Leprechaun 10K

I am currently training for the Leprechaun Chase 10K on March 10th.  This is no easy task as far as I am concerned.  Up until last July I had never been a distance runner--let alone a runner at all!  I barely could walk a couple of miles let alone run them!!  So--you can imagine what its been like!

The last month has been up and down!  I had a wisdom tooth pulled the end of January--and ended up getting Vertigo a few weeks ago--my training has spotty!  But--I am so happy to say the last 2 weeks I have gotten some GREAT training in! :)

Last Sunday I ran 6.2 miles for the VERY first time!  I wanted to see A) how long it would take me and B) see how long 6.2 miles REALLY is! :P  I had also decided that I was going to take a different approach to my "long runs" (which I have always done on the weekends!).  I wear a heart rate strap/watch to monitor my heart rate while I run.  I got this fabulous watch for Christmas this year!  And I have done some research about heart rates and running.  I have watched my heart rate for a few weeks--and decided that my max heart rate sits at about 200.  Minimum I am not sure--but usually around 88/90.  My "optimal" heartrate--that I feel best when I am running and can keep my breathing and body in control is about 160.  So I decided to keep my heart rate at/around 160.  And I must say--I ran all but less than .1 of the run!  I was battling some crazy headwind and ended up getting a horrible side cramp I needed to walk/stretch it out!  Once that was accomplished I started running again!  I was shocked at how well my body performed and how "easy" (I say that lightly) it was to complete the full 6.2.  My time was super slow--coming in at just under 1:20.  For the 1st time ever running this distance--and the fact that I was basing my pace off of my heartrate I feel pretty good about this!

This week I have actually logged the most miles I think ever!  :)  Which--is awesome-and I really am feeling great!  I was a little worried that I would be dealing with some muscle issues with jumping into the 6.2 on Sunday--but in reality--aside from some major fatigue on Sunday evening afterwards--I have felt really good this week!

Tuesday I did my first ever speedwork!  I did this run on the treadmill and I think I will continue to do so because I am HORRIBLE at running a constant speed outside.  Although I may do some timed sprints vs. distance sprints--we shall see!  It was an interesting experience--and I hope to continue to do a speed workout at least once a week to not only improve speed but also help lengthen my stride!  The distance I was supposed to cover was 3 miles--I did a little over 3.5!

Yesterday I was scheduled a short 2 mile run, however we got a crazy snowstorm and I wasn't about to venture anywhere I didn't HAVE to be last night so I skipped it.  I decided to hit the gym again today and do two FAST miles.  This I believe is called a "tempo" run.  The research I have done about this says it helps to build your muscles lactic acid threshold.  Helping you "run through the pain" basically!  Even so--I ran 2 miles--averaging a 9:58 mile for both!  Which is AWESOME!! :)  And it was hard--but felt pretty good!  I wanted to stop halfway through--but I kept on pushing knowing that the end was in sight!! And 2 miles is pretty easy!

Total this week I logged about 12 miles--which doesn't seem like a lot--but this is likely my highest mileage week so far! :)  I can't wait to see that number continue to increase!!  :)

Oh--and I am sure you are wondering what the heck I am basing my mileage off of??  I am using the Hal Higdon 10K program.  The link is found here: Hal Higdon 10K Program  I intend to use his programs for both my 1/2 marathon training (that will start after this 10K in March) and the full marathon training (that will start at the end of June!)  I have heard great things--plus there are apps to go along with these programs!  Which, for me, is a TOTAL bonus! :)

Overall--I am getting excited for the Leprechaun Chase 10K in March!  I however, am NOT looking forward to getting another wisdom tooth pulled Tuesday.  Wish me luck--because I need to be back to running by Thursday to stay on track.  Eeks!

For the Love of the Kids 5K

My 2nd race of the year was a 5K on Valentine's Day!!  This was another virtual run, but this run was for a charity and had an entry fee along with it!  I though, got some fun goodies!  A technical shirt, an official bib, a finisher's certificate, and official race results posted!! :)  The great thing about virtual races--you can do them where ever!!  I opted to race indoors--because it snowed Monday--and while the temperature wasn't to bad at all on Tuesday--the roads still had some snow on them, and well, I was really hoping to PR for this race!!! :)

I decided to run my 5K on the treadmill at our local YMCA!  It was the best choice for me--and proved to me good! :)

My run started out really well!  I felt really good through mile 1!  I had really found my groove--and my music (Thank You Pandora Endurance Station!) was really keeping me going!  I was hoping to not walk any of my 5K--but at about 1/2 way through my heart rate was climbing really high--and I knew if I wanted to PR that I needed to take a short walk break to get my heart rate down.  I walked 1:30 seconds of my entire 5K.  Which, is good and bad.  After that walk break I made a vow that I was going to run the rest.  About 2.7 miles into my 3.1 race my heartrate was once again--in the 190's--so I decided to take a very short break.  I felt very defeated that I had to take yet ANOTHER walk break--so I made this one super short because well, I was SOOO close to the end.  I pushed hard--and I mean HARD the last 1/2 a mile or so (and my heartrate was showing it!!)--and the push PAID OFF!!  I ended up PR'ing at....

33:28

I haven't said much about my previous runs--but my very first race (a virtual put on by a friend) I logged in my 5K at 35:11 (I believe).  My 1st in person race--I logged in a time of 34:28--I was SHOCKED when I logged that time--I had been running pretty consistent 36:00 5K's the few weeks before--so it was pleasant surprise!!!!  SOO---if you take my 1st official timed race--to this one--From September 2011 to February 2012--I have lowered my 5K time by 1 full minute!!  Which, I thought was pretty darn good!  It is however, just a few seconds less than my November 5K time!

It was a good run--however I was noticing how crazy my heartrate was.  It was sitting for the majority of my run in the 170's.  And at the end (when I was really really really pushing) it was above 190!  Crazy right?!

Official race results were posted--and out of 193 participants I was ranked 102!  I was hoping for the top 1/2, but I think I came pretty darn close!!  And out of 156 women participants I ranked 75th!!!!  Which IS in the top half!! Woot woot!   I am completely happy with those results!!

My dad also ran the race "with" me--logging in a 35:11 5K time!  His 2nd best!!  I can't wait for our next race where we will be running together in person!! :)  My dad started his running journey with me when I was at his house--and he has been such a great running partner!  He and I continue to push each other in a positive direction!!!  We plan to complete the 12 races in 12 months goal TOGETHER! :)

I thank For the Love of the Kids for sponsoring a great race!!!

And finally--some pictures! :)

About Ready to get my Run on! :)

My race "trail"--the good ol' treadmill!

Thank you YMCA for a great run!  2 down--10 to go! :)

At home, with my race shirt and number! 

The Night Before a Race...

I am usually super nervous!  I get these butterfly's and its hard to sleep...I think about how Grandma would be feeling if she was here.  I think about how much I would love for her to be watching us race.  I often shed a tear or two--missing her, but knowing how she really is here with us.  Her spirit lives on through all of us--but especially in my boys.  It's amazing to see them--to watch Noah and Owen growing up--to hear Noah talking about her and the memories she made with him.  And Owen--oh man, Owen.  He will probably never remember her--he was too young--but man does he have her personality.  He is so fiesty--such a fighter--and such a silly goose!  He is just as stubborn as she was too!  Probably even more so!  And last night--he showed his true "Grandma Ginnis" personality by waking up around 10:30 wide awake--wanting to hang out and be a night owl!  Oh she would have just gobbled him up--spending all those hours watching movies with him--snuggling all his toddlerness!  Anyway...enough of that....

Tomorrow I will run my February race!! :)  It is the For the Love of the Children virtual race! :)  I am excited to run---but not so excited to be running it on the treadmill :(  We got snow today--and the roads are quite slick, plus--I have to run in the evening--and my town (which is very very small--and has very very very little crime) has been having some car break-ins and odd happenings going on, which makes me VERY VERY paranoid!  So--treadmill it is!  I am hoping it can help me log in an AWESOME run! 

Sunday my mother-in-law graciously offered to watch the boys to let Justin and I have the afternoon to go out to eat--I had made mention to Justin about wanting/needing to get a run in, but that I would like him to be there (in case I had an issue with my dizziness that is still hanging around)--he also wanted to beat my brother's time/distance from the night before--so off we headed to the local Y (We are YMCA members here--and most Y's have an "away" program) and off we ran!  I put in a good 5.65ish miles in about 1:15--my husband however put in 8.25 miles in 1:15!!!  How crazy is that?!  I was having a crazy time with the treadmill--so I stopped short of the 10K I was trying to run!  It was still a good (ish) run!  Especially for not running all the week before--I think I did pretty good!! 

I am looking forward to logging in a strong 5K time tomorrow!! :)  We shall see where the treadmill takes me! :P

Have a fabulous Valentine's Day everyone!

Training

Last week I had a beautiful week of training.  I hadn't done a ton of running, but I managed to get some cross training in!  I had been wanting to try a class at the Y called "Tour De Y" which is a mix of spin and free weight exercises!  It was TOUGH--but felt great!  Love it!   Then, Friday I got busy working in my classroom and missed my Friday night Yoga/Pilates/Thai Chi class (its called Centergy)--so I decided just to work out instead!  Justin (my husband) had been telling about this new bike that was HARD--and I decided to give it a try.  Well it was WAY harder than I ever expected a bike ride to be!!  I managed to put 4 miles in on the bike, although I wanted to stop at 2...I managed to somehow make it 4.  Then I decided to log in 2 miles on the treadmill!  Both felt really good!


I was going to run on Sunday-but couldn't find the motivation, and decided that I could run later in the day-welp, I totally forgot that I had a Superbowl party one of Justin's co-worker's invited us to.  So, no running on Sunday for me.


Monday morning about 3 am I woke up EXTREMELY dizzy.  Like, so dizzy it was making me sick to my stomach.  And, the kicker--I didn't feel like I was going to pass-out, I literally just felt like the world was spinning and I could do anything to stop it.  I decided going back to sleep would make it go away.  I got up for work and the world had somewhat stopped spinning. Monday was rough--and while I REALLY wanted to run on Monday--I figured running was probably not in my best interest--as I could barely walk in a straight line.  Yesterday and today--I am still having some dizzy spells, but they are slowly getting better.  I was going to run tonight but I think I am just going to go ahead and stretch some and take it easy.

Needless to say--my training hasn't been the greatest!  I signed up this week for my February race!  That one is "on" Valentine's Day--and is a 5K.  This is a virtual 5K (although I do get an official bib and TECH shirt!  Woot woot!).

I am super nervous for my March race however. It is a 10K--and I am just afraid I am not going to be ready to add that kind of mileage.  However, I do feel that the schedule Hal Higdon has set up I could do, counting back from race day to where I would land on the schedule!  I can run 4 miles on a "long" run, therefore I am right on que with where he wants me to be.  However, my runs during the week really need to increase!  I have just been really lazy with it being dark out before I get home!

So after my 10K I am trying to figure out my next step--do I just do a 1/2 marathon training--and start the full after my 1st in 1/2 in June (and/or July) or--do I just start the full training and just repeat it?  Decisions Decisions.....le sigh.