last night/today

Got my run in last night. Did 5 miles as follows (bear in mind, it was supposed to be 5 *easy* miles):

mile 1: 5.3 mph - fine
miles 2-4: 5.4 mph - fine
mile 5: 6.0 mph - I just can't resist the fast finish last mile. Almost coughed up a lung here...

My legs were pretty tired from Sunday's run, so really none of it felt that easy.

Today is SRD, thankfully. Back at it tomorrow with EASY miles. :-)

I'm home from my run, and I'm pretty pleased w/ myself that I mustered up the motivation to get it done.

I did 6 miles as follows:
mile 1 - 5.3 mph at 2% grade
mile 2 - 5.3 mph, 1st .5 at 3% grade, 2nd .5 at 4% grade
mile 3 - 5.3 mph (recovery LOL)
miles 4 and 5 - 5.4 mph
mile 6 - 6.0 mph

I'm trying to approximate my May race w/ the first 2 miles uphill, and will keep doing a run similar to this every week until then. I'll admit, the incline during the 2nd mile just about killed me. I *clearly* need to do more hills.

I've also decided peanut butter on toast before a run is not a good thing. The peanut butter kept repeating on me, so to speak. Is that TMI?

Howdy, got in 5.5 miles at the gym tonight.

I was planning to run 10 or so, but I thought ahead to the menus for Saturday (italian holiday feast) and Sunday (southern - ham, black eyed peas, collard greens, hush puppies), and thought I might as well save the long run for one of those days to help me OFFSET the meal. :-)

I didn't get to the gym tonight, BUT I went over to my sister's and we did 3 miles run/walk. She wanted the company, and it was nice to be outside for some fresh air. I'll just go with the "exercise is exercise" theory, and get back to the running tomorrow night.

I'm baaaaaaack (aka consistency is key)

I'm baaaaack... :-)

I've really been having a problem lately getting motivated and staying motivated. Haven't been running much and haven't been watching what kinds of food I've been putting into my body (i.e. way too much cheese and crackers for dinner, not enough veggies). Anyways, I'm switching things up a bit. I've got a scale at home now, and am going to start journalling my food intake for a bit to get back to better portion control and also making sure I'm getting the right number of fruits and veggies, enough calcium, enough protein, etc. It's time to get back in gear - I just looked at my calendar (where I jot down my weekly weigh-in) and I'm 7 pounds heavier right now than I was at this time last year. That's just plain silly.

I'm going to take the running a day at a time - not every run has to be a 5 or 6 or 10 or 12 miler; I can do some short stuff too - the point is to get out there running, period. As I've said before (and clearly have a hard time executing the concept), CONSISTENCY IS KEY.

Also running related, my sis and I are cancelling for the MORE Half because she's not been able to get in much training due to injury. Oh well, saves me driving 640 miles roundtrip to/from NYC and also the $$ for gas for said miles. I have a half up here in June, and am in the lottery for the Nike NYC Half in July.

I have 6 miles on tap tonight, treadmill of course. 6 miles steady state. I have a habit lately of starting easy and then doing a fast finish for every run. Essentially, I guess I don't know how to maintain a pace. i.e. I start a run at 5.2 mph, and then keep bumping up my pace, an hour ends and I've covered 5.5 miles. However, I'm not sure that I could maintain 5.5 mph as my pace for an hour, and I think that's a problem.

So I'm going to start working on that and build some consistent speed over distance.

Blue sky out this a.m. Still looks cold out though, based on the crusted-over snow I'm seeing outside.

Last night, I went to the volunteer meeting for a race I work on up here. Very invigorating! During the meeting, the race organizers showed the trailer for "Spirit of the Marathon" which they've arranged to screen up here next Friday. I'm so darn excited to see it! I'm bringing my NRBF (non-runner boyfriend) - I'll probably be choked up and all emotional the whole time, and he'll probably be snoozing the whole time. :-)

I'll get in 6 miles or so tonight.

Did a quick 4-miler last night. 4 miles in 42:49, which would be a PR for me if it was a race (which it wasn't). Of course, I haven't raced a 4-miler in about 5 years, and I wasn't running regularly back then, so that's a pretty soft PR.

Would like to run tonight, but I have a volunteer meeting for a race I work at up here, so no can do. BAck at it tomorrow w/ 6 or 7 easy.

Lastly, a dear friend of mine lost his mother to cancer last night, so if you're inclined, please offer up a quick prayer...

long run tonight

I got in a short 3-miler on Saturday, then blew off my long run yesterday to go skiing instead. It was just too gorgeous a day to pass up, plus it's a chance to hang out w/ my Sis!



Back at it tonight w/ my long run, 12 miles. Forgot my gym bag on the kitchen floor, so will have to go home to get it - it will take *ALL* of my motivation to get back out of the house and to the gym. Anyone willing to bet on this? I'd give it a 50/50 chance right now. :-)