Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Weekly Workouts #10

Monday, 11/4: 3 mile run
                       
Tuesday, 11/5: 4 mile run
                        arms and abs

Wednesday, 11/6: 5 mile run

Thursday, 11/7: rest

Friday, 11/8: 4 mile run
                     chest and back

Saturday, 11/9: 6 mile run

Sunday, 11/20: Your Best Butt 
                         abs

Since I have stopped half training I'm not quite as worried about having sore legs which means I need to add more squats, lunges, etc. into my routine.  As you can see, I am still running on a regular basis but if I'm too sore and need to skip a run one day or cut it short, it's not too big of a deal.  So that's my goal for this week....add in more legs and booty work!

~Jessica

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Weekly Workouts #9

The week has gotten away from me and now this is really late.  Sorry about that!

Monday, 10/28: arms and abs

Tuesday, 10/29: 1.5 mile run
                           20 minutes elliptical
                           chest and back

Wednesday, 10/30: 5.5 mile run

Thursday, 10/31: 3 mile run

Friday, 11/1: rest

Saturday, 11/2: 8 mile run
                         arms and abs

Sunday, 11/3: group Insanity workout

I have been having some symptoms of peroneal tendonitis on my longer runs so I pulled back on my long run this week.  I should have done a 10 miler but stopped at 8.  I have felt good since.  I have decided that since I am not registered for a half and there aren't any coming up locally, I'm going to put half training on hold.  I will still be doing a longer run on the weekend but I am not sticking to a specific schedule.  I am thinking 5 - 8 miles depending on how much time I have and how I feel.  I still have every intention of running a half in the spring or summer.

Have a great week!

~Jessica

Friday, November 1, 2013

Halloween 5k Fun Run Recap

Last Saturday a group of us got together to run our local Halloween 5k fun run.  We put a team together and since it was a mish mosh of people, we called ourselves the Mismatch Runners.  It made sense given the group and we thought it would make for some easy costume ideas.  I knew I didn't want to run in a full costume but could definitely put on some sort of mismatch gear and call it good.

Saturday morning we all met up and got ready for the race.  It wasn't a large race but for a smaller town, almost 1,200 participants was a pretty large group. 

I am always nervous on race day no matter what.  I think about all the what if's.  What if I have to go to the bathroom during.  What if I don't do as good as I want.  What if I don't finish.  Once the race starts and I get in a groove, I forget about the what if's.

I went into this race thinking about my PR and wondering if I could beat it.  I knew I could get close but didn't want to get disappointed if I didn't.  My son was running with our group so I decided not to put too much pressure on myself and to have a good time.

They counted down and soon enough we were off.  I felt good.  About 1/4 mile in I looked at my watch and saw that I was on pace for an 8:15 mile.  That's good for me considering all of the dodging of people you have to do in the beginning of a race.  I knew that I needed to speed it up if I had any chance of setting a new PR.

I only looked at my watch here and there to see where I was at but I decided to go by how I felt.  There were a decent amount of hills in this race and I am definitely not used to hills.  Training on hills is on my must do list.  They kicked my butt.  I powered through though.  The downhills towards the end saved me.

I saw the clock as I crossed the finish line and knew I was in the 24's (my previous PR was 24:51).  I was beyond excited when I saw my official time and it was 24:09!!!  A new PR!

I mentioned that my son ran this with me.  He is 11 years old and does not run on a regular basis.  He is very involved in athletics so that helps him but I am pretty darn proud of him for running and loving it!  This is his 4th 5k and his best!  Actually, proud doesn't even begin to describe how I feel.  I love this kid with everything I have!



~Jessica

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Weekly Workouts #8

Happy Tuesday!  This wasn't my best training week but I think that was because of my race.  I signed up as part of a team for a Halloween 5k.  I will put up a separate post with all the details.  Anyway, I had a 10 mile run on the schedule for Saturday. My son had hockey practice that afternoon so I thought I would run 7 miles on the treadmill while I was waiting for him.  After 3 miles my stomach wasn't feeling so great so I got off and used the restroom.  I felt a little better so I got back on thinking I could finish.  After about 1/2 a mile I got chilled and my stomach was churning so I decided it was time to quit.  I was so disappointed at first but then realized that I probably just overdid it.  My body was telling me enough!  Once we were home I jumped in the shower and laid down for a while.  My stomach cramped up on and off the rest of the day which resulted in us staying home from a costume party but I felt fine on Sunday.  Lesson learned! My plan is to just redo last week's training since I don't have a race that I have to be ready for on a specific date.  I need to stop being so hard on myself and realize that I am going to have good weeks and bad weeks.  And just because one run didn't happen, it doesn't mean my training is derailed.

Speaking of not having a race, I'm not sure that I ever mentioned it here.  I was unable to find a half marathon to run.  Race season has basically ended here.  I decided to continue the training and just run it on my own to prove to myself that I could do it.  I will train for a real race in the spring when one comes us.


Monday, 10/21: rest

Tuesday, 10/22: 3 mile run
                          arms and abs

Wednesday, 10/23: 5 mile run

Thursday, 10/24: 3 mile run
                           arms, chest and abs

Friday, 10/25: rest

Saturday, 10/26: 5k race (PR!)
                           3.5 additional miles

Sunday, 10/27: rest

~Jessica

Monday, October 21, 2013

Weekly Workouts #7

Another week has gone by and I'm feeling great on my training runs for the most part.  I got a new pair of shoes recently and tested them out on the treadmill for a couple of training runs last week.  They felt good but by the end of the week I was starting to feel some symptoms that I first felt when I ended up with peroneal tendonitis.  I put the shoes back in the box and will be returning them.  I'm so glad running stores give you that trial period to decide. I will be going back to my trusty Mizuno's.  If it's not broke don't fix it! 


Monday, 10/14: 3.5 mile run
                          12 minute abs and arms

Tuesday, 10/15: 3 mile run
                          abs

Wednesday, 10/16: 5.5 mile run

Thursday, 10/17: 3 mile run
                            arms

Friday, 10/18: rest

Saturday, 10/19: 9 mile run

Sunday, 10/20: slim down workout
                         plank your way to better abs workout

Have a great week!

~Jessica

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Weekly Workouts #6

Week 6 of half training was a lower mileage week.  Instead of a long run on the weekend, I was to do a 5k race.  There happened to be a local race on Saturday that I planned to sign up for but my son's football team made it to the playoffs and ended up having a game Saturday morning.  I wouldn't miss a game to run a 5k so I decided that I would run my own race and that is exactly what I did.

I do have a long run on the schedule for this weekend and to be honest, I am looking forward to a longer run again.  The weather is turning chilly here though which I don't look forward too.  This week shouldn't be too bad though.

Here is how last week went down....

Monday, 10/7: 3 mile run
                       
Tuesday, 10/8: rest

Wednesday, 10/9: 4 mile run
                             arms and chest

Thursday, 10/10: 4.3 mile run
                            arms and 12 minute abs

Friday, 10/11: rest

Saturday, 10/12: 5k race against myself :)  (24:38)

Sunday, 10/13: rest

There was a little more resting than I care to have but sometimes my schedule gets packed and it just works out that way. 

Have a great week!

~Jessica


                            

Monday, October 7, 2013

Weekly Workouts #5

Week 5 of half training was a good one.  I am always nervous going into my long runs even though I have felt great after every one of them.  It just helps me prove to myself that I can do this!

Monday, 9/30: 20 minute bike ride = 6.25 miles

Tuesday, 10/1: 3 mile run
                        100- 20 lb. kettle bell swings (I felt this for days!)

Wednesday, 10/2: 4 mile run
                             abs and legs

Thursday, 10/3: 3 mile run
                          chest and arms

Friday, 10/4: rest

Saturday, 10/5: 8 mile run - I felt so great! It was a bit of a chilly start but I warmed up fast.  I chose a completely different route this time and it flew by.  My average pace (8:26) was quite a bit faster than my previous long runs.
                          40 minute treadmill walk w/ a friend - I believe it was about 2.7 miles
                          arms

Sunday, 10/6: rest

My training plan calls for a 5k race this next weekend in place of a long run.  There is one here locally that I was all ready to register for but my son's football playoff schedule came out and it's not going to work out.  Looks like I will just hold a race of my own! :)

I did register for a Halloween fun run and have a 10k on my radar that would fit in perfectly with my training schedule.  I just need to work out the logistics.  I have not had any lucky finding a half marathon.  Race season is coming to an end here.  There is a half in 2 weeks (the same place as the 10k would be) but I'm not sure I want to push it and participate in that one.  Otherwise I am looking at spring. Not sure what to do.  Do I just finish my training and run a half on my own to prove to myself I can do it and train for one again in the spring?  I know I should have planned this out better but I decided to do this on a whim.