Running

Du you want to join me?

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A dear friend of mine that I really do not get to see very often, but is my tried and true running partner, just asked me last week to join her in a Dualathon. I have done this race before in a partnership, I ran and a guy rode the bike part. We took 4th, not bad!

This friend of mine is going to “du” the whole race herself, would I like to join her. Of course I would I love a challenge, mind you I am just starting week 2 of Intermediate 1/2 marathon training, however the folks at Final Stretch, who do a fantastic job on the races they put together, kindly laid out a training plan. Which actually will force provide me the opputunity to cross train on a two wheeler.

Here is the training plan for a dualathon that is a 2mile run, 14 mile bike, and 3 mile run. I think these are great lengths for a beginning duathaloner.

fallsdutraining[1]

I really like to have a race planned for each month, sometimes if there are races locally that support a great cause as a family we will participate in more than one, but for now I am committed to:

April: Cannon Falls Duathalon

May: Med City 1/2 Marathon (and I will probably run the 5K the day before)

October: Mankato Full Marathon.

Looks like I need to find something for March still!

 

 

1/2 Marathon Training starts….now! (sub 2:00)

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You all know I am a runner, it is like breathing for me, my system starts to shut down when I miss more than a day of running, well not entirely, but emotionally I drain without running.

It clears my mind, takes me away from life, I organize my thoughts, plus get a great caloric burn at the same time.

Last year I ran a PR 1/2 marathon twice. The first in May at the Med City and the second in Duluth at Grandmas 1/2. (1:58:01) 9:01 pace.

I did not get into grandmas 1/2 marathon through the lottery this year, so I am considering running the full 26.2 to join all my girls for the weekend….but that is a bit ahead of where this post is leading.

Below is the training plan, my life, for the next 12 weeks, this puts me right to race day for the Med City Marathon weekend.

This plan will hopefully bring me a new PR, you can see the plan trains beyond the 13.1 race distance, this is the intermediate 1/2 marathon training plan from coolrunning.com.

I love having a plan set for me…..hubby will back into the training routine as well:

Hubby: how many miles do you have to run tomorrow?

Me: (the mileage for the next day)…

He is very supportive, but I am trying to convince him to run with me this year, so instead he can ask “how many miles are WE running tomorrow?” He of course would start on the beginner plan.

My schedule:

Week Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.
1 Off 4M 6M 4M 6M 3M 8M
2 Off Fartlek (5M) 3M 5M 6M 3M 9M
3 Off 5-6 Hills 5K-10K pace 3M 6M 6M 3M 10M
4 Off Fartlek (5M) 3M 6M 6M 3M 8M
5 Off 4-5 Long Hills 5K-10K pace 4M 6M 6M 3M 11M
6 Off 6 x 880s 5K-10K pace 4M 7M 7M 4M 8M
7 Off 3 x Mile 5K-10K pace 4M 7M 7M 3M 12M
8 Off 6 x 880s 5K pace 5M 7M 7M 4M 9M
9 Off 4 x Mile 5K-10K pace 4M 7M 7M 4M 14M
10 Off 6 x 880s 5K pace 5M 8M 8M 5M 15M
11 Off 5M 5M 8M 7M 4M 8M
12 Off 4M 4M 6M 4M 3M RACE DAY

Life

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Today, broken down mostly by kid’s activities*:
Sent son off to Polar Camp right after Breakfast
Creative Dance Class
Tap Class
Ballet Class
Jazz Class
Pump gas
Pick up Polar Camper
Scarf a lunch
Run a 5K (Raivens First!!!)
Drop son off at a bowling party
Off to the Post 5K celebration with friends, and supporting Ana’s fight again cancer
Screech home to meet bowling party drop off
Shower; throw on acceptable “going out” outfits on everyone (read matching shoes, pants in winter, etc) I even had 2 seconds for eye make-up.
Arrive one hour late to a surprise 40th birthday party…surprise we are here
Scarf dinner to take home oldest who is getting a migraine.
Get everyone in bed
Lie down for a second, greet husband through the slits in my eyes, all I could muster.
Dream of me at a rock concert….not quite a beach but I ‘ll take the mental escape.

*This post brought to you by caffeine, patience and will power.

26.58??

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Running 26.2 sounds crazy right? But what about 26.58??? That is what my Garmin rolled over in mileage at the Mankato Marathon Sunday October 21, 2012. (Watch says 26.6 because I didn’t stop it right away). But how about that calorie count???

In order for a marathon to be a Boston Marathon qualifying race it has to exceed the 26.2 mark to ensure that runners have gone the distance, if you will, because 26.1 might not be enough??!!

Anyway, this was Mankato’ 3rd marathon, they have re-marketed it as the BOLD RACE, starting this year. My friend Kim and I have run all 3, Mankato’s first marathon was also my first Marathon. To be honest I was just not feeling this marathon, it is truly a full time job training for this distance; the energy drain, the time way from family, and getting nothing done around the house can creep up on even the sanest person, which I do not claim to be.

However, there is something about lining up and getting involved in races that really gets me excited. By mile 3 I was definitely glad I had trained to run this race, and as many times prior to the race that I may be qutoed as saying “this will probably be my last for a while” or “I am just not feeling it this time”, my head was in the race. Kim and I were on pace for a 4:12 marathon time until about mile 22, my chest started to hurt, and my pulse was really weak, I has a cramp in my right calf (which does not ever happen to me),  my GU chomps made me a little nauseous; I needed fluids, so we slowed to a walk while I took on water as quickly and safely as I could, and we started running again.

We crossed the finish line just over 4:22 about 3 minutes slower that last year, however, I knew already that there would be next year.

Total we have both run 4 full marathons….This is your brain on running;)

As a bonus I explained to the lady with the medals I was running for a cause, and she gave me a medal for Ana …I think it is so fitting, because she will also have to be BOLD this year.

Think this collection needs a 4th Mankato Marathon medal????  It just might get one!

Keeping Pace on Running Bib Numbers

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It is amazing how good intentions and great ideas can be waylaid by life.  I can’t even express the awe I have have for some the bloggers who have families like ours, some even way bigger and have regularly fresh and inspirational posts.

I still have the ideas and posts in my head, and often when I go to bed I think I should have jotted down a little something.  Another goal…right;)

Anyway, I am a runner, an avid runner, it is my freedom, my Prozac, my therapy and time I get just for me.  I do not have a running partner for training, but I do have a racing partner.  When I go out run it is ME time, but when I race I love to share the experience with someone else, and maybe the hotel fee.

I have not blogged much on here about my running, I like to share more of the projects we work on, but it is a large part of my life and as the weather warms up will become more so.  I will probably back blog some of my race info and results, for my own personal record.

I started running after baby 3 was born, for the same reason most of us to…weight loss, but I am an athlete at heart and love to set and achieve goals and running became a part of me.  Since then I have completed 3 full marathon, 4 1/2 marathons and so many other races I do not have a count.

Here is what I have done as inspiration and a tribute to myself, I have saved every bib number, and on the back I have written my age, the date, the length of the race, (if it was not noted on the bib), and my pace for that race.  It is like a 3D journal plus when I run a race that I have previously run I can look back and see what my time was and try to better it.Image

I have yet to decide what I am going to do with my medals. Anyone else have a system for their racing momentos?

Pinterest February Challenge

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Saw this on Pinterest and I am committing to this! Not sure who to give props to for this, but thanks!

As a runner after 4 kids I know that my core can always use some toning and this seems like a very do-able build up to some serious core work. this is something I can do before bed or right when I get up the morning, it won’t take a lot of time but I am hoping to see some improvement in strength!

Who wants to join me??

Running Shoes….Mizuno’s Run Narrow?!

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True I am a bit behind on some of my posts, the wee one had to have surgery so while she was healing I have not had much time for blogging.

In the midst of training for my marathons and other races this year, it has come time to replace the old pair of trusty duds for a new pair. I have worn many a shoe through my running days. For quite some time I was very happy with my Nike shoes with the Nike+ iPod setup. After I purchased my Garmin watch I realized that I could buy any running shoe on the market, I was no longer tied done with the sensor for my Nikes. (I could have bought a shoe pouch but was too cheap).

So I branched out and bought a pair of Saucony’s, a running partner wore them and had previously worn Nike’s she thought that Saucony shoes were much better.

I have had some luck with these shoes, but lost a few toenails, and am thinking they might be just a bit to narrow. Especially after pounding pavement in the July heat and my feet swelling.

When I wore Nike shoes I was buying them in a wide, and just was at the local sports store yesterday looking for my old friend size 9 Wide and they were MIA.

I had gone for a quick purchase at Old Navy for their Give and Get 30% sale and realized I could get shoes from the Pipelimes site so I ordered these bad girls:

Mizuno Wave Rider 7

These came in a wide, and after Free Shipping and my reward codes I scored them for $20!! I am hoping these will eliminate any toenail damage, they seem to have good reviews and I will have plenty of training miles on them before the first big day!!

It seems that I have a history of trial and error with running shoes, this can be expensive and frustrating.

One thing that helps is to know a little about your feet.

What is your arch type? High? Low? Neutral?

Are you running long distance? You may need a 1/2 size bigger than normal especially if running in the heat.

Do you have wide/narrow feet? If you have wider feet to begin with a wide shoe may help if running long distance?

Do you over/under pronate?

Answer to the above questions can lead you in the direction of a best fit shoe for your feet.

What shoes have you had the best luck with? How did you decide on this shoe?

Marathon Training Tweak

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Sometimes I think the hardest part of training for a marathon is the mental aspect.  It is so easy to talk myself out of running or put it off for later in the day with all the other “tasks” that I need to accomplish.

I am not the type who can go off for a long run, 5 miles or more, without a course in mind or plotted out on mapmyrun.com.  This is for two reasons, one I want my  husband to have an idea of my route so he can bring me water or gels,  if it is a rural route, and if he worries he can check on me.  Two, I need to have an idea in my head of where I start, the path and where the end will be.  This route keeps me focused and gives me purpose beyond running.

Since I have 2 full marathons ahead of me this year I have been thinking about my training regime for these and I think I am going to tweak it a bit from last year.  Typically my training is run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, off  Thursday or X-train run Friday with my long run on Saturday,  Sunday is literally my day of rest…or laundry, cooking, and kid playing anything I may have put off on Saturday.

I found however, that this gets to be a lot of running and so I am brainstorming  a possible coup on the typical regime with a new plan that my go something like this…run Monday and Tuesday, weights Wednesday, a spinning or bike ride on Thursday,  Friday run and the long run still on Saturday, still Sunday being rest or even a yoga class.

First I think I will be less likely to tire of running especially since we are somewhat rural, the same paths do not offer much excitement, and I am really going to be in training mode through the second marathon in October.  Second, I think that with a bit more cross training I may be stronger in other areas and maybe run faster?!?!

So here would be a typical 5 run                           Here is what I am planning

training schedule for week one                             I will still hit my long run each

of  marathon training:                                               week but add more X-training:

Monday: 3 Miles                                                              Monday: 3 Miles

Tuesday: 4 Miles                                                              Tuesday: 4 Miles

Wednesday: 4 Miles                                                       Wednesday:Strength/Weights

Thursday:Off                                                                    Thursday:Spinning/Bike

Friday: 3 Miles                                                                   Friday:  3 Miles

Saturday: 6 Miles                                                              Saturday: 6 Miles

Sunday: Off                                                                            Sunday: Off/Yoga

So even though it looks like I may be working out more, I will have a diverse training schedule, which will keep me interested and also reduce my risk of injury.  I think this will also give me more schedule flexibility regarding weather and class availability, hitting those long runs on Saturday will still be most essential.

What does your training schedule look like? How about a favorite or essential cross training workout?

Training Tweak

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Sometimes I think the hardest part of training for a marathon is the mental aspect. It is so easy to talk myself out of running or put it off for later in the day with all the other “tasks” that I need to accomplish.

I am not the type who can go off for a long run, 5 miles or more, without a course in mind or plotted out on mapmyrun.com. This is for two reasons, one I want my husband to have an idea of my route so he can bring me water or gels, if it is a rural route, and if he worries he can check on me. Two, I need to have an idea in my head of where I start, the path and where the end will be. This route keeps me focused and gives me purpose beyond running.

Since I have 2 full marathons ahead of me this year I have been thinking about my training regime for these and I think I am going to tweak it a bit from last year. Typically my training is run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, off Thursday or X-train run Friday with my long run on Saturday, Sunday is literally my day of rest…or laundry, cooking, and kid playing anything I may have put off on Saturday.

I found however, that this gets to be a lot of running and so I am brainstorming a possible coup on the typical regime with a new plan that my go something like this…run Monday and Tuesday, weights Wednesday, a spinning or bike ride on Thursday, Friday run and the long run still on Saturday, still Sunday being rest or even a yoga class.

First I think I will be less likely to tire of running especially since we are somewhat rural, the same paths do not offer much excitement, and I am really going to be in training mode through the second marathon in October. Second, I think that with a bit more cross training I may be stronger in other areas and maybe run faster?!?!

So here would be a typical 5 run Here is what I am planning

training schedule for week one I will still hit my long run each

of marathon training: week but add more X-training:

Monday: 3 Miles Monday: 3 Miles

Tuesday: 4 Miles Tuesday: 4 Miles

Wednesday: 4 Miles Wednesday:Strength/Weights

Thursday:Off Thursday:Spinning/Bike

Friday: 3 Miles Friday: 3 Miles

Saturday: 6 Miles Saturday: 6 Miles

Sunday: Off Sunday: Off/Yoga

So even though it looks like I may be working out more, I will have a diverse training schedule, which will keep me interested and also reduce my risk of injury. I think this will also give me more schedule flexibility regarding weather and class availability, hitting those long runs on Saturday will still be most essential.

What does your training schedule look like? How about a favorite or essential cross training workout

Marathons on the Calendar

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I just signed up to run the Med City Marathon on May 29, 2011, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and the Mankato Marathon on October 22, 2011.

Both of these races will be paced by the Minnesota Pacers, already I am anxious. After running my first full marathon last October in the Mankato Marathon I know the time and effort that goes into training. There is no better feeling that crossing the finish line and knowing that all the effort was worth it…but 2…in one year. I am always trying to challenge myself so instead of making a pace goal I made another race goal. To complete 2 full marathons this year. It will take an immense amount of training. I will post my training plan for the Med City as soon as I get it planned out.

In between marathons I will continue a race per month but probably no more than a 1/2 marathon. Not sure what the training will look like in between also, I may focus more on cross training and maintain one long run per week.