Friday

November 30, 2007

I made it to the gym late today, and by late I mean 9:30 pm. I got through 4 miles in 42:30 minutes, and about 550 calories. I was really pushing, and as a result, the cheeseburger I had for dinner wasn't sitting well. Live and learn, at least I got in the run.

Thursday

November 29, 2007

Five miles on the elliptical.

(Short, sweet and to the point...I know)

Wednesday

November 28, 2007

Why won't this soreness go away? I was sorta productive at the gym today:
  • Blasted out 3 miles on the treadmill (430 calories)
  • Hector stretched me for a good half hour...it's definitely the only reason I could be productive. If I was romantically interested in him, I'd totally ask him to marry me. (Is it unethical to want to marry someone so that they can stretch you out all the time? I suppose there's worse reasons people have gotten married).
  • Up next, a half hour of core work.
  • Finally 4 more slow miles...but on the elliptical (500 calories). I wasn't about to mess up my oh-so-excellent stretching!

That gives me a total of 7 miles and 930 calories, and a hopefully a little less soreness. We'll see tomorrow.

Monday

November 26, 2007

So sore...so tired....so what if I was "over served" at the Bears game yesterday!! They one in overtime 37-34 and it was completely worth it. My work out was arms, core and a little legs. No running due to residual soreness. Back to running tomorrow.

Friday

November 23, 2007

Late nights...Thanksgiving dinners...Beer...

Not the things that make a champion. But long training runs have to happen. Since I wasn't feeling it...I'm tired; it's cold outside; my hips are tight and sore; I ran my 9 mile long run for the week on the elliptical at the gym. It was the longest I've ever done on a machine, one hour and 48 minutes which gives me perfect 12:00 mile splits and 1140 calories burned.

What's that? How am I feeling? Tired, and although the elliptical is supposed to be easier on your body/joints, my hips (especially the right one) are crazy sore and tight. I would be eternally grateful if anyone I knew would help me to stretch them out. That would be awesome beyond reason. It's practically orgasmic just thinking about it. (Yes, they're that sore.)

Training for the Disney 1/2 Marathon really did seem like a good idea in March...

Thursday

November 22, 2007

Gobble, Gobble!

On a cold and snowy Thanksgiving morning I rolled out of bed for my first 8K since Crazylegs in the spring. Thanks to my new Mizuno running pants (Breath Thermo ROCKS!!) I wasn't cold while running. I even had a new PR!! (I'm sure not having to wait for a porta potty during the race might have also helped). It was a great race, I loved the fact that there were runners with me the entire time. I know I'm slow, but it's nice to be part of a pack once in a while, even if you're in the back of that pack.

For the Lincoln Park Turkey Trot 8K, official time 55:53 with 11:15 splits.

Gobble, Gobble.

Monday

November 19, 2007

Today seemed like a long day...I almost didn't even go for a run; but then when I walked out from work and realized how warm it was I decided that I would go out and at least get in my 3 mile run. While I was out there, it was so beautiful (I was even wearing shorts--not just any shorts, PURPLE SPANDEX!! You have to realize how huge that is!!) that I just kept going and did one of my 5 mile runs. I'm not only glad that I got it done, but I'm also glad it was such a beautiful fall evening to get out there and run.

Sunday

November 18, 2007

It was a cold day for a run--actually it wasn't so bad once the run got started. I warmed up as I ran the race. Today was the Lincolnwood Turkey Trot. I ran in to Molly at the race, she was running the 5K with her mom. It's always great to run into a friendly face!

I had my new Mizuno running gloves which I was certain wasn't going to work. They're a new technology, called Breath Thermo. This fabric is supposed to warm up when it gets wet from training sweat. I was skeptical of the process, but after 3 miles I had to take them off they were so warm. I tucked them into my sweatshirt, and could even feel the warmth through the under shirt. I'd recommend them and I think I'm going to invest in a few more pieces for my winter training runs. With that kind of heat and the temps in Chicago, this girl is sold on the fact that it would be completely worth it!

To make the day even better, I had a 10K PR!! 1:08:57 which is an 11:06 mile split. Taking 2:35 off of the previous 10K PR of a few weeks ago! To add to my personal victory, this race had finisher medals!! Who knew? I've never run this short of a race that had medals! Yeah, hardware!

I love that I'm becoming a stronger more consistent runner. These PR's are showing me that these training runs do pay off. Sure I'm still slow, but I'm still excited when I've done better than I ever have before. Can't wait for the 8K on Thursday. I know that I'll have another PR...the last 8K I did was Crazylegs waaay back in the spring. My new goal for the 8K: under an hour. BRING IT ON!! (Can you tell I have the runner's high?)

Friday

November 16, 2007

I made myself go to the gym... it was only a 3 mile day, but I did it quickly. 3.1 miles in 32:44 and 436 calories. That's a 10:33 minute mile. I'm glad I pushed myself, because that 5K time rocks!! (For me anyway!)

Wednesday

November 14, 2007

I had a pretty good work out today after a much needed rest day. Quite motivated by a comment that a student made about my fatness, I really kicked my ass on the treadmill. I ran a total of 4 miles today. It was split by an hour workout of core and legs (hips are still killing me!!). My run was awesome, I ran each 2 mile stretch at a 9:50 ppm.

I haven't been able to hold that pace unless I was super pissed off!! Sure, I really pushed myself to do it (it was super hard!), and I couldn't do it for more than two miles at a time, but it's still a MAJOR improvement. I think that I might actually hit my goal of a 30 minute 5K sometime next year!

Monday

November 12, 2007

Sooo sore. Soooo stupid!

I worked out with Hector this morning...arms and core, and I was dragging ass. I also headed to the Lakefront Trail and managed to get the 8 mile training run out of the way. It was so ugly--two hours for 8 miles, so not cool. I must have walked 2 or 3 miles of it. I'm thinking I should have made today a rest day.

U-G-L-Y I ain't got no alibi, that run was ugly...ugh, ugh, so ugly!!

The good news is that I got the long run for the week out of the way!

Sunday

November 11, 2007

Today was the Sears Tower Climb. I started waaaay to slow. Final time: 37:08. That totally sucks ass. I wanted to be about at the 1/2 hour mark, not closer to 40 minutes. Next year WILL be faster. I promise!!

The good news? I got a new medal--oh yeah!! I *heart* hardware!!

Friday

November 9, 2007

I kicked balls on the treadmill, ran a mile in 9:50. Then I did an all over work out with Hector followed by two 11:45 minute miles for a total of 3 miles. I went in feelin' crabby (due to a crappy 8th grade class)and now I'm much better. Thank goodness for endorphins!

Thursday

November 8, 2007

It was absolutely gorgeous today!! I went for a run this morning due to it being report card pick up day. I ran about four miles (according to http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/, it was 4.38 miles). I did the Narragansett loop and two laps around the park. I wasn't really paying attention to the time, but I'm certain it wasn't more than 50 minutes. I felt like it was an easy run so I'd guess somewhere in the range of 11:30 minute miles.

My iPod wasn't charged this morning so I let it charge for about 5 minutes before I headed out. It was funny, because when I hit the 4 mile mark , the battery power gave out...guess I'm done for the day!!

Wednesday

November 7, 2007

Today I picked up my race packet for the Go Vertical Challenge on Sunday. I'm so PUMPED!! The pick up was at the Sears Tower...I'm totally making that building my bitch!!

Then I went to the gym and did five miles. The first two on the treadmill, then the next to on the elliptical, then the final back on the treadmill. My arches were starting to hurt, so that was the reason for the switch. I figure I burned something like 5 or 6 hundred calories, and I ran the miles at about 11:30 splits.

Tuesday

November 6, 2007

Today was just a tough day. Too much crap--I probably should have stayed in bed. I told myself that I had to go to the gym and do at least one of my scheduled runs, even if Tuesday is usually my rest day.

I had settled on the 5 mile run, but was actually feeling pretty good. I hit the 5 mile mark on the elliptical at 58 minutes even. I was on the elliptical because I'm swollen today, again. Even my toes hurt. Anywho, I plowed through the last two miles just to get this weeks 7 miler out of the way and completed that in 25 minutes. Total mileage: 7 miles in 83 minutes (1 hour 23 minutes) at a 11.52 mile pace (not a bad pace for a 7 miler!) and 900 calories.

This pooling edema crap needs to get taken care of--I'm thinkin' a second opinion is in my very near future. I can't handle much more of this.

Monday

November 5, 2007

Today I hit the stair machine rather than run. I did 80 floors in 16:33. I hope I'll be ok for Sunday. I'm sure I'll finish, but I want to be done in a 1/2 hour. Here's hopin'! 110 floors, here I come. I also registered for the Hustle (I only got the 1/2 climb...why is this event so frickin' popular?!?!) and the Aon Climb in January. After climb, I'll have done the three longest stair climbs in the United States--the tallest coming this Sunday!

I also worked with Hector today. I did some great work...lots of legs and core. I have a feeling I'm gonna be sore tomorrow, but I don't even care...I rocked it today!

Friday

November 2, 2007

Got to the gym right away after school and ran 2 miles--the first in 10 minutes and the second in 11. My shins and hips were hurtin'! Then I did legs and abs with Hector, thus further tightening my hips and hams.

I felt the need to complete my long run of the week, but due to the soreness and not wanting to completely kill myself, I finshed out 4 slow miles (52:21) on the elliptical. Total machine calories was about 700 and total time was 1:13:21...not too shabby for a total 10k time. I'm certian the only thing that made it so, was that I powered through the first 2 miles, but whatever works!