Training with coach Bernie

I ran 5 miles today with my training group. It is a beautiful run along the Banana River. The path is right along the river, I mean very, very close to the river. It is a really pretty run. I ran with a lady from our group. We are very close to the same pace. It was a very enjoyable run. we talked the whole way and made the time go by very quickly.

I was stressing a little about not doing more miles. Group 3 did 8 miles today. But Coach Bernie said in 2 weeks I can transition to group 3. Then from there I will probably need to add some extra miles to be ready for the full marathon in January. But I will talk to Coach Bernie about that once I transition to group 3 and am able to keep up with that. As the time gets closer I am feeling the pressure to up my miles, but I also don't want to mess up my ankle any more. I think it will all work out. I am trying to stay positive, I want to do this Disney marathon so badly. I would be very disappointed if anything went wrong now. I am lucky to be under coach Bernie. He is very knowledgeable and very patient with me. :)

If only I could see my results

Ok as you know my Garmin is really great. And after my run I was feeling really great. I was feeling 10 years younger and strong. I was really on a high. Then I went to look at my Garmin for my results.... and humbly reached into my purse to pull out my reading glasses so I could see the screen. Dammit. And I was feeling so good. If only my eyes worked as good as my legs. Oh and BTW. My Garmin does tell time. It is just so little at the bottom of the screen I didn't see it. LOL But with my Garmin and my reading glasses ... I can do anything. :)

I beat my last 5k by almost a minute!!!!!!!

That is right. You heard me. I beat myself. LOL Today I ran the Turtle Krawl, to help the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. My last 5K was on July 3rd, the Firecracker. My time then was 36:45.0 and my average pace was 11:50 minute mile. Today my time was 35:49.1 and my average pace was 11:32 minute mile. And according to my Garmin, my best pace during the run was 8:33 minute mile. That sprained ankle didn't set me back much on my time. Now I just have to work on distance.

The ankle didn't swell up too much... just a little. But I iced it good and took a nap. :) Tomorrow is my group run. Coach Rick says 5 miles. Lets see how I do. I am ready. I feel good. Hell! I feel great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

garmin on a bike

Ok today is my cross training day. So I took my bike for a ride. It was windy and cloudy, but no rain. And believe it or not a little coolness in the air. It was a nice bike ride. I would have gone longer but it started getting dark and I don't have a light. However, the garmin worked with amazing accuracy. It tracked my pace and distance. I love that little watch. A guy at work was teasing me about spending $150 for a watch that doesn't tell time. I said it will tell me how far I want and how long it took me to get there, it just won't tell me what time I got there.

But I don't care I LOVE my garmin.

Oh and my training???? 30 min bike ride, 5 miles. :) According to the garmin I used 500 calories. But I question that.

Afterward I had some whole wheat pasta, veggie sauce with soy sausage. YUM. :)

Garmin forerunner 305

Today was an exciting day. Today is the day I decided to buy my dream gps watch. The coveted Garmin Forerunner 305. After much research and months of debate I bit the bullet. I wanted so badly to use it on my run tonight. But when I got it out of the box the first thing the instructions said was to plug it in and charge it for 3 hours. So by 10:30 tonight it will be charged up and ready to go. But by 10:30 tonight I will be on my own charger (my pillow) and so not ready to go. So the anticipation will have to wait until the morning. I can't wait to get up. I won't run of course. But I can still use the watch. Yes I will use my fancy gps watch to map out the same mile I walk every morning. LOL

As for my workout today... This morning I got up and walked one mile. This evening I jogged/walked 4 miles in 1 hour 58 seconds. I did a little tempo running. 4 minutes of faster running along with slower runs and walks. My ankle seemed to be doing fine with the faster bursts. I think it is ready to start taking on a little more speed work. Of course I say that now as I get ready to ice it. We'll see how it does in the morning.

Sweet dreams. As for me I will be dreaming of my Garmin. :)

Oars and Paddles

Today was my group run at Oars and Paddles park. I got there at 7:00 am ready to run. About 10 mins into my run my shins started hurting like crazy. I was really discouraged. By the 2 mile mark I stopped to get a drink and rest a while. By then the shins were burning so I decided to turn around and head back. I was supposed to do 5 miles but I didn't want to push it and get stranded. The coach, Michelle said I may not have warmed up enough prior to the run. She was right because half way back to the park my shins stopped hurting. Once at the park I stopped by the restroom and then headed back out to finish that last mile. So I got 5 miles in. That was the goal for group 2. Group 3's goal was 7 miles. Coach Bernie didn't think I was ready for the 7 miles yet and he was right.

My ankle swelled up a little but not too bad. I have been icing it off and on today.

Tonight I went for a 2 mile walk, nice a slow. My lower legs are a little sore, but I guess that means progress. I am hoping to start picking up some mileage, but Coach Bernie says to be patient. Hopefully I will be with group 3 soon. And then somehow I need to start adding extra miles to the training to be prepared for the marathon. But I guess for now I need to be patient and take it one day at a time. Tomorrow is our rest day.

walking

Yesterday I traded my 2 mile scheduled run for a 2 mile walk. I just feel the ankle needs that little bit of extra rest. Today is a rest day. I am really hoping to do 7 miles on Sunday. But I also don't want to push my ankle too much. I want to get back on schedule for this marathon and I feel time is running out. 26.2 miles is a long way.

1 hour at the gym

today is my cross training day. I spent 30 mins on the stationary bike and 30 mins on the elliptical machine. My ankle did not swell after my 4 mile run yesterday. I think I am ready to push it harder. Sunday the group 3 is scheduled for a 7 mile run and group 2 is scheduled for a 5 mile run. I am going to push for the 7 miles. :)

4 miles

Well I let my training slip just a bit this holiday weekend. I spent a few days in the Carolinas. However I did manage a 3 mile run on the treadmill Saturday morning. And my ankle didn't swell. It did swell after my Thursday night fun run. All day in the car Friday it was swelling. But sitting in the car for 10 hours didn't help.

However today I got back on track. I ran 4 miles in 54:58. Not bad considering a few weeks ago I couldn't walk at all. :) and getting caught in a downpour helped with my speedwork for sure. :)

things are just swell

Literally swell. My ankle has been swelling up all day. I emailed my coach (it is so nice to have a coach) and he said that is normal for just starting to run. So I am icing it. Today I didn't do any jogging, just 1 hour on the stationary bike. I have been icing it all day. I am hoping I can do my group run tomorrow night.