The beach, the sun and a little training

We went to Emerald Isle, NC for a week and I'm ready to go back. Here's a couple of pics (out of a couple hundred!).



Our lazy days consisted of lounging at the beach and pool all day, dinners out, catching crabs on the beach after dark, a few side trips, and just enjoying being together, just the 3 of us, for 7 full days. One of our trips was taking an evening fishing charter out and catching 6 fish! Kaiden couldn't wait to go fishing and even drew a picture of himself fishing off a boat in the ocean the day before we left on vacation. So we made that a priority!

We decided we were going to go for at least one run so we rented Kaiden a bike so he could ride along side of Kevin and I while we ran. So early Tuesday morning Kevin convinced me to get off my comfy chair on our deck that overlooked the ocean, set down my coffee cup and go for a run..... ugh.. I was still recouping from 15 miles last Friday! But I did want to run at some point. Actually I wanted to run on the beach but forgot to pack my old shoes. And w/ Kaiden on his bike it probably would not have worked anyway. So we ran down Ocean Drive instead. While we did we checked out the other beach houses along the way. It was pretty hot and muggy and I needed to stop and walk for a bit about mile 4. We ran a little over 5 miles so I can say that yes I did keep the marathon training up even while on vacation!

Kevin ran a second time Thursday morning but I stayed put on my usual spot on the deck w/ my coffee and my view of the ocean waiting for Kaiden to get up. Exercise and vacation go together like oil and water in my book!

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6122975


You can see our place on the map.... looks like I cut through the grass and driveways on the way back, but I really didn't!

And oh yea, first my Ipod, NOW my camera! Had it in the side pocket of our beach bag and went up our walkway to go in for lunch. They have a hose there to wash the sand off so I hosed off Kaiden, then me and handed it to Kevin. Bent down to pick up some of our toys and the hose was aiming right at the side pocket. Filled it up to the top w/ my camera inside. Grabbed it out as quick as I could but water poured out of it. Needless to say my camera was shot for a couple of days until it dried out but it's still not working right. Inside it's Ok, outside in the sun there's a bunch of lines that run across the picture. This happened Thursday so I resorted to a disposable camera for the last couple of days.. I get those back tomorrow so we'll see how they turn out. Of course I didn't buy the warranty (does anyone???) so I might be camera shopping again soon.

But now we're back home and back to the busy daily hum of our lives.. and I have speed work at the track tomorrow.. yikes

Holy Moly !! 15 miles!!!!

Well it's done. It was not easy, not fast, but it's DONE. 15 miles at a 10:16 pace. Right on target for marathon day. I started out about 6:00 am w/ 4 bottles of accelerade at 2 Gu's.. used 3 bottles and 1 Gu. Thought about taking 1 more Gu at mile 13 but that would have taken way more energy than I had at that point so I skipped it. The wind was bad and right in my face most of the way.. seemed like I couldn't get away from it.
Headed out around the neighborhood, over to crowe's mill then out on toronto rd up to 11th to UIS, around the campus back to 11th to toronto then left to LLCC then over to west lake back to toronto and back into the neighborhood. The last mile was the worst because I was having to add on extra mileage here and there to get the full mile in.. I hate having to do that..makes 1 mile seem like 10!!
My legs felt pretty good until those last 2 miles and then they started feeling really heavy. When I finally was done I was walking very very slowly..that's all I could manage.. I tried to raise my knees up to my chest to stretch and I couldn't do it!! They were too tight.. walked a bit more and when I got inside I was able to stretch a little bit but dang they were sooo tight!!
I know.. I've been sluffing on the monday weight work because of Tuesdays speed work... I really have to do more weights.. I think I've proven that to myself today.. that's for sure!
BUT it is done and I'm on vaca.. going to run only once or twice along the beach and when I get back, Kathy and I are doing 9 next Sunday.. soooo I'll get a nice week of rest... The way my legs feel right now, 2 would be better!!

Here's the route:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6033919

See you guys in a week!!

7 miles

I was still sore and tired from yesterday's track work this morning.. didn't refuel properly yesterday after I got back to work.. got busy and forgot to take my protein and didn't drink enough fluids the rest of the afternoon....my bad

But I headed out the door anyway after a stretching a long time and got the 7 miles done. My legs felt like bricks but I got through it OK... My old Ipod is toast so I bought a new Ipod shuffle over the weekend.. Kevin created a great playlist for me from my old playlist (and then I added a few songs that I had to have) and it jams! Definitely gets you going out there on the road. As much as I could get going this morning that is....

Mile 1 9:40
Mile 2 10:04
Mile 3 10:10
Mile 4 10:08
Mile 5 10:18
Mile 6 10:20
Mile 7 10:08

for an avg pace of 10:02.... I did 'butt kicks' during mile 5 and 6 and those really hurt.. those muscles are tight from yesterday.. also didn't stretch to much yesterday either.. Dang... I really sluffed off yesterday! Must do much better next time..

Next up: 15 miles Friday.. HOW am I ever going to get it done without my girls with me??? It is going to be tough, but also a good test to see how I do all on my own. Those last 13 come marathon day will be lonely. 15 by myself... hmmmm....I guess I can take solace in the fact that after I get it done, within a couple of hours, we are headed off to our beach vacation! CAN NOT WAIT!!!

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6018717

Tuesday speedwork

Pam Enno and Kim Noonan were there today. It's nice to have more girls showing up! That makes 5 now. Pam is back to running after having PF and is doing great! Just started back to running last week and already doing (and finishing) speedwork! The three of us are about the same speed (they are maybe 10-12 seconds faster than me per lap) so I wasn't getting totally blown away by everybody today..

Bill had us doing 6 400's w/ 30 seconds rest in-between. I managed it and it wasn't all that bad.. I think the speedwork is slowly helping.

Lap 1: 1:50
Lap 2: 1:57
Lap 3: 2:00
Lap 4: 1:54
Lap 5: 1:51
Lap 6: 1:50

Right after I got done w/ the 5th Lap Alex asked if I wanted to do a lap with him at 90 seconds.. Are ya kiddin??!!! I talked him into closer to 1:45 or so!!! He said he'd let me set the pace so off we went and ended with a 1:50.. It really helps when people are right there w/ me to challenge me.. if I'm totally alone I get lazy!!

I was really happy with my times and that 8:00 sizzling mile is looking to be within reach!!

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6012317

The best laid plans....

always change!! Never fails.. you come up with what you think is a good plan, and it always changes!! Oh well.. this morning actually turned out great!!

I was going to run 7.5 from home to the trail on woodside rd, meet up w/ the girls and run another 6.5 to Chatham and back ('Oh, we ran to Chatham and back' !! haha.. right girls?!) to get 14 miles in.. Dear hubby was a little leary of me running by myself on those back roads I was going to do but wasn't going to stop me either. Turns out Grandma wanted to keep Kaiden overnight before we leave on vacation next week, so that meant Saturday morning was open. Kevin, the sweetie, said he would run the 7.5 miles w/ me! Keep in mind Kevin has ran 6.2 once in his life (last year) and that's it. He's a 5K kind of guy.. BUT he was willing to do 7.5 for me...

We were going to drop off a car at the trail, come back home and head back out running. The fog was just unbelievable and when we got to the trail we decided just to stay there and run the trail.
So Kevin and I headed out toward Chatham and back, then added on another mile to get 7.5. He made it the whole way! Way to go Kevin..

When we got back to the trailhead Kathy H and Kathy F were waiting. Patti couldn't make it because she was jet setting around the State w/ Blagojevich (for her job at IEMA).. .. poor Patti!! Kevin headed off for home and Kathy Kathy and I headed down the trail.

It was a very cool morning and even tho it was foggy, it was perfect running weather! The trail was shady so that helped later in the run when the sun came out. There were lots of bikers on the trail but we only saw a couple of runners..thought that was a little odd! Somehow w/ the power of the group I managed 14 miles today! Everyone had a good run and only stopped once at the 1/2 way point for a drink..Thanks girls (and Kevin!) for getting me through it! You guys always keep me going!

Did all 14 w/ an overall 10:29 pace... Here's the route:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5980198

My 1st medal

My medal came the other day!

I guess the trick to getting 3rd place in a race is to miss a turn and come in way under what you were expecting too! Somehow it worked for me. Go figure!

4 HOT miles

I woke up with a headache this morning.. didn't want to run so I slept in. Kaiden has swimming lessons at Deb's at 11:00 on Thursdays, so I figured I'd get my 4 miles in while he had his 45 min. lesson. It was hectic, but it worked out OK..

Headed out from Debs up to Old Jack, down to Golf to Greenbriar to Huntleigh and back. 4 miles exactly. It was very very hot so I tried to stay on the shady side of the streets.. except for Old Jack road which doesn't have a single tree.. the shade helped some but man it was hot. I didn't have any fluids with me either which didn't help any. I took it slow and easy and got it done. Just in time to watch the last 5 minutes of lessons.

Mile1: 10:09
Mile 2: 10:00
Mile 3: 10:15
Mile 4: 10:36
for a 10:07 avg. page

And I had just told Kathy last Saturday that Thursdays mileage doesn't change. It stays at 3 miles throughout the training.. wrong! Goes up to 5.. my bad.

Venturing out into unchartered territory Saturday.. 14 miles.. resting up 'til then!

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5961092

7 miles and 1/3 of training.. done!

This week marks the 1/3 way point in training.. but this is where it gets real tough... mileage not only increases during the week but I get into some crazy mileage on Saturdays... Thank goodness I'll have my friends with me on Saturdays to get me through.

Hit the snooze 4 or 5 times really debating if I wanted to get up and get the 7 done early, or sleep an extra hour and do it at lunch.. I kept thinking how hot it's going to be at lunch today and that I had already planned on running errands, so I finally got out of bed and hobbled around finding my clothes in the dark.. Hobbled is actually putting it mildly.. those muscles that came out of hiding at the track yesterday were screaming this morning.. stretch stretch stretch..

After I got dressed and stretched a loooong time I headed out.. was a really nice morning for a run.. not muggy or too hot.. Somethings up w/ my Ipod lately so had to use Kevin's Rio... don't know what music that was but it got me through.. I need to check out my Ipod tonight and figure out what's up... that's all I need right now!

Average pace was 10:01.. used 2 full bottles of accelerade and 1 gel along the way...

SHS Track workout:: Kickin' My Butt ! LITERALLY

Wow.. today's track workout was anything but ordinary. A couple of us arrived early to find the gate to the track locked.. Terry mentioned that sometimes someone will bring a key but it's not likely. How to get over the fence? Climb it of course!!!! OK, wait a minute... that's a damn tall fence and I'm not that great climbing short ones! No other way in, Terry? "Nope, but I'll help you" 'I'll go over first, then I'll help you over'.. OK first thing that when through my mind is that I'm going to flash this guy because I had kind of loose running shorts on.. not tights. Well, maybe I can do this modestly... Up I went and somehow managed to get one leg over the top. Then I froze... how do I get the other leg up and over? Gregg steadied my foot that was already over on his side (couldn't get a very good toe grip) so I could swing my over leg over. Which I did. Directly overhead of him. So much for modesty! Made it over but somehow ended up with a 2 inch cut by my knee... must have happened going over the top.. Funny thing was when Lisa Wycoff showed up she new exactly where you can slide under the fence... Ummm.. I'm following her on the way out!!

Did a 1200 interval with everyone at 6:09.. woo hoo!!
Next was a 800 interval: 4:04.. :-)
Last was 400 meters: 1:58 Yes!!!!

Bill wanted me to do short 100 meters of 'butt kicking'... with walking of 100 meters in between.. so for 2 full times around the track that's what I did.. felt really weird, like muscles were working that I didn't know existed! He said it would help lengthen my stride.. so would another 3 or 4 inches of height but that's not gonna happen so I'll try this 'butt kicking' thing. Kevin said Joy had them doing those last Tuesday night also... Stopped 1/2 way through to get some pictures of everyone zooming around the track.. Man they're fast..

Felt pretty hot and worn out when we were done but still had energy to snap some pictures of the guys climbing the fence to get out.. Lisa and I opted for going under the fence..





Did a short quick cooldown w/ the entire group then Bill and I headed back over to Monroe and 2nd... total was just over 4 miles today.. right on target w/ the training schedule..

Good tough workout today.. wonder how 7 miles in the morning is going to feel!

6 wet, then 6 hot!

We weren't sure if we were going to be able to run this morning, but the rain finally ended and we were able to go!! I had planned on getting 6 in before meeting Kathy, Kathy, and Patti but it rained too long and that didn't work out. We met up at 7:00 and headed out west lake drive.

Me, Kathy F, Kathy H and Patti - aren't we colorful today??

It was a pretty muggy morning, and we were all dripping after just a couple of miles but that's when the rain cut loose again. It actually felt pretty good and we just kept right on running.. Water was at the 1/2 way point under a nice canopy of trees, so we hung out there for a few minutes.. The rain didn't really let up so we headed back (squishy shoes and all) and finished up our 6 together... Patti did just awesome today! She was ready to keep going when we all needed to walk!! And to think she just had foot surgery in Janurary!

We were bandits in a race out at LLCC today.. The ISP were having a 5K memorial run for their fallen officer, Brian McMillen. We were coming back from West Lake up to Shepard, and they were coming back from Maple Grove and up Shepard so we were right in the middle of it.. Considering it was about 8:15 or so, and the race started at 8:00, we were in w/ the top finishers.. One guy passed Kathy F and I and gave us a 'good job' .. we just laughed ! Yeah, right like I'm ever going to be a top finisher.. Kathy F?? Now that's much more likely. :-)

I really didn't feel like having to do another 6 by myself, but I did it anyway.. SOON they will be 1/2 marathon training mode we we'll be able to do more miles together.. Headed out for another 6 miles and this time the sun was out and it was HOT!! Who put those hills out on West Lake Drive??? Totally didn't realize how hilly it is until you're out there on them.. Had accelerade with me but I ran out the last 2 miles.. not good.. I was so hot and my legs were tired. Don't think I drank enough to get through the full 12.. Next time it will be 3 bottles instead of just 2. Made it back and thought I had blisters on my feet for sure. Luckily I didn't.. Hopfully nobody else did either..

So, I managed 12 miles today with about a 10:30 pace all said. Alright considering the humidity and hills... going to find a flatter route for the 14 miles next Saturday, that's for sure...

take me out to the ballgame...

We went to the opening game of the Springfield Sliders last night and it was a lot of fun! Kevin won tickets earlier in the week so that was covered and it was $1 beer night.. also a plus! We got there a little after 6:00 and already the main parking lot was full.. that was a good sign!! Got parked and headed to the gate.. a ton of people were in line to get tickets.. we were able to walk right past since we already had ours. Kaiden and I both were happy with that. He gets is impatience straight from his Mom. Got some drinks and went on up to find seats.

Before the start of the game..

One of the 1st pitches of the Springfield Sliders team!

We saw a lot of people we knew out there and Kaiden saw some friends from school. Kadien's friend Ryan and his parents and our old neighbors Doug and Kathy were in the bleach together so we moved up with them. Ryan and Kaiden went to daycare together and now are back together for the summer at summer care. Kaiden kept busy w/ his friends watching the game and going down to the front to try and catch foul balls. Didn't get any tho.
Kaiden and his friend Ryan

It was great to see Kathy. I hadn't seen her in a while. Her prognosis is good. Had to do a lumpectomy, but her doctor says it didn't spread. She's halfway though radiation and is looking forward to being done w/ it. Makes her extremely tired. Hopefully that will be the end of this whole nightmare..

Kathy and I

We stayed until about 9:00 and headed home. They were tied up at 3, but ended up winning 7-3. It was a good time and hopefully the Sliders will hang around for a while. On the way out Kaiden threw a few balls w/ a speed gun thing clocking the speed. His highest was 34 mph. He thought that was pretty cool.

3 muggy miles

I think summer has finally arrived. Man was it muggy out there this morning! I definitely didn't prepare for it last night, that's for sure. Really should have hydrated better.. My bad.

Got my 3 miles done but it wasn't easy.. in fact I believe it was harder than the 6 I did yesterday.. Just need to get acclimated to the heat I guess.. I'm just glad I'm getting my runs done early in the morning! Tuesday's noon track work is going to be rough this summer!

Mile 1: 9:53
Mile 2: 9:55
Mile 3: 10:10

very tough run this morning...

This saturday starts another 3 week increase in mileage before dropping back. 12, 14, and 15. With that, my weekday runs increase also.. 4, 7 and 4 for those weeks.. definitely getting out of the neighborhood w/ the 7..

I was running next to the field that runs along the RR tracks and there were 2 deer grazing on the tall weedy grass. One was only 15 feet from the street. The first time I passed him I did it on the other side of the street. I was hoping I wouldn't frighten him and make him run off. Went up to the cul-de-sac , turned around, and the second time I passed on his side. He stood as still as a statue except for his ear twitching. I've never been that close to God's most beautiful creature in my life. 15 feet. Pretty darn cool if you ask me..

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5879923

Another 6 miles...

Got woken up about 3:00 this morning by thunder and thought I might get rained out, but when the alarm went off it was all clear. Yeah! I was dreading another run on the treadmill....

It was very wet out, puddles everywhere.. and tons of leaves sticking to the ground. Quite another storm we had last night! It was a little bit cool this morning and not too humid. That surprised me because w/ all the rain I thought it would be very sticky out... nope!

Got my 6 miles in w/ a 10:01 avg. pace. Nothing very noteworthy about the run...just gettin' the miles done.. Oh, but I felt like a darn ninny when I jumped because someone's sump pipe emptied w/a loud gush into the curb right next to me.. and it was loud!! Woooooshshhhhh.............laughed at loud at that one...

darting rabbits, gushing sumps, what's next??

Track rainout - 3 on the treadmill

No SHS track workout today so I mozied on down to the FitClub and did a little bit of speed work on the treadmill at lunch. I tried to do ladders again like we did last week on the track, but on the treadmill it's pretty difficult to judge what to set the speed at to try and do a 2:00 1/4 mile.... so I just did what I 'felt' was fast (for me).. slow to others I'm sure! Did a total of 3 miles...

As a I was running I could see that it cleared up pretty nice outside... go figure!

Had a little extra time to kill so I did abs and core... had already done weights yesterday so I just stuck w/ the abs today...

6 miles is on tap for the morning.. hopefully it won't be storming!