Left Foot, Right Foot, Repeat . . .

Monday, April 26, 2010

Half Marathon!!!!!

Saturday April 24
Temp 65 & Sunny
Distance 13.4

Believe it or not, on Saturday, a girlfriend and I held our own 1st Annual D & S Gray's Lake Half Marathon!

It was awesome. We took it easy. We took mini snack/drink breaks. We took pictures (see facebook). And chatted, and chatted, and chatted for 13 and a half miles. The weather was perfect, too.

Best of all, I accomplished my goal of doing a half marathon this weekend and my friend did her first ever half marathon - yippee!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Progress-ish

Tuesday night met me with 3 miles on the treadmill. Nothing fancy, just 3 miles.

Last night was a walk down the greenbelt with the triple wide and a dog.

The half marathon is in 3 weeks. I've got to get my kid care situation figured out. Crap.

Friday, March 26, 2010

4 Weeks

So the half marathon I'm signed up for is just over 4 weeks away. Yeesh, is time really flying by so quickly?

The longest I've gone lately is 6, so my time on this one won't be anywhere near spectacular. But I'm going to do it and have a good time - that's really the point for me anyway - just keeping fitness in mind and accomplishing goals, no matter how lamely I do it.

I'm hoping to get the triple wide out tomorrow and put in some miles. Let's hope the kids and the weather cooperate!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Weekend Stroll

So the snow has finally melted, again . . . and the triple wide can safely travel down sidewalks. Our favorite lake path is flooded, so we we chugged down to the greenbelt and covered some new territory on Sunday - 2 hours worth.

The fun part, you know, besides arguing with the twins for an hour and a half about the parks being too muddy to play in as you're plugging along huffing and puffing? Being about a half block from the park you know won't be too muddy and realizing you reallllllly have to go to the bathroom . .. and are about a half mile from home, which is uphill, and in the middle of suburbia. Commence pushing said 120 lbs of stroller as fast as humanly possible up what feels like Mount Everest toward home with devastated kids screaming about the park . . . while trying not to shit yourself.

Good news is we made it home in time. And then ventured back out to the park.

It was a great workout with lots of hills and I think the kids enjoyed the fresh air, too. I feel a lot better and less tired, though my appetite is through the roof. Whatever, my weight is stable, I'm strong and can manage not to poop myself in public. I consider that a win.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Um, Week 11

So I've been on hiatus a bit. And after a laundry list of excuses (foot, wine, laziness, etc. . .) I'm trying to get back on the training bandwagon.

Saturday I tried doing yoga while the twins were napping. Instead it turned into a tackle/wrestle opportunity for the baby. She and I ended up having a great time, but I'm not sure of the effectiveness of full tackle yoga.

Then, I stuffed the kids under coats and blankets and boots and into the triple wide hoping enough snow had melted we might be able to make it around the neighborhood sidewalks a bit. For the most part we did ok, but some areas were too narrow and we either had to push through the drifts or turn around and find another route. We also had some tears when we found out one of our parks had not yet been scooped out.

Coming home reminded me how much the kids have grown since last summer - walking up the hill to the house gave me time to calculate the total weight of kids and stroller I was actually pushing . . . approx 130 lbs now . . . no wonder my thighs were burning!

Yesterday we took the kids to the lake for a 6 miler. The weather was good, but man it seemed like a long way around! I feel great today, so maybe not all is lost just yet.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Week 7, Day 2

Miles: 4
Miles/Week: 4/17
Conditions: Snow, snow and more SNOW

Yeah. I've been sucking at training. Ever since this bunion showed up I've sort of lost my drive. I only got in 6 miles last week.

I think the hardest part is figuring out whether or not I believe the bunion is an excuse or a reason for my training issue. It was certainly the instigator.

So what I'm thinking is I really should just go back to my plan and see what happens. If the pain comes back, well then I'll just have to decide then. But how does one go about getting back that lost drive to train? Any suggestions?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Week 6, Day 2

Miles: 4
Miles/Week: 4/17
Conditions: 67 in basement

Stoopid 4 miles. I hate you. All I wanted to do was drink wine, watch The Biggest Loser and eat a whole pizza before snuggling in to bed.

But NOOOOOOOOOO, I had to book 4 miles first. Or else I would feel like a complete lazy piece of shit.

But it's done. And over. And late. And I'm on the computer instead of sleeping soundly in bed. It is not fun today, but my legs still feel thankful I put them through that.

Ugh.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Week 5, Day 5

Miles: 4
Miles/Week: (12) 6/14
Conditions: Still in the basement on the treadmill

Got in 3 last night and 3 Tuesday night. I doubt I'll be doing anything tonight but be having beers with friends, which leaves two 4 milers for Sat & Sun.

Somehow a three run week would be so much better than four I think. I'm having trouble getting that 4th run in. Wah.

In other news, my foot seems to be giving up the ghost and feeling a lot better. That is a huge relief. It would probably be a lot more relieved if I would lose 15 lbs, but that's not going to happen any time soon so better just quit thinking that!

Over all, though, I'm feeling great. It can go ahead and get warm outside now.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Week 5, Day 1

Miles: 6 (0)
Miles/Week: (6)/14
Conditions: Blizzard outside, 67 in the basement

Sunday did not include the 6 miles I had hoped, instead, it included a fair amount of wine and wonderful company. So . . . . on my Rest Day yesterday, Monday, I plugged out the 6.

My foot held up well, though I didn't try jogging at all on it yet. I varied my speed between 3.5 & 4 on the treadmill - I know, totally sissy, but the miles are done and that's what's important. I'm getting little twinges of pain in my foot today, but nothing what it was like last week.

This week is my last *short* week at 14 miles: 3, 3, 4, 4.

As of today I've put in a total of 50 miles in the 4 weeks I've been training. Although I've been feeling behind and like I'm always letting myself down with this training, I'm actually only 4 miles shy of the schedule which is 92.6%, so really that's not that bad. I'll take it!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Week 4, Day 7

Miles Today: 6
Miles/Week: 9/15
Conditions: 67 in basement

Saw the doc about my foot on Friday. I've got a bunion in my right foot. Arg. He assured me it isn't just an old people ailment, but it still sounds geriatric. Apparently it can only be 'fixed' with surgery, but since I'm committed to this training program we're going to try to limp it along until after the marathon and then see where we are.

So, Doc gave me a couple shots in the foot and that really helped. He did say no working out on Friday night, so that pushed my 4 miles to Saturday night. I did get the 4 in but it was slow as I wanted to take it easy and see how my foot reacted. It seemed to do pretty well and I got all the miles in.

Today I'm supposed to do 6, but I'm not sure if I'll get it all in. I'll sure try.

I'm bummed about the fact my foot won't get any better, but at least we have been able to make it feel better in the mean time. Dumb bunion.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Week 4, Day 4

Miles: 2
Miles/Week: 5/15
Conditions: Treadmill

Got my 2 miles in last night, but my stomach was acting up again. And my foot hurt, so I'm going to the doctor today to get my foot looked at. Stupid foot.

Hopefully I can get my 4 in tonight and a 6 on Sunday with Dad. Happy Friday!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Week 4, Day 3

Miles: 4
Miles/Week: 3/15
Conditions: 67 in the basement

Tuesday night I got in my 3 miles after the kids were put to bed. Unbekownst to me, the twins were jacking around in their room until I finally finished working out and made my way back upstairs. Luckily they didn't leave their room nor wake the baby, so I just politely put them back to bed. I maybe used a couple stern words, but really it wasn't' a big deal.

Last night was a scheduled 2 miler, but a bout of queasiness near bedtime made me just put myself to bed. Was it staying home all day with the kids b/c of the ice storm? Or maybe a round of the flu going around rampant? I went to be and felt fine, so who knows. But once again, I'm behind schedule. So tonight I'll either do my 2 or 4 and do the other on Friday night. Yarf.

Also, I have a pain in the ball/base of my big toe on my right foot. It comes and goes, but never goes away. Maybe I need some new shoes? Or is it the Sissy in me coming out?? I'm thinking I'll ride it out and see what happens.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Week 3 Complete!

Miles Today: 6 (5)
Miles/Week: 15/14
Conditions: 35 degrees @ Gray's

Dad and I put in an easy 6 miles on Sunday . . . after eating a gigantic & delicious ribeye dinner, with wine. Yeah, we rock.

The weather was perfect and for the most part the path was clear. At the beginning of our run, though, Dad stretched out his stride to a ridiculous pace and there was no way I was keeping up. Luckily he was joking and slowed down quickly and we kept a good clip together.

Into mile 5 Dad took a quick detour and I kept going. As I saw him catching up I kicked up my pace to as fast as I could go . . . and then began involuntarily squealing like an idiot. Rather than have the cops called on us for the sound of a woman being attacked, I immediately checked myself and stopped to laugh my ass off until Dad caught up. That was a good call as there was no way I was going to keep up running that pace for more than a few more feet, anyway.

Mom stayed home with the kids and moderated a Thomas the Train build out complete with babyzilla's destruction services in our absence. Thank you Mom.

Good news is Week 3 closed out with all the miles plus 1. Week 4 starts up on Tuesday with a 3, 2, 4, & 6 on the weekend for a total of 15. Weeks 4 & 5 are the end of the shorter mileages before we crank it up to 17+. . . better enjoy them then, right?

Friday, January 15, 2010

Week 3 - Thurs

Miles Today: 4
Miles/Week: 7/14
Conditions: 67 in the basement

I was sick on Wednesday, so missed my 2 miler, but will make that up Friday night after kids go to bed.

Thursday night did 4 on the treadmill, was only planning to do the 2 miler I missed, but ended up with 4 while watching the Discovery Channels' show on the plane that landed in the Hudson a year ago. It was mesmerizing, and I found myself talking out loud about certain points of it because it was just so compelling.

Luckily my stomach held out for the entire walk and I'm only 2 miles behind this week at this point. Again, I'll make that up tonight. Hopefully next week I can stay on track and not get behind again because it's disheartening to always feel behind.

At least I'm sticking with it, though, even with the setbacks. If there's one thing I've learned it is to not let setbacks let you stop.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Week 2 & Week 3

Miles Today: 2
Total/Week: 3/14
Conditions: 67 in the basement

So last week (week 2) didn't go so hot. I mean really, not hot at all. In fact we had a blizzard and several grueling days of sub zero temps.

Plus, my treadmill was broken.

Long story short, I eeked out 3 miles on the treadmill on Monday before it gave it's final death slip and about caused me to fall on my ass. . . and then Saturday I took the kids & the triple wide to the mall for some old fashioned mall walking with the blue hairs. We managed 5 miles before the kids finally revolted and demanded a turn at the play place with all the snot nosed crazy kids running 90 mph. It was a successful venture, but a LOT of work. I'm so ready for it to be nice out again!

So week 2 rounded up with 8/13 miles and I've finally forgiven myself for the 5 mile deficit - shit happens, MOVE ON!

Last night started week 3 and I got my 3 miles in on the newly fixed treadmill - yay! Tonight is 2 miles, followed by 4 tomorrow and 5 on the weekend for a total of 14 this week. It feels good to be back on track! Good times.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Week 1 Complete

Miles Today: 4
Total/Week: 12/12
Conditions: 16 F

It was COLD today, but Dad and I made it the 4 miles in decent time.

I was worried about getting all my miles in this week with New Years and traveling to KC, but I did it, with some great help from my family. BTW - I froze my ass off for 2 miles in KC, too. Training in winter? AWFUL. But at least most of my parts are numb enough to not feel any pain.

Next week is more of the same from this week, only 5 miles for the weekend instead of 4.

1 week down, 23 to go.