11/18

Life happened after work today and next thing I knew it was 10pm. So again this week I am switching days with friday. I will do my Jillian workout after work on Friday. Promise

At least I didn't sabotage myself today. In fact I took the girls on a long walk this afternoon and I just finished some ab exercises.

As for the rules - I had a good day minus not working out.

1- no crap

2- no alcohol

3- no eating after 9

4- rest day

5- no soda

6- 3 nalgenes

7- I am going to bed now :-D

 

I have found a bunch of articles - I haven't read them yet  - but I will and I will make posts and schedule them so that every once in a while you get something other than my boring repetitive rundown.

A good article

I get random emails from Runners World, and now active.com - I don't always pay attention to them, but today I did. I liked this one. Here is a link to it.

I am also including the article here so I can highlight things I like - Mainly for me to come back to and look at- but you might like them too dear reader.

How to Push Past Those Last Few Miles

By Jenny Hadfield
For Active.com

It's often said that the race is won or lost in the last few miles.

Although the natural instinct is to run faster early in the race for insurance, that strategy can leave you fatigued and unable to push when it counts.

A strong finish is the outcome of a wise start. Learn how to plot your strategy to push through the final few miles.

Run Patiently

Racing is all about energy management. If you expend too much energy early in the race, you're left with nothing for the finish. It's easy to hammer out fast miles from the start.

However it takes discipline to pace yourself from the start. Especially when there is entertainment at the start, fans cheering for you along the sidelines, and you're well rested and ready to rip!

Whether you're running your first 5K or your fifth marathon, the key to finishing strong is in controlling your effort level early in the race. Line up according to your realistic planned pace at the start area to avoid getting caught up with faster runners.

Cut the race in half and aim to run the second half slightly faster than the first half (negative split). Conserving your energy early on will leave you with enough gas to push through the most demanding part of the race--the end.

Run Mindfully

Think your way through the race by keeping your mind actively engaged every step of the way. Review the course ahead of time and break it into smaller, more digestible pieces. When you toe-the-line, you'll have a mental strategic plan for the race.

Perform a head-to-inventory as you pass every mile marker to stay in tune with how efficiently your body is moving. Focus on running with short, quick strides, especially in the later stages of the race when fatigue plays a factor. Doing so, will maintain efficient running economy and avoid wasting precious energy.

When you pace yourself wisely from the start, you end up with plenty of energy to go fishing in the last few miles of the race. And that's when racing really gets fun! Focus on a runner ahead and slowly reel them in.

Then catch another, and another...there is nothing more motivating than to have the stamina to pass runners (nicely) in the final few miles. It keeps your mind actively engaged in reaching for a specific short-term target and allows your body to push hard to get there.

Happy Trails...

I really like some of these ideas and I hope to use them in some upcoming races. I also hope I keep getting good articles so I can share with you.

11/17

First things first- Widdling my Middle by following this plan will not be happening. I could not do half of the exercises with the dang ball... I will keep practicing and see what happens. But for now. I need to come up with a different core workout.

Today I hurt- my muscles are very sore. The top of my left foot hurts when I flex up. It is very frustrating. I am icing it now.

I ate well for lunch - I just had soup and no snacking. We had pizza for dinner because it was free. Can't pass up free .

No alcohol

no eating after 9

I ran today - it sucked. My legs were tight the whole time. I ran over a mile at 12 min mile pace and had to stop and try to stretch it out. Then I finished the last .75 mile. I walked 5 mins and started my last mile. I slowed it to 12:45 mile pace because my legs hurt so much I finished as much as I could but in the end I only ran 2.5 miles of my 2.75. I was tired, hungry, grumpy, and sore. No reason to have a horrible run - but everything added up to a constant struggle.

5- no soda

6- 4 nalgenes

7- i am exhausted. I am showering and going to sleep. Matt said last night that because I am not getting enough sleep I am not giving my body time to recover from all the abuse. Probably true.

 

Goodnight.

11/16

You are officially on my Half marathon Journey. I signed up.

Today was a good day - I walked around downtown Alexandria with the babies - and had lunch in the park.

1- I ate out- but I had a burrito bowl with veggies and no sour cream. Basically a little rice, some beans and veggies and some cheese. Not my favorite, but it works. I packed a lunch- but  I packed soup and I couldn't heat up soup in the park. Subway was a 20 min walk 1 way to get there and another 20 mins back to the car - and the girls feeding time was in 30 mins. So I had to pick something closer - it was chipotle or Popeyes. I had breakfast for dinner.

2- no alcohol

3- no eating after 9

4- I did JM level 2. I hate the walking push ups - and I had to do some of the level 1 cardio because I was doing it at 10pm and I didn't want to jump too much with the neighbors below me. I don't know if that is a bedroom or an office.

5- no soda (well, honestly I did take a swing of matt's - this is a theme, but it seems to satisfy me when I want it)

6- 3 nalgenes today.

7- last night I slept like poopy, tonight I am still up and not showered.

I did nap today tho, for like an hour.

 

I am not doing weekly pictures, maybe every other or every 3 weeks. I was lazy last night and I didn't want to .

I also weighed in yesterday and only lost 1 lb. I am blaming Wendy's.

My knee is hurting again - I am icing it as we speak.

Tomorrow Aubrey and I are starting this Widdle My Middle 30-Day Challenge - I will share that tomorrow. I will not share measurements, but I will share changes in the measurements if there happen to be some.

I think I have a running partner tomorrow....Maybe. Matt said he would run with me tomorrow. :-D

 

I am really excited about the race now. I have pushed away all negative thoughts and nerves. The plane ride to FL I may freak out, but I have a while for that.

OH SH**

I DID IT! I signed up!!! YIKES

 

October 2 at 10pm I will be running around 3 Disney parks. I am a ball of feelings right now. I am excited, scared,nervous, but mostly excited.

 

The map of the route isn't up yet - but when it is I will post it until read the description:

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Course Description
Start at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex running down Victory Way and then west on Osceola Parkway toward Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park.  Make your way past the Tree of Life, Expedition Everest™, Dinosaur® and then race back to Osceola Parkway and head toward Disney's Hollywood Studios™.  You will enter the park in the shadow of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™, run down Sunset Boulevard through Pixar Place, past Toy Story Mania!, then through the Costuming Tunnel in the Backlot on your way to Lights Motor Action! for your big debut!  Race through the Streets of America, past Star Tours and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular on your way to Epcot®!  The course will wind through the idyllic village of Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts and lead you through the international gateway entrance to Epcot®, where you will pass United Kingdom and Canada before finishing on World Showcase!

 

If anyone wants to go to Orlando with me and run it please sign up and train with me. If you don't want to run, come cheer me on. Air Tran always has cheap flights to Orlando - especially from BWI. If you are reading this blog - and you notice that I am sucking at training - remind me of this moment and tell me to go and get my butt at the gym.

 

 

AHHHHHHH FLORIDA HERE I COME!!!!!

 

11/15

Wow today was so pretty outside - a nice 72 degree treat for the typically cold November weather in this area.  Wish I had run outside - but I don't have a route set out and by the time I got around to it , it was getting dark out and I don't want to run alone at night.

1- no crap :-D

2- no alcohol

3- no eating after 9

4- I upped my miles today, I did 1.75 miles at a 12:45 mile pace, walked 5 mins and did another mile. :-D

5- no soda

6- 3 nalgenes

7- Well, I got a ton of sleep last night, but tonight I fail. I stayed up til 1130 and decided to stay up til 12 to see if the race opened. It didn't. I will sign up tomorrow.

 

I am not going to lie - I am scared to sign up. I worry that I will pay the money and get hurt, or burn out, or not be able to get there in Oct. But I am still determined to do this. Even if I do it alone. I hope. Right? Sigh. I am having doubts.

 

11/14

Shew - I am not going to lie - I didn't get out of bed until almost noon.  I also was up until 2:30ish. We went out for a friend's birthday and the boys can't seem to understand why 4 shots in 1 hour or so would be a bad idea. I mean come on- we aren't in college anymore. :-D I got the better end of the deal though. Sorry Jill! I love you!

I didn't drink last night, which wasn't hard - but saying no to the yummy looking cheese fries at 11:30 pm was. I had 1 fry with no cheese on it. The biggest success of the night was saying no to the Krispe Kreme that sits right next to the metro. Typically when we go out in Dupont we pick up a box of donuts and eat them on the LOOONNNGGGG escalator ride down. This time only 1 donut was purchased (not for me) and I had my last 20 oz of water for the night. :-D Go me.

I got up this am- and farted around for an hour then forced myself to go to the gym. I had to be showered and out the door by 340 so I had to be finished my workout by 245.

Today I ran at a faster pace for my whole run.

The first 1.5 miles wasn't bad - but the 2nd mile I had to jump off for 30 seconds and catch my breath because I was dying and I still had 5 mins left. But I made it. Soaking with sweat and super tired I made it.

I also think I have talked 2 people into running the race with me in Oct. I hope so at least. Monday is sign up. EEK.

 

Rules-

1- I haven't eaten much today - but what I have has been healthy - I think Matt and I are going out tonight so hopefully I can keep it that way.

2-  no alcohol. duh.

3- no eating after 9... Seeing as it is 715 and I am babysitting until 830 and I still haven't had dinner I may be eating dinner a little after 9 but I will try to keep it decent and light.

4- I ran today. :-D

5- no soda

6- starting my 3rd nalgene now

7- I got like 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep last night and hope to do the same tonight. I know you shouldn't catch up on your sleep on the weekends, but that is what I do.

 

Tomorrow is a longer run...1.75 miles then 1 mile. I am going to back down to Thursday's pace for Sunday and Tuesday, then on thursday bump it back up to todays pace - I think, if I feel good then I will kick butt and go all out :-D