We have been having some really crummy weather lately. I don’t want to run in the rain, unless it is for a race. So I have been sticking to the treadmill.
But that is getting boring. It is fine on the short runs, but I really can’t stand looking at the elliptical machines for an hour or longer. Plus I have been having a harder time wanting to run at night. I have a ton of stuff to get done, and really the only time is at night after the boys go to bed.
So last night I had a great idea. I would take the boys to the sitter on Tues & Thurs early, go for a run and then go to work.
And this morning the clouds parted and the sun was shinning so I did a quick two-mile run outside! We have some great trails around where I live, so I stopped on the way home.
It was beautiful, and just cold enough to cool me down but not freeze me.
I am not really falling behind in my training, but I am not advancing either. I am hoping this new schedule will allow me to get more runs as well as doing at least one long run a week.
And each week that run will get longer and longer….
I completely forgot to write about my run last Sunday. I also had internet issues, but we won’t get into that.
Last Sunday I ran the Bridge to Brews 8k. I wanted to run the 10K, but then decided to just do an 8k again and try to beat my time.
My cousin (the tall one) and me (the short one) before the race
Here is the map of the run
But you know what it doesn’t show? The bitch of a hill at the VERY END of the race. For the last mile we go from an elevation of 26 feet to 135 feet! With the last 1/4 of a mile raising something like 80 feet!
I wanted to run the whole five miles with out walking, which would give me a better time. Which was the result I was looking for in this race.
I ran with my cousin and we are about level with our pacing, so all we had to do was keep together.
When we got to the Broadway bridge, the second bridge, the on ramp was an incline, and I decided I just wasn’t going to run it. So I walked up the ramp and caught back up with my cousin on the other side of the bridge.
When we got off the bridge is when the hill started and I made it part way before I decided I just couldn’t run up it. It was just too steep and I was just too tired. Maybe I could have done it, but at that point I was pleased with my results and I felt it was just fine that I walk a little.
I did start running again towards the finish line, I wanted to make sure I was running when I crossed!
During the race I had the Map My Run app going so that I would know my pace. The difficult thing with this is that you have to start and stop it. I started as we crossed the start line, but I forgot to stop it, so that added a couple of minutes to my total time and thus my average pace.
However, the app breaks down my pace for each mile.
Mile
Pace (min/mi)
1
11:28
2
11:13
3
10:38
4
11:51
Can you see that?
Our third mile we were rocking under an 11 min/mi pace!
I finished just under an hour at 59:13 min and since my cousin didn’t walk when I did at the very end she finished about a minute and a half ahead of me. Which is awesome because she hadn’t done a 8k until this run!
the ‘sweaty selfie’
I am pleased with our progress and of course because we are crazy, we are going to run a half-marathon at the end of August.
What? Did I just say that?
A half-marathon is 13.1 miles. So that is just like running two 8k races, and I can do an 8k, so it will be easy-peasy.
Who is that negative voice in my head? Where did she come from? I surely didn’t invite her in!
Monday night’s run was mentally challenging. I was tired, I am board of running inside, my son didn’t want to go to bed, I had a million and a half things to do to get ready for his party this weekend….and the list goes on.
But what I really wanted to was to run. I wanted it, I needed it. So why was my brain trying to talk me out of it?
via Pinterest
As I stated before I am all about distance now. I know how far I want to run, eventually. I have another 8k in a couple of weeks and I want to run the whole time. So my workouts are all about how far, I can’t stop until I go the distance.
I have done it before, I know I can do it again, it’s only 4 miles.
Why won’t my brain listen to me? Why does it keep telling me to quit or slow down?
Monday’s work out was a constant battle with my brain. She kept telling my legs to quit….I kept telling my legs just half a mile more.
The first mile was the hardest, the second was the easiest. By the third mile I almost listened to the Negative Nancy in my head. (no offence to anyone named Nancy, I am sure you are not in the least bit negative)
I almost said, ‘Three miles is good enough’
But I didn’t . I told myself, if you want to be done, run faster. You have to get 4 miles behind you, so the faster you run, the faster you can finish.
So I upped my pace to a 11 min/mile. I thought “11 minutes, that’s nothing, it’s like 4 songs.” I can do this.
Before the first song was up I was ready to slow down.
But I didn’t and before you know it, I had a half a mile left. And I upped the pace again. Because, the faster you run, the faster you can be done.
Monday’s Run
Last Thursday’s Run
via Pinterest
I then went home and did some restorative yoga. Because running and yoga are good for the mind and body.
I decided that instead of running the 10k for the Bridge to Brews race I am going to do the 8k again.
I want to beat my time and attempt to run the whole way.
click Pic for source
So how has training been going?
Weeelllll…..
It has not. I didn’t run Monday because I had run the race the day before so I had to recover. Tuesday the Hubster didn’t get home till after 9 so I couldn’t go to the gym. But Wednesday night I was going to go, so it was OK.
I read Ian his story and said goodnight, I then went and changed into my running gear. At which time Ian came in and asked me to lay with him. I thought about saying no, which is usually the case. I decided to say yes, because I thought he would go to sleep faster and I could leave for my run. He was, after all, exhausted and I knew if I went in there he would be out in five minutes or less.
And he was, and so was I.
I woke up almost two hours later….too late for me to go to the gym, and I was obviously exhausted as well, so I went straight to bed.
I Tri and Craft 