Seattle Rock and Roll Training Week #9

Monday - Cross train - biking 45 minutes, 15 minutes of stretching and abs

Back to exercise blogging and back to My Fitness Pal after a hiatus.  Beautiful warm weather again!!  I cross trained today and took my bike out during Rob's lunch.  Wow--still need more biking practice.  The uphills are tough.  I am not as confident on the downhills either.  I like having something new to try and look forward to biking more this summer.

Tuesday - Rest

Last Bible Study for the year so no more trips out to Dallas for awhile.  It will making running Tuesdays during lunch a little easier.  Though I will miss Bible Study.

Wednesday - Ran 4 miles on the treadmill

I ran at gym after the kids went to bed.  I upped the incline and ran between 6.0 and 6.5 and watched mindless Hollywood tabloid TV.  I like running to mindless programming.  It went fine.  I weighed myself to see how much I gained when I went off My Fitness Pal for almost two weeks.  I was pleasantly surprised to see I only gained a half of a pound.  I didn't eat too terrible in Michigan and did exercise consistently.  I have eaten even better since I came home.

Thursday - Ran 5 miles

Another night trip to the gym.  I ran from around 9:15 - 10:00ish and watched the Office and Parks & Recreation.  I like the night crowd at the gym.  The run went fine.

Friday - Long Run - 13 miles

I did not want to run.  I had planned on running in the morning, but figured it would work better in the afternoon.  Thankfully I got rained on very little--just around Mile #5 and Mile #6.  I ran up every single hill and stopped very little.  It went really well and was glad I forced myself out there.  I have some lower back pain from the abs workout.  It doesn't hurt too bad when I run--more when bending over and standing for long periods of time.

Saturday - Rest

We did a lot of walking at IKEA, but I am not really counting that.

Sunday - Ran 4 miles, 10 minutes of stretching/abs/push ups

I found a new four mile loop and I love it!  Liberty to Skyline to Davis back to Liberty.  Only downside is there not much of a shoulder on Skyline.  The hills are doable and it's in a nice quiet neighborhood.  I didn't know as well because we had lunch at Five Guys with friends from church and I drank quite a bit of pop.  I didn't have to stop at all and I made it up all the hills.  I really enjoyed this kick back week.  Next week is going to be tough!  I have to run a couple mornings as well so it will be another battle with the alarm clock.

Seattle Rock and Roll Training Week #8

Monday - 9 miles

This week is going to be a little off with the writer's conference. I might miss one or two workouts. I missed my weekend long run from Week #7 so did it today while I had the extra time. I ran one of my old running routes from when we lived in Grand Rapids--Breton to Burton to Plymouth by Christian High and back up Kalamazoo. The strong winds made it tough. Other than that I ran the whole way and felt fine.

Tuesday - Rest

It is a week later and I am trying to remember what I ran.  I am pretty sure this was our busy day at the Banner conference and I end up hanging out with Jennifer at night.  So I did not exercise.

Wednesday - Ran approximately 4 miles

I got up early and ran all over Calvin's campus.  It was slightly chilly in the air.  I loved running on the old loops I used to run on.  It was fun!

Thursday - Rest

Came home at midnight and got up at 6:30 AM.  Tiring day!  Did not do much at all and was not going to attempt to go running.

Friday - Rest

Another tiring day.  Second day back is always the worst.  Did not run again.

Saturday - 10K run - Run the Ridge 50:04

I did the same race in Lebanon I did last year, but signed up for the 10K this time.  The course is rural and there aren't many runners.  Even though it is hilly, I like the challenge.  I have trained on hills the last couple weeks so was wondering how I would do.  It was slightly chilly and cloudy.  But no rain.  I was able to maintain eight minute miles!  Was so surprised.  I had no idea I was that fast. When I went running Jennifer she said our pace was about nine and a half minute miles.  Rob doesn't think I do ten minute miles and haven't for years.  This random lady at Roths who said she sees me running commented how fast my pace is.

Anyway I got second overall womens and first in my age category.  The first place woman was hauling and there was no way I could pass her.  She finished a whole minute and a half before me.  It was fun to race again.  I liked the fact Rob and the kids could come out and be a part of it.

Sunday - Ran approximately 15 miles

Even though the weather was perfect, sunny, and summerlike I was so unmotivated.  I did not want to spend my afternoon running.  I even thought about waiting until Monday.  I drove to Minto Brown Park and ran all over Minto Brown.  I ran to the clock...not the mileage.  I ran from 1:40 - 3:55.  I wanted to run until 4, but it was so hot and I ran out of Gatorade.  I was really glad I completed it.  It was a nice break to run on paved trail and be in the forest.  I don't know the paths very well so I really just ran and kept checking the clock.  Part of the path is still flooded from the big flood in January.  Most of the paths were clear.  I ran on River Road for about two miles as well.

Seattle Rock and Roll Training Week #7

I did not keep track of my workouts last week and it's now almost a week later. It's funny how your mind forgets things after a week.

Monday - Rest

I think my legs were so shot from the long Easter sunrise run that I didn't run on this day.

Tuesday - Ran 4 miles

I know I ran on this day and I am pretty sure I ran four miles. I think I ran during Rob's lunch after Bible Study. I know I ran outside because I didn't go the gym at all last week. I am pretty sure I ran around the Sumpter neighborhood.

Wednesday - Ran 7 miles

I do remember running seven miles in the early evening. It was a beautiful night! I ran through the Sumpter and Wes Bennet neighborhoods. It was a great run!

Thursday - Rest

Had planned on running, but it's so hard to squeeze it in right before a trip. I had quite a bit to get done before leaving for Grand Rapids. Plus Hailey had swimming. I should have ran first thing in the morning, but I was thinking I could run in the afternoon. That never happened. Oh well.

Friday - Ran 7 miles

I ran in my old neighborhood in Grand Rapids and ran through sem housing. I saw the apartment where we brought Hailey home from the hospital. Love doing a nostalgia run. I am not sure if it's the environmental change (Michigan is so humid!), but it was tough at times. It was also warmer than I thought. I was able to complete the whole run.

Saturday - Rest

Had a very busy day. Hope's gymnastic meet in Kalamazoo. In the afternoon I went out to Fruitport to see Beth. We went for a short walk with the kids.

Sunday - Ran 4 miles

Jennifer and I ran around Reeds Lake--one of my favorite running trails! It has changed and looks so nice with the new paths! It was so fun to have a running partner too. Great time.

Seattle Rock and Roll Training: Week #6

Monday - Ran 3 miles & 10 minutes of stretching, abs, push-ups

Wow--love running in the sun. Missed it. I feel a little strained and tired today, but the run went OK. I had a rough morning with Kara and I'm been overwhelmed with her tantrums lately. I'm not as hungry as I used to be and feel like my body is used to smaller portions and healthier meals. I still get a sweet snack craving at night. I'm happy with all the ab workouts because I can totally see results. I feel like I am running better though and enjoying it even more than the last marathon I trained for.

Tuesday - Rest

Tuesday is working out to be the best rest day because Rob always has extra meetings, I have been in either Dallas or Keizer the last few Wednesday mornings not getting back until around 12:15 or 12:30, and my body is shot by Tuesday after all the weekend running.

Wendesday - Ran 6 miles

I have been lazy and unmotivated in the mornings. I ran after youth group Wednesday night at the gym on the treadmill. I pushed myself pretty hard and kept my speed in the 6.0 - 6.5 range with a small incline.

Thursday - Ran 3 miles

Again I had to run at night due to scheduling issues. I ran the 5K track on the treadmill at gym. I kept my speed between 6.5 and 7.0. I felt really good. I also swam for twenty minutes--part of that was swimming with the kickboard, practicing rotations, and I managed to do one full lap non-stop.

Friday - Cross training--one hour of Centergy, 40 minutes of cycling

Love Centergy! It was really good today. Exact same workout as last week so I knew what to expect. My bad shoulder was acting up a little bit, but nothing major. The stretching is so good. Also took my road bike out for the first time!! Getting used to biking. My biggest adjustment is learning to be a vehicle versus a pedestrian. I was biking on the wrong side of the road on Ironwood--oops. My speed is really slow--like 10 mph if that--probably slower. I need to get more comfortable on the bike before I try and up my speed. Thankful for sun today!

Saturday - Ran 6 miles, 10 minutes of stretching/abs

I wanted to do my long run in the afternoon, but was too pressed for time. The weather was perfect. Warm and sunny. I ran by Wes Bennet park and attempted the Baxter hill. Still can't make it up without stopping--that hill is so steep. The rest of the run went fine.

Sunday - Ran 14 miles!! 7 minutes of stretching/abs

I wanted to do an Easter sunrise run. I thought that would be like my own personal Easter sunrise service. I had planned on doing my 6 mile on Sunday and 14 mile on Saturday. With the errands we had to run on Saturday and Matt's party in the late afternoon--I could not squeeze it in without putting everyone under a big time pressure. So I decided I would be the crazy morning runner and get up at 5:15 AM on a Sunday. I would do more sunrise runs. I love the quiet of the neighborhood, seeing the sky get light, and hearing the outside morning sounds like the birds. It is always a fight to get myself out of bed. That is the hardest. Once I get out and get running, I am awake and I'm fine.

There was a lot of solitude this morning. I don't usually pray when I run. This morning I did at the beginning of the run--and it was pretty amazing. I ran through the Rees Hill neighborhood, Battlecreek, and ran most of Mildred. I need to get more comfortable on hills. The Mildred hills are difficult and I walked halfway up one. I only stopped to drink Powerade and at the crosswalks. I was able to run almost the whole time.

I am pretty tired now and I will be even more so tonight. My right hip is acting up again. I think a previous strain from kickboxing. Ice helps a lot.

We had a brunch at church and lunch and Easter egg hunt at the VB's house. It was worth getting up.

Seattle Rock and Roll Training: Week #5

Monday - Ran 3 miles

I ran on the treadmill Monday afternoon at the hotel after we got back from Huntington Beach. Still not used to the treadmill and I couldn't find a TV program I really wanted to watch. It was an OK workout. Enjoyed sitting in the hot tub afterwards with Kara and Hailey.

Tuesday - Rest

We were in LAX a good part of the afternoon and traveling all day. SO TIRED!

Wednesday - Ran 6 miles

And we're back in Oregon. I was not going to try and run in the morning or the afternoon. The weather is awful again. I am missing Southern California. There is no sun in the forecast for at least nine days...yuk!

I ran at the gym on the treadmill and was excited to watch Worst Cooks in America on the Food network. Upped my speed a little bit changing between 6.0 and 6.5. I did the hills track so the incline kept going up and down. It was a good workout. Miss running outside, but it was nice to not have to get out first thing in the morning or at lunch time.

Thursday - Ran 3 miles and 10 minutes of stretching/abs

Nice to run outside again. Not nice running in the rain. Did my regular three mile route. Nice easy run. Eating healthier is a bit easier now that we're home. I didn't gain weight on the vacation, but I didn't lose any either. That's OK.

Some of the kids are sick and Kara is potty training. At least I don't have a whole lot to do until next week. Trying to just unpack and finish some of the "to-do" list stuff I didn't get to before we left for California.

Friday - Centergy 60 minutes

Love, love, love Centergy! I wish I could go every Friday, but all these trips is not allowing that. The stretching was totally what my body needed. The abs workouts were tough, but not pushing me over the edge. I felt so refreshed afterwards. When I ran my last marathon I did one to two workouts a week of weight training. I have done very little with this. My intention in joining the gym again was to go to Group Power since it meets so often. I'm wondering if I should make Centergy a once a week effort instead of Power. The stretching is good along with the core workouts. I have known too many runners who pull muscles doing weight training or aerobics. Power is pretty intense. I still would like to go but having a hard time scheduling it in. They also opened two more biking classes I would like to try. I can't really bike outside for awhile because we are having constant rain that is not letting up anytime soon.

Saturday - 12 miles! And some walking, stretching, abs, and playing with kids in the pool

So incredibly grateful the rain held off. I was running in mild rain on about Mile #9 and that was it. I decided I need to do more hills. I need to be comfortable with them. They are way more mental for me than physical. So I ran on Battlecreek all the way until it turns into Pringle. I was very tired by the end of it, but so glad I did it. I hardly walked the whole workout. I did stop at the Vista Roths for the bathroom and to refill up my water bottle. I loved running in the Wes Bennet and Battlecreek neighborhoods and along Battlecreek. The end of the route I was running up and down Commerical and on Liberty. I think I would change that a little. Liberty's sidewalks are crummy. All in all it went great. My body hurts and I am a little sore. I have been a little more fatigued than usual today. My hormones are a little off. I feel a little a more anxious and irritable than usual. I did manage to take Hailey and Derek swimming in the afternoon and had a good time. Everyone is still tired from vacation. Hailey is better, but Kara is still a little sick. I've also lost a whole pound since we came home from vacation. I am kind of wondering if the scale at the gym is a little off? I will recheck it again on Wednesday.

Seattle Rock and Roll Training: Week #4

Monday: Long Run: 11 miles & 10 minutes of stretching/abs

It's going to be a harder week to exercise (and eat good!) because we're headed to Disney tomorrow afternoon. But I started the week off right. Rather than chance it and try and do my long run on vacation (which never seems to happen) I did it this morning. I went to bed by 9:45 and got out the door by 5:12 AM. It snowed almost the whole entire time, but it was not sticking. It was pretty out and the fact it was so dead quiet made it pretty relaxing. I know some find it absolutely crazy to call a 11 mile run relaxing--but it was nice at times. I am doing so much better on hills--they were less of a struggle. I wanted to run on Robbins and then take Brentwood and get over the to Battlecreek neighborhood. But I somehow could not find Brentwood and the road was closed. And I felt like if I get kept going I would have been running along the I-5. The road was so dark--I didn't want to try and figure out where it turned off. I ended up back tracking and taking the Rees Hill neighborhood back--which worked out fine.

Tuesday - Ran 3 miles

Ok it's now Sunday that I am writing this and I'm in California so I have to think about on the beginning of last week which seems like eons ago. I ran in the rain before we left for Disney. Uneventful 3 mile run. It went fine.

Wednesday - Cross training

Lots and lots of walking. And holding Kara (and sometimes Derek). That was quite the workout.

Thursday - Ran 6 miles

I ran on the treadmill and the motel and watched the Ellen Show. Hate the treadmill and it was not easy. But glad I could complete it. Eating is not going as bad as I thought it would. I don't think I will go home having gained an extra five pounds. At least I hope not...

Friday - Ran 3 miles

Nice quick run on the treadmill. Felt good after a long morning. Rob and I also ran like crazy to get on the Tower of Terror. We ran like 7-10 minutes so probably was at least a half mile. More walking and carrying Kara at times. Got lots of weight training this week just carrying kids.

Saturday - Rest

A little bit of carrying kids and light walking, but for the most part a rest day. We went to Palm Springs and were in the car a good part of the day.

Sunday - Ran 6 miles

I ran on the treadmill at the hotel and watchd two episodes of Storage Wars. Nice to watch something kind of mindless. I miss running outside. But this treadmill run went better. So glad I got all my workouts in even with being on vacation--never thought I could pull it off. Eating was better today too. I didn't really count calories yesterday and was pretty sure I was over. Oh well.

Seattle Rock and Roll Training: Week #3

Monday - Ran 3 miles & 10 minutes of stretching/abs

I'm going to register for Seattle Rock and Roll this week. I honestly don't know if we're at Week #2 or Week #3. The fifth and sixth grade teacher at Hailey's school is running it too so I am going to try catch him and ask him what week we're at. His wife seemed to be on top of his training schedule. The funny thing is they go to the same gym as me.

Running was difficult today because I have not run in a week. We also have 50 mph winds today and lost power already. I would not be surprised if it goes out again. It always does when we get this kind of wind. Running in the head wind was tiring. I did make it without stopping. I felt better once I hit the last mile. I need to eat better this week. I am starting to crave junk again. Funny how a few days off can change everything back to the way it was!

Tuesday - Ran 5 miles & 10 minutes of kickboxing

Got out the door at 6:20 AM and found snow on the ground. Wow--was not expecting that. All the sidewalks were clear. While the roads were slushy in some spots, it really wasn't that bad. I felt crummy the first two and a half miles. It's like I couldn't get my legs moving. I felt fatigued. Once I kept going through I settled into a groove and felt better. I can tell my body is not quite back to normal yet.

Wednesday - Ran 3 miles

I am now writing this on Saturday so I am trying to remember what I did earlier in the week. I went on the treadmills at the Courthouse because the weather was so crappy. It was one of my better treadmill runs in awhile. I also did 15 minutes of Crunch Ab Attack later in the morning.

Thursday - Ran 5 miles

We were in Seattle at a conference. Cheryl came too. We both went to the hotel exercise center. I ran 5 miles on the treadmill. It was super tough. I was hot and sweaty. It was a struggle. I am not quite used to running on a treadmill. Glad I could still get a workout in even with being away from home.

Friday - Rest

Probably gained a pound. Eating better than when I went to Chicago for the youth ministry conference, but still a struggle.

Saturday - Bike 40 minutes, Swim 20 minutes

Cross training day. I could not get to the gym until the afternoon when all the classes are over. So I rode the stationary bike on the rolling hills track. It was tough at time, but also a nice break from running. Swimming is still so awkward and difficult for me, but I want to continue doing it when I can. I hope to do more with swimming after the marathon. I can barely do a lap. I swim the kick board, practice arms and breathing and then try the front crawl. I am pretty self conscious because I can't really do it! I do want to keep trying.

Sunday - Ran 6 miles, 10 minutes of stretching and abs

Whatever crazy warm weather the Midwest seems to be getting, we are NOT getting. If anything we're colder than usual. It was supposed to be sunny today and at times it was. Most of my run I was in sleet and small hail. It felt colder as the run went on. Needless to say it went OK. I did enjoy running outside again after the last two runs being on treadmills. I ran through the Sumpter neighborhood, then by Christina's house, then on Commerical, and ending in the neighborhood by where Hailey takes swim lessons. It was good. I also got my bike today! Hailey and I rode around the parking lot until the hail started coming again and we got too cold. I feel so awkward on the bike almost like how I feel when I swim. I am hoping to go for a few more rides when we get back from Disney.

Tomorrow I am going to try and run my long run in the early morning hours. I know it's crazy and normally I wouldn't do it this early this time of year and on a Monday. It seems more stressful and more crazy to try and do it at Disneyland. I can't afford to not to do it as I have missed a whole week of running last week.