Tag: Training

Bring on the tempo

After Sunday’s long run, I decided to take Monday off. Which turned out to be a good thing, my running partner canceled and I stayed late at work. Why are Mondays always so crazy? Tuesday was a little calmer and the weather was supposed to be good, so I took the scenic route home and ran from there.

I parked my car and set out with no real plan. I did remember to take water this time, woo hoo! After a little warm-up, I figured what the heck, let’s try for a tempo run. Now I realize that I am no expert and may never be super-fast, but I consider a tempo run to be comfortably hard. For me that would be a little slower than half marathon pace. Which is definitely faster than my easy runs or just average runs. Plus, when running a half marathon, you have that added adrenaline boost which helps with your pace. It’s a RACE after all!

After a short warm up, I ran for 5 miles. Nice way to start the week. I followed that lovely run up with yummy tacos at taco Tuesday 🙂 Maybe counterproductive but so tasty.

This morning I had a meeting to drive to. As I was driving down the freeway, I was checking out the half marathon route that I will be running in just over 7 weeks. I have run it before but it was a good refresher. I noticed that the first hill looks more like a gentle slope before it gets to the real hills. Can’t wait! On the downside, the meeting was held in a hotel conference room. It was sad walking across the parking lot seeing all the people in swim suits and shorts heading to the beach or pool. And me? I was in an uncomfortable pencil skirt and heels 😦 Not cool.

After the meeting I headed back to work to finish out the day. I headed to the park afterwards to get in a few miles. Today’s run was all about speed. I did 3 laps of the lake and I pushed; hard. I ended up shaving 3 seconds off of my most recent 5k PR. Not that I count it, I only count race PR’s. I figure that’s been measured by someone else and I don’t have to rely on my possibly glitchy GPS app. But still, I was excited!!! Maybe I felt like I had to live up to my shirt-

Felt like a smile, looks like a frown, oops!

Fast or Last? Because middle of the pack shirts just don’t seem to work as motivation starters!

I have a class tomorrow and Friday is my long day, so now for 2 days off. I have a race to look forward to on Saturday morning. I am excited, this race is supposed to be part hard pack sand, part road, part boardwalk and part soft sand. All that in just 3.1 miles? I have some friends running it as well, so it should be fun!!

Anyone have any big plans for the weekend?

The long run…

After Wednesday’s hot run, I went out Thursday with the goal of doing an easy 3 miles. We had another triple digit week last week, so I told myself that if it was hot, I would stop after 2 laps, so almost 2.5 miles. First lap out wasn’t bad, kind of hot but there was more shade than I recalled 🙂 Yeah!! Of course, I forgot my water bottle again. The good thing about running laps around the park? You pass your car again! I was able to get my water bottle after the first lap.

With the shade and a little breeze that picked up, I was able to finish 3 laps, so just shy of 3.5 miles. I had planned to do speed work but the temperature turned it into just a steady run. I was ok with that. When I run at the lake, I don’t have access to my lovely stretching wall, but there are workout stations around the path. I love this one for stretching at the end of the run-

I took Friday and Saturday off. I feel like I have been running nonstop for the last few months and unfortunately I don’t mean the good kind 😦 I know that I have a crazy week coming up as well, so I was so close to saying screw it, I am doing absolutely nothing this weekend, like the Slacker I am. Not even real running. I could get a long run in next weekend right? I would still ok with my training. Then I remembered that I have race next Saturday and a company picnic all day Sunday. The race is only a 5K, so unless I pull a 2-a-day, I wouldn’t be able to get the mileage in. So much for a lazy weekend.

So my mother wanted to meet at the track to get some miles in, but I so did not want to do 7 miles on the track. I have done up to 10 on the track before, but it gets rather monotonous. So I decided to run to the track (4 miles) and then do another 3 there. I left my house with plenty of time to run the 4 miles and meet up with my mother. Apparently my memory is faulty. I had run the route there before but somehow forgot that it is 5 miles not 4. Ummm, oops 🙂 It took me a little longer to get there than planned. But on the upside, that just meant less miles on the track! 🙂

Too bad it doesn't show the track loops. — Too bad it doesn’t show the track loops.

Along the way, I tested out some new fuel. Not too bad, but not cola tasting either, hehe. I miss my candy corns though.

So all in all, 7.5 miles done. Kind of slow, but I didn’t care about the pace today just the distance. It is also the first time I have run that far in a pair of shorts. Usually for long runs and races, I wear capris. I think I may be able to get used to it, not sure yet. On a side note, I went and bought actual running underwear? Um, did I miss the memo that said you needed a girdle to run? Could they go any higher? Awkward, but hey, if I ever have to wear a tight dress, I have something to put under it now 🙂

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Anyone have a good race or run?

Wardrobe oops!

Sunday marked 10 weeks to my next half marathon and 8 weeks to my next 10K! If I didn’t have such high PR hopes (goals) this might not be so nerve wracking. I have a 5K planned as well, but that is just for fun 🙂 I finally have some friends running with me!!!

Sunday I headed to the track to get in a few miles. I ran a pretty good 5K and decided to try some quarter mile sprints. Ha ha, that was funny. So on the first one after I restarted the Nike app, it said that I completed it in 1:42, so that would break down into a pace of 6:48 per mile. Yeah, ummm, no. I almost started crawling after that, I was breathing so hard. I completed another one but not at that pace. All in all, I ran 4 miles.

Then I went and helped my mother clean up and get the tennis courts ready for the new school year and season. There was a crank (holds the net up) that tried to kick my butt, however, I had a hacksaw and I won!! I then completed some really slow ladders. I managed to do them right this time but very slowly, I had to count out the foot work! But perhaps, I got a little more sun than I had anticipated, oops.

After work, I hit the park to get in a few miles. Having run Saturday and Sunday, I normally may have taken today off, but I am having a girls night tomorrow, and I am planning on Eating 🙂 So had to get a few preemptive miles in.

Ever have one of those days where everything fits all wrong? Yeah that was me today. I set out from the car with the belt that I have been trying to break in. Yeah, no thanks! It was either riding up my waist or down below my but but managing to pull my shorts up at the same time. What? I began the run in perfectly respectable shorts that tried to turn into racing briefs. Umm, Shalane Flanagan I am not. So to anyone on the path tonight who saw way too much of my upper thighs, I apologize. The belt was driving me so crazy, I actually stopped at my car at the first pass and switched to an armband. Luckily, I keep lots of spare gear in my car 🙂

I pulled a nice 3.5 miles at a good pace actually. Which was all I could take, the sports bra was so not friends with my sunburn.

So Monday run done! And good times planned for tomorrow, hope everyone else has something to look forward to this week!

Anyone else ever have wardrobe issues while running?

I run, why can’t I do this?!

Apparently working in a town that rarely gets above 72 has killed my heat resistance. Living in a town that averages triple digits in the summer makes that a problem. Today’s workout was only around 90, but holy hotness I was dying.

Hit the track with the intention of doing 5 miles. Ha! I maintained race pace for 2 miles, then did some speed work for the remaining 2 miles, completing only 4. I think I finally started to notice a difference in my running after 27 days of squats. Running the straights, I felt like my legs were working more efficiently even if the heat was kicking my butt. Of the course, the breeze didn’t pick until I was done running. After running, I decided the grass looked nice and comfy 🙂

So my mother was there too, having absolutely no problems with the heat. Then she spends most of her time in it, she’s the tennis coach. Before we left, she challenged me to do some ins and outs? Umm, do what now? So we went over near the tennis courts, where I saw ladders painted on the ground. I got it now.

So she demonstrated. I thought, “sure no problem”. Ha!! I couldn’t even complete one. So it’s an in then out pattern with each foot, so 1-2 in, 3-4 out, repeat. I kept turning it into hopscotch! She does it 5 more times and I fail every time. I thought I was somewhat coordinated, apparently not 😦 It was a good thing no one else was around, because the more I messed up, the more colorful and vocal I became.

New goal, complete these damn ladders. Will attempt it again next weekend, fingers crossed! Anyone else have problems with these or is it just me?