So This Is Happening

I said a 50 mile race was a goal for the year.  So when I saw this race I figured it was the one.  It is only an hour drive from my house, affordable and flat.  My 3 criteria.  It is coming up super quickly, sooner than I wanted but there is not a lot of local choices for the 50 mile.  Then considering that most of my training has to be on the roads or treadmill a hard trail wouldn't be a great choice for my first 50 miler.  

My goal of the race is to finish and not feel like death rather than a certain time.  I am just trying to log 50+ miles a week and hopefully closer to 65 a week at the peak.  The 2nd part of my training is working up to running 50 miles in a two day period.  Right now I'm at 30 miles for a 2 day long run.  Saturday I ran for 15.5 miles total and Sunday I did 14.5.  My legs still felt pretty good after Sundays run so I'm feeling a lot better about this race going well.  My biggest concern is the long runs.  I really can't go that long on a treadmill so I have to work out my babysitting and the weather.  That worked out for me this past weekend but for the most part these winter temps are a little too cold for me.  Especially when trying to run long distance.

Last half mile on Sunday was actually walking the dog but I was also caring this on my shoulders so I think it counts.

I'm looking for a volunteer to drive me home after the race.  Anyone love me enough to drive me home?  This would probably also mean dropping me off since I won't want to leave my car there.  I hear Ottawa is a great place to hang out for 10 hours or not so much.

Charting It Out

I think I finally figured out a super easy way to keep track of all my running, weights and exercise routines.  I made spreadsheets and put them on my phone, something I always have with me, so I can just fill out as I work out.  I know no one has ever thought of doing this before and I am a genius.  No more trying to remember how many miles I ran on the treadmill 5 days ago or keeping track of what weight I am lifting on scraps of paper I lose before my next workout.

	Running	Weights	Cross Training
1/1	10
1/2	6.5		suspension
1/3	4	yes
1/4	12
1/5
1/6	6	yes	cycle
1/7	4		suspension
1/8	7	kinda
1/9	7		suspension
1/10	6	yes
1/11	8
1/12	10
1/13	6	yes	cycle
1/14	2.5		suspension
1/15	6	yes
1/16	3.5		suspension
1/17			ss yoga
1/18	13.1
1/19	12
1/20	5	yes	cycle
1/21

On the first one I am tracking all my running, days I did weights and any other exercise activities.  The other column will mostly just be classes I teach even silver sneaker yoga.

	1-15-14
Push-ups	15	15
Plank	1@1min	1@1mim
wide grip lat pulldown*	10/40	8/40
close grip cable row*	12/35	10/35
assisted chin up	3/70, 3/80
russian twists	100/4kg	80/4kg
braced squats	8/20	3/5
step up*	8/25	8/15
hip press & curl
back extensions	15	20

	1-20-14
push-ups	20	20
plank	1@1min	1@1min
close grip lat pulldown*	12/35	12/35
wide grip cable row*	12/35	10/35
bicep curl w/ shoulder press*	8/15	8/15
assisted chin upmachine	1/70, 3/80, 4/90	5/90
russian twists	100	100
straight leg deadlift	12/68	12/73
split squat*	8/20	10/20
single leg deadlift	8/48	10/48
back extensions	25	25

The next two charts are what I've decided on as my two strength routines for the time being.  I decided on the two groups of exercises to line up with my goal of doing pull ups and perfecting my backside.  I am currently on week 2 of this routine.  I am aiming to do strength workouts 2-3 times a week going back and forth between each workout.  Last week I had the half marathon on Saturday so I only did it twice, this week doing it 3 times.  I will probably keep this up for at least another 4 weeks before I reevaluate and switch things up.

On the charts the 1st number is times done and the 2nd number is weight.  The * symbol means the weight is on each side not total.

Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon

This morning I ran the Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon.  I picked it because it has been a while since I ran a race and needed to do one.  Also there are not a lot of distance races in the area this time of year.  This race is in its 32nd year and had a good review from a guy at the Y who had ran it several times.

The race didn't start till 11:00 to take advantage of the warmest part of the day in January.  Today the weather was pretty good considering it was sub 0˚ earlier this month.  It was in the 40's for the race and extremely windy.  Luckily as it is a point to point race there was only about 3-4 separate miles when you are running into the wind.  The race is very hilly and is advertised as such.

Since it is a point to point race you park at the finish then they bus you to the start.  

I'm really pumping my arms in this one but it is up a hill I wasn't feeling.

At the finish.  My eyes are closed because the wind is slapping me in the face.

3rd place age group winner 30-34

I finished in 1:45:46, a decent time for me especially with all the hills and wind.

I was 11/132 females, 82/337 total participants. 

The race was super well organized with great volunteer support.  All participates got a long sleeve technical shirt, socks and once finished a medal.  After the race all participates got a pancake and sausage meal. Yum!