16 miles...on the treadmill.

I can feel the pulsing in my legs right now.  I just finished 3 hours and 20 minutes straight on the treadmill.  Last night as I contemplated how long, far and where I was going to go for my long run today, I heard the wind howling and things banging up against the side of the house.  I got on the National Weather Service website and saw that there was a severe storm advisory for our area, including wind gusts of up to 60mph.  Um, yeah.  Not sure how it would be to run in that, but I decided to see how it looked in the morning.  It was still windy, and since it had snowed/rained, the roads were like a skating rink.  Sooooo....yep, the treadmill it was.  My goal was to go for at least 3 hours, thinking that the equivalent run out on the road for me would equal approximately 16 miles and I figured that would make a good, long run.  I ended up going for 3 hours 20 minutes, because on the treadmill I have to slow my normal pace a little bit just to feel like I do when I'm running outside, plus I took a walking break every 5 minutes.  So, a good way to kick off the New Year.  And I do have some ideas for ways I plan to improve things in the coming year.  More on that later.  :)

3+ miles...sprints.

I stayed up WAY too late last night watching The Office on Netflix with my husband.  We had gone out on a date earlier, going grocery shopping (yippee) and out to eat, and when we came home, after putting up said groceries and settling the munchkins in bed, we just got cozy in our jammies and cuddled in front of the TV, laughing non-stop until about 2:30am.  I paid for it dearly this morning when I got up around 7 and I attempted to work out and was feeling light-headed and nauseous while trying to run on the treadmill.  But...after a couple of hours, I persevered and overcame my mental and physical (temporary) limitations.  I did 20 minutes of intervals on the treadmill, then I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, mixed with strength training circuits, including sit-ups and step-ups for an additional 20 minutes.  Then it was back to the treadmill, because by that point I had passed the nauseous stage and was just sweaty and warmed-up.  I did 3 miles worth of sprints, then slowed the treadmill to a walking pace and did another 30 minutes.

I'm also excited that after all the Christmas hubbub was said and done, Chris and I did a budget meeting and with the aid of a little cash from Christmas gifts left over, we were able to order an exercise bike.  Granted, it's not an industrial quality one, but I did find it online for $165, which was $90 cheaper than the retail price and I think it will suit our needs for the time being.  It shipped yesterday and should be arriving early next week.  I love having something to look forward to, besides tax season. ;)  Happy New Year!

More "vacation" workouts...

Nothing too exciting going on the past couple days.  Yesterday my workout involved 30 minutes on the elliptical followed by 2 hours of walking on the treadmill.  Today, I did 75 minutes on the elliptical, followed by 45 minutes of walking on the treadmill.  My quads are gradually getting back to their normal state, which is only mildly sore.  I'm hoping to do a little running tomorrow, maybe even outside, if the weather holds. :)

Back to the grind.

This morning I decided I'd better get back to business with a good workout, considering the amount of junk food I've eaten the past few days.  ;)

I started out with 30 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes of circuit intervals using hand weights and step-ups.  Then I got on the treadmill for an hour of walking.  My quads have been quite sore since my run on Saturday, I'm guessing because of the amount of downhill that run involved.  I also realized that I need to bite the bullet and get outside for more than just one run a week.  I'm not sure the treadmill is cutting it, and since the YakTrax work so well, I've really got no excuse.  It may not happen until next week when the kids are back in school, though.

12 miles, done.

Well, I actually did get out and run long this morning.  This is where I ran:

It was a gorgeous day, though a little cold.  It was 4 degrees when I started my run at 9:45am.  The cold actually didn't bother me, though, because the wind was calm.  I did, however, need my YakTrax.  Those things are a wonder.  See that road?  Twelve miles of that and I didn't slip or slide at all.  

It's a lifestyle thing...

Yet another day, trying to keep the kids busy while they count the minutes until Sunday morning...

I did a treadmill walking workout this morning, a lengthy one at that.  I am reading another good book and I've found that it's very fulfilling to accomplish two things at once: exercising my mind and body.  So I spent a good 2 hours (8 miles) walking while I read.  After that, we ate lunch then bundled up the kids and headed out to a forest service road behind our house about a mile drive up a hill.  There we found a place for the kids to sled, Chris built a little campfire, and I spent some time hiking up and down the hills.  It actually felt like a pretty good workout in and of itself, and totally worth the view at the top!

Tomorrow, seeing as how it's Christmas Eve, I thought I'd celebrate by doing a long run in the morning before spending the rest of the day with the family.  My plan is to have my husband drop me off at the top of Buckskin Rd. (where the Pocatello Marathon route begins), then I will run back home which would give me a good 13+ miles.  I think I'm going to have to break out my YakTrax for the run, though. :)

Survival, day two...

On this, the second day of Christmas break with the kids, I was awakened at just before 7am, several little faces hovering over mine, asking if they could go outside and play in the snow.  Since I was then up for the day, I went ahead and got started on my workout.  I began with 30 minutes of Pilates, which felt great for my stiff, achy body.  After that I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, then moved on to the treadmill and did a 30 minute run at 6 mph.  Finally, with all of that finished, I bundled up and went outside with the kids, hauling my 5 year old in the sled while the others followed, the 4 blocks to the school where we went sledding for as long as we could stand the negative degree wind chill - which was about 35 minutes.

Well, today is my "last" day of freedom, at least for the next two weeks while my kids are on their holiday break.  I started my workout this morning by doing 30 minutes on the elliptical.  I would have liked to have done more time on there, but the stupid thing is really on it's last leg.  I'm getting tired of needing to stop, get off and adjust and tighten the bolt for every 5-10 minutes I spend on it.  Nothing I do seems to fix the problem permanently, so I hope it's not too long before we can afford to get a replacement...and a bike. ;)

Anyway, after the elliptical, I got on the treadmill and walked for 75 minutes at a quicker than normal (for me) walking pace: 4 mph.  Now, as I sit here eating my oatmeal and writing this blog, I'm thinking that if it warms up much above the 15 degrees it was when I took the kids to school this morning, I may go outside for a short run later.

XT Monday.

I began my workout this morning with a 30 minute "jog" on the treadmill.  I kept it at a nice, comfortable pace.  Then I got on the elliptical and did 5 minute intervals, alternating with my usual round of various cv/strength training exercises: sit-ups, step-ups, punches using hand weights, etc.  I did that for a total of 50 minutes, then I got back on the treadmill and walked for an hour and a half.  I know that to some of you this may sound like a ridiculous amount of time to spend working out.  Looking back through my blog posts, I realize I spend many hours a week devoted to exercise.  I feel like I'm on an endless and futile quest to morph my body into something it will probably never become - tight, toned, athletic, slim, unyielding, strong.  On the plus side, I really do enjoy the actual exercise part.  It's my hobby, I guess.  Now if I could just figure out a way to get paid for doing it...

9.5 miles.

It's long run day, but a scale-back week, so we (my husband and I) only did 9.5 miles this morning.  It's a good thing, too, because for some reason my hamstring decided to flare up.  One of the annoyances of running is that one week you can feel great, strong, powerful on a run, only to feel flabby, weak and limpy on another.  I'm hoping that the cycle will work out in my favor because next week we're shooting for 17 miles for our long run.

When we got home, I wanted to keep my legs moving, but without the stress of running, so I got on the treadmill and walked for another 1/2 hour.  I did Pilates for 30 minutes before we left for our run, which I had hoped would help with the hamstring issue...obviously not.  Tomorrow, rest. :)

7+ miles.

I started out my day by doing 30 minutes of Pilates this morning.  It occurred to me recently that I've kind of been slacking in my consistency in doing either Yoga or Pilates a few days a week.  I am starting to notice the difference in my body from not doing it and I need to fix that.  After I finished with the Pilates, I got on the treadmill and did a 7 mile run, with some walking at the beginning and end for warm up and cool down.

3 miles plus...

This morning I started out with 10 minutes of Pilates to warm up, then I got on the elliptical and did a circuit workout, alternating 5 minutes on the elliptical with 2 minutes of strength training or calisthenics, for a total time of 50 minutes.  After that, I got on the treadmill and did a 3 mile run.  I also have planned to do lots of walking on the treadmill today while I continue reading my book, but I won't get to that until I get some other things done first.  Besides needing to run to the store for a few more Christmas related items, I generally like to do a "toy/kids stuff" purge and re-organization leading up to Christmas.  That way their rooms and closets don't become a black hole on Christmas day.  :)  That's what's on my agenda for today.

Still alive...

Apparently I've missed blogging for a few days.  ;)

That doesn't mean I haven't been getting in my workouts, though.  I did take a rest day on Sunday, after our long run on Saturday.  My recovery has been really good, though, so I didn't feel like I needed to rest too much.  Yesterday I did a decent cross-training workout, starting with 90 minutes on the elliptical and then doing about 15 minutes of upper body strength training.  Today, I didn't have much time in the morning, but I did get in 40 minutes on the elliptical before my husband and I headed out to finish our Christmas shopping...mission (almost) accomplished.  This evening, once the household was settled down for the night, I was also able to do about an hour of walking on the treadmill while I started reading book three in the Hunger Games series.  Tomorrow I plan to do some running while watching the Biggest Loser season finale that airs on regular TV tonight!

The coldest 15.5 mile run...ever!

I was so optimistic for a good run today, the forecast called for sun and high temps in the mid-30's.  My husband and I waited a bit, instead of our usual early morning start, and headed out around 8:30.  Though it still felt cold, it seemed like it was going to be tolerable.  Until we met the wind, which pretty much lasted from about mile 3 until the end of our run.  We even altered our original course plan, we had hoped to do 16 miles today and instead we cut it short by about a 1/2 mile.  We had dressed (we thought) warm enough, but nothing could have prepared us for the wind chill.  Luckily, I was wearing my Under Armour jacket which has one of those cowl necks that you can pull up around your face and over your nose.  It saved me, I'm sure of it.  My husband, on the other hand, looks like he may have gotten a little frost bite on his cheeks. :(  At some point I think I heard him say, "I am never running outside again all winter!"

On the bright side, other than the cold, I felt great.  I mean, my legs and body were fully cooperative today and I even felt I had more in me by the time we got home.  That makes me happy.  I honestly think that the many hours I have logged in the past few weeks of just walking on the treadmill have really helped me with my long run endurance.  And considering how today's run went, I think I see a lot more treadmill in my future.

11 mile walk.

I've been at it reading the second book in the Hunger Games series, so after I did 40 minutes on the elliptical this morning, I got on the treadmill and started walking.  Eleven miles later and I've only got about a chapter to go.  I like walking because I feel like I could do it forever.  Tomorrow I might do a simple workout in the morning, if I have time before cub scouts, but I mostly want to use tomorrow as a rest and recovery day.  On Saturday morning my husband and I plan to attempt a nice, long run - the first outdoor run for me in over a week and a half.  The temperatures are supposed to be more mild (reaching the 30's), so it should be a great day for a run.

5 miles.

I did a little more running today, since my leg is feeling a bit better.  But first, I started out my workout by doing 30 minutes on the elliptical and about 15 minutes worth of strength training exercises.  Then I got on the treadmill and did a 5 mile run.  When I finished with that, I slowed to a walk and did another 30 minutes of walking.

3 miles and other stuff.

I completely forgot about blogging yesterday.  Until today, I've actually been taking a bit of a rest from running. I have an injury with one of my hamstrings.  I'm not sure how I did it exactly, and it's actually probably more of an overuse injury than anything.  It feels like a rubber band stretched to it's absolute limit from the left, back of my knee all the way up to the top of my glute.  I can't stretch it out and when I run, it feels like it could snap.  I've even been feeling painful spasms in that area when I'm not working out at all, so I have just been doing what I can.

Yesterday I spent an hour on the elliptical, then walked on the treadmill at a medium pace for another hour.  Today, I started out doing 10 minutes of Pilates to warm up, then I got on the elliptical and did a circuit: 5 minutes on the elliptical, then running up and down the stairs for about 2 minutes, 5 minutes on the elliptical then 2 minutes of step-ups using hand weights, 5 minutes on the elliptical then 50 sit-ups.  I repeated that whole sequence 2 times.  After that, I did attempt some running on the treadmill.  I kept it pretty easy, only going up to about 5mph.  I did that for almost 3 miles, then I walked for another 30 minutes.

Dedication, Determination, Inspiration...

Love the new shirt from Everyday Endurance, thanks to the gift card giveaway at Runningonstilts.blogspot.com!

12 miles...walking.

A couple of days ago I picked up the copy of "The Hunger Games" that we had laying around the house that my 11 year old just finished reading.  I'm a little slow on this one, since I'm sure I'm the last person on earth to read this book.  Of course, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.  So, yesterday and today's workout consisted of walking on the treadmill as I read the book.  Yesterday I did 8 miles, and today I completed 12 miles, as well as the book.  On my 12 miles today, I put the incline up just a little, to make the walking a little better workout.  I had planned to do a long run outside today, but I slept in and even when I got up, just before 8 this morning, it was still extremely cold outside and I just decided to stick with the treadmill.  I definitely am feeling like it's time for me to revisit the idea of coming up with a concrete training schedule of some kind.

Oh, some of the things I ordered using my gift card to Everyday Endurance arrived in the mail today!  Maybe later I can sport a new shirt for a photo...

XT workout.

A lackluster morning.  My energy level is a little on the low side.  I still got in an okay workout, doing an hour on the elliptical followed by half an hour on the treadmill.  I set the treadmill at a pretty steep incline and put on my 5 pound ankle weights and used my hand weights while I "hiked" uphill.  I had planned on doing an hour on the treadmill as well, but after 30 minutes I felt like taking a nap instead.  I don't know if the nap will happen today, but hopefully my energy level will pick up.  Tonight...my childrens' school Christmas program!