I'm no longer a 15 mile virgin! [Training Day 180 Wed. 6/29/11]

15 miles
3:09 running time
12:35 pace

I finally made it to the 15 mile mark!!!!!  I had never gone that far before. I'm blushing because I was so innocent until yesterday's nooner".  Go me!  

I neglected to charge my Garmin.  D'oh!  It was totally dead when it was time for me to take off.  So I made note of the time on a post it before taking off on a post it note, and tried keeping the best pace I could.  Luckily, this run was basically just an extended 13 mile run for me.  I've taken this route so many times, I know pretty much exactly where each mile marker is located.  A good thing considering I'm VERY diligent about when to eat my Shot Bloks & how much water I should be consuming each mile.  I'm kind of glad to not have Gigi, my Garmin, with me.  She would have told me my pace, and the pace was not good.  That would have probably discouraged me to no end, and I needed to simply focus on getting in the miles rather than being picky about my pace. I did the best I could.  That's all that matters. 

I took a couple of pictures for you along the way.  I run by a funky little house with pet peacocks about every other day.  Today, Mr. Peacock was showing his tail feathers off in a loud and proud manner.  Of course, he would not turn around to show me.  The more I followed him, the farther he turned away. lol  So here's a picture of his ass....

Around mile 5, I caught a whiff of what smelled like....lip gloss.  I looked and looked, but didn't see any teenage girls walking around smacking their lips.  I realized I was running along side a strawberry field! lol  There's a really cool farm stand called The Red Barn.  They make pies, breads, and sell all the local freshies.  YUM!  [Running past a strawberry field is way more pleasant than running past a mint or onion field.  Those burn your nose and throat due to the super concentrated odor.  Unfortunately, they grow both near our home.  Eeek!]  Anyway, the berries might not show up in my pictures, but they're there.....pinky swear.

Shortly after the halfway point, I ran out of water.  Not good!  So I stopped into a gas station begging the  clerk to let me get water from their fountain drink area.  She allowed it, but her manager came over to scold her.  I told him I would gladly go use the sink tap in the restroom, but the damage was done.  Sigh.  I plan on stopping by today to buy a ginormous Coke from her, and have a chat with the douche she calls a manager. What a jack ass!

I struggled with the second half of this run.  The last 4 miles contained way more walking than I normally do.  I was stopping at least twice during each mile from mile 10 on.  By the time that last mile rolled around, I was DONE.  About a quarter of a mile from home I started to tear up.  I was in disbelief that I hauled my ass 15 miles, and was just so flippin' tired.  My calves started cramping that last mile.  My feet hurt.  Oh, and around mile 13, I realized I had forgotten to tape up my chest at the bra line.  OUCH.  For the remainder of the run, I could feel my bra rubbing and rubbing and rubbing the skin right off my chest.  So, so, so very painful.  It was really hard to focus on anything BUT that feeling.

My calves have been cramping after long runs so much lately.  I've upped the amount of potassium.  Stretched.  Stayed hydrated.  Consumed my electrolytes.  I finally bit the bullet, and bought a pair of compression calf sleeves. This is my first time wearing them after the run.  I'll be sure to give a review after I've worn them enough to have an opinion of them.  So far, so good. 

Despite all of my complaining, I am so proud of myself!  Seriously, if you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be running 15 miles one day, I would have laughed until I peed pants a little.  If you would have told me this news 11 years ago, I would have punched you in the throat.  I had such a big, fat chip on my shoulder, "fattitude", I couldn't see straight.  I had no hope.  I had nothing to look forward to (other than getting fatter).  I had no drive.  No zip. Things have really changed.  People can change if they want to, and put forth the effort.  I did. 


PS...even though is was a very, very cloudy day, as you can see in all of my pictures, I ended up with a sun burn.  This is a reminder to all of us.  Make sure to slap on some sunscreen before running!  We're working hard to be healthier people.  Skin cancer should not be in any of our futures.

Oops...there's a missing 4 mile training run entry

It finally happened!  I am missing an entry for the month.  The numbers were off, and I know my written log has the most accurate info.

Thank goodness the school year ended Wednesday (6/22).  It has been crazy busy with the kids finishing up projects for the end of the school year, end of the year class trips, etc.  It's a wonder I've managed to get ANYthing blogged & logged! lol 

Hills + Humidity = Heather's Nightmare [Training Day 178 Mon 6/27/11]

5 miles
54:40 time
10:56 pace

OK, so I stupidly paused my Garmin while waiting at Vancouver's longest traffic signal....and forgot to turn it back on once we started moving.  That was at mile 2.11.  Grrrrrr.  The remainder of this run is a wild guess.  I added an extra 2 minutes to my finish time "guesstimate" to make the pace I had back at mile 2.11 reflect the hills that hit us come mile 4.  At least we got out there & ran.  It was humid yesterday.  Not anything like when we lived in Ohio and Texas, but we're simply not used to humidity anymore.  So ANY at all feels awful.  Even though we were not at all pushing it with the pace, we kept quiet and focused on breathing.

I'm scheduled to run 15 miles tomorrow.  This run has been pushed to the next day since Sunday.  Here's hoping everyone can get their shit together so Mama can go for her long run.  :)

{the good} It wasn't a scheduled run day for me, but Kent wanted a running buddy...so off I went.

{the ugly}  For sure the humidity. And my knees are feeling a bit tweaky.  Nothing horrible, but a reminder that I need to spend more time stretching, foam rolling, and icing.

Got my first born to go with me! [Training Day 174 Thur 6/23/11]

8 miles
11:00 pace
1:28 time

You heard me....my son went with me!  I forced him to do so, of course.  He's 13, and really does not want to be seen with me.  Especially when I'm decked out in running garb.  However, more than midway through the run, he commented on how "loose" his legs felt.  He was feeling great, and thought he could ride that bike all day long.  Not bad for the very first day of summer break.  (School ends in late June here.)

Our pace was 10:45 for most of this run.  The last hill we had to go up, Ben decided it was too steep to ride, and he asked me to walk with him.  So I did. It killed our pace, and we didn't care.  He spoke of our run multiple times yesterday evening.  Told me how much better he felt after exercising (he has been a bit blue lately - missing his friends from Ohio).  All in all, getting out to ride his bike along side me helped us both.

He asked me first thing this morning if we could do another 8 mile route again today.  When I told him it was only a 4 mile day, he agreed to go with me.....but there was a little bit of a pout to his tone.  Who knew he would like it so much?  I wonder if he'll go with me Sunday for my 15 mile run? 

{the good} I didn't have to run it alone! 

{the ugly} I should have worn shorts.  It was humid.  I had sweat dripping from my elbows a quarter of a mile into this one.  Ick.  Oh, another ick would be how often we smelled dead critter.  The scent hit us often.  Especially along wooded areas.  Yuck!

Vancouver USA Half Marathon

I usually don't like seeing pictures of me running..... 

1. The clothing is highly unflattering (tight Lycra pants that accentuate my cellulite, snug tech shirts that remind me of my hanging belly [aka: apron of flesh], my nipples are always poking through no many how many layers I have on or how warm it is out, tight straps above each knee squeezing my thighs, etc.). 
2. Wearing the Fuel Belt certainly doesn't help.  You have to wear it so tight to keep it from bouncing that it ends up making my midsection look so...."squeezed". 

However, I love this picture!  (I love it so much that I actually paid for it instead of "borrowing it" from the race photo web site as I usually do.)  It was taken Sunday morning at the Vancouver USA Half Marathon.  I was getting ready to cross over the finish line.  I could hear Kent calling my name.  He was trying to let me know he was there (with our youngest child in tow) to cheer me on & take a picture of me finishing strong.  It just so happened, the professional photographers were there taking pictures of everyone crossing the finish line, and caught me just as I made eye contact with Kent.  What's up with the fist pump action?  I was giving Kent a message by making "muscle arms" for him & letting out a big, "YESSSS!".   That move let him know that I had totally blown my goal time out of the water, and was finishing stronger than I could have ever planned.  How funny that the photographer snapped the picture at that very moment in time!  

That picture sums up the entire past year and a half of trying to meet my time goal (along with several failed attempts), the hard work I've put into training, and how fabulous I felt running the race.  All in one snapshot.  Amazing! 

I'm so moved by the photo, and feel the need to make you look at it again....

My quads are protesting! [Training Day 172 Tue 6/21/11]

4 miles
(no Garmin stats since I neglected to charge it - oops)

It's probably best that I didn't wear the Garmin for this run.  The numbers might have made me cry. My husband, who is coming back from an injury, ran faster than I did.  This is my normal "short route".  Normally, I could run it with my eyes closed & never stop.  Except this time.  This time, I had to stop and walk at least 4 times.  My legs feel totally trashed.  To be expected a few days after a race.  Everyone else who ran that race for a PR is whining about their legs, too.  At least I'm not alone in the boat, right?

{the good} I got out there and did it knowing how sore and tired my legs were feeling.  Sticking to my schedule.  As Jeff Galloway says, if there's no medical reason to stop running...then keep going!  Also, the bushes along the long stretch of our route outside of campus are blooming.  They smell divine!  A cross between rose petals and citrus.  They smelled way better than the dead possum we had to run past.  Eeeeew!

{the ugly} Oh....my....God!  My quads and calves were not cooperating at all.  I'm hoping the next run will be a little better, but my muscles are still very sore...so I'm already dreading the next run.

Vancouver USA Half Marathon recap (PS...I totally smoked my goal time!)

13.1 miles
2:22:38 (official chip time)
10:53 pace (official chip pace)
Shaved 11 minutes 45 seconds (11:45) off my old half marathon PR!
Beat my goal time my 7 minutes 22 seconds (7:22)!

I could go on and on about this race. It was by far, one of the most pleasurable races I've participated in to date, and it was the inaugural event to boot. To me, pulling off such a grand event the first time around speaks volumes. The expo was better than some of the larger, more popular marathon expos I have attended. The entire format was well organized. It was like a well oiled machine. Even though we’ve had flooding in the area, the re-routed course was still beautiful for those running the full marathon, and the course overall was a scenic tour. The folks behind the Vancouver USA Marathon have their shit together!

I would love to give you a breakdown of each mile, but I honestly don’t remember anything that specific. It was such a beautiful tour of Vancouver I was distracted most of the time. I never run in that area of town. I live in North Vancouver, close to WSU's campus & the Salmon Creek Trail so I choose to run in those areas. Also, I’ve lived here for only one year (to the date of this race). There’s still a whole lot of this area completely unfamiliar to me. It’s like running somewhere brand new (because it is to me)! Every now and then, I would run past something familiar, and had no idea where I was at that moment. I still don’t have a good mental map of the area (which explains why I get lost driving around town so often).

We ran through Fort Vancouver, past Pearson Air Field, downtown Vancouver. It was all so pretty! There were parts of the run where all I could smell was sweat (not sure if it was me or an accumulated odor from my fellow runners). There was a gentleman wearing cologne…..ACK! Other runners do not appreciate smelling perfume and cologne while running!  It was suffocating to breathe anytime I ended up near him. My plan was avoidance. Unfortunately, the wind would shift from time to time, and I’d catch a nose full no matter how close in proximity I was at the time. I finally passed him for good, and no longer had to worry about it. Other areas smelled like a floral shop. Everything here is in bloom, and you can run down the street smelling nothing but petals. It’s delicious! Speaking of delicious, at one point, I got a whiff of freshly cooked donuts. About the time I noticed it, someone else blurted out, “Yummmm….donuts!”. I smiled and kept running. I’m not a fan of eating donuts due to issues with heartburn & ass fat, but they sure do smell great fresh out of the fryer.

I felt good through mile 4. I did have to stop once to pull up my IT band strap (the new one) at mile 5. I had forgotten how new bands do that. They still have all of the “box creases” in them from being folded, and they’re a pain in the butt for the first few weeks. It only took a few seconds to fix it, but annoyed me to make such a stop. I ran another half mile with it tighter, and realized it was cutting off my circulation. I re-fixed it. No more issues with it from that point on. I was steadily keeping a 10:25 pace.

Around mile 6……I reached the dreaded hill. It stretches out over a mile or so. Not nearly as brutal as the hills I’ve been running on my training runs, but I was pacing quite a bit faster than normal for a long run. So I chose to walk some of the hill to conserve energy & strength. I wanted to be able to hammer out a strong pace for the remainder of the race. After that hill, I had a difficult time getting my speed back. I was now at a 10:40 pace. However, I wasn’t worried about it since my pace was still way better than what I expected. I realized I could totally pull off finishing this event with a pace in the 10’s if I put my mind to it! Something that helped keep me motivated was my arm. My arm? I know, it sounds crazy, right? I had a target goal written on my arm (by my Garmin) in big purple Sharpie numbers. 11:26 was the number I refused to go over. As long as I kept it 11:26 or less, I was golden as far as goals were concerned. Every time I’d look at my Garmin, those purple numbers caught my attention first. They really kept me focused.

When I needed a little break for water or Shot Bloks, I walked. All in all, I took about 10 walk breaks. Early on, I stuck with my ever-so-rehearsed 60 second breaks every mile (started them around mile 3 or 4). There toward the end, I opted for 10 – 30 second breaks more frequently. I started to get really tired about mile 9. 9.5 rolled around, and I took another short break. Once I saw the 10 mile marker, I decided it was time to push it. Around 11.5, I started talking to myself. It was pure pep talk at this point in the game. I was so close to the finish, I did not want to slow down. A gal beside me struck up a conversation. It was a distraction, and I am grateful for her chattiness! She mentioned the young girl running with her was only 14 years old. I cheered for her, and told her how awesome she is for starting an active life so young.
This was my fourth half marathon. Since my first in January of 2010, I’ve tried to finish in 2:30 or less falling short each time. I’m happy to inform everyone that I finally reached my goal. Not only that, I beat it by 7 minutes 22 seconds! I also shaved 11 minutes 45 seconds off my old half marathon PR from last year's Portland Half Marathon.  :)

Thanks for all of your support. I know reading each and every training run must be a total bore, but I’m posting them separately with as many details as possible for my own record keeping purposes. So far, I've missed logging only one or two.  Never the less, all of the training I’ve done paid off, and I have proof of it thanks to this blog / very public training log!

{the good} The entire thing was a good experience. I’m not even sure where to start with my list, but here goes:

• After 1 1/2 years & 4 half marathons, I finally made my time goal!
• Better yet, I actually *beat* my time goal!
• I’m injury free after training so hard for this race!
• Plenty of goodies to eat and drink as soon as finishers cross the line
• Loads of volunteers!
• Spectators cheering us on throughout all of the public (and some private) areas of the route
• Cowbells were ringing, and we could all use more cowbell in our lives!
• Very well organized from start to finish
• Everyone “played nice” while running
• Everyone “played nice” in the spectator areas
• Music every few miles (even and ipod with speakers is better than nothin’!)
• The rain stopped within the first mile
• The sun came out
• My husband and daughter were both there to watch me cross the finish line!
• We got to go home and fill ourselves with grilled burgers, guacamole, and margaritas!!!

{the ugly} This is my only complaint about this event, and I hope the organizers take my message to heart. My husband is coming off an injury, and could not run the race. The marathon coordinators would not allow any transferring of bibs to next year’s event….or to another individual THIS year. That means our money was wasted. It kind of sucks all the way around because 1) you have to sign up for these events pretty far in advance in order to guarantee your spot and 2) you never know when or if you’ll be injured come race day. Many of the larger races allow you to transfer your spot to the following year if need be. I hope the Vancouver USA Marathon will change their policies for future events. I want to see this race be a huge success! Accommodating those running the event, their customers, would be way better customer service. With so many races in this part of the country year round, it would be rather easy to ditch this one for a race that’s a little more cooperative. If you need to hire a hardworking, computer literate, passionate runner to keep track of all the transfers….I’m your gal and can start immediately! With that being said, I’m going to change a negative into a positive right before your very eyes…..

I am happy to officially announce that in next year's race, I will be running my very first full marathon.  26.2, here I come!

Swag brag time! (Vancouver USA Marathon expo)

I picked up some swag at the Vancouver USA Marathon expo.  I ended up hitting the expo a day earlier than planned.  Between end of the school year stuff for both kids, this half marathon Sunday morning, and father's day Sunday afternoon, time is limited.  I can only be pulled so many directions at once.  So I picked Riley up from school....and off we went. 

• Before I made it over to the packet pick up table, I spotted the Skirt Sports (skirtless) summer shorts that I've been wanting ever since the weather heated up a bit. 
• Then, I hit the "knock off Nike" booth.  [I'm calling them that because the rep flat out told me that they're "...basically the Nike of China".]  They had sleeveless tech shirts for only $5.00 each!   I bought two of them. 
• After that, I spied with my little eye.....the SPIbelt rep!  Oh, how I looooove my SPIbelt(s).  I already have two.  A single (pouch) and a double.  This one, however, is sweatproof & water resistant.  Perfect for our rainy, Washington weather.  No more packing my Droid in a ziplock baggy for shorter runs.  [I use my Fuel Belt for longer runs.]
• Just when I thought I was finished with my shopping spree, the One More Mile shirt collection called my name.  I've blogged about these shirts before.  I went ahead & picked up a couple.  A light pink t-shirt with "Will Run For Coffee" across the chest, and a raspberry tech shirt stating "If you see me collapse...pause my Garmin!".

Perhaps I was hoping a little shopping therapy would help calm my nerves about Sunday's race?  Can I use that as a legit excuse to shop 'til I drop at an expo?  [Hint: "Yes" is the only correct answer to either question.]

YIKES...a hydration slap on the wrist [Training Day 167 Thur. 6/16/11]

4 miles

WHOA! This run blew chunks.  Big chunky, chunky chunks.  I made a comment to my husband earlier in the day regarding my water intake the past few days.  I had basically consumed coffee....and nothing else.  Yes, I know better.  That doesn't stop it from happening now and then. 

Anyhoooo, lack of hydration took me down with this run.  I was dizzy, my legs ached, and I had side stitches like mad.  By mile 2, I was done.  Fully baked.  Ready to be home.  I somehow managed to run most of those last two mile with a few walk breaks squeezed into the mix.

I'm writing this on Saturday, late afternoon.  I'm very worried about tomorrow's half marathon. I'm telling myself "it's just another long run".  Between my nerves about the event, Thursday's horrible run, and not getting in my last long run like I should have...I'm not sure how things will go tomorrow morning.  My plan is to hook up with a pace group, and do my best to stick with them. I really want to meet my time goal this time around. 

Wish me luck!

{the good} Even though it was awful, I needed the reminder about being properly hydrated. I normally stick to a strict water schedule throughout the day.  Shame on me for slipping, but knowing how much of a difference my usual efforts make during my workouts will help me stick with it even more throughout the upcoming summer months!  :)

{the ugly} The entire thing!  What wasn't ugly about this run?

I'm running with Lyle July 9th!

Picture borrowed from Lyle's site, www.lylesmyles.com.

Lyle began this “race” when he turned 60 as a 6K. He used to run races and was always in the back of the pack. For his birthday he created the chance to win a race.  The rule is that if you cross the finish line before Lyle, you are disqualified. However, there is no dishonor in disqualification. There are even trophies for the fastest disqualified people.

The distance went up by 0.1 K each year until it reached 7.5 K. Then in 2010 it was dropped back to 5.0 K due to Lyle’s speed (or lack thereof).  This year, we have set a goal of raising $20,000+ with over 200 people participating. Your local involvement will have a global impact.

Where? Esther Short Park in Vancouver, WA. (click here to view route map)

When? Saturday, July 9th, 2011.

Why? Because it's a fundraising charity run.  50% will go to Global Partners funding a project in Africa, which will help a community break the cycle of poverty and save lives. And 50% will go to Martha’s Pantry in Vancouver, WA, providing the poorest and most needy individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS food, toiletries, clothing and more.

Distance? It's a 5k (3.1 miles).

[You can read more about Lyle at http://www.lylesmyles.com/.]

Am I ready for the Vancouver USA Half Marathon Sunday morning?

You know, I think I'm ready.  For months now, I've been running 10-14 mile long runs.  Gotten in fartleks - speed & hills.  I've rested (tapered) for the past 2 weeks.  Iced my wounds.  Kept loose with physical therapy exercises, foam rolling, stretching, & yoga.  Made sure to get in all of my smaller, midweek runs.  I'm ready.  I'm also really, really, really nervous!

In the past year & a half, I've completed 3 (official) half marathons.  Countless "unofficial" during my training runs.  I'm not sure what happens to me out on the race course / race day, but I never seem to hit my time goals.  They're not outrageous, unattainable goals.  They're time goals that I should be able to knock out of the park with ease.  Don't get me wrong.  Each race gets a little better.  I usually set a new PR compared to the previous half, but I never hit my goal.  I'm hoping this Sunday morning will be the race that I finally hit the mark. I'm in it for the experience, but it sure would be nice to finally do what I set out to do back in February of 2010 during the Disney Princess Half.

If you're out running Sunday morning, think of me!  Send some good vibes my way.  Here's to all of us participating in the inaugural Vancouver USA Marathon & Half Marathon!

Attempting to ditch a 6 day migraine with running [Training Day 164 Mon. 6/13/11]

4 miles
45:44 minutes
11:26 pace

Uggggggggggggggg!  I'm so sick of these migraines.  I get them like clockwork each month, and I'm done.  Physically, mentally....DONE.  I have tracked what I've been eating.  I've charted.  I've observed.  I've seen doctors.  The only common link seems to be hormone shifts as soon as my period ends.  Sigh.  Each month this gets worse.  I cannot tolerate another 10 years of this.  (I'm assuming I have 10 more years of menstrual cycles left in me.)  Something MUST give.  It....simply.....must.

So with a raging migraine, I ran 4 miles.  I actually find relief while running.  Of course, it comes back once I stop.  At least I get a break for at least 40 minutes during a 4 mile run. 

{the good} Getting a 40 minute break from what is going on a 6 day migraine.  Also, Kent ran with me.  Between his comeback into running (from a hip injury) and my migraine.....we were slow. Neither of us cared.

{the ugly} Seriously.  Do I need to repeat the word migraine again?  The run itself was fabulous.

A happy birthday run dedicated to my (now) 13 year old! [Training Day 162 Sat. 6/11/11]

4 miles
??? pace
??? time

Kent and I wanted to get in a quick 4 miles before heading off to our son's 13th birthday celebration in Salem.  Notice I said Kent went with me????  He's back to running again.  His hip is still bugging him, but better.  It was so wonderful to have a running partner again!  Anyway, we didn't time this one.  So no stats will be listed other than the miles hammered out.  :)

{the good} Kent's back in the game!  At least for shorter runs. 

{the ugly} I didn't burn enough calories to balance out the amount of tortilla chips & margaritas(s) I consumed that night at dinner.  :-/

An Accidental Athlete (John Bingham's book pre-order)

Good news!  John Bingham, better know as "The Penguin", has a new book coming out. I pre-ordered my copy of An Accidental Athlete this morning.  Looks like the release date is scheduled for August 1.  I love the way this guy motivates everyday couch [or recliner in my case] potatoes like myself to get out & hit the road running - or waddling.  If you're unfamiliar with John's work, check out his website, www.johnbingham.com.  Here's more about his new book...

Boulder, CO, USA - August 1, 2011 - Known by fans as "The Penguin" for his back-of-the-pack speed, John Bingham is the unlikely hero of the modern running boom. In his upcoming book An Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Middle Age, the best-selling author and magazine columnist recalls his childhood dreams of athletic glory, sedentary years of unhealthy excess, and a life-changing transformation from couch potato to "adult-onset athlete."


Overweight, uninspired, and saddled with a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit, Bingham found himself firmly wedged into a middle-age slump. Then two frightening trips to the emergency room and a conversation with a happy piano tuner led him to discover running-and changed his life for the better.


In turns inspiring, poignant, hilarious, and heartbreaking, An Accidental Athlete is a warm and engaging book for the everyday athlete. Bingham tells stories of the joys of running-the pride of the finisher's medal, a bureau-busting t-shirt collection, intense back-of-the-pack strategizing. An Accidental Athlete is about one man's discovery that middle age was not the finish line after all, but only the beginning.

Out of time, energy, motivation, & oomph! [Training Day 160 Thur. 6/9/11]

6 miles
(should have been 14)
11:20 pace

Today did not go as planned.  My entire week has been this way.  The long run kept getting put off until it really didn't exist.  My mid-week runs keep getting pushed out & rescheduled for various reasons (field trips with the school, another horrible period,  the dreaded migraine that always follows my period, appointments, looking for a job, etc.).  Funny how life takes over from time to time. 

Not running makes me feel as though I've lost my zip.  Or has a lack of zip made me not want to run?  I feel as though the energy has been sucked from my body. 

Anyway, I cut the run short due to feeling like crap.  Plain and simple. I woke up this morning thinking it would be a 14 mile day.  After spending the entire morning on the phone, I no longer had time to spend hammering out 14 miles.  That meant no more than 8 miles.  After hitting the 3 mile mark, I realized that wasn't going to happen.  I was having to stop and take walk breaks in order to not puke.  Ugggg, it was such a gross feeling.  It was so hot out, the heat was making me feel super sick.  Yesterday's migraine might have contributed to this feeling a little, but I'm pretty sure it was mainly the heat.  I'll try again sometime this weekend, but will get an earlier start!

{the good} I got up and ran even though the cards were stacked against me, and I really didn't want to.

{the ugly} The "hungover" feeling my migraine left behind, and the barfy feeling caused by running in the heat.

Did you know it gets humid in Washington state??? [Training Day 156 Sun. 6/5/11]

4 miles
10:57 pace

Blah!  I felt heavy.  My boobs were KILLING me (hormones).  I hate runs like this one.

{the good} I did it!  I wanted to walk the whole way because I was so miserable, but I kept running.

{the ugly} H-U-M-I-D!  Oh my HELL, it was so humid.  By the time I reached the top of Monster Hill, I was literally dripping with sweat from my elbows.  Sweat was in my eyes to the point I couldn't see where I was going.  It doesn't get humid here often.  I'm no longer used to it.  I had forgotten just how much I hate running in high humidity!

The longest walk EVER [Training Day 155 Sat. 6/4/11]

8.4 miles

My husband and I decided to go for a loooooooong walk Saturday.  The kids were at Grandma's  house for the weekend.  We wanted to do something active, but not a run.  It was too hot for a run.  So we walked.  Come to find out, it was also too hot to walk.  Silly us for thinking walking would be cooler than running!  By the time it was said and done, my feet ached so friggin' bad, it felt like we had walked all over Disney World and back.  Why is running so much easier for me than a long walk????

{the good} We did something active.  This is extra good considering we chose to eat our way through the entire weekend.  lol

{the ugly} THE HEAT!  The blazing, horrid heat.  Thank God for 50 SPF sun lotion.

The run I forgot I ran [Training Day 153 Thu. 6/2/11]

4 miles
10:02 pace

Not only did I neglect to log it, but I forgot to blog it, too.  It was a really busy week.  :)

{the good} Have no clue because I don't recall running this one at all.  Thank goodness for a husband who knows my routine better than me!

{the ugly}  Ditto what I said for "the good" portion of this run.

D'oh! I re-vamped & re-uploaded my training plan....

So I was looking over my training schedule to see what next week will look like for me....when I realized I screwed it up the first time around.  I didn't account for any tapering before the Vancouver USA half marathon in June.  Not good considering these legs are beggin' for a good taper.  So I fixed it. 

In an attempt to create a visual cue for myself, I listed taper weeks in red.  Let's see if my brain processes the information as planned.  If you want to read all of my reasons for laying out the schedule the way I did, click here.  Otherwise, here's the tweaked plan.....

Click here to view my plan.

Need a little accountability with your activity?

For about ten years now, I've been creating printable "activity charts" each month. Five years ago, I decided to start sharing them with the world on my other blog, www.LeadingTheWeigh.com.  

Most runners are pretty great about keeping track of their mileage.  However, if you're in need of a little extra oomph with running or cross training, maybe something as simple as as charting would help.  There's nothing like a visual aid to let you know what you are....or aren't doing. :)

Here's a link to the calendars/charts....
http://www.leadingtheweigh.com/2011/06/make-this-your-most-active-june-ever.html

Happy running & cross training in June!