Another birthday week!

This week is the last of our birthdays for awhile. Today was Chris' birthday. He celebrated by playing ultimate frisbee, getting his school computer fixed, and going out to dinner. We just returned - Monterey Grill was great! He got a free dessert (not chocolate) and they sung to him!

I was successful exercising so far this week. On Monday and Wednesday I went to Body Combat, and on Tuesday I ran a "tempo run" of 6 miles at the treadmill at the Y. My tempo run consisted of a 1 mile warm up and then a 4 mile fast run, which for me was between 6.2 and 6.4 mph, with a few short walk breaks. Unfortunately, I returned home with something I can only call "bra burn." My bra rubbed me raw in two places, and now I smell like a baby with A& D ointment on me! I was not scheduled to run today and hopefully this will give me time to heal.

Weekly total: 6
MOnthly total: 74
Yearly total: 74

Long Runs

I enjoy running by myself sometimes. It gives me a chance to catch up on the latest podcasts. I use the Stitcher app, which automatically downloads my podcasts as they are released. I listen to some political podcasts as well as my favorite NPR shows.

But I also enjoy the long runs Chris and I do together. Today we did 8.5 miles, which took almost an hour and a half. It was perfect weather. We spend much of the time bemoaning our educational system. But at least it gets it out of our systems before we are around the boys. They've heard quite enough of our attacks on certain administrative decisions. It also gives us a chance to catch up. It seems like the week speeds by so quickly we don't have time to stop, breathe, and talk.

This afternoon, after we had showered and eaten, we were driven to the library and Publix by BENJAMIN!!! He got his permit on his birthday on Tuesday, and has been eager to drive ever since. Chris does a much better job than I do - I am so nervous that I prefer to sit in the back.

Despite our busy schedule, I did get a fair amount of running in this week.

Monday - 3.0 miles
Tuesday - birthday, spent eating at the Chinese buffet (not my favorite place)
Wednesday - combat class, followed by 3 miles (not a good choice - exhausted afterwards)
Thursday - rest
Friday - 3 miles on our treadmill while watching Glee - I didn't realize it had started up again. What a pleasant surprise when I turned on the DVR
Saturday - 8.5 miles with Chris

Tomorrow we are getting up to do a shorter run, probably between 4 and 5 miles.

Weekly total - 17.5
Monthly total - 64.5
Yearly total - 64.5. I've now completed over 5% of my goal!

Rain + Migraine = no run!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I don't know how frequent migraine sufferers function. Yesterday we redid the living room. I mention this because we moved the piano and the piano music holder. The back of the piano was, of course, covered in dust, since it's been there for over 3 years. I also had to take all of my music off the shelf and put it back. I took this opportunity to go through the music and weed out. The music was also covered in dust. Unfortunately, I'm extremely allergic to dust, and later that night I developed a severe headache. I was in bed by 9:30, awake again throughout the night. I took migraine medicine at 4AM (it has caffeine so I can't take it before bed) and then again at 8. I'm just now feeling a little better and able to look at the computer.

When the alarm went off at 5:45, not only did I have a raging headache, but it was also raining outside. I promptly went back to bed. By 7:00, I was up eating, hoping that would help, and I made myself a big mug of caffenated tea. Chris went out on a run, but I skipped. At least I went out yesterday. I took two classes at the Y, and then came home and ran 3 miles. Since it is a 3 day weekend, I'm hoping we can get a long run in tomorrow morning to make up for today.

Weekly total so far: 11 miles
Monthly total: 47 miles

Thursday Update

I knew it would be harder to blog when we got back to school, and I was right. This was a busy week, but I still managed to get most of my exercise in. On Sunday morning, I woke up early and ran 6 miles in 1:04:11. Then Monday I took Body Combat, and Tuesday was a rest day. Wednesday was my birthday, and I had planned to go to Body Combat class, but Jonathan's Social Studies Fair was that night. We went there instead, and he won first place! So when I got home, I ran my 3 miles, and topped it off with a s'more treat. Today I ran a 5 mile tempo run in the wind and cold. I think it was at least 10 degrees colder when I finished as when I began. We went out to dinner tonight for a belated birthday, so I probably ate all the calories I burned!

Last week's total: 18
Last week's year total: 36

This week's total so far: 8
This week's year total so far: 44

A weekend away

Welcome to my first attempt to blog from my phone. We'll see how it goes. I have been on a retreat all weekend without a computer.

On Thursday, I realized how important a concrete goal is. It was moms birthday, so we took her out to Mamma Mia's. we got home by 7:00, and I knew I was scheduled to run 5 miles. I didn't want to do it. Not at all. But I also knew that I was leaving for the retreat the next day and it would be impossible to run on Friday. So I dragged my butt to the Y and did a 5 mile speed work run. I can't say I love speedwork, but I suffered through it.

I was unable to run on Friday, but I got up early this morning to do a 4 mile easy run. The plan is to get up tomorrow to finish the week with 6 miles. I was hoping to run it with Chris in the afternoon, but when the forecast is 80 degrees, I had better set that alarm! N I will total up the week and year after tomorrow's run.

Double Workout

Wednesdays I always take Body Combat, and today was no different. I left before abs, though, so I could make up yesterday's run. I used the Y treadmill and ran 3 miles in 29:28. I love their treadmills - they are so smooth. All the treadmills have a TV attached, but I usually turn mine off and listen to my iPhone instead. My favorite app is Stitcher, which plays podcasts. Today I listened to Slate's Politico Podcast, which was very interesting.

I had a good morning, too. It was the first weigh in for my school's "biggest loser" contest. We had the option of weighing in before the holiday, and if we maintain or lose weight, we get part of the entry fee back. I was thrilled to weigh exactly the same - I know I had gained some over the holidays, but this resolution has help put me back on track.

My first day off

Yesterday I took body combat. Today I was scheduled for a 3 mile run. I decided to  wait until tomorrow - I've been feeling not so good all day. I feel a bit feverish but when I take my temperature, it is normal. I'm afraid if I go for a run, I'll make myself feel worse. Maybe my body is just rebelling over 8 straight days of hard exercise and needs the day off anyway....

No, it can't really be the last day of vacation....

Ugh. It's finally here. I felt like a chicken with its head cut off today trying to finish up my vacation to-do list. I was unsucessful, but we did get the house un-decorated and some other random errands finished. At least we were able to get a good run in with nice weather. It was perfect running weather this morning, and we were on schedule to do 7 miles. I LOVE round numbers for the week, so we ran 7.2 miles in 1:14:53. That's a 10:24 pace, which is a little faster than usual for a long run.  It leaves me with a nice weekly total of 18 miles.

Daily Total: 7.2 miles
Weekly Total: 18 miles
Yearly Total: 18 miles.

Weekend run

Yesterday I took an hour Body Combat class. I love this class because it is fun, has great music, and also adds strength work. I was rewarded at the mammography place when the nurse asked me if I work out my arms. I told her I do, and she answered, "I can tell."

This morning Chris and I did a short run of 3.3 miles. Two of the boys biked along with us. Tomorrow we have our weekly long run. It is supposed to rain, so we'll see what happens. I hate running in the rain, especially cold rain. Yuck.

Daily total: 3.3 miles
Weekly total: 10.8 miles
Yearly total: 10.8 miles (only 989.2 to go!)

Tempo Run

According to my Runner's World schedule that I got at http://www.runnersworld.com/training, today I was to do a 5 mile tempo run. For a 5 mile tempo run, you warm up for 1 mile at a slow pace, then run 3 miles at a "comfortably hard" pace, then do a 1 mile cool down. It was my intent to follow this exactly, but I accidentally planned my route a bit long.So I did a 1 mile warm up, 3.5 mile tempo run, and then a 1 mile cool-down.

Daily Total: 5.5 miles
Weekly Total: 7.5 miles
Yearly Total: 7.5 miles

Christmas pictures.

 I have no run scheduled today - instead I am heading over to the Y at 6:45 to take a Body Combat class. We also did some yardwork today, so I'm definintely getting my excercise in! So I'll take the time to upload some Christmas pictures. The first is of the family at church on Christmas Eve. Benjamin played trumpet and Alexander played his tuba for both services.

 After we opened our presents, we pulled up Skype so we could open presents from the Martin's. What a fun way to be "close" to family at this time of year.

 Hmmm... I wonder what is in my stocking?

 Christmas morning

 Our presents from Jeff

Duct tape!

Our steps were filled with stockings, including Mom's, Dad's, and Jeff's, who were all here for the holidays.

A New Year Begins!

I had planned on taking yesterday, New Year's Eve, off from exercise. However, we decided to go ice skating. The local rink had a special of $5 for the night, including skate rental! All 5 of us went, along with a few of the boys' friends. We had a great time, although I'm sure my muscles will ache tomorrow. By the end, I could barely keep my ankles straight. What a perfect way to end the year - I felt like I was back in PA, but then we stepped out into 60 degrees and I remembered where we were.

We got home by 10, then played a few games and set off some mild fireworks. After watching the ball drop, I was in bed by 1 so I could be up this morning for the first workout of the year! The Y opened at 8AM with a Les Mills body combat class, my favorite! I was surprised how full the class and the Y was. When class was over, I went over to the treadmill and ran my first 2 miles of the year in 20:20.

One of the things I've learned in all my reading about running is that the best way to get injured is to add too many miles too quickly. I'm using Runner's World's Smart Coach app, which is helping me plan my training for the Daytona Half. We have 7 weeks to get ready. According to the app, today was a 2 miler. It was tempting to do more, but I restrained myself. Tomorrow is a day off, so I'll go to the evening body combat class so I'll be ready for Thursday's 5 mile run.

Weekly total: 2 miles
Yearly total: 2 miles