Running on molten lava

One of my favorite things about our house is that we have a large master bathroom.   When I say large, I mean it’s three or four times the size of the postage stamp we used to call our master bathroom.  The postage stamp didn’t even have space for a bathtub.  We put an all glass shower stall in it to give the illusion of more space and if someone was sitting on the toilet, the door to the shower could literally touch their face if you opened it. That's a nice way of saying sometimes the door nailed you in the forehead. Crazy small.

We moved 2 ½ years ago.  We love our new house.  We love many things about it.  One of my favorite things about it is the large master bathroom.  The roomy spa tub is above average awesome.  Two sinks so that two grown adults don’t have to share sink space is nice, too.  But the large amount of space is the real perk.   And because of the space, it has somehow managed to become my weight room.

Yes, weight room.  I know.  That’s random.  That’s also the story of my life.

But it has enough space and there are bath mats on the floor if I decide to do some sit ups.  The counter works good for pansy push ups I'm prone to.  And the edge of the tub has been great for dips.  And best of all, I’m right there near the kids the whole time.  They’re generally in bedroom and I can see their goofball little faces goofing off in the next room.  They often come wandering through the bathroom chatting with me.  If I look extra sweaty funkadelic that day, my 9 year old will even take some photos of the cracked out mess.  I feel better squeezing a little something in knowing it doesn’t even take me away from them.  I also like that it doesn’t involve Jillian Michaels’ voice. 

Cracked out bathroom workout caught on camera by 9 year old paparazzi.

I even have a stupid little bucket behind the door I toss the assorted weights into and I now take my running shoes off and toss them on top, too.  So basically, other than the fact that the room contains a toilet, it’s pretty much perfect. 

I had been trying to alternate between bicep curls, shoulder presses and dips (I love how I sound like I know what I'm talking about knowing the names of three exercises!) on the side of the tub.  But I got really tired of counting reps so I’ve been trying out intervals thinking I could just set it to go and tell me when to move on to another exercise. I haven’t perfected the timing since I do require a moment to catch my breath and move on to the next exercise.  I also haven’t mastered mapping out different exercises to do.

 But my husband’s always telling me some blah blah blah about HIIT and your heart being a muscle and needing to work it out like other muscles.  It’s all very over my head.  But I did catch on that it’s good for your overall fitness level and that it ups the amount of calories you are burning.  So I’ve been drinking the Koolaid giving it a go.   My kids favorite is when I pretend I’m a linebacker running through tires but also think I look pretty ridiculous doing star jumping jacks.  They would also like it noted that I don’t do jumping jacks right because there’s no hand clap overhead.  No clap, no credit.  Everyone’s a critic.

The Italian Stallion joins in on the intervals and it’s actually sort of awesome because he can do his own little modified hard as hell version while I’m doing girly sissy push ups or something.  As an example, while I’m grunting around the room with a 15 pound weight that dude’s flinging a 40 pound kettle bell around town.  Holla.  Gun show at our house!

Even our roomy bathroom wasn’t big enough for 2 person interval-ing though so we moved it outside the first time.  Our children stood in the kitchen watching through the screen door as their crazy parents did circuits of squats, push ups and jumping jacks.  My husband insisted the circuits could not be done inside in the air conditioning.  Our dogs insisted they could not be done without them licking the sweat off of us. 

Our children stood in the kitchen watching through the screen door as their crazy parents did circuits of squats, push ups and jumping jacks in the backyard. Let's all agree to not look at my muffin top because the paparazzi didn't do me any favors waiting for me to be mid squat to take the picture. 

Another day, we took it to the bedroom and the kids joined in alternating between attempting the exercise and monitoring the interval clock.  Then the dogs were on the bed staring at all 4 of us.  It was amusing.  It was also the world’s best exercise moment because it was infinitely more fun doing it with all of them.  The new me, the one that’s 60 pounds lighter than she used to be, loves that they are in this with me.   I couldn’t have done it if it meant leaving them behind.

A little hard to see me thanks to the dog licking me during my sissy push ups.

I've also been running.  It is 100 degrees where I live all summer long.  It starts to get pretty warm in May and the sidewalk is pretty much molten lava by July.  I only started Couch to 5K in September.  I have never attempted to run on molten lava.

Bathroom break mid 6 mile run.  Test driving running with a visor.  Above average dorky but not bad. 

The temperature has been rising since the beginning of May and I've started to worry about how it will affect my workout routines.    I am a delicate flower that does not enjoy the heat.  I'm addicted to air conditioning all summer and routinely tell my husband to check the thermostat.  I'm worried that the molten lava will sap my will to live.  Or worse, my will to workout.

The visor really adds to the sweaty cracked out madness.  My husband would also like it noted that he thinks I look like an old lady.

I concluded that it was either the treadmill or suck it up.  Since I hate the treadmill, I was going to have to make friends with the molten lava.   I figured I'd just take more water breaks and run slower when it feels like death.  So it'll be pretty much like every run I've ever taken.

I sweat a lot anyway.  What's an extra trickle running down my spine? Having to run slower was a little disappointing.  One of my goals has been to attempt to run faster.  The temperature has only gotten up to the 80s with humidity of 300 million percent.   But it's already taken my already slow pace of 10:15 per mile down to 10:45 a mile.  It ain't pretty.  But I'm upright and moving.  I'll take it.  I've been successfully taking it on 6 and 7 mile long runs on the weekend.  Go, me.

Since my nomadic husband is no longer nomadic, he's been coming on some of my runs with me..  I pretty much look at his butt for 30 minutes.  Sometimes I get to look at his butt bent over picking up dog poop, too.  Feel the marital bliss.

A blurry glimpse of what I look at running with my husband. 

My husband tends to run ahead of me in an attempt to get me to run faster.  I've suggested to him that I might run faster if he didn't make me wait until high noon to run on the weekend when it's as hot as hell.  Just sayin'.

His canine companion is also out of shape dead weight dragging us down by the 2nd mile.  He is in need of some doggie Couch to 5K stat.  My husband likes to take the petering out dog as a sign that he should head home, too.  Weak.

When we don't have the dog, he's also been subjecting me to wind sprints.  Up hill.  At one point I got to the top of the hill and he had the nerve to ask my why I didn't sprint.  I had to explain to him that he was looking at my sprint.  He's a stallion. An Italian Stallion.  And it shows.  He'd rather we sprint the whole way.  I'd rather live to tell the tale.   So far so good.   Sore, but good.

Linking up with Skinny Meg for Workout Wednesday!

Weekly Workout Recap: Enough to Get By

My workouts for the last two weeks have been a little off track.  I like to blame my husband's frequent traveling making it difficult to find the time and energy for other things.  I consider it a good day when I get everyone fed and clothed and where they need to be.  During the week, it's tough to want to do more than that.   I like to think I'm doing enough to get by until my husband's travel lets up (Someday?!? Hopefully?! Pretty please.)

I like that I don't look like I want to die.  Yes, I look sweaty.  Yes, I'm wearing a stupid sweatband.  But I don't look exhausted and ready to fall out.  That's progress!

I've been running on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a friend and knowing that someone else is depending on me has helped me to not skip out on those runs.  I've also been trying to leave my headphones at home and run at a pace that doesn't leave me completely out of breath and incapable of talking.  I don't like hearing my breathing while I run though.  It never sounds particularly good and I hate hearing that.  I guess when I can't hear it I do better pushing myself to run harder. 

On days I do a shorter run by myself, I've been going the other direction and turning the music in my headphones up loud and pushing myself to run faster.  I'm not sure which is better but I think both of them are good for me and I like that I'm continuing to try different things.

 

My long runs in the last 2 weeks were 5 miles and 9 miles.  The 9 was supposed to be 10.  I blame crazy 14 mile per hour wind that seemed to be coming from in front of me regardless of which direction I ran.  Then my iPhone battery died and I finally decided the universe was trying to send me a message and took my toys and went home. 

My first time wearing a silky type running shirt.  Hated it.  I'll stick with my cheap crappy cotton Target shirts from now on. 

I also walked a lot and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.  My nine year old decided she wanted to walk a mile in my shoes.  Rather than our usual short spin around the park, she requested to go the full distance I usually do without her.  So we did almost 4 miles.  Slowly.  20 minute mile slowly. Considering we did a pit stop at the bathroom and then picked weeds flowers and ceremoniously tossed them into the lake, I'm amazed we got anywhere. 

But it's nice to have a kid that just wants to tag along and hold your hand and chat.  Someday she won't want to.  So I'll take it.  And enjoy it. 

And now I'm moving on to getting ready for my second half marathon next weekend.  If I never thought I'd run a half marathon, I definitely didn't think I'd be running a second one.  But I decided I wanted to see what I'm capable of.  My husband's ankle injury last time threw that off a little.  He won't be running with me this time.  It makes me nervous to contemplate mile 10 to 13 without him since I've never run that far without him.   But part of me likes that I'm a little nervous.  Much like last time, I'm shooting for 2:20 best case scenario.  I'm ready for it to be hard.  And I'm ready to bring it.  Let's do this.

 

Linking up with Little Girl in the Big World!

Weekly Workout Recap: Post Half Goals

After running my first half marathon two weeks ago, I immediately started pondering what my next goal should be.  I knew for sure I wanted to try to pick up speed and run faster.  So I knew for sure I wanted to work on completing a 5K in under 30 minutes.  But after my husband's ankle injury during the half, I also started thinking about trying to run another one just to see once and for all what my finish time would be.  I knew I'd need some time to recover but not too much time to worry about losing my endurance.

I'm still contemplating dates, but having decided to go for it, I tried to stick with my training schedule.  I gave my legs a little rest the first week taking 3 days off and then doing two 2 mile runs and a 5 mile run on the weekend.  The next week I went back to my usual 3 miles two times during the week and another 5 miles on the weekend.

Just when I think I can't look like any more of a hot mess while running, my husband snags my sunglasses on his way out the door and I'm left with this Jersey Shore crap my 9 year old picked up from my crazy brother.  I felt like a complete dimwit.

The first week my husband and his bum ankle rode a bike next to me on my short runs. I wasn't sure what to expect running with someone on a bike.  Which is a nice way of saying I didn't think I'd like it because I'd feel pressured to run faster to keep up.  But it wasn't like that at all and I actually really liked it.  It was also nice of him to want to come along.

My husband couldn't run with me thanks to his recent ankle injury during our half marathon so he rode a bike next to me with the dogs.  And it was actually kind of fun.  Other than getting tangled in the leashes.

He rode slow to stay with me and he'd brought our annoying dogs and they slowed him down quite a bit.   I offered to hold one of the leashes to be a good wife.  Our nut job terrier was complete dead weight though.  He refused to run anything faster than a 13 minute mile.  It was nuts.  I finally found someone that runs too slow for me! So I traded leashes for the pony of a Lab.  He couldn't run in a straight line if his life depended on it but he did at least agree to run faster.

The weekend after my half I ran 5 miles and my average pace was 10:18.  Since I'm usually a 10:30 to 11:00 minute mile girl so that pretty much made my day.  I didn't think it could get much better than that, but then two days later I refused to slow down no matter how out of breath I felt and I did 3 miles in 28:32.  That's my fastest time going 3 miles.  Even better, it included one whole entire mile run at an average pace of 8:40.  I've never run a mile that fast!  I was beyond excited.  Panting and felt like dying.  But pumped.  Although I will admit I did wonder for a second if my watch was working right. Just saying.

My other runs weren't nearly as great.  But I got them done so I'll take it.  My second 5 mile run was actually supposed to be 7 but heat, humidity and an upset stomach had me cut it down and walk the last 2 miles.  I'll take it.  But next weekend I won't be cutting myself any slack.

Second bathroom stop.  It was hot out and I was a shiny mess sweating my life away. 

Shiny shoulders.  Hot mess central.

Other than running, I did a bunch of walking.  The weather outside was pretty for several days in a row and I did my best to get some sunshine. I found some time during soccer practice.  Found some time when my husband took the kids to piano.   Found some time Saturday afternoon squeezed in between soccer and volleyball.  I love a good walk while someone else is in charge of my kids.

Pretty weather.  Pretty scenery.  Sunshine.  Holla.

My kids like stalking me when I try to head out for a walk though.  This week just to be sure we had plenty of extra dead weight to slow us down, someone brought a giant stuffed cow.  Naturally.

The odds of me getting my heart rate up seem slim with a kid carrying a giant stuffed cow.  Note to self: You and your chins look awesome from this angle.

I also successfully did arm weights 2 times in one week which is a record for me.  My husband also attempted to explain to me what the different muscles in my arms are and give me a specific exercise to do for each.  Now if I could successfully retain the information!  

Linking up with Little Girl in the Big World!

Weekly Workout Recap: Almost half time!

My first half marathon is less than a week away now.  If I got injured at this close to the race, I would be horrified.  The only person that would be more horrified would be my husband.  Primarily because he's ready to not have to hear about this half marathon anymore and an injury could prevent that. 

So to prevent horrifying either of us, I attempted to act like a reasonably intelligent person and not overdo things this week.  I ran three times, walked a lot and even did some weights for my arms.  The walking was my "let's not overdo it" substitute for step aerobics.  Although I might have gone overboard and walked 15 miles.  Which is a lot.  But I was off work all week and had more time and the weather was really great.  So, really, it's not that overboard.  Maybe?   Eh.

My runs this week included two 3 mile runs and a 6 mile run.  After having run 10 miles two times now, my brain no longer considers 6 miles a long run.  This is another sign that I've officially lost my mind.

I don't know that I'm ready to describe 5 miles as easy but for sure easier.

The highlight of my week was finishing one of my 3 mile runs in under 30 minutes.  That's fast for me and I was one hard workin' woman huffin' and puffin' during that run.  But I was super excited I did it.

As I close in on my half, I've started contemplating new goals for myself once I cross that finish line. For so many months, that half finish line was the goal that drove me.  Having a goal has served me well.  I'm thinking I don't want to try operating without one.  One possibility I've been mulling over has been working on getting faster and trying to finish a 5K in under 30 minutes.

I'm thinking that will involve some speed work.  But I'm also thinking the smartest advice I've ever heard about speed really is, If you want to learn to run faster, you need to run faster.  Because, I successfully ran faster this week.  It just wasn't as comfortable as the pace I'm used to.  But I pushed myself and did it.  And there was a time when my current pace seemed like a giant uncomfortable pipe dream.  But I pushed myself past my comfort zone and now I do it regularly and it no longer feels as difficult.   So maybe I just need more of the same.  

I didn't push myself as hard on my other runs this week.  I was trying to remember my "let's not horrify anyone" motto and just get the miles done.   And I did.

 

My plans for the upcoming week include continuing to not overdo it and look forward to race day.  I'm starting to get pretty excited.  In fact, it's actually sort of annoying that my employer will expect me to be productive and get stuff done for the next few days.

How am I supposed to do that?  Do people not realize that I need to obsess over which pace group I should stick with?  The answer to that being the 2:20 pace group, by the way.  That's best case scenario.  Falling back to the 2:30 pace group being Plan B.  Falling all the way back to 2:40 is worst case nuclear winter style scenario.

My husband tried to tell me that my goal should just be to finish and not worry about time.  I know.  It's almost like the man hasn't met me.  Of course I plan to finish.   But I also plan to dig deep.  I'm prepared for it to be hard.  I'm prepared to feel exhausted.  But I'm also prepared to tell my inner lazy girl to suck it up because I'm not stopping.  Bring it on!

 

Linking up with Little Girl in the Big World!

Weekly Workout Recap: Countdown to my half has begun

My workouts this week have been dominated by thoughts of my upcoming half marathon.  It's only two weeks away and I'm starting to get slightly nervous.  And excited.  Mostly just to get to it!

On top of trying to continue to prepare for my half marathon, my nomadic husband has also been back out of town.  That means that when a certain 9 year old is having a complete breakdown over a homework issue, my plans to do step aerobics on the Wii get thrown out the window. Frustrating.  But maybe a good lesson about remembering I wear many hats and sometimes things will fall to the wayside and that it's okay when they do.  I'll live.

However, it did illustrate to me that the best way to be sure I get my workouts in is to get up early and do it before my kids get up.  Lesson learned!

This week I managed to get in two short runs, one long walk, one long run, one short step aerobics session and one kettle bell arm workout with grand central station coming through the room.

Grand central station during a workout is characterized by lots of noise, objects or people flying through the room and lots of question and answer session.  It periodically requires photos.  Like my son wandering through attempting to join in on kettle belling:

Grainy because it was dark in the room  and I suck at any kind of complicated lighting situation.  And yet, too funny not to lighten the hell out of and use anyway.

I told that crazy kid to back the train away from me because I wasn't interested in taking a kettle bell to the head if he loses control.  Especially when he gets distracted by the television.

I'm pretty sure only Mother of the Year candidates let their 7 year old  hold a 10 pound weight directly over their feet while watching television.

My two short runs were good.  My iPhone was mysteriously refusing to play music all week so I'm impressed that I was even able to complete my runs without it.  Thank heavens for friends that run with you at the crack of dawn and can shoot the breeze for 30 minutes!  It was cold outside too so maybe that helped me run faster!

I can't believe I now take photos of my watch after every run.  I'm concerned that I've officially become a total loser.  Can't. Stop. Photographing.  My. Arm.  Dork.  Alert.

I'm also thankful that my BFF Google was able to walk me through how to fix my iPhone (Slightly wet toothbrush gently cleaning out the connector so my phone stops thinking it's connected when it's not.  Genius!).

For my long walk, I wanted to see how many calories I burn.  Since I started wearing a Garmin on my runs, I've quickly come to realize that MapMyRun is way off base on mileage, speed and therefore calories.  I don't have a strap to do heart rate on my Garmin but I do have one for my Suunto.  But my Suunto doesn't do GPS mileage.  Hence this madness:

The only thing worse than photographing your watch after every run is photographing two at once.  My husband would like to know what kind of idiot needs two fitness watches?  He would also like to know why both of them had to have pink on them thereby ruining any chance of him being able to bogart one?

I looked that stupid in the park for a full hour only to discover that the Garmin came up with the same calories burned as the Suunto with the heart rate monitor.  Go go, Garmin.  And, yes, I do walk fast.  No worries that I somehow magically burned 600 calories strolling.  Fast walk.

My long run with week was my last long run before my half marathon.  My husband suggested I just do 8.  i contemplated 11.  And then I actually did 10.  But they were a good 10.  Last time I did 10 miles it took me 2 hours and 1 minute.  This week I did it in 1 hour and 49.  And I ran all of it.  No walking.  So that's beyond great is what I'm saying.  And, even better, I didn't feel like death when I was done.  I know.  Go figure.  Granted, I looked like death.

Always make sure you have a giant zit on your chin when you are going to photograph yourself.  It really gives the picture that something extra.

But that goes without saying.  But I actually felt pretty decent.  It gave me a surge of confidence that I really can finish a half marathon.  Holy crud, that's crazy.  Me.  Lazy me.  Big old lazy me.  Big old lazy me with 38 year old knees.  And I'm actually going to run a half marathon!  Wow!  I can do hard things!

Linking up with Little Girl in the Big World!

Weekly Workout Recap: A little packing tape goes a long way

My workouts this week consisted of running 3 times and doing step aerobics 3 times.  Last week, my workouts were dominated by my monstrously long 10 mile run.  This week my long run was only going to be 5 miles.  Which is ridic to even say because back in September when I started C25K, I thought the 30 second running intervals were hard.  No one is more amazed than me that a 5 mile run has become n short run for me.  Crazy!

I'm still coming back from my two frustrating weeks of head and chest crud.  I'm never a fast runner but with chest crud I was all but jogging in place.  So I was hoping to pick up the pace slightly now that I'm crud free.

And I did.  Yeah!  Still not super fast but that's the story of my life.  10 and half minute miles were my average before I was sick so I'm just happy to be back where I was.  And my 5 mile run was against the wind most of the way.  And uphill against the wind at one point.  Holy moly that's a vicious one two punch. But it makes my 10:43 not seem so crappy.
 
As I've mentioned previously, Wii step aerobics was one of the first workouts I did back when I first started my health kick.  As I got better at it and I stopped feeling like I wanted to die while doing it, I realized I needed to find ways to make it more challenging.  First, I ordered a lift for my step.  Mine is an Everlast.  I seriously love it.

I used to primarily do the regular Wii Fit step aerobics game while watching television.  But that got boring and I discovered EA Sports Active: More Workouts. I like that it counts my steps and holds me accountable if I don't stay on pace.

Once the lift under the balance board wasn't the end of the world I started wearing a weight vest I bought at Target.  I kept adding more weight to the vest and it's now up to 20 pounds.  Then I added wrist weights.  Those were a whole new world of challenge because my arms are like wet noodles. So far I'm only up to 2 pounds on each wrist.

 The only thing I haven't added are ankle weights but that's only because I worried it would throw off my balance and I'd fall and break something.  That something being an important part of my body.

My step aerobics game has me alternating between knee lifts, leg curls, kicks and regular stepping. This is supposed to be a kick. 

Life was good at that point.  Granted I looked crazy wearing a weight vest and wrist weights while sweating my butt off.  But I only thought I looked crazy.  Because then my husband had the bright idea of jogging in the weight vest and the weight vest screamed in anguish and one of the pockets split open and didn't hold any weight anymore.  Beautiful.  I proceeded to make fun of him like it was going out of style and we bought a new weight vest.  Then the new weight vest screamed in anguish and the pocket did the exact same thing within the first week during step aerobics.  And we didn't have the receipt anymore.

So then we channeled Tim Gunn and made it work with some packing tape holding that crap together.  I look like a broke down mess while I workout.  I look like a full blown crazy broke down mess while I workout in that vest.  But I don't care because I know for a fact it gives me a run for my money.

My 7 year old hit or miss photographer successfully got my Wii balance board and the lift in this shot. 

I'm considering investing in a new one that can hold more than 20 pounds.  If it could successfully stay together without packing tape, that would be pretty sweet, too.  I'm not sure how much more weight my shoulders can take but I'm also figuring mine is pretty crappy so if I had a decent one maybe it would be less harsh on my shoulders. We'll see!

Linking up with Little Girl in the Big World!

Weekly Workout Recap: On the Run

Several months ago when I first took up running, my primary motivation was to find new ways to burn calories.  I liked that it didn't require special equipment and I could fit it in my schedule whenever I found time.  The fact that I could get some sunshine and fresh air didn't hurt either.

At that point I had been consistently walking almost every day and doing a lot of step aerobics with my Wii.  My step aerobics did a good job burning calories and as I got better at it I had gradually worked up to adding a lift under my balance board to make the step higher, wearing a 20 pound weight vest and wearing velcro hand weights around my wrists.  I know.  That all sounds crazy.  I'll have to have someone take a picture of that sweaty mess in action.

Anywho, as I made my way through C25K, I decided my aggressive step aerobics were leaving my legs tired and that tired legs might interfere with my ability to be successful getting to a 5K. So I stopped doing step aerobics.  I then moved to my every other day running schedule which eventually became my 3 runs a week schedule to train for a half marathon.  I was also walking on most of my non running days.

During winter, walking outside isn't always pleasant or even feasible.  During my husband's nomadic traveling for work, escaping my children long enough to do that ain't gonna happen if my 9 year old daughter has anything to say about it.  Walking also doesn't burn nearly as many calories as running or step aerobics.  And if I'm going to attempt to go AWOL on my kids, I'd like to get plenty of bang for my buck. 

I had an epiphany over the weekend.  Running was supposed to be part of the health kick.  Somewhere along the way, the running was sort of starting to take over the health kick and the health kick was becoming just a part of the running. Which is ridiculous.  This is not a which came first, the chicken or the egg situation.  The health kick came fist and is first.  No question.  Running is just something I'm doing as part of the health kick.  Training for a half marathon is just part of it, too.

I hit a weight loss plateau recently and I'm now wondering if maybe part of it is that I've lost a little focus with my workouts.  Focusing on the running instead of the general purpose burn calories and gain some muscle.  So this week I tried to return my focus to the big picture and the importance of coming strong with the exercise even on days I'm not running.

So I dusted off my Wii and resumed step aerobics on my non running days.  It's not perfect.  For example, it's kind of loud so I can't really do it before my kids wake up in the morning.  But it's challenging.  Which means I've lost a little fitness ground on where I was back in October.    But challenging is good.  I'll take it.  I also did a day of strength training for my arms.   They're still wet noodles.  And I still need to work on them more than one day a week.  But it's a start.

The other new thing has been running with my daughter during her brother's soccer practice.  We read about a program to empower girls through running called Girls on the Run.  She's always wanting to try running with me so we decided to call our hour hanging out during his practice our very own Girls on the Run and do a C25K app together.  So far it's heavy on the walking so we like to call it Girls on the Walk.

Cold but happy to have done it.  She insisted I send her father the screenshot to prove we got a badge for doing Day 1.  Apparently, badges are very important.  Go me, picking the free app that gives badges.

If her brother could ever get it together enough to make it to practice twice a week, we might get somewhere with this thing.  But for now it's a once a week operation.  You'd think she died and went to heaven that kid is so happy.  She likes that we do it together.  I like that she tells me all about her day while we do it.  Even if it doesn't last or ever lead to running an actual 5K together, it's been fun. It's also a good use of the hour she and I spend hanging out while her brother practices.  We used to sit in chairs and read books or hit a volleyball around.   Who knew we could put that time to such good use!

The Italian Stallion joined us for Week 1 Day 2.  We called it Girls and a Boy on the Walk Sometimes Run.  If she was in heaven doing it with me, she was in heaven times two doing it with both of us.

Other than Girls on the Run success, my runs were a mixed bag.  First, I headed out to get in 3 miles only to have it be freezing and windy as hell.  With the wind at my back, I ignored the fact that my hands were getting frost bite and knocked out 1.5 miles at a 9:30 pace which is hella fast for me.  Then, the wind was in my face and I wanted to full on die and petered out after a mile.  I was pissed at myself for stopping, pissed at the weather for being cold and pissed at the universe for conspiring to ruin my day.  I waited two days and was delighted to knock out 3 miles in 31 minutes.  Fast for me and no wind at my back to explain it.  Holla.

I also did my long training run for the upcoming half marathon.  It was 10 miles this week.  I did not have the luxury of my Italian Stallion husband to keep me company like I did last week. Which left me running alone for ten. whole. miles.  Instead of being an idiot and trying to run quickly, I reminded myself throughout that my goal was to just make it the whole 10 miles.

Legs in my pool again post long run for the lazy girl ice bath.  Pure gold, baby.

It included two bathroom breaks, walking a significant portion of the 10th mile, answering a phone call from the pharmacy, thinking I'm going to throw up at one point, thinking I'm going to need new underwear at two different points, stomach pain for 2 miles and having to drink 5 giant glasses of water when I got back before I stopped feeling lifeless and drained.

Holy cow, 10 miles is forever long.  Seriously.  So. Very. Long.  There are many downsides to So. Very. Long.  Most of them are obvious.  The best upside that's less obvious to running idiots like me is that it puts a 3 mile run in perspective.  That perspective being that 3 miles is a cake walk compared to the fire and brimstone of 10 miles.  Not that I'm overly dramatic or anything.  No never.

Linking up with Little Girl in the Big World for the Weekly Workouts Roundup!