Blog Streak Day 3!

Saturday, June 30, 2012

I splurged yesterday at a baseball game. I let my DH go get the food and just ate what he brought back - I knew it'd be my splurge meal. But now I have to remain strong over the weekend.

I haven't gone on my LR yet... and now I'm waiting. I might just do it tomorrow after all... :P Cause it's just getting hotter and hotter, even though I'm already dressed and everything. Maybe I'll just do a shorter run today and a medium run tomorrow... ooh that sounds like a good idea. No LR, but I'm running a half next weekend. So it'd be kinda like a mini taper to do an 8mile LR instead of a 13 which was what I had planned.

It's just a lot easier to get my LR in if I leave before my DH wakes up. I thought I would manage that but he got up when I did and then started talking to me and wants to run an errand without putting Roscoe in his crate so now I'm gonna go do it with both of them together.....

Yeah. Anyway....

I weighed this morning, post ballpark splurge, and I'm lower than I thought I was. So that's a good headstart on my weight loss goal. I think I'll just readjust my goals. Now this means I can get to 170, which is really I think my ultimate goal, by 9/23! :D WOOHOO!!! OK let's DO THIS.

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Blog Streak Day 2!

Friday, June 29, 2012

Yes, trying to just start a blogging streak. If I blog everyday, it will keep me mindful of everything. This will be a great thing... because blogging is fun! And not stressful! :) So it's a no pressure way to get me on track sneaky style. hahaha.

So I ran 6 miles this morning, 4.66 on my own, 1.34 w/ the Roscoe (our loop is 1.34 so I know what to run on my own to get whatever total I want, and I always go out and back on my own so it's a piece of cake...).

Things are going pretty good in general. I start marathon training officially next week - WOOHOO!!!! :D I'm soooo stoked.

I also have a half marathon next week - not the usual start to marathon training, but it just happened to fall that way.

I will have another one in August that I will run as a training run of sorts, and then one in September which will be my official marathon pace tune up and half marathon PR attempt. Then NO RACING in October - and the Really Big Free Marathon Nov 3rd!!! :)

I'm so excited, because also in August my family is coming up to Vermont to visit us! :D And then in Nov, my sister is also running the marathon with me (her first). My DH and I are making this a nice vacation trip to Vegas - I've never been. We're staying at the NY NY and I'm so excited. My brother is supposedly also doing the marathon but I don't even think he's trained at all. I think we're gonna have to convince him to cancel or step down to the half...

And then all the BUN BUDDY BRIGADE are coming! Well not everyone, but a good portion of delegates, including bunnies I have not met before... so that is super exciting...

And my friend from RW that I paced in the local marathon will be there, too, so I will get a chance to see her again.

Also my goal half in September is in Montreal and we are going to have a fun weekend out of that. The hotel we're staying at is so cute and is pet friendly. We haven't decided for sure if we will take Roscoe or not... it always makes logistics for doing things a bit more tricky, but at least we'll have a room at a pet friendly place so we can leave him in his crate if we need to... but we might board him.

So I thought I was going to get a new mileage PR for this month, but I forgot that I logged that hike on daily mile... still, I'll be close, and I'm not even in my marathon training yet. So that monthly mileage PR will be falling soon! :)

I tracked all my food yesterday and came in almost 1800 calories. So over my SP fast losing ranges, but under my BMR, so I'm ok with that. I'm an active person. I think I just need to focus on eating well and coming somewhere in that realm of calories and make sure I keep doing strength training.

Edited to Add: I adjusted my calorie burn per week to 4000 since that's closer to what I'm actually doing, and changed my lose rate to 1.5lbs a week. that will get me to about 173 by the date of my goal half marathon in September so I think that's a good goal. Then if I can take off a little more by marathon date, all the better. With those two changes, my Sparks calorie range goal is now 1590-1940 - much more manageable for me.


I DID STRENGTH TRAINING YESTERDAY. CHECK. I need to do some again on Saturday to start a good groove going to continue next week.

We're going to a baseball game tonight. :)

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Long time no blog...

Thursday, June 28, 2012

So, when I blog regularly, I track regularly, I track - I succeed.

I need to keep blogging!!! When I stop blogging, that means I'm not really staying on my game.

But my running has been going great, at least! :D

I'm going to set a new monthly mileage PR this month, looks like - super excited about that.

I tracked my food so far today.

I need to do strength training today. REALLY REALLY REALLY.

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Trying to get accountable again!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

OK! SO! Here's the rundown...

Didn't track yesterday so I don't have that for you...

Ran 12 miles today - 8 on my own and 4 with Roscoe, for the 12athon challenge (12 miles the 12th of every month for 2012).

I got going so early I didn't weigh myself, but I did after... but that was also after a really long run so??? I did drink water after the run and before weighing. So I have no clue how accurate the weighin was... but it was 190.

I did some pushups and my abs workout today - thinking I'll do lower body tomorrow cause my legs are DEAD after racing Sunday and doing 12 miles today.

I've been tracking my food all day today, so I will be able to check in more on that tomorrow, as well.

I got a laptop! My DH's work was raffling refurbished laptops for donations of $100 to charity and we got one. It's kind of crappy, but it works. I can surf the internet from any room in the house now! :D hahha. the battery life is awful, but I don't need to be super mobile with it, so it's totally fine. I feel so fancy now. ;) haha. But the best thing is I can track food downstairs as I go without schlepping up and down the stairs... isn't that lazy? I can also do mindless computer things instead of munching when downstairs and bored, so that's kind of good, too... it's dumb, but I think it will help. Of course right now I'm writing from upstairs, but still.

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RACE REPORT: Lake Placid Half Marathon

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Long story short – 13 seconds higher than my PR on a difficult course and a warm day – ASTONISHED.

Long version:

So last month I ran what was a fairly hilly course in very nice weather conditions in 2:36 - I was aiming for an average pace around 11:52-12 and totally nailed it. I didn't think I had it in me to go faster, and definitely not a PR.



Today was Lake Placid Half - the elevation profile is just wicked. Rolling in the best parts, the start heads straight uphill, then after a loop around mirror lake, it's screaming downhill for a bit (unfortunately, that screaming downhill is part of the out and back we had to come back on... OUCH!)



I got about 4 hours of sleep last night, and yesterday was a very busy day for me. Trombone gigging all day, little time to hang or eat properly. Then I had a snafu printing directions for the race. About 45 min into our drive I check my wallet and realize my ID isn't in there - needed for pickup. UGH! We have no choice but to go and hope they are lenient. (I have all credit cards and even Social Security card but no photo ID - they were fine with it! PHWEW!) We also realize I didn't check to see if it was ok for Roscoe to go on the ferry on the way back, so there was some stress about that... (turns out it was fine).



So I was feeling kind of unprepared in general, but I did have some good few weeks recently... just wasn't feeling great this morning. It was already 65 by the start, and supposed to get warmer - not hot for me, coming from AL, but not my preferred racing temperatures and it did get warm in the sun by the end.



So anyway - we start out. I'm thinking - woah this hill is just the beginning? UGH!

I figure today is NOT going to be a banner day, but I just try to relax. The thing is, with all the uphills, there are downhills… I looove a good downhill run. So many people were seeming to be pretty conservative on the downhill so I was moving ahead quickly (surprisingly…).

Mile 1 – 11:50 (up fairly steep grade)

Mile 2 – 11:33 (still kinda climbing)

Mile 3 – 10:48 (that screaming downhill I mentioned…)

Then we get to be sorta rolling. Just kinda up and down. I’m feeling like I might be working too hard, but try to relax. So many downhills to take advantage of… I’m loving the scenery and trying to really rock the downhills – I’m feeling as we finish the loop and head out on the out and back portion that there are a lot more downhills than up hills and that the way back is going to SUCK.

I figure, I’ve gotta go for what I can get now because I’m doomed later on…

Mile 4 – 11:21

Mile 5 – 11:12

Mile 6 – 11:18

Mile 7 – 11:28

Through this section I tuck in between a pair of Team in Training chicks. We talk a bit – mostly commenting on the runners we start to see coming back – this race is a half and a full, the half course is a loop and an out and back – the marathoners do the out and back bit twice, plus add a little hoop at some horse show grounds or something. In any case, we see the first few half marathoners scream by, and then shockingly the first marathoner. WOAH. Dude was flying!

Speaking of Team in Training – there was a buttload of them at this race, and a buttload of coaches. Considering the size of the race, it was a mob of them. I got a little sick of hearing Go Team! Yay Team Purple! (followed by silence… for me. Hahaha)

In this stretch we run past horses, fly fisherman (I yelled – “Are we scaring the fish???” – he said “not at all!”), and a lady asks me how far we are. 7 and a third, I tell her – she’s like – IS THAT ALL?! I reassure her the turnaround is coming soon, but admit I’m afraid of the uphill that must be waiting on the way back. She says I don’t know what’s worse, the hills or the sun! I instantly say, The sun. I’ll run a hill in the shade any day! What’s gotten into me??? I’m a hillchomping mama at this point. And I leave her in my dust.

This is a common trait during this race. Tucking in behind some folks and then deciding they are TOO SLOW for ME! (WHAT?!)

Mile 8 – 11:09

OK. About this time I realize I’m really far exceeding my expectations for the day….

Mile 9 – 11:09

At this point I realize that if I keep this up, I have a chance at a PR – and a really good chance at my 2nd ever sub 2:30 at the LEAST. I decide that it’s time to put up or shut up – I’ll see what I can throw down each mile until I can’t anymore.

Somewhere in this stretch I mow down the Team in Training duo and then some other Team in Training chicks as well. Sorry ladies, byebye!

Mile 10 – 10:50 – last downhill I think… so I rock through it! Feeling more and more confident!

Mile 11 – 11:16 – still no steady uphills, but some more rolling and flat and more sun… but still running strong! 2 more miles to go!

Mile 12 – 10:58 – holy sweet downhill, pushpushpush the uphills are coming!!!

OH CRAP.

Worse than I had even anticipated. The neverending hill of doom. At least part of it had shade. We enter some kind of switchback/ramp kind of area to head into the Olympic Speedskating Oval. I gave it all I could on that hill without passing out. It was getting warm now and with my effort at this point and the sun I was starting to get that kind of sick/dizzy feeling….

But everyone was walking up those final hills or walking and running occasionally – while I was chugging steadily up them (SLOW but steady) mowing people down left and right…

Mile 13 – 11:28 – WHAT? Even with that hill??? I was WORKING it….

As we enter the Oval, the relief from the uphill grade hits me and I feel my body start working more efficiently – I speed up and recover slightly, and then I’m able to REALLY kick it in around the track, taking out 2 more victims before crossing the finish line.

Final .11 – 9:44 pace

Yes – my Garmin measurement is a 13.11 – I realllly tried to nail the tangents in this race, but not sure if I’m just amazing at this now, or if the course was somehow slightlyslightly short since I’m usually a little higher on the Garmin. I know the course is certified… ??? but…? In any case.

Garmin time: 2:27:29

PR Set last Nov in ideal weather and a much easier course: 2:27:16

WHAAAAAT?!??!?! I was practically in tears. I felt I executed perfectly, I left everything on the course, and I was astonished at my time. Sure had I had another tenth or two to run, I would’ve been a couple minutes higher, but I strongly believe I still could’ve pulled off my only 2nd ever sub 2:30 half.

Totally thrilled.

Also the course is GORGEOUS!

I don't love this picture but you can see how thrilled I am. :)




Do not love the medal or the shirt, but the course was gorgeous enough to make up for it. I believe the full and halfers got the same medal and shirt, as well...

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