Training RUNdown: 11/ 19- 11/25

Happy Humpday! Only a few more days left in November and then it’s the last month of 2018?!? WOW I cannot believe it’s almost Christmas (or Christmukkah for us!). We’re getting our Christmas tree this weekend and then normally do one gift for Hanukkah (normally near the end of it) and then the remaining for Christmas. I LOVE the Holidays! Our decorations have already been up for about two weeks and adding the tree is the like the cherry on top for me. Anyone else feel this way? Last week was my last one without running at all, so I made sure to increase my strength and try to get in some type of cardio most days during the week (but also give myself some grace if I didn’t feel like doing anything). Still not wearing my Garmin watch to count my steps and that feels completely freeing!

Monday, 11/19: Swam .71 mile during my lunch break & stretching/ foam rolling after work.

Tuesday, 11/20: 20 minutes of spinning & 30 minutes of weights/ stretching. Yoga in the morning and then followed it up with an Epsom Salt Soak.

Wednesday, 11/21: Swam 3/4 mile during my lunch break & stretching/ foam rolling after work.

Thursday, 11/22: Turkey day! Nothing but lots of food, coffee with kitty cuddles, and a short walk by the lake later on. Today was the first day where I REALLY wanted to run outside. The temperatures were perfect and mentally- running just gives me that extra time to decompress (especially on a Holiday, where it’s normally always focused around family time & ours is far away..). Taking walks helps, but still not quiet the same.

Friday, 11/23: 30 minutes of spinning and 40 minutes of weights/ stretching. Also- LONGEST PLANK HELD EVER?!?!

Saturday, 11/24: Walked 35 minutes on the treadmill at home at 8% incline (2 miles) and 30 minutes of light weights/ stretching.

Sunday, 11/25: 2 minute Plank & went skiing! Also foam rolling/stretching at the end of the day.

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Working on Holidays- yay or nay?

Favorite early morning thing? —> COFFEE and kitty cuddles under the heated blanket : )

Training RUNdown: 11/12-11/18

Happy Humpday and the day before Thanksgiving! If you’re traveling, I hope you have safe travels. Anyone running a Turkey Trot? I’m bummed that I’m not doing ours, but know that my full 2 weeks off of running are completely necessary. I’m also all about switching up my normal routine right now- including taking an Epsom Salt Bath yesterday morning before work (it was amazing)!

Also my LONGEST PLANK EVER?!? No stops. No adjustments. Straight through. Maybe I will actually reach my goal of a 4:00 plank by the end of the month!

Brinner is one of my favorite things. Especially when Alex is away (he got back late last night)- it’s an easy way to get in a lot of veggies without much prep. I put in sauted spinach, onions, peppers, and cherry tomatoes.

ALSO- I NEED THIS!

Here’s a recap of last week’s training (sans running):

Monday, 11/12: Nothing besides this s’mores latte from Hash-House-A-Go-Go

Tuesday, 11/13: Travel day back home. Nothing!

Wednesday, 11/14: Took Stella for a few walks and that’s about it : )

Thursday, 11/15: More walks!

Friday, 11/16: 20 minutes of elliptical and 40 minutes of strength/stretching

Saturday, 11/17: Another rest day!

Sunday, 11/18: 20 minutes of biking and 40 minutes of strength/stretching

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What are your Thanksgiving traditions? ——> Watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, normally doing a Turkey Trot, and always always a Green Bean Casserole

Favorite things to put in eggs?

Ever tried a S’mores latte?

Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 16: 10/29-11/4

Last week was probably one of my worst training weeks ever. Just putting it out there. I know part of it was because I was sick and part of it was because I was tapering, but man oh man did every single run feel just TERRIBLE. My schedule called for 5 runs instead of 6 (which I did) and I did not get in my surges, I cut-out my last 2 x 3/4 mile repeats at 5k pace in my speedwork (because running fast while sick is just really not fun), and reduced down one run by 1.5 miles. Overall, I’m proud that I took the sick days and really slowed down on my easy runs to keep my heartrate low (since I was sick - my heart was already working overtime), but I would be lying if I said that it didn’t mess with my head a bit and have me readjusting my goals COMPLETELY. I’m still playing it day-by-day so I don’t want to make any rash decisions and I do still really want to mentally push hard in my race, but if it’s not there- I’ve got to be OK with that. More on my goals for this race coming on Friday!

Monday, 10/29: REST DAY / 60 minute Jumpboard Pilates class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/30: 5.54 miles easy 10:50 135’ up

Wednesday, 10/31: REST DAY

Thursday, 11/1: 2.51 miles at 10:09 19’ up, taught skating, then 4.5 miles at 10:33 47’ up

Friday, 11/2: 1.1 mile warm-up @ 10:03 21’ up / 3 x 1 mile at 10k pace (splits: 7:22 - good/ 7:41 (pretty bad)/ 7:44 (really bad) + 2 x 3/4 mile at 5k pace (skipped- I just felt like my speed was not there)) / 3.0 mile cool down (accounted for the skipped 2 x 3/4 mile repeats and instead did some easy miles) at 10:39 39’ up

Saturday, 11/3: 3.5 miles easy @ 11:15 on the treadmill because it was an icy/snowy/ windy mix outside + 30 minutes of strength (and 30s Plank for another day down in the #Planksgiving challenge!)

Sunday, 11/4: 9.38 miles easy on the trails @ 11:56 685’ up —> basically ran this in a blizzard on the muddest/ wettest trails. not so fun and it was definitely below 30* out. SO CHILLY. Probably my slowest long run for several years. I didn’t take a photo so here’s me before my run cuddling with Brady (also I kinda wanted to be here during my run too ha)

Elevation gain: 966’

Mileage: 32.53 miles

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Shaken confidence in the taper- how do you deal with it?!?

What’s the weather like where you are?

Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 15: 10/22- 10/28

Happy HALLOWEEN! How are you celebrating today? I’m celebrating by going to the DENTIST?!?! Ha. It’s my yearly tradition : ) Then I feel less guilty about eating all the Halloween candy ; ) Also it’s a rest day, soo I definitely deserve extra sugary goodness!

SOURCE

I cannot believe that I leave for Vegas so soon and that I’m officially in the taper! I hit my highest mileage week of this training cycle last week with 46.68 miles! It was definitely mentally challenging to continue to up the ante when I raced the Saturday before, but I’m proud that I pushed through and never gave up! Let’s recap the week, shall we?

Monday, 10/22: 6.06 miles easy @ 9:59 341’ up / Jumpboard Pilates class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/23: 1 mile warm-up/ 1 mi @ HMGP 7:34, 3 min rest/ 1 mi @ 10k 7:14, 3 min rest / 1 mi @ 10k 7:17, 3 min rest / 1 mi @ 10k 7:19, 3 min rest/ 1/2 mi @ 5k 6:55, 2 min rest / 1/2 mi @ 5k @ 7:11 (slower than goal pace of 7:04), 3 min rest/ 1 mile cool-down. Overall, I’m super happy with my paces and bummed I didn’t get that last 5k pace! Oh well, still improving!

Wednesday, 10/24: REST DAY

Thursday, 10/25: 8 miles easy @ 9:48 303’ up & 25 minutes of strength

Friday, 10/26: 6 miles easy @ 9:40, 6 miles at HMGP @ 8:05 (slower than my goal pace of 7:42-7:47), 1.61 miles easy @ 9:46. I’m a bit bummed that my goal paced miles were slower than I wanted, but still happy with my effort. 238’ up

Saturday, 10/27: 6 miles easy @ 10:36 110’ up / 30 minutes of strength

Sunday, 10/28: 6 miles easy @ 11:00 on the treadmill!

Overall mileage: 46.68 miles

Overall elevation gain: 1, 065’ up

Also here’s your dose of cuteness for the day : )

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How’s your week going?

When is your rest day normally?

Las Vegas HALF Marathon RUNdown Week 14: 10/15-10/21

Happy Wednesday! I’m really beginning to love Wednesdays since I’ve switched to having them as my rest days. Sometimes it’s really refreshing to just do a simple switch like this. I’m looking forward to sleeping in a bit, cooking a full breakfast (eggs/ avocado toast/sausage), meditating, reading (I took a book out at the library and when I tried to renew it, I saw that someone has it on their wait list sooo…looks like I’ll be finishing it by tomorrow night!- definitely the biggest drawback to library books, but it does also get me to read more which is pretty great), and hopefully some yoga.

Last week I had a GREAT week of training, exploring, racing, and just in general. I’m finally starting to feel fitter, faster, and gaining more confidence in my goals (after a few weeks of feeling “meh”, I’m really glad that I stuck it out through them). I hit my highest mileage week since I switched to the half (46.28 miles) and have just one more week of higher mileage to go before I begin tapering?!? I know I keep saying it, but time has gone by way too fast!

Monday, 10/15: Speedwork on the treadmill. 1 mile easy to warm-up/ 2 mi @ Half Marathon goal pace (7:45), 2 min rest, 1 mile @ 10k (7:22), 2 min rest, 1 mile @ 10k (7:16), 2 min rest, 1/2 mile @ 5k (7:10), 2 min rest, 1/2 mile @ 5k (7:02), 2 min rest, 1 mi cool down. 7.54 miles total. I definitely still have some work to do on the 5k times, but otherwise felt really strong throughout and pretty pumped to have gotten it done on the treadmill (which sometimes feels harder than outside (except that it was 9* out so yeah…indoors it was!)) - also on a Monday which is HARD. 60 minute coreBarre class at lunch

Tuesday, 10/16: 5.05 miles easy @ 10:16 715’ up

Wednesday, 10/17: 7.56 miles —>7 miles easy progression miles (splits: 10:39, 10:27, 9:39, 9:30) with 4 x :30 surges 413’ up (originally planned to do 5-6, but ran out of time!). I forgot how to use my watch (eye roll) and didn’t hit it for one of my splits, so I’ve got just the four - oh well! It was also still very dark when I finished, so no photos today!

Thursday, 10/18: 4 miles easy @ 9:43 36’ up / taught skating for an hour/ 4 miles easy @ 9:57 77’ up. 30 minutes of strength. I slept in this morning because I was feeling a bit worn-out, so I had to fit my 8 miles in around running errands/ teaching skating/ strength after packing up the car… it isn’t always ideal, but we still make it work!

Friday, 10/19: REST DAY —> travel day to Lake Powell!

Saturday, 10/20: RACE DAY! 1 mile warm-up @ 11:26 (included some running drills on the grass), 13.1 miles with first 1-6 miles easy @ 8:48, miles 7-13.1 working towards Half Marathon Goal Pace avg @ 7:58. Splits: 9:16, 9:03, 8:40, 8:27, 8:58 (singletrack trail), 8:26, 7:25, 7:58, 8:02, 8:23, 8:25, 8:01, 7:32

Sunday, 10/21: 4.03 miles easy at 11:22 113’ up at Capitol Reef National Park! My legs felt a bit sluggish so I just went out without music while the sun was just beginning to rise and enjoyed the quietness of the park. I stopped to take some photos (kept my watch going) and relish in the opportunity to experience a National Park by foot! How lucky are we (runners) to see places by our feet when many others cannot? It was really nice to not care at all about the time on my watch and just be present in the moment.

Total Mileage: 46.28 miles

Total Elevation: 2, 298’ up

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Ever ran in a National Park?

Ever used a race as a workout?

Ever read How Bad Do You want it?

Library books- yay or nay?