My Week In Running

Monday:  Didn't do a thing.

Tuesday:  5 miles on treadmill at gym.

Wednesday:  5 miles on treadmill at gym.

Thursday:  5 miles on treadmill at gym.

Friday:  Planned on getting to the gym in time to run 5 miles on treadmill before the YoPi class but only had time for 1 mile before class so that's what happened.

Saturday:  5 miles on treadmill at gym.

The last 5k we ran together on the 4th of July.  

Sunday:  10 miles out on hilly BB hwy.  I left my parents house that morning knowing I needed at least 12 miles for the day to hit my goal of 33-35 miles for the week.  I knew I'd be running another 3 miles later in the day but wasn't really feeling like 9 hilly miles were in me today.  I haven't really done any hilly runs lately.  I went out and after getting the first few starter miles out of the way it was going well but I hadn't brought any water with me so I was thinking of turning around at 3.5miles out but then I met a super friendly dog who wanted to run with me and did not want to go back to her house.  While I normally pass very few cars out on BB Sunday mornings there was suddenly 6 cars driving by and the dog wanted to go out in the road to greet each car.  Not a great situation so I ran the dog back to her house and found her pen, she went right in.  After my little break I decided to go ahead and run out another mile and a half to hit 10.  I spent the last few miles dreaming of water and was drenched with sweat when I got back.  I changed into some dry running shorts and top then headed to Chilhowee with my dad and sister to help finalize the 5k route for next weekends race.  This is the 3rd year my sister Beth has put on a 5k race for the Chilhowee fair.  After finalizing the new route for this years race we ran it,  I dominated the run just like I plan on doing this Saturday morning at 7:30.

Weekly Totals:  34.1 hitting goal of 33-35 miles.  Didn't do any stroller running but was able to meet mileage goal without it so I'm fine with that.

Goals for this week:  Anything above 30 miles is good.  I'll be spending end of week out at the parents so I shouldn't have any problem hitting this.  I'll want to take it easy on Friday so I can dominate on Saturday.  Saturday goal time = anything under 22:55 for a new PR.  Buy Gretchen some new running shoes so she can dominate the 1 year old age division.

My Week In Running

Monday:  Back on the trail.  Seemed a little better than yesterday, I think due to it being about 10˚ cooler and overcast today.  Ran 2 miles out, took water break and 2 miles back, average pace 8:54.  Gretchen did streches with me after the run.

Tuesday:  No run.  Went to state fair with family had a pork burger with fries, 1/3 of a funnel cake, ice cream cone, and pizza buffet on the way home.  Spent an hour looking for my watch charger, never found it.

Wednesday:  Was with out Gretchen for a few hours in the morning.  Had a bit of a food hangover but with the cool temps wanted to hit double digits with my run.  I went out to Blue trace trail wearing two watches since I never found my power cord I knew my watch would die during my run.  I wore my regular watch to keep track of time once that happened.  The watch made it 7 3/4 miles,  I made it 10 miles.  My longest run since my 50k.

Thursday:  Wasn't into running for the day but what else was I gonna do with my morning.  Went to the Y and hit the treadmill for 3 miles and I was out of there.  Found out I left my watch charger at my parents house, glad I didn't lose it.

Friday:  YoPi day at the Y.  The Y I attend doesn't have many classes that fit my fitness level and child care needs.  Most of the classes are for people who are significantly older or less fit than myself and they only have childcare during certain hours.   I not complaining for the price to have great childcare while I'm on the treadmill is fantastic.  Another plus: Gretchen always seems excited to be there and hang out with the other kids.  Anyway the YoPi class is the one I try to attend each week to get myself stretched out and relaxed.  The Y does have straight up yoga but I feel like it might be to boring for me.  Running is my yoga.
The YoPi class starts at 10:15 so I try to get to the gym in time to get a few miles in before hand.  Somedays that happens somedays it doesn't.  Today I made it in time for 2.5 miles before class.

Saturday:  I knew I needed 10.5 more miles for the week to hit my 30 mile goal.  The Y has no childcare on Sunday so I thought I needed to go at least 5.5 on the treadmill today and I did just that.

Sunday:  Gretchen left for 2.5 unexpected hours in the afternoon so I used the time for my run.  I went out knowing I need 5 but since I was by myself I ended doing 8 miles.  It was about 80˚ out which after a month of 100˚+ days seems cool even while running.

Weekly Total= 33 miles, goal of 30 miles met and exceeded
Goals for next week= 33 to 35 miles, 5 mile jogging stroller run

4 Jogging Stroller Miles = 8 Regular Miles

Today I broke out the jogging stroller.  I first tried it out when Gretchen was about 4 months old and didn't like it at all.  I was always able to get my runs in without it so I didn't use it.  Now though I'm having a hard time getting as much running in as I would like with the treadmill at the gym that I also don't like. 

I got to the gym late on Friday and went straight to the yoga/pilates class telling myself I would jump on the treadmill at home after Gretchen went to bed but that never happens.  Then Saturday I decided to have a Garage Sale and missed out on child care time at the gym. The garage sale was a waste of time so that was a mistake.  When Sunday showed up I only had 18 miles for the week.  The weather was actually kinda cool this morning right around 80˚ compared to the mostly 100˚ weather we've had.  No child care at the gym on Sundays so Gretchen and I packed up and hit the Little Blue River Trace Trail in Independence.  It is a packed fine gravel trail and big enough so there is not people all around.  I didn't want to worry about running into people with the stroller.   The trail is basically flat.  I did 4 miles.  It was hard running while pushing 30 lbs the whole way.  Gretchen didn't see what the big deal was.  We ran out 2 miles stopped for water.  Turned to come back, ran till mile 3 stopped for pictures.  Ran most of the last mile only walking up the small hills that I never realized were on the trail until today.  

Gretchen enjoyed the ride.  I hated it but guess I'm going to try adding this to our routine in an attempt to up my weekly mileage.  Goal for next week: 30 miles.

Does watching olympic athletes run count as a workout?

Are we watching the Olympics or a broken TV?  

I've been feeling sort of blah about my running since my 50K.  The week after I was a bit sore and ran a total of 11 miles for the week.  The following week I ran every single day but the first 5 days were all treadmill and I never did more than 5 miles a day.  I got to run outside on Saturday with a long run of 7 miles and then Sunday with 6 miles.  This past week I was tired, ran 5 days finishing the week with only 20 miles.  I managed to pick up my excitement level on the treadmill when the track and field events started on Friday.  I gave myself a gold in the treadmill 1500.  My nearest competitor was a 70 year old speed walker (wait we were competing in seperate events.)  I know my running is no where on par with any of the olympic athletes but watching them makes me run faster.  I try to move my legs and arms in the same way they move their legs and arms.  It might help.  This week I'm on track for at least a solid 30 miles.  30 miles is supposed to be my weekly minimum.  Studies show this is what I need to run weekly to keep my nacho and cheesy fry diet under control.