02/26/09 run

Well, today was supposed to be my long run, but the weather had a different plan. 40-50 mph winds. I could barely walk in it let alone run. So I am going to do my long run tomorrow. I hit the treadmill today and ran 5 miles a little faster than my 1/2 marathon pace. There are some benefits to running on a treadmill:

1. Easier on the body and joints. Running on pavement is the worst surface to run on.
2. Easier to monitor speed work.
3. A great way to get your heart rate up and work your muscles the day before a long run without the soreness that comes from running on pavement, running hills and working against the wind.

We close on our house tomorrow!!!! :) Final walk through it is 12:30, so I really need to get up early to get this run in. Praying for more tolerable weather!

02/25/09 Run Ugggg

6 miles, and it felt like it was my first time ever running that distance. I almost stopped around mile 3. From that point on, I just took one mile at a time. My whole body felt super heavy, and my heart rate was faster than normal. It was warmer out today, but not too warm. I guess it was just one of those hard days. I HOPE that the 1/2 marathon is not one of those "hard running days".

14.5 miles so far this week.

Tomorrow is my long run. Goal is 11 miles.

02/22/09 Run

8.5 miles today. It was a pretty good run. I felt like I could keep going, but I want to gradually increase my miles, so that I don't burn out. Not too windy out and just cool enough to keep me comfortable the whole time.

02/20/09

I ran 5 miles today. It was soooo windy outside, that I ended up inside on the treadmill. But I think this was good. Easier on the joints after yesterday's 10 mile run. I felt good the whole run. I didn't push myself with speed. I ran just under 10 minute miles. I was done in 48 minutes.

Shortest run this week: 5miles
Longest run this week: 10 miles
Total miles this week: 28

Spiritual Truths

"run with patience (endurance, persistence) the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith ... For consider Him that endured ... lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Heb 12:1-3)

As I have literally been training for a race, this verse has new meaning to me. 1. I have to watch what I eat - junk causes me to run sluggish. Spiritually, I have to watch what I put into my mind - junk causes me be spiritually sluggish. 2. I have to be purposeful and already have my mind made up that I will run/train on a particular day and not just hope it happens. Likewise, I have to be purposeful in my time with God. 3. I run where I live. I run in my neighborhood and in my town. I can be used by God where I live in my town, family and where I work. 4. Some runs are long and hard and some are short and easy. The long, hard runs cause me to become stronger. The short easy runs maintain my fitness. If I ran long, hard runs every day, I would break. If I ran short easy runs every day, I would never grow. I need them both. Likewise, God will allow long, hard trials to grow me. I have no passion or excitement during these times, because I only see my weakness. He will also allow shorter, easier trials to maintain me. 5. Sometimes during a long run, I want to run faster so I can get it done. I'm impatient and don't want to wait. But when I run too fast, I burn out and can't finish it. Likewise, God wants me wait for Him. I may try to make myself grow fast so I can get over the trial. But God knows me better than myself, and I must boast in my weakness, give glory to Him and be patient in His timing. 6. I love to watch elite runners and feel very inspired to run better. Jesus is "my elite" inspiration. I must look to Him, so that I don't get weary and faint in my pursuit of loving Him and of righteousness. For I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength. 7. Sometimes when I run I think about the end of the race when everyone is at the finish line and I am met by cheer and encouragement and excitement. I don't do this all the time, because I may have a long way to go. But, it encourages me to keep going. And in our spiritual race, I should think about Heaven and seeing Jesus for the first time. I should think of seeing His face and how happy it will be if I have yielded myself to His guidance over my life. I will know Him and He will know me. How encouraging, exciting and wonderful it will be. 8. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is run. I would rather think about getting a home or spending time with Michael or taking a break. But, I try to remember that if I don't do it, I will decondition and my next run will be even harder and this might cause me not want to do that one either. Sometimes the last thing I want to do it spend time with God. But if I don't do it, I might become indifferent or not see my need for Him. I might not want to spend time with Him the next day either.

GOOD RUNS 02/18 and 02/19

YAY... I feel like I am enjoying my runs again. After 2 long days of work, the second being a 14.5 hour work day, I was a little nervous that my runs were going to suffer. Yesterday I ran a gentle 6 miles. I paced myself a little slower and felt a little tired. I felt like I could have gone further, but I wanted to really just get my heart rate up for about an hour and relax the rest of the day. I'm glad I did this! Today's run was GREAT! I ran at least 10 miles, and I felt good through the whole run! It was sunny and very little wind.

Post run I had some 2 10oz glasses of water, some grapes and carrots. I stretched for 10 minutes, and then an hour later I had a turkey sandwich on wheat with greens and pecans. I am trying to eat the right kinds of carbs, fats and proteins and increase my water intake. Lately I've been eating so much junk and justifying it by the fact that I run so much, but I know I will run even better when I eat right.

So, next week I am going to try for 11 miles on my long run.

02/15/2009 Run

Today was better. I'm still sore, but not as sore as yesterday. My left hip is hurting a little, but feels like it is getting better. I still haven't had a "GREAT" run in a while, where I feel good through most of it. But, I felt better today than yesterday, so that is good. I ran about 7 miles today. It was nice out with a little wind, but nothing to horrible.

Off to a good start this week. My long run will probably be mid week again this week. I work this coming Saturday.

My 1/2 marathon is 7 weeks from today!!!! :)

Valentine's Day Run

I LOVE "sleeping in" on my days off!!! I HATE getting up early on the days I have to work when it is still dark outside, and cold when I slide out of bed. I look at Michael and wish a million times that I was sleeping just like him and unaware that it is 5:30 in the morning. So, I treasure the days when I get to sleep in, especially when I wake up and forget that I don't have to work and then remember that "oh yeah, today is my day off". So I curl up next to Michael and drift back to sleep.

This morning was such a morning. When we both finally woke up, we just stayed in bed for a while enjoying the morning light, and being warm in the covers. I adjusted my pillow to snuggle closer to Michael when I realized that the hair tie that was in my hair the night before had once again fallen out and was not in my hair anymore. I have a horrible habit of losing everything, so I am down to about one hair tie. I looked at Michael and said, "I lost another one!!!" I was looking all around in the bed, so he got out of bed to see if it had fallen behind the head board on the floor. He was right and he found it! Then he looked at me and said, there's something else down here, and he pulled out a heart shaped basket filled with chocolate and a lovely leather bound journal with an entry from him inside of it. The journal is a love journal, our love journal that we will record special memories of our relationship throughout the years. His first entry explained this and what the last 4 1/2 months of our budding marriage have meant to him. Tears filled my eyes as I read this, and I thought "God has SO blessed me"! Sometimes I think I have to pinch myself to see if all this is for real! What a great start to a Valentine's Day!

My run today definitely did not match my enthusiasm of the morning. After a raspberry pastry and coffee with the hubby, I was off to my daily run. I had high hopes of running another 10 miles. My high hopes plummeted fast!!! I only ran 6, and I felt sluggish, sore and dizzy most of the run. Michael thinks I might be over-doing it a bit. Perhaps this is true. I ran 10 miles 2 days ago, and then yesterday I worked 12 hours, and was walking or standing for at least 8 hours of that shift. I felt sore when I went to bed, and I felt sore when I got up. I took a hot shower before running, to see if I could get my muscles to loosen up a bit. It helped, but I think I need a bit of rest.

So, I am ready to enjoy the rest of this Valentine's Day with my wonderful husband, and will relax and rest to my heart's content!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

02/12/09 Good run

I ran 10 miles today!!! It was a little easier than my last 10 mile run, so that was encouraging. The weather was chilly, but no wind and the sun was out. I had to make up for the fact that I did not run yesterday!!! I kept putting it off to the point that I didn't have any time for it. But I feel good that I got one good long run in instead of 2 shorter ones. I hope to run another 10 miler on Saturday. I hope the weather is nice out. Pretty sure I kept my 10 minute mile pace the entire time, and I didn't feel worn out at the end, which is good.

I took my first ice bath today post run. Well, I filled the tub with cold water and sat my bottom half in it. I kept my jacket and hat on and read a magazine for 10 minutes. BRRRRRR.... but it did help. I don't feel that sore, so I will have to keep doing this after my long runs. No back pain today, so YAY!!!

02/08/09 Run

This morning Michael and I went to church. We went to the early service. Our church is currently doing a sermon series on John 3:16. At first when I heard we were doing this series, I had a bit of a negative attitude about it. I was SURE that it was going to be a wishy-washy series on what God does for us, focusing on how He is here for us rather than us being here for Him. I am realizing a lot about myself in spite of my preconceived notions of how these sermons were not going to shape my holiness or convict me. I want to earn my way to God. I do. In light of my imperfections, I want to fix them. I can't stand the thought of standing before God one day and having a wasted life to look back upon. I want transformation, healing, and holiness to be more than evident in my life. I WANT to do the right thing. But, I guess in all these, more often than not, vain attempts to secure righteousness, I have mistaken living for Him as saving myself. I CAN'T save myself, no matter how hard I try. And there have been certain times in my life when I have been keenly aware of the fact. But lately, I have been trying to earn my way again. Why am I doing this? Lot's to think about. I talked to my Pastor a bit after the sermon, which I believe was a God ordained meeting. I was secretly wanting to ask him why he wasn't focussing more on "faith with works" instead of the "grace-talk" he was sharing with the congregation. He reminded me of 2 words that I have heard before and even know a little about them. They are "sanctification" and "justification". I am justified because I believe in what Christ did for me on the cross! I am sanctified in this life when I combine that faith with my actions. Justification is the gift that never changes. Sanctification can waver when I am not pursuing the things of God on a daily basis. So much to learn about this.

I know this is a running blog, but it's Sunday, and these have been my thoughts lately. I did run today. 7 miles. It was nice out, and I felt pretty good through most of the run. My lower back started to hurt a tad toward the end. That has never happened before. I hope I'm not overdoing anything.

02/07/09 Run

I can't believe it! I signed up for the Chicago Marathon for next October. Am I crazy or what??!! It is a life goal. I want to at least do one. So I really have to train now. I did my 10 mile run today, and I was thinking how that is not even half of what I will be running. But, I know I need to not think that far down the road. I am making progress and that is what is exciting.

Today was a hard run though. I really can tell my glycogen stores are depleted after about 7 miles of running. The last 3 miles were really hard. I really need to start bringing some Gatorade on these long runs with me. The first 5 miles was incline and against the wind. By the time I turned around, I was "feeling it". I went on a trail today too, so psychologically it was a little more challenging. When I run my normal course, I can tell myself where I am, or only one more hill then the rest is easy. But today I didn't really know what to expect. But that is good I guess. When I run my 1/2 it will be the first time running that course.

All in all, I did pretty well this week.

Today 10miles
This week 28 miles

02/06/09 Run

Tomorrow is my long run!!! 10 miles! I hope it's not too windy out or that I feel fatiqued. But, you never know. Today was really really windy. 15-30 mph winds. But I ran outside in it. Only 6 miles today, and the plan this week was to make 2 of my runs 7 milers. But I am still adjusting to working these 12 hour shifts at work.

8 weeks till the Platte River 1/2

Wed 02/04/2009 Run

I woke up at 6:15 this morning, and I should have gotten up. I felt rested and awake, but I wanted to sleep in, since this is my day off from work. So, I made myself go back to sleep until 8:30. My run today was sluggish. I ran 6 miles instead of 7. Boo on me. :( Did I get too much sleep last night? (I slept 10 hours!) Was I tired from 2 twelve hour work days of being on my feet? Is it just mid-week fatigue? I don't know. So, I might get up on Friday whenever my body wakes me up. If that is early, then I get up early! We'll see if that makes a difference.

Watched "Spirit of the Marathon" last Friday night!!! GREAT movie, and I will suggest anyone who runs to watch it. REALLY inspirational. The documentary follows 5 different runners, some elite and some first-time marathoners. AND, one of the runners is 75 years old!!! It made the point that anyone can run a marathon with the right training and hard work.

Beautiful day today! 65 degrees, so Michael and I are going to Boulder today for a good hike!

02/01/09 Running Blog

6 mile run after church. Sunny but colder today and a little windy. I still wore shorts, and my legs were bright red when I got home. My body was sore from my last couple of runs, but my breathing was much better. Not as tired today! Could have gone further, but don't want to overdue it. I work the next 2 days... 12 hour shifts, so my next run will be Wednesday.

The Chicago Marathon registration opens today!!!!!

9 weeks till my 1/2 in Littleton.

Off to the Spicy Pickle now with the hubby! Happy Super Bowl!