It Is What It Is (WW # 90)

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RECAP:

M  Strength

T   Ran 3.25 Miles (Easy)

W  Nothing!

T   Ran 4.50 Miles (Tempo) + Strength

F   Nothing!

S   Ran 13 Miles (Slow)

S   Ran 6.25 Miles (Recovery)

Total = 27 Miles

In 12 days, I will line up to run my first half marathon of the year.  Wow -- what a difference from my obsessive Half Fanaticism of years gone by.  It will be my 45th half.  A mere seven weeks ago, I was not running due to injury.  Again.  You'd better believe I cycled through it like a crazy old woman to maintain my cardio fitness.  But the harsh reality is, there hasn't been enough time to properly prepare for this race. Throw in a couple of vacations and -- It Is What It Is.   I certainly wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to run in beautiful Door County Wisconsin (a new state!) with my dear friend Wendy. #HoLottaFun  #HoLottaCheese

Did that sound gloomy?  That wasn't the intention.  I'm excited to be back racing the distance I love most.  In fact, I am grateful to be running at all.  Any distance.  Any speed.   If neither of my feet speak to me while running, it's a flat out victory!  So grateful, I am.  (ala Yoda).   It's all about perspective. After two humbling foot injuries in a short span of time, it is not so much about the numbers.  The simple ability to run is now appreciated first and foremost.  The rest?  Delicious gravy. 

A sweaty mascara mess after a tempo run in new SMDS gear.

The previous week was a super active week for me.  With 27 miles running, 20 miles cycling, strength exercises AND water skiing, I started off this week...spent...and with a sore left hamstring.  So my RECAP reports two days of full rest and no cycling.  It Is What It Is.  {Try it, people.  It's liberating!}

In other news, I've been testing the Blink 3.0 Heart Rate, Step and Cadence sensor as part of my new ambassadorship with Heart Zones.  You can see it on my forearm in the picture above.  I want to use it for a while, and also for different activities, before doing a full review.  I can already report it is very comfy and syncs with a host of fitness apps.  I'll be talking more about it, as well as heart rate training, in future posts. 

Glad to be done with 13 miles!  It was my longest run since January.

I opted to run long on Saturday morning due to Sunday's rainy forecast.  Blech, was it warm and humid or what?  I repeated the hilliest loops in my neighborhood to prepare for Door County.   I felt strong through mile 9 and then....yeah, not so much.  It Is What Is It.  {OK OK -- I'll stop now!} 

After the rain moved through Sunday, I went out intending to run just a few recovery miles.  Running at a low heart rate (149 per Blink, 158 per Garmin) and ignoring my pace felt fantastic.  Maybe it was the product of my recently adopted IIWII attitude -- but whatever the case, I did not want to stop.  I made myself quit at 6.25 miles.  

I'll leave you with this deep thought (LOL):  It'd be really special to get rewarded with a little gravy.   But if not, I'm happy with the biscuit.

And that's a wrap! 

Do you track your heart rate?  If yes, what type of monitor do you use?

Do you run using a smart phone app?  If yes, which one?

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Spring and Ping (WW # 82)

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The last two weeks were extremely high cardio weeks for me logging 90 and 111 miles respectively on my bike.  This week, I felt it wise to cut back a little.  I rode 10 miles on the bike trainer Tuesday morning and 15 miles on Wednesday evening.  I was anticipating a long awaited podiatrist appointment on Thursday.

Cycling on the trainer in a favorite SARAH MARIE DESIGN STUDIO tank.

 

After taking X-rays of one foot and performing an ultrasound on the other, the doctor proclaimed both of my feet to be strong and healthy.  Naturally, I tried running a few miles Friday morning.  Although I started with a headache, developed a side stitch, and had a cranky left knee -- that run felt really GOOD.   My feet were fine.

Friday Mailbox Greetings!

I tried the same short run Saturday morning.  Again, I had a headache and cranky left knee.  I appreciated not getting a side stitch though.  I realized it would take time to get those little haven't-run-in-a-while kinks worked out.  But as stubborn as I am, I tried another run Sunday morning.  The temps were in the 40s and the sky was too blue to pass up.  I promised myself I would go slow and stop as soon as a felt any twinge in my knee.  No headache.  No side stitch.  No knee twinge.  {Perhaps I should thank the Running Genie?}  I stopped at 6 miles...because I should...because I was tired...and because I had put no Tailwind in my mailbox thinking I'd run only 3 miles at best.  I feel very encouraged by this run!

We had a gorgeous spring weekend.  In the deep south, we typically jump from Winter to Summer so getting an in-betweener is always a treat.  I worked myself ragged in our back yard.  {Don't let anyone tell you raking is not cross training!}  We added a new plaything outside -- a Ping Pong table -- and spent both afternoons grilling and playing.  The older our children (and grand kids) get, the more we are spread out and have conflicting schedules.  To have the whole family together Sunday afternoon was pure joy...and pure chaos.  I was fortunate to spend time in my favorite place -- chilling in my back porch swing and simply taking it all in.

Weekly Recap:

3 Runs = 12 miles
2 Bike Trainers  = 25 miles
Hip/Glute Strength Sessions = 3
Leaves Raked = Ga-Zillions

And that's a wrap!

Were you able to enjoy the great outdoors this weekend?

When is the last time you played Ping Pong?

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T minus 13 (WW # 60)

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M -  Rest
T  -  Ran 6 Miles Easy
W -  Ran 5 Miles Even Slower
T  -  Rest
F  -  Ran 7 Miles Progressive 
S  -  Cycled 20 Miles + Water Skied 2 x 20
S  -  Ran 12 Miles (2 w/u + 10 @ 9:39)



Total Miles Ran = 30
Total Miles Cycled = 20
Total Miles Water Skied = 40

The first week of taper started out pretty rough.  I could absolutely feel the prior week's peak mileage and long run.  Coupled with that, I awoke with a headache every morning that most days never went away.  I even skipped my Thursday bike day, which I enjoy so much.  By Friday, a little spunk had returned and I pulled off a progressive 7 miler (10:33 to 9:06).  As usual, I crammed in as much into the weekend as possible.  And in case you are wondering, IT IS STILL SUMMER here.  

Another cute tank by Sarah Marie Design Studio

Late Saturday afternoon we scooted to the lake (it was 97 degrees) where I very likely had my last ski "runs" for the year.  This is a sport that requires the aid of others -- two others in some states. So a special shout out to PoPo who has humored me all these years by being my boat driver extraordinaire. Thanks for another wonderful season.  I know it wasn't easy missing several hours of college football {wink}.  We stopped at our favorite Oyster Bar on the way home.  It was our official end to summer.  

 

The clouds were so pretty with their silver linings...which I took as a good sign of things to come.

Sunday, I was pleased with my last double digit run of this training cycle.  After a couple of warmup miles, I tried to run at steady race goal pace.  But honestly, I don't know what my pace will be come race day!   Every mile, every step, I ran in this training cycle was in our southern summer unrelenting heat and humidity-humbling weather.  

I look forward to some crazy taper days as I'm on final approach.  I plan to second guess everything I've done, obsessively review my training log, calculate my pace over and over, think every little niggle is impending doom, stalk the weather, obsess over what to wear, eat too much, do my mental packing, Google Chicago repeatedly, and generally drive everyone around me nuts.  

And that's a wrap! 

What are your best taper tips for keeping me distracted?

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I Was Transported (WW # 58)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

This link was created to support active women!
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M - Rest Day
T  - Ran 6 Miles Easy
W - Ran 8 Miles (1 w/u + 7 @ 9:37)
T  - Cycled 15 miles (15.0 mph)
F  -  Swam 20 minutes
S  -  Transporter Sprint Triathlon
S   - Water Skied 2 x 15 (30 miles) + Strength


 

I was recently given the opportunity to review products from Skinny & Co.   As you probably realize, Coconut Oil is quickly becoming a staple in our kitchen and bathroom cabinets.  The difference is that Skinny & Co. cold-processes 100% raw coconut oil from wild-harvested, handpicked coconuts. Their Sugar Scrub is excellent for exfoliating my dry elbows and knees and I must say I'm addicted to its heavenly scent.  And the Facial Oil?  It's a great way to remove makeup and moisturize too.  Next up I'll be trying raw coconut oil in the kitchen. Honestly, it's many uses are endless.  Use code SKINNYCO15 to receive a discount and experience the difference for yourself.  

Since this was a cut-back week for marathon training, I decided last minute (aka the evening before) to register for my fourth sprint triathlon.  The Transporter Triathlon was held at The Waters, an elite planned community.  Ironically, during this past week they posted no swimming signs around their lakes due to the recent removal of alligators and snakes.   Hmmm.....

While waiting for my swim start from the back of the line, I tugged on my goggles and they came apart.  I realized I would need a tool to repair them.  So off I go into the water, a goggle-less contacts wearer. My feet were immediately buried in muck.  It was like...thick snot.  Uh-huh.  The swim was shallow enough in places to put your feet down -- if you dared.   There was a little pack of us older ladies that stayed together and encouraged each other.  We exited the water and ran along the beach.  As we jogged past the community pool, there was a lady splashing water on our feet to remove the sand.  How nice!  Time = 11:38 (??)

I tried hard to transition quickly and think I did well, but the times are not accurate.  {No, I did not stay in transition for 23 minutes and 59 seconds Mr. Timing Company.}  The bike route began and ended by weaving around in the community with it's excessive number of large speed bumps.  I guess it's good to know my brakes work adequately.  I was terrified to take one at high speed and they cautioned us several times not to.

Lots of small rolling hills = constant gear changing.

Once we got to the main rural road I was able to maintain some speed.  The route was basically two different out and back legs but neither closed to traffic.  Cyclists were hugging both sides of the road with cars trying to pass from both directions.  Drivers seemed respectful, but they were awfully close at times.  Law enforcement did stop traffic at the turnarounds.  There were plenty of rolling hills but I actually enjoy those on the bike.  This remains my favorite leg -- passing young and old, male and female. Garmin Time = 44:33 

Me and my Sanity.    I've still got my game face on!

I transitioned lightning fast (I think) into the run and was immediately overwhelmed by the oven blast of our southern summer morning.  Only a small portion of the route was shaded and there was no cloud cover or breeze.  I shuffled along and ate a GU as I waited for the dragging-concrete feeling to pass.  It did and I overtook a few people on the run.  There were a couple of hills thrown into the last mile for good measure.  As music is officially not allowed, I was entertained by the loud squishing of my shoes. How can I still be wet?   Garmin Time = 29:00

We also received a nice visor but I was too lazy to retake this!

My total time was 1:28:21.   I do think the finish time is accurate, just not the pieces.  I squeaked onto the podium with a 3rd place age group finish.  There weren't many people in my age group [three hee-hee?]. Knowing how hard I worked and what a tough, hot day it was -- heck yeah, I'll take that pretty copper extra medal. 

After Saturday's brutally hot event, I chose an early morning at the lake instead of my usual Sunday run. I'm not sorry as the opportunity will soon be gone until late Spring.  The water was like a mirror.  To compensate, I'll do a mediumish run Monday morning instead of taking my usual rest day.  And, it's not like I was slacking...  

I also captured a glorious sunrise on the water (no filter).

Quickly one more thing: I was honored to be chosen as one of the first brand ambassadors for Sarah Marie Design Studio.  I'll be excited to share her wonderful running themed apparel, jewelry and accessories in the coming weeks. 

It's back to marathon training where I'll peak at my highest mileage and longest run this week.

And that's a wrap! 

Did anyone else race this weekend?

What are you currently training for?

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