So far, so good..

I would hate to get ahead of myself but it’s day 2 of this training week and things are shaping up quite nicely- I started with a swim yesterday, and then I managed to get 5 miles in on the treadmill while #6 actually slept this afternoon!!!! I even got to have a shower… whoo-hoo! Tomorrow’s plan is for another swim, followed by a 3 mile treadmill on Thursday- the 10 miler Friday, rest on Saturday and then a 5 mile (outdoors) Sunday-  The next week starts very quietly, a couple of 2 mile runs, some cross training and then… gulp… the Half on the Sunday.

I’m feeling particularly motivated at the moment so I’d like to try and hang on the that feeling

Rollin’ with the punches

First of all a big shout out to The Garmin Doctor herself, njb who thankfully was on-call when I started out on my run and couldn’t get the GPS to work- I am so glad we got it going as it made a HUGE difference to be able to see how far I’d gone… 9 miles is a very long way. VERY Long-

So lets cut right to the chase- the run took me 1:46:59- slow- but all I wanted to do today was finish considering my week of being sick- my biggest concern now is the Half marathon on the 15th, closes the race after 3 hrs- and how much would it suck to be plodding along and have no one there at the end- actually there would be no finish line- that would be a little depressing. I am hoping I can stay healthy- and be able to up my pace slightly- I don’t care if I am the last person over the finish line- please let there be a finish line.

 

Revelations made while running today? Yes there were a few… one is the very cheesy  running being a metaphor for life- the whole one foot in front of the other, just do it, mind over matter business, and then there was the roll with the punches idea that kept me going after spending my morning- 5:30-8:30 feeding people, organizing people and driving people, when I finally set foot outside in my shorts and runners and fancy running watch supposedly figured out and guess what- It’s not working!! I had a few minutes of @#*&! and then thought call njb- maybe she’s home and maybe she can help… and you know what? she was and she did!! Punch #2 came a few minutes into the run when I had to pee- it does not seem like a big deal but it’s a blip to be sure- too far from home to double back I decided to detour 6 blocks to Riley Park Community Centre- rationalizing that I am familiar with this bathroom and it’s much better then having to jog into a gas station and ask for a key.

OK I’m sounding a little insane- but it’s amazing how the little things can pile up and talk you out of having a “good run”- And despite the fact that I had these hurdles to get over at the start of the run and the fact that the last mile was very difficult- sore feet, back and legs- I had some moments of “Look at you go!” and ” I can’t believe I’m running 9 miles!” the sun was out- plenty of fresh air- it’s all good.

10 miles seems almost do-able and 13.1? well, maybe… 26.2… let me think about it.

The Good News Is…

After 4 days off with a cold I got on the treadmill to do “an easy 3 miles” and lo and behold it felt like an easy 3 miles. I was very worried that if today didn’t feel easy then I would be in big trouble for my scheduled 9  miles tomorrow which I plan on going ahead with come hell or high water- it may take me a very long time but I just want to get through it, the Half marathon is coming up so very quickly.

I enjoyed the inspirational story you posted njb- it got me so inspired that yesterday I was determined I was going to get a run in- first at nap time- but baby boy #6 would not nap and then after I got all little ones to bed-(the ol’man was out taking #2 to choir) but #’s 5 and 6 both had meltdowns at bedtime (funny how getting no sleep makes it harder for kids to get to sleep when they need it!) and so it was 8:50 PM when I finally had my chance to run- and considering the fact that I had a cold and had been up since 5 AM I said “Screw that and screw those old fogies who have been running everyday for 30 years!!!” You know what occurred to me right at that moment? That there was no mention of women in the run-everyday-no-matter-what-club because the women were at home putting children to bed!! And then I took two Benadryl’s (something I have not done in years) and enjoyed my cold medicine buzz…

argh…

Just when everything was coming up roses… Saturday I had a very successful 8 mile run- and njb showed me how to work my Garmin so I could enjoy seeing all the fascinating stats of my fabulous runs and now I’m sick…again… Me! the one who brags about NEVER getting sick- I am sick!
But I figure I was really playing with fire- a house full of germ ridden kids, a toddler who doesn’t let me sleep more than 5 hours a night, training for a marathon, and then Saturday night too much wine and French food…
Sunday was a rest day , Monday off sick. Tuesday off sick… fingers crossed for tomorrow…

Steady as she goes…

It has been a rather steady week, thank God, although, I still have not got my long (8 miles) run in yet which always makes me a little nervous. Monday  was a rest day (Sunday was 4.5 outdoors) Tuesday was 4.5 on the treadmill and my first evening run because of baby boy #6’s inability to sleep more than 30 minutes- 40 tops at nap time. it was a bit of a struggle A/ because I was pretty pooped from a full-on day and a crappy nights sleep the night before and B/ because the ol’man complained and bitched that he could not properly enjoy the hockey game while I was on the treadmill because it made too much noise… (let’s not even mention that I did not even step foot on the treadmill until I got the younger kids settled in bed so as not to disturb him OR me.) Anyhoo……

Wednesday, I had a marvelous swim- 30 minutes+. I can’t believe I like it- because I was so anti-swimming before- but I felt a bit fish like and had moments when I felt as I was just skimming over the water. A man in the fast lane said I was a very good swimmer and should swim in the fast lane! OK, he was hitting on me…. OK, he was 80 years old with a Fu-Manchu moustache and was wearing flippers and seemed to be  at the pool with his 99 year old mother… But still a compliment about my swimming!!!

Thursday was a very pleasant 30  minutes on the treadmill (I rarely say pleasant and treadmill in the same sentence) and today, (because the 2 middle ninos were home on a pro-d day) was a not too brutal 5 miler, again on the treadmill.

 

The plan is to get out tomorrow for 8 miles-  that would mean I am skipping a 7 all together because of the holidays and flu etc. but it would catch me up and I’m feeling pretty strong. Worse comes worse- I have to take walk breaks. I’ll just feel much better to be back on schedule once and for all.

Red or white?

May I just start with a little whine?  I really kinda do not like my Garmin very much. It is way too complicated for me and I was really OK with my basic Timex. It’s my fault that I showed the ol’ man a picture of it and commented on how cool it was-  I really didn’t expect him to go any buy it for me- which really was a very sweet thing to do. Sweet but expensive and kinda wasted on me. I am not completely giving up- I have had 2 almost civil dealings with the beast and 1 (today) not so civil. I sit with the instruction book open, follow step by step, and for whatever reason all it wants to do is tell me that the sunrises at 8:01 am. Twice, after much wrangling I have got it to countdown my distance for me- how I got to enter the distance I wanted to run, I don’t know, I got there by a fluke. Today after 1/2  hour of much frustration I just decided to go out with it at 6.40 k’s and just turn around for the second 1/2 of my run at that point- which I did. 

I would like to think that I will figure the darn thing out mostly because I’m sure it’s too late to take it back because I’ve used it a few times. So I will persevere with the beast.

 

The run- I ended up doing 10.23 k’s or 6.3 miles (after it got to the end of the preprogrammed 6.40 I just hit start again and it continued monitoring my run.)

It wasn’t a particularly easy run- at about the half way mark my legs-  or really my quads, actually got sore which hasn’t really happened before- tired or heavy, yes but sore, no. But I enjoyed the whole thing. I am taking any stop lights as “walking and water breaks” and trying to keep Mr. Hal Higdon’s words about how useful they are in my mind- because there is some weird “walking=weakness” ingrained in me somehow and I know that’s complete hooey. If anything, the walking breaks are what are going to get me to this goal.

I am feeling a bit stressed at not being on schedule- this week was supposed to be 8 and the 1/2 marathon is coming up really soon. I will have to sit down with my calender and figure that out- but at the same I can only do so much and again, Mr. Higdon’s words about over training are in my mind.

It felt hard but good today- but I will have to deal with the negative thoughts that swirl around in my brain especially when I’m out pounding the pavement, like the fact that I am behind schedule, also the sleep issue that I have been avoiding talking about-  I probably average 4.5 to 5 hrs sleep a night and while I’m mostly used to that it doesn’t mean it’s good or optimal for marathon training. As well the other sleep issue is baby boy #6 and his non-napping ways. My “short runs” are now 4.5- instead of 3 and I am lucky if I can get him to nap 45 minutes which mean that, like yesterday I had to cut it short to 4 and that included jumping off 3 times to try and get him back to sleep. It’s a drag that the gym has a 20 minute time limit for the treadmill because I have childcare there for 1.5 hr. I just might have to start running in the evening which doesn’t appeal to me too much as I am usually really totally bagged by 8.

 

Gotta work it out. Will work it out.

 

The ol’ man and baby boy #3 return from Montreal tomorrow- yippee! single parent to 5 children make for a slightly cranky mama. I have a bottle of wine on the counter that I have been waiting to crack (until after the long run- is 1 in the afternoon too early to start drinking?) so I shall enjoy a glass tonight and um, get to bed early…

 

See- I started the day with a little whine and I will end the day with a little wine.

In the swim

I got in the pool today for some cross training and it was both very fun and very hard. The first half was the hardest as I was seriously sucking wind- and didn’t think I could make it across the pool every time I set out for another lap but I kinda found my groove and it became somewhat easier- but still felt like I was working darn hard. I was in the “medium” speed lane which I was surprised with as I had expected to be in the slow lane but it’s quite possible there was some seniors retirement home bus parked outside as there were not many of us under 60’s in the place.  I must say I was very impressed and inspired with some of those old gals doing their thing.

Carm, I took your advice on all accounts (goggles-check! flip flops-check!) and really thoroughly enjoyed myself. I found it a nice change- kind of meditative- yet my heart was a pumping and my body feeling it that’s for sure. Next time I need to remember to have water handy as I was very thirsty- and I don’t think I could have done the change room thing without the flip flops so thank you for that!

I’m itching to get out there for a “real” run- tomorrow 4.5 on the treadmill and then Friday 7 outdoors.

 

Oh-whoosh-heads and check out the very cute swim caps I found at the mall I got black with purple flowers….

back at ‘er

I keep a written training log and while adding up my total miles last night for the previous week I was very surprised to find that I had had my highest mileage week yet (18 miles)since I strarted training in Novemeber. I also passed the 100 miles logged point. It was a nice little boost as I still haven’t been feeling “on my game” since the whole holidays/flu=training disaster. I think I was so surprised because I am so fixated on the long run and not making it past 5.3 as of yet when I should be at 7. 

Yesterday I got a nice 4 miles outdoors in. It was on the slow side because there is still an awful lit of snow and slush around my place. I actually ran on the road for a  bit just to find a clear path. The Main street route is too stinky and had too many stop lights I decided, so I went back to my 37th Ave bike path.

 

This week is full of promise-things should be back to normal around here except for the ol’ man being away in Montreal with baby boy #3- everyone is back at school finally, childcare is open at the rec centre and I’ve got daycare Fridsy so I can do the long run which if all goes according to plan (and really, when does it ever?!) will be 7 miles.

Big plans for the week- I will try swimming for a cross training session.

The Great Outdoors

Finally back outside today after 3 weeks!!! It was far from a “perfect” or even “good” run but I’ll take it. My plan was to do 6 miles but ended up doing 5.3. I decided to change my route because of the snow- figuring going straight down Main St. would up my chances of having clear sidewalks to run on which for the most part was true. There was however a fair amount of black ice action so there was a lot of arm waving going on to save myself from falling. Also, I had a lot of car exhaust and traffic lights to deal with. Which leads me to the question… what do YOU do when you come to a red light? I just can’t get myself to jog in place… I’ll pace or jog a bit up the block and back again while waiting for the light to change but just can’t do the waiting -for -the -light -to -chance- jog- it’s just so, um, obvious or something…
Anyhoo… The run was cut a bit short because I took a turn down some side street and hit some very snowy, slippery terrain and my thighs and butt just couldn’t do it anymore- and well, my house was right there…
I sorta, kinda got my Garmin working- and I liked the fact that it was counting gown the kilometers for me (I like the K’s they zip by so much quicker than miles!) I would have liked to see time wise where I was at while running but couldn’t do it- which is just as well because at the end of the run it told me it had taken me 1hr and 11 minutes to run 8.64k’s and that is really really RRREALLY slow! so maybe it’s better I didn’t know that at the time.
I will try and get out for a very short run tomorrow, and a slightly longer one Sunday. I’ve been one day on, one day off this week so I think I can manage that.
I’m looking forward to next week when the gym and childminding is open so I can get a bit of strength training and crosstraining in and just feel more “normal”… whatever that is.