Hitting 40

Monday:  2 miles on the treadmill.   Planned on 3 but a customer showed up early and I never got back on after.

Tuesday:  3 miles on the basement treadmill, then later at the gym another 3 miles before Suspension class.  I meant to arrive at the gym early enough for 5 miles but as usual that didn't happen.

Wednesday:  Went to the gym in the morning so Gretchen could go to her totsercise class and I ran 6 boring miles out on the treadmill.  Had plans to make the Independence running group that evening but an opportunity came up to help train a competitive girls softball team so that is where I went.  Now I know when those of you who know me think competitive softball I do not come to mind.  No worries I'm not showing anyone how to pitch or catch a ball.  I am only assisting on off season speed and agility drills, so they can stay in top shape for their upcoming season.

This puts me at a whopping 19 miles so far for the week. I've got 3 days and the only possibility for outside running is Saturday and I don't feel the weather is going to agree with me.

Well I finished the week off with all treadmill miles, once at the gym for 5, once at home for 3 and once at my parents for 5.  Totaling 32 for the week.  Once again ok but the weather needs to start cooperating with my very limited outside running time or I need to get tougher.  One or the other.

This past week was  mostly all treadmill again but I did finally hit 40 miles and it seemed really easy.  For whatever reason 6 miles on the gym treadmill and 3 miles on the home treadmill don't seem so boringly hard anymore.  I won't go through all the miles each day since I'm pretty sure no one reads this but my longest run was 6 miles on the treadmill, more than once, 9 miles in one day and only 16 miles outside.  3 of those running around the YMCA building.  Sun: 4 & 2,  Mon: 5, Tue: 3 and Suspension class, wed:  3 miles on gym treadmill, then 3 miles around the building.  Then wed night I was supposed to be in Lee Summit at 7 but still wanted to go to the running group at 6.  They were giving out running shirts that night.  Clearly I run for all the t-shirts so I went just figuring I would have to cut my run short to make it to Lee Summit.  Well for not the first time I tied my house key to my shoe then locked my car key in the car.  I don't know why I do this but it has happened a couple of times.  I didn't realize it until I went to leave.  The good news I had time to run 3 miles outside while waiting for help.  So totally worth missing my job that night for a running shirt 3 extra miles and I won a blinking clip on safety light.  Thurs: 5 miles on gym treadmill in morning then suspension class at night, Fri:  6 miles on gym treadmill, Sat: 6 miles on gym treadmill.  So I did go though all my daily miles.

40 miles done for the week.

Today Gretchen and I worked out at the house.  First she did 5 minutes then I did 3 miles on the treadmill.  After the warm up we did some strength training.  I went with dead lifts, squats and pushups while Gretchen did some squats with a ball throw and planked.

Look at that plank!

It's Christmas week so I should have plenty of time to run however the weather is going to be super cold.  A high of 13˚ tomorrow, oh yay!

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It's Cold

Monday:  Was surprised and had time for a quick 5 miles outside before I had to head to work

Tuesday:  Worked out but no real running other than a few sprints around the gym track.

Wednesday:  Ran at gym in morning 3 miles on the treadmill, 3 miles around the building.  Went to run club at night for another 3 miles.

Thursday:  Ran at the gym in morning for 4 miles.

Friday:  When I got off work Friday afternoon it was a warm 16˚ out.  I ran 1 mile on the treadmill then 6 outside.  The first 3 went well then I turned around to head back.  The very light wind was freezing my face off.  So cold!  First time I ran outside and thought "my face should really be covered in Vaseline."  I made it but was worn out and just went home rather than running anymore on a treadmill.

Saturday:  I spent my day learning all about member involvement in Coaching Connections at the YMCA.  Sounds amazing I know, after that I was close to a shopping center and thought I could knock out some Christmas presents.  I picked up a few then went against my better judgement and bought my 1st running skirt.  I do look super cute in it.  I think I may wear it in some spring races.  Once home I it was already dark and my weekly mileage was looking poor.  I jumped on the treadmill for 3 miles after dinner on the treadmill in the basement in my new skirt.  It ran well.

                             

Weekly Total: Ended the week with only 31 miles.  I'm going to have to get comfortable with the cold cold temps because I have a feeling all the nice temp days are going to be on days I can't run and visa versa.

Sunday Runday:  My last opportunity to run outside for a few days.  It was 19˚ out, way better than the 16˚ on Friday so I figured no problem.  I did 1/2 mile warm up on the treadmill, then went out for 4.5 miles.  Not too bad, it was lightly snowing, maybe I'm getting used to this super fun weather.

                  

Running and Painting

Finally finished painting the living and dining rooms along with the hallway.  It is a minty green with the fireplace wall a shiny white and I'm loving it.  It really brightens up the space.  

I'm also loving that I spray painted the metal apples sitting on the desk a bright pinkish orange from their old 70's golden yellow.

Gretchen got a bunch of great birthday presents and she is loving all her new kitchen bakeware.  She is getting ready to spice up a pumpkin dish.

Friday 22nd:  Went to the gym and ran 10 miles in an attempt to get my mileage up.

Saturday 23rd:  Would of had to get to the gym right at 8 when child care opened because I had somewhere to be mid morning.  That didn't happen so basically no running happened. Fail.

Weekly Total:  31 miles

Sunday 24th:  Had free time so I ran outside for 8 miles, I think there was a high of 30˚ that day.

Monday 25th:  Ran 3 miles on home treadmill

Tuesday 26th:  5 miles at the gym in the morning then another 2 miles at night before suspension class

Wednesday 27th:  ran 3 miles outside with a running group.

Thursday 28th:  Thanksgiving day got out to my parents later than planned and only had time for 6 miles

Friday 29th:  Made the mistake of going out with my sister Thanksgiving night, no running

Saturday 30th:  Went to the gym for 8 miles on the  treadmill.

Weekly Total: 35 miles

Sunday 1st:  Today Gretchen let me run 3 miles on the basement treadmill.  Hoping I get in 40 miles this week but disappointed the weather is not going to agree with me.  Todays weather was perfect for running but I didn't have any free time.  It looks like I'll be able to run outside on Friday and Saturday when it is 30˚ and snowy. Oh Yah.

Reminder To Run

For most of the time that I have lived in my house there has been a big blank space above the fireplace then last year I bought a large canvas with plans to paint some sort of design on it.  I stuck it up on the wall waiting for inspiration to strike.  Then back in March I decided on a running quotes board.  I already had a list of favorite running quotes collected on a pintrest board.  I painted some background colors on my canvas then used different sized sharpies to write out the quotes.  I planned out the design of the quotes beforehand on a scrap of paper so they would all fit.  I've had it finished and up for months and have slowly been redecorating the rest of the place around it after I realized the entire place was beige.  I painted the fireplace wall white and I am in the process of painting the other walls a minty green.

Monday:  Ran 3 miles on the basement treadmill somehow I got Gretchen to let me run long enough for 3 miles since she doesn't nap anymore.  I have to give her a turn first though, luckily that doesn't last very long.

Tuesday:  Ran 5 miles on gym treadmill in morning after Resistance Training Class then 3 miles at night before Suspension class

Wednesday:  Went to the gym just to run, planned it around Totsersize which Gretchen loves.  I ran 5 miles on the treadmill, super boring, I wanted off the treadmill as soon as I got on but was able to run 5 before I said to forget it.

Thursday:  Ran 5 miles on the treadmill after Resistance Training Class.  Did a little speed work after the first 2 miles following the 30sec, 20sec, 10sec X 5.  Done 3 times with 2 minute slow run break in between each.  

It is Friday morning now and I still have 17 miles in the next 2 days and all signs point to treadmill.  It's not looking good.    

Dinosaur Princess 3rd Birthday Party and Fitting in the Miles

Gretchen turned 3 and for her party we went with a dinosaur princess theme.  I picked it because she loves the show Dinosaur Train, I'm sure you've seen it, and loves princess stuff.  I didn't do a ton with the theme other than talk about it because she is 3 and don't care.  I did find a bunch of cheap plastic dinosaurs at a store I never shop at because I couldn't find them anywhere else at my price $1.00.  then cut off the tops of their bodies so they could be used as a flower pot and spray painted pretty colors.  If you are on pintrest I'm sure you have seen this done in some sort of way.

I also made crowns cutting a crown shape out of stiffened felt, sewed an elastic strip to the back and hot glued a few gems on the points.  

I think the party was a success, Gretchen loved it so what else matters.

In other news I poured a cup of coffee on my laptop earlier this week because well I don't know how it happened it just happened early one morning sitting on the couch sandwiched between Gretchen and Gwen.  Anyhow the laptop is currently propped over a dehumidifier hoping for the best.  I am using my old computer in the meantime which seems to be working better than I remember it working.  I have to leave it plugged in constantly because it refuses to recognize a battery, it runs slow and shuts off on its own occasionally.  

Running:

Thursday: 4 on treadmill

Friday:  0

Saturday:  8

This gave me 31.5 for the week, same distance as the week before, so ok.

Sunday:  6 miles on flat trail

Monday:  0

Tuesday:  4.5 miles on gym treadmill in the morning and 2.5 miles on gym treadmill in evening before suspension training class

Wednesday:  nothing, never left the house

Thursday:  4 miles on a treadmill at the gym after AOA resistance training class had a short amount of unexpected free time later so I fit in another 3 miles outside

Friday:  6 miles on trail outside work, went super well, negative splits, last 3 miles, 8:01, 7:48, 7:38 hilly and felt great

Saturday:  8.5 outside super windy but nice temp out

Hit 34.5, 3 miles over last week so perfect and still with 2 days off.

Sunday: party day so no running

Planning on hitting 38 and unfortunately this will probably include lots of treadmill time.

Weekly Runs

Thursday:  Weather was still gloomy out and I wasn't feeling like going outside so I did 4.5 miles on the treadmill at the gym.

Friday:  Worked a shift at the Y in the morning so after I was done I had time for 9.25 miles around town.

Saturday:  9.25 miles around the YMCA

All this brought my weekly mileage to 31.5 which is on target, next week goal 34-35 miles.

Sunday:  7 miles out on BB HWY before Chiefs game and family Birthday party for my Aunt Nancy.

Monday:  Had the time so even though proper training might dictate a rest day I went out for 8 fairly flat miles.

Tuesday:  Rest day.  Just one mile on the treadmill since I got to the gym to early before my TRX class.    I had a big class tonight so went by super fast and fun.

Wednesday:  Went out with a running group in the area.  I think it is the forth week I've gotten to go and I like it because I always seem to run faster in a group with no extra effort and I get to run in the dark and not be worried about whether it's a good idea or not.

Completely on target for the 34 miles I'd like to complete for the week.

Picture of Gretchen painting her arms this past week because how is that not a great idea and I didn't have any pictures actually relating to this post.