Training weeks 1 & 2

Today starts the first day of week 3 of training for a half marathon in March.  I wanted to get a weekly update to you, but I just can't find the time to blog anymore.  What is going on?  Oh yeah, 2 kids. 

So here is how week 1 went.

Planned/Actual

Monday
Cross-train/10 min. elliptical + 20 min. weights (Jillian Michaels circuit training)

Tuesday
Run 2 miles, easy/30 minute HIIT + abs

Wednesday
Cross-train/10 min. elliptical + 20 min. weights (Jillian Michaels circuit training)

Thursday
Rest/Played 3 sets of mixed double tennis (make-up from rainout)

Friday
5 mile tempo run/5 mile run with jogging stroller + abs

Saturday
Run 6 miles/Singles tennis match

Sunday
Rest/Mixed doubles tennis match

Total mileage:  8.43 miles :(

Week 2
Monday
Cross-train/Ran 5.76 miles on mill (@9:15 min pace) + circuit training

Tuesday
Easy 3 miles/Easy 3 miles on mill

Wednesday
Cross-train/Rest

Thursday
Rest/Rest

Friday
Run 5 mile speedwork/Ran 6.12 miles with jogging stroller

Saturday
Cross-train/Rest - I was a lazy bum here

Sunday
Rest/Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shed - Workout 1

Total mileage:  14.88 miles :)

I really lost my mojo in the middle of the week.  I am glad I was able to get a good run in on Friday.  Wednesday and Thursday were bad. 

What do you do to get back on track?

Training updates - 2 weeks worth

I have been battling with this lack of sleep for the past 5 months.  It's not getting a whole lot better either.  2 weeks ago, I was just not feeling well, so I just couldn't get a lot of runs in (only 1 to be precise).  Last week, I tried to get back into things and did pretty well, but struggled at the beginning of the week.  Not sure if it's due to my diet or lack of calories. 

So I switched up the past 2 weeks of my Runner's World training plan, and hear is how it worked out. 

Suggested Monday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Monday: Rest

Suggested Tuesday: 4 mile easy run
Actual Tuesday: Rest

Suggested Wednesday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Wednesday: Rest

Suggested Thursday: 4 mile easy run

Actual Thursday: Tennis practice (1 hour)
Suggested Friday: 4 mile easy run

Actual Friday: Rest
Suggested Saturday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Saturday: 4.04 miles with the jogging stroller

Suggested Sunday: 4 mile easy run

Actual Sunday: Rest
Suggested mileage: 16 miles
Actual mileage: 4.04 miles

 
This past week was much better, but sleep, diet, etc. are still contributing making working out a struggle some days.
 
Suggested Monday: Rest/Cross Train

Actual Monday: Rest
Suggested Tuesday: 6 mile tempo run (warm, 4 miles @ 8:39; cool)
Actual Tuesday: 5.17 miles with 4.17 miles @ 6.5-7.0mph pace, ab wheel + pilate exercises
Suggested Wednesday: 3 mile easy run
Actual Wednesday: Rest

Suggested Thursday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Thursday: 3.01 easy miles with jogging stroller, Tennis practice (1 hour)
Suggested Friday: 4 mile easy run
Actual Friday: Rest

Suggested Saturday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Saturday: 5.16 miles with jogging stroller, ab ripper X
Suggested Sunday: 8 mile easy run @ 10:08
Actual Sunday: 8.34 miles @ 9:44 pace

Suggested mileage: 21 miles
Actual mileage: 21.68 miles

I am trying to eat more, upping my protein as much as I can, and eating whole grains.  Hoping this week, I have more energy, but the little guy is making sure I don't.  :)

Training Update

Lucky for me last week went well for training, because this week has been bad.  The little guy is killing me with his lack of sleep.  More about that in another post though.

Like I said, last week I stayed on track and got all of my runs in.  Not too bad.  I do well with training plans.  I am usually pretty diligent about getting all the runs in and then when it comes time to run the race, I feel very prepared and it's usually an easier race for me too.  I have started to change up my speedwork runs though because trying to do them at the end of the week made it tough to power through.  Doing them after a rest day is much more doable. 


Suggested Monday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Monday: Rest

Suggested Tuesday: 5 mile tempo run (warm, 3 miles @ 8:34; cool)
Actual Tuesday: 5.2 miles with 3.35 miles @ 8:34 pace, ab wheel + pilate exercises

Suggested Wednesday: 3 mile easy run
Actual Wednesday: 3.2 miles on mill increasing speed (6.4-7.0)

Suggested Thursday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Thursday: Tennis practice (1 hour)

Suggested Friday: 3 mile easy run
Actual Friday: 5.15 miles with JS, Ab ripper X

Suggested Saturday: Rest/Cross Train
Actual Saturday: Rest

Suggested Sunday: 8 mile easy run @ 10:08
Actual Sunday: 8.43 mile run  with JS, little abs

Suggested mileage: 19 miles
Actual mileage: 21.98 miles
 
I am taking it easy this week and hopefully will be back on track next week.

Half training has begun

I have signed up for a half marathon in early Oct.  It is one I have done before, it's close to home, and it is where I have my half PR so I obviously like the course.  I decided it's time to start some sort of training plan so I can keep myself accountable.  I really like the Smart Coach at Runner's World, so that is what I tend to use as my training guides.  You can personalize it a little more than you can at most training plans.  I am doing a 10 week training plan, so it started last week.  It's good that it started because Sunday's run was not easy and I wasn't really feeling it but I knew I needed to get out there.  I will be happy when the heat lets up a little.  It was over 80 degrees by 9:00am (I left the house at 8:35am).  It will also get a little easier when the little guy sleeps a little better and is a little more predictable.  I would love to get out of the house early, I don't want to leave the hubs with a hungry, angry baby, and I am not a fan of pumping, so I try not to that very often.  We will see as my running continues.  I might just have to change things up a bit.

Also, I do change up the days a lot for my schedule.  The plan has me running 4 days a week, which is what I typically do, but my running days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and then one of the weekend days, so I have changed the plan to run on those days just for simplicity. 

So here is what was expected of me, and here is what I did.

Suggested Monday:  Rest/Cross Train
Actual Monday:  30 minutes yoga

Suggested Tuesday:  2 mile easy run
Actual Tuesday:  5.37 mile run with JS, abs

Suggested Wednesday: 2 mile easy run

Actual Wedneday: 2 miles on the mill (I was exhausted due to the little guy not sleeping at all)

Suggested Thursday: Rest/Cross Train

Actual Thursday:  Tennis practice (1 hour)

Suggested Friday: 5 mile tempo run (warm, 3 mi @ 8:34; cool)
Actual Friday: 1 mile @ 6.3mph, 3.35 miles @ 7.0mph, 0.85 @ 6.4mph, all @ 1.0% incline,
                         strength training

Suggested Saturday: Rest/Cross Train

Actual Saturday: Tennis round robin

Suggested Sunday: 7 mile easy run @ 10:08
Actual Sunday: 7.06 mile run @ 9:54 (it was hot people)

Suggested mileage:  16 miles
Actual mileage:  19.36

Have you started training for any fall races?  How are you dealing with the heat? 

I have a foam roller, but don't use it often.  What are your favorite exercises or websites for the foam roller?





 

Pre and Post-meals for workouts?

I thought I would ask the blog world what they do because this is something I have struggled with for a long time. I workout to stay healthy, relieve stress, and keep my weight in check. I do like to compete, so I do following some training plans when I have big races coming up. My question is what do you eat before and after training runs? Of course it's going to vary depending on the workout and length of the workout. I don't mean the ones that are 10+ miles. I am thinking of the ones that you do during the week that are in the 6 mile range. I have read a lot on this and I know "experts" recommend chocolate milk after a workout. Well that's great and all for muscle growth and repair, but I am not sure I want to waste 200 calories with some chocolate milk. Now when I workout in the morning, I usually don't eat anything before hand, run, and then come home and eat whatever breakfast I plan on (oatmeal, smoothie, cereal, english muffin, etc.) I don't think about protein vs. carbs for my meal. I mostly eat what I am feeling like. Now I do eat pretty healthy; I try to limit processed foods as much as possible and leave sugar for my ice cream habit, so I don't go home and eat crap. I am wondering if this hurts my training though.

When I workout later in the day, I usually time it with my meals so I am not starving when I workout and then afterwards I have my afternoon snack which right now is usually either greek yogurt with Kashi GoLean mixed in or homemade trail mix (cashews, walnuts, and dried cranberries). Again, I go with what I feel like and not what are the nutritional breakdowns.

So, does this affect my training? Should I be sacrificing the calories and drinking chocolate milk after a workout? What do you do???

Training Update

Well I am almost completely recovered from the stomach bug (no, I am not pg, I promise). And our house is officially under contract and we have a binding agreement on another house, so that is very exciting, but it also means I am busier than ever. I have had my bluetooth in all day making calls to lenders, home inspectors, financial advisor, mold guy, etc. And I have a feeling, it will only be getting worse from here. I have not run all week (did other stuff a few days, but like I said, I am still recovering from the stomach bug). The race is just over 2 weeks away, and the most I have is 8 miles. I am hoping to get in 9 miles this weekend which would make me feel better, but I am not going to be breaking any PR's this time around. And that is very difficult for me. I usually don't race many races, but I really train for the halfs I do train for. This will be my 3rd half in 5 1/2 months. I am just not used to going into races without giving my training 100%. To me, I feel like a training failure, but having a toddler, moving, buying a home, getting sick, I might just have to run this race to enjoy it and not think about a PR. I think I am going to need the next 2 weeks to comprehend what I just wrote, "enjoy the race and not think about a PR." Maybe I will go out slower, but I know that is going to be hard. Any advice? Help me understand that I am not a failure if I don't crush my PR.

Half marathon training starts this week!

So Monday was the start of my 8 week half marathon training plan. I like to be in training mode. It gives my runs a purpose. I am using the personalized training plan like I always do. I love it and highly recommend it if you are planning to train for a big race. Unfortuantely, I wasn't able to run yesterday, since our jogging stroller was in my husband's car (which was at work by the time I realized it). This week's goal is 16 miles (2 2-mile runs, 1 5-mile tempo run, and 1 7-mile easy run). I did 2.52 miles on Monday and today did a HIIT which got me to 3.13 miles, so I have already checked off the the 2 mile runs. I plan to do the tempo run on Friday. My problem is the 7 mile run. I would normally do it on Saturday, but now I have a tennis match so I am wondering if I think I can do it on Sunday or if I need to suck it up and do it on Saturday before the match. I am thinking Saturday, but then I won't be 100% for the match and it's playoffs. Should be a busy Saturday for me now. At least Adam is off for tennis (his team got a bye for the first week of playoffs) so he can take Hope to her swim lesson. I am glad he will be able to go (his first) but she is so darn cute in the water, I will be thinking about her the whole time.

Training - 8/25

So I have completed week 3 of my training program. It has not been easy to get it all in with everything else going on in my life, but I think I am doing pretty good.



Week 3 Projected/Actual
Tuesday - 5 mile tempo run, abs / 5.4 mile tempo run, abs

Wednesday - Tennis with my sister / Tennis with my sister

Thursday - 4 mile easy run, abs / 4 mile easy run, abs

Friday - Tennis with my sister / Rest

Saturday - Singles tennis match (playoffs, City Finals) / Singles tennis match, ran 4 miles (easy)

Sunday - 10 mile easy run / Ran 8.3 miles (easy)



Total Mileage: 21.7 miles



Because I had a tennis match on Saturday, I couldn't do my long run until Sunday. Saturday was a busy day for us. I had my tennis match, Adam was playing golf, then Adam had a tennis match, I ran 4 miles to decompress from my tennis match, then it was off to dinner for my future brother-in-law's birthday. After that, we put Hope to bed and my sister, for fiancee (the birthday boy) and some of their friends stopped by for a drink before they went out. It was after midnight before I poured into bed. I woke up Sunday still a little tired, so I waited until after I put Hope down for her nap before I headed out running. The weather was nice so that wasn't a problem, but after playing with Hope in the morning, I was not jazzed up to go running like I normally am. Also, I had to be back when she woke up to feed her, so I felt like 10 miles would be too long to be away. I ended up doing 8.3 miles instead. I would have been worried but a friend of mine shared this article with me. This way of training shows that one run should not be more important than others, so I did 12.3 miles in 2 days instead of 10 miles in 2 days plus I played tennis on Saturday too. So while I didn't get in my whole 10 miles in one run, I did get the miles in.


Week 4 Projected/Actual
Tuesday - 5 mile easy run, abs / Ran 5.44 miles (easy), abs

Thursday - 5 mile easy run, abs

Saturday - 6 mile easy run

Today's run was ok. It was easy, I didn't push myself too hard since this is supposed to be an easy week for me. Should be nice. And of course, we stopped at the park so Hope could swing on the baby swing once again. She loves it.

Training - 8/19

I told you about the training program I am currently doing using the Runner's World Smart Coach. I prefer this personalized approach to the generic ones you see from time to time. I am currently on week 3 and have my final workouts and mileage for week 2.

Week 2 Projected/Actual

Tuesday - Run 5 mile tempo run, abs/Ran 5.41 tempo run, abs

Wednesday - Rest

Thursday - Run easy 4 miles, abs/Ran 4 miles, abs

Saturday - Run easy 9 miles/Ran 9.64 miles

Sunday - Rest/Tennis with my sister

My Saturday run was ok. Adam wanted to come so we all set out (Hope in the jogging stroller). So I started out slower than I normally do, because the jogging stroller is heavy and hard for anyone to push. After 3 miles, Adam and I split off. I did notice though, it was harder for me to pick up the pace after going slow for 3 miles. Last Saturday, I ran by myself and started off faster and was able to keep that pace for the most part. This week I kept the pace, it was just slower. Something to think about when I am racing.

Week 2 Projected/Actual

Tuesday - 5 mile tempo run, abs/Ran 5.4 mile tempo run, abs

Wednesday - Tennis with my sister

Thursday - 4 mile easy run, abs

Friday - Tennis with my sister

Saturday - Singles tennis match (playoffs, City Finals)

Sunday - 10 mile easy run

Tuesday's tempo run was pretty good. The first mile was a warm-up, then I was supposed to run 3 miles at 8:24 minute pace. Well, I had the jogging stroller with me, so I usually add one minute per mile with it. My 2nd mile (first at tempo pace) was right on, the next mile was a little off then then the last mile was even slower. I did stop with 1.4 miles left (mostly my cool down) and Hope and I were at the park. She loves the swing, so I thought since she runs with me, I should give her some enjoyment out of it. I have to say though, it was hard to start back up after resting for 15 minutes, but worth it to see her face on the swing. She loves it. This is a picture from our vacation, but it's the same as yesterday. She actually fussed when I took her out. That's something new for my 10 month old. She got over it very quickly, but she did actually fuss when I took her out. Funny kid!

Training

So, I would like to do a full marathon in Nov., but with a baby, it makes training a little harder. I have already signed up for a half marathon in Oct., so I am excited about that. I have created a personalized training guide from Runner's World Smart Coach. I have created a 16 week program and plan to discuss the previous week's accomplishments and give you a run down of the current week's goals. I figure that way it's another motivation to get out there. So this is week 2 for me.

Week 1 Projected/Actual
Monday - Rest/Ran easy 3 miles on the treadmill
Tuesday - Run easy 3 miles, abs/Ran easy 3 miles, abs
Wednesday - Rest/Elliptical Trainer for 30 minutes
Thursday - Run tempo 5 miles, abs/Ran 4.33 miles (not really a tempo run though), abs
Saturday - Run easy 8 miles/Ran easy 8.54 miles

Total Mileage: 18.87 miles

Week 2 Projected/Actual
Tuesday - Run 5 mile tempo run, abs/Ran 5.41 tempo run, abs
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Run easy 4 miles, abs
Saturday - Run easy 9 miles

I did get my 5 mile tempo run in yesterday (along with my abs). I couldn't get out of the house until lunch time to run, so it was hot and I didn't bring any water (bad Jaime). This particular tempo run was warm-up for one mile, run one mile in under 8 minutes, jog for a half a mile and then repeat it one more time. Cool-down the last mile. Well it was extremely hot, but my warm-up mile felt good. My first fast mile was hard, but I did a good job of pushing myself. I ran it in over 8 minutes, but I had the baby jogger (and a 16lb. kid in it), so I usually give myself a minute more a mile. I jogged for my half a mile, but then my second fast mile wasn't very fast. It's not easy to run fast with a baby jogger, that's for sure. But we finished and I ended up running 5.41 miles.