Weekly Training Recap

Monday I took a rest day. Starting off the week strong! Lolz.

Tuesday I took advantage of the sunny skies and did a general aerobic run on rolling hills. I shocked myself when I looked down for the first time and saw a sub 10 pace on my watch. I don't think I've run sub 10 on a run that didn't have speed work in it.... for a while. So that was fun.

Wednesday I hit the track with Jenn J. I was nervous that my legs would be tired from the day before's run. We had 6x800 on the schedule since we slacked the previous week. Recap: I ran 8:02-8:10 paces for two and felt like my legs were going to fall off they were so heavy. Recovered? Nope.

We did our mile warm up and both of us commented that we didn't have much pep in our step. Uff. We did our stretches and I did some booty activation exercises (<--I will henseforth refer to them as such, because, lolz, sounds like a super hero move, Captain Booty, ACTIVATE!) I planned to run the first one at or around 8 minute pace, and then drop from there if my legs were feeling it.

Well, I guess my legs were feeling it.

3:55, 3:53, 3:50, 3:56, 3:50, 3:44. Avg. 3:51 (7:42 pace), whoop!

Alright then. Jenn stopped for a few seconds after each of our quarter mile jogs, allowing me to rabbit her, and that worked well, because I don't want to get caught! I'm hoping it won't be too long before her and I are running the same paces!

#stataholic

These paces are almost on par with a similar workout done in the spring of 2011 (yes, I clearly went back to check my log for this data) and the spring of 2011 was when I set most of my PRs. #comeback 

(#toomanyhashtagsforablogpost?)

All green. As you do when you hit the track, right?

Thursday I took a rest day.

Friday I had the day off for working Saturday so I set out for my long run after procrastinating most of the morning. As you do. The temps were cool and the wind was minimal. And it. was. awesome. I haven't had that strong of a long run in a really long time. It was actually at a faster pace than my first two halfs of this spring..... :/  I did 3 minute pickups every 20 minutes to keep things interesting and to keep my form engaged.

It's important to match your toenails to your running top.

My hat was soaked, even on a "cool" day. Somehow that didn't come across as well in the photo. :(

After the run I met up with some friends for some twofers. But not until I took a selfie to feature my new pug shirt and purty hairz.

If I was a pug, that's what I'd look like fyi.

Tom and Jeri! This picture makes me laugh.

And the best beer I've had in a really long time:  Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA. I may have spent a considerable amount of time calling around to liquor stores on Sunday to find somewhere that carried it. Spoiler: I didn't luck out. :(

Saturday I took a rest day and accidentally did Sunday too, unless you count eating Qdoba nachos as training, then I nailed it.

Celebrity Status+Sweatfest

The other day while my office ex-hubby and I were scouring the Mankato Marathon site looking for a course profile map for the half course working diligently, a picture of the race start popped up on the site.  All cockily I stated, yeah that's totally me.  And as soon as the little word bubble was floating above my heads with the words in it I realized... huh... that really is me.

ZOMG I'M FAMOUZZZ!

YAYZIES!

GLITTERFARTS!

Ok, totally not, but it made my day for 6 seconds (ok, clearly longer since this happened days ago.  Whatevs.)

(Red pacer shirt, white hat towards the left on the picture.)

Sunday I was supposed to run a 6 mile tempo run.  However, my Garmin has been acting up, and by the time I rolled out of bed, the humidty was at 96%.  Barf.  I decided to do next week's 800m repeat workout instead, and hit the gym, so the treadmill could keep track of my time and distance for me.

I had 4x800m in 3:30-3:40.  After my warm up mile (and thoroughly soaking the treadmill in the process... this oughta be a FUN run... :/), I got after it.  The first one felt *cough* easy *cough*.  I decided to take less of a break in between to toughen up the run.  Er... not necessary.  #2 was tough, but #3 felt like death.  Towards the end I decided I would just call it a day if I could survive the remaining 30 seconds.  When I did survive, I told myself I could walk until my heart rate came down after #3, and then jog the rest of my recovery before I had to start #4.  Of course #4 felt great, even with the speed bumped up a bit.  Silly body.  Second to last is ALWAYS the worst.

3:38, 3:38, 3:38, 3:36.

Probably a good thing I was on the treadmill.  I think #3 would've been 6:30 minutes if I had a choice in the matter.

And just so you don't think I'm kidding about the sweatfest that took place, I was 3 lbs. lighter post-run.  And that's with drinking a 16 oz. water bottle while/after running.  Sweatiest gym-goer of the day goes to:

JERBEAR!

Hey Look at Me! I'm Running! + Blog Searches

It's been awhile since I've talked about running here on the ol' running blog.  So perhaps I'll do that.  Last week I started up training again.  I have a short and not-so-sweet 4 week plan to hopefully get me to a 10k PR on the 4th of July.  Because I've taken it pretty darn easy post-Fargooooooooooo, I started my weekly mileage pretty low:  20. 

Last Monday I was the biggest B.A. of SoDak when I did my run in 95 degree temps.  Please keep in mind that this was the temp after I waited for it to cool off.  It was well over 100 degrees for the day, my car told me it was 119 when I was driving home from work, but it's clearly a liar.  However, if there was a thermometer INSIDE my car, it would've been in the 150 range.  G.D. black car.  Yes I sweated through my dress clothes during my 7 minute commute, thanks for asking. 

To be honest, the run wasn't that bad.  Granted it was an easy-paced 3 miles.  But heat....?  It really doesn't suck THAT bad.  I've definitely had cooler temperature runs where I have been much much MUCH sweatier and on the brink of death, but the humidity was only in the 40% range.  It's just so rare that we have heat WITHOUT 90-100% humidity that I didn't realize whom my true foe was.  Humidity.... you suckkkkkkkkk.

I also got in a rockin' 800 meter repeat run, without getting my ass handed to me.  YAYZIES.  Considering it's been roughly 6 weeks since I've done any speed work I was slightly concerned.  Yes it was tough, and yes my heart rate data proved I was working my hiney off, but it was kind of...fun.  ::cough:: masochist! ::cough::

After my warm up, I was able to knock out 3 800s in 3:36, 3:37, and 3:35.

And this weekend I headed up to Minneapolis for a bachelorette party.  I threw my running stuff in my bag with a chuckle.... "ha... yeah... suuuuuuuuuuure I'll run."  But damn it if I didn't get out there for my long run on Sunday after a 2 day bachelorette party bender.  Keep in mind, my long run is a whopping 8 miles currently, but still!  That's the furthest I've run since Fargo. 

I found a super sweet trail near my BFFF's (someone previously asked what this means..... best effing friends forever.... we're dumb and have been calling each other this for a gazillion years now) brother's house.  I loved that the trail had separate lanes for bikers and runners/walkers.  I didn't have to worry about getting mowed down on the path!  Before I knew it I had ran upon Target Field during their game.  Go Twins!

I did 8 miles in 1:15:32 for a pace of 9:27.  And my average heart rate was 3 beats lower than the range I was shooting for.  Double yayzies!

_____________

And for your random enjoyment:  One of the things I love the most about the stats that blogger provides me is the searches people use to find me. I've been compiling some of my faves for a while now, and just had to share with you. Naturally I had to provide commentary as well, so please enjoy.

• 7.2 miles and the puppies are hurting (is this referring to ta-tas or feet?)
• what ze poopnuggets (french poopnuggets are far superior to their American counterparts: the poopnuggets)
• My first 4some story (hey-o! congrats kid!)
• The devils workout (I will probably have some crazy cult seek me out after my mile repeat/devils workout jokes)
• i love wet tees (who doesn't?!?!)
• running tights and camel toe (make that camel toe classy yo!)
• food poisoning from funnel cake (this post was somewhat inconclusive)
• words like yayzies (there aren't any. no substitutes. sorry.)
• will the mankato marathon be hilly? (answer: uh. yes.)
• national conference of bresilian bishops (held biannually, send your entry fee to me.)
• nice hips (what, these creaky old things??? bow chicka bow wow....)
• running in a wet t-shirt.  (yes... it's called massive sweat. And it's hawt.)

Pow Pow! Bullet Points!

Starting last Thursday I was very very sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy (said in a good KK voice, he makes fun of me for sleeeeeeeeeping so much).  That night and through the weekend (Monday and Tuesday included as I took sick days) I averaged 12-14 hours of sleep a night.  Plus a nap.  I went to work for an hour on Tuesday and almost face planted on my keyboard with tiredness.  Since I'm a hypochondriac, clearly I thought I was dying.  Steel Springs mentioned via twitter that I should check to see if I was anemic. 
Clearly the hypochondriac in me had to read everything out there regarding anemia and iron deficiencies.  And shockingly, it all made sense!

• extreme fatigue (hello sleeping more of the day than I'm awake!)
• brittle nails (I've made a concious effort to up my protein effort thinking that's why my nails were peeling off in layers the last few months)
• night sweats (um gross)

I also found that it's very common in female endurance athletes.  Then I stumbled on to some information regarding a Vitamin B12 deficiency, which states that if you have a B12 deficiency, you also end up having an iron deficiency because your body isn't able to absorb any iron without it.  Since B12 is often in dairy and is absorbed in the intestines, and I'm lactose intolerant, the dairy I consume doesn't really stick around in my body all too long (if you catch my drift).  The B12 deficiency also tends to lend itself to GI issues.  I feel like there's been a little beam of light shot down from the heavens solving my life's problems.  I picked up a multivitamin, and as soon as I can figure out the cheapest way to get bloodwork done (my health insurance is TERRIBLE.  ie: Remember when I the Ninja Death Star Flu? My bill for that day was 2x as much as I would've made during that shift of work I missed.  AWESOME!)

And now some bullet points (because I'm feeling lazy).

• I did an easy 8 miles.
• The part of the bike trail that is closed at 3.75 miles (causing me to potentially reroute the run to tack on 1/2 a mile at the end) was unlocked so I could venture through for 1/4 of a mile.  WIN!
• I've started chaffing on my runs.  I refuse to believe that I've gotten bigger, and instead think my body's just not used to only one layer of clothes.
• I saw an itty bitty sock on the side of the bike trail.  I said, outloud, "sock!" in the voice that Lily and Robin do in that episode of HIMYM.  And then I thought of Jenn.  And I missed her.  Since it was an out and back run, I did this twice.

• I did 7x800 m. repeats at 3:40 goal pace.
• No I'm not attempting a 3:40 in Fargo (not that that number has any significance now anyway).
• I am going to attempt a sub-1:50 HM at the end of the month, and I like my speed work to be...well.....speedy.
• I started too fast (3:28).
• I thought I was going to die on number 3 (3:51).
• The rest were all right at under or below 3:40.
• I averaged 3:39.
• My right hip was super wonky ala Vegas Marathon pain at the start of the repeats.  But then quit.
• I did the repeats  in the dark in a sketchy-ish area. I was terrified except for when I was doing the repeats. Then I was just terrified I was going to die.
• I wore all green for the run.  Green shirt, green shorts, green shoes, green ipod.
• These bullet points are obnoxious.

It's so FLUFFY!

I decided today that my brain is bipolar when it comes to motivation for running.  Throughout the day, my brain toggled amongst the following:

• Ooooooh I can't WAIT to run my 800 m. repeats.  I heart speedwork.  Yayzies!  Sparkles! Kittens! Unicorns and Moonbeams! (or something like that....)
• Ugh.  I just want to be lazy and hang out with K.  No running for me.
• Hmmm..... I just ate 6 meals worth of cookies and candy.... I probably should go workout.....
• Screw hanging out with K, I want my couch, I want my stripey pajama pants, and I want last night's Gossip Girl episode.... and I want it NOW!
• If I get in a good sweat session, I'll sleep like an angel tonight.
• What if my hamstring still hurts?  It'd be a waste to get to the gym only to have to turn around and come home.  Plus I'm almost out of gas.....
• And finally, meh, if I do it tonight, at least I won't have to have this inner dialogue tomorrow as it'll be a rest day.

I headed to the gym after work tonight to take on my 5x800 m. repeats.  I was still a bit concerned about my hamstring after it's annoyingness last night, so I stretched it out before the run, and then stretched really well after my 1 mile warm up.  Then it was on like donkey kong.

3:36, 3:39, 3:38, 3:33, 3:35

During the 4th repeat I had the audacity to think in my bwain, "Jerbear you are killing this repeat... and you seem to be doing it without struggling.... " and in the next breath switched to, "I might see those cookies + candy I enhaled earlier."  Puke threshold, long time no see!  Luckily I didn't toss my cookies, literally.  bahahahahahahah.  But my stomach still feels pretty wonky.

Now all I want more than anything in this world is some candy.  I watched Despicable Me this weekend, and had to show KK this clip because I'm kind of in love with Agnes.  So of course I had to spend the rest of the day reciting the quote like her.  And now I'm in my apartment alone saying I WANT SOME CANDY! Just like her.  I'm so cool.

Ladies Night Love + Yasso 800s

Alright just wanted to clarify a few things about my previous car post:

1)  I don't have a personal "banker."  Apparently my wording was incorrect.  Yes, Kovas, I have a driver, but he was off for the day, so he didn't have to take me to the bank. :p  But honestly, if I did have a driver I'd be the happiest chica in the world.  I loathe driving.  (But I do like it more and more in my sweet new car....obvs.)

2)  No my banker didn't come car shopping with me.  Hah.  And no my dad isn't my banker (although I sure wish he was!)  Why oh why couldn't I have been a trust fund baby?  Some people have all the luck. :)

Moving right along.  Tuesday I had a date with the track.  I <3 track.  Aaron offered to meet me at the track to gawk at me while I was running keep me company.  And it's a good thing that he did.  I had to work late, and ended up running 3/4 of the workout in the dark-dark.  It would've been super scary to do solo.  When I got to the track there were little munchkins having football practice.  Now I tend to make fun of soccer moms (in a good hearted sort of way, of course) but I will totally be *that* mom at my kid's football practices.  Almost makes me want to reproduce.  No wait.  It doesn't.  

There were also a couple of semi-attractive guys on the track when I got there.  All of my friends have been pushing me to date a runner for.ev.er. so I'm constantly on the look out just to see if there are any cute ones out there (not that I'm in the market, just for research sake, mind you).  For some reason, I'm just usually not attracted to skinny runner boys.  Maybe it's just because I don't want to date a boy who could beat me in a foot race... that's probably it.  :)  Speaking of, there was one cute one on the trails on Monday, so I suppose now I can take my eyes off of high alert for the next 6 months. ;)

I had 6 x 800 in 3:28-3:38 on the schedule.  For some reason I had 800 m. cool down jogs in between each 800, but I like to do closer to a 1/4 of a mile, so I changed that up real quick. :)  I did my warm up mile and I was off.

3:34 (7:08 pace)

3:41 (7:22 pace)

3:37 (7:14 pace)

3:31 (7:02 pace)

3:34 (7:08 pace)

3:31 (7:02 pace)

(I did my recovery laps slightly faster than the 800 pace, so I suppose we could technically call these Yassos).

It was so nice having Aaron along for the ride (literally he was biking laps with me at times) not only to make it a much safer run, but it was nice to have someone to babble to during my recovery laps.  I was pretty stoked with my times as well.  They were hard, but not impossible.  I definitely think I'll continue with Yassos for my MARATHON schedule.  After doing the last one in 3:31 (which felt really freaking HARD at that point) I pondered how I ever ran an 800 in 2:39.  Seriously, that seems barfiliciously fast.  Oh... it probably was... which is why I quit racing 800's in 8th grade. :p

And now to leave you with some adorable pictures of me and one of my favorite people slash life partner :p Jenn.

Drink in a pineapple?  Why not.

We tend to look even cuter when together. Yeah, I didn't realize it was possible either. :p

Jenn, me, and Jeff.  Runners represent!

I tend to enjoy embracing people in photos.  

Especially after a drink or two out of a pineapple.

And if your drink doesn't come in a pineapple, it's best to at least give it a pineapple topper.