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Monday, January 31, 2011

January Totals

I am going to start a monthly post of my running tallies.

59.5 - January 2011 Miles
59.5 - 2011 Total Miles

6823 - January 2011 Calories Burned
6823 - 2011 Total Calories Burned

My miles goal for January was 55. I beat it by 4.5 miles! w00t! What a way to start the year!
February Goal - 70 miles

Week 4 Complete!

Well, yesterday marked the end of my 4th week of half marathon training.

I ended the week with a 6.2 mile long run yesterday morning. I was only scheduled for a 5 mile long run, but Positive A wanted to run a local 10k course...so we did it! My BIL joined us. It was a fun run. We took our time, and even made a pit stop at Starbucks along the 5th mile for some hydration and restroom breaks! The last 1/2 mile was a killer on me, but I think that's for 2 reasons...first, it's my furthest distance...and second, the last mile was pretty much all up hill. Yikes!

I still haven't been able to squeeze in time for cross training and weights, but I'm really not gonna get that hung up on it. If it happens, it happens. If not...the running alone will have to carry me through.

This week I ran a total of 17.7 miles. I spent 3 hrs 47 mins running and burned off 2934 calories. Here's to another good week!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Week 3 Complete!

Today marks the end of my 3rd week of half marathon training! I'm still going strong! I finished it this morning with a 5k race with some family and friends. I did my long run during the week.

Unfortunately, I still haven't done the strength and cross training that was scheduled for this week. Maybe next week. ;-) Maybe I'm hoping that the running alone will get me through. I barely have time to squeeze the running in, let alone adding in cross training and strength days.

This week I ran 13.64 miles. It took me a total of 2 hrs and 39 mins. I burned 2037 calories. w00t!

Too Cold to Hold 5k

Goal Time: 34 minutes
Actual Time: 33 minutes

Today I ran in my 3rd 5k. Positive A, my BIL, his GF, and my good friend Casey ran in it with me. I had such a good time. It was a bit cold out, but once I got running it was manageable.

I decided that I was just going to run this one for fun. I made my goal time just a little faster than my last races actual time. I was so excited because I ended up beating that time by a whole minute. I set a new PR for myself. 33 minutes. I overall goal is to get it down to 30 minutes, but I'm sure that is still a long ways off.

My BIL smoked all of us. This was his first 5k, and he just started running in the past couple of weeks, and he finished in just over 26 minutes. That was awesome! I had so much fun running with this group, and I hope that we can do it more often!

After the race, we went to The Original Pancake House for some yummy breakfast! Nothing like some pancakes and eggs to satisfy what I call my 'running hunger'.

Here are some pics of the day!

Positive A, Casey &myself in the car before the race.

Positive A & myself right after we finished the race.

My BIL, his GF and me!

Me smiling after the race.

Me & Casey after the race.

Me cheesin'!

The 5 of us posing after we all finished.

Miguel and the boys met us for breakfast.
Alison and I at breakfast.
Danny & Roz at breakfast.

Casey at breakfast.
Yummy breakfast!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Long Run

Since I am running a 5k on Sunday (with Positive A, mt BIL Danny, his GF Rossilyn and my friend Casey), I wanted to make sure that my long run got done. So, I ran it today instead! This weeks long run was 5 miles. I wasn't sure that I could do it, but I tried...and made it. It took me 1 hour to do it, but I am ok with that!

I tired out quicker today than in the past few days. I took a walk break at mile 3, another at mile 4, and then it was downhill from there. That last mile was a KILLER. I sprinted the last 1/4 mile, but I was soooo happy when I was done.

My shirt was drenched, my hair looked like I had dunked it into a bucket of water and my legs ached...but my spirits were high knowing that I had run my furthest distance. And then I thought...how the HELL am I going to run 13 of these?

I'll post about the race on Sunday!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

1/2 Week Update

Well, I'm about 2 1/2 weeks into training. Things are still going well. I haven't increased the mileage like I said I was going to. I've just been too busy this week. I've got 5 1/2 miles done so far this week. Planning on 3 1/2 more tomorrow.

I'm supposed to have a 5 mile long run on Sunday, but I'm running a 5k with Positive A, my BIL & his GF. Maybe I'll go to the gym later on in the day to run the extra 2 miles. I know that it won't be the same since it wasn't all in one shot, but I've still got to get the mileage in. I was actually thinking about doing the 5 miles tomorrow, but I don't think that I will have the time for that. We will see how it goes.

On a positive note, I haven't experienced any hip pain yet this week. Yay!

I do notice that I'm more tired after the runs. Even if they are 2, 3 or 4 mile runs. I think it's b/c of the total mileage that I'm running in a week. My thighs and calves get sore faster than they used to. I'm not complaining though. I feel great! I will complain that I'm not losing weight...but that's my own fault.

Since I've started running in September, I've lost about 22 pounds. I feel so much better. I'm kind of at a standstill right now, but I know that's because I'm not eating right. I KNOW that if I ate the proper diet, I'd be dropping weight like crazy. I just can't say no to the pizza & ice cream. Wish I could. I'm off of soda again (for about 2 1/2 months or so). I pretty much drink coffee, tea & water.  Ideally, I'd like to lose 17 more pounds, but I'd be happy with 7. Wish me luck with the eating right portion of my lifestyle!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Week 2 Complete!

Today marks the end of week 2's training. I completed it with a 4 mile long run. I ran the whole thing, and did it in 48 minutes. I'd like to shorten the time a bit, but hey, I ran the whole thing, so I'll take it!

I'm doing pretty well...I think. This week I ran 16 miles. I was only supposed to run 12, but had to squeeze in another run since I missed last Sunday's run due to bad weather. (That's the one that I was supposed to run at a park with my friend and BIL). I burned 2465 calories and spent 3 hrs 12 mins running.

The running is going well, but I'm not really doing the cross-training or the strength training that I'm supposed to. Maybe I'll get better at that in week 3. I'm just really really happy that I've found something that I'm sticking with and that I have goals for.

I'm only having one small problem. Every now and then my left hip is giving me some problems. Last week during one of my runs, it hurt so bad that I wanted to cry. This week, it didn't even bother me until today...and not even that bad. I'm hoping that it's just my body getting used to the mileage that I'm running.

This week, I'm planning to change up the mileage scheduled a bit. I feel like if I am going to be ready for this half marathon, then I need to have more mileage under my belt. The shorter runs during the week seem a little too short, so I'm just going to add a little more to them, and see how that works out.

This week I hit the 100 mile mark since I've started running. How exciting is that!?!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Running Day 3

Today I was scheduled to run 3 miles. I was feeling pretty good, chugging along. I always cover the distance and time on the treadmill with a towel b/c if I look at it, that's all I'll be focusing on, and it'll feel like the run goes on forever. Well, today, I was just running and running and running. I finally looked at the distance, and I had made it 2 miles...and was still feeling really good. I decided that I was feeling so good that I would run the whole 3 miles. I did it, and I felt so good after! My next run is the weeks long run. It's 4 miles this week, and I'm going to run it at a local park with a girlfriend of mine (Positive A), and my BIL. We are all planning on running the half together! I think the time will go by a lot faster if I have a couple of running partners!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Official Training Has Begun...

Like I mentioned in my last post, I blew the extra weeks that I had built into my training, so now the 'official' training has begun. I'm following Hal Higdon's training schedule, but I'm using Jeff Galloway's method of run-walking.

This week consists of a 3/2/3/4 mileage week. I think it should be pretty easy, since I can consistently complete 3 miles. I think adding in the 4th mile on Sunday will tire me, but with extra walking it should be ok. I can't seem to get past the 3 mile mark...don't know why. I'm hitting a wall too early on. The upcoming weeks scare me b/c I'm adding a mile a week pretty much.

Yesterday I did 3 miles, and was tired at the end. Today was my short day and I did 2 miles. My legs are sore today! Tomorrow I don't run, it's a stretch and strengthen day.

I'm hungry. Very hungry. I find that on the day that I run, I have this ravaging appetite that I can't quite fulfill. It's crazy!