrow is my non-run day and instead of taking the day off, I am going to ride the recumbent bike. I can read while cycling and it burns waaaayyyy more calories!! See you then!

Day 50

I did 30:08 for 1.87:

1 @ 2.5
3 @ 3
1 @ 3.5
19 @ 4
30 sec @ 4.5
1:30 @ 5
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
2 @ 1.5

I did a shorter run primarily because I performed a wedding today (the bride was 1 1/2 hours late) and got sunburned which did not make for a happy run for me. Tomorrow I will definitely run a long run after I bring the bigger fan in here and slather myself with aloe tonight!!

Day 49

Day 49

07/25/09

I did 32:17 for 10.60 of recumbent bike riding.

Wow, my butt went numb really quickly. I now see the wisdom of the padded shorts for people who ride bikes for exercise!

Tonight we head to Fujiyama for my son's BDay dinner with one of his best friends. It should be fun but I need to not eat very much of the fried rice as they make it with a TON of butter. Delish...but not very good for my goal of weight loss!

Tomorrow is the wedding and then I will do the first of my long runs for the week. I am going to shoot for 50 minutes but would LOVE to run for 1 hour straight!!

Day 48 -- 45 minutes straight!

I did 55:02 for 3.50:

1 @ 2.5
1 @ 3.5
1 @ 3
2 @ 3.5
45 @ 4
3 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

45 minutes straight! Woo hoo!!! I am going to try to run for an hour straight on Sunday. So, I know that I run a 15 minute mile. I wish it was faster 'cause it might take me 2 hours to run the 5 mile race with walk breaks. Or the adrenaline might be pumping hard and it may go quicker!

Yesterday was my son's 13th BDay and I took him to get some blue in his hair.

Pretty cool! He only got the tips done so it will grow out in plenty of time for school.

Tomorrow I am only going to ride the recumbent bike but may do the long run on Saturday as opposed to Sunday since that is the wedding.

Day 47 -- 40 minutes straight!

I did 50:07 for 3.16:

1 @ 2.5
3 @ 3
1 @ 3.5
40 @ 4
3 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

I ran this long run on the treadmill and I felt great!! I had received some advice from one of the runners, Scott, on the Courage to Start Yahoo group who told me to build up endurance BEFORE trying to increase my speed. He told me to run 1.5 times more distance than I have been at around 1 - 1.5 mph less than what I normally run at. Unfortunately that means I would be running at 3 mph which I don't think I could do because I walk faster than that so I just gave it a go at 4 mph and kept at it until I hit 40 minutes running which is 10 minutes LONGER than I did last week so I am just thrilled, thrilled, thrilled!!!!

The only sour note of my day is I weighed myself at Pete's doctor's office and it said that I weigh 157. Yes, my dear friends, that means I have gained 8 pounds...how in the hell???? I can see that some is water weight....

I am going to weigh myself tomorrow on the Wii Balance Board and see what that says since that is what I have been using. I expect a bit as it is that time of the month, but 8? I will be super-duper-pissed if I have been working my butt off running for 47 days to be right back where I started. I know that Dawn Dais says she did not lose a pound but at least she could see the difference. Me, not so much. My husband says he can tell but he is supposed to say that...sigh...

Tomorrow is my son's BDay and we have scheduled to get his hair cut and dyed blue (just the tips) and mine cut as well. I have to bring my mother-in-law with me but at least she can stay with him at the salon while I go to Wal-Mart to get him a card and a few small presents. He has already received a ton of stuff and he gets to go to Fujiyama this weekend.

If I get up early enough, I am going to get on the recumbent bike that I got my husband for Xmas 2 years ago that he just finished assembling last night with my son's help. I would really like to run again so I may tomorrow night. See you then!!

Day 46 -- upping the speed!

I did 35:05 for 2.33:

1 @ 3
4 @ 3.5
5 @ 5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 5
5 @ 3.5
2:30 @ 5
1:30 @ 4
1 @ 4.5
3 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

This was harder than my other speed building runs but I feel like I should start amping up my speed on these 5 minute runs. I do have to wonder if these are becoming detrimental to my endurance for the longer runs as observed by my results yesterday. Tomorrow my son and I are going to get up early to do a long run.

My husband has a cardiologist appointment tomorrow to see if anything is wrong with his heart. More than likely they won't find anything wrong which leaves him free to continue to smoke, eat like crap and not exercise. For me, that is his decision but for his son...it really pisses me off as he knows what it is like to have his dad die when he is our son's age and what it did to him...he still won't change...I imagine I will be burying him in another year or two. Sorry to get so real but it is the facts, Jack!

See you tomorrow!

Day 45

I did 58:49 for 3.42 (in two sets):

1st set 21:32 for 1.30:

4 minutes brisk walking
17 minutes running
30 seconds walking -- then I quit

I feel like a failure as I could not go any farther than I went. I was really counting on today being my long day as it has always been but I just could not do it. I am going to blame it on that time of the month and that I am also a quitter. Tomorrow will hopefully be better and I will have my son riding along with me. He couldn't do it today as it is not the girls' parent's weekend so he had to watch them.

That is all I have to say.

Added at 8:16:

2nd set 37:17 for 2.12:
4 minutes walking
24 minutes running
9 minutes walking

It is my time of the month and I think it is what is kicking my butt, not to mention that I had to stop running and fast walk back home quickly when I ran up one street for the second time. Who knows how much longer I could have ran if I didn't HAVE to stop!

Day 44 -- 5.1 miles!

Above are pics of my husband and son with their bikes and me running. I meant these to show up after the below text...oh well!

OK, I did it! I ran 5.1 miles in 1:05:29. I did take two stop breaks in between each time around though but who cares???? I RAN 5.1 miles. That is the longest I have done ever. Heck, the longest I did before was 2.75 miles. Granted, it was all at once with no break...also note that I did stop my timer when I took a break so the 1:05:29 is all run time. Apparently I run a 12:39 mile. As if!

My knee hates me right now and I have to admit that the bench at Friends Landing was looking really good the 3 times that I passed it and it was in the shade! Shade good, full sun...not so much!

Love, love, love the GU gel but it is VERY messy and sticky but it helped alot!

I must have ran through dozens of gnats flying about. It reminded me of my old soccer day...good times!

My husband rode about 6 miles and my son rode about 8. It was a good day!

I went to sign on to my Runners World Log and remember how aggravated I was that it had disappeared and how to recreate it? Well, it is back and the one that I recreated is all-gone-bye-bye. If I wasn't using it to see how fast my miles are and how far I have gone, I would figure something else to do. I know, I know, it's free and I shouldn't complain...

My son and I are going to sign up for the Seattle Marathon. Me for the half and him for the Kids. All he has to run while there is 1.2 miles which I can run with him. He does have to complete 25 miles beforehand and read 13 books. I think it will be fun!

Tomorrow I will be taking a break. Now, I need to shower and head into Aberdeen before Express Pros closes. See you Sunday!!

No running today

I did not run today but rather visited my brother, sis-in-law and new baby girl. I did, however, stop by my local running store and bought a pair of running skorts that have a compression boy short inside and not only are they very comfortable but are a size SMALL! Woo hoo!!

Tomorrow the 3 of us are going to Friends Landing and I am going to run the trail 3 times which is 5.1 miles. The trail is 1.7 miles. My husband and son are going to ride their bikes. I want to see how long it takes me to go 5 miles. I will be so proud of myself if I run the entire time!

Day 43 -- chafing...chafing!

I did 25:12 for 1.60:

I did a minute at 3.0 mph then decided to play around with my treadmill and see what the 30 minute interval training consisted of but it started at 1 mph! I got bored after 10 seconds!!

5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
4 @ 3.5 -- OK, I had major chafing issues here and am surprised I have any skin remaining on my left inner thigh!
1 @ 2.5 - 1.5

I am definitely going to have to get new shorts as the chafing really hurts and is very distracting when I am attempting to run. Not good, especially since I am going to run 3.4 miles tomorrow at Friends Landing! I have some thick salve that I hope will work until I can get another pair.

I am going to take a shower and then finish up some testing for a prospective job. See you tomorrow!

Day 42 -- another 30 minute run...woo hoo!

I did 39:39 for 2.65 (approx):

5 minutes brisk walking
30 minutes running
4:39 cool down walking

This one was a bit harder probably as it was warmer. I had my son with me again and that really does help! He told me that I was probably running at 5 mph and I was thrilled to hear it! I could tell at times that I was speeding up...open road and all that. I am running up and down two different streets and timed that it took me to do my brisk walking 4 minutes up and back on the road I live on and when I ran it it only took me 3:30. OK not much faster but heck I thought I was running slower than I was walking! I did notice that I was not smiling like a loon...bummer as that was a good feeling! Oh well!

Tomorrow I am going to speed training again but with shorter walk times in between AND then upper body and core work with My Fitness Coach on the Wii. See you then!

Day 41

I did 33:39 for 2.17:

1 @ 3
4 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
30 seconds @ 2 - 1.5

Today I, again, am just to build up my speed but since I am struggling so hard to finish each of the 5 minute runs, I am not sure it is working. My time might be better spent just running outside for 30+ minutes and then some upper body work. I have to tell you it is frustrating! It may have something to do with the 5 minute walk break in between the runs. Who knows!

I am rereading The NonRunner's Marathon Guide for Women and am loving it just as much this time. A lot of things that she faced during her training I hadn't yet when I was reading it and now I either have or am facing them. Remember my IT Band pull....yyyyoooouuuuuchhhhh! But, I am very happy to report that it is gone. Hmmmm....maybe I should start up on the yoga on Wii Fit again.... Chafing? Check! I am wearing the loose fitting running shorts she warns about the rise and bunch up, yep that's what happening...but spandex....sigh...

Tomorrow I run outside, have a job interview and then meet with my bride for the wedding I will be doing for a friend the weekend of the 25th. Full day!

Day 40 -- woo hoo!

I did 40:00 for 2.75 (approx):

I did 5 minutes brisk walking
30 minutes running
5 minutes cool down

I ran for 30 minutes instead of the 28 that I was supposed to! I was outside and had my son riding next to me. It was soooooo much easier than running on the treadmill. After 20 minutes of running, I was still feeling really good so I decided to just go for the 30 minutes. Heck, I could have probably gone even longer! For the last 8 minutes, I was grinning like a loon with how good I felt. I am sure the cooler weather helped. What was funny was that it has been raining with thunder and lightning pretty much all day but it had stopped around 2:30 so I decided to do what I had written yesterday and run outside. I am definitely going to run all my long runs outside going forward.

I am just so jazzed! Yesterday I was concerned that I seem to be pooping out so soon but didn't at all when I was outside. Now, honestly, I do not know how fast I was running and I am sure that has something to do with it. But, I do not care how fast I was running, just that I did it! If I can do the next scheduled long run for 30 minutes than I am skipping the 28 minute week entirely (Week 8) and continuing with the 30 minutes (Week 9) which is the end of The Couch-to-5K Running Plan and increasing my run time for the rest of the time I have until the race. I would love to get up to running for an hour straight. I think I have time to build up to that. Go me!!

Day 39

I did 34:00 for 2.18:

1 @ 3
4 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

Ok, this is bad...I kinda dreaded doing this today and I am pooping out way too soon. I know that my getting less and less sleep does contribute to it as well as the other dietary problem I am having but I don't want to start dreading these runs!

I decided while I was running today that I was going to do my first 28 minute run outside and NOT on the treadmill. I am thinking that the longer runs belong outside as there are numerous things to distract me and I have a bunch more songs on my IPod. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy watching The Big Bang Theory! I am going to keep these interval runs inside as it is easier to check my speed and time while on the treadmill.

I also started another blog, http://thewittyinsomniac.blogspot.com/, as I figured that I should use my insomnia to write. I am not really contributing to the other one that I have, http://seekermommy.blogspot.com/, which I need to change. It's almost as if you can track my downward spiral into my becoming a total insomniac by the way and amount I blog...sigh...

Tomorrow, my first 28 minute run...I can do it!!

Added later:

I had to rebuild my runners log at Runners World and I have 67 miles completed for 19:18:08 as my time. This does not count the 40 minutes of cross training and all the other workouts that I had to list as strength training which totaled another 2 hours. I need to really keep an eye on that log as it clearly had missed some things before it all got deleted.

Day 38

I did 32:02 for 2 (approx):

1 @ 3
4 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
5 @ 3.5
3 @ 4.5
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

The distance is approximate as I was grabbing for my papers to record what I had done so far and yanked out the safety cord. I was about 1 minute into my 5 minute walk after the first 5 minute run. Oh and still aggravated that my log had been deleted! I had been noticing that every tenth run, I would record it and it would not show up so I would have to record it again. So...this should not have surprised me. I still don't want to have to sit here for a few hours entering everything in. Oh well!

I am hoping to head to Seattle to visit an old friend from my soccer days today. See you on Sunday!!

Day 37

I did 35:02 for 2.19:

1 @ 3
1 @ 3.5
25 @ 4
3 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

OK, so even though I forgot to log when I stopped running, I did figure that at 3.5 I walk .5 of a mile and at 31 minutes I was at 2.01. So, this means that I started running my 25 minutes at .28 and stopped at 1.96 so I ran 1.68 at 4 mph. Yeesh, I definitely will need to increase my speed! I have skipped a couple of workouts this week but have done all my runs even though one was short so I will try to do some speed running tomorrow.

I should also note that I am EXTREMELY aggravated by the fact that when I signed onto my Runners World Log EVERYTHING I have entered so far is gone...erased...gahhhh!!! I will have to spend half a day entering it again because thank goodness I am blogging as well!! Sigh.....

I got nothing else since I am so aggravated...see you tomorrow!

Day 36 -- very disappointing!

I did 30:08 for 1.89:

I could only run for 18 minutes. I really wanted to jump off the treadmill right then, but I walked until the 30 minutes were up. I am REALLY disappointed in myself. So, tomorrow I will do the 25 minutes.

Note to self, do NOT drink a full pot of coffee while watching the Michael Jackson memorial! Also, quit talking days off...just go the 6 darn days in a row. OK, so I did take yesterday off because I am slowing down even more. I know, I know go to the d*mn doctors! Sigh...that's it...

Day 35

I did 40:30 for 2.5 approx:

5 minutes brisk walking
25 minutes running
10 minutes brisk walking

The three of us went to The Chehalis Western Trail. They rode their bikes and I ran. It was fun and pretty. Cyclists are very nice people and most were giving me thumbs up. I don't know if it was because I was running or because I was running where I was supposed to. Who knows?

I am too pooped to type more than this. See you tomorrow!

Day 35 -- French Slam...bad!

I did 30:06 for 1.88:

1 @ 3
4 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
3 @ 3.5
5 @ 4.5
3 @ 3.5
2:30 @ 4.5 -- I pooped out here really badly!
2:30 @ 3
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

OK, so note to self and anyone else, do not attempt a run a few hours after having a French Slam at Denny's! On my ‘off days’, I am trying to increase my speed but with that crappy breakfast in my belly, my body said, “ummm….no!” Normally this is my actual day off but I did not get this run in yesterday as my brother and his wife had a beautiful baby girl and I was at the hospital for about 12 hours. She is perfect!!

So far, I have ran 57.7 miles. That's pretty freaking awesome to quote my son! I have also worked out for 16:36:26. This does not include the 54:12 and 40:00 of cross training activities that I have done. All of this since I started on 05/23/09!

I performed a wedding today on the docks in Westport for a great couple. I was worried that it was going to be too windy or cold as it had been for the two days I headed there to check it out. It was so pretty and did not start getting windy until we were finished. Great, great day!!

As soon as I can figure out how to put pics in my blogs, I will add some of my new niece to my other blog, seekermommy.blogspot.com with all the details.

Day 34 -- 25 minutes straight!

I did 34:06 for 2.14:

1 @ 3
1 @ 3.5
25 @ 4
2 @ 3.5
1 @ 3 - 2.5
1 @ 2 - 1.5

I did it! 25 minutes without slowing down! Woo hoo!! As I stated last time, I was going to subtract the distance that I walked (.28) in the beginning from the amount that I ran. I neglected to list how far I had gotten when the 25 minutes was up and looked at it when it was 2.01 but I had already begun my cool down walking for at least a minute...darn it! Well, all next week I run for 25 minutes so I have plenty of opportunity to check.

I did not work out yesterday but I did get in a nap. I sure needed it! My sleep is not getting any better nor is the effects that I thought were from the rice cakes so my energy level is....well...crap...umm sorry for the pun...

This weekend is the wedding in Westport. I am going to drive the race map so I can see it up close and that way my visualization will be more on point. I did have a dream about racing last night. I was running faster towards the finish line. I don't remember much more but felt good about it! To me it meant that I will be picking up my speed both in my regular running and during the race AND that I finish the race.

I did more research and it appears that the race starts at 10:00 and the awards ceremony is at 12:00. This means that I HAVE to run those 5 miles in two hours. This also means that if no other events take place after that, I could perform Andrea's wedding ceremony but if events do take place afterwards, then I may not. It will take me an hour to get home, another hour to get ready and I like to be there an hour early. Boy, it will be cutting it close...I should just decline to do the wedding but I feel bad. Nobody knows why, they are proud of me for doing this training without quitting and think that I should just think about the race and nothing else. OK, that last sentence just made the decision for me. I am not going to do it. I need my mind focused entirely on the race. Especially since I am only training for a 5K and will be running a 5 Mile. I will text her today. I just did and still feel terrible...sigh...

I have enountered another problem that I have been reading about...chafing on my inner thighs where my shorts should hit but they don't. So, while running I am making frantic efforts to yank my shorts down and they stay for oh, I don't know, 2 seconds and then they travel up. I may have to succumb to the spandex land that Dawn Dais wrote about in her fabulous book, The NonRunner's Marathon Guide for Women. I HIGHLY recommend the book. I am now reading her new one, The NonCyclist's Guide to the Century. Another good one. I just got to the part where she journals that she doesn't hate cycling. I am actually glad to read this as my son and husband are starting to ride and hopefully will stick with it!

When my husband gets home from his meeting, he is going to take my son and their bikes to Friends Landing to get in a bike ride. I told him that I would go and get in another workout since I missed yesterday.

Another thing I did yesterday was sit and watch an all day "Pitchmen" run on Discovery. So sad! It is just so hard to believe that someone so vibrant, Billy Mays, isn't around anymore. You know? I recorded the last show of the series and they replaced the last bit of the show with a tribute to him. I cried, I admit it. I think his death bothers me the most of all the deaths we have been hearing about.