training day number thirty-nine

this morning's run started at 5:30 am with a dense fog. it was beautiful and so special to be out with no traffic on the streets. for the first time on a morning run, i met another running prior to getting on the east duke trail. i have seen this runner before and she was shocked as was i to see another runner on main street so early in the morning. on the trail, there were more runners than i have ever seen but all were starting out as i was headed back from my turn around point. i used this as a time to imagine i was way out front in a race. :)

this run started with a dull pain in my right leg but as things warmed up, it mellowed out and i was able to run faster and without pain. so at this point, i am well on my way to having a 20+ mile week for the first time. fingers crossed

run:

duration:  1:02:07

distance:  5.45 mi (goal 5 miles)

pace: 11:24 min/mi 

calories: 784

weight: 179 lbs 

102 days to go

~

training day number thirty-eight

i joined the 10 mile club today. it is so cool. progress is happening. i'm enjoying the runs because this workout is challenging but following what i am learning about running and myself, it gets better.

sunday as LRD works; especially working at the farmer's market on saturdays.  while i am writing this, i have run 10 miles, had a good breakfast, walked in the yard with the flowers after a great rain and chilled with a sunday cocktail. :)

on today's run i ate a granola bar after 7.5 miles with a quick drink of water. that helped. i tolerated eating and running okay. the knee was better but there were two times i felt i was not running in good form due to pain. once i changed it and pushed on, the pain eased.

after the run, i stretched on the duke st bridge and my legs were tight. wow. it is a crazy feeling of WTF just happened but then it's "i did that". :)

another plus for a early morning sunday run is there are very few folks about. i can run down the middle of deserted streets and enjoy the view. after the stretching and squats on the duke st bridge i went for a walk to the dbap. i also stretched a bit by the waterfall. the walk helped with the tight muscles and a walk is a must after these runs.

today's run is my recored for time; 2 hours. wow.

LRD = long run day

run:
duration:  2:05:22
distance:  10.32 mi (goal 10 miles)
pace: 12:09 min/mi 
calories: 1405

weight: 178 lbs 



104 days to go

training day number thirty-seven

pain is the name of the game. well not so much today but i was hesitant to push it still. i did a steady run but slower than usual. running slower feels like a failure so i was nursing my ego half of the time. it is interesting that after the first mile and getting a good stride, it feels great. i have to remember that when i don't feel like running.

i haven't had that feeling yet though and look forward to this exercise. it is so awesome once the distance is met i go, "wow, i just did that.":)

run:
duration:  1:07:45
distance:  5.75 mi (goal 4 miles)
pace: 11:47 min/mi 
calories: 802

weight: 182 lbs 

107 days to go 

training day number thirty-six

today's run was the first after my knee pain on my LRD. it was rough at first because i was so focused on it and i ran slow. i was having a hard time with my ego but i worked through it. by the time i got to 2 miles, i was more confident and running faster and by the end i was in a good form. i had pain all the way but it got better. i did some stretches at the end and 25 squats so the knee must be ok, i just have to get me some new shoes. i'll do that today or tomorrow.

run:
duration:  57:24:83
distance:  4.61 mi (goal 4 miles)
pace: 12:27 min/mi 
calories: 577

weight: 183 lbs 

109 days to go 

training day number thirty-five

i joined a club today; the 8 mile club. :) it's 8:00 am and i started today at 5:00 am. after washing up then a banana and a bottle of water, i headed out for my long run day (LRD). it was great until the last little bit. my right leg started to hurt slightly so i slowed down. once i crossed the 8 mile point, i stopped the run and walked the rest of the way home. there is no need to push it and cause a problem. i'll take it easy the rest of the day.

i really prefer running in the morning. i ran into 4 other runners this early morning run. two were shirtless like me and one sports bra. we were rocking it. !!!

cheers to a great week of living!

run:
duration:  1:34:34
distance:  8.17 mi (goal 8 miles)
pace: 11:34 min/mi 
calories: 1163

weight: 179 lbs 

111 days to go 

training day number thirty-four

i'm a runner. that feels good to say. when i started this training, sure i had run before but i wasn't a runner. now i am. i look forward to my training. i want to stay away from workouts that do not help me improve my running. i can't do the core workouts like i did on tuesday. i was sore and close to injury the next day. on today's run, i felt some pain i am certain was the result of some of the crazy exercises we did on tuesday. plus, i am not trying to get ripped. i just wanna run. :)

starting today i will continue my gym workouts with the bike, abs, stretches, etc but will not log them. i have passed my weight loss goal of 184 lbs. yes! i'm a runner. :)

today's run was great. i got up at 5:10 am and left out at 5:35 with only a couple of glasses of water for a quick breakfast. i had a late dinner and went to bed soon after. the goal today was 4 miles so i had enough fuel for this one. it was 75 degrees and the streets were deserted. i could run in the street on the asphalt instead of the sidewalks; i can tell the difference. no shirt; the sweat kept me cool. the run went great except for a dull pain in my right leg. this made me slow down to pay attention to each step to not cause further injury for about a quarter mile. i won't run again until sunday. i have eight miles to do then. :)

run:
duration:  50:03:00
distance:  4.63 mi (goal 4 miles)
pace: 10:49 min/mi 
calories: 685

weight: 183 lbs 

114 days to go 


thanks to my family and friends for the support. i love you.


~~~

training day number thirty-three

i had another goal today and i made it. it's a work day but instead of running after work, i got up in enough time to run before work. the weather forecast was 97 degrees. i do not like running when it's that hot. so i got up at 5:00 am.

it is a good time to run for me. it is great to have the sunrise and i can run in the street instead of on sidewalks due to little traffic downtown. i can run with no shirt since i won't get burned from the sun and will stay cool from sweating.

i also signed up to take a gym class with some other guys and i did not enjoy that much. it was a dvd workout and it was crazy exercises i don't need to do. i'll go back to my routine for now. i may workout with those guys in the new gym once it opens. it would be cool to have a person leading the class other than a dvd. just saying...

gym: no bike today (see above) i missed my feeling of accomplishment

run:
duration:  46:52:00
distance:  4.50 mi (goal 4 miles)
pace: 10:25 min/mi 
calories: 675

weight: 180 lbs (wow)

116 days to go  

training day number thirty-two

today's run was a bit hard. like a fool i stayed up way to late partying like i'm a twenty something. so i slept in way past sunrise and missed it. i didn't wake up until 10:00 am and freaked out a bit because not only did i need to run 7 miles, i had a hangover. but i did it. it was definitely a test for race day as under whatever the circumstance, i will run the race. hopefully so.

i learned a few things on today's run that i'm sure i will remember at least this week. one is that i can run with a hangover. it actually does make you feel better to exercise but still not a good idea to have one in the first place. another lesson is to sing a song as a motivator. i don't use music but that does not mean i can't sing my own song when no one is around. a good song get's me going. then there is the need to figure out how i can hydrate on my long runs. i don't think i can go much further without getting some water or something after 7 or 8 miles which for theses hot days, it's about an 1 hour and half time frame.  i don't like the look of these gel packs they sell but i might try the jelly beans just because, right.

gym: no gym today, it's sunday

run:
duration:  1:41:30
distance:  7.55 mi (goal 7 miles)
pace: 13.27 min/mi (slow run but i made it)
calories: 864

weight: 181.5 lbs 

118 days to go 

training day number thirty-one

today's run was a piece of cake. ha ha. i never thought i would say that about going for a run at my age. but i'm doing it. high five for me. it was a short run in comparison to my goal but it is all a part of training. sunday's long run is 7 miles and after today, i'm ready.

gym: 30 minutes cycle on 12 of 20 manual setting, abs, pushups and stretches 410 calories

run:
duration:  39:05:01
distance:  3.60 mi (goal 3 miles)
pace: 10:51 min/mi
calories: 540

weight: 185 lbs 

121 days to go 

training day number thirty

wow, 30 runs in as of today. that is amazing; i'm so excited. still, it is just one step at a time. after my long run on sunday, i did not workout on monday. i had planned to do it but i killed my iphone because it got wet from my sweat. i was not even mad about it but i needed my phone. so i got a new one during my regular gym time at work. for future runs instead of taking my iphone, i got a cheap phone for an emergency. hopefully i will never need it. 


today's run goal on the schedule was only 3 miles. i had worked out. during the run it was hot and i was tired but i did it and made the goal. i definitely have more energy in the morning. i must figure out a way to run before work. it just means getting up earlier. i already get up at 5:00 am so this will be a challenge. lol


gym: 30 minutes cycle on 12 of 20 manual setting, abs, pushups and stretches 410 calories

run:
duration:  34:28
distance:  3.25 mi (goal 3 miles)
pace: 10:36 min/mi
calories: 484

weight: 184 lbs 

123 days to go 

training day number twenty-nine

today is sunday and time for a long run schedule training. i had a plan to run first thing today before it gets blistering hot. i woke up at 5:00 am excited to do my initial long run. i imagined it would be nice to start out as the sun comes up and the streets deserted enough to run down the middle of the road. well, rising early paid off with some great views of downtown and duke's campus with the gentle morning rays of light, birds cheering me on as well as no traffic. it was great. my goal was 6 miles for this long run.

gym: no gym today as i did not go to the office.

run:
duration:  1:30:22
distance:  7.36 mi (goal 6 miles)
pace: 12:17 min/mi
calories: 979

weight: 186 lbs 

125 days to go

training day number twenty-eight

today i got up and ran first thing while it was 72 degrees. in just two hours it is already 83 degrees at 9:30 am. the temperature should rise to 100 degrees today again. this is crazy. but i got my run in. today's goal on the marathon training schedule is 4 miles. how did i do? 


i set off on my morning run in eagerness to beat the heat of the day without breakfast. yesterday was july 4 and i had a big lunch and a big dinner so i had enough fuel. but i got get some breakfast now. :) cheers
 
gym: no gym today as i did not go to the office.

run:
duration:  49:56
distance:  4.40 mi (goal 4 miles)
pace: 11:21 min/mi
calories: 626

weight: 186 lbs 

128 days to go

training day number twenty-seven

it's july and time for a new training schedule. did i say it was hot today? i had to run early because it's the holiday and i'm working but i needed to be somewhere later. so i had to run in the heat of 97 degrees and 26% humidity at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. it was like cooking with no oil. at least the folks at a pool or the beach can get wet. but i did my goal of 3 miles today. sunday, i have to run 6 miles; i'm ready.

gym: no gym today as i did not go to the office. but i did cut the grass and sweated (shirt off too)

run:
duration:  41:33
distance:  3.61 mi (goal 3 miles)
pace: 11:39 min/mi
calories: 521

weight: 186 lbs 

130 days to go