PEI Run

Went away for an overnighter with the kids to PEI.  It was Scott who suggested I take the running stuff and actually do a run there; but I jumped because I was a run short of the week and needed another day before the long run :) Glad to go, thank you Scott ;)

We went to Summerside and a beach before landing at Rodd Mill River where there is a golf course that Scott Moaned about because he WAS NOT on it Lol and there was other stuff to do there as well.  All we did manage was to go to the pool.  And then supper and sleep. No one complained; everyone was tired.

It was kind of hot when I started out and it only got warmer as I went.  The run through the Resort was pretty nice but out on the road it was more boring LOL just...roads.  PEI is where I am doing my marathon in October and all I could think was...this road is SO boring!  LOL Sheesh. It was shadier on one side so I ran on one side with an Ipod (so against rules) and did an out and back.  Roads were rolling but nothing bad.  Time was pretty good (dont really remember what it was LOL).

Resort Road

Looking so forward to PEI ;)

11 km longish

The family picked me up part way up the hill so I got in 11.25 km in 1:12 which isnt a great time but i'll take it, being tired and somewhatcranky, and very hungry ;)

Almost Famous?

I answered a blog call a few weeks ago and was contacted recently; re: running my first marathon. There is this fit lady, Melinda Hinson Neely, with a together website and blog, sharing info, tips, recipes, and anything else you can imagine about fitness, writing a book about First Marathons and training/preparing.  And she was to feature a few first timers in it. Hey Im one of those first timers, so I answered the call and so many people did, the direction of the book may change so that many of us can be included with our stories!  And Im one of those many!  LOL the post can be viewed HERE: http://melindahinsonneely.com/blog/fitness/calling-all-first-time-marathoners-and-the-winner-is-part-ii/ for interest to see those of us to be featured at least a little bit in the book; there are some who will be featured in more in depth who seem to have slightly more unique stories (I guess) and wither way I might get some of my story in the book!  Because after all, if I can pull off this marathon, anyone can.  ANYONE. lol. 

6 km Tempo Run

Just a quick tempo run this morning; stressed for time and heat lol.  cannot seem to shake out of bed at a decent hour.
Recovery from the run on Monday was uneventful. Rest day yesterday and back at it today with the tempo run which went well; 6 km in about 35:30 and 6.6 km in 40 minutes.  Includes warm up, cool down, and those freaking hills.
Tomorrow is hills day; 7 hills actually with a warm up and cool down.  Scott is away again so not sure how this is going to work SIGH.  By the time he gets home its too hot.  Not a decent hill for this sort of thing around here. Wont leave the kids and drive into town. Maybe just a regular 10-12 km run instead LOL. 

29 km this weekend coming up.  Im somewhat intimidated by this; it's uncharted territory and Im not sure Im mentally prepared. Physically no idea; I felt better on my 26 km run than my 22 so its completely weather dependent and fatique/preparation dependent I guess. Im just never really sure. LOL

Will see and try to formulate a plan this week.
Started going to work this week unofficially banking a few hours of "leniency" for some upcoming stuff lol.  It's cutting into my run time already!

And I passed 1000 km for the year this morning - 1006 something to be more sure...which was where I wanted to be by the end of this month; 2/3 done the year, 2/3 done the km.  But after the marathon I expect the miles to drop off somewhat, so it's likely a good thing to get ahead. The long runs in my future are going to put those miles on like mad I suspect :):):)

Stepdown Week

Was pretty nice to only be running 19 km this week for my long run ;) next week's 29 will be tough. Im sure of it.  We got out running a bit late; met Irongroup ;) at the college and we ran from there out to Onslow and down the highway (rather high traffic and no shoulder to speak of) and then out on the trail past the water stop; on the way back we filled the water bottles back up and then ran back to the trail at the highway and all the way to Walker street, then back to the college. M was particularly tired today after her long week of ball hockey and she also has some sore issues that need some REST but aren't getting it; I think with all that and the heat she was not having fun but I gotta say I had quite a good little run today, feeling pretty energetic even at the end and not too thirsty as has been troubling lately. Had Gatorade and part of a cereal bar which seems to be working ok :)  None of the run was very taxing today; not much for hills and stuff. Was good.
about 2:02:00 for time which is pretty good. 

Planning to take tomorrow off and then do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, take Saturday off, then run the LSD on Sunday of 29 km.  This should put me back on Sunday LSD day and for working this is where I need to be putting those runs. Officially back to work next Monday.  YAY lol.

Today's run was a good confidence boost.

11 km Midweek Longish Run and a Fast 7.5 km

Doing ok this week, on Friday I got in my longish midweek run; schedule said 10, I planned 12 and went 11 because Scott picked me up and I wanted the drive back lol. We then spent the rest of the day at the beach :):):) The run wasnt bad, heat and humidity are either backing off a little or I am getting used to it.

I was checking the conversion of Celcius to Farenheit to compare to the americans who are always commenting on their heat and I wondered how hot it really was....
there are people running (still running) at 98 F which I believe is aout 32 something celcius, a temp at which I would not even lace up my sneakers because its TOO hot for sneakers lol.  I don't really enjoy over 20-23C, which is about....68 - 70 F.  I try to run before it gets that hot.  I do not always succeed but my runs are usually pretty unpleasant if I let it get that hot. 

Which is why on Saturday when it was calling for very hot temps (80's F) I got up at the ass crack of dawn and ran in town with Lavinia.  She is much, much.....MUCH faster than I am, but she so kindly slowed down for me and we ran 7.5 km together in about 45 minutes more or less (maybe less....Garmin didnt keep track of first km).  That had to be excruciatingly slow for her...she was able to chat away the whole time and often all I could manage was a grunt in reply.  We have not ran together since spring...and I can honestly say, it was much easier this time.  IM IMPROVING!! lol.  I've been doing speed work (ok not recently and not this week but I have used that tool) and my mileage has also increased so I am going further and I am doing it faster.  I used to try to keep my long runs arounf 6:45 minutes per km....now I am aiming for about 6:15.  Its all good!  Im never going to be fast but by running with people who are faster than I am, I hope to keep improving.  Lavinia is moving really far away and Im really going to miss her, including her influence on my running!  Hope she keeps in touch. ;)

Going to take Sunday off....spent Saturday and going to spend all of Sunday at soccer Jamborees for the kids.  Long run on Monday morning of 19 km (stepdown week) and by next Sunday I should have my long runs back on Sunday.  LONG next week; more uncharted territory.  Going back to work TOMORROW sigh summer is over for me and unexpectedly, so Im feeling a bit cheated of my last couple of weeks LOL. SIGH.

5 km tempo run

Which should have been 6.4 km or so but due to bad planning and time constraints I shortened it to 5 km more or less.  I really dont know what happened Today! 

LOL ok I do know what happened. Last night I went out and had a life; girls night in the hot tub to be precise. 

A few drinks, a late night, and boom your morning run goes out the door.  I didnt get out the door until like 11 am (it wasnt too too hotttt) and by then I had to pick up kids at 12 and I was kinda in a panic because Id left so late and SHEESH it was a quick but hot run and shower and back out the door packing in bikes and helmets (remembered the helmets ) lol then picked up kids and off to a birthday party then the pool and then soccer and ice cream and WHAM its bed time.  I need to go to sleep soon. Wonder if I can wrangle these 5 wonderful children into bed?
So only 5.25 km this morning, 5 k in 29 minutes (remember the hillllls! and it was a tempo therefore there WAS a warm up; shorter cool down) and the total run was 31 minutes.  :) Time was ok for heat and hills.

My commitment wavers from totally committed to running the program and getting ready for a full, to OMG I cannot do this.  I was talking to someone today about training and SHE said to do at least 5 - 32 km runs before the big one; I counted I dont even have that much time left! UGH!  I see 2 32 km runs coming up; I see a few 29 km runs that I suppose could be made longer. I am not sure I want to end with 32 km, I might want to go further once or so to see if I can. SIGH.  But Im down to less than 10 weeks to the marathon now and Im NOT happy about that LOL where does time go? Im doing well sticking to this program SIGH Why can't time go slower?

Tomorrow - morning run IF I can fit it in (5 kids here blech) will be maybe 12 km?  Might skip speed work again this week ie hills or track; Something has to give and Im not going for a time, really Im not.  And I get loads of hills.

SIGH.