Category: Run!

A Wave Rider Interval

As Monday was a holiday, I was able to get in a good 5 mile run outdoors instead of having to head into the gym. Prior to that I went to lunch with my mom and then helped her prune a bunch of oleanders. We do this every year and we always use a ladder in ways we shouldn’t while holding shears. This year was no different. I always crack jokes that it’s a great arm workout. Apparently a little too great, between that and puppy pulling on Sunday and Monday, my arms are so sore! Hmm, maybe I should check out the other equipment available at the gym, not just the treadmill.

My training plan called for 5 miles on Monday. I headed out early afternoon so I could get the miles in and then go get the puppy for walk attempt #2. The first part of my route takes me past a cemetery and I run if no ones there but if people are visiting close to the side, I walk. For some reason my mind thinks that more respectful. 🙂 This day someone was blowing the roads in the cemetery and next to it with a motorized golf cart looking blower thing. I ran into a dust storm! I came to a hacking, coughing halt from all the dust I aspirated in. My boss happened to call right then and I answered since I wasn’t running anyway, she thought I was dying sick again. I had to convince her it was just the dust! I ended up walking the first 1/2 mile, so I started off slow.

Even once I got going, I could tell I was tired. Both my legs and my breathing felt labored. The plan was 5 miles with 4 easy and the 5th faster. My 4th was faster than mile 5, oops. My legs felt heavy, and my stomach was telling me that lunch had been a little too big. By the end of the run, I could feel that I had a cranky toe as well. Sure enough, it was a little bloody. Ahhh, the joys of running. 🙂

I then picked up the pup and drug her down the driveway. Actually she trotted right down and halfway down the block before she realized what was going on. Then she just plopped flat on the sidewalk. With some coaxing and strong arming, we managed to walk a mile in 22 minutes. Yikes!!! I think people find us amusing. There was a man standing on his deck at one point laughing as we passed. Or as I drug her past. We then walked past a bigger version of her and she wasn’t sure how to process that; it was so funny. At the mile point, we turned around and took a slightly shorter route home. Same as the day before, the second we were headed back, she was the model of a perfect puppy behavior. We made the .84 mile back in 11 minutes. And yes, I timed it this time. 🙂

My reward for the almost 7 miles? A super yummy homemade smoothie-

Today called for a 3.75 mile interval workout. I knew it would after work and on the treadmill but I was ok with that because I still needed to actually run in my new Wave Riders! I also had a new armband to test out. I hate armbands as they usually make me bleed but I need one for the gym. Plus since switching to the iPhone 5s, all my old ones had the earphone jack in the wrong spot. I picked up a new one when I was at Sports Authority a few weeks ago.

The shoes felt amazing while driving but kind of awkward while walking. It made me a little nervous. I don’t usually run 4 days in a row, so even though I was going to follow the interval that Nike laid out, I wasn’t going to push it. Plus I wasn’t sure how the shoes would feel. I ran a mile warmup- 2 minute walk then 6.2 for the rest. Interval 1 was .75 of a mile at 6.6, then a .25 of 5.5. This was followed by a planned .75 at 6.6. I did all this then upped it to 7.1 for .25, not on the plan but I just felt like it. Then is was a cool down of .75 at 6.00. I shut Nike off at 3.75 and slowed the treadmill to 4 and walked until 4 miles or 40 minutes, whichever came first. They came at the same time, sweet!!!! The intervals were very smooth, now if I can just up the pace, I can hopefully break 2:00 this spring!

The shoes felt pretty good actually, I need to get in a few more miles to really try them out. Some street miles too. The armband held up well too. No bleeding so far, woo hoo!!! It could have fit a little snugger, though.

Tomorrow is hump day and a rest day!!!!

How is everyone’s week going so far?

Conversations with a puppy

It is pathetic how sore I was after yesterdays run. My thighs were making themselves known to me all afternoon and this morning. They say you can take a week off with no real harm but that apparently applies to people much much fitter than myself. This theory was reinforced today by the picture below. Seriously, what kind of talent does it take to kick yourself while running?

I even got my sock dirty :( — I even got my sock dirty 😦

Today, I succeeded where I did not yesterday and completed a full 4 miles. And yes, this did involve running the street at the bottom of my driveway an extra time. Other than that, I ran the exact same route as yesterday and was able to take 3 minutes off my time. Woo hoo! I still had to use a few walking breaks. Normally, I wouldn’t take water for a 4 mile run but I did yesterday and today. In the past whenever I have been sick, my cough tends to linger for a few months. Nice, right? So I will be taking water with me on every run now and especially to the gym. I get to be the creepy person with the creepy cough now. 🙂 I apologize to everyone in advance.

Kind of redundant, but I love playing with new toys and apps

My run felt pretty good today. Other than kicking myself coming down a hill at one point, it was a happy run. Well, there was a creepily parked van at one point, but they were just lost, I hope. After my run, I walked a bit and stretched out. My mom hasn’t been feeling well, so the plan was for me to take Zoey on a walk after my run.

We made it just over a mile. I actually thought it was less than that but Google maps says 1.2 miles, so yeah! This was the first time she’s ever been on a walk without my mom and I think she was having separation anxiety. I was literally pulling her at numerous points. She would walk 10 yards and sit down, I’d finally get her going and we would start the process over. About half a mile in, a runner passed us and Zoey was eager to follow her. I asked her why she wouldn’t even walk for me but would run with a stranger. The runner thought that was hilarious, and I realized I was having a full on one-sided conversation with a dog. We made it to a nearby elementary school before turning around. I managed to kick the same spot on my ankle again as well.

Once she figured out we were headed back to the house, she was the perfect running companion. We did the return half mile in 1/4 of the time it took the first. In the end she was very excited to see my mom. Hopefully, next time we will get a little farther!

But I'm cute right? — But I’m cute right?

My goal this week is to get back on track with my training plan. I am giving myself until next weekend to see I will be half marathon ready by February 15. If yes, then I will register, if not, well I found a 10K and a 15K on the same day 30 miles in the other direction. So a race will be chosen by next weekend. 🙂

How was everyone’s weekend?

Any dog running tips? I so want to be able to borrow her for runs.

Oh, the fresh air!!

I made it to work on Friday, woo hoo! Man, that was tiring. My first phone call left me in a coughing fit. Apparently I hadn’t said that many words together in a few days, ha! 🙂 By the time work was over, I was done. I made the drive home and was off to try and sleep more before work this morning.

Yesterday, I received a smile in the office mail. I haven’t been able to see one of my friends since before Christmas as we haven’t been able to make our schedules work. 😦 Her Christmas present has been in my car for the last 4 weeks. She sent mine on Friday. Such an awesome surprise on a tiring day!! Every runner’s dream, right?

Or one of them at least . Now I just have to decide which race to use it on. 🙂

Today was my Saturday to work so I was up early heading out the door. Normally, this time of year the drive would be green and pretty. Today was just shades of brown. Seriously where is the rain?!!?!?! And I know I will complain when it actually does happen but where is the cold? It was 80 something when I left work and mid seventies when I got home.

After hitting Target and stocking up for the next week, it was time for a run. I had to have a little conversation with myself about it. I could use one more rest day right? No. I was cold, even though if it was warm outside. Wear layers. What if I started coughing? Take water. It’s gonna be hard. Take walk breaks. The floor looks perfect for a nap. Move it, lazy!!! Plus, running today was about more than just me- #megsmiles.

I changed into my brightest clothing and went out for a run. After a week of absolutely zero exercise and 4 days being sick, it was harder than I would have liked but I told myself I could walk anytime the going got tough. And by that I mean my breathing, if I started huffing and puffing, slow down!!!! Especially considering I am still slightly congested. But then when am I not, stupid deviated septum.

It felt good to be outside and moving. My legs were a little stiff but that was to be expected. I initially planned for 3 but added in an extra loop. Overall I think I took 4 walking breaks and was running slower than usual, but it was not the run I had been dreading. Even just putting on my running clothes perked me up. That’s not to say I wasn’t tired. As shown by my complete lack of drive to fully complete 4 miles.

Hmmm, so close to 4, but I was not doing that driveway again, nope, not happening. For today, 3.92 was just fine. I made sure to stretch really well after my run as I hadn’t done much moving lately. Hopefully I can get in a few miles tomorrow as well, plus I still haven’t tested out my new shoes! I’m such a Slacker! I feel like they are taunting me from the box.

Who ran today?

Good luck to all those racing tomorrow!

Going on a week now

I last ran one week ago today. It was a pretty good 4.5 miles and I was looking forward to a long run a few days later. I had a plan, right?

In my previous posts I talked about being sick. Ugh, but I was optimistic that I would be better soon and able to get back to running. Tuesday morning I woke up and still felt crappy. My boss had a morning meeting so I made the trek into work, hoping I could leave when she arrived. I was hoping that another half day of rest would be enough to kick whatever was wrong. By late Tuesday evening I knew that was wishful thinking. 😦 I called in sick for Wednesday. Let me clarify by saying that I don’t call in sick. I can count on one hand with fingers left over the times I have called in sick in the last 7 years. Same for the previous job of 10 years. Now with my previously mentioned stomach issues, I have gone home early or come in a few hours late. But calling in? Very, very rare.

The plan was to get as much sleep as possible on Wednesday and feel better by Thursday. I woke up at 8:30 AM, and could not fall back asleep. WTF? I made it from the bed to the Comfy chair. My eyes were so swollen I could barely see (TMI?). I thought maybe I should call the doctor. So an appointment was made for 4:00. I dozed off and on in the chair until then. I was feeling really rough, so my pops had to drive me to the doctor. My mother later drove me to get my prescription. Sad but true, and I am very thankful. I looked like such a creature I kept my sunglasses on in the waiting room until I was in an exam room. That’s when I noticed this-

Even with beginning the medication, today was another sick day. 😦 More time spent in the chair with a blanket. Temperatures outside hit a record high for January (90º!) and I was covered up with a blanket. I did get some reading in though-

After that, it was time for an Arrow marathon with my eyes half shut. Now my goal is to get some more rest and hopefully make it to work tomorrow. Then, work on Saturday. Fingers crossed I will feel up to some really slow miles this weekend. Which, thankfully is a 3 day weekend. I have to run off the almost full bag of Lay’s I have consumed in the last 3 days. It figures that I get sick and crave crap food.

Good luck to everyone running Disneyland this weekend!

Thanks for listening to me whine 🙂

4 days and a wedding

I really wanted that to say miles not days. Actually I wish it said something around 8-10 miles but any miles would be great. But no, moving on to day 4 of icky-ness. Actually as long it is taking me to type this, it may be day 5.

Yesterday was day 3 of rest, I so wanted to run but the pressure in my head just wouldn’t quit. I just wanted to cuddle up with a blanket in my Comfy chair. But I put on the makeup (a bit) and did my hair and dragged myself off to a wedding with my mother. After she raided my closet that is.

Just don't look at my eyes... — Just don’t look at my eyes…

Made it through the ceremony only having to avoid one coughing fit. I probably shouldn’t have tried to sing along. The wedding was cute, so were the couple getting married. 🙂 Then it was off to the reception and along the way I discovered I had lost my sunglasses in the church. Ugh! I went back to look but no luck. The reception was actually at the lake I like to run so I was able to check out the conditions. Verdict- the lake is a puddle. I feel bad for the ducks. 😦

The reception was lovely and awkward because I had no idea who anyone was. But I didn’t feel up to chit chatting so it all worked out, right? My mother wasn’t feeling well either so we left shortly after giving the bride and groom our best wishes. It was then home to crash.

This morning was no better but I was stupidly optimistic so I packed all my gear anyways. Ha! I didn’t even make it through all day at work. I made the drive home, and crashed in the Comfy chair with a blanket. Yuck. Nike also told me just how much of a Slacker I was last week. I missed 3 runs last week. Ouch. Being sick sucks and this week isn’t starting out so great.

Ok, that’s enough moping by me, maybe I should get some sleep. Does dreaming about miles count?

Thanks for listening 🙂

How was everyone’s Monday?

For those who ran Disney, how’s the recovery going?