It's been a long time since I've been motivated to run more than six miles. I think my body needed the unstructured running, but my mind was starting to play tricks on me.With the craziness of teaching a new grade level and subject this year, I have been focusing so much energy on my new job and the boys, that I was starting to burn out (and it's only the first six weeks).
Finally, I decided that it was time to focus a little on myself. And the best way to do that, is to sign up for races and come up with a mileage spreadsheet. I'm going to use Hal Higdon's Novice 2 and sub out the cross training with one more running day. I believe I will top out with 45 mpw but most weeks are right around 40.
The race calendar is as follows:
Sunday, October 30: Stonebridge Racer's Halloween Hustle 15K (Mckinney, TX)
Thursday, November 24: Ft. Worth Thanksgiving Day 5000 1/2 marathon
Sunday, December 4: Dallas White Rock 1/2 marathon
Saturday, December 31: New Year's Eve Full marathon (Allen, TX)
Sunday, January 1: New Year's Day 5K (Allen TX)
Saturday, January 21: Wee Chi Tah Trail 1/2 marathon (It's a DUEL weekend!)
Sunday, January 22: Wee Chi Tah Trail 1/2 marathon (Wichita Falls, TX)
Sunday, February 26: Cowtown Full marathon
Saturday, March 24: Grasslands Trail 1/2 marathon
Sunday, April 15: Big D Full marathon (Dallas, TX)
Saturday, June 16: Grandma's Full marathon (Duluth, MN)
After this, I will have to see! Gets pretty damn hot down here and the training hits the treadmill...not a lot of races in TX, but maybe I can find a few not too far away.
Eventually I would like to bump the mileage up between 60 - 70 mpw, but I think I need a couple more marathons under my belt. I would also love to get in a day of swimming, but I'm not sure if I am ready to commit to the monthly gym membership. We will have to see what life brings after the hubby is done with grad school. That is sure to make a little more wiggle room :)
As far as clean(er) eating goes, I am trying to eliminate most sweets. I consume FAR too many on a daily basis and would like to eat mostly whole foods during the week and then have a cheat day on my long run day.
Before I took a week to rest two weeks ago, my legs were starting to always be really dead, and I think first off I was over trained, but also, I wasn't eating well. I have the mindset that coffee and candy is a healthy diet and can totally be satisfied on nothing healthy in a day!
I am getting back into more salads with lots of healthy fats from nuts along with the protein the nuts add, I am going to get in more yogurt, eggs, and meat.
Fruit and veggies also need to be amped up. It's not like I don't enjoy them, but I got into a bad sugar cycle of craving it all the time and then giving in...just repeating the vicious cycle.
Today was my first long run in a really long time. 12 miles. It went great! Wish I would have signed up for the Tyler Rose half next weekend now that I know I could have made it! I ran it's debut last year and the town was beautiful and the course was great. It was the first time I broke 2 hours on a 1/2. Just don't know if it's in the cards this year.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Entering A New Year
Happy New Year! Okay, so I realize it isn't the first of January, but doesn't the end of summer and the beginning of school feel like a new year? Maybe it's because I grew up in a house where my mom was a teacher and now my hubby and I are teachers as well, but it feels like a fresh start. So, since I haven't blogged since June, and that felt like the end of the year (finishing a marathon and my 4th year teaching), I feel like now is as good of time as any to get back in to it.
Lord knows that I have been busy keeping up with all of the MANY blogs I read on a daily basis, but for some reason I have been uninspired to write on my own. I've had many topics in my head - they especially come to me while I am running, which has only been on the treadmill since we returned to Texas in July. 1.)I've been busy rearranging the house. 2.) I've been stocking my closet with new purchases and creating all kinds of wonderful outfits based on others that I have been inspired by. 3.) Thinking about budgeting after our last grocery trip that cost us a whopping $250. 4.) I have been getting super organized in the family meal planning since I head back to school next week, hubby and I have inservice the following, and the kids come back the 22nd of August. 5.) Integrating as much technology as possible in my new science classroom even though I've never taught science.
Number three and four though, top my list of most frequent Google searches and I have GREAT intentions of getting into a good budget this fall. We are finished with daycare and for the summer, we have said "Woo hoo, that's an extra $650 a month we can blow"...and we have. Don't get me wrong, after 9 years of daycare, I feel as though we earned a little frivolous spending, but the summer is over and it's time to get that money put into a better planned budget.
I'm excited for a new school year as I am a creature of habit and routine. Excited for the craziness of two boys in school and the sports schedules that fill up our week night and weekend calendar. Excited to teach 8th grade science for the first time. Excited for the 4:30 a.m. runs with my hubby (well, not the 4:30 a.m., but the outside with hubby part) and excited for the weather to eventually cool down (below 90 will feel like fall) so that we can eat warm comforting fall meals!
Happy New Year!
Lord knows that I have been busy keeping up with all of the MANY blogs I read on a daily basis, but for some reason I have been uninspired to write on my own. I've had many topics in my head - they especially come to me while I am running, which has only been on the treadmill since we returned to Texas in July. 1.)I've been busy rearranging the house. 2.) I've been stocking my closet with new purchases and creating all kinds of wonderful outfits based on others that I have been inspired by. 3.) Thinking about budgeting after our last grocery trip that cost us a whopping $250. 4.) I have been getting super organized in the family meal planning since I head back to school next week, hubby and I have inservice the following, and the kids come back the 22nd of August. 5.) Integrating as much technology as possible in my new science classroom even though I've never taught science.
Number three and four though, top my list of most frequent Google searches and I have GREAT intentions of getting into a good budget this fall. We are finished with daycare and for the summer, we have said "Woo hoo, that's an extra $650 a month we can blow"...and we have. Don't get me wrong, after 9 years of daycare, I feel as though we earned a little frivolous spending, but the summer is over and it's time to get that money put into a better planned budget.
I'm excited for a new school year as I am a creature of habit and routine. Excited for the craziness of two boys in school and the sports schedules that fill up our week night and weekend calendar. Excited to teach 8th grade science for the first time. Excited for the 4:30 a.m. runs with my hubby (well, not the 4:30 a.m., but the outside with hubby part) and excited for the weather to eventually cool down (below 90 will feel like fall) so that we can eat warm comforting fall meals!
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Marathon #1 In the Books
Now that I have officially, somewhat, recovered from my beautiful long weekend/mini vacation in Duluth, MN, I think I am ready to write about my first marathon. Here are a few bullets that were going through my head the night after the race:
1.) 26.2 miles is a LONG ass way. Respect the distance.
2.) You have never tasted anything as good as a single Twizler until you have run 18 miles.
3.) Never, I repeat, NEVER run a marathon in shoes you should have replaced several weeks ago. You will feel it and your legs will be angry by the half way point.
4.) A little girl that hands out carnations at the end of the race may bring you to tears as she hands you yours and congratulates you. You may be several thousand away from first place, but she will make you feel like a winner.
5.) Last but not least, do not feel guilty about the glass of wine that cost more than you usually spend on a bottle. You deserve it. Because you are a marathoner.
We had an amazing vacation crammed into four days. I have a cousin, named Kirstin (yes it was planned) who moved to Duluth with her husband several years ago and they just had a baby. We hadn't seen them in five years, so it was wonderful to sit down to dinner at their house Friday evening.
Our cabins that we stayed at were fantastic. Don't get me wrong, they were not the Plaza hotel, but they were true rustic 1950s lake cabins. We had views of Lake Superior right across the road and it just doesn't get any better than that!
I had made a list of places to eat while we were there and NONE of them disappointed. We went to a little candy shop off of the scenic north shore drive that had hand made EVERYTHING! Taffy, chocolates, you name it...HEAVEN in our $9 white, paper sack.
We also ate at a couple of cute restaurants including, At Sara's Table, The Scenic Cafe, and Amazing Grace. All included local, organic, no artificial/processed anything ingredients. Check them all out. We will be going back - next year!
So, with a year to plan, I need to register for the 2012 Grandmas, find a place to stay (maybe somewhere new) and dream about the candy shop that I will be going back to! Oh, and shave off some time from my 4:22:34...maybe I will run a sub 4 by then!
1.) 26.2 miles is a LONG ass way. Respect the distance.
2.) You have never tasted anything as good as a single Twizler until you have run 18 miles.
3.) Never, I repeat, NEVER run a marathon in shoes you should have replaced several weeks ago. You will feel it and your legs will be angry by the half way point.
4.) A little girl that hands out carnations at the end of the race may bring you to tears as she hands you yours and congratulates you. You may be several thousand away from first place, but she will make you feel like a winner.
5.) Last but not least, do not feel guilty about the glass of wine that cost more than you usually spend on a bottle. You deserve it. Because you are a marathoner.
We had an amazing vacation crammed into four days. I have a cousin, named Kirstin (yes it was planned) who moved to Duluth with her husband several years ago and they just had a baby. We hadn't seen them in five years, so it was wonderful to sit down to dinner at their house Friday evening.
Our cabins that we stayed at were fantastic. Don't get me wrong, they were not the Plaza hotel, but they were true rustic 1950s lake cabins. We had views of Lake Superior right across the road and it just doesn't get any better than that!
I had made a list of places to eat while we were there and NONE of them disappointed. We went to a little candy shop off of the scenic north shore drive that had hand made EVERYTHING! Taffy, chocolates, you name it...HEAVEN in our $9 white, paper sack.
We also ate at a couple of cute restaurants including, At Sara's Table, The Scenic Cafe, and Amazing Grace. All included local, organic, no artificial/processed anything ingredients. Check them all out. We will be going back - next year!
So, with a year to plan, I need to register for the 2012 Grandmas, find a place to stay (maybe somewhere new) and dream about the candy shop that I will be going back to! Oh, and shave off some time from my 4:22:34...maybe I will run a sub 4 by then!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
4 Days - Still Dripping
How's that for a descriptive title? What? You didn't want to know that I wake up with mucus draining faster than I can run? Oh well, it is what it is and I'm going to make it much to the elite runners at Grandma's dismay. It may push me from a 2:30 to a 4:30 finish time ;-) Yes, I wish. I'd be happy with 5 hours at this point.
Yesterday I ran about 4 miles, walked for an hour, and when on two bike rides...I think I have tapering madness and that's probably not what you are supposed to do when you are tapering. Damn.
Today I plan on three miles and yes I will be walking for an hour. That doesn't hurt, does it?
I hadn't been on a bike for several years and I am happy to say that one, I didn't fall off, but two, I really enjoyed it. Even if I did get made fun of for wearing a helmet within 20 minutes. Well, F you! I think a triathlon is in my not so distant future. I am hoping to find a sprint tri to complete while we are here in MN. Maybe I can even get the hubby to do one. Well, a girl can dream.
More of nothing is on the plan for today...I LOVE summer!
Yesterday I ran about 4 miles, walked for an hour, and when on two bike rides...I think I have tapering madness and that's probably not what you are supposed to do when you are tapering. Damn.
Today I plan on three miles and yes I will be walking for an hour. That doesn't hurt, does it?
I hadn't been on a bike for several years and I am happy to say that one, I didn't fall off, but two, I really enjoyed it. Even if I did get made fun of for wearing a helmet within 20 minutes. Well, F you! I think a triathlon is in my not so distant future. I am hoping to find a sprint tri to complete while we are here in MN. Maybe I can even get the hubby to do one. Well, a girl can dream.
More of nothing is on the plan for today...I LOVE summer!
Monday, June 13, 2011
5 Days = Bad Cold
Five days out from my first marathon and now I have a nasty little cold. As if two rounds of strep were not enough, the illness fairy has blessed me with a cold that comes with a good amount of snot. Oh joy.
We are here in Minnesota and although it is rainy, you can't beat this weather. 60s for temps. LOVE it. We won't reach the 60s in Dallas until November - seriously.
I am going to head out for a 4 mile run, out to the golf course and back, one of my favorites as soon as I have finished this wonderful pot of coffee and reading all my running blogs.
Have I mentioned how wonderful it is being a teacher? Maybe I missed telling y'all that in the midst of my change from 6th grade reading teacher to 8th grade science teacher? Well, it's summer now and I can tell you, I love being a teacher.
We are here in Minnesota and although it is rainy, you can't beat this weather. 60s for temps. LOVE it. We won't reach the 60s in Dallas until November - seriously.
I am going to head out for a 4 mile run, out to the golf course and back, one of my favorites as soon as I have finished this wonderful pot of coffee and reading all my running blogs.
Have I mentioned how wonderful it is being a teacher? Maybe I missed telling y'all that in the midst of my change from 6th grade reading teacher to 8th grade science teacher? Well, it's summer now and I can tell you, I love being a teacher.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
7 Days
In seven days I will be losing my marathon virginity! I can't wait. Today I'm going out for my last "long" run of a whopping 8 miles. Crazy that during the peak of marathon training, that was a weekday run. Next week will be several short runs of 2-3 miles. I will probably be going crazy by Thursday, but my running buddy told me I should feel like a caged tiger when the race finally starts! I like that analogy.
I keep thinking ahead to what I will do after the marathon. For starters, active recovery. I plan to take a couple of days completely off, but then I would like to do some biking and swimming. I do need to get a pair of cycling shorts though because my a$$ can't handle a bike seat for more than about 10 minutes! You may find me with the old ladies at water aerobics as well! (that will be a sight!)
I keep thinking ahead to what I will do after the marathon. For starters, active recovery. I plan to take a couple of days completely off, but then I would like to do some biking and swimming. I do need to get a pair of cycling shorts though because my a$$ can't handle a bike seat for more than about 10 minutes! You may find me with the old ladies at water aerobics as well! (that will be a sight!)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
It's Taper Time
It's official. I have made it to the taper part of my marathon training. Today's run was 18 miles on the trails. The hard, technical, rooty, hilly part of the trails. I am completely exhausted, but euphoric about how close I am to Grandma's marathon. 3 weeks!
We are going out to eat tonight to celebrate. I wonder what item on the menu is the greasiest because I think that's what I'm having!! Followed by a couple glasses of champagne when I get home! Ha!
I have to go back and add up all my mileage for this training cycle and then go back and look at what I had for last year's training cycle. Oh, how exciting for all my facebook friends!
Of course being that I am sadistic, I am already thinking ahead to what the next challenge will be. I would love to do a triathlon, but I just can't justify the amount of money all the gear/training/entry fees are for those.
So, I am thinking Palo Duro in October would be a great time to break into the ultra world with a 50k. My trail/work buddy is already signed up, so if I can talk the hubby into a weekend in the panhandle, that may be the next big race! Of course I will squeeze in as many halves and maybe even another full before then.
Hm mm...I was just saying I wouldn't be doing this again for awhile. I truly have it out for my sanity and the sanity of all of my loved ones!
We are going out to eat tonight to celebrate. I wonder what item on the menu is the greasiest because I think that's what I'm having!! Followed by a couple glasses of champagne when I get home! Ha!
I have to go back and add up all my mileage for this training cycle and then go back and look at what I had for last year's training cycle. Oh, how exciting for all my facebook friends!
Of course being that I am sadistic, I am already thinking ahead to what the next challenge will be. I would love to do a triathlon, but I just can't justify the amount of money all the gear/training/entry fees are for those.
So, I am thinking Palo Duro in October would be a great time to break into the ultra world with a 50k. My trail/work buddy is already signed up, so if I can talk the hubby into a weekend in the panhandle, that may be the next big race! Of course I will squeeze in as many halves and maybe even another full before then.
Hm mm...I was just saying I wouldn't be doing this again for awhile. I truly have it out for my sanity and the sanity of all of my loved ones!
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