Weekly Training Update: August 20, 2010

Oh boy, it's the weekly training update and it's behind by 4 days!  I know my running partner, Tara, from 2 Saturday's ago from A New Ending is anxious what I might say about her so I guess I should attempt to recall my week leading up to the Ragnar Relay. 

So we left off last Friday when I hoped to get in a run but the weather just didn't cooperate.  I wanted to get in a long run Saturday so I decided it was OK. 

Saturday Tara came around 6 a.m. and off we went.  I almost can't believe I did 9 miles and it felt great!  New shoes, haven't run in 2 days, haven't run hills in a week, but the extreme humidity and heat was gone hurray!  The miles just seemed to fly by! I think I'm going to start enjoying running and chatting with friends now! :)

I had a few issues with this run but mostly successes.  First of all, I had to readjust my shoes a few times.  They were new so I had to break them in but mostly it was either they were too loose or too tight.  Eventually I got it right and it went just fine.   I am also running slowly still which is frustrating but I am hopeful still.  There are days I feel like I am just not going to ever be a "real" runner but I won't give up. 

SOWL Weekly Weigh-In

Finally I'm posting my weekly weigh-in!  It has truly been a busy few days with the Ragnar Relay Great River behind me I can start to catch up.

So this report is from last Friday. I can happily report a 1 lb loss in the previous week leading up to the relay. :)  Only one more pound to my next mini goal.  It is going so slowly but at least it's going.  I really had hoped to make it by Ragnar but it's OK.

I have 11 lb to go to make my SOWL goal by September 22.  That's a month a way and I hate to say it but I don't think I can loose 11 lbs in a month.  I am training for the half marathon now so I can't wait to see what kind of dent I can make in the next 11 lbs.  

I will make the goal by the time of my half marathon but I'd really like to loose it faster.  You never know, though, with all this running I just might get there. Follow my progress and see!  It's getting exciting now, like when you can almost see the finish line, it's time to sprint to the finish. :)

Weekly Training Update: August 13th, 2010

I wish I had kept this up as the week progressed but it has been a busy week so here I go trying to recall!  As of last Friday, I had visited the PT and we decided a pinched nerve in my lower back was affecting my leg.  Now I don't know if it is the whole story but I can say that concentrating on my lower back has been helping quite a bit.  

Friday I did my strength conditioning workouts and did not run.  The weather around here has not been cooperating nor has my time.  Saturday was a planned birthday outing for a friend.  I did not run that morning either, but just planned a day of fun.  I was still limping around a bit on Saturday so I was glad I took the time off.  Sunday was yet another day of no running.  I did, however, get quite a bit of cleaning done over the weekend!  This is something I haven't done in quite some time.  I planned the family meals, finished my laundry, cleaned the bathroom, and shopped for groceries.  Yay me!

Monday I finally got out there and ran.  I did a flat 5 mile around both lakes.  It was the first day I felt absolutely no pain or tightness in my leg until I started the run!  My leg wasn't happy with me for a the first few yards but it warmed up.  It was a hard, hot and humid run.  The weather is just not cooperating for a comfortable run this past week.  I was determined to just get back into the plan and go.  I did it late evening and finished after dark.  It was still hot and humid.  I finished the run with my first real ice bath.  I am not taking any chances!

SOWL Challenge #5: Little Rewards

OK, a couple more posts to catch up.  I can't continually be so behind, can I?  That's one thing about me, I will keep striving towards the goal no matter what.  I'm don't give up.  

This challenge is to discuss our rewards.  Do I reward myself is a good question.  I do plan rewards.  I have 5 lb mini goals.  As each approaches I do try to give myself a reward to work towards. This year one of my first rewards was a date night.  Rewarding myself with food is not desired but this was a sushi dinner and a walk in the park.  I figured it was healthy and didn't need to over eat. It was about spending time enjoying my evening out! 

It's been a while since that reward.  For my last reward I wanted a pedicure, manicure and another date night.  I never did reward myself, I've decided to do the pedicure and manicure for my next 5 lb mini goal because that will likely be after the Ragnar Relay.  If I don't hit the goal, I'll do it anyway, it will be a gift to myself for finishing Ragnar! I look forward to enjoying a foot massage and having my nails done. :)  

More and more I'm finding myself rewarding my fitness, not my weight loss.  I think this is working better for me.  For example, I want to go out and have a drink with friends but I won't do it unless I accomplish the daily workout, usually a run and sometimes some strength conditioning, or yoga.  After all it's the workouts that contribute to weight loss, right? 

So what are my rewards?  Short term rewards are that drink out with friends, a movie night, or a hot oil bath (not on long run days of course).  Longer term are pedicure, manicure, or a new running outfit. As I get closer to my fitness goals there are rewards like new clothing (smaller sized of course!).  I'm not sure what else I'd want.  I do like the spa day idea.  When I make my final weight goal maybe a mini spa vacation with friends.  :)

How I Decided to Run a Half Marathon

Although I'm overwhelmingly busy right now I thought I'd take the time to answer a couple questions from last weeks Distance Dreamers post. Yes, I am again behind on my challenges but life itself is a challenge and I'm trying to keep up. :)  Distance Dreamers is a source of motivation and encouragement for me since I have made the decision to attempt my first half marathon

What made you decide you wanted to run a long distance race?
Wow what a question.  I do enjoy a challenge. I'd have to think back as to why I thought I could.   It isn't the Ragnar Relay because I thought about running a half before I thought about the Ragnar Relay.  I guess when the bug bit it took some time for me to catch the fever.  I think the final answer is I know others who have done it and I decided I could do it too I just didn't know how to get there.

SOWL Weekly Weigh-In

It has been a crazy busy week and the one ahead is even crazier!  I have so many draft posts to complete but I just don't have the time. I'm sure I'll be back to blogging more after the Ragnar Relay. 

Well, it's time to report the weekly weight loss again.  I really didn't expect much out of this week and I didn't get much but I'm pretty happy with 1/2 lb.  With it being female hormonal imbalance week and the lack of running due to the crazy humidity a half a pound is good. 

 I'm only 2 lb from my next 5 lb mini goal which I'm excited about! My scale almost faked me out and said 164 but I knew it was a fluke and re-weighed at 166. 

I guess this is a pretty boring post but tasks are calling me to tend to them.  I can't wait to tell you what has been going on because there has been so much!  Stay tuned. :) 

Weekly Training Update: August 6, 2010

As I said in my post Crazy Week of Running, I wasn't sure if I was going to run Friday or not.  I did end up just doing my strength conditioning DVD which felt great!   It stretched out my leg which has been stiffening up on me all week.

Saturday I had planned my 3X run but I just couldn't get motivated.  With my leg being sore, and so many commitments I couldn't make the time.  I did completely enjoy myself listening to my friends Gregg & Natt play the Midwest Music Fest at the Lyon Smith Art Gallery.  Then I got to hang out afterward and enjoy my evening.  I felt a bit guilty taking the day off but I was able to bump my training plans to Sunday.  I really needed to rest my leg another day which turned out to be a really good idea!

For my 3x run I ran my Ragnar legs which are 6.3, 3.2 and 3.7 miles. Sunday I ran the first 6.2 miles in hot humid 2 pm weather.  It must have affected my brain because I should have ran 6.3 instead. My leg was a little more stiff after this run. After the first leg I  drank a Gatorade Recover, then I ate 2 slices of wheat toast, one with tuna, the other with smart balance chunky peanut butter, and a little later I had a slice of oh so yummy Green Mill Pizza. Then I managed to sleep 1-1/2 hrs before I woke up to get ready. 

Challenge: 80 miles in August from Tall Mom on the Run

I'm excited about a new blogger world challenge and I know I can do it!  Tall Mom on the Run has posted an 80 miles in August challenge.  I'm posting about it so I remember to email her on Sept. 2nd to let her know I did it.  I love challenges!  They are definitely a motivation to keep moving!

There is also an 80 miles in August challenge at Dailymile.  I also joined that challenge.  More and more motivations! Keep em coming!

SOWL Challenge #4: What are your motivators?

When I read this challenge I was touched to day the least.  It did bring tears to my eyes some.

I’ll start with my long term motivator.  I have never had a poor family medical history that I knew of until my parents got older.  We weren't necessarily a very fit family.  We were a family of musicians.  My father was an engineer and musician and my mother was a music major turned school teacher.  Music and education was our focus, not fitness.  I was the rebellious one that was more interested in boys and hanging with friends as a teen but mostly my family was about music and education.
 
My mom did enroll me and my brother in every sport but it never lasted for me.  My brother stuck with it more than me.  He was a basketball, cross country and track star in high school as well as valedictorian of his class.  Today he is finishing is PhD in Music Performance and is a professional trumpet player.  He is quite the over achiever.  We played soccer and baseball; figure skated and did gymnastics. I was interested in fitness but I never pushed it very hard.  I ran track and joined swim team in high school but only so far as for the exercise, not the competition.  I was never over weight in high school but I always wished I was just 10-15 lb lighter.
 

Canary Melon and Banana Fruit Smoothie

Finally I am posting a new fruit for SWOL challenge #2.  The recipe I decided to try is Canary Melon and Banana Fruit Smoothie.  This challenge is complete several weeks late but I've finally found the opportunity to try my Canary melon.  I was able to enjoy it after finishing my 3x run this morning.  

Ingredients:

1 - Juan Canary Melon, ripe

3-4 Bananas, ripe

4 tbsp. Ground Flax Seed (modified for ingredients I have on hand)

12 oz. Ice

Preparation:

This recipe makes approximately four 12-oz. glasses of fruit smoothie. If you wish to make a smaller amount, cut the recipe in half. If the melon is small and the volume in the blender container is less that you desire, the volume can be extended by adding additional bananas and/or ice.

Begin by washing the Juan Canary melon. Cut it in half. (If you are using a high speed blender such as a Vita-Mix, scoop the seeds into the blender container. If you do not have a high speed blender, discard the seeds.)

Cut the melon into strips.  Cut off the rind from each strip, and add the melon flesh to the blender container.

Add the flax seed to the melon in the container.

Peel the bananas and add the bananas to the blender container.

Add the ice, cover the container, and run the blender at high speed until the contents are creamy smooth, using the tamper as required.

Serve and enjoy!

My Ragnar Relay Training Diary Frustration

I am a little ticked to say the least.  I updated my Ragnar Relay Training Diary page last night after my run and somehow lost most of last weeks updates.   I think I'll just start posting a weekly training update here instead and of course still create posts for more eventful individual runs that I feel I must share!  

If you were following the diary, I will not be updating my progress on that page any longer! Stay tuned for my Weekly Training Updates. 

Distance Dreamers

I just joined a new group called Distance Dreamers created by Abbi at Higher Miles.   The details can be found here.

I am running my first half marathon in October and this is yet another motivation source for me!  I start training for the half next week, which overlaps with the Ragnar training schedule.  I planned out my training schedule here. 

As a part of Distance Dreamers I'll be blogging about my progress along with other first time marathoners and half-marathoners  listed here to mutually encourage each other on our journey.  Follow me through the ups and downs of my training over the next 12 weeks as each day brings with it new lessons learned.  This is why I blog, to learn, to be motivated and to encourage!

The Beginner's Half-Marathon Training Plan

I've been researching training plans for the half marathon and here is what I think I've decided.  I guess I'm looking at a 12 week training program.  That would start my training on August 8th for the Monster Dash 1/2 Marathon on October 30th.  Since I'm training for the Ragnar Relay Great River until August 20th, I'll have to incorporate a 2 week overlap but it's all running so it should be fine. 

Lots of great articles on training out there. I grabbed the Beginner's Half Marathon Program from coolrunning.com.  I modified to make Sunday and Thursday "REST" days instead of Monday and Friday.  Rest Day is really a cross-training day, not necessarily a non-workout day which I find cool actually because I really miss my bike! (a fun future post subject.)

So for the overlap I'll use the last two weeks of my Ragnar Training Schedule and incorporate a weekly Fartlek (4M). (A new term for me and yet another future post subject!) 

I really like that there are two rest days, unlike the Ragnar plan.  On top of the running, I have my strength conditioning workouts 3-4 times per week and Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday.  I also look forward to learning how to do the Intervals (for speed) and Tempo Runs (for speed and pace).   I really hope I can learn to increase my speed and pace.

 

I'm excited about trying to follow another plan!  I can't even express the joys I find with running from emotional release to weight loss.  There is lots for me to learn in this training plan and I look forward to it! Each plan and each race keeps me going and this blog is my accountability.  All part of my life changing journey of running it off!  First half marathon, here I come!