20 miles ~ and now I'll taper. ☺

Today is officially bipolar weather day.  When I woke up at 5 am, it was white-out, blizzard like conditions.  Determined to get in my 20 today, after I ate 1/2 a banana and had a few sips of Diet Coke, I did 20 minutes of Yoga.  As soon as it was light enough, (around 6) I headed out.  The snow was still falling, the wind was blowing, and I thought I was in for a very long and difficult 20 miles.  Around 4 miles, the clouds parted, the sun came out, the wind died down, and it was actually quite nice. 

By mile 10, the sun was making me pretty warm, but my route had taken me up into the mountains a bit, so it was still cold with a decent breeze.  My legs were starting to feel a little fatigued, but between miles 9-12 there were lots of smaller hills, so I tried to make use of them for keeping up my momentum.  At around mile 14, I had hit an open stretch of road, the sun was just beating down on me and I decided to take off my jacket and let my fluffy, white arms get some much needed sunlight.  And even with my cap on, I could feel the sun burning my face a little.  Then, with just about 2 miles to go, the clouds returned, the wind picked up, and temperature seemed to drop about 20 degrees.  At that point I didn't care though.  I had made it through what is notoriously the hardest part of my longer runs - getting through miles 15-20 without too much walking - and I still felt pretty decent.  When I got home, I quickly drank a small glass of chocolate milk, then I did 30 minutes of Pilates to help stretch out, not just my legs, but my whole body.  Now, I officially begin my taper.  3 weeks until marathon time!!

(You can't see it in this picture I took because I didn't want to stop to take the picture, it was a run-by, but there is a street sign there that says "Winning Way", I love it!)

5 mile run.

Yeah...a little sun on today's run!  I warmed up this morning with 15 minutes of Yoga before going out for my 5 mile run.  It was very, very windy, but the sun shining helped make it bearable.  After my run I did 30 minutes of Pilates and also used the foam roller on my hamstrings and IT bands.

Cross-training.

Today on my non-running day it is, of course, bluer than blue skies and the sun is shining brightly...it's only 25 degrees, but still...
I started my cross-training workout with 45 minutes of Pilates/Yoga blend, then I did 45 minutes on the elliptical.  I'm probably jinxing myself by saying this, but my legs feel really good.  No hamstring tightness, no pain in my hip.  Now if I can just get the weather to cooperate with me for the runs I have the rest of this week, I'll be in good shape!

10 miles.

Well, of course, it is only April 26th!  I was all geared up and ready to head out for my run when I decided I wasn't in the mood to contend with the cold, wind and blowing snow.  After I did 30 minutes of Pilates, I did 10 miles on the treadmill.  It took me a couple of hours, because I just wasn't in the mood for anything.  I couldn't find anything I felt like watching on Netflix, and I felt distracted by my lack of motivation due to the drab and blah weather.  So, I just stuck it out, running mostly, but also doing a little walking just to get it done.  You know that feeling when you finish a run or a workout and you just feel so great, like you really accomplished something?  Yeah, today that feeling slipped away from me.  I might have to do a re-do workout later just so I can lift my spirits...

5 miles.

This morning I woke up a little early, so I did 25 minutes of Pilates before taking the kids to school then heading out for my 5 mile run.  When I first started out, my hamstrings felt excruciatingly tight and I wondered if I was even going to be able to run the whole five miles.  But after about 1/2 mile, they had loosened up considerably, and I even finished my run with a pretty good time - 55 minutes, so I feel better now.  When I got home, I did another 20 minutes of Pilates, then I used the foam roller on my IT bands and hamstrings.

14.25 mile long run.

(Apparently I've been in a picture kind of mood lately...)

Today's run was fun, though my legs are hurting, and I think I know why.  Words to the wise...new shoes + long run = using muscles in different ways = new pains and aches!  I ran in them for 3 miles earlier in the week, no problem, 5 miles, still no problem, but by mile 10 today when I even had sore muscles in my butt, I realized what was going on.  Oh, well.  Better to get it all worked out now so that I will be good to go on marathon day, which is in exactly 4 weeks!

I warmed up this morning with a few Yoga stretches, then headed out around 6:45am.  Of course it was cold, but the sun was already coming up over the mountains and I could tell it was going to be a beautiful day.

Please don't be too jealous, this is where I get to run.  ;)  As I said, up until mile 10 I felt pretty good, but then I did have to take a few walking/stretching breaks throughout the rest of the run.  In the end I did 14.25 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes, and when I got home I did 15 minutes of Yoga.  Now I know I should go take an ice bath, but I literally cannot bring myself to do it - oh, the torture!  I know it would pay off, but I just can't...so instead, I'll stretch a little more and then go take a warm shower! Happy Easter, everyone! ☺

3 miles.

Today is theoretically a rest day, at least according to my training schedule.  But when I woke up around 5 this morning with a pounding headache, I decided to see if some exercise would help me feel better.  I started out with Crunch: Yoga Pilates Blend (42 minutes), then I went outside and did a 3 mile run.  It is COLD out there this morning!  Thankfully, it worked and I actually do feel a little better.  Now I have to go get ready for Cub Scouts; today we're doing a service project that involves yard work/landscaping stuff, so I'm really hoping it warms up!

April Showers...

Here we are,  my little guy and me having a little 'toast' to ourselves after a rainy 5 mile run.  He has his Bug Juice and I have my Diet Coke, of course. ☺

After my 5 mile run, I did 40 minutes of Crunch: Pilates/Yoga blend - I love that DVD.

P.S.  LOVE my new shoes!!

They came...

Aahhh...look at these beauties:

Of course, I gotta have some pink; that's my thing. ♥ I can't wait to give them a test run tomorrow.  Hopefully it won't be raining, like it is right now...

Cross-training day.

This morning I began my mid-week cross-training with 15 minutes of Yoga, then I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, followed by 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill using 5 pound hand weights.  Less than 5 weeks to go until the marathon, but I have time to do one more (long) long run before officially beginning a taper period, so this week my long run on Saturday will be 14 miles, but next week I will do a 20 one more time before starting to taper.