I can't believe it has been almost a month!

I am such a slacker blogger! YIKES! I DO stalk read daily, but I never find the time to post...what is with me?! GEEZ! I guess I have just been busy training, doing all the mommy and wife stuff, and working. That's all the excuses I've got anyways! On the training front, I just finished week 7 and starting week 8 of Marathon #1 training. I was super stoked to have finished my first 14 mile run ever last week, and boy did it ever make me realize that training for a marathon is a long long long way! This week I have scheduled 15 miles as my long run, so I am hoping that I feel better than I did last week. I was uber nauseous ofter the run on Monday and couldn't even eat dinner. I downed a Coke and a Gatorade...that was my nutritious dinner. I NEVER drink Coke, but it really did help the nausea! 

Congratulation to all the LA Marathon runners on Sunday, from what I have heard, it was a wet one! But so many of you PR'd! Good job! :) 

My schedule for this week:

Monday:  6-7 mile tempo run with 3 @ Tempo pace (9:13ish)

Tuesday:  Cross Train (Kick Boxing Class)

Wednesday:  REST or Easy 4 miles

Thursday:  15 miles

Friday:  Cross Training

I kind of wanted to do my long run today, but it has been raining on and off all day...so hopefully Thursday the weather will be much better. 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday...and rest up all you who raced this weekend! ;)

Time for me to stop playing on the computer and being lazy so that I can got do my tempo run!

"Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired."
Jules Renard

Training, food, and more food

I am happy to say that my training plan for RNR San Diego is almost figured out. This week ends training week #2 of 18!!!! Here is my plan in works:

RNR Marathon Training Plan (Tentative)

I was happy to be able to fit in my 10 mile run this week on my treadmill...well I wasn't happy about the TM part, but happy to get it done!

This was the first 8 miles...had to leave really quick to pick up my daughter from school...then I finished the last 2 as soon as I got home! Happy to report an average pace of 10:03...close to MP! Anyone know what happens after you get to 99:00? I have never ran that much on a TM!

Not that I am running more than I was during half marathon training, but with my running, kick boxing, combined with a few P90X workouts a week...I have been SO hungry!!! WOW! I feel like I eat all day long! 

So far today I had:

Breakfast- 2 pieces of wheat toast with whipped butter and cinnamon on top. 2 cups of coffee.

*Then I went to kick boxing class

Lunch- Stopped at Subway after picking up K8 from school. The kids and I shared an Oven Roasted Chicken Sandwich on wheat bread with everything on it. A little bit of Cool Ranch Doritos, Diet Coke, AND a chocolate chip cookie! Don't judge!... ;) We ALWAYS get subway cookie...to die for! MMMM!!!

Sorry, the cookie was eaten before! OOPS...see they are that good!

Snack- Even my daughter was still hungry so we had our all time favorite snack. Low fat Vanilla yogurt with strawberries, granola, carob & yogurt chips!

I'm pretty full now, but who knows what's gonna happen in 5 minutes! HA! 

I have also been addicted to these:

They are sooo good! 

So for all my marathoner blog friends, how do you deal with being soooo hungry all the time? Any particular food or meal that really keeps you full and isn't too health nutty?! Don't get me wrong, I like to eat healthy foods, I love fruit and some veggies; but by no means would I consider myself a "healthy" eater. 

Holiday Bootie Buster Week 2 & 3

I needed to do this post but have been having horrible migraines lately and to top it off, a slight sinus infection and cough. SUCKS! But I have still been keeping up with the challenge :) Proof that it is a GREAT motivator!
Week 2  (Nov 27th-Dec 3rd)
I earned 22 exercise points. Not as much as week 1's 28, but this was the week that I was quite sick with a 3 day migraine and sore throat. So not bad. I'm pretty sure that I m that I also ate my 7 servings of fruit and vegetables 1 day (better than none!) but I can't remember exactly what I ate, so I didn't count it in my points.
I did 2 kick boxing classes(an hour each), and ran 10 miles total for the week. (2,6,2) I made this week a cut back week instead of next, due to being sick...so it worked out!
Week 3 (Dec 4th-Dec 10th)
So far I have earned 16 points. I did an hour kick boxing class and then ran 9 miles today. I also ate 7 servings of fruit & veggies on Monday...yay me! :) The plan is to end the week with 28 points again like week 1. I still have planned to do a recovery 2 miles tomorrow along with a weight lifting class, then on Friday another hour of kick boxing.

As far as training for my half marathon in January...after this week is over, I have 6 weeks until race day! I am up to 9 miles and feel pretty confident in my training so far. I find it strange to me that treadmill running slows me down. Not sure why, but when I do my long runs on the treadmill, it takes much more effort to sustain my goal pace than it does on the road. So the longs runs that I do on the treadmill are always around a 10:05-10:20 pace; and my road long miles are in the mid 9:30's. I always thought that it was the opposite. Oh well, it is a confidence booster in this case, as it it easier to keep my 9:23 goal pace on the road. Below is the link to my next 6 weeks of training! I'm, getting excited! I really really want to beat my last years time!
Last 6 weeks of training

Week 5 of training

Well, I am currently in week 5 of my 15 week training program for the Carlsbad Half Marathon in January. I had a GREAT tempo run yesterday that really gave me my hope back! I had a rough week last week and I was starting to doubt myself. But thankfully yesterdays run went well :)
This week:

Week5

11/8 11/14

Tempo Run Dist: 4-5 m. 3 mi @ 9:15-9:25 ⇃ 4.5 miles with 3 miles @ tempo pace (9:23,9:14, 9:23)

Kick Boxing ⇃ AND 6 min. HIIT workout

Long Run Dist: 6-7 mi @11:00 or “steady” (9:33-9:50)

Triple Fat Burner Class @ Y

Kick Boxing Class

Rest WORK

Rest WORK

10 -12 miles

So, tomorrow I have my "long" run for the week. And I am debating running it at a steady pace or a slow pace. Any thoughts? The only reason that I ask, is I am kind of using 2 different training schedules and 1 says to do the long run at an 11:00 pace (smartcoach) and another calls for a steady pace. According to the McMillan calculator, my steady pace is 9:33-9:50. Hmm, decisions, designs! Plus, I have to do this "long" run on the treadmill tomorrow, so I already know that the run is going to be tough...I hate doing anything over 5 miles on a treadmill...but I have no other option :(

Trying to figure out a training plan

As I start training this week for my 4th half marathon, I can't decide on a training plan! I need help! The first Half Marathon I did was when I was 20 years old (now I am 29!), the 2nd one was in January. I think I followed Hal Higdon's beginner plan, which was great, but I struggled the last 2 miles...so for my 3rd half in April, I vowed to run my longest long run and did 14 miles. That REALLY helped me, and finishing that half was a lot easier. Both training rounds I only ran 3 days per week, and that seemed to work for me. Since May, I have continued to run, but only averaging 35 miles a month.  This go around may be different than the last one.

Here are my issues:

This summer I joined the local Y and have been LOVING all the cross training, and all the classes. Especially Kick Boxing. I look forward to my scheduled 2 classes per week, and don't really want to give those up. I also have been doing a muscle max class once per week, which has greatly improved my strength and I don't want to give that up either. So I found a training plan that rotates running 2 and 3 times per week. That way I can still fit in all my other stuff. I figure that on a lot of the training schedules there are a few "easy 3 milers", I figure that i could substitute those days for my 1 hour kick boxing class. 1 hour of kick boxing is like doing a 5 or 6 miler! Here is the training plan that I found to kind of mold my new training plan. I really like that it incorporates tempo runs, fartlek runs, tempo runs, long run, AND most importantly gives the option of cross training instead of running. 

Tentative Training Plan for Carlsbad Half Marathon 1/23/11

PLEASE tell me what you think! 

I was also thinking of concocting a training plan that incorporated smart coach. Hmm...can't decide!

OH, and just so you know....I incorporate 3 days of REST days because 2 of those days I work an 8 hour waitressing day, and I can't imagine running even a mile after a shift. So I really only have 1 REAL REST day per week! ;)

Here are the kiddos @ Disneyland a few weeks ago. My parents were generous enough to take them both for the weekend! They had a blast!

AFC Half Marathon News

America's Finest City was going to be my 3rd and last half marathon of the Triple Crown Series. I have been training since January for this series, and was so stoked that I would be accomplishing it this year! Well,

I am SOOOO bummed; of course I waited until the last minute to register because money was tight, but I seriously thought that I would still get a spot. I went to register for the race AND well, the race was SOLD OUT :( I was so sad that night. My running goal for the year was to complete this series. The only way to still get in is to do a charity registration, where you register for the $80 to race, but are also committing to raising at least $500 towards the charity of the race; in this case the Cancer Patients Alliance. I would love to be able to do that, but I'm not sure that would be a feasible amount for me to raise in a months time. Any thoughts??? Anyone do this before? 

Anywho, on a more positive note, I did start training this week anyways, INCASE I happen to be able to buy a transfer bib from someone in the next month. I decided to use SMARTCOACH this time around. I just averaged my last 2 half marathon times and imput that time into the trainer along with how many miles I have been running per week lately, and how hard I want to train, and it gave me an 8 week plan. With this plan, I will be still running only 3 days per week and 1 cross training day. My new goal time will be 2:06:45.

Wk	Dat	Mon	Tues	Weds	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	6/14 6/20	Rest / XT	Long Run Dist: 6 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Tempo Run Dist: 5 mi, inc Warm; 3 mi @ 9:30; Cool	Rest / XT	13 miles
2	6/21 6/27	Rest / XT	Long Run Dist: 6 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Speedwork Dist: 5 mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 8:58 w/800 jogs; Cool	Rest / XT	13 miles
3	6/28 7/4	Rest / XT	Long Run Dist: 7 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Tempo Run Dist: 5 mi, inc Warm; 3 mi @ 9:30; Cool	Rest / XT	14 miles
4	7/5 7/11	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 4 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 3 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 3 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	10 miles
5	7/12 7/18	Rest / XT	Long Run Dist: 7 mi @11:00	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:00	Rest / XT	Tempo Run Dist: 6 mi, inc Warm; 4 mi @ 9:30; Cool	Rest / XT	15 miles
6	7/19 7/25	Rest / XT	Long Run Dist: 8 mi @11:00	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:00	Rest / XT	Speedwork Dist: 7 mi, inc Warm; 3x1600 in 8:53 w/800 jogs; Cool	Rest / XT	17 miles
7	7/26 8/1	Rest / XT	Long Run Dist: 8 mi @11:00	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:00	Rest / XT	Tempo Run Dist: 6 mi, inc Warm; 4 mi @ 9:30; Cool	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:00	18 miles
8	8/2 8/8	Rest / XT	Easy Run Dist: 2 mi @11:07	Rest / XT	Tempo Run Dist: 5 mi, inc Warm; 3 mi @ 9:30; Cool	Rest / XT	Rest / XT	Race Day Dist: Half-Marathon @9:40 Time: 2:06:45	20 miles

I was pretty surprised at the long run pace, but I will TRY to do it ;)

Hope all is well with everyone else's training!

~KELLY

i hate being sick :(

Being sick, has truely put a damper on both my overall energy AND my training for this stupid  half marathon in 3 weeks! I was supposed to put in 22 miles last week, and only got in 7.  This week I am supposed to put in 23, but my energy level is so low from being sick that I don't see it happening. I did 4.5 today, and am planning on doing a 14 mile run on Thursday...hopefully that run won't knock me out!

I REALLY REALLY need new shoes, but being so close to race day, I might wait until after. Anyone wear Asics and been happy switching brands? Just a thought! I am planning on going to the Running Center Store tomorrow to pick up a handheld h2o bottle and some recovery socks :)

Not sure which water bottle to get...any suggestions?

The one on the left is the FuelBelt Sprint. It holds 10 ounces, but has no pouch to hold any gu or beans or anything. Cost $12.99.This one is the Amphipod Handheld Lite. It holds 12 oz. and has a little zipper pouch to hold my gu and keys. It costs $18.00.

Anywho, we all had a great Easter...had a potluck at the In-Laws and the kids had an Easter egg hunt. I think I am going to explode from eating so many jelly beans...goodness gracious! I will update with photos as soon as I am motivated to put them on the computer! HEHE!

~Kelly

Dear training schedule

Dear training schedule,
I am so so sorry that I have abandoned you this week! :( I really wanted to hang out this week, as the weather here in San Diego has been absolutely beautiful! I wish I could say that we didn't get a chance to meet up because I was doing something important, or really enjoying the weather (like at the beach); but no, I have been way too sore to leave the house and hit the pavement with you. With all the crazy rain we had a few months ago, the hubby and I had completely ignored our yard, and the weeds grew 2 feet tall! So I spent most of Monday and Wednesday pulling weeds and doing yard work. I woke up Tuesday morning with the sorest hamstrings i have EVER had in my life! You called for a rest day on Tuesday (thank you, I love you) and then yesterday I was going to do the 12 miler you had planned. But after 3 more hours of yard work, I knew that my legs were not going to be able to handle it...I am so sorry! Even this morning my legs are still sooooo sore, I don't think we will be able to hang out today for 12 miles...maybe 6? I will let you know. Again, I am so sorry for flaking on you this week...I PROMISE next week, we will see each other a lot more!
Until later,
Kelly

Can't wait to take the Garmin out for spin #2

Well, I got my Garmin on Friday, but it rained and rained, so I couldn't take it out for a spin :( Saturday, after work, I can't remember what we did exactly, but we were busy. So Sunday after work I had about an hour before we had to be at my mother-inlaws for super bowl and SIL's b-day celebration; so I decided to try out the Garmin and see how far it was around the block. According to Garmin, it was .66 miles...so I ran around twice and then down the street for a grand total of 2.01 miles. It was a hard run though, all hills! Garmin told me this:
Total Distance: 2.01 miles
Total Time:      18:40 avg pace 9:17
Mile 1:            9:17 (avg heartrate 162)
Mile 2:           9:16 (avg HR 167) IS THAT TOO HIGH?
Total calories: 224

It also told me a bunch of different stuff which I totally don't understand yet, but I'm working on it! My main love so far, other than it telling me my total distance (which is HUGE, now I don't have to clock all my runs), is that I can see my average pace, and I now know that I have a good race pace, but that I am running too fast in my training runs. At least according the the McMillian training calculator. That is a whole other thing that I am confused about. According to it, I should be running my long runs at 10:35 to 11:35. But why? Shouldn't I be running them faster? Anywho....I will be taking Garmin out on its' first long run tonight, so I am excited to see what it tells me. I only have to run 7 miles, but I am excited to try a new route!

As far as training went for last week:

I was scheduled to run a speed workout of 3 miles, a tempo run of 4 miles, and a long run of 8.
Did the 3 speed, did the long 8, but I ran out of time to do a continuous 4, so did 2 on thursday, and 2 on sunday! Oh well!

This week's training:

• 3 miles of speed training : DONE (Great run too, by the way!)
• 7 miles (TONIGHT)
• 5 mile Tempo (Friday)
• Kickboxing (Thursday)

Oh! AND I guess I am supposed to name my Garmin?! I have no idea! Any suggestions???

And I will leave you all with a goofy pic from last night...before bed time, hubby and I were playing with the kiddos and decided to give ourselves piggy noses with scotch tape! (WHY? I don't know, but we had fun laughing!)

Training plan

     So, after hours and hours of trying to figure out a doable plan for my 2nd half marathon, I think I finally got it! And, if anyone, anyone at all, has ANY advice on the plan, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE comment. I am a fanatic about having a plan that will do me good!

Training Plan

 I have scheduled only 3 running days a week. Two of those will be on the dreadmill and the long run on the road. With 2 kids, it is hard to get out after the hubby gets home from work, so 1 time a week is all I get! But I am ok with that. The days will also not be consistent, as I work weekends, so long runs are usually done on either Tuesday or Wednesday!

     Anyways, The shortest run of the week (3 or 4 miles) will be speedwork. This will consist of a mile warm up, and the rest of the run will be 800 yard bursts, followed by a 400 yard recovery jog. The goal of this workout is to obviously increase my speed...hehehe! The 2nd run of the week will range from 4 to 6 miles and will be more of a "race pace" run...or recovery run :) depending on how I'm feeling! And the last run of the week will be the long run. In my training for the previous half marathon my long run started at 5 miles and increased to 12 miles. So for this training plan, my long run will start at 8 miles and vary up to 14 miles.

     My goals for this training was to one, increase my longest run from 12 to 14 miles, and two, to increase my weekly miles a little bit. Hopefully by incorporating the speed run into my plan, I will decrease my time and run a PR! :) Happy Training to all my running buddies out there! Oh, and also, if anyone has recommendations on the Garmin Forerunner, please let me know...I was thinking about getting the 305! Thanks!

~Kelly