Thursday, December 29, 2005

Week 3 - Day 4: 6 More Miles

That title kinda reminds me of Hank Sr.'s song (six more miles...to the graveyard...six more miles...long and sad)...haha. Anways, I did 6 slow miles today on the treadmill this morning - took me 58 minutes. Tracy, Michele and I are running our long run tommorrow at Maple Springs.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Week 3 - Day 3: Ran out of Time..haha

Well, I was suppose to run 6 miles today, but I didn't make it to the rec center until 11:15, and the childcare room closes at 12:00. So I ran in and jumped on the treadmill and ran as hard as I could until 12:00....that got me 5 miles in 41:17. It was a mile short, but a pretty nice tempo run that ended up at about a 8:17/mile pace. I'm suppose to run 6 tommorrow as well, and am planning on going at 5:30 a.m. The rec center is getting crowded as the new year approaches...treadmills will be hard to come by soon.
Briar and J.T. are back from baseball camp now. Briar couldn't wait to see Wrigley. Bo and I are glad to see them back.

Week 3 - Day 2: No Big Deal

Ran 3 miles on the treadmill at 24:52. Didn't make it to the pool. I'm tired...got 6 tommorrow.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Week 3 - Day 1: Hills

Back to the training. The schedule said 5-6 Hills at 5k - 10k pace. The plan was to run Jail Hill 6 times; it's about a quarter of a mile from bottom to top...I think thats about right for what cool running considers a long hill. The schedule didn't specify long or short, so I guess it didn't matter. Anyways, I parked at Hollys house and ran about a 1/2 mile warmup over to Jail Hill, then ran 6 repeats of the hill, jogging slowly back down each time. Michele had already called and warned me that it was tough, and it was. By the time I ran the 1/2 mile back to Holly's I did 4.1 miles in 37 min 32 sec. I also wore my heart monitor to see if I could get max heart rate. According to the data I uploaded to the computer, it looks like I reached 186 bpm near the end of hill 5, it also says that when I started running the first hill, I reached 219.....and I don't think that is accurate. I'm gonna do some more research and find out what normal max heart rates are. And besides, I'm sure my heart was working harder near the end than at the beginning. Anyways, next is 3 miles...should be fairly easy, maybe I can get some swimming in too....

Chirstams

I have some catching up to do. Christmas was great...2 days rest from running, Santa brought a new puppy and lots of cool stuff - it was everything it should have been. I'll post a picture of the new puppy soon...he is so sweet! Briar and Bo named him "Wrigley". That's after Wrigley Field, ofcourse, since we're Cubs fans. Briar and J.T. are off to base ball camp now, and will be back Wednesday night.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Week 2 - Day 5: The Long Run

Week 2 is in the books for me, since I am not running on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Today was the long run, and turned out to be a little longer than it was supposed to have been. It was supposed to be 11 miles, but we ended up running too much through town and having too far to go back to my house. And since we were in a hurry to get home, we didn't stop at 11, we ran all the way to my house....which turned out to be 11.75 miles - completed in 2 hours. Michele and both felt good for some reason...didn't hurt nearly as bad as the 10 we ran last week. Tracy didn't feel well, though, she got a side stitch off the bat and struggled. Some days you have it, some days you don't.
The good news is - I have promised myself 2 days off, and I am satisfied with my effort and progress as week 2 is concluded and Christmas is here. JT and I are making a special trip to Birmingham, AL tommorrow morning; having Christmas with Vaughn, Colene, Jimmy, & Beth tommorrow, and then Santa will be here tommorrow night....I LOVE IT.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Week 2 - Days 3 & 4: Tired Legs...haha

I didn't post yesterday, because I was too tired. I had a hair appt at 7:15 a.m. in M'boro, so I got to work late and didn't get in my 6 miles beforehand. Then I had to work late to make up the time. Holly (my sister) wanted to take the boys to a Nativity Scene that night, so after work I rushed to buy my groceries, put my sweet potatoes in the oven (for my sweet potato casserole that I'm taking to my Aunt Norma's for Christmas tonight), and rushed off to the rec center at 7:30 p.m. to try and get my 6 miles in. I ran the 6 on the treadmill, with a time of 55:58. And when I got home and finished the sweet potatoes, I was tired. J.T. was finishing up work at his office, so me and the boys went to bed.
When the alarm went off at 4:50 a.m. this morning, I said "Ok Lana - you've got 3 miles today. 3 little short quick miles - you can do it" But my legs disagreed. They really did feel tired. So I gave in and stayed in the bed. But since I'm already skipping out on one of the 3 milers for Christmas, I did my 3 during lunch at work. I didn't push myself at all...I still think I need to save some legs for the 11 miles tommorrow.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Week 2 - Day 2: 5 miles

I have rearranged my training runs a little this week for Christmas. I was supposed to run 3 miles today, 5 tommorrow, 6 Thursday, 3 Friday and 11 Sat. I know I am not going to be able to run Saturday, since it is Christmas Eve, so I took out today's 3 miles and replaced it with tommorrow's 5 miles and moved everything else up accordingly. That makes my long run on Friday, and it looks like we are going to do that around 12:30. The good news is that the weather man says it's gonna be 55 to 57 degrees!!! That is great. After the 11 miler I'm gonna take off Saturday and Sunday for Christmas. This is gonna be a great Christmas.
As I was running my 5 miles on the treadmill this morning, I was thinking about how abundantly God has blessed myself and my family. And how the thought of Christmas being around the corner makes me giddy. That is something to really appreciate when you have it, because not everyone has that feeling. I know that there have been Christmas's when I did not have it, for one reason or another. And as we get older and have to say goodbye to the people who make Christmas so special, I think it becomes harder and harder to enjoy it. And that is so sad. So I am of the opinion that when things are good, we should soak it up and enjoy it, and celebrate the blessings we've been given. I do think that's what God wants...I know that I love to see my children enjoy and celebrate the things I am able to give them.
6 miles tommorrow - whew...not sure if that's gonna be on the track or the treadmill.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Week 2 - Day 1: Fartleks

LOL - I know, I know...the title is amusing. However, the fartleks went well this morning! Incase you don't know what "fartlek" is, below is how coolrunning.com describes it:

"Fartlek" is Swedish for "speed play" and consists of bursts of speed in the middle of a training run. Essentially, it's an unstructured interval session, the track without the rules. Fartlek gets your legs used to a variety of paces and in the process gives you an enhanced awareness of your ability to keep up those paces at various distances.

The schedule said 5 miles of fartlek, including a mile each of warm up and cool down. I did it on the treadmill, and actually did it more along the lines of intervals (I prefer to have a little more structure) - here's the breakdown:

1 mile warmup @6 mph
1 x 400m @ 8mph
1 x 400m recovery lap @ 6mph
1 x 800m @ 8mph
1 x 400m recovery lap @ 6mph
1 x 800m @8mph
1 x 400m recovery lap @ 6mph
1 x 400m @ 8mph
1 x 400m recovery lap @ 6mph
1 x 400m @ 8mph
1 x 200m recovery @6mph
1 x 200m @ 8mph
1 x mile cooldown

All that totals 5 miles. It was fairly uncomfortable, but not unbearable. I think that's how it's supposed to be. I also had some time to get some swimming in this morning...I did 3 laps of drills, and then 2 sets of 10 laps (500 meters) each. I felt more comfortable today; I didn't get water in my ears the whole time, but I still didn't accomplish the balance I want in the water. I can feel my legs sinking and causing way too much drag. I have, at times, felt balanced - like I was crawling on top of the water, but not lately...I may need to get out my Total Immersion book and get serious about the drills again.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Day 7 - Rest

Ok - I haven't posted Days 5 & 6, so here's the lowdown:
Day 5, Friday, I didn't do my 3 miles. :( I know...skipping on the first week. I had good intentions, but J.T. decided to go into work before 6:00 a.m., so I didn't make it to the rec center early. Then I finished my Christmas shopping the rest of the evening. Atleast I accomplished something.
Day 6, Saturday - The Long Run(10 miles) - Tracey, Michele and I ran together. We started at my house and ran down to the greenway, up and around town, then cut through the square and ran the greenway again before heading back up 41 hwy. I think we were a little over 6 miles at that point, so we decided to run through country club....it was nice scenary ofcourse, but the hills were painful...and we ran so far around there that we got 10 miles about a 1/3 of mile before we got back to my house. 10 miles in 1:43 minutes. A little over 10 min miles...not too disappointed in that. But I'd like to keep that as close to 10:00 as possible. My legs were begging for a break by mile 9, though, so I think the pace was appropriate. All in all, it was a very enjoyable run....it's always alot easier when you're with other runners. Plus, the weather was alot nicer than I had thought...mid 40's. I even took my hat off after a couple miles and just used my ear warmers.
Day 7 - Sunday (Today) - Not much to say about today as far as the training goes, since this is the rest day. J.T. went to the Titans game, and me and the boys went to church. I've gotten so much sleep this weekend that I woke up at 4:00 a.m. and couldn't make myself go back to sleep..hahaha...how weird is that...I don't think that has happened to me in the last 9 years - since Briar was born. Tommorrow is 5 miles of fartlek - and that includes a mile each of warm up and cool down.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Day 4 - Another One Down

Six more miles down!!! I have now run 19 miles this week...that's usually what my weekly total is around...and I still have a 3 miler and a 10 miler to go. But I feel pretty good about it. I ran my 6 this morning on the treadmill. Tracy was there running too, and we talked the whole time so it made it pass a little faster. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do if the mid week runs start increasing alot, because 6 is about the max I can handle on the treadmill. There's just so many times you can watch the morning news and still be interested in it. Anyway, I am kinda proud of myself! And tommorrow I just have to run 3 - so I'm gonna try to give swimming another shot as well. I bought a trainer a while back so that I could keep biking during this cold weather, but I've yet to get it out of my car. There's just too much shopping and and wrapping presents to be done, and it'll Christmas before I know it. Isn't life great though!?!? I knocked out a little more shopping last night. I got my aunt Dana's present, my Grandmother's, and several more things for people. Even though it's cold and messy and hectic, this is a great time of year. My kids are singing christmas songs and shaking their presents under the tree...Briar gets out of school tommorrow morning for Christmas vacation...and J.T. has been working day and night lately so that he can get all his appraisals done and take some time off for Christmas. AND - it's time for my dad's yearly Bowl Game Pick'ems contest...so we're gonna be watching those bowl game scores. It's "The most wonderful time of the year"....

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Day 3 - Got Back In The Pool

I was supposed to run 4 miles today, but I cut it short 1 mile so that I would have time to swim some laps. So I ran 3 miles on the track and headed for the pool. And on my way I got caught taking the elevator - haha!! I haven't mentioned it yet but my friends Michele and Tracy are also entering into this marathon training. Michele was at the rec center running her 4 miles, and made fun of me for taking the elevator!! What can I say? I told you in my profile that I am just an ordinary girl...I'll take a short cut every now and then.
I wasn't able to get much done in the pool. I did a few of my Total Immersion drills and had time to swim like 5 laps (250 m) before I had to go. Briar, my 9 year old son, was with me, and we had to get back home and get ready for school/work. My swimming needs so much work. I'm not sure how I'm gonna fit it in.
Tommorrow says I'm supposed to run 6 miles. I'm debating on whether I'll tackle that on the treadmill or the track. Probably the treadmill. I doubt I can keep up with 72 laps without losing count. The long run for the week, 10 miles, has now officially been scheduled for Saturday, Dec17th. Michele and Tracy are running with me. I don't know if Tracy's husband, Gary, is coming or not. I haven't looked at the weather forecast yet...

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Day 2 - Barely Made It Out of Bed

The cold hard truth is, if I don't get out of the bed at 5:00 am and do my running immediately, the chances of me running at all that day decrease drastically. So the alarm clock went off at 5:00, and ofcourse I turned it off. I have gotten used to doing that several times each week over the past couple of months. But I kept thinking "...it's only day 2 Lana, you can't skip yet" So I finally drug myself out of bed at 5:35 and made it to the rec center by 5:55. I ran my 6 miles on the treadmill fairly comfortably at 6.5 mph. I finished in 55:05. I'm not displeased with that, as my focus is to not overdo it quite yet...and to make sure I complete this first week without completely wearing myself out. Tommorrow is 4 miles, and I am gonna try to get back into the pool sometime this week, too. I'll let you know if that happens.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Day 1 - The Training Begins

Today is the day I begin my training program for the Country Music Marathon - 2006. I ran the half marathon last year, and I have decided to go for the full this time around. I just can't get enough. I started running regularly about 2 years ago to get myself back in shape after about 8 years of being out of shape while having/raising our children. (When I say "our" I am refering to my husband, J.T., and myself.) I really only wanted to lose a little weight, and I ran on the days I wasn't able to make the aerobics classes. But then a couple of my friends talked me into entering the local Old Timer's Day 5k race here in Manchester, and the rest is history. Several more 5ks, a 5 miler, a 10 miler, a couple half marathons, a summer full of sprint triathlons and here I am - ready to take on 26.2 miles. Atleast I think I'm ready. Time will tell ofcourse. I'm using the coolrunning.com intermediate marathon training plan. It's fairly ambitious for the level I'm on right now...but we'll see how it goes. I ran the 4 mile training run today on the treadmill. I am up for 6 miles tommorrow. That being the case - I'm closing it out to get some rest...