getting you up to speed

Hi Blog,

Ok I know I haven't written in a while. But like I said I have been kind of busy training. I'll give you some of the highlights....

I ran my first 10 miles last Sunday on 10/10/10. How exciting is that. My time was 2:18:04. The average pace was 13:48 min mile with my max pace of 7:43 min mile. According to my Garmin i burned 894 calories. The run went very smoothly up to mile 6. At mile 6 I fell off the side of the road and twisted over on my ankle a little bit. I was terrified thinking I re-injured my poor ankle. However, after further evaluation I realized the ankle was ok. A little tender but ok... so I finished the remainder 4 miles to complete my first 10 mile run.

This week my training was not very good. I had a bad cold which had me in bed most of the week. I got some antibiotics and attempted the "Pumpkins In The Park" race last night. My time wasn't very good. 37:22 for a 5k. But considering I still had a stuffy nose and chest congestion I guess I did alright. It was a lot of fun and my friend, Nancy Wingo, made first in her age group.

Coach Bernie wants me to do another 10 miles tomorrow so I am going to rest today. I am hoping to better my time from last week. My ankle is ok but still a little tender and my right knee is a little sore. But I am hoping they will be rested by tomorrow morning. My goal is to do the 10 miles in 2 hours 10 mins.

Wish me luck.

8 mile run

Dear Blog,

Sorry I haven't written in a while but I have been sort of busy.... training or a maraton. :) Today was freakin' awesome. I ran 8 miles along the banana river. It was a little cool and a nice breeze. It took me almost 2 hours. But I made it. I am very happy with my progress. My friend, Hika went with me. She was only going to do 4 miles but I talked her into to doing 8 with me. Actually I think she really wanted to do 8, it wasn't very hard to talk her into it. We had a really fun run. We were the last ones back with the group, but it didn't matter. The important thing is that I ran 8 miles.

Last Sunday we met at Cocoa and ran part of the 1/2 marathon course. I did 6 miles, but it was still very hot and very sweatty.

Next week is 9 miles, But I have no doubts I can do it! :)

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.

a little swelling won't keep me down

OK as part of my training program I got up early this morning and walked for about 5 mins as a warm up. Then I did a 1 min jog followed by a 1 min walk 10 times. That took me to about 2 miles. in 29:20 mins. Afterward the ankle swelled just a little so I took about 10 mins to ice it before getting ready for work. Then this afternoon around 3:00 pm my ankle started swelling so much I could feel it. I had to actually take my shoe off and ice it. This hasn't happened at work for weeks. I'm thinking that is normal since I have been working more than ever since the sprain. I emailed my coach for some advice. However, that didn't stop me from doing 1 hour on the stationary bike this afternoon after work. I think the bike actually helped to get some circulation going. There is a 5 k coming up the end of the month I hope I will be able to run it. I mean really run it. I can't wait to run again... without a brace. But I am not going to let it get me down. I am going to just keep working towards my goal. Tinker Bell will see me through. :)

2 miles 27:47

Ok That is certainly not my best time ... in fact it might be my worst... But I am very happy with it. I really wasn't sure I would be able to run one mile today much less 2. But I did it. I probably walked half and jogged half. And I was the last one to finish. I beat four others.

My first group run with this training class was a lot of fun. I am very excited and pleased with the progress my foot is making. I think by the end of the month I will improve greatly.

But for now I need to take it slow. There are 3 groups to the training class. Group 1 is for walk/runners. Group 2 is for run/walkers. and group 3 is for runners. Right now I am in group 1 but the coach thinks I will be in group 2 in a couple weeks and in group 3 in a few more weeks. I am anxious, but am following my coach's orders. He is very knowledgeable and has a lot of experience not only with running but with coaching as well.

The training is back in progress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 hour workout

Today I got in a good workout. I started out with 30 mins on the stationary bike at resistance level 9. Then I went on the teadmill. I walk/jogged at a 16:40 mile per minute pace for 2 miles. Then I got on the Elliptical machine at resistance level 9 for 30 mins. Then I finished up my workout with another 30 mins on the stationary bike at resistance level 9.

This was my first time on the treadmill since I sprained my ankle. At first it felt a little odd. The ankle did not like the jogging motion at first. I kept the pace at 16:40 at a very fast walk and every once in a while broke in to a light jog. I could only keep it up for about 5 mins at a time. But at least it is a start. I am slowly introducing it to the jogging motion. I am hopeful that within a week I will be able to do more jogging and less walking.

Tomorrow is my rest day and Sunday I meet for my first group run. We are going to have 2 mile timed runs. I know my time won't be very good but it will be interesting to see how fast I am able to go.

Of course all exercises are done with that silly brace on my foot. The dr. says to continue to wear it for another couple months when outside. I do it because I know I don't want to cause any more injury. God forbid I should roll over on it again.

short hair make you run faster

Well at least that is what I am telling myself these days. Yesterday I went to the gym after work and put 30 mins on the stationary bike and then another 30 mins on the elliptical machine. Then I went to get my hair cut. I figure if I am going to run in the park on Sunday mornings and Thursday afternoons in this heat I need to stay as cool as possible. So I got a really short spiky hair cut... because everyone knows... Short hair makes you run faster. :)

Today my brother-in-law celebrated his 70th birthday. So after work I went out to eat and had chocolate cake. I really need to run it off, but it is late. So I guess I will have to sleep it off instead. But I plan on hitting the gym tomorrow.

1/2 mile run

Yes you read that right... I said run. Ok actually more like a slow jog. But the point is I did more than a walk. I went to see my sports doctor today. I asked him when he thinks I could start running. He told me to run 1/2 mile tonight and see how is feels in the morning. If it's real sore then back off for a couple days and then try it again. If it is just a little sore (which is to be expected after not running for 4.5 weeks. ) Right now it feels ok and I am hopeful that it will be ok in the morning.

After my dr. appointment I did my normal mapped out mile. I walked abut 1/4 of it then slowly introduced a little jog. My ankle didn't like it too well so after a few steps I walked again. Then tried the little jog and got a little further. I did the walk jog thing for about 1/4 mile. Then I just took off and jogged (very slowly) the rest of the mile. I only took a couple short walk breaks. The doctor told me to slow increase my mileage and if the next morning the foot is a little too sore then to back off for a few days and work it again. He said that within 2 weeks I should be able to keep up with the 1/2 marathon training schedule. And in time I could add more miles to that.

I am very excited and eager to start my first group run, even if I will mostly be walking it. I know in time I will be running with the rest of them. :)

Kickoff to training camp

Tonight I went to a kickoff meeting for my running training camp. I got to meet the coaches and see my training schedule. My first long run will be this Sunday morning. I am looking forward to it, even though I can't run yet. The coach said not to worry the he will get me up to speed. I see my sports doctor tomorrow.... I hope I can start running soon. But in the meantime the elliptical machine will be my friend. :)

2 hour workout

This was my best workout to date I think... or certainly since I sprained my ankle. I put in 1 solid hour on the elliptical machine.. and I pushed it hard. I kept the resistance level between 11 and 13 the whole time. My rmp's were between 80 and 100. Then I got on the stationary bike and put in another hour. I took it a little easy on the bike keeping it at a steady resistance level 9. I am already sore.... but it is a really good sore. It's 8:30 pm and I'm off to bed. I worked hard and am going to sleep even harder. :) Oh first I think I'm going to ice my foot. It is just a little swollen and tender. but I think my workout today was good for it... it needs to toughen up and get with the program. ;)

Stronger ankle

Yesterday I walked one mile in 20 minutes. That was my fastest mile yet since I sprained my ankle.

Today I went to the gym and rode the stationary bike for 30 mins and resistance level 9. Then I got on the elliptical machine for 30 mins at resistance level 11. It was actually easier on my ankle to go at a higher resistance because it doesn't like to move fast yet. Then I got on the stationary bike and rode for another 30 mins at resistance level 11. My legs are feeling the workout and am sure they will feel it even more in the morning. However, I was glad that my ankle did so well on the elliptical machine today. I think in another week, with the level of progress I have been showing I will be ready to start running again. Or at least walk/jog... or... what I like to call "wogging". :)