I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

I ran in the morning because I took a much needed day off. It was dusting and the streets were coating with just a bit of snow, which forced me to be a bit careful in some spots. All in all, though, it was a nice run at just under 9 minute pace. And then it was off to clean a little bit before going to lunch with my brother's family because they came to visit.

A run with my brother. We had a nice discussion about how he hates his job that turned into a little argument of sorts. But it was all smiles by the end of the run.

I need some new shoes. The shoes that I am using have a lot more miles on them than what I've logged. Maybe I'll get some this week. These were treadmill miles. 

Whoops.  This was supposed to go on Monday.

I accidentally put Monday's workout on Sunday.  I hate it when I do that.  I'm not going to move it.

We got some snow yesterday, like maybe 4 inches.  It was also pretty windy, blowing the stuff around.  Going to work this morning was more harrowing than I would have thought, but I made it and so did the majority of the kids, who proceeded to complain.  A lot.  

But they had a half day, so I didn't have to hear it long.

Our teachers have parent/teacher/student conferences tonight, so I went out for a run at school in the early afternoon, since I will then stay here till 7:30.  I went out in the streets behind the school, which aren't currently in use, as the "subdivision" streets were laid out before the economy went south, and no one has plans to build out there any time soon.  It's about a 2 mile loop of roads with a number of retention ponds.

I made the mistake of running around 2 of the ponds, and halfway through I stepped in an ankle deep puddle, soaking myself.  It was cold for a second, I contemplated heading back, and then pretty soon my feet were warm again, as tends to happen.

It was slower than normal pace because it alternated between slushiness, iciness, and snow-drify-ness.  But I enjoyed myself.

My blog is about small victories right now. This run was a victory because I talked myself into an extra treadmill mile.

Also, I want to make sure you know that Charlotte is just over 9 months, I was able to fit into all my pre pregnancy clothes a bit less than a month ago, and I am still breast feeding. I feel happy about all those things.

I'm "on call" tonight. My mentee is supervising the dance tonight in my stead and is a little worried about whether or not there is going to be trouble. I just got off the phone with her for the 2nd or 3rd time, and every time she calls me I think there's something going on, but nothing is. She's just paranoid.

Anyway, I was in the middle of my run the first time she called, and before I started up again, the treadmill shut off, so I'm not sure exactly where I was in mileage. But I ran a little over 4 miles just to be sure. Wouldn't want to blog anything that I didn't actually run :)

After a not-so-great week last week (which would have been an okay week if I hadn't skipped my run yesterday in favor of unpleasant things like laundry, cleaning and work and pleasant things like lunch with the family and a trivia night with chuck and some pals), I had a great run.

2 mile wu, then 6 miles at HMP (or what I realistically think will be HMP) and then 4 miles cd. The best thing about it was that I decided to push myself on the fly, when my pace dropped to about 8:30 pace for the 3rd mile.

The fast portion splits were 8:34, 8:21, 8:14, 8:14, 8;17, 7:57.

It was 60 degrees, but windy. There was a lot of head wind during some of these fast miles. It started raining heavily during mile 10, and I thought briefly of being satisfied with 11 miles, but I added a few blocks onto my loop to get to 12. So ti was good all around.

Well, the week started off so promising. Then a tidal wave of illness swept over almost everyone in the house, burying me. I finally started to feel better by Thursday. I should have run on Thursday, but didn't. So I'll mentally excuse Tuesday and Wednesday, but not Thursday.

My run today was pretty good, though my stomach protested towards the end. However, because my legs were so fresh, it was a faster than normal run. Every mile except the first was under 8:30. I'm too lazy to look up the splits, but I remember the last two miles were 8:19 and 8:02. I was done with the run in 41:59, so what is that? An 8:25 average?

This was a nice run. It was colder than yesterday, but it was still fine. It was just windy, but that's to be expected. My stomach didn't feel great before this run and it didn't feel great after, but it wasn't terrible.

Cold and windy. At my mom's.

20 degrees and 20 mph winds. Take that, spring break.

Back home. It's still darn cold. I ran one wu mile followed by 2 at just under 8 mom pace followed by one cd mile. Though it was okay on the treadmill, I should have done it outside, but didn't.

It was a little warmer today (about 36) and at least it was sunny. The wind wasn't so terrible.

This run was actually pretty good. I felt strong throughout. The whole run averaged slightly under 8:30 pace with the last mile at 7:39. I was aiming for under 7:30, but I decided that was my goal as I noticed my pace dropping, and I was at least a tenth into the last mile. So it was close.

Some treadmill miles plus abs and arms. Last day of spring break is always depressing. Luckily next week is a 4 day week plus a four day weekend because of Easter.

Not a great run. I started slow and was slow all the way through. Just couldn't get moving, probably because in my haste to get out the door so I could be back by the time the rest of the fam got back from breakfast, I didn't eat breakfast. And then once I realized that, I coulcn't stop thinking about how hungry I was.

I never really had a firm idea of how far this run was supposed to be. I vascillated between 6 and 10 for a while before finally settling on 8. And then when I got close to my house and I was already over 8, I added a couple blocks so that I didn't have to end on a weird number.

The most exciting part of this run was my new shoes and my new sports bra. Woo hoo!

We had a snow day today, if you can believe that. It was pretty messy. We drove back from Chicago last night into white out conditions. What normally takes two hours took three. When we finally made it home, we shoveled out the driveway. Both our schools canceled, but poor Chuck had to go in because admins had to report. Even though we had shoveled just 12 hours earlier, the driveway was covered again, mostly with blown snow.

The funny thing is that it was 40 today. There is still a lot of snow, especially in drifts, but I can see patches of grass in our lawn. I bet the snow will be melted by Friday. I don't know how much accumulation there was, but for us it's never about how much snow, but about how windy it is. I'm guessing it was about 7 inches, give or take. The boys had fun playing outside on their snow day.

Another run where my garmin died part way through and I had to guess on the distance.  I was aiming for 7 and ended up a little over.  My pace was pretty good until the garmin died (3.8 miles at about 8:40 pace).  I doubt that I went faster after the garmin died, but I don't think I was much slower.  It was windy heading east, and I felt like I headed east for most of the run :)

When I got home today I put on a few layers, then realized that it was warmer out.  So I took one layer off and ran in long pants and a long sleeved shirt.  I am never good at gauging how I should dress when it is between 40 and 50, because it always depends on the wind.  Today it wasn't too windy.  I was a tad overdressed, but it wasn't too big of a deal.

I did have a great run, though.  My garmin didn't kick in right away, so I hit the lap button after I knew I had gone a 1/2 mile.  So the first 1.5 miles were at about 8:50 pace.  Then I slowly got faster.  Next 4 mile splits were 8:31, 8:21, 7:50, 7:43.  Then I started my cool down.  Next mile was 8:49. Then I decided to hell with the cool down; I wasn't done running fast.  Did 1/2 mile at 8:17 pace, and my last mile in 7:34.

The run felt fabulous.  I love this weather. Our snowstorm from Monday is almost melted.  Crazy.

6 easy miles in the morning, ending with one hard. It was just above 40, so I had the same problem as yesterday. However, this time I was dressed fine because it was windier and cloudy. The easy miles averaged just over 9 minute pace. The fast mile was 7:45. Felt good.

This is probably the best long run I've ever had. But I do have a short memory, so I could be wrong.

I decided to do loops for this one because I do better with those, just in case I need some water or a potty break. And I needed both today. I warmed up 5.2 at 8:48 average pace. I wanted the loop to be 5, but I overshot it a bit. Then I stopped to unload some fluid and decided also to replenish.

Then I did 5 at a fast pace. My average pace for the 5 was 7:53. I'm very happy with that. Splits were 7:55, 7:57, 7:55, 7;50 and 7:48. Effort felt pretty even, though I felt relieved when the last fast mile was done.

Then I ran another 4.8 to finish out my 15 miles. I felt very slow, but my average pace wasn't terrible (9:12). However, I did get progressively slower. But that's okay because it was a nice cool down.

I think I finished 13.1 in about 1:51, which is satisfying given my minimal effort in the first and last part of the run. I still think my goal for the Champaign half (I am four weeks out) will be to come in under 1:50. I am running with a lot of friends, and my pr race was one where I left my group and ran MY race. I probably will be running someone else's race this time around, if that makes any sense. I'd just rather stay with people who are traveling to run with me.