My Busy Few Weeks

No, I haven't given up on blogging, I have just been living it up the past few weeks 😍. It all started with a little family vacation to Disney World. We had a blast and I want to go back. It is really a magical place. I have been myself before but, to experience it as a parent is truly something else. The boys loved it to say the least. I even fit in one very short run while I was there but, who needs running when you are walking an average of 15 miles per day in the parks. I wore a pedometer and I really did average around 15 miles per day. I felt like my legs were in pretty good shape but, I began to question that after a few days into the trip. 

Here are a few pictures from our trip:

So, a week after getting home from Disney, I ran a half marathon.  It was the Run Hard Columbia Marathon in Coulmbia, SC. First, let me say that the expo was great and I wish that I had had more time to browse around. I did score a pair of Hokas, some arm warmers, a pair of running shorts, and some gels while I was there. 

Next, the race location was perfect for me. It's only an hour from home so it was an easy drive up the morning of race. The start line was only a block away from the building I work in so, I was able to park there and run in to stash my personal belongings into my work locker. 

The weather was perfect also. 

As far as my running, it was kind of blah. It was not my best run but, we can't always expect for everything to turn out perfectly. This was a really tough course, and by that I mean there was one hill after another. These were not just little speed bumps, I  am talking, I thought I was going to get a nosebleed from the elevation gain 😅. The first half of the half went pretty good for me all in all. I felt great and was maintaining a great pace. Then, everything fell apart around mile 7. My left hip got really tight and sore (it band again I am guessing 😡). At this point my pace slowed down by about 20 seconds per mile and I was having to stop and stretch my hip out every so often. 

I was really discouraged with myself at this point, and all I could think about were the wrongs that I had done to myself coming into this run. I had not followed my training plan the few weeks before the run, I didn't practice what I preach about foam rolling, and my stupidest decision was to wear a pair of shoes that I have not done much distance in. How stupid could I be.  All of this negativity was getting me down so, I had to make myself think positive. I still finished in a respectable time (2:07 and some change), I accomplished that day what most people can never say they accomplished, and I didn't give up. This was a really tough course and I loved it. Next year I will be more prepared. All in all this was a great race that I will certainly do again. 

What I Have Been Up To.

OSo over the past week I have really been taking it easy on running as I am supposed to do post marathon. I snuck in a few 2 mile runs at a very slow pace just to keep my sanity. 

I worked all weekend but, really snuck some good workouts in despite the fact. I am employeed now by the University of SC so I get some really awesome staff perks including a $10/month membership to their state of the art wellness center. 

So, I have begun my journey into adding in strength training. Now, If I can just figure out the machines and get me a good routine down. I am really excited about building some much needed core strength. 

I would love some strength training tips. 

What are your favorite "machines"?

How long should my strength training workouts last on average?

T Minus 12 Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ready or not, here I come.  I am 12 days out from my first marathon.  I have in some sort of way been preparing my mind and/or body for this for over a year.  Charleston Marathon I am on my way!
I am not going to lie and say that I am as ready as I will ever be, because I am not.  I could have trained more but, I am a wife and mother first.  Life happens and logging all of the runs that my plan called for just didn't happen.  I do not think I will finish in near the time that I initially set out to do but, I am confident that I WILL FINISH and I WILL HAVE FUN.  At this point I will say that I believe this will not be my first and last marathon.  I have enjoyed my training for the most part.  The training I did was a plan that I downloaded from Marathon Nation .  I felt like the plan was totally doable and didn't take me away from my family for hours on end.  I will say that I have had to tweak the plan the last month or so due to life =) .
In the last month, I have teamed up with a long time friend for runs.  She is doing the half marathon of this race.  She has really done a great job!  I am not sure if we have enjoyed our running together in itself, or 2 + hours of adult conversation the most.  Now, we are looking forward to a little retail therapy along with our marathon weekend.

Any advice for my final 12 days?

Anyone else running the Charleston Marathon?

Tempo Day

I can't believe that today is December 21 and it is 80 degrees. Today, I ran in the same attire I normally wear in July. We have had 28 degree nights then up to mid 60's lower 70's during the day. I took my boys to the park earlier today and seriously thought about working on my tan. 

I did a quick little 3 mile tempo with about an average 8:45 pace earlier today. It was a really good run. I felt great and enjoyed myself. 

One of my Christmas presents to myself arrived just a few minutes ago.  I ordered a pair of Sketchers GoRun 2's. OMG, they feel great on my feet. I may have found my new favorite shoe. I put them on and did a brief 1/4 mile lap around our property and loved the way they felt. I am itching to give them a try for real run now. 

Takes on Sketchers GoRun's????

I Need Words of Wisdom

20.01 flipping miles I ran today. This is the longest mileage I am to run withmy marathon training plan. During my last mile, I was pretty sure that I was going to die. My calf muscles were tight, quads hurt, and cramps in my hip flexors. I am looking for suggestions in what do do in the next 4 weeks to make sure I cross the finish line in my inaugural 26.2.  

Change of Routine

I hate and can not believe that I have not blogged in over a week. I was really hoping to stick to my goal of 3-4 times a week. Anyway, I hope after I finish adjusting to my new job I will get a better handle on my blogging again. 

So a brief cap of last weeks runs ( all two of them). I did a speed run one day and a 5 mile easy run with a friend Sunday. I have been working 12 hours shifts so there will be no running on my work days during winter months unless I find a really safe neighborhood. I  hoping to join a gym here at my new place of employment and maybe learn how to "really swim". I am excited about that. 

How do others working 12 hours shifts fit in outdoor runs on workdays?  

Jingle Jam 10k Recap

Yesterday, a friend of mine and myself ran the Jingle Jam 10k in Evans, GA. My friend has caught the running bug and I  am so excited for her. She ran her first 5k not even a month ago and contacted me minutes after she was done saying she wanted to go farther. She had already done several training runs that were 4-5 miles so, I told her I would find a 10k that we could do together.  Her first race was not officially timed and she wanted to to something more "official".  After a little searching of upcoming 10k's nearby I came across the Jingle Jam 10k and we signed up. 

Based on her fasted 5k I figured she could do a 10k in about 58-59 minutes. She finished in just a little over 58 minutes. Pretty awesome for a first timer! 

I ran beside her until the last .2 so we could encourage each other.  My finish time was 57:16.  No negative splits for us but, that's ok (this time). 

This race was the most well put together run I have done to date. They really did it up big time including a race expo the day before. The only draw back I had was the fact of no race day packet pick up. This made it a little inconvenient and added extra expense to us out of towners who didn't have any local connections to pick up packets for us.  The course was USTAF certified and was definitely challenging with lots of hills. The highlight for me were the FREE post race massages offered. I would run this race again just for the massage.  I also enjoyed seeing the runners in their Christmas race costumes.  This is most definitely a race I will do again in years to come.

Pre-Race

Post-Race

Massages

This review is my opinion only. 

Have any of you ran or are running any Christmas themed races? 

Is South Carolina the new Florida?!?!?!?

Now don't get me wrong, I love the summer and warm weather but, it is December and it feels like June. This is me and my running attire after my run today. 

Way too little clothing and way too much sweat for a December run.  By the way, is it socially acceptable to post a selfie on a blog?  

On another note, I should be getting some new shoes delivered tomorrow. I have given the Newtons a good try and I just do not think they are for me. I am going back to my roots and getting the saucony ride 6's. I had the 5's and loved them. I owned another pair of saucony's before the rides and have loved every pair.  I also have a pair of Nike zoom volero's coming in a few weeks. I am excited about giving those a try too. I have read where they were the most popular shoe worn by the top100 finishers in the NYC Marathon. Now, if I could only find a retailer that would ship me shoes to "try out" and write reviews, I would be in heaven.....hint hint if anybody can hook me up 😉. 

I am doing a 10k jingle jam Saturday. I haven't put too much thought into this run because I am running with a friend who is fairly new to running. I will proably try to stick with her during the run and not worry so about my time.  I will be wearing jingle bells with red and green running attire. I will let you know how it goes. 

What's your favorite shoe?

How's the weather where you are?

Missing In Action

Yes, I have been MIA for a week from the blogging world and basically from the running world as well. Last week was a short work week for me and I was looking forward to kicking it off but, unfortunately the stomach bug that has slowly been visiting us one by one and week by week knocked on my door Wednesday morning. It kicked my butt worse than any run could ever do. I stayed on my couch long enough to watch Gone With the Wind two and a half times.

Sickness couldn't hold me down for long though, I had people to feed, a house to clean, and Black Friday shopping to do. Slowly but surely I managed to do all of the above after thoroughly disinfecting my house for the third time now. I seriously thought about serving Thanksgiving lunch from my floor due to its cleanliness.

I braved the Black Friday crowds with my sister in laws as it is a tradition for us and we enjoy the time with each other.  I didn't really buy a whole lot this year but, l enjoyed my company. 

Saturday was rivalry Saturday in South Carolina so off I went to see my Gamecocks beat those stinky Tigers for the FIFTH straight year!!!!  

I love Gamecock football. I was brought up on it and for as long as I can remember I have been going to the games. My oldest dearest friends (the twins) have been there through most seasons with me.  Our friendship dates back to my birth. 

These guys were even cool enough to have both had jobs working on the Gamecock sidelines. 

I let a few stinky tigers hitch a ride to the game with me but, they didn't have much to say on the way home. One of these gals is my dear sister in law and the other is another friend that dates back to kindergarten. 

Sunday I was to do a long run and had perfect conditions for it. I set out for an 18 miler and accomplished 5 miles. I have never had a run that bad. My legs were heavy, I had a spot hurting on my foot, and I just couldn't make myself run another step. I have heard people talk about bad runs and now I know what they mean. I have had times where I didn't want to go but, I was glad I did it afterward but, I have never had a day like this. I am blaming it on my stomach bug and poor appetite/diet that I had in the days following that.  I guess my body just wasn't ready. Anyway, I can't dwell on the bad so, I am looking forward to having an awesome week to make up for it. 

Tonight we decorated our tree. The boys were interested in helping for about 10 seconds and then they were off doing something else. I am not sure how the tree has a needle left on it. I have swept up enough to restraw my flower beds. 

So how do you make up for bad runs?

Colored lights or white lights in your tree?

Real tree or artificial?

Great Deal On Runners World Magazine!!!!

If anyone is reading, there is an awesome deal on Runners World Magazine right now.  It is from Southern Savers  Click here Runners World Magazine and you enter coupon code SOUTHERNSAVE to get a full year for $5.99.  The offer expires at midnight tonight.

I Need A New Watch

Where do the weekends go?  It was an unexpected busy weekend.  The brother-in-law and sister-in-law along with their kids came and spent Saturday and Sunday with us. I always love when they come but, great goodness the messes that occur when there are 4 kids ages 5 and under in one house for the weekend. I kid you not, every toy in Clayton's room was in the middle of his floor.

Before they came Saturday, I did a 4 mile run at about a 9:15 min/mile pace with six sets of a strides at the end. When I got done I was picking around with Jody in the yard and was proving to him that I could hold a plank longer than he could. I took my gps watch off so I could see the timer and I have no idea where my watch is now. So, I guess I am now in the market for a new watch. 

Yesterday was my long run and was supposed to be 16 miles. I started around 3:15 and went up and down every (safe) street in town two or three times. Somewhere around mile nine the gps signal on my phone went out so, I lost track of my mileage and pace. Isn't it odd how that just so happened on a day when I didn't have my watch?  To the best of my figuring I think my run was 14.7 miles at an average of 10:23 min/mile pace. Not the sixteen I was shooting for but, dang technology issues got the best of me. 

Any suggestions on watches?

How do you make adjustment when technology fails?

A Little PR today

I took it to the track today and had very surprising and unexpected results. With my warm up and cool down I did 4 miles in around 32 minutes. In that I did my fastest 5k to date. 

Pretty proud but it still doesn't make me look forward to track work and running without music.  I absolutely despise running with no music which I find odd. There are probably days if not full weeks that go by sometimes that I don't have the radio on iny car. So why can I drive

with no music and totally enjoy it but, can't stand to run without music. Also, I am trying this 30 day plank challenge I have been seeing posted everywhere. I am starting on day 9. I really need to work on core strength so figure this is one way to do it. 

On another note I DVR'd the NYC marathon in hopes that one day I could watch it. Well, that day is today. My husband only has to work a night shift about twice a year and tonight is one of those nights. That means the tv is ALL MINE. I never dreamed that one day I would have control of the remote and would choose to watch people run!!  My how things can change. 

How do you cope running without music?

Do you plank for core strength?

How has running changed your life or daily routine?

Accountability

Well, the weather pattern is doing its typical thing here in the south. Perfect day 2 days ago and then yesterday and today have been hot. 

Here are my stats from yesterday's mid week long run. I couldn't fit my splits on the screen. They weren't exactly where they should have been anyway (I am putting blame on the heat). 

Today should be a fairly easy interval of 2 x's 1 mile at threshold pace. I read in someone else's blog (now I can't remember who it was to give them credit) where they post there training schedule on there blog and it helps hold them accountable. I thought that was a great idea. I wouldn't want to disappoint somebody who may accidentally trip over my blog by not running the distance I was supposed to run for that particular day/week. 😃. 

So what holds you accountable to your workouts?