Shifting the focus a bit

Still here!
Still alive. Running. Livin' life.

There's not been much to post in the way of running. I've been running 3 times a week since the week after my marathon. Runs have been great and I've had no issue getting back into it.

I actually ran my fastest run today since, well, I don't even know when! At least March I'm thinking. 4.1 miles, avg pace of 8:47!! The last .1 was an 8:00 avg and that was partly uphill. Felt HARD the whole time but it also felt great to put it into a higher gear. Haven't done that in a coon's age.
I really have nothing I'm training for right now so I'm just running to run. No pressure on my runs right now is great for my mind.

After I had my 'baby' in May (aka marathon), I've realized I need to shift the focus of my life back to my family. They've always been my #1 top priority but I'm ready to make my actions reflect that. No more 'sorry mommy cant play with you, I just ran 16 miles and I am BEAT.'  =)

I've got a lot of fun things planned for my kiddos and I this summer so hopefully I'll make a bit of time to pop on and tell you about those things as well.

As far as running goes, I have a 5K in mind in June that benefits my friend and her husband. They run a camp a few hours away from here for foster children in the summer. Looking forward to that. I may do the Siena/Francis House 10K again this year (I've done it  the last 2 years) and then of course my Ted E Bear Hollow 5K in August (my first 5K ever). After that I only have a few things in the back of my mind: a few 5Ks, possibly the Omaha 1/2 marathon and I MIGHT try to run a trail race at some point this year. 

I'm also toying with a Duathlon next month. Though I'm TERRIFIED of falling off my bike and having 50 other people pile on top of me. Of course I can probably avoid that by riding behind everyone. My Raleigh and I aren't speedy by any means, so if I start back there and fall, there will be no on behind me to leave tire tracks across my face =)

Here are some pics from the last 2 weeks or so...

 

Sir Raleigh and I out for a morning ride

 

Part of the gorgeous trail we traveled down...

Some of what I've been eating lately:

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous sky captured by Photographer-Girl last week

 

Rode my first horse last week. I officially want one. I don't think  my neighbor's will mind, do you? Its just like a REALLY big dog.

 

We also visited a 'western' store here for the first time where we found some VERY expensive cowboy and cow girls hats. Cute! But they didn't come home with us. (the hats that is. Some how those kids snuck in my van again)

Have you ever ridden a horse?

What and when is your next race?

Peak Week is Weak Week...plus some unexpected cross training!

I have been looking forward to this week since I first signed up for this marathon. I LOVE to run, so being able to run THIS much in a week was going to be a dream come true.
BUT.
Given the circumstance w/ my cheeky foot bones, I really don't know what I will be able to do this week, but, here's what I'd LIKE to do!

MONDAY: 5 mi run, push ups
TUESDAY: elliptical, weights, planks
WEDNESDAY: 10 mi run
THURSDAY: 5 mi run, push ups
FRIDAY: elliptical, weights, planks
SATURDAY: 21 miles (!!!!)

Lord willing, I can make MOST of that happen =)

So, today, I took my chickies to Skatedaze as a late birthday present for Photographer-Girl (my 2nd daughter who turned 11 in February).

*in front of SkateDaze*

Matching yellow shirts=momma being able to see/count them easily among 897 other kids in the roller rink!

*I look terrified here, but I WAS really having a good time.*

Momma got her skate on, too. Oh yes I did. I was quite the rink rat back in my day. Back then, my crew and I tore it UP on our quad skates (roller blades scare me).

Many more pictures of this venture will be on my other blog by tomorrow HERE

What workout are you looking forward to the most this week?

NOT RUNNING MAKES ME CRANKY!!

This gal 'bout sums up how I feel about havin to take a running break....

>Thanks Google images for the picture<

I am taking a full 7 day off running. I think I came VERY close to injury last week in my post-race stupidity.
After running the 10K race on Sunday I proceeded to do a HARD elliptical and 'mill workout the following day and a lower body weights workout (should have rested on this day TOTALLY).
THEN I ran 6 miles IN NEW SHOES on Tuesday (should have done a VERY light elliptical workout this day)....My legs felt VERY sore this whole day....
SHOULD HAVE rested for a couple days AFTER this but I still cross trained on Wed and Thursday and did a EASY 4.5 mi run on Friday, as shown below on my Garmin data....isnt that a purty run? Looks like some type of tractor or somethin 'farmish'....

Anyway, my knees starting REALLY bothering me after that run and I KNEW that I was THIS CLOSE to injury....my plan to was to take a FULL rest day Saturday, stay off my feet as much as possible, then do my long run on Sunday as normal but in my old shoes...BUT I thought better of it and took Saturday AND Sunday off. Total rest days. I had forgotten how grumpy they make me. I need to get a good sweat on to rid myself on the crank monster.
ANYWAY, I did a very easy 35min elliptical workout on Monday morning (wanted to do an hour but thought that might be too much). Knees were still hurting afterwards. THIS morning I did 35min again but went harder and my knees actually feel almost normal! I am going to wait til Friday to run and then I am only going to do 2-3 VERY easy miles on the treadmill.(Boo.)


Last Thursday was my youngest daughters birthday. She turned 6! WHERE has the time gone??
Anyway, we made homemade brownies (which called for 2 CUPS of sugar-good grief!!) and our famous hot fudge sundae crockpot cake. Which I ate WAY to much of. I made 2 batches and I ate almost a WHOLE batch myself in a day! Woah.



However, I DID negate some of the damage by having THIS for snack that same day, that's GOTTA count for something, right??

The girls looking thru the fireworks before lighting. At which time they all proceeded to cover their ears and sustain that position for the next 30minutes.

Ok, thats not ENTIRELY true, my older 2 are getting a bit better about airing their ears out for small stretches of time during the pyro-palooza.

They went to their first 4th of July parade this year (actually first of ANY type of parade) and they LOVED it. These little cars were a favorite. They called them 'Mario and Luigi'. Can you guess which Wii games are a favorite right now? =)

WORKOUTS

July 1: 4.5mi run 49:18 (10:58) Splits 1(11:18) 2(11:02) 3(10:48) 4(10:51) .5(10:37 pace)....sit ups, plank (70,65,60), 100 push up challenge week 6 day 3

July 4: elliptical 7.7mi 35 minutes

July 5: elliptical 7.9 mi 35 minutes.....sit ups, planks (75,70,65), 100 push up challenge week 6 day 1

Crawling back into the bloggy world!!

Still alive and kickin' people!
Sorry to have abandoned this lovely blog for a spell, but life got busy (have I said that before? I think I've said that before)...

Anyway, lots of workouts in the last month but I'll just give you the running low down (and race report!) as I know that's the whole reason you come here. =)

April 5: 4mi 42:06
April 7: 4mi 43:19 (mill run)
Apr 9: 9mi 1hr 35min 04sec this run was tough tough tough!! Never got into a groove and the last 1/2 mile was ALL mental. One of those runs where you are SO thankful its over.
Apr 13: 3.75mi 36:28...1.25mi on the mill 11:50
Apr 15: 5mi 52:35 (mill run)
Apr 17: 10mi 1hr 41min 39sec 10min average pace! This run was WAAAY better than my long run on Apr 9, felt like I could go on forever!
Apr 19: 4.5mi 46:30 (mill run)
Apr 21: 4.75mi 45: 35
Apr 24: 11.5mi 1hr 51min (9:39 pace)...LONGEST RUN EVER! I was very pleased with my overall pace and had pretty negative splits. TOTALLY ran out of gas between miles 9-10 and my pace showed it. Somehow got my pep back at mile 10 and the last 1.5 miles were great!
Apr 26: 3.75mi 34:00 (9:04 pace)...fastest avg pace on a run over 3mi!!!!
Apr 28: 3.1mi 32:56...just giving the legs a nice easy run before my first 5K race of the year!
Apr 30: 5K race....will post in more detail below w/ the pictures, was .1mi short, time according to my garmin: 25:06, according to their finishline clock, 25:36

May 3: 3.2mi 32:50.....3mi 31:14...this was a run to AND from a meeting. First time I have ever done that. It was quite enjoyable!
May 6: 4mi 37:52...last tempo run before my first 1/2 marathon!
May 8: 9mi 1hr 29min 38sec (9:57 pace)...last long run before the 1/2! Splits 1(10:49) 2(10:26) 3(10:01) 4(9:46) 5(10:09-HORRIBLE side stitch) 6(10:06-side stitch has been evicted) 7(9:48) 8(9:25) 9(9:05)...pretty proud of how it ended! Got shin splints the first 1.5miles though...
May 10: 4mi 40:18...nice easy run. Got shin splints the first 1.5 mi AGAIN! This has me concerned about my shoes...they only have about 200miles on them.
May 12: 2.5mi 25:30 (mill run)...no shin splits! YAY! Also ran with a new music player my hubby got me...a sansa disk something or other. Its super petite so I kina sorta idolize it. =)

***First 1/2 marathon is coming up on Sunday! However I think I may be getting sick. Froggy throat, a little coughy etc. I am PRAYING its just some type of allergy thing (which I usually dont get), and am taking loads of C, zinc, ACV, etc...***


I have been counting calories alot lately to try to lose some extra baby flub on my tum tum. It's working!! I am down a few pounds and can fit into some of my jeans that were shoved in the back of the closet incase I ever got the stomach flu again, or was blessed with a tummy fat eating bug...

Incase you were wondering, here's what an ounce of potato chips looks like (on a plate next to a CD for a better size comparison) This is 150calories...

The sandwich that dooms me-the BLT. Seriously, you could slap bacon on anything but candy I would CHOW. IT. DOWN

My new favorite lunch. Life Balance tortilla shell (120), mustard (0), buddig ham (30)-ok so its not healthy but it gives it a good flavor =) and some lettuce and tomato (about 20cal)...baby carrots (15), pretzels (70) = 255 cal. Low cal and its actually very filling! sometimes I will have a cup of yogurt w/ fresh fruit in it for an extra 130 calories.

My oldest and myself enjoying the FAB weather last weekend. Which abruptly ended today. Boo.

*drumroll please*.................................

First 5K of the season!!!! LifeGate 5K Run/Walk

I actually got to run this race with some wonderful friends of mine which made it THAT much more enjoyable. I finally have running friends!! HOORAY

Well, the morning started off pretty chilly. The pic of above is pre-race. It was overcast too. Bleh. But thankfully it cleared up during the race and the sun came out!

This was a women/girls only race-fairly small as they only accept 200 participants. This race is in its 2nd year. Very well organized and lots of prizes given at the end. No timing chip though, only a finishline clock.

So we got started and lined up according to what we were doing. 5K runners at the top of the line, run/walkers next, walkers after that and the 1mi walk/runners after that.

So. We get started and literally not more than .05mi into the race my hydration belt comes FLYING off and all the bits and bobbles I have on it go with it (it has NEVER done this before). So I stop to pick it up thinking 'I'll just hold it and run' and then I thought 'are you nuts lady? You cant run holding on to all THAT!'

So I stop off to the side and get all hooked back up again (which is why there is such a difference in my watch finish time and the finishline time)....

As I am getting hooked back up, I see everyone FLYING past me and I am thinking 'this can not be happening, this can NOT be happening!!' So I get all set and then go FLYING past most everyone to get back up to the head of the line. This was a big mistake as it pretty much DRAINED me. I looked down at my watch at the 1.5mi mark and it said my avg pace was 7:55!!! That is INSANE for me. So I knew I was in trouble.

the photographer caught me at that moment and I was a HOT. MESS. I didnt get my belt hooked up right so it was hiking my shirt up, along with my bib and had settled right under my rib cage making me look like SUCH a tool. HERE it is if you want to see it. (I seceretly hope that link doesnt work)

Oh and what else totally stunk was the last .2miles or so was ALL up hill, like a GOOD sized hill. Wow. Totally kicked my tushy.

Splits were OBVIOUSLY very positive, and not in a good way =)

Mile 1(7:33-what the??) Mile 2(8:58-dying a slow death) Mile 3(8:38-SO glad its over)

Everytime I run a 5K race I think 'What on EARTH am I doing here?? This is the WORST experience EVER!!!!' and then when its over and that pukey feeling passes I think 'WOOHOO, whens the next one???' =)

**When you give your camera to a random guy and ask him to take pictures 'of us', you should specify that you want the WHOLE group....

HERE is a link to me after the race was done, trying SO hard not to puke


The hard work is paying off! Just this week I was able to fit into these size 0 Aeropostale capri's that I havent worn since having baby #5 (nursing a baby was an AWESOME calorie burner).

The dime-store-water-pistols that I am trying to trade in for some BIG guns! That's the most intimidating face I got. I'm workin' on it!!

Mar 25-Apr 4 workouts and randomness

Hello dear internets! We Nebraskans have been enjoying the brief stints of Spring-like weather we have been having! We made a trip to the zoo on Sunday-our first trip of the year *Jaidyn on my lap, Skylar to my left and Savannah next to her, Ariel was taking the picture. We still think our zoo is the best EVER! This has become a new favorite breakfast of mine. Steamed broccoli flowerets over brown rice and topped with shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Really. How can you go wrong when its topped w/ shredded cheese?? This tasty little bread has become a constant in our house lately since it seems like our bananas have been in a race lately to see who can go brown the fastest.

And a couple pictures of my snacks lately. I've been having fun with plate arranging, but I'm not for hire, so don't ask.

*this was fresh strawberries, bananas and grapes topped w/ vanilla yogurt. Oh how happy my mouth was.

One of my favorite meals. Mom's homemade chicken soup w/ green onions and homemade dumplings. Triple yum.

Now for some workouts!

Mar 25: elliptical 45:00 9.1 miles ....tried to keep the HR in the 130s-140s

LOWER BODY WEIGHTS

Mar 26: sit ups, push ups

Mar 27: 8 mile OUTDOOR RUN 1hr 23min 45 sec (10:28 avg pace) ....37* w/c of 25*....This run started out cloudy and the sun came out while I was running. Lovely. My splits were: mile 1(10:52), 2(10:30), 3(10:38), 4(10:09), 5(10:40), 6(10:34), 7(9:56), 8(10:23)...I was trying to keep my pace nice and easy. Don know what happened in mile 7 =) I also almost fell during this run. There was a HUGE lip on the sidewalk that I didnt see and the toe of my shoe caught it and I thought of sure I would go SPRAWLING but I did the funky propeller arms move and managed to not hit the ground. WHEW!

Mar 28: elliptical 50:00 10.5miles...0-20min level 1, 20-40 level 2, 40-50 level 3

mill walk 11:45 .75 miles4% incline

LOWER BODY WEIGHTS

SIT UPS, PUSH UPS, PLANKS

Mar 29: MILL RUN 4mi, 43:35

UPPER BODY WEIGHTS

Mar 30: Mill walk 50:30, 3mi, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8% inclines (10min at each)

LOWER BODY WEIGHTS (using 8# weights for all of it now!)

SIT UPS (+4 sets), PUSH UPS, PLANKS

Mar 31: elliptical 20:00 4.4mi (15min was at tempo pace, did this in the morning and my run in the evening

4mi OUTDOOR RUN 40:22 (10:06 ave pace) splits were 1(10:28), 2(10:25), 3(10:55), 4(8:33)

UPPER BODY WEIGHTS

Apr 1: elliptical 40:00, 9mi (Tempo pace)

Apr 2: elliptical 30:00 1.7mi 4, 5, 6% inclines (suppose to be a cardio rest day but I had to do a little something) =)

SIT UPS, PUSH UPS, PLANKS * I did TWO man push ups today!!!! I couldnt even squeak out ONE before I started the push up challenge!!!

Apr 3: 10K virtual race 59:08 (9:32 avg pace)...Holy mother of tough, this was HARD!!! I didnt realize how hilly of a route I mapped out til I ran it! My splits were: 1(10:15), 2(10:06), 3(9:50), 4(9:33), 5(9:18), 6(8:34) and the last .2mi I ran in 1:29 which is an avg pace of 7:28!! I had a 10K on my training plan for today so I decided to 'race it' and see what I could do. I am anxious to see what I could do on a flat course. This was really really tough, but I felt SO good to get it done in under an hour!!

Apr 4: mill walk 50:00, 3.1mi, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8% inclines, HR between 130-160

PUSH UPS, SIT UPS, PLANKS (did 3 reps for 30, 35 and 40 sec each!!)

For laughs, here is my little guy from the other day. Mommy forget to ask 'Does anyone know where Josh is?'....

He's lucky he's so cute.

Jan 29 and 30th workouts

Welp, it looks like we are getting more snow in the next few days. But I am hopeful it wont be as much as last weekend.

This is hubby shoveling our backyard to make a path to the shed last weekend. A small dog would get lost in that stuff.
He brought in some icycles for the girls to play with. No worries, they were NOT allowed to suck on them and had to wash their hands good after they were done. I am such a boring mom. I don't let them eat raw cookie dough, or lick the brownie batter bowl either. I have to make it up for it by doing cool stuff like building forts and painting 80 fingers and toes. Good mom points, right there.

Our driveway last weekend. I shoveled only HALF and it took me a little over an hour. Thank the LORD for good neighbors who them plowed the rest.

Random picture. This was from my 5yr old. It was actually a school worksheet. We were studying about Japan last year and they were suppose to color in the flag and write a sentence or two about the flag below. She asked if she could draw a doll on it instead and since she really only 'sits in' for this portion of school, I told her she could do whatever she wanted with it.

This is what I got. Not sure if its a picture of a Mommy as a 'funn doll' or Jaidy as a 'funn doll'. Cute, nonetheless.

Made cookies for the neighbors today. The peeps on the left plowed for us last weekend and the peeps on the right always give me extra coupon inserts every Sunday. I 'accidently' made too many, so I had to eat these ones.

Ok, workouts:

Jan 29 outdoor run 4.32 miles 45:32....10:32 pace. 30* no wind. Gear: headband, neck gaiter, CC LS shirt, TK SS shirt, TK LL shirt, CC tights, FILA tights, shorts, tunes, hydration belt *just so ya'll know, I put all this clothes info here for my benefit, it helps to go back and see what I wore in what kind of temps for future runs. I am not posting it to show my (lack of) running fashion*

This run almost didnt happen. I was hyper happy on Friday when the temps soared to a balmy 40 something degrees thinking that it would melt more snow and ice and my run on Saturday would be that much more obstacle free.

HOWEVER.

I forgot one very important point. That the temps would dip low enough Friday night to FREEZE all that snow and ice that melted the day before. Grrr.

I got out the door at 7am. It was still pretty dark though it was JUST starting to get light out.

I noticed what looked like diamonds all over my driveway which, ya know, would normally be an exciting and 'magical' experience. But I knew what that meant. Ice.

I decided to try it anyway thinking maybe my driveway (and street....and sidewalk...) were the exceptions. I think I would have fared better if I had thrown ice skates on instead of running shoes. But I'm not an ice skater. Quads all the way for me baby. I was a rink rat to the EXTREME, showing off my FLY moves and bustin' it all out in the 'dark' skate with my super slick glow in the dark rose.

Dont pretend you didnt love the skating rink. Throwin' down some serious backward skating to Bel Biv Devoe was the bomb.com. THEM was the days, baby....

*ahem* Anyway...

I walked down the street (a hill) and, wow. It usually takes me 5 minutes to walk down the hill and it took me over TWICE that long as it was so slick. I alternated between the sidewalks and the street, which ever place looked less 'magical'.

I got to the end, started the Garmin and started to run on a level side street. The sidewalk wasnt so bad but I had to stop every 10-15' to walk/crawl/slither over large ice patches. It took me FOUR minutes to run .25 miles. I stopped the garmin and reset it thinking I could find SOME stretch of sidewalk around there that would be clear enough for me to do some 'back and forths' on.

I did, plus a hill next to it. So I did that a few times and then decided to get brave and venture further into the neighborhood and by this time the sun had come up and made the world 'normal' again. The sparkles were gone and the sidewalks and roads became much less slippery. I still had to deal with large ice patches from the melted, and then frozen, snow. But at least they were easy to see and slightly spread out versus the slickery everywhere surface of 20 minutes ago.

I wanted to do 7 miles but was pretty fed up by about 4 miles-ish so I called it a day.

Glad to have gotten the run in but boy, I cant WAIT for Spring.

Jan 30 elliptical 25:00 5.25 miles....2/1 intervals.

Warmed up for 10 minutes and then commenced intervals. Two minutes of 'cant hardly breathe I am going so hard' to one minute of ' huffing and puffing trying to get my breathe'. I actually love those workouts.

Hoping to get a 'mill run into tomorrow. Considering actually BUYING one of these bad boys but dont want to spend more than $200-$250 (so, used, obviously)...has anyone bought a 'mill off Craigslist?

Also, what is your favorite running 'workout' (tempo, long run, intervals etc...)?

*dont forget to follow my other blogs at www.passionatemotherhood.blogspot.com and www.momof5learnsfrugal.blogspot.com and check out my new posts!