First 10k complete!

Near perfect running conditions! It was probably around 55ish degrees at the start and maybe 65ish at the end. I feel like I did a good job, and not only that but I really felt like I gave it pretty much all I had. I stared out to fast, going with the group you know, my first mile was 10:14, and then they got slower from there. This biggest problem I had was I had to go to the bathroom. I went right before the race, but obviously I had to much coffee or something... the last 3 miles and especially the last mile was torture, I truly was not sure I was going to make it. Every bush I passed I looked at with longing, and had there not been quite a few people around me I so would have used them. Not one bathroom the whole run. Have you ever tried to run with your legs crossed...it's not easy. Explaining why my last mile was 13:35. But my average according to my Garmin, (results will be posted later today) 12:02 with a finish time of 1:13:53! Yea!!! I beat 1:15!! WooHoo!!!

Now the only issues I had (besides that bathroom thing. ) I was getting the goose bumps during the last mileish...why is that...dehydration ? Did it during the triathlon too. I will have to google.. And after the race when I was stretching, my left calf kept wanting to cramp up. Did that the other day too. Hmm...more potassium?

Bruises

So Fridays photo and thoughts for today...what in the hell do I do to myself that I end up with so many bruises?

This is just one of maybe 5 that I have right now...and actually my legs are looking pretty good, compared to this summer when I first got my bike and started riding. My thighs were both solid bruises....Tell me how do I manage to kick my ankles? Is that were they come from?

So I have a 10k race coming up on Sunday. I hate calling it a race, because well I'm really only "racing" myself. And since I've never done a 10k before, well I'm guaranteed a PR right? I'm a little bit nervous about two things. 1. I don't want to be last, and 2. well it's put on by Panera Bread, I hope there is still food by the time I finish. :) I would love to do it in under 1:15 that would be great for me. I don't know if I can or not. I'll let you know on Sunday.

Mysteries of life....

Why is it that on the weekend I am wide awake and ready to go at 4:30-5:00 in the morning. And come Monday morning when my alarm goes off at 5:20 I'm still dead tired?

Lazy Sunday

I had an 8 mile long run on the schedule for today. After yesterday's ride I really wasn't sure that any running would be happening today. However as luck would have it I was feeling pretty darn good this morning. So I finally headed out on a run I had convinced myself would not happen. It was very slow and easy and I felt really good, had a short break to talk with a not to bad looking guy at the lake as our dogs sniffed each other, (can never pass up those opportunities) He was in dressed for biking, so of course I asked if he was headed out...on his way to work....ok wait back to the run. :) I felt really good absolutely no knee problems, calves got a little tight but stretched those out around mile 2 and continued on. I did decide to stop at 5 miles, deciding that if I was going to get anything else done today I would have to stop there. But I feel great that I did it. Just a few more runs and my first 10k next Sunday.. I'm a little nervous. I am such a slow...and I do mean slow runner. And not only that...I never run with out my Duke...how will I do it?

I live for downhill!

Note: I added the elevation from Running Ahead for the miles that I could remember, I honestly don't have much of an idea of the route we took...I just followed. It just seems to look more like what it felt like. :)

Over 1000' of climbing total...pretty cool.

Well that was a workout! After not being on the bike for 3 weeks it got pretty tough in a few places. Not to mention this may be one the hilliest rides I've done. It was good though, really good. We climbed about 400' in the first 11 miles. We saw some miniature horses...oh my gosh they were cute! After mile 11ish it was so nice for awhile downhill and fast...I like going fast...well fast for me is 23-28...I love it! Especially when you have worked so hard to go up! We stopped for lunch about 17 miles in...one of the worst I've ever had at a small town diner type place.. and then faced some more hills.

This was around mile 25ish looking back at what we had just ridden up. Not a great picture, all I had was my cell phone. That last hill was kind of a killer. For the very first time I was in my very lowest gear...one and one. It was around there that we saw some llama's how cool is that! Miniature horses and llamas on the same trip. And some houses that were huge!! And I mean huge! And then it got hard. :) Miles 30 and up I was really afraid that I was going to get a cramp in my thighs...oh my gosh! But I just kept going and I did of course make it. Just about 39.2 miles and 14.4 average speed That's actually up from previous high of 14.2 so with all the hills and lack of riding I feel pretty good it.

And then...the pool...ahh...the girl who's house we choose to leave from has a pool, so we got in and cooled off and floated around. And then sat in the hot tub for a little while...you know, I don't know if it gets any better.....

I guess I'm not an animal...

Yet.
Funny isn't it how when your thinking about something you come across something that pertains to it. I was just commenting that I don't think I push myself. I don't know if I just don't like the pain or I'm lazy or I just don't know how. I may push myself to exercise, but I don't push myself to run faster, or to not walk. If I feel tired I will walk, when in reality I know I could run farther. Now I know that I obviously have pushed myself some to get to the point I am, but I don't know that I push myself enough....no that's not right.... I know I don't push myself enough.....I think I want to be an animal...but do I have what it takes?

Running hurts. It always has. Woolly mammoths didn't just roll over onto a plate and serve themselves up to prehistoric man with fries and a shake. They had to be caught - and running down woolly mammoths was a bitch. Guess what?Running is still a bitch. But one with a purpose. It teaches us that good things do not come easy. It teaches us that we are capable of more than we think. It teaches us that hard work will be rewarded and laziness will be punished. Don't expect to learn those life lessons from running's shiftless stepchild, jogging.Next time you
suffer on the roads or trails, suffer proudly. It means you run like an animal. ~ Pearl Izumi

TGIF!!!!

Pic is of my youngest son...Isn't he cute!

This pic shows how I feel about waking up this morning feeling really good after a darn good tempo run last night. Now I'm a slow runner, and I may always be a slow runner (even though I'm taking steps to become a faster runner.) Last night I did a mile warm up and cool down, mostly walking and a tempo run of 3. 38 at 12:56 pace, and that includes watering the dog 2 times during those 3 miles. So I'm pretty happy with it. And this morning, no pain anywhere. Yahoo! Recently I have also come to the conclusion though that I have a hard time pushing myself. Now that may sound funny, considering a certain amount of pushing is required to go from a non exercising person to completing even a sprint triathlon, but it seems I stop short of pushing myself toward any real work. When I run I tend to stop and walk before I get to uncomfortable and I know I should push myself to keep running. I'm sure the same is true of all my exercise it just happens to be most noticeable to me in my running. I need to work on this...

This picture also shows how I feel about the fact that I am going to ride my bike for the first time all month!!!! I'm so excited!

Hurts so good!

I didn't realize that I had missed that feeling...waking up in the morning and laying there thinking...ahhh what hurts this morning? Yep abs feel a little sore I can tell I did ab work...arms? yep new strength training is working.... I enjoy feeling like I've used my muscles...not over used, just worked them enough to have them give me a gentle shout out in the morning before I get moving...

Good morning!


I hope I'm not the only one now singing. Hurts so good...come on baby make it hurt so good.....

Wow I did it, 8 count them 8 miles!

8.15 to be exact. I did it! 8.15 miles!!! My longest run evah!All in all not to bad! The dog and I headed out not really sure that I would get the 8 miles in. I knew I would have to come back by the house at some point as I didn't think the dog would make 8 and I knew I would need to go potty....I had already consumed about a pot of coffee! I was working at keeping my hr on 140-145 for the fist 6 miles and that is when I dropped the dog off. After that I just turned off the HR alert and ran whatever felt comfortable and walked when I needed. So while the first 6 averaged anywhere from a 14-17 minute pace, including dog water breaks, and drop off potty and drink breaks, the last 2 were 13:22 and 12:28....I tend to speed up when I just want to get done. :) All in all right at 2 hours. I am thrilled to have passed the 8 mile mark! I am now confident that I can finish the 10k I have coming up in 2 weeks. It won't be fast but it will be finished!

This is Duke after his almost 6 miles. Note the bone just laying under his mouth. Luckily I look a little better. Not real motivated though.

When you gonna take me running?

I got the idea from Adventure Seeker http://nikemomof2.blogspot.com/ to do a Friday photo. I'm going to try and post something each Friday. This is my running partner Duke. He's a little sad that we haven't been out. I ran on the TM earlier this week so he's been neglected. He will get a workout later this weekend when we do a long run.

Pretty easy my A$$!!!

So I only thought that class was easy...or it was but certainly used some muscles that have not been used in a long while...my a$$ and thighs are a little sore today! Can't wait to see how my one on one goes tomorrow!

Thanks!

I just want to say thanks to those of you who have taken the time to read my blog and leave me a comment. All comments and advice are welcome. I am such a total newbie to this and now I have this whole winter to get through and train through, before I can do it again...If I had known I was going to enjoy it, I would not have waited until August to do my first triathlon.

Results Group

Started my new class today. Results group Personal Training. It's pretty nice. There are about 9 of us and a personal trainer. Today class was pretty easy and part of the time was spent filling out paperwork and stuff. I do see some potential for pain though. :) And I'm sure that I will come out of this stronger with a little more knowledge. I have such a hard time with strength training....I hate squats and lunges... hate em...no wait I better apply some positive thinking here...I can't wait to do more lunges and squats...they will give me a butt to die for!

I have not gotten any riding in yet this month...or swimming for that matter... bad Julie. I missed the riding this weekend. It's harder for me to do on the weekends I have my kids. My focus has been the running since that is my next thing on the calendar, the 10k in 3 weeks. But that does not mean I can let the rest of it fall by the wayside. Winter is going to be so hard. I need to write a schedule, I do much better with some kind of training guide. I have my running planned out for the next 3 weeks any way, I have the personal trainer classes 2x's a week for the next 2 months, just need to figure out how/where to fit in the rest.

Slow week....

I've not accomplished much this week at all....so far one 2 mile run...wow.. I was scheduled for a tempo run this morning, but it didn't' happen. Will try to get it in tomorrow. I guess I feel a little lost now that I'm not training for a triathlon. (although working on training for a 10k) Next week I'm starting a 2 month, twice a week class with a trainer, I'm excited about that, as I've really not done much strength training and never used any weight machines. Hopefully I can gain some insight into how to best train for my goals for next year. I've not done hardly any swimming and I need to work on fitting that in sometime. It is one of my biggest weakness...swimming that is, not fitting things in, although that may be a weakness too. I don't really have any strengths yet, I'm just king of average (or lower) at all of it. But I love it. :) I don't mind being a back of the packer... :)

So my objective is to figure out what to do from here, where to go, and what to do to be able to compete better and stronger and longer (I would like to do at least an oly) next year. Input?