I did something I've been wanting to do...

For a while now I've been waiting for the right opportunity to do something different and fun - run to the gym from our house then do a workout when I get there.  This morning I got up with it in my mind that I was going to run 20 miles.  Prior to today, my weekly running mileage was at 32 miles and I figured if I ran 20 today I would be at 50+ for the week and that would be pretty cool.

I left the house early - 6am - equipped with my husband's headlamp and all my water and fuel for a 20 miler.  My husband, on the other hand, was planning to do a workout at the gym a little later in the morning.  When I got to about 6 or 7 miles, I realized there was an opportunity presenting itself.  The route I was running would lead me right to the gym, if I kept going past my intended turn around point.  So I called my husband and told him I would meet him there and then we could come home together.  I felt really good on my run, too.  When I got to the gym I had gone 13.5 miles and I really felt like I could have kept on going.  I guess that's a good thing, right?

Then I went into the gym and did almost a half hour of strength training, mostly biceps.  On my way, I just had to snap a picture next to this Port-a-Potty.  It's on a route that I take frequently for longer runs and sometimes...well, I'm just so glad it's there.  :)

So I didn't hit the  50 mile mark for the week, but I did end up with 45 miles for the week and I'd say that's a dang good week of training.  And I'm not even training for anything.  Sheesh...I need to find a marathon to sign up for.

Later in the afternoon, we went on a family drive in the mountains near town and got these great photos.  Just   thought I'd share them with you all. :)

Breakthrough.

Going into this week, I was a tad concerned about how my normal workouts would go.  You see, my favorite instructor at the gym was on vacation and I knew I would be facing a week of substitutes.  Of course, I still got in all my favorite classes, minus two of my usual spin classes - Monday and Friday.  Instead of doing those two classes, I did a little extra running.  And that, it turns out, made for a great week.

Yesterday would normally have been the day I have two classes with said instructor.  In the morning I went to the gym and did 20 minutes of weights on my own, then went to spinning with substitute number one for the day.  Spin class was fine, and while not quite as intense as the classes I'm used to, I still worked up a really good sweat.  Then after lunch, I went back to the gym for class #2 for the day: Muscle Fusion X.  The sub for this class was hard core!  I think I got as good of workout in that class as I did the first time I ever took the class when I thought I might actually throw up.  We pulled out all of the equipment for this class: barbell with weights, hand weights, steps (with extra height), bands, mats and skater slides.  We did the usual leg-type exercises - lunges, squats, calf raises, jumps.  Then we did some arm work - tricep dips, inverted push ups, clean and press.  All of this strength training mixed with a variety of cardio - burpees, skaters, running laps, steps, mountain climbers and a bunch of other stuff, I don't even remember it all.  Yeah, it was awesomely hard. :)

(Slide mat for skaters and mountain climbers.)

Today I did some more running.  I didn't have time to do too long of a run, since I had to be at cub scout meetings by 10.  I started out at around 6:30 and since it was still dark outside, I just headed to the park to run laps around the track.  I ended up doing 5.15 miles in just under 55 minutes.  I actually felt pretty good, too.  It was kind of nice to just put my pace on cruise-control, with no hills to worry about, and just run at a steady, comfortable pace.

Tomorrow I plan to do some more running, and if I have time to fit it in, a long run.  I'm trying to make a little weekly goal I've set.  Tune in tomorrow to see if I reached it... ;)

Yesterday Spin and weights, today RUN!

I had a fun workout day yesterday.  I did my usual 8:30 spinning class, after doing about 20 minutes of heavy lifting in the weight room.  Then I went to Muscle Fusion class, where I spent an hour doing lots of reps of squats, lunges, dead lifts, cleans and presses, bicep curls, rows and various versions of ab crunches.  I decided to increase my weight from last week, which seemed like a good idea at the time.  Today when I woke up with sore...well, everything...I had to question that decision!  Haha!  Not really, you all know I love to be sore because it means my body is changing. :)

(Clean and press.)

So today my plan was to do some running.  When I first started to move around after getting out of bed, I really wasn't sure how far I'd feel like going because my calves and glutes were especially sore.  But the weather was so perfect for running - clear, sunny skies, cool temperatures - I knew I just needed to get out there and start running and I would feel better.  Once I got going, I decided to do a 9 mile loop.  After the first couple of miles, I even started to feel so much better that I began watching my pace and made a goal to keep it as close to 10:30 min./mile as I could for the duration of the run.  When I finished the 9.2 miles, my average pace was 10:26 - not too bad.  It actually felt like I was working harder and going faster than that, but I'm guessing that with my muscles being in recovery mode, they were probably working harder just to keep that pace.  It's all good, though.  I was enjoying an endorphin overflow the rest of the day.  That's what running does for you.  But you all know that, right? ;)

17 miles up a creek...

 Mink Creek, that is. :)

Still soaking in the motivation that came after spending Sunday watching about 100 people, including my husband, run a marathon in scenic Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I decided to do my own awe-inspiring long run this morning.

I started at my house and took a route that followed roads up to a national forest area.  It took me the first 8 or so miles to get through town (a rural area, but still "town") and start the main portion of my climb.  I used a 5:1 run/walk ratio from the beginning.  I wasn't sure quite how far I would go, but I knew I was going to try to go at least 15-17 miles, maybe more, depending on how I was feeling.  My husband was home from work all day recovering from his marathon, and the kids were at school, so I told my husband I would call him when I was done running and he could just come and get me wherever I ended up.

My legs were already starting to feel tired by mile 10, but it was so peaceful and so beautiful out there on those empty roads, that I didn't want my time out there to end.  I pushed through the mild cramping and pulling I was feeling in my calves and hamstrings, trying to get as far up the canyon as I could before turning around for a couple of miles of downhill and then calling it good.  I made it to mile 15, then turned around and "cruised" down for a couple of fun miles.  I saw my husband's vehicle approaching about the time I was almost at 17 miles and I motioned for him to take a few photos of me before I ended my run.  So, thanks to my personal photographer, I have all of these lovely photos to share with you! :)

In the end, my total elevation gain was around 1900 feet.  No wonder my legs were killing me when I was done!  I also tried out my camel-back for the first time on a run.  I've used it many times for hikes, but not for running.  While I definitely love that it allows me to carry much more water (and anything else I might need) for a long run than my hydration belt, it was also much heavier.  Once I was used to it, I actually didn't mind it much, but I do think it contributed to my slower than normal pace.  I'm planning to start doing more long runs and also trail runs so I thought it would be a good idea to practice using it more often.

A weekend in Jackson Hole.

On Sunday my husband ran his second ever marathon!  We had a great time spending a couple of days in beautiful Jackson Hole as a family, and supporting him on his endeavor.  I took a gazillion photos, but I'll just share a few of my favorites with you all.  If anyone out there is looking for a great destination marathon to run, or if you are trying to be a member of the 50 states club - this would be a great one for you!

The course starts in downtown Jackson, then follows paved nature trails, side roads and highway to make it's way to the world famous ski resort of Teton Village.  The course is pretty flat, but the elevation in Jackson is around 6400' above sea level.  While that elevation is only a slight increase for us from where we live in the mountains of Idaho, Chris said he did hear some of the other non-local runners complaining about the effect the altitude was having on them.

The night before the race, we went on a short drive in the area and spotted lots of moose, deer and even a little black bear.  There have been so many wildfires in the region that the smoke in the air was thick, making it hard to get a good view of the Teton mountains, but it was still gorgeous.

Chris looked strong the whole run.  At around mile 23 when we checked in with him, he was complaining of a lot of pain in his knees and the tops of his feet, but he hung in there and got it done!  We're so proud of him.

And check out the unique medals they gave out this year!

Where else would you get a cool medal like that?! :)

A couple of days gone by...and before and after pics!

Thought I'd check in with y'all before I'm gone for a couple of days with our family to support my husband as he runs his second marathon!

Yesterday was a typical Thursday for me.  After getting the kids to school, I headed to the gym for a 20 minute strength training session followed by a spin class.  Then I went to the grocery store before going back to the gym for Muscle Fusion X at noon.  Man, I love that class.  Almost as much as I love spinning, which I love almost as much as I love running.  So many 'loves' in my life right now. :)

This morning, after sleeping in until 7:30, I had time to do a few miles on the treadmill before going to the gym for another spin class.  I spent the rest of the day preparing all kinds of snacks, sandwiches and meals to take with us in the cooler to help me keep things "clean" even while we're out on the road.  It's only a two day trip, but it took me over 5 hours to get all the food fixed and pack our bags and get things ready to go.  I actually wish we could stay longer.  I love Jackson Hole in the fall.  I can't wait to share pictures with you all.  Definitely one of the most beautiful places ever, although there is a lot of smoke in the air right now due to all the wildfires in our region.  I just hope it doesn't affect Chris too much while he is running his marathon.

So I finally think I'm starting to notice some changes in my body from all the strength training I've been doing, and also most likely as a result of the tweaks in my diet for the past month or more.  On the left, a picture of me after getting ready to go on a date with my husband last night.  And just for fun, a picture of me in 2001, hiding behind my baggy sweater and pants:

Wow.  What a difference a decade makes, right?!  Who would have thought I'd look better at 37 than I did at 27.

I haven't worn these particular jeans since the winter, so I was pretty excited that when I put them on, they fit even better than they used to.  I'm still anxious to continue to see improvements as I stick with a clean diet and keep doing the new classes I've added to my weekly routine.  No more hiding in baggy clothes. :)

A recap of yesterday, 6 miles today and Tosca Reno.

Right now I feel like I'm in the mode of just plugging along day to day.  I haven't set any official goals yet, although I am coming closer to making some decisions.  In the meantime, my focus is on taking things one day at a time, one workout at a time, one meal at a time.

Yesterday's workouts included 20 minutes of heavy lifting at the gym before going to spin class.  After spinning I came home and got some things done around the house before heading back to the gym for another class in the evening - Muscle Fusion.  Our normal instructor for the class was sick, so we had a substitute.  It was still a tough workout, though and I increased my weights on most of the exercises, getting particularly heavy on the squats, lunges and also on the bicep reps.

This morning I had intended to head out for a run.  I wasn't sure how long or how far, but I knew I just wanted to run.  After getting the kids off to school, however, my stomach was giving me some trouble so I decided to stay home and use the treadmill, where I could also be close to a bathroom. ;)

I ended up doing a little over 6 miles at a steady pace of between 10-11 min. miles.  It also gave me a chance to get caught up on last week's episodes of The Voice.  Now I just need to catch up on this week...

In nutrition news, I'm still going strong and steady with the clean eating lifestyle, although I am finding that I'm having a few issues crop up.  I have had no trouble steering clear of processed and refined sugar and flour, and I also have no problem getting plenty of whole grains, nuts and fruit.  I drink tons of water, avoid most dairy, opting for my unsweetened almond milk instead, and haven't been drinking diet soda.  I am finding, however, that I'm having a harder time coming up with ways to get all of my lean protein and vegetables in, since there are fewer options for me, at least things that I like.  I've been eating a lot of fish - tilapia or some other kind of white fish - almost daily, along with chicken breast several days a week.  I also got some new, all natural, high quality protein powder, which I've started to take first thing in the morning and also after hard workouts.  I find that most of my green vegetables come from my homemade juice (spinach, kale, carrots, squash, pears, apples) or from salads, but it's difficult for me to branch out much further than that.  Tonight I decided to try something new to go with our fish - pan fried zucchini.  I've never really liked zucchini, except in baked goods, but I got creative and tried my own recipe.  I sliced the zucchini, put some olive oil in a pan, dipped the slices in a mixture of egg and pumpkin puree, then coated them with a mixture of cornmeal, whole wheat flour and sea salt.  Once the oil was heated, I pan "fried" the zucchini slices for a couple of minutes on each side.  Sounds good, right?  Well, the coating was lovely, but it didn't make me like zucchini any more than I did before.  I forced myself to eat a couple of slices, but I don't think I'll be making it again.

I've ordered one of Tosca Reno's (the eat clean lady) books and it should be here any day...just in time, I guess! :)

Tosca Reno's before and after pics.

Book Review: Running the Edge

I'm lucky to have been given the opportunity to read and review the newly revised edition of Running the Edge by Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano.  The cover touts, "Discover the secrets to better running and a better life."  I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is not your typical book about running.  There are no tips on speed work, training schedules or nutrition, but rather an introspective guide to determining your personal standpoint on running (and fitness) as it pertains to the other areas of your life, helping you focus on becoming an all-around better person.

Most runners have several personality characteristics in common.  Runners are, in varying degrees, typically driven, motivated, goal-oriented, hard working individuals.  As I read this book, I found I could easily relate to the ideas presented about how to hone those characteristics and branch them out to encompass a broader, more fulfilling life experience.  The psychological aspects of running are brought into clarity and there are journal entry suggestions throughout the book to assist you in going through the process of self-discovery as you read.

I loved reading the short stories from both Adam and Tim, portraying their personal experiences with the concepts presented in each chapter.  I can tell that this is a book I will come back to at times when workouts seem stale and I need a jump start in reestablishing that richer, more rewarding experience.  This book is a well-written reminder of how we can use running as an important block of life on which to build other meaningful relationships and experiences.

10 mile trail hike and spinning.

A near perfect day.  As soon as the kids were at school, Chris and I went to one of our favorite trails and hiked for about 10 miles, stopping for a picnic lunch and enjoying the gorgeous fall colors.  We saw some deer and lots of moose sign.  It was peaceful and perfect.  Not a bad workout, either.  There was an elevation gain of about 1000', so that makes for a great cardio burn, and on the way back down our quads got their workout, too.

We spent about 4 -5 hours in the mountains, then came home before the kids were out of school.

After dinner, I went into town by myself to go to a spinning class at the gym.  I will probably be doing most of my gym time alone this week, since Chris is gearing up for a marathon this weekend.  He's running in Jackson Hole and I'm so excited that we get to go along for the ride!  We'll be driving support for him and enjoying the beautiful Tetons while we watch him run! :)

17.5 miles, just for the fun of it. :)

I may have bitten off more than I could chew, once again.  As I started out on my long run this morning, I thought I would do a 20 miler - 10 miles out and back.  I started down a road I haven't run in a while, even though it's a mostly uphill route, at least on the way out.  On the way back, I get to enjoy the downhill.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  A little bit chilly, but not too cold.  The sun was shining and it was beautiful. As soon as I started to run, I knew it was going to be a challenge for me to go that far, but I just didn't want to waste the perfect day.  My legs - calves and glutes - were sore and achy from the start, never having fully recovered from my hard workouts earlier in the week.  After about 4 miles of trying to keep my typical long run pace of around 10-11 min./mile, I realized it was unlikely I could maintain that for long.  So I just resigned myself to the run, slowed my pace, took walking breaks every 5 minutes, and snapped lots of photos along the way to really soak in my surroundings.

At some point when I knew I was getting close to the 10 mile mark, but not quite there yet, I saw a very large, black dog darting across and alongside the street ahead of me about 1/4 mile.  Since I was out on a rural, secluded country road without my pepper spray, I decided it would be wise to just turn around before the dog noticed me.  Anyone else read the article in this month's Runner's World about the dog attack?  (Shiver).  Anyway, I turned around and started the return trip.  I can't say I wasn't kind of glad to have an excuse to do so a little sooner than I had originally planned.  My legs were feeling extremely fatigued.  By then it was warm enough that I was able to take off my jacket and just absorb the sun's rays.  I tried to focus on that and on the fact that I am just grateful that I can run.  There was also a bike race going on apparently and I suddenly found myself going head-on into bicycle traffic.  I said "Good morning!" to every passing cyclist and enjoyed myself all the way ~ 17.5 miles.