Week 2! Mississauga Marathon Training

After a great first week, I was ready to head into week two with continued enthusiasm.

The first day went great!

Monday: Rest - DONE!

Tuesday: Tempo run at lunch time on the treadmill. This was a good run. I used my goal race time (4hr marathon) to pick a tempo (5:25/km or 8:42/mi) to start with and pushed myself through 20 minutes at Tpace while watching Food network. 6.44k, 37:40.

Wednesday: Mid-long tempo run with the group. Well, the group and I ran the same route. Well, we all started and ended up at the store. I met up with the group and got the 10k map. I asked if anyone was going to run tempo per the plan and two ladies who had never run tempo said, "Why not!" I was pleased that I'd have partners as Tempo runs can be very challenging at the end (if you're doing them correctly). After a 15 minute easy run with the group, the ladies and I started. Within a minute, one had dropped out. We got stopped for a light at 3 minutes in and the next one was also history. I guess the pace was too much for them (though the lady who lasted 3 minutes wants to BQ with Mississauga at a 3hr40min, so she should be able to hit this pace right now in my humble opinion). I didn't let the lack of company keep me from staying with the 20 minutes of tempo. I WAS surprised that the clinic leader didn't come with me for a bit, but oh well. I ended up missing a turn in the dark, but make it back to the store and got the 10k in as I know the neighbourhood well. I perfectly hit my pace at 5:23/km for the 20 minute tempo part even though the last four minutes almost killed me. 10.15k, 1:01:25.

Thursday: Group discussion about shoes that ran the gambit into barefoot running! Then we were off for 6k easy. I took it easy, staying with the same four people from my half marathon group. 6.15k, 40:08.

Friday: Rest! I had my final physio appointment in the morning and it felt great to get my quad and IT band worked on. My knees have made great progress with the increased and new stretches so I'm going to (hopefully) only use physio strategically now around/after races for massage therapy.

Saturday: This day could have ended up being a gong show of running, but it wasn't. I had planned to meet with Alison from the group in our town and get the LSD in. But she forgot about her son's gymnastics class that would have conflicted with our agreed upon time. I couldn't go when she was free as my oldest had late hockey practice. Then, there was the weather. It was the first real cold, windy day and I didn't really feel like running outside at all. I had decided to do the shorter run of the weekend and almost went to the gym, but managed to suck it up and get outside. I was rewarded by being perfectly dressed and being able to run in the glorious sun! 8k, 49:39.

Sunday: Dawned early as Fergus, 17 months, was up at 0530. Sunday's are my day to sleep in, so I stayed in bed until 0615 and then got up, got dressed, ate and got out for my LSD. As the temperature was the same as Saturday (-15c), but there was no wind, I wore the same thing as the day before. I also wore my brand new 4 bottle endurance belt that I picked up in the States at TJ Maxx for $3!!! I loved running with this belt! It made me run a lot straighter as I had the reminder at my waist. The run sped by as I thought of the million things and the nothings that you think about when you run alone. I only needed one GU and had more than enough water. I was super frosty by the end with snow on my hat, gloves and coat and my legs were cold as I only had on one pair of winter tights, but I was fine otherwise:

18k, 1:55:46.

So, that's week #2! 16 more to go!

Are you training for anything right now? How is your training going? Do you ever rethink your run distance or place based on weather?

Total KM: 48.74
Total time: 5:04:38
Ave pace per KM: 0:06:15

5 Things Friday

1. This week, I finally took advantage of the good weather AND the jogging stroller:

Don't worry, I have a UV/Bug cover that goes over top of him!

I ran 5.15k on Tuesday morning and man, it was HOT:

It was also a lot harder than I thought to push the stroller, but totally doable, even in heat that was 40 or so with the humidity.

2. I bought new clothes (2x shorts and 2x racer back tanks)! Zellars has a BOGO 50% off and I took advantage of the offer. For the amount I spent, I would have only gotten one pair of regularly priced shorts at RR or lulu. My husband is rather happy about that! I WORE the short shorts on my 6k tempo last night and they were okay! I can't believe I've come so far as to actually WEAR shorts on a run!


3. Speaking of shorts and confidence, I hit the 130s on the scale this week for the first time in well over five years! I'm only just into this zone, but I'm celebrating anyway! My scale victory has been followed by being able to wear shorts and capris I haven't worn in years!

4. I finally bought new shoes! I stuck with the exact same pair that have done me so well up until now, and purchased New Balance 940s (formally 850s). I can't wait to try them out tonight!

5. I'm bib #262 for the Break and Honey 15k road race this Sunday, June 5th. I've yet to decide if I'm going to put any goals out there. It is 9.3 miles so an odd distance and I should really just use it as an LSD run. I'm going to think about it some more.

How was your week?

Spend a little... spend a lot!

This weekend I took advantage of the Running Room gift card I got from my parents for my birthday last week and also a great sale at a certain big box store. What follows is my haul:



Yes, they are men's, but they were on clearance for $5 and have built in underwear. With my thunder thighs muscular quads, I need something loose that won't drive me crazy with ride up, so I'm going to give these a chance for gym and hot outdoor running.



These 3/4 length tights are more like ankle waders on me, but they are super light and will be great for long runs. I'm thinking these may be the race pants on May 15th.



We ran 16k yesterday, and after last Sunday's 14k, I knew I needed something extra to get me through. I bought this particular flavour on the recommendation of my pace group leader. It was okay, but a bit sweet. I think I'll try the lemon flavour next week. I took half of this at 6k and half at 11k, but next Sunday we are doing a varied pace 16k with T and M paces, so I think I'll be needing two.

And finally (at the big box store - on sale for $150):



Happy Tax refund to me!

This major purchase confirms my runner status to me even more. Especially because when I made my facebook status: "Just bought a Forerunner 305! Yippee!", half of the people who commented on it thought I had bought a new car. HA!

Now, I'm putting my wallet away for a while... even though I need new shoes!

Conversations in Gear with a 4-year old

Alasdair: Mummy, what's this?

Me: It's my running bra.

Alasdair: Can I get one for when I go treadmilling [running on the dreadmill]?

Me: No, boys don't need them. Boys don't have breasts.

Alasdair: Oh. When I get older, I'm going to put breasts on my Christmas list.

Me: I'm sure you will

New Kicks

On Monday I went to the Running Room and picked up a pair of new kicks:


New Balance 850s

I tried them out last night.

I felt like springs in my legs.

So yeah, I guess it was time for new shoes!

5.6k on the treadmill in 39:41 doing 10/1s.

Nothing much more to write, I’m pretty head down on the goal now.

And so it begins...

Goals do a wonderful thing to motivation.

Last week I ran a total of 20.5km.

I'm sure this is a record for me.

I'm very proud of that total even though it is no where near to the mileage that some of the 'serious' runners I 'know' do every week.

This time last year, I would have been happy to run 12-15k in a week. Now, just over 20k doesn't seem like enough.

I'm having a hard time fitting it all in, but the point is I'm fitting in runs where and when I can. Last week I ran Tuesday and Thursday evening and did a longer run with Sarah on Saturday. I had great plans to begin this week with a 4-5k run on Sunday but to be honest, my feet (the bottom of my left heel to be exact) were hurting badly.

Sarah thinks that it is time for me to purchase new shoes. I'm assuming she's right. My shoes were purchased over a year ago and have logged over 100 trips to Curves and over 400km. Currently I have New Balance (737's I think) and I like them. I have orthotics, so I need shoes that allow the sole to be removed and in the past 3 pairs of shoes, NB's have never let me down. I think a trip to a specialty store is in order though. Why not let the experts fit me correctly instead of buying the NB's that are on sale.

So, depending on how cold it actually is tomorrow at lunch (and how busy I am), I'll either put another dent in the remaining 94k or I'll shop for shoes and run on the treadmill after dinner. Either way, the 500k goal has re-ignited the motivation that was sorely lacking for a few weeks.

2 confessions, 1 question

I have two confessions to make and a question to ask.

Confessions first.

I love to sweat. LOVE.

I fell off of my treadmill tonight. Really.

So first things first.

Sweat.

I decided to run speed intervals on the treadmill tonight. The only research I've done is to read various running blogs to see what other people do and then absorb it all and try my own version. I ended up doing a 2 min walk, 4 mins comfortable pace (5.4), 3 mins fast (6.5 pace), 2 mins slow (3.8 pace) x 2, then 2 and 2's x 2, then 3 mins at 6.0, then a 1 min slow and a steady run to finish 4.35 km in 32 mins. It was hard. It was hot.

Wait for it.






It was sweaty!

Because the "summer" has been so mild, we've not put our A/C on. While the basement is cooler than the house, it is still humid and I loved it! I was literally dripping, my hair was wet, my skin was gleaming. I really do not like to exercise unless I have this tangible evidence of work. Plus, it just feels good. I think this odd love of sweat must come from my years of summer dance class in studios without A/C. Ahh, childhood memories.

And so. Ah-hem. Confession #2:

I fell off the treadmill.

For the first time ever (I've had the EVO since October 2008 and have ran on treadmills on and off for the past 10 years).

I had left the treadmill during my walk warm up to turn up the TV (hey, Hasselhoff says some okay things on America's Got Talent), and when I went to step back on it, I TOTALLY blanked that it was still going. I stepped on it as if it was off and CRASH! BOOM! BANG! I'm fine and continued with the run, but the cats are likely even more afraid of the machine now and I've added a few (more) grey hairs to my husband's head.

Losah.

Question: I wore my new running (capri) pants tonight (they are too big in the waist! I hope I can shrink them?), my question is: What are the holes at the back of the calf for? They have reflective material around them and I can't for the life of my think what they are for. These can't be bike pants cause they don't have any padding. Any guesses?

So, speed run (as it were) for 4.35 km tonight. I feel awesome.

The expense of gear

The good news is that a new Running Free store opening up in my town. A town that needs it judging by the number of runners and cyclists seen in and around town. The bad news is that even with a sale and further discount, running gear is expensive.

I got Sugoi capris (but really, they are pants on me - I'm 5 feet tall) and a technical shirt. Plus, I finally bought a pair of good socks, Fox River 1/4 socks. I have been getting blisters after almost every 5k plus run and I decided to go ahead and give up on my old sports socks and vaseline regime and get into real running socks.

In terms of running, this week went well! I did run on my treadmill, but didn't do it in the AM or with a hill program (which my EVO FX2 Smooth does not have). I ran about 3k on Wednesday evening using the "run" program and it kicked my butt! It was way too fast! It is a good challenge though and I think what I may do is try to run 30 mins at slow pace and uncomfortable fast pace. Likely 2 and 2s or something. I haven't thought it all out yet. Friday, I ran 5k in about 35 mins plus warm up and cool down. Today (Sunday), I meet up with my friend again and we did 7k outdoor, but pushed way too fast in the first 3.5k. Combined with the humidity, I had a hard time with the straight run on the way back, but know that I will be able to pull through the the 10k route she wants to run in a few weeks, I just have to keep on it.

I didn't make it to Curves once. I had two offsite training days this week which meant no time for Curves. I'm really toying with leaving the club. I don't get anything out of it anymore and I could always run at lunch like some people do. We have a great big accessible bathroom at work and I could totally "shower up" in that.

Decisions, decisions.

Next week, we are away for five days camping and I'm bringing my running stuff. I plan to run once if not twice! Here's hoping! This week, I'll have to get 3 runs or 15k in by Friday night due to camping. That's pretty much the plans for the week.

Not Everyone Hated the Water Belt

The kid was quite impressed.

No results... waiting, waiting

I ran the Bread and Honey 5k this morning and totally beat my last time as I crossed the finish line at 31:05 and was at least 10-20 seconds from the start. I'll wait to write up the race report when I get the official time, but I bought this:



and I ran with it for the first time today, full of water and it was a mistake! More on that later (once the results are in).

In other news, the girls lost the best of seven Catch Phrase Championship 4-1 on Saturday evening. Boo!