Motivational Monday: 9.28.15

First, I can't believe I didn't post at all this last week.

Well, I guess I sort of can. I've been crashing on the couch mid-task because I am just trying to do too much. I've been trying to find a balance between runner, mother, wife, homemaker, teacher, student.

And it feels nearly impossible. Needless to say it wasn't my greatest week. I ended up choosing to spend most of my evenings trying to get caught up on my student tasks (for my graduate classes), and fell asleep on the couch more often than not last week.

I know where that leaves me. I know it doesn't play to my strengths. That it does play with my mind and my confidence in myself.

Going to focus this week on trying to find a balance. Not to say I will end balanced, but at least not let life be so one-sided!

I am glad it is the start of a new week. And later this week, I can wipe the slate clean after a transitional, inconsistent month.

Motivational Monday: 9.21.15

Just having something to strive for makes us - or me anyway - work harder. It burns a little bit when we don't reach our goals, but it keeps us going after it. Right?

I'll post a full recap this week, but I didn't reach my goal in Sunday's half. Now I get to maintain my training and try again next month.

What goal are you currently working towards? As Olympian Carrie Tollefson says, "Get After It!"


**just to be clear - this post is in now way, shape, or form connected to Carrie Tollefson. However, I do think it is cool that I've met her, and she is part of our extended family's group of friends!

Race Goals

Before I get into race goals for the weekend, let me apologize for the lack of posting the last two weeks. I usually schedule a few posts; like my Motivational Monday and Weekly Wrap-Up over the weekend. Then try to write the one for the next morning the night before - but college course work and paperwork have had other plans lately. So the beginning of each week has been post heavy, and then you don't hear form me for a few days. I'll settle in and figure it out (I hope anyway!).

****
Well, here we are. Race weekend. Sunday morning I will run the Med-City Fall Half.

I have mixed feelings about this race. I knew that coming back from my hiatus would be tough. Summer is one of the easiest, yet one of the hardest times of year to train! Naturally, that meant training this summer has been inconsistent. Not to mention that I lost a good amount of my fitness between January and May. Although this will be my 5th half-marathon, it's almost been like training for a first. You don't really know what to expect or whether you can cover the distance.

It is really hard to even admit that I only got two runs in this summer that were over 6 miles; I ran 8 back on August 9 and 10 just this past weekend. Not good.

And on top off it, the last three of those 10 on Sunday were tough. Real tough. I did a short shakeout run on Wednesday and my legs were tired and heavy! I hope that is not a sign for Sunday.

I don't know what to expect! But I am anticipating it's going to be hard. I am hoping for a lot of race adrenaline, some luck, and the fact that I know I can do this. I've done it before. Just hoping I give it my best all the way through. I don't want to finish knowing that I mentally gave up at mile 10 ....

So - if all goes perfectly, my goals are:

A Goal: Finish between 2:25-2:30 (my half PR is 2:23)
B Goal: Finish between 2:30 - 2:40
C Goal: Finish faster than 2:45:43; my slowest half to date

Not that I want to give myself an out before trying, but if nothing else I can look at this as a training run for my October half! We'll see how it goes!

Anyone else running this weekend?

Weekly Wrap-Up: 9.7.15-9.13.15

Monday, 9/7: I tired to go into Labor Day with the thought that it was an extension of the weekend, and I should get my missed long run in. I tried. I really did. I was dressed in running clothes even. But then the stress of not being ready for the school year crept up. I ended up going to pick up a few things for Ava and, more importantly (?) for my classroom. As much as I needed to run, I also needed to take care of the to-do list.

Tuesday, 9/8: After a weekend of little energy and a lot of school (work) prep, I had fallen being on getting assignments for my Masters done. I skipped the Y, and submitted my assignments 20 minutes before the submission deadline. Whew.

Wednesday, 9/9: If I counted right, it ended up being an unintentional 10 day break from running. Not good, folks, not good. There have been times that has played into my favor, and I've gone out on fresh legs running faster than expected. Tonight was not one of those runs. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. I ran 4.7 miles in beautiful fall like temps!

Split	Hours:Minutes:Seconds Time	Miles Distance	Minutes per Mile        Avg Pace
Summary	1:00:12.8	4.79	12:34
1	12:49.1	1.00	12:49
2	12:26.4	1.00	12:26
3	12:33.1	1.00	12:33
4	12:23.5	1.00	12:24
5	10:00.8	0.79	12:42

Thursday, 9/10: I intended to go to kickboxing and kettle bells, but left work later than I anticipated. Made it to just kettle bells. We did bosu with a lot of upper body work, and a few set of lunges.

Friday, 9/11: Planned rest, and although I thought about making up for some missed workouts I went home and crashed that night!

Saturday, 9/12: 50 minutes of Cycle Box

Sunday, 9/13: 10 miles! Finally hit double digits after a rough five weeks that included my bum foot in the middle of August, three weeks out of town (including the weekend of my recent 10k), and a humid, stressful weekend. I wish I would've gotten it done earlier and built my mileage up smarter. But, I can't change it now. The first 4 miles went well, 5 was starting to feel hard, so I gave myself a little bit of a recovery. I knew I shouldn't have done that. It was so hard to get back to the paces I had the first half of the run. 7&8 were tough, 9&10 edged on miserable. Most of it mental - my mental game was weak. Hope it's not a preview of Sunday's half!

Split	Hours:Minutes:Seconds Time	Miles Distance	Minutes per Mile               Avg Pace
Summary	2:09:03.0	10.01	12:54
1	12:49.4	1.00	12:50
2	12:12.9	1.00	12:13
3	12:14.0	1.00	12:14
4	12:24.4	1.00	12:25
5	12:12.5	1.00	12:13
6	13:06.8	1.00	13:07
7	13:07.3	1.00	13:07
8	13:04.2	1.00	13:04
9	13:35.2	1.00	13:35
10	14:11.7	1.00	14:12
11	:04.5	0.01	12:33

****
Still not my best week, but better than the last. Need to just keep approaching each week with the intent of improving and putting forth my best effort. Before I know it, this routine will be second nature.

Training Total:
2 runs for 14.78 miles
2 group fitness classes (kettle bells and cycle box)

Time: 4:39:14

Motivational Monday: 9.14.15

I've posted this one previously for a Motivational Monday; but it is an applicable message again.

It is officially race week. My last month of training has been less than par. I am nervous I am not ready. I am disappointed I didn't follow the plan more closely. There are things I could have changed, and there were things out of my control. Right now, what matters is that I give it my best effort. I need to remember I am stronger than I often give myself credit for.

It is also another reminder that our new routines - school starting, me back at work, my schooling - will be challenging, but not impossible.

One day at a time. One mile at a time.

Kindergartner!

I cannot believe she started Kindergarten yesterday. I had my bouts of emotion over the last week, but we both handled drop off pretty well. I only broke down once yesterday at lunch, when a group of teachers were talking about the day and I suddenly realized I had never put the tag on her backpack that indicates she doesn't ride the bus after school. I panicked that they were just going to go by the bus list, and put her on a bus! (She doesn't get to take the bus because of our work schedules. We will use the before/after school care.) Alas, it was fine. That was just my panic moment!

 

Here are the pictures we took yesterday morning. She is looking so grown up these days!

 

And because I am into comparisons lately - walking into K-Prep last year, and now entering Kindergarten!

How does the saying go; moments go slowly, but the years, they fly by.

(Talk about panicking; I changed the post to take out the pictures that showed the outside name plaque of the school. Better safe than sorry.)

Weekly Wrap-Up: 8.31.15 - 9.6.15

Unfortunately, it is not the best wrap-up I've ever written - even with the mentality that I wasn't going to let my schedule changes get in the way.

Monday 8.31 - planned was a 5-7 mile run; in actuality I was up too late for the second night in a row finishing up homework for my master's classes. I think that is the hardest piece to get used to right now.

Tuesday 9.1: planned and actual was my kettle bell interval conditioning class. We did step, and a lot of arm work.

Wednesday 9.2: planned day off because I was at work from 7:45m - 8:00pm. We had back to school, open house conferences.

Thursday 9.3: I wanted to do kickboxing and kettle bells, but didn't get home until 5:45. I did go to kettle bells, but never made it to kickboxing. We used the bosu ball, and again seemed to go heavier on the upper body.

Friday 9.4: I had tentatively planned a run, but I didn't anticipate going into work. I ended up going in from 8:15 until 1:30 to work in my classroom. I also went to an informational meeting regarding a grant we got; this is a committee I hope I get to be a part of. Afterwards, Chad and I went to Rochester. So, the day just got away from me.

Saturday 9.5: I needed to get in a long run this weekend, but I didn't. I was really nervous (more than I needed to be) about the humidity levels. Even if I would have headed out by 7, it was already projected to be into the mid-70s, with equal dew points. That sort of set the tone for my weekend  - I was bogged down with a hefty to-do list and was feeling really low on energy. Partly, I was worn out from the week, I'm sure. So - my long run didn't happen.

Sunday 9.6: Different day. Same story. Just no energy; and I bet it was one of those moments a run would have had a beneficial impact.

****
You guys - that is all I did this week. Two 40 minute group fitness classes.

I hate that I didn't get in a long run! I had at least two days I could have ran, but didn't. I need to figure out this time management and new prioritizing quick.

On the plus side, I am finally feeling like I am back at a point where I am at least maintaining weight even if I have an off day or two. Much better than the yo-yo I was acting like earlier in the summer.

What has challenged your routine lately, and how do you get around it?

Motivational Monday: 9.7.15

Wow. This one could be taken in so many ways.

Last spring was a hill in life for sure. I feel like I am on the other side of that one; learning setbacks happen, to appreciate what we have, live each day to the fullest, always say I love you.

Last week I wrote about not letting my excuses catch up as I returned to work and a new school year starts. I didn't have the best week, but I did what I could.

This week is another uphill challenge. The students will be back. There is no more putting off lesson plans. My daughter starts kindergarten ... gasp! I am neck deep in tasks for my Master's classes. Simply put, my family and I are on the uphill of adjusting to new schedules, new experiences, and mixed up demands.

Whatever the next six months - year - three years (if that's how long it takes me to finish my degree) holds for us, I hope the ride down the other side is sweet! In running. In life.

What uphill are you climbing right now? What do you think the downhill will bring you?

Fall Training: Phase III

Earlier this summer, I wrote out a training plan to cover 20-21 weeks as I strived to get back on track and plan some fall races. However, after realizing 21 weeks is large chunk of time to plan for, I split my training into four phases.

Phase 1 covered the weeks I was teaching summer school.
Phase 2 covered the six weeks I was off this summer.

Phase 3 will cover the first five weeks of being back at work (which is actually back dated to this past Monday.

Phase 4 will be the last five weeks of fall training. These last two phases are split for no other reason than 10 weeks was a large chunk compared to the other phases I had settled on.

Although I can already tell you week 1 didn't go as planned, here is what I've set out to do.

Week     Mon       Tues       Wed       Thurs    Fri       Sat           Sun

8/31       5mi        XT           R           XT        5mi      10mi        R

9/7         8mi        XT           4mi       XT         R         12mi       5mi

9/14      6mi         XT           4mi       XT         XT         R         13.1mi**

9/21      XT          XT           6mi       XT         R          15mi       R

9/28      5mi         XT           5mi       XT         R          18mi       XT  

 

Some side notes:
XT - cross train: will be mostly kettle bells, kickboxing, and some TRX classes. I plan to double group fitness classes on Tuesdays.

R - rest 
** September 20 is the Med City Fall Half! 


As I noted back when I shared Phase 1, I am tentatively planning to end my fall training with a marathon. I have not registered, and I won't make a decision until after I complete these next couple of long runs. If I can't comfortably complete this first half, I won't push back to a marathon until next spring.

****
Do you have your next race on the calendar?
How far out do you typically plan/train?
Would you come back from 4 months of no running and do a marathon five months of building back up? (Be honest! I'm curious!)

Como Zoo & Como Town

As part of our trip to the Cities over the weekend, we spent Saturday afternoon at Como Zoo and Como Town. It had been a while since we'd been there, and Ava had never been on the rides at Como Town, so it was a nice way to round out our weekend.

Without further ado - my pictures!

she loved that I let her take pictures!

on the old carousel.

naming the sea lions.

posing with the polar bear.

lions basking in the sun

we had read they recently had a baby giraffe, but we didn't get to see it!

one of my favorites.

seriously, look at the arm span!

he was kind of a poser!

family selfie!

heading into Como Town!

she LOVED this ride. Like 5+ time ride it love.

just hanging out.

the fun part of Ava taking pictures!

in the tropical forest exhibit.

orangutans are my favorite! They came out our second time through, and watching these two wrestle was entertaining to say the least.  

two rides on the swings.

when you forget Como Town has a splash pad, you let her end her day running through in her clothes.

In Review: August

August was somewhat of a transition month for me. I had several days of in-service and committee meetings, so I got to slowly acclimate myself to going back to work. It wasn't the best month, but it wasn't the worst.

On the negative, this month I experienced my first injury that was more than discomfort and actually sideline me for a bit. I had one week where I didn't get to run at all. I worked out just twice that week, then eased back into my routine the week after. I've been good since, but feel some tightness along the side of my foot from time to time. It is definitely something I will continue to monitor, but I've been able to stay active since.

I still ended the month with 60.6 miles or running and hiking. While my goal was 80, I actually thought I would end up with more than that. However, between the crabby foot and not hitting some long run distances when I could, I fell short. Still, I think there is a silver-lining when I consider I hit 60 miles in a month that I didn't run for an entire week. There was absolutely progress in my pace - I logged three of my fastest runs of the summer. I use my Garmin to track individual runs, and the Nike Running app to keep all my runs and miles logged in one place. I had set a mini goal for myself to keep my average pace for the month under 13:00 min/mile, which I did until I did some hiking  and included a climb up the Elba fire tower as part of a run.

The number of group fitness classes I went to also decreased, to 10. This was due in part to the week I was sidelined for my foot, as well as due to the week the Y was closed. (Our Y closes one week every August for an annual deep cleaning and renovations.)

Overall, I logged some form of exercise on 19 of 31 days this month. While I am not impressed with that number, it is over half of the month that did include a workout.

I might sound like a broken record, but I am still not seeing the results I would like to see on the scale after gaining weight this winter/spring. I weighed myself less obsessively than last month. August 1, I weighed in at 193.8; I only had two weigh-ins register higher than that the remainder of the month. The rest bounced between 190.0 and 192.4, so there is some progress there. Although a year ago I was still 22 pounds (about) lighter, I have to take this as it is comes. And it is a journey. My goal for September is to get push through down into the 180s.


Some other (non-running) highlights of the month were:

A visit from my college roommate and her kiddos.

A night at the county fair.

Our annual four-wheeling trip.

 

 

 

Starting my Master's program.

 

Turning 35.

 



 

 

While I started the post saying it wasn't the best month, but it wasn't the worst - I guess I'd have to change my mind and say it was pretty darn good. After all, I had a lot of time with family. I balanced some challenges. I made some progress on goals. I celebrated another birthday. I saw friends I don't see often enough. I ran a race faster than expected. I got to go camping at one of my favorite places. I was able to allow my daughter participation in sports.

Not bad at all.

What were some highlights of your month?