Beyond The Half

Enlightened.

That is the word I'll use to describe the day's run. Enlightened.

Last night I mapped out a few runs beyond the half. Here is my thinking.

Hal wanted me to go 9 miles tomorrow. But it supposed to be a crappy day. He also wants me to go 15 miles next Saturday. But I plan to run the Chocoholic Frolic 10K that day. The weathermen promised us an amazing day today. I had the time...I took a rest day yesterday. Why not give a good distance a try?

My sister and I (The Petite Pacer) have been discussing what my pace should be for my upcoming marathon. Since we are both still very new to this running thing, and filling our heads with tons of information, we kind of thought the only way I would know how fast I could run it would be to actually run one. But, I have also read that you shouldn't run a marathon for marathon training. That would defeat the purpose. I also know that Hal calls for a 20-miler in May, as the last long run before the taper period. I thought, perhaps, since I'm already an experienced runner that it wouldn't hurt to add a second, especially since I can take it easy this week.

It took a while for this great day to take shape. It started showering in the morning, and it was still cold. But by 11:30 am, it began to clear. I questioned again whether I should try that 19.5 miler I mapped out, or just do the 9 that Hal is calling for tomorrow. I never really know until I get out there. So I prepped for the long run and went out the door.

New CW-X Compression Capris. Neon is my color...

By that time, the sun was shining! Yay! I dressed perfectly, in my new CW-X Compression Capris, compression socks, a long sleeved shirt and a long sleeved jacket...plus a hat. The temp was 38° at start time but it warmed up fast. And at mile 5, when I had to decide whether to go long or short, I made the decision to go for it. I called my husband to let him know I'd be another hour and a half, at least, so he didn't start worrying.

I just kind of ran. I had no pace in mind. I just made sure I was "comfortable". I didn't want to over exert myself. I just wanted to be able to finish the run. I think for the most part, I probably started too fast, although, like I said, I was comfortable. Slower than comfortable might be a better way to start.

Enlightened.

But amazingly, even during the back half of the run, I could easily increase my pace without getting my heart rate up too high. Clearly, my lungs are not the issue. My legs on the other hand. Holy crap.

Enlightened.

At mile 14, I was feeling it. My calves were getting tight...not to mention my butt. I started increasing the time in which I'd stop for some Energy Gels. Every time I took some, there was relief...but the further I went, the lesser the amount of time the relief lasted. This made me think I should have started taking them earlier. I didn't take my first dose until mile 5.

Enlightened.

By mile 16, everything from my ass to my ankles was just screaming. I was having serious doubts, at this point, if I could finish. But just as that thought crossed my mind, the road changed from uphill to downhill and I got another wind. Thank goodness! I also got excruciatingly thirsty. I had brought along a 10 oz. bottle of Cytomax, and a 10 oz. bottle of water. I finished the Cytomax at mile 14. And they water wasn't cutting it. Clearly, I need two bottles of electrolyte fluid, and I'll save the water for the water stops.

Enlightened.

But it was pretty obvious, that with the final mile all uphill, that I wasn't going to go any further. Once the route leveled out, I considered making it an even 20, but I didn't want to risk it. Besides, I was out of fluid, and I was sooooo thirsty. It was time to call it. I did notice, however, I didn't have any pain in the balls of my feel like the last time I ran more than 13 miles. This tells me that the Brooks Cadence will do the job for the marathon. And it takes a great load off of my mind.

Enlightened.

I'm really pleased. I'm pleased as punch. And happy to say, enlightened. I learned a lot on this run. And I'm glad I went the extra mile...literally.

And I can sleep in tomorrow!

When was the last time you were enlightened? Did it happen on a run?

The Pretty Close To Perfect Day

It all came together today. The weather, the mood, the gear, the pace, the run. I couldn't have asked for any more than I got.

We did P90X this morning, and I didn't put my regular "umph" into the workout because of a troubled left elbow. So, maybe that helped as well.

I had some stuff to do before my run. But that was OK, because I was waiting...waiting on that temperature. The promise was 39° degrees today. I figured the longer I waited, the warmer it would get. But I had a lot on my plate this afternoon, so I couldn't wait too long. After all, the Keurig is broken, and the caffeine addicts were getting more than restless. They were getting temperamental.

At 11:00, the temperature was a startling 34°. Good enough.

I dressed light. One layer below the waist, two above. Plus a Turtle Fur cap with a hood over it. I slathered up my face with Dermatone, grabbed some light gloves, and off I went.

It was a little brisk to start, but as the first half of this run is all uphill, it took little to no time until I was warm and toasty. The breeze was light and out of the south, so it was into my face for the start. This too, was perfect. It meant a tailwind and a mainly downhill run for the return home. I was diggin' it. I felt good. I felt light on my feet. I kept repeating the words of the Newton dude from the workshop a few weeks ago..."don't try so hard."

So I didn't. I let it go. I started nice and easy. The hills helped me to do that. And I never felt out of breath. If  I started to get a little winded, I didn't try so hard and backed off. Honestly, I was amazed.

My heartrate never reached 180 until the very last quarter mile when I was feeling SO good, I decided to sprint the final few steps. And I could...because I still had it all. In fact, I was this close to making today my long run day. But it is supposed to be warmer tomorrow. Even warmer Friday. Oy, I got some planning to do the next few days. I won't be able to do my long run Saturday as the weather will be wet and cold. Yuck. Not my thing.

So, I ponder the question. Is this my marathon pace? Gosh, I don't know. For sure this would be my comfortable pace, I believe. I wonder, is a comfortable pace faster than marathon pace? Do I already know the answer to this?

I went to the Training Peaks site and to Hal Higdon's forum to ask him what a comfortable pace was a few weeks back. I completely forgot about it. "Mom Brain", I call it (it is not catching, unless you are a mom). Here is what he said:

Marathon pace is the pace you plan to run in the marathon. If you're a first-time marathoner, you don't yet have a "pace." You maybe able to get a close estimate by running a race or two and using some of the prediction engines. That's one reason why I now include half marathons half way through the 18 weeks.

"Comfortable" pace is any pace that you can hold and still conduct a conversation with a running companion without getting out of breath. If running solo, you'll have to determine what feels comfortable to you. And the numbers won't be the same every day. If tired because of a hard workout the day before, or because of other factors in your life, you may experience discomfort sooner than you would than after a day's rest.

You may or may not be able to hold that 8:40 pace the entire 26 miles of the marathon. You have 18 weeks to figure it out. 

I guess that didn't tell me as much as I had hoped. But if I can run my marathon with as much ease as I ran today's 7-miler...well...then...I've got something.

Runmeter Stats

FitBit and the Inferiority Complex

My Fitbit (I think she needs a name so that she knows when I'm cursing her out) has been tossing out  some pretty nasty messages at me lately. Clearly, she doesn't think I'm doing enough. Faster, Theresa! Step It Up, Theresa! Move It, Theresa! Boy, can she throw a guilt trip.

Therefore, today, I had a few 15 minute breaks amidst my class session. So, I found a staircase, a 3-flight staircase, and walked up and down them...at least 8 times, twice today. Little Miss Fitbit has nuthin' on me today! According to my readings, I did 28 flights. I suppose that includes getting to the cafeteria, and walking in and out of the school today. You gotta make use of every minute you have, right?

Marathon Training: Day 37
Hal said to run 3-miles today. Seeing as that I had class this morning at 8:30 am, this run had to be done on the treadmill, despite the fact that spring really is trying to push it's way into Minnesota. It is just way too dark at 5:15 am for me. And I don't trust anyone awake that early with no natural light to be found.

Despite the fact that I woke up ready and raring to run, I had absolutely no idea what the hell to do today. I figured I'd wing it. The last article I read about endurance tells me I shouldn't worry so much about running fast to increase my overall speed, rather I should run more intervals...moments at a fast pace bordered by recovery minutes. OK.

I still don't know what the hell I did. I know I did a warm up walk for 10 minutes. Then I set the treadmill for 3 miles at a 1% incline. I did 7.0 mph for 4 minutes (don't ask me why I chose 4 minutes. I think it was because I was getting bored and I needed to pick up the pace). Then I upped it to 7.5 mph for the next 4 minutes. And I upped it again to 8.0 mph for the next 4 minutes. After that it gets a little fuzzy.  But here is how I remember it going.

7.0 mph for 4 minutes
7.5 mph for 4 minutes
8.0 mph for 4 minutes
8.5 mph for 3 minutes
7.5 mph for 3 minutes
8.0 mph until I had .25 miles left
8.5 mph until run ended.

All totaled  it was a 24:57 run, I think. Again, this is only how I remembered it. I was pretty soaked when I finished, and I felt like I ran a hard run. Not sure what it did for me, if anything. But I know that when I go outdoors after a few days of treadmill training, I'm running stronger and a bit quicker. So, I must be doing something right.

The weather looks great tomorrow to head outdoors as the temperatures should approach 40°! I'm pretty sure Hal is calling for 6 or 7. I don't have the schedule in front of me. I may just go ahead and do my hilly 7-miler tomorrow if there is no wind.

Are you training for a half or full marathon? Are you following a training plan or are you just winging it?

And on the 7th day...

Rest day. Repeat. Rest day.

If it wasn't for my incredible willpower, I would be exercising right now.

I did get up off my butt and scrub my kitchen cabinets. After the big dog came in and shook mud from wall to wall, and cabinet to cabinet. I realized that I shouldn't put it off any longer. And perhaps, just perhaps, it could count as exercise.

I doubt it, though.

Besides, my legs are sore. And they do deserve a break.

Soooooo, I'll call it willpower. Because that's what it is.

Did you take a rest day today?

Bitter, Sweet, or Bittersweet?

Last night before I went to bed, my husband asked me:

"Do you dread having to run 12-miles tomorrow, or are do you look forward to it?"

I guess I didn't have to think about it that long. With the awful winter we have had here in Minnesota, my immediate response was:

"As long as the weather is nice, I look forward to it!"

Was that how I really felt? I'm thinking it must be, because it was an immediate, thoughtless answer.

The question is, how do I really feel?

Running is so many things to me. It is a release. It is a mind-clearer. It can be a chore. But it is a challenge to myself. It would be my ultimate exercise of choice, if I could do nothing else.

A 12-mile run? In the past...and by past I mean last year...a 12-mile run would keep my awake the night before. I'd be thinking about what I would wear, how much water I'd bring, where I would even run 12 miles, what time I should do it, and how will I plan my day around it.

Today, it is more like something I just do. It takes little thought. I don't put that much pressure on myself. I kind of just let it go. The road will take me somewhere. The time of day and the weather? Well, that will just have to fall into place. This isn't rocket science. It is running.

I look do forward to my long runs now. It is almost like a drug that instantly turns my mood around. Dread? That is a harsh word. The last time I dreaded having to do a run was probably last September when I ran a half marathon on less than a few hours sleep. That run, I dreaded. But I went with a handful of girlfriends, so that made it less dreadful than I actually believed it would be.

Everyday Hal hands me a number, it just gets filed in the back reaches of my brain. Yep, I'll get it done. I don't think I could ever dread it.

As a side note, the "professional" photos for the Get Lucky 7K were e-mailed to me this week. I do remember passing photographers at this race and saying...out loud to myself...smile, Theresa. You always look too serious in your photos. Smile and wave. So I did.

Hmmm...does that look like someone who dreads the run? I think not!

Are there days where you dread running? Or do you just take that as an excuse to skip it?

Marathon Preparedness

Boy, I'm whooped. And I didn't even run today! But I kept very busy. This included P90X Legs and Back and a 6 mile treadmill walk. I'm hold out hope that it will actually make it to 32° tomorrow. Hal is calling for 12. My run will have to wait until about that time, too. The girls have horsey lesson. Plus, I figure there will be a better chance that it will be close to that temperature by that time.

I'm kind of looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. It doesn't happen often, especially if I try to get that run in before the girls' lesson. I think I need the extra sleep.

I bought myself a Mophie to keep my iPhone charged through a long run. I'm starting to believe that it wouldn't make it through an entire marathon, all the while playing music, checking my heartrate and running Runmeter all at the same time. The only thing is, I'll need a larger armband. Yeah, I can squeeze it in the one I have, but the protective flap won't close. It would be OK in sunshine, but quite a different story in the rain.

My phone usually makes it through a half marathon run, so it would be useless to test it tomorrow. I really don't hit any super long runs with Hal's program until April. This is a good thing. The weather should be better by then. Well, at least, one can only hope.

Do you run with a phone GPS or do you prefer a watch? 

Feeling Good 101

In my ultimate quest to get this whole healthy living thing down pat, the hardest piece has been trying to determine just what is healthy and what isn't. There is just so much information out there. And we have access to all of it. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone likes to quote sources from those who share their opinion. And everyone thinks they are right. It is overwhelming, confusing, and downright daunting to take on the challenge of determining the best way to live your life.

I run. This is true. I also do resistance training. It is the same program I have done for three years. Even my girlie doctor is surprised at my tenacity.

"You've been doing P90X for three years? With no breaks?" She asks, almost dumbfounded.
"Not a one...well, except for the few family vacations, and ultra bad viruses," I reply.

Why is she so surprised? I'm not sure. Am I expected to take breaks from regular exercise? I would have thought that I'd have earned a gold star for being so consistent. I'm completely healthy, she says, in "amazing" condition. Does this mean I deserve to be a glutton and return to my evil ways for a while?

I try to educate myself as much as I can. And I adjust my lifestyle accordingly, to see what might work for me. I've been laying off the alcohol to see if I sleep better and if the night sweats disappear. It hasn't been 100% better, but I'd say it is 75% better. I have also been reading "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis about the harsh effects that modern day wheat has possibly been having on modern man. Funny, but a lot of my other troubling symptoms I can relate to his theories. No, I don't believe I am gluten intolerant. But I do believe I get a reaction to wheat and gluten in the form of bloating and belly pain. The same goes for lactose and sugar. I have noticed that as I have cut these foods out of my diet, mysterious things happen. Good things like no more belly pain at night. Or that the rosacea on my face has all but disappeared. And that I'm more clear headed throughout the day. And my mood has improved. Can this be all a placebo effect, or am I doing something right?

Last year when I asked her about the night sweats, she told me to turn up the air conditioning. When I asked her about the belly pain, she suggested to eat more fiber.

"But, that gives me more belly pain," I told her.
"Then drink more water," she replied.

Hmmm...I run, and I lift weights. You don't think I drink enough water? I'm thinking that isn't the answer. I guess I just keep hearing my dad's words in the back of my mind. "If you want something done right, you have to just do it yourself." Perhaps all this information is a good thing, if you don't take it all too seriously and use it as a guide rather than gospel. And just try to determine what works best for you.

I can tell you that it is better to be somewhat over-educated and to be brave enough...or determined enough...to try an alternative, than to be floating out there feeling miserable and helpless in finding the answers to what ails you. I have to believe I'm doing something right. Even though everyday can prove to be a learning experience. And all the while the skeptics, or those who don't share your opinion, look down upon you like a bug on the sidewalk, wanting to halt your progress in any which direction. It can be looked at as being frustrating for most. But for me it is more of an experiment, a challenge...a quest. How healthy can I get? I guess we will see. For now, I feel pretty damn good. And proud that I did it all by myself.

Marathon Training: Day 31 (for those who care)
Today, Hal said to run 6. I did it on the treadmill, thanks to today's lovely Minnesota spring (NOT) temperatures. I started at 6 mph and worked my way to 7 mph by mile 5. It was a nice and easy run. And I got to watch the Biggest Loser as I ran. BONUS!

Marathon Training: Day 29

Gee, has it really been almost a month since I started training? It sure doesn't seem like that. Although, much of it has been done on the treadmill. Today was no exception.

Blizzard warning. You heard me. Blizzard warning. We really didn't get the blizzard, so to speak. But it did snow, and the wind did howl. And driving in it was not pleasant.

Today was a P90X day. Chest, Shoulders and Triceps, to be exact. It came and went. And then I got on the treadmill. Normally, Hal would call this a rest day. But I pretty much did that yesterday. Normally, I'd do a 90-minute treadmill walk following P90X, but for some reason, I felt like running today. Not crazy running...just light running. Is there such a thing?

I figured my regular treadmill walk is 4.2 mph, so if I upped it just a little bit, I'd be jogging. And can a light jog really hurt? So, after a 10-minute warm up walk, I jumped in at 5.0 mph. Eh, not feeling it. Then I upped it to 5.5. Better...good to continue the warm up. After 15 minutes or so, I went up to 6.0 mph. Now THIS is a comfortable running pace. To double check it, I turned on my metronome. Yep, this is reasonable.

And, I kept on running. My elevation was set to 1.5. So, it wasn't a cake walk. But it was easy. And I never struggled. And it was OK. The final 10 minutes, I upped it to 6.2. Altogether, with a 10-minute warm up walk and a 10-minute cool down walk, I did about 9 miles.

Brooks Pure Cadence-The Original

I gotta admit, that I love my new Brooks Pure Cadence. These are the original Cadence. I'm reading that the Pure Cadence 2 do not compare to the originals. Of course they don't. Already, the Pure Cadence originals are scarce. But I found a pair today at a ski and sport store, of all places. I think this could be the marathon sneaker. they feel much like the Brooks Launch, but they have the extra padding right where I need it at the ball of the foot. I'll know more when I run more than a half marathon in them. And I'll have an opportunity in the next few weeks, according to Hal.

Of course, my biggest challenge the next few weeks will be getting outside as winter rages on here in Minnesota. All we can do at this point is pray. Eventually, the snow will stop, right?

A hole in the clouds just for me!

That big hole in the sky is for me...I know it is!

The run that almost wasn't

Yesterday afternoon around 2:00, I started feeling like crap. I wasn't sure if it was something I ate, drank, or if I was just getting a bug of some sort. I'm still not sure. I knew it wasn't nerves or anything despite this morning's run. I was kind of bummed I had to go alone, and not knowing what the weather was going to do, nor knowing what the parking situation would be like, I really wasn't looking forward to going. But, I had signed up...I had a jacket, which I vowed I wouldn't wear until I ran the race, and I paid cold, hard cash to run...so dang it, I got up and ran.

My queazy stomach took me right through the overnight. The only good thing was that I knew I wouldn't have any trouble going to the bathroom before I left. The only trouble was wondering if I could STOP going to the bathroom before I left. I did...and I got out the door a little later than I had wanted to. But it proved not to be a problem because I got there early enough to get a great space.

The surprise was the amount of people running the race. I was quite shocked. I guess I expected a lot, but I have never actually been at a race where the turnout was greater than three or four-thousand. Even when the announcer said that there were 10,000 there, I was floored. Really? I set myself up at the 7:30 start gate because I didn't want to run any slower than that. But the only corral in front of that one was entitled "elite". I'm far from elite. And I immediately started questioning if I should be at the front of the line.

It wasn't necessarily cold. I dressed well. I was very prepared. Except I left my ice trekkers in the car. I really hoped I didn't need them. I didn't see any other runners wearing them so I went along with the crowd. I think if I had worn them, I'd have had a much faster finish time.

But despite the icy patches, I didn't fare too badly, running at a 7:54 pace, at least according to my chip time. Runmeter had me clocked at 7:37, which felt more about where I ran. I only say that because that is about what I did at the Polar Dash, and I felt like I put the same exact effort into this run...minus the icy patches.

It was cold and lonely when I crossed the finish line. And as I headed back up the road to fetch my banana and water, I saw a whole slew of people still progressing to the start line. Are you kidding?

I'm done! You haven't started? Oh, I felt bad for them. They have been standing out in this cold weather for that long, in their crazy but great St. Patty's Day outfits. Ugh! 

I was happy to grab my bag and get out. I was immediately chilled. And I stumbled upon a coffee shop almost instantly, but was discouraged when the line went clear out the door and around the corner. Oh well...just get in the car and go, I thought.

Then my husband started texting me...and my sister...and I just wanted to get to my car. I got a little turned around and had to walk longer than I should have walked, but it was probably just as well to loosen up a little before I sat down.

As always, I'm glad I ran. Now I can say I ran a "Get Lucky"...the most attended organized race in the Twin Cities. I may never do it again.

And I can wear the sweatshirt without guilt.

Get Lucky Results

No sign of spring

Is it really March? You wouldn't know it by going outside...at least here in Minnesota. The sun can fool you into believing it is way warmer than it is. I'm starting to think spring will never get here.

I made it outside, regardless. And as much as I complain about the weather, the treadmill is much worse. I just bundled up and got out there. And to be honest, I must have done a good job of that, because I wasn't all that cold. But when I arrived home and chugged down a mouthful of ice chards from the water bottle I took along with me, I realized just how cold it was out there. 32° was promised today, but I don't think we even made it to 29°, even in full March sunshine. Even in Minnesota, that is hard to come by. Run time temperature was 19°, according to the weather service...at 11:30am.

Hal called for 6 today. But I have a race on Saturday. It is the Get Lucky 7K. Last I checked, 7K is just a bit more than 4 miles. Saturday, Hal calls for 11. So, I just switched it all around. I figured, I'm out, I have gel packs, it is sunny, I feel pretty good...I'll just go for it today.

Really, it was a good run. At yesterday's running clinic, the instructor stressed the 180 bpm stride. I haven't really been consistent with the metronome training, so I switched it on today. Here is what I learned:

1. I hit this stride with tremendous ease running up hill. I mean...on the nuts! How crazy is that? Down hill and straight aways I really have to concentrate on hitting it just right.

2. Espresso Love GU packs are my FAVORITE.

3. Don't expect miracles on an 11-mile run following a round of P90X. Yeah, not the best timing to do both in one day.

But, despite it all, I had a good run. When I got home, however, it was already near 1pm, and I was quite hungry. I scarfed down a Shakeology for lunch and it chilled me to the bone. I was so cold, I developed an instant headache. So I looked around and saw my dogs lying in the sun. That is what I should do! So, I went off into the bedroom where there were no dogs, and laid in the sun. Boy, did that feel good. So good, in fact, I think I dozed off. When the phone startled me from my slumber, I was warm as toast. And the headache was gone. Good thing.

I think I look worse than I felt.

Any signs of spring where you are?

The day worth mentioning

Some days can be so totally empowering, you have to pinch yourself. This was one of them. They don't happen very often, but when they do, you wish that they would just last forever, and that you have the stamina enough to make it through forever.

It started at 5am. Yeah, I got up and was on the treadmill within 15 minutes. But it wasn't the run that made the day so great. It was getting out of the house by 7:30am, going to my classes, eating lunch in an empty cafeteria (it is spring break for the underclassmen), more learning, then off to a running clinic. Afterwards, feeling the full buzz from a full day and not nearly enough to eat...getting home and sharing the day's events with my husband and kids...and being so MENTALLY exhausted that I just have to share it with someone else. Namely, you...those who may read this blog. If I had known that it all would be so stimulating, I'd have done it years ago.

If you don't know yet, I've returned to school to get a certificate in web design, mainly so that I can put together some websites for my husband, but beyond that, to improve my skills as a graphic artist, and perhaps start a secondary career as a website designer. Learning is so freakin' empowering. It makes me  want to learn so much more. Once your brain starts, it is hard to shut it down. You just want to keep feeding it more and more knowledge.

Straight from there, I went to a running clinic sponsored by Newton at a local running store. Again, beyond empowering. Hanging and conversing, and learning with fellow adult runners...wow. It is very obvious to me that I need to get out of the house more. I must have sounded like a prisoner who was just released from jail...jabbering away like I used to as a kid, driving my family insane. It was fun. It was educational. It was inspirational. It was great to hear that I was doing so much right, yet still had room to improve. And it was great to be among others who carried the same interests as myself...and who get me.

On top of all of it, I had a great afterburn going on from P90X Chest and Back. The soreness I felt all day was almost like a feel-good drug. I'm feeling leaner than ever...and being away from home and the temptations to snack all day made it quadruply wonderful. (Is that a word?) Ahhhhhh.

I have no pictures to share, no words of wisdom, no sarcastic comments...just my awe inspiring day to pass along, and maybe motivate you to do something you have been waiting to do.

Do it.

But for those who care, back to the run this morning. It was a 3-miler on the treadmill...which started with a 10 minute walking warm up. I started at 6.0 mph and increased to 7.0 by mile 1. I ran .5 miles at 8.0 mph, then back to 7.0 mph for .5 miles. Then I repeated it. That was 3 miles. Then I did a .5 mile cool down walk. The run itself was just under 24 minutes. I was sweaty and happy.

Tomorrow is a 6-miler. I hope to take it outdoors despite what the weather brings.

How about you? When was your last completely empowering day?

Marathon Training: Day 20

I took it outdoors this morning. Call me crazy, but there was no weather. The temperature was above freezing...and the radar showed nothing nearby for a few hours at least. My husband was surprised I was heading out. And he warned me that the driveway looked bad. So, I pulled on the Ice Treckers at the last moment to get me off the property and up the big hill outside our driveway. I'm so glad I did. It was like grease. The snow had melted on top of the ice and there was no walking on it without the extra traction. But as soon as I hit the pavement of the main road, all was clear. I took off the treckers and held them for the duration...or at least until I had to make my way back to the house.

Hal told me to run slower than Wednesday. And I swear, I felt like I was. Yet, Runmeter told me I was going faster. I kept trying to slow it down everytime I got an update. It is rather clear that my "comfortable" pace is getting faster. At one point, I heard my sister, The Petite Pacer, say "It looks like you are running tempo intervals?" I thought to myself, "No, I'm just trying to run slower than Wednesday, and this is what that looks like!" Between the variable hills on this route, and me trying to run slow, I end up with what looks exactly like tempo intervals! Go figure!

I also ran sans glasses today, which despite the fact that I couldn't see, worked out great because there was nothing to fog up on me. That was kind of nice.

The sneakers performed like a champ. I'm real happy with them. Now I just have to see how they handle long distances. Hal calls for an 11-miler next Saturday. I'm running a 7k that day, so I may switch my long run to Thursday, weather permitting.

I also broke down and bought a Fitbit.

I was so excited to sleep with it last night, that in my haste, I neglected to read the instructions. I was supposed to tell it I was going to sleep. Ooops! Well, tonight is another night. My  6+ miler today was about 12,000 steps. Seems fair. I'm sure I'll add on to that throughout the day. I'm looking forward to seeing what my 90-minute treadmill walks turns out to be!

Are you a gadget junkie? What is your latest electronic must-have?

Marathon Training: Week 3

It has been a busy and exhausting week. I can't even remember when I posted last. There was a death in the family and my husband really felt the need to attend the service of his only Aunt. So, he made a mad dash for Michigan on Monday morning. Therefore I got the crash course on the Bobcat and snow plow as the biggest storm of the season was bearing down on us. This meant a delay in Monday's workout. But I got it done, plus a dog walk.

Tuesday, we were snowed in. Not knowing how the morning was going to play out, I got up at 5am to do my 3-miler on the treadmill. It was a good run. I aimed for a negative split, which I'm pretty sure I accomplished.

Wednesday, the same...early to rise to get the 5-miler in, plus P90X before getting the girls off to school. Hal said to run marathon pace, so I chose 8:30 to do the run. It was good. Maybe a tad fast, but tough for me to gauge on the treadmill. Either way, a good training run.

Thursday, I took it outside. The roads cleared up in a hurry despite the deep snow everywhere else. Hal called for 3. I went 5. Why? It was sunny. Good enough reason for me. I also tried some new treads, knowing that my Brooks Launch's aren't going to live forever. I opted to try the Brooks Pure Cadence. Unfortunately, I got some blisters doing the dog walk in my boots on Monday. So, this wasn't a good, true test. But, I think they will make a good replacement. I can feel the extra cushioning mid-foot. And I think it helps me with mid-foot placement during the run. I had to go a full size higher in these sneakers...up to a 9. I'm looking forward to going a longer distance in these. I'm pretty certain the Launch aren't cushioned enough to take me through a full marathon. These may do the trick. I chose a pretty pink. And because the Pure Cadence 2 is already out, these were a good bargain at around $69.

I think I need to make a trip to my running store and check out some of the newer Brooks models, just to be sure. They are having a Newton event that I signed up for on the 19th. I'm looking forward to that!

Today, I had class again, so I just did a 90 minute treadmill walk. Tomorrow, Hal is calling for 6 miles. Snow is expected again here, this time mixed with a conglomerate of other weather. It will be a treadmill run, I'm pretty sure. I'll be so darn happy when this winter is over!

And I didn't take a photo, but I'm back down to 115.6 this morning. Crazy. I'm reading a new book called "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis. I'm already hooked and I'm convinced that I need to give up wheat. I also believe I may have a late life peanut allergy. Remember that sinus infection I thought I had in January? Well, I'm now suspecting it is peanuts. I haven't had any peanuts for 2 weeks, and I've had no symptoms. The other day, I had a few peanuts, and the post nasal drip was almost instant. I'm going to give it a week and try the peanuts again to see what happens. Third time is a charm. If it happens again, I'll go in for some allergy testing.

I also have significant ringing in my ears so I plan to find an ENT doctor to have that looked at. My sister has had the same issue recently. I'm thinking I've got the same thing.

But, I'm keeping myself healthy, taking my vitamins, continuing my stretching, still off the alcohol, and now abstaining from wheat as well. The next few weeks will tell a lot!

Do you have any food allergies or intolerances? What foods do you substitute for them?

A 10-miler, forced rest, and a snow day

I awoke Saturday morning in a sweat. Literally. I was excited for the outdoor run. It was the hubster's turn to take the girls to horsy riding so my 9-miler could happen without having to rush out the door at 8am. And it is a good thing, because at 8am, it was 4°. Huh? But I thought it wasn't going to drop below 15°? Curses...foiled again. Well, I wasn't in any hurry so I allowed the clock to tick by.

I had an assortment of goodies to take along. A run longer than 6 miles gives me the opportunity to test new products. I never use them all, but variety is always a good thing, because you never know what you are in the mood for until you are out there.

Assortment of goodies

When I checked the trusty thermometer at around 10am-ish, the temperature had made it to where it was supposed to bottom out...around 15°. This run was happening regardless, so out I went.

Hal said to run 9 miles. I don't have a 9-miler mapped out on Runmeter. I do have a 10-mile route, so my intentions were to do that route, then if I had to walk the last mile, I had that option.

Heading out it was a bit breezy, and blowing right into my face. I was hoping for a break when I took the turn to the west, and I got it. So, off I went on a nice easy pace. at least it felt easy. I realized later that it was a pretty good clip, yet it never felt that way.

I stopped to take this photo. This red barn was just gleaming over the white snow and blue sky. Plus, it was gel time. OH, and I don't recommend Peanut Butter GU Gel. Too thick...blech.

My view at about the 3-mile mark

The turn around was the 5-mile mark. All is well. This particular route goes right passed the stables where my girls have their lesson. And as I passed it the second time, my husband met me at the corner.

"How's it going?" he shouted.

"Great!" I answered. "It's a great day for a run!"

"You aren't even winded!" He said. "That is amazing!"

Yeah, it is amazing! He pretty my reiterated my own thoughts. I wasn't even winded. What a great feeling.

I ended up finishing the 10 miles. Great run. But it whooped me that night. I might also add that when I got back to the house, my running beverage had already started to freeze. I guess it was colder than I thought.

Sunday was a forced rest day...and I say "forced" because it was another beautiful Minnesota day. But everything ached from my butt cheeks down. My P90X Legs and Back routine on Friday did not help the issue. I knew I needed the break and I took it. There you go...

This morning was a chaotic one to say the least. I had to learn how to operate the Bobcat and plow the drive lest we end up with a foot of snow tonight like they are saying. I ended up taking the dogs for their daily walk and there was already 4 inches of snow on the ground. This was trying. I made it just 3.5 miles in about an hours time. It was slow and tedious. But it was better than nothing. And the dogs needed it.

Me, driving the Bobcat

Tomorrow is a scheduled 3-miler. It will be a rough, crazy start to the day because we are unsure of what the weather will do, and I have a class tomorrow. If my neighbor can plow out the drive for me, I can get it done in the morning on the treadmill. If not, it will have to wait until I get home. I'm kind of hoping for a snow day. Then we can all do whatever the heck we want. In Minnesota, however, the snow has to be at least 4 feet deep to get a snow day. The threshold to let the kids out at recess is 10°, after all. These Minnesotans are pretty hearty folks.

Wish me luck with that snow day, would ya?

Toe caps, dinner, and other randomness

It seems as though the groundhog was wrong about the winter here in Minnesota. Come to think of it, I don't think he has ever gotten it quite right. It remains cold. And although I have figured out how to keep my fingers from turning white during my runs, I still have an issue with my toes.

I like my toe sox. They keep me from getting blisters on the undersides of my toes. But it means they don't stay as warm as they would in regular socks. And wearing two pairs, or even thicker socks is out. So, I came up with a novel idea. Toe caps! What did I do? I cut off the top end of my husbands socks, and just slipped them over my toes!

Why my husband's socks? Well, why would I ruin a perfectly good pair of my own socks? Besides, he'll never know.

They work like a charm! Now, if I could only market them...

Speaking of dinner...hold on. Did I mention dinner? Oh, sorry. Well, I made a great dinner tonight. I know my family appreciates it. I always hear "Great meal, honey" from my husband and my girls will tell me "this is a keeper, mom" which means I have permission to make it again. I guess what I'm missing is the fanfare. Where is the confetti? Where are the dancing elephants? Where are the roses? How about "Oh my god...that was the best meal EVER and thank you SO MUCH for feeding us such healthy, delicious meals and caring about our well-being to the point that you spend hours in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove for OUR benefit!"

Am I expecting too much? Well, whatever. Here is what I made tonight. Breakfast pizza. Whole wheat biscuit crust, rice milk roux, farm fresh eggs scrambled in coconut oil, onions, mushrooms, and wilted spinach with a six cheese Italian blend. Can you taste it? Well, it was the best meal ever!

Friday is weigh in day, too. After my sister posted an article about eating disorders of runners on Facebook, I wasn't sure I should even post this today. Am I a bit anal about my weight? Am I worrying about it too much? I mean, I'm just trying to run and finish a marathon. I'm not looking to make the Olympic team. I suppose my issue is that 5 pounds in either direction is a lot for me. It makes a huge difference in my running ability not to mention in how my clothes fit. If I were 5'8" and 140 pounds, it wouldn't make that much of a difference, but at 5'4", it is almost 5% of my total weight. Plus, I lift weights with P90X, and I know that muscle is way more dense than fat. So, a good chunk of this number is muscle. This is good. 

So, my new focus is to just keep my weight between 114 and 118. That sounds fair. And the weekly weigh in will just be a reminder to keep it there. Sound reasonable?

Today was P90X Legs and Back, followed by a treadmill walk. I'm determined to take my 9-mile run outdoors tomorrow, cold or not. The sun should be shining. And that should be enough.

What did you have for dinner tonight? Was there any fanfare?