I had a good week. I neeeeeeeeeded a good week!
Monday, 3/21 - Zumba
Tuesday, 3/22 - off
Wednesday, 3/23 - 5 miles in 54 minutes (10:47 average)
Thursday, 3/24 - 5 miles in 52 minutes (10:28 average)
Friday, 3/25 - 3 miles in 32 minutes (10:47 average)
Saturday, 3/26 - 19 miles in 3 hours, 29 minutes (~11:05 average)
Sunday, 3/27 - off
Like I said, this was a good week! I really needed to have a good, solid long run - more for a mental/emotional boost than a physical one. I had been feeling pretty down on running for a while there, but I feel like last week's half marathon combined with this week's 19-miler (once again, uphill both ways!) has officially pulled me out of my slump.
I will say that the mid-week runs are getting harder and harder as my legs get more and more worn down from the mileage that keeps piling up. I'm sooooo looking forward to the taper. Totally the best part of any marathon training program. My taper starts April 9th (coincidentally, the Mister's birthday), the day after my 20-miler. I'm looking forward to my legs feeling "normal" when I run again, rather than completely worn out with every single step. But I do know that part of the reason marathon training gets so intense prior to my beloved taper is that your body needs to learn how to run on tired legs - because that is exactly what is going to happen on race day. So I'll keep pushing on through.
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 34
Completed (This Week): 32 (94%)
Scheduled (Overall): 343
Completed (Overall): 285 (83%)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Flying Pig Training Re-Cap: Week 12
Per the usual, this week's re-cap has been brought to you on a slight delay.
Monday, 3/14 - Zumba
Tuesday, 3/15 - off
Wednesday, 3/16 - 5 miles in 54 minutes (10:53 average)
Thursday, 3/17 - 5 miles in 54 minutes (10:49 average)
Friday, 3/18 - off
Saturday, 3/19 - off
Sunday, 3/20 - RACE DAY! Cincinnati Heart Mini - 13.1 miles in 2 hours, 19 minutes (10:26 average)
I am excited to report that I have finally run my first OFFICIAL half marathon! In all of my training to date, I have never signed up for a formal half marathon race until now. I gotta tell ya, this might be my distance. I definitely felt challenged and know that running a half requires a fair amount of training, but I didn't feel like I was going to flat out die afterwards (a common side effect of running any distance over 15 miles in one go), and - bonus! - I could walk without a limp the next day!
The weather was dreary, a bit chilly, and somewhat drizzly at times - but to me, it was great running weather. My mom and step-dad ran the 5k portion of the event that started right as I was finishing, and being as how they were my ride home, I had 45 minutes to kill as I waited. And THAT was when I really felt the cold! Thankfully, a local hotel allowed people to wait inside its lobby so at least I didn't have to shiver outside. That is something I learned about winter running - sometimes it doesn't even have to be that cold outside to give you a nasty chill as soon as that sweat starts drying.
Anyhow, I was pretty pumped with my time - I know it might not sound that fast, but my goal was 2:30 and to beat that by more than 10 minutes was exciting for me! The best part was that I felt pretty darn good throughout the race - even on the hills - and I was able to pick up the pace towards the end.
On the other hand, the days leading up to the race were rough. I had been feeling really worn out, and my legs were begging for a couple of rest days. So rest days they got! I cut my scheduled 8-miler down to 5 (my friend Ashley and I were both quite literally dragging our feet halfway through our St. Patty's Day run, and both of us agreed to skip out on the last three), and completely took off Friday and Saturday to prepare for Sunday's big race. As much as I hate to miss runs, I feel like it was the best decision, because I woke up rearing to go on Sunday morning!
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 31
Completed (This Week): 23 (74%)
Scheduled (Overall): 309
Completed (Overall): 253 (82%)
Monday, 3/14 - Zumba
Tuesday, 3/15 - off
Wednesday, 3/16 - 5 miles in 54 minutes (10:53 average)
Thursday, 3/17 - 5 miles in 54 minutes (10:49 average)
Friday, 3/18 - off
Saturday, 3/19 - off
Sunday, 3/20 - RACE DAY! Cincinnati Heart Mini - 13.1 miles in 2 hours, 19 minutes (10:26 average)
I am excited to report that I have finally run my first OFFICIAL half marathon! In all of my training to date, I have never signed up for a formal half marathon race until now. I gotta tell ya, this might be my distance. I definitely felt challenged and know that running a half requires a fair amount of training, but I didn't feel like I was going to flat out die afterwards (a common side effect of running any distance over 15 miles in one go), and - bonus! - I could walk without a limp the next day!
The weather was dreary, a bit chilly, and somewhat drizzly at times - but to me, it was great running weather. My mom and step-dad ran the 5k portion of the event that started right as I was finishing, and being as how they were my ride home, I had 45 minutes to kill as I waited. And THAT was when I really felt the cold! Thankfully, a local hotel allowed people to wait inside its lobby so at least I didn't have to shiver outside. That is something I learned about winter running - sometimes it doesn't even have to be that cold outside to give you a nasty chill as soon as that sweat starts drying.
Anyhow, I was pretty pumped with my time - I know it might not sound that fast, but my goal was 2:30 and to beat that by more than 10 minutes was exciting for me! The best part was that I felt pretty darn good throughout the race - even on the hills - and I was able to pick up the pace towards the end.
 |
| ... and it is for a great cause!! |
On the other hand, the days leading up to the race were rough. I had been feeling really worn out, and my legs were begging for a couple of rest days. So rest days they got! I cut my scheduled 8-miler down to 5 (my friend Ashley and I were both quite literally dragging our feet halfway through our St. Patty's Day run, and both of us agreed to skip out on the last three), and completely took off Friday and Saturday to prepare for Sunday's big race. As much as I hate to miss runs, I feel like it was the best decision, because I woke up rearing to go on Sunday morning!
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 31
Completed (This Week): 23 (74%)
Scheduled (Overall): 309
Completed (Overall): 253 (82%)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tragedy! Crisis!
I am a creature of habit. I am also verrrrrrry particular. Take my choice in gum: from the ages of 13 through 20, I only chewed one brand of gum:
I would refuse any other type of gum offered to me, and probably went through a pack or two every day. I was obsessed! Then one day, I guess I finally got sick of it - the very smell of someone chewing a piece of Winterfresh made me gag. I needed to move on.
And move on I did. Enter the incredibly fabulous Orbit White Spearmint:
I was in love. Orbit became mydrug gum of choice, and life was grand.
But something has gone awry. The other day, I was unable to find a single glorious green pack of heaven anywhere in my local grocery store. Okay, fair enough, perhaps they don't carry it anymore. That was just fine with me, as I usually buy my gum in bulk from my local Sam's Club anyway. Gotta stay stocked up.
But when I made a special trip to Sam's, tragedy struck. Nowhere in the entire gum and candy aisle was I able to locate my Orbit White Spearmint. I literally stood in the same exact spot for a good five minutes staring at the shelves, willing it to appear. And the worst part is, there was not even an empty spot for it - I think Wrigley and Sam had a nasty break-up and Orbit White Spearmint was part of the court settlement.
Oh but the horror continued to unfold when an awful thought entered my head: what if Wrigley is - gasp - discontinuing Orbit White Spearmint?! The non-"White" version (oh my, I promise that is not intended to sound ignorant!!) of Orbit suckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks.*
So I've come to a fork in the road:
(1) Choose a new brand of gum (blasphemy!). I've tried my best to like the Peppermint version of Orbit White:
*There may or may not have been an embarrassing incident in which my office Secret Santa gave me the regular Orbit Spearmint gum rather than Orbit White Spearmint gum. I may or may not have made a snide comment regarding the incorrect gum purchase. Said snide comment may or may not have been made directly to my Secret Santa, before I knew my Secret Santa's true identity. I considered quitting my job from sheer embarrassment alone.
And move on I did. Enter the incredibly fabulous Orbit White Spearmint:
I was in love. Orbit became my
But something has gone awry. The other day, I was unable to find a single glorious green pack of heaven anywhere in my local grocery store. Okay, fair enough, perhaps they don't carry it anymore. That was just fine with me, as I usually buy my gum in bulk from my local Sam's Club anyway. Gotta stay stocked up.
But when I made a special trip to Sam's, tragedy struck. Nowhere in the entire gum and candy aisle was I able to locate my Orbit White Spearmint. I literally stood in the same exact spot for a good five minutes staring at the shelves, willing it to appear. And the worst part is, there was not even an empty spot for it - I think Wrigley and Sam had a nasty break-up and Orbit White Spearmint was part of the court settlement.
Oh but the horror continued to unfold when an awful thought entered my head: what if Wrigley is - gasp - discontinuing Orbit White Spearmint?! The non-"White" version (oh my, I promise that is not intended to sound ignorant!!) of Orbit suckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks.*
So I've come to a fork in the road:
(1) Choose a new brand of gum (blasphemy!). I've tried my best to like the Peppermint version of Orbit White:
 |
| See? Even the Peppermint's free image is crappier than the Spearmint's! |
... but I just can't make it happen. I feel like I'm going to puke with every piece.
Option 2: Become obsessive about Orbit White Spearmint and try to track myself down a new supplier. Perhaps I'll buy a whole case like Elaine with the sponges. Don't put it past me!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Flying Pig Training Re-Cap: Week 11
I made Week 11 my bitch.
Monday, 3/7 - off (too sore and too cranky from 17 miles to Zumba the night away)
Tuesday, 3/8 - 5 miles in 52 minutes (10:34 average)
Wednesday, 3/9 - 8 miles in 1 hour, 27 minutes (10:49 average)
Thursday, 3/10 - 5 miles in 52 minutes (10:22 average)
Friday, 3/11 - off
Saturday, 3/12 - 18 miles in 3 hours, 32 minutes (~11:45 average)
Sunday, 3/13 - off
Only in Ohio can you go from 30 degrees with a nasty sleet/snow/rain mix to a beautifully sunny 66 degrees two days later. I do my mid-week runs after work, and usually don't take the time to remove my make-up from the day. The unexpected nasty weather on Wednesday, combined with my failure to prepare with waterproof mascara, and I kind of looked like this:
Speaking of Snooki, I'm proud to say that I have never seen an episode of Jersey Shore and don't have plans to change that anytime soon. There's too much drama in real life to waste time on reality TV.* I just learned (like a week ago) what "t-shirt time" meant - when my cousin posted the phrase on Facebook, I "liked" it because I thought she meant she was getting into her PJs to head to bed.
Today's 18-miler was a hilly one, to say the least. I ran near my house, so was able to stop home for a mid-run water re-fill - which was phenomenal. The only bad part is that my iPod re-set my work-out during my short break, so I have two runs logged: one for 10.8 miles and one for 7.2 miles. Here are the splits from each run:
Stop, re-set, GO!:
Once again, not too impressed with the times. Eh.
*Exception to the "no reality TV" rule: the best dance show EVER.
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 36
Completed (This Week): 36 (100%) <--yesssssssssssssssssssss!
Scheduled (Overall): 278
Completed (Overall): 230 (83%)
Monday, 3/7 - off (too sore and too cranky from 17 miles to Zumba the night away)
Tuesday, 3/8 - 5 miles in 52 minutes (10:34 average)
Wednesday, 3/9 - 8 miles in 1 hour, 27 minutes (10:49 average)
Thursday, 3/10 - 5 miles in 52 minutes (10:22 average)
Friday, 3/11 - off
Saturday, 3/12 - 18 miles in 3 hours, 32 minutes (~11:45 average)
Sunday, 3/13 - off
Only in Ohio can you go from 30 degrees with a nasty sleet/snow/rain mix to a beautifully sunny 66 degrees two days later. I do my mid-week runs after work, and usually don't take the time to remove my make-up from the day. The unexpected nasty weather on Wednesday, combined with my failure to prepare with waterproof mascara, and I kind of looked like this:
 |
| Source: http://honeygerman.com/site/2010/08/snookis-mug-shot-photo-released/ |
Today's 18-miler was a hilly one, to say the least. I ran near my house, so was able to stop home for a mid-run water re-fill - which was phenomenal. The only bad part is that my iPod re-set my work-out during my short break, so I have two runs logged: one for 10.8 miles and one for 7.2 miles. Here are the splits from each run:
| MILE | TIME | PACE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:50 | 10'50" |
| 2 | 22:25 | 11'35" |
| 3 | 34:11 | 11'45" |
| 4 | 45:33 | 11'22" |
| 5 | 57:00 | 11'26" |
| 6 | 1:08:35 | 11'35" |
| 7 | 1:20:24 | 11'48" |
| 8 | 1:32:21 | 11'56" |
| 9 | 1:44:14 | 11'53" |
| 10 | 1:56:24 | 12'10" |
Stop, re-set, GO!:
| MILE | TIME | PACE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11:52 | 11'52" |
| 2 | 23:51 | 11'59" |
| 3 | 36:04 | 12'13" |
| 4 | 48:06 | 12'01" |
| 5 | 1:01:04 | 12'58" |
| 6 | 1:13:38 | 12'33" |
| 7 | 1:25:16 | 11'38" |
Once again, not too impressed with the times. Eh.
*Exception to the "no reality TV" rule: the best dance show EVER.
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 36
Completed (This Week): 36 (100%) <--yesssssssssssssssssssss!
Scheduled (Overall): 278
Completed (Overall): 230 (83%)
SOTR: "She Wants to Move" - N.E.R.D.
The best part of my horrid 17-miler last week was hearing this song. I think the world has under-rated N.E.R.D., especially this particular song. Best dance song EVER!
Flying Pig Training Re-Cap: Week 10
As mentioned in the Week 9 re-cap, Week 10 was a less than stellar performance.
Monday, 2/28 - Zumba
Tuesday, 3/1 - off
Wednesday, 3/2 - 4 miles in 41 minutes (10:19 average)
Thursday, 3/3 - off
Friday, 3/4 - off
Saturday, 3/5 - off
Sunday, 3/6 - 17 miles in 3 hour, 23 minutes (11:55 average)
Three days off in a row! What was I thinking?! Truthfully,life laziness got in the way. But don't you worry, running gods, you got me back on that 17-miler: Worst. Run. Ever.
Now, I know the stats for the 17-miler don't sound all that terrible - under a 12 minute mile? I'll take it! But check out these splits - can you see when the trouble started?:
How is it even possible to hit the wall at only 12 miles? I had such an intense cramp that I almost called it quits. But I shuffled through the remaining 5 miles ("shuffled" is accurate, by the way - I'm not sure you could call what I was doing "running" at that point - it was an embarrassment to runners everywhere). Guess you have to have a bad run every now and then, huh? As long as I don't have one on May 1st, I'm good to go.
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 33
Completed (This Week): 21 (64%) <--blah.
Scheduled (Overall): 242
Completed (Overall): 194 (80%)
Monday, 2/28 - Zumba
Tuesday, 3/1 - off
Wednesday, 3/2 - 4 miles in 41 minutes (10:19 average)
Thursday, 3/3 - off
Friday, 3/4 - off
Saturday, 3/5 - off
Sunday, 3/6 - 17 miles in 3 hour, 23 minutes (11:55 average)
Three days off in a row! What was I thinking?! Truthfully,
Now, I know the stats for the 17-miler don't sound all that terrible - under a 12 minute mile? I'll take it! But check out these splits - can you see when the trouble started?:
| MILE | TIME | PACE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:44 | 10'44" |
| 2 | 21:34 | 10'49" |
| 3 | 32:30 | 10'56" |
| 4 | 43:23 | 10'53" |
| 5 | 54:22 | 10'58" |
| 6 | 1:05:36 | 11'13" |
| 7 | 1:16:55 | 11'19" |
| 8 | 1:27:56 | 11'00" |
| 9 | 1:39:18 | 11'21" |
| 10 | 1:50:37 | 11'19" |
| 11 | 2:02:24 | 11'47" |
| 12 | 2:16:28 | 14'03" |
| 13 | 2:29:04 | 12'35" |
| 14 | 2:42:05 | 13'01" |
| 15 | 2:55:21 | 13'16" |
| 16 | 3:09:09 | 13'47" |
| 17 | 3:22:42 | 13'33" |
How is it even possible to hit the wall at only 12 miles? I had such an intense cramp that I almost called it quits. But I shuffled through the remaining 5 miles ("shuffled" is accurate, by the way - I'm not sure you could call what I was doing "running" at that point - it was an embarrassment to runners everywhere). Guess you have to have a bad run every now and then, huh? As long as I don't have one on May 1st, I'm good to go.
2011 Flying Pig Training Mileage Stats
Scheduled (This Week): 33
Completed (This Week): 21 (64%) <--blah.
Scheduled (Overall): 242
Completed (Overall): 194 (80%)
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