Chelsea Park Loop ~ 7 mi

Another run in the rain this week. I am starting to see a pattern here! Headed out with Amanda this morning and ran the back of Chelsea Park. I split off from her at mile 3.5 and ran the second half at a 10:10 pace. Saw a muscadine laying out in the trail so I stopped and picked enough to fill up half my G2 bottle. Just what I needed to get me back home. A little snack. :)

So...Saturday is my big day!! I'll be setting a new distance record with 14 miles!! I'm super stoked...but a little nervous. Praying I don't have to run it solo. I'm taking tomorrow off. Hope everyone has great a great weekend!!

Loop 2, Columbiana ~ 4.01 mi/ 10:12 pace

Ran the loop again solo to get some good miles in for the day. I'm going to start stepping up my short weekday runs a bit. It was still raining. Got soaked to the bone!! Cold ride back home since I didn't realize it was supposed to rain this morning. But so much fun splashing around in the rain. I'm sure people thought I was crazy!

So 7.6 miles today felt pretty good!

Loop 1, Columbiana ~ 3.59 mi/ 12:23 pace

Well, wouldn't you know...it starts pouring the second I drop kids off and head out for a run. I'm starting to see a pattern. It's a good thing I LIKE running in the rain! Met Amanda C. this morning. She probably thought I was crazy to want to run in the rain, but I think she ended up liking it. So much more pleasant than the heat and sun. Great time with her!! (cont'd)

Cycling @ Anytime Fitness ~ 17 mi/ 17.3 mph

Got my sweat on at Anytime Fitness today. Kilimanjaro at level 4, while reading a gripping ebook and listening to Z100! Good times...and great workout! Looking forward to running tomorrow. \m/\m/

Recovery run @ Anytime ~ 4 mi/ 10:56 pace

I had planned to cross train tonight, but just had to get a run in after being in the car a good portion of the day. Great recovery run on the TM at 1% incline. That puts me at running 30 miles this week. Shoot! One more mile and it would have been a new record on weekly distance. Oh, well...Week 4 MT is now COMPLETE! Moving on...

Ole Miss campus ~10 mi/ 9:51 pace

So this weekend I travelled to Oxford, MS, to visit family. Was really excited about this run that we had planned. And woke up Saturday morning to...RAIN!! But...defintely not a show stopper!!

My sister-in-law ran the first 5 miles with me while my father-in-law biked with us. Really enjoyed this part of the run. Did a lot of puddle jumping...ended up with squishy shoes after about mile 2. Ran Fraternity Row, Sorority Row, Rowan Oak...Splits were 9:40, 9:13, 9:32, 9:29, 9:53. This was a much faster pace than I usually start long distance off with, but it felt great! Then back to the truck to get my sister-in-law's bike and to put my trail running shoes on for the second half.

Second half I ran solo with the two bikers. This was more fun than I expected. Ran by part of the campus again and then to Whirlpool Trails. I have run a few trails recently, but never in the mud. It made it more...interesting. We stopped and watched a doe standing in the middle of the trail on the way in. Splits were 9:55, 10:14, 10:31, 10:11, 10:01. Overall average of 9:51 on 10 miles. Not bad at all! Extremely pleased with that.

So this was THE BEST long distance run I have done (not counting races). So thankful I had my support system that stuck with me in the pouring rain and mud. We talked, laughed and cut up the entire time. It poured rain almost the entire run. Not just a mist, but a good hard rain. Made it more fun and definitely more memorable!

Run #2 ~ Hwy 438 ~ 3.02 mi/ 9:37 pace

Good solid run. Pretty happy with the pace. Shaved some time off on a couple of hills. Good stuff!!! I'm going to try really hard to take tomorrow off and rest. Looking forward to running in Oxford, MS, this weekend. Woohoo!!

Hope everyone has a great day of running! I'll be cheering you on on the sidelines!

Run #1, Columbiana ~ 3.66 mi/ 12:37 pace

Great run with Amanda C. this morning! And I am so stoked that she has signed up to go to Savannah with me!! Always have a fun time with her. Nice weather to be running this morning. Loving the cooler temps.

Anytime ~ 4 mi/ 10:45 pace

It's been a great day so far! After a 1 hr massage, it was time to hit the gym. Ran this on a 1% incline (just so you know, Shane Higgins). Pretty solid run today which is exactly what I needed.

Cycling at Anytime ~ 9 mi/ 33 mins/ 16.4 mph

Great day of cross training at the gym. Got my Body Pump on with the 18 lb body bar. Good workout today!

Columbiana ~ 5 mi/ 10:12 pace

And so Week 4 begins! Good run after dropping the kiddos off this morning. The weather was much more pleasant today. 71 degrees...yay! Had a sensitive nose this morning. I think if a bird had pooted nearby, I would have smelled it. I think I smelled everything but the good freshcut lawns and rain this morning...you know, the good ones?

I actually ran into a good friend of mine, Jen ( R Shane R. ), while she was walking her dog. She is like a ray of sunshine....just what I needed to start my run off today. :)

Tired legs today, but a pretty good run.

Chelsea Park 7.2 mi/ 8.0mph pace

Got a nice ride in with my boys this evening in Chelsea Park. Slade pulled the hills very nicely!! I was really impressed. So no day off today for me afterall...(happy dance!) Great way to end Week 3.

Oh, and we stopped on top of the bridge and watched the train under us. Very cool, but I forgot to stop the Garmin. #shameonme

Chelsea Park Clock Tower ~ 12 mi/ 11:52 pace

Had a thunderstorm come through just as I was about to head out the door this morning, so my run got delayed a bit. I was so looking forward to Amanda C. keeping me company for a few miles today, but because of the delay she didn't get to make it this time.

The hills in Chelsea Park were such a mental and physical struggle for me today! Right after I ran out the door, the sun came out and it was hot...and the only thing I could think of was "where in the world is the cold front James Spann has been talking about?!" Finishing up a 12 miler at noon is too late right now. I got a little overheated. Did what I had to do to finish, which included walking portions of some hills. #ashamed Like I said, it was a struggle. I was just worn slap out. But...Week 3 is COMPLETE and I am moving on!

Oh, I weighed 4 lbs lighter when I got back. :)

Rode Anytime ~ 16 mi/ 16.6mph pace

Cross-training day! Hills on the bike at level 4-5. A few leg presses and #plankaday. Made for a great workout! Ready to run 12 miles tomorrow!!

Loop 2 Columbiana ~ 3.6 mi/ 10:35 pace

Ran the Columbiana loop again by myself after Amanda and I finished up this morning. Set a comfortable pace and just went with it, not looking at the Garmin. Looking forward to some cooler weather because I love running outside. I love the cute little houses and shaded streets in Columbiana.

Tomorrow is cross training and then 12 miles on Saturday. Woohoo!!

Loop 1 Columbiana ~ 3.61 mi/ 13:19 pace

Hello, routine! School started back today, and I got to get a run in with my bestie, Amanda C.! She went to Nashville with me for her first half, but hasn't been able to run much since because of an issue with her knee. So glad to have her back out on the streets. We had a lot of catching up to do!

CR 438 ~ Short run 3 mi/ 9:21 pace

Got a short run in tonight. It was extremely humid outside, but still a great run. School starts tomorrow...YAY!!...so I have plans to run in the morning with my bestie who ran Nashville with me. Looking forward to running with her again.

Quit making excuses...

This is the way I think!!

CR 438 ~ Recovery Run 3.01 mi - 9:18 pace

I did a bad thing today. You know that Little Caesars commercial that advertises their deep dish pizza? Well, that's what I had for lunch today, and it was oh so good! So I had to get out and punish myself tonight.

Had a GREAT run tonight!! Legs were feeling really good after 12 miles last night. I was able to get this run in just before it got too dark. Ran down and back...and pulled a couple of long hills so gracefully that I actually gained pace on the way back. You're capable of more than you think when it's getting dark and you don't want to get run over. And I saw the cutest bunny rabbit on the side of the road.

Fun run tonight! Feeling good and so happy to be in Week 3!!

Week 2 MT ~ COMPLETE!! 12 mi - 11:20 pace

I had 10 miles on the schedule for this weekend. But since I have been staying just a little ahead of schedule and ran 10 last weekend, I went for 12 tonight. And it felt REALLY good!! Week 2 is now complete! Woohooo!

Rode The Hills of Chelsea Park - 7.5 mi/ 38 mins

Today was overcast and actually made for a pleasant ride! Made a stupid, stupid mistake...my foot came off the pedal and tore my shin up! Great ride though! :) Looking forward to my long run on Sunday. Woohoooo!

Run #2 - 3 mi/ 11:20 pace

And here's the second half of the run. 6 miles total...just had to get it in where I could today. Great miles today. Looking forward to this weekend's long run, which will have to be planned around a volleyball tourny this weekend. Hope everyone has had a great day!

Run #1 - 3 mi/ 11:15 pace

Today's thunderstorm FORCED me to run on the TM today. :) No complaints here though! Just ran out of time and had to press pause for a while. Today's run continues on in another post...

Biked Chelsea Park - 7 mi/ 35 mins

Strong headwind + hills = nausea! Had a thunderstorm threatening to reign on my parade, but I went on to get my ride in today. Fought a really strong headwind the first half of the ride. Once I stopped, I felt a little nauseous. You know you've done all you can do when that happens. :) Nothing a nice recovery drink won't cure!

Basement TM - 4 mi/ 10:26 pace

I decided to go for the flat run tonight, instead of cross-training. You know, running on the TM really isn't that bad! :) Jammed out and zoned out! \m/\m/ As of last night, I am down 7.4 lbs. STOKED!!

Double ~ New partner - 2.3 mi/ 12:01 pace

Today was a double. Our 11 yr old daughter got some new shoes today, so she wanted to run with me when I got back from my regular run. She did a 5K last spring and did really well, but hasn't run much since.

She did really well tonight. We ran/wallked the 2.3 miles. It was hot and humid outside, but she did a great job! She's got such long legs, I had to hold her back in the beginning because she was wanting to take off and leave me. Fun way to have mother-daughter time tonight!

Lakewood ~ Week 2, short run - 3 mi/ 8:52 pace

I really don't know how I ran this pace...or why, for that matter. But when you start off at a pretty decent pace and you look down and see that, then you start thinking: It would be so cool if I could finish with that!! I had an 8:38 pace going for the first 2 miles, but then I slowed it down on the last mile of hills. I was getting tired at that point, and knew I had plans to run again with my daughter. :) Good run!

Rode Chelsea Park - 8.18 mi/ 41 mins

Great ride in Chelsea Park this evening! Legs were feeling awesome after my 10 miles yesterday. :) I'm ready for more!!

Week 1 COMPLETE - 10 mi/11:30 pace

Met Heather B at the gym early this morning, and we got our long distance run in for the week. Week 1 is now COMPLETE! Woohooo! The schedule called for 8, but I had some free time this morning and did a little extra. Got a lot of reading done. :)

I've been trying to train myself "nice and slow" when it comes to pace for marathon training, so I have slowed it down quite a bit lately. That is the one piece of advice everyone has given me so I am taking it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Lakewood 3 mi/9:55 pace

I literally felt like I was running in hell today! WAY too hot for comfort. Accuweather says it feels about 105 degrees, and that feels...about right! :) My friends that run during lunch...I don't know how you do it in this heat. My shoulders were heavy and fatigued, and there was no fresh air because of the repaving going on in our neighborhood. Could not control my pace today...too wide open. You would think I would be able to run slow in the heat! Duh! I need a do-over for today. LOL! But the positive is, it's over, I didn't pass out, and I had a good sweat going!Hope everyone is having a great day!

Bike & Weights - 10 mi/33 mins

Great spin at the gym tonight. I love cross-training!

I am sooooo ready for school to start so I can get back in my routine. It's been tough getting workouts in this summer.