Monday, January 31, 2011

Monday January 31, 2011

Workout: 5.078 miles on the treadmille
Time: 50:00
Pace: 9:50 (average)
incline: 2%
Weight: 125.4


This was a pretty sketchy situation.  I still have a chest cold and can almost always feel a catch in my chest when I'm breathing and am still coughing a lot trying to expel whatever is in there.  I don't want to fall too far behind on my training and since I was off all of last week except Monday, I wanted to try to run today. I knew it would sketchy and I knew I'd likely have to jump off a million times to cough up a lung.


The first part was much better than I anticipated.  I was really mentally gutting through it - I wanted to stop many times, but told myself I had to wait until after 7 songs... at that point I'd be more than halfway done & I could turn on the fan.  Somehow I found myself off at 20:00 - not intentionally, I think my body just had had enough and needed to cough.  At that point I was little concerned because not only did I cough and hack and cough, but I couldn't catch my breath.  My lungs were aching and I felt a little like how I imagine someone with asthma feels.


I got through the 7th song and allowed myself a full minute to catch my breath, which was terribly difficult.  At that point I gave myself permission to hop off after every song to try to catch my breath a little bit.  It was tough.  It is 3 hours later and I can still feel it in my lungs.  


I really wanted to quit at around 3 miles and call it good, but I just couldn't mentally do it.  


Other than my lungs, I felt great...  hoping that I am feeling better than this by Wednesday.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday January 28, 2011

Weight: 124.6


So this wasn't really the way that I expected to finally lose the last couple of Christmas pounds...


Have had the flu for the last couple of days.  Laid down on the couch on Tuesday afternoon and essentially did not get back up until this morning.  Had a fever of 101.8ish for all of Wednesday & Thursday - even after taking cold & flu medicine.  Georgia also had a fever for Tuesday & Wednesday.  She was totally fine yesterday, but is back on the couch with a fever of 100.8 right now.


My fever broke last night and I've been up and moving and doing laundry this morning.  Although I still feel pretty crummy, I feel MUCH better than the last couple of days.  The fact that I can get off the couch seems like a miracle compared to the last 48 hours of my life.  And I'm not sure I'll ever WANT another sip of G2 ever again.


Georgia is still not eating, but at least she's drinking a little bit.


I'm not going to attempt to run tomorrow morning.  I'm not going to push it.  I hope to get back to it on Monday.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wednesday january 26, 2011

Man, I've slacked here.  I've done my runs, but haven't recorded them here.


Saturday I ran 6 miles on the treadmill while I watched the movie, Tropic Thunder.  I have to say, that was a nice way to pass the time.


Monday morning, I ran 4.75 miles on the treadmill.  I did alright - slowed my pace down to begin with, but then found myself constantly fighting the music and changing my pace again and again to match the music.  Made for a kind of rough run - that kind of thing is harder on the treadmill, I think.  When I'm running outside its more of a natural change in pace/transition.  Running on the treadmill = running for a while before I realize I'm fighting and expending too much energy doing it.  Anyway, my schedule was for 4.5 miles, but I added the extra .25 mile on the back end to make up for the couple of really short jumpoffs I had to catch my breath when I found myself fighting.  I also wanted to finish a song.


Was going to do yoga yesterday morning, but Georgia was sick overnight and I started up with a chest cold/cough-up-a-lung at the same time.  I had a hard time getting back to sleep.  I also had thoughts running through my head about a girl I know who put her 2 year old to bed with a fever and some tylenol and she woke up the next morning & he had died overnight.  Made it difficult to get back to sleep when Georgia was burning up, throwing up, screaming that she was hot, and giving her some tylenol.


Yesterday, G felt pretty crummy all day, but we did get out to run some errands.  I continued to hack up a lung all day and by the end of the afternoon had called it quits.  Done.  On the couch.  Low grade fever.  Aches, chills, headache from coughing, sore throat from coughing.  G was still feverish, although I couldn't get a good read because I was trying to do it under her arm while she was sleeping.  She also ate 1 clementine in the morning & 1/2 of a slice of bread with butter in the evening.  That was it.  She drank several cups of water throughout the day.  


She put herself to bed around 7pm (went up to put pajamas on and never came back down - never got pajamas on either), again burning up.  Gave her some tylenol and I settled in on the couch for the night so Dave could get a decent night of sleep without my coughing & try to keep from getting it himself.  Neither of us slept well.  I hate sleeping on the couch and Dave was burdened by thoughts of Jason & his stepdaughter and worried about Georgia.  


This morning there was no running to be done... I am not going to run & hack up a lung at the same time.  I did that in Cabo a few years ago - not eager to do it again... unless the treadmill is overlooking the ocean & the sunrise.  G slept late again this morning, threw up in her bed, came down to the couch, does not have a fever, threw up immediately after I gave her 1 tsp of tylenol, and then just threw up again.  She's taking sips of water & gatorade... I think she's going to be alright, I just hate that she feels like this.  AND I know its coming my way - ugh.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Thursday January 20, 2011

Workout: Tempo run - 4 miles total
Time: 38:11
Pace: 9:32 (average) 
Weight: 128.0


Tempo run was: 
  1 mile warm up at 10:00 pace 2% incline
  2 mile tempo run at 9:15 pace 2% incline
  1 mile cool down at 9:40 pace 1% incline


This was the best I felt while running in quite a while.  I made a mental goal to get through the first mile of the tempo run (+the mile warm up) before I could take a quick hop off to turn on the fan.  I ended up finishing out a song... and then a lap... so I got through 1.25 miles of the tempo run and hopped off to turn on the fan.  I was off for .07 miles, so I added .10 on to the second mile so that I ran 2 full miles at 9:15 pace.  It was hard, but I mentally gutted through it and really focused on my breathing and the regularity of it.  I was going to complete the entire thing without any stops, but at 3.3 miles I had to get off and go to the bathroom.  Was pretty ticked about it, but it was what it was... debated about finishing the cool down and ultimately getting the mileage in won out in the end and I finished.


I took Tuesday and Wednesday off of working out.  I felt so horrible on Monday after my 4.5 mile run.  I thought it was just over training, but it ended up being fever/flu symptoms.  I laid on the couch for the entire day with fever aches in my back, butt & knees.  Other than that I felt fine - head was fine, sinuses fine, stomach fine.  Not sure what was going on, but two days off helped a lot.


I'm really happy that we've revised the training schedule, but at the same time I have an internal conflict because I feel like I'm not rising to the challenge of the harder schedule.  I think it was too much.  Jason doesn't feel like it was too high of mileage.  I mentioned that to Dave and his response was: "Jason is a much better runner than we are."  Very, very true.  Ultimately I need to listen to my body and be mindful of how a too hard training schedule will impact my marriage and my family.  With the way I was feeling - physically - it was bound to start impacting things with it being so many miles so early on.  If I gradually work up to higher mileage, like we've done in the past, my body will get used to it.


I've got to remember that I'm running my own race.  

Monday, January 17, 2011

Monday January 17, 2011

Workout: 4.5 miles
Time: 43:36
Pace: 9:40 (average)
Weight: 128.2


I had a rough go of it this morning.  Mentally, I'm doing much better, but physically I had a tough run this morning.  My right calf felt like cement for the first 2.5 miles - like it did during the Turkey Trot - so I had to hop off several times to stretch it out.  The last half of the run was good, though.  Like I said, mentally I'm back in.  


My recovery today has been rough.  I feel like I ran 12 miles this morning.  My body is beyond exhausted, I am tired and just want to take a nap.  And I got up later than usual (6:15 as opposed to 5:15) and I only ran 4.5 miles.  I really think that I'm not eating enough calories to sustain this, but when I check and recheck the number of calories I should be eating in order to lose .5-2lbs/week, it is right now.  Something is not right, though.  I shouldn't be feeling like this.


I revised the training schedule yesterday.  I made it similar to Hal Higdon schedule where it has step back weeks every third long run.  We will get all the way up to 14 miles two weeks before the race and then taper... something I noticed was missing from the 5/3 RBR training schedule.  I'm not going to be gipped out of my taper lol!


I had to think about the idea of revising and realized that what was holding me back was my pride.  I COULD complete that schedule, but I don't WANT to & I'll be incredibly exhausted from now until the race.  I had to get over the fact that I felt it was weak to revise.  Its not.  Its realistic and necessary for both of us.  I don't need to be a hero or prove anything to anyone - I need to run my own race.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Saturday January 15, 2011

Workout: Long Run - 5.5 miles
Time: 53:47
Pace: 9:44
Weight: 128.6


Dave and I revised our training plan.  He ran 8 miles this morning and really felt like he wasn't ready for it.  As we were talking about it, we both felt like the training plan we're using is just too much for us.  So we're going to modify the plan we used for the two half marathons last year and add a couple of weeks to it so we can get our long runs up to 14 1/2 miles by the time we get to the race.  This is the only way that I'm willing to still run the race - I just don't WANT to be running 5-7 miles on Mondays and Wednesday right now.  I want to include and focus on other things.  

Todays run, then, was supposed to be 5 miles.  I ran outside for the first time since November and I over dressed.  I had to stop at 1 mile to remove a layer and leave it on a fire hydrant :)  On the way home, though, I was heading into a pretty icy wind, so the gloves went back on... but I was still fine without that additional fleece that I had left on the side of the street.  



It was really nice to run outside again and I'm going to do it more often.  The hills, though, kicked my butt.  To my credit, though, I did not walk up any hills - I ran all of them, but I did stop to walk at the top of a lot of the bigger ones.  I didn't let myself walk for very long, just enough to catch my breath.  All in all I felt good about my run and I'm happy to be running again.  And I was very pleased with my pace - I was a bit worried that I'd get home and find that I ran an 11:00 pace and I'd be disappointed with myself.  I'm pleased with under 10:00.


I'm really happy to be at 5 miles instead of 8 :)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Thursday January 13, 2011

Workout: 6 miles total
Pace: 9:41 (average)
Weight: 128.4


Actual workout was:
2 miles at 10:00 

5min at 9:05 
5min at 10:00 
(repeat) 
5 min at 9:05 
1.25 miles at 9:30


I added the 1/4 mile to the end to make it an even 6 miles.


The run went well this morning.  Much better than my previous few runs and much better than anticipated.  I enjoyed myself and focused on that instead of being miserable.  My floating ankle bone started hurting me toward the end, though - I hope that is not a sign of things to come.


As I was running, I was thinking about what I actually want to do in terms of fitness, weight, body, etc.  I'm seriously considering not running in the 5/3 RBR this year.  I haven't decided, but I'm leaning toward not doing it.  Here's my deal:

I LOVE yoga.  I want to be better at yoga - like I wanted to be better at running 2 years ago.  I feel like I have lost a lot of my strength in the last year or so - since I began training for races and cutting out my weight training.  If I train for this race, I don't have time to do yoga, train, cross train & do strength training.  I simply can't fit it all in.  Yoga is 90 minutes 2x/week right now and I'm not giving that up.  Running is okay right now with 3 & 4 mile runs - I still have time to do abs after that, but in 2 weeks we move up to 5 & 6 mile weekly runs.  I just don't have the time to do that AND abs or any other strength training I want to do.  So I'm trying to decide what is most important to me - running this race and training for it OR running AND strength training.  Strength training will help my yoga, which will help my running...



I am not training for a time, I'm training to finish.  I've already proved to myself that I can finish... I know I haven't run a 15 mile race, but given how I felt after the Holland race, I know I could have completed another 2 miles.  I don't have any ideals of getting much faster - and trying to be faster only proves to be miserable for me... setting expectations, not meeting them, not being able to figure out the puzzle.  I MIGHT decide to run a marathon at some point, but I can't train for it until Georgia is in school all day - so I can't begin to train for it until fall of 2012.  By that time, if I've focused on yoga I should be a much better runner.


I don't want to give up running altogether - it is my cardio of choice - I'm just trying to figure out what is a realistic amount of running for me to do and if this race is more important than my other desires.  I'm going to try to find a different training plan and see if that seems more doable... still thinking about all of this and haven't made any decisions.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday January 12, 2011

Workout: 3 miles at 2% incline
              p90x Abripper
Time: 38:57
Pace: 9:39
Weight: 129.0


After spending a great deal of time complaining to Jason last night about how badly I suck at running, I was determined to get through this run and do it well.  I decided to use the mantra "Conquer it!" as I ran.  It helped.  It also helped that it was only 3 miles :)  However, I always feel like I settle in right at that point...

Next week, I may make a very concerted effort to slow my pace down by quite a bit to try to get back some confidence.  I may run at 10:30 and see what my heart rate is with that.  I know that last year when I was training for Indy, by the end I would have a heart rate of 165 bpm while I was running, so I know it will get better as I go, but I haven't taken THAT much time off to make this big of a difference.  It will get better and I need to stop complaining, stop focusing on how miserable I feel while I'm running and start focusing on something better.  I'm going to try to figure that out today.



Abripper was good this morning.  I really didn't feel like doing it, but its only 15 minutes and I didn't want to give in - because if I gave in this time, then I'd feel it was okay to give in other times and pretty soon I wouldn't be doing it anymore.  I need to work my core and get it stronger - for my running, yes, but mostly for my back.  I've never consistently worked my core, so this is new and I want to keep with it.


Still hungry all.the.time.  I hate counting calories.  I keep telling myself that every pound I lose will make running even easier, so its worth it.  

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Tuesday January 11, 2011

Workout: P90x Yoga
Time: 1:30
Weight: 130.4


I'm enjoying yoga more and more every time I do it.  I kind of wish, though, that it wasn't so long - I might do it more often throughout the week if it weren't 90 minutes.  I feel little improvements in my flexibility, which I'm happy about.  


SO excited that I'm finally doing it!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Monday January 10, 2011

Workout: 4 miles 2% incline
              p90x Abripper
Time: 38:55
Pace: 9:45 (average)
Weight: 131.0


I'm getting really discouraged with running.  I suck.  And bad.  I just feel miserable the entire time and I'm not sure why.  I need to get outside later this week and see if that makes a difference, because as of now, I'm ready to bow out of the race and try to regain my enjoyment.  I don't want to feel this miserable and discouraged for the next 3 months.


Maybe I need to really consider doing the Jeff Galloway method of walking and running, but I don't want to be staring at my watch the entire time I'm running either.  Not sure what to do.  


Abripper was better this morning.  I hate how much it hurts my hip flexors.  He says something about that, so they must be part of your core.  It hurts.  


I did okay with calories over the weekend - at least yesterday I did.  I didn't count calories after lunch on Saturday and used Saturday night as a splurge meal.  We went to the Karners and Jane made soup, so I didn't eat a ton of calories for dinner... but then I had a piece of chocolate cake, 2 glasses of wine and some Bailey's.  So there you go - my splurge was on booze.  And I hardly drank any water yesterday so I am again retaining water, because I certainly did not splurge enough to gain 3 lbs over the weekend.  Hammering the water today - already at 64oz for the day and its 9am.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Saturday January 8, 2011

Workout: Long Run - 7 miles
Time: 1:08:23
Pace: 9:46 (average)
Incline: 2% (mostly)
Weight: 128.2


This run was fine.  I decided to do it at a slower pace to try to get through it a little better and I think that helped.  I varied my pace and incline throughout the run based on how I felt. I never went lower than a 1% incline, though, and didn't spend much time at 1%.  I mainly ran at a 9:40 pace, but a little 10:00 and a little 9:30 mixed in there at times.  I really struggled through the first 2.5 miles but mentally pushed through it, making myself get through 6 songs before I could step off to turn the fan on.  That helped.  The last mile was a struggle, too, because I just wanted to be done.


Dave and I are thinking about revising the training plan.  He struggled through his 7 miles this morning moreso than I did.  I did pretty well considering, although I mentally battled through a lot of it.  He didn't feel like he did as well.  We both feel like this is kind of too much too early.  There are also 3 15 mile runs before the race.  I'm just not sure we're at that level and I'm not sure we need to pretend to be at that level.  We're not training for times, we're training to finish.  

Friday, January 7, 2011

Friday, January 7, 2011

Workout: p90x YogaX
Time: 1:30
Weight: 129.8


Was reluctant to get up at 5:15 again this morning, but forced myself out of bed.  The biggest motivator to getting out of bed for me sometimes is to open the garage door early enough that the girls won't wake up from it.  Dumb, yes, but true nonetheless.


I did the whole video this time.  I've been stopping at 1:15 when they start the yoga bellyX because I've been doing the abripper on my running days and didn't think I should work my core again.  But I watched the bellyx part the other day and it wasn't too much, so I added it in today.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say it is better than abripper.  It was a very short amount, but powerful.  Aside from Tony the DB, I'm really diggin the yoga video.


Weight was up 1 1/2 pounds this morning.  Thank you, 1 slice of pizza.  Going to pound the water today to try to get rid of the extra water retention.  The filter on our humidifier needs to be changed as well... the house is drier and I have noticed (for the last 3 years) that when that is true, I retain more water.  I hate water retention.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Thursday January 6, 2011

Workout: Tempo run - 4 miles total
Incline: 2%
Pace: 9:30 (average)
Weight: 128.4


Run was 1 mile warm up (at 10:00) 2 mile tempo (at 9:15) and 1 mile cool down (at 10:00 and gradual decrease of incline).


I'm still sucking wind the entire time.  Not sure why I can't settle in and get into a groove.  I think I need to get back outside - I was thinking in the shower that I really want to start to love running again.  There are probably a lot of things I need to do to make that happen - go outside, stop caring about my time and pace, stop caring about my mileage, etc.  Basically, let it go.  But not sure I can do that and train for a race at the same time.  If we remain snow-less next week, I'm going to try to get outside for at least one run.


Ate just shy of 1500 calories yesterday.  Went out for lunch with Dave, Carol & Jan Gewont to Mimi's Cafe.  I stuck with an item on their fit and fresh menu which listed the calories, so that was easy to track.  I'm pretty hungry throughout the day, but what I miss the most is my treat with my coffee in the morning.  I'm having biscotti on Sunday morning and I can't wait.  Glad to see a 1lb loss every day, though - that is nice motivation:)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Wednesday January 5, 2011

Workout: 4 miles
              p90x abripper
Time: 38:27
Incline: 2%
Weight: 129.4
Calories: 1510


The run was rough again today, but I mentally gutted through it better than I did on Monday.  Today I could tell my heart rate was high (it was 180 bpm halfway through) and my legs were tired.  I wish I could figure out why I'm struggling so much - I'm going to chalk it up to the extra 5 lbs on my body right now.  


Abs was torturous again this morning.  I'm not sure that they will ever NOT be torturous.  I kept thinking - its only 15 minutes.  By the end of the year, I am going to complete every one of the 340 reps on that video.


I hate dieting/counting calories.  I hate how hungry I am throughout the day.  But I must pay the penalty for my lack of discipline in December... and I needed some retraining anyway.  

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tuesday January 4, 2010

Workout: P90xYoga
Time: 1:15
Weight: 130.6


Yoga is better every time I do it.  It is haaaarrd and I sweat a lot in the first 45 minutes, but I love it and am SO happy that I'm doing it.  Yoga has been a goal of mine for a couple of years.


Started counting calories yesterday.  I miss my morning coffee treat.  It always takes a week or two for me to stop being hungry, which I hate, but I'll get there.  I'm determined to get under 120 this time.  I've been at 119 for about 24 hours in the last 8 years.  I hovered around 124 for most of 2010, which is a good, comfortable weight for me.  BUT, I would LIKE to be under 120... not entirely sure I can sustain that, though, because I like food too much.  I will get there by my birthday.



Monday, January 3, 2011

Monday January 3, 2011

Workout: 3.1 miles
              P90x Ab Ripper
Time: 30:00
Pace: 9:40 (average)
Incline: 2%
Weight: 131.4


My run this morning SUCKED.  It was horrible.  I was horrible.  It hurt from second 1 and didn't stop.  I was sucking wind the entire time and finally gave in and just took 20 second breathers between songs.  Thats weak.


Not sure what the deal was... early morning + no fuel; dehydrated; 1st day of t.o.m.; extra 6 pounds on my body.  Whatever it was, or combination of them, it was bad.


Ab ripper was okay.  I want to get familiar enough with the video that I don't need to watch to see what he's doing.  I still didn't complete one leg climber, but I'm doing okay on the rest.  There are some that I can eke out all 25 reps, there are some that I have to take a break because my hip flexors are burning, not my abs.  I'm glad I'm doing this.  I will conquer it by the end of the year.  Bring it ab ripper!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Saturday January 1, 2011


Not sure if I'm going to get my long run in today or not.  I'm having a very bad introvert day.  I was going to say a very bad emotional day, but its not emotional, its not hormonal, its not anything other than being an introvert.  And this is when i especially hate being one... its rough today.